It’s now 1 year that Harley-Davidson is selling 12 of its motorcycle models in India and in September will have a total of 5 dealerships in this country. Harley is evaluating how each model performs, will decide soon which ones should be sold in 2011 and at the same time is evaluating if it is worth assembling in India instead of facing high import duty fees. Continue reading ‘Harley-Davidson India Update’
Archive Page 290
Cris Sommers Simmons. The Only American Woman Ready To Endure The Cannonball Challenge.
Published by August 29th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.After 9 months of hard work with the help of ace Antique Motorcycle Restorer Steve Huntzinger (just won a bunch of awards at the Pebble Beach Concours) and after some intense physical training to endure the 3325 miles of the Challenge between US east and west coast, Cris Sommers-Simmons and her 1915 Harley-Davidson 11J Twin 3 speed will be on September 10th on the starting line of the Cannonbal Edurance Run.
Front of her husband Pat, see her kicking her bike named “Effie” for the 1st time before going to practice her foot clutch/hand shifting. (For good luck she will have a Gumby figurine on the bike, like on all her motorcycles for the past 25 years.)
Hawg Halters Sprocket Brake System. Improved.
Published by August 28th, 2010 in Brakes, Builders, Customs and Editorial.
Born in Sweden decades ago, many times copied, then adapted and improved the Sprocket Brake System for chain drive is everywhere on new built custom motorcycles. Especially the ones looking for a retro look. What about the fact that a chain is more forgiving than a belt when you have, over time, a very slight problem of drive alignment, than you can customize your final drive with a chain in a dozen of different colors? Continue reading ‘Hawg Halters Sprocket Brake System. Improved.’
Three blondes were all applying for the last available position on the Texas Highway Patrol. The detective conducting the interview looked at the three of them and said, “So y’all want to be cops, huh?” The blondes all nodded. The detective got up, opened a file drawer, and pulled out a folder. Sitting back down, he opened it, pulled out a picture, and said, “To be a detective, you have to be able to detect. You must be able to notice things such as distinguishing features and oddities like scars and so forth.”
So saying, he stuck the photo in the face of the first blonde and withdrew it after about two seconds. “Now,” he said, “did you notice any distinguishing features about this man?” The blonde immediately said, “Yes, I did. He has only one eye!” The detective shook his head and said, “Of course he has only one eye in this picture! It’s a profile of his face! You’re dismissed!” The first blonde hung her head and walked out of the office. Continue reading ‘Joke Of The Week’
Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Rally Is Set For September 2-5, 2010
Published by August 28th, 2010 in Editorial and Events.
It is supposed to be the largest Bike Rally in the Midwest. It is organized by the four metro Milwaukee Harley-Davidson dealers.
So, if you are in the area, it may be your last opportunity to ride under still warm temperatures and enjoy at the same time the classic bike fest entertainment, music, vendors, poker run, photo opportunities, rides, parts on sale before the winter season and much more!
All venues and schedule at Milwaukee Rally.
Building A Captain America Reproduction
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.
In 1969 in the movie Easy Rider, the two freewheeling hippies – Wyatt, nicknamed “Captain America” (Peter Fonda), and Billy (Dennis Hopper) – told the world about their quest with the aim of achieving freedom.
Wyatt rides a chopper with an American flag painted gas tank and dresses in flag-adorned leather. The bike became a legend and probably is still today the most recognized motorcycle in the world. Continue reading ‘Building A Captain America Reproduction’
Harley-Davidson 2011 Motorcycles Inventories Too Low.
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
Consequence of cutting back its production to meet a lower consumer demand caused by the recession, some Harley dealers begin to complain that they don’t have enough 2011 models on the show floor.
The results of a study conducted by the firm of Robert W. Baird and Company with 64 Harley dealerships show that 2/3 of them think that their inventories are too low and that it hurts sales. The positive side of the story is that prices of the new motorcycles are firming, protecting Harley brand value, helping the dealer and the finance division make more profit.
Surprisingly, 42% of the dealers surveyed stated that they were selling bikes at or above the suggested retail price. On the other end of the spectrum, some dealers still have a lot of 2010 models on the show floor. In this actual uncertain economic context, Harley-Davidson will probably continue to prefer tight production over the risk of over-production. Harley dealers are learning how to trade inventory with each other, a daily practice in the car industry. (picture courtesy HD Orlando)
Getting Ready For The Cannonball Challenge. Shinya Kimura.
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.On September 10, 2010 the green flag will be waved to pre-1916 motorcycles like Pope, Sears, Flying Merkel, Excelsior, Henderson, Indian, Triumph, and the Harley-Davidson’s Silent Grey Fellows, and riders will be thumping their way from the US east coast to the west for the Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run. I have quite a few friends participating to this 2-week event, and this video shows you one of them, Japanese born and US based Shinya Kimura, preparing the 1915 Indian twin he will ride.
PhatBack Kit For Your Harley-Davidson Touring Model
Published by August 27th, 2010 in Accessories, Builders, Customs and Editorial.
Not really my style but I understand that some of you can like it. From a young company I just discovered – they incorporated in 2008 – the PhatBack RT (RT for rumble trunk) is conceived to extend the cruising aspect of your bagger with a concealed storage compartment that opens like a rumble seat.
It’s a kit weighting 34 pounds, measuring 76″L x 22″W x 22″H, with a 1.0 cu ft of storage (17″H x 7″D x 11″W) that you can install in two hours and remove in two minutes with no frame modification.
It’s made of hand-laid fiberglass with reinforcement at mounting points for full frame support. It includes solo seat pan (King/Queen optional) and the kit is delivered primed and ready-to-paint. MSRP is $2,799, lights and trunk hardware are not included. Old Skool Cycle Werks.
A Custom As Hot And Elegant As A Consuela
Published by August 26th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.
Don’t look for your Urban Dictionary. A Consuela refers to “a fine sexy lady, hot like fire, that has a vivacious/ravishing personality, being a perfect 10 out of 10. usually of Spanish decent, but not always.” I find this new petite and light build (about 300 pounds) by TPJ Customs extremely attractive…just like a Consuela. This custom looks deceptively very simple to build, but as a matter of fact it includes many very nice shop fabricated one-off parts. Continue reading ‘A Custom As Hot And Elegant As A Consuela’
You Have Only One Chance To Keep Your Harley-Davidson Job In Wisconsin…
Published by August 26th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
On Monday 1880 Harley Wisconsin manufacturing workers received a letter from their Union President. In it, he explains that they have want to keep their jobs, they have only one chance: to vote on September 13th, 2010 to approve the new Harley-Davidson contract.
He warns that if not “Harley-Davidson Board of Directors can vote themselves on whether to allocate monies to Wisconsin Operations or to another state.” Union negotiations are still open and ongoing but Harley-Davidson confirms they want to keep mid-September as the deadline to decide the future location of actual Wisconsin manufacturing operations. It is rumored that Kansas City or York, PA where Harley-Davidson has plants could be the new location if Wisconsin workers fail to approve the new contract. In any case, corporate headquarters, product development center, and museum will remain in Milwaukee
Oil is to engines and transmissions what blood is to humans. Hmmm. Kind of… Oil serves many purposes like lubrication, cooling, efficiency, anti-rust agent, protection etc. These are the 3 most common questions about motorcycle oil. Spectro Performance Oils explain:
1- Question: Can I mix viscosity grades? Answer: Yes, you can and no harm will be done. Topping up with 10w40, if its all you have available, will not injure the 20w50 in your crankcase. It will, however, lower the overall viscosity of your crankcase oil to a certain extent. This will cause no harm to your motorcycle. Likewise, adding a 20w50 product to 10w40 will slightly increase the overall viscosity in your crankcase. Again, no harm will occur. Continue reading ‘Motorcycle Oil Questions. Spectro Answers.’
Mad Jap Kustoms. Respect The Kulture!
Published by August 25th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.
Let’s give a push to a small team of builders from beautiful Calgary, Canada that I met in Sturgis, struggling their way up for acknowledgement from their older brothers. Setup at the Broken Spoke County Line among other “next generation of custom builders” shops, they learned the hard way that exhibiting in Sturgis costs a lot of money if you can’t sell bikes or even tee-shirts because you forgot to request a vendor permit! Continue reading ‘Mad Jap Kustoms. Respect The Kulture!’
Orange County Choppers Launch The OCC Foundation, Inc.
Published by August 25th, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
“Everyone who knows me knows that I have big attitude, but what you may not know is that we, at OCC, have an even bigger heart” says Paul Teutul Senior. With these words Orange County Choppers, the custom motorcycle shop featured on the popular TLC television show American Chopper yesterday announced the launch of a new non-profit organization called The OCC Foundation, Inc. Continue reading ‘Orange County Choppers Launch The OCC Foundation, Inc.’
Improved Riser Mount Kit For Easy Internal Wiring
Published by August 25th, 2010 in Controls, Customs and Editorial.
For those who want to run their handlebar cables & electricity internally, here a superb idea that has been improved. A custom handlebar mounting kit to run all your lines (wires, cables & hoses) through the bolts and exit them under the top of any triple tree top plate.
It includes bolts with 5/8″ holes for concealing wires and cables, dampening HD standard bushings, chrome washers, chrome nuts & threaded inserts. You must use 1 1/4″ bars with .095 wall thickness. MSRP: $180.00. At Custom Cycle Control Systems.
Reality Check. Paul Teutul Junior Weds.
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
American Chopping Wedding.Last weekend Paul Teutul, Junior and Rachael married at Bonnet Island Estate in Bonnet Island, NJ. front of 135 people.
Daddy was invited but was a no show. Now, you know for sure that the feud and the ongoing legal battle between father and son is for real.
There was a post-ceremony with butterflies release under an arched trellis garden while the strings played “Born To Be Wild“. No, “Here Comes Senior“. No, “Here Comes the Sun.”
Congrats Junior (nice haircut) and Rachael. Picture courtesy Paul Jr. Fans Club.
Discounted Gas Tanks And Fenders From An American Metal Forming Company
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Builders, Chassis, Customs and Editorial.
CAD Works Inc. is an American metal forming company which specializes in deep draw forming and stamping of motorcycle parts, including gas tanks and fenders, for many V-Twin companies. They tell me that they have some inventory of parts from their collection of fenders and gas tanks that they can sell to the public at a discount price. And for those looking for production work they developed a new cost effective tooling to give companies the ability to put their ideas into production. And you will be happy to hear that they make everything in the U.S. and that they do not outsource abroad. Call them at: 626-336-5491 or visit first CAD Works.
During the Sturgis AMD World Championship of Bike Building there is a class called “Production Manufacturer” sponsored by Accel Motorcycle Products welcoming those claiming at least 50 models produced annually. And this year the winner came from Spain with an aggressive sporty looking model appropriately called “Flying” weighting only 211 kg (460 pounds) Continue reading ‘2-Wheel Flyer’
Motorcycle Tribute In Black & White
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.
Just a blurb about somebody, who, without commercial interest in mind, just built a website to honor in black & white the American motorcycle, its riders and customizers. The site features 10 years of photographic material shot mainly Daytona & Sturgis, and you may find some shots of your bike or of your favorite ones. For the experts, know that the man called Jack, operates with a mechanical Nikkomat from the 70’s. Let’s stay pure and authentic…Jack’s Motorcycle Art Photography
British Motorcycles And Universal Fitting Parts
Published by August 24th, 2010 in Controls, Customs, Editorial and Electrical.
During the last 2 years a lot of custom motorcycle lovers and builders have diversified their stable. British bikes are in again, back from the past after some restoration or used as donors for new custom builds. A small craftsman named James Maund located in Pasadena, CA got the good idea to offer a few cool parts for both British and universal fitting so that you can play the mix/match game either way you go with your project, either British bike with American components or American bike with a British flair and everything between. To mention, all parts you will see are in stock. Worth a jump to his 2 sites, Maund Speed Blog Spot and Maund Speed.
Baker Drivetrain Sturgis Nights Of Mayhem
Published by August 23rd, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Events.
Motorcycle burnouts are almost as old as motorcycles. And during 2 Sturgis nights at the Broken Spoke County Line Baker Drivetrain entertained the crowds with their 3rd “Smoke-Down Show Down” It was chaos all over the place as 20 motorcycle builders installed 6 feet in the air in a new Burnout Cage (built by Wink eller & Jat Allen) were smoking the place until there was only one standing. When the air cleared, the winner both nights was, without a doubt, Kevin Alsop of Big Bear Choppers. Continue reading ‘Baker Drivetrain Sturgis Nights Of Mayhem’
Dave Cook New Custom Norton
Published by August 23rd, 2010 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.
Have you thought about the pressure under which is a custom motorcycle builder who just won in 2009 the title of AMD World Champion Of Bike Building, then get an order from a client to build a new daily ride with a very reasonable budget, a custom to compete the following year in the same Championship Of bike Building? In Sturgis, impossible not to recognize Dave’s new creation. A quality, because beyond skills, a strong personality style is what clients are deciding when choosing their new custom builder. Continue reading ‘Dave Cook New Custom Norton’
A Must Watch. Running Original 1913 Harley-Davidson
Published by August 22nd, 2010 in Builders, Editorial and Videos.A wonderful video. An history lesson. All original 1913 Harley-davidson. Discover how it was made, detail the parts and see it running like 98 years ago…And it is for sale on eBay or call 613-273-5036. Located in Ontario Canada. (thanks Ricoo)
Burt Munro’s Indian Special Honored At Pebble Beach Concours
Published by August 22nd, 2010 in Editorial.
Held last weekend the yearly Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in California is since 2009 welcoming classic and vintage motorcycles as much as automobiles. And this year Burt Munro’s Indian special won top honors for American Racing Motorcycles. A good pretext to remember that like us Burt Monroe had a dream, built a motorcycle just the way he could, and that in his case it took him 20 years to achieve his dream of holding a land speed record. He was 68 when in 1967 he rode his 1920 Indian Scout based streamliner to a world record of 183.586 mph. on the Salts of Bonneville. Munro often barely scratched out a living but his life was clearly rich, as is the one of most custom builders and speed racers doing their job essentially pushed by love and passion.
1- Harley-Davidson Dealerships. At the end of 2009 the company had 1,340 dealerships worldwide. Last year, 28 U.S. dealerships closed and 6 closed in the first quarter of 2010. Because of the down economy the company is encouraging dealer consolidation in all markets. “Contraction right now is healthy to strengthen and protect the dealer network overall” declared Harley-Davidson spokesman Bob Klein. So, expect more closings in the coming months. U.S. retails sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles are down 35 percent compared to 2007. Continue reading ‘Harley-Davidson Facts Check’
Harley-Davidson Museum Masterpieces. The Book.
Published by August 21st, 2010 in Books, Builders and Editorial.
Most of you will never see in person the Harley-Davidson’s Archive Collection. This just released book (shipping starts September 10th) features stunning studio pictures of a selection of the most amazing and most desirable motorcycles among the hundreds in the Collection (taken by Randy Leffingwell, a long time Los Angeles Times photographer) as well as historical photographs belonging to the Milwaukee company.
The exceptional journey of Harley-davidson from its humble beginnings in a shed to over a century long of success is narrated by Dain Gingerelli who is writing about motorcycles since the beginning of the 70’s, has raced during 13 years both cars and motorcycles, has already authored 7 books and who was until recently the editor of IronWorks magazine. Because of its photographic quality, of its historic precision, if you would buy only one book about Harley-Davidson history, this is the one. 240 pages. Only $13.60. Reserve yours for delivery September 10th, 2010. Harley-Davidson Museum Masterpieces
