“Sheriff” sent me this comment and pictures about the 2008 Custom Bike Show Of Norrtalje (Northeast Of Stockholm).
“Well, it was a close call. Many great bikes in the shape of the early 70’s. Andy from Finland took number 1 with his limegreen Panhead that you will see in Sturgis.A crowd pleaser was Swedish Sinners member J. Krantz with his complete hippie outfilt and mushroom paint job” (Sheriff Media Group Sweden)
Of course I worked on steel and aluminum gas tanks, but never on a stainless steel one. So, I am very interested to try this new one. Big advantage, like with aluminum, is that you will never get rust inside your gas tank (no rust remover, no messy sealer to apply before you paint it) and also the possibility to create special effects like keeping it as it (lightly polished natural look), but also painting part of it (the same way you paint a steel gas tank), but keeping some places of the stainless steel unpainted. And yes, you can clear coat directly on stainless. Continue reading ‘Bright Idea. Stainless Steel Gas Tank.’
If you doubted (did you?) that any of your favorite “american bikes” custom builder could work on foreign brands and models, here is an example of work done by Dave Perewitz on a Suzuki Hayabusa. I understand that Kory was in charge of the work, starting by a complete disassembly of the stock Busa, then the rebuild was done using a Myrtle West extended swing arm, Myrtle West Wheels with a 330 rear tire. The bike is also equipped with “Tricky Air” air ride, and of course was painted in pure Perewitz style. Perewitz Cycle Fabrications.
Here’s one way to gauge it. Just go to Google Trends and track keyword searches using Google’s cool Trends tool. It’s a free widget where you can enter one or a series of search terms and instantly get a sense of how often they are invoked over time. For example I entered the keywords “motorcycle parts” and I got the graph shown here illustrating that the number of searches went down about 50% from June 2004 to June of this year. Very illustrative of the loss of interest and of what happened to our industry during these last 4 years. With Google Trends, you can check the interest for any topic by using keywords of your choice, change the time frame, the region, sub-region, language, etc. Very cool widget.
Kids & Chrome is an eclectic mix of fun, food and festivities held in the name of enriching the outreach and programs provided by two vital Black Hills non-profit organizations, Children’s Home Society, the “Kids” in the foundation’s moniker, and Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, the “Chrome”. The 2007 Kids & Chrome event, bringing together over 400 motorcycle enthusiasts, industry professionals and celebrities from the Black Hills community, across the nation and around the globe to “Rally for a Reason’. Kids & Chrome 2008 is slated for Wednesday, August 6th, at the Spearfish Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Spearfish, SD. Continue reading ‘Sturgis “Kids And Chrome” Charity Event’
Wire Plus Powersports Electronics is launching their ‘08 Shield wiring system. This new system provides a “shield” shaped chrome billet housing that mounts the power control module and ignition switch. Additional features include: Power modules are waterproof and feature Solid State breakers (that never need to be replaced), diagnostic LED’s, a replaceable start relay and compact pre-assembled harness for ease of installation. Continue reading ‘New “Shield” Wiring System’
Restructuring to adjust to the US economic conditions is a necessary step for many of our companies. A senior management reorganization plan is going on at Big Dog Motorcycles with for consequence the departure of Executive Vice President Nick Messer. During a recent conversation I had with the upper management I was told that never before were their bikes as reliable as they are now with the 08 lineup. Big Dog Motorcycles is still the world’s largest custom motorcycle manufacturer and will be celebrating its 15th anniversary next year. Big Dog Motorcycles.
Italian newspaper Messaggero reported (without mentioning sources) that Harley-Davidson is in negotiation to buy most of the debts from motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta. We know for sure that the Italian company has around 200 million euros (about 320 million US dollars) of debt and that businessman Claudio Castiglioni owns 29.6% of the shares. MV Agusta.
Remember that exotic CFLII chassis Jesse James used on his bright crowd stopper red bike a while back? You know the one with the radical monocoque look. Well, West Coast Choppers is now making a limited number of these unique frames available to consumers. Actually they are being offered in a kit form with a number of unique components included in the package. Each CFL II chassis kit comes as shown with frame, 3-piece oil bag, 1” axle, billet sliders, stainless axle nuts, adjustable quick release seat pan, stainless neck badge, integrated battery tray and hold down and kick stand bracket. The futuristic triple box gusset frame with step over head tube is designed for 200 rubber, accepts EVO engines to 124”, and features an adjustable seat set up and 0 up with 1” out and 35° neck rake configuration. For complete details call 562-983-6666 or go to West Coast Choppers.
Mike Greenwald is a faithful reader whose thoughtful comments have appeared under many of my posts. Today, he asks you a question hoping to open with all of you a new positive debate.
“During many years of riding, I have seen many states and many countries. I have ridden bikes of all sorts and I have crossed through many communities and communities of riders. Many riders live many different lifestyles. Some of us are paid by other riders, and some of us pay other riders. Some of us vote and others choose to abstain. Some of us are hell bent on the freedoms of riding and for others riding is just something to do. Many of us have used a body politic or body English to help us through a tough situation and others of us have used the politic of government or politic of negotiation. Some might say that the politic of riding is all of that and more.
I have asked this question to many riders and non-riders. What is the politic of riding?” (Mike Greenwald)
With this post, let’s give a little push to two brothers who have been building bikes for friends and customizing their own rides for more than 15 years. Jonathan and Jimmie Lee Coen were the “go-to” guys in their circle when it came to motorcycles. But recently they decided to get serious about designing the kind of bikes they wanted to ride, and so was born Three-Two Choppers. Now, Jonathan and Jimmie Lee have a partner named Tommy Schuler who is helping them get the ball rolling in this new business venture. Being still a small shop, they don’t have the luxury of a CNC machine or access to a Flow Jet system. It’s pretty much just them, a grinder and a welder. So, looking at this bike called “El Segundo” you will agree with me that if you never heard about this shop before this post, you will again. Three-Two Choppers
After Daytona, the Limpnickie Kids (generation X & Y of Custom Builders) are on their way to Sturgis where they will setup their displays with bikes, skates and paintball guns at the Broken Spoke Campground just outside of Sturgis county line. What the Limpnickie Lot and these builders are all about? You guessed it. A lot of fun and only good times (organized and improvised) with like-minded individuals. Who doesn’t want to see Bill Dodge of Blings Cycles crash and burn on a skateboard, Taber Nash of Nash Motorcycle Company get shot continuously with paintballs and Chris Callen publisher of Cycle Source give Pat from Led Sled a mini bike ride? Continue reading ‘Sturgis Limpnickie. A Lot Of Fun.’
“Dear Friends and Colleagues:
In 1995, Cheryl and I opened a small motorcycle shop in the back of a gas station. Over the last 13 years, our passion for building custom motorcycles, along with the world’s passion for riding motorcycles grew and grew. We worked very hard to bring custom bikes into the mainstream and have loved doing so. Cheryl and I feel that our company has done a great job building a great product and truly appreciate the work our employees have done as well as the support from our colleagues and customers. Continue reading ‘A Letter From Custom Builder Kim Suter (KC Creations)’
AMD Showmaster Neil Blaber
wants to remind you that this year’s Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building will again be held at Champions Park, Lazelle Street, Sturgis, SD, over 3-6 August. Move-in is on Saturday August 2, with awards on Wednesday August 6 at 3pm. In addition to the expected 25+ international bikes, this year the show will welcome builders from the S&S Cycle 50th Anniversary Celebration Build-Off. Continue reading ‘AMD World Championship. Who Will Get This Bling Bling?’
First, Burly Brand offers a new Slammer Kit, combining dropped fork springs and stubby 10.5” shocks into a very price friendly package. Then, forget everything you know about lowering front ends, as Burly has created a drop-in spring kit that does not require the disassembly of the fork and can be installed in twenty minutes with the forks still on the bike! In fact, the entire Slammer kit is set up to go from box to bike in under an hour with just basic tools. Available for most 1988 thru 2008 Sporties through your local dealer, with an MSRP of only $299.95 for a complete kit! Check Burly Website for more info.
No need to be into Voodoo and Zombies. If your hand controls crave for attention, just bolt on these brake and clutch levers. Kuryakyn states that they are very comfortable due to a dished back providing high leverage with minimum reach. Fits’96-’08 H-D Models with Cable Operated Clutch (ex. ’04-’08 XL and ’08 Dressers, Road Kings, Road Glide, Street Glide). Kuryakyn.
Franz Langer is a retired engineer living in Germany. His passion/obsession? Building the world’s largest single cylinder engine for a motorcycle. He started with an airplane engine and fitted inside a bigger and yet lighter piston. The result is a 2000 cc engine that he mounted onto an old NSU Konsul getting Franz name added to the Guinness Book Of World Records. The quite funny part is that the bike uses a kickstart. To start it, you are better off weight more than 200 pounds and have a lot of time front of you, like being a retiree.
You all know that a rubber-mounted engine gives you the most comfortable riding experience. You can go to a Harley Dealer and buy one of their rubber mounted engine bikes. But since you are going to customize it (drop seat, fat tire, more rake, more stretch anyone?) maybe you are better off building your own bike using a radical rubber-mounted frame. Rolling Thunder offers a rubber-mounted series of 4 frames (Bagger, FXR, Sportster, Dyna styles) that you can order in almost any configuration, from stock geometry to any rake, stretch, up stretch, size of rear wheel, left or right side drive., etc. The beauty of building a custom bike is that it’s just that: Custom To You. That’s why Rolling Thunder offers a tremendous variety of options. Trust my own experience, they can build almost any frame following your wish list. Rolling Thunder Frames.
MotoTrix is entering the motorcycle industry with unique, new floorboard designs to accessorize American v-twin motorcycles. It includes this series of hand-designed floorboards. Each and every MotoTrix floorboard is built on ¼” laser cut steel, hand polished and chromed to a mirror like, show finish. All floorboards are designed to fit FLT, FLHT, FLHS, Road King™, Heritage Softail™, and Fat Boy™ models. Matching passenger boards, mirrors, grips and more. The whole MotoTrix product is displayed online at MotoTrix
You knew Rick Fairless ultra custom bike named “Bettie”. Now discover the innovative frame that Rick used to build it. Not the average frame for the average project. This one-of-a-kind frame is now available and will help you build a very radical bike without having to fabricate any body sheet metal. As you can see, Bettie is a design fusion of the frame/gas tank/oil tank. It is constructed from custom bent .120 six inch tubing that has been sectioned to contain both the oil and the gas in the same tube. A 2″ dead air space insulates the oil tank from the gas tank. It is conceived to carry an 18″ x 300 rear tire on a rigid frame,. “Bettie” comes with rear 
axle and axle covers, and is also available in a Softail frame version. Specifications are: 3 inch out- 1 up, 45-degree rake, neck height is 19”, rear wheel 18” x 300, front wheel 21”, transmission setup is right side drive, and overall frame length is 71.5”. More info by calling 214-357-0707 or visit Strokers Dallas.
After helping rescue the company from Chapter 11, having secured the funding required to keep the company alive and ensured that about 7.5 million in past due bills to vendors were paid, Nace Panzica is leaving his CEO daily management activities but will remain an advisor for the corporation. AMD reveals that last January Nace Panzica told confidentially to the magazine that if he succeeded in the rescue bid it was then his intention to be able to leave his management position as soon as practical. He will continue to provide assistance in the future on an advisory basis. In 1970, Nace was one of the original founders of Custom Chrome.,
“Rogue” forwarded to me an article from The Myrtle Beach Sun News regarding Myrtle Beach City Council members stating last Tuesday that they do not want motorcycle rallies in the city anymore. Furious and frustrated after the weekend shooting death of a 20 year old Coastal Carolina University student during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, and supported by other groups who have complained to city officials in previous years after the Atlantic Beach Bikefest biker rally and the Harley-Davidson spring rally, the City Council seems on the verge of shutting down both rallies. Grand Strand Connection (an umbrella group that is trying to help solve “issues that threaten the harmony of Myrtle Beach”) and Hakim Harrell, an event promoter, said they understand the city’s concern, but hope more organized activities scattered throughout the city would draw people away from Ocean Boulevard. Mayor John Rhodes told the group “We don’t need these rallies. We can fill all the hotel rooms without bike weeks.”
About 6,000 attendees from five continents were present at the Saturday, May 3rd event, admiring close to 300 of some of the world’s rarest motorcycles. During the event, Ian Barry of Falcon Motorcycles won the Best Custom Motorcycle Award for his bike the “Bullet Falcon”, built for actor Jason Lee. Ian Barry builds one-of-a-kind, custom motorcycles that start out as the raw derelict frames and engines of vintage British Iron from the 50’s or 60’s. Every bike is built from the ground up and designed down to the last nut, bolt and bearing over an 800+ hour-long fabrication process. Continue reading ‘Bullet Falcon Voted Best Custom At Legend Of The Motorcycle’
Harley-Davidson dealerships ranked highest in the newly released 2008 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index U.S. Motorcycle Industry Study, one of a series of unique national benchmarking studies which measure how consumers are treated when shopping for a new car, motorcycle, RV or boat. The independent study evaluated and benchmarked shopping experiences at 830 motorcycle dealerships nationwide, representing all major brands. Continue reading ‘Harley-Davidson Dealers Keep Highest Ranking in Shoppers Satisfaction Study’
If you followed the show tour during these last 15 years, you know about the yellow semi truck of Desperado Motorcycles transporting some samples of his limited edition series of motorcycles to be exhibited and sold in almost every rally around the US. Jeff Nicklus, founder & CEO must have been tired of the road and because the market has changed, decided to resign from Desperado Motorcycles and created another company known as Jeff Nicklus Customs LLC with one goal in mind, to manufacture only between 10-14 one-of-a-kind high end motorcycles annually. Jeff Nicklus Customs LLC, is a fully licensed motorcycle manufacturer. All custom built bikes will be individually serial numbered with a Federally Registered 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and issued an original MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin) for title and registration purposes. All Jeff Nicklus Custom Motorcycles will be titled as a “Jeff Nicklus Customs Motorcycle”.
“I got to the point where I was frustrated by not finding products that met my own quality standards, and started looking for products to manufacture and offer to other builders and the general public that did”, say Carl (Cj) Hanlon, Custom Builder owner of Guilty Customs of Florida. Eager to offer an alternative to foreign made motorcycle products Guilty Customs is selling a new line of custom motorcycle fenders and gas tanks that meet the rigorous demands of custom builders. Continue reading ‘Cheap 100% American Made Quality Fenders And Gas Tanks.’
