April 2013

EpiTOME OF A BO$$

Inside C.I.A.

Like a Rhinestone Cowboy

CLub spotLightLady tRend setteRsMC

2’ Ready2’ Ready

getting youR s

FEATURE STORY / Epitome Of A BO$$ Page 14 “In the motorcycle community, for any rider, especially one who makes the decision to join a motorcycle club where you must don colors, loyalty, brotherhood, protocol, respect and tradition are a few of the basic concepts necessary to survive on the set.” Read the rest of this amazing story on page 14.

TAB

LE O

F CO

NTE

NTS

4 Meet Our Staff

5 A Note From The Editor

6 Five Tips to Prevent Injury

7 Random Thoughts

8 Getting Your 2’s Ready

12 Club Spotlight

14 Epitome of a BO$$

20 Featured Bike

24 Like a Rhinestone Cowboy

27 Bike Paparazi

28 Upcoming Events

BO$$ HAWG

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Editor-In-ChiefDionne Harris

Business ManagerStephanie Harris

Health/Fitness EditorErica Sparrow

Contributing WritersTy “Whisper” GuineLatonya “Harmony” Jones

Art DirectorMark Elias

PhotographyGeorge Porter PhotographyBike Paparazzi

Street Team CoordinatorAmanda “Spyce” Alston

Social Media AssistantDimplz Dunn

Advertising ManagerMichelle “Honey” Marvin

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OUR STAFF

info@urbanburnout.com

http://urbanburnout.com https://twitter.com/urban_burnout

http://www.facebook.com/UrbanBurnout

Cover photography provided by George Porter Photography, Raleigh, NC

THE ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR THE URBAN MOTORCYCLE COMMUNITY

| Urban Burnout

Dear Loyal Readers,

It’s another year in the life of Urban Burnout and

Editor-In-ChiefDionne Harris

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here we are, still growing the magazine and maturing it as the motorcycle scene matures. As we watch the set evolve and clubs come and go, we remain grateful for our many thousands of Loyal Readers who have never wavered in their support. For the longtime clubs and riders that have followed UB over the years, we thank you. For the newcomers, we are thrilled to have captured your interest. We welcome everyone to a new era for UB that involves a renewed sense of purpose, refreshing ideas and a revamped digital spread. You are invited to peruse the pages of UB to gain insight into what’s going on within our beloved motorcycle community.

With so much talk going on about history and protocol, this month’s issue takes a peek into the mindset of the serious biker. What does it mean to wear rags? What is the appropriate way to address issues within your club? Are you riding safe? Who’s who amongst the many motorcycle clubs around the country? Get the answers to these questions and more in Urban Burnout, the online magazine for the urban motorcycle community.

Editor-In-Chief,

Dionne HarrisCEO & FounderUrban Burnout, LLC

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

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5TIPS TO PREvENT INJURYSpring is in the air! As warm weather approaches, we are often reminded of forgotten fitness resolutions and the desire to shed some of that extra winter poundage comes back to the forefront. While the motivation to begin or recommit to a fitness routine is admirable, most of us will often do too much too soon and the desire to ‘see fast results’ could leave some of us with a string of unwanted injuries.

As a long time fitness enthusiast, I can tell you firsthand that injuries suck and the time it takes recuperate could last far longer than it would take to get in shape. While there’s no “one size fits all” approach, the following five tips provide some common guidance to ensure you get the maximum results from a workout while reducing the risk for serious injury.

No pain, no gain is a huge myth. Working out should be enjoy-able so if it hurts, stop. As we age, it’s normal to have a little snap, crackle and pop, but if it’s associated with a searing, white hot pain, stop the activity and visit your doctor ASAP!

Give yourself a break. Whether you’ve decided on strength training, or you’ve become the new cardio king or queen, you have to give your body time to rest. On average, muscles require 24-48 hours to rebuild and repair after a workout.

Warm up first. Please don’t come out of the gate like an Olympic sprinter. Give your muscles time to warm up before diving headfirst into your activity. For most of us, 5-10 minutes is the ideal amount of time to get the joints loosened up and blood flowing to the muscles.

Make it gradual. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will your new body! Take it slow and give your body time to adjust to its new routine. Sooner than you think, you’ll begin to feel stronger and will be able to kick your workout up a notch.

Learn to do it right. Improper form is the biggest culprit for injury and can easily be avoided. Most gyms offer introductory classes for equipment use and some may offer a complimentary personal training session, so take advantage of the offer to learn proper form and technique.

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By Erica J. Sparrow, BSNSCA-CPT

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HEALTH & FITNESS

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This is the part of the magazine where we take a break from the bike scene and talk about what’s going on in the world. Whether it’s the entertainment, sports and/or MC world, we say the things out loud that you are only thinking. Sometimes it’s personal and sometimes it’s business, either way, these are the things that make you say hmmmmm, are you serious, I’mjussaying, I know right etc.

Hmmmm,WDDDA

[Where Dey Do Dat At?]

AYS [Are You Serious?]

IKR [I Know...Right]

IJS [I’mjussaying]

Is SCANDAL not the best thing on televi-sion right now?

A Good Day to Die Hard with Bruce Willis. Two things come to mind. 1. Really dude............. you are 58 years old. 2. How many more of these movies do you plan on making?

Why is Spike Lee so mad about Quentin Taran-tino’s Django? He needs to go somewhere and saddown…

IJS, don’t you wish artists like Jaheim, Raheem Devaughn, Joe, Anthony David and Tank had better A&R people behind them?!!

Yandy’s boo Mendeecees, when you first read or heard his name, for real you know what you thought about…_______. Yuck!!

Hmmmm. When will Facebook ever put a

on the website?

Speaking of Facebook, why do people (mainly females) put a sweet/“awwww” saying on Face-book about their relationship or mate when be-hind closed doors both are jacked up from jump? IJS, why do you volunteer such foolery?

Someone really puts this helmet on and rides.

Are you serious? WDDDA?

And last but not least, are you serious Lil Cat? I mean Lil Kim!

To B(dazzled or not to B(dazzled)? That is the BIG question. Hmmmm. Y’all know what I’m talking about!

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

8. 9. 10.

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10RANDOM THOUGHTS

By Stephanie Harris

10random thoughts

WHAT’S ON MY MIND

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2’sgetting Your reADY

By Honey

For many of us in the South, “riding season” is 12 months out of the year, so we don’t usually put our bikes away for the winter. However, you should still be taking the time if you don’t ride it for a few months, to make sure it’s up and ready for when your own riding season kicks in. By taking 30 minutes or so to check the following things at least twice a year, it will not only allow you a safe ride, it will also help to minimize the repairs you will need to do during the year. Keep in mind you should be checking the basics eACH time you plan to twist the throttle, but let’s hope your Club’s road Captains are reviewing that with each of your members accordingly.

As an advocate for legal and safe riding, let me first say that if you do not have your license then you should do that first before you purchase a bike or even worry about a maintenance check list. You can search the web for your state’s local DMV along with their guidelines on how to obtain your license or permit. if you reside in nC, below are the links you will need to get the ball rolling….http://www.ncdot.gov/download/dmv/handbooks_MotoHandbook.pdf

1. Brakes: This tends to be the most overlooked part of your pre-riding inspection, so i have decided to have it on the top of my list. Most people do not even check the brakes and only realize they need to be replaced when they are unable to stop safely. We have all had to stop on a dime to avoid a car, so let’s be sure the brakes are working properly. Should this happen, it could easily mean the difference between a safe ride and a trip to the er.

2. engine oil/Filter and Air Filter: each manufacturer recom-mends that you change the oil and filter before each riding season. While my Kaw only requires about (4) quarts of oil, you should check your owner’s manual for your requirements. if you have no interest in changing the oil yourself, an average cost for certified mechanic to perform an oil change is $60.00.

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Your BiKe’S HeALtH

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3. Do I have a Belt of Chain? Do I have a belt or chain? A lot of us ride Sportsbikes, therefore we have chains, but those of you with HD’s will have belts. Each one needs to be tightened to the manufacturers specifications, too tight and it could break; too loose and it could fall off. Once that part is complete be sure to lube/grease your belt, especially if you kept your bike outside and did not cover it; your chain is going to need a bit more TLC than those kept inside. The cost to replace a chain is around $150.00, while most lubes are less than $10.00 per can. Also, if you do have to replace your chain, it’s HIGHLY recommended that you change the sprockets as well.

4. Tires: You can use your common sense and see if your

tires are “OK” to ride on or need to be replaced. Most

of us are used to doing the coin test on the car to see how much tread is left, however, this rule does not apply to a motorcycle. The tread is not as thick so you will need to eyeball it for safety. Tires are not cheap, so something as simple as the correct pressure will provide a longer life.

5. Nuts and Bolts: Now here is something you can clearly do on your own no matter what kind of bike you have by using the tool kit under your seat. Take the time to ensure every bolt is tight, especially around your axle and wheels. If you strip anything in the process, be sure you take the time to replace it.

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Pre-Ride Inspection Checklist“T-CLOCS”“T-CLOCS”Click here to view the checklist

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6. Lighting: In order for your bike to pass the state inspection (keeping you legal), you will need to make sure all your lights are working correctly. This will include your headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals. While the LED lights you have on your bike may be hot, they will not be tested to ensure you pass inspection.

7. Miscellaneous: Be sure you have checked your battery. If you do not know how to do this, YouTube is a great place for a “How To” video. Things like fluid dripping from under your bike should be looked at imme-diately; it could be coming from your radiator, brakes or even your clutch. These are all things that could be a huge issue once out on the road.

Some things that you should add to your list of pre-season checks, but do not have to do with the mechanical component of riding should be:

• Replaceyourridinggearifnecessary;besureyourhelmetstillfitsproperly.• Callyourinsuranceagenttomakesureyouhavethepropercoveragesonyourbike; especially if you change your policy during winter storage.• Takethetimetogooutandrideabitbeforeyoujumpintoabiggroupride. If it’s been a minute since you have been on your 2’s, there are refresher courses available at all the local community colleges. • Alwaysremembertobesafe,andrideatyourOWNcomfortlevel.

I would like to thank fellow rider, Big L President of Gettin’ Ugly Riders MC in Raleigh, NC, for keeping me honest on things I did not know myself! As always, it’s best to have a certified mechanic perform work on your bike, but if it’s your hobby and your bike, do you!

YOUR BIKE’S HEALTH

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Lady Trend Setters MC members pride ourselves in the fact that our full patch members are all on iron. We like to follow true MC guidelines, and have gotten respect from clubs across the nation. Our members own both sports bikes and cruisers. We have a very diverse group of ladies. As we continue to grow, we continue to cross states all on iron. When you see the yellow vests out and about, make sure you say hi, because we definitely are coming to a state near you!

Anniversary Weekend Date: 3/22/13-3/24/13

To contact the Lady Trend Setters:Hollywood – President 216-408-3828www.ladytrendsettersmc.org

CLUB SPOTLIGHT | LADY TREND SETTERS MC

SPO

TLIG

HT

ON LADY

TREND SETTERS MC

Club Name: Lady Trend Setters MC

Website: www.ladytrendsettersmc.org

Date Established: 08/2008

Mother Chapter Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Additional Chapter Locations: Buffalo, New York

Mission/Purpose: The Lady Trend Setters MC are committed to the renovation of our distressed communities by lending a helping hand to our elders in need, being role models to our youth that have lost their way and volunteering time to organizations in the greater Cleveland area.

Officers:National President – SuggaNational vice President – Crazy GirlNational Treasurer- Lady LocsPresident – Hollywoodvice President – Red RabitBusiness Manager – Mz. Le LeSecretary – ParadiseSgt @ Arms – SunsetSgt @ Arms – 8-Ball

Club Members: Beauti Dueces Dynamite Koko XxXplosiv Babygurl Lexx28 Tippie Indy Gal (Recruiter) Tymeless (Associate Member) Probie

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LADY TREND SETTERS MC | CLUB SPOTLIGHT

Charities Supported/Events Sponsored: Tell us about the various organizations your support and the ways in which you support them. “Each year we volunteer to cook for the residents and their children at Cleveland Battered Women’s Shelter as well as make Easter Baskets for the children.”

Some other charities we support include:

Every August, we host an event where the proceeds go to buying school supplies for a local school and/or Church to support kids in need for the upcoming school year. We also work with different woman’s groups and Church organizations in the area to help with any events that they host as well as support Ohio State Representatives and Councilmen in different wards with various tasks for the city and state. Additionally, the mayor of Cleveland has recognized Lady Trend Setters MC for our ongoing charity work with senior citizens.

Lady Trend Setters MC members pride ourselves in the fact that our full patch members are all on iron. We like to follow true MC guidelines, and have gotten respect from clubs across the nation. Our members own both sports bikes and cruisers. We have a very diverse group of ladies. As we continue to grow, we continue to cross states all on iron. When you see the yellow vests out and about, make sure you say hi, because we definitely are coming to a state near you!

• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center •Life with Lupus •Josiah’s House • Local Stop the violence movement •Ronald McDonald House

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The Big Question?

At the end of the day, what is your club’s legacy?

The legacy of the Lady Trend Setters MC is that we would like to leave behind the fact that we had the opportunity to not only ride and give back to our community through vonunteer work of all natures but to let others who want to build a siserhood know that you can ride a motorcycle and still be a lady. To show that a sisterhood can be formed by the love and commitment to ride and that at the end of the day we “RIDE FOR A CAUSE”.

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BO$$ grew up riding. His father was a member of Spirit Riders out of Goldsboro, NC and shares his passion for riding with his son. BO$$ recalls becoming engrossed

in his love for riding in 2000 and other than information he gained from his father knew very little about the motorcycle community.

EPITOME OF A

BO$$By Harmony

I will admit that in the motorcycle community I encounter a lot of people, but I can’t say for sure that I’ve ever had an encounter with him until recently, other than a friendly greeting to show respect. It wasn’t until 2011 when the set began buzzing with rumors, accusations and assumptions regarding what happened to his former club and the reasoning behind his departure and that of 23 other members that I began to wonder “who is this person they call BO$$ Hawg?” It would be some time later with the formation of what has now become known as the 919 Bosses before I would encounter him again. The last time I saw him he was on the set without colors and to see him again in new colors as the President of the newly formed Raleigh chapter of Cycles in Action MC sparked my interest. On several occasions, I’ve heard who I now call BO$$, speak on loyalty and brotherhood. I began to ask myself, “What do loyalty, brotherhood and the biker lifestyle really mean to him?” I contacted him for an interview and he eagerly accepted. We decided to meet at a local shop, where many of us get embroidery done and notably have samples of our club logos hanging on the wall. I initiated this interview with the premise of putting to rest the chatter and assumptions, but I had no idea I was about to embark on an intriguing insight into the mind of BO$$ Hawg, the biker and Ticarus Bunch, the person.

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Photography by George Porter Photography

FEATURE STORY | EPITOME OF A BO$$

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As I scanned the wall full of club logos and chopped it up with the shop owner while awaiting BO$$’s arrival, I couldn’t help wondering if this was how Oprah felt the night before she interviewed Jay-Z. Just like her viewers were counting on her to ask the tough questions, I knew the readers of Urban Burnout would be counting on me to ask them as well. As he pulled into the parking lot, my anxiety quickly dissipated into oblivion. BO$$ was there ready to get down to business with his BO$$ Lady by his side. It was time to put my game face on and get to work.

BO$$ grew up riding. His father was a member of Spirit Riders out of Goldsboro, NC and shares his passion for riding with his son. BO$$ recalls becoming engrossed in his love for riding in 2000 and other than information he gained from his father knew very little about the motorcycle community. This would all change for him and his wife, who also shares his passion for riding, when they attended a cookout hosted by Bigg Dawgz of the 252 MC. He spent three years as a member eventually becoming the clubs Sergeant of Arms and prior to his departure, vice President. According to BO$$, his time with Bigg Dawgz of the 252 was not with-out a lot of mixed feelings and describes his mem-bership as a nourishing time in his life. He describes his initial exposure to the motorcycle community as “stepping into another world. I had to realize that in the MC world there was a chain of command just like in the military.” In the motorcycle community, for any rider, especially one who makes the decision to join a motorcycle club where you must don colors, loyalty, brotherhood, protocol, respect and tradition are a few of the basic concepts necessary to survive on the set. For BO$$, he felt that although there really wasn’t any protocol in the club, most of the members including himself, were loyal. He stated, “A lot of those concepts I really already had being that I am prior service military……that’s a part of leadership; loyalty, duty and respect.” In 2011, BO$$ made the difficult decision to leave the club.

{continued on page 16}

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EPITOME OF A BO$$ | FEATURE STORY

“ In 2008, my wife worked with the PRO of Bigg Dawgz and she invited us to a cookout and every one was pretty cool. They pretty much asked us to join so we joined.”

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When I asked him how he knew it was time to leave he stated, “My mentality outgrew the current mentality (of the club). I’m all about growth, change and the greater good for my colors and my club. Those were some of the things that were lacking where I was. One person should not determine what goes on within a club. I feel like it should be majority rule. In that MC, this wasn’t the case. I did my own homework via All Riders Radio and other forums learning the correct protocol. I realized that where I was wasn’t proper protocol.” He shared with me that in an effort to correct some of the issues within the club, BO$$ along with some other officers in the club made an unsuccessful attempt to correct some of the wrongs within the club. “Myself and a few other officers tried to implement bylaws into that club because they didn’t have any…..We actually sat down, typed some stuff out, presented it to the club at the meeting and got ridiculed for doing so because they said that it wasn’t made that way and we don’t have any rules. From that point on, I felt like me and a few others were out casted and you could see the separation,” he says. “It was hurtful because I put a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of energy and spent a lot of money.” I was surprised to find out that when BO$$ left Bigg Dawgz 252, twenty-three members left with him.

The departure of him and those members left the motorcycle commu-nity buzzing with rumors, accusations and hearsay. He has remained silent until now about those rumors and accusations. I gave BO$$ the oppor- tunity to address the rumors and put them to rest. He simply stated “I did not have anything to do with the backlash that they (the club) received. I feel a lot of that was self-inflicted. I did not create the Eastern North Carolina bottom rocker that had nothing to do with me.” According to motorcycle protocol and tradition, a three-piece patch signifies a traditional motor-cycle club which adheres to proper tradition, protocol and a code of conduct. A bottom rocker with the state name on it is an indication that one is claiming territory. Having been on the set for several years

myself, I now further understand BO$$’s frustration. We both sat quietly for a moment and exchanged glances of understanding. Neither of us felt the need to discuss the topic any further All of his self-education, research and desire to do the right thing served as confir-mation that leaving the club was the best decision. For several years he had been part of something that was not correct and violated the basic core values of duty, loyalty, honor, integrity and respect that he learned in the military. The lack of protocol, the fallacy of the rocker and the disrespect to tradition which was present prior to his membership left him no other choice but to walk away.

Despite the hurt and the events that took place leading up to his departure, BO$$ tells me harbors no hard feelings. “I learned a lot from

their president. I still have friends there. It’s my past. It is going to remain my past. Out-side of this interview, I really don’t even speak about it because I’ve grown so much more than that,” he says.

He and the members who departed with him left the club with no plan in place and no idea of what the future had in store for them. It was at that moment that I decided to redirect the focus of the interview. Suddenly it became clear to me that I and everyone else need to join him in his intentions to leave those events in his past.

EPITOME OF A BO$${continued}

16 | Urban Burnout

FEATURE STORY | EPITOME OF A BO$$

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I inquired about the decision to start the Raleigh chapter of Cycles in Action MC. BO$$ says that he sought the advice of an outside source regarding starting a club. His source recommended Cycles in Action and two other clubs. I found it ironic that he doesn’t even remember the names of the other two clubs. With the assistance of his source and through a chain of events, BO$$ met with the national president and a few other presidents of Cycles in Action and the decision was made to start a Raleigh chapter of CIA with BO$$ Hawg as the president. BO$$ states that he followed the proper protocol by being blessed in by the dominant in North Carolina. In February of 2012 at CIAs Triplex Beaumont Anniversary Party in Texas, the Raleigh, NC chapter of Cycles in Action was born. When I asked BO$$ about his vision for CIA he stated that he wanted his club to be trendsetters. “My vision for us is to support everybody, respect everybody; get the support back and never ever get into the politics of this club doesn’t like that club. As long as we as a whole stand firm in what we do then the rest doesn’t matter to us.” I felt compelled to ask him what he saw for CIA in 10 years. He stated that he would be 43 years old in 10 years and he saw himself stepping aside to allow someone else to take the helm and he would offer his assistance where it’s needed. “I don’t want to leave entirely because CIA has become like my child. I want to sit back, watch and keep the fire burning. I am the type of person that when I get tired and I feel like I can’t push it any further, I think it’s best to pass the torch to someone else who may have greater ideas just like I did when I was the vice president in 252 trying to give the president great ideas,” he says. We discussed the history of the motorcycle community and how unfortunate it is that many of the people in the community will never know the real history of the motorcycle community and traditional bikers. The protocol and traditions that some of the bikers before us died to protect have become so distorted because unfortunately we have allowed their legacies to die with them. In many cases these bikers come from parents and grandparents who were bikers yet they never took the time or put forth the initiative to learn from them. I asked him about his future kids and grandkids. He said, “I want my kids and grandkids to look at me and what I’ve done here and say granddaddy was real and granddaddy was flashy. I love to ride. I love to look good while I’m doing it. I spend so much money on these bikes not because I like to standout that’s just my personality. I want my grandkids to look back at some of the photos and things that I’ve done and say ‘Man, my granddaddy was off the chain.’”

When I approached Ticarus “BO$$ Hawg” Bunch about allowing me to inter-view him, I had many expec-tations and feelings about it. I must admit that I allowed myself to be consumed by the banter and whispering that has taken place in the motorcycle community for over a year. I went into the interview with the tabloid mentality and I was excited about being the one person to report the breaking news. It did not take long for me to realize that the controversy was not the scandalous news story that we, the members of the motorcycle community, had perceived it to be.

{continued on page 18}

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EPITOME OF A BO$$ | FEATURE STORY

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For BO$$ Hawg, it was never about causing any controversy. It was about respect and doing the right thing. His advice to a newcomer to the set and MC community, “Do your homework and know what you are getting into before you get into it. Just do what you do and people will respect you for being true to who you are.”

This was more about BO$$ Hawg, the biker who entered the motorcycle community as a newcomer with very little knowledge of the set, the life and what it means to be a biker wearing rags. Instead of choosing to fall in line with the many other people trying to fit into a life and community that they know nothing about, he chose to educate himself and stand firm for what he believed in. From this point forward when I ask myself “What do loyalty, brotherhood and the biker lifestyle mean to BO$$ Hawg?”, I already have my answer. We ended the interview and I engaged in some small talk with BO$$ and BO$$ Lady. I thanked him for his time and we all went our separate ways. As I drove home, I kept thinking about how content he seemed to be. In my head I kept replaying a statement that I’ve heard him proudly repeat several times not just in this interview but on the set as well “All of my members have bikes, and all of them ride.”

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EPITOME OF A BO$${continued}

FEATURE STORY | EPITOME OF A BO$$

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EPITOME OF A BO$$ | FEATURE STORY

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FEATURED BIKE

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Bike Owner: Ticarus “BO$$ Hawg” Bunch Bike Name: The Motha Ship Shop Owner: Brandon & Ryan Gregory Shop Phone: 336-303-5984 Shop Website: Sickbikezllc.com Year/Make/Model: 2003 Harley Davidson Street Glide Fabrication: Custom Assembly: Sick Bikez LLC Build time: 2 Months Engine: Year/Type/Size: 2003/HD/96” Exhaust: Vance & Hines Transmission: Year/Make/Type: 2003/HD/5 Speed Frame: Year/Make/Type: 2003/HD/HD Rake: 36 Degree Suspension: Length: Stock Triple Trees: Kewl Metal Wheels, Tires, & Brakes: Builder/Size: SMT Machining/ 26” Tire/Size: Vee Rubber/26” Rotors: SMT Machining Builder/Size: HD/16” Tire/Size: HD/Stock Rotor: SMT Machinging Finish / Paint: Manufacturer: Street Style Customs Colors: Teal/Silver/Black Painter/Graphics: Kevin Parker/Jeff Cravin Accessories: Rear Fender: Bad Dad Gas Tank: Cam Tech Baggers Handlebars: Paul Yaffe /Bagger Nation Grips: Arlen Ness Mirrors: Arlen Ness Headlight: Sinister Industries Taillight: Sinister Industries Turn Signals: Sinister Industries Seat: Cam Tech Baggers Audio: Rockford Fosgate Saddlebags: Sinister Industries 4” Stretch

Bo$$ Hawg’s

Photography by George Porter PhotographyThe Motha Ship

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FEATURED BIKE

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FEATURED BIKE

Photography by George Porter Photography

Bo$$ Hawg’s

Photography by George Porter PhotographyThe Motha Ship

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FEATURED BIKE

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By Whisper

LIKE ARHINESTONE COWBOY

Vrooooooooooooooom...... is all I remember when I first decided that I wanted to join a

so-called biker gang… a plethora of about 60 bikers riding an array of cruisers, zipping by my white 4-door SUv. Hardcore burly men bikers with scruffy beards that could cut a prin-cess diamond in two pieces. Straddled between the legs of these men were American made black and mud covered chrome hogs (now the word hog is what I heard on television so the immediate comparison was made). Dust covered Levi jeans, some with no shirts and just a vest. The only head protection that most of the bike gang wore were bandanas and a pair of shades to keep the road debris out of their eyes. There was a noticeable likeness be-tween these men that resembled a form of unity. Each biker wore matching dingy & worn out black leather vests with the exact same colored insignia on their backs. These were some bad @$# boys!! I wanted that dingy black leather vest sooooo bad, I was willing to follow them and snatch one off them…..…. On second thought, maybe if they laid the vest down I can just try it on or if all else fails, brush up against it? Ok who am I kidding, I’m going for the Boyz II Men “ BEGGING ON BENDED KNEES” approach, while crying uncontrollably like a 5 year old who had just been scolded & whooped by my father with one of those plastic Hot Wheels race car tracks (yeah Fam, I got whipped with everything as a child)!! These bikes were arranged in staggered lines of two. This group was precise! Their bike rid-ing style reminded me of a highly trained platoon of Marine soldiers, moving in unison. Man what a sight to see! All I could think about as they passed, was that would be me one day! At the same moment, a thought crossed my mind. I began reaching to lock my driver side door (Looking straight ahead, right hand comes off steering wheel and reaches under left arm to feel for the door lock….. Yes, found it!….. CLICK!)

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EDITORIAL | LIKE A RHINESTONE COWBOY

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In case one of them bad @#$ boys decided they wanted to try and open my door and rtob me while riding their steel hogs! Fam, I know it’s a slim chance that someone would open my car door while actually riding on 2’s, but they were a

biker gang and I was not taking any chances!! I’ve

seen that movie Mad Maxx!

12 YEARS

LATER….. I appreciate

the work that I have put in, to

have the ability to wear the “cut” I have

on my back. I may not have prospected for 12 or

more months, but I feel that I put in time for the 1-piece

patch that I wear proudly. But the more I come in contact with different MC clubs (and my own), the more I start seeing the similar bull%$@* on the set! Now give me a couple minutes to describe what the heck I’m talking about, because there is a lot of crooked shhhhhhh on the motorcycle set. So here I am, chilling at a local party and sipping on a bottle of H2O on the rocks. Swirled and chilled, not stirred. That’s how I like it! I’m leaning against one of the 4 cornered walls, hoping time would tick away fast because parties are

just not my forte’. For the most part, the girls all look the same, some dressed in outfits that they know good and damn well that they stole from the 16-year old daughters’ closet. Bellies hanging out, too much make-up, boobs over flowing out of a shirt too small, feet squeezed in these 6 inch heels that I know got their toes smelling like a mix bag of Fritos and Funyuns! For the most part, just straight up hooker-ish tendencies! A few catch my eye, but for the most part I’m not interested. I’m tired and my feet are aching from standing up in Timber-land boots and my eyelids are partially closed because I had been awake since the wee early morning. Music is blaring some crappy rap music from some of these new school artist called Too Many Chains (what-ever his name is) and nothing but cursing and sexual innuen-dos blaring into my ears. Uggg-gggggh, I am so ready to call it a night, but my club brethren are not ready to go, so I’m stuck. As I am standing, waiting on the signal to leave this party, I notice a bright light coming from my left eye. I’m thinking it was possi-bly the strobe effect from the disco lights of the club so I did

not pay it much attention. The light seemed to be getting even brighter the longer I stood there ignoring what it was. My head shifted to the left and what do I see? A hot freaking mess! Fam, there was this individual (from a club that I would rather not mention) who had on a black vest that was blinking a rainbow of colors. Here is an example to help stimulate your imagination process. Have you ever been pass a group of homes during the Christmas holidays and noticed that all these wonderful homes had white beautiful Christmas lights? Neatly arranged white candles in the windows, the outside bushes and trees deco-rated with white lights, even the Christmas tree in the window of the home was decorated with pure angel white lights and fake snow. But then you come to that one house where the occupants decided that they are individuals and the decorations on the house look something like Clark Griswold’s house on National Lampoon Christmas

vacation? Every color from the earth (or

the Dollar Store) has been used on that house? It just throws off the other neighbor’s hard work?

Yeah, this is how this individual vest was shining.

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LIKE A RHINESTONE COWBOY | EDITORIAL

| Urban Burnout

He stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of his crew because he thought it was cute to look like a damn walking circus!! I must say that they could have turned all the lights out in the club, because this guy most definitely cornered the market in batteries and bulbs!! I’m sure this guy assumed he was the shhhhhhh that night (and as my father always taught me: Son, when you ASSume anything, you’ll just make an A@% out of yourself)! I saw more laughing, snickering, photo opportunities and pointing than anything! I mean it does not even stop there Fam. I’m noticing more and more vest becoming bedazzled with an array of colorful sparkly crystals and rhinestones (Music In My Head: Like A Rhine Stone Cowboy).

It makes me wonder if these people even prospected or learned the true values of what it is to be a fellow biker in this MC culture. Are individuals not learning protocol and taking the MC life

as a joke? Hey, you want your “cuts” bedazzled and lights placed on them people?

I’ve got a 2 year old cousin who loves arts and crafts, and I’m sure for a

piece of chocolate or something with lots of sugar, he could make you an original piece of art on your new vest, with some finger paints, glitter and baby drool!!

I just don’t get it. After prospecting for months or even years for some, why would you want to go and

desecrate your “cut” that took so long to acquire? Is this just a pass time and the popular thing to do in the last few years? Thanks to a few movies like Biker Boyz

and the television hit series, Sons of Anarchy, every Tom,

Tyrone, Hector, Sue and Shaniqua is jumping on the biker band wagon. But tell me something? No really….. tell me something Fam?! Why would you want to promote individuality amongst your club members, that as a whole, should be considered as one functioning unit? By decorating your “cuts” are you saying that you don’t like the original club patch and you are making it better? What goes through the minds of those who do this on a regular?

Does your club even have guide-lines against the garbage you place on your “cuts?” I tell you one thing, if half of these so called “cut” creating bandits rode more than they worried about decorating their vest then we would not be having the problems we do now on the set! Hey to each their own, but don’t feel bad when you do not get the respect on the set when walking through! Have more respect for yourselves and the club you are representing! Leave the childish decorations in your closet and get on the road and ride your “scoot!” Don’t get me wrong Fam, I don’t know crap about shhhhhhhh, but I damn well will tell you that I don’t! I’m always a prospect of this motorcycle culture! Like a Rhine Stone Cowboy!!

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EDITORIAL | LIKE A RHINESTONE COWBOY

27 | Urban Burnout

valdosta, GANovember 17, 2012

Dano’s Grudge

BIKE FEST “L.A.”, ALAbAmA

“Eric GivEns” DAwson, GA

“mAYo” nEw orLEAns, LA

“L.A.”, ALAbAmA

BIKE PAPARAZZI

| Urban Burnout 28

April 6, 20132 for Life MC Durham, NC

April 12-14, 2013Queens Together 10th AnniversaryRaleigh, NC

April 19-21, 2013Clutch N Burn MC 9th AnniversaryNorfolk, VA

April 27, 2013Turning Heads Social Club1st AnniversaryDurham, NC

| Urban Burnout 28

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