Cyril Huze Post

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Cyril My Friend, The World is Turning Ugly Man!

Published by Cyril Huze November 9th, 2007 in Editorial.

Chris Callen, founder and editor of The Cycle Source Magazine, wrote to me. Chris knows where his motorcycle roots are and never forget about them. He has a great understanding of our industry and a fine analysis of its evolution. When he writes, I read attentively, and you should too. When you are done, comment as much as you want. It’s what my Blog is all about: citizen journalism.

"It seems, as things get harder in this industry, that many people are loosing their patience with each other and getting’ a little grumpy. In my end of this it seems like the magazine world is about to self combust. Rising costs of printing and increased competition from other forms of media like Cable television, Pod casting, and internet based pubs, blogs and forums have made new challenges for print based mags. But that’s why I see it as an interesting new one. Imagine for a minute if we all just gave up and there were no more print magazines, or for that matter, imagine what this industry would be today without them……

The big national builders of today have gained legendary status through recent media exposure on TV Biker Build-Off. But if you look back at mags like Street Chopper in the 70’s you’ll find they were building careers and notoriety for thirty some years before that recent media picked up on them.

Parts manufacturers like 40-year old S&S have had amazing products released especially during the past ten to twenty years and almost all brands of media report on them and other products today. But how about when Iron Works was still called Iron Trader News and was doing stories like the one on “The Tramp III” which was S&S’s Salt Flat racer. Or the articles since then that have covered the bazillion ways to use, improve and reconfigure products from the aftermarket world.

Today there seems to be a book or DVD a month out on the history of something from our industry and that’s good. We are lucky enough to be in something with so much heritage, so rich in values and tradition that it should be documented. But what about the magazines that have carried these stories for generations now. As a matter of fact, if you look closely at those books and DVD’s or television documentaries, many of them are written, directed or contributed to by the same editors and journalists that have been part of the magazine industry for decades now.

Today there is a big movement to relive the past, to do things like they were in the old days and it’s cool again to be a tramp. But I wonder where people who for the most part are too young to remember this bygone era are getting their information from? How do they know what things used to be like?

Certainly not from the new media’s programming or information. These aspects are constantly lost to them. No, in fact, I believe just like myself, these new generation tramps are raiding piles of old magazines like Ironhorse, Outlaw Biker, Old Easyriders and Street Chopper. They’re seeing first hand what the scene was like and reading all about it from people who lived it.

And there in lies the invaluable role that magazines, print magazines, have and always will play; Care takers of history. That’s the one variable that they will forever keep uniquely. Sure, web sites are faster at getting information out, television reaches more viewers faster, but you can’t hang that stuff on a wall, you can’t (most people anyway) take it into the bathroom with you and you can’t tape it up to your tool box. As a matter of fact, for the most part, once these media are finished with a topic the information is just gone and they are onto the next matter at hand. There are no boxes in the attic full of this information. This of course is with exception to some of the great work sites like your Cyril Huze Blog and Bandit’s Bikernet.have brought to the table but my point is, all these media work together. Motorcycling has grown tremendously and it would seem a shame if in its need to go faster and reach higher, it knocked down its own foundation.

So to help the average cat that might not get much exposure to our world, here are a few of my favorite magazines. Some of them are new, some are old, some are underground and some are main stream. Some might be considered my competition but all of them are included in a brotherhood of people who have made a lifetime commitment to reaching the hearts and minds of individuals who love this thing we do. Maybe some of your readers will want to add to this list. Cyril, I hope so. Now go buy a magazine, someone, somewhere is staying up too late, drinking too much coffee and riding to the end of the earth to bring you brilliant pictures and fantastic tales of life and the motorcycle!" Chris Callen, Editor of The Cycle Source Magazine, a national grassroots motorcycle publication..

Chris recommends the following magazines. Street Chopper. The Horse Back Street Choppers. Iron Works. Greasy Kulture. Dice Magazine. Garage Magazine. Thunder Press. Car Culture Deluxe. Ol’ Skool Rodz. Barnett’s Magazine. Now, add yours in the comment section. (picture Sara Liberte)

32 Comments

Sara Liberte Releases New Additions to her Photographic Series

Published by Cyril Huze November 7th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

Sara Liberte just released 4 new Images to be included in her Photographic series called ”Builder and Machine” focusing on portraits of craftsmen of our industry. The new line up includes motorcycle builders Jim Nasi, Jerry Covington, Rick Fairless and automotive builder Jimmy Shine featured here to illustrate this post Her particular technique, that she calls “Image Fusion” aims at creating a portrait of each craftsman combining a piece of who he is via his unique work. “One Machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No Machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.” (Elbert Hubbard) You can purchase fine art posters of these portraits and others by going to Sara Liberte Website.

9 Comments

Baldwin-Wilson Sets The Record Straight About The 360-Brake.

Published by Cyril Huze November 7th, 2007 in Brakes, Customs and Editorial.

“Dear Cyril.

Thank you providing a great website and forum for motorcycle enthusiasts. I appreciate that you have made this available. I have attached a response for posting on the blog, on behalf of Baldwin -Wilson Development Corporation. Hopefully this will answer many questions and provide the proper information in response to Chet Burozski’s Blog Posting.

My name is Dale Needleman and I am the “new” President of Baldwin Wilson Development Corporation, home of the “360 Brake”. In the past few days an entry to your blog was made by Mr. Chet Burozski. While it is true that Chet was the Senior Salesperson at BWDC, he no longer works for the company and has not for many months. Thankfully, Chet took our call this week, and we were able to address his concerns, answer some questions and provide him with information that he previously did not have. I am writing this blog entry to help answer some of the questions and concerns posted by your readers, and provide additional information as well. The facts – free from salesmanship are this:

The “360 Brake” was designed in late 2005, and became an “instant’ success. BWDC began taking orders and selling brakes incredibly fast during late 2006 and early 2007. The reality, however, was that the company infrastructure could not keep pace with sales and production. The prior management was never able to structure a sustainable production and marketing method, and the foundation for future success was not included in the commercialization model of the company. While the “360 Brake” was great, there were long lead times, significant back orders, and “custom” demands from customers which took internal focus off the core product. In short the company began a difficult slide out of control.

In late July of 2007 the shareholders voted in a new Board of Directors, in hopes of redirecting the efforts of the company, and saving the product from falling victim to the apparent insolvency of BWDC. In quick fashion, the Board found that orders for non-standard brakes were being taken, custom installations that had not been well thought out were occurring, some customer complaints that had not been investigated were filed without follow-up, and there were over 120 brakes on back order. The new management team moved to put an end to the above actions. Members of the previous management were released and all brake sales stopped as of 7-29-07. Our focus was simply to investigate the overall condition of the brake, the existing market strategies that were in place, and the opportunities that were available to properly serve our customers and to save the company.

In September 2007, the new management sent a letter to all distributors, customers and dealers, explaining that the brake was sometimes being misused or improperly installed, especially in certain unique custom applications. Some of the blog entries on this website suggest that our letter was nothing more than a “CYA” or that we don’t care about our customers. To the contrary, we sent our letter PRECISELY BECAUSE WE DO CARE. We truly care about our customers, value safety over sales, and wanted to be absolutely sure that the improper use or misuse of our products did not result in harm or injury to any rider. We are huge motorcycle fans and riders and we are part of the biking community. You are our biking “family,” and we want everyone to be safe. Although the “360 Brake” is an innovative and amazing product, it has limits, as does any mechanical device or braking system. There were rumors that the “360 Brake” could stop almost any bike traveling at any speed. We felt a responsibility to make sure that no one would rely on those rumors and misuse our product.

There is some confusion about our previous letter, and we thank Chet for explaining why it was misunderstood by some. We do not blame any motorcycle magazine or publisher for printing representations made by third parties about the previous Baldwin-Wilson “360 Brake”. Publishers cannot control the rumor mill any better than Baldwin-Wilson could. I apologize to anyone that has taken offense to our letter. Our intent was not to place blame but simply counter the rumors and prevent the misuse of our product for safety reasons. The truth is that how well a brake will perform, depends on how well it will convert kinetic energy to thermal energy, i.e. weight, speed, conditions of the brake, the riders braking tendencies, riding style, etc. We became concerned that many installations were not well thought out, and were overtaxing the brake. Different applications require different brakes, despite what the rumor mill promised about the Baldwin-Wilson brake. Our letter to the biking community was an attempt to explain this so that our products were not misused.

The letter we sent was an attempt to educate and answer questions. I have spoken personally to many happy customers with many different set ups. Our “700 pound.- 70 mph” numbers have built in safety factors, and were chosen carefully. We will not advertise the brake for speeds that encourage anyone to break the speed limits and we cannot know for sure if someone is a casual rider or a mountain road street racer. Since July 2007 the current management has worked hard to improve the brake for different applications. We now have a “chopper” bike brake and are working on a larger brake for heavier bikes. We have spent a lot of time and money over the past few weeks on this research and development.

So here we are. After extensive R&D work with a new group of design engineers, we are planning to introduce the new “360 Brake” very soon. The new “chopper” brake is also being built to raise the weight and speed limit while fitting into the same mounting parameters as the previous brake. It is our goal to return to the market as soon as possible with improved safety margin, fill the back orders, create an exchange and/or upgrade program, and service the motorcycle industry with an outstanding product. Our business and customer-oriented approach herald a new day for the “360 Brake”. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from publishers, customers, distributors, etc., and we pledge excellence in all our future dealings in the motorcycle community. We are not simply “under new management” – we are a completely “new” company that has taken a great product and made it better as well as safer for all riders.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone, past and future customers, for the opportunity to answer some of your questions, address some of your concerns, and clear up some of the confusion. I stand proud of the “360 Brake” and look forward to an exciting future for the company and all customers who support and love our product”. Best Regards. Dale E. Needleman. President BWDC

35 Comments

Genesis Big Air Carburetor

Published by Cyril Huze November 7th, 2007 in Editorial.

Are you looking for big torque gain from bottom to top end? Yes, you do. The Genesis PSI series 3 can boost power to an incredibly 8 to 12% with an HP gain in most cases of 6 to 15 HP. With its clean look and a three-year warranty this carb. has a much larger billet float bowl design with more fuel capacity, significant cylinder clearance, an optional dual cable pull and three flat-slide designs, making them an exceptional setup for any engine size. Vortex Generators take total control of the air and align it for maximum port velocity, allowing HP gains. A shorter throttle pull, a new external needle adjuster, and a highly developed slide and needle combinations allow for fast throttle response, serious midrange snort and a smoking top end. Carburetor adjustment is made easy by turning an external clicker adjustments with the simple and easy concept of "righty-tighty” and “lefty-loosey." Turn clockwise for less fuel and counter clockwise for more fuel. No jets need to be changed and all adjustments are made externally. Also available in chrome. Genesis PSI Seies 3 Carburetor. .

5 Comments

Gold Digger Chopper By Jesse James

Published by Cyril Huze November 6th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

Here one chopper I like very much by WCC Jesse James. Frame: Greg Newton Up 1969. Fork: John Harman Girder. Motor: Accurate Engineering built by Aki at WCC. Transmission: 5-speed kicker by Miller, Germany. Whhels: Rear Sun, Front DID ribbed. Pipes: Jese James. Oil tank: Out of Bob George’s El Camini swapmeet for 5 bucks. Seat: Mauricio. Paint: Pete Filand. Assembly: Skippy & Rockabilly Jay. West Coast Choppers

18 Comments

About the 360-Brake Failure.

Published by Cyril Huze November 5th, 2007 in Brakes and Editorial.

As a Custom Builder, Dealer and Internet Publisher, I have moral obligation to publish the 2 following letters regarding the failure of the 360-Brake.

“Cyril, My name is Chet Burozski. I was the sales rep for 360-Brake. Recently the company has gone through a take over by the minority stock holders and one of the partners. Prior to this the company had some Greening Lab. Tests done on the brake. The results were a complete and total failure. The prior management team didn’t want to admit they had a problem so they just ignored it. I was hoping, with the new team in place, they would have at least some dignity and responsibility, both to the company and to the customers riding and trusting these brakes to work. I was disappointed again when I received the following letter, basically blaming the industry, the magazines and the TV media for misinformation. Most of the information the media has was written by me and all of the information I had was given to me by the President, the Vice President, the General Manager or the Engineers who were doing the designs. Cyril, I was forced to sign a confidentiality agreement with the company but feel it is way more important to possibly save the life of a fellow biker than line the pockets of a few posers who could care less about a human life and are just worrying about being liable. If you have any other questions feel free to give me a call or drop me a line. Chet Burozski (317)370-0920 cell chetandadam@tds.net”

Below is the letter of Baldwin Wilson putting responsibility for the brake failure on customers, dealers and medias!. As a matter of fact the brake failed in independent Laboratory Tests even when installed by Baldwin Wilson. Baldwin Wilson is now working on a new version of their brake.

From: Badwin Development Corporation 1531 E Northfield Drive Brownsburg, Indiana 46112 317-452-7867

October 23, 2007. To all Customers, Dealers, and Distributors,

"It has come to our attention in recent weeks that the 360 motorcycle brake (the “Brake”), developed and sold by Baldwin-Wilson Development Corporation, is being improperly installed and used. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that improper use, installation or maintenance of the Brake could result in serious bodily harm, property damage or death. Some of the problems with the installation and use of the Brake are the result of third-party misrepresentations about the Brake’s capabilities. Unfortunately, the motorcycle industry, particularly for after-market products, is fragmented, diverse and full of bad information. The 360 Brake is a revolutionary motorcycle product that has generated a greet deal of industry excitement and publicity We have been unable to control all of the magazine articles, reports, television shows and other industry news sources, as they report on and describe the Brake. False promises of performance have been made by parties outside of our control. Additionally, we have inspected brakes that were improperly installed, taken apart and reassembled improperly, or used on motorcycles that weigh too much or go too fast for the Brake. The 360 Brake is not a racing product. We are asking you to follow these instructions:

– If you own a motorcycle with a 360 Brake, immediately have the Brake and your motorcycle inspected by professional mechanic familiar with the Brake’s design, proper installation methods and braking limitations.

– Standard dual brakes should never be replaced by a single 360 Brake. Use dual brakes to replace dual brakes, always.

– If your motorcycle weighs more than 700 pounds (riders and all equipment included), DO NOT USE THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE 360 BRAKE. Under no circumstance should anyone use the 360 Brake to stop a motorcycle traveling faster than 70 mph. Obey all speed limits.

– Watch the Brake for signs of excessive wear and tear, overheating, chrome flaking/cracking or other problems. Most of the problems with the Brake are associated with improper installation. We will provide detailed, written installation instructions to anyone who contacts us. We will inspect any Brake or parts you ship to us (shipping at your cost).

– If your Brake was improperly installed or experiencing any performance issues, please immediately stop riding your motorcycle until the Brake is repaired or replaced with a different brake.

– If you sold or installed a 360 Brake, get copy of this letter to the owner or rider immediately, or provide us with the owner/rider’s contact information. We will be happy to send them a copy of this letter.

We are in the process of developing a 360 Brake that can accommodate larger motorcycles and faster speeds, although we are not encouraging anyone to exceed lawful speed limits. Until then, please faithfully follow the warnings and instructions in this letter. Thank you" Baldin Wilson Development Corporation.

UPDATE: Today November 6, 2007 at 3.04 PM, I received the following email from Chet Burozski. I publish it as is. I called him for further explanation and could not reach him. I left messages but my calls were not returned Cyril.

"My name is Chet Burozski and I wrote a letter to Cyril Huze about the "360 Brake." After writing this letter I was called by a representative of the company and all of my concerns where laid to rest. They have and are taking care of any and all problems with the brake and are available to answer all of your questions and concerns. I would like to thank Cyril for posting this and retract the statements in the first blog"

Chet Burozski

29 Comments

The Very Tricky Air & Billet Air-Springer Front-End

Published by Cyril Huze November 4th, 2007 in Customs, Editorial and Suspension.

Take CNC machining at its best, add old fashion air pressure, and apply the technology to a motorcycle front suspension and you get the most advanced air-ride front-end. The Tricky Air & Billet Air-Springer uses 2 air bodies with caps and shafts made from 304 stainless steel material that are completely rebuildable. This type of front end can be used on almost any brand of factory bikes, of any type from cruisers to sport bikes, and of course all custom built motorcycles. Offered in 3 different finishes, raw, chrome, or black anodizing. These units are made to order and are available in sizes from -4 to +12 inch over. For more info contact Arnie on my behalf at 1-866-922-3533 or visit theit very cool flash website. Tricky Air Billet

2 Comments

Nostalgia In Black & White

Published by Cyril Huze November 4th, 2007 in Editorial.

I love black & white movies and vintage racing pictures. By accident I landed on a website called Super Bike Planet where I saw superb photos shot by a photographer called Bob Magill. I don’t know anything about this person, but I wanted to share with you. If you are like me, looking at these pictures in big format on your computer screen will give you pure pleasure. Nostalgia, nostalgia….

1 Comment

Gun Mug To Kill Time

Published by Cyril Huze November 3rd, 2007 in Accessories, Editorial and Merchandise.

Long time I didn’t introduce you to a new gadget. How many trips to the coffee machine are you doing every day? I even heard that some of you are not too busy. To kill time with a cup of coffee here the perfect accessory. Black with platinum trigger or white with gold-plated trigger. In porcelain for $16. Choose your weapon at ShopModi.

4 Comments

Biketoberfest Rat’s Hole Show Winners

Published by Cyril Huze November 3rd, 2007 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.

Hey, guys. I am busy and I don’t have more time to list all winners. Only the 1st place in each class:.

Sportster Custom Class: Steve Ertle.. Sportster Radical Class: Exotic Choppers. Street Racer Class: A1 Cycles. Most Unusual Class: Mark Kundrat. Three Wheeler Class: Terry Stonehocker. 1 cc To 250 cc Class: Cody Cihak. 251 cc To 650 cc Class: Monty Burch. 651 cc to 1000 cc Class: Don Putman. Full Dresser & Touring Class: Gary Grubbs. Rat Class: Scrapey Hawkins. Antique Class Restored Class: Leo Phillips. Antique Class Unrestored Class: Jim Cunningham. Bobber Class: Patrick Russell. Two Wheel Auto Engine Class: Bob Anderson & Tony Reynolds. Over 600 cc Radical Sportbike Class: Gonzalo Polanco. Over 600 cc Super Radical Sportbike Class: Unique Custom Choppers. Over 1000 cc Stock Metric Class: Rick Leonard. Over 1000 cc Custom Metric class: Lamonster. Over 1000 cc Radical Metric Class: Will Robertson. Over 1000 cc Stock Class: James Doyle. Over 1000 cc Custom Class: Peter Bivona. Over 1000 cc Radical Class: Chopper Nation. Over 1000 cc Super Radical Class: Tim Nymphius. or more, visit the Rat’s Hole Show Website. (Did you notice? The Rat logo has changed). .

14 Comments

Any Image Powdercoated On Your Bike.

Published by Cyril Huze November 2nd, 2007 in Customs, Editorial and Painters.

I am pretty sure you didn’t know. There is a new technique to apply nearly any image or design in the powder coating of any part of your bike. It’s a great way to combine economically the durability of powder coating with very fancy designs. This is not a decal or screen print on the surface of your paint. The image used, photograph, painting. design, is modified with a graphic design software to fit the size and proportion of the part on which it will be used. If desired, color adjustements are also possible All images are stored in case the same exact image needs to be re-created. Of course, this technique called Imagefusion is available for any object you may think of. More info & pictures at Paradise Powdercoating.

4 Comments

Breaking News. Global Motorsports Group Is Shopping For A Buyer.

Published by Cyril Huze November 1st, 2007 in Customs and Editorial.

Today I received a call I really didn’t expect. A representative of Lincoln International Advisors, an investment bank based in Chicago contacted me to know if I was interested in buying Global Motorsports Inc.(GMG). For more than 30 years the Company has provided enthusiasts with aftermarket parts to enhance the performance and appeal of their motorcycles. GMG distributes approximately 45,000 products to more than 12,000 dealers in North America, Europe and Asia. GMG’s organization includes Custom Chrome, Inc. (CCI), an aftermarket distributor of Harley Davidson motorcycle parts and accessories headquartered in Morgan Hill, CA; Custom Chrome Europe, Inc. (CCE), a distribution company located in Germany that specializes in aftermarket accessories for Harley Davidson motorcycles and other cruiser motorcycle, Jammer Cycle Products (JAMMER) a distributor of accessories and aftermarket parts for “old school” motorcycles; and Motorcycle Stuff Inc. (MSI), a distributor of motorcycle parts and accessories for Metric motorcycles including BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and other leading brands. In addition, the Company offers leading proprietary brands such as RevTech®, Motor Factory™ and Santee® which enjoy strong brand equity. Ballpark price to buy the company? Something in the range of 20 to 30 million US dollars? Of course, not in my league. But I could try to negotiate. Huh! Anyway, I was flattered to be called.

23 Comments

The New Bagger Trend. Convertible, Long, Low, Lean & Mean.

Published by Cyril Huze November 1st, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

I just wrote a magazine article about the new radical bagger trend. When I stumbled on this black beauty during a bike show at Daytona Biketoberfest, I thought that it was the perfect illustration of what I was writing about. Beyond customized Harley & Metric dressers, a bagger built from the ground up with only after-market parts can be one of the coolest things on the road. I even said to Mike Beland, the builder from A1Cycles, that I wish one like that waiting for me in my garage. My remark seemed to make him very happy, but he still didn’t give it away to me! But I can build one for myself, right? This custom bike is called the Team Player Convertible (you guess why) and, no surprise, it was a winner during the Rat’s Hole Show. If you want a pro like Mike Beland to do one for you, it will set you back $35,999, I think a very reasonable price. Doing one yourself? Here the partial shopping list to inspire your bagger dreams. Frame by Independent Cycle with 42-degree rake and 5" stretch, air ride rear suspension by the same Independent Cycle company, HHI front end & controls, Wheels by Renegade wrapped with Metzeler tires, removable bags & fairing (in 3 minutes top) are modified Corbin pieces, TP 121" engine, Baker hydraulic 6-speed transmission RSD.

13 Comments

Bikers Handbook By Jay Barbieri

Published by Cyril Huze October 31st, 2007 in Books, Builders, Customs and Editorial.

I know pretty well Jay Barbieri who interviewed me many times for his TV show “American Thunder” on Speed Channel. So, when Motorbooks sent me his new book, it was my time to learn what he had to say to me and to you. First, Jay is not only a TV producer traveling from shows to shows but also a biker with a respectable number of miles ridden every year on his bikes. So, like me, he belongs to the Motorcycle Culture and has quite a few stories, some very humorous, to tell you about what it is to live our lifestyle. Jay tells you the good, the bad and the ugly experiences of owning a bike, riding, participating to rallies, etc. If you are new to the motorcycle world you are going to learn a lot about how to avoid mistakes, feel comfortable and knowledgeable among bikers. If you are experienced, you are going to enjoy a lot his sharp and twisted sense of humor when he tells you his ventures on the road and during bike events. Bikers Handbook.

5 Comments

Maltese Cross Exhaust Tips

Published by Cyril Huze October 31st, 2007 in Customs, Editorial and Exhaust.

One-off exhaust systems are reserved to the pros and to a few garage builders who know how to weld with precison. Very time consuming ad consequently expensive. For this special touch on your bike, another way to go is to equip your existing exhaust with custom tips. If you are not fed up seeing the maltese cross everywhere on bikes & clothing during these last 7 years, here is a good choice. To attach them, I would have preferred a slide-in system with set screws better than big clamps. Available for 1.75:, 2" and 3" exhaust systems. Tedtine Motorsports.

4 Comments

Billy Lane Trial. Judge Authorizes Release Of His Medical Files.

Published by Cyril Huze October 30th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

Again, don’t ask me and don’t expect that I make personal comments regarding the trial of Billy Lane. I made only one statement at the time of the accident and will not make any until the end of the trial. Many website owners make on purpose (or provoke) inflammatory statements with the only objective to build traffic to their sites. I have absolutely no respect for these people who try to take advantage of a tragedy. As always regarding this case, the information below is strictly factual. In expressing your opinion, whatever it is, please be respectful.

Today October 30 at 3 PM, a hearing was set before Circuit Judge Meryl Allawas to hear prosecutor’s motion seeking the release of Billy Lane’s hospital records. Documents that Billy Lane’s attorneys said are protected by confidentiality laws. Judge Meryl Allawas granted prosecutors’ motion seeking the release of Billy’s hospital records from the night of a Labor Day 2006 crash that left a Melbourne Beach man dead. Prosecutors hope the documents shed light on any injuries consistent with Lane being the driver, any admissions Lane may have made regarding the crash, observations of Lane’s physical condition and appearance by medical personnel or the results of any blood tests the hospital may have performed. The defense, however, objected to the records going public. Circuit Judge Meryl Allawas ordered the attorneys to draw up a stipulation that the state may not turn over the records to any third party without obtaining a court order. Lane, charged with DUI manslaughter, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted at his trial expected to begin in early 2008.

22 Comments

The Return Of Indian Motorcycles. Just Another Fashion Statement?

Published by Cyril Huze October 30th, 2007 in Accessories, Builders, Customs and Editorial.

The production of Indian Motorcycles at a manufacturing plant near Charlotte, NC has been postponed to mid-2008. No official explanation provided to me. Can the brand created in 1901 make a comeback? The only thing I know for sure is that the new company (Stellican from London who bought all Indian trademarks) has asked Serge Miska, president of Iconic American Brands, to conceive an Indian Logo line of clothing to be both comfortable and very fashionable Clothing will be based on the use of premium denim and leather with, no surprise, a worn/vintage look. Serge Miska states that "There are literally millions of professionals who are weekend bikers, and they’re not riding in sleeveless T-shirts. They want quality fashion, and we want to give them that." Indian envision its apparel line being sold at upscale department stores, as well as motorcycle dealerships nationwide. The target buyer will be a man between 35 and 55 with an annual income above $150,000. Did you say doctors, lawyers and Google executives? This marketing strategy seems to me to be so year 2000. Indian, we are soon in 2008 and the motorcycle industry has changed quite a bit! Or is it that the Indian brand wants to be a new Tommy Bahama?

26 Comments

Brass Monkey By Central Florida Choppers

Published by Cyril Huze October 30th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

A new short chopper by Central Florida Choppers out of Orlando. Larry Penningtom gave me the basic tech sheet. A . Midwest frame (4" out, 2" up, 34-degree rake), a powerplant Ultima bruto 131 cubic inch, a twisted Springer from Jery Springer, LSD 5-speed transmission from Roadmax, hand controls from GMA, foot controls from Deviant, a 250mm in the rear and 21" in front, and a paint job by "Frenchkiss Kustoms". Central Florida Choppers.

3 Comments

Easyriders Magazine Is Changing Its Content

Published by Cyril Huze October 29th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

Change of market conditions equals change of content. Easyriders Magazine is steering away from the very high dollars bikes and will now publish more average bikes. You know, the ones that some of you (with or without the help of a couple of friends or the help of your local shop) could build in your garage. Only American bikes. No metrics which are featured in the sister publication V-Twin magazine. What does it say? The economy sucks, money is tight for individuals and custom builders, but the passion is intact and we all have to express our talents within a more reasonable budget. Sometimes, it can mean even more creativity. This is good. Observe the change in 2 to 3 months, the next 2 issues being already booked. Easyriders Magazine

20 Comments

Custom Builders Race Each Other For The Speed Channel TV Show Pinks

Published by Cyril Huze October 28th, 2007 in Builders, Customs, Editorial and Events.

If you don’t belong to the 2 million viewers who watch every week the show Pinks on the Speed Channel, let me first explain to you. Using the setting of a classic 1950’s drag race, Pinks makes contestants race in a best of 3 out of 5 format with the loser handing over the title (Pink slip) of his or her vehicle. This weekend, 2 custom builders teams we competing and I was in touch with what was happening on the track. In one lane, a team composed of Adam Chandler (racing with a140 cu bike) assisted by Jerry Graves, Billy Lane and Mike from South Florida Choppers. In the other lane, Mike Beland from A1 Cycles (racing on a 114 cu chopper), his team & friends. Shooting was Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. So, who won 4 passes out of 5, the $8,000 toolbox, the title of the other bike and the Pinks bragging rights? I will not tell you before the show air, in about 8 to 10 weeks. Pinks All Out Show.

5 Comments

Delray Beach, Florida. Motorcyclists Prevail.

Published by Cyril Huze October 28th, 2007 in Editorial and Events.

This is the story of a beautiful small South Florida city called Delray Beach, only 5 miles away from where I live and work (Boca-Raton). During the last 10 years, the downtown was renovated and became a very trendy place full of cool shops and terrace restaurants. Ten years ago, a biker bar (still there on Atlantic Avenue) was responsible for giving life to the city and bringing some business to merchants. Now that Delray Beach is a hip place, some shops & restaurants complained to the city officials stating that some motorcyclists are revving their engines as they cruise the café-lined corridor of Atlantic Avenue. So, Mayor Rita Ellis decided to ban all motorcycles on a long stretch of this Avenue. The measure drew outrage from the motorcycle community, prompting what bikers do the best, a rally protest. Officials were also inundated with e-mails and calls from all over the country asking them to reconsider. As said Jimbo Sherrow, vice president of the motorcycle rights group ABATE. "There is a state statute that says they cannot do this". The reason is simple: legal vehicles cannot be banned from any public streets. Immediately, city officials unanimously voted to amend their noise abatement law. Instead, they decided to commission a study to find out how much of the noise on Atlantic Avenue can be blamed on motorcycles and hope to have results in 90 days. Groups such as the American Motorcycle Association and ABATE will help come up with a solution that doesn’t disenfranchise motorcycles from the downtown area. So, now Delray Beach officials are going to really look at this issue, which is what they should have done before passing any law. Conclusion: know your rights, fight for them and the power of the motorcycle community will always prevail.

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Racing Motorcycles Is Dangerous. Really?

Published by Cyril Huze October 28th, 2007 in Editorial.

Picture of the day: in Barcelona Spain, during the opening lap of the moto GP race , Dani Pedrosa (Spain) anf John Hopkins (USA), bottom center, try to avoid Marco Melandri (Italy) bottom left, as Loris Capirossi (Italy) top left, and Sete Giberbau (Spain) are crashing.

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Bobbers Versus Choppers By Sugar Bear

Published by Cyril Huze October 27th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

“Sugar Bear” opened his shop in Los Angeles in 1971. His intent at that time, as now, was to produce street rideable Choppers and products, not show creations. Because it was evident that a quality Springer was needed to reflect his customers’ desires for the long look, “Sugar Bear” started to build Springer front ends in solid steel where the triple trees were offset for greater turning radius, and both sets of legs (front and back) were to be made from round material only, resulting in a clean and simple design. “Sugar Bear” front ends are still a well kept secret in the industry. He wrote this very interesting piece where he defines what is a Bobber versus a Chopper (Bobber picture by Kiwi Indian).

"A short bike with a Sportster tank and a flat fender is not a Bobber. It’s just a short chop. About 99% of the bikes that are called Bobbers…well, you get the picture. I’ve been involved in conversations with youngsters (born after 1960_ who claim that what they build are Bobbers. I’m not even sure most of them have ever seen one. In the 50’s, in my area, we were riding chops, bobbers and garbage wagons (full dressers or baggers as they are known now) and each had a distinct style! Chops had cut-down tanks (this is before Sportster tanks were made), cut-down fenders, no floorboards, cut-up bars or apes, usually upsweeps with fishtails (normally no mufflers), side mount taillight, etc. Bobbers had small fatbobs, floorboards, bobbed rear stock fender (usually cut at the rear fender hinge), the stock exhaust 2 into 1), stock bars, basically a cut-down (bobbed) stock bike. Of course we know what a garbage wagon (eh, bagger) looked like. Anyway, you guys are building short chops, not bobbers. This is a cycle that repeats itself time after time. People start building chops, long chops because that’s always what a chop should look like. Then after a while they begin to realize that the long chops they built are hard to candle and you need gorilla arms to keep it straight and to turn. Of course these people flunked geometry and physics because they unknowingly set up wrong their bikes. So, to be able to get back to riding they shortened up the bikes but didn’t want them to be called chops because that might seem to infer they don’t handle, so they called the bobbers, custom bikes, etc…I have seen this cycle so many times in my riding history that it’s ridiculous.

I remember people snickering at me in the early 90’s because I was riding long chops and still building them. They said: -it looks cool, but I wouldn’t ride one of those. How does that thing handle in the curves? (snicker)- It’s very easy to tell who the uninformed are. If you don’t know how to set up a long bike so you can ride with one hand and be comfy, buy a Stocker, put some chrome and handlebars on it and stop ruining the reputation of choppers. If you want a chop and don’t know how to set up a long one, do a short one. A long chop is a thing of beauty. There is nothing like it. If set up right, you’ll ride forever and smile away every mile. If in doubt, ask anyone who has ridden a “Sugar Bear” chop. Remember, a short bike with a Sportster tank and a flat fender is not a bobber. It’s just a short chopper"

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Errant By Guilty Customs

Published by Cyril Huze October 26th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

When I asked Carl Hanlon from Guilty Customs to tell me about his latest bike called “Errant”, he sent me the presentation below. I let you enjoy his biker poetry

“Definition: Straying from accepted standards"; Wayward, Sinful, Naughty, Delinquent, Badly Behaved. Guilty Customs built this low-strung classic chopper to place you where the scenery becomes a blur and every right hand action turns into fast motion. Guilty pleasure and adrenaline! The performance suspension and balance of this bike make this ride unforgettable. The power-plant you straddle is waiting for green. The rear tire attempts to contain all the nervous energy. Point and shoot! The styling has everyone looking while you stop at the light or pass by them. Too bad they can’t keep up. It’s not your problem anymore. You’ve got your own guilt to deal with”.

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The Harley-Davidson Reader

Published by Cyril Huze October 26th, 2007 in Books, Builders and Editorial.

The concept is original. This book publishes the old and recent writings on Harley-Davidson and its unique mystique. Writers are professionals and personalities that are part of the legend, from Hunter S. Thompson to Sonny Barger. They are the tales of the company birth, the rise of the biker outlaw legend, and the modern-day revival of choppers, bobbers, and retro rides. This book is punctuated with classic images from vintage motorcycling photos, racing posters, pictures from biker LPs, biker movies etc. This book chronicles the Motor Company long ride into modern-day legend. These stories have helped define the Harley-Davidson myth. After reading this book, even the non-biker will understand and you will have no more to explain again and again. A 5-star hard cover book. The Harley-davidson Reader.

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Custom Motorcycle Builders Made Television Cool. Not The Opposite.

Published by Cyril Huze October 25th, 2007 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.

I read a beautiful and very intelligent editorial written by Chris Callen from Cycle Source Magazine. Like him I am irritated by those who attribute the slow down of our industry to the disappearance of TV shows glorifying our work. Ok, OCC is still on our screens, but the majority of those watching their show are not bikers and don’t build a motorcycle in their garage. They follow the tribulations of the Teutuls for their entertaining value and because they can identify themselves with the struggles of a family making business happen. American Thunder on Speed Channel has more bike shows coverage and focuses on the end result, the customized bike. Custom Builder’s business life was pretty good before 2000 and the arrival of motorcycle TV shows. These shows were created because our industry was growing, more and more amazing custom bikes were seen in the streets and because there was opportunity for the networks to create audiences by showing the talented work of the men producing these machines. Because Motorcycle Mania with Jesse James became a hit, many more TV shows were created. The motorcycle industry was feeding the networks and the networks was feeding the industry by bringing to us even more attention & respect from the public at large, bikers and non bikers. It’s how we made TV look very cool. It’s true that TV helped us sell many more frames/rollers/parts…and tee-shirts. We all beneficiated but also attracted a lot of individuals who were buying the fad and thought it was easy and possible for them to build from the ground up a reliable bike in 2 weeks maximum and, why not, to resell it for a big profit . New shops & vendors with a name ending with the magic word “choppers” were created every week under the illusion that bikes were a very cool way to make millions in a few months. All veterans in this business (you are one if you were able to make a living in this business during at least 15 years in a row) knew that it was only illusion.

The motorcycle industry is not the new Eldorado the new comers thought it was. It is an industry fueled by love and passion for the craft, not by the pursuit of money. How many new bikers, dealers, vendors, manufacturers, bike show organizers already disappeared when we reached 2004, 1 or 2 years before almost all motorcycle TV shows were canceled? Networks look for audiences, and when the number of viewers goes down, shows are not renewed. Since 2005, it’s no picnic to be an American. National polls reveal a seemingly incurable malaise aggravated by insecurities about housing, health care, gas price, retirement and jobs. There is the knock-kneed dollar, there is the economy, there is Iraq, there is a new presidential election… To pay our bills half of us are tempted to raid our 401(k) s and the other half doesn’t have them. If you have difficulty to make ends meet after paying your mortgage a motorcycle TV show is not going to help you in any way or help us to sell more bikes and parts. Oh, I forgot to mention. The only ones that I heard suggesting that more TV shows will re launch our business are people who aren’t riding or weren’t part of our industry pre-2000. I tell you. "It’s the economy, stupid!". But the US economy will prevail, and like Chris Callen said, we are going again to make TV look very cool.

Update: (Thursday Oct 25, 7 PM EST). I thank everybody for their nice comments regarding the post above. Reading them this evening, I learn that a motorcycle website states that Billy Lane, because of his accident, is responsible for the cancellation of the TV shows and the slow down of the industry. Like my readers (see comments), I find such a statement absolutely ridiculous and offending for my fellow builder Billy Lane. And to demonstrate that the statement made makes no sense at all, I want to advise all my readers that Billy Lane will be very soon on TV with Paul Cox to host the new show "The Next Great American Builder" that I announced this week in exclusivity in my Blog. The show is about 13 individuals, non professionals, competing to become my next fellow pro-builder.

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