Jesse is hitting the radio and TV talk show tour to promote his new book.
In it Jesse tells it all about what he calls “a crazy life, a wild ride, from a volatile upbringing to becoming a successful motorcycle builder, then a TV personality, his 3 failed marriages and eventually finding salvation in the joy of fatherhood.”
Also you will know more about why he closed West Coast moved to Austin to “make his world smaller.”
You can order his book HERE. And if you want to meet with him for an autographed copy, his publisher is listing on Facebook the dates of his book tour. Just jump to Gallery Books
Saxon Motorcycles’ CEO Mark Borodkin wishes to state that his company is still doing fine despite our fragile economy. And he makes a point to show his fuel injection options offered now on most models. First EFI models were just delivered to its Canadian Distributor SAR in Winnipeg and Japanese Distributor Uni-Auto in Gifu Japan. Saxon welcomes Gulf Coast Distributor Riders Lane in the Qatar as well. Mark also mentions that Saxon does direct factory sales and offers customer financing options at 1-877-76SAXON. Saxon Motorcycles. (new website)
For the second year in a row, the Victory Motorcycle brand is the top-ranking motorcycle maker in prospect satisfaction in the new Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI). The study measured how effectively each brand’s dealership helped motorcycle shoppers become motorcycle buyers.
Harley-Davidson finished second, while Ducati and Triumph tied for third, followed by BMW and Yamaha, all of which scored above the industry average. The study demonstrates again that both American and European motorcycle brands are very good at creating a strong brand affinity and satisfaction at the retail level.
The Pied Piper study observed that due to overall dealership profitability decline sales experience quality deteriorated at the retail level. Among the sales processes that suffered were the salesperson providing compelling reasons to buy now, and offering a test ride. Sales processes that have improved include encouraging shoppers to sit on a motorcycle, salespeople introducing themselves to shoppers, and explaining service and maintenance programs. Continue reading ‘Victory Motorcycle Brand Maintains Top Ranking In 2011 Prospect Satisfaction Index’
You go or don’t go to the 71st anniversary of the Sturgis Black Hills Rally, but you can already stock on the official 2011 rally merchandise.
I counted 15 different tee-shirt designs, all 100% heavyweight cotton with quality screen print on front & back. Save time & money while in Sturgis… Sold at a discount at: Motorcycle Event Shirts.
Six teams of local Milwaukee high school students and their bike-building mentors are 2 months into restoration of vintage motorcycles through a moto-mentor program. Founded this year by The Iron Horse Hotel and giving students the opportunity to learn vintage bike restoration while developing important life skills, the nation’s only high-end boutique hotel catering to motorcycle enthusiasts serves as the conduit for connecting the teams of experienced mentors with local high school students. Together the teams were given $2000 and 90 days to rebuild vintage Honda CB or CL 160’s. As of mid-April, the program includes only five schools (1 team bowed out), leaving a cliffhanger for the remaining teams on how to collectively work together to complete the sixth bike.
Teams and bikes to be judged in five categories at The Iron Horse Hotel on June 2nd. Each team has the opportunity to win prizes in various categories at the BUILD event at The Iron Horse Hotel, held on Thursday, June 2nd. Here is the work in progress. Ups & downs…For BUILD sponsorship information and to learn more about how to get involved in the program, please contact The Iron Horse Hotel at 414.750.7298.
Two weekends ago, with this boardtracker style custom bike, Kundratic Kustoms was proudly named the inaugural Sturgis Road Show Champion during the second leg of the Custom Chrome Chrome International Bike Show Series. With this win Brian Kundratic strengthens his position as a respected builder proving again that intensive labor, more than buying expensive catalog parts, is the only way to achieve greatness in a custom motorcycle. As simple as it may look, this bike required over 1200 hours of custom machining, stretching, rolling and welding to arrive at the result you see here… Continue reading ‘Inaugural Sturgis Road Show Champion’
Yesterday Saturday April 30, 2011 Harley executives stated their objectives, answered questions of shareholders with their voting on some resolutions. I summarize the main important points of this annual shareholders meeting whose theme could have been “Times are changing. The past way to do business is fading. A new Harley way is coming”.
1- HarleyDavidson executives re-affirmed their objectives to pursue growth in international markets and by expanding into new markets: young adults, women, hispanics and African-Americans. 2- For year 2010 Harley-Davidson international sales represent 35% instead of compared to 25% 4 years ago. The company expects this percentage to be around 40% in the next 2 years. Continue reading ‘Harley-Davidson Annual Shareholders Meeting. Many More Changes Coming.’
In his Pandemonium shop located in Defiance, Ohio Daniel Donley customizes both Metric and American motorcycles and fabricate in-house quite a few interesting parts looking like nothing else I have seen before.
Example, this very cool looking Speed Cap Assembly made of 304l stainless steel. This is a NON-Vented cap, so gas tank needs to be vented internally. Can be used on any gas tank and if you can’t or don’t want to do it, send yours to Daniel Donley who will professionally weld it on for you ID opening is 1 1/2″, total height is also 1 1/2″ and sealing is via a Teflon gasket. $50 (speed cap only) Call Daniel Donley on my behalf at 419-576-6812 or visit Pandemonium.
A plane is on its way to Chicago when a Blonde in economy class gets up and moves to the first class section and sits down. The flight attendant is watching her do this, and asks to see her ticket. Then she tells the Blonde that she paid for economy class and that she will have to sit in the back. The Blonde replies “I am Blonde, I am beautiful. I am going to Chicago and I am staying right here.
The flight attendant goes into the cockpit and tells the pilot and co-pilot that there is a Blonde Bimbo sitting in first class that belongs in economy and won’t move back to her seat. The co-pilot goes back to the Blonde and tries to explain that because she only paid for economy she will have to leave and return to her seat. The Blonde replies “I am Blonde, I am beautiful. I am going to Chicago and I am staying right here. Continue reading ‘Joke Of The Week’
Today April 30, 2011, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) announced that its Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.125 per share for the second quarter of 2011. The dividend is payable June 17, 2011 to the holders of record of the Company’s common stock on June 2, 2011. The second quarter 2011 dividend represents an increase of 25% over the previous dividend paid on March 4, 2011. Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
On Wednesday August 10th, The Legendary Buffalo Chip will salute Women Riders, their passion, diversity and spirit during the 71st annual Sturgis Rally with a First Annual Biker Belles (TM) Celebration. Women from across the globe will hit the road to celebrate women’s role in shaping the culture, history and sport of motorcycling.
The inaugural Biker Belles(TM) celebration will begin in the historic town of Deadwood as the Lodge at Deadwood will roll out the red carpet and host a special welcome reception complete with events, entertainment and activities catered to women. From Deadwood, Motor Maids member Meg McDonough and friends will lead a women’s-only ride to The Chip for a special Biker Belles party. There Laura Klock, will be selling raffle tickets for “SALT” a special bike she built alongside the girls and young women of the Abbott House (design by Carl Brouhard.) Thanks to Biker Belles™ sponsors, 100% of the riders’ contributions will go directly to the Abbott House and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. The Chip expects the 2011 event to sell out – so get your registration in today!Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased by clicking going to Biker Belles Rally Tickets or calling (605) 347-9000 .
The only think I can do for you is to post a link to a website where you can find the cheapest gas, diesel and alternative fuel prices near the place where you live, work or travel. Enter your zip code or any intersection where you stand. Bookmark this URL on your Smartphone. Mapquest Lower Gas Prices. (don’t drink more even if you drive less)
April is “Check Your Helmet Month”. So Harley-Davidson launched 2 new ultra-light helms for men and women. Both use a composite shell constructed of Aramid-reinforced fiberglass. The new men’s Hybrid Ultra-Light Torque Full Face Helmet is 17% lighter than traditional fiberglass helmets, weighing just 3 lbs. 3 oz. For increased comfort, front and rear vents deliver maximum air flow while the removable, washable Nylex® liner wicks away moisture. It’s designed to fit the Road Tech™ helmet headset with Bluetooth® 2.0 Technology, as well as accessory helmet headset. Meets DOT requirements and comes with a helmet bag. Available in XS – 2XL sizes. Continue reading ‘New Ultra-Light Harley-Davidson Helmets.’
I am not a fan of anything that could distract you while riding. This GaugeFace application for iPhone, iPod and iTouch may be interesting for those using good judgment for installation and use. 1st video is installation. 2nd video is setup and running the set of gauges you want to see. More at Gauge Face. Download the application at iTune Store. (It is generally considered an offense to use a hand held mobile telephone while driving a vehicle. In many places around the world, if your vehicle is not fitted with a hands free connection, you cannot legally use the telephone while driving or while waiting at an intersection.
Building your own Bobber or Chopper? Kevin “Teach” Baas from Baas Metal Craft from Lakeville, MN is a high school tech ed. teacher by trade whose passion is working on metal and building or rebuilding Knuckleheads (his preference), Panheads and Shovelheads. Not to look at them to admire the results, but to ride them as much as possible.
His old-school bike philosophy? Always start with an original Harley-Davidson frame, engine and transmission them mix them with whatever parts you find in swap meets, that you fix or fabricate. In the second edition of his book “How To Build An Old Skool Bobber”, Kevin starts be a quick history refreshing course, then lays out in 144 pages the basics of bike building, starting first with the ideal components: which engine, which frame, and the differences in the various years.
Next, he clearly explains what to watch out for when buying old parts, and how to fix the parts you do buy. Additional chapters describe brake systems, both early and late, tires and wheels, and frame geometry. Four complete start-to-finish bike assemblies with color pictures round out this hands-on book. $18.50. Order online by jumping to How To Build An Old Skool Bobber.
From his small shop in Prior Lake, Minnesota, Chad Pearson designs and produces in-house a few cool parts. He is a third generation machinist who started custom work at the age of fifteen building skateboards and snowboards. Now with two decades of machining and CNC experience, Chad delivers high quality motorcycle frames, springer front ends and custom motorcycle parts.
He just released this set of floorboards inspired by BMX bike pedals. They are machined out of aluminum and are one-piece with mounts included. So, they will require the use of new hardware included with the kit.
These floorboards can be ordered in raw machined or polished finish. Very cool looking and offering good grip to your shoes. You can order online at Pearson Customs or call Chad on my behalf at: 952-237-6261
1- Global Market for E-Scooters and E-Motorcycles to Surge. The global market for electric motorcycles and scooters is expected to surge, with the number of vehicles projected to jump from 17 million in 2011 to more than 138 million by 2017. The two-wheel electric vehicles, which are already popular across Asia, will become increasingly common elsewhere as the rising cost of petroleum-based fuels and government incentives will drive market growth, according to the report by Pike Research. “They are relatively low cost to own, do not take a lot of space, and are easy to maintain, therefore making them attractive for city dwellers,” said Dave Hurst, a senior analyst for the Colorado-based clean-technology research firm. While the market for electric scooters will be six times greater than electric motorcycles in most markets, e-motorcycles are expected to be the more popular choice in some parts of the world, including North America, because of their improved speed and greater range. The growth of electric vehicles will spur an increased demand for batteries, with the market for lithium ion batteries for e-motorcycles expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 24 percent from 2011 to 2017, and the market for lithium ion batteries for e-scooters predicted to increase at 19 percent. Continue reading ‘Fast Motorcycle Industry News’
The heart of the new Motus MST and MST-R motorcycles (Motus means motion in Latin) is the The KMV4, the world’s first direct injected V4 motorcycle engine. The Motus DI system uses a 2,000psi pump to inject digitally atomized fuel into each combustion chamber and is considered an improvement over port fuel injection in terms of emissions, engine longevity, power, and efficiency. durability. Durability testing and efficiency optimization are now underway at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Changes and tweaking are being made. Let’s continue to support this American Sport Tourer. First track testing video.
The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) reports a 7.2% increase for sales for the first quarter of 2011. It may be that the new motorcycle market has already bottomed out. These Q1 sales results are the first to be positive in more than 2 years and these sales numbers may be the confirmation tar the market has already bottomed out. Total sales (on and off highway, dual sport, scooters) were 102,547 (up 6851 sales versus 2010 Q1) . Not surprisingly, and a trend that may continue with the rise of gas price, scooters was the market segment with the largest increase, up 49.6% with 6246 units against 4176 during 2010 Q1. The second most buoyant market segment was dual-sport motorcycles, up 24.3%. The on-highway segment (cruisers, street and sport bikes) saw an increase of 6.9% (70,879 units sold versus 66,322 in 2010 Q1) The off-road or off-highway segment is the only one showing a decline of 5.5% (18,725 units sold compared to 19,812 during 2010 Q1) Continue reading ‘Good News. 1st Quarter 2011 Motorcycles Sales Up 7%.’
Met with the crew behind La Rosa Design when visiting the Custom Chrome Dealer Show in California. Was quite surprised by the “value” of their seats. Seat pan, leather and upholstery are of top quality at prices I didn’t see in a long time. In sizes 13″ and 16″, stitched, embossed, stamped, in plain leather, ostrich, alligator, etc they offer a large selection of seats for Bobbers and Choppers and even provide the necessary accessories to mount them, springs, shocks, etc. A sale is going on right now… A selection of their production available through Custom Chrome or go to La Rosa Design.
The 12th Annual Smoke Out Motorcycle Rally will be held on June 24-25, 2011 in the small city of Rockingham, North Carolina (between Charlotte and Fayetteville.) Always a fun event to observe some of those being the core of the chopper world, from pro-builders to bloody-knuckled guys and ladies burning the midnight oil in a shed to build a chopper they can call their own. All makes of motorcycles, American, British, Japanese, etc participate to the event, of course only if they are chopped.
A new attraction among all the entertainment offered will be “The Painted Lady Contest” where 25 female biker models will be painted from top to toes in their shop colors. Paint (a brand called Liquid Latex manufactured with FDA approved ingredients making it safe for face painting and body painting) is provided by the organizers. The only thing they need is 25 ladies and wannabe Picassos, Michelangelos, Andy Warhols and perverts (in their mind) to “dress” these courageous pretty ladies. Continue reading ‘Painted Lady Contest To Debut at 2011 Smoke Motorcycle Rally’
The 29th Annual Laughlin River Run, the largest motorcycle event on the west coast, just got started (April 27th – May 1st, 2011.) An opportunity for many to see the historic US Route 66 the way it was meant to be seen, to turn back time as you ride the hills from Kingman to Oatman, AZ, to cool off in the Colorado or test lady luck at any one of the casinos located on the strip. But did you know that:
1- Laughlin’s current location was established in the 1940’s with the South Pointe due to its proximity to Nevada’s southern tip. The settlement consisted of a motel and bar that catered to gold/silver miners and to the many construction workers who built the Davis Dam. 2-The name Laughlin comes from Don Laughlin, a Minnesota, native who purchased the southern tip of Nevada in 1964. At the time, Don Laughlin operated the 101 Club in Las Vegas. He opened what would become the Riverside Resort, offering all-you-can-eat chicken dinners for 98 cents, 12 slot machines and two live gaming tables, along with eight motel rooms (although four of the rooms were occupied by Don Laughlin’s family). He wanted to call the community Riverside or Casino but the post office opted for Laughlin instead. Continue reading ‘Laughlin River Run. Did You Know?’
This year, the official Sturgis Motorcycle Rally bike will pay tribute to the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department and all the heroes who rushed to help those in need after the terrorist attacks on that fateful day of 9/11. For the second year in a row, Dirico Motorcycles will donate the official Sturgis Motorcycle Rally bike that will be raffled off, with proceeds benefiting the www.diricomotorcycles.com Volunteer Fire Department and other charities in town. Painted fire engine red with white trim and loaded with chrome, this year’s bike will simulate the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department fire trucks.
Stephen Talarico, owner and president of Dirico Motorcycles, USA, said when he heard this year’s Rally theme would honor the heroes and victims of 9/11, he was compelled to donate another bike for the cause. “I have close family members who were directly affected by the terrorist attacks. Ordinarily, we would not have donated a bike two years in a row, but due to the emotional connection, we are proud to do so. The beauty of the raffle, is that 100 percent of all the proceeds directly affect the citizens of Sturgis who reap the benefits of the nonprofit organizations.” said Talarico. Continue reading ‘2011 Sturgis Rally Dirico Raffle Bike’
The rally and bike show season is in full swing. And there is a new bike show reserved to 1985 and earlier American, British, Japanese and European motorcycles, scooters and minis, racing, street and custom bikes. It will happen June 4, 2011 at the new National Motorcycle Museum of Anamosa, Iowa. So, if you’ve got some great bikes in your collection why not dust them off and bring them to the first annual National Motorcycle Museum Vintage Rally Bike Show.
Classes are listed after the jump. Bike show awards are sponsored by Motorcycle Classics magazine. Award plaques will be given for first and second place in each class, plus one Best of Show winner for American, British, Japanese and European. There will also be an award for the overall Best Preserved, the Best Unrestored motorcycle (unrestored means the machine has all of its original parts, paint, plating and upholstery. Replacement of tires, grips, peg rubbers, cables, spark plugs and internal service parts are permissible) and an overall Best in Show. That’s 71 awards in all, including the Ace Cafe sponsored award to the best Cafe Racer style motorcycle entered in the Customs and Specials Class during the Bike Show. Enter today and save $5 per bike by downloading the entry form and mailing it back with a check for $15 for each bike entered to: National Motorcycle Museum Show, c/o Mark Mederski, 1146 Broadview Ave, Columbus, OH 43212 or call Mark with any questions at 614-551-0960. After May 15, the registration will be $20 per bike. Continue reading ‘Vintage Bike Show Set for June 4, 2011 At National Motorcycle Museum.’
Jesse is hitting the radio and TV talk show tour to promote his new book.
Two weekends ago, with this boardtracker style custom bike, 
The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC)
