It is with sadness that I report that Custom Builder Brad Ruel has died yesterday of a heart attack. His shop “The Wrench” in Sarasota, Florida has been around since 1995 and Brad has been building radical custom bikes since 2000. He became a familiar name in the industry through his custom work and custom […]
Author Archive for cyrilhuze
Death Of Custom Motorcycle Builder Brad Ruel
Published by July 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Milwaukee Iron Live And Online Auction
Published by July 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Events.As I told you a few days ago, after 26 years as the Boss Man (and Steel Man) of Milwaukee Iron fellow Builder and Parts Manufacturer Randy Simpson is closing the doors of his custom motorcycle and machine shop in Lynchburg, VA. Ready to move to a new venture and to spend more time socializing […]
Easy Rider And Captain America Turn 40
Published by July 15th, 2009 in Editorial, Events and Videos.Is it a western movie with bikes replacing horses or just a male-bonding LSD joy ride across the USA? It doesn’t matter. the way you see or live it. Today, the road movie Easy Rider turns 40 and the quite simple story of 2 bikers traveling the country and enjoying their freedom has be deemed […]
Dennis Santopietro via his company Fix My Hog produces some of the best videos in the business to help you maintain your bike. Since there is almost no limit to what somebody can learn, he just released a new DVD featuring new mechanical topics to help you complete your Touring Bike maintenance. This video covers […]
I tell you right away. This photographic history of early women motorcyclists is a treasure. Cristine Sommer-Simmons spent years collecting a wealth of impressive period pictures of the true pioneers of motorcycling. Women such as Bessie Stringfield and Dot robinson who were brave enough to ride all over the country, braving all weather conditions, defying […]
Harley-Davidson Sportster Ride Free Guarantee
Published by July 14th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.To sell more bikes and get more repeat customers Harley-Davidson created at the end of last year a program called “Ride Free Guarantee” expiring in March. Must work well because Harley decided to renew this program. How does it work is simple. If you buy a new Sportster 883 or 1200 (a total of 7 […]
By Colleen Swartz, Motorcycle Writer/Photographer at Digital Magic Shots What I have noticed over the years is that there are all kinds of women but only certain ones deserve the title of “biker chick”. Let me run through my experience with some categories of women that I come across. 1) Desperate Housewife: This woman has […]
Los Angeles Calendar Show Is July 18th-19th
Published by July 14th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Held every year the 3rd weekend of July in the beautiful setting of the Queen Mary Event Park in Long Beach/Los Angeles, the LA Calendar Show is much more than a bike show (have been there, done it). It’s also a music…and calendar girl festival. About 200 major manufacturers, exhibitors and builders are ready to […]
Aeromach, manufacturer of after-market tricky mirrors and other billet custom accessories for both American (since 1992) & Metric motorcycles since 1996), was acquired by Paul Aiken and relocated to North Carolina. Aeromach’s founder Richard Fouhy started manufacturing by making parts for M-1 tanks, helicopters and space shuttle components. When the aerospace industry started to slow […]
Breaking News. First Pictures Of The 2010 Indian Motorcycle Chief Dark Horse
Published by July 13th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Events.You see them here first. Hot off the Indian Motorcycle photographer camera, these are the first 2 pictures of the new 2010 Indian Chief Dark Horse. As you can see, the Chief Dark Horse is a dark, sinister, mechanical looking motorcycle with a smoke “matte” finish and will be also available in Thunder Black, Indian Red […]
Exclusive Close-Up Look At The New Indian Motorcycle Chief Bomber
Published by July 12th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.As I posted a few days ago, Indian Motorcycles is releasing 2 brand new 2010 models. The Indian Chief Bomber and the Indian Chief Dark Horse. Both models will be displayed for the 1st time during the Sturgis Rally at the Buffalo Chip. The Indian Chief Bomber, featured below in Military Green and Silver Smole, […]
Because so many of you are building a new custom bike in the style of yesterday, the after-market front-end business is in full “Retro-Volution” (I have to trademark this new word)). One more example is this “KnuckleDragger” front end from Lightning Rod Motorcycles. It features double tube style fork legs both for good looks and […]
Ladies, here a model for you to rev-up your wardrobe. I like the motorcycle inspired Knuckle handle (although made of polyurethane) and the fact that it’s called the “Peacekeeper”. Must be because all women have thought of using their bag as an attack weapon (against another woman) or a defense one if attacked by a […]
Following a controversy about his Hydrogen Powered World Speed Record, Jesse James was voted out of the Land Speed Racers Club, one of the 12 individual clubs members of the SCTA. (South California Timing Association), an all-volunteer organization comprised of 12 individual racing clubs. The SCTA mission is to provide safe and friendly Land Speed […]
Randy Simpson Closing Milwaukee Iron
Published by July 11th, 2009 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.When I started my business in 1992, Randy Simpson was one of the first major professional builders of the time that I met. It was during an Easyriders Bike Show in Charlotte, NC. I was displaying one of my bikes on a “James Dean” theme next to him exhibiting his vintage racing looking custom bikes (it […]
How Does The 360 Brake Work? See It In Action.
Published by July 11th, 2009 in Brakes, Customs and Editorial.Obama Administration Threatens Harley-Davidson And Other Automotive Companies
Published by July 10th, 2009 in Builders and Editorial.Companies without a Bank status, but authorized, under their state-issued charters, to collect federally insured deposits, offer credit cards, make loans and process financial transactions are called “Industrial Loan Companies” (ILC). Harley-Davidson, via its lending arm, is one of them. Under their ILC status these companies don’t face as much scrutiny as traditional banks regulated […]
New Freedom Performance Motorcycle Exhaust Systems
Published by July 10th, 2009 in Customs, Editorial and Exhaust.First, these “Tuck & Under” nostalgic looking upswept motorcycle exhaust pipes looking and sounding very good available in either a chrome-plated or black ceramic coated finish. Each system comes complete with ‘blue-proof’ heat shields, removable baffles and stainless hardware From $749.99 to $789.99. Or if you have a bagger, you know that bigger is better. […]
Art Of The Chopper MotoMuseum Rolls Into Sturgis
Published by July 10th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Tom Zimberoff’s Choppers & Builders Photo Exhibition On Wheels is coming to Sturgis and will be setup at the MonkeyRock during the entire rally. To borrow Tom’s words “come to have a glimpse into a parallel universe populated by the high priests of horsepower, lane-splitting libertarians on the road to perdition […]
Aerostich is a company whose motto is to manufacture a line of accessories to make riding more comfortable in all conditions, through all kind of terrain and to all destinations. And I like these soft gloves made with medium to heavy Elkskin. They are thicker, stronger and more abrasion resistant than deer hide and they will […]
Limited Production Aluminum Swingarms
Published by July 10th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Suspension.“We machined some swing arms for a local bike builder that went out of business a few years ago. I am contacting you to see if you or your readers might have any interest in them. I realize that custom bikes are unique pieces of art and these swing arms may not fit all of […]
The New American IronHorse Files For Bankruptcy And Liquidate
Published by July 9th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.If you feel like you read before the same story in my Blog, you are almost right. Except that the owners are different, and yes it’s a new American IronHorse bankruptcy that I am announcing! And guess what? The press release states, as usual, that after the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing, the company intends (again) […]
Get a good start on your trike with this all fiberglass 1939 Ford inspired body kit. You can use it on any Harley-Davidson Softail trike conversion. Easy to bolt-on. Sold non-painted at MSRP of $1995 (grille is extra). For info call 813-671-9097 or visit Santiago Choppers.
Gallery Of Legends At The Broken Spoke Sturgis County Line
Published by July 9th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial, Events and Painters.Fine Art will be everywhere during this coming Sturgis Rally. And it’s a very good thing to see such an expansion of the artistic community (painters, illustrators, photographers etc) exhibiting their works during our motorcycle rallies. Jay Allen is adding a fine art gallery to the Broken Spoke, Sturgis County Line, located on route 79 […]
“Hey Cyril, thought your readers would like to know that Black Bear Casino has purchased a bike from us here at Indian Motorcycle of the Twin Cities, and will be giving it away on Sunday July 19th at Black Bear Casino and Resort in Carlton, Minnesota. If anyone wishes to reserve a room, they are […]
Custom Chrome® 40th Anniversary To Be Celebrated With Series Of US And International Events
Published by July 9th, 2009 in Editorial and Events.“We will not let this milestone pass without a shout!” said Holger Mohr, Chief Executive Officer of Custom Chrome. Today, the company announced a host of international events planned in celebration of its 40th Anniversary serving the V-Twin industry. The announcement included details for a series of events celebrating four decades as a V-Twin industry parts distributor […]
