Archive for the 'Editorial' Category



La Rosa Design Solo Bobber And Chopper Seats

Met with the crew behind La Rosa Design when visiting the Custom Chrome Dealer Show in California. Was quite surprised by the “value” of their seats. Seat pan, leather and upholstery are of top quality at prices I didn’t see in a long time. In sizes 13″ and 16″, stitched, embossed, stamped, in plain leather, […]

Painted Lady Contest To Debut at 2011 Smoke Motorcycle Rally

The 12th Annual Smoke Out Motorcycle Rally will be held on June 24-25, 2011 in the small city of Rockingham, North Carolina (between Charlotte and Fayetteville.) Always a fun event to observe some of those being the core of the chopper world, from pro-builders to bloody-knuckled guys and ladies burning the midnight oil in a […]

Laughlin River Run. Did You Know?

The 29th Annual Laughlin River Run, the largest motorcycle event on the west coast, just got started (April 27th – May 1st, 2011.) An opportunity for many to see the historic US Route 66 the way it was meant to be seen, to turn back time as you ride the hills from Kingman to Oatman, […]

2011 Sturgis Rally Dirico Raffle Bike

This year, the official Sturgis Motorcycle Rally bike will pay tribute to the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department and all the heroes who rushed to help those in need after the terrorist attacks on that fateful day of 9/11. For the second year in a row, Dirico Motorcycles will donate the official Sturgis Motorcycle Rally bike […]

Vintage Bike Show Set for June 4, 2011 At National Motorcycle Museum.

The rally and bike show season is in full swing. And there is a new bike show reserved to 1985 and earlier American, British, Japanese and European motorcycles, scooters and minis, racing, street and custom bikes. It will happen June 4, 2011 at the new National Motorcycle Museum of Anamosa, Iowa. So, if you’ve got […]

Crash Thrusts Biker Onto Highway.

Motorcycle Parts Website

Japanese Motorcycle Parts Neo-Fusion Style.

Here in America like in Europe, most of us love the look and intricate details of Japanese custom motorcycles. In 2009, Kenji from the Kens Factory Japan started to tour the US States showing the gorgeous bike featured here called “One Eyed King”. Then he went to Europe winning a lot of bike shows with […]

71th Sturgis Rally Buffalo Chip Give-Away Bike

The Sturgis Legendary Buffalo Chip has teamed up with GEICO for a special “30 Years Strong – Sturgis Buffalo Chip” bike give-away during this year’s 71st annual Sturgis Rally. Victory Motorcycles, another one of The Chip’s official sponsors, provided one of their classic, Kingpin 8-Ball cruisers for customization to Klock Werks Kustom Cycle.To get a […]

Custom Chrome Launches Jammer and Touring Catalogs

No doubt than during at least the last 5 years the motorcycle industry was forced to reshape around 2 big trends. 1- Baby-boomer bikers looking for the comfort and reliability that touring models provide. 2- All age categories, youngsters and gray beards discovering or rediscovering the charms classic motorcycle design. Manufacturers, builders, part vendors and […]

It Happened in Vegas. Compliment Of The Month.

I don’t brag. Every month I receive lots of emails congratulating me for my work with this Blog. Sometimes, the compliment comes in unexpected ways, like this story reported to me by the one and only builder, reader, commentator of my posts and Texan Jeff Nicklus. Read it, and continue to send me your stories (of […]

Polaris Industries On A Shopping Spree. After Indian, Acquiring Global Electric Motocars

The low-emission small vehicle market has a huge growth potential. And of course Polaris Industries want its market share. The company just announced an agreement to acquire Global Electric Motorcars LLC (GEM), a wholly owned Fargo, N.D. based subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC and manufacturer of premium electric-powered vehicles.  GEM is the recognized leader within […]

Billy Bob Bobber

Christoph Madaus, an avid biker for the last 33 years (he owns several Harleys, XLCR 1000, XR1000, FXR, Night Rod Special, Road King and a very special KHRM) is a talented German interior designer at Madaus Design and a custom motorcycle builder building only for himself under the label The German Motorcycle Authority. His most […]

Jesse James To Produce How-To and Extreme Motorsports Entertainment Series.

Most of the TV shows in which Jesse James was starring (History of The Chopper, Iraq Confidential, Jesse James: Blacksmith, Jesse James is a Dead Man, etc) were produced by his own production company named Payupsucker Productions (like the tattoo in the palm of his hand) that he created in 2004. Jesse James’ Payupsucker Productions […]

Third Generation Confederate Hellcat

From Confederate Motor Company the Birmingham, Alabama manufacturer of very limited edition high end motorcycles, a 3rd generation of the Hellcat model equipped with a 132″ (2160 cc) square C3 X132 engine (bore 4.4 x stroke 4.4) with its patented minimalist fusion design and adjustable front & rear suspension. A Hell raiser that you can […]

Knuckle Shuffle. A Fun Ride To Raise Money For The Kennedy High School Chopper Class

Kevin “teach” Bass is the high school metal teacher whose life is dedicated to offer his students a better and richer education through motorcycle building. Every year Kevin relies on the generosity of the custom motorcycle industry to help him keep his class alive and welcomes any support that can be provided under the form […]

BAKER Drivetrain Working After Hours

Until Labor Day, BAKER Drivetrain phone lines (Tech & Sales) will be staffed from 8 am – 7 pm EDT Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm EDT. Why? Because it’s riding season and BAKER wants to better meet the needs of its customers. So, you are better off entering right now […]

S&S Cycle to Stand Behind Big Dog Motorcycle Engine Warranties

You own a Big Dog motorcycle owner and after the announcement of the closure of Big Dog Motorcycle Company you wonder where to turn to for warranty support on your bike Though the official BDM warranty ended with the company being foreclosed by its lender then dissolved, S&S Cycle is stepping up to the plate […]

Steve McQueen Collection Of Racing Trophies To Be auctioned.

In addition to Steve McQueen’s well-documented 1971 Husqvarna 400 motorcycle, Bonhams will be auctioning the iconic actor’s collection of racing trophies in Carmel, California, on May 14th. The nearly two-dozen pieces in the King of Cool’ collection will be sold individually and with no reserve. Spanning a period from the late 1950s to the mid-70s, […]

Harley-Davidson Celebrating Latino Motorcycle Culture

La Banda Films announced the release of the documentary film, Harlistas: An American Journey, premiering April 2011. The film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Alfredo de Villa and follows the emotional journeys of real-life Harlistas – Harley riders of Latino heritage – as they seek adventure, camaraderie and achievement of the American Dream. The documentary […]

The Guts And Glory Rally Postponed Or Canceled?

The Guts & Glory Rally across American is (was?) an event whose objective, like the 2010 Hoka Hey Challenge, to test endurance of bikers during 11 days, across 48 states for a total of 9000 miles with a grand prize winner initially announced at $100,000. The concept was created by John White who was the #1 […]

The Secret Life Of Jeff Decker

Jeff Decker grew up in the hustle and bustle of Southern California, heavily influenced by his father who raced, customized, collected old cars and owned one of the country largest vintage speed equipment collection. With him, young boy Jeff visited Steve McQueen, Ed Roth and Von Dutch and spent most of his weekends prowling aisles […]

Serious Bagger By A New Kid On The Block

Let’s give a push to a “kid” named Curtis Hofmann who made impression with this Bagger at the recent Donnie Smith Bike Show. Curtis Hofmann paid his dues in Southern California, working successively at 3 Harley-Davidson dealerships, then at 2 independent custom chopper shops. Back in his native state of Minnesota he started Hofmann Designs […]

International Six Days Enduro With Spectro

The ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) is 6 days of grueling riding over varied and demanding terrain, and the strains placed on the bike are tremendous. The lubricants must withstand shearing and thermal breakdown, and be able to perform despite the dirt, sand, dust, water, mud and extreme heat of the race — and never […]

Flash News. Polaris Stock Up 26% For The Day.

At 12.45 pm April 20, 2011 (Eastern). Polaris Industries stock (PII) up 26% in morning after announcing 1st quarter results and Indian Motorcycle acquisition. Up 48% year to date.

BAKER Tin Primary. A Classic Reinvented.

Regarding motorcycle parts, today’s trend is to re-engineer classic designs with current technology to improve durability, reliability and performance. S&S Cycle did it with its new Shovelhead, Panhead, and Knucklehead engine designs and Bert Bakers follows by providing an essential piece of the combo, the tin primary. BAKER took that classic 1936-64 tin design and […]

Lady Gaga. Born This Way?

The music, videos, fashion, and other artistic endeavors of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, do nothing to me.  I am completely indifferent to her outré sense of style in fashion, in performance and in her music videos. But when last week she revealed the cover of her new […]



Cyril Huze