General Posts

Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials Canceled, Team Updates—We Have a Year to Regroup   This has been a very strange weather pattern year for the Bonneville Salt Flats. One day, it can be a mess and three days later, it’s ready to race. I spoke to Bill Woods yesterday and the salt has been under constant investigation. It rained again last Friday (August 14), and yesterday the team members studied the salt conditions. “We only have access to one track, and no dry pit areas,” Bill said. Unless the gods of salt racing step up quick, the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials are canceled for 2015. That was interesting news, since two of our bikes weren’t ready to rock, but Ray C. Wheeler’s 5-Ball rocket, the turbo-charged S&S 124-incher, with Hayabusa suspension was tuned and itching to smell the salt at 200 mph. As a team we were poised to support Mr. Wheeler with crew, riders, tools, you name it. Then the rain came. I spoke to Lee Clemens about the replacement engine for the Bonne Belle 1040 45 flathead, and his vintage engine builder decided to retire. Departure Bike Works is a mainstay in Richmond, Virginia. It’s been a family-owned and operated enterprise for about 40 years. It survived the economic downturn and constant financial fluctuations in our society, plus the Internet, which brings up a story. The Internet is cool, but it doesn’t come close to replacing the veteran independent shop for knowledge and experience. If you have a shop like this in your area support it. Lee built numerous award-winning custom motorcycles over the years, thousands of performance engines, and ran a winning pro-stock drag team for 25 years. He knows his shit, and where to put it, what special tools are needed, and what other parts will be […]

The Sturgis Buffalo Chip created the Biker Belles to embrace women in motorcycling and raise funds for women charities. Toni from Buffalo Chip is Ron Woody Woodruff. The Chip well known in the giving back community. Toni has been involved and has done a fantastic job in coordinating this endeavor with icons such as Diva Amy Skaling and Laura Klock. Read more here.

Turbo systems are the easiest and most cost effective way to bolt-on horsepower. For maximum performance potential, turbo shields are used to cover the housing to help maintain a more consistent temperature in the turbo; increasing air-flow efficiency and decreasing turbo lag. For powersports, the shield also doubles as a protective barrier to heat generated from the turbo-potentially protecting the rider from a leg or boot burn. Building on the popularity of DEI’s award winning ONYX Series Flexible Heat Shield, DEI Powersports now offers the ONYX Series Turbo Shield, now available for Garrett GT22 and GT25 turbo sizes. In addition to Garrett brand turbo housings, the ONYX Series Turbo Shields also fit several other popular turbo brands including Mitsubishi and others. See deipowersports.com for more information, or your local DEI Powersports dealer.

The Quantum Air Cleaner Cover is a direct replacement for the stock air cleaner cover on select ’14-later Harley-Davidson Touring and Trike models, and is also compatible with Screamin’ Eagle Stage 1 Air Cleaner Kits. Radical styling enhancements are gained from the sculpted black three-dimensional inserts and enlarged intake openings. Stainless steel screen inserts elevate the look while blocking debris from entering the forward-facing intake that improves airflow to the filter. Legroom is maintained thanks to a slim, contoured design that measures 8-1/2” in diameter by 3” wide. Made from lightweight and durable injection-molded ABS, the Quantum Air Cleaner Cover is currently available in chrome, with a gloss black version coming soon. Easy bolt-on installation reuses the stock mounting screw on ’14-later non-CVO Electra Glides, Road Glides, Road Kings, Street Glides and Trikes with OEM or Screamin’ Eagle Stage 1 Air Cleaner Kits. Küryakyn P/N 8417 Quantum Air Cleaner Cover, Chrome: $99.99 Küryakyn P/N 8414 Quantum Air Cleaner Cover, Gloss Black (Coming Soon): $99.99 Advertisement

It’s never too early to think about getting a new calendar. The exciting new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars reveal a full 16 months beginning in September 2015 preceding the 2016 cover year. All three Editions of the new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars – Fast Dates, Iron & Lace, and Garage Girls, feature the official SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar Kittens Jitka Pralinka and Petra Ruzickova from the Czech Republic, who spent the summer in America with Calendar photographer Jim Gianatsis to shoot and work at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca USA World and AMA Superbike, and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show. There they got to shoot on location and in the studio in skimpy swimwear and lingerie with all the world’s top factory Superbikes, Custom and Cafe Motorcycles for this year’s Calendars. Hold on for this year’s exciting ride…..

Now Indian Chieftain and RoadMaster model motorcycle riders can enjoy the benefits of touring with a Klock Werks Flare Windshield. The patented Flare Windshield design features “hips” at the sides that re-route the wind away from you while adding downforce to the front-end of the motorcycle to improve stability, vs. riding with the stock windshield. The flip at the top of the Flare redirects air up and back as clean, less turbulent air for rider and passenger. “A stock shield simply pushes air. So any air that escapes around it is choppy, turbulent air, that can make your helmet shake, your glasses fly up. Often a rider will think getting a taller windshield will solve the issues. The answer is how the air is directed, and the shape of our Flare re-directs the air,” explains Brian Klock. “Many times, a rider doesn’t realize how uncomfortable it is, until they try a Flare Windshield. Then they wonder how they ever rode without one!” Besides how well the Flare Windshield performs, it looks great too, adding style to the lines of the Indian Models. Available for Indian Chieftain and RoadMaster in two heights; 10” and 12”, featuring tint, dark smoke, and black options, the Flare is easy to Install using stock mounting hardware and maintains stock windshield height adjustability. Klock Werks Flare Windshields are made from hard-coated polycarbonate material for lasting durability and is proudly made in the USA. Advertisement

Northern California-based shop TPJ Customs was at Sturgis City Park during the 75th Anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, showing off their new parts. Their booth featured a custom Indian Scout and a custom Indian Chief Classic. “It was really significant to be a part of Sturgis’s 75th Anniversary,” said Bryan Schimke, owner of TPJ Customs, “and Indian enthusiasts were really energized about our custom options. All in all, it was an experience we’re not going to soon forget.” Over the course of the rally, TPJ conducted positive discussions with distributors, sold a lot of parts and received several serious inquiries about ground-up custom Indian bike builds. TPJ’s new parts line features 17 unique parts for Indian Scouts and Chiefs, including seat mounts, pegs, handlebar risers, ignition and clutch covers, head- and taillight mounts, exhaust tips, seat pans and more. In other words, Indian Motorcycle owners can finally start customizing their bikes with top-quality parts made in the USA, and there are now myriad options and combinations available to them. “We were very gratified by the interest we got from distributors,” says Schimke. “And the response from rally goers was really positive.” Get more info on TPJ Customs here.

Biketoberfest is coming October 15-18, and it’s time to make plans for the last big outdoor biker festival of 2015. The Original American Beach is expected to host over 100,000 motorcycle enthusiasts and casual observers for the 23rd Annual Biketoberfest motorcycle rally and festival. Sponsors Amsoil, Geico and Sweet Ride Wine will have strong presence throughout the four-day event in which attendees soak up the sun and live music, visit iconic watering holes, and eat at some of the area’s trendy new restaurants. As for the roar, fans will watch the pros compete in Daytona International Speedway’s world-famous motorcycle races – and they’ll also get a sneak peek at the Speedway’s $400 million “re-imagining” project. Multiple locations throughout the Daytona Beach area — including Main Street, Riverfront Park and Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard – will host events, with plenty of music, foods and vendors. Music Fans Get Ready for four solid days of live music in dozens of indoor and outdoor venues will celebrate the cooler riding weather and energetic fall vibe. Enjoy a free concert by Jackyl October 17 in the Coca Cola Pavilion at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona. Home of Daytona Harley-Davidson, this motorcycle mecca features a 109,000-square-foot showroom, an impressive selection of retail and specialty shops, restaurants and bars. We’ve Got Your Blues. Start your Daytona Beach getaway a few days early and enjoy the ever-popular Daytona Blues Fest, a Southest Tourism Society Top 20 award winner. This year’s Oct. 9-11 event at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark is the perfect way to kick off your Biketoberfest experience, with artists including Janiva Magness and Eddie Cotton, Jr. More information here.

This has been a very strange weather pattern year for the Bonneville Salt Flats. One day it can be a mess and three days later it’s ready to rock. I spoke to Bill Woods yesterday and the salt has been under constant investigation. It rained again last Friday, and yesterday the team had members on the salt checking conditions. “We only have access to one track, and no certain pit areas,” Bill said. Unless the gods of salt racing step up quick, the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials are canceled. —Bandit

Triumph America LT $8,799.00 VS Kawasaki 900 Classic LT $8,999.00 Let’s say you’re on a budget and looking for a comfortable cruiser. Let’s say you want a classic looking motorcycle, low seat height, real mileage between gas stops and storage. A Triumph America LT (Light Cruiser) and Kawasaki 900 Classic are serious contenders in such a quest. Both bikes have a long history of reliability, comfort and style. Let the Shootout begin! http://www.bikernetbaggers.com/pages/BATTLE_OF_THE_BUDGET_BAGGERS_Part_1.aspx