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  A person needs passion, imagination and maybe a few loose screws to look at a big, greasy pile of motorcycle parts and envision the magnificent piece of motorized artwork that Stewart and Renee Garrison displayed Saturday at the fifth annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel Valley. "These two bikes here were found in a room about 3½ years ago with 70 other exotic British motorcycles, all completely dismantled — all the fenders were together in one pile, all the tanks were together, all the motors were together," said Stewart Garrison, a contractor from Arlington, Texas. He got four motorcycles "out of that room, and those piles," he said. "The guy had collected parts for 40 years." Garrison needed six months to sort all the parts into the correct piles, he said. "We'd basically take two sets of wheels, then go around and try to find a frame that matched the paint," he said. "Then we'd try to find the motor. Then we'd try to find something else. Anything that was missing, I had to make. It took about four years to put them together." One of his completed masterpieces was a gleaming black Brough Superior motorcycle, a 1936-vintage SS90 with a Watsonian Sport sidecar built to carry a very petite passenger. Read More

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The House has given its blessing to letting people 21 and older ride motorcycles on Missouri highways without helmets. Representative Warren Love (R-Osceola) says he chooses to ride with a helmet for safety, but there are many who don't … and those riders carry good money. "We're surrounded by states that does not have a helmet law … if there are people riding southwest of Missouri and they're getting ready to come across Missouri, they're going to go down through Arkansas and journey around and they're going to bypass Missouri. We're losing thousands and thousands of dollars because people aren't coming to Missouri because of our helmet law." The idea had bipartisan support … and bipartisan opposition. Representative Diane Franklin (R-Camdenton) says as a health care professional, she has seen what happens to people who have been in motorcycle accidents. "Wearing a helmet does not just affect the individual. It affects everyone in the state of Missouri. It affects insurance premiums. Not wearing a helmet is allowing people to be injured when there's no need for it. It's not just a matter of personal choice. It's not like a chronic condition or any other kind of medical condition like obesity, where there is more than one contributing factor. This is something that can easily be taken care of."

Mustang offers Victory owners a win-win deal with saddles for the Victory Cross Roads, Cross Country and Hard-Ball baggers. “Mustang’s mantra has been ‘it’s all about the Ride,’ and we’re proud to have expanded our offerings for the new Victory baggers,” says Mustang Director of Sales Steve Veltri. He notes that Mustang already offers seats for Victory’s Vegas, Kingpin and 8-Balls. According to Victory, the new bikes bring bad ass style and attitude to the bagger niche. “However, being a bad ass doesn’t mean you can’t have a comfortable seat,” quips Veltri. Mustang’s DayTripper™ and Wide Touring seats for all three of these new Victory models offer the added benefit of being lower than stock without sacrificing comfort. The DayTripper sits ½” lower than the stock seat while the Wide Touring seat is ¼” lower. By making the nose of the seat narrower than stock, it makes it easier for riders to plant their feet firmly on the ground. The “PBR” passenger backrest angles the passenger's upper back forward for more vertical support and increased comfort. Combined with Mustang's proprietary polyurethane foam material and baseplate, the result is a seat guaranteed to deliver all-day comfort. To further help alleviate back pain during long days in the saddle, Mustang offers fully adjustable, easily removable driver’s backrests.  The MSRP for the DayTripper starts at $359 and the Wide Touring starts at $489. Don't miss the video below.    

And that’s not all.

Crafted from vintage abrasion-resistant cowhide leather with perforated panels on the sleeves and body, the new men’s Regulator Perforated Leather Jacket (P/N 97167-13VM, starting at $450) from the Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes® line delivers maximum airflow to beat the summer heat. For added comfort, it features pre-curved sleeves, power-stretch waist and elbows plus an action back. Pockets at the elbows and shoulders accept accessory body armor, while 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material piping provides enhanced reflectivity in low light. It’s available in either Black or Black/White in S – 5XL and Tall sizes. The Regulator Perforated Leather Jacket is available now at most Harley-Davidson dealerships.

We introduced Gary to Wire Plus electrical systems during the Cycle Source/Bikernet Sweeps build.

The White Zombies may have defined it — “400 horsepower of maximum performance piercing the night … This is black sunshine.” But Brian Elliott brings the ride to life. “My main job is to restore engine cases and frames, so people can restore the bikes themselves or pass on to someone else,” said Elliott, who re-creates 1970s and older Harley-Davidson motorcycle frames as part of his business, Black Sunshine Customs. He also can re-create the entire bike, a task that can take two months to over a year to do. “I don’t like to build bikes, but I do it to fund the other work.” He searches for original parts at swap meets and at other garages and shops. If he can’t find the part, he will manufacture it himself. “When you are restoring a bike, you don’t want something off the shelf, you want an original part.” Motorcycle buffs from all over the world, including Australia, England, France, Italy and Germany, where the older Harley-Davidson culture is very popular, have work done by Black Sunshine Motors. Although motorcycle enthusiasts may dream of spending every day with knucklehead frames and old Harley-Davidson parts, the business started from a nightmare. The love of motorcycles started when Elliott was 18 years old and “tinkering” around. He started restoring a bike, but had to sell it after his first child, daughter Myia, was born in April 1998. “I gave up a little when I had kids,” he said, with no regrets. In January 2002, Elliott’s then 2-year-old son, Brodin, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor at the base of the brain that can affect the spinal cord fluid. “When he was going through all of this, I couldn’t keep my head straight,” Elliott recalls. “If you’re watching TV, you’re still thinking about

  PennDOT Encourages Sharing the Road, Reinforces New Teen Rider Law  With the increasing popularity of motorcycling in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett has signed a proclamation commemorating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. "More people are traveling Pennsylvania roadways on their motorcycles, but it's important that riders and motorists alike are sharing the road safely," Corbett said. "If car, truck and motorcycle operators follow simple steps like looking out for each other and obeying speed limits, we can work together to reduce the number of crashes and highway deaths we see each year." Last year in Pennsylvania there were 854,493 licensed motorcyclists, a 13 percent increase from a decade ago, and 409,017 registered motorcycles, 54 percent higher than a decade ago. PennDOT data shows there were nearly 4,000 crashes involving motorcycles statewide last year, resulting in 210 fatalities. This marks an increase from 2011 when there more than 3,600 crashes involving motorcycles and 199 fatalities in those crashes. Motorcycle safety was emphasized with Corbett's signing of Act 84 of 2012, which requires motorcycle permit holders under 18 years old to take and successfully complete the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program's (PAMSP) Basic Rider Course (BRC) in order to receive their license. The 15-hour BRC consists of five hours of in-class instruction and 10 hours of practical riding experience. The course provides valuable training for new riders and gives experienced riders the opportunity to polish their skills and correct any unsafe riding habits they may have developed. Students taking the BRC are provided with a motorcycle and helmet; however, students are responsible for providing all other protective gear. The 15 hours of training count toward the required 65 hours of training a permit holder under 18 must complete in order to receive their license. Continue reading

Receive a $40 Gift Card with the Purchase of Two Tires May 1 Through June 15 Participating Harley-Davidson® dealers and Dunlop® have teamed up to offer a $40 consumer mail-in rebate on a set of Harley-Davidson-branded Dunlop tires purchased May 1 through June 15. The offer applies to a set of two new H-D/Dunlop tires (excluding Police tires) and will be paid in the form of a $40 Harley-Davidson Gift Card which can be used at any authorized Harley-Davidson dealership or h-d.com/store. Dunlop tires are made in the USA and have been mounted as original equipment on Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1984. Dunlop is recognized as one of the world leaders in motorcycle tire design, engineering and manufacturing excellence. The H-D/Dunlop rebate offer applies to consumer purchases made exclusively at a participating Harley-Davidson dealership between May 1 and June 15, 2013. A form available from the participating Harley-Davidson dealer must be postmarked by July 31, 2013. Additional terms and conditions apply. See a participating Harley-Davidson dealer for complete details or go to h-d.com/dunlop.

Chicago's Mods vs Rockers has grown to the biggest event of its kind in the US, but that hasn't stopped Steel Toe Press from making it even bigger in 2013. The top-notch motorcycle and scooter rally will expand to include hot rods among thousands of vintage bikes n' scoots. With the addition of the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago's premiere venue for live entertainment, attendees will experience an indoor and outdoor mix of motorcycles and music, featuring Reverend Horton Heat, 'Stray Cat' Lee Rocker, the Supersuckers and more great bands. There'll be action on Friday and Saturday, so check out modsvsrockerschicago.com to see when and where it's all happening! The Mods vs Rockers event is a Steel Toe Press / Uptown Events production. SteelToePress Music: "Baddest of the Bad" by ReverendHortonHeat.com This teaser was filmed/edited by GoodSparkGarage.com Mods vs Rockers Chicago 2013 – Teaser from Good Spark Garage on Vimeo.