Father and Son team Tony and Billy from Blacktop Magazine were looking for a unique way to make a significant contribution to the Rip’s B.A.D. Ride benefitting the American Diabetes Association. We came up with a concept to build a chopper, share the progress of the build on The Blacktop Media Network, and then sell the bike and donate the net profits to the ADA. Thus the B.A.D. Bike Build was born.
We invite you to follow-along or be a part of this fun project.
THE CONCEPT:
To build and sell a chopper as a unique way to contribute to the American Diabetes Association via the Southern California Rip’s B.A.D. Ride. A father and his paraplegic son will build a chopper – each with limited building experience – and calling on some friends to help with the “really tough stuff”. We will share the story on Blacktop Magazine with interviews of other Father/Son teams, guest wrenchers, top product and service supporters, and reveal the completed build at the 2014 Rip’s B.A.D. Ride VIP Night. Follow the build on BlacktopMagazine.com, our monthly e-Newsletter, and our YouTube channel, then capture it all in a premier Build Book. Directly after the unveiling the bike will go on sale with the net profit going to the American Diabetes Association.
THE SCHEDULE:
The 15 Month project begins with securing a rolling bike in August 2013 and runs to the Rip’s B.A.D. Ride 2014 VIP Night November 2014. Unveiling at the Rip’s B.A.D.Ride VIP Night 2014. The bike will go on sale directly after the unveiling with a follow-up article with deliver to the buyer.
THE TEAM:
Our team is headed by Father/Son motorcycle enthusiasts who are not formally trained as technicians or builders. A pair who work on and maintain their bikes and projects. In 2010 they did a full tear-down and customization of a 1972 Harley Rapido with help from our good buddy Potter and some special friends, and added a removeable side-hack. The “Rapidago” Project (click here for details), which won “Best Bike” at the first Bike Night we unveiled it at.
Tony Colombini – Designer/Editor/Publisher Blacktop Media Network. Passionate about all things gas-fed. Learn more about “T-Bone” HERE.
Billy Colombini – Motorcycle Enthusiast and Lead Builder who at 18 suffered a spinal cord injury and the doctors said he’d never walk or ride again. Billy has proved them wrong again and again and persevered through many life-changing challenges. Check out his story HERE.
Panzer ShopDog – An old brindled pit bull who gets his paws dirty in the garage. Follow Panzer on Facebook.