An overhead shot of the event, with hundreds of people and motorcycles parked on the grass in the sunshine.

RICK’S PICKS: BORN-FREE 15 RECAP

Words and Images, Rick Spada.

We invited our friend and talented photographer, Rick Spada from Chicken Fried Choppers, to share his firsthand experience at Born-Free 15 with us. True to form, Rick flawlessly captured all the action. Check out his recap below.

It doesn't take long after diving down the custom motorcycle rabbit hole to start hearing about the Born-Free Motorcycle Show! Born-Free is an annual event held in Silverado, California and is widely regarded as America’s biggest stage in motorcycling. The two-day event kicked off on Saturday, June 22nd, with thousands of motorcycles riding into Oak Canyon Park, along with hundreds of vendors, bands, and a seemingly unlimited number of motorcycles of every variety to pore over.

Builders from around the world are invited to craft a custom motorcycle for the show and showcase their fabrication talent and artistic exploits. The competition is fierce, offering builders the chance to win awards, cash prizes in the form of oversized checks, and even a free trip to the Mooneyes Yokohama Hotrod Custom Show in Japan! What makes this event unique is that all invited builders judge each other’s bikes. There's no better panel of judges than your peers, and this system has consistently proven effective.

A closeup of a line of parked bikes, pink, red, white, orange, and many other colors going beyond out of frame.

WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT UNIQUE IS THAT ALL INVITED BUILDERS JUDGE EACH OTHER’S BIKES. THERE'S NO BETTER PANEL OF JUDGES THAN YOUR PEERS, AND THIS SYSTEM HAS CONSISTENTLY PROVEN EFFECTIVE.

The event space itself is massive; even after spending three consecutive days on-site, I still didn't manage to see the entire grounds! The volume of attendees was incredible not just on Saturday, but also on Sunday, with everyone visibly thrilled to enjoy a day out on their bikes. Nearly every vendor booth displayed at least one motorcycle, making a stroll through the shaded tents unexpectedly rewarding. Throughout the day, bursts of applause and cheers echoed from the Ives Brothers Wall of Death show, while Chris Huber, the one and only, announced bands or exchanged banter with friends over the PA system. The excitement culminated at day's end with motorcycle giveaways and awards.

MOTORCYCLE RALLIES, RIDES, & EVENTS

From local rides to dealer events to multi-day rallies, there's something for everyone. All are welcome.

A woman from behind raising her hands in the air on stage in front of a large crowd.

I’m not sure why it took me so long to get out and experience my first Born-Free event. Perhaps I had some romantic idea of building a chopper and making the pilgrimage out to California, or at the very least shipping a bike out before riding it back to Connecticut. When Harley-Davidson asked if I would shoot this year's event, I gladly said yes and traded the lofty bucket list ambition above for another. The first thing that really grabbed me were the constantly changing landscapes of California—from interstates across the city to beaches on the Pacific, and mountains and canyons just a half hour away if you're brave enough to split lanes. Coming from the East Coast, everything feels over the top in the best of ways: taller mountains, sweeping landscapes, extravagant motorcycles and custom cultures, and more extravagant people too. Traveling out west and experiencing all it has to offer lends perspective, and I always feel like I go back home with more than I came with. Any motorcycle event is best enjoyed when you're on a bike of your own, and I would highly recommend the same if you plan on attending the show next year.

So, what’s Born-Free all about? Born-Free itself isn't radical. It isn't a wild crazy campout party mayhem (although I'm sure many have found the limit). It's an all-encompassing celebration of motorcycling in a beautiful part of the country at the best time of the year! You will for sure find me riding a bike into Oak Canyon Park again in 2025. Catch you there!