Kirk Taylor’s Strider Custom

Custom builders, especially builders with decades of experience and focused knowledge of powersports culture, draw upon a myriad of touchstones when they take on a project. In the case of Kirk Taylor and the tiny custom Strider here, inspiration came from the “First Lady of Drag Racing” Shirley Muldowney.

Also known professionally as “Cha Cha,” Shirley Muldowney was the first woman to receive a license from the National Hot Rod Association to drive a Top Fuel Dragster. She took Top Fuel Championships in 1977, 1980 and 1982.

Builder and painter Kirk Taylor opened Custom Design Sturdios in 1988 but he’s been around bikes since helping out in his dad’s machine shop as a kid. Blending his creative aesthetic with mechanical know-how has resulted in world-class customs shown worldwide. As fr his Strider custom, said Taylor, “I wanted to do a “girl” bike based loosely as a tribute to legendary female drag racer Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney. So a Hot Pink Kandy Flake Strider named “Lil Cha Cha” was what it had to be!”

He’s done Cha Cha proud!

Tiny Strider custom bikes are an initiative of the Flying Piston Benefit. Unveiled at the Flying Piston Breakfast at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip in August 2018, they are now touring to motorcycle events before being auctioned to benefit Motorcycle Missions and Technical Education Scholarships. Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/FlyingPistonBenefit/