General Posts

News from the MRF, from the Calamity Front, S&S, Le Pera, Beanre, Readers, Metalsport, Chopperfest, You name it. Read it all here.

This ‘49 Panhead built by Kenny D. the owner of Hazardous Cycles, started out as a purchased basket case from Mississippi. Kenny hauled it back to Taylor, Michigan, stripped it down, cut and raked the neck and the project started. “I wanted to build an old school chopper,” Kenny said. “It’s the original wishbone frame and original ‘49 motor, even the production belly numbers match.” Kenny makes his living as a Harley mechanic and currently the owner of Hazardous Cycles in Taylor, Michigan. He’s been into bikes for 35 years, after he got hooked by some wild long choppers from the ‘70s. He built the custom oil tank and mounted it tight to the top of the frame and wanted to build a rear fender strong enough to ride without struts. “I welded steel bungs to support it,” Kenny said, “so it would look like it floated without struts above the rear tire, for the cleanest look with the classic frame.” Over his history in the biz, he’s owned a ’69 Shovelhead, ’72 Sporty, ’73 FLH, and now he also owns a ’99 Road King. “I made it into a sweet bagger.” Read the whole article here.

Nominations for the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame are now open and must be submitted by Tuesday, January 10, 2017. The Hall of Fame was established back in 2001 to recognize individuals or groups who have made a long term positive impact on the motorcycle community. After vetting and voting, the Class of 2017 will be honored during the annual Rally on August 10, 2017. “Unlike the confusion caused by the schism between the electoral college and the popular vote in our nation’s presidential election, there is no confusion as to our nomination process,” explains Executive Director Myrick Robbins. “The Hall of Fame’s mission is to honor those who have made a positive and significant impact on the sport and lifestyle.” There are no restrictions on who may submit nominations. Once the deadline for submissions transpires, all nomination files are reviewed by the Hall of Fame committee made up of the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s board of directors, its Executive Director and staff directors. “The criteria for being inducted into the Hall of Fame is to recognize the men and women who have dedicated much of their lives to improving, promoting and advancing motorcycling,” adds Robbins. “We also have a separate nomination specifically for the Freedom Fighter Award, which recognizes those individuals who have made sacrifices to protect the rights of those who ride. These men and women serve diligently, humbly and quietly so that we may enjoy the liberties that many of us take for granted.” Nomination forms must be accompanied by credentials explaining why an individual should be considered for induction. Please keep in mind that while their achievements may be outstanding, not everyone knows it. A comprehensive overview of their accomplishments is necessary to make an informed and educated decision. Biographical information, newspaper articles, historical

Time is running out and you’re burning daylight, but there’s hope. See what J&P Cycles has for you today. Click below and start shopping.  

Machined from billet aluminum with a carbon fiber backer insert, this gnarly air cleaner cover is a Brass Balls Cycles creation. It’s available in Clear Anodize, Hard Black Anodize and Raw Machined finish. The cover fits most 5.5″ diameter, center bolt mount air cleaners If you already have a round 5.5″ diameter air cleaner and would like to upgrade the look of your bike, you can replace your existing air cleaner cover with the F1. It’s the easiest custom design upgrade you can do to your bike.   $89.95 Introductory price through the end of the year. $99.95 MSRP Customers can order direct from here or from Brass Balls Cycles dealers. If you do not have a 5.5″ diameter air cleaner or you aren’t in love with the one you have… If you want the style of the F1 and increased air flow performance, Brass Balls Cycles offers the F1 Air Cleaner Cover with the S&S Stealth Air Cleaner Kit. This kit includes the S&S Stealth air cleaner kit and our F1 Air Cleaner Cover. TheS&S Stealth air cleaner kit fits Sportster Models & HD Big Twin models. It has increased filter area, combined with an air horn like radiused inlet and unique S&S stinger cone result in smoother faster air flow for more power. $199.95 Introductory price through the end of the year for most models* $229.95 MSRP for most models. Order here.

Heat control specialist, Design Engineering, joins a growing chorus of sponsors to support the Garage-Girls Ultimate Biker Makeover. The Garage-Girls Ultimate Biker Makeover contest, now entering its ninth year, offers the opportunity for one well-deserving winner to get “Hooked-up” with products and services from major supporting sponsors. Contestants are encouraged to submit an essay of 600 words or less describing why they are most deserving in need of a biker makeover along with a photo of the entrant with their motorcycle. Four finalists are selected and one grand winner. “Bringing on DEI as a sponsor is a great fit for our program. They have some cool items that any biker makeover should not be without, says contest organizer, Sara Librte. “We all know of riders with worn tires, brakes and busted parts and thought, this isn’t safe. The purpose of the Garage Girls Ultimate Biker Makeover is to hook-up one deserving rider with the gear they need for their body and their machine,” she added. “We are excited to be partnering with Garage-Girls for the Ultimate Biker Makeover. The makeover contest is a fun way to connect to our female customers and learn about the specific heat challenges they experience,” said DEI Powersports Manager Brian VanKoevering. To learn more about the Ultimate Biker Makeover, click here.

This may be an epiphany and maybe not. Uncle Monkey explained 2016 at the year’s end. Too bad. I wish I knew this coming in. It might have helped. He was right about this year. It was packed with trials, obstacles and challenges. I’ve studied Buddhism for two years and it helped immensely this year. I’m not trying to sell anyone on Buddhism, but I needed a spiritual release and Dr. Feng introduced me to the amazing Hacienda Heights Temple and I learned how to meditate and benefit my mind. I discovered a medical fact. Meditation can help you relax. It can take the form of prayers, quiet reflection, or chanting, but they all work to relieve the mind of stress. Let’s get back to what the hell caused me stress in 2016. In late 2015 the City of Los Angeles sent me a letter, get out of my building and don’t come back. My fourth wife had returned to the fold and I still dealt with Nyla’s kids down front. My second Chance book needed to be completed, which could be my last book. Our Bonneville streamlined trike project languished at a shop in Texas. The shop, owned by a good friend, who built Nyla’s magnificent Root Beer Float bobber, struggled in our terrible economy and he couldn’t get to the trike. I had other sponsors waiting. I needed to confront the situation. The whole article is available here in the Cantina. In case you aren’t already a Cantina member, you can grab a membership here.

Holiday News from the V-Twin Expo, Paul Yaffe, Klock Werks, Choppertown, the MRF, the EPA, Motorbooks, you name it click here to read it all.

This has been one of the most challenging years of my life and the Salt Torpedo was one of them. The Paughco team stepped up to save the day and we have more progress on what could be the first streamlined trike running speed trials. Continue reading.

brothers and sisters you share the road with. Guess that means we’re gettin……what’s the word? OLDer. UGH! The parking lot at Sneaky D’s filled up quickly that Sunday morning in November, and you couldn’t help yourself but want to ride, even if you were still nursin’ a turkey hangover! Continue reading.