US Harley-Davidson Dealer Inventories Too Low? The investment firm Robert W. Baird & Co. reports that new Harley-Davidson motorcycles inventory has never been so low in 10 years. Protecting Harley brand value was one of the objectives announced and repeated by Harley-Davidson President. The survey was made among 50 dealers with 86% of them stating […]
Archive for the 'Builders' Category
Triumph Bonneville T100 Steve McQueen Special Edition Motorcycle
Published by November 18th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Since 1902, Triumph has been producing distinctive motorcycles celebrated for their style and engineering. Through the 50’s and 60’s, names such as Steve McQueen and Marlon Brando cemented the Triumph legend. In 1991, Triumph was reborn remaining true to its heritage. And because the Steve McQueen’s name continues to sell motorcycles, Triumph is releasing a Special […]
Work Hard, Play Well, Cultivate Your Friendships, Eat Well, Protest, Repeat.
Published by November 18th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Some of you email to ask me where I am in Europe, what I do, etc. I will not bore you with all details of my trip, but having a few minutes available, this post from Bordeaux (southwest of France), capital of the best wines in the world (red and white, 14,000 producers, 700 million […]
Indianapolis American V-Twin Show To Host First Ever Ultimate Dealer Bike Show
Published by November 16th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Ultimate Dealer Bike Show to showcase the building talent of motorcycle dealers will take place at the inaugural American V-Twin Dealer Show, co-located with the 2012 Dealer Expo at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis February 17-19, 2012. Interested dealers are encouraged to enter to have their prized custom bike displayed prominently at the […]
Motorcycle Powered by Sewage. Serious.
Published by November 15th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.When you think you have seen everything, something new is “pooping up.” A Japanese toilet maker named Toto created a trike running on sewage, apparently the cheapest renewable energy. Yes, you can run on household and livestock waste, broken down and fermented, company spokesman Kenji Fujita said. The motorcycle can reach 45 miles per hour […]
Harley-Davidson Limited Time Rebate On Road Tech Zūmo GPS
Published by November 15th, 2011 in Accessories, Builders and Editorial.Harley offers a limited time rebate, a value up to $90, to customers who buy a Road Tech Zūmo models 660 or 665 GPS Navigator between today and December 31, 2011. To claim the rebate, you must go to your Harley dealer to get the necessary form. The zumo 660 and 665 can be used […]
Night Star. A New Harley Sportster Japanese Style.
Published by November 14th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.During the last 10 years the worldwide custom motorcycle industry has observed, learned how to respect, admired and even has began to imitate the Japanese style of custom building. Japanese builders living and working in the US, others traveling to the US and Europe to show their creations and magazine reports on Japanese shops and […]
St. Paul Harley Sues Harley-Davidson Over Prohibition Of Online International Sales
Published by November 12th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.A few months ago, you remember that I reported that Harley-Davidson was informing and reminding its dealers that online sales were forbidden outside their dealership territories. Main targets were those dealers selling parts and accessories through 3rd party independent dealers (brick & mortar and online shops usually reselling Harley genuine parts at a discount) and […]
American Chopper Live Build-Off Between Jesse James, Paul Senior And Paul Junior. Who Should Win?
Published by November 11th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.In advance of the 2-day TV event (Episode “Chopper Finale” December 5 at 9 pm when the 3 customs will be revealed, Episode “Chopper Live” December 6 at 9 pm to vote and see the winner), the Discovery Channel wants to know who SHOULD win this 3-way build-off. My opinion, and yours that I know […]
2011 Lone Star Rally. 10 Years and Nearly a Half Million Strong.
Published by November 11th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.In the US where everything is shrinking except the size of our national debt, the November 3-6 Lone Star Rally in Galveston Texas gathered a crowd close to half a million bikers. An outstanding attendance ranking the 4-day event the 3rd largest in the country, almost on par with the Sturgis and Daytona Rallies! At a […]
Why anyone would build a twin engine jet custom bike inspired by a 1928 Board Tracker? In this case there is a double answer. First, because it was never done before, enough reason for some to decide a new project. Second, because the client who ordered it to builder Robert Maddox wanted this very unique […]
Auction Of Lee Roy Hartung Collection Generates Almost $4 Million In Sales
Published by November 10th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.When I ran the video showing part of the Lee Hartung amazing vintage vehicles collection, you were impatient to know what it would bring during last weekend Glenview, IL auction organized by RM Auctions America. There was 1600 individual lots, all of which were sold at ‘no reserve’ front of a packed house (in which […]
Harley-Davidson Pushing Consumer-Led Marketing And Advertising
Published by November 9th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Last year, Harley-Davidson fired its advertising agency, and began sourcing advertising ideas directly from Harley-Davidson’s fans found on internet. The technique, known as “Crowdsourcing”, is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals (in this case, Harley marketing people and ad agency) to a group of people or community (crowd) through an open […]
Harley Ironhead Sportster Motor Mount Spacers
Published by November 9th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Engines.Those restoring/improving the look of their Ironhead Sportster]s will be happy to know that they can bring an extra touch of retro brass to their sled with these machined spacers to fit the front motor mounts on models 1954 to 1985. They will work not only with stock Harley Sportster frames but also some after-market […]
A new Italian work of art Supersport, the newMV Agusta Brutale 675 will be a big attraction this week at the 2011 EICMA Milan Show. Branded as the new MV Austa for Everyone, it features a naked futuristic body and super bike level performance. Built on a brand new ultra-technological chassis (steel tubing and aluminum and is […]
No Major Motorcycle Manufacturer Can Really Expand Staying Out Of India. A few numbers: India’s economy has surged 8% a year over the past decade, the second-fastest rate of growth in the world after China. At that pace, it could become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030. Over the past 20 years, the population in […]
Motor Bike Expo Italy Announces Access USA.
Published by November 8th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Of interest to all US companies wishing an opportunity to show their motorcycles, parts and accessories to the European public, distributors and media representatives, the Motor Bike Expo of Verona, Italy (January 20-22, 2012), one of the largest motorcycle shows in the world attracting over 120,000 visitors, offers for the 1st time turnkey booth packages […]
Custom Harley-Davidson Blackline. In The True Spirit Of The Long Black Road.
Published by November 7th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.The Softail Blackline was conceived by Harley-Davidson “pared to the bone with visual elements of the original bobber movement combined with a raw style embraced by today’s young bike builders.” Customizing it is to challenge yourself not only to preserve the bike raw personality but also to emphasize it with cosmetically more pleasing lines and parts, […]
New Harley-Davidson Military Inspired Collection
Published by November 6th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Merchandise.Harley-Davidson MotorClothes is launching 30 items invoking a classic image of military gear. Among them, the following. Military Inspired Leather Bomber Jacket. Made in the USA of imported materials and limited to just 500 units, this Leather Bomber Jacket (P/N 97109-12VM, starting at $900) is an authentic replica of the distinct, durable jackets worn by […]
Postcards From 2011 Big Twin Bike Show & Zodiac Dealer Expo In Netherlands
Published by November 6th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.This post to show you that our American Custom Motorcycle Industry is hard at work beyond our US Borders. This weekend (Nov. 4-6) European parts distributor Zodiac, in association with Dutch magazine Big Twin was running its dealer show near Eindhoven, Netherlands. An American presence with many American manufacturers, most of them now on their way […]
How To Build An Electric Cafe Racer For A Small Budget
Published by November 5th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.South Carolina husband and wife Ed and Tammy build for fun their own electric motorcycles for a very modest budget. They decided to build an electric Cafe Racer in the style of the Triumphs of the 70’s and starting from a 1978 Honda CB750 costing them only $250 they arrived to finish EV motorcycle featured […]
On October 25th, I announced the annual Wheels Through Time Museum Raffle with the winner receiving this November 12 a gorgeous restored 1936 Harley-davidson EL 61 c.i. Knucklehead. It’s still time to buy tickets by jumping HERE. And the extra good news is that the winner will receive a print of his bike from this […]
Lehman Trikes Looking For Investment, Strategic Merger Or Selling The Company.
Published by November 4th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Lehman Trikes Inc., calling itself the “Leader Of The Three World” and specializing in trikes, trike kits and conversions, issued a press release to investors signed by its President Kennon D. Hines, in which the company announces that it is looking for strategies to enhance shareholder value. Options include the possibility of selling, a strategic business […]
Cycle Source Magazine Best of 2011 Awards
Published by November 4th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.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 […]
2012 Polaris Produced Indian Motorcycles.
Published by November 2nd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.As I reported before, not much could be done by Polaris between April of this year, when the company bought all Indian Motorcycle assets, and today. The 2012 Polaris built Indians are limited to 3 models, The Vintage, The Classic and The Dark Horse. No radical changes, but all have received about 12 small technical […]
Powder coating is winning against chrome plating. Seems that everybody is loving black parts, and they are much more riders friendly than chrome ones. So, Rivera Primo Inc.®, like so many other vendors, now offers its popular Brute IV Extreme™ Open Belt Drives in Matte Black powder coat finish. They went with powder coating due […]
