Details, details. They make great customs…They will think you don’t use a gas petcock and wonder how you don’t flood your carburetor. Machined from billet polished brass, a very clean look for your custom gas tank.
A cute little part fitting most fuel lines and scoring a couple more points if you compete in bike shows. Sorry, no reserve but do you really need one? A model fitting at bottom of S&S E/G carburetors is also available.
To order, you will have to do a cyber trip to Italy and order a few for your friends to make shipping cost reasonable. At Kustom Tech Italy.
Polaris just launched an original and interesting promotion to prove you than nobody can beat a Victory motorcycle for performance, style & comfort. You schedule a test ride at a Victory Dealership to test the model of your choice, then take a competitor bike for a spin. “You buy a Victory, you get the best. You buy the competitor’s bike, Victory gives you 100.00.” Ready to schedule a test ride? Jump to Victory Test Rode $100 Challenge.(promotion ends 05/31/11)
The doors open on Friday, April 15 at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center (FSC) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the world premiere of the 2011 Sturgis Road Show™ . Promoter John Detrick, CEO of Motoring USA, launched the final countdown to the April 15-17 weekend bash by unveiling the official Sturgis Road Show magazine featuring a bikini clad biker babe atop the 2011 SRS Custom Motorcycle that will be given away to one lucky weekend pass holders. Tickets are still available exclusively at Sturgis Road Show, where all single-day and weekend passes can be purchased and printed online at discounted prices. Advance ticket prices are $35 for a 3-Day Weekend Pass and chance to win the SRS Custom Motorcycle, $17 for Friday, $22 for Saturday, and $10 for Sunday. The complete three-day schedule published inside the new 62-page glossy magazine is also available on Sturgis Road Show outlining featured including: Continue reading ‘Sturgis Road Show™ Countdown to Event’
The first engine powered bicycle produced by BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) was launched in 1905 with a small Minerva engine attached to it. By the 1950’s the company was producing more than 75.000 bikes and was the largest manufacturer of motorcycles worldwide. At that time the Gold Star became a very popular roadster and racing bike and remained in production up until 1963. Larry Houghton of Lamb Engineering in Wilshire UK used one of these 1951 Gold Stars as the base to build this superb “Cafe Racer”. Continue reading ‘Custom Chrome European Series Champion. A BSA Gold Star Named Son Of A Gun.’
“Certified Motorcycle Nuts” Jeff Decker & Jesse James love to do investigative work to discover the rarest, so the most valuable motorcycles and memorabilia of our motorcycle industry. And they just scored huge with the unearthing of the “Tramp” one of the most famous dual purpose motorcycles of the 1950’s. Built by George Smith Sr. of S&S Cycle Fame and based on a 1937 Harley Knucklehead engine, it is the bike that started it all by setting National Speed Records in Drag Racing and at the Bonneville Salt flats.
With a custom machined 80″ motor on alcohol running through twin Riley carburetors “Tramp” ran 125 mph at the Half Day Drag strip in 1952. This earned Smith a 1952 Midwest National Championship. In 1954 the motor size was increased to 92 cubic inches and in one of the most epic battles in Bonneville history with the Joe Petrelli Knucklehead, the “Tramp” got the better of the Petrelli bike with a top speed of 152.2 mph. sealing the Tramp’s fate as one of the most historical bikes in American racing history. Continue reading ‘Jesse James And Jeff Decker Unearth One Of The Most Famous Racing Motorcycles In American History.’
Mikuni carburetors are some of the most popular. All the important tools to perform basic jetting and maintenance on the popular Mikuni HSR Performance Series Carburetors for the American V-Twin market are available in an easy to use and carry tool kit.
Included in the Mikuni HSR Easy Tool Kit is a 17mm x 11/16′ Wrench to loosen / tighten the choke nut and drain plug, a Main Jet T-Wrench Handle combination Jet Removal Tool with a slip-in Phillips / Flat Head Combination Screwdriver blade, and a slip-in Hex Wrench for easy needle adjustment. Visit Mikuni for more information and contact your local dealer to order.
1- Harley-Davidson and other brands motorcycle sales in the US. There is a consensus in the industry that beginning of year 2011 is much better than it has been during the last 3 years (for me too, with an increase of close to 40% in custom parts sales versus last year.) But it comes with a complete reshuffling of the way we do business. And it includes marketing, advertising, distribution, type of products, models of motorcycles and pricing. A topic I will develop in another post…
As an example of how fast things have changed very fast in the last few years, look at the US market shares of motorcycle manufacturers. For example Harley-Davidson recently reported U.S. retail sales of 42,000-plus bikes in the first quarter of 2011, which equates to roughly 50 percent of the market share of on-road motorcycles. In 2008, Harley-Davidson represented only 36% (Harley states a higher percentage because the company takes in account only heavy cruisers in its category.) Even if the overall market of new registrations would not increase in 2011 (but it is possible it will expand) Harley-Davidson US market share has increased by at least 14% in 2 years. Continue reading ‘Fast Motorcycle Industry News’
Sumax is one of the pioneers in engine powdercoating and is able to custom color your motor, including oil pump and intake manifold in almost most color you can imagine.
For S&S engines, the company offers 3 standard finishes, 2 for the S&S 111″ engine (“Black & Crome” or Candy Red”) and 1 for the S&S Knucklehead Style Series in “Flat Black” powdercoating. But again, Sumax will do exactly what you request. And yes, powdercoating requires a full disassembly of your engine. If you intend to powdercoat other parts on your bike, my advice is to send all your parts to be powdercoated together to avoid a risk of color variation from one batch to the other. Sumax. 315 768 058
Multichannel News is stating that an expanded deal with Twentieth Century Fox adds more content to the service including Sons of Anarchy. Sons of Anarchy airing on FX explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club’s desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their simple, sheltered town of Charming, California remains exactly that. More Fox movie libraries should hit “Netflix Watch Instantly” in the near future as well. This comes after CBS decided to not renew a Showtime contract with Netflix. The new deal brings the FX Series first two Sons of Anarchy available as of today. More seasons will be added annually, Netflix said.
I have no clue, but some studies by traffic engineers would have shown that 85 mph is, believe it or not, the safest speed to travel on any given stretch of road. I just read 2 years ago that Europe, where overall roads and highways have higher posted speed limits, the number of accidents, injured and deaths per mile traveled is much lower than in the US.
A CBS Texas station just reported that driving 85 mph could soon be a legal reality, at least on Texas highways. The State House has passed a bill that would give the Department of Transportation power to raise the current speed limit. If the bill is voted in Texas Senate, the Lone Star State would have the highest speed limit in the nation. New engineering tests and traffic studies are requested by opponents, with Jerry Johns from the Insurance Institute claiming that higher speed limits would create more accidents, more injuries and more deaths, but without giving any statistics to support his statement. (thank you Keith Thomas),
Following the demise of Big Dog Motorcycles as a motorcycles manufacturer, Baker Drivetrain informs all current Big Dog owners at all dealers (ex Big Dog or not) that their service parts and upgrades will continue to be available directly from them for all Big Dog Makes and Models. Whether you need an inspection cover, replacement o-ring, top cover or want to upgrade from the stock chain primary to an open belt drive, Baker Drivetrain got these parts in stock. Baker drivetrain accept new dealer applications from those thinking they will have to work on Big Dog motorcycles ( Call 1-877-640-2004 to set up your dealer account for dealer web access and price lists) Continue reading ‘All Big Dog Motorcycles Drivetrain Service Parts Available Directly From Baker’
“Imagine motorcycles, unlike any you’ve seen before, arrayed on pedestals and resplendent in their sculptural variety. These are extravagant mechanical confections. Like Fabergé eggs with engines, they are exquisite yet hard-boiled. Forget bikers. Think Haut Moteur. Just as a couturier’s gown goes from runway to rack with each new season—an archetype of fashion unveiled, so do over-the-top motorcycles initiate a process of trickle-down style, which eventually wends its way to mainstream machines on the showroom floor”.
With these words, Tom Zimberoff, author of the best-selling books Art Of the Chopper I & II, announces his next high end custom motorcycles exhibition at Kansas City Union Station, from June 24 to July 2, 2011. This exhibition of thirty choppers integrates each artist’s portrait with other documentary photographs and their motorcycles on display, thereby offering the public a glimpse into a parallel universe populated by the high priests of horsepower, those lane-splitting libertarians on the road to perdition with a lust for life and a consummate sense of style.Their eccentric machines go a long way toward explaining why ordinary bike builders abound but artists are rare. Only artists go beyond imitation to invention, to subordinate the disparate ingredients of a mainstream motorcycle into a singular vision, while blurring orthodox notions about form and function. Continue reading ‘Art Of The Chopper “Haut Moteur” Exhibit. June 24 To October 2, 2011’
Four days after I broke the news that Big Dog Motorcycles was closing, that the lender would foreclose on them, that the company would start calling dealers to inform them, that CEO Sheldon Coleman would create a new company to distribute parts under the name of “Big Dog Performance Parts”, that the new company would re-hire current employees to handle this new business, Big Dog Motorcycles President Mike Simmons finally admits that the company was seized by its bank and forced to close, so acknowledging that my news were 100%accurate (see his official statement to PowerSports Business after the jump)
Since last Thursday, date at which I learned that Big Dog Motorcycles had furloughed 10 more employees (not fired because furloughed employees don’t receive paid vacation like fired people…) it has been quite a few strange days regarding the company corporate behavior and the way some media behave when I break an important story they don’t have. This same Thursday I started investigative work to know what was really going on at the company. On Friday, after verification from several reliable sources, I had all the facts to certify that Big Dog Dog was about to close for good. So, I sent an email to a top executive at Big Dog to ask (without revealing all what I knew) if the company had an official statement to give me regarding their situation. On Sunday, I prepared my article, deciding to wait until Monday beginning of the afternoon to give my interlocutor at Big Dog a chance to reply. Continue reading ‘Big Dog Motorcycles Finally Admits It Was Seized And Forced To Close’
A video about Roland Sands customizing the new High-Ball. With the Ol’ Vic, Roland is just reinforcing the old look the designers of Victory were after. Minimum modifications (engine & transmission are untouched), hand shifting and retro cosmetic touches through accessories and paint color.
It will happen July 16th, 2011 at the Long Beach Queens Mary, but in a new location and with lower admission prices. as the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show celebrates its 20th Anniversary! The Calendar Show moves from the Queen Mary Event Park of the past years to dockside next to the historic Queen Mary ocean liner on Saturday in the exciting Seawalk Village which replicates an old British seaside town for a step back in history. New Lower $20 spectator admission includes the Calendar Motorcycle Show with its Calendar Bike Building Championship, celebrity Bike Builders, leading Manufacturers, Vendors, the Calendar Girl Music Festival and all-day admission to the famed Queen Mary Ghost Ship with the Saturday Night Builder’s Party in the Queen’s Observation Bar. Included with admission is the Calendar Girl Music Festival with beautiful girl bands and singer songwriters. Exhibitor display and Vendor prices have also been reduced to help industry partners in the current economy. Continue reading ’20th Anniversary Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show & Calendar Girl Music Festival’
Very sleek and a work of art under any angle the Avalon front end has always been the most radical Springer front end available to the custom builder.
MeanStreetProducts re-introduce an evolved version keeping the same stunning lines sculpted out of billet aluminum with a touch of steel, but now fitted with new Progressive Suspension dampeners.
The Avalon Springer comes in different rakes (0, 3, 5, 6 and 7) in almost any custom length and comes with a stainless steel axle shaft and stem.
You can order it in polish, chrome or black anodize finish. You can check out this front end and many others at MeanStreet Products.
Keeping inmates busy doing something useful, providing them the skills to successfully re-enter societ and letting them make some money should always be a top priority. Many programs with these objectives already exist in prison and correctional facilities. But until today I didn’t know that such programs could include building chopper motorcycles. At least one correctional facility in our country in Nevada has such a program including metal fabrication, assembly, paint and upholstery. And these choppers are all sold with prison bars authenticated by the Deputy Director! Bighouse Choppers. (thank you Steve Davey)
I can’t believe that until now the STURGIS® Word Mark in connection with Sturgis® Rally goods and services was not protected by a Federal Trademark Registration. Now it’s done. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Inc., owners of the portfolio of Trademarks and Service Marks related to the world famous Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally, announced today that its word mark STURGIS® is now protected.
“This was certainly anticipated for a number of months, but is nevertheless an exciting development for the future protection, promotion and long-term health of the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally,” commented board member and longtime Sturgis-area businessman John E. Johnson, “It also helps to further solidify the future of charitable giving offered from several organizations around the Sturgis area through licensed use of the marks.” Continue reading ‘Word Mark STURGIS® Gets Federal Trademark Registration’
Son of legendary drag racer, builder and tuner Pat Foster, Cole spent his youth always close to his father that he idolized, hanging around, observing and learning how to fabricate motorsports stuff, always keeping an open mind to everything, from race cars to hot rods to motorcycles. Owner of Salinas Boyz Customs, Cole Foster is in business since close to 20 years, building rolling pieces of art on 2, 3 and 4 wheels without paying too much attention to what has been done by others and published in magazines. Simply because what has been done has been done. He will tell you that maturing in the business, his inspiration for new creations can be found from “outside” sources, like nature, architecture, interior design, appliances, furnitures, colors, textures, etc.
Far from pretending that he is the best at all skills required to build from the ground up or to restore any cars and motorcycles (personal note: nobody is), Cole prides himself on the fact that he has a very good eye to know what is right or wrong. I completely agree with him when he states that “There are plenty of great metal workers and mechanics in the world building ugly shit.” Having a good eye is what took him where he is today. For all other skills we all learn everyday, improve and when we love what we do we always find a solution to make it happen. So, every day in his shop of Salinas, CA, as a perfectionist, either working on a full car or sweet Panhead rebuild, Cole Foster torture not only metal but himself (“I have an idea in my mind and it’s killing me…”) until his creation is “way good”, an expression that his father used to mean “way bitchin”… Continue reading ‘The Secret Life Of Cole Foster’
Lighting far down the road is the purpose of a pair of spotlights. Headwinds just released this new model called Revolver (because of its billet aluminum housing featuring polished gun-like grooves) equipped with a 35W halogen narrow flood lamp helping you to light up both the road and its shoulder. Internally threaded and featuring a screw-in bezel, the light has a clean, seamless look. A vibration isolation extends the bulb life. Sold with 3/8-16” threaded mounting post, 16″ of heat shrink tubing and with a tap splice for connecting each wire. Made at Headwinds® in the USA. 626-359-8044 or headwinds@headwinds.com.
This is the story of a biker forgetting to pick up his FLH in a bike shop during more than 4 years, of the shop owner’s wife wanting it for her and getting exactly what she wanted, in fluo green and pink.
Warning to all those who don’t pay their bill when their bike is ready and think that bike shops are a free and safe storage place. In conditions varying from State to State, you will be liable for a big storage fee in addition of your original bill to be able to ride again your bike. And if you don’t, after a certain time of abandon, your shop may request your motorcycle title transferred to the shop name. Continue reading ‘I want My Shovelhead. Pleasing The Queen In Green And Pink’
The new Harley-Davidson Chopped Fender Edge Light ($89.95 for Sportster and Dyna models) combines running and brake light functions. The bright, fast-acting LED lamp glows red when the ignition is on, and intensifies when the brakes are applied.
The low-profile lamp is contoured to hug the curve of chopped rear fenders. Fits 2004-later Nightster®, Iron®, Forty-Eight®, Dyna Wide Glide® and models equipped with a Chopped Rear Fender Kit and a side-mount license plate. Will not fit models with center-mount license plates.
See an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer for fitment details. Harley-Davidson.
There is no doubt that the lifeblood of your Harley-Davidson’s Twin Cam engine is its oiling system. Crucial to oiling yet often overlooked are the piston jets. Located deep inside the engine cases it’s hard to verify whether the piston jets are functioning properly. JIMS® new Piston Jet Test Stand allows engine builders to test these jets for proper operation before installing them.
The unit operates on both compressed air, and air over oil. When operating with air only, verification of proper flow through the piston jet can be witnessed. In the air over oil mode you can not only check for proper operation, but also physically see the oil spray pattern emanating from the jet. By adjusting the air regulator on the unit, mechanics are able to determine at what pressure the piston jet turns on and off. An additional benefit of the Piston Jet Test Stand is the ability to clear assembly lube from the jet’s narrow oil passage. Don’t let malfunctioning piston jets cause your engine to sump or overheat, test them before you install them.
JIMS® Piston Jet Test Stand has an MSRP of $199.00 and is backed by a lifetime warranty. For more information connect with JIMS® on the web at Jims USA or call 805-482-6913.
Another very sad day in the motorcycle industry. Last week I was informed that Big Dog Motorcycles laid off or furloughed a few more workers and that the company would probably close its doors in the next few days. This morning, Big Dog Motorcycles started to call its remaining dealers to inform them that they are done…Big Dog main lender would have already taken over the company. Practically it means that all Big Dog warranties have stopped. Big Dog Motorcycles, LLC, started production in 1994 and it is estimated that since then it has built over 25,000 motorcycles, becoming at one time the world’s largest manufacturer of custom motorcycles. The company surfed the booming years of the motorcycle industry by providing an entire line of chopper motorcycles using S&S engines, 6-speed transmissions, stretched one-piece steel tank, super fat tires, chrome components, steel fenders, and an extensive variety of custom paint colors and graphics. All models were designed and manufactured at the company’s headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. Continue reading ‘Exclusive. Big Dog Motorcycles Is Closing.’
Very few Custom Builders, as talented as they can be, are comfortable at verbally expressing their motivations when starting a project and even less at explaining the many options they had and at justifying the choices they made all along the fabrication process. 35 years old Satya Kraus from Kraus Motor Co. could talk during hours about Snatch, his latest creation that just brought him a well deserved second place at the Custom Chrome North America Championship Of Bike Building. So, let’s listen to what he told me.
“I personally appreciate many kinds of motorcycles but especially vintage bikes. Maybe it’s the smell, the simplicity or the dedication to function, the raw stripped-down appearance with an engine and drivetrain tuned for speed. A motorcycle that’s lean, light, and handles the road surface through tuned suspension. For me, it’s something about the raw desire to go faster but still looking great while doing it. I don’t just mean down the block to showoff at your Sunday barbecue. I mean, take that thing out and see how good the tires perform. Take it out to the country side and rip it through some corners, bomb it down the side roads and race your buddy’s or take it up the highway for a day trip. Continue reading ‘The Story Of Snatch. 2nd Place Custom Chrome North America Championship.’
Details, details. They make great customs…They will think you don’t use a gas petcock and wonder how you don’t flood your carburetor. Machined from billet polished brass, a very clean look for your custom gas tank.
