Joran Bean and Ken Schmoldt are close friends that co own Blue Collar Cycles Works in Phoenix, AZ.They both possess full time jobs but you can find them in the shop wrenching after hours and on the weekends. Blue Collar Cycle Works philosophy is to create a place where the average his could get their bike modified at a reasonable rate. Their shop is currently busy and they have a few custom builds getting ready to hit the pavement.

Photos by Matt Storms

This bike started as a 89 HD Soft tail that I received this bike from my pops. He used to let me ride it when I was a youngster. I spent the first couple years tearing it apart and rebuilding it learning the in's and out's. It was a rat bike to say the least, won me a nice little trophy in Rocky Point for best classic cruiser, the bagger guys were pissed.

I had the pleasure of working with the Torch Ind guys and they helped me get this frame right. Hard tailed and stretched this bike fits perfect. Thanks guys

I picked up a generous amount of parts and materials throughout swap meets and the good ol inter web. Folded up a sissy bar and a unfortunately during this build I was rear ended on my buddy Kenny's road king doing some damage to both my ol lady the bike and I. Luckily those crash bars, being out of commission now, were able to find life again as a custom set of bars. Chopped, flipped and welded together and presto custom bars. The bars were inspired by my impeccable lack of attention, apparently mounting my tank a hair closer to the neck than desired. So a ball pin hammer and a few Coors lights we have clearance. Once everything was bolted, welded and duct taped I took it for a spin that lasted about 6 months. Tough to tear a perfectly good bike apart to paint when it looks and run s so good already.

This is where I was lucky enough to meet Mark Ramirez. He has been out of the paint game for a few years and was minus all paint gear other than an air brush gun. So he made the leap bought new gear and went straight to shooting paint.

This bike has had many different faces however I am very happy where we are with it today. Planning on building a new set of bars and a sissy bar with a rack to long haul, but overall very happy.

Owner name, location: Joran Bean, Phoenix AZ

Bike name:  Sketchy

Engine, year and make, model, modifications: 89’ Evo mild cam, 20 over pistons just a nice clean motor

Frame: was a 89’ HD Softtail custom, now she is a 89’ hardtail Very Custom, Torch Ind helped me chop and stretch her about 4” longer while adding some classy lines.

Fork: Clean simple DNA springer (Thanks Dave)

Chassis mods: Nope just a stock Harley (insert smiley face here)

Favorite thing about this bike:  It was my dads. I remember sitting on this as a kid, then learning to ride when I was 15 then it was mine when I was 23.

Next modification will be:  New bars and sissy bar with a luggage rack (after all this is my touring bike.

Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: This bike is a chameleon; I have rebuilt this bike easily 6 times. My wife actually set me up with my painter whom is a desk jockey at a financial place. He has been out of painting for awhile and was itching to get back into it. We had a few beers and BAM he was painting again. Completely knocked it out of the park on the paint.

Any building or riding story or info you'd like to include:  My favorite thing about my bike is I ride it. Too many show bikes or trailer queens. I rode this to Sacramento once in a day, only about 800 miles but at that time I only had a metal pan as my seat. I rode her to Mexico a few times and had a little too much fun in the burn out pit and blew my tranny. Had to thumb a ride home and was lucky enough to meet a guy willing to let me rope her in the back of his truck.

Thanks to: Torch Ind for the framework, Mark Ramirez for the awesome paint, Rex Simon as the master mind behind the seat, Ken Schmoldt my partner in our shop Blue Collar Cycle Works and of course my wifey, Jenn, She puts up with a lot of my shenanigans and is very supportive of my passion. 

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