Trailer queens—those spotless bikes towed to events and seldom ridden—may be the norm at some motorcycle shows, but not at Born-Free 6, the huge gathering held last weekend in Southern California. Here, patina is celebrated. The rattier your bike, it seems, the better it is, and creative customization is encouraged. And more power to you if you rode in from another state on a chopper powered by a Harley, Triumph, or even an old air-cooled Japanese mill. It's a vibrant scene thick with tats, beards and Mexican blankets on sissy bars, plus wide interests that range from skateboards and Pabst Blue Ribbon to custom vans of the 1970s and some of the coolest motorcycles on the planet. Enjoy the pics.
PHOTO GALLERY: Born-Free 6
Southern California motorcycle gathering brings out all kinds of bikes and people.