Archive Page 235
Paul Teutul Jr. Wins American Chopper Three-Way Build-Off. Fair Or Shame?
Published by December 6th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.A Lot Going On At Long Beach International Motorcycle Show Dec 9-11, 2011
Published by December 6th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
The event will start Friday December 9 with a media day from 11:30 a.m to 4 p.m., with opening to the public after 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Major brands like Victory, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Yamaha and more are set to unveil new bikes.
Victory Motorcycles at 12.45 p.m. – Actor and motorcycle rider R. Lee Ermey, best known for his role in the movie Full Metal Jacket and on the History Channel’s Mail Call, will kick off his inaugural Toys for Tots Saddlebag Challenge and will receive a customized motorcycle. At 5 p.m. World debut of new model Victory Motorcycle at Victory display. Continue reading ‘A Lot Going On At Long Beach International Motorcycle Show Dec 9-11, 2011’
Skull Crush Carbon Fiber Helmets
Published by December 6th, 2011 in Accessories, Customs and Editorial.
Some cool helmets to make you want to wear one even if you are not legally obliged to. Made in the USA by hand, on order, unlike novelty helmets made in China on an assembly line, they are made of a 50/50 blend of Carbon Fiber and Kevlar 29 (ballistic quality) with woven and mat fiberglass. The resin is a high strength vinylester which combined with the material at an exact resin to fiber ratio making the helmet incredibly strong. Continue reading ‘Skull Crush Carbon Fiber Helmets’
American Chopper Live Bike Build-Off Between Jesse James, Paul Jr. And Paul Sr. And The Winner Is…
Published by December 5th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
Paul Junior
Paul Senior
Jesse James
There are 3 types of builders, the pros building for clients, the semi-pros building for friends and all the individuals building for themselves with no other purpose than riding what they created with their hands, although some outside help is always welcomed… Jack Deagazio belongs to this last category. I have known him for many years, even sharing lodging with him during big rallies. Always riding the hell out of his bikes with wife Lynn in the back, never missing a piece of the action, obsessively inspecting new parts from vendors all day long, visiting swap meets, just taking one day off to judge custom bikes in Rat’s Hole Shows where he is a Chief Judge, and at night hanging out with some pro builders… and telling me about the evolution of his new project. Continue reading ‘Evil Or Sacred Shovelhead Chop’
American Chopper Live Buid-Off. Tonight And Tomorrow At 9 pm ET.
Published by December 5th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
Just a reminder that it’s tonight Monday December 5, 2011 at 9.00 pm ET on the Discovery Channel’s American Chopper TV show, that Jesse James, Paul Teutul Jr and Sr. will unveil their custom bikes.
You will have the opportunity to vote for your favorite nike just after the show ends. Just log on to Chopper Live.
Tuesday, December 6th at 9:00pm ET, the American Chopper Live Build-Off will air live from Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe & Hotel. Mike Catherwood will host this live event. Multi-platinum rock band BUSH will be the headlining musical act. (photos @Discovery Channel)
Stainless Steel Solo Seat Springs
Published by December 4th, 2011 in Accessories, Builders, Customs and Editorial.
All solo seat springs that I know of are sold with quite shoddy chrome plating. Most are too soft to endure a heavy passenger and or bumpy roads. And as far as I know, none seem to be manufactured in the USA.
Remedy? Bare Knuckle Choppers is launching 3″ stainless steel seat springs (no more worry about chrome), 20% stiffer than the run of the mill springs out there (no more bottoming out) and made here in the USA (feel good factor)
Electropolished version will be available soon, and will run you a couple extra bucks. Price? Only $15. Call Paul Wideman on my behalf at 1-888-240-NUKL. Bare Knuckle Choppers.
Kenny Roberts. “So Woefully Underpaid” By Artist Tom Fritz
Published by December 4th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Painters.
Tom Fritz is pleased to announce the release of his recently completed artwork “So Woefully Underpaid”, featuring Kenny Roberts broad-sliding and tagging hay bales in the final turn of the 1975 Indy Mile.
In a desperate attempt to find a faster dirt-track bike to run down the booming XR Harleys, Yamaha stuffed a TZ750 four-cylinder, two stroke, road-racing engine into a dirt-track frame. The engine pumped out 125 hp, 50 more than a Yamaha twin dirt-tracker. Roberts was asked to race it – a ride that has since become part of AMA Grand National lore. The TZ could hit about 150 mph at the end of each straight, but balancing throttle and traction in the corners wasn’t easy. Coming from nearly a dead-last start, Kenny managed to wrangle the intimidating beast and win the event. When he got off the bike after sliding and spinning to one of the most famous wins in American dirt-track racing history, Roberts was quoted as saying, “They don’t pay me enough to ride that thing” – hence the painting’s title. Continue reading ‘Kenny Roberts. “So Woefully Underpaid” By Artist Tom Fritz’
Confederate Motorcycles Unveils Third Generation Hellcat
Published by December 3rd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
Confederate Motors, Inc. (OTCBB:CFED), makers of handcrafted heirloom motorcycles, unveiled yesterday their third generation Hellcat. Drawing on the first and second generations’ distinctive drag race architecture, the company’s new X132 Hellcat advances that architecture with innovative engineering and avant-garde design. The company’s founder and CEO, H. Matthew Chambers, describes the new Hellcat by saying, “This is the motorcycle we were conceived to execute when I founded the company 21 years ago. I have every confidence that we have delivered all we ever dreamed of giving.”
Named after the legendary F6F Hellcat fighter plane of WWII, the X132 Hellcat is the result of an uncompromised design and manufacturing approach. The centerpiece of this approach is the Hellcat’s billet aluminum case. Instead of the usual casting method, the Hellcat’s case is machined from two blocks of billet 6061 aircraft grade aluminum. Chambers said, “This new case unites America’s best Vtwin technology and America’s superior powertrain technology into a singularity. Although this is the most expensive material selection and craft methodology, it is simply the best approach for maximizing strength and guaranteeing permanence.” Continue reading ‘Confederate Motorcycles Unveils Third Generation Hellcat’
New Harley Sportster Jockey Shift
Published by December 3rd, 2011 in Builders, Controls, Customs and Editorial.
A brand new Jockey Shift kit from Jeff Cochran to easily convert your Harley Sportster stock forward controls to the Jockey Clutch/Hand Shift setup.
Everything in it is laser cut 304 stainless & machined billet aluminum.
The kit includes all mounting hardware and easy to follow installation instructions.
For Sportster 04 & up. . Made in the USA. In stock, ready to ship.
Special introductory price of $385.00. Jeff Cochran SpeedKing.
Exclusive Jesse James Interview About His American Chopper Three-Way Build-Off With the Teutuls
Published by December 2nd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
Jesse James, Paul Junior and Senior duel in the ultimate TV build-off on the Discovery Channel and you are about to decide who is the best builder. In advance of the 2-day TV event (Episode “Chopper Finale” December 5 at 9 pm when the 3 customs will be revealed, Episode “Chopper Live” December 6 at 9 pm to vote and see the winner), Jesse James took some time to answer my questions…ramping-up the smack talk against the Teutuls… A couple of revelations, too.
Cyril. Although I can’t show pictures of your bike before Monday’s and Tuesday’s episodes, can you explain to my readers your approach for this build-off, what type of bike did you build. Jesse. I just wanted to build a bike purely for myself. I wanted a style and materials that “I” want. At the end of the day I’m keeping this fucker, so I might as well do something that I will dig.
Cyril. How much help did you get? Jesse. Ha! The only real help I had was unloading the truck of raw material coming in the door of the shop. Really I had Bacon with me the whole time helping run parts and this and that. Which I could not have done without him. Jeff Decker and Cole Foster also stopped by for a couple days to help out. It was so great doing this with my friends.
Cyril. Do you think that the bikes you build today are very different from the ones you were known for years ago? Which way? Jesse. I think this is a big step out of my comfort zone. It’s leaner and meaner and uses a lot of materials and skills that I have been afraid to work with in the past. Mostly because I wasn’t that good at working with them. I think I needed to push myself on this build. Just to prove that I can do what I do from my new shop at home. 17 years of having the power and resources of West Coast Choppers in my back pocket. Now that is all gone. Time for me to prove that I was really the driving force behind all of it. I have to admit I was a bit nervous hanging it all out there on my own.
Cyril. Do you have a personal and/or professional gripe with those 2? Jesse. I doubt if I would piss on either one if they were on fire :- )
Cyril. Would you hire any of them in your Austin shop? To do what? Jesse. Absolutely Not. I have 19 y.o. kids at my Austin Speed Shop that would work circles around any one of them…
Cyril. Your definition of a great custom motorcycle? Jesse. Frame, Motor, Trans, Small tank, Brakes and lots of Love. Minus a reference point. Continue reading ‘Exclusive Jesse James Interview About His American Chopper Three-Way Build-Off With the Teutuls’
The New Victory Motorcycle Coming December 9, 2011. Teaser.
Published by December 2nd, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.The new Victory Motorcycle will be unveiled during the Long Beach, CA edition of the International Motorcycle Show, friday december 9, 2011 at 5.00 pm Pacific Time. A Teaser video.
Triumph Motorcycles Reports Record Profits
Published by December 2nd, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
Huge come back for Triumph Motorcycles. Yesterday the company announced that its earnings were up 48% for the 1st semester of 2011 with total income up 11%. Triumph sold 48,684 machines, up 7% for the last 12-month period while the worldwide market for large motorcycles was down 7% (down 50% from the peak of four years ago)
Triumph Motorcycles success is attributed to the launch of 7 new models with a bold classic design and looking different from what is available in the big-bike market, a reasonable price for the performance delivered. More new launches are due next year, adding to the 22 models already produced. Recently Triumph also created a special Steve McQueen edition of the classic Bonneville after getting permission from the late actor’s family.
Triumph is Britain’s best-selling brand in the 500cc and up category. The company also announced plans to start selling bikes in India and Brazil. Triumph Motorcycles.
Not often that you see a Sportster trike as cool as this one. I find this conversion not only visually appealing but interesting in the sense that the conversion was done without doing any cutting, welding or even drilling on the stock Harley frame. The one-off trike kit is the work of a builder named Norm Wilding of Trike Works . It was fabricated using a modified DNA housing with one-off axles, hubs etc, to enable the use of stock Harley Forty Eight wheels in the rear. A couple of ladies around me told me they would love to ride one . Another reason to publish it. (picture courtesy Onno Wieringa courtesy of AMD Championship)
Harley-Davidson Ordered Not To Enforce Ban On Internet Sales Made By Its Dealers.
Published by December 1st, 2011 in Editorial.
You remember that last August Harley-Davidson informed its US dealers network that online sales were forbidden outside their dealership territories. Main targets were those dealers selling online parts and accessories to 3rd party independent dealers (brick & mortar and online shops usually reselling Harley genuine parts at a discount) and to individuals whose residence are outside each dealer territory. Beginning of this month, I reported that St. Paul Harley-Davidson (incorporated as St. Paul Motorsports Inc.) sued the motorcycle manufacturer to fight the policies, which would eliminate about a quarter of the 72-year-old dealership’s revenue.
On Monday November 28, 2011, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz ordered Harley-Davidson Motor Co not to enforce its ban on sales of parts, accessories and apparel through third-party websites or to international customers. The judge’s order is effective through Feb. 29, 2012. Through his attorney, St-Paul Harley owner Tom Giannetti successfully argued that although his dealership motorcycle sales were dropping since year 2000, he was able to stay in business thanks to profitable online sales. Judge Shiltz keeps the case on hold until February to give both parties enough time to negotiate an amicable resolution of the dispute.
While in China , an American man is very sexually promiscuous and does not use a condom the entire time he is there. A week after arriving back home in the States, he wakes one morning to find his penis covered with bright green and purple spots. Horrified, he immediately goes to see a doctor. The doctor, never having seen anything like this before, orders some tests and tells the man to return in two days for the results.
The man returns a couple of days later and the doctor says, “I’ve got bad news for you, you’ve contracted Mongolian VD. It’s very rare and almost unheard of here in the US , we know very little about it.” The man looks a little perplexed and says, “Well, give me a shot or something and fix me up, Doc.” The doctor answers, “I’m sorry, there’s no known cure. We’re going to have to amputate your penis.” The man screams in horror, “Absolutely not! I want a second opinion!!!” The doctor replies, “Well, it’s your choice. Go ahead if you want, but surgery is your only option.” Continue reading ‘Joke Of The Week’
An oil tank can be any shape, including as round as an 8 ball. Not the first one to be marketed, but more choice is always better.
Mounting is up to you. This one is 7″ steel diameter (watch out for clearance to starter if you don’t do a kick start bike), holds about 2 3/4 quarts of oil, uses 1/8 NPT bungs (included) for oil lines. Stainless steel Speed Cap sold separately. MSRP regular $150 but $124.90 only this week (cyber week). At Pandemonium Custom Choppers.
The Wall Of Death. A Film By Benedict Campbell.
Published by November 30th, 2011 in Editorial and Videos.London based photographer, digital artist and film maker Benedict Campbell sent me his just completed awesome film about the Ken Fox Troupe, the last remaining traditional family of daredevil wall riders to travel Europe and the British Isles. (14 min)
Did Big Bear Choppers Suspend Operations?
Published by November 30th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
All last week rumors spread again that employees had been laid off at Big Bear Choppers, that the company suspended operations and would not reopen this week. On Monday November 28, 2011, a local newspaper stated there was no sign of activity at the Big Bear Choppers facility. It’s not the first time, especially during the last 12 months, that the same rumors are heard about Big Bear Choppers, but owners Kevin and Mona Alsop always ended up commenting that they were just re-thinking the way to operate their company. On Monday I immediately contacted Mona Alsop for her comment on these rumors, but still with no reply from her at time of this publication.
Big Bear Choppers is one of the last couple of small manufacturers of custom motorcycles still operating in the US. Kevin Alsop is born in Australia, raced go-carts and dirt bikes, then moved to the US where he worked for a small california motorcycle shop, then in his own repair business until 1997. After meeting his wife Mona, a certified Veterinarian Technician, in 1998 they started Big Bear Choppers in Big Bear Lake, California.. The company “surfed” with success the big custom motorcycle craze, at one time offering 15 different models, all above $30,000, usually powered by S&S Evo, Twin Cam and X-Wedge engines, or complete unassembled custom bikes starting at $20,000. Continue reading ‘Did Big Bear Choppers Suspend Operations?’
Custom Chrome Names Gerry Bruce Vice President of Operations
Published by November 29th, 2011 in Editorial and Events.
If you wonder what is going on at Custom Chrome since the resignation of President and CEO Holger Mohr, at least one news I can report.
DAE IL-USA Inc DBA Custom Chrome, today announces that Gerry Bruce has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Operations. In this new role Gerry will report to the new President & CEO, KC Cho and will provide overall direction and guidance to the operational activities of the organization as well as day-to-day leadership and management to all company operations functions.
Gerry will be responsible for the Directors and Managers of Logistics, Purchasing, Sales & Marketing and will be based in Morgan Hill, California.
Dare Something Different. Acrylic Grips, Pegs And Caps
Published by November 29th, 2011 in Controls, Customs and Editorial.
Near bulletproof acrylic for your grips, pegs, shifter handle and even gas caps. Why not? Try something new to give a different look to your sled.
Acrylic has a knurled texturing appearance to offer a good grip, then polished to a glass-like finish. Grips retrofit perfectly to most H-D throttle housings and many aftermarket throttle assemblies, single or dual, in low flange or high flange BMX style ($140)
Pegs feature stainless steel pivot clevis and are available in two styles, Harley style fold down ($140) or threaded screw-in for custom applications ($90) Extend the theme to your gas and oil tank with matching translucent acrylic filler caps ($90)sold either with a DOM steel or 6061 aluminum srew-in bung. Colors: Black, Translucent Purple, Translucent Orange, Translucent Blue. At Acme Choppers.
It takes 24 Seconds To Steal 2 Saddlebags…
Published by November 29th, 2011 in Accessories and Editorial.Brukus is a small company specializing in a variety of small, cheap and quick installation accessories preventing your bags, seat, tour pack, etc to be stolen, or at least to make the task much more difficult. You can see all these securing products with video installation for Harley, Victory and Metric bikes by jumping to Brukus.
Volta Electric Motorcycle. A New Contender. Probably Not In The US.
Published by November 29th, 2011 in Builders and Editorial.
I guess I would not write this post if I was not this week traveling in Europe… The fastest growing segment of Electric Vehicles is not cars, but motorcycles. Europe and Asia, because of the way cities were built and grown, with their inherent almost 24h/day traffic congestion, make the current offering (limited miles and speed) acceptable for short commutes.
For now, and not surprisingly, more manufacturers in Europe than in America are seeing huge market opportunities in green vehicles. The latest offering available in 2012, with an aesthetic that I qualify a cross between Scooter and Sport Bike, is from a Spanish company called Volta offering 3 models in the 35 HP, 45 mph (70 km/h) all electric range. Pricing? About $10,000 (€7,000.) For this type of silent performance? My opinion: it’s too little power and range to interest the vast majority of Americans commuting for work. But in Europe, supposedly, there is a waiting list to get one delivered in Q2 of 2012…
In a former feature I introduced you to JC and Jimmie Lee Coen the 2 brothers of Three Two Choppers out of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. They focus all their efforts in unusual solutions with for objective to set new trends in motorcycle design. And AMFU, name of this creation, shows that they are very serious about shaping a new style of customs. In it, innovative fabrication and technical solutions are so abundant that I asked the 2 bros to walk you through some of their thoughts process to help you notice in the featured pictures the most interesting details.
“We created a drop seat chassis with a single seat rail, but on a stock Harley Shovelhead chassis rather than a custom built one. To create this design, we knew we had to stretch the swingarm to allow for the drop seat and to make room for the wheels from Thomason Performance. Instead of using the original square swing-arm, we found a 1958 casting early round style swingarm. Continue reading ‘Mix Of Tricks Chopper’
Bonneville Speedway Museum Begins To Take Shape
Published by November 27th, 2011 in Editorial and Events.
First time I visited Bonneville, I was surprised that there was no museum commemorating all those pioneers who raced the Salts of Utah. To be more precise, there was a small one now defunct since 12 years. Last year, Wendover, Utah, Mayor Mike Crawford and local Bonneville enthusiast John House announced that they had secured a five-acre plot of land on the eastern end of town, right off Interstate 80, where they plan to erect a 25,000-square-foot building that chronicles not just the history of land-speed racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats, but also the story of the Salt Flats and the town of Wendover’s contributions to land-speed racing. Continue reading ‘Bonneville Speedway Museum Begins To Take Shape’
Volkswagen Trying To Convince You Than A Jetta Is Better Than A Motorcycle!
Published by November 27th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.I find this 75-second campaign for Volkswagen South Africa to sell Jettas somewhat dumb. Advertising USP (or Unique Selling Proposition) made by the German manufacturer? If you want to taste freedom and to look super cool, a Jetta is much better than your motorcycle. Why, they argue? Of course because you will not have to suffer from the heat, cold, rain, will not eat bugs, will not get dirty, etc.
First, I didn’t know that people were tortured at the idea of choosing between a motorcycle and a new VW Jetta. Second, the creative team behind this campaign is made of guys/gals with absolutely no idea that riding a motorcycle is much more than wind, rain and bugs. They are not bikers, can’t understand, reason why they produced such a commercial. Your opinion?
