Hey,
This year gets more wild by the minute. First there’s 360 degree brakes in wheel hubs, now we have Matt Hotch batteries that last 10 years and cost $500. I saw a demonstration. They’re amazing and for once a guy can build a killer bike, let it set for six months, ship it across the country and guarantee that it will start. Watch for reports coming weekly in our news.
We launched our third Bonneville chapter and the action is heating up for this year. Sturgis plans are already underway for Sturgis County Line, Bikernet’s home, and Jay Allen’s Broken Spoke.
On the down side I asked if I should mention companies that are having problems paying their bills, and we may be forced to take only two companies to court, Von Dutch Motorcycles and Patriot Motorcycles and Steel Dreams Television. Von Dutch has been given notice to vacate their building because they’re not paying the rent and Patriot let the entire staff of Steeds motorcycles go and quit building big motorcycles.
Only three companies, out of the hundreds we’ve dealt with have stiffed us. The other one is Johnny Suede, and we offered to sell his product-fools. Okay enough of the dark-side off the industry, let’s rock with the news. It’s happening and non-stop. The buzz is the Cincy Show, weekend after next, and all the new stuff destined to be unveiled. Some if it will be covered right here, so let’s get to it. If you can’t make Cincy then Daytona will be the place. If you can’t hit the events, stay here. We’ll bring you everything hot and happening:
CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS LAUNCHES DEALER PROGRAM–California Customs, long known as an innovator in the custom motorcycle industry is now offering dealerships to a select number of custom shops for their custom designed unassembled kit bike line. With 25 base models, the most in the industry, and the totally custom designed concept, another first in this industry, California Customs is revolutionizing the custom build it yourself market.
Every bike, kit form or complete built bike is designed to the client’s specs, from frame specs to wheels to sheetmetal to exhaust, every piece is dictated by the client.
By offering our kits to custom shops it allows the shop owner to sell the bike as an unassembled kit or the shop can assemble the bike, add their own custom items like paint and sell the bike as a complete new bike. All California Customs bikes come with an MSO for the finished bike and are listed in the Blue Book and NADA guides.
For more information call California Customs at 650-254-0963 or check out the web site at www.calcustom.com.
EXCLUSIVE TO BIKERNET – THE DICK ALLEN BOBBER–Bobbers. Not sure what a Bobber is. When I hear the name I think of thosestripped down post WWII bikes with plunger seats and ugly handlebars.They don’t do much for me.
I like ’em low and squatty in the back, up highin the front, dual Del’orto’s, Frisco pegs, throw over saddle bags, maybe alittle windshield for the long haul.
–Dick Allen
dickallen@shaw.ca
DARWIN MOTORCYCLES FEATURED ON V-TWIN TV, — Oklahoma City, Okla. (January 17, 2007) New custom bike manufacturer Darwin Motorcycles, makers of the Brass Balls Bobbers line, will was featured on Tuesday, January 23 on SPEED Channel?s V-Twin Motorcycle TV.
Darwin Motorcycles is a new production custom shop owned by racing champion Sam Wills and entrepreneur Dar Holdsworth. In addition to its debut on V-Twin Motorcycle TV, the company is also featured in this month’s V-Twin Magazine.
“This is a new chapter for me and Dar and we are very excited to take our bike building passion to another level,” said Wills. “We’re also stoked about our SPEED Channel appearance and we are grateful to the V-Twin TV crew for working so hard to capture what makes Darwin Motorcycles and our Brass Balls Bobbers line so unique.”
Wills, a racing legend and former World Champion in Top Fuel Bikes, has also made many appearances with the Teutels on Discovery Channel’s American Chopper. He also builds bike frames for many industry notables, including Orange County Choppers. Holdsworth is a long-time motorcycle enthusiast and successful entrepreneur who runs a fixture company that does business with Fortune 500 firms. Recently, Holdsworth was invited to ride with Tom Zimberoff and Gard Hollinger for the taping of Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off show.
Darwin Motorcycles was created in June 2006 by business guru Dar Holdsworth and racing record holder Sam Wills. The Oklahoma-based custom bike manufacturer produces the Brass Balls Bobbers brand and specializes in building a line of track-inspired quality bikes for the average Joe.
The factory is located at 13613 Eskridge Drive in Oklahoma City. Visit the company online at www.darwinmotorcycles.com.
EVIL ENGINEERING HT BELT DRIVE–Evil Engineering offers an all billet open primary design that is unlike anything currently available on the market.
H T stands for High Torque..Seriously High Torque!
The H T Belt Drive is a HOT (Helical Offset Tooth) design built to withstand high torque Harley engines. Our Evil design will reduce belt drive associated noise as compared to standard belt styles and is packaged with an ultra performance clutch to match.
Available now are the 4″ pictured below and 2″ Basic Bobber Style (bearing support optional). Coming Soon 17″ Center Distance Drop Starter Belt Drive. All available raw or polished.
Bottom Line – Stronger, Quieter, Lighter, Better. Now that’s EVIL!
For more information call us at 800-372-8612!Proudly Made in the USA!
BIKERNET ART EXHIBIT AND HISTORY LESSON BY DICK ALLEN–Bike: 495cc Raleigh,Rider: C.J. Williams.
JOHNNY CHOP POSTERS STILL AVAILABLE–I wanted to share with everyone who purchased a Builder and Machine print of Johnny Chop that the assistance league of Los Alto’s sent along their gratitude of money donated through the sales of Johnny’s Builder and Machine Portrait. The donation’s to H.O.M.E. apartments at Stanford university will help continue to serve those who stay at H.O.M.E. during what is a most difficult time.
Posters are still available at www.saraliberte.comand money will continue to go directly to H.O.M.E. If you would like to make a donation in Johnny’s memory on your own, that can be sent directly to H.O.M.E. 169 State Street Los Altos CA 94022
~Much Respect, Sara Liberte.
HALLCRAFT INDUSTRIES INTRODUCES SPOKE CLASSIC LINE–GAINESVILLE, Texas (January 24, 2007) Well known as one of the oldest and strongest brands in the industry for its quality, high end wire wheels, Hallcraft Industries introduces the latest in spoke wheel technology with an entire line of trend setting, high-end wire wheels starting with the 60 (.192″ diameter), 80 (.192″) and 100 (.156″) Spoke Classic Wire Wheels.
All wheels are chromed and include sealed roller bearings (2000 and up), spacers and valve stems. The wheels are available in 16″ x 3.5″, 16″ X 6″, 18″ x 3.5″, 18″ X 5.5″, 19″ x 2.15″, 21″ x 2.15″ and 21″ X 3.25″.
Hallcraft Industries’ products will be located at the Rucker Performance booth at the Cincinnati V-Twin Expo, Booth #2425.
Hallcraft Industries has a history of producing wire wheels with the highest standards and machine work. Log on to www.hall-crafts.com and see the new product line of wheels.
About Hallcraft IndustriesFounded in 1966, Hallcraft Industries manufactures spoke wheels, brake rotors and related components. The company headquarters are located in Gainesville, Texas.Log on to www.hall-crafts.com
Hallcraft Industries products will be on display at the Rucker Performance booth #2425 at the Cincinnati V-Twin Expo. We look forward to seeing you there.
–Meredith Husak
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Rucker Performance
(817) 838 – 3200 Business
(817) 838 – 3215 Fax
www.ruckerperformance.com
AUSTRALIAN FACTS–Just found out our local Harley shop sold 150 Harleys last year – approx 100,000 people in area. That’s one new Harley for every 666 people – the devil’s number! That’d be like selling 3,033 new Harleys in New York (22 mil) last year.
–Bob Kotmel
MARINA DEL REY DEALERSHIP FOR SALE–In the hottest Gasoline Alley neighborhood in LA, right across the street from Bartels H-D on Lincoln Blvd. It’s owned by Gard from LA Chop Rods. He has two shops and one has got to go. For more information call Gard at (310) 569-6244
BIKERNET TRIBUTE TO THE GODFATHER OF SOUL, JAMES BROWN–Here’s a better-late-than-never photo for a Bikernet tribute to James Brown.Ran across it in my files last night. I took it from a buddy’s record collectiona few years back. I’d never seen it before.
It’s a cool photo on several levels.I had a white Sportster just like it. Love the girl and the ’70s Americana look(it almost looks like she’s mourning).
LIVING-IN-AMERICA!
–Chris Kallas
AVON TYRES TECH QUESTION OF THE WEEK–If a rim is bent a tubeless tire will fail?
Believe it or not I’ve seen lots of riders riding around with bent rims and the tire has not failed – tubeless or tube type with a tube in it. Running a tube as an extra precaution could help but running a tube in a tubeless tire on a tubeless applicable rim could cause the tire to heat up more than normal and cause premature wear. And if a rim is bent enough for a tire to leak air the rim should be replaced.
–Sukoshi Fahey (Ms.)
Sales Manager, North America
Hoppe & Assoc. (Avon Tyres)
800 624-7470 toll free
425-771-2115 phone425-771-4246 fax
www.avonmotorcycle.com
www.avonmoto.com/ (check this site for promotions)
GOOD NEWS FOR THE AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST–On January 21, 2007 at the Wingate Hotel in Madison Wisconsin a group of motorcycle riders met to help get ONE OF OUR OWN to the White House as our next President.
This group will work with the motorcycle riders of the United States to help get Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin elected as President. While Tommy Thompson was Governor of Wisconsin many good pieces of legislation favorable to motorcyclist was passed. That will continue when he becomes President!
Attending the meeting were: Tommy Thompson, Dean Stensberg, Jeff Hennie, Dave Zien, Dave “Chubby” Charlebois, Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, Jerry Weiner, Rich Kuchenbecker, New York Myke, Reverend John “Rogue” Herlihy, Joe “Stormin” Norman, Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo, Vicki “#9” Sanfelipo.
Each one of these people have extensive backgrounds in motorcycling and other qualities that make them qualified for this team.
There is a lot of work to do and we will be setting up a web site so that you can stay up to date on what is happening. This and the other things we have to do will take a little time and we will keep everyone up to date on our progress.
I will be working with the motorcycle media through out this.
I am requesting all who want to get involved and help to contact me and let me know how you feel you can do so.
Just for the record I did shake Tommy Thompson’s hand as a commitment to do my best to make this happen. We can do this with your help!
— ROGUE
D&D EXHAUST QUESTION Mr. D&D is taking all questions. Send your performance exhaust question to Mr. D&D at exhaustman@horsepowermarketing.com.
Answer
Glenn my boy, do we have an answer for you! Quiet baffles are available for the Fat Cat systems. They are involved to remove and install. Enthusiasts without the ability to do this themselves should have a competent mechanic complete the installation.
The team at Zippers should not have any problems with this update.
Enthusiasts have reported back to us about an increase the HP and torque by a few numbers after installing the new quiet baffle. The sound is reduced approx 50% over all. Retuning has not been an issue if you are changing from the standard baffle to the quiet baffle. This is because the cores are basically the same for the two silencers.
The baffle for your bike will need to be ordered through us because this is a special order. Our order hotline is 817-834-8961.
Please note, D & D will not warranty any systems and or parts that may be damaged through the removal and or install of the new baffles. And we do not replace them here at our facility.
Question: Why do mufflers blue?
Answer:
Chrome turns blue due to oxidation at high temperature. If you look behind our heat shields you Will find bluing on all of our headpipes due to exhaust gas temperatures above 1000 degrees F. The heat-shields provide an air-gap to reduce conductive heat transfer, plus chrome plating to reduce radiant heat transfer. Also the billet clamp mounts and the heavy gage of the heat-shields themselves help prevent hot spots. Our baffle designs incorporate a variety of protective chambers, sealed exhaust pathways and heavy gage materials to protect the finish.
Bluing of heat shields and muffler housings is caused by excessive heat generated from improper fuel mixture, ignition timing, or a combination of the two. Rich fuel mixtures burn inside the pipe and lean mixtures raise the exhaust gas temperature .
This inquiry was sent in from Brian Cook of Speedway, IN. Mr. D&D is taking all questions. Send your performance exhaust question to Mr. D&D at exhaustman@horsepowermarketing.com.
EVIL ENGINEERING, LLC. RETRO FINNED FILTER–Our generator style oil filter is ready to bolt onto all old school generator case motors. This filter set-up features a stainless filter element and a built-in thermostat for optimum results. The high performance filter element provides 30 micron filtration time and time again – Just clean and reuse with every oil change.
Available today by Evil Engineering, LLC.Phone 800-372-8612 or visit us on the web at Evil-Engineering.com
Proudly Made in the USA!
2-WHEELERS PRODUCT OF THE WEEK–Universal Twin Bulb Custom Plastic Taillight $74.99.
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