Custom Cycle Engineering has developed the 1st Steering Damper system for the Harley Dresser models. Custom designed clamps and brackets position a Shindy Steering Stabilizer in the optimum location so the damper can be installed with minimum effort. The installation of the Steering Damper stabilizes the front fork and helps with front end wobble. The damper is mounted parallel to the frame. Fits most Dressers up to 2009. SDS 2013-1 Parallel Steering Damper for FLH’s  

 

Klock Werks 23″/26″ Real Steel Front Fenders are officially in stock and ready to ship!

Fall has arrived in South Dakota, and old man winter is lurking around the corner. This time of year is when we start thinking about winter makeover projects, and we assume you do too! So, welcome to “Metal Mania”. Klock Werks Sheet Metal Mania that is!

When a shipment of fenders arrives at Klock Werks, all departments gather in the shop to start the fender packaging assembly line. It’s actually a fun time together as a team! Fenders might seem like a strange thing to get all excited about, but if you try one of our many Klock Werks steel fenders, you will understand. And don’t forget the original Flare Windshield. 🙂 Your bike will look good, and handle even better.

Keep an eye out for Klock Werks’ Black Friday – Cyber Monday Specials, so visit their website and sign up for their email alerts today.

 

Leading up to this year’s European Drag Race finals at the Santa Pod Raceway in the United Kingdom in September, the Zodiac Racing team had a firm lead in the SuperTwin Top Fuel FIM European Championship.

Ronny Aasen, the Norwegian rider of the 1000hp plus Zodiac Nitro Harley, had a one round advantage over Dutch native Job Heezen, as well as Vesa Lipponen from Finland. In addition, Finnish rider Samu Kemppainen and Christian Jäger from Germany still had a realistic chance of winning the championship, too.

After the Hockenheim round Ton and Vincent Pels, the father and son team behind Zodiac, had a closer look at the data and decided to put more fuel into the engine for the last race of the season. Even though the engine was already consuming over 12 gallons of nitromethane fuel per minute, they still had the feeling the piston ring damage in Hockenheim was caused by detonation.

It looked to be the right decision, as during the first qualifier the bike smoked its 14in rear tire for the first time in the season. The 1.11s sixty-foot time showed that soft launches were a thing of the past, and justified the set-up changes.  For the second round, the ignition curve was changed a little, and this time the tire stayed hooked. Ronny was on form with a 1.12s 60ft, 2.86s 330ft and a 4.17s 1/8th mile ET, with a 214.9mph top speed. However, at this point the bike got loose and Ronny had to shut down and he fought to control the bike.

The run still resulted in a 6.599s ET coasting through the finish line at 169mph. The 1/8th mile speed looked too good to be true and it turned out it dropped the front wheel between the speed traps, causing the speed to be recorded higher. Still the data logger showed that the speed was around 200MPH at the 1/8th mile and with the 4.17s ET on the first half, it was the best the bike had ever done by far. The 6.599 put the Zodiac team in the preliminary number one spot, more than 2/10 of a second ahead of Samu Kemppainen.

In the 3rd qualifier Ronny was able to duplicate the run-up to the 330ft mark and this time the bike ran a lot smoother. However, the primary belt broke after 350ft causing the engine to over rev. As a result of this, the team decided to sit out the last qualifier and rebuild the engine for Sunday’s elimination.

Below is race footage featuring the Zodiac team in action at an earlier race in Europe

Due to getting the number one qualifying spot the team had a bye run in the first round on the Sunday. In that round the bike launched hard with a little tire shake, but after a few feet the tire hooked up and ran its best 60ft time ever. Then small flashes started to come out of the side of the bike and soon they became bigger flames. Ronny noticed something was wrong and shut off. Luckily there was no opponent in the other lane, so the round win was there.

In the pits the damage was evaluated; the rear head had lifted. Ton and Vincent quickly started to replace the head, while Ronny was doing the routine maintenance of replacing the con-rod bearings from under the bike. When the engine was warmed up for the second round of eliminations, a lot of smoke came out of the exhausts of the front cylinder, indicating more problems.

Frantically the team tried to replace the piston and cylinder, but they did not make it in time. Ironically, Ronny had to race Vesa Lipponen who now had a freebie to the final.

This left the championship to be decided in the final between Sumu and Vesa, and it was a situation the Zodiac team did not like, as it was in Samu’s hands whether they would become champion or not. If Vesa wins the final, he is the champ. If Samu wins the final, the Zodiac team wins the championship. Samu did what he needed to do, and in a nice 6.76 at 206mph he took the event win and the Zodiac team took the European Championship.

Source: AMD

Recently reported, the Powersport Support system can make selling on-line a streamlined process. Aside from the technology that allows an interface with both Amazon and Ebay as well as making building and maintaining your own website a breeze, it it has a data base of some of the highest quality parts, suppliers, and services in the industry.

One of the first choices by Jason Nichols, PSS Business Development Director, as he developed this system was Western Power Sports. A company that has it all! Quality parts, available inventory, a constant flow of new products, quick delivery, and one of the best support staffs anywhere.

“WPS was a natural for for PSS and part of what we consider the foundation of our 350K + sku’s currently listed in our system. We know that the listing is the tip of the iceberg. The sale is only closed when the parts ship in a timely manner. We pick and choose wisely as the process for PSS to load all the pertinent information is a monumental task to say the least. To load thousands of parts, we need to know what we are offering to our clients is a dependable source for good quality product and service across the board. In the end, we are only as good as the suppliers listed. That being said, WPS was a natural for us.” Said, Jason Nichols.

If you want an easier way to do business, then check out Powersport Support or the WPS dealer website.

 

 

THE AIM/NCOM Motorcycle E-News Service

By Bill Bish, thanks to Richard Lester and NCOM, with photos from
the Bob T. collection.

CDC Task Force calls for helmet laws, Urge Congressional action to bar E15 Gas, Rochester, MN accused of discriminating against bikers, Three-Wheelers exempted from motorcycle licensing & helmet laws, Global tire market projected to grow, driven by motorcycles, 1 in 4 drivers admit to surfing the web while behind the wheel, Drivers would opt to lose control.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American poet and practical philosopher

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

 

Misfit Industries has teamed up with Mad Wheels to produce custom Harley Davidson Wheels for motorcycles & baggers. These custom Harley motorcycle wheels by Misfit Industries provide the ultimate look.

A new line of custom Harley Davidson wheels is available for motorcycle enthusiasts. Misfit Industries has teamed up with Mad Wheels to produce a stunning look great for custom Harley baggers, cruisers, and touring models. The new product line was unveiled at Sturgis featuring the new 32″ wheel size.
The Misfit Ardent Wheel and the Misfit All Star Wheel are the first couple of custom Harley wheels born into the Misfit family. They are perfect for Touring, Softail, Sportster, Dyna, and Vrod models with front wheels ranging from 21″ to 32″ and rear wheels ranging from 16″ to 18″.
Custom Harley Wheels made from billet aluminum have become quite popular in the last few years. A billet is a chunk of aluminum that is used to cut and shape custom motorcycle wheels vs. pouring into a mold. It produces a better finished product that can be strengthened and polished much nicer to achieve a perfect look.
Concerning custom Harley wheels for baggers and custom motorcycles, the finished product must compliment the bike. Custom motorcycles can become expensive when they are built as a one off design. It isn’t cheap being cool, and it isn’t cool being cheap when it comes to building the ultimate custom Harley Davidson.
Misfit Industries effectively uses its custom Harley wheels to produce unique bikes that win shows and competitions all over the nation. Finding the right look and feel for each one off design can be challenging which sometimes leads into a new design idea. The team at Misfit Industries is always coming up with fresh new cutting edge custom Harley designs that always turn heads.

Check out the Misfit Industries website.

Meet SPOT Trace, an anti-theft asset-tracking device that uses satellite technology to provide location-based messaging and emergency notification for on or off-the-grid communications.

SPOT Trace users can view their boat, ATV, motorcycle or other asset’s GPS coordinates online 24 hours a day in near real-time through Google Maps. With multiple mounting options, SPOT Trace is small anddurable enough to be placed practically anywhere. With up to 18 months of battery life, affordable rate plans and satellite coverage that goes beyond the reach of cellular coverage, there is no comparable product on the market to track anything, anytime, anywhere. Some other SPOT Trace features include:

Tracking. View your asset’s GPS coordinates from your smartphone or online
Movement Alerts. Receive texts/emails when SPOT’s vibration sensor detects your asset has new movement
Dock Mode. Configure your device to track an asset that is primarily stored on the water
Power Off Message. Receive a notification if your device is powered off
Low Battery Message. Receive a notification when the device’s batteries are low
Status Message. Receive a once per day alert to let you know your asset is secure

SPOT Trace also features customizable tracking, which allows users to track an asset’s GPS coordinates at 2 ½, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minute intervals. The units will sell starting at $99.95, with service plans from $99.99/year.

 

SPOT Trace will be available at outdoor retail outlets such as West Marine, Sportsman’s Warehouse, REI, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Best Buy and online at www.FindMeSPOT.com/Trace.

Coverage: SPOT satellite coverage works around the world, including the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, Northern and Central Africa, portions of South America and North-Eastern Asia as well as thousands of miles offshore of these areas.

PowerSport Institute Manager, Ron Radeke and Bagger Werx Management reached an agreement for Bagger Werx to provide support to the program during up coming projects in 2014

“The popularity of the touring models in recent years has had a great and very positive impact on the industry, That being said, we plan to expose PSI students to a substantial amount of work in this realm. As we made this decision for our 2014 plan, we knew we needed to have access to some cool and unique products that our students could use and likely continue to use once in the work force. As we combed the internet and numerous publications, we came across Bagger Werx and founds tons of very cool products we had not seen before” Said Ron Radeke.

Radeke adds, “We contacted them and they immediately agreed to lend their support. It is a done deal and we are very glad to add them to our impressive list of sponsors / partners in excellence in education.”

Bagger Werx management states, “We are very happy PSI contacted us. We feel that if companies like our don’t take advantage of this chance to participate in programs such as this, we do the industry a terrible injustice. Without support from the industry, at some point, the industry will obviously suffer. To be part of this is very exciting opportunity is a great thing for all of us at Bagger Werx. We look forward to working with the staff and students in the very near future.”

PSI – American V-Twin Program Custom Bike Building Program

Train to Work on Custom Motorcycles
Train to become an American V-Twin specialist. PSI, a motorcycle mechanic school in Ohio, offers the American V-Twin Technology Program provides our students with a detailed overview of all the major American V-Twin manufacturers, such as Victory, S&S Cycle and Harley Davidson. Enrolling in the V-Twin Motorcycle Mechanic program, you will not only receive a detailed overview of each manufacturer’s model specific components, you will be trained to efficiently complete:

• Service intervals
• Safety check inspections
• Top & bottom end servicing
• Primary and secondary drive functionality
• Starting, charging and ignition systems
• Troubleshooting and diagnostic techniques

Following the electrical diagnostics of the V-Twin motorcycle mechanic program, you will also be covering fuel system operations and troubleshooting for carburetors and electronic fuel injection as well as operations of multiple fuel management systems, utilizing Daytona Twin Tech, Weisco’s Fuel Management Control, S&S’s VFI and IST Systems, and Harley Davidson’s Super Tuner.

Learn Every Aspect of being a Motorcycle Technician

One of the motorcycle building training techniques we utilize in doing this is Victory’s A.S.S.E.R.T. Program. This is also one of the many steps in a series of training videos called Manufacturer Service Dealer (MSD) that Victory has provided to our students so when they graduate, they have the opportunity to be MSD Certified.

Build a Custom Motorcycle
In addition to the industry standard motorcycle technician training you will receive, this program challenges our students with a custom bike building project. In our Custom Bike Building/ Performance Component, you can incorporate your creativity and innovation in design while focusing on performance drivability, functionality and safety initiatives while also giving you practical experience in motorcycle assembly. This unique custom bike building program offers the opportunity to combine technical instruction with design elements such as:

• Metal fabrication
• Laying paint
• Rebuilding wiring harnesses
• Customizing components

While you learn about motorcycle building techniques, we train you to “think outside the box” while giving you the skills to be individually motivated and challenged, making the instruction more valuable to you and ultimately, the PowerSport industry.

Think it, build it, ride it!

Our goal is to train the successful student so they will know how to build a motorcycle from a variety of engines, frames, wheels and suspension components, ultimately allowing the student to tune and run performance tests on our motorcycle dyno! As a motorcycle mechanic school in Ohio, PSI is ready to get you started today.

About Bagger Werx
Bagger Werx specializes in parts and accessories for Harley-Davidson Motorcycle with an emphasis on……you guessed it, baggers. The flagship of the product line is the drop seat kit pictured here.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to reduce the total amount of ethanol required in transportation fuel nationwide in 2014, which could slow the introduction of E15 fuel into the marketplace, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.

That’s good news for motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders who fear they may inadvertently put E15 fuel in their machines and possibly cause engine damage once the fuel becomes widespread nationwide, the AMA said.

The federal Renewable Fuel Standards program, which the EPA administers, requires that 18.15 billion gallons of renewable fuels such as ethanol be blended into gasoline and diesel fuel in 2014. The standards ensure that transportation fuel sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

But federal law also gives the EPA administrator flexibility to reduce the required volume of renewable fuels in any year. On Nov.15, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy took advantage of that flexibility by recognizing the “blend wall” and proposed reducing the amount of renewable fuels to be blended in 2014 from 18.15 billion gallons to a proposed range of 15.0 to 15.52 billion gallons, with a recommendation of 15.21 billion gallons.

The EPA said: “Nearly all gasoline sold in the U.S. is now ‘E10,’ which is fuel with up to 10 percent ethanol. Production of renewable fuels has been growing rapidly in recent years. At the same time, advances in vehicle fuel economy and other economic factors have pushed gasoline consumption far lower than what was expected when Congress passed the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2007. As a result, we are now at the ‘E10 blend wall,’ the point at which the E10 fuel pool is saturated with ethanol.”

“We’re glad to see that the EPA is taking this action today, though this is not a long-term solution for motorcyclists who worry that the use of E15 fuel could damage their engines and void their warranties,” said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Wayne Allard. “The American Motorcyclist Association remains committed to AMA members-and all motorcyclists-as we continue to support legislation that prohibits E15 fuel.”

Since 2011, the AMA has repeatedly expressed concerns to government officials and federal lawmakers about possible damage to the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs currently in use in the United States by the inadvertent use of E15 fuel, which first became available at gas stations in 2013. E15 is currently offered in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

E15 is a fuel blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline that the EPA has approved for use in 2001-and-newer passenger vehicles but not for motorcycles, ATVs, boats, lawn mowers and other small engines. Ethanol is grain alcohol produced from crops such as corn that is mixed with gasoline to produce an ethanol-gasoline blend motor fuel.

“The bottom line,” said Allard, “is that this decision certainly slows the unnecessary rush on bringing E15 fuels to market for at least the next year, but it doesn’t address the central issue that real-world motorcyclists face, and that is that no motorcycle currently on the road is approved for E15 use, and the risk of inadvertent misfueling is tremendous once it is available at the pump.

“Access to safe fuels for motorcycles remains an AMA priority, and we continue to be a watchdog for our members on this issue,” he said.

Source: AMA