Here in America like in Europe, most of us love the look and intricate details of Japanese custom motorcycles. In 2009, Kenji from the Kens Factory Japan started to tour the US States showing the gorgeous bike featured here called “One Eyed King”. Then he went to Europe winning a lot of bike shows with other custom bikes like “Velvet Fang”, and “Unchangeable” (see them on his website.) His style, a fusion of old and high tech styles, is harmoniously expressed in his bikes but also in a complete line of parts. Continue reading ‘Japanese Motorcycle Parts Neo-Fusion Style.’
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Japanese Motorcycle Parts Neo-Fusion Style.
Published by April 26th, 2011 in Builders, Controls, Customs, Editorial and Electrical.71th Sturgis Rally Buffalo Chip Give-Away Bike
Published by April 26th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
The Sturgis Legendary Buffalo Chip has teamed up with GEICO for a special “30 Years Strong – Sturgis Buffalo Chip” bike give-away during this year’s 71st annual Sturgis Rally. Victory Motorcycles, another one of The Chip’s official sponsors, provided one of their classic, Kingpin 8-Ball cruisers for customization to Klock Werks Kustom Cycle.To get a chance to win it you can register by going to Buffalo Chip Bike Give-Away. One lucky winner will be chosen from a group of finalists live on The Chip’s main stage Friday, August 12th to highlight the Sturgis Rally activities.
Custom Chrome Launches Jammer and Touring Catalogs
Published by April 26th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.
No doubt than during at least the last 5 years the motorcycle industry was forced to reshape around 2 big trends. 1- Baby-boomer bikers looking for the comfort and reliability that touring models provide. 2- All age categories, youngsters and gray beards discovering or rediscovering the charms classic motorcycle design. Manufacturers, builders, part vendors and distributors have noticed and are rapidly adapting to fill the needs of these 2 markets. Continue reading ‘Custom Chrome Launches Jammer and Touring Catalogs’
It Happened in Vegas. Compliment Of The Month.
Published by April 26th, 2011 in Editorial and Events.
I don’t brag. Every month I receive lots of emails congratulating me for my work with this Blog. Sometimes, the compliment comes in unexpected ways, like this story reported to me by the one and only builder, reader, commentator of my posts and Texan Jeff Nicklus. Read it, and continue to send me your stories (of course, only if they are related to motorcycles and my Blog…) Continue reading ‘It Happened in Vegas. Compliment Of The Month.’
Polaris Industries On A Shopping Spree. After Indian, Acquiring Global Electric Motocars
Published by April 26th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
The low-emission small vehicle market has a huge growth potential. And of course Polaris Industries want its market share. The company just announced an agreement to acquire Global Electric Motorcars LLC (GEM), a wholly owned Fargo, N.D. based subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC and manufacturer of premium electric-powered vehicles. GEM is the recognized leader within the low-speed vehicle market, with a well-respected brand and approximately $30 million in sales during the 2010 calendar year. Since the company was established in 1998, they have placed over 45,000 electric-powered vehicles on the road worldwide. GEM has developed business-to-business sales expertise within the fleet and government vehicle markets, and has created a competitive advantage with core competencies in make-to-order vehicle fulfillment and mobile service support. Continue reading ‘Polaris Industries On A Shopping Spree. After Indian, Acquiring Global Electric Motocars’
Christoph Madaus, an avid biker for the last 33 years (he owns several Harleys, XLCR 1000, XR1000, FXR, Night Rod Special, Road King and a very special KHRM) is a talented German interior designer at Madaus Design and a custom motorcycle builder building only for himself under the label The German Motorcycle Authority. His most ambitious and well known project until now is the Twintrax Powerplus, but his most recent creation is a today’s style Bobber named Billy Bob getting its share of gold everywhere it is competing in bike shows. Continue reading ‘Billy Bob Bobber’
American Chopper Senior vs. Junior Returns Tonight April 25th
Published by April 25th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Events and Videos.Jesse James To Produce How-To and Extreme Motorsports Entertainment Series.
Published by April 24th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.
Most of the TV shows in which Jesse James was starring (History of The Chopper, Iraq Confidential, Jesse James: Blacksmith, Jesse James is a Dead Man, etc) were produced by his own production company named Payupsucker Productions (like the tattoo in the palm of his hand) that he created in 2004. Jesse James’ Payupsucker Productions just partnered with another motor-sports video entertainment company, Circle King Networks (CKN), to form the all-new El Jefe Entertainment to produce a series of motorsports entertainment movies available on DVD, Pay Per View and mobile formats. Jesse James says: “El Jefe Entertainment is an opportunity for me to share with the fans the two things that I love so much, building and racing. With these new videos, I hope to bring the how-to series they’ve been asking for.”
Third Generation Confederate Hellcat
Published by April 24th, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.
From Confederate Motor Company the Birmingham, Alabama manufacturer of very limited edition high end motorcycles, a 3rd generation of the Hellcat model equipped with a 132″ (2160 cc) square C3 X132 engine (bore 4.4 x stroke 4.4) with its patented minimalist fusion design and adjustable front & rear suspension. A Hell raiser that you can order with a 5% prepayment of $2,250 (credit card accepted) by going to Work & Cycle. But before that you want to read the full tech sheet after the jump. Continue reading ‘Third Generation Confederate Hellcat’
The announcement of Polaris Industries buying Indian Motorcycle Limited from the UK based Stellican private equity firm was quite a surprise to many. But the fact that Indian Motorcycle would go for sale was not unexpected by most industry insiders. Not because they thought that the Kings Mountain company was in financial trouble but simply because Stellican specializes in the purchase, turnaround and re-launch of iconic brand companies which have gone bankrupt (like Chris-Craft and Italian Riva boats) with the intention of reselling them as soon as they are back on their feet.
For sure Stellican could not anticipate how deep and long our US recession would be, and it may have pushed Chairman Stephen Julius to loose patience and decide to resell Indian Motorcycle sooner and for a lower price than initially expected (since Polaris Industries is a public company, transaction amount and terms will be disclosed later in its financial reports.) Indian’s plant is ceasing operations with about 25 employees and was opened only 3 years ago. With sister company Chris-Craft installed next door (closed in 2009 after only 1 year of operation but still with a base in Tampa, Florida), nearly 800 jobs were expected and the Cleveland County paid more than $1 million toward the 2 plants purchase with the city promising reimbursement of property taxes for a decade. At least, even if slowed or stopped in its plans by the recession, Stephen Julius must be credited for putting back Indian motorcycles on the road and creating a small but very good network of dealerships (21 in North America) Continue reading ‘Indian Motorcycle Future. What’s Next?’
The Inner workings Of Motorcycle Suspension (Part 2)
Published by April 23rd, 2011 in Customs and Suspension.
After understanding Springs and Dampers, and before personalizing your motorcycle suspension to your taste and needs (Lower? Firmer Spring? Height adjustable?, you must also understand Shock Pre-load and how to make Shock Sag Adjustments. In this Part 2, Progressive Suspension explains what you should know before choosing between all custom suspension options.
3- Shock Preload Adjusters. All of Progressive Suspension’s shocks are Preload Adjustable. This allows the user to easily tune the shocks for their specific combination of bike and rider weight. Although we design a shock to fit and perform on a specific motorcycle, we have no way of knowing if the rider will be 140lb or 240lb and the addition of cargo and passenger further complicates the issue. An obvious solution is an adjustment on the shock that allows the rider to quickly set up his shocks to match his bike/rider weight combination. This is where Preload Adjustment comes into play. By compressing or uncompressing the spring a small amount, a shock can be perfectly tuned to suit the conditions for which it will be used. In addition to this level of tuning, most PSI shocks are also offered in Heavy Duty applications. Continue reading ‘The Inner workings Of Motorcycle Suspension (Part 2)’
Knuckle Shuffle. A Fun Ride To Raise Money For The Kennedy High School Chopper Class
Published by April 23rd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
Kevin “teach” Bass is the high school metal teacher whose life is dedicated to offer his students a better and richer education through motorcycle building. Every year Kevin relies on the generosity of the custom motorcycle industry to help him keep his class alive and welcomes any support that can be provided under the form of donations and custom parts to support his students new bike projects. Continue reading ‘Knuckle Shuffle. A Fun Ride To Raise Money For The Kennedy High School Chopper Class’
BAKER Drivetrain Working After Hours
Published by April 22nd, 2011 in Customs, Driveline and Editorial.
Until Labor Day, BAKER Drivetrain phone lines (Tech & Sales) will be staffed from 8 am – 7 pm EDT Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm EDT.
Why? Because it’s riding season and BAKER wants to better meet the needs of its customers. So, you are better off entering right now their number in your cell. phone: Toll Free: 1-877-640-2004
Have questions after that time period? Check out their website or online store to see if the answer lies there waiting! 24/7 BAKER parts and facts at your fingertips. BAKER Drivetrain
S&S Cycle to Stand Behind Big Dog Motorcycle Engine Warranties
Published by April 22nd, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Engines.
You own a Big Dog motorcycle owner and after the announcement of the closure of Big Dog Motorcycle Company you wonder where to turn to for warranty support on your bike Though the official BDM warranty ended with the company being foreclosed by its lender then dissolved, S&S Cycle is stepping up to the plate and offering a special engine warranty to all owners of Big Dog motorcycles that were still covered by the factory warranty. S&S company president George Smith Jr. commented “I’m certainly sad to see a good customer like BDM close their doors, but I feel that we need to shoulder the responsibility, and make sure the end customer gets a square deal. I suppose we could just look the other way, but I won’t do that. After all, these are S&S engines. We built them and we’re going to stand behind them!” Continue reading ‘S&S Cycle to Stand Behind Big Dog Motorcycle Engine Warranties’
Steve McQueen Collection Of Racing Trophies To Be auctioned.
Published by April 22nd, 2011 in Editorial and Events.
In addition to Steve McQueen’s well-documented 1971 Husqvarna 400 motorcycle, Bonhams will be auctioning the iconic actor’s collection of racing trophies in Carmel, California, on May 14th. The nearly two-dozen pieces in the King of Cool’ collection will be sold individually and with no reserve. Spanning a period from the late 1950s to the mid-70s, this amazing collection includes some of the following trophies: 1959 Santa Barbara Road Races, 3rd Place – McQueen’s first big race, driving a Lotus XI 1969 IDRA 4×4 Ascot Park, 1st Place. 1961 RRMC Hare Scramble, 2nd Place. 1964 RRMC “Long Distance Champion” 1964 District 37 Championship Hare Scrambles, 2nd Place. 1971 ACE, 3rd place. Continue reading ‘Steve McQueen Collection Of Racing Trophies To Be auctioned.’
Harley-Davidson Celebrating Latino Motorcycle Culture
Published by April 22nd, 2011 in Builders, Editorial, Events and Videos.La Banda Films announced the release of the documentary film, Harlistas: An American Journey, premiering April 2011. The film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Alfredo de Villa and follows the emotional journeys of real-life Harlistas – Harley riders of Latino heritage – as they seek adventure, camaraderie and achievement of the American Dream. The documentary is the first of its kind to ever profile Latino motorcycling culture in the United States.
The 90-minute film showcases four pivotal stories spanning Los Angeles to New York, the plains of South Dakota, the Pacific Coast and the Grand Canyon. Visit Harlistas Film to find schedule of screenings & television airings, rider backgrounds & director’s commentary, and exclusive photos & videos. Here is the trailer.
The Guts And Glory Rally Postponed Or Canceled?
Published by April 21st, 2011 in Editorial and Events.
The Guts & Glory Rally across American is (was?) an event whose objective, like the 2010 Hoka Hey Challenge, to test endurance of bikers during 11 days, across 48 states for a total of 9000 miles with a grand prize winner initially announced at $100,000. The concept was created by John White who was the #1 defender and supporter of the Hoka Hey Challenge 2010 and of his organizer Big Jim “Red Cloud” Durham, and who by his own online published statements last August, was supposed to own and organize the 2011 Hoka Hey Challenge. It didn’t happen and John White created his own challenge called “Guts & Glory”. He just informed me that because of a legal threat by the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge and by The Medicine Show Land Trust (Big Jim “Red Cloud” Durham), the Guts & Glory Challenge is postponed until 2012… His press release after the jump. Continue reading ‘The Guts And Glory Rally Postponed Or Canceled?’
Jeff Decker grew up in the hustle and bustle of Southern California, heavily influenced by his father who raced, customized, collected old cars and owned one of the country largest vintage speed equipment collection. With him, young boy Jeff visited Steve McQueen, Ed Roth and Von Dutch and spent most of his weekends prowling aisles of swap meets, then developed his mechanical aptitudes on different contraptions while in school he was already demonstrating his excellence in art. Finishing college in Utah, not sure about his calling, Jeff took a job in a foundry that specialized in lost wax castings for fine art bronze. After mastering the art of making molds for others as a young aspiring artist, he worked with well-known sculptor Stanley Wanless, then jumped at the opportunity to apply his new skills to express through sculptures his love for vintage racing, his fascination for the dynamic and mechanical beauty of motorcycles. It’s the way Jeff, already a young Motorhead, became a motorcycles Historian to become a better Bronze Sculptor and Memorabilia Collector…
Jeff Decker uses his hand-made fine art bronze as a way to take our motorcycling history and culture to a higher level. He describes his love for historic motorcycles as a selfish life-long impulse, his sculptures has an urge, his collection of vintage bikes, photography and clothing (especially rare by-gone club cuts) as a way to tell untold stories about an era of true Americana. He explains: “Early motorcyclists were simply post-industrialist cowboys. In terms of transportation, the motorcycle was even more important than a horse because it was totally created by, and dependent upon those who rode it. It is an extension of ourselves. Without its rider, the motorcycle is nothing. Just a machine. And with its rider, it must be moving or it will fall down. There is nothing that embodies the urgency or our age and the modern synergy of man and machine better than a motorcycle and its rider. It is a perfect marriage of the mechanical and organic aspects of our world.” Continue reading ‘The Secret Life Of Jeff Decker’
Serious Bagger By A New Kid On The Block
Published by April 21st, 2011 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.
Let’s give a push to a “kid” named Curtis Hofmann who made impression with this Bagger at the recent Donnie Smith Bike Show. Curtis Hofmann paid his dues in Southern California, working successively at 3 Harley-Davidson dealerships, then at 2 independent custom chopper shops. Back in his native state of Minnesota he started Hofmann Designs where he works on cars and trucks doing resto-mods and custom bikes with already a few clean baggers like this one on his resume. Continue reading ‘Serious Bagger By A New Kid On The Block’
The ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) is 6 days of grueling riding over varied and demanding terrain, and the strains placed on the bike are tremendous. The lubricants must withstand shearing and thermal breakdown, and be able to perform despite the dirt, sand, dust, water, mud and extreme heat of the race — and never fail to provide maximum performance — for six consecutive days! Spectro Oils (Intercontinental Lubricants Corp. of Brookfield, CT) is proud to announce that the company was asked again to support the AMA Team during the event. Continue reading ‘International Six Days Enduro With Spectro’
Flash News. Polaris Stock Up 26% For The Day.
Published by April 20th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
BAKER Tin Primary. A Classic Reinvented.
Published by April 20th, 2011 in Builders, Customs, Driveline and Editorial.
Regarding motorcycle parts, today’s trend is to re-engineer classic designs with current technology to improve durability, reliability and performance. S&S Cycle did it with its new Shovelhead, Panhead, and Knucklehead engine designs and Bert Bakers follows by providing an essential piece of the combo, the tin primary. BAKER took that classic 1936-64 tin design and re-constructed it with billet 6061-T6 aluminum to facilitate alternator left side motor case and 1990-2006 starter compatibility. Tin primary leaks of the past are also gone… The resulting TTP (Tin Type Primary) looks, feels like the original one. Kick-only and starter configurations are available with shot blasted ‘raw’ or show polished finishes. The starter version is set up for factory 1.4kw 1990-2006 units. Stock tin derby and inspection covers will fit but the sleek TTP 6061-T6 aluminum covers are pure money. The chain tensioner design utilizes a fine tooth modern L-bracket, giving you plenty of room for any and all configurations. Continue reading ‘BAKER Tin Primary. A Classic Reinvented.’
The music, videos, fashion, and other artistic endeavors of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, do nothing to me. I am completely indifferent to her outré sense of style in fashion, in performance and in her music videos.
But when last week she revealed the cover of her new album called “Born This Way” it hurt my sense of aesthetics. She makes a quite beautiful motorcycle look ugly, which is exactly the opposite of what a woman is supposed to do, if anything, to a motorcycle. The photoshop work makes everything looking wrong in terms of proportions and perspective. I understand the “Born This Way” metaphor, but to turn Lady Gaga into a human motorcycle or a motorcycle into Lady Gaga, either way I go, make me cringe. Even the font is ugly. This artwork put this album cover in the category of the ugliests ever done and I am certain that nor the artist who conceived it nor Lady Gaga are bikers.
Polaris Reports Record First Quarter 2011 Results
Published by April 20th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
This morning April 20,2011, Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII) today reported record first quarter net income of $47.3 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. By comparison, 2010 first quarter net income was $19.8 million, or $0.59 per diluted share. Off-road vehicle sales rose 55 percent to $388 million. On-Road Vehicles/Victory Motorcycles sales rose 77% to 44.9 million. Snowmobiles sales rose 61% to 8.9 million Gross margin percentage increased 210 basis points to 28.3 percent.
“We are extremely pleased with our first quarter results, as the momentum we built throughout 2010 continued into 2011. Retail demand for Polaris products in North America remained strong throughout the first quarter and we continued to gain market share. Our International business also remained strong with sales increasing 21 percent and we celebrated the grand opening of our European headquarters in Switzerland during the quarter. In the first quarter, gross margin improved by 210 basis points and net income margin increased 330 basis points to 8.8 percent of sales,” commented Scott Wine, Polaris’ Chief Executive Officer. Continue reading ‘Polaris Reports Record First Quarter 2011 Results’
Breaking News. Polaris Buys Indian Motorcycle Limited.
Published by April 19th, 2011 in Builders and Events.
After weeks of speculation and although Indian Motorcycle refused again to confirm my information last week, it’s now official. Polaris has bought Indian Motorcycle. Having met personally with Indian’s Chairman Stephen Julius in 2006 before the official launch of the new Indian Chief, I knew that his objective, like he did with his other ventures, was to sell the company as soon as it became profitable. Was it already? This afternoon at 5 pm, Polaris faxed to all its dealers to announce the acquisition of Indian Motorcycle Limited. I publish below the official statement. Continue reading ‘Breaking News. Polaris Buys Indian Motorcycle Limited.’
