Hey,
It’s a wild Thursday. Damn, there’s a tremendous amount of action going on in this industry and with Bikernet. We’re working with the Easyriders Show Circuit this year as a sponsor and we’ll bring you news about the shows and Rodeos all year long.
We are also sponsoring Jay Allen’s Broken Spoke locations at Sturgis, Daytona and Biketoberfest. In addition we’re working with Victory to cover their custom build by Kent Weeks of Lucky Devil Metal Works, in Houston. That’s just the tip of the welding rod.
Wait, here’s our initial World’s Fastest Panhead concept drawing by Chris Kallas. We’re on the move.Let’s hit the news:
CHANGING FACE OF BIKETOBERFEST–Things have been changing in Daytona Beach and the surrounding area for motorcycle events and that has become more evident at the recent Biketoberfest. I would say the most obvious is that the activities are moving from Main and Beach Streets. Oh Main Street and downtown will always have its fair share of visitors, as it should have, but those who visit there have noticed a decrease in traffic, which is good.
The Hot Spot now is Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona at I-95 and US1. That also means the businesses on US1 like the Broken Spoke, Iron Horse, and Peggy’s on the Ormond strip are doing well. That trend is continuing to the surrounding areas outside the city. From Jacksonville to Cocco Beach on the coast to Orlando inland all have plenty going on.
Many of the motorcyclists are now being seen with their children and it appears that will continue. The Rats Hole Show and other events that are family oriented and seem to be doing well. Orlando also has many family activities and lower lodging rates in many cases.
There are more women riding their own motorcycles many with their children on the back and occasionally with a male passenger. There also seems to be a increase in some of the 40 and above group. Biketoberfest is growing and spreading out across central Florida!
It is believed that this will set a pattern that will continue for Bike Week in March.
–Rogue
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com
THE NEXT LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE FUEL INJECTION-PEGASUS BY BDL–Here’s is a picture of the fuel injection kit, BDL part # PFI-2006, list price $1895.00. This system is entirely tuneable for whatever combination you may have. Also is set up to be a clean custom application.
We will install one shortly on my 120-inch Accurate Panhead and do some dyno testing. Hang on for reports in the near future. One of these puppies is also destined for our next Bonneville bike.
THREAD CITY CYCLE SHOW COMMITTEE–Here’s a nice picture of Mike Dodds and Karen who were instrumental in the success of the Thread City Cycle Old Skool show in Windham, Connecticut last weekend. There were 35 awesome bikes in the show, and people came from New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass., even Maine to attend. The music was funky blues and everyone was riding in the COLD but clear Sunday wind.
My report will follow once I get my Florida toes thawed out.I promise a full report with these great folks from the chillin’ Northeast.Yeah, baby, these are the real homies from way, way back and they are going strong!
I am proud to call them friends.
–Katmandu
LA CALENDAR MOTORCYCLE BEST OF SHOW WINNER SHINY KIMURA RELOCATES TO AMERICA–October 2006 – Japan’s legendary custom bike builder Shinya Kimura, formerly of Zero Engineering fame and Best of Show winner at the 2004 Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show, has now relocated to Southern California in the city of Azusa, opening a new bike building shop under the name Chabbot Engineering.
Shinya originated the now hugely popular retro classic style of bike building from old basket case American V-twin bikes and leftover parts. His first motorcycle repair shop in Japan was called Chabott, and later with partners evolved into Zero Engineering which became world famous for Shiny’s eclectic motorcycle designs.After coming to America in 2004 to compete in the the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show’s Performance Machine Calendar Bike Building Championship, win and have the winning bike featured in the FastDates.com Iron & Lace Calendar, Zero Engineering decided to open a 2nd shop in Las Vegas to better serve the American market. Shinya has had his unique bikes continuously featured in the Iron & Lace Calendar for 3 years now photographed by Fastdates.com Calendar and Bike Show producer Jim Gianatsis.
Now after 2 years, Shinya has parted ways with Zero Engineering, the company he founded, and is now on his own again under his original shop name of Chabott Engineering. Chabbot Engineering, Suite 7, 1101 West Foothill Blvd, Azusa, CA 91702. Phone 626.334.5136. ChabottEngineering.com
ROAD WEARY FILMS WINDS THEIR WAY TO HOLLYWOOD–Burbank, California- Road Weary Films, a leading video and film production company that specializes in the V-twin market, as well as the action sports and hip hop markets, is currently working on signing a deal with ICM a world re-known talent agency. International Creative Management/ICM represents on-air and creative talent in all segments of the entertainment industry and has helped clients create some of television’s longest-running and most critically-acclaimed programs such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Friends,” “The Simpsons,” “Frasier” and “Cheers,” to name a few. RWF is also finalizing a “multi platform distribution” deal with Ripe Digital Entertainment to have a variety of their current DVD and several new DVD’s aired on one of their many new cable shows such as Octane TV, NASCAR Octane TV and Ripe TV.
Ripe Digital Entertainment is also working with a variety of other future networks. Ripe Digital Entertainment, Inc. is a leader in Video On Demand digital entertainment distribution, advertising and production. RDE aggregates and creates short-form video programming targeted at young adult audiences for simultaneous distribution over cable, broadband and wireless platforms.
Road Weary Films not only specializes in TV show development, but also video production, specialty DVD’s such as Mike Learn’s series of “how to” airbrush painting videos, commercial and promotional DVD’s for companies, including many in the V-twin market.
Mike Learn is one of the industry leading painters and has worked with the complete “Who’s Who” in the custom bike builder market. “It’s been a long road for us to get at this point in our life, but we’ve had a blast working with such notables as Mike Learn, Paul Yaffe, Joe Martin of The Martin Bros., Brian Klock, Michael Lichter, Billy Lane, Kendall Johnson, Rick Fairless, Joe T, Hellbound Steel Motorcycles, American IronHorse and most recently, we covered the 2006 Las Vegas Bikefest and are in the process of making them a docu-style promotional video”, stated Scott Thiel, Vice President of Creative Development.
“We’ve recently produced a pilot for one of the cable networks called The Grindz and are currently in negotiations with them for distribution rights”, added Ryan Thiel, Head of Production for RWF. The Grindz is a half-hour unscripted TV series that focuses on today’s hottest multi-cultural movement. Grammy Award winner Prodigal Sunn and X-games medalist Ronnie Faisst of the Metal Mulisha host this behind the scenes look at what it takes to succeed in both hip hop and action sports worlds. The show features brilliant action footage, including some from the V-twin market, combined with exclusive Hip-Hop performances.
“We have also created two other series that we’re getting ready to talk to several other networks” concluded Ryan. In addition to these television projects, Road Weary Films is working with a large DVD distributor and is getting ready to produce a series of V-twin DVD’s with some of the top names in the industry that will have world-wide distribution. “We are currently putting together 3 DVD’s with footage that we shot of Paul Yaffe, Billy Lane, Kendall Johnson and other top custom builders. We will be contacting some of the new and upcoming builders to participate in our production.
Custom bike builders, sponsors and companies that have unique products that would like to be considered for participation in this production should contact Rick Raus of V-Twin Marketing at 714-280-8537 or Ryan Thiel of Road Weary Films at 605-850-3620. Shooting is tentatively scheduled to take place in Daytona Beach during Bike Week ’07. To see samples of their work, please check out their website at www.roadwearyfilms.com. Road Weary Films, 615 E. Magnolia Blvd., Suite D, Burbank, CA 91501.
BIKERNET FAMILY COUNSELING–Two guys from Daniels County are quietly sitting in a boat at Fort Peck, Montana fishing and sucking down beer when suddenly Mel says, “I think I’m going to divorce my wife – she hasn’t spoken to me in over 2 months.”
Earl sips his beer and says, “You better think it over – women like that are hard to find.”
–from Chris T.
MOTORBOOKS RELEASES NEW BOOK: THE ART OF THE BOBBER–If you were one of the lucky ones you already picked up this book at Daytona Biketoberfest. 12 of the builders from this new book were at the Rat’s Hole show in Daytona signing copies of the book featuring their bikes. Would make a great Christmas gift for the gearhead in your family. This book also features the photography of Sam Dixon along with many other photographers.
HOLLISTER IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER–Seth Doulton of Horsepower Promotions, a locally owned bike show promoter was hired by the City of Hollister to organize and handle all event proceedings. The Hollister Run will rock the world next summer and continue the tradition that set this industry ablaze. Seth will be taking bids for T-shirt vendors, organizing entertainment and working with vendors and sponsors.
Bikernet is proud to be one of the first sponsors of this historic rally and K.R. Ball has been elected to be the Chairman of the Advisory Committee. We look forward to working with Seth to develop an event that benefits the city and shows nothing but class for all riders who attend. “I’m involved because of two people,” Bandit said. “Seth Doulton is a promoter with class and he’ll treat everyone right from the riders, to the builders, show competitors and vendors. I’m also involved as a tribute to Wino Joe, who went to Hollister every year. Joe, a famous Easyriders photographer, had a stroke a couple of years ago and is still disabled. This is for you, Joe.”
MATT HOTCH BUILDS CHARITY BIKE–Medalist Laserfab, Inc., a progressive fabricating company from Oshkosh, Wis. has enlisted the direction of Matt Hotch, two-time winner of Discovery Channel’s “Biker Build-Off”, to help them build this one-off bobber-style motorcycle. This bike is being custom-built and donated for this auction!
Hotch has been hands-on in the design, construction, and ordering of quality parts from his suppliers for this sweet ride.
Pictured is the bike in Hotch’s shop during early stages of the build. More information and pictures will be posted soon. Follow regular updates of the bike being built on the ** In addition to purchase price, buyer is responsible for shipping LTL unless other arrangements are made. Business delivery is recommended. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. Buy Now Price: $75,000.00 BIKERNET READERSHIP NUMBERS UP 287% IN THREE YEARS–We have created a department called Bikernet Biz for companies interested in sponsoring Bikernet or being a banner advertisers. Chapters explain our mission, goals and programs completely and simply. Yesterday we posted the basic statistics indicating the growth of Bikernet over the last three years. Our numbers climbed steadily, check it out: http://www.bikernet.com/biz//PageViewer.asp?PageID=1193 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES ENCOURAGES RIDERS TO “BREAK THE LEASH” IN NEW ADVERTISING–WICHITA, Kansas (October 24, 2006) – Big Dog Motorcycles, the leader in the high-style cruiser niche and the world’s largest manufacturer of custom motorcycles, has developed a new tagline for its 2007 brand marketing efforts: “Break The Leash,” which targets the individualism of its buyers. “The new line amplifies our strategy to position Big Dog Motorcycles as the step-up brand to mass market cruisers. It dares the rider to be to be different and to demand more heart-stopping power and more show-winning style in their motorcycles,” commented Paul Hansen, Marketing Director. “It also reinforces our brand image that appeals to these individualists and thrill seekers.” “And at the same time, it reinforces our commitment to provide a different kind of motorcycle. One that breaks away from the pack of custom motorcycle manufacturers by focusing on higher quality, improved styling, and new technologies,” Hansen continued. The tagline will be incorporated into all 2007 model year marketing materials beginning this fall, including a redesigned consumer website, brochures, all-new print advertising, in-store displays, and an all-new television commercial that will run nationally beginning next spring. WEST COAST CHOPPERS REPORT–Things are moving sooo fast ! Our lead times are at a reasonable level, now that we have finished all the “sale” items from our big sale in ’05. We are striving to come up with a couple new items every other week. The radial bike had fire in the hole this week for the first time and should be putting rubber onto the asphalt soon. Also, we are donating a ’07 jeep liberty fully customized for a raffle on k earth 101 radio to benefit the USO. That’s just to name a few things. –Simo DRAG RACING MOTORCYCLISTS KILLS WOMAN–DAYTONA BEACH — Having just left the festivities at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Nora Cardona and her husband ambled north across the busy boulevard holding hands.As the couple neared the median, a 22-year-old man drag racing two friends on his sport bike struck Cardona, police said. “He ended up taking the woman right out of the man’s hand,” said Brandon Walden, who saw the crash as he waited to turn into the Speedway. Paramedics, police, even Walden’s father, a preacher who was working at a nearby booth, dashed to the 39-year-old woman who lay crumpled under the motorcycle. But it was too late. Cardona was pronounced dead at the scene. She is the fourth person to die during Biketoberfest, which ended. Now the man who hit her, Kreso F. Orlic of Carlstadt, N.J., faces vehicular manslaughter charges, said Daytona Beach Lt. Jimmie Flynt. Orlic was at Halifax Medical Center on Saturday night with non-life threatening injuries. –from Rogue
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