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Narrator: ROYAL GORGE, COLORADO --
THE WORLD'S HIGHEST SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
THIS IS WHERE TWO OF THE MOST TALENTED BUILDERS IN CHOPPERDOM
WILL MEET AND RIDE TO LAUGHLIN, NEVADA,
FOR CUSTOM CYCLE SUPREMACY.
FROM GERMANY, EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE SUPERPOWER
MARCUS WALZ OF WALZ HARDCORE CYCLES.
FROM THE BADLANDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA,
MICHAEL PRUGH OF INDEPENDENT CYCLE INC.
MARCUS AND MICHAEL WILL HAVE JUST 10 DAYS
TO FORGE TWO OF THE SICKEST MOTORCYCLES
"BIKER BUILD-OFF" HAS EVER SEEN.
THE CULMINATION -- A PUNISHING 1,000-MILE RIDE
TO THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN.
GERMANY OR AMERICA -- WHO WILL TAKE HOME THE GOLD?
THE PEOPLE WILL DECIDE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA.
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BADLANDS,
THERE IS A LONE FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH --
INDEPENDENT CYCLE.
JESSE JURRENS AND GENIUS CHIEF DESIGNER MICHAEL PRUGH
OWN THE ROADS UP THERE.
JESSE JURRENS HAS BUILT A COMPANY
AROUND HIS HIGHLY INNOVATIVE LEGEND AIR-RIDE SUSPENSION
AND MICHAEL PRUGH'S FRAME AND PARTS DESIGNS.
I'M MICHAEL PRUGH.
AND I'M JESSE JURRENS.
Both: AND WE'RE INDEPENDENT CYCLE INC.
Narrator: THE DESIGN STUDIO SET IN THE BACK OF INDEPENDENT
IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF ITS HARD AND LOWLIFE FRAMES
AND MANY OTHER RADICAL PARTS.
AND NOW MIKE IS READY TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE AGAIN.
START WITH TODAY IS A BASIC HARDLIFE FRAME.
IT IS 7 INCHES OUT, ZERO UP, 40 DEGREE IN THE NECK.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THE NEW AVON REAR WHEEL --
OR REAR TIRE -- IT IS A 20-INCH WHEEL.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
USUALLY WE BUILD THEM WITH A 5-DEGREE RAKE IN THE FRONT END.
I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO DO A 6-DEGREE RAKE ON THIS ONE.
THE 6-DEGREE RAKE WITH A 20-INCH RIM
IS GOING TO GIVE THIS MACHINE A REAL DRAG-BIKE LOOK.
WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR MY MOTOR TO SHOWWAP
AND MY REAR WHEELS, WHICH IS BEING MACHINED.
WITH A $160,000 "C" AND "C" MACHINE,
MIKE HAS DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT --
CUT A 20-INCH WHEEL
FROM A MASSIVE, HEAT-TREATED CYLINDER
OF AIRCRAFT-GRADE ALUMINUM.
THIS RIM STARTED OUT AS 23.5 DIAMETER,
12 INCHES THICK, JUST OVER 500 POUNDS.
WE HAD TO ROUGH THE POCKETS OUT FIRST
AND THEN SCALLOP DOWN TO RUB THE SURFACE OF IT,
AND RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE IT'S GOING THROUGH
AND FINISHING THE SURFACE.
WE HAVE PROBABLY GOT ANOTHER 20 HOURS OF SPINDLE TIME
BEFORE IT HAS RUBBER ON THERE.
THE BIGGEST FEAR ABOUT THE WHEEL IS THE MATERIAL
BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS MACHINED
FROM A SOLID PIECE OF BILLET,
SO IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE MACHINING PROCESS,
LIKE GOUGE IT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
WE'D BE DONE.
Narrator: 2,173 MILES SOUTH OF RAPID CITY
IS THE HOME OF TROPICAL SUNSHINE AND HOT BABES --
MIAMI, FLORIDA.
THIS IS THE NEW SHOP LOCATION
FOR GERMANY'S OWN MARCUS WALZ AND WALZ HARDCORE CYCLES.
I'M MARCUS WALZ. THIS IS WALZ HARDCORE CYCLES.
WELCOME TO MIAMI.
Narrator: THESE EVIL, INDUSTRIAL HOT-ROD BIKES
HAVE BROUGHT WALZ MASSIVE ATTENTION --
35 MAGAZINE COVERS, TO BE EXACT.
HARDCORE CYCLES SELL FAST, EVEN AT 100,000 BUCKS AND UP.
SO MARCUS HAS SHOPS IN GERMANY, HOLLAND, SWITZERLAND,
SPAIN, HUNGARY, AND NOW MIAMI.
BUT MARCUS HAS LEFT HIS WELL-OILED EUROPEAN EMPIRE
ONLY TO ARRIVE AT CHAOS STATESIDE.
IT'S DAY ONE. IT'S MONDAY.
IT'S ALMOST 9:00, AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE [BLEEP] FRAME
COMING OVER FROM GERMANY.
WE WAIT FOR A BUNCH OF [BLEEP]
AND ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE LEGEND.
THEY ARRIVED FOR MY COMPETITOR,
WHICH SHOULD ACTUALLY -- SHOULD ARRIVE LAST WEEK,
AND IT'S NOT HERE.
WITH NOTHING ON THE TABLE,
MARCUS DESCRIBES THE BIKE HE WILL BUILD
IF THE PARTS EVER ARRIVE.
THE BIKE WILL BE PRETTY SIMILAR
TO THE BIKES WHICH THE PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW FROM US.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO CHROME. IT IS NOT SHINY.
IT IS GOING TO BE NOT BEAUTIFUL, NOT NICE.
AND ALL THE COMPONENTS WHICH WE USE ON THE BIKE,
AS WELL AS THE FRAME,
WILL BE A KIND OF PROTOTYPE
WHICH I USE FOR THAT PARTICULAR BIKE THE FIRST TIME.
Narrator: DAY ONE OF THE BUILD,
AND MARCUS CAN DO NOTHING BUT SIT AROUND
AND WAIT FOR A MIRACLE.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TWICE TO DO SOMETHING
AND THAT IS *** ME REALLY OFF.
AND STANDING HERE AND HAVING NO PARTS --
THAT'S -- THAT'S RIDICULOUS, YOU KNOW?
THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IN GERMANY, YOU KNOW.
WHERE THE [BLEEP] IS WILLIAM?
Narrator: IT'S A BIRD.
IT'S A PLANE.
NO, IT'S AN AGO.
[ SPEAKING GERMAN ]
Narrator: WITH THIS SICK PIECE OF GERMAN ENGINEERING,
MARCUS CAN FINALLY GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
THIS IS OUR SIGNATURE SINGLE SIDE SWINGER,
WHICH IS MANUFACTURED IN OUR COMPANY IACHOCKENHEIM,
THE SAME LIKE THE FRAME.
BUT THE FRAME IS A PROTOTYPE
WHICH WE SPECIALLY DESIGNED AND BUILT
FOR THE "BIKER BUILD-OFF" BIKE.
Narrator: THIS CUSTOM FRAME IS ACTUALLY HOLLOW
WITH OVAL TUBES WELDED INTO IT.
THIS MAKES IT LOOK LIKE A SOLID PIPE.
WE COULDN'T USE MASSIVE TUBES
BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE WIRE INSIDE THE FRAME.
AS AGO GRINDS AND SMOOTHS THIS CUSTOM FRAME,
MARCUS READIES HIS SINGLE-SIDED SWING ARM FOR THE LEGEND.
THE LEGEND AIR RIDE FROM INDEPENDENT CYCLE INC.
HAS FINALLY ARRIVED, AND A LITTLE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
[ LAUGHS ]
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, SECOND PLACE.
RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE DELIVERY IS NOT IN TIME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT'S MY OLD ONE, I THINK.
Narrator: IT'S AN OLD, BEAT-UP LEGEND AIR SUSPENSION.
IT PROBABLY WORKS IN MIKE'S.
OH, THAT'S THE ONE.
YES.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
THEY SENT A LEGEND FOR AN EVOLUTION MOTOR,
NOT FOR A TWIN CAM.
WE CAN'T GO ON WITHOUT AN AIR RIDE, YOU KNOW?
MARCUS, BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD SPOT, CALLS MICHAEL.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU GUYS SENT US AN AIR RIDE
DESIGNED FOR EVOLUTION MOTORS,
AND WE NEED THE TWIN-CAM SET, THE TWIN-CAM SETUP.
Michael: Twin-cam setup, okay.
Sorry about that.
IT WAS NOT A GOOD JOKE, YOU KNOW?
WHAT HAPPEN NOW?
Well, I'll have to get one out to you right away.
You'll have it in the morning.
SO DO YOU SEND IT, BUT WE HAVE IT BEFORE 10:00?
Yeah, you should be able to.
OKAY.
BACK IN THE MOUNT RUSHMORE STATE,
MICHAEL AND ONE OF INDEPENDENT CYCLES' TOP FABRICATORS, BARRY,
INSTALL THE FRONT END.
BUT BARRY IS PUTTING ON THE LEFT FORK INSIDE OUT.
I SEE A SMALL PROBLEM THERE
WITH THE FRONT FENDER MOD ON THE OUTSIDE.
NEW DESIGN THAT I CAME UP WITH.
GONNA BE RUNNING AN EXTERIOR FENDER?
I HAD THIS SIDE, DUDE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I THOUGHT JURRENS WAS ON THAT SIDE.
THAT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO SIT.
MIKE'S WELDER TATE GRABS THE BLANKS
FOR A CUSTOM SEPTIC GAS TANK AND GETS TO WORK.
I'M GONNA PUT THESE HALVES TOGETHER,
GET THIS TUMBLE SET IN.
THE SEPTIC TANK IS A 4-GALLON GAS TANK
THAT FITS INDEPENDENT'S HARD- AND LOWLIFE FRAMES.
HEY, IT LOOKS GREAT.
BEFORE HE DESIGNED BIKES,
MICHAEL PRUGH RENDERED EYEBALL-POPPING RACECARS,
SO JESSE JURRENS GRABBED HIM.
SINCE THEN, MICHAEL HAS TAKEN SECOND
AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF CUSTOM BIKE BUILDING TWICE.
AT JUST 31 YEARS OF AGE, IT WAS "PENNYWISE."
NEXT YEAR IT WAS "ELEMENT."
NO ONE IN THE MOTORCYCLE WORLD COULD BELIEVE
THAT SOMETHING SO CLEAN COULD BE SO MEAN.
SPEAKING OF CLEAN, MIKE, OF ENGENUITY MOTORS,
ROLLS IN A CUSTOM 120-INCH EVOLUTION ENGINE.
NORMALLY, THESE TOP THREE FINS ARE CUT DOWN
FOR THE SPARK-PLUG RELIEF.
I BROUGHT THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP
AND PUT THE PLUG IN AT A VERTICAL POSITION IN THE REAR
AND PUT THE COMPRESSION RELEASE AND HID IT INSIDE.
SO THIS WHOLE SIDE IS TOTALLY CLEAN NOW.
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK A GOOD NAME FOR THAT WOULD BE A SMOOTHIE.
YES, I AGREE.
BECAUSE ABSOLUTELY NO FASTENERS SHOW ANYWHERE ON THAT ONE.
SMOOTHIE TIME.
READY?
SO NOW THEM SUCKERS GONNA --
RIGHT IN.
NEXT, MICHAEL INSTALLS A 6-SPEED BAKER TRANSMISSION.
THE UNIQUE DESIGN OF THE STRETCHED FRAME
PUSHES THIS TRANNY BACK BY 2.5 INCHES.
THEN I WOULD MOUNT THE OIL TANK
UNDERNEATH THE TRANSMISSION PLATE,
WHICH WILL ALSO CHANGE THE BALANCE OF THE BIKE,
THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE BIKE,
JUST GAVE IT A WHOLE NEW LOOK, WHOLE NEW DIMENSION.
10:00 A.M., DAY TWO,
AND THE LEGEND AIR RIDE HAS ARRIVED AS PROMISED.
ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU TOMORROW.
NEXT, SOME AMERICAN MUSCLE ARRIVES --
RED AND RON.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
WHICH MEANS ACTUALLY TODAY WE HIT THE THROTTLE.
SO LET'S GO.
Narrator: BY REMOVING THE TRADITIONAL SPRING SUSPENSION
AND REPLACING IT WITH AN AIR SPRING
FLUSH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME,
MARCUS WILL BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE LEVEL HIGHER OR LOWER.
WHEN THE AIR RIDE IS LOWERED ALL THE WAY,
THE TIRE FITS RIGHT IN TO THE FENDER
AND GIVES IT A HARDTAIL APPEARANCE.
NEXT, MARCUS PREPARES TO INSTALL THE REAR END.
THIS PART HERE IS OUR -- HOW WE NEED A BRAKE ROTOR.
IT'S ACTUALLY DESIGNED FOR RACE BIKES.
OKAY.
BY PLACING A SHIM BETWEEN THE REAR FENDER AND TIRE,
MARCUS IS ABLE TO SET THE LEVEL
WHERE THE AIR RIDE WILL REST AT ITS LOWEST POINT.
YOU GOT TO DO THIS SO THAT IN CASE THE AIR RIDE FAILS...
AND THE BIKE SLAMS DOWN,
THE FENDER WON'T LAND ON THE TIRE AND YOU KILL YOURSELF.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: BACK IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AFTER 120 HOURS OF MACHINE TIME,
THE 20-INCH MONSTROSITY IS READY FOR RUBBER.
THERE IT IS.
HERE YOU GO, PRUGH.
HOLY [BLEEP]
[ LAUGHTER ]
STARTED OUT AT WHAT, 505 POUNDS?
505.
NOW IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 28.
THAT IS [BLEEP] AWESOME.
HIDE YOUR CHUB.
A 20-INCH, 28-POUND ALUMINUM MONSTER --
A FIRST FOR "BIKER BUILD-OFF."
AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'RE THE FIRST ONES
WITH A 20-INCH REAR ON A BIKE.
COME ON, BABY.
THERE IT GOES.
GOT IT.
THE CURRENT STANDARD 18-INCH REAR WHEEL
THAT PRETTY MUCH ALL CUSTOM BIKES HAVE --
THE BIGGEST AVAILABLE UP UNTIL NOW.
AND THIS IS THE NEW 20. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
THERE IS ABOUT 3 INCHES, ROUGHLY,
ROLLING DIAMETER DIFFERENCE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HUGE.
MICHAEL CUTS GAPS INTO THE REAR FENDER
TO ALLOW THE BELT TO PASS THROUGH.
THIS WILL MAINTAIN THE CLEAN APPEARANCE HE DESIRES.
IT'S CLOSE NOW -- JUST A COUPLE MORE QUICK CUTS,
THEN WE'LL START CENTERING IT SIDE TO SIDE.
BACK IN MIAMI,
THE CREW IS TEST-FITTING THE ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBARS.
THIS TYPE OF TRIPLE TREE IS SO HIGH-TECH
THAT IT HAS GOT ALL THESE DIFFERENT SETTINGS
FOR YOUR HANDLEBARS,
DEPENDING HOW FAR FORWARD YOU WANT IT.
RIGHT HERE IS THE FRONT-END PROTOTYPE.
IT'S JUST ONE OF A KIND,
AND IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD OF THAT TYPE.
AND THIS IS THE MOMENT IF WE...
WHERE WE'LL SEE IF IT FITS.
YOU KNOW?
BUT I SEE ALREADY THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM COMING UP.
YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE,
FROM THE THREAD TO THE BEGINNING OF THE BEARING,
WHICH IS AROUND A QUARTER-INCH.
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM,
MARCUS WILL HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER QUARTER-INCH OF THREAD.
RON LENGTHENS THE THREAD
BY WRENCHING A DIE DOWN THE NECK STAFF.
OKAY.
THAT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTIFUL.
OH, THAT'S NICE.
NEXT STEM IN, THERE'S A NEW PROBLEM.
BECAUSE THE NECK WAS SHORTENED,
THE GAP BETWEEN THE TRIPLE TREE AND FRONT END IS NARROWER.
THIS MEANS THE WRENCH WON'T FIT IN TO SECURE THE LOCKING NUT.
NOW WE COULDN'T USE THE SPECIAL TOOL
TO TIGHTEN THE LEGS, YOU KNOW?
YOU FIX ONE PROBLEM AND THE NEXT IS ALREADY WAITING FOR YOU.
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, RED GRINDS THE WRENCH, MAKING IT THINNER.
WE'RE JUST MAKING THE TOOL A LITTLE SKINNIER
SO IT CAN SLIDE IN THERE.
MAYBE I SHOULD CALL CUSTOM BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE,
THIS FRONT END, WE BUILT FOR THE BIKE,
BUT IT'S GIVEN US A LOT OF PROBLEMS ALREADY.
NOTHING FITS. YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT FIT.
Narrator: MODIFIED TOOL IN HAND,
MARCUS FINISHES ASSEMBLING THE FRONT END.
AS THE SUN SETS AT THE END OF DAY THREE,
BARRY FABS THE PIPES FOR MICHAEL'S ONE-OFF EXHAUST.
EVERYTHING WITH THIS BIKE HAS A CONTOUR,
WHETHER IT BE THE FENDER, THE FRAME,
THE REAR SECTION OF THE BIKE.
AND IF THERE IS ONE THING
THAT CAN REALLY STAND OUT IN A PERSON'S MIND ON AN EXHAUST
IS IF YOU DRASTICALLY CHANGE THAT FOR ANY REASON.
SO IF I ADD A STRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE CENTER OF THIS BIKE,
WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS RADIUSED,
IT WILL REALLY MAKE THAT STAND OUT.
IN MIAMI, THE BLACK POWDER COATING ARRIVES.
I JUST GOT ALL THE POWDER-COAT STUFF
FROM THE POWDER COATER.
SO WE'RE READY TO REASSEMBLE THE MOTOR AND THE TRANNY.
AND WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT IN THE FRAME.
WE'RE JUST GETTING RID OF THE CHROME THAT THEY DON'T LIKE.
WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS GARBAGE, THIS CHROME CRAP, MAN?
WE HAVE TO OPEN THE DOORS SO YOU CAN TRASH IT OUT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY RIGHT HERE IN THE TRASH.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH CHROME HERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE ROCKER BOXES ARE BLACK NOW
AND ALL NICE AND SMOOTH.
Narrator: THE TRANSMISSION BOLTED ON,
IT'S TIME TO INSTALL THE 103-CUBIC-INCH SCREAMING EAGLE.
IT ALMOST -- IT STARTS LOOKING LIKE A MOTORCYCLE, HUH?
JOSH DELIVERS MICHAEL'S ALL-IMPORTANT FOOT PEGS.
OOH, NICE JOB, MAN. THANK YOU.
FOR MICHAEL'S BIKES, IT'S ALL ABOUT ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
Michael: MOST PEOPLE CONCENTRATE ON THE SHEET METAL,
WHAT THE SHEET METAL LOOKS LIKE, AND I LIKE MINIMUM.
I LIKE SEEING FRAMES, AND I LIKE DETAILED PARTS.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF DETAILS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T NOTICE,
BUT TO ME, THAT'S WHAT MAKES A BIKE
IS DETAILS LIKE THIS ALL OVER IT.
MICHAEL USES TWO MEASURING DEVICES
TO DETERMINE THE ANGLE OF THE HANDLEBARS.
I USE A SMARTTOOL DIGITAL ANGLE FINDER.
IT HAS A DIGITAL READOUT
THAT TELLS YOU WITHIN A TENTH OF A DEGREE
WHAT KIND OF ANGLE YOU HAVE.
RIGHT THERE.
WE'LL DO THE FINAL FIT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I LIKE WHERE THEY'RE POSITIONED AT.
THEN IT'S PARTY TIME.
HEY, WE GOT A COUPLE OF PACKAGES FROM MARCUS WALZ.
Narrator: FIVE DAYS AGO, INDatENDENT SENT WALZ A GOOD JOKE GONE BAD.
NOW MARCUS RETURNS THE FAVOR.
LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY STOLE THE BIKE HE'S BUILDING.
PROBABLY WIENER SCHNITZEL AND BRATWURST.
OH, SECOND-PLACE RIBBON, IT LOOKS LIKE.
THERE -- THAT MIGHT BE MORE LIKE IT.
THIS MUST BE HIS BAG THAT HE'S PACKED FOR LAUGHLIN.
OOH, ANOTHER PAIR FOR YOU.
SWEET.
SMELLS HARDCORE.
BACK IN MIAMI, THE NIGHTS KEEP GETTING LONGER
AS THEY RACE TO HAVE THE BIKE READY FOR PAINT.
THAT'S THE BASIC GAS TANK
WHICH WE USE FOR OUR GAS TANK.
TO FABRICATE HIS SIGNATURE GAS TANK,
MARCUS WILL CUT A STOCK TANK IN HALF
TO CREATE A PAIR OF SMALLER TANKS
WHICH WILL MOUNT TO BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME.
THE GAS TANK IS ALMOST FINISHED, SO MIKE, THE GOD OF PIPES,
DROPS BY TO LEND A HELPING HAND.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE THINKING?
I THOUGHT WE CAN GO OUT WITH THAT.
MAKE A BEND RIGHT HERE
AND GO IT OUT DOWN TO THE OTHER SIDE.
THEN COME BACK THAT SIDE.
WHAT?
THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL IDEA.
YEAH, IT WAS AGO'S IDEA.
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
TO MAKE THE PIPE FIT,
THEY WILL HEAT IT TO A BLAZING 1,500 DEGREES...
AND THEN SQUISH IT USING A 20-TON BOTTLE JACK.
I AM JUST GOING TO MEET THIS PIPE TO THIS ONE
AND RUN IT ALONG HERE
AND HAVE IT MIRROR THE WAY THIS ONE COMES OUT.
YEP.
THE EXHAUST, PRETTY MUCH DONE.
Narrator: THE END OF DAY FIVE.
MARCUS' MACHINE IS READY FOR PAINT.
CASPER, WYOMING.
MICHAEL'S PAINTER, TIM, ARRIVES.
I DRIVE ABOUT 4.5 HOURS FROM RAPID CITY TO CASPER
TO HAVE TIM PAINT MY BIKES
BECAUSE HE JUST DOES A GREAT JOB.
HE TREATS ME WELL.
GOT ALL THE BODYWORK DONE,
GOT ALL THE MOLDING OF ALL THE WELDS DONE.
GOT IT IN PRIMER,
READY TO GET IT HUNG UP IN THE BOOTH AND GET HER PAINTED.
Narrator: MICHAEL PRUGH AND MARCUS WALZ HAVE SIMILAR TASTES.
NEITHER IS INTO COMPLEX BLING JOBS.
BOTH LIKE SOLID, SIMPLE COLORS.
ARE WE STILL GOING TO DO THE SATIN CLEAR?
YEP, I THINK SO.
IT WILL BE DIFFERENT, BUT I THINK IT WILL LOOK GOOD
WITH THE ANODIZING AND THE REST OF THE LOOK.
ANY GRAPHICS OR YOUR GUYS' LOGO OR ANY OF THAT KIND OF STUFF?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I'M JUST GONNA GO WITH SOLID COLOR.
BACK IN MIAMI, MARCUS AND THE GANG
STROLL INTO QUALITY AUTO COLLISION
TO CHECK OUT THE PROGRESS ON MARCUS' BIKE.
HEY.
HEY, WHAT'S UP, MAN?
HOW YOU DOING?
EVERYTHING IS READY FOR PAINT?
YEAH, I JUST GOT TO FINISH SANDING IT
AND PUT IT IN THE SPRAY BOOTH.
GREAT.
THIS PRIMER IS FROM P.B.G.
IT'S BLACK EPOXY PRIMER, AND I LIKE TO USE EPOXY.
WHATEVER COLOR I AM USING, I USE THE SAME COLOR
SO IT COVERS -- THE COVERAGE IS A LOT BETTER.
Narrator: MARCUS HAS CHOSEN A CUSTOM FLAT BLACK
TO BE THE SKIN FOR THIS NASTY ANIMAL.
BACK IN CASPER, TIM HAS FINISHED THE SEALER COAT.
I AM JUST GETTING READY TO GO IN AND PUT SOME COLOR ON THE BIKE.
Narrator: TIM HAS PAINTED
ALL OF INDEPENDENT'S PRIZE-WINNING MOTORCYCLES.
HIS MOTTO? USE ORIGINAL COLORS THAT STAY AWAY FROM THE NORM.
TIM HAS CREATED A SOIL SET-IN COLOR MIX
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE.
I'M ABOUT READY TO SHOOT THE LAST AND FINAL COAT OF CLEAR.
Narrator: IT'S BACK TO MIAMI
WHERE MARCUS IS PUTTING THE HARDCORE STENCIL
ON THE GAS TANK.
I PUT THE STENCIL ON THE GAS TANK BY MYSELF
BECAUSE I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE LINE
LINES UP WITH THE GAS TANK.
THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT -- HARDCORE, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: WITH MARCUS' JOB DONE,
MARK STARTS WORKING ON THE AIRBRUSHING.
IF THE STENCIL IS NOT LAID DOWN LIKE REAL TIGHT,
THEN YOU GET A LITTLE BIT UNDERNEATH THERE
AND THE CUSTOMERS FREAK, SO...
IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
Narrator: AS MARK AND RICHARD FINISH UP MARCUS' BIKE,
2,000 MILES FROM SUN-DRENCHED BEACHES,
IT'S DAY EIGHT IN RAPID.
MICHAEL AND DAN BRING IN THE NEWLY PAINTED FRAME.
I THINK OUR GOAL FOR THE DAY
IS TO GET THE MOTOR AND TRANNY AND THE DRIVETRAIN IN PLACE,
GET SOME OF THE WIRING OUT OF THE WAY,
AND HOPEFULLY GET TO THE REAR WHEEL.
IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF A LONG DAY,
BUT IF WE GET THAT FAR, I'LL BE HAPPY,
AND WE'LL HAVE A GOOD START FOR TOMORROW.
WITHOUT HESITATION, THE GUYS HOP TO IT,
HAULING THE MASSIVE ENGENUITY 120-INCH SMOOTHIE INTO PLACE.
AH, THE MOTOR JUST MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THERE.
HOW DOES PRUGH DO IT?
BY STARTING FROM THE INSIDE AND WORKING OUT.
I BASICALLY TAUGHT MYSELF HOW TO PUT A MOTORCYCLE TOGETHER.
I DO NOT KNOW IF WE ASSEMBLE IT BACKWARDS
OR HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.
I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A RIGHT OR WRONG WAY,
BUT THIS IS JUST HOW WE KIND OF DO IT.
OH, I LOVE THE ANODIZED LOOK.
IT JUST GIVES THE BIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT LOOK.
I THINK CHROME IS JUST KIND OF OLD AND WAY OVERUSED.
I LOVE THE REAR WHEEL IN THERE.
THE ANODIZED AND THIS BROWN LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
IT IS CRAZY, THOUGH -- I THINK THE REAR WHEEL LOOKS BIGGER
THAN IT DID BEFORE, ROD, DIDN'T IT?
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE PAINT DIFFERENCE,
BUT I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT.
Narrator: MIAMI...
THE PAINTED PARTS ARE BACK, AND MARCUS IS READY TO GET STARTED.
THE GOAL FOR TODAY IS TO PUT THE BIKE TOGETHER
AS COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: WITH ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT BEFORE THE THOUSAND-MILE DRIVE,
MARCUS HAS DECIDED ON A NAME FOR HIS DEMON MACHINE.
I DECIDED RIGHT NOW AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON
THAT WE WILL NAME THE [BLEEP] BIKE MILLION MEILEN.
Narrator: TRANSLATION -- 1,000 MILES.
Marcus: ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE'RE READY!
LET'S GO!
Narrator: THAT SAID, MARCUS AND HIS TEAM
SLAM THE BLACK HEART INTO THE BEAST.
MINE'S UP HERE.
A LITTLE BIT, LIFT IT, LIFT IT.
OKAY, YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD.
GOOD JOB.
Narrator: THE ENGINE IN, VINNIE HAS A THEORY
ABOUT WHAT MICHAEL IS DOING.
MIKE RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY TIPPING COWS
OR WHATEVER ELSE FUN THINGS THEY DO IN "SOUTH DAKOTY."
RUNNING OVER SMALL CARS WITH BIG TRUCKS...
...AND WEARING PINK G-STRINGS.
ALMOST THE END OF DAY EIGHT,
AND ANGRY WITH A SCREWED-UP DELIVERY, MARCUS STARTS TO BOIL.
Marcus: I DIDN'T ORDER CHROME.
YOU DID?
YEAH, BUT I HAVE NOT ORDER IT.
THEY SHIPPED IT, THE [BLEEP]
I ORDERED A BUNCH OF BLACK FILTERS,
AND WHAT THEY SENT IS CHROME FILTERS.
WHEN YOU ORDER FIVE ITEMS,
IT TAKES ALMOST A HALF AN HOUR
TO PLACE THE [BLEEP] ORDER FOR FIVE ITEMS.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE CHROME ONES, YOU KNOW?
IF I EVER DO A "BIKER BUILD-OFF" AGAIN,
I WILL ORDER EVERYTHING -- EVERYTHING -- FROM GERMANY.
THAT'S WHAT I PROMISE YOU RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: AT INDEPENDENT,
MICHAEL IS PUTTING IN THE PERSE PERFORMANCE I.C.I. FRONT END.
YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG BIKE.
I THINK ROUGHLY MEASURES OUT CLOSE TO 10 FEET LONG OVERALL,
END OF TIRE TO END OF TIRE.
I THINK THIS BUILD IS GOING SMOOTH
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T GET A CHANCE
TO BUILD MANY BIKES A YEAR,
SO WHEN I DO, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I LAY IN BED AT NIGHT
AND THINK ABOUT IT, AND I BUILD IT OVER AND OVER IN MY MIND,
HOW EVERYTHING SHOULD GO, AND IT JUST HAPPENS THAT WAY.
NOW, THAT'S PRECISION.
Narrator: THE HARDCORE WAY IS STARTING TO PAY OFF IN MIAMI.
THE WHOLE REAR END IS COMPLETED.
Narrator: IN SOUTH DAKOTA,
PRUGH AND HIS TEAM ARE IN THE HOMESTRETCH.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW IS JUST KIND OF PULL IT DOWN
AND POSITION IT WITHOUT LOCTITE FIRST
TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING LINES UP ALL RIGHT
AND WE'RE NOT HITTING ANYWHERE.
AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE LEVEL AND PARALLEL,
SO IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.
Narrator: MICHAEL TEST-FITS EVERYTHING
BEFORE HE LOCTITES ANYTHING INTO PLACE.
THE FINAL TOUCH -- A CUSTOM-MADE WAGON-WHEEL GAS CAP.
EVEN THOUGH I'M TOO SHORT TO SEE IT,
THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART -- ONE OF THEM.
A TROUBLE-FREE BUILD.
IT'S TIME TO SEE IF PRUGH'S MACHINE WILL PURR.
READY?
[ ENGINE SPUTTERS ]
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
A START ON THE SECOND TRY, BUT MICHAEL HEARS A PROBLEM.
JUST ONE CYLINDER.
BARRY DIVES IN TO CHECK IT OUT.
I WAS JUST MAKING SURE THE COIL WIRES HERE,
THE PLUG WIRES ON THE COIL, MAKE GOOD CONTACT ALL THE WAY.
THIRD ATTEMPT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS ]
SWEET.
WHERE'S THAT BEER?
WITH SEVEN HOURS TO SPARE,
MICHAEL AND HIS CREW HAVE CONSTRUCTED
ONE OF THE CLEANEST MACHINES EVER SEEN ON "BIKER BUILD-OFF."
FORGED FROM THE BADLANDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA,
MICHAEL HAS DUBBED HIS NEW MACHINE "SOIL."
THE 120-INCH ENGENUITY MOTOR
IS THE CENTERPIECE IN THIS HARDLIFE RIGID FRAME.
40 DEGREES OF RAKE,
DETAILS GALORE,
STRETCHED PRIMARY,
AND A ONE-OF-A-KIND CUSTOM 20-INCH REAR WHEEL.
THIS ANODIZED DRAG-STYLE MACHINE IS NOTHING BUT CLEAN AND MEAN.
DAY NINE.
LATE NIGHTS KEEP ON GETTING LATER,
AND TIME IS TICKING AWAY FOR MARCUS.
OUR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WORKS PERFECT.
THIS IS THE FUN PART, SMASHING THIS THING OFF.
AGO!
Narrator: THERE'S A POTENTIAL CRISIS ON HAND.
THE BELT FOR THE PRIMARY IS SO TIGHT,
THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENT.
THIS MEANS THE TEAM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ALIGN THE HOLES
TO BOLT THE CLUTCH TOGETHER.
NO CLUTCH, NO MORE "BIKER BUILD-OFF."
IT'S ALWAYS TIGHT, YOU KNOW?
THE BELT IS ALWAYS TIGHT,
BUT I NEVER SAW IT THAT TIGHT
THAT YOU NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE CLUTCH BASKET ANYMORE.
SO LET'S TAKE OFF THE BELT AGAIN...
IF WE ARE ABLE TO.
Narrator: VINNIE MAY HAVE A SOLUTION.
WANT TO SEE IF WE COULD START SWAPPING OUT BOLTS?
THE HIGH TENSION OF THE BELT
HAS MISALIGNED THE CLUTCH BASKET AND BOLT HOLES.
VINNIE WILL REMOVE THE BELT, ASSEMBLE THE CLUTCH BASKET,
INSERT HEADLESS BOLTS INTO THE HOLES TO RETAIN THE ALIGNMENT.
NEXT, HE WILL PUT THE BELT BACK ON,
TAKE OUT THE HEADLESS BOLTS,
REPLACE THEM WITH HEADED BOLTS,
AND FINALLY BOLT THE CLUTCH PRIMARY INTO POSITION.
WE'RE IN THE MONEY, BROTHER.
THIS IS WHY WE GET PAID THE BIG BUCKS.
Narrator: IT'S DAY 10 AND THE HARDCORE TEAM
IS CRANKING AWAY TO MAKE THE DEADLINE.
GREAT. LOOK AT THAT.
JUST LOOK AT IT.
IS THAT THE BADDEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN IN YOUR LIFE?
MILLION MEILEN, HERE I COME.
Narrator: THE MOMENT IS FINALLY HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE WILL START THE BIKE
FOR ITS VERY FIRST TIME,
SO HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WENT WELL.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ CHEERING ]
AWESOME.
HERE, DRINK THIS.
Narrator: THROUGH STRUGGLE AND HARDSHIP,
MARCUS HAS LAUNCHED A MOTORCYCLE FROM THE GATES OF HELL.
THE 103-INCH HARLEY-DAVIDSON SCREAMING EAGLE
IS THE GUTS OF THIS ONE-OFF FRAME
WITH WELDED-IN OIL BAG AND REAR FENDER,
A PROTOTYPE WALZ FRONT END ADORNED WITH SKULLS,
CUSTOM EXHAUST PIPES, ONE-OFF RIMS,
AND A FLAT, HOTROD BLACK SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE HOLY --
DON'T TRY TO SANCTIFY THIS.
COMING UP, A SKYSCRAPING SUMMIT
TURNS TO A BONE-RATTLING, 1,000-MILE RIDE.
Narrator: COLORADO -- THE ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE.
1,000 FEET ABOVE THE ARKANSAS RIVER,
THE WORLD'S HIGHEST SUSPENSION BRIDGE
SPANS A QUARTER-MILE ACROSS THE CANYON.
THIS IS WHERE THE CHOPPER KING
HAS SUMMONED HIS TWO BUILDERS TO MEET.
COMPETING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER FOR 10 DAYS,
THEY MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
MARCUS WALZ.
MICHAEL PRUGH.
RIDERS, LET'S RIDE!
Narrator: THE ROAD TO LAUGHLIN BEGINS NOW.
IT'S 1,000 MILES FROM ROYAL GORGE
TO THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN,
THE WEST COAST'S MECCA OF MOTORCYCLING.
CAN THESE TWO BIKES MAKE THE GRUELING HAUL,
OR WILL THEY FAIL?
ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
DAY ONE OF THE RIDE,
AND THE ROAD TO SANTA FE IS 350 NEVER-ENDING MILES.
AS THEY DRIVE INTO THE NIGHT,
THE TEMPERATURE DROPS TO A FRIGID 38 DEGREES.
THEY PUSH ON INTO THE COLD AND DESOLATE NIGHT.
DAY TWO -- 650 MILES TO GO.
THE PAINTED DESERT IS THE BACKDROP
FOR THIS JOURNEY TO CHOPPERDOM.
LIKE RIDERS OF THE OLD PONY EXPRESS,
THEY BLAZE THEIR TRAIL ACROSS THE DESERT.
KINGMEN, ARIZONA, JUST 38 MILES OUTSIDE LAUGHLIN.
MARCUS IS IN BIG TROUBLE.
I LOSE A LITTLE BIT CLUTCH PRESSURE,
AND THE BIKE IS STILL RIDABLE.
BUT IT'S HARD TO FIND A NEUTRAL.
Narrator: NO CLUTCH PRESSURE
MEANS MARCUS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FINISH THE JOURNEY
UNLESS HE CAN FIX THE PROBLEM.
YEAH, THE PROBLEM THAT WE FIRST HAD
WITH THE BELT BEING SO TIGHT ON THE PRIMARY
IS KIND OF WHAT IS BITING US IN THE *** RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: MIKE JUMPS INTO HELP.
THE TEETH ARE STICKING OUT HERE, AND THEY'RE NOT UP HERE.
THE HIGH TENSION OF THE BELT HAS SNAPPED THE ADJUSTER BOLT.
WITHOUT THE BOLT IN PLACE,
MARCUS CANNOT DISENGAGE HIS CLUTCH NOR MAKE IT TO LAUGHLIN.
MR. WALZ FINDS A REPLACEMENT BOLT,
BUT IT'S NOT LONG ENOUGH TO REACH THE CLUTCH ROD.
SHOULD WE MAKE A SPACER?
YEAH, LET'S MAKE ONE QUICK.
BORROWING A GRINDER FROM THE GAS STATION'S OWNER,
MARCUS AND MICHAEL HAVE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
THEY WILL TAKE A PHILLIPS BIT,
ROUND IT OUT, AND ADD IT TO THE ADJUSTER BOLT.
THIS BIT WILL GIVE THE ADJUSTER BOLT
THE LENGTH IT NEEDS TO REACH THE CLUTCH ROD.
HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL SOLVE MARCUS' PROBLEM.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN...
I PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RIDE IT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ CHEERING ]
ALL RIGHT.
IT SEEMS IT WORKS.
ALL RIGHT, COOL.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: CLUTCH FIXED,
IT'S THE FINAL LEG OF THE 1,000 MILE JOURNEY TO LAUGHLIN.
ON THE BANKS OF THE COLORADO RIVER,
THE VOTE IS ON AT THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN.
EACH YEAR, THIS EVENT ATTRACTS MORE THAN 100,000 BIKERS
AND ENTHUSIASTS TO THIS OASIS IN THE DESERT.
THE VOTING BEGINS.
HARDCORE.
HE'S SICK-LOOKING.
ALL THE BLACK,
DOWN TO HOW IT'S CUT OUT.
I LOVE THE BLACK.
WALZ HARDCORE, MAN.
STOP THAT.
I VOTED FOR MIKE PRUGH.
NICE OPEN LINES, AIRY,
JUST VISUALLY GOOD-LOOKING BIKE.
INDEPENDENT!
YES.
LOOK AT THESE TWO AWESOME BIKES.
I CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND. THEY ARE BOTH AMAZING.
I MIGHT HAVE TO GO WITH THE MIKE PRUGH.
INDEPENDENT, BABY, INDEPENDENT.
NARRATOR: BIKE BUILDER KEVIN ALSOP EVALUATES THE BIKES.
THE WORKMANSHIP IS SUPERB.
IT'S JUST MIND-BLOWING
HOW MUCH ENGINEERING HAS GONE INTO IT, YOU KNOW.
THAT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE IS SICK.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR
JUST SITTING THERE.
Narrator: "BUILD-OFF" ALUM RUSS MITCHELL STOPS BY.
THEY BOTH STAY KIND OF TRUE
TO WHAT THEY HAVE EARNED THEIR REPUTATIONS DOING,
ESPECIALLY MARCUS.
THIS REALLY IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF HIS BIKES,
BUT IT'S THE BEST ONE HE'S EVER DONE,
SO I VOTED FOR HIM, ALTHOUGH RESPECT OVER THERE.
Narrator: 10 PUNISHING DAYS AND 1,000 EXHAUSTING MILES --
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS FINALLY COME.
THE CHOPPER KING IS HERE TO PROCLAIM A WINNER.
MARCUS WALZ.
HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY, HARDCORE CYCLES.
MICHAEL PRUGH.
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
MAY I HAVE THE ENVELOPE PLEASE?
A LITTLE HAND FOR OUR TROPHY GIRL.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ALL RIGHT, THE WINNER OF THE "BIKER BUILD-OFF"
IS MARCUS WALZ!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AS SOON AS I'M BACK IN THE TRAILER,
I WILL SPLIT THE TROPHY IN HALF.
THE OTHER ONE BELONGS TO MICHAEL
BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM I COULDN'T CONTINUE THE RIDE
BECAUSE HE HELPED ME OUT WITH THE [BLEEP] CLUTCH,
THE SPARE PARTS,
AND WITHOUT HIM, I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE RIDE
AND WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STAND ON THE STATION HERE.
Narrator: THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HEARD,
AND THERE'S A FIRST-TIME EUROPEAN CHAMPION
TAKING HOME THE TROPHY.
MARCUS WALZ AND MICHAEL PRUGH
HAVE BUILT TWO WICKED CUSTOM MACHINES.
THE COMBINATION OF INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING
AND RADICAL NEW-SCHOOL LOOKS
HAS GIVEN THE MOTORCYCLE WORLD A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROAD CONTINUES --
TWO BUILDERS, TWO BIKES, ONE "BIKER BUILD-OFF" CHAMPION.