Ever noticed Hollywood uses any excuse to pat each other on the back with awards? Well guess what, Cycle Source Magazine is doing it again, but their awards are for the “real deals”, the hard-working everyday enthusiasts that make our industry the “exciting, wouldn’t miss it for nothing” world that it is today. So here is your chance to cast your vote for “Best Of 2011” in categories like “Best Manufactured or Custom Bike of the year, Best Pin-Up, Builder, Craftsman or Best Event.
Nominees came to the magazine direct from the readers when a questionnaire was sent out asking for nominations. So please kick back, take a minute and cast your vote for who or what you feel deserves the title of “Best Of 2011” in Motorcycling today.
Begin first by watching the nominee custom bikes, then scroll down the page to cast your votes in the different categories. Cycle Source Best Of 2011 Awards.
95% retro rigid bobbers. Whatever happened to the 21st century?
#20 doin it for me.
I am going through all the catagories and it is going to be difficult to pick just one in each.
I am happy to see this happening and it is a good move on the magazine as well as it will give them more information on what people like.
Well the obviouslly have that because of the amount of magazines they sell, but it doesn’t hurt to go yje extra mile.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!
WOW..that number 5 is just tits man!!! I have to say that’s probably the best one there LOL!!!
# 5 You can’t vote for your own bike. Although it is at the top of my list.
I guess I’m getting old, but I see only bikes there that actually have suspension travel? I pass the rigids, to all you youngsters with STRONG kidneys still!
I voted for Sara Liberte as Motorcycling’s 2011 Women of the Year. All the rest of the canidates are very deserving as well, but Sara should get the nod for the online marketing-publishing work she is doing with Garage Girls and Rally TV.
Most influential woman is Cris Sommer Simmons. Read Cyril’s story.
http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2010/12/08/the-secret-life-of-cris-sommer-simmons/
Woman of the Year again Michelle Smith!
Are the listed people the ones with merit or just the magazine’s friends and advertisers? Hmmm. Anyway, who cares the results? What does it mean to be the best bike, the best builder, the man of the year? It’s 100% subjective. For the person of the year, Time Magazine doesn’t ask readers to vote. The result would be meaningless and laughable. Man of the year is decided by the chief editor who takes journalitic responsibility versus all his readers. The only way to do it. All the rest is bs. My 5 cents.
Man Of The Year. Obama for trying all the time to do something good for the country, for keeping his cool when facing a GOP opposition whose agenda is never the well being of our country but only to beat him at the next election.
Agree with Shifter. “Best Of” voted by readers are meaningless. “Best Of” are always decided by the medias or by a jury of experts (look at cars, electronics, etc…) Imagine if drivers would vote for Car Of The Year. What would be the result? Of course, never the best car.
Actually you’re wrong about reader’s picking”Best Ofs” not being journalistic responsibility, I think it’s more so.
The way this thing works is that we ask the readers to nominate for all the categories, except the top ten bikes and pin-up of the year, those are from our past 12 issues. But for the rest, as Lon said above, so many from our industry are deserving each year and only by asking readers to decide who stood out to them do we produce results that are truly important to the man on the street and not the business of this industry. Then, I as Cycle Source Editor in Chief, take the editorial responsibility to know enough about or to further research in under a week as to provide insight to back up the reader’s choices in an editorial format.
When Time does this they are picking people from our entire population. The motorcycle industry and communities are way too small to do this from my point of view and not have it come out as my friends and or advertisers. Most importantly, and you must remember this, Cycle Source writes, rides and publishes for our readers first and foremost. For this reason above all else it is only their opinion that matters to us for our annual “Year In Review Issue” as this is a reflection of OUR year in motorcycling together, the magazine and the reader. We invite everyone to be part of it, but do not claim that this is the official awards for the entire world of motorcycling. Otherwise it would have people from all of motorcycling and not just the custom culture side of things. Thanks for reading and challenging us on this though, it gives us the opportunity to explain how this is not another BS deal to throw a bone to our friends and supporters. You see, we do not sell special advertising for this issue. It is not a newsstand special issue that adds anything more to our bottom line. There is nothing that we do to make any money from this, it’s just something we started to mark the passing of another year. Isn’t that what this is all about to begin with?
Chris Callen
Editor in Chief
Cycle Source Magazine
http://www.cyclesource.com
cyclesource69@comcast.net
h, and the 69 in my e-mail, that’s the number I run on my dirt bike and street bike. It is the number of a man that if I were allowed to vote in this and if it were decided from all of motorcycling I would put up for sure: Nicky Hayden.
Well said.
As long as I’m here, let’s talk about the 21st century……. Here’s what happened:
It’s not that we are only picking bikes that we like at Cycle Source and denying that this is the 21st century. In fact, those motorcycles, while not an all inclusive list, are a very good look at the 21st century. You know an economic collapse greeted us at the start of the this century, about the same time that baby boomers were starting to get out of this thing all together. Those two elements combined to make for a different picture in the custom motorcycle scene and that’s what Cycle Source exhibits more than anything else, Custom Bikes. Don’t get me wrong, we all have travel bikes as well and do a ton of work on them in tech articles and stories from the road, but for a bike to get shot for a feature in our magazine it has to be custom. Now, I don’t know about how everyone feels in this regard but for me, and I believe most of our staff, a custom bike has to be more than just paint and bolt on chrome. Those bikes are bitchin’ in their own way, but to be featured in a national motorcycle magazine it has to have more work done to it than that. Many of the younger crowd and long time builders as well fall back on the cheap Ironheads or Shovel baskets that they can get on the cheap. Fine highs at low buys, ya’ dig?
Now like I said, our bikes are not an entire cross section of the custom motorcycle scene right now but we do feel that the larger part of what is really going on out there are being built in garages, by people who love motorcycling too much to quit doing it because times are tight. For this reason they do what we have always done in that case and that’s buy cheaper used bikes, take them home and induce their own wow factor with every parts swap find, hand made goody and part they have been saving for years to build with.
We have always published from the vantage point of what our readers are into and there have been more swing arm bikes getting fully decked out this year, a strong FXR movement is at foot as well but not that many reach custom magazine status. There just aren’t that many we run across anyway. But hey, I could be wrong so I am including my email in this again, along with the address of our website where you can find a message board and a blog of our own to continue this conversation. Let’s see your pictures of the swing arm and modern bikes we should consider for a feature.
Chris Callen
Editor in Chief
Cycle Source Magazine
http://www.cyclesource.com
cyclesource69@comcast.net
Bikes are nice in their own right. Except that when you have seen 10 of them 5 years ago, it seems you have seen them all. They all look more or less the same. And these semi pros builders, whatever the merit of their low budget work, will never be able to support the custom motorcycle business because they buy very few parts. Consequently, they represent a lifestyle that we all appreciate and defend, but for me certainly not the future of what the custom market will be based on. I have been several times to Willie’s show in Daytona. People go to meet friends more than to look at bikes. Most don’t even look at the bikes. One day, Cyril wrote that this small event was a Happening. I agree. It’s about friendship between people sharing a lifestyle. But there is no Best Of of a lifestyle. It’s a contradiction.
Customizing started as a hobby. It comes back to being a hobby.
Well said Chris, the bikes nominated here are an awesome reflection of the bikes I like and thats why I subscribe to Cycle Source! Keep up the great work on the magazine and all the events you are involved in.
I don’t agree that “best ofs” should not be voted on by the readers- If one person chose the best whatever of the year they would alienate the readers real quick, and the rag would fold. It would be one person on a soapbox, and nobody would want to hewar about it. If the magazine wasn’t giving people what they wanted, with a say in the decision, why print a magazine? If drivers chose “car of the year”, they’d choose the one that people thought worked the best, not the one you (one person) think is the best or had the most potential or whatever. And as far as none of the bikes being from the 21st century, again, that’s what people are calling for right now. The bolt on goo-gaw, stocker softail crowd isn’t really forging a new path at all, they’re just buying what somebody told them to.
Lance. you wrote ” If the magazine wasn’t giving people what they wanted, with a say in the decision, why print a magazine?” Doesn’t make any sense because this rag asks you to vote for what they ALREADY published during the last 12 months! When they published, they didn’t ask readers if the bikes were worth publication! Probably only 1 individual decided.
Hee, hee. Cyril doesn’t ask us what we would like him to publish. His volume of readership and nature of the comments expressed under his bike features are enough to confirm his personal choices.
Almost anybody on the planet can assemble a nice looking bike. Buy parts from Foundry, Fab Kev, Old Gold, Etc. paint, chrome, polish and call it a day. I guess that is the norm these days and there’s no doubt that this will build a nice looking bike but there is something missing.
It’s refreshing to see a guy or gal do more than just farm out the work that is to be done, grab the gas axe , the mig, and the grinder and see what comes of it parts and looks wise.
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to stop with the custom ideas as well, thus making the bike look too busy or cluttered.
That being said, every one of the bikes being judged are incredible and I am glad to not be the one choosing the winner.
One thing forever burned in my mind was the build off between Larry and Billy when Larry cut the trophy in half because he didn’t build his bike for the contest so much as the love of the build.
And that is the element that seems to be missing these days, the love of building a bike that looks great to the builder but is able to be ridden to hell and back without falling apart.
Where are the swing arms, the trikes, the new ideas ? Just when you think it’s all been done someone shows you different.
History always repeats itself and I am waiting for the day that this whole scene is for love and not trophys or profit. The bike that should be the ultimate winner is the one that you will never publish in any magazine. That bike is being ridden down all the back streets and country roads, not the bike shows and coffee shops because it was built for the love of it all and that is the way it will come around again……one day.
And by no means am I trying to insult any builder out there, you want a winner ? Give em all a trophy and a browny badge then tell em to get the hell out of here and ride it they all deserve to win. Isn’t that what it’s all about in the end ? the ride not the pride.
Adios and good luck to all the competitors
Johnny Rocko
Johnny. First we would need good pictures to be able to vote. Very shitty photography. Second, agreeing with what you said, it’s just a way to create traffic to the magazine website with Cyril’s complicity. Don’t these guys have enough patting each other when they meet and ride together? Jesse James was smart creating the “no love” ride. This magazine would be smarter creating a “no best of” party to reward them. Just music, food and drinks.
Cycle Source is for me an in-house motorcycle club periodic for its members. Not worth any controversy about club members congratulating each other. Should be remamed the bests of the club.
Chris this is not the site to find Your readers. This is a site for those that are looking for someone to tell them what is cool. I am only here because you asked for my 2 cents.
Hahaha All you people that get all bent about this shit should get a life. I take this as a fun thing to do and get into being apart of the magazine and showing support for the type of bikes I like. All you guys who think your bike belongs in a magazine send your picture in. Don’t piss on anyone who gets props for what they love to do. If you don’t like what you see go away. If you don’t like whats going on in the magazine don’t buy it.
There are a lot of magazines out there. Like I said before try and lighten up big guy or maybe just get rid of your bike if you even have one. Don’t go away mad just go away…….
Like a lot of customs most of them will not get very far down the road. Chris why do you think they are superior? Because they are cheap to build? They may be fun to ride around the block but tomorrow’s customs will not look this way. They represent the hobby side of the industry. Not the pro side.
I have a simple question. Although riding, reading magazines and attending rallies since a long time, I never heard more than 1, maybe 2 names of all names in categories of best male and female. I am sure it’s the case for most long time bikers. How can I vote for unknown people? For the part & manufacturer categories, how can I vote for new parts I don’t know/never used or for factory motorcycles I never rode or tested? This Best Of 2011 awards doesn’t make any sense to me and it seems to many. I also agree that it’s not a service to the builders to publish such bad pictures. Any custom work deserves much better representation.
Mike Cort made 2 excellent observations.
What are you talking about Uncle Chuck? Nobody here tells us what is cool. Cyril publishes what he thinks is of interest for his readers. Each of us express an opinion via comments. It’s our daily vote. .
hahaha The first thing after “Leave a Reply” says, “Respect others.”
I don’t want to be another one of you people that will never be satisfied and just bitch, but I had to say that the point is being missed here. This magazine is about a lifestyle. It says right after the title, “A Grassroots Motorcycle Publication”. Yet you spitefull degenerates seem to be looking for golden scoots. You say the pros are patting eachoter on the back yet hate the garage bult monotony. You say that rideable bikes are the way to go yet talk about a hard-core lifestyle. You wouldn’t be happy if you had it all. Nothing left to bitch about.
I’m not going to say where, but I build bikes for a living for two shops that i assure you you’ve all heard of and also write about this industry for a living. I live in my car. It’s the only thing I own besides a Shovelhead and some spare clothes. I promise you that we are not wealthy by any strech of the imagination, and this should attest to the fact that we do this solely for the love of it. Indian Larry’s dedication was brought up and I couldn’t agree more. We should all learn from him. He also wasn’t going to be caught in a group whining like children at eachother.
Why can’t we be unbiased and just enjoy this? F-in’ vote! Just have fun! If you don’t like a single bike or female in the running, you’re not a human. At least not one that genuinely enjoys motorcycles. …or females. I’m not going to sit here and boast about hammering out more miles than the rest of you because I’d probably be lying. However, Chris rode the Hoka-Hey from start to finish and Roadside Marty rode from Sturgis to his home in Florida in a day. To be unbiased towards the magazine, Charlie the Nomad (The Horse) rides the Stampede on a hard-tail. And in rather short order I should add. That shit is hard-core.
Now I’m sure everybody has done their fair share of riding, but I can assure you that I wouldn’t last trying to keep up with these guys and they do this for a living. I can also assure you that we are poor. And last, I can assure you that after building countless motorcycles and putting the extra effort into these things, we can also see the beauty in them; The proverbial forest and the trees that get overlooked. You won’t catch us thumbing our noses to a line-up of bikes because we don’t think they fit the times or some other absurd, dreamt-up reason to bitch. That is ridiculous and a show of poor character.
For Christ’s sake, just enjoy it. We all put our pants on one leg at a time; you’re no better than anyone no matter how you slice it.
these people still don’t get it……this is a feature issue that is a reflection on its past year of bikes, people, events and so on……if you read the publication you would know the names, if you followed the blog, the website, the whole shabang you would know the names and people in the lists being presented to the READERS…..all of the people, bikes and events featured are deals that made there ways to the publication this past year…..if all commenting on this thread are readers and still haven’t a clue who these people and bikes are, then you haven’t been paying much attention….Mike Cort, the common weekend rallies are not the focus of Cycle Source…Daytona and Sturgis are historical events that have played a roll in the two wheeled world since before most of us had been conceived. Cycle Source features the events people haven”t heard of for the most part, the “Grass Roots” events that people been starting up to get a like minded crowed of people together and hope that people like your self show up and DIG not dis on what they are into also….to the comment on builders of today not putting soul into the builds…you are wrong from a million miles away…..first of all “Bobbers” are a historical form bike modification, people have been bobbing motor cycles for 70 years…choppers are the same type deal, its not that you seen the same style bike 15 years ago, its you see the same style and ideals being represented and respected by individuals putting a piece of mind in a bike that is different from the stock bike you see everyday…so what if someone used a technique used 30, 40, 50 years ago…thats what is bad ass about someone using a technique 30 years ago, more times than not its a technique past down from a dad or grandparent…that’s where the soul comes in to play…these guys and gals respect the “OLD” they feel a sense of pride using what has been past down… its the thing that makes it what it is… not all the bikes featured in this magazine are bikes built by shops or “PRO BUILDERS”, which im sure the pros could care less if they are considered pros…but anyway most of the bikes in Cycle Source are bikes built by guys and gals working a 40 plus work week with a wife kids and little time to even get the lawn mowed…i spent the last two years reworking a HARDTAIL after my kids went to bed and in between sleeping and working 60 hours a week…if that isn’t giving a pile of parts laying dormant for 25 years a soul than I must be crazy….and to add my newest obsession is a SWING ARM little number with rusty old parts from here and there reworked reused and bad as hell…in my opinion and thats the only one that matters….
Why is it that some people continue to pretend that the real biker is the one who rides more miles and is the poorest? Nobody is challenging that building a bike is a labor of love. I think that the negative reactions are also due to the fact that people are fed up with the circus of pros patting each other for business interest. True with Cycle Source, Easyriders and all the others. It’s up to us to give awards by giving work to shops, buying parts, etc. That’s well enough and the real thing.
Hey Two Wheels. I don’t think that many readers here have ever heard or read Cycle Source. Never heard about it until I followed the link posted by Cyril.
and thats my point the issue is for the readers and the ones who are featured in this past years issue…i dont think this media source intended to tell you the readers of this .com to vote on all the categories, I think they just intended to show you what bikes cycle source features and you can vote on the bike you like the most…..why dog Cycle Source for getting recognition from a outside internet source…thats pry the idea…you have never heard of cycle source and now you have why is that a bad thing..thats cool, maybe you would dig the stuff they have to offer…and maybe you would pick one up from time to time…thats not a bad thing that would keep a magazine i really dig in biz…i know a few people who feel the same way…and they have nothing to do with the magazines staff, just happy readers….
funny thing ive never heard of this Cyril Huze Blog until now….but i didnt say all you readers are total numb nuts and your bikes are lame seen before piles built by big biz big brother owned by stock holders wearing 2500 dollar suits charging you way too much money for cheap made china parts….hahah now you got me in on it too….no but really i dig all motorcycles ive had all kinds makes and models i currently have a 86 ultra classic and a 49 pan shovel….just sold my 04 sporty…i was bummed but had to make room hhhaha made my wife happy….built a 67 Triumph over the last two years…..its all good to me, rice is just as nice…..fast too..
I think Roadside Marty can out build any Hot bike or Bagger Nation builder. He is the Voice of the chopper scene. God bless Roadside Marty God bless America!!
Concerned Citizen
Two Wheels. Can you speak English?
Lord Of Loud. You must be kidding.
Careful mike cort. Lords of loud WILL burn your church down!
Chris Callen and Cycle Source are doing a damned good job. I like the magazine and the bikes.
I am really tired of the really tired “other” choices. Most have sold out and these guys have bought in. Funny how sniveling seems to get passed on genetically. For inspiration, pay attention to what they are doing. It may inspire you to ride harder, further and faster than political correctness has allowed.
Mike
Hey 2 wheels. Your shop is called Cycle Nazi !?! Happy that you don’t belong to this news website.
Cycle Nazi, we’re glad to have you baby. I understand that handle is part of the culture that’s been freaking the straights out for forty years! Has nothing to do with the Nazi movement. Wow, maybe Cyril’s blog has changed so much that we don’t belong here anymore. I’ve been posting here pretty much since it started, maybe it’s intended for a different crowd now?
By the way, odd with all the bobber haters on this thread that the lead story this morning is on a modified Harley done in traditional bobber style. Killer bike Todd, I’d feature that one!
Let’s hear from Dr. Gonzo on “Fear and Loathing on the Internet” if we can channel him from the grave!
THIS IS A GREAT MAG AND KEEPS GETTING THICKER THICKER!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!
Chris,
Keep doing what you are doing, and always, do what you gotta do, those of us who support you will still be here. Not sure what happened in this blog post but I think it got a bit personal and self serving and if any of you have read Cycle Source, you know that it’s one of the best magazines out there that is current and features guys and gals doing what they love to do best, how can you knock that?
Keep on keepin’ on Chris, I’ll keep reading.
Mazz.
Bernice MacNaughton High School Bike Klub Youth Program.
Wow, I’ve never heard so many grown men so pissed off that nobody else is doing a best of, and deciding rather than maybe send the editor of their favorite mag. a proposing letter, they will just vent their frustration here towards Callen for doing it with HIS magazine. Its HIS freakin magazine, who cares what he does with it, its not going to make your billet melt or your fat tire pop! I happed to be listed on the ballot, and I don’t advertise, subscribe, or hangout with Callen. Hell I can’t even to get him to call me back, but I do keep my head down and build bikes. I could care less if I’m considered a “pro” builder by anyone, I know that it pays my bills and buys the beans for my family, that’s good enough for me. I can remember the VQ ball held by Easyriders, nobody had any gripes about that did they? But they don’t do that anymore…why? Was it because of sniffeling grown men, or maybe true respect for builders was lost by main stream. I really don’t see the point in coming down on CS or Callen for doing what the do…because at the end of the day, they are DOING! They stand up for guys like me when everyone turns to look overseas for something that can me made here. The make their readers and subscribers feel a part of what’s going on in the pages of their publication. The publication that readers rush out to the mailbox to see if its made it in yet, or drive all over town on vacation trying to find it, because they can’t wait til they get home to see it. I personally had a potential customer call me from Iraq Saturday, who said that he had seen me in multiple magazines, and then named off 3 that “keep him going” CS being one of those. To Callen and staff, kudos. For whoever nominated me….thanks its an Honor. To the ones who can’t keep negative opinions to themselves on topics that have nothing to do with them….I hope you will someday realize that all types of people occupy this world you live in, many who may see things your way, and other that no matter what you think, will do it their way!
Chris,
I use Cycle Source as a resource in my classes here at the College, much the same as I utilize Cyrils’ blog. It is inspiration to the young people who have a passion for motorcycles and a passion to change the world their way. Keep Cycle Source the way it is……keep doing things your way……and we’ll be there too.
I dont think most of the people on this site even have a bike. Internet bikers or people who have a bike and like to call themselves bikers. What is a biker? Not you! I dont call myself a biker because there are to many people out there now calling themselves that who have no idea. Yes its people like you that give the biker lifestyle a bad name.
” Oh your a biker? wow do you know my friend he is a biker too, he works at this law office down town and on the weekend he gets all dressed up in his biker cloths and rides around.”
Ya your that guy!
I really want to comment on this post, but am actually nervous someone will lash back at me, for simply voicing my opinion… yikes,,, I’m not a fan of the “back and forth arguing” over nonsense, there are so many other topics in this world today that deserve the energy. My big question is, are these grown men posting here or is this a group of bitchy ladies complaining…? I never did understand the “haters” … I prefer to lift people up, rather then put them down. If something is put in front of me I’m not familiar with I appreciate the opportunity to learn something new. Like someone mentioned they were not familiar with some of the names in the nominations… well don’t settle for your force fed info, go do some research on your own… there is this neat little bar on your internet server window where you can look stuff up, vs. just reading the same regurgitated shit that is fed to you. Like this name in the list Cathryn Hammes I wasn’t familiar with her so I looked her up, I’m totally blown away by this woman, talk about empowering and overcoming challenges…. Ironic, go read her story and you’ll feel pretty foolish for all your gripe about this topic… So basically all my ranting here is to say, grab this opportunity to look into something your not “familiar” with and learn something new. There can be no harm in that…. Lastly if you really love motorcycling, if you are a TRUE enthusiast, then guaranteed you will enjoy looking at the craftsmanship of the bikes, the beauty of the pin-up ladies and really enjoy learning about some of these people, very inspiring.
Doesnt matter…i like what I read and dont care what others read…i like what I ride and dont care what others ride…i love how I live and dont care how others live and at the end of the day, my chop is still faster…bahahaha love n reSSpect !!!
…It was always at night, like a ware-wolf, that I would take the thing out for an honest run down the coast. I would start in Golden Gate Park thinking only a few long curves to clear my head. The momentary freedom of the park was like the one unlucky drink that shoves a wavering alcoholic off the wagon. But in a matter of minutes, I’d be out at the beach with the sound of the engine in my ears, the surf booming up on the sea wall, on the fine empty road streching all the way down to Santa Cruz. There was no helmet on those nights. No speed limit, and no cooling it down around the curves.
Then into second gear, forgetting the cars and letting the beast wind out. 35… 45… Then into third, not worried about green or red signals, but only some other ware-wolf floating… Now there is no sound exept the wind. The needle leans down on 100. Wind-burned eyeballs strain to see down the center line, no room at all for mistakes. And that’s when the strange music starts…
The edge
…It was always at night, like a ware-wolf, that I would take the thing out for an honest run down the coast. I would start in Golden Gate Park thinking only a few long curves to clear my head. The momentary freedom of the park was like the one unlucky drink that shoves a wavering alcoholic off the wagon. But in a matter of minutes, I’d be out at the beach with the sound of the engine in my ears, the surf booming up on the sea wall, on the fine empty road streching all the way down to Santa Cruz. There was no helmet on those nights. No speed limit, and no cooling it down around the curves.
Then into second gear, forgetting the cars and letting the beast wind out. 35… 45… Then into third, not worried about green or red signals, but only some other ware-wolf floating… Now there is no sound exept the wind. The needle leans down on 100. Wind-burned eyeballs strain to see down the center line, no room at all for mistakes. And that’s when the strange music starts…
The edge… There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is, are the ones who have gone over. The others -the living- are those who have pushed their control as far they felt they could handle it and then pulled back, or slowed down. But the edge is still out there.
Go find it; It’s not here. -Dr.Gonzo
From the grave…
it’s the reason why there are so many style of bikes and so many different sources of information. I think that it got started because a couple of guys dislike the principle of magazine awards. It’s true that all awards in the industry are suspicious, especially when people don’t even know the nominees to vote for. Sara, do you think that people are going to Google their names to know who they are? You must be a dreamer.
In the announcement, Hollywood awards are mentioned. It’s not done by people going to see these movies, but by votes from a panel of experts. Find a panel of respected experts outside the mag. Don’t put your friends, your riding buddies, your helpers, etc in the list. It will be fine and accepted.
Stop smiling Chris ……….
cycle nazi….like soup nazi haha get it….and sorry if my run ons bother you, i didnt proof read my comments…i just finished a 60 hour work week and was taking time away from my wife and kids to tell you READERS on this blog what the story is…and seems you still dont get it…because i still see comments saying “i dont know these names” “i dont know these bikes” ITS NOT A FEATURE FOR THE NON READERS, ITS A FEATURE MAGAZINE FOR THE READERS AND READERS CHOICE
ITS A FEATURE FOR THE READERS, ITS A FEATURE FOR THE READERS, ITS A FEATURE FOR THE READERS…….
Shouldn’t you guys that are whining either be at work or building choppers/bobbers?!?!? MUCH respect to Chris Callen, Cycle Source magazine, and ALL the deserving nominees. BTW I haven’t ridden my Road King in almost a month, i guess I’m not a biker. WHAAAAAA. My lunch break is over, thanks for the laughs!
reading magazines and attending rallies since a long…….MIKE CORT EDUMACATED
Although riding, reading magazines and attending rallies since a long time,
Oh yeah, i almost forgot, since this makes about as much sense as the rest of the senseless ranting on this thread, DEF LEPPARD SUCKS!!!
I started as an avid reader of Cycle Source and look forward to this issue.
Chris Callen runs his magazine with pride and hard work. Putting a magazine together these days is tough and he does it well. He has introduced us to new builders, craftsman, techs and products that might not see the light anywhere else. To concentrate on the home builder is huge and I applaud him for doing so.
The Best of 2011 issue just give friendly nods to the guy that busted his ass to build a spot on motorcycle, introduce you to parts and people that have influence the industry for the year.
This industry is hard and for some reason there are a lot of haters. I was raised if you can’t say it face to face then say nothing at all. We all have different opinions and likes, imagine how boring life would be if we all dug the same thing. It’s ok to express your opinion just do so like you would expect in return. Internet bullying is so last year.
I am one of the nominated people on the list and am humbled to be there. My vote always goes to Marilyn Stemp for her devotion to the industry
I think that everybody on the Cycle side is over reacting to critics on the validity of professional awards, the list to vote for, etc. No big deal. I was in a shop this morning and asked if they had this magazine. They had one a couple of months old. Looked at it. Not at all my style. Noticed that the fuck bagger crowds is reading a magazine in which there is a bagger windshield ad. Just saying… Take care everybody.
My reSSpect to all the mags that I read…especially Cycle Source…I love motorbikes across the board…Cril Huze’s blog is just a site to promote all sorts of activities within the motorbike industry…unfortunately, some people who never build, never put pistons in their bikes, never get out from behind their computer or CB have nothing better to do than bitch about a magazine they have never read…hats off to anyone publishing a magazine, especially you Chris Callen…oh and by the way…my bike is still faster than all you hypocrite’s bikes…bahahaha love and reSSpect to my brothers !!!
PS…Def Leppard does suck…and I have screaming mimis, and hoosker do’s and hoosker dont’s…bahahahaha?..FTW
who said anything about hating baggers…Kruse is an Outlaw bagger rider, i own a FLT, rode it tonight for that matter, with a bunch of my chopper buddies….no hate here when it comes to two wheels….you guys are the narrow minded ones ……i have buddies riding all sorts of shit…..if the mags not for you then so be it…..i really dont think they are trying to appeal to everyone on a bike, but they certainly dont hate on riders from all walks…..now i do know that a knife fight or two may break out when EVO’s and Shovels come together…..but thats another story all together….
Seems like a lot of people dont like what Chris is putting in his Mag well dont read it and seems like for sure a lot of people dont know Chris…Chris suports the hole motorcycle industery Bobbers,choppers Bagger.Bagger o ya he does own one…and for the none readers there are Bagger adds in Cycle sources but this all over him haveing a Best Bike of 2011? really? you dont like the shit dont vote…
i wasn’t going to chime in on this, but, after reading some of the posts, i have to.
i ride a one off honda cb750 chopper. it’s a suicide shift, kick only, hard tail with 51 degrees rake but only 2 inches of trail. it handles like a dream and is kick ass. everyone tells me i should ride it to the smoke out or submit it to the horse, and i may, if i ever get around to it, but i didn’t build it for that. i built it to make me happy. and that’s what it does. i don’t own any other bike. i pull around 5 to 6 thousand miles every month. i have burned through as number of chains this year. i ride in all weather, although i have no front fender and a very minimal rear fender. not all cool ass choppers are bar hoppers. if you are too much of a luxury lover to ride a hardtail very far, that’s cool. that just means that a chopper, or bobber, is not for you. but that doesn’t mean that choppers are just fluff and not built to ride. so, you guys who say that, need to lay off of it. you shouldn’t talk about what you don’t know about. remember that all bikes used to be hard tails and those bikes got ridden everyday over roads that barely deserved the name.
now, the industry is a totally different thing than the custom world. these bikes represent the custom world, not the future of the industry. one of the posts made a statement about them not representing the future of the industry and he’s right. if you want the future of the industry, read rider or one of those mainstream rags. don’t read cycle source or the horse. those rags aren’t about the industry. they are about what people are building. real people. not marketing experts or R&D teams. stock sucks. mass production breeds compromise. if you are in the industry, building mass production bikes, you are worried about selling your product, because that’s what stock bikes are- product, to as many people as you can. people who have never ridden. people who have ridden all their lives, old and young. tall and short. men and women. so, you have got to build around compromise. you have got to build a bland, nothing really special bike that will be acceptable to the largest possible portion of the market.
that is the industry. it’s future and it’s past. that is not what these bikes are all about and never will be. these bikes are all about being uncompromising. people who want watered down stock type bikes don’t go out in their driveways and garages and build them. they drive the smurf-mobile down to the dealership or harley boutique and buy them. you won’t see those bikes in a contest like this one, because there are thousandss of them out there and there is nothing special and unique about them.
why choppers and bobbers? because they are raw, pure motorcycles. because there is no junk in there that you don’t need to actually roll down the road and be able to stop. they represent purity in form.
hell, i used to work at a small shop that only worked on HDs. by the time you’ve seen one FLSTS, you’ve seen them all. We had one customer that had this duce with all the HD factory custom paint and HD factory custom, made in taiwan, chrome goodies. he thought he had himself a real bonafide custom. something really special. we used to laugh about it. anyone could have had the exact same bike without breaking a sweat. that’s the industry. but don’t go confusing that for custom.
personally, the horse has been the only motorcycle magazine i have bothered to read for a long time. i only recently started reading cycle source. i was drawn to the ‘real’ custom bikes. they always feature at least one real deal chopper or cool custom. i still read the horse, but they have sold out a bit. where, once, they used to feature mostly bikes like mine, built by regular guys that had talent and determination, they now feature predominantly bikes built by custom builders. that’s a shame. that used to be a really awesome rag.
i will admit one thing, though. i am tired of seeing bobbers. no insult, but it’s not that difficult, if you know what you are doing, to build a bobber that you can actually ride. it takes a bit more to build a real chopper that you can ride on a day to day basis. it’s not as easy. for one thing, you have to understand rake and trail and how to achieve a balance between the two to make your bike handle. a raked out bike needs to have low trail and you have to know how to achieve that. i would love to see a few more real choppers in these magazines. but that is personal taste.
Vince made the first well written and intelligent comment. Conclusion: why Cycle Source does want Cyril’s readers to vote in a contest reserved to its own readers who seem to be the only ones knowing the complete list to vote for? Of course to try to get more readers taken from Cyril’s. As comments above show, it makes no sense. To be against magazine awards is a point of view that need to be respected.
I also agree with Vince. Cycle Source = the american motorcycle hobbyist lifestyle, certainly not the future of the custom industry. Cyril Huze = the worldwide custom motorcycle industry as it evolves and shape the products that oem manufacturers are going to produce in the future.
What these Cycle Source members are bitching about. Cyril has featured to his audience several bikes of these builders and many of their parts, reports on Willie’s, Limnickie, etc.
mike are you an english major selling books on kindle…..”he has the first well written blah blah blah” all you people can do is insult…you really dont “build” a bobber, and if you know an industry, you would know one product or faucet can be its sub industry or a completely new industry with in its self using the same platform…..custom industry….with growing numbers, a sub culture has become an industry building and selling products for a mass….you are correct to say its a small portion of a big scale, but how can you say its not significant enough to have the “industry” tag…honestly chimes cutting the custom INDUSTRY down just shows why the counter culture of this side feels the way they do about the main stream riders…mainstream riders remind them of the clicks in the highschool hall ways, everyone talking the same, acting the same, loooking the same, and cutting others down because they dont belong to the main group of people…
look at the blogs and sites for a bit and you will see a good cross section of products and services hand made in the USA by Americans thats what matters to these guys not big biz and making a million..
how can you call it a hobby if they do it for a living, thats insulting again….
and i said before if CS gets a few readers from this blog thats great……i hope they dig the content and tell their buds….might be a super in depth tech article about trail and quantum physics too…now how rad would that be….
They all love what they do. Ok. Many of them have a full time job and work on bikes after hours, or have a second job. It’s not insulting. They all want to make money, more money. Money is independence to do what you love. If they knew how to make 1 million doing something else, they would. Then, they could build bikes only for pleasure No custom builder, even the ones making expensive bikes is making much money, so they love as much building bikes. On the cheapest customs, not all, there are a lot of Chinese junk, much more than on high end customs. Your english is horrible for somebody defending America. America has a big problem of education.
You are funny Mike…you validate my points…have a good day teaching and educating and which i hope thats is what your are doing being the expert of educations of American English educations making this counrty a better place to lives and speak in for the motor cycle world…………………..we thank you
Like Sara Liberte I, too, am reluctant to wade into this nest of snakes and take a beating for having the audacity to express a thought – but several things are painfully apparent: you posters who complain about Cycle Source being a “club” and having “members” are the very people who are “members” of your own “club.” What’s the payoff in pointing out the differences among us? Motorcycle riders are a small enough segment without further dividing us. To expand on that, when did “different” start equating to “wrong”? Within a community of renegades, no less! You guys are hilarious!
Another point: the whole concept here was to have some fun so lighten up. Right on Witty Title!
Shifter and Kemper, don’t shoot the messenger but here’s news: TIME’s person of the year for 2011 will be determined by a panel of judges, PLUS via an online poll where readers vote as well. TIME is knocking off Cycle Source? Ha! Be proud, Chris. You’re living on the edge.
And Johnny Rocko, you nailed the spirit of this thing days ago. Well said.
As Sara and Marilyn mentioned, I was not going to really join this discussion either, I put my two cents in eariler to give support to Chris and the Cycle Source staff and I was going to leave it at that.
I just wanted to say to those who think a “Best Of” list is nonsense, I am someone most of you never heard of, and that’s cool. I am a teacher in Canada that runs an after-school program for “At Risk” and “Introvert” kids and we try our best to build custom motorcycles. Last year, my name was on the list to vote for Motorcycle’s Man of the Year via Cycle Source. Why was this good?? My program benefited from my name being there, I never expected to win, I honestly didn’t care if I won, I was honored to be nominated but what it did for my program was make people aware of my program and some of the others in the United States. When Kevin Baas won, all of us teachers running similar programs won. We could not have had exposure like this without an event like this. Go through the list of people, search them out, see what they have done and are doing for the motorcycle and custom motorcycle industry……..there’s a lot of great folks on that list, in every category. As for whether or not I am a “biker”, some call me that, others call me a “wannabe”, all labels, really, so I will check my label, it says “Marc” cause that’s who I am. If you don’t know me, get to know me, if you don’t get to know me then, just shut up, because you are not entitled to an opinion on me.