It used to be that manufacturers justified their big dollar investments in sponsoring and races by the sales that competition was generating. But in one month 2 major manufacturers have pulled their factory teams from the 2009 racing season. This week, Kawasaki is scheduled to make an announcement confirming its withdrawal from Moto GP. Early […]
Archive for the 'Events' Category
Win On Sunday. Sell On Monday. No More…
Published by January 2nd, 2009 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Keeping The Custom Motorcycle Industry Free And Vibrant
Published by December 31st, 2008 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.You probably already know that the Las Vegas SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Market Association) is one of the most exciting events for the aftermarket hot Rod and automotive industry. SEMA is an Association offering a ton of services, studies, Government advocacy/legislative Programs too long to list here. During the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati, friend and […]
Happy New Year To All Bikers Around The World
Published by December 30th, 2008 in Editorial and Events.Before we jump into a new year, join me to have a thought for all the millions who have been laid-off or who are going through bad times due to the worldwide recession. We know for sure that one day things will get better. Just hang in there. Happy New Year To All Of You […]
Grand Opening Of Indian Motorcycle Of Kentucky
Published by December 29th, 2008 in Builders and Events.Indian has made clear its intention to have 50 dealerships in the US within the next 3 years, a dozen of which have already been announced. The first one to open up since the flagship store in Lowell, North Carolina, was Mike Smith Indian Motorcycle Dealership of Paducah, KY. “The initial excitement here has been […]
The Rebirth Of Daytona Bike Week Riverfront Park On Beach Street
Published by December 28th, 2008 in Editorial and Events.Ten years ago, in it’s past glory days, the Daytona Beach rallies were prominently centered around Beach Street and its Riverfront Park. I have fond memory (the market was very strong) of all my Bike Week and Biketoberfest events in this location. All main builders (do you remember “Custom Builders Row”) and parts manufacturers were […]
Ace Motorcycle Rare Drawings from 1919 Found in Dumpster!
Published by December 28th, 2008 in Builders, Editorial and Events.In 1919, at the end of the World War One, a significant set of motorcycle drawings was created. They would be lost for the next 90 years, until discovered in a trash bin. They will be sold at the Mid-America Auction, which will be held at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas on January […]
Harley-Davidson Guarantees Trade-In Value For Sportsters
Published by December 26th, 2008 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Motorcycle sales are slipping as consumers worldwide pull back on spending. So, to stay in business you have to be creative. Harley-Davidson Inc. says it will guarantee the trade-in value of newer Sportsters for customers considering upgrading their motorcycles. Practically, bikers who trade in their 2007 Sportsters between Dec. 26 and March 31 will receive the […]
Hollister, “birthplace of the American biker”, doesn’t want to welcome a 2009 rally. For the second time in three years, city council members in November canceled the July Hollister Motorcycle Rally. The city wants expenses for the event to be paid up front. The 2008 rally saw the city invest taxpayer money in rally merchandise, […]
Wishes For All Of You From One Of My Readers
Published by December 26th, 2008 in Editorial and Events.“Timing is Everything. It’s that “Time” of year again. It’s Christmas. Christmas is a “Mile-stones” in life. It’s that one special time in every year that causes us to both reflects on the past and looks ahead to the future. It helps most of us understand the value of life and how we’re managing the time […]
American Motorcycle Riders Don’t Rock! Yes, They Do.
Published by December 24th, 2008 in Builders, Editorial and Events.“Without music, life would be a mistake” (Friedrich Nietzsche). Bikers roll but they also rock. MIC (motorcycle Industry Council) launched a social networking website (one more…). branded RockMoto connecting young people sharing the same passion for motorcycles and music. Although still in beta test, I loved the site offering cutting-edge internet features to help young […]
Trillium Muir vividly remembers watching the 2005 film “The World’s Fastest Indian” and thinking to herself, as she watched the speed runs of Burt Munro, that she would like one day to try it. Less than a year later, she did. The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah is the most famous location for speed runs […]
Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Finale Raises Money and Toys for Children
Published by December 22nd, 2008 in Builders, Editorial and Events.The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse made it’s final stop for 2008 at the Fort Lauderdale Harley-Davidson “Bikers Bash” on Friday, December 12th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The “Bikers Bash” celebration on Friday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino featured an intimate performance by Big Kenny from Big and […]
Good news for those of you who watched the TV series Sons Of Anarchy and for those who missed it. FX has picked up a second season of this show slated to begin in Spring 09. The series stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman and was created by Kurt Sutter who also serves […]
Happy Holidays To All My Readers Around The world
Published by December 19th, 2008 in Editorial and Events.I have no Christmas story to spread Christmas cheer in all your families. But I am thinking of all of you around the world who are following this Blog and contribute to the joy I get from contributing positively in some way to the motorcycle industry. Materially, most of us have less than last year. But […]
How J&P Cycles Changed The American Motorcycle Industry
Published by December 19th, 2008 in Books, Editorial and Events.30 years in business in the motorcycle industry is a huge milestone that very few companies have accomplished. And 2009 is the 30th Anniversary of J&P Cycles. To celebrate, a huge party and open house will be offered by John & Jill Parham on June 27/28 at their Anamosa, Iowa headquarter. But more interesting to me is the […]
Bill Clinton Presidential Center Hosts “Art of the Chopper”
Published by December 19th, 2008 in Builders, Customs and Events.Through Feb. 8, the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark hosts “Art of the Chopper” an exhibit of 30 gleaming handcrafted motorcycles from around the country. Clinton center director Terri Garner says “Just as Bill Clinton defines the end of the 20th century, so does the chopper”. These custom motorcycles (with portraits of the builders) […]
Café Racer Magazine Launches Custom Motorcycle Corral Shows
Published by December 17th, 2008 in Builders, Editorial and Events.In conjunction with Advanstar, the first ever café racer custom motorcycle corral will be on display at three upcoming Cycle World International motorcycle Shows sponsored by Toyota. Café Racer magazine, the home of high-performance, naked bikes, is inviting readers and high-performance motorcycle enthusiasts to wheel out their wares with the first judged event taking place […]
Harley-Davidson President And CEO James Ziemer To Retire In 2009
Published by December 16th, 2008 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Harley-Davidson announced today that President and Chief Executive Officer James L. Ziemer has informed the Board of Directors that he intends to retire in 2009, capping a 40-year career with the Company. The Board of Directors has formed a search committee to review both internal and external candidates. Ziemer will remain in his current role […]
Breaking News. Ex Titan Motorcycles Don Proudfoot Shot To Death.
Published by December 15th, 2008 in Builders, Editorial and Events.Donald A. Proudfoot, ex-owner of Titan Motorcycles (second era), was shot in the head and killed this Monday morning in his girlfriend’s home near Anthem (north Phoenix), Arizona. His girlfriend Hope Smith was not injured and called 911 at 4.30 AM. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is still investigating the shooting in the 300 block of West […]
Barack Obama 2005 Chrysler 300 C HEMI For Sale On eBay
Published by December 11th, 2008 in Editorial and Events.It has nothing to do with motorcycles, but in case you wish to bid… In July 2004, Barack Obama took delivery of this 2005 Chrysler 300c from Park Plaza Dodge in Forest Park, Illinois. In 2007, Obama swapped his Chrysler sedan for a Ford Escape Hybrid at Hawk Ford in Oak Lawn, IL. Hawk Ford […]
Strokers Dallas Raises $32,000 For Children Hospital
Published by December 10th, 2008 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.Each time we go through a depressed economy, it’s not only dificult to make money, but even more difficult to raise money for any charity. So, kudos to rick Fairless at Strokers Dallas for succeeding in raising $32,000 for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC). This fund raising is a joint effort by Strokers Dallas and […]
Amen Motorcycles To Star In TV Show
Published by December 8th, 2008 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.For quite a few years Mike Brown, owner of Amen Design and Engineering in TN, is offering a variety of hands on training classes to teach you the in’s and out’s of completely assembling a custom bike from scratch. In March Brown’s workshop will be converted into a TV studio to begin filming a new […]
Consumers have cut spending and advertisers have followed suit. It affected every ad category and every ad-supported sector of the media industry. According to the Publishers Information Bureau (PIB), total Automotive advertising revenues (cars, motorcycles, RV’s, etc) was down 19.9% in dollars and 23.6% in number of advertising pages when you compare the first 3 […]
Dave Cook On Discovery Channel
Published by December 1st, 2008 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.A little bit of TV exposure will certainly not hurt a Custom Builder and even help a little bit our industry. We need it. Dave Cook and crew from Cook Customs will be featured on the Discovery Channel in a series called “Sturgis Motorcycle Mania” or “Sturgis Live To Ride”. The show will air Tuesday December […]
A New TV Show Called Armdrop Bikes?
Published by November 19th, 2008 in Builders, Editorial, Events and Videos.Can I know about a new TV show before it’s even sold to a network? Rich Christensen (and brother Kent), producer of the show Pinks and Brian Bossone President from Armdrop Racing are right now thraveling the country to find tracks near you for full days of family fun drag racing. The competition is about winning four […]
Every custom builder “see” how a factory motorcycle can be improved aesthetically and/or technologically. Arlen & Cory Ness just gave a style makeover to the Polaris Victory Vision, the “revolutionary” touring motorcycle powered by a fuel-injected, air-and-oil cooled, SOHC eight-valve 1731cc ‘Freedom’ V-twin engine producing 92 horsepower. The launch of this Signature Vision happens at […]
