The White Zombies may have defined it — “400 horsepower of maximum performance piercing the night … This is black sunshine.”

But Brian Elliott brings the ride to life.

“My main job is to restore engine cases and frames, so people can restore the bikes themselves or pass on to someone else,” said Elliott, who re-creates 1970s and older Harley-Davidson motorcycle frames as part of his business, Black Sunshine Customs.

He also can re-create the entire bike, a task that can take two months to over a year to do. “I don’t like to build bikes, but I do it to fund the other work.”

He searches for original parts at swap meets and at other garages and shops. If he can’t find the part, he will manufacture it himself. “When you are restoring a bike, you don’t want something off the shelf, you want an original part.”

Motorcycle buffs from all over the world, including Australia, England, France, Italy and Germany, where the older Harley-Davidson culture is very popular, have work done by Black Sunshine Motors.

Although motorcycle enthusiasts may dream of spending every day with knucklehead frames and old Harley-Davidson parts, the business started from a nightmare.

The love of motorcycles started when Elliott was 18 years old and “tinkering” around. He started restoring a bike, but had to sell it after his first child, daughter Myia, was born in April 1998.

“I gave up a little when I had kids,” he said, with no regrets.

In January 2002, Elliott’s then 2-year-old son, Brodin, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor at the base of the brain that can affect the spinal cord fluid.

“When he was going through all of this, I couldn’t keep my head straight,” Elliott recalls. “If you’re watching TV, you’re still thinking about it. So, I started diving into this."

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PennDOT Encourages Sharing the Road, Reinforces New Teen Rider Law 

With the increasing popularity of motorcycling in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett has signed a proclamation commemorating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

"More people are traveling Pennsylvania roadways on their motorcycles, but it's important that riders and motorists alike are sharing the road safely," Corbett said. "If car, truck and motorcycle operators follow simple steps like looking out for each other and obeying speed limits, we can work together to reduce the number of crashes and highway deaths we see each year."

Last year in Pennsylvania there were 854,493 licensed motorcyclists, a 13 percent increase from a decade ago, and 409,017 registered motorcycles, 54 percent higher than a decade ago. PennDOT data shows there were nearly 4,000 crashes involving motorcycles statewide last year, resulting in 210 fatalities. This marks an increase from 2011 when there more than 3,600 crashes involving motorcycles and 199 fatalities in those crashes.

Motorcycle safety was emphasized with Corbett's signing of Act 84 of 2012, which requires motorcycle permit holders under 18 years old to take and successfully complete the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program's (PAMSP) Basic Rider Course (BRC) in order to receive their license.

The 15-hour BRC consists of five hours of in-class instruction and 10 hours of practical riding experience. The course provides valuable training for new riders and gives experienced riders the opportunity to polish their skills and correct any unsafe riding habits they may have developed. Students taking the BRC are provided with a motorcycle and helmet; however, students are responsible for providing all other protective gear. The 15 hours of training count toward the required 65 hours of training a permit holder under 18 must complete in order to receive their license.

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Receive a $40 Gift Card with the Purchase of Two Tires May 1 Through June 15

Participating Harley-Davidson^® dealers and Dunlop^® have teamed up to offer a $40 consumer mail-in rebate on a set of Harley-Davidson-branded Dunlop tires purchased May 1 through June 15. The offer applies to a set of two new H-D/Dunlop tires (excluding Police tires) and will be paid in the form of a $40 Harley-Davidson Gift Card which can be used at any authorized Harley-Davidson dealership or h-d.com/store. Dunlop tires are made in the USA and have been mounted as original equipment on Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1984. Dunlop is recognized as one of the world leaders in motorcycle tire design, engineering and manufacturing excellence.

The H-D/Dunlop rebate offer applies to consumer purchases made exclusively at a participating Harley-Davidson dealership between May 1 and June 15, 2013. A form available from the participating Harley-Davidson dealer must be postmarked by July 31, 2013. Additional terms and conditions apply. See a participating Harley-Davidson dealer for complete details or go to h-d.com/dunlop.

Chicago's Mods vs Rockers has grown to the biggest event of its kind in the US, but that hasn't stopped Steel Toe Press from making it even bigger in 2013.

The top-notch motorcycle and scooter rally will expand to include hot rods among thousands of vintage bikes n' scoots. With the addition of the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago's premiere venue for live entertainment, attendees will experience an indoor and outdoor mix of motorcycles and music, featuring Reverend Horton Heat, 'Stray Cat' Lee Rocker, the Supersuckers and more great bands.

There'll be action on Friday and Saturday, so check out modsvsrockerschicago.com to see when and where it's all happening!

The Mods vs Rockers event is a Steel Toe Press / Uptown Events production.
SteelToePress
Music: "Baddest of the Bad" by ReverendHortonHeat.com

This teaser was filmed/edited by GoodSparkGarage.com

Mods vs Rockers Chicago 2013 – Teaser from Good Spark Garage on Vimeo.

Royal Enfield, the maker of iconic cruiser motorcycle Bullet, has got itself a new home in Orgadam, Tamil Nadu. Spread across 50 acres, the 1,50,000- unit plant began commercial production on Tuesday. With a state-of-the-art modular structure, the assembly line can churn out one Royal Enfield a minute.

With this new capacity coming on stream, Royal Enfield is aiming to produce and sell 1.75 lakh units in 2013, and increase it to 2.5 lakh units by 2014. 

Last year, the company sold 1,13,000 units, and it has grown by over 50% over the last couple of years. 

The company already has about 50,000 bookings, with waiting period running into 6 to 12 months depending on the model and variant. The company says the new plant will bring down the waiting for the customers who have already booked the motorcycle, but declined to commit by how much. 

The current plant in Tiruvottiyur, which is one of the oldest automobile plant in the country, will support the new plant by manufacturing engines and giving finishing touches to the models. 

Siddharth Lal, MD & CEO, Eicher Motors, said the company now has the ability to scale production quantity quickly in response to market demand. 

"We have been extremely successful in stretching the capacity of our existing 60 year old plant to record levels – achieving production of over 12,000 motorcycles in the month of March 2013. Yet the demand has outpaced supply. Therefore we have conceived this new facility in a much larger manufacturing facility which will take the eventual production here to over 500,000 per year," said Lal. 

The company has put in an initial investment of Rs 150 crore which can produce 1.5 lakh units per annum, which by end of 2014 will be increased to 2.5 lakh units. Eicher has enough land available to double the capacity to manufacture half million units out of the new plant. 

The new plant will help Royal Enfield to improve the quality of its motorcycles and reach out to new global markets. 

"The ability to increase capacity fast is a crucial step for Royal Enfield towards meeting our global ambitions. While we are adding new models and new dealerships, we are also working on building our presence globally. Higher investments into brand and distribution, as well as new products that are appealing to international markets, are going to be key for us to achieve global leadership in the mid-size motorcycle category," emphasised Lal. 

Built in 11 months, the Oragadam plant has been designed to optimize cost of production through relevant automation while retaining the human craftsmanship that is distinct to the iconic Royal Enfield motorcycles, the company said. 

A new CED paint shop with a painting capacity of 600 motorcycles per day has been installed in the plant. Further, to ensure consistency and less wastage, a robotic painting system and powder coating system have also been added. 

At the same time, processes such as the pin-striping continue to be done through craftsmen who lend that special human touch to each motorcycle. 

The vehicle assembly line at Oragadam comes with several features such as ergonomic assembly work stations, torque controlled tools with feedback device and a capacity of producing one motorcycle a minute, or over 800 per day on two shifts. Effective controls and process, right from material handling to review mechanisms, have been created on the backbone of a modern and strong IT infrastructure. In addition, chassis dynamometers and a 1.4 kilometre test track within the factory premises allows for the motorcycles to be thoroughly tested before they are dispatched for customers.

PM’s design and engineering team set out to create the best handlebars on the market with relatively simple criteria; they need to be strong, clean, and innovative. Using CNC tube bending, laser cutting, and welding technology PM developed a contoured cut blending the 1.25” tubing smoothly into the upper 1.0” tubing of these bars. Double wall manufacturing creates strength where it’s needed balancing weight and style. PM’s Lugged bars were sent through our destructive test lab insuring these are truly the best on the market. Grab yours in show chrome or gloss black powder coat finishes for FL TBW and Non-TBW applications and FXST (except Springer).

Retail Chrome: $379.95

Black Powder coat: $299.95

For more information contact 800-479-4037 or hit the Performance Machine banner below

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As Harley-Davidson’s year-long, global 110^th Anniversary Celebration rolls on, the company continues to highlight the independent spirits that have fueled the brand for more than a century. In May, Harley-Davidson will shine its headlight on women riders as part of the fifth annual Women Riders Month.

There’s never been a glass ceiling for women when it comes to Harley-Davidson, as female riders have been an integral part of the family since the company’s early days. In fact, dozens of female Harley riders have blazed historic trails, including the mother and daughter team of Avis and Effie Hotchkiss who in 1915 crossed America – twice – on a three-speed V-Twin Harley-Davidson with a sidecar.

Next month, Harley-Davidson is engaging its fans around the world to uncover modern day stories of independent women like Avis and Effie Hotchkiss, who embody freedom, self-expression and rebellion.  From May 1 to May 15, 2013, fans are encouraged to share stories of incredible women riders through a crowd-sourcing application called “Fan Machine” on Harley-Davidson’s Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/harley-davidson). Submitted stories should highlight how these women riders have unleashed their inner rebel as well as inspired other women to do the same.

“Our brand unites independents from all walks of life,” said Claudia Garber, Director of Women’s Outreach Marketing for Harley-Davidson. “There are thousands of women who have taken to life on two wheels…and they all have a story to tell.  These stories are not only the lifeblood of the Harley-Davidson experience, but are instrumental in inspiring other women to live out their own dreams.”

The top 10 fan submissions will be featured on Harley-Davidson’s Facebook page and other social media channels, as well as the official Web site (www.harley-davidson.com/women). Each winner will also receive a $200 Harley-Davidson gift card and Harley-Davidson merchandise.

Women interested in riding are encouraged to visit the updated Women Riders section of the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com/women. The site features tools designed to help women in their journey toward riding, including information on local Women Riders Month events planned throughout May across the country.

It's non-stop with OCC, Zach Ness, Progressive, S&S, J&P Vintage Days, Laughlin, Bolo Station, Illusion Cycles, Quakersteak Bike Night, Hamster Runs, Dot, Zen teachings, English Classes, tech tips, and the girls of the Long Beach Grand Prix. 

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The new Indian Thunder Stroke 111 engine is running and Cycle World has seen it.

It's an entirely new design, sharing nothing with previous Indian revivals or Polaris’ existing Victory motorcycle products. At last, the Indian name is in the hands of people with the power to realize its full potential. How does a major corporation decide to commit serious money to a folk memory? Indian is seen as the only brand iconic and powerful enough to challenge Harley-Davidson for the hearts and minds of American riders. This is classic American enterprise—nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The new engine is an air-cooled, 49-degree V-Twin displacing 111 cubic inches from a 101mm bore and a 113mm stroke. Designing this 1811cc engine was made doubly difficult by the need to combine modern technology with the special Indian features that somehow live in the minds of American motorcyclists. 

Click on the link below to read the in-depth gearhead account from Cycle World's Kevin Cameron after you check out the video.

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Recently added to the companies highly sought after collection of V-LINE accessories for HD and applicable American V-Twin based customs, these visually stunning floorboards offer much more than good looks. CNC machined for a precision fit, they feature added length for extended foot movement and knurled centers for better grip and security. Designed as a direct fit to floorboard equipped models from 1985 to present, they are offered in a variety of finishes: Rider Black P/N TM-2044, Chrome P/N TM- 2045 and Contrast P/N TM-2046. Trask also offers matching passenger boards, 1987-present, in Black P/N TM-2047, Chrome P/N TM-2048 and Contrast cut P/N TM-2049. All Rider V-Line Floorboards retail for $$489.95 while the passenger boards come in at $449.95. To order or for additional details call direct to 1-866-998-7275 or catch them on line at www.traskperformance.com.