Archive for August, 2009
Art Of The Chopper Truck In Sturgis
Published by August 24th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Friend Of The Industry Jasmine Cain Receives 5 Music Nominations
Published by August 24th, 2009 in Editorial and Events.Nominations for Just Plain Folks, the world’s largest independent music awards organization, have been announced. After screening 42,000 albums and 560,000 songs, Jasmine Cain is leading the pack with 5 nominations which include: Rock Album of the Year: “Locks & Keys” – Hard Rock Song of the Year: “Fade” & “Whiskey Kiss” – Rock Song of […]
You hit 50 and start your golden years. The kids are University bound. You and your husband realize that the big city rat race doesn’t make any sense anymore. Sell the big business and with him go back to the farm. On it, let him build a 3000 sq. feet custom fabrication shop. Spend quality […]
Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres
Published by August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Wheels.Before we can talk about directional arrows you must first understand a bit about tread patterns. There are many different tread patterns but there is one main reason to have any tread and that is to disperse water. (dust, dirt) A tread pattern can be designed to disperse more water by making it rotate in only […]
Harley-Davidson. Made In America. In Thailand. In Singapore. And Tomorrow In India?
Published by August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.18 months ago, it was a ” mangoes-for-bikes” negotiation? Let India export freely its mangoes to the US and we will let you import some Hogs. New Harley-Davidson President and CEO Matt Levatich is going to India where he will participate to the SIAM conference and will evaluate a strategy to import some models in the country […]
Never underestimate the power of corporate identity and of one of its main components, the Logo. I always disliked the Buell Logo, for me a very poor branding expression of what the Erik Buell’s motorcycles are supposed to represent to bikers, speed and agility. Looked to me like the “plastic raised letters” fake aluminum logo you […]
Bomber Jacket To Go With Your Bobber Paint Job Nose Art.
Published by August 22nd, 2009 in Editorial and Merchandise.I told you 2 weeks ago that distressed brown leather was big again, for you, for your bike accessories and you riding your bike. But when I wrote my article about the new Harley-Davidson distressed brown leather seats and bags I didn’t think you would email me to ask me where to buy a cool Bomber […]
How Midwest Control Products Didn’t Lay Off Any Employee. Instead Did Some Gardening.
Published by August 22nd, 2009 in Editorial.Yesterday, Mark Rauschert, President of Midwest Control, told me “keeping your long time employees employed during tough times is a normal thing to do”. With a business way down Mark succeeded not laying off any employee. Read his wonderful story as told by Jillian Stambaugh, Eagle Staff Writer. Everybody is starving for good news in this dismal […]
Chad Greulach, CEO of Lorenzo Cycles read your comments in my Blog about the launch of the new company and the association of Lorenzo Lamas with Eddie Trotta. He sent me the following statement. “On behalf of Lorenzo Cycles…In 2002, I produced/packaged “American Chopper” for Discovery Channel as an East Coast answer to what Jesse was […]
Ride An Indian Chief For Free During 6 Months
Published by August 21st, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.This is the time of the year when all automotive dealers try to get rid of their 2009 models to make room for the 2010. And they will do anything, almost, to make space in their showrooms. No exception at Indian Motorcycle. Purchase a 2009 Indian Chief and they will pay your first 6 months […]
Being a Free Bird To Sturgis And Back. It’s What Is All About.
Published by August 21st, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.“Hey Cyril, How about blasting at 90 mph to Sturgis and back on a left-over parts homebuilt chopper with everything you need to survive bungied on. You alone, putting your faith in your efforts with no back-up truck followin’ ya. Motor homes with trailers, yuppies [Wild Hogs] on baggers, all in a blur as you fly past […]
A mechanic was removing a cylinder-head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the Garage, ‘Hey Doc, want to take a look at […]
Big Dog Motorcycles Takes Austerity Measures To Preserve Its Future.
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Last Friday evening August 14, I was informed by an unofficial source that “Big Dog Motorcycles was stopping production for the rest of the month of August 2009. That for the remainder of the year there will be temporary production furloughs. That a 20% pay reduction across the board was applied to all employees left after the layoffs“. […]
Breaking News. Saxon Motorcycles Under New Management
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The deal would be signed on Monday. A new Saxon Motorcycles management is taking over with plans to survey all current and potential Saxon owners and current dealers to find out what they like, dislike, and areas that need immediate attention. A complete re-vamp will be done to build a positive Saxon experience and re-inforce the dealers […]
Michael Lichter’s 9th Sturgis Exhibition
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Customs, Editorial and Events.Art & motorcycles. Motorcycles as art and culture. iconic photography and memorabilia. These are always the themes of Michael Lichter’s exhibitions, and the last one in Sturgis was, without a doubt, the most complete and the richest in terms of historic and monetary value. In a new 6500 square foot Lichter Hall now permanently housed […]
Covington Customs New Shift Linkages
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Controls, Customs and Editorial.These new Shift Linkages directly replace the stock shift linkage for all Harley-Davidson FX, Softail models, 98 and earlier FL models, or 99- present FL Touring models (Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, & Road King). They all feature built-in swivel hardware for a clean look and smooth shifting. Measures 12.25” in length. CNC machined from […]
Todd Silicato Repeat Winner Of The Annual Sturgis Metzeler Custom Bike Contest
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Best of Show winner of the 7th edition of the Metzeler Bike Show is Todd Silicato from Todd’s Cycle with this bike called “Olive” (check engine & driveline color). Todd’s Cycle is the first repeat winner in the history of the contest and yes, to participate, your bike must roll on Metzeler tires. In […]
All Trikes Need To Lose Weight
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.Essential part to go from 2 to 3 wheels, a trike rear axle is a big weight handicap for its road velocity. If you didn’t know, the average weight of a trike rear axle is about 155 pounds. Santiago Choppers decided to conceive a new model whose shell being in aluminum weights only 82 pounds, […]
Billy Lane’s Day in Court By Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Editorial.Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer is a 24+ years veteran of the motorcycle industry. Most of you have read/seen her photojournalism work in major magazines. She rides her own motorcycle since 1976. She was in Court during Billy Lane sentencing. Below, she freely expresses her personal feelings and opinion about the case. “In this day and age […]
AMD World Championship Of Bike Building. Production Manufacturer Class Winners.
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Championship features a “Production Manufacturer” Class. Below are the top 3 winners (from top to bottom). 1- Independent Cycle East (Builder Kenny Williams) USA. 127″ Enginuity engine. Independent frame. 6-speed Baker transmission. 2- Swift Motorcycle Co (Builders Chris Moye, Mike Deere). USA. 1200 Sportster engine. Rubber Mount frame. 3- Darwin Motorcycles (Builders Dar Holdsworth, […]
Sturgis Broken Spoke Township…
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Not yet a South Dakota small town, but while overall the number of participants for the 2009 Sturgis Rally vary from source to source, from flat to a 15% decrease versus last year, Jay Allen claims that the Broken Spoke Saloon (Lazelle Street) and its extension the Broken Spoke Campground (County Line) had this year […]
Motorcycles Seen At The 2009 Pebble Beach Concours
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California is the best place in the world to see concept cars that will not be produced next year, but also flawlessly restored historic motorcycles. Two that I admire. On the left, a 1953, 500 cc Matchless G45. It was sold as a race bike for privateers. On the […]
Nothing against electric vehicles, but I am quite annoyed when I hear all these big international companies now claiming in their ads that “Green Is In Our DNA”!. I thought that DNA was acquired at birth, not when the price of oil goes up. Anyway, everybody is riding the Green trend, even OCC with this electric […]
360 Brake Post Sturgis Sale
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Brakes, Builders, Customs and Editorial.Oops, I was about to forget. 360 Brake is offering a Super Post-Sturgis Sale with 10% off all orders (for both dealers and retail clients) until August 31st. So, if you already spent a fortune on your beautiful custom wheels and 75% of them is hidden behind big diameter disc rotors, you may want to […]
Triumph And BSA DVD To Help You Keep Your British Bike Reliable
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.At a time when backyard and pro-builders are rediscovering British bikes or at least using again British power plants in their new one-off projects, this DVD will be very useful to prevent from big headaches. Wes White of “Four Aces Cycle” gives you the 101 and explains everything you need to keep your British bike […]
World Class Extreme Bagger
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.A gorgeous radical Bagger built by Mike Avila Motorsports finishing 8th in the Free Style class of the AMD World Championship Of Bike Building? Exceptional result. And what a beautiful hand-formed steel body work (made by Greg Westbury, Solis, Mike Avila, Arlen Ness), to admire even more when you discover that the full body has just […]
