Archive for February, 2010



Swift Motorcycles. Is It Over?

Was advised that Swift Motorcycle Company was doing on March 27th a big sale at their Phoenix location of what seems to be most, if not all, of their equipment. The sale that you can see listed on Craigslist includes the following:  Prototype bikes, Parts, Frames. Wheels, Tools, Equipment, Bike lifts, Work Benches, Tire & Wheel Machine/ […]

First Daytona Bike Week Rally For Freedom

It will a first this coming weekend February 27-28 in Daytona Beach at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, the inaugural Biker Rally For Freedom. It is described to me as a true grassroots both fun and inspirational weekend event where multiple speakers will talk and debate about our US constitutionally guaranteed Freedoms and Protections. And because it’s Bike week, in […]

Auction Of Private Collection Of 100 Vintage Motorcycles

On February 27, 2010 at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum in Hendon, England, Bonhams will auction 100 mainly pre-1950 motorcycles belonging to a prominent Spanish private collector. This extraordinarily diverse collection includes a brace of De Dion Bouton-engined machines dating from the closing years of the 19th Century, as well as nine 4-cylinder models […]

Erik Buell Racing. A Brand New Erik Buell.

The liquidation sale of all Buell Motorcycle Company is still going on, and during this time, in a small shop close by in the same East Troy city, Wisconsin, Erik Buell and 7 employees are already working hard at building his new company Erik Buell Racing (new website still in construction). When Harley-Davidson decided to […]

All Motorcycle Synthetic Oils Are Not Created Equal

I just learned that in fact, some “synthetic oils” are not even truly synthetic. Below an explanation written by Spectro Oils Of America. “Spectro® Platinum Synthetic is, without doubt, one of the finest synthetic lubricants you can buy today, no matter what kind of motorcycle, snowmobile, PWC or racing car you run. Why?

Klock Werks New Downforce Harley-Davidson Windshields

At this year’s V-Twin Expo Klock Werks proposed its FLARE Windshield in a new 8.5″ high size, in 3 versions: tint, dark smoke and black (3.5″, 8.5″ and 11.5″ FLARE Windshields are also available for different touring models). The company was also showing for the 1st time a FLARE version for Harley Softails and Road Kings. […]

Motorcycle Parts Website

New “Two Wheel Thunder” Motorcycle TV Show With Michelle Smith And Jay Barbieri

While at the V-Twin Expo, talked to Jay Barbieri who informed me about his new TV venture. After a decade and a half on the SPEED Channel hosting “American Thunder” Michele Smith and Jay Barbieri are moving to the Discovery Network’s HD Theater channel with a new TV show named “Two Wheel Thunder”. As far as I understand […]

iPhone Applications For Bikers

More than 150,000 iPhone applications to choose from. And just a couple created specifically for bikers to help them plan their trips to spend more time riding and less finding their way. As a matter of fact these 2 applications are almost the same because the “Harley-Davidson” one is based on the “MAD Maps” application. […]

Vance And Hines Widow Exhaust System For Harley Sportster XR 1200

Pretty cool looking 2-1-2 exhaust system to squeeze out the full potential of the XR 1200 high output engine. Performance tuned headers with a Power Chamber crossover and twin high flow mufflers, the Widow XR 2-1-2 yields solid power gains and adds – the words from Vance & Hines – “a menacing growl that’ll make […]

Arlen Ness 40th Year Anniversary Custom Parts Catalog

When you spend 40 years in the motorcycle business you become the collective memory of our industry. Wish Arlen would put on my desk, in chronological order, all catalogs he has produced during 4 decades (I am certain that he kept preciously a few samples of each). I would not miss reading any page, probably […]

The Return Of The Mororcycle Tool Bag

Don’t look further. It’s because of today’s old school trend that tool bags are back as the new accessory to complete your bike. Either for looks or for necessity or both, it doesn’t’ hurt to carry with you the basic tools to resolve some common mechanical issues. The Nash Motorcycle Company offers a new refreshed design […]

Daytona Bike Week. Where Is Indian Motorcycle?

Indian Motorcycle has a new dealer in Daytona Beach. So, during Bike Week the factory event truck will no more sit at the International Speedway, but at the Riverfront Park, directly across from the company’s new Daytona Beach dealership located at 402 North Beach Street. Indian will be showcasing the brand’s 2010 models from February […]

Sturgis Museum Hall Of Fame 2010 Nominations

Below is the list of the 6 nominees to be inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame on Aug. 11. The museum is located at 999 Main St Sturgis, SD 57785. 1- Roger Schieman, who will receive the Founders Award for his work to preserve the history of the Sturgis rally. He was […]

Dirico Motorcycles Building 3 Steven Tyler ‘Dream On’ Pro-Street Motorcycles For Ohio Lottery.

Dirico Motorcycles (formely Red Wing Motorcycles) whose motto is “We build bikes screaming louder than Steven Tyler”, was chosen by the Ohio lottery to build 3 pro-street style custom motorcycles. To make the bikes more “desirable” each of these bikes will be signed by Steven tyler and each member of the Aerosmith rock band. The […]

Bennett’s Performance Celebrates Its 10-Year Anniversary

I am not going to post about all anniversaries in the industry, but the guys at Bennett’s Performance deserve a plug. The reason? Well,  in 10 years the small repair shop has turned into one of the top Harley-Davidson performance shops in the country. Beginning in 2001 Bennett’s performance was put in the national spotlight […]

PipeWear For Your Exhaust System

You know the benefits of exhaust wrap. 1- Improving performance by forcing heat to stay inside the pipes generating horsepower out the end. 2- Less risk of “pipe tattoos” on your legs by protecting the rider from burns. 3- Looks, racer and vintage. Now, a company called TorchWear, a specialist of welding safety equipment introduces […]

Daytona Bike Week Rat Fest. A 5-Day Event.

The Rat’s Hole Show used to be a one-day event, the last Saturday of Bike Week. Then it went to 2 bike shows. And now this year, Ted Smith and crew will have 5 events using the Coca Cola Pavillion at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona as the Rat Fest’s headquarters. Saturday February 27th: Part 1 […]

High End Brass Motorcycle Parts

Because of their old times and warm feel, brass parts are available everywhere ready to give your bike the sought-after retro look. But none look as refined – or precious – as the ones offered by Italian designer Kustom Tech. These knurled grips are machined from billet brass with a satin finish, fit 1″ handlebars, […]

From Hubless Motorcycle To Hubless Bicycle

Don’t know for sure where these mechanical engineering students got their inspiration, but I can guess and you too…  They were 9 working on the project, had one semester to build something original and functioning to deserve to major in their specialty. Much more time and manpower than any builder completing a full blown hubless […]

Joke Of The Week. How to explain What You Do For a living.

When you go to parties, people always ask what you do for a living. When you tell them “direct marketing” they will nod and you will know they are clueless. People don’t really know the difference between the various flavors of marketing & advertising. And book definitions don’t always help. So below is a more pragmatic […]

Big Dog Motorcycles New $21,000 Chopper

Last Friday I published the unofficial picture taken at the Indianapolis Dealer Expo. Today, Big Dog Motorcycles officially announces the upcoming introduction of its lower price model based on its popular chopper-style platform. Simply called the Big Dog Chopper and available in May, 2010, this new model is marketed as a high-style, high-quality Big Dog […]

Rooster Custom Cycles Acquires Perse Performance

You remember Perse Performance and its line of high end billet aluminum triple trees, front ends, controls and wheels. As a matter of fact I was distributing their parts. Then, a long 5 years silence… So, I was intrigued when I found out at the V-Twin Expo that a company called Rooster Custom Cycles was […]

The Birth Of A New Woman Of Harley

As I reported, David Uhl just released “Stella“,  his latest painting belonging to the series “Women of Harley”  But this time, for your viewing pleasure, David did something a little different. While he was painting he stopped every few minutes to take a picture of his progress.  All of these images have been compiled to create a fast-frame […]

Spanish Custom Motorcycle Scene

Don’t hear much about the Spanish Custom Motorcycle Scene. Two weeks ago was the Iberian Bike Week with local builders competing in the AMD Spain Championship Of Bike Building to win a trip to the World Championship in Sturgis this coming August. Quite a few strange machines among the 60 registered competitors. The big winner, […]

Indian Motorcycle Charlotte Best Exterior Design And Top 100 US Dealer

Like the V-Twin Expo, the International Powersports Dealer Expo in Indianapolis gives every year its share of awards. Congratulations to Mark Moses, owner and general manager of Indian Motorcycle Charlotte of Lowell, NC whose dealership was awarded the prestigious “TOP 100 DEALER” designation by Dealernews magazine.

New Garmin Zumo 220 GPS Device for Motorcycles

When it comes to GPS device most people think about cars. As a matter of fact the sales of GPS devices conceived for motorcycle use is getting huge. Of course, bikers have a different set of needs, of course robustness and water resistant. This new Garmin Zumo 220 GPS can even endure fuel splashes and […]



Cyril Huze