After 9 months of hard work with the help of ace Antique Motorcycle Restorer Steve Huntzinger (just won a bunch of awards at the Pebble Beach Concours) and after some intense physical training to endure the 3325 miles of the Challenge between US east and west coast, Cris Sommers-Simmons and her 1915 Harley-Davidson 11J Twin 3 […]
Author Archive for cyrilhuze
Cris Sommers Simmons. The Only American Woman Ready To Endure The Cannonball Challenge.
Published by August 29th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Hawg Halters Sprocket Brake System. Improved.
Published by August 28th, 2010 in Brakes, Builders, Customs and Editorial.Born in Sweden decades ago, many times copied, then adapted and improved the Sprocket Brake System for chain drive is everywhere on new built custom motorcycles. Especially the ones looking for a retro look. What about the fact that a chain is more forgiving than a belt when you have, over time, a very slight problem […]
Three blondes were all applying for the last available position on the Texas Highway Patrol. The detective conducting the interview looked at the three of them and said, “So y’all want to be cops, huh?” The blondes all nodded. The detective got up, opened a file drawer, and pulled out a folder. Sitting back down, he […]
Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Rally Is Set For September 2-5, 2010
Published by August 28th, 2010 in Editorial and Events.It is supposed to be the largest Bike Rally in the Midwest. It is organized by the four metro Milwaukee Harley-Davidson dealers. So, if you are in the area, it may be your last opportunity to ride under still warm temperatures and enjoy at the same time the classic bike fest entertainment, music, vendors, poker […]
Building A Captain America Reproduction
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.In 1969 in the movie Easy Rider, the two freewheeling hippies – Wyatt, nicknamed “Captain America” (Peter Fonda), and Billy (Dennis Hopper) – told the world about their quest with the aim of achieving freedom. Wyatt rides a chopper with an American flag painted gas tank and dresses in flag-adorned leather. The bike became a […]
Harley-Davidson 2011 Motorcycles Inventories Too Low.
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Consequence of cutting back its production to meet a lower consumer demand caused by the recession, some Harley dealers begin to complain that they don’t have enough 2011 models on the show floor. The results of a study conducted by the firm of Robert W. Baird and Company with 64 Harley dealerships show that 2/3 of […]
Getting Ready For The Cannonball Challenge. Shinya Kimura.
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.On September 10, 2010 the green flag will be waved to pre-1916 motorcycles like Pope, Sears, Flying Merkel, Excelsior, Henderson, Indian, Triumph, and the Harley-Davidson’s Silent Grey Fellows, and riders will be thumping their way from the US east coast to the west for the Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run. I have quite a few friends […]
PhatBack Kit For Your Harley-Davidson Touring Model
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Accessories, Builders, Customs and Editorial.Not really my style but I understand that some of you can like it. From a young company I just discovered – they incorporated in 2008 – the PhatBack RT (RT for rumble trunk) is conceived to extend the cruising aspect of your bagger with a concealed storage compartment that opens like a rumble seat. […]
A Custom As Hot And Elegant As A Consuela
Published by August 26th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Don’t look for your Urban Dictionary. A Consuela refers to “a fine sexy lady, hot like fire, that has a vivacious/ravishing personality, being a perfect 10 out of 10. usually of Spanish decent, but not always.” I find this new petite and light build (about 300 pounds) by TPJ Customs extremely attractive…just like a Consuela. […]
You Have Only One Chance To Keep Your Harley-Davidson Job In Wisconsin…
Published by August 26th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.On Monday 1880 Harley Wisconsin manufacturing workers received a letter from their Union President. In it, he explains that they have want to keep their jobs, they have only one chance: to vote on September 13th, 2010 to approve the new Harley-Davidson contract. He warns that if not “Harley-Davidson Board of Directors can vote themselves on […]
Oil is to engines and transmissions what blood is to humans. Hmmm. Kind of… Oil serves many purposes like lubrication, cooling, efficiency, anti-rust agent, protection etc. These are the 3 most common questions about motorcycle oil. Spectro Performance Oils explain: 1- Question: Can I mix viscosity grades? Answer: Yes, you can and no harm will be done. Topping […]
Mad Jap Kustoms. Respect The Kulture!
Published by August 25th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Let’s give a push to a small team of builders from beautiful Calgary, Canada that I met in Sturgis, struggling their way up for acknowledgement from their older brothers. Setup at the Broken Spoke County Line among other “next generation of custom builders” shops, they learned the hard way that exhibiting in Sturgis costs a […]
Orange County Choppers Launch The OCC Foundation, Inc.
Published by August 25th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.“Everyone who knows me knows that I have big attitude, but what you may not know is that we, at OCC, have an even bigger heart” says Paul Teutul Senior. With these words Orange County Choppers, the custom motorcycle shop featured on the popular TLC television show American Chopper yesterday announced the launch of a new non-profit […]
Improved Riser Mount Kit For Easy Internal Wiring
Published by August 25th, 2010 in Controls, Customs and Editorial.For those who want to run their handlebar cables & electricity internally, here a superb idea that has been improved. A custom handlebar mounting kit to run all your lines (wires, cables & hoses) through the bolts and exit them under the top of any triple tree top plate. It includes bolts with 5/8″ holes for concealing […]
Reality Check. Paul Teutul Junior Weds.
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.American Chopping Wedding. Last weekend Paul Teutul, Junior and Rachael married at Bonnet Island Estate in Bonnet Island, NJ. front of 135 people. Daddy was invited but was a no show. Now, you know for sure that the feud and the ongoing legal battle between father and son is for real. There was a post-ceremony […]
Discounted Gas Tanks And Fenders From An American Metal Forming Company
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.CAD Works Inc. is an American metal forming company which specializes in deep draw forming and stamping of motorcycle parts, including gas tanks and fenders, for many V-Twin companies. They tell me that they have some inventory of parts from their collection of fenders and gas tanks that they can sell to the public at […]
During the Sturgis AMD World Championship of Bike Building there is a class called “Production Manufacturer” sponsored by Accel Motorcycle Products welcoming those claiming at least 50 models produced annually. And this year the winner came from Spain with an aggressive sporty looking model appropriately called “Flying” weighting only 211 kg (460 pounds)
Motorcycle Tribute In Black & White
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Just a blurb about somebody, who, without commercial interest in mind, just built a website to honor in black & white the American motorcycle, its riders and customizers. The site features 10 years of photographic material shot mainly Daytona & Sturgis, and you may find some shots of your bike or of your favorite ones. […]
British Motorcycles And Universal Fitting Parts
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Controls, Customs, Editorial and Electrical.During the last 2 years a lot of custom motorcycle lovers and builders have diversified their stable. British bikes are in again, back from the past after some restoration or used as donors for new custom builds. A small craftsman named James Maund located in Pasadena, CA got the good idea to offer a few […]
Baker Drivetrain Sturgis Nights Of Mayhem
Published by August 23rd, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Motorcycle burnouts are almost as old as motorcycles. And during 2 Sturgis nights at the Broken Spoke County Line Baker Drivetrain entertained the crowds with their 3rd “Smoke-Down Show Down” It was chaos all over the place as 20 motorcycle builders installed 6 feet in the air in a new Burnout Cage (built by Wink […]
Dave Cook New Custom Norton
Published by August 23rd, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Have you thought about the pressure under which is a custom motorcycle builder who just won in 2009 the title of AMD World Champion Of Bike Building, then get an order from a client to build a new daily ride with a very reasonable budget, a custom to compete the following year in the same […]
A Must Watch. Running Original 1913 Harley-Davidson
Published by August 22nd, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.A wonderful video. An history lesson. All original 1913 Harley-davidson. Discover how it was made, detail the parts and see it running like 98 years ago…And it is for sale on eBay or call 613-273-5036. Located in Ontario Canada. (thanks Ricoo)
Burt Munro’s Indian Special Honored At Pebble Beach Concours
Published by August 22nd, 2010 in Editorial.Held last weekend the yearly Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in California is since 2009 welcoming classic and vintage motorcycles as much as automobiles. And this year Burt Munro’s Indian special won top honors for American Racing Motorcycles. A good pretext to remember that like us Burt Monroe had a dream, built a motorcycle just the […]
1- Harley-Davidson Dealerships. At the end of 2009 the company had 1,340 dealerships worldwide. Last year, 28 U.S. dealerships closed and 6 closed in the first quarter of 2010. Because of the down economy the company is encouraging dealer consolidation in all markets. “Contraction right now is healthy to strengthen and protect the dealer network […]
Harley-Davidson Museum Masterpieces. The Book.
Published by August 21st, 2010 in Books, Builders and Editorial.Most of you will never see in person the Harley-Davidson’s Archive Collection. This just released book (shipping starts September 10th) features stunning studio pictures of a selection of the most amazing and most desirable motorcycles among the hundreds in the Collection (taken by Randy Leffingwell, a long time Los Angeles Times photographer) as well as […]
You already know that I am one of the many admirers of David Uhl’s work. With “Wild Mustangs” our “Norman Rockwell Of Motorcycles” demonstrates once again that nobody better than him can capture on canvas the true spirit and romance of motorcycling.
