Like paint jobs, custom seats can make or break your bike. Loving hand-tooled seats I will not miss an opportunity to show you what I like. Another fine example created for a new bike built by Steve Carr and Rick Bonin at Lighting Rod Motorcycles. It is a collaboration between Kevin Baas for the hand formed steel […]
Archive for the 'Builders' Category
Lightning Rod Hand-Tooled Seat
Published by August 24th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Seats.“Hey Cyril, Further your Brit Bike article have a look at the attached image for something we built for the British Biker Build-Off over here that we never really released any images of. Mark wanted to create something that was totally different for what we were known for. Bike and side car with fully operational mobile […]
Art Of The Chopper Truck In Sturgis
Published by August 24th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.You hit 50 and start your golden years. The kids are University bound. You and your husband realize that the big city rat race doesn’t make any sense anymore. Sell the big business and with him go back to the farm. On it, let him build a 3000 sq. feet custom fabrication shop. Spend quality […]
Tires Directional Arrows Explained By Avon Tyres
Published by August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Wheels.Before we can talk about directional arrows you must first understand a bit about tread patterns. There are many different tread patterns but there is one main reason to have any tread and that is to disperse water. (dust, dirt) A tread pattern can be designed to disperse more water by making it rotate in only […]
Harley-Davidson. Made In America. In Thailand. In Singapore. And Tomorrow In India?
Published by August 23rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.18 months ago, it was a ” mangoes-for-bikes” negotiation? Let India export freely its mangoes to the US and we will let you import some Hogs. New Harley-Davidson President and CEO Matt Levatich is going to India where he will participate to the SIAM conference and will evaluate a strategy to import some models in the country […]
Never underestimate the power of corporate identity and of one of its main components, the Logo. I always disliked the Buell Logo, for me a very poor branding expression of what the Erik Buell’s motorcycles are supposed to represent to bikers, speed and agility. Looked to me like the “plastic raised letters” fake aluminum logo you […]
Chad Greulach, CEO of Lorenzo Cycles read your comments in my Blog about the launch of the new company and the association of Lorenzo Lamas with Eddie Trotta. He sent me the following statement. “On behalf of Lorenzo Cycles…In 2002, I produced/packaged “American Chopper” for Discovery Channel as an East Coast answer to what Jesse was […]
Ride An Indian Chief For Free During 6 Months
Published by August 21st, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.This is the time of the year when all automotive dealers try to get rid of their 2009 models to make room for the 2010. And they will do anything, almost, to make space in their showrooms. No exception at Indian Motorcycle. Purchase a 2009 Indian Chief and they will pay your first 6 months […]
Being a Free Bird To Sturgis And Back. It’s What Is All About.
Published by August 21st, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.“Hey Cyril, How about blasting at 90 mph to Sturgis and back on a left-over parts homebuilt chopper with everything you need to survive bungied on. You alone, putting your faith in your efforts with no back-up truck followin’ ya. Motor homes with trailers, yuppies [Wild Hogs] on baggers, all in a blur as you fly past […]
Big Dog Motorcycles Takes Austerity Measures To Preserve Its Future.
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Last Friday evening August 14, I was informed by an unofficial source that “Big Dog Motorcycles was stopping production for the rest of the month of August 2009. That for the remainder of the year there will be temporary production furloughs. That a 20% pay reduction across the board was applied to all employees left after the layoffs“. […]
Breaking News. Saxon Motorcycles Under New Management
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The deal would be signed on Monday. A new Saxon Motorcycles management is taking over with plans to survey all current and potential Saxon owners and current dealers to find out what they like, dislike, and areas that need immediate attention. A complete re-vamp will be done to build a positive Saxon experience and re-inforce the dealers […]
Todd Silicato Repeat Winner Of The Annual Sturgis Metzeler Custom Bike Contest
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Best of Show winner of the 7th edition of the Metzeler Bike Show is Todd Silicato from Todd’s Cycle with this bike called “Olive” (check engine & driveline color). Todd’s Cycle is the first repeat winner in the history of the contest and yes, to participate, your bike must roll on Metzeler tires. In […]
All Trikes Need To Lose Weight
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.Essential part to go from 2 to 3 wheels, a trike rear axle is a big weight handicap for its road velocity. If you didn’t know, the average weight of a trike rear axle is about 155 pounds. Santiago Choppers decided to conceive a new model whose shell being in aluminum weights only 82 pounds, […]
AMD World Championship Of Bike Building. Production Manufacturer Class Winners.
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Championship features a “Production Manufacturer” Class. Below are the top 3 winners (from top to bottom). 1- Independent Cycle East (Builder Kenny Williams) USA. 127″ Enginuity engine. Independent frame. 6-speed Baker transmission. 2- Swift Motorcycle Co (Builders Chris Moye, Mike Deere). USA. 1200 Sportster engine. Rubber Mount frame. 3- Darwin Motorcycles (Builders Dar Holdsworth, […]
Sturgis Broken Spoke Township…
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Not yet a South Dakota small town, but while overall the number of participants for the 2009 Sturgis Rally vary from source to source, from flat to a 15% decrease versus last year, Jay Allen claims that the Broken Spoke Saloon (Lazelle Street) and its extension the Broken Spoke Campground (County Line) had this year […]
Motorcycles Seen At The 2009 Pebble Beach Concours
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California is the best place in the world to see concept cars that will not be produced next year, but also flawlessly restored historic motorcycles. Two that I admire. On the left, a 1953, 500 cc Matchless G45. It was sold as a race bike for privateers. On the […]
Nothing against electric vehicles, but I am quite annoyed when I hear all these big international companies now claiming in their ads that “Green Is In Our DNA”!. I thought that DNA was acquired at birth, not when the price of oil goes up. Anyway, everybody is riding the Green trend, even OCC with this electric […]
360 Brake Post Sturgis Sale
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Brakes, Builders, Customs and Editorial.Oops, I was about to forget. 360 Brake is offering a Super Post-Sturgis Sale with 10% off all orders (for both dealers and retail clients) until August 31st. So, if you already spent a fortune on your beautiful custom wheels and 75% of them is hidden behind big diameter disc rotors, you may want to […]
Triumph And BSA DVD To Help You Keep Your British Bike Reliable
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.At a time when backyard and pro-builders are rediscovering British bikes or at least using again British power plants in their new one-off projects, this DVD will be very useful to prevent from big headaches. Wes White of “Four Aces Cycle” gives you the 101 and explains everything you need to keep your British bike […]
World Class Extreme Bagger
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.A gorgeous radical Bagger built by Mike Avila Motorsports finishing 8th in the Free Style class of the AMD World Championship Of Bike Building? Exceptional result. And what a beautiful hand-formed steel body work (made by Greg Westbury, Solis, Mike Avila, Arlen Ness), to admire even more when you discover that the full body has just […]
Billy Lane Screwed By Brevard County Kangaroo Court System? One Man’s Opinion.
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.“Rogue” (Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005) followed the legal process since day one and was in Court on Friday August 14 during the sentencing of Billy Lane. Below he expresses his opinion regarding some important facts that he states have been kept aside and consequently influenced negatively Brevard County Circuit Judge Robert Burger sentencing decision. On […]
Bonneville Speed Trials. Swiss Attack.
Published by August 16th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Bonneville BUB Speed Trials are scheduled August 30th to September 3rd. A crew to watch is Team Swiss Performance with an impressive lineup of riders for the premier motorcycle Land Speed Record event: No less than 6 different motorcycles with 4 riders from Switzerland, accompanied by Leslie Porterfield, the formerly fastest female rider on […]
Lorenzo Lamas And Eddie Trotta New Team Of Lorenzo Cycles
Published by August 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.As I reported on August 11, the decision was made during the first days of Sturgis. Lorenzo Lamas decided to replace Ralph Randolph (who produced only the first 2 bikes, an FXR & a Board Tracker) with Eddie Trotta to build the new limited edition of custom bikes as well as designing a line of parts. The new […]
LC Fabrications Triumph TT Deluxe
Published by August 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Among the participants in the Free Style Class of the 2009 AMD World Championship Of Bike Building, I like very much this bike and I know why. A somewhat unusual design, a Triumph engine (Bonneville 865 cc) and transmission, a Girder front end, a mini conical drum front brake, Jackshaft mounted drum in the rear, inverted […]
This Sunday August 16 is Utah’s biggest motorcycle event, the annual “Ride 4 Fallen Officers” organised by Dave Tuomisto, owner of Timpanogos Harley-Davidson in Lindon, Utah, Last year ride attracted some 170 law enforcement officers on their motorcycles and 2500 bikers, parading from the impressive Timpanogos HD Shop (75 % recycled from the ruins of […]
