It continues to surprise me that so many custom bikes using a narrow or mid-glide Springer or hydraulic front end, are mounting on them ape hangers conceived for wide-glide front ends. Yes, your bars are supposed to flow smoothly up from your front suspension system. The base of your bars is not supposed to be […]
Archive for the 'Customs' Category
To Look Retro Go Narrow. Apehangers Too.
Published by January 6th, 2011 in Builders, Controls, Customs and Editorial.New Distribution Agreement Between Custom Chrome International And Cycle Vision
Published by January 6th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial and Events.As a new step to further strengthens its lineup of brands and products sold to V-Twin motorcycle dealers, Custom Chrome International (CCI) just entered into an agreement to distribute a selected line of aftermarket accessories and products from noted manufacturer Cycle Vision. Parts are available right now and a CCI/Cycle Vision Show Bike featuring the […]
Harley-Davidson New Core Series Paint Program
Published by January 5th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Painters.Easy to understand that this paint program will also belong to the paint options you will be able to make when ordering your new model under the HD1 personalization program. The new Core Series paint program from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories offers Harley owners the opportunity to create their own paint using select designs, colors, and […]
Kraft/Tech Sportster Rigid Frame.
Published by January 5th, 2011 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.Not sure why, but I get many requests of recommendation for a clean after-market rigid Sportster frame. Drifting to the old school style? Big amount of used Sportsters on the market at a cheap price? Since you want to know one that I like (among others), this one accepting up to a 180 mm rear […]
I don’t know for sure how the 1995-2005 decade will be remembered in motorcycle history books. Among many positive developments in the custom motorcycle industry, abundance of creativity and emergence of new talents. But also some less flattering components like the arrival of too many business people and companies with no motorcycle background, just jumping […]
Ridley Motorcycles Trying A Come Back.
Published by January 4th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Jay Ridley, son of Ridley Motorcycle Co. founder Clay Ridley, announces that a newly formed company named Ridley Genuine Parts has acquired the stock of parts/fixtures/equipment from Ridley Motorcycle Company’s creditors after its bankruptcy filing at the end of 2009. The new company is headquartered in Oklahoma City, a few blocks from the original company, […]
Mikuni HSR48 Performance Carburetor For Big American V-Twins
Published by January 4th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Engines.Factory or custom built, “High Tech Wonder Bikes” have increased displacement requiring the highest air flow possible, highly accurate fuel metering, and precision throttle response. Following the popular HSR42 & HSR45 carburetors for stock and mildly modified Harley-Davidson and other V-Twins, Mikuni is now offering the HSR48 Flat Side Carburetor, a must have for highly […]
After Dark 1963 Custom BMW. Attitude Does Matter.
Published by January 3rd, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.A downtown Paris dark garage, 3 friends (Fred Jourden, Hugo and Leo), the same passion for old Harley 750 XR, Yamaha 125/250, Kawasaki W650, Triumph, BMW on which they work after hours with for inspiration the restored/modified custom bikes from Japan & Australia they read about in magazines.
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.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 […]
A Smarter And Smaller Battery Charger
Published by January 2nd, 2011 in Customs, Editorial and Electrical.I know that the choice of small battery chargers is very wide and most of us think that they work the same way to get the same results. False. Some are smarter at charging your batteries the correct way to optimize their charge, their performance and their life.
Apple Power Cables For All Motorcycles
Published by January 1st, 2011 in Accessories, Customs and Editorial.Apple devices are again the most sold tech products during this holiday season. Logically, more and more will want to travel with them when riding their bikes long distance and consequently a huge market of accessories to charge them in developing. Powerlet specializes in the business of manufacturing rugged electrical devices and cables specifically conceived […]
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 […]
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 […]
Very few women (and men) of the motorcycle industry have such a diversified and unusual background as Brenda Fox. Thanks to a gift of nature, she was a fashion model at age 18, love horses, is an accomplished equestrian and competed with bravo winning several titles, an experience she will use to do her first acrobatic […]
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 […]
Fiber Optic Mohawk Helmets. Not For Me. For You?
Published by December 28th, 2010 in Accessories, Customs and Editorial.I can’t imagine myself with a Mohawk haircut, nor you… Much less wearing a Mohawk helmet shining like a Christmas tree! These fiber optic may be fun to use or show, but I doubt that a mature baby boomer (baby boomers are all supposed to be mature…) will buy one, even not for July the […]
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 […]
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 […]
