Café Racers. Very few among you in the US have ridden them in the 70’s. But because of nostalgia for their own unique style and the possibility to turn a light factory bike into a Café Racer for a reasonable budget, they are very popular again on the 3 continents of North America, Europe and […]
Archive for the 'Builders' Category
Orlando Ace Café To Open This Summer. There are currently 3 Ace Café locations, including the original that opened in London in 1938. The Orlando location will be the first in the United States. The flagship London location draws thousands of people to motorcycles and cars shows and other events every week, and the Orlando […]
New Vintage Motorcycle Of The Week
Published by January 17th, 2015 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.This 1967 Harley-Davidson FLH is a very good illustration of those custom builders digging the past for inspiration, but creating modern machines with today’s materials and processes. “Gold Mustache” (yes, it’s the name) was built by a downtown Tokyo shop named Hawgholic. It made the trip from Japan to California where it was exhibited during […]
Polaris Acquired The Electric Motorcycle Business Of Brammo. Will Manufacture Electric Motorcycles Second Half Of 2015.
Published by January 15th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The rumor was running since several weeks. Today January 15, 2015 Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) officially announced it has acquired the electric motorcycle business of Brammo Inc. Acquisition includes certain sssets, technology and Trademarks. In addition, Polaris is acting as a leading investor in a recapitalization of Brammo that enables the company to focus […]
Breaking News. Harley-Davidson And The City Of Sturgis Finalizing Agreement To Make Harley The Official Brand Of The Sturgis Rally Until 2090.
Published by January 15th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Part of the agreement is Harley-Davidson Motor Co. building a permanent Plaza in a currently vacant lot at the intersection of Main and Second streets, not far from the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall Of Fame. To be completed for the upcoming Sturgis Rally, the Plaza will be used for year-round events, from concerts, to […]
Swiss-Custom Customizing And Tuning Show. February 19-22, 2015
Published by January 15th, 2015 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.To be held again at the Messe Zurich with customized motorcycles and 400 vendors spreading on 6 halls, the show usually features a great contingent of custom builders and parts vendors from Switzerland Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. There will be Live custom building by the “Bobber Garage” and “CCCP”, a world premiere […]
Test Run Of The “Flying Millyard” 5-Liter V-Twin Engine.
Published by January 14th, 2015 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Engines.Ordinary is not his style. British engineer Allen Millyard use factory engine parts to build engines that no other engineers have ever thought of building. Or he creates almost from scratch new motors with very unique configurations, creating in a small garage workshop wooden patterns to cast aluminum crankcases, patiently building by hand connecting rods […]
Triumph Motorcycles Has Sold Its Highest Number Of Motorcycles Since Its 1984 Relaunch
Published by January 13th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Hinckley, UK company sold 54,432 units as indicated in its last financial report ending June 2014. This number tops the 52,000 motorcycles sold in the previous 12-month fiscal year. It’s a sales record since its relaunch 30 years ago. Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer. It was established in 1984 by […]
Bonhams’ 5th Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction. Main Results.
Published by January 13th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.During 2 days (Jan. 7-8) some amazing machines were on the floor of the Las Vegas Bally’s Hotel & Casino for the 5th Annual Bonhams’ Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction. As in all auctions, some of them didn’t meet the reserve, with others largely beating expectations of their vendors. A 1950 Vincent Series C White Shadow […]
Tribute To Formula One Pilot Ayrton Senna
Published by January 12th, 2015 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Ayrton Senna (1960-1994) was much more than a 3-time Formula One Champion. A superstar due to its intellectual brilliance and coruscating charisma. 20 years after his passing in a racing accident while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Italy German builder Marcus Walz pays tribute To Senna with this custom based on a 1970 […]
Actor William Shatner Launching Rivet Motors to Produce A Two-Seater Trike
Published by January 11th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.I didn’t know that Canadian-American actor, singer, writer, producer, director, spokesman, and comedian William Shatner loves motorcycles. At the age of 83, he starts a company named Rivet Motors in partnership with Kevin Sirotek of American Wrench. Shatner describes his 2-seater project “as the cycle of the future, a machine as distinguished and iconic as the […]
What Will Be Trending In 2015
Published by January 9th, 2015 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.It’s that time of year when people like to make predictions for the coming year. Truth is that those forecasts, including mine, often describe what has already started to happen over the past year. Easier to see more in a rear-view mirror than inside a crystal ball. Below the market trends that I see appearing […]
Polaris Recalls Victory Motorcycles With Fuel Pump Issue
Published by January 9th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Victory Motorcycles is recalling 2,342 model year 2013-2014 Victory Cross Country, Cross Roads, Hammer Eight Ball, High Ball, Jackpot, Vegas Eight Ball, 2014 Victory Cross Country Eight Ball, Cross Roads Eight Ball, Ness Cross Country, 2015 Victory Gunner, and 2013 Victory Hardball motorcycles.
Concept Motorcycle Inspired By 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic
Published by January 8th, 2015 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.His name is Tamás Jakus. He is an artist, illustrator and designer from Hungary. That you like or not theme bikes, you must admit that this concept Harley-Davidson motorcycle is quite interesting and successful at translating on a 2-wheeler the pre-World War II spirit and streamlining of a 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic. Atlantico Concept Motorcycle […]
Three of Steve McQueen’s Prized Motorcycles Set To Sell For More Than $300,000 At Bonham’s Las Vegas Auction.
Published by January 7th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Tomorrow January 8, 2015 at the Las Vegas Bonham’s fifth Motorcycle Auction, 3 of McQueen’s vintage motorcycles will be auctioned. From top to bottom. 1- 1912 Harley-Davidson X8E is in full running condition and is expected to make up to S140,000 2- 1936 Indian Chief from McQueen’s collection was sold as part of the famous […]
Motorcycle Picture Of The Week. 1936 Coventry Eagle.
Published by January 7th, 2015 in Builders and Editorial.1936 Coventry Eagle, part of the Art Bulman Collection. Coventry-Eagle was a British bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer experimenting with their 1st motorcycle in 1899. The model Flying 8 was probably the most iconic bike of its time and bore a resemblance to the contemporary Brough Superior. During the depression of the 1930s, the company concentrated […]
Harley-Davidson 5th Anniversary Celebration In India
Published by January 7th, 2015 in Builders and Editorial.Harley-Davidson started operations in India in July 2010, ended up the year 2014 with a total of 8000 motorcycles. Currently, the company has 17 dealers in 14 cities. The 3rd Indian HOG Rally at India Bike Week to be held in February in the city of Goa will be the pretext for a 5th Anniversary […]
World Motorcycles Market. Demand To Grow 6% Annually Through 2018.
Published by January 6th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.A 502-page study released this past December by Freedonia Market Research on worldwide demand for motorcycles is forecasting an expansion of 6% per year to over 132 million units in 2018, valued at $120 billion. Four major trends will drive growth through 2018: 1- An increasing number of households in industrializing countries will be able […]
Don’t customize. Build or rebuild! It’s the philosophy of custom builder Mario van Kruijsbergen, a Best Of Show at the recent Netherlands Bigtwin Bike Expo with this superb copper 1978 Yamaha X650. Because as you know, there is a big difference between being a customizer and deserving the title of Custom Builder. Although Mario works […]
Largest Mecum MidAmerica Motorcycle Auction In 24-Year History. Las Vegas Jan. 8-10.
Published by January 3rd, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Mecum Auctions will present MidAmerica’s 24th annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction Jan. 8-10, 2015 at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. As the most anticipated antique motorcycle auction of the year, the three-day event is open to all and draws participants from all 50 states and around the world. This year will see […]
Victory Magnum Bagger Sweepstakes. First Chance to Enter.
Published by January 2nd, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Ready, set, go! The official entry period to win this 2015 Victory Magnum Bagger valued at $22,499 starts today. Someone has to win it. This may just be your year! I will give the keys and ride with the winner during the 2015 Daytona Bike Week (March 6-15) Register again daily to increase your chance […]
Verona Motor Bike Expo. January 23-25, 2015.
Published by January 1st, 2015 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Held each year in Verona, Italy (the city of Romeo and Juliet), the Motor Bike Expo is the largest and most prestigious custom show in Europe. Last year, 140,000 visitors and about 550 vendors attended the 3-day event. For the 2015 edition (January 23-24-25), the show will feature an even larger number of custom motorcycles […]
Harley-Davidson Recalls 19,000 Softail And Dyna Models Model-Year 2012 For Front Brake Issue
Published by December 31st, 2014 in Builders, Editorial and Events.In the affected motorcycles, the threads for the brake line banjo bolt in the front brake master cylinder may corrode. If the threads corrode, a sudden loss of brake fluid could result, causing a loss of the front brakes, and increasing the risk of a crash. The models affected were manufactured from August 22, 2011, […]
Harley-Davidson Latin America. Did You Know?
Published by December 31st, 2014 in Builders and Editorial.Harley-Davidson Latin American is one of four divisions. The others are North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company has dealerships in 89 countries. Archive records show Harley-Davidson motorcycles winning races in Sao Paulo, Brazil as far back as 1918, while Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been sold in Mexico for more […]
The Musket 1120 Magnum V twin. Two Hearts That Beat As One.
Published by December 29th, 2014 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.I published a couple of stories about India born Aniket Vardhan and it’s obsession with turning the 500 cc single cylinder Royal Enfield Bullet into a cool looking V-Twin machine in the manner of “the way they would have made it back then”. From the Bullet power plant, there was a first successful attempt to […]
Pre-Evo Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show
Published by December 27th, 2014 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Well known Harley dealer and customizer Bike Farm Melle in Northern Germany just organized their first-ever “Christmas Day Harley Pre-Evo Bike Show.” And what a beautiful line-up of restored and customized old school iron. Enjoy the pictures (photography @ H. Roesler for Cyril Huze)
