On Saturday May 14th at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel, CA, a venue for bikes with a pedigree, iconic motorcycles featured included: the “Bathing Suit Bike” which Rollie Free rocketed to a 150 mph world speed record in 1948, a 1929 Sunbeam Model 90 TT, Steve McQueen’s 1971 Husqvarna Cross, and in the category […]
Archive for the 'Builders' Category
The Black Falcon. A Modern Vincent Bike With Pedigree (Part 1)
Published by May 16th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Exclusive. Discovery Channel 3-Way Biker Build-Off Between Jesse James, Paul Sr. And Paul Jr.
Published by May 15th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Events and Videos.You read it here first long before it becomes official. Fans of Jesse James, of Paul Teutul Senior & Paul Teutul Junior (usually not the same…) you can rejoice. This summer on The Discovery Channel (programmation dates to be announced), a 3-way Biker Build-Off series in which the builders will be pitting their teams and expertise […]
Auction Of Ultra Rare 1954 AJS E95 Porcupine.
Published by May 15th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Bonhams is delighted to announce that the 218-year old auction house has been selected to represent the ultra-rare 1954 AJS E95 “Porcupine” (so nicknamed because of the spiked cooling fins on its cylinder head) at its renowned August automotive sale at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, CA. It was created as a works racer by […]
Victory Motorcycles Hiring Senior Motorcycle Designer
Published by May 14th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.This post to help Polaris find its new Motorcycle Designer and one of you find his dream job. I bet the recruited candidate will also work on the new Indian motorcycle design(s) Job Description. The Polaris ID Department supports all 7 Divisions of the company: ATV, Snowmobile, Side by Side Sport and Utility (Ranger), Victory& Indian […]
Europeans cherish the performance of their sport cars and custom motorcycles. And where Americans would favor theme bikes about the western era, American Natives, NASCAR and Mc Donald’s (!?!) they are fond of paying tribute on 2 wheels to their automobile brand names. Saw a lot (too many) Ferrari theme bikes, but more rarely Porsche tribute […]
Tweezer Action Suspension Solo Seat
Published by May 12th, 2011 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.If you are into riding classic or old school style bikes with solo seat, you probably have adopted (and adapted) a springs seat type suspension system. Not necessarily the most comfortable ride… Obsessed with the idea of improving his ride and after making a total of 356 seats with hinge in the front and springs […]
Fabricator Kevin New Steel Parts
Published by May 11th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial, Electrical and Engines.If it’s not steel, it ain’t real. Many think this way and Fab Kevin made this motto the basis of his business: custom made to order steel parts for your Chopper. He even encourages you to submit your own ideas that he will custom fabricate for you. 2 of his most recent parts are: 1- […]
It’s amazing to observe that “US War Machines” like the WLA Harley-Davidson can be found intact, restored or turned into a chopper or racer in countries all around our world, including Japan. Very similar to the WL civilian model, the WLA (45″ or 740 cc engine and single-rider design) was produced to US Army specifications […]
Hoka Hey 2011. Sponsored By Harley-Davidson. Organized By Hoka Hey.
Published by May 11th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The second edition of the Hoka Hey Endurance Run is going to be a completely different event. It needed to be after the many controversial issues during the 2010 event. It included organizer’s contradictory statements, broken promises regarding charities, absence or incompetence of on-road organization, vague route instructions, apparently not even an official present on the finish […]
California Scooter Company’s New Police Motorcycle
Published by May 10th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.California Scooter Company (CSC Motorcycles) announced today the addition of a police version to its popular line of small made-in-America motorcycles. Named the CSC-150P, it is available in a standard black-and-white paint scheme, with other department colors available on a special order basis. Standard equipment includes the usual calibrated speedometer, windshield, storage rack, saddlebags, siren, […]
March 11, 2011. Japan’s most powerful earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that struck the country’s north-east coast with the devastating consequences we all know. It didn’t prevent Hiroshima based Japanese custom builder Hiroyuki Hirata to travel from Japan with his bike “Phoenix” to Santa Clara, California to compete in the Custom Chrome North American Championship […]
Third Annual Big Mountain Ride. May 18-22, 2011.
Published by May 8th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Organized by the Cycle Source Magazine and by the cats of the Limpnickie Lot, and supported by Spectro Oils, this year’s Big Mountain Run is scheduled for May 18th through the 22rd, 2011 and the line up is outrageous, gypsy style. To give everyone that wanted to do this last year and couldn’t make it, they […]
The announcement on April 19th, 2011 of Polaris Industries buying Indian Motorcycle Limited from the UK based Stellican private equity firm was quite a surprise for many of you. Since then, speculation was high regarding 1- what would happen to the Indian’s plant employees in Kings Mountain, NC 2- what would happen to the exclusive […]
Did You Know? Harley-Davidson Topper Scooter.
Published by May 7th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Scooters represent the motorcycle market fastest growing segment. Price of gas can only help support and amplify this trend. Amazing the growing number of young people and executives I see every day riding them to school or work. So, it made me think that most of you probably don’t know that in the 60’s Harley-Davidson […]
Harley-Davidson Cross Bones Reengineered By Exile Cycles
Published by May 5th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.With the complicity of photographer Steve Kelly, I release a sneak preview of the latest project of Russell Mitchell at Exile Cycles. As a matter of fact these photos were actually shot within hours of the bike being finished earlier this week while Russell was road testing his new creation. Contrary to what you may […]
New Forward Controls From Supreme Legends USA
Published by May 5th, 2011 in Builders, Controls, Customs and Editorial.Not easy to re-invent the forward control. Most often than not, what is new is a development or re-design of different ideas already floated around by other brands. Still, after some tweaking and creative machining the final product may look different. For example the top model featured here called “Money Shot” mixing the popular drill […]
Fantasizing Of Becoming Bonneville New Rollie Free (Part 1)
Published by May 4th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.I was there in 2009 when French custom builder Laurent Dutruel raced for the 1st time the Salts of Bonneville. And as all those who went to participate in any LSR (Land Speed Record) will tell you, Salts are addictive. So, since 2 years Laurent (Zen Motorcycles) works on a new crazy machine that he […]
Third Annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering Is May 14, 2011
Published by May 4th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Quail Motorcycle Gathering offers a spectacular display of new custom, restored classic sports and racing bikes lined up on the pristine lawn of the Driving Range at Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in Carmel, CA on Saturday, May 14. To debut during the event the new motorcycle built by Ian Barry at Falcon Motorcycles and […]
Born Free Vintage Chopper And Classic Cycle Show
Published by May 4th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.I mention this show because it’s becoming one of the west coast biggest one day free events celebrating the love of old motorcycles. It will be held June 25th, 2011 at Oak Canyon Ranch in Orange County, California. Open to all makes and styles, but is heavily geared toward vintage bikes that can be stock, […]
Jesse James American Outlaw Book Released Today. What’s In It?
Published by May 3rd, 2011 in Books, Builders, Editorial and Events.Jesse is hitting the radio and TV talk show tour to promote his new book. In it Jesse tells it all about what he calls “a crazy life, a wild ride, from a volatile upbringing to becoming a successful motorcycle builder, then a TV personality, his 3 failed marriages and eventually finding salvation in the […]
Saxon Motorcycles’ CEO Mark Borodkin wishes to state that his company is still doing fine despite our fragile economy. And he makes a point to show his fuel injection options offered now on most models. First EFI models were just delivered to its Canadian Distributor SAR in Winnipeg and Japanese Distributor Uni-Auto in Gifu Japan. […]
Victory Motorcycle Brand Maintains Top Ranking In 2011 Prospect Satisfaction Index
Published by May 3rd, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.For the second year in a row, the Victory Motorcycle brand is the top-ranking motorcycle maker in prospect satisfaction in the new Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI). The study measured how effectively each brand’s dealership helped motorcycle shoppers become motorcycle buyers. Harley-Davidson finished second, while Ducati and Triumph tied for third, followed by BMW […]
Build Life Skills. Build Confidence. Build Motorcycles.
Published by May 3rd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Videos.Six teams of local Milwaukee high school students and their bike-building mentors are 2 months into restoration of vintage motorcycles through a moto-mentor program. Founded this year by The Iron Horse Hotel and giving students the opportunity to learn vintage bike restoration while developing important life skills, the nation’s only high-end boutique hotel catering to motorcycle enthusiasts […]
Two weekends ago, with this boardtracker style custom bike, Kundratic Kustoms was proudly named the inaugural Sturgis Road Show Champion during the second leg of the Custom Chrome Chrome International Bike Show Series. With this win Brian Kundratic strengthens his position as a respected builder proving again that intensive labor, more than buying expensive catalog […]
Harley-Davidson Annual Shareholders Meeting. Many More Changes Coming.
Published by May 1st, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Yesterday Saturday April 30, 2011 Harley executives stated their objectives, answered questions of shareholders with their voting on some resolutions. I summarize the main important points of this annual shareholders meeting whose theme could have been “Times are changing. The past way to do business is fading. A new Harley way is coming”. 1- HarleyDavidson executives re-affirmed their objectives to pursue […]
Flash News. Harley-Davidson Increases Cash Dividend.
Published by April 30th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Today April 30, 2011, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) announced that its Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.125 per share for the second quarter of 2011. The dividend is payable June 17, 2011 to the holders of record of the Company’s common stock on June 2, 2011. The second quarter 2011 dividend represents […]
