Last week, bikers from around the State of Georgia rode to the Capitol revving their engines against a federal grant the Georgia State Patrol is using to conduct motorcycle-only safety checkpoints. Protest was about denouncing the checkpoints as unconstitutional and came two weeks after the state patrol conducted motorcycle checkpoints on Interstates 75 and 95, […]
Archive for the 'Editorial' Category
Georgia Bikers Continue To Protest Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints
Published by April 3rd, 2011 in Editorial and Events.Custom motorcycle builders receive strange and funny requests. I decided to share with you one of them I just received. I still didn’t reply, but you can write in comments the reply you would like me to send back to him. I will email your best (funniest) ones… From: Thomas M. Hirschmann (email address removed for […]
Best Custom Bikes At Custom Chrome International Bike Show Series European Championship (Part 2)
Published by April 2nd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Beginning of the week, I published pictures of some of the winners of the Custom Chrome Europe Show (13th edition) held last weekend in Mainz, Germany. More than 120 custom bikes were competing from as far as Lithuania and Norway for a total prize awards of € 50.000! Below is the complement list of winners, […]
Trick New Trike Wheels By Performance Machine
Published by April 2nd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Wheels.Motorcycle aftermarket wheels leader Performance Machine entered the trike market in 2010 with their new Forged Trike wheels. They are the first of their kind to be manufactured for Harley-Davidson, Honda Gold Wing, Victory and other select OEM trike applications. PM is also currently developing wheels for Lehman’s new Kawasaki “Storm” trike, which will be […]
It comes from the shop of the usual suspects for this type of machine, Shanon & Marc Parker at Parker Brothers Choppers, the duo who brought to you the Tron Cycle Light bike. It’s not a toy, not a “green” e-trike (it’s powered by a Harley Evo 80″), will never be street legal (rear steering by […]
Breaking News. Original Daytona Beach Rossmeyer’s Harley To Be Turned Into A Museum And Store.
Published by April 1st, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson announced that the original Beach Street location, located at 290 North Beach Street, will be temporarily closed as of today April 1, 2011 and that construction will immediately begin for The Original Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley-Davidson Museum and Store in its place. The Beach Street location was the first Harley-Davidson® dealership in […]
Harley-Davidson Flathead Sidecar Masterpiece
Published by April 1st, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Although all winners of the Custom Chrome Europe Championship Series that I featured at the beginning of the week impress me for their creativity, the beauty and craftsmanship on this Harley Flathead Sidecar makes it my favorite to feature. The best 3-wheeler I have seen in many, many years. Samuele Reali (and his crew of friends) […]
New Genuine Harley-Davidson Leather Jacket With Classic Design
Published by April 1st, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Merchandise.Those riding a Harley, especially an old model, should like this brand new leather jacket with a classically subtle design with a modern zip-off cotton hood. The action back, pre-curved sleeves and adjustable waist tabs deliver all-day riding comfort. Made of midweight leather with a poly-mesh lining and a poly/cotton hood. Lightweight padding at the […]
Fast Motorcycle Industry News
Published by April 1st, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.1-Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross to assist with relief efforts underway in Japan. “On behalf of everyone at Polaris, our heartfelt thoughts and sincerest well-wishes go out to the people of Japan,” said Scott Wine, CEO, Polaris Industries Inc. “Our Japanese partners and friends have […]
This picture was attached to a letter signed Holger Mohr, President and CEO of Custom Chrome, sent today to all CCI dealers who attended 2 weeks ago the very successful 2011 Dealer Show. Of course most of you, my readers, are not motorcycle dealers, but I still think that this picture of the CCI American […]
On January 20, 2011, the unveiling in my Blog of the new Victory High-Ball pictures and tech-sheet provoked a record number of your comments, exceeding those you made after the release of the Harley-Davidson new Blackline model.. At the time you told me that you would love that I test ride it and Victory Motorcycles […]
A fellow photographer in Europe has to write a feature about this very nice Bobber, but lost tech sheet information and contact with the builder. If anyone knows, please post info in “comments”. Thanks on his behalf.
Secret Prototypes And Oddities At Harley-Davidson Museum
Published by March 31st, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Ever wondered which bikes they were about to launch as new models for your riding pleasure? The ones they scrapped at the last minute for various reasons? What were they thinking? The Harley-Davidson of Milwaukee is offering a very interesting exhibition of an exotic collection of motorcycling oddities and secret prototypes. The artifacts exhibited here […]
A lot of old engine rebuilding going on in custom motorcycle shops. While giving back a new life to these old engines, why not do some upgrade to the original design? You can keep the distinctive shape of the Panhead motor valve covers and improve it by using these new covers from Nash Motorcycle Co. […]
Ron Finch opened Finch’s Custom Styled Cycles in 1965 in a small building in Pontiac, Michigan. Not only to design, build and paint striking one-off motorcycles in his own very unique extreme style, but also creating metal sculptures and other objects resisting any aesthetic classification. All along his professional career, Ron has pursued a broad […]
Zipper’s Performance Celebrates 30 Years
Published by March 30th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial, Engines and Events.A message from Zipper’s Performance. “The entire staff at Zipper’s Performance Products would like to enthusiastically say “Thank You!” for the trust and support you have given our products for 30 years. As the motorcycle industry navigates through difficult economic times, we believe an enhanced focus on quality products and customer service will keep us […]
New Harley-Davidson Analog Speedo/Tach Combo
Published by March 29th, 2011 in Customs, Editorial and Electrical.This new Combination Analog Speedometer/Tachometer ($299.95) from Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Accessories monitors engine speed without adding a handlebar-mounted tach. The speedometer and tachometer pointers sweep clockwise over a spun-aluminum face to provide a “gauge within a gauge” look. Push-button adjustable backlighting offers more than 600 color-tone options, to adjust pointer, LCD and backlighting colors to […]
Best Custom Bikes At Custom Chrome International Bike Show Series European Championship (Part 1)
Published by March 29th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Last weekend in Mainz, Germany during the 2011 Custom Chrome Europe Dealer Show, 103 top custom motorcycles competed for trophies in 3 categories (Modified Harley, RevTech Performance and Jammer Classes) for the title of Custom Chrome European Champion. And the big winner is this gold BSA beauty named “Son Of A Gun” by Larry Houghton […]
Jesse James American Outlaw. The Book.
Published by March 29th, 2011 in Books, Builders and Editorial.“Jesse James American Outlaw” – Jesse’s Memoir – will be in stores May 3rd, 2011. You are looking at the book front and back cover jacket featuring Jesse in old western gunslinger attire, .44 revolver included… In this book Jesse tells it all about what he calls “a crazy life, a wild ride, from a volatile upbringing […]
Tonight at 11pm Fox Sport Net To Air New 60 Minute Weekly Series Called The Great Ride
Published by March 29th, 2011 in Editorial, Events and Videos.Tonight March 29, 2011 at 11 pm eastern (10 central) on Fox Sports Net starts the 1st episode of “The Great Ride” , an entertaining new motor sports driven television series that explores what excites, inspires and drives Americans. Produced by Natural 9 Entertainment, the new series is all about adventure, new inventions, must have […]
Custom Chrome International Series. North American Champion.
Published by March 28th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.As I reported last week while on location at the Custom Chrome International Series held during the CCI Dealer Show in Santa Clara, CA, Kirk Taylor from Custom Design Studios was voted by his peers the North American Champion. Kirk’s personal preferences lean towards retro style choppers and bobbers but like many of us his […]
Motorcycle Journalist Kimmy Chapman Killed In Motorcycle Accident
Published by March 27th, 2011 in Editorial and Events.Motorcycle journalist, biker events organizer and activist Kimmy Chapman was killed Saturday afternoon around 5 pm in Phoenix, AZ after the Harley-Davidson motorcycle ridden by her boyfriend and on which she was a passenger collided with a Nissan Rogue coming from the opposite direction and making a left turn in front of them. Her boyfriend is at […]
New Harley-Davidson Women’s Rider Comfort System
Published by March 27th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Merchandise.Harley-Davidson launches an interesting Women’s Rider Comfort System (RCS) to optimize comfort (staying dry, warm or cool) in changing temperatures. Women riders and passengers can use a three-layer system providing versatile gear that makes riding more comfortable regardless of weather conditions. The key with RCS products is to stay comfortable by peeling off layers as […]
Motorcycles And ATV’s. The Ethanol Fuel Debate.
Published by March 26th, 2011 in Editorial, Engines and Events.The fight over increasing ethanol in gasoline from E10 to E15 is raging again. For more than 3 years the AMA (American Motorcycle Association) has been opposing increases in the ethanol level allowed in gasoline until studies show that an increase won’t damage motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) engines, and won’t make motorcycles emit more nitrogen […]
These 2 Rare Norton Racers Added To Bonhams Carmel Auction.
Published by March 26th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.These 2 unique competition Norton machines with history (top model Manx and bottom model Daytona) have been added to Bonhams third annual motorcycle auction at Quail Lodge in Carmel on May 14th, 2011. The 1959 Norton Manx 500 and 1956 Norton Daytona 500 will be in good company as they join a line-up of bikes […]
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 […]
