Yesterday mooring, Australia time, American stuntman Seth Enslow has broken the world record for the longest distance jumped on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a 183.7-(56 meters) foot jump. Enslow had to put on his record-setting performance twice because much of the media missed the first run because he was scheduled to make his record jump at 9.30am (AEDT) but he took the jump at 8.45am with only a third of the press there. He broke the record with that jump (175 feet) but was forced to take it again when he realized the press had missed it. At the second tentative to please the press the distance jumped was recorded at 183.7 feet.
Evel Knievel set the record in 1975 and held it for 24 years before Blackwell’s 1999 jump in Las Vegas of 157 foot (47.85 meters) Enslow’’s jump is not a Guinness World Record, as Guinness has no category for specific motorcycles, but it still stands as a world record.
Because of high unemployment and low consumer confidence and consequently low big cruisers sales, the Daytona motorcycle landscape has changed quite a bit. I confirm that the Rossmeyer’s family has its Harley-Davidson Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Sunrise dealerships for sale (all in South Florida). Some continue to state that Fort-Lauderdale is under contract (not confirmed). At Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach, the “Shelly Rossmeyer Motorcycles” store (Triumph motorcycles), across the Harley dealership, closed (the place was previously occupied by Arlen Ness store). Continue reading ‘Circling Daytona Beach And Beyond.’
It didn’t take long to Erik Buell to launch its first new first model. The 1190R is based on the Buell 1125R and 1125RR, offers increased engine displacement, with a complete kit of Superbike level components.
This model is for race only as you remember that Erik Buell is prevented by contract with Harley-davidson to build street bikes. The 1190R can be raced in many classes around the world, although not approved for AMA Superbike Class. Erik Buell Racing
I am not into biker jewelry, but still admire what Ben Hopson & Glen Liberman have created. This stainless ring features six micro-precision gears that turn in unison when the outer rims are spun. Very fast forward thinking. A good piece of conversation wherever you go. Available for purchase in four standard US ring sizes: 9, 10, 11, and 12. Lifetime warranty. $165.00 at Kinet Design. Watch the video. (thanks Troy)
Last weekend in London, The Ace Cafe Motorcycle & Custom Show (affiliated with the AMD European Championship Of Bike Building) had quite a few very cool bikes on display. In the “Modified Harley-Davidson Class” and although it was not the winner, I like this bike called the “24” because it’s the best custom “Harley Cross Bones” I have ever seen. It was (re)built by Charlie Stockwell the head of the Performance & Custom Shop of Warr’s London, Europe’s oldest official Harley-davidson dealership. Stripped from its “ornaments” and rebuilt with 23″ spoke wheels, a nickel plated twin cam motor, a new “naked” body work and down swept bars, it has a strong Joe Petrali style and would look even better shot on the Salts of Utah. A custom job that many could approach without spending a fortune… Warr’s Harley-Davidson
Most tattoos are about images conveying a message. But what about tattoo typography? Isn’t the written word even stronger to deliver a specific message? It’s even more efficient if you use typography turning letters into images to make your words looking like beautiful tattoos. Continue reading ‘Typographic Tattoos’
Although Wall Streeters don’t have a magic crystal ball, it’s always interesting to read what the pundits think of the Harley-Davidson stock (HOG). 75% of analysts agree on the following: In a survey of 70 dealers the retail market remains soft, with factors such as high unemployment and bad weather to blame, dealers expect to sell between 28,000 and 30,000 bikes in the first quarter of 2010, down 30 percent from 2009, which was (relatively) a strong quarter for Harley. The stock is rated “outperform” by many analysts citing the fact that Harley-Davidson’s management team has taken aggressive steps to refocus the company in the face of falling demand for its high end bikes and that the company 2009 reorganization of its business, (laying off employees, closing factories, closing Buell, selling MV Agusta) should pay off at the end of the year.
Every year, Bator International Auctions organizes the Daytona Antique And Classic Motorcycle Auction. A lot of great pieces are going to change hands.
It is just a 10 minutes drive west o Daytona in Deland and it starts at 9 am. Stetson University – Edmunds Center. 143 Pennsylvania Avenue. And if you are not in Daytona, their website will offer a live feed. Bator International. (picture of a 1928 Harley-Davidson Model Peashhooter).
To commemorate the fifth anniversary of Indian Larry’s untimely death, internationally acclaimed portrait photographer Tom Zimberoff has announced the availability of three sets of original, museum-quality prints memorializing Larry’s legendary pose atop his bobber “Grease Monkey.”
These are not cheap copies of a photograph but the real deal, each one a museum-quality original, affordably priced. Available directly from the artist, each beautifully rich and highly-detailed print is dated on the reverse and signed on the obverse; mounted in an acid-free, hinged archival matte, and ready to frame in three different sizes: 11″ x 14″ matte @$150 (image size: 8″ x 12″), 16″ x 20″ matte @$450 (image size: 11″ x 15″), 20″ x 28″ matte @$950 (image size: 16″ x 24″). Prices incl.ude $15 Shipping & Handling to continental USA. For payment, send either a check or a money order payable to Tom Zimberoff may be sent to: Art of the Chopper, 1364 45th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122. Tom Zimberoff Photowork Shop. (picture is cropped from its original for layout reason) Continue reading ‘The Definitive Photograph of Indian Larry’
It’s Daytona Bike Week. Your brought your camera to immortalize the 2010 edition. You ride a Harley and of course you are going to visit at least one time one of the 2 local authorized dealers (Harley Daytona on Beach Street and Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach). New on the shelves, a series of camera cases with studs, buckles, chains and of course the iconic Harley-Davidson logo. This is the result of a new licensing deal with camera maker Olympus. As a matter of fact, I don’t really understand why Olympus paid a licensing fee to Harley because (I am not supposed to tell you that) your other brand camera will probably fit in any of these cases. Sorry, Olympus. Harley-Davidson won this deal.
Don’t know what will be said in a century about some of today’s builders and custom bikes, but our motorcycle history is rich of crazy people having conceived insane and beautiful machines.
I learned that Adam Opel, the founder in 1863 of German automobile company Opel, had a grandson called Fritz Von Opel quite obsessed with rocket propulsion. Since he was always looking for ways to get publicity for the Opel brand (he was the company testing director), he got the idea to build a machine to beat the world land speed record. Sound familiar marketing approach to you? Continue reading ‘Awesome Vintage Motorcycle Rocket Science.’
Since Friday until today, the Sunshine Chapter of the AMCA – Antique Motorcycle Club Of Amerca – is meeting in Eustis (it’s southwest of Daytona).
A lot of beautiful restored antique motorcycles born before most of us…If you read this, please rush there to admire part of our motorcycle history preserved by true bikers. Support them by buying on location or online a tee-shirt or their beautiful 2010 calendar of classic motorcycles. Antique Motorcycle Club Of America.(pictures Steve Kelly)
Saw this new cool looking Arlen Ness wheel during the V-Twin Expo. It extends the Arlen Ness “Deep Cut” line of controls and other wheel models. Available in black anodizing or chrome, this wheel is manufactured in the USA and has been tested, like all the line up, to the most stringent standards.
For 2010 Arlen Ness has added some new sizes like the rear 20″ x 10.5″ with a built-in pulley and the front 23″ x 3.5″ getting more and more popular not only for custom bikes but also for Harleys . All the Ness wheels are supplied with hubs, sealed bearings, properly sized bearing spacer, races, seals and necessary hardware. Most wheels are built to order and shippable within 48 hours. Arlen Ness Online Store.
During large biker events, some big names of the industry will do your product installation. Your opportunity to save a lot of money, time and in this case…fuel when riding your way back home. If you go or are already in Daytona for Bike week, and if your bike is a 2001-2010 Harley Big Twin, or a Sportster 2007-2010 or a V-Rod 2002-2010, the Thundermax EFI System with AutoTune may be worth your consideration. Its merit is to greatly improve the performance of your Harley (fuel milage, better accelerations, engine running cooler) without compromising the overall power output. Its beauty is that it automatically adjusts your air-fuel ratios every time you ride regardless of changes in ambient conditions. So all you have to do is ride and enjoy! You can get your ThunderMax with Auto Tune installed while you are in Daytona! Zipper’s Performance is setup at Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona and Dan Fitzmaurice tells me that he still has a few appointment slots available to install ThunderMax on your bike. Please, send an email at: zippers@zippersperformance.com. By the way, if you use a Thundermax AutoTune, stop by to say hello and share your experience.
For those who succeeded to escape the US northeast heavy snow storm, it’s much better.
But temperatures in Daytona are not what they are supposed to be at this time of the year. Hot chocolate, cappuccino and latte are competing with beer…
Thought my iPhone was frozen when I read the 37F temperature this morning at 6 am…
At least lot of sunshine most of the week. Less riding, more parts shopping? To follow…
Following your questions to me revolving around “Will they be there in Daytona and where?” I will try to write as much as possible about those, builders and parts vendors who I know made the trip to the 69th edition of Bike week.
During Bike Week, 2 events of interest at the Stone Edge Skate Park located at 1848 South Ridgewood Ave in South Daytona Beach.
On Wednesday March 3rd, for the second year, the AMCA (Antique Motorcycle Club Of America) will host an Antique Bike Show. The show is open to all motorcycles at least 35 years old. The exhibit will also include an interactive feature that debuted last year, the AMCA Kick-start Demo bike display, in which visitors will get a chance to fire up 2 authentic antique motorcycles on display— a 1946 Harley Knucklehead and a 1945 Indian Chief. The bike owners, Matt Olsen and Rocky Halter, will be on hand to guide visitors through the process of setting throttle, spark advance and choke controls before kicking the V-twin engines to life. Trophies will be handed out for best Antiques. Continue reading ‘Daytona Bike Week. Antique, Chopper And Car Shows At The Limpnickie Lot.’
In honor of their 10-year Anniversary, Legend Air Suspensions is offering $100 to the referring Legend customer and $100 off the purchase of a Legend Air Suspension System for their friend. Referring customers will be paid for as many friends as they refer within limited time offer. Legend Air Suspension offers suspension systems offering quality rides and the most adjustability possible, and they will probably outlast your motorcycle.
Current customers simply log on to Legend Suspensions or Legends Off-Road and click on the “receive discount offers and more” button then enter your information. Once registered, you can refer friends, get Legend Suspension news and receive special offers.
This Harley-Davidson program is called the “Ride Easy Guarantee” and runs until March 31, 2010. The objective is to get rid f all new 2009 models still sitting in dealerships. 3 different stimulus packages are offered.
1-Low monthly payment options are available on all new 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycles. 2- All new 2009 Softail® and VRSC models include a no cost three-year extended service plan and no cost scheduled maintenance up to 5,000 miles. 3- All new 2009 Dyna® motorcycles include no cost scheduled maintenance up to 5,000 miles. Prices will vary, but the Sportster 883 Low will be eligible for purchase starting at less than $100 per month, or just a little more than three dollars a day. For additional information on the offer, interested customers should visit a participating Harley-Davidson dealer or go to Harley-Davidson Ride Easy Guarantee.
Difficult to forecast what will be the attendance during the next 10 days. Economy is not the only factor. Weather too. Not only in Daytona, but also up-north where a brutal winter may incite many to flee for some sun and fun. Historically very snowy winters are good for Daytona Bike Week. But in this economy context and with the US northeast completely paralyzed, will it be true again? Here the forecast in Daytona is quite chilly for the season with temperatures ranging from 38 F to 62 F but mostly sunny skies (except possibility of rain tomorrow Saturday). Continue reading ‘2010 Daytona Bike Week. First Impressions.’
Step by step, part after part, hole after hole…Rikki Battistini is covering the full range of products you can bolt on your bike. Keeping the same theme, the beauty of his lineup (pun intended) is that his all his designs are coherent as a whole but that each part mixes very well many other parts on many bike styles. These spherical pegs with holes and rubber inserts for foot stability can be installed on almost all bikes from all years. At worst, in some cases, you will have to change your clevis clamps which is not a big deal or a costly proposition. Made in the USA. So new that you will not find them yet on his website. If you are in Daytona, see the display at Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona, front of the J&P Cycles store. Or call Rikki on my behalf at 925-719-5941 (or 905-4664 during Bike Week). Battistinis USA.
An 85-year-old man was requested by his Doctor for a sperm count as part of his physicalexam. The doctor gave the man a jar and said, ‘Take this jar home and bring back a semen sample tomorrow. The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor’s office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day.
Under the name Nomad, American Suspension offers a choice of 3 leg designs for Harley-Davidson Baggers from year 2000 and up.
They feature “hidden” axle (1″, 25 mm or 3/4″) and adjustable height fender brackets.
For those opting to use a Fat Boy front fender on their bagger, a popular choice, a kit is available. Made in the USA. For sale at Bike Builder’s Bible.
Triumph Motorcycles got the magic touch and attacts more and more buyers. Defying the recession, the company market share continued to increase in the US in 2009 and every year since 2005. The company celebrates its 100,000th motorcycle since its return to North America in 1995 and just annouced at its Dealer Conference in Orlando that it will expand its linup from 16 to 23 models in 2010. Custom Builders and after-market part manufacturers, take notice and watch the British invasion! Harley-Davidson is now listing absenteeism as a major issue when it considered moving out of the Springettsbury Township plant. The company tries now to impose a new sick policy aimed at reducing unapproved and unplanned absences, which the company says brings down productivity. Harley states that last year it incurred 382,000 hours of missed work worth about $13 million but doesn’t say whether the number refers to local operations or the company as a whole. Continue reading ‘Fast Motorcycle Industry News’
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An 85-year-old man was requested by his Doctor for a sperm count as part of his physicalexam. The doctor gave the man a jar and said, ‘Take this jar home and bring back a semen sample tomorrow. The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor’s office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day.
