On December 9th, 2010 I revealed that Harley-Davidson would launch a factory customization program called H-D1. From paint job to accessories, this program will let buyers personalize their new bike (Sportster only?) with a selection of Harley options, and this before their bike arrives at the dealership. Some of you commented and some dealers told […]
Archive for the 'Builders' Category
Harley-Davidson 2011 Promise. A Whole New way To Design, Build And Personalize Your Harley.
Published by January 2nd, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.1- Motorcycle Theft Tools. Using “pigtails”to bypass the factory-installed ignition it takes as little as 20 seconds for thieves to steal a motorcycle. Law enforcement agencies across California now have the ability to crack down on crooks who were taking advantage of a loophole in the law to steal thousands of sport motorcycles every year. […]
Since the relaunch of Indian Motorcycle under new ownership I am waiting for the opportunity to feature a customized version of their factory Indian Chief. This is the first one I have seen and it deserves the classification of custom because the Custom Dark model used as a platform was stripped down to the frame […]
BMW Motorcycle Versus BMW Bobsleigh
Published by December 30th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.German Chris “CP” Pfeiffer relentlessly pushes his limits with new tricks, projects and off road races that set the pulse for Extreme Riding. In 2003, he was crowned the Stunt Riding World Champion. On his BMW G450X with studded tires he runs against Christoph Langen in his BMW designed Bobsleigh. Well produced and edited, a […]
Awesomeness In Matte Black. More Than A Fad. A Trend…
Published by December 30th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Painters.Remember the matte black Ford Roadsters, Mercuries of the 50’s and 60’s? Hot Rodders on a tight budget didn’t have the money and or the time to do a full paint job. So, to avoid rust, they left their rides in black primer. Sine then, matte black “paint jobs” have always been a marginal trend […]
Drag Specialties Just Released Its Two 2011 Catalogs
Published by December 29th, 2010 in Books, Builders, Customs and Events.To help you keep your American V-Twin bike rolling in style, Drag Specialties just released the fat and heavy 2011 print editions of the FatBook and OldBook. The FatBook features 1300 pages of parts and accessories for Evo and Twin Cam motorcycles. The 600 pages OldBook is for the classic motorcycle owner and focuses on […]
Looking for a strong solo seat bracket? Choose between the top one in fully polished stainless steel or bottom one in aircraft grade chromoly steel. Both are tig welded, offer 2 long slots for maximum adjustability. Of course, the accompanying pivot bung is sold in unfinished steel so that you can weld it to your […]
Looking Back At Recent Custom Motorcycle Style
Published by December 28th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Part of my job while writing this Blog is to observe all motorcycle events susceptible to shape the future of our custom motorcycle industry. It’s also, from time to time, to look at the distant and recent past to measure how much bike and part designs are evolving and in which direction. I was looking […]
Chrome Front Fender For Harley-Davidson Touring Models
Published by December 28th, 2010 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.Whining because of too many matte black bikes and parts? Harley-Davidson is launching the Rally Mirror Chrome front fender for FL models. It eliminates the front light, side medallions and fender skirt to provide an unobstructed sweep of chrome (don’t expect to reinstall all these ornaments on this chrome fender. They will not fit anymore) […]
Bikes And Parts Building With Advanced CADCAM Solutions
Published by December 28th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Videos.LC Fabrications was born as a machine shop and later evolved in a full service custom motorcycle shop with strong emphasis on parts design and fabrication. Founder Jeremy Cupp builds nice sleds (a lot of Sportsters and modern Triumphs), and when I say build, I mean not bolting on something together but really starting from […]
Cobra USA is one of the industry leaders in the design, engineering and manufacturing of motorcycle custom accessories and exhaust systems for metric cruisers. And important to mention, everything is created, developed, and manufactured right here in the USA. From time to time the company builds some nice customs to experiment with new parts to […]
Paughco Dished Custom Gas Tank
Published by December 26th, 2010 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.One of the ways to give a new gas tank the old school style, from the 50’s to 70’s, is to “Ax” and “Dish” it. Paughco offers this ready-to-install style in 4 capacities; 3.0, 3.5, 4.5 and 5 gallons with integrated mounts to install on most frame back bones. Tank is fitted with a bung […]
Catalog & Guide For The Home Bike Builder.
Published by December 26th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Named Weirdo (?), Lowbro Customs released their first in-house catalog/guide conceived for the garage builder who needs a little bit of advice to do it right the first time without destroying destroying the parts is just ordered. Of course, the boys at Lowbrow show you all the parts and accessories that they sell, and if […]
Fast Motorcycle Industry News
Published by December 25th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.1- Polaris Industries Inc. has informed state of Wisconsin officials that it will begin the layoff of nearly 500 employees from its plants in Osceola on March 1, 2011. Medina, Minn.-based Polaris announced last May that it was exiting the Polk County operations in Osceola under a realignment of manufacturing operations that includes establishing a […]
BMW Motorcycle Subliminal Advertising
Published by December 25th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.Experimentation of subliminal messages started many years ago. But never heard about this technique to sell motorcycles. Does this very appealing BMW S1000R need the use of a subliminal message to convince potential buyers? You could think that showing World Superbike racer Ruben Xaus flying around a track would be enough. In this theater commercial, […]
Harley-Davidson Garage Set. From $1405 To $599.
Published by December 24th, 2010 in Accessories, Builders and Editorial.Usually don’t publish promo offers because of too many, but can’t resist to show you this one. This complete Harley-Davidson storage garage set is a hit for any home mechanic who is a true Harley enthusiast. It was listed at $1405, and is now offered brand new at a huge discount, $599 with free shipping […]
Paul Teutul Sr. New Chop’ Hair
Published by December 24th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.A corporation as client to build a theme bike? I don’t know any Custom Builder who would refuse such commissioned work. Orange County Choppers made a huge business of mimicking on a 2-wheeler the brand, the logo, the product(s) sold by a corporation. So, here is a preview of a new theme bike built by Paul […]
Unrest At Harley-Davidson
Published by December 23rd, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Painters.Sex sells almost everything and paint jobs sell a lot of bikes. Through the Sheet Metal Exchange, Harley-Davidson is launching the Unrest Series Paint Set available now with a price from $2199.95 to $5,199.95. This theme paint job features Day of the Dead skull, tribal designs and helter-skelter Harley lettering over a matte black background […]
The Evolution of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle
Published by December 22nd, 2010 in Books, Builders and Editorial.What are the models that have shaped the future of Harley Davidson, their similarities, recurrent themes and innovations? How have they helped make the brand an American icon? This book is not one more book about Harley-Davidson. Its merit is how author George J. Pardos approaches his research from the perspective of the 1st year […]
Harley Shovelhead. From Swingarm To Hardtail Without Cutting And Welding.
Published by December 22nd, 2010 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.The traditional method to turn a Harley Shovelhead into a rigid is to do a full bike disassembly, cutting the swingarm mounts, then welding a new tail section to the frame. Tim Anding at Papa Clutch Customs proposes a bolt-on rigid tail section which is a direct replacement of the stock swing-arm and shocks for […]
Detroit, Michigan. Motor City, metonym for the American automobile industry, with the Big Three automobile companies, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, calling it home. It’s where Jim Nasi and his 2 older brothers were born, and with the added influence of a father working for GM, not surprisingly, all 3 boys were very young surrounded by […]
Ducati Unveils The Diamond Black Diavel
Published by December 22nd, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.With its stunning looks, Testastretta engine producing 162 hp, its sophisticated traction control system and its Ride-By-Wire technology (twist grip and engine are not connected by a cable but by an electronic interface adjusting ideal power engine response) and its 240 mm rear section the Ducati Diavel stole the show at the recent Milan International Motorcycle […]
V-Twin Expo By Easyriders. February 5-7, 2011
Published by December 21st, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.In a little bit more than 6 weeks, all the custom motorcycle industry will meet again under the roof of the Cincinnati, OH Duke Energy Convention Center. Builders, manufacturers, dealers, distributors and media will get a chance to see, appreciate, evaluate and judge all the new concepts, ideas and custom parts that you, the retail client, will […]
New From Xtreme Machine. Your Favorite Image In Your Custom Wheels.
Published by December 21st, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Videos.Are we having an excessive pride in our motorcycle’s appearance? Always in need to display our feelings about everything? Yep, for many us, image is (almost) everything. So, for 2011 Xtreme Machine is launching the Vanity Wheels where you can display any image expressing your feelings, your cause, your fight, your club, etc. For the […]
2011. The Year Of The Cafe Racer.
Published by December 20th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.It’s a long time that fashion evolves in multiple trends running in parallel, not as a unique way to dress for one season or two. Same for the custom motorcycle scene. After an overdose of new too long radical choppers being almost the only type of bike being built between 1999 and 2004, since then, board […]
Important Motorcycles Join Last Vegas Auction On January 6th, 2011
Published by December 19th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Bonhams is pleased to announce the addition of several important motorcycles from two renowned collections to their inaugural motorcycle sale in Las Vegas on January 6th. First, from a famous Texas-based collection best known for its numerous and exquisite automobiles come several motorcycles. Some of those being offered include a 1935 Rudge 250 Sport, a […]
