SPOOKY TOOTH CYCLES
Every now and then, events spring from the cracks of society, starting with roots where laws have yet to infest. It's in these outlaw deserts where law and the pursuit of happiness battle it out in a moral showdown. Rad Company always has front row seats to these matches because more often than not, the power of the individual triumphs over restrictions, albeit sometimes altered. That's why we're all rooting for Spooky Tooth Cycles out in Tucson, Arizona.

By combining standard bicycles with small two stroke engines, Spooky Tooth reinvented the motorcycle for their own thrill seeking purposes "We started off building outlaw bikes that did 45 mph, 55-60 with a nitrous kit," explains Roland Bosma, co-founder of Spooky Tooth. "Then we had legal problems." Turns out that there's a law on the book about bikes traveling over 20 mph needing to be registered and licensed, which Spooky Tooth quickly realized would take the fun out of their operation. But even after regulating themselves to avoid clashes with police, the heat kept up, with many riders even having their bikes impounded on the spot.

After meeting with the Assistant City Manager, two prosecutors from the city's attorney's office, and Lt. Mike Pryor from the Transportation Division of the Tucson Police Department at a local state congressman's office, Roland basically told the police department to back off or face a lawsuit. The federal government states that under 48cc and 20 mph motorized vehicles are fine, ditto with the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles. The problem arises from a revised Arizona statute that classifies their bikes as mopeds. "So we're trying to start a little revolution around here to help people get to work, give them a cool ride for cheap, five or six hundred bucks, and it's fucking working," explains Roland. By the time of this article, there will be 300 riders in Tucson alone.

We here in New York take our public transportation for granted, but it's a different story in Tucson. "It's horrible for these people! Now, they have this really tricked stylish bike that they can take across town in a matter of minutes." When asked if he feels a bit dorky about pulling up to a real chopper, Roland scoffs at the idea; "Fuck no! These guys fucking love us. We have some hardcore bikers who are into our shit. Zig Zag (Spooky Tooth's other co-founder) used to build custom chopper motorcycles for a factory here. I mean, if you squint your eyes enough, it's like you're looking at a turn-of-the-century motorcycle."

rare Zig Zag photo

After pushing against the outdated 1969 revised statute in Tucson, Spooky Tooth actually got the Governor of Arizona to sign a bill on May 19th, 2006, stating that their custom bikes are totally legal without license and registration. Riders are still being hassled because the bill doesn't take effect until October, so Spooky Tooth is riding in outlaw limbo right now. Citations have reportedly been increasing at this time, with most of the harassment coming from three specific officers that are, you guessed it...motorcycle patrol officers.

At 150 mpg, Spooky Tooth Cycles are thankfully environmentally friendly in these apocalyptic days. But the future of the company is looking even greener after future EPA restrictions scheduled for 2008 deemed their Chinese motors too dirty, making Spooky Tooth look at electric in a way they never thought they would. "We have a design for electric that is so cool," exclaimed Roland. "It's hidden in the front wheel. When you look at it, you think you're looking at a drum brake. Ape hangers, low seat, raw steel frame. Quiet and stealthy, with your arms up, flying through a crowd. Someone turns, 'What the fuck was that!'" Once Spooky Tooth turns Tucson electric, legal issues will be a thing of the past also, as the federal definition of "bicycle" specifically includes an electric bicycle up to 20 mph. Anyway you look at it, Spooky Tooth Cycles are power for the people.