Cars, trucks, motorcycles and memorabilia from McQueen’s widow Barbara and other collectors were put up for sale last Saturday at the Petersen Automotive Museum. A 1937 Crocker brought in $276,500, the biggest price of the day and a world record for a Crocker motorcycle. A 1934 Indian Sport Scout went for $177,500, and a 1920 […]
Archive for November, 2006
Steve McQueen’s Crocker Motorcycle Sold For $276,500
Published by November 14th, 2006 in Customs and Editorial.KD Tool supplies derby covers, timing covers and access covers with your company logo or whatever design you would like on a cover. They manufacture the parts from 6061 aluminum, engrave them, and then fill in with paint to make your design stand out. The covers are buffed and polished before being sent to you. […]
How To Sell Your Custom Motorcycle On eBay
Published by November 13th, 2006 in Customs and Editorial.First, let me say that according to research by Terapeak, Harley-Davidson merchandise on eBay this past year have topped $30,000,000 for parts and accessories alone, not counting Harley motorcycles and full blown custom bikes. Second, Harley-Davidson has consistently been the top ranked search term on eBay’s Pulse, which lists the top 10 search terms for […]
OCC Invests 13.5 Millions In Custom Motorcycles Plant
Published by November 12th, 2006 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Seems like Orange County Choppers is going to capitalize on its brand name made famous by the TV reality series "American Chopper," They are going to invest 13.5 millions to build a plant and and should create 160 new jobs (up from just 12 now). The Teutul family’s business should be a 92,000 square foot […]
Custom builders are very familiar with this problem. We build custom bikes with hand built one-off custom gas tanks. Then we have to figure out where to position the fuel valve on the gas tank. And it never happens that the best position to install it (the lowest part of the tank to use all gas capacity) is […]
With 2 pipes, how many exhaust designs can you create? Well, it seems that there is no limit. A company in Miami called Wanted Choppers just released 5 interesting new designs for both left & right side applications for Evo & Twin Cam engine bikes from 96 to 07. The pipes are built from .065 […]
Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) is the official riding club of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Founded in 1985 H.O.G. currently has more than one million members and nearly 1,400 chapters worldwide, making it the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle organization in the world. H.O.G. rallies are held around the globe to celebrate Harley-Davidson motorcycle riding. The 5 US […]
The cut-off date for motorcycle entries for the second annual Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance is just weeks away. The entry deadline is DECEMBER 31st. Submissions received after the closing date will not be considered. All motorcycle makes and models (production, competition and custom) up to 1975 are eligible, and the featured marques will […]
They are a classic. Their beautiful designs work will all styles of bikes and objectively, nobody has ever done better quality lights. They are made out of billet aluminum, not cheap casting, and they will never leak water inside like many knock-off on the market. These lights will turn heads well before you make turns. They are all 2-function lights, so you can decide […]
Art Of Neon In Your Custom Shop Or Garage
Published by November 9th, 2006 in Accessories, Builders and Editorial.Neon is an art form which is both delightfully kitsch and contemporary. Almost seventy-five years after its invention in France, and historic entry into America (the first neon signs were imported by businessman Earle C. Anthony), neon has become a popular medium for post-modern artists. No surprise logo neon signs are used by a lot […]
Unfortunately, not all the calls we receive are about ordering one of my custom parts or about meeting with me to discuss a new build. By far, the largest category of calls fits in the category “How do you do this? Where do you do that?” And in this category, powdercoating questions are at the […]
A state lawmaker in Tulsa, OK is proposing giving a break to motorcycle riders on the state’s highways. State Representative Paul Wesselhoft says it’s not fair for motorcyclists to pay the same price as a car on the toll roads because motorcycles cause less wear and tear on the roadway. And he says the bikes […]
Most of you know or have used open belt systems of BDL, Primo Rivera, Performance Machine. All excellent products. But there is also a small company called Tauer Machine offering complete open primaries and billet 6061-T6 pulleys. Their specialty is an oil filter/cooler in the primary drive and a choice of wicked 3D covers that you […]
I never been fond of motorcycle wheels looking like Christmas ornaments. They are for (some) SUV’s. I am minimalist, and with the retro trend making bikes looking like reideable bikes again, I bet that a lot of builders are going to get back to the basics. The Invader wheels are made in America since 1975, […]
There are many brands of Internal throttles available. Some made abroad will not fit your 1" grips without remachining the grip to make it fit inside. Others will fit but are hard to twist, A company called Streamline Designs offers a "strret legal" internal throttle running smoothly on bearings. The twist needed to reach full throttle is […]
From motorcycles painter Doug Wozney out of Wisconsin a very cool & cheap idea to embellish the right side area of your engine. It’s called the ‘RAPPERZ’ air filter cover. Don’t ask me why he picked this name. Personally, I now regret that I threw away so many teardrop S&S covers. I could have used […]
More than 65,000 motorcycles were stolen in 2005. That’s one bike every 8.5 minutes. (For your information a vehicle is stolen every 25 seconds) We all know that if the bad guys really want your bike, they’re going to get it one way or the other. And when a motorcycle is gone, it’s gone (stripped […]
E’Ville Twin Motorcycle Hoodlum Bobber
Published by November 3rd, 2006 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.I don’t know any custom builder with a household name who didn’t deserve the recognition of our industry. But I know a lot of custom builders, professionals or amateurs, who deserve more recognition than the one they acquired locally or among a circle of friends. In Alberta, Canada, there is a professional builder named Miles Brown (a.k.a Smiley) […]
About 300,000 biking enthusiasts are expected to roll into Galveston, Texas for what the organizers claim to be the 3rd largest motorcycle rally in the United States (after Daytona & Sturgis). Bikers from across the nation are already arriving on the island anticipating four days of partying, camaraderie, music, group activities, a Navy ship tour and constant parading […]
VH1 Auctioning Ness/Def Leppard/Journey Custom Bike
Published by November 2nd, 2006 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.VH1 Classic has partnered with bands Def Leppard and Journey to auction off a custom bike, designed by Arlen & Cory Ness. The bike is autographed by each member of both bands. Now through Nov. 22 online users can visit VH1 Auctions to bid on this rock-n-roll machine. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to CAN […]
For years, Russ Austin, owner of Precious Metal Customs has been rigid about only building hardtail frames. But for those wishing to spend a lot of time in the solo seat, Russ has decided to offer the Softail version of his already successful Spoon Rigid style frames. Logically, it called it the Spoon Flex. The […]
It’s the season for the release of great motorcycle books. This week it is Art Of The Chopper 2, a sequel of the best selling Art Of The Chopper 1 published two years ago. Choppers, one of the most enduring symbols from the 1960s are more prevalent than ever. After a foreword written by James Hetfield, […]
As most of you already know, before devoting my life (meaning long days and most nights) to custom motorcycles, I was in advertising. I had a lot of graphic artists working under my supervision and loved this aspect of my job . So, when I can spot one with talent, I have this urge to promote him to the world. […]
