$160 K!?  That's what the America's 9-11 Foundation  Raffle Bike (made by Galesburg, Illinois Artists  in iron, Midwest Cycles) sold for.  Now you  know, that's enough moola to buy a new home  now-a- days.  I was invited to ride along with  a good friend to Galesburg and take a look  see, while this 160 thousand dollar machine  was still in house being fitted with some new  owner requests, like a speedometer!     While on our way south, I  kept trying to  imagine what a motorcycle of this value could  look like?  I've seen several of those Bike  shows that about every Cable Channel, is  airing and most of them were pretty nice.   Some of them I felt were outstanding.  But  $160,000.00 is a whole bunch of cash.  And  made by a custom shop in Galesburg??   I couldn't imagine any motorcycle worth that  much money.  I was curious!  Once in town, it wasn't hard to find the home  of Midwest Choppers.  Take the East  Galesburg exit off I-74, stay on Main Street,  round the town square and you're there.   Although not what I was expecting, the little  white cement block building at 150 West Main  Street, didn't look like a place that could  produce custom Bikes fetching prices over  $100,000.    We had barely touched the threshold when we  were greeted by Doug Niles and made to feel  right at home.  Entering the small show room  we seen four beautiful examples of the type  of artistry the inhabitants were capable of  producing.  When we mentioned our quest to  find this rare beauty we were immediately  swept  to the outback, to a group of buildings  where numerous bikes were in various stages  of development.  The 9-11 Bike sat in the  doorway of one of these garages.  Doug was  delighted to explain all the minute details of the  design.  Like the Twin Towers on the down  tube, the Pentagon sculpted on the oil tank, the  stars on the front fender commemorating each  commercial flight involved on that fateful day.   The beautifully designed rear tail light and the  dedication, placed under the seat.  It was truly  awe inspiring.  The more I looked the more I  felt a sense pride just being near it.  It honored  the heroes and victims, that were involved in  the tragedy of 9-11, in such a way I couldn't  help but mentally relive the horrors I had  viewed on television that day.  The pictures I  took of what I'll call a rolling monument do not  do it justice.  In part because of lack of  experience and in part because of excitement.   Looking back, I wish was a professional  photographer.  The photos hopefully would  have been a whole bunch better, and I would  have had the forethought to bring extra  batteries for my camera.  But, it's to late to  lament my short comings.  The Bike is by now  in Virginia with its new owner Ed Cook.  Whom by the way, had purchased every  raffle ticket and threw in another $10,000 for  this piece of art.  I'm proud to have been able  to see this masterpiece for myself.  And to  have seen it in its place of creation is fantastic.  I have gained great respect for the work  developed by Midwest Choppers founder  Chip Miyler and his team.  They are truly  world class custom bike builders.  The next  time you find yourself in Galesburg, Illinois,  stop in and say hi.  This is the place they create  rolling monuments to heros!  NOTICE:  It's an unfortunate thing but  Midwest Choppers has gone out of business.

Midwest Choppers  150 West Main Street  Galesburg, IL. 61401  309-342-7433  www.midwestchoppers.com