A rant for Custom Builder Ger Conlon at C&C Choppers Ireland. “Hi, Cyril. Just to let you know the trouble we have in registering Custom Bikes in Ireland thanks to a very incompetent government. What is needed to register a bike from outside the EU, or a newly built bike is a certificate of compliance. […]
Archive for the 'Editorial' Category
Complaining About Registering A Custom Motorcycle In The US? Read About Irish Nonsense
Published by December 8th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Maybe An Alternative Braking Method
Published by December 8th, 2009 in Brakes, Customs and Editorial.Getting rid of your rear brake pedal? No more lifting and extending your foot to push a pedal? Tempting. The principle of this “braking floorboard” is very easy to understand. The floorboard mechanism work by pushing down on its front part. Ok, but if I understand the ergonomic value of this system I am a […]
Ridley Will Not Manufacture 2010 Models But Launches Certified Pre-Owned Motorcycles Program
Published by December 7th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.As I reported in October in my article “Ridley Motorcycle Company At Idle Speed” The Ridley Motorcycle Company confirmed that it will not manufacture any 2010 models, and instead is launching a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program via “2 Wheel Ventures” (Jay Ridley President), the parent company of Ridley Genuine Parts. Ridley’s production is stopped waiting […]
Another cheap gift idea from J&P Cycles. A 2010 12-month calendar featuring beautifully reproduced antique photos of motorcycling from the early 20th century. Each month shows a selected scene of motorcycles and the people who rode them in days gone by. The Vintage Wind Calendar is now available for $8.99 plus $3.00 shipping in the continental […]
Custom Chrome® 40th Anniversary. From Custom Chopper To Custom Bagger And Everything Between.
Published by December 7th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.In 2010 Custom Chrome Inc. will celebrate its 40th Anniversary (save the date March 12 to 14 for a big celebration). Very few companies in the custom motorcycle business have the privilege to have survived 4 decades through a constant change of the US and international economy and of the taste of bikers regarding the type of […]
Confederate At The LA Auto Show. A New Strategy?
Published by December 6th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Since Thursday December 4th and until the 13th the major automakers are at the Los Angeles Auto Show to unveil more than 30 models making their World or North American Debuts. Are also featured alternative fuel/electric vehicles, concept models and race cars. Among all these auto manufacturers the only motorcycle presence that I know of […]
Everywhere you look it’s a buyer’s market. And a lot of sellers are desperate to sell. And of course it’s true for “pre-loved” motorcycles traded online. With so many bikes and parts listed on so many websites ( eBay & Cycle Trader are the 2 largest), don’t expect these sites to disclose frauds commited daily. They want your business […]
Girder Front Ends Are Much More Than For Strength And Looks.
Published by December 5th, 2009 in Customs, Editorial and Suspension.When building a custom motorcycle from the ground up one of the first important decisions you have to make is to choose a front end style, probably among 4 styles: Glide or Hydraulic, Springer, Spring Leaf or Girder, with the hydraulic system being the most popular because of the overall perception that it works better. Not […]
Tony Schumacher To Receive First Of Kris Krome’s Reflexion Series.
Published by December 5th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.A lot of reactions & interrogations from you when I published the “Kris Krome Rolling Piece Of Art” bike called “Reflextion”, 1st-place winner of the “Metric Class” at the last the Sturgis AMD World Championship Of Bike Building. Your questions were about the “Elastamerik” front end, and in a comment Kris explained to you that […]
Largest Vintage Motorcycles Auction Is January 7-9th In Las Vegas
Published by December 4th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.MidAmerica Auctions has already conducted more than 80 Vintage, Classic, and Special Interest Motorcycle Auctions in cities across the United States. The one in Las Vegas from January 7th to 9th, 2010 will be the largest with about 500 collector motorcycles expected to change hands. If you want to consign a motorcycle, it’s till time […]
ThunderBird Max-Flow Air Filter Kit. Let Your Engine Breathe.
Published by December 4th, 2009 in Customs, Editorial and Engines.Without touching your engine, if you give it more airflow it will give you more power. As simple as this. This Thunderbird Max-Flow Air Filter Kit is a cheap, easy to install and efficient way to give your motorcycle a nice power increase. It is s designed to replace the stock air cleaner assembly with […]
Got only the picture without explanation. One-wheel machines are motorcycles. Right? Or Monocycle? Would like the builder to contact me to tell my readers how it works…and how it rides. Waiting for this, you can play with the picture and write your own headline.
Spectro Oils New sponsor Of AMA National Pro Racer Cory Texter
Published by December 4th, 2009 in Editorial and Events.Spectro Oils (Intercontinental Lubricants Corp) signed a partnership with AMA National #65 Cory Texter for the upcoming 2010 flat track race season. Spectro will be supplying oils, lubricants and more of their quality products in support of what Texter is hoping to be a successful 450 singles program. Since 1966 Spectro offers a full range […]
World’s Fastest Street Bike
Published by December 3rd, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Just unveiled at the Germany Essen Motor Show this street machine named “Asphaltfighter® Stormbringer” is one that even professional motorcycle racers could only dream of in the past. It starts with a top speed of 320+ km/h (199 mph), accelerates from zero to 300 km/h (186 mph) in just 13.9 seconds! It weights only 195 kg […]
Harley-Davidson And Marisa Miller Salute The Military
Published by December 3rd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.Marisa Miller teamed up with Harley-Davidson to show support and appreciation to active & retired military personnel.
For all those working on their bikes, if you don’t have one, buy one right away to avoid a quite frequent annoying mistake while installing a transmission mainsheet case bearing seal. This simple tool let you set the seal perfectly in place at .050” below the case surface. Good bye transmission oil leaks. Machined from […]
Harley-Davidson York Plant Workers Approve New Union Contract
Published by December 2nd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Today, not surprisingly (read why), Harley-Davidson workers have overwhelmingly approved the new 7 year contract proposed to them. The vote was 1,587 for and 193 against. The contract was supported by union leaders. It calls for changes in work rules, a workforce reduction and a very soft commitment by the company to keep the plant […]
New Mega Flake Colors For Biltwell Helmets
Published by December 2nd, 2009 in Accessories, Customs and Editorial.More retro looking than flake paint is mega flake paint. Now available are 5 new colors for Biltwell, Inc. open face helmets. They include Dark Silver, Gang Green, Pacific Blue, Wine Red and Disco Gold. This next generation of Biltwell helmets is the same lightweight and comfortable shell but with a few upgrades. The flake is […]
After my article on the origin of the Mods & Rockers movements, friend of the industry Pepper Massey saw your comments requesting that I write the story of the Sturgis beginnings. Because Pepper is a former Rally Director at the Sturgis Rally Department and Executive Director at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, she jumped at the […]
Christmas Coming. The Beatles Limited Edition USB Collection
Published by December 2nd, 2009 in Editorial.Warning: uploading this article this morning, I am not sure that the limited edition I am talking about will still be available. Read to understand why. As you probably know you can’t legally download digital music from The Beatles, even from iTunes. But for the 1st time The Beatles go digital, but on a USB […]
Defining The Lines Of The Modern Cafe Racer
Published by December 1st, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.If you wonder why we went back so fast to designing motorcycles looking like motorcycles with for inspiration the lines of the 50’s & 60’s, the answer is evident. We all got tired, to not say fed up, with the overgrown, overworked, difficult to ride Choppers of the late 90’s beginning 00’s.
With some rare exceptions that I can justify, I don’t report about local motorcycle events like Bike Nights because there are too many of them and my readership is international. Sorry, guys. But when a Bike Night becomes one night a year the largest Bike Night in the country, organizers deserve a blurb in my […]
Saddlebag Chaps With Storage Bags for Harley-Davidson FLH
Published by December 1st, 2009 in Accessories, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.Didn’t know that you could buy “chaps” for your bagger. They are made to protect your bagger’s saddlebag lids and because of their soft backside they are “gentle” to your paint. They are made to be durable, impervious to weather and prevent boot scuffs to your expensive bags. And if you need just a little […]
Each year on the 24th and 25th of July there is a “Old Indian Never Die Rally” in Pebbleshire, Scotland. The Rally is one of the largest collection of vintage Indian Motocycles. Great images….
New Custom Valve Stems From Greg Westbury
Published by November 30th, 2009 in Accessories, Builders, Customs and Editorial.Fellow custom motorcycle builder Greg Westbury offers few proprietary parts, but they are all always extremely cool. Just off the C.N.C. machine, Greg sent showed me his new “Low Baller” Valve Stem Caps to make this part of your bike less boring and more original than using a 30-year old “8 Ball” or “Skull” cap design. […]
Art Of The Chopper. Shifting Gears Party.
Published by November 30th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Yesterday Sunday under a solid blue sky the Appleton Museum Of Art in Ocala, FL was celebrating the “Art Of The Chopper” by throwing a big “Shifting Gears Party”. Fellow builder Vince Doll and myself joined Museum Director John Lofgren and Steve Specht, Marketing Coordinator to welcome bike lovers who traveled from far away during […]
