Somehow Sturgis of past is in our memories while the upcoming 2008 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally beckons us. The Black Hills are calling.

Still finding cool bike photos to bring you from Sturgis 2007. It is riding season again, clutch fingers are getting itchy.

Nice jungle effect on this metric.

We got a chance to see this bike before it was completed at Sturgis, 2007. Here’s a blurb about it from their website. Enjoy!

“The gas tank was hand crafted from .125″ thick copper sheet and the oil tank and fender fitting with copper cladding. The attention to detail flows through the entire bike from the oldschool wiring to copper oil lines. They are comprised from a perimeter brake in the front and a rear disk brake hidden inside a 1934 Buick drum brake.”

The engraving and leatherwork is impressive. Check out that beautiful belt guard.

The seat is work of art unto itself. This bike is all about the details.

We’re thinking this bike would look great pretty much anywhere; garage, game room or the curvy back-road to a picnic nowhere in particular.

Old School. Definitely.

Tough Customs - Fight Mediocrity, Embrace Perfection.

3/1/7/08 - Birthday wishes go out today to our buddy Bob Spina. This photo was taken on the award winning HBHC bike 2007.

Have a great one Bob!

At the 2007 Sturgis Rally, I met an artist who’s custom paint work for PB Choppers grabbed and held my attention - his detail was great and the variety of his work was impressive. We chatted for a while, and I decided then that this guy would be featured on AirbrushTour. But, somehow in the time since Sturgis, we got busy, time passed, other events came and went. We went Blog-crazy and his post fell through the cracks. Still, his work was on my mind, and we didn’t want to let him slide too long. So, several months later we’re making good on that post. We’re proud to introduce Monte Moore and share his beautiful art with you. Enjoy.

We hope you have a fast internet connection, because this post is going to be very image heavy. Monte has been painting since 1988. He is a self-taught artist, gleaning techniques from books, magazines and workshops.

If you are just getting started in this field, Monte is a real inspiration. His art has bee published and/or licensed by companies like: DC, Marvel, Image, Harris, Lethal Threat, Ultra-Pro, Amusement Emporium, Coors, U.S. Marine Corps, Topps Inc and Lucasfilm Ltd.

This scuba mural is 70′ long.

He uses mostly the RG2 and larger guns on his murals.

Monte also paints cars and bikes. This guy is a true renaissance man. Check out the motor art…

“Best Paint” 2006 and 2007 Las Vegas Bikefest,

“Best Use of Color” 2006 and 2007 Colorado Motorcycle Show.

Rusty’s Last Call bike, officially licensed bike by PB Choppers, this and two other bikes were painted for Speedway Children’s Charities and have appeared on SPEED channel.

Monte is co-owner and exclusive illustrator for MYNDzei Games LLC, producers of Wench: The Thinking Drinking Game, a social cardgame that is distributed internationally, and features 52 pieces of realistic and cartoon style pin-up art. Here are a couple of examples of his art for the game Wench:

Pin-up and Fantasy art was Monte’s mainstay prior to painting bikes and cars - here are a couple of examples:

Learn more about Monte Moore, and his art at his websites…

www.mavarts.com - Monte Moore’s official website.
www.maverickcustompaint.com - Motor Art
www.myndzei.com - MYNDzei Games.

All images in this post were provided by Monte Moore and are © copyright Monte Moore. Used by permission.

Get your bike painted by the guys who earned the coveted “Best Paint in Sturgis” Award in 2007.

Keep your feed fresh, because we’re going to be bringing you some cool projects painted by the Spade Bros soon. You’ll not want to miss that.

Vince Neil, singer of Mötley Crüe hangs with Doug Hash at the A.D. Cook display at Sturgis ‘07.

Click here to visit Vince Neil’s MySpace page.

Colorful characters at Sturgis - Bob Spina and lovely ladies hangin’ out in front of Little Buddha Tattoo on Main Street in Sturgis, SD, USA. Life is Good.

Okay, Arlen has really out-done himself this time. I mean it. Where else can you find a bike with DUAL - that’s right TWO - 145 cubic inch Super-Charged motors? This insane ride boasts a 300 series rear tire, a 23″ front tire, and a ton of bling in between, and damn, it does look nice. Only a legend like Arlen Ness can pull that off (beautiful babe not included).

Check it out…

Nice paint with some beautifully executed gold leaf and pinstripe run throughout the bike.

A view from the top.

The rear fender rocks. Note the oil reserve built into the rear pulley area.

The price?… a mere half-mill (plus luxury tax). I hope they can take my black AMEX

I’d like to tell you where to get more info on this masterpiece, but I’ve done some research and at this writing, it looks like AirbrushTour.com is the best place on the ‘net that you can find info on it. But I’m sure that if you continue to check Arlen Ness online for a while, you’ll find some info there in the future. Tell them you heard about the 2 Bad 2 here at AirbrushTour.com first.

Part 3 of Tanked in Sturgis features more amazing art on bikes, and we haven’t even scratched the surface yet. This post features another round of American iron in excess, all beautifully adorned by some of the industry’s best.

We hope you find the art and bikes as inspiring as we did. Scroll below to view Tanked in Sturgis - Part 1 and Part 2. Stayed tuned to AirbrushTour as we have several posts from Sturgis lined up and ready to roll.

Wild Bill Hichok and Jack McCall hold A.D. Cook at gunpoint… or so the story goes anyway. The incident happened at Old Style Saloon # 10 in Deadwood on our recent trip to Sturgis, South Dakota, where we ham it up with local talent who do a regular skit at the saloon.

Actors D. Boone May (left) plays Mr. Hickok, while Matt Kosher (right) plays Jack McCall, Wild Bill’s notorious killer. Sponsored by Historic Preservation Funds, the skit was entertaining, to say the least, and our own Doug Hash was an acting co-star (pics to follow). The #10 is a great stop if you’re in the area, and it’s a fun way to learn a little American history and enjoy a icy cold brew or a shot of whiskey.

Check our previos post Six-Days-In-Sturgis for more.

Photo above courtesy of Doug Hash

If you follow AirbrushTour at all, you probably are familiar with Las Vegas legend Bob Spina, and his work airbrush and pinstripe dagger alike. And you probably already know that he’s been painting to the max since 1956. So, when Bob invited us to share what he considers his best work yet, we were there. Hey, we like an exclusive, and we especially love great paint on cool bikes. While there were plenty of great looking motorcycles lining the streets of Sturgis, there was only one Hells Angel/Bob Spina custom Harley - too cool to line the streets, this beast sat proudly parked in front of the famous Angel Place in downtown Sturgis, SD.

So, with that, we give you this…

Check out the details on this tank; 23k gold leaf, blood red candy, violet ice pearl. This is a one-of-a-kind paint job completed entirely with ALSA paints.

Great detail run through the entire bike…

like the incredible lettering featuring candy red over gold leaf…

to the famed feathered skull leading the way…

to the less-than-subtle ‘Angel of Death’ message of her rear fender.

A better shot of the great lettering that runs throughout the Angel of Death bike.

So, there you have it. Bob Spina’s best work (so far); a Hells Angel custom paint job - to the max - for his best friend, George of Sin City Hells Angels. Like Bob says… “It wouldn’t be Sturgis without the Hells Angels.” We think it wouldn’t be Sturgis without Bob.

Click here to see more Bob Spina on AirbrushTour.

Or contact Bob at Paint to the Max (702) 239-2823

Las Vegas Hells Angels or click here for Hells Angels MC World.

HELLS ANGELS and the skull logo (R) are trademarks owned by Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation, registered in the USA and in many other countries. All logos and designs of Hells Angels are trademark-protected ™ and protected according to international law. Copying and other use is not allowed. Images in this post used by permission.

A.D. Cook with the notorious Team Dirty Girls. First off, get your mind out of the gutter. Team Dirty Girls Sports were set up next to us at Custom Corners at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and are a great bunch of ladies who manufacture apparel for dirt bike riders. Check out the complete team, along with their line of duds for chicks (and some for guys) at TeamDirtyGirls.com or check out their MySpace page.