easyriders.~om$6.99. Can.$8.99 ~

11

ITrialByFireJohn Peterson is a hard workingblue-collar guy who successfullyruns a painting crew of more than 400professionals. He was getting his motor-cycle serviced on a regular basis fromScott Hultquist and the crew of Iliff RaftCustoms in Livermore, California, whenJohn got the idea to have Scott build himsomething completely crazy, low, fat,long and fast.

John's goal for this project was to haveScott build him a bike that goes andsounds like a funny car. Scott told us thatJohn's bike is most unique from abuilder's point of view because theentire bike had to be mocked up fromthe ground up. There was a bit of magicin tailoring the rear section to fit theframe. From the GP Designs motormount with built-in air gauge to the

J

56 June2007 Easyriders .ollila....

0,""

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Easyriders June 200757

almost formal looking graphics, John'sbike is a mirror of his personality.

Scott never puts any of his cool assrides on the road without his seal of

asphalt approval. While test riding John'sbike, Scott was doing about 35 miles perhour on a backstreet in livermore, whenhe noticed the persistent honking of acar. He was starting to get pissed off andfigured maybe he was going too slow, soScott did what anyone worthy of thename Riff Raff would do. He sped up abit. The relentless cager just laid on thehorn and soon another car pulled along-side and started blowing. Scott hadalmost enough time to show these cagershow many friends they each had beforetheir dog died when the car windowrolled down and someone yelled "Fire!"Scott could smell something burning andlooked down to see the right leg of hisjeans was trying to do an impersonationof a blob of grease on a charcoal grill.Notjust smoldering, his leg was actually onfire! Quickly dousing the flames, Scottchecked the bike over and saw nothinghad been harmed, er, with the exceptionof the soiling of Scott's skivvies.

This bike is no trailer queen and Johnwas riding it all the time, until he learnedthat he would be having an operation onhis foot. He can't wait to get back on,and we hope he is riding by the time he

58 June2007 Easyriders

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gets to read this. Scott says that John isreally laid back and truly is the coolestguy he gets to deal with on a regularbasis. Scott and John are more thanbuilder and customer. They've becomegood friends and go riding together intoSan Francisco to hang around at Pier 23.John and his wife, Tina, are also regularsat Scott's favorite local Danville wateringhole, Meenars. They love to take trips toMexico, and we are told that John hasmastered the dance they call the "CaboWabo." Perhaps these trips are the inspi-ration of the neXt big thing from RiffRaffcustoms, a theme project called "To-Kill-Ya." Check them out on the Web at

www.riffraffcustoms.com. to see what

they are going to heat up neXt.Speaking of things you wanna ride,

the lovely Crystal here is this month'sFox Hunt winner and she has specialways that can warm the cockles of yourheart. Hot cockles!

-Cheesy Goodness

First. crease at perforation. then remove poster at right. ~

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1

Owner: John Peterson

City: banville. CaliforniaFabrication: Rift Raft Customs

Model: 2007 Rift Raft Custom

Time: 1 year

Chroming: West Coast ChromeENGINE

Year/model: 2006/Patrick Racing

Displacement: 120 cubic inches

Cam: Patrick Racing

Carb: S&S Super G/Davinci

Pipes: Martin Bros.TRANSMISSION

Year/make: 2006/Baker 6-speed RSDPAINT

Molding: Rift Raft Customs

Painter: Scott Hultquist

Type/color: PPG/Black and SapphireBluePearl

Special paint: Scott Hultquist

FRAME

Year/make: 2006/lndependentType: hidden-shock

Rake: 45 degreesStretch: 7 inches out

Shocks: Legend AirRideModifications: RiftRaftCustomsACCESSORIESBars: Flanders

Risers: Joe CastroHandlebar controls: PerformanceMachineFenders: Rift Raft Customs

Headlight: Headwinds

Taillight: CCI

Speedo: none

Pegs: IndependentFoot controls: IndependentElectrics: RiftRaftCustoms

Gas tank: Jim Nasi

Oil tank: IndependentSeat: CorbinMirrors: none

Grips: GP DesignsFRONTEND

Type: hydraulicExtension: 4 inches

Triple trees: raked 5 degreesBuilder: Perse

Modifications: Rift Raft Customs

WHEELS

Hub: Performance Machine

Size: 21-inch front!18-inch rearTires: Avon

Brakes: Performance Machine

Photos: Mike Chase