General Posts

I’ve found the traffic on Junction when riding into Sturgis is always a good guide to rally attendance numbers, and on Sunday afternoon, it was jam-packed for what seemed like forever. And on Monday, walking around Sturgis and talking with vendors confirmed it: the 2012 Rally looks like being a biggie. Several long term vendors told me that they had already enjoyed the best business for several years and the signs were very encouraging indeed. The weather has stayed hot for the past several days with no sign of thunderstorms just yet. The AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building is down somewhat in the number of entries this year, but the standard seems exceptionally high. This is the last year the event is being held in the US and from 2013 on it will be held in Germany. Harley-Davidson has delayed the release of the 2013 models so for the first time there are no new model year bikes to view or test ride and no doubt the motor company has their reasons for this but it has both surprised and disappointed a number of rally goers with whom I have spoken. Cycle Source held their 15th Anniversary celebration on Sunday evening and the even was jam-packed with many of the who’s who of the industry. Chris Callen thanked his staff, supporters and contributors and presented quite a number of awards. A slimmed down Chris said his weight loss came about not for health reasons, no sirree, but because some months back he found he could not fit on in a roller coaster seat no matter how hard he held his gut in. Now that’s motivation! More on the Rally tomorrow. 

  These photos are part of a gallery exhibit at the University of Rochester, in Rochester, NY. All of the photos are of abandoned places around Western New York. There are many abandoned buildings in this area due to rapid economic/infrastructure changes in the last century. The replacement of the Eerie Canal with the New York Thruway, the collapse of film photography, and over-development before the recent recession left the area with lots of empty buildings and no reason to replace them with something new. I'm told the motorcycles used to be at a place called Cole's on the north side of the Erie Canal but got moved to this site when urban renewal started along the canal. The owner apparently died in the 1970's, and now the motorcycles have just been left there to rust. I'm not sure who owns the place now.   I didn't have much time to take pictures there, as we had many other abandoned sites to see, but it's really a huge place, three stories, and just brimming with antique motorcycles and parts. The pictures are all taken on the second, and most structurally stable floor of the building.   The motorcycle graveyard, as my friends and I are now calling it, is definitely one of the most eerie, strangest places I have ever been, and i think these pictures really speak to the tendency for old things to be forgotten in america, especially in rural areas, where a building can lay unoccupied for decades. -Chris Seward   UPDATE: The place has been cleaned out. No more motorcycles.dcclassiccycles.dynamitedave.com/graveyard.html

This is a classic!

A Handy Bag Available in Black or Brown Distressed Leather

NHRA announced today the formation of the NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Championship Motorcycle Series, a 10-race series that will compete at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional events beginning in 2013.

Lupo massages a ’57 Bel Air taillight and bumper extension to fit his crazy Harley project. Click on the photo to see it on Bikernet, gory details and all.

Reports from the Chip in Sturgis right now!

A team of pretty girls handles 60 percent of this bike's build. Click on the photo to check out this new bike feature on Bikernet.   

Jim Gianatsis report on the L.A. Calendar Show, as the event enters its third decade. Click on the photo to read the feature on Bikernet

Motor Trike, Inc. announced a new accessory for their Victory® touring line conversion, the Vortex. To add style and design, Vortex owners now have the option of adding Vortex Trax to their trike. Not only do these one-piece running boards add a custom look and flair to the trike, they are functional as well. They offer a patented “step and walk on” design. Optional auxiliary fog lights are also available which help enhance the rider’s vision and safety. The Company is currently taking orders for the Vortex Trax at a price of $925.00 per set with optional Vortex Trax fog light kit at a price of $199.95. Optional color-match paint is available starting at $375.00 for one-tone. PRODUCT INFORMATION http://www.motortrike.com/mt3Vortex.aspx