BACA Harley-Davidson Night Train A-Comin’…

BACA, Bikers Against Child Abuse, make no pretence of being a 1% club, although their general appearance does often have certain similarities, and they were careful to discuss their intentions and motivations with the MCs when they initially established themselves here in Australia. Adelaide was their first chapter in Australia, and the first outside the USA.

“We’ve had no dramas with the MCs; they’ve been receptive to the BACA idea,” spokesman Krash told us. “The fact that we’re bikers is one part of it, but the fact we’re against child abuse is what matters. Our single narrow focus is removing the fear from abused children. The most important people in the world today are the kids and we need to look after them. We’re doing our bit and we just ask that everybody help us out along the way.”

Their simple and laudable intent in a complex world is to create a safer environment for abused children.

“We’re not about noting ourselves for what we’ve done; it’s what we still need to do… there’s a lot of kids out there that still need help. Children are referred to us by any organisation set up to help abused kids—a parent, a family friend, a teacher, anybody. It’s imperative that the case is officially in the system—police, courts, the welfare system or similar—before we’ll have anything to do with it so we’re not involving ourselves in anything that’s not genuine. If we deal with a female child we have to have a female member present. That’s laid down in the BACA guidelines.”

BACA was formed about 10 years ago in Utah and the guidelines have been built over that time. According to the membership, they’re very workable and proven.

Although most BACA members are Harley-Davidson riders, not all are. It’s not a bike-specific organisation. The idea is that to be involved in a BACA run you need a bike that can sit comfortably on the speed limit, and Mick’s Night Train is one that manages that without too many problems.

The engine produces just over 100 hp without the NOS. It has a 48 mil Mikuni and the Edelbrock NOS.

There’s a variable pressure clutch which has counter weights, more revs, and more centrifugal force to lock the clutch rather than relying purely on the plates and springs to give drive.

Mick changed to a chain drive because he believed the belt probably wasn’t strong enough to handle it and he wanted a bigger wheel, a Lethal Weapon 200. The swingarm’s been modified to get the 200 comfortably bedded in.

He went with an Exile brake to get rid of the brake on the right hand side so it’s all in one combination.

The front end’s all Ness with four-inch-overs and a three-degree-rake in the trees.

The forward controls are RPM, there’s a Screamin’ Eagle race adjustable module, and the headlight and handlebars are Doss.

“I had the seat made by Skinners Custom Seats here in Adelaide. There’s nothing I’d change if I won the lottery. It’s good to ride, handles well with plenty of power, and it gets up and goes.”

The exhaust is Vance & Hines Big Radius. “I liked the look of it’, says Mick, “and they say the power’s better, although I don’t know if that’s true. It’s a hard thing for anyone to tell you about, and I’m a pretty average mechanic, so you learn as you go.

The rear wheel’s a Chrome Horse and the front is 80 spoke, twisted.

The eye-catching check was already on the tank when Mick bought the bike, so he added the same design to the front and rear guards. Lisa Wells did the mural and the rear guard as well as the checker plate on his helmet. She obviously knows her stuff because there’s a great Ned Kelly airbrushed helmet that gets seen around Adelaide all the time that Lisa did not long back.

The bike’s been in two shows and taken out five trophies, which is a success rate you can’t complain about. At the Longriders Show it pulled People’s Choice, Best Hand Crafted, and Best Mural; and at the Skin and Steel Best Custom and Best Performance. Even with all that, Mick’s been thinking about selling this one and buying a V-Rod.

“They’ve got the mid-controls and you can put a blower underneath the scoop… that would be interesting!”

words & pics by Chris Randells