The Best of Sturgis - Custom Harleys In The Black Hills

By: Timothy Remus .

Set on the edge of the Black Hills, Sturgis is part party, part vacation and part pilgrimage. For builders of custom Harleys and American V twins, Sturgis is a deadline. Sleep be damned, new creations must be finished in time to make the annual trip to South Dakota, because the first week of August is a chance to see and be seen, to judge and be judged. An opportunity to show off the just finished chopper with 40 degrees of rake, the Softail with stretched tanks, or the simple little bar hopper hardtail.

Once you're there, Sturgis is a chance to ride with friends on some of the most biker friendly roads in the country. West to Devil's Tower, or South to Crazy Horse. Through the Black Hills to Deadwood or Spearfish, each location connected by two lane highways seemingly designed with motorcycles in mind.
Eighty mile per hour straight-aways connected by thirty mile per hour turns. This is motorcycle heaven.

For photographer Tim Remus, the annual trip is a chance to find and photograph the best and the newest custom bikes while using the natural beauty of the Black Hills as a backdrop. The bikes are the best this country has to offer, built by some of the best-known builders in the world, including:

• Dave Perewitz
• Cory and Arlen Ness
• Tank Tuff Cycles
• Donnie Smith
• Bob McKay
• Kendall Johnson
• Barry Cooney
• Ed Kerr
• The Shadley Brothers
• Jerry Berryhill

Over 250 images illustrate the hard work, skills, and creativity of these very American artists. Shot against a downtown scene or rural vista, the bikes glow with the shine of fresh paint lit by the setting sun.

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