Ride CT & Ride New England Serving New England, NYC and The Hudson Valley!
By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com
(Editor’s note: Update at bottom)
Sometimes a rider pulls in, parks his motorcycle and you just go, “Wow!”
Chris Rasile’s bike offers an example. It’s a 2002 Harley-Davidson Road King, pumped up from 88 cubic inches to 110 and fitted with a
front fender from a 2007 Street Glide.
What makes it pop is the paint job done by Robert Gorske of Roade Studio in Bristol. He started with black above and orange below, and separated the two colors by black and white checkerboard pattern stripes.
“I had the idea. He takes the idea and runs with it,” Rasile said.
The gas tanks sports Harley logos that once appeared on its imported Sprint model back in the late 1960s.
Also unique is the black over orange seat, crafted by Pirate Upholstery in Kingston, NY.
“The seat was taken off and shaved,” said Rasile, a former champion pro motorcycle drag racer and former owner of Fast Lane Cycles in Stamford, CT, who also owns eight other bikes.
The $3,000 paint job on the Road King was done in 2009 but it continues to sparkle, as it did this morning at RIDE-CT.com’s favorite haunt, Toymaker’s Cafe in Falls Village. “Wherever we go, people think it’s a brand new bike,” said Rasile (picture below).
UPDATE: Sometimes it’s the most innocuous post that stirs a controversy, and that has turned out to be the case with this one. All was fine, I thought, having received a Facebook response Monday night from Rasile in which he said: “Thanks for the post … See you again at Toymaker’s Cafe. You never know what ‘Fastlane’ will show up with next.”
Shortly after noon today (May 29), though, a highly-charged comment was received. When I went to moderate it, I was surprised to read the following:
“The article … is hugely fabricated. The previous owner, Rocco, purchased this bike in 2002 and sold it to Chris (Rasile) in 2012. Everything you read in the article and see on the bike was NOT designed by the new owner. All of the assembly work was, in fact, done by Daddio in Stamford. Pirate Upholstery had nothing to do with the seat. It was done in Myrtle Beach, as per Rocco’s request, by a husband and wife team.
“Roade Studio did paint the bike from a design Rocco suggested, starting with the H-D Sprint emblem and finishing with the checker-board design separating the black and orange colors. All of the motor work was done in Rhode Island by a long time motor builder, the name escapes me at this time.”
The person who sent the comment didn’t give a name, but an email address was provided, so I quickly emailed to get more info and clarification. I also called Bob Gorske to verify 
that Roade Studio actually did the paint job. Groske searched through his files and determined that he had indeed painted the bike’s tins – in March 2008, not 2009 as Rasile suggested – and provided two pictures (left and below) to prove it.
Gorske also recalled doing the job for some named Rocco, the name the person who sent the comment gave, although he couldn’t recall the last name.
Shortly before 5 p.m., I received an email from Dana Buchetto, who had made the comment, and she supplied more information:
“I’m sure you understand who aggravating it is to see someone take credit for something you were once very proud of. I bike belonged to my father-in-law, who had to sell it due to medical reasons that made it difficult for him to continue riding. He literally JUST sold the bike to Chris in 2012.
“That being said … Chris had NO BUSINESS taking credit for any of the work done on that bike. But i guess all that he said to you makes a better story than ‘I bought it like this.’ But that is in fact what he did.
“My father-in-law is Rocco Buchetto Jr., originally from Stamford, CT, retired and now living in Myrtle Beach (SC). I just want to give credit where is due. It is a beautiful bike and I think his name should be mentioned.”
Well, Dana, as you’ve just learned, a reporter is only as good as his (or her) sources. I hope this extensive explanation giving your side is sufficient to put the matter to rest. I’ve been in the news business for nearly 40 years and this situation is a first for me.
Chris may once have been a Racer, Shop Owner….but he rarely built anything himself…he knew Highly Revered Racers & Motor builders, as will as Painters……They built they majority of his rides.. He long ago had Many Throphys & Victories under his belt…BUT…When caught cheating while racing…He Lost Them All…So now he Tries to maintain a rep….But has long ago ruined that in the racing & custom world. And those folks are the facts
The article written by Bud Wilkinson, of Ride-CT.com is hugely fabricated. The previous owner Rocco, purchased this bike in 2002 and sold it to Chris, in 2012. Everything you read in the article and see on the bike was NOT designed by the new owner, pictured, Chris Rasile. All of the assembly work was in fact, done by Daddio, in Stamford. Pirate Upholstery had nothing to do with the seat, it was done in Myrtle Beach, as per Rocco’s request, by a husband and wife team. Roade Studio did paint the bike from a design Rocco suggested, starting with the HD Sprint emblem and finishing with the checker-board design separating the black and orange colors. All of the motor work was done in Rhode Island by a long time motor builder, the name escapes me at this time, 106 HP-110 ft lbs torque. Next time, get the FACTS straight!