My name is Carl Stephens (say it with a southeast Kentucky drawl, thank you very much) and I have been fortunate enough to have been chosen to join the ranks of some very talented guys and gals in a nationally televised custom motorcycle build-off that aired on ESPN Network's "Deuce" channel recently.

I'm talking, of course, about the Metric Revolution TV Series. Each builder was hand-picked from thousands of entries all over the nation and I felt very fortunate to have been involved in the first season group. I put heart and soul into building my first full blown (and I do mean blown, i.e. supercharger) all out custom chopper while overcoming some tremendous hurdles during the build. That bike, Puffed Rice, earned me the opportunity to give it my all once again...this time with a brand new bike build that aired over a 12 week period on a nationally televised series!

I would like to use this corner of the web to give you an inside look at this entire project from a "rookie" point of view...while I and my fellow "choppers" cut, chop, hack and saw our way through a brand spankin' new stock metric motorcycle in hopes of bringing home the prizes and awards on the other end of this build-off. Whether you're an old friend or a new one I just haven't met yet, Thanks for coming by and please check back from time to time as I attempt to add content to this site.

I, like so many others, have thoroughly enjoyed every precious minute I've been able to spend on 2 wheels and in the wind. How many times have we searched for the right words to explain the passion we feel and the love of the ride. "It's therapy for me"...I've said it and you, no doubt, have used those words as well. This site is dedicated to those metric owners, builders, riders and especially to the fans of these fantastic custom creations derived from the finest motorcycle manufacturers in the world. If your passion for the custom ride has rounded the twisted curves of obsession, you know what I am talking about. We never forget...it's always about the ride but it's also about the dreams, the designing, the engineering, the building and finally the creation of that perfect sled that will fling us down life's highways.

Thank you again for visiting my site. Please be patient as I develop this site and more content is added. There is much to do and we'll get to it ASAP. Also...don't hesitate to share your constructive thoughts and ideas about this site and possible future content.

rook'ie NOUN: 1. Slang a. An untrained or inexperienced recruit b. An inexperienced person; a novice

At 52 years of age, it is somewhat uplifting to be referred to as "new" at something...anything. The word conjures up cerebrations of freshness, youth, wide-eyed inexperience full of expectation...all appropriate words to describe the inner rookie penning this preface. That's the way I approached this project and that's what supplied the mental boost to see RATIKUL completed and shining under the VivaVision canopy on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. And as the outward greying man looks inward...I'll take any inference to alleged youthfulness.

To reveal who I am it would probably be better to explain who I am not. I am not a professional bike builder. I am not the guy that will initiate nor engage in diatribe about what constitutes a true chopper vs a custom vs ??? I will not ridicule you for riding whatever your heart desires, be it metric or so-called "American" or clone....be it small displacement or a twin-engine super radical class sled. I won't diss you for choosing to own and ride a sportbike a.k.a. crotchrocket. I will not be offended if you refer to my attempt at flat black and wide whitewalls as a bobber. I will not be found criticising the Teutels and Orange County Choppers because of their fabulous success story. I will not accuse you of conformity if you choose to shave just as I prefer you not label me when I do not want to ink my body. I am comfortable with your "sleeves"...you be OK with the skin I was born with and a haircut every now and then. I do not fit in many places because I cannot conform. Strange as it is, this whole independent "biker" spirit is supposed to be about freedom and independence...but the end result is, most of the time, just another way to corral a man's worth for the unified number benefit of a few at the top of the heap. So I ride away. I ride on 2 wheels or I ride on 18. Either way I ride, I ride withI am appreciative of the fact that somehow...Someone smiled upon the life of a guy like me resulting in this chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity. I will be forever grateful regardless of the outcome of the show's competition.

As my fellow rookie classmate, Dana D'Oench, voiced to me in Vegas...there are no losers...we all have won."

It is indeed a great honor to have been chosen for the upcoming television series..."METRIC REVOLUTION". To say it''s a big deal for me would be an understatement. From where I sit in a small town in southeastern Kentucky, I can only imagine the promise of this opportunity...not just for myself but for my fellow "rookie" builders and all the other fantastic builders involved in this upcoming nationally-televised series. I, for one, came away from the filming of the first episode in Daytona at Biketoberfest, amazed at the custom bikes from the pro shops. It was a privilege to meet and speak with Mike Stafford at MGS CUSTOMS and Doug Keim at CREATIVE CYCLES and to realize these are regular guys in spite of their great success stories within the custom bike arena. It is really a big deal for me to be able to observe people like Brad Ruel, THE WRENCH ONLINE, and see that all the attitude is built into the custom bikes, not his rather quiet personality. I have a feeling Brad might get louder when he has his tin in the wind...I caught a glimpse of a bike very similiar to his on the east end of the bridge dropping into Daytona Beach with a set of blue lights behind him parked on the shoulder. Probably just wanted his autograph or something...right, Brad?

From Jaxon Fyffe at WILD CARD CUSTOMS, Sam Nehme and crew at BMS CHOPPERS to Mike Dusold, at DUSOLD DESIGNS and Justin & Andy at VIKING MOTORCYCLE, (awesome, awesome Honda VTX customs, guys). I am confident I have experienced the best of the best in the high end of custom metrics. I can''t leave out Don Gray (I always knew you were not Bob...Don!), of DON GRAY CUSTOMS, whose creations I have been able to witness first-hand at the Cincinnati V-Twin Expo, the first annual Louisville Hot Bike/RC Components bike show, Star Days in St Joseph, MO and other venues where our paths have crossed. Don is another guy with a calm demeanor but all the attitude is revealed in the custom bikes he fabricates in the Music City. Last of the cruiser class pros but certainly not the least...Antonio Renzi, my California friend! His chopped Yamaha Road Star, Genesis, has been a great inspiration for design since I caught the photo shoot and some details about him in a recent magazine layout. Catch more on this bike and Antonio at MODESTO CUSTOM CYCLE. And a note to Antonio...thanks for your theories on the supercharger tuning on my own Road Star...I''ll let you know how it goes.

Thanks to all the crew at Daytona Beach and Biketoberfest 2005 for a wonderful time and a great experience. I''ve got a lot more to say about my rookie classmates but that''s another story...later.

Like Jason Spillers of RC COMPONENTS put it so well in the video trailer... Let the competition begin!

P.S. Tommy Graves...tell us ONE MORE TIME...what would you do to be on this build-off? :-)

Ride safe, y''all.

Recently...we heard news of how the money intended for those victims was grossly misused and in at least one instance...for a bottle of champagne purchased in San Antonio.

Mr. Brooks stands up again..."It bothers me as an American that resources that were intended to help victims of this tremendous tragedy were spent this way. Even if it's in my restaurants it's still not right. If FEMA will let me know where to send the check I'll get the $200 out right away."

Mr. Brooks...my MoonShine Steel hat is off to you, sir. Your generosity does not go unnoticed although you would probably prefer it did. I understand if an announcement was made by you, it was in hopes that others might follow suit and right some very ugly wrongs at the hands of greedy and ignorant individuals. It's a prime example of standing for something you believe in and actually walking the walk and not just talking the talk.

Thank you, Mr. Brooks & Team Hooters ...for steppin' up to support the real spirit of America.