Last Monday, 3 days after Harley-Davidson decided to drop Buell I was informed that my local Harley-Davidson dealers in South Florida were already re-writing sticker prices of every Buell in stock to 50% of the original MSRP. Then, Milwaukee faxed to all dealers to announce an incentive to help move all Buell models out of […]
Archive for the 'Builders' Category
Harley-Davidson Incentive. $5,000 To The Dealer For Each Buell Sold
Published by October 25th, 2009 in Builders and Editorial.Judge Rejects Motion To Have Billy Lane Sentence Reduced.
Published by October 24th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.As reported on my post last Tuesday October 20, attorneys for Billy Lane, 39 filed a motion asking Brevard Circuit Judge Robert Burger to give the crash victim’s family another chance to say what kind of punishment they think he should receive and to reduce Lane’s prison sentence. For attorneys Greg Eisenmenger and Robert Berry […]
Jesse James will restart his “No-Love Party” on November 14th. Well, it is is Long Beach, full of rods, rads, smoke and fun the Jesse’s way – Despite the dwindling of leisure dollars and maybe due to the cancellation of The Love Ride, Las Vegas Bikefest (Oct 1-4) got relatively good attendance numbers with an […]
Buell Motorcycle Company. Is It Really Over?
Published by October 22nd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.When Buell officials thanked the company’s customers, employees and dealers for an unforgettable ride, it meant that it’s was over for the only American sport bikes brand. After Erik Buell made his emotional good-bye speech, President Jon Flickinger said a limited number of motorcycles were available for sale through authorized dealerships and that production will […]
BUB 7 Stealth Mufflers. 50 State Sound And Emission Compliant.
Published by October 22nd, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Exhaust.In 2009 is it possible to ride your Harley-Davidson Bagger with enough rumbling noise to feel like you are still riding a Harley, but quiet enough to satisfy all EPA & CARB certifications in any US states you live or ride in? From BUB, the home of the world’s fastest motorcycle at 367.382 mph, these […]
How The Rossmeyer’s Family Is Managing The Harley-Davidson Businesses
Published by October 21st, 2009 in Builders and Editorial.Since Bruce Rossmeyer tragic disparition in a motorcycle accident on July 30th, his family, wife Sandra and his 5 children share responsibilities to manage the Rossmeyer Enterprises. The business entity comprises 13 Harley-Davidson dealerships or stores located in 5 different states and 3 local Florida car dealers. A couple of months before his death Bruce told […]
Shinya Kimura Custom Bike For Brad Pitt
Published by October 21st, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.One more in the garage. Brad Pitt loves Samurai choppers and Rad Cafe Racers. So, logically he is a very good client of custom builder Shinya Kimura. The only part you will probably recognize is the Ducati engine (1974). All the rest is pure old japanese crafsmaship where the name of the game is mastering […]
Concept Harley-Davidson. Concept Only.
Published by October 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.This one can get you a A+ at a design school and a guaranteed F grade at the Harley-Davidson Design Dept. I bet that you will never see this one on the road in 10, 20 or 30 years. Instead you could see many design variations inspired by it in many cartoons and sci-fi movies. Did […]
Breaking News. Sentence Reduced For Billy Lane?
Published by October 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Following his August 14, 09 sentencing regarding the vehicular homicide case in connection with a September 4, 2006 crash that left Gerald Morelock dead, Billy Lane is currently serving a 6 years prison time at the Avon Park Work Camp in Florida. Lane’s attorneys Greg Eisenmenger and Robert Berry just filed in 18th Judicial Circuit […]
New Thunder Cycle Mini Floorboards
Published by October 20th, 2009 in Builders, Controls, Customs and Editorial.It was the 1st custom part I noticed on Icon, the new Lorenzo Cycles chopper model built by Eddie Trotta. Proof that you can re-invent the floorboard. They were used instead of pegs for the rider, not for the passenger (although they can) and I thought they were looking pretty cool. Eddie told me that […]
OCC American Chopper Gets An Encore.
Published by October 19th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Who would have thought 6 years ago that American Chopper, the Teutul saga, would be plebiscited by the public for a 6th season. On Thursday October 22 at at 9pm (ET/PT) a new series will show the struggle of Paul Teutul Sr. running his motorcycle business while Junior and Mikey are no longer working at […]
Victory Motorcycles 3rd Quarter Sales Down 56%
Published by October 19th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.It’s the turn of Polaris to announce bad news regarding their 2009 On-Road Division, primarily Victory motorcycles, third quarter results. Sales decreased 56 percent during the third quarter of 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008. Victory retail sales to consumers declined more than the industry wide sales of heavyweight cruiser and touring […]
Irish-Italo-American Custom Bobber
Published by October 19th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.A stretched Bobber is already an oxymoron. What about having this Bobber built by an Irish shop using an Italian engine? If there is a case of fusion of styles, this custom motorcycle is a perfect illustration. Oh, you never heard about Moto Morini, an Italian maker of motorcycles since 1937? Still in business after […]
Biketoberfest 2009. Or How Harley-Davidson Depressed Many.
Published by October 18th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.In addition to the overall economy, 2 parameters influence rally attendance. Gas price and weather. The way to know that gas price is no more an issue this year in Daytona is that nobody talk about it anymore. Weather was almost perfect, sunny and extremely warm on Thursday & Friday then with lower much more comfortable […]
New Bobber Gas Tank With A Modern Twist
Published by October 17th, 2009 in Builders, Chassis and Customs.From Fat Katz this new “rejuvenated” Bobber gas tank. I loved it at first sight because it’s exactly in the line of what I have done as one-off tanks on my latest customs. It’s called the Ridgeback because of the ridge running on top (just an idea: why not request for same on rear fender…) and […]
Lorenzo Lamas. Eddie Trotta. Day One For An Icon.
Published by October 17th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Events.Friday in Daytona started by quick text message exchanges between Lorenzo Lamas, business partner Chad Greulach, Eddie Trotta and myself so that we could resolve our Biketoberfest schedule conflicts for an unveiling of Icon, the 1st limited edition model of the Lorenzo Cycles line. We all ended up on time at Eddie’s big rig on International […]
Willie’s Biketoberfest Chopper Time
Published by October 16th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Show was my 1st pit stop in Daytona. Thousands of others had the same idea. Seems that it is the 1st place to stop by not only to look at bikes but also to take the pulse of the industry and of Biketoberfest. I announced to many the unfortunate news about Buell […]
As you already know, a very emotional and visibly exhausted Erik Buell confirmed this morning Harley-Davidson decision to end Buell Motorcycles (see video). And today I feel a lot for somebody that I admire for pursuing his dream during 26 years. In business, for good or bad reasons, commercial and/or economical, some dreams have to […]
Harley-Davidson Stopping Buell Motorcycles Production, Putting MV Agusta For Sale.
Published by October 15th, 2009 in Builders and Events.This morning, Harley-Davidson announced its 3rd quarter results, and unveiled that production of Buell motorcycles are immediately discontinued and that the company will look for a buyer for MV Augusta. Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. Wandell stated “Moving forward our strategy is designed to strengthen Harley-Davidson for long-term growth and deliver results through increased […]
Harley-Davidson Art Of Rebellion Exhibition
Published by October 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Want to manage and positively enrich the content of the rebellious image of the Harley-Davidson biker? All marketing people will tell you. It’s easy. Organize an art exhibition tour mixing a display of your gas tanks wildly painted by rock poster artists with some of your “rebel” motorcycles.
Motorcycle Sidecar. Litterarely.
Published by October 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Nowadays, a motorcycle sidecar might not arouse the same ecstasy as it used to, but the latest vehicle by Francois Knorreck is a sidecar with a difference that gives an entirely new definition to sidecars. Dubbed “Snaefell,” the 1000cc Laverda motorcycle has 3 exhausts, and offers a luxury ride in comparison to regular sidecars. The […]
On My Way To Daytona Biketoberfest 2009
Published by October 14th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Events.Tomorrow morning at 6 am I will be on my way to Daytona for the 18th edition of Daytona Biketoberfest. And during the 220 miles trip north to my destination I will probably think again of the year 1992, the 1st edition to which I participated. As the event objectives were, every following year we […]
New Ducati Hypermotard 796. Under $10,000?
Published by October 14th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The latest Ducati street machine will be in dealerships in November. And it seems that it will be priced under $10,000 USD. Not bad for a model of Italian engineering able to keep up with the rest of the pack thanks to a 82 horsepower engine producing 55.7 ft-pounds of torque to move a lightweight […]
The New California Scooter Co.
Published by October 14th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Videos.As introduced to you in my Blog articles on October 8th, 09, a short video about the new California Scooters of Steve Seidner. Seems like he has a lot of fun playing with his new scoots.
Easy Conversion Kits From Belt To Chain
Published by October 13th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Driveline and Editorial.You may want to convert your bike, stock or custom, from a belt drive to a chain drive for many good reasons. Without any order, because you want added driveline strength, because you made your engine “bigger” or installed a new one, because you are looking for a different final drive ratio, because you need […]
While talking to Don Baumunk, President of Fat Katz, I learned that he was holding tight to a quite interesting collection of Von Dutch memorabilia. Lucky him! I thought you would like to see some of his samples among many, with a short description. 1- Top left: the sign that hung in the 70’s in […]
