Twin brothers Eddie and Ronnie started “Unknown Choppers” (slogan is “We’ve never heard of you, either”) hand building in their own shop a variety of frames all made out of 1.25″ DOM tubing, TIG welded and delivered with MSO. Example is this nice looking X-Line rigid Sportster Chopper frame with 40-degree rake. But since all […]
Archive for the 'Customs' Category
Fast Motorcycle Industry News
Published by March 26th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.1- Harley-Davidson Stock Rises Close To Pre-Recession Levels. I don’t make any stock recommendation, but many will be interested to know that Harley stock (HOG) closed yesterday Friday 03/25/2011 at $43.14 per share, its highest level since September 2008, and getting closer to its pre-recession trade price of $48 per share in December 2007. Analysts […]
Panhead Engine Finned Dishpan Covers
Published by March 25th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial and Engines.One of the first aftermarket engine products introduced in 1968 by Randy Smith, these Panhead Covers are out of retirement and produced again at the original foundry with using the same original tooling and castings with A-356-T6 aluminum. They were designed to eliminate oil seepage associated with the stock tin rocker covers and to dampen […]
Like many I am on Twitter exchanging 140-character limit tweets with many friends and followers belonging or not to the motorcycle industry. Yesterday, Jesses James tweeted this image of the West Coast Choppers sign being removed from the roof of his ex Long Beach shop closed since October 16, 2010. Jesse sent this image with the following […]
Custom Dirt Track Style Harley Sportster
Published by March 24th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Because customizing stock Harley models, instead of building new bikes from the ground up, is big again and because all Sportster models are big sellers, I introduce you to another nice custom project by Steve Willis the man in charge of Speed and Custom, the custom division of Brighton, UK based Shaw Harley-Davidson. The XLST3 […]
New Fork Seal Driver With Split Design
Published by March 24th, 2011 in Accessories, Customs and Editorial.Fortunately, tools are getting smarter. Anything making our mechanical tasks easier is worth mentioning. Last weekend at the CCI Dealer Expo I saw this new Fork Seal Driver with an innovative split design making it easier and safer to use than old fashioned pin aligned drivers. It features a knurled finish for a secure no-slip grip […]
Celtic Chopper. Everything Is Backward.
Published by March 23rd, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.If you have been to Ireland, you know that driving and road rules are different from those of the US and of the rest of Europe, e.g. drive on the left and yield to the right on roundabout (similar to rules of the United Kingdom). Well, on his new build, Irish Ger Conlon from C&C […]
Bikers Don’t Cry. Visormatic For Any 3/4 Helmet..
Published by March 23rd, 2011 in Accessories, Customs and Editorial.Bikers don’t cry. Yes, they do, at least when they don’t wear a good face/eye protection. Lick’s Cycles has released a new face/eye protection designed for quick and easy installation to any ¾ open face helmet. Rubber retention tabs fitted to the lens simply slide into place between the helmet shell and lining. So glasses […]
Sporty look often implies mid-shift controls. Another option from Top Shelf Customs is these Smasher Mid Controls available to work with major brands of open primary systems: BDL, Primo-Rivera and Ultima. They are available in polished ($729.00) or black anodizing ($799.00). Order at 714-903-8042 Top Shelf Customs.
You are looking at a Norley 2, a Cafe Racer built from the ground up using a Norton looking frame in which was cradled a Sportster engine and transmission. The frame, swingarm with bearings and spindle plus rear engine mounts is provided by UK manufacturer JW Motorcycles and offered in the US as a kit […]
Long and tough economic times almost always bring a taste for everything retro, a trend that you can perceive in many areas like fashion, architecture and of course the automotive industry. Another example of this trend towards retro designs is this Imperia, a car brand name that’s been dead for over half a century. To the pleasure of […]
The Custom Motorcycle King Of Seattle
Published by March 21st, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Seattle gave us music legend Jimi Hendrix, alternative rock “grumge” music style (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam), Starbucks Coffee and now a group of creative local Custom Builders like RedSoul Motorcycles. RedSoul? Curious, I wanted to know the origin of the shop name, and as answer the only thing I could get was […]
Custom Chrome International Bike Show Series. North American Championship. (Part 3)
Published by March 20th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Today Sunday March 20th, 2011 for the fist time ever, the famous Custom Chrome Dealer Show opened its doors to the public. Not only to visit 75 of the V-Twin industry’s leading manufacturers, but also to admire world class custom bikes from top builders and customizers competing in the Custom Chrome International Bike Show Series, […]
2011 Custom Chrome International Dealer Show (Part 2)
Published by March 20th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.People at the Custom Chrome Dealer Show. from top to bottom. Kirk taylor (Custom Design Studios) – Cory Ness (Arlen Ness Ent) – Holger Mohr (CCI) with Sukoshi Fahey (Avon Tyres) – Lisa and Bert Baker (Baker Drivetrain) – Rod Woodruff (Buffalo Chip) with Mike Prugh (Prugh Design) – Gerald Rinehart (Rinehart Racing) – Lisa Taylor (Kirk’s wife) – Pascal Richard (Revolution Magazine) […]
The Best That Can Happen To A 08-Up Harley-Davidson Tourer
Published by March 19th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial, Engines and Exhaust.No new factory motorcycle responds to simple intake and exhaust upgrades like a Harley®! That’s why Zipper’s Performance Products developed the Zip Kit for throttle-by-wire Touring models. Included in the Zip Kit is a Zipper’s MaxFlow performance air cleaner, performance exhaust of your choice and the cutting-edge ThunderMax with AutoTune EFI Controller for throttle-by-wire models. […]
2011 Custom Chrome International Dealer Show (Part 1)
Published by March 19th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.I am in Santa Clara, CA in the Silicon Valley, the leading hub for high-tech innovation and development (Google, Amazon, Apple, eBay, Intuit, Netflix and many others are just around), for the 2011 Custom Chrome Dealer Show. The venue is minutes away from the CCI headquarters at the beautiful Santa Clara Convention Center. Over 75 of the […]
Motorcycle Industry Raises over $11,000 at Daytona Biker Fusion
Published by March 19th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.As I reported last week, the 4th annual Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Biker Fusion event was one of the most attended charity events during this year’s Bike Week with the donations to prove it, The prominent gathering, organized by Carrie Repp of R&R Promotions and Ken Conte of Rise Above Consulting, is known for bringing […]
Mansory Impressive Looking Carbon Fiber Cruiser
Published by March 18th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Since 1989, Kourosh Mansory, the owner and namesake of Mansory in Bavaria Germany is a maestro at fulfilling the custom dreams – engine, body, interior improvements – of his clientele of owners of high end cars like Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Aston Martins, Porsches and Ferraris. He is famous for his tricked out Bugatti Veyrons and […]
From Harley Cross Bones To Ol’ Bone
Published by March 17th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Harley-Davidson, like many competitors, has embraced the look of days long gone promoted by independent custom builders with their one-off machines. The Cross Bones model is a perfect example of a manufacturer trying to recapture the old school look while offering today’s technology and reliability. Put this model in the hands of a reputable custom […]
2011 Annual Donnie Smith Bike Show & Parts Extravaganza
Published by March 17th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Donnie Smith and American Thunder invite you to join us for the 24th edition of the Donnie Smith Show on Saturday March 26th & Sunday March 27th, 2011 at the prestigious St. Paul RiverCentre. This winter show is the largest custom-bike show in the mid-west. It will draw some of the best custom builders, a […]
Headwinds Gladiator Headlight Housing
Published by March 16th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial and Electrical.From Headwinds, since 1992 one of the leaders in custom headlights, this Gladiator headlight housing is fully machined from billet aluminum with a grill for some retro flair. Typical of Headwinds production, screw-in bezels and billet brackets with hidden fasteners. No exposed rivets and no bolts. Large choice of headlamps and brackets. 5 3/4″. Headwinds.
With a father, Perry Sands, who was a well respected custom builder in the late 60’s and who later founded Performance Machine to produce high-performance disc brake systems, Roland Sands grew up around choppers of all kinds, drag, flat-track and road racing machines. Deciding at the age of 15 that a Honda CR 125 would be […]
New Ape Hanger Control Wiring By Legend Air Suspensions
Published by March 15th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial and Suspension.Would it be nice if you could adjust your air suspension on the go from your ape hanger or custom handlebars? Well, Legend Suspension now offers a “plug and play” wiring extension to attach to your current pre-wired handlebar control system. This extends the handlebar control wiring to a total of about 86”, allowing plenty […]
This Weekend. Custom Chrome International Sponsoring Buffalo Chip Challenge At Its Dealer Show.
Published by March 15th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.During its Dealer Show in Santa Clara this weekend, Custom Chrome International shows its commitment to sustain the industry by promoting the education of its future technicians. CCI joins forces with the Sturgis Buffalo Chip and other leading motorcycle businesses for the 2011 Buffalo Chip Challenge. A partnership between business and education was started by […]
Performance Machine New Stylish Intake Solution. The FASTair.
Published by March 14th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial and Engines.A beautiful high quality billet piece equipped with the best performing K&N filter element to gain an average of 10.21 HP on a stock Harley Davidson. To clean up the look Performance Machine added to the FASTair their proven internal crankcase breather system. This both stylish and agressive intake solution is available in chrome or […]
Pushing Bagger Customization To The Next Level. Or The Next Two.
Published by March 14th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Appreciation of a full blown customization job is subjective. But I am not afraid to state publicly that “Big Time” is the most “advanced” and best executed Bagger job I have seen during these last 12 months. It comes from a full fabrication shop called CamTech Customs in Summerville SC, with over 15 years of […]
