Born-Free 16 Invited Builder, Wes Hoke from Nuumetal, catches us up on his 1978 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. Wes's chop is about as clean as they come and features Nuumetal's own 7-spoke wheels--one of our favorites out there! Overall, Wes's Shovelhead is a great representation of what you can do with two wheels, a motor and a lot of originality and creativity. Check out the Born-Free Journal on-sale now to see Wes's bike and the rest of the Invited Builders bikes from Born-Free 16: https://store.hotbike.com/products/born-free-16-journal-by-hot-bike

We haul motorcycles in our Sprinter van from time to time when attending events. I wish I could strap my EZ-up to the bike, but that just doesn't sound fun. So whether it's personal motorcycles or custom motorcycles, we have to use something we can trust to transport them safely from A to B.

We found this combination works best: Black Widow Ramps three-piece aluminum ramp, Black Widow Adjustable Width Motorcycle Wheel Chock, and Mac's 1" x 6' Motorcycle Ratchet Tie-Down Pack with Integrated Soft Loops, S-Hooks & Keepers, makes the perfect setup when hauling motorcycles, especially heavier motorcycles like this 2025 Harley-Davidson Road Glide.

The aluminum ramp can handle up to 1,500 pound and measures 9-feet long features a full 38" wide base and lip to unload your cruiser or lowered bike with confidence. It makes it easy to ride a motorcycle up and down when loading/unloading. And we always use a sturdy ratchet strap to secure the ramp to the van's frame, too. It's a much-needed step to keep things more secure. I especially like how easy it is to set up, break down and haul.

When riding into the van, we always use a wheel chock to help secure the front tire. The Black Widow Adjustable Width Motorcycle Wheel Chock has been a great solution thus far. It's manufactured from high-strength, lightweight aluminum with heavy duty rubber end caps and is great for transporting motorcycles in your trailer or truck bed and in my case, a Sprinter van. Simply extend the adjustable tension arms (range of 43" to 108") until they are pressed securely against each side, lock them into place, and guide in your motorcycle. The front stop has three height adjustments (14.5" to 18.5"), and the rear tire cradle has four adjustments (from 28.75" to 32") to accommodate tires from 15" to 22" in diameter. We have yet to have a problem with fitment with the multiple Harleys and custom motorcycles we've hauled.

To secure the bike to the chock is this handy tie-down kit, which includes Mac's Motorcycle Ratchet Straps, soft ties and a handy carrying case. Mac's 1" tie-down straps are rated to 4,000 lbs., the select nylon webbing material significantly improves chafing and UV resistance and also feature 2,800 lb. Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS)--more than enough strength for the biggest bike or cargo (recommended working load is 1/3 MBS).

We've logged a lot of miles to events with all of our vendor equipment and multiple types of motorcycles and this combination has made the load-in and load-out process that much more efficient.

Grab the following motorcycle-hauling-made-easy directly from the links below:

Black Widow 9' Aluminum HD Folding Arched 3-Piece Motorcycle Ramp https://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle/ramps/full-width/p/MF-10838/ Black Widow

Adjustable Width Motorcycle Wheel Chock https://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle/wheel-chock/p/BW-PRO-CHOCK/

1" x 6' Motorcycle Ratchet Tie-Down Pack with Integrated Soft Loops, S-Hooks & Keepers - Blue
https://www.discountramps.com/powersports/atv/tie-downs/p/510422/

NOTE: We’re not responsible for what happens if you try this yourself. Haul smart, haul safe, and follow all safety rules and local laws.

VIDEO: Brody Mastagni

Born-Free 16 Invited Builder, AJ Anderson from Dream Company, dishes on his latest labor of love, a 1968 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead called Space Child. The '70s style chop is molded front to back and loaded with details that you really have to hit the pause button and find for yourself. Overall, AJ's interstellar chop is one of our favorites from this past Born-Free show. Enjoy! Check out the Born-Free Journal on-sale now to see AJ's bike and the rest of the Invited Builders bikes from Born-Free 16: https://store.hotbike.com/products/born-free-16-journal-by-hot-bike

Born-Free 16 Invited Builder, Neil Zarama from Arrow Choppers. We caught up with Neil Zarama on the builder load-in day for Born-Free 16. Neil is about as talented as they come and his '59 Harley-Davidson Panhead is one of the most detail-oriented bikes we've seen.

Hot Bike is proud to announce Motul as the Title Sponsor of the 2025 Hot Bike Tour, a four-day, two-wheeled celebration of custom motorcycle culture and the open road. The event will run from October 1-4, 2025, kicking off in Phoenix, Arizona, trekking through Northern Arizona and Southern Utah until wrapping up in Las Vegas, Nevada, with curated routes, nightly bike shows, and a full-throttle community of V-twin riders from across the country.

Motul, a global French lubricant company with deep American roots, has been a pioneer in the development of high-performance lubricants since its founding in 1853 as part of New York-based Swan & Finch Company. In 1953, the company made history with the release of Motul Century, the world’s first multigrade engine oil. In 1971, Motul launched the very first 100% synthetic multigrade lubricant, integrating Ester Core technology, through their "flagship product" Motul 300V. Since then, Motul has become synonymous with innovation, quality, and performance across automotive, powersports, and industrial markets.

Today, Motul Twin Line 20W-50 Full Synthetic engine oil is at the forefront of V-twin engine protection and performance. Specially engineered for high-displacement, air- and water-cooled twin engines, this advanced Ester-based formula minimizes internal friction, improves thermal stability, and clings to vital components even under extreme operating conditions. The Twin Primary and Transmission and Twin Heavy Duty Gear Oils minimize friction and wear, and provide smoother shifting and outstanding grip for wet clutches, helping to prevent slippage and chatter.

Motul is the official oil of the MotoAmerica® Mission® King of the Baggers™ race series, and their Twin Line is the oil of choice for serious riders running Milwaukee-Eight®, Twin Cam®, Evolution®, and Sportster® powerplants.

“The Hot Bike Tour is more than a ride—it’s a celebration of custom motorcycle culture, craftsmanship, and community,” said Jordan Mastagni, president at Hot Bike. “Motul’s legacy of performance and innovation makes them the perfect partner for this event.”
““Motul’s commitment to American V-twin riders is stronger than ever,” said Amber Bates, General Manager at Motul USA. “While Motul is often recognized for its quality and performance on the race track, there’s a deeply rooted side of Motul that celebrates craftsmanship and originality. As the title sponsor of the Hot Bike Tour, we’re proud to support the builders and riders who pour their passion into every detail. Our V-twin-specific products are made for these machines—and for the people who live to create, ride, and innovate.”
Riders on the 2025 Hot Bike Tour will enjoy exclusive Motul activations along the route, including tech support, product education, and special giveaways. The partnership reinforces a shared mission: to keep riders rolling hard and running strong, mile after mile.
ABOUT MOTUL
Motul is a world-class French company that develops, manufactures, and distributes lubricants and specialized fluids for high-performance motorsport, powersport, and industrial applications. With roots dating back to 1853 and a global presence in over 160 countries, Motul is recognized as a leader in synthetic lubricant technology and innovation.
ABOUT HOT BIKE
Hot Bike is a leading media brand and event organizer in the custom V-twin motorcycle world, producing top-tier content, community-driven tours, and custom motorcycle showcases that celebrate the best in craftsmanship and culture.

@harleydavidson just dropped one of its most eye-catching limited editions yet: the 2025 Fat Boy Gray Ghost. This new model commemorates 35 years of the legendary Fat Boy and joins the Icons Motorcycle Collection. With only 1,990 units set for global release, this chrome-drenched cruiser is designed to turn heads and celebrate the legacy of one of Harley’s most iconic bikes, the Fat Boy.

It wouldn't be a Hot Bike event without...Hot Bikes! We invited some of our favorite custom motorcycle builders to build a custom bike and ride with us through Arizona, Utah and Nevada on this year's Hot Bike Tour. Come ride with these talented customizers and have a blast traversing some of the most epic parts of the country on two wheels!

The @hotbikemagazine Hot Bike Tour is back October 1-4, 2025! Starting in Phoenix and ending in Las Vegas, the traveling motorcycle event returns for the first time since 2018. And we're bringing a bunch of our friends with us! We've invited a rad group of talented custom bike builders and we look forward to riding with them AND YOU through some of the most beautiful parts of the country! Check hotbiketour.com for all the information and to sign up as a HBT LongRider. See you in October!