General Posts

According to the Leicester Mercury, hundreds of youngsters are to be trained to build motorcycles in the grounds of a historic country house for Norton Motorcycles. The company is looking to recruit 40 apprentices by September, when the three-year course will begin. It eventually plans to take in 100 trainees a year.

The creation of the British Motorcycle Manufacturing Academy is part of Norton owner Stuart Garner’s dream of producing a motorcycle that is totally British made. At the moment, 83 per cent of parts for his bikes are made in England. “We want to make a 100 per cent British-made motorcycle,” he said. “But this is hard to do because there’s no way of buying some of the parts in the UK. We don’t have any suspension or brake manufacturing here. We have to get them from the Far East.

Read more.

 Bikernet Baggers Editor, Krash Kranzler got to talk with John Shope and Kody McNew for a few minutes  about this upcoming season. Check it out!

Effective July 15, 2014 George B. Smith (71), current Chairman of the Board and CEO of S&S Cycle, will retire from regular involvement and become Chairman Emeritus. In his new role, he will continue to work with the S&S Cycle Board of Directors on strategic initiatives and other critical issues. With Smith’s retirement John McGinnis, an S&S Board Director since 2007 and Vice-Chairman the past three years, has been elected Chairman of the Board effective on that date. Smith has been working closely with McGinnis on many significant projects which have prepared McGinnis for a smooth transition. In addition to his S&S Cycle Board involvement, Mr. McGinnis has been President of successful businesses and serves on several other company Boards.
George J. Smith and his wife Marjorie A. Smith (maiden name also Smith) founded the business in 1958 and moved it to Viola, Wisconsin in 1969. George B., oldest of second generation Smith children, joined the business in 1979 and became President following his father’s untimely and sudden passing in August of 1980. After becoming President, he led the effort to see S&S become the leader in the v-twin motorcycle performance market, earning V-Twin Magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2013 for his contribution to the marketplace. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Board for 35 years and Chairman since 2002.
“The past 35 years has been quite a ride,” stated Smith. “I am very proud of what the S&S Team has accomplished. I was extremely fortunate and blessed to be in the right place at the right time with a great group of family members and employees dedicated to continue the legacy Dad and Mom started. But the time has come for me to step back a bit and enjoy some time off and let the organization we built led by our Board of Directors take over. As Chairman Emeritus I will continue to be involved as necessary while at the same time spending more time with my wife Connie and family which includes eleven grandchildren and soon to be three great grandchildren. I have great confidence in our Board and after working closely with John McGinnis the past seven years, I find him well qualified to take over ongoing Chairman responsibilities.”
“It is a great honor to become Chairman of S&S Cycle and relieve George of some of his responsibilities so he can enjoy some well-deserved time off,” stated McGinnis. “I look forward to coordinating the Board’s efforts in further developing our management team as we continue to grow S&S in today’s demanding and changing market place. I’m confident this transition will go smoothly including working with George and the other Shareholders. These are opportunistic times at S&S Cycle and I find it challenging and exciting to work with S&S President Steve Iggens and the S&S Team to develop and implement new strategic initiatives that will best serve our customers into the future.”
S&S Cycle has been designing, developing, manufacturing and selling Proven Performance Parts for American v-twin motorcycles since 1958. Located in Viola and La Crosse, WI, S&S Cycle remains a family owned business.

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As the grandson of a long-time Indian dealer (and 16 other brands ranging from AJS to Zundapp), Eric Trow has been a continually active motorcyclist since his first solo ride at the age of eight.
Trow, recipient of the 2013 AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award, currently owns and operates Stayin’ Safe, the nation’s premier on-road advanced rider training program. He is a respected moto-journalist, penning the popular Riding Well column each month for Rider magazine. Trow is also a popular keynote speaker and a founding member of the Greater Pittsburgh Motorcycle Safety Council.
In addition to his work in motorcycling, Trow is an award-winning creative talent and marketing strategist, most recently working as vice president/strategy director for a top-100 U.S. advertising agency.
In his garage can be found a continually rotating assortment of current and vintage motorcycles from America, Europe, and Japan. Within his collection is a family heirloom: an unusual, all-original, ultra-low mileage Indian Chief that is one of the very last to roll off of the “Wigwam” assembly line.
The Antique Motorcycle Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation. It mission is to support the collection and preservation of antique motorcycles and motorcycle history, and to tell the story of antique motorcycling to the public at large. For more information about the AMF’s mission and programs, click here .

We’re told this is OCC’s work… Subtle enough for you?

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Rivera Primo now offers a 7-inch headlamp that doesn’t look like something out of a sci-fi flick, something that would look great on a 2014 touring model or a 1950 Panhead FL or anything in between. And what the hell ever happened to real glass? HedLED next generation is born…
They also wanted the light to outshine all others, both in design and actual light pointed down the road. A headlamp that would draw less current than a incandescant lamp so it would work great both on an older charging system or a new high output sytem. A headlamp that would incorporate Rivera Primo’s signature LED turn signals with a ultra bright LED high & low beam and all under glass..not plastic.

The PHASE 2™ HedLED™ 7″ Headlamp (1116-0200) is DOT & EU COMPLIANT and retails for $282.57

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It’s the largest Evel Knievel collection ever assembled—a collection more complete than even the daredevil himself amassed in one place!

Get a first hand look at the most comprehensive and authentic collection of Evel Knievel memorabilia in the world, on display during Evel Knievel Days in Butte, Montana July 24-26. It includes Knievel’s performance leathers, never-before-seen photographs, X-rays of Evel’s broken bones, plus his original jump bikes and his personal helmets.

Said Lathan McKay, owner of the collection, “After years of Evel’s possessions being lost in obscurity and so many things sold, stolen or missing, the collection is coming back together.” He terms the hunt and discovery process, “Evel Archaeology.”

During Evel Knievel Days, Evel’s son and a daredevil in his own right Robbie Knievel will be present to sign autographs and meet fans. BMX stunt rider Mat Hoffman will wow crowds with his trademark style. Events also include the Evel Urban Downhill bike race, a skateboard competition, tons of musical acts and so much more; all in the hometown of the ultimate daredevil whose fearlessness is still imprinted on the imagination of an entire generation.

Knievel made headlines from the mid ‘60s to the early ’80s for his daring motorcycle jumping and risk-taking attitude. A man of unabashed confidence and brashness, he derived as much fame from the jumps he failed to make—and the injuries he suffered—as the many he completed.

Don’t miss this chance to see the only collection of its kind bringing together authentic artifacts that belonged to the most notorious daredevil of the 20th Century – right in his own hometown at an event that bears his name.

Click here for more info.

Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines rider Andrew Hines scored his third final-round win of the season and added to his Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, part of the NHRA Mellow Yello Drag Racing Series.

After qualifying his Harley-Davidson® V-Rod® motorcycle just 10th with an Elapsed Time (ET) of 6.931 seconds, Hines found improved performance on Sunday and defeated Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana in the final.

“We broke out new a V-Rod motorcycle for this weekend, and it was giving us fits in qualifying,” said Hines. “This morning we changed the tune up and to be honest it was kind of our Hail Mary for the weekend. My brother [crew chief Matt Hines] could tell I was pessimistic, and told me just to go out and act like I had the best bike on the track and it worked. I like the idea of breaking in a new bike with a Mello Yello shower in the winner’s circle.”

Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines rider Ed Krawiec put the team’s other Harley-Davidson® V-Rod® motorcycle in the top qualifying spot with an ET of 6.844 seconds at 195.05 mph, a pass that also set a new Pro Stock Motorcycle track ET record. Krawiec is the first Pro Stock Motorcycle rider to qualify number one at five consecutive events since Matt Hines accomplished the feat in 1999.

In Sunday eliminations, Krawiec got a free pass in the first round when Teisab Suzuki rider Elvira Karlsson fouled at the start. Krawiec then lost in round two to Protecttheharvest.com/MAVTV Buell rider Adam Arana.

“My bike bogged off the line in round one, so we raised the rpm a little but it bogged worse in the second round,” said Krawiec. “There was quite a change in the weather today, as it got hotter and more humid, and we lost the tune up on my bike.”

Hines marched through Sunday eliminations with wins over Matt Smith Suzuki rider John Hall, Jim Underdahl on the Bad Boys Buggies Suzuki, and the Power Sports Institute Suzuki ridden by Steve Johnson. For the second Sunday in a row, Hector Arana made the final, and for the second time he lost, his 6.921-second ET not enough to beat the 6.901 run put down by Hines and the Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod. The win was the 35th for Hines in a Pro Stock Motorcycle career that also includes three championships.

“I think this V-Rod will be good from here on out,” said Hines. “We actually got better as the day went on even though our times don’t show it, because the weather got worse. This new chassis also has better drive and runs straight down the track.”

After seven of 16 events on the 2014 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle schedule, Hines leads the series with 650 points. Krawiec is second with 581 points. Arana Jr. is third with 515 points, followed by Hector Arana with 416 points and Hall with 407 points.

The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines team will race again when the Pro Stock Motorcycle series resumes on July 18-20 at the 35th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees moved into the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season points lead after racing his Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle to a second-place finish at Hagerstown Speedway. The Grand National Twins main was won by Crosley Radios/Villa-Esparza Kawasaki rider Bryan Smith.

Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team rider Brad Baker finished ninth. Baker qualified on the second row, but a great start put him into the lead pack in the early laps. Baker got sideways out of the groove on lap four and was able to regain control without crashing, but dropped back to 10th place.

“The bike slid out on me there and I went into quite a tank slapper. I managed to save it, but lost a lot of ground,” said Baker, the defending AMA Grand National Champion. “The bike ran really well tonight, but we just missed on the set-up a little, and I think I made a bad choice on gear selection. I could not put the power to the track on the straights. I wasn’t hooked up as well as some of the other bikes.”

Zanotti Racing/Moroneys H-D rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr. was on the pole for the 25-lap main and led from the start, opening a lead of about 1.5 seconds on second-place Smith. Coolbeth’s race came to a sudden end on lap eight when his motorcycle suffered a mechanical issue. Smith inherited the lead, with Mees in hot pursuit. For about 10 laps Smith and Mees raced wheel to wheel, as Mees was able to pull alongside Smith but never quite able to complete a pass. On lap 20 Mees began to fall off the pace, and Smith eventually won by 0.832 seconds. Montgomeryville Cycle Center Kawasaki rider Jake Shoemaker was third.

“I was running my own race and saw Coolbeth drop out, so I thought it was time to put my head down and catch Smith,” said Mees, the 2012 AMA Grand National champion. “His line crossed mine in turns three and four and I just couldn’t find a way around him. Finally with about five to go my tire went away and was losing grip and drive off the turns. My team put me on a great Harley-Davidson and we gave him a lot of pressure.”

Earlier in the evening, Smith also won the four-lap Dash for Cash bonus race.

Coolbeth’s trouble also cost him the AMA Grand National Championship points lead. After six of 16 events, Mees now leads the series with 104 points. Ramspur Winery/Lloyd Bros Motorsports rider Jake Johnson, who placed sixth at Hagerstown, retains second place 103 points. Coolbeth is now in third place and tied with Smith at 99 points. Baker is in tenth place with 52 points.

AMA Grand National Twins racing resumes on July 19 on the Grays Harbor Raceway half-mile in Elma, Wash.