2009 V-Twin Expo “Excellence in Motorcycling” Award Winners

vtwin_award1You asked for it over and over. Below is the list of the 2009 Leaders Of The Industry who received their trophies from Dave Nichols, Chief Editor of Easyriders Magazine (thank you Ben for refreshing my memory shot during the Grand Ballroom ceremony after a couple of “Cuba Libre”*).

Motor of the Year: S&S Cycle KN Motor. Frame Designer of the Year: V-Twin MFG. Wheel Designer of the Year: RC Components. Tech Product of the Year: Baker Direct Drive 7-Speed Transmission. Accessory of the Year: Klock Werks  Flare Windshield. Performance Product of the Year: Zipper’s Performance Products For Thundermax G2 Closed-Loop EFI Controller. Teresi Prize- Innovative Product of the Year: Hoppe Industries’ Quadzilla Detachable Fairing.

2009 Bike Winners. Metric of the Year: Star V Star 950. Custom Production Bike: Big Bear Choppers Model Paradox. Production Bobber of the Year: Brass Balls Bobbers Classic Bobber. Cruiser of the Year: Harley-Davidson FLSTSB Cross Bones. Motorcycle Design of the Year: Harley-Davidson FL Series Powertrain and Frame. Bike of the Year: Big Dog Motorcycle Wolf.

Industry Leader of the Year: Arlen Ness , Arlen Ness Enterprises
Lifetime Achievement: Denis Manning, BUB Enterprises

And let’s not forget the hardest working photographer in our business – Michael Lichter – who received a Sucker Punch Sally’s motorcycle to celebrate his 30 years covering the people, motorcycles and custom parts of our V-Twin industry.

*To make a Cuba Libre properly, fill a highball glass with ice and half fill with cola. In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 shots of white rum with the juice of half a lime, add ice and shake. Strain the mixture over the cola – the rum and lime juice mix should float over the cola.

23 Responses to “2009 V-Twin Expo “Excellence in Motorcycling” Award Winners”


  1. 1 Bobfather Feb 11th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

    Some deserving winners although I’ve always had to question the absolute integrity of Easyriders, especially in recent history. I would have to question making anything from BBC an award winner when they have a huge number of bikes being recalled due to safety issues with their frames. Maybe they spent a bunch in ad dollars with Nichols.

  2. 2 raycwheeler Feb 11th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    Bobfather ,

    Please enlighten us .

    Ray

  3. 3 Believer 45 Feb 11th, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    Wake up and smell the coffee raycwheeler………

    If you think for a brief moment that Big Bear is not spending money with Easyriders then you need to go back to the 1rd grade cause you missed something.

    Here you go:

    Stupid question #1:

    “How do magazines stay in business and make a profit?”

    Stupid answer:

    “By their advertisers!!!”

    Stupid question #2:

    “Does big Bear advertise with Easyriders?”

    Stupid answer:

    “Yes, all the time!”

    Stupid question #3:

    “Is it Easyrider’s interest to see their paying advertising clients do well?”

    Stupid answer:

    “Yes!!!!…….so they all make money!!!!

    Congrats raycwheeler…you just passed the 1st grade!!

  4. 4 Jeff Nicklus Feb 11th, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    Wasn’t it Dennis Manning, when presented with his award that said ….

    “When I learned I was receiving this award I thought …. Why are they giving this to me, I don’t advertise with Easyriders” ?

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  5. 5 Rock Star Feb 11th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    awards for building a motorcycle?
    are you John Britten? get over yourself “master builder” LOL
    just ride the damn thing!
    like I ride your wife.

  6. 6 raycwheeler Feb 11th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

    Believer 45 ,

    Those were not my questions .

    Skipped 1st grade .

    Ray

  7. 7 Boss Hawg Feb 11th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    Kevin and Dave Nichols…you betcha.

    It would be very interesting to know just what has BBC given ol brother Dave.

    Boss Hawg

  8. 8 Jeff Nicklus Feb 11th, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    Boss …… Boss …… Boss ….

    Careful now before you get sent to your room without dinner. You could even be banished from the realm for such blasphemy !

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  9. 9 just my opinion Feb 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    I personally don’t think it is a fare statement to say that BBC does not deserve the award because of some problems with there frames. Have any of you heard of Harley they have recalls all the time. Don’t make there bikes junk or them as a company unworthy of an award. I am sure that there is some truth in Easyrider giving awards to there advertisers more often than others, but that is just good business. Why would anyone give awards to a company that never spends money with your magizine? That fact alone does not mean those that recieved awards did not deserve there awards.
    No matter who gets the awards there will always be some one that says they did not earn it or they dont deserve it. Sounds like a lot of whining to me.

    To all who got awards Congratulations good job.

  10. 10 Boss Hawg Feb 11th, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    Hey Jeff…you and i will settle this outside the room Brother.

    Where will you be at Bike Week and when, or Leesburg or Thunder Beach?

    Boss Hawg

  11. 11 Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian M/C Co Feb 12th, 2009 at 8:59 am

    Congratulations to Klockwerks. Well done guys and very well deserved. A very outstanding product from a very outstanding company

  12. 12 Jeff Nicklus Feb 12th, 2009 at 10:59 am

    Boss,

    Our appearance contract is still in the air, however, we are scheduled to be on Beach Street the full term of Bike Week. Also, we will be at Thunder Beach at Frank Brown Park, again for the term of the event.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  13. 13 rodent Feb 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

    ER can give an award to who they want too. It’s their show, it’s their award. They could even give Obama the party award if they so choose.

  14. 14 Road12 Feb 12th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    It’s absolutely true that those awards are set up specifically by Easyriders and linked directly to PR, purchased advertising and let’s face it, personal preferences. Klockwerks Flaire Windshield was a given but I have to question the rest of the winners. Well, S&S had to win the engine of the year… they are the last engine company in business (:-), and BBC had to win the bike of the year since pretty much everybody else is out of business or so low in sales that they are no longer represented at dealerships. Do they deserve to win, probably not but they had to give the award to someone and Orange County Choppers got their last year.

    This industry (as any other ones) is full of politics, friends scratching each other’s backs and stuff like that. There were no surprises in this list of winners this year. Congrats to everybody, I guess….

  15. 15 Gunrunner Feb 12th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    rodent / man of few words… good call. It is their show.

    Road12… BBC won the Custom Production Bike of the year. Not Bike of the Year.

    Sure most every manufacture has their recalls, but how they handle that issue is what everyone remembers. It is the most important factor that any company can do is stand behind their product, and if you don’t… then you better expect the bad rap that you hear on this blog or anywhere else.

  16. 16 Wacko Feb 12th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    Believer 45, you are a fuckin idiot. Go back to the 1st grade and learn to read. Ray C Wheeler wasn’t asking any of those questions and you jumped on his shit. Ray is a great guy, a fantastic builder and rider and a friend to all the deserving ones in the industry. Now you have pissed me off.

    My name is mark stewart. I work in the industry with some great guys and I don’t hide behind my online handle. Smoke pole dip shit.

    my email for hate mail is:

    Mark@outlawcommunications.com
    Wacko@bikernetmetric.com
    mark.stewart@W8less.com

    is that enought?????

  17. 17 Believer 45 Feb 12th, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    easy on the drama Wacko…….no need to get your panties all tangled up……..go back to your boyfriends xxx

    I don’t give a fuck who you are tough guy……….if Ray has a problem, he can address me himself. I’m sure he doesn’t need you speaking for him. I’m sure that he is a great person and a fine builder, however, that’s not important.

    Mind your own business drama queen. I can post when and what I want.

    If you can’t handle this blog cause you are a sensitive little bitch, you need to get the fuck out of here and go back to the 1st grade where you belong.

    This is the best blog on the web for the american motorcycle industry for a reason!!!!

    NO BULLSHIT!!!!

  18. 18 Doc Robinson Feb 12th, 2009 at 11:30 pm

    NO BULLSHIT? Except for your steaming pile Believer 45. It makes me sad that a great blog like this is occasionally lowered in tone by tiny brained/tiny you-know-what people like you.
    As for BBC, great bikes, totally deserving of awards and totally not deserving of most of the bull put around about their so-called problems which have been exaggerated beyond belief. Kevin Alsop stands behind his product 100% when there is a genuine and not a vexacious claim.

  19. 19 Cyril Huze Feb 12th, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    Hey guys. Can you debate without insulting each other? Focus on the topic and not on each other. Thank you.

  20. 20 Vic Feb 13th, 2009 at 9:31 am

    I was surprised at some of the awards also, but as stated it’s a V-Twin/Paisano thing and they will be slanted towards personal relationships and advertizing loyalties. Big Bear is at least as desrving as OCC was, and anything from Baker will be well thought out and “correct” an OEM deficiency 😉 Flared windshield? Whatever, they’ve been around for a while, even been a clip on deflector to do that for years. Hoppe Fairing? Why now instead of 5-6 years ago when they first came out? Free advertizing for a friend now that a bunch of other companies are making fairings, including imports.

  21. 21 Kevin "TEACH" Baas Feb 16th, 2009 at 9:30 am

    Congrats to all, The expo was great this year and I was honored to be able to meet and talk with all the companies who sponsor my high school chop class. Can’t wait for next year.
    Teach

  22. 22 MIKEOUT Feb 18th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    Yes, Congrats. to Klock Works for their award. My question is, how long will it take Yaffe to knock this off? I bet he has already sent one off to China, but remember folks his parts are originals.

    Mikeout

  23. 23 ¿spoom Mar 4th, 2009 at 11:51 pm

    I’m curious-who came first with the recurve shields; Klockwerks, Cee Baily, somebody else? Seriously, anybody happen to know for certain since “knockoffs” has come up?

Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze