Powersports Girls/AFT Team to Build LowLa

Thursday, January 08, 2009
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Powersports Modeling Agency - Andrea
Andrea is one of the original Powersports models. Over her shoulder is LowLa, the pro-street, top fuel metric custom that she is helping to build along with other girls in the agency.
Beauty and brains. It’s an unbeatable combination. AFT Customs owner, Jim Guiffra realized this when starting the Powersports Modeling Agency (PMA). After convincing a couple of his wife’s friends to hang out at AFT’s booth during a bike show, the results were better-than-anticipated. Not only did it attract attention to his booth, but he got requests from other vendors that wanted the girls to represent their companies as well. Seeing the potential in this arrangement, Guiffra started PMA in 2005.

And while most tradeshow models get by on looks alone, this wasn’t enough for Guiffra. To be able to better represent clients, the accomplished custom builder wanted Powersports’ girls to have a working knowledge of the products they represent beforehand. And if the majority of customers you represent are from the motorsports industry, what better way to improve your knowledge than by customizing a motorcycle yourself?

Now the PMA girls are taking it a step further and have set about building a bike of their own, tackling the task of converting a 2005 Honda VTX1300 into a show-quality, one-off custom. The motorcycle is scheduled to make its debut at the 2009 LA Calendar Show in July and will eventually become Sukhee’s (one of the models) daily rider.

According to her, the idea arose last year as she and Jim were traveling to Sturgis to show Guiffra’s award-winning build, Er Hed. The more he talked about the intricacies of the build as they traveled cross-country, the more she wanted to learn.

Jim Guiffra and Sukhee go over schematics.
Sukhee and Jim Guiffra look over schematics while working on the motorcycle that will one day be her daily rider.
“I shared my love of bikes with Jim, and that someday I wanted one of my own. That's where it began. Jim and I came to the conclusion that the next AFT Customs bike build would be my own personal bike,” she said.

No sooner did distributors hear about the build before they were jumping on board to support the project. Milwaukee Iron was one of the first companies to step up, offering fenders for the latest PMA project. A host of others quickly followed suit. But the motorcycle still needed a name.

“Bikes should be built with emotion. The name of the motorcycle should convey that emotion. Sukhee’s friends used to tease her about her alter ego named LowLa, so we named it after her alter ego,” Guiffra said.

Sukhee describes LowLa as “the part of me that is rebellious and doesn't care what people think. The sexy and provocative girl with no fear, motivated by adventure and the quest to live life like she means it.”

Sukhee works hard on LowLa and is the girl who will be the bike s lucky owner when it s all said and done.
Sukhee lets the sparks fly as she grinds on LowLa's frame.
LowLa will roll on a slightly modified frame and engine sourced from a 2005 Honda VTX1300. Guiffria has a reputation for creative component designs, like the ‘Univoir’ (fluid-filled) handlebar he introduced in Er Hed. LowLa will feature some of the innovations that Guiffra has already perfected in prior builds, like concealing the radiator under the seat and a using a hydraulic clutch conversion like he did in the 2004 Honda VTX1300 he entered in the AMD World Championship. He also “just had some hand-blown Pyrex done that runs up the frame in the front of the bike,” that carries coolant to the liquid-cooled powerplant.

Of course, installing these more complicated modifications will require the expertise of Guiffra and his partner, Ron Abel. But the girls are encouraged to do as much of the work as possible themselves.

When I called AFT for an interview, one of the models, Sara, was just arriving at the shop to work on LowLa. Sara is one of the newer girls and was excited about getting to do some welding for the very first time. She was
Model Sara Harrah was excited about learning how to weld and complimented Jim for his patience and willingness to teach.
Model Sara showed up while I was talking to Jim and was excited that she was going to get her first welding lesson.
raised around motorcycles. Her father rode a Harley-Davidson and she grew up riding dirt bikes. And while a lot of people wince at the thought of welding, Guiffra said that surprisingly five out of seven of the models want to wield a torch.

“Kylie doesn’t like the noise and the sparks, but enjoys working on the engine,” Guiffra said with a laugh.

The girls are fortunate. They get to learn the trade from an accomplished craftsman. AFT Customs has won the Metric Class title twice in the AMD World Championship of Custom Building (2008 & 2005), and Guiffra has earned respect as an ambassador to the metric revolution for his creations within the platform. He has witnessed the slow changes in the bike show scene that is finally acknowledging that metric cruisers deserve their share of the spotlight.

And his work has received a lion's share of accolades. Guiffra’s last build, Er Hed (pronounced ‘Air Head’), a bold interpretation of a board tracker of yore, is the motorcycle that won the 2008 AMD metric title. The bike combines a
The 2008 AMD World Championship Metric Class winner  Er Hed.
LowLa has big shoes to fill. Er Hed, pictured here, is the  2008 AMD World Championship Metric Class champion.
nostalgic look with modern technology. An AFT tank stretches seamlessly down the thick-tubed backbone of the Red Neck frame, a girder front end gives it an industrial feel, and the slim wheels, swept-back handlebars and thin pan seat give it old school charm while a Red Neck swingarm and 1700cc Yamaha engine keep it from running like a relic. It was while transporting Er Hed to Sturgis that the idea for LowLa was spawned, so it is only fitting that LowLa will be the one to defend Er Hed’s title at the AMD Championships in Sturgis this year.

Guiffra is never one to follow convention. If so, he would have been satisfied with banking in on the Powersports models’ beauty. But that type of stereotyping doesn’t fly with Guiffra. Not only is he making his business more marketable to a corporate crowd with the girls’ class and professionalism, but the models themselves often benefit from a boost in self-esteem and confidence while doing their job. This last point was confirmed in my conversation with Sara when I asked her about working on a motorcycle.

“It’s totally empowering. I also think it’s sexy for women to work on their motorcycles.”

We do too, Harrah. Brains and beauty. AFT Customs has conjured up a winning cocktail.



• Catch AFT Customs next weekend at the Easyriders V-Twin Bike Show Tour 2009 in Sacramento, CA
January 17-18.

• Look for LowLa’s debut at the 2009 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show July 18-19th.



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                      LowLa Sponsors
RC Components-Raven rims- www.rccomponents.com  
Meclec Metal Finishing-chrome plating- www.meclec.com
W8less Products-composite rotors- www.w8lesstechnologies.com  
Avon-Cobra tires-
www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle  
Goldammer Cycle Works-air cleaner- www.goldammercycle.com   
Milwaukee Iron-fenders- www.milwaukeeiron.com     
Kraus Motor Co.-twist brake - www.krausmotorco.com  
Adventure Bike-quick disconnect trunk - www.adventurebikeparts.com  
Duane Ballard-hand-tooled leather seat - www.dbcustomleather.com  
Riff Raff Customs-paint -
www.riffraffcustoms.com
Magura USA-radial pump clutch and slave cylinder- www.magura.com
Kewlmetal- Custom Triple Trees Set (3 deg rake) - www.kewlmetal.com
Independent Cycles Legend - air suspension - www.independentcycleinc.com  
Drag Specialties/Parts Unlimited -
www.parts-unlimited.com
Miller Welding
www.millerwelds.com
PPG Paint
Comments
John Porter - Er Hed  February 27, 2009 10:21 PM
Sometimes I see a bike and wonder if it was meant to be 'ridden' or just look good in a picture.
Hutchy - Dirty Sproter  January 8, 2009 05:08 PM
If there is one thing I am sure of in this world is that you never want to have a dirty sproter...
AFT Customs - ER HED  January 8, 2009 03:40 PM
The rear brake design is called a "Sproter".I think Russel Mitchel invented the design but don't quote me.The brake pads don't make contact with the "tooth portion" of the srocket.I recomend PJ1 Blue Label chain lube because it does'nt fly off badly.You obviously have to keep your sproter clean.It's a high maintnance item but who cares-it's bitchen!
Dan the Canadian.... - Wish I had $$$$$$$$$$$$  January 8, 2009 10:58 AM
Man these bike are COOL...........
Ty - Er Hed  January 8, 2009 08:52 AM
On the Er Hed, a rear sprocket that doubles as the rear brake? How does that work? Realistically, will you ever be able to keep the "disc" free enough of gunk for the brake to work? Beautiful bike, nevertheless.

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