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Nick Beaulieu Tastes Sweet Victory in New York with his “Cupcake” Custom Harley®
Nick Beaulieu Tastes Sweet Victory in New York with his “Cupcake” Custom Harley®
Dec 28, 2016
Attention to detail is the hallmark of Beaulieu's Cupcake build
Like its namesake, Nick Beaulieu’s custom chopper is a guilty pleasure. “Cupcake” won the Modified Retro Class of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS) in New York. K&N is a sponsor of the Modified Retro Class at each stop of the IMS tour, and the New York winner is especially sweet (pun intended).
Beaulieu is a ‘young gun’ in the custom bike world. “I started building my first bike when I was working for a Harley dealership in New Hampshire back in the fall of 2012. The day I finished my Shovelhead was the last day working for the dealership,” says Beaulieu. “I moved back to Maine and started Forever Two Wheels and have been picking up speed since.” Picking up speed may be an understatement. Beaulieu took the top spot in two classes at the New York IMS stop. In addition to Cupcake’s win, the builder also took the top Freestyle Class win with his “Hate Machine.”
Cupcake was one of the two J&P show winners for Beaulieu at the NY IMS
Cupcake is built around a 1963 Harley-Davidson® Panhead V-twin. It has a 4 speed kick-only transmission, an open belt drive, and a handmade exhaust. That powertrain sits in a super long and low custom frame. The wishbone acme loop tail features dual caliper rear brakes. Up front, there is an ultra narrow 39mm front end with a spool spoked 21" wheel.
The frosting on Cupcake is the over $10,000 worth of hand-chiseled engraving that is featured on the build. "No one can keep their hands off it; they have to check if it's real," says Beaulieu. "My good friend John Huff nailed it, Literally! He used a hammer and chisel." The paint job is equally tasty in what Beaulieu describes as “Voodoo violet and tangerine orange kandy over silver flake.” There is nothing subtle about this high-calorie custom treat. The attention to detail is carried into the handmade purple glass headlight lens, shift knob, and tail light.
Cupcake on the red carpet of the New York IMS
Despite all of his success, Beaulieu has a refreshing take on his job. “Win or lose, lose or win - it doesn't really matter,” he says. “Yes winning a show and money is great, but that's just the bonus. Spending time with your friends and making new ones, and being around motorcycles is really what it's about! If you don't agree I suggest you just stay home.”
As for the future, Beaulieu is going to keep on keeping on. “I'm looking forward to the custom motorcycle builds to come, building a great relationship with future customers, and maintaining a high quality level of craftsmanship on timeless motorcycles.”
K&N congratulates Nick Beaulieu on his ‘sweet’ victory at the New York stop of the IMS.
