You Need To Know: SUGAR BEAR

Original information from Jesse James' History of Choppers DVD, American Thunder TV Series & Sugar Bear's website. Words by Blog Holder. Pictures from Google images.

There are many people that study history but not enough of it... Hide history because of their ignorant evil nature... And those that carelessly make up history, claiming it as truth, just because they don't know anything about it. However, when it comes to history this living legend I will present to you LIVED it, WITNESSED it first hand, and COLLECTED pictures along with relics from its golden age to PROVE the existence of the African-American biker culture. In every case his pictures from the 1940's and 50's eradicated words of doubt, attesting to the proof of black people on bikes far before the chopper frenzy took place. But most of all, his biggest contribution was MAKING history in biker society. The legend I am proud to scribe about is the great, world renowned SUGAR BEAR, who's life has been a living testament to the ENTIRE biker nation as we know it. With his classic springers (long forks on the motorcycle) and awsome revolutionary rockers (the part connecting the forks to the wheel) these marvels of craftsmanship have made him so highly acclaimed by motorcycle afficionados it is hard to keep up with business and business is booming. The one thing that was shocking to those that met him for the first time was finding out that he is an African-American the other, was finding a friend. With the lack of seeing images of African-American bikers as well as being over saturated with depictions of caucasians on bikes, people simply believed black people were not interested in bikes or had such a long history with motorcycles. With apperances on Jesse James' documentary History of The Chopper and Speed Channel's American Thunder, Sugar Bear has enlightened and educated the world abroad about the pressence of Black Americans on motorcycles in past times.

As always with great storys, the beginning is where this innovator's past begins. Sugar Bear was born on September of 1939 in Missouri. Twenty years later he would have that pivotal moment that is known all over that began his paramount ride through history. In 1969 while cruising in his car on the freeway Sugar Bear noticed a biker passing by on a chopper, but he was even more captivated by the woman that sparked it all. She was a lady leaning back on the sissy bars of that chopper reading a paperback book and noticed Sugar Bear. As they smiled at each other she gave him the "peace" sign as she rode off and faded away on that chopper... Right then Sugar Bear the chopper rider was born and that following week Sugar Bear went out and bought a Honda 750, but didn't know how to ride it. That drawback would not stop the future inventor from riding. His friend Barbershop Scotty came to help him get on his iron horse and ride it like a pro. A year later he started chopping and redesigning his bike to become a chopper. But where does one go to get the knowledge to do such a complicated task? This genius went to seek that advice of another legend EVERYONE, black or white, would go to about motorcycles. This was at Hardy's Motorcycle Service at 1168 South Florence Avenue near South Central Avenue. This meeting was not only the start of a great friendship but the beginning of a mentorship that was detrimental to history as we know it. That fellow genius was none other than Benjamin Franklin Hardy known to everyone as Benny Hardy. Brother Ben, as he was known to many, was a passionate man when it came to working on motorcycles and crafting them from scratch. As many have come to know, Benny is the creator with Cliff Vaughs in making the Easy Rider motorcycles that no one knew was made by an African American.   As Sugar Bear perfected his great enginuity  from gaining knowledge all over he opened his own custom bike shop in walking distance from his house located in South Central Los Angeles in 1971. As his builds became a hit with friends that he customized choppers for, he then moved to making his famous springers that were inches... then feet over the original length of the fork. What makes Sugar Bear a genius is that he has desiphered the complex geometry of motorcycles which had revealed to many he was actually a mathmatical genius and engineering marvel. With such greatness at making these springers he also made the coolest rockers the world has ever seen. Sugar Bear's creations are so unique in making the motorcycle so perfectly balanced that the bike never flops over, giving the rider great control when turning. In fact you can actually turn the bike with one hand. In encompassing art with engineering, Sugar Bear turned the world of motorcycling upside down. However, he was still not accepted by some in the community of fellow bikers that shared the same passion all because they did not look alike. Even though he was not accepted by those who opposed him as a person they could not help what he had contributed in making choppers so mesmerizing. This caused many to rethink their views and helped break cycles of racial ignorance. Also, being a towering man helped people reconsider what they said before saying the wrong thing. Not to mention his great demenor mixed with great story telling conveyed a brilliant articulate man that many were not aware of since they've never been exposed to African Americans in person. Sugar Bear's career has been one of innovation, but his purpose has been one of triumph over decades of oppression. His valiant effort with motorcycle media has never gone in vain, by refusing to feature his work in or on magazine covers unless he was featured with it as well. This courageous display of bravery won him covers and articles in magazines even when racisim was prominent in publications all over... And he did this without selling himself out, all the while introducing a generation to the legacy of African American bikers that many are proud to represent with pride and dignity to this day. Sugar Bear, now in his early 70's, is still a young man at his shop located in Gardena, Califonia and shows now sign whatsoever in slowing down or being counted out when it comes to teaching the past of African Americans in the biker culture and making a great chopper as well. For me he is the reason that this blog exists to teach a newer generation what is missing from the media and conversations about a favorite American past time this is rich with black influences. It is because of his knowledge that he has passed onto me about blacks motorcyclists, I have a new found appreciation for the biker culture. I thank this man, legend and genius for making us better people all over the world regardless of color under his trademark heart with wings... And just remember... "IF IT AIN'T LONG. ITS WRONG." ~Sugar Bear

Onyx Innovator: STEVE KEHLER

Original information from 2 WHEEL TUNER magazine and SUPER STREET BIKE MAGAZINE website. Words by blog-holder.

Many people make great works of art but very few make history. When you look at the artistry Steve Kehler has done and the many honors he has received not only from his many admirers but from his COMPETITION, then you must be... UNDENIABLY-MARVELOUS!!! For Steve Kehler, fabricating motorcycles into hot machines is a testament of dedication of many years to something he loves and sport bikes have been that passion since the early 90's. After his custom creations hit the public, like other originators of sport bike customizing, his builds were an overnight success that catapulted his career to the forefront of bike building causing other motorcycle customizers to change to sport bikes because of the demand. So yes, him and a few others had changed the game. He is without a doubt one of the first pioneers of the every growing custom sport bike craze that doesn't show any signs of slowing down... So don't even ask about it stopping you would get a chance to.

Steve started out his sport bike empire step by successful step in salvage yards and auctions looking for bikes that had potential or parts that could be put together to make a bike not only for go but for serious show. After he started getting to big for his own personal garage he rented a friends garage out and then formed a corporation in 2000 when he made TRICKED OUT CUSTOM CYCLES official. It's been over 20 years that he has been making bikes for everyday clients, motorcycle legends and celebrities. TRICKED OUT CUSTOMS CYCLES is also a full functioning motorcycle shop that takes care of patrons needs and issues. Now beside being a super fabricator, he is also a great husband and dad of three. After he gets the kids off to school he gets even more busy answering calls and e-mails. When the logistics are complete HE TRICKS OUT!!! Steve makes it a point to get in the shop to work on something amongst his other 8 employees.

TRICKED OUT CUSTOM CYCLES is at the pinnacle of the sport bike world and has showed inspired future builders that are just kids right now but will hope to be just as creative and successful as the dominant figure that is TRICKED OUT CUSTOM CYCLES... STEVE KEHLER. Everyone please check out his website and look at his custom work on the media tab... You too will get inspired.

Onyx Innovator: KERRY HARRIS FOR AKUMA HELMETS AND IHT TECHNOLOGY

Resources: Black Enterprise Magazine (Nov. 08 issue) Super Streebike & Akuma Helmets Words by BLOG HOLDER

5:30am every morning Kerry Harris gets up to perform his cool loving duty as dad and husband, helping his wife get the kids ready for school. Once the kids and wife are gone... Kerry goes into AKUMA MODE. This innovative genius has created cooling systems for Akuma Helmets, LED lights inside the helmet to help drivers really notice riders to help prevent any unnecessary accidents (not to mention look cool) and recently installed BLUETOOTH/MP3 functions... BUILT INTO THE HELMET. Imagine listening to music and you get a call... and being able to answer the phone and then listen to your MP3 player again where the music stopped. EVERYBODY, GET ONE... No seriously GET ONE.

Once Kerry answers e-mails from oversea suppliers, checks the Akuma website and Akuma myspace it's time to head out to the office which he gets to at 9am. That's a lot of work that's already done and he didn't even leave the house. But at one time at 9am in 2002 this once great U.S. Navy Pilot was stationed in where he started motorcycling to get around heavily congested traffic... in Japan. The cool thing was riding in the beautiful country, the bad thing was having to deal with the heat in his helmet fogging up his visor. It was that problem that gave this brilliant rider the idea to manufacture a coolant system that could be activated with the touch of button rather then lifting your visor up and down all the time. Once this was done and everyone heard of it word of mouth, people could not stop coming to get their helmets fitted with the system. So it didn't take Kerry long at all to put his intellect and hard work together to start making the coolant system and eventually sell his patent to helmet companies... thank goodness they turned him down. Then came the rise of AKUMA HELMETS in 2004. Once he found a factory in China that could produce the system at mass quantities that was it right? NO!!! This pioneer did more than give work to a factory, he joined them as a fellow worker to show them personally how the system was made. This is something they have never seen before which impressed them all. They appreciated him for that which has contributed to his wonderful success. A success that Harris believes will generate 3.5 million dollars for his seven employee empire that sells his helmets in Canada, Brazil, Spain and at your local motorcycle shop. You have to give it up to someone that gets up at 5:30am and doesn't stop till 11pm to do it all over again and manages to take care of his family and get in a ride on his R1. Please check out his cool military themed lids and other killer styles with more to offer than keeping you safe. AKUMA HELMETS WEBSITE

CHECK OUT THE FOOTAGE ON THE AKUMA HELMET

Onyx Innovator: CANJAMOTO (RICAHRD & GARFIELD MINOTT)

Original information from Speed TV & Cajamoto Words by BLOG HOLDER

CANJAMOTO, BRINGING THE FUTURE PRESENT
When it comes to innovations this modern marvel is in a class by itself. The head designer, sculptor, founder and owner of CANJAMOTO, Richard Minott, has made an awesome work of art and a fine piece of revolutionary ingenuity. A motorcyclist since the age of 9 Richard has always been fascinated with motorcycles and even tried to build his own at the age of 11. Richard comes from a talented and artistic family which explains the natural genius he possess. With the help of his talented brother Garfield Minott (artist and sculptor), and Robert Lukasiewicz (painter/airbrush artist of Wooki Paints) they have created body kits and modified exhaust systems. They have been featured on television, publications and at numerous conventions, showcasing their genius work which always draws a gigantic crowd that can't stop touching the CANJAMOTO SCORPION motorcycle. Richard made his first kit for a BMW R1200S, and it was a hit. Now he is is making ripples in the motorcycle world by creating body kits for all makes. Richard's mission is simple and coming true as he states, "Our goal is to build a platform on which to bring to market a new brand of products. Our plan is to design the most exciting motorcycles our imagination will allow." Well Richard and Canjamoto we all wish you the best and you will see my bike with the kit on it as well... THAT'S MY PROMISE.

You Need To Know: THE KING OF MOTORCYCLES

Original information from various sites, words from BLOG HOLDER


Benjamin Franklin Hardy Sr., Benny Hardy, Ben Hardy or just Brother Ben. No matter how you address him he is the late great motorcycle legend that is becoming respectfully known as a great motorcycle dealer, all knowing mechanic and superior bike builder. Even more famous for his two great creations that are world known... "The Easy Rider" movie motorcycles. King Benny, through his work has always been know as the go-to person for everyone black or white to ask about motorcycles (research by Onyx Rider will continue to find out where and how he learned everything about motorcycles). Then when Cliff Vaughs, another legendary rider and filmmaker, came to Brother Ben with film star and writer Dennis Hopper to make motorcycle history... and that is what he did. Harley Davidson wouldn't give Dennis motorcycles so Dennis and Cliff purchased old bikes which were the canvas for King Benny's masterpieces... The Captain America and Billy Bike.

His work and sales took place in a building at 1168 E. Florence Ave. near the corner of S. Central Blvd. when it was an industrial site for Good Year tires and other industries that were beginning.

Here at "Hardy's Motorcycle Service" Ben was know as the first king of custom cycles... AND THIS WAS IN THE LATE 40's, 50's! Here everyone came to see what he would put out and get their bikes fixed and tuned. Now at this historical site is Father & Sons Rebuild Auto Parts, but the memories still reign on the legacy of his work can be seen in California through other builders and riders. Recently at the California African-American Museum the exhibit "Black Chrome" has showcased the work, contributions and lifestyle of African-Americans in the motorcycle culture and Benny was honored with a standing ovation when his daughter showed... Kevin, the Grandson of this legend, has explained his love and honor not only for Benny as a person, but as a innovator of the motorcycle world.