Last Friday evening August 14, I was informed by an unofficial source that “Big Dog Motorcycles was stopping production for the rest of the month of August 2009. That for the remainder of the year there will be temporary production furloughs. That a 20% pay reduction across the board was applied to all employees left after the layoffs“. […]
Archive for the 'Editorial' Category
Big Dog Motorcycles Takes Austerity Measures To Preserve Its Future.
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Breaking News. Saxon Motorcycles Under New Management
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The deal would be signed on Monday. A new Saxon Motorcycles management is taking over with plans to survey all current and potential Saxon owners and current dealers to find out what they like, dislike, and areas that need immediate attention. A complete re-vamp will be done to build a positive Saxon experience and re-inforce the dealers […]
Michael Lichter’s 9th Sturgis Exhibition
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Customs, Editorial and Events.Art & motorcycles. Motorcycles as art and culture. iconic photography and memorabilia. These are always the themes of Michael Lichter’s exhibitions, and the last one in Sturgis was, without a doubt, the most complete and the richest in terms of historic and monetary value. In a new 6500 square foot Lichter Hall now permanently housed […]
Covington Customs New Shift Linkages
Published by August 20th, 2009 in Controls, Customs and Editorial.These new Shift Linkages directly replace the stock shift linkage for all Harley-Davidson FX, Softail models, 98 and earlier FL models, or 99- present FL Touring models (Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, & Road King). They all feature built-in swivel hardware for a clean look and smooth shifting. Measures 12.25” in length. CNC machined from […]
Todd Silicato Repeat Winner Of The Annual Sturgis Metzeler Custom Bike Contest
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Best of Show winner of the 7th edition of the Metzeler Bike Show is Todd Silicato from Todd’s Cycle with this bike called “Olive” (check engine & driveline color). Todd’s Cycle is the first repeat winner in the history of the contest and yes, to participate, your bike must roll on Metzeler tires. In […]
All Trikes Need To Lose Weight
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.Essential part to go from 2 to 3 wheels, a trike rear axle is a big weight handicap for its road velocity. If you didn’t know, the average weight of a trike rear axle is about 155 pounds. Santiago Choppers decided to conceive a new model whose shell being in aluminum weights only 82 pounds, […]
Billy Lane’s Day in Court By Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer
Published by August 19th, 2009 in Editorial.Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer is a 24+ years veteran of the motorcycle industry. Most of you have read/seen her photojournalism work in major magazines. She rides her own motorcycle since 1976. She was in Court during Billy Lane sentencing. Below, she freely expresses her personal feelings and opinion about the case. “In this day and age […]
AMD World Championship Of Bike Building. Production Manufacturer Class Winners.
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Championship features a “Production Manufacturer” Class. Below are the top 3 winners (from top to bottom). 1- Independent Cycle East (Builder Kenny Williams) USA. 127″ Enginuity engine. Independent frame. 6-speed Baker transmission. 2- Swift Motorcycle Co (Builders Chris Moye, Mike Deere). USA. 1200 Sportster engine. Rubber Mount frame. 3- Darwin Motorcycles (Builders Dar Holdsworth, […]
Sturgis Broken Spoke Township…
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Not yet a South Dakota small town, but while overall the number of participants for the 2009 Sturgis Rally vary from source to source, from flat to a 15% decrease versus last year, Jay Allen claims that the Broken Spoke Saloon (Lazelle Street) and its extension the Broken Spoke Campground (County Line) had this year […]
Motorcycles Seen At The 2009 Pebble Beach Concours
Published by August 18th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California is the best place in the world to see concept cars that will not be produced next year, but also flawlessly restored historic motorcycles. Two that I admire. On the left, a 1953, 500 cc Matchless G45. It was sold as a race bike for privateers. On the […]
Nothing against electric vehicles, but I am quite annoyed when I hear all these big international companies now claiming in their ads that “Green Is In Our DNA”!. I thought that DNA was acquired at birth, not when the price of oil goes up. Anyway, everybody is riding the Green trend, even OCC with this electric […]
360 Brake Post Sturgis Sale
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Brakes, Builders, Customs and Editorial.Oops, I was about to forget. 360 Brake is offering a Super Post-Sturgis Sale with 10% off all orders (for both dealers and retail clients) until August 31st. So, if you already spent a fortune on your beautiful custom wheels and 75% of them is hidden behind big diameter disc rotors, you may want to […]
Triumph And BSA DVD To Help You Keep Your British Bike Reliable
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.At a time when backyard and pro-builders are rediscovering British bikes or at least using again British power plants in their new one-off projects, this DVD will be very useful to prevent from big headaches. Wes White of “Four Aces Cycle” gives you the 101 and explains everything you need to keep your British bike […]
World Class Extreme Bagger
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.A gorgeous radical Bagger built by Mike Avila Motorsports finishing 8th in the Free Style class of the AMD World Championship Of Bike Building? Exceptional result. And what a beautiful hand-formed steel body work (made by Greg Westbury, Solis, Mike Avila, Arlen Ness), to admire even more when you discover that the full body has just […]
Billy Lane Screwed By Brevard County Kangaroo Court System? One Man’s Opinion.
Published by August 17th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.“Rogue” (Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005) followed the legal process since day one and was in Court on Friday August 14 during the sentencing of Billy Lane. Below he expresses his opinion regarding some important facts that he states have been kept aside and consequently influenced negatively Brevard County Circuit Judge Robert Burger sentencing decision. On […]
Bonneville Speed Trials. Swiss Attack.
Published by August 16th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Bonneville BUB Speed Trials are scheduled August 30th to September 3rd. A crew to watch is Team Swiss Performance with an impressive lineup of riders for the premier motorcycle Land Speed Record event: No less than 6 different motorcycles with 4 riders from Switzerland, accompanied by Leslie Porterfield, the formerly fastest female rider on […]
Not America, but in India, probably the most dangerous place on earth to ride a motorcycle between cars and cows. If you have been there, you know what I mean. On request of his father 3-year old Azeem Khan has been granted a motorcycle license by a panel of Indian judges. Very optimistic and irresponsible […]
Lorenzo Lamas And Eddie Trotta New Team Of Lorenzo Cycles
Published by August 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.As I reported on August 11, the decision was made during the first days of Sturgis. Lorenzo Lamas decided to replace Ralph Randolph (who produced only the first 2 bikes, an FXR & a Board Tracker) with Eddie Trotta to build the new limited edition of custom bikes as well as designing a line of parts. The new […]
LC Fabrications Triumph TT Deluxe
Published by August 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Among the participants in the Free Style Class of the 2009 AMD World Championship Of Bike Building, I like very much this bike and I know why. A somewhat unusual design, a Triumph engine (Bonneville 865 cc) and transmission, a Girder front end, a mini conical drum front brake, Jackshaft mounted drum in the rear, inverted […]
This Sunday August 16 is Utah’s biggest motorcycle event, the annual “Ride 4 Fallen Officers” organised by Dave Tuomisto, owner of Timpanogos Harley-Davidson in Lindon, Utah, Last year ride attracted some 170 law enforcement officers on their motorcycles and 2500 bikers, parading from the impressive Timpanogos HD Shop (75 % recycled from the ruins of […]
Cafe Society. Rev-Up For This Documentary Film.
Published by August 14th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.60 minutes of Fast Bikes, Black leather and Rock’n Roll. I know you want to watch this one. As strange as it may sound, “Cafe Society” is the first, full-length documentary film to chronicle the origins, legacy and rebirth of the Cafe Racer subculture. Two years in the making and shot in Europe (mainly England) […]
Breaking News. Billy Lane Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison.
Published by August 14th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.This morning a 9 a.m. Billy Lane was in court in Viera, Florida to hear sentencing regarding the vehicular homicide case in connection with a September 4, 2006 crash that left Gerald Morelock dead. (The Live Video of the full Court proceedings and sentencing was online in my Blog all morning). As expected, defense lawyer […]
LIVE VIDEO: Billy Lane Addresses The Court And Sentencing.
Published by August 14th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.The Live Video Feed of the full Court proceedings was removed at 11.30 am USA EST after Billy Lane sentencing. These 2 videos are the taped segments of: 1- Billy Lane addressing the Court before sentencing (this page). 2- Circuit Judge Robert Burger announcing sentencing (following page after you make the jump by clicking on blue link under 1st […]
Russ Wernimont Custom Lower Leg And Axle Covers.
Published by August 13th, 2009 in Accessories, Customs, Editorial and Suspension.You may have known Russ Wernimont, a long time metal fabricator with 26 years of experience, through his line of fenders that he started to market to our industry in 1992. What you may not know is that Russ also proposes a full line of accessories. He sees his business future in modifying stock Harley-Davidsons […]
Kris Krome Rolling Piece Of Art
Published by August 13th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Kris Krome Rolling Piece Of Art When you will read that this custom bike built by Kris Krome Customs was rewarded with a 2nd place in “Freestyle Class” and 1st place in “Metric Class” of the AMD World Championship Of Bike Building, I know very well the kind of reactions that some of you are […]
Confederate “Fighter Combat” To Be Auctioned And Raced At Bonneville Speed Trials.
Published by August 12th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.When 3 weeks ago I introduced you to the Confederate “P120 Fighter Combat” I reported that it was scheduled to be unveiled for the first time to the press and public this very weekend Friday, August 14th at the Quail Motorsports Gathering during the 2009 Pebble Beach Car Week, and then be offered for auction […]
