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HUFFY IS HITTING THE ROAD WITH WEST COAST CHOPPERS — BRINGING TO MARKET THE BADDEST AND BOLDEST BIKE TO SWEEP THE STREETS OF AMERICA.
Miamisburg, OH Jan 25, 2005 – HUFFY CORPORATION (OTC:HUFC) Huffy announced it has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with one of the foremost authorities, and celebrities on two wheels, West Coast Choppers and Jesse James.
Under this agreement, Huffy will begin to roll out a whole new breed of bicycle. Designed by the man himself, Jesse James, the West Coast Chopper Bikes have arrived at Wal-Mart Stores across the country in time for spring. Huffy and West Coast Choppers will begin releasing additional custom designed models to all retail partners creating one of the hottest bicycle line-ups to ever hit the market. Each bike is handcrafted and designed with the same flair, fuel and funk for which Jesse and WCC are synonymous.
“We’ve built our reputation on doing things our own way,” says Jesse. “Every day is filled with crazy new ideas, countless hours of shaping and polishing metal until it becomes our signature mark. The minute a finished chopper rolls out of our garage and we take it on that first ride, man you feel like a kid all over again. Every kid dreams of some day riding a West Coast Chopper. Now they can!”
“We’re not just re-inventing the wheel. We’re smashing it to pieces. Bending shredded piles of fenders and frames and welding them into bikes that we dreamed of as kids – thick, mean, street machines,” adds Jesse. “The way they should be.”
Supported by a dynamic and multi-faceted Public Relations campaign, strategically timed product placement and cross- over support through endorsement opportunities on some of the hottest daytime and evening television programming, Jesse and Huffy will continue to blaze a trail of success no matter where the road turns; proving that the Huffy brand is as strong as ever – East Coast to West Coast.
New Models Include All-New VRSCR Street Rod, 15th Anniversary Edition Fat Boy and Sportster 883R–
MILWAUKEE (January 24, 2005) ? Harley-Davidson expands its model offerings with an all-new 2006 VRSCR Street Rod, a big bore 15th Anniversary Edition 2005 Fat Boy and dirt track-inspired 2005 Sportster 883R.
?Custom motorcycles are our passion,? said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson director of marketing, motorcycle product development. ?That passion inspired the styling and performance of these three motorcycles, which reflect the spirit of Harley-Davidson.?
Each of the newest Harley-Davidson motorcycles carves its own niche while remaining true to the heritage of its respective model family. And each provides an unmistakable statement of individual style.
Highlights of the 2006 VRSCR Street Rod:
The roadster-inspired VRSCR Street Rod sets a new standard and a bold direction for the VRSC family combining style and performance in equal measure. The newest member of the VRSC family is decidedly more aggressive with its upright riding position, inverted front forks, 40-degree lean angle, 1130cc Revolution V-Twin engine and tuned suspension.
Highlights of the 2005 15th Anniversary Edition FLSTFI Fat Boy:
For 15 years the Fat Boy has ruled the heavyweight cruiser class by blending classic hardtail styling with a heart-pounding counter-balanced V-Twin engine. The 15th Anniversary Edition Fat Boy commemorates the model?s journey with an extra helping of chrome, performance and style.
Its signature solid disc wheels have been chromed, making a visual statement that?s as powerful as it is custom. The two color options?Vivid Black and Brilliant Silver, a nod to the original color introduced in 1990?are complemented by a matched paint scheme on its counter-balanced V-Twin motor. A 24K gold-plated tank emblem and unique Badlander-inspired, double-stitched seam seat, gold striped air cleaner cover, timer cover and ignition switch plate are unique custom treatments.
Driving that point home is a big bore, fuel-injected 1550cc Twin Cam 95 engine producing 87.1-ft.-lbs. of torque at 4000 rpm. It?s counterbalanced and solid-mounted to deliver the Softail?s tightly-framed, timeless style and strong roll-on power with just the right amount of feedback to the rider. The 15th Anniversary Fat Boy will be available until June 2005, while supplies last.
Highlights of the 2005 Sportster XL883R:
The Sportster XL883R pays tribute to the famed Harley-Davidson XR dirt track racers with eye-catching, race-inspired styling elements. Most noticeable are the blacked-out Evolution powertrain and race-ready 883R graphics on the classic, orange 3.3-gallon fuel tank.
A staggered shorty dual exhaust system and dual front disc brakes reflect the 883R?s competitive DNA. Blacked-out components like fork sliders, headlamp eyebrow, handlebars, air cleaner cover and rear shock springs enhance its distinctive style and make it a fun bike to ride.
Like all 2005 model year Sportsters, the 883R offers uncompromised comfort and handling thanks to its redesigned-in-2004 Evolution engine that?s rubber-mounted to a stronger, more rigid frame.
Motorcyclists have Capitol idea–
Riders lobby for changes to law on helmet wear, insurance coverage
By JEFFREY GILBERT
AUSTIN – The roar of motorcycles outside the Texas Capitol on Monday was matched by the cheers of hundreds of leather-clad riders inside.Since then, five states ? Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and Pennsylvania ? relaxed their motorcycle helmet requirements, according to the NCSL.
The bikers, who stood and yelled loud and long when they were introduced to House members, were in town to push for several changes to current laws involving motorcyclists.
“We elected these officials,” said Bill Walker, a rider from Irving. “We came down to make sure they know that they are working for us. We sent them here.”The riders came to Austin to urge lawmakers to repeal provisions in Texas’ current helmet law that say riders over age 21 are not required to wear a helmet as long as they have a $10,000 insurance policy or have taken a rider safety training course.
Opponents complain that police officers and judges across the state don’t know the law, resulting in riders who meet those requirements getting tickets anyway.
“We have been working on getting this changed for years,” said Sputnik, chair of the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association, who does not use a last name.Sputnik said it is especially a problem in smaller towns, where the laws are not as well-known. He said if the amendments are not repealed this session, riders will start filing civil lawsuits against the state claiming infringement on their civil rights.
“They can’t be giving us tickets when we are legal,” he said.Other riders said the choice to wear a helmet should be entirely up to each rider and the legislators shouldn’t have anything to say about it.
“Helmets can be dangerous, too,” said Adolf Aguirre, a rider from Austin. “You can’t hear. You can get whiplash.”
Several of the riders said the insurance requirement is pointless because after an accident, many insurance companies refuse to pay because riding a motorcycle is considered a “hazardous act.”
“If we get drunk and pile up our cars, insurance is going to cover us even though it is illegal to drink and drive,” said Wesley Brown, a rider in Austin. “But they won’t cover us.”
Sputnik said his group also wants to get a bill passed to force insurance companies to cover motorcycle riders. He said the association has not found a legislator to sponsor that yet.
“Last session, we tried this and couldn’t even get a committee hearing,” he said. “So we want to work with the head of the insurance committee to cover all of our bases first.”
The riders also are lobbying for a “failure to yield” law. The current fine is anywhere from $25 to $100 if a driver fails to yield the right of way and causes a wreck that results in serious bodily injury to another driver. Riders claim motorcyclists get hurt more in such situations and that drivers often leave the scene.
Sputnik said his association is asking for the fine to be increased to $500, with the money going into a safety and awareness fund. Also, the group wants a 90-day driver’s license suspension for the first offense and a one-year suspension for the second offense.Riders in several Texas cities also are fighting to get motorcycle crossing signs put up on streets and highways.
“They put up signs for ducks and deer but not for bikers,” said Bert Brown, a rider from San Antonio. “They even have them for turtles, but not for us.”
Rogue
http:// http://www.bikerrogue.com
COMPU-FIRE IN CINCINNATI–Compu-Fire Performance Products will be displaying their entire product lineincluding the new Direct Drive Starting System at the V-Twin Expo inCincinnati this weekend. The first application for the D2S (Direct DriveStarting System) is for Softails and is combined with a Rivera/Primo OpenPrimary Belt Drive. The new Compu-Fire Gen III Starter is the first starterdesigned to turn over big inch large displacement engines with in thelimitations of the standard battery. The Gen III is proven on S&S 124 and145’s, Jim’s 120’s, Patrick, and Rev-Tech engines without the need forcompression releases. Compu-Fire will be in booth 846.
ALMONDS–A tour bus driver drives with a bus full of seniors down a highway when a little old lady taps him on his shoulder. She offers him a handful of almonds, which he gratefully munches up.
After about 15 minutes, she taps him on his shoulder again and gives him another handful of almonds. She repeats this gesture about eight times.
The ninth time, he asks the little old lady why she doesn’t eat the almonds herself; whereupon she replies it’s not possible because her old teeth won’t allow her to chew the nuts.
“Then, why do you buy them?” he asks puzzled, whereupon the old lady answers:
“I just love the chocolate around them.”
Rev Carl
Police search for ‘Biker MD’ repair truck–SAN RAMON – Police are trying to find out what happened to a 28-foot-long step-van truck outfitted with all the machinery and tools to perform motorcycle repairs.
Tom Mueller, owner-operator of the San Ramon-based Biker MD, told police his truck was stolen sometime between 9:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday from a lot behind the Outpost Casino on San Ramon Valley Boulevard.
The 1983 truck, a reconditioned former Mac Tools delivery truck, contained some $30,000 in tools and machines to do a wide range of motorcycle repairs. The truck was designed to bring the services to the customers, Mueller said; several East Bay police departments that use motorcycles were clients, he said. Biker MD officially started business in August.
“We’re guessing the people who stole the truck are motorcyclists who want to set up their own shop,” said Mueller, a 16-year San Ramon resident. The timing of the theft was bad, too, he said; Spring is when bikers typically start getting out more, joining clubs, making long touring rides.
“This has really screwed up my life,” he said.
Anyone with information about the truck’s theft can call Sgt. Bani Kollo at the San Ramon Police Department at 925-973-2702.
Rogue
State liquor board weighs Hudson club’s fate–
By DENNIS SHAUGHNESSEY, MediaNews
CONCORD Town officials say it’s a magnet for motorcycle gangs, but the owner of The Zone Entertainment Complex in Hudson says he is just trying to run an honest business.
The State Liquor Commission is deciding whether to revoke the club’s license. Investigators say the place is a hangout for Hell’s Angels and they accuse former employees of instigating a double shooting between rival bikers who wandered into the club in August. Police say shutting down The Zone would improve public safety.
In pleading the case for his license, Zone owner David Daigneault said, “We haven’t had one gang member come in since the shooting.”
“For the past several months The Zone has been a quiet establishment,” Whitney said. “He is a contentious, faithful man whose livelihood is at stake.”
Gendron said his department responded to The Zone 34 times since the club opened in January 2004. Some of those calls were the results of what he called “directed patrols,” in which officers were instructed to enter the club and determine if intoxicated patrons were being served alcohol.
Daigneault pleaded with the commission to give him another chance to prove his trustworthiness.
The commission is expected to make a decision within the next three weeks.
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