ChopCult member RDub loves to ride his sweet old FL into the countryside east of his SoCal home and find a lonely place to camp. You know... to clear out his head, get back to nature, be one with the machine, that kind of stuff. When Rob goes on these solo missions he turns into "Maximum Bob." Old Max Bob isn't afraid to ride rough dirt roads in the dark, and he always comes back with interesting stories.

One particular night MB was jonesing for some motorcycle camping after a long dry spell. You see, Robert spent good money buying quality parts, rebuilt the top end of this machine on his kitchen table, fussed over details and labored over the rebuild of this bike. He sold his RC51 Honda, and this old FL was the exact opposite in character. Instead of 99% ride and 1% labor, the shovel proved to be the heartless inverse of that formula and didn't reciprocate the love Rob showered on it one bit. He did get one good summer out of it before smoking the top end yet again. So, it was one of those nights where the bike was running tip-top, all the stars were aligned and there was absolutely nothing to do. Bob strapped a bedroll on his bike and rode off into the warm midnight air of southwest Riverside county. On this particular night Rob found a bitchin' dirt road and cruised it for miles, until he got tired and just gave up. The place he parked seemed like a good place to camp: no one around, stars in the sky, pleasant weather, etc. So Bob snuggled up in his bedroll and knocked out in the deep sleep of a contented traveller. Startled awake by the sound of boots on gravel, Rob looked up and was surprised to see a dude staring down at him in amazement. "What exactly are you doing?" the stranger asked. "Just chillin' man, camped out on this dirt road last night, seemed like a cool spot," was Rob's reply. "Well," the dude said, "This dirt road happens to be my driveway." Rob glanced 20-30 yards further up the road and sure enough there was a big old house." "Where the hell was that house when I parked here last night?" Rob asked himself in disbelief. Fortunately, the homeowner was cool, and let Rob pack up and ride home.

The shovel blew up again not too long after that trip and has been a cantankerous old wretch ever since, so there haven't been any Maximum Bob sightings in quite awhile. Now, nearly a year after much heartache RDub has taken his shovel to Moreland's Choppers in Solana Beach, where Ken Moreland personally got Rob's machine running properly. With all previous problems now sorted, Rob is stoked and his FL has never beed crustier, thanks to the salt air that whips through Moreland's doors. That's not fauxtina, it's just what happens if you don't chrome, paint, powdercoat or oil raw steel. Now that the bike is dialed, keep an eye out, you may glimpse a chunky rustbucket with a bed roll heading down the highway looking for adventure or whatever comes his way, and you'll now that's our friend Maximum Bob.

Quick specs:

Engine, year and make, model, modifications: 1976 shovelhead, Keith Black pistons, Andrews cam, Diamond valves, S&S springs, S&S Super-E carb

Frame: Stock 

Fork: Stock with a little lowering 

Chassis mods: None 

Tire/wheel size and style: Fat tires on 16’s 

Favorite thing about this bike: The fact we did almost everything using common garage tools 

Next modification will be: Hurst caliper 

Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: Cut the rib out of the oil tank, shortened fender struts, made the battery box, tail/brake light made from a KX125 piston, swapped the box style swing arm for the older round model, shaved the fork, homemade foot controls and jockey shifter

Any building or riding story or info you'd like to include: No but my friend Chris puked out my car window and that was funny

Thanks to: Biggest thanks goes to my good friend Kim at BCM. The Biltwell crew, 70 Moto, Bench*Mark, Rolling Rock, Rick the Welder, SNAFU, Temecula Motorcycle Service, Morelands Choppers, Eddie Van Halen