Riders training not preventing collisions? A motorcycle safety study to be released this week by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers in 1959) found that young riders taking safety courses before getting their motorcycle licenses doesn’t reduce their likelihood of crashing. The safety research group, funded by the insurance […]
Archive for March, 2010
Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. Safety Courses Don’t Reduce Motorcycle Accidents
Published by March 31st, 2010 in Editorial.AMD European Championship Of Bike Building
Published by March 31st, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.During last weekend Custom Chrome Europe Dealer Show in Mainz, Germany (show 12th edition and company 40th anniversary) 119 custom motorcycles were competing in the AMD European Championship Of Bike Building. Top 3 winners get a free trip to Sturgis to compete in the World Championship. I hope to feature some of these bikes very […]
Picture Of The Week. Harley-Davidson Hot Rod Limousine
Published by March 31st, 2010 in Builders and Editorial.Of course, works well for parades and weddings, but also to compete in the Rat’s Hole Show to win a trophy in “Most Unusual Class” Let’s just regret that the Harley driving force didn’t receive the same radical hot rod treatment. (sent by Jeff Nicklus)
Custom Softail Harley Trike In A Box
Published by March 31st, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.This Softail is sold as a kit or as a turnkey package as pictured and comes complete with Independent Suspension, trike chassis, main body which includes trunk lid, hinges and remote operated latch and carpet, custom seat, rear fenders, rear taillights, and license plate frame. Custom options consist of matching spoke wheels with tires, Vance […]
Harley-Davidson New Australian Headquarters
Published by March 30th, 2010 in Builders and Editorial.Since I love architecture, I can’t resist showing you the new Harley-Davidson headquarters in Sydney, Australia. Architects at Tony Owen Partners gave the building very futuristic lines, but inside they tried to express the curves of the motorcycles. Sort of…
New Stretched Motorcycle Bags And Fenders. The Way Harley-Davidson Makes Them.
Published by March 30th, 2010 in Chassis, Customs and Editorial.Harley-Davidson makes its touring bags out of ABS (PPO/PA Plastic). Most after-market companies make theirs out of fiberglass and some out of carbon fiber.
“He Who Dies With The Most Toys Wins”. Even when riding wearing a full-face helmet and sunglasses Brad Pitt can’t escape the paparazzi. Which is a way for us to keep track of the number of custom motorcycles he keeps in his Hollywood Hills home. The latest one looks like a Jesse Rooke Customs (to […]
Sometimes, looking in my digital files, I find a motorcycle that I forgot to feature when it appeared on the custom scene. This one last year at he AMD World Championship Of Bike Building. Not my style, but some of you like the “radical over the top” look. What will surprise you is that it […]
Motorcycle Rigid Frames Best Friend
Published by March 29th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Suspension.Too old for riding a rigid? Back issues? Maybe shocks installed under your solo seat may help turn your grimaces into a smile. Chopper Shox is one of the original seat suspension companies and provides kits for domestic and foreign Motorcycles offering a superior ride over traditional springs. You can even order depending on your weight. […]
Ol’ Rusty By Custom Motorcycle Builder Steve Brew Garn
Published by March 29th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Is it a new trend for some? I already know of a few custom motorcycle builders who are devoting some time designing and building one-off bicycles. Is it because as teenagers it’s the way they learn their welding skills? A little bit more time on their hands because business has slowed down? The request of […]
As I announced on March 11, 2010 a company called Warbikes LLC out of Midland, TX is producing an online video series for historic warplane and custom motorcycle enthusiasts. The whole purpose of this project is to honor the flying machines that helped make America what it is today by producing custom motorcycles able to […]
Hooligan Wheel For Bad Boys With Bad Bikes
Published by March 28th, 2010 in Customs, Editorial and Wheels.European love performance bikes. Especially Germans. So, they produce a lot of cool parts still rarely seen here except on high end custom bikes because of an unfavorable exchange rate between the Euro & the US dollar (1.33). Still, many fall in love with their wheels, often seen on Harley-Davidson V-Rods. Like this bad boy […]
If a product has “Fix It” written all over it, I can’t avoid looking at what it can be in case it can be used at the shop. As a matter of fact you can use it at work, not on a bike, but on you. Scraped, burned or cut yourself? Of course it happens […]
Arlen Ness Bike Show Is April 17-18.
Published by March 27th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The 4th Annual Arlen Ness Bike Show is scheduled for April 17-18 at the San Mateo County Event Center, San Mateo, CA. A show including a Swap Meet Space, a lot of vendors and of course a Bike Show with the best of California custom builders. There will be 42 bike categories covering all styles […]
Custom Harley-Davidson Gauge Kits For Softail And Bagger Models
Published by March 27th, 2010 in Customs, Editorial and Electrical.These custom Harley-davidson gauges deserve your customizing dollars. Nu Image already manufactures very cool stainless steel gauges for many models, but I am showing you only the most recent face kits, these ones for 2000-2010 harley-davidson Harley Softails and Baggers. They outfit your stock gauges, are installed and serviced by their trained technicians, and I […]
If you are a fan of Rolling Stones co-founder and guitarist Keith Richards (no, it’s not Keef Richards), you know that his skull ring has an iconic status and is a Rock and Roll powerful symbol. He wears it since he received it in 1978 as a birthday present. The original was created in their […]
A well known Austrian builder and restorer and also Triumph dealer named Jürgen Schnaller slightly modded a Thruxton model, added flat side Keihin carb, high compression pistons, ported and polished heads and completed the engine work with a Raask exhaust system. And all this for a reasonable Euros budget. Same can be done here in […]
Motorcycle Windshields. Material, Shapes And Sizes.
Published by March 26th, 2010 in Accessories, Builders, Customs and Editorial.While at the Custom Chrome Dealer Expo in California, met with an old friend of the industry (Paul Gomez), now working for National Cycle, since 1937 a worldwide leader in motorcycle windshields. Gave me the 411 on windscreen technology, and I share with you one important aspect that buyers should know. Cheap windshields use Acrylic, […]
Arnold Schwarzenegger Still Riding A Harley
Published by March 26th, 2010 in Builders and Editorial.It was a beautiful day last Sunday in California. So Arnold (Strong) Schwarzenegger, the 38th Governor of California went for a ride with a few buddies. Knowing that people like to mimmic celebrities, it reminded me your recent comments regretting that no celebrity (except Brad Pitt) is seen anymore riding a Harley or at least […]
You asked me what’s going on with the sale of MV Agusta by Harley-Davidson? Well, only rumors that Harley is talking with 2 potential buyers. One would be BMW. The other one would be Paul Berlusconi and a group of investors. Paul is the brother of Silvio Berlusconi, the very controversial Italian Prime Minister involved […]
This post is not an encouragement to buy this very special remote control featuring 9 components, one of them being a bottle opener!. Not that I am against having a good beer front of the TV. But don’t you think that Mc Do, KFC, etc and your current remote control did already enough damage on […]
Rush New 2 Into 1 Bagger Exhaust System
Published by March 25th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Exhaust.Rush Racing Products just released an all new 2 into 1 complete exhaust system for Harley Davidson® Dressers and Road Kings. The company states that Dynamometer reports show that this system is building a significant increases in low and mid range torque and adding to top end horsepower.
Harley-Davidson Renews Sponsorship For AMD World Championship Of Custom Bike Building
Published by March 24th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Because of environment and legal regulations here in the US and abroad, more custom jobs are done on a Harley-Davidson platform already registered and titled, so street legal (at least before customization). Consequently, more custom Harley-Davidson bikes compete in shows against (or with, if in different classes) with full-blown customs built from the ground up […]
Lorenzo Lamas Gives Money And Offers Discounts To Our US Military Troops
Published by March 24th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Lorenzo Lamas and his company Lorenzo Cycles have partnered with Operation Homefront, a non-profit emergency assistance program for our US soldiers, to raise funds by donating $10,000 from the sale of his personal #1 Lorenzo Cycles Icon model to the organization. With this charitable association Lorenzo is also making its premium custom motorcycles more affordable to those […]
Your Custom Motorcycle Can Be Performance Machine Bike Of The Month And Of Year 2010
Published by March 24th, 2010 in Controls, Customs, Driveline, Editorial and Wheels.Did you trick out your custom motorcycle with Performance Machine products? Wheels, air cleaner, grips, disc brakes, mirrors, foot & hand controls? If it is, would you like to see how fellow motorcycle enthusiasts rank your build compared to your peers?
Vintage Air Cleaners Breathing A New Life
Published by March 24th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Engines.When you have been working in the motorcycle business during 40 years as a painter, certified mechanic, parts designer, custom builder, Harley-Davidson dealer and more, you have seen the best and the worst of everything. So, you know what works or not. And when you look at what has worked before you can’t avoid to […]
