Mule 2

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That may be how it feels to be a HOT ROD'S BIKEWORKS reader right now. New editor, new content, new writers, and new project bikes, but we bet you can't help but feel a twinge of familiarity when you set your eyes on this loveable lump of steel that we've always referred to as Mule 2. For those of you who aren't used to seeing this constantly evolving canvas for black spray paint, we better have a quick recap before we pick up where we left off several years ago.

Mule 2 was conceived and built to provide a test platform for chopper parts, softail suspension bits, and tall (that means stroked) motors (thanks to the high backbone, it's easy to swap engines in and out of the Chopper Guys frame). Frank Kaisler and his longtime emergency helper, Tom Foster, did most of the work. Working out of Frank's garage and whatever shop that would allow its facilities to be commandeered by these two scallywags, the bike came together in a series of HOT ROD BIKES articles in 1999. Yeah, we know what you're thinking, it's ancient, it's ugly, it's not finished. Well, Mr. Counterbalanced-smartypants, there were people that actually rode motorcycles before the year 2000. Most aftermarket OEM customs and the majority of home-built bikes still use Evo-design powerplants. But you're right on one point - we just won't admit which one.

Over the years, during its heyday as a HOT ROD BIKES test machine, Mule 2 was our designated 80-inch Evo of choice, recording scores of dyno runs and road tests. It was even called into duty to hold a Zipper's Performance monster motor that cranked out almost 175 rear-wheel horsepower! Anyone want to wheelie a 12-over front end?

How I Acquired Mule 2

The last two years have been sad ones for Mule 2. A slew of parts changes and the rising cost of insuring the Kaisler imperial fleet of two-wheeled antiquities left Mule 2 collecting dust in the back of the barn, or Frank's garage if you want to get technical. Seeing it in this state of neglect left me with no choice, I pestered Frank repeatedly until he agreed to put Mule 2 under my "stewardship." Now it's time to fix the problems that have accumulated over the last couple of years, bring the bike out of de facto storage, and send it into the modern era by updating some of the parts for better performance and more comprehensive styling. Does that mean it will finally get a proper paintjob? Not likely, but I'll do my damnedest to get it a lot closer to doing what it does best - being a fun, dependable machine that kicks a whole lotta attitude for not a lotta green.