When I saw this gadget, I thought that all of you driving long distances from rallies to rallies could be interested. It is an interesting product to fight the boredom of endless highways. It’s a visor mounted DVD player with FM transmitter and you can watch (passengers only, please) the last episode of Biker Build […]
Archive for the 'Editorial' Category
Watch The Last BBO In A Visor Mounted DVD
Published by February 8th, 2007 in Accessories and Editorial.Most Amazing New American Performance Motorcycle
Published by February 7th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.So, what was the most amazing new motorcycle exhibited last weekend at the V-Twin Expo of Cincinnati? No doubt for me. It’s this incredible high performance Shelby motorcycle, a collaboration between fellow Texans legendary Carroll Shelby from Shelby Automobiles Inc. and Bill Rucker from Rucker Performance. It’s no secret that if you want to build […]
In any trade show, I want to see everything. I orderly walk every alley and methodically check every booth. During the V-Twin Expo, it’s the way I found out about a company called Zeyner. They specialize in motoring theme bags and briefcases, both in leather and ballistic nylon. And as a designer I must say […]
I never been excited by pocket bikes (my 16 years old son is, of course). But when I saw this one in Cincinnati at the V-Twin Expo I imagined I could have it in my garage, just for the fun of spinning around the block without having the homeowners association filing a new noise complaint against me. First, it’s […]
I always liked the posters announcing the Horse Smoke Out event. Because they are artistically good, different from any other event rally posters and also because they express well what the festivities are all about. A very relaxed celebration of home-built choppers and those who build them. It’s all about camaraderie, fun & music around […]
9.00 AM. Last breakfast in Cincinnati till’ next year. The 7th edition of the V-Twin Expo is going to open one more time at 10 AM and will close at 1 PM. Omygosh! Outside, perfect blue sky but with a temperature of 0 Fahrenheit! To setup and participate to a trade show is very hard […]
Tattoo Clothing Inked By Master Tattoo Artists
Published by February 4th, 2007 in Accessories and Editorial.At the V-Twin Expo there is much more than custom motorcycles and parts. Anyone "surfing" the bikers & tattoo culture is also there. For example Peter Mui. He is an Oklahoma native with Chinese blood, an identity breaking all the usual cultural stereotypes. Proud of his heritage and to affirm his identity he decided to be known as the Yellow Man. […]
Exclusive. The First New Crocker Motorcycle.
Published by February 3rd, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.I was excited to see and touch it. As soon as the doors of the V-Twin Expo opened I rushed to the Accurate Engineering booth where the 1st new Crocker motorcycle was exhibited. And I am not disappointed. It is visually identical to the original but of course internally fully updated.The1936 Crocker enjoyed the distinction […]
Yesterday evening in Cincinnati I was talking with other V-Twin Expo exhibitors about the Chinese motorcycle parts invasion. For example, last weekend I was in Clearwater Florida making an appearance at the Tampa Bay Motorcycle Expo. The bikes exhibited on the floor were very representative of what people like to build, own & ride. Of course, I […]
Friday February 2. Hey, I am in Cincinnati. And I can prove it with this picture taken 1 hour ago at 6 PM local time. I will enjoy the V-Twin Expo 2007 edition opening tomorrow morning much more than the other ones because this year I am not an exhibitor, just a visitor. So, maybe […]
Exclusive. You Can Own A Silent Gray Ghost Replica.
Published by February 1st, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.I was in the confidence, and didn’t say one word until today. The Harley Gray Ghost is back in production! Almost. The bike you are looking at is a hand built, as faithful as possible, new engineered replica of the 1910 Harley-Davidson known as “Silent Gray Ghost”. And it is the brainchild of Mike Hanlon, […]
A Cyril Huze Tribute Bike. And I Am Still Alive.
Published by January 31st, 2007 in Customs and Editorial.Marc Frantz wanted to surprise me. He bought a lot of parts from my catalog (big money), went to work during very long months (so many hours) and secretly built this bike that he dedicates to me (I am speechless). I am extremely flattered. And of course he deserves this post while I am still […]
I never liked bulky parts and always thought that small is beautiful. The “Little Breather” conceived by friend Dennis Goodson is, to my knowledge, the smallest air cleaner available on the market. It’s only 6 1/2" x 3.5". It features retro style lines, high polishing, and is available for all new and most old style carburetor models. For S&S […]
Here a site that I like very much. And you will too if you like Vincent motorcycles. It’s called Harris Vincent Gallery (HVG). The company is owned and operated by Herb Harris who is CEO of an attorney law firm. He has collected Vincent motorcycles for many years and his collection includes most of the […]
I am obsessed with details. Some parts need to be revealed and some need to disappear to not hurt a line. Let’s take the example of front ends. Stock ones are not very sexy but can be improved by with a new axle without protuberating nuts. After-markets ones are beautiful but not always sold with […]
Erik Buell. Chairman Of Buell. Rock Singer. Guitar Designer
Published by January 28th, 2007 in Builders and Editorial.People working with passion work all the time. And passionate people still find the time to pursue other passions. In the case of Erik Buell it’s singing, playing in a rock and roll band & designing guitars. Yes, the 70s AMA superbike racer, the 80’s Harley-Davidson engineer and Buell Motorcycles founder is coming to play […]
The concept motorcycle you are looking at is one of three hybrid motorcycles designed by eCycle and Machineart. Much like hybrid cars that are all the rage, hybrid motorcycles use a combination gas engines and electric power. The electric motor is used for torque demands such as acceleration and passing and the gas or diesel […]
It must be 12 years that I know internationally renowned painter David Uhl. And when I saw his art for the first time in Sturgis, it was love at first glance. Of course, I immediately became a client. Several spaces of my home are filled with his paintings and I never regretted one second to […]
This is a very important announcement for the v-twin industry, including every builder and shop in the US. S&S Cycle, Inc. has successfully procured EPA Certification on all 3 of its V-Series engine families, becoming the first motorcycle engine manufacturer to produce pre-certified EPA compliant engines. Individuals and builders can now build EPA compliant […]
As the opposite of what most people think, Jockey shift and Suicide Clutch were never stock equipment on any Harley-Davidson motorcycles. At the time of the first choppers they were installed by those chopping off everything they could. Gear changing was a jockey shift and foot clutch. The jockey shifter worked off of the transmission […]
I am telling you right away. I like Mike Tomas from Kiwi Indian Motorcycles. For many reasons: one of the best motorcycle craftsmen alive, a true biker and a gentleman. I never bought anything from him (sometimes I should have had) even his famous Classic Leaf Spring Front End when I needed one. I made […]
It was 3 years ago and the story of Bill Janklow, at that time Governor of South Dakota, was a very hot topic in the motorcycle industry. In 2003 Janklow sped through a stop sign and the Cadillac he was driving hit a Harley-Davidson ridden by Randy Scott of Hardwick, Minnesota. The accident killed the […]
It’s written in my philosophy of building custom bikes: simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Practically it means that I like symmetry and parallelism. And among things I dislike, I have a total aversion for pipes looking like spaghettis. After the excess of bends found on a lot of mass produced and one-off exhaust systems it seems […]
Mayor of New York Declares January 19/21 New York International Motorcycle Show Days.
Published by January 23rd, 2007 in Editorial.Last weekend, John Smolinski from American Iron Magazine was visiting the New York International Motorcycle Show. He just called me with this interesting info. Below is highlighted the official press release from NYC mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. I am glad to see the mayor of such a big city promote our sport. “Last Year’s New York […]
2008 Victory Vision: What’s The Heck Is That?
Published by January 22nd, 2007 in Builders and Editorial.Touring bikes are not my passion and highly futuristic designs not my cup of tea. So, when I had several pictures of the new Victory Vision stare at me, I became speechless (translate by what am I going to write about this one). Victory Motorcycles presents the new Vision model as the most progressive American […]
Golden Gate Bobber. Dripping With Nostalgia
Published by January 21st, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.Here a little Bobber as Harley original as it can be except sheet metal, mid controls, generator and battery. Of course, there is a lot of fabrication work that only a pro can detect. It’s an original VL frame modified to accept a 1974 EL drive train. The amazing part is that this bike is […]
