Shares of Harley-Davidson Inc. declined 5.1% yesterday Thursday after an analyst of Goldman Sachs recommended investors sell the motorcycle maker’s stock, saying bike sales fell as much as 40 percent in October and November and demand remains uncertain – Do you know that it is illegal in the State Of Indiana to sell or trade […]
Archive for the 'Events' Category
10th Anniversary V-Twin Expo. February 6-8, 2010.
Published by December 18th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Can’t believe that it was 10 years ago that I participated to the 1st edition of the Cincinnati V-Twin Expo. Across my display, were 2 beginners in the motorcycle industry. Bert & Lisa Baker of Baker Drivetrain…I remember like yesterday. Ten years spent in the custom motorcycle industry feels like a full generation of new participants, […]
10th Anniversary Swiss Performance/Swiss Moto Bike Show
Published by December 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.I remind my European readers that the 10th edition of this important show is from February 18th to 21st in Zurich. You can expect to see the newest built most radical custom bikes and custom Harleys coming from all over Europe to compete for a chance to represent their respective country in Sturgis during the […]
Saxon Motorcycles Introduces The 2010 Hot Rod Sceptre
Published by December 15th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Under a new ownership and management and cautiously Saxon Motorcycles introduces a new version of the Hot Rod Sceptre that they state “is designed in the spirit of the outlaw rider”. The Hot Rod Sceptre combines some old school appearance with today’s components, like a 96″ S&S V-Twin, a Rivera Primo 6 speed right side, […]
Breaking News. Big Dog Motorcycles Looking For Additional Capital, Merger Or Investment.
Published by December 11th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Yesterday Big Dog Motorcycles contacted me to share their intention to look for additional capital to face the current financial realities. To avoid any misinterpretation of President Sheldon Coleman’s intentions, I agreed not to release the information until an official press release would be issued. You can now read it first in my Blog. Big Dog Motorcycles […]
Daytona Bike Week 2010. Let’s Kick Start.
Published by December 11th, 2009 in Customs, Editorial and Events.Under the correct assumption that more of you would own, ride and maintain an old or antique motorcycle if you knew how to kick start it, the AMCA (Antique Motorcycle Club of America), for the second year in a row, will host an Antique Bike Show on Wednesday of Bike Week (March 3 this year) at the Limpnickie […]
Harley-Davidson Recalls 111,569 Touring Motorcycles And Trikes Years 2009-2010
Published by December 10th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Summary: Harley-Davidson is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 Touring family motorcycles, including CVO Touring and Trike Products manufactured from June 6, 2008 through November 19, 2009. The front fuel tank mounts may distort in reaction to severe frame damage from a frontal collision. This condition may cause a fuel leak at the weld […]
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 […]
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 […]
World’s First Backflip On A Harley-Davidson XR 1200
Published by December 5th, 2009 in Builders, Events and Videos.He is Australian. His name is Kain Saul and and already holds the record for the longest jump on a Harley. On November 26, 2009 he just added this new record by being the 1st to backflip 40-ft to dirt on a Sportster XR 1200. Amazing…
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Another Harley-Davidson Auction At Rossmeyer’s. No Reserve!
Published by November 28th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Former in-store and online auctions didn’t work very well for Rossmeyer’s Harley- Davidson. Not enough to get rid of all these pre-loved motorcycles. You heavily criticized in my Blog the way these auctions were organized and Rossmeyer’s listened and changed the way they will sell their bikes during the next auction From Friday December 11th […]
Custom Norton Best Of Show At Britain’s NEC Show
Published by November 27th, 2009 in Builders, Customs and Events.The Birmingham UK show opened yesterday November 26th and although the annual extravaganza is smaller than usual, a lot of interesting custom bikes are present. One of the highlights of the show is a competition where 12 finalists picked from 470 entrants compete in the “Britain’s Got Biking Talent” to win the prestigious Carole Nash […]
Wisconsin To Add Harley-Davidson And Cheese Microbe As State Symbols
Published by November 27th, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Big Twins and cheese may soon become official Wisconsin symbols. Bills to honor Harley-Davidson and Lactococcus lactis (the bacteria used in the making of cheese) with the state symbol designation were introduced in the Legislature last week. To take effect they must pass both the Senate and Assembly and be signed by Gov. Jim Doyle. I […]
Lorenzo Lamas Opens His Custom Everything Store And You Are Invited
Published by November 25th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.You wondered, you guessed, you commented. How a celebrity with a long time addiction to motorcycles associated to a well known builder would introduce themselves to our custom culture world. Some of you knew a little bit because they got a chance to meet the team Lorenzo Lamas and Eddie Trotta during the last Sturgis and […]
Big Bear Choppers “Bear Bones” New 2010 Model
Published by November 25th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Rethinking, revising and reinventing the custom factory chopper to continue to attract enthusiasts. A big challenge to all small manufacturers who learned at their expense during these last 4 years that semi-custom production bikes in the $35,000 to $45,000 range don’t sell very well anymore.
State Of Arizona Seeks Motorcycle Emissions Exemption
Published by November 25th, 2009 in Editorial and Events.The state says Phoenix is the only US major metro area where motorcycles are required to be tested for emissions. Arizona lawmakers are asking EPA (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) to exempt the Phoenix metro area from emissions testing requirements for motorcycles. The ADEQ (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality) petitioned to exempt motorcycles from such […]
Victory Motorcycles CORE Concept Making First Appearance Outside The USA
Published by November 24th, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.This post for my European readers and first for those living in the UK. The Victory CORE, a concept motorcycle that I featured when it was introduced to the US press, was designed and built to show what a performance cruiser of the future could look. The Core will be on display at the up […]
SEMA 2009. Less Exhibitors. More Custom Motorcycles. Hooray.
Published by November 22nd, 2009 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.JoAnn Bortles is a custom motorcycle and hot rod painter. She visited and worked at the recent Las Vegas SEMA (the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world) and confirmed to me that our motorcycle industry is still increasing its representation. Below what she has to say.. “People do not normally associate the […]
Erik Buell Starts His Own Racing Company
Published by November 21st, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The news came yesterday via a press release sent by Harley-Davidson, Erik Buell, ex-Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company, is launching Erik Buell Racing, an independent motorcycle race shop. The info was released by Harley-Davidson because the Milwaukee company is going to assist Erik in establishing this new business. Erik Buell Racing […]
Harley-Davidson To Keep Its York Plant Open. But Cut Half The Jobs.
Published by November 21st, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Harley-Davidson Inc. reached a tentative labor agreement that would keep open its York, Pennsylvania, factory while reducing the number of union workers by almost half. It’s a 7-year accord by which the assembly, metal fabrication and paint operations will be managed by an hourly workforce reduced from 1950 to 1100 employees (700 to 800 full-time […]
