44 minute read
And They All Had To Run
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fairing, red grips and neon orange wheels. It was fast just sitting there. Our style.
So here we are, 32 years later, invited by Cycle Source Magazine to be a part of their, first ever, In Motion Show. I’ve always been a little apprehensive about bike building contests. The winners are always accused of being the judge’s pal, and the losers feel jilted every time. “That bike doesn’t even run,” is the phrase of the day. I will never forget the look on my brother’s face at the 2005 Long Beach Show when Keith Ball said, “We are looking for paint and a lot of chrome.” If you know anything about Three Two Choppers, you know that is not us, and it never has been. We have always tried to stay true to what we think is cool. Our business motto is, “Contribute to the culture, don’t exploit it.” Meaning, bring something to the table and don’t copy other people’s ideas.
The invite to the In Motion Show was a testament to that theory. To be a part of this show was truly an honor for my brother and I. We’ve always considered ourselves just a couple of douchebags trying to build cool shit in our little warehouse in East Fort Worth, and, just like in 1985, we still build bikes that look fast sitting still.
That brings me to the main reason why we accepted the invitation to be included in the In Motion Show. The name says it all, “In Motion.” In other words, all the bikes in this show not only had to run, but they all had to complete the ride portion of the show. For me, that ride was the best part. The cast of characters invited to be a part of the show was a small who’s who in the motorcycle industry. Every one of these guys could have won the show, but on the ride, like in 1985, none of that seemed to matter. It’s not very often you see a dozen show quality scooters all riding together. We went up the Sea Wall, over the bridge, around Galveston Harbor and ended up at Sea Wolf Park. Then, back around and down the Strand. I stayed in back as much as possible to take in the view of all the incredible bikes in front of me. I love the sounds. At one point, we came across the final bridge just as the sun was starting to set. I know it sounds corny, but it was definitely one of those moments where all stress is gone, and you are one with the bike. Only this time, it was a bike that we built. The ride was way too short. The rest of the weekend was spent talking bikes, telling stories and making new friends. Congrats to Donny on the win. By the way, next time you see Austin Andrella from Austin Martin Originals, ask him about Cousin Cliff.
I asked Jimmy Lee from Three Two Choppers to write a short peice for us to kick off our coverage of the first ever In Motion because I knew he would give an honest assessment of just how cool it was. Will Ramsey and I came up with the idea for In Motion one day as we talked about the sinking standards some of the
big money builder shows were starting to exhibit. The very fact that there have been bikes that did not and would not run, allowed to participate, let alone win some of these shows demanded a few of us break off and start our own thing. I was looking for a nice round group. Some old bikes, some modern, some old school, some traditional. In short, a cross section of who and what we are as the custom industry right now. We got our list together and with the help of The Lone Star Rally and Lucas Oil, we set off to gather the goods.
Ryan Gore - Paper Street Customs Gunnison, CO 1978 H-D Shovelhead “My Brother’s Keeper”
Ryan was one of the guys we asked in to this show early on. His last couple bikes have been other level and we knew he’d kill it here too. Armed with a 78 Shovel provided by his brother, he put it all on the table.
JC & Jimmie Lee Coen - Three Two Choppers - Fort Worth, TX El Segundo “Dr. Death”
JC & Jimmie Lee were our Texas connection. They were the Ace in the hold. See, I knew the kind of bike these cats would bring would ensure that this wouldn’t turn into a click show of this kinda bike or that kinda bike. Their “Dr. Death” was exactly what we needed to that end. And man, when you sat and looked at that bike it made you think of one thing.... It’s Time To Cut The Cake!!!
Austin Andrella - Austin Martin Originals Akron, OH 1976 Yamaha XS650 “Timeless”
Austin is a good man and a great father. We first saw this bike at the end of last year and I am still as impressed with it now as I was then. He is a nut job for detail and this bike was no slouch.
Majik Mike Rabideau - Majik Mike Designs Las Vegas, NV - 1978 Harley-Davidson® “Lane Splitter”
I had the chance to have one of Mike’s Shovelheads on a cover last year and it was around then that we asked him to be on the In Motion roster. Mike is one of those cats that you see do stuff and wonder why you didn’t think of it. His designs are so complimentary to the stock componentry yet leave no mistake that he has put his touch on them. His Lane Splitter Shovelhead entry was a big hit from start to finish.
Xavier Muriel - Providence Cycle Worx Austin, TX 1979 H-D FXE “Patience”
For his first real build deadline Xavier had a lot on his plate while he was in final assembly of his 79. In the end, he hushed the masses and brought it hard to Galveston, learning a little “Patience” in
Chris Moos - Misfit Industries - Dallas, TX - 2017 Misfit “DYNOT”
Moos was another ringer to keep the show honest and man did he. He was coming from a direction that no one else was. He was taking the most modern design and styling ques and throwing everything he had at it. He was going around the clock, up to and including the four hour drive from Dallas to Galveston where he was in the back of the box trailer wiring the bike. Unfortunately, The DYNOT didn’t make the ride departure time and was the first heartbrake of In Motion.
Jeff Cochran - SpeedKing Racing West Harrison, IN 1976 H-D FLH “Whitey”
Whate can I say here but the obvious: Jeff was the originator of what we call the Old School Bobber style today. His designs during and after Sucker Punch Sally’s proves that he is not a fluke or a fad. The bike he brought to In Motion, “Whitey” sparkeled like a diamond in the middle of the room.
Will Ramsey - Faith Forgotten Choppers New Albany, IN 2017 Faith Forgotten Chopper “Hot Rod”
I’ll have to admit that when I stopped by Will’s shop on my way to Texas and saw that he was still pretty far from complete, I got nervous. I mean this was one of the cats that talked me into this so he had to make it right? Well, down to the wire, but he rolled in in time for the shake down ride with a killer Evo build.
Kyle Shorey - Shadetree Fabrications Fort Worth, TX - 1984 H-D
This had to be one of the hardest pills to swallow. When we set the rules down for this we all agreed that if you weren’t here by the time the shake down ride left, you couldn’t compete for the money. Well, most of us wished there was a way to bend that rule for the bike Kyle built that was probably one of the best bikes of his career. Still, the rules are the rules and Kyle showed real class in showing up with his bike anyway and displaying it proudly.
Mike Tomas - Kiwi Indian Motorcycles Riverside, CA - 1916/2017 Indian “PowerPlus”
While I all but had to talk Mike into this show, I’m so glad he came. Some of the young guys that don’t get the time around him that I do might not ever know just how much work he has done improving the original Indian Motorcycle. His bike was just that, spotless, timeless, and all Kiwi.
RJ Powell - Cutting Edge Customs Morgantown, WV - 1997 Buell “The Dirtbag Express”
I watched RJ chip away at this bike over the years and I half think I invited him into
this show just to push him into finishing it. Seriously though, with all aluminum sheet metal and modern race and dirt bike styling, this thing was a serious contender.
Bill Dodge - Blings Cycles Daytona Beach , FL - 1967 H-D Chopper “Holy Grail”
The bike Bill Dodge brought to In Motion was built for a mutual friend and man we couldn’t be happier to know that this bike will always be around the neighborhood. It is complete class from the chopper era and shits balls of fire too.
Donny Loos - Don’s Custom Cycles Miamitown, OH 1949 FL
Of course our big money winner, Mr. Donny Loos took home the Ten Thousand Dollar first prize of the first ever In Motion Show for his Flawless 49. It was so great to watch his emotion the day we announced the judges decision. He was literally overcome. Well deserved too, when you looked this bike over even the cylinders were sculpted to the cases. The hardware, all matching, all in the same direction.... No detail left unturned.
In case you missed how the judging for In Motion worked, let me run it down real quick because it is a system we are pretty proud of. We set down a 40/40/20 system that would see a peer vote (the builders themselves) worth 20% . Another 40% would come from Industry Professionals and the final 40% would come from members of the trades. These would be welders, machinsists, metal fabricators, etc,. There was no way that the judging could be brought into question with this system and just like we hoped it would be, the winner was decided by the narrowest of margins.
All in all, we had an incredible innaugural year. None of this could have been possbile without the support of Melissa Penland who let us run with this idea and gave us a beautiful building to display the bikes all weekend. I think if there was only one thing we would hcange for next year it would be to make it so more of the general public could see all the bikes and have an opportunity to meet the guys that are leading the scene.
Hey, This is the time to dial in on our goals for this year and make a move. There’s so much discussion going around about our industry, but much of the problem goes way beyond it. Did you know that Al Gore’s films were aired in front of school children? In England, it was stopped because of the fear it caused in children.
I watched his first film and was impressed, but my concern has always been for motorcycling and riding free, so I questioned him. So much of his film is unfortunately lies. What’s worse is his policies will kill people and mostly poor people. Did you know Global Warming stopped in 2001? Did you know that temperatures rise first, then CO2 levels? Did you know CO2 levels are not a bad thing and were much higher thousands of years ago?
That’s just the tip of the bullshit iceberg hurting so many of our industries including motorcycling. Let’s do something about it.
Executive & Regulatory Updates –
Infrastructure Plan Leaked, Chaos
Ensues - Despite being on his checklist of priorities for the first 100 days of his presidency, President Trump has released few details on his infrastructure proposal…that is until now. And “released” probably isn’t the right verb to use. “Leaked” would be more applicable. It offers a glimpse of what may be the next major package of legislation Congress debates. According to the document, there would be about $200 billion (that’s right, you saw a B and not an M), which would be divvied up to states (about half) rural infrastructure needs (about a quarter) with the remaining for “transformative” projects.
One other thing caught many eyes? TOLLING. The leaked memo says that states should have the flexibility to collect interstate tolls and utilize toll for their infrastructure needs.
This has been a big no, no – there is a current ban on tolling existing interstates with a few exceptions.
The Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates, of which the MRF is a member, quickly fired out a statement saying that if true, the plan is NOT good policy and they would actively fight against it.
The other rumor on the street: A gas tax increase could help financing of the package. What are your thoughts on this? As citizens, drivers and most importantly RIDERS, I’d like to hear your perspective. Thumbs up or down on an infrastructure package? And if up, how do we pay for it? Tolling? Gas tax?
Charge it to America’s credit card? Shoot me an email to tell me your thoughts – remember, I work for YOU: Megan@mrf.org Megan Ekstrom, Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations, MRF
Write to Megan, if you have a minute. Infrastructure and the economy for the middleclass should be the first priorities for America. I don’t think anyone should be forced to pay any more taxes. We are paying billions for other agencies including the DOT and the NHTSA and others responsible for infrastructure. We pay taxes that go to agencies that do little or nothing except ask for more money. It’s amazing. We need to get a handle on our run-away government. But what the hell do I know. I’m just a grubby biker.-Bandit
NMA Alert-Fight Over Right To Repair Will Heat Up In 2018-You
bought, you own it! That’s what most of us think anyway when we buy a car. We should be able to do what we want with it, whether modifying the engine for better performance or taking it to our favorite mechanic to have it repaired. Many car owners, however, might be surprised to find that they actually don’t own every part of their vehicle. Increasingly, automakers have utilized embedded software to take the place of mechanical functions. Automakers consider this code to be intellectual property protected by the 1996 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Access to the software can only be given by permission. The embedded programming can control brakes, emissions, ignitions, transmissions and even windshield wipers.
Vehicle owners cannot just have any mechanic (themselves included) make adjustments to the factory coding. You either have to take your car back to the dealer or have it serviced by an approved/authorized third-party repair shop.
According to the Auto Care
Association (ACA), the advocacy association for indie repair shops, this limitation hurts the free market. ACA’s Aaron Lowe notes, “The manufacturers want to control where you get your car repaired. There are many ways they can make it available to independent shops, but then it’s no longer an independent market.”
Richmond, VA independent auto shop owner Gary Thaxton said he would love to see some competition entering the programming side of the auto repair market. “Right now the dealership has you by the … They can charge whatever they want.” He added, “I would be in favor of having an independent option to get the price down to a more reasonable amount.”
The right to repair and property rights seems to be clashing with intellectual property rights. The autocareadvocacy.org website questions whether the DMCA should even cover manufactured equipment.
U.S. patent law protects consumers’ right to repair their motor vehicle themselves, or choose a trusted technician to perform the work for them. Cleaning, repairing and refurbishing parts or replacing worn or broken parts has always been considered permissible under the law. -NMA
Motorcycle Industry Study GuideGive A Shift Clicks Up The Gears In
2018-Additional panels to drill into five areas of focus. The Give A Shift About Motorcycles initiative was formed out of a desire to elevate and promote the category of motorcycling in a public manner that leverages industry experience, enthusiasm and new ideas via an “informed anonymity” round-table.
With new motorcycle sales stagnating after a significant drop in 2009, and a quickly shifting consumer base and retail culture, GAS is an informed grassroots effort to facilitate a variety of solutions.
Announced at Lucky Wheels Garage on Jan 11, 2018, the Give A Shift motorcycle industry roundtable will host additional roundtables to discuss the five major take-aways from the initial meeting. With a mission to create five more sets of reports, and transcripts that delve deeper into the initial meetings output. 1. We have a categorical desirability problem, not a product problem; 2. Motorcycles can get eliminated in an autonomous vehicle future; 3. Mothers and female ridership increase is critical, but real action is needed; 4. Motorcyclists and industry must relentlessly selfpromote to survive; 5. Improvements in the dealership experience is desperately needed
Give A Shift will kick off the next set of roundtable events with a late spring session in New York. Additional round table events will be announced in the coming months with a goal of completing the reports and making each available by the end of August 2018.
Those interested in the program can connect with Robert Pandya directly at RobertPandya@gmail.com or via www.MotoGiveAShift.com.
I take a slightly different slant. Here’s my list: Autonomous vehicles will never eliminate motorcycles.; More females are riding than ever before and we’re helping.; We are working on a major campaign to promote motorcycling and motorcycle racing all over the world.; Dealers are more engaged with their customers than ever before, sponsor more events and racing. We can help.; We are working with school kids all over the world to introduce them to the fun and adventures of motorcycling.; We are actively involved in the science of the climate and how little change is man-made.; We are actively involved in motorcyclists’ rights and how regulation impacts the sport— ride free -Bandit
Study Urges Motorcycle Awareness Training In
Driver’s Ed - Motorcycle awareness should be included in all driver training and increased in safety campaigns, according to the authors of an Australian National University study which found that drivers are twice as likely to miss seeing a motorcycle compared with a taxi and admit they do not expect to see motorcyclists.
Referred to it as “unintentional blindness” resulting in “looked-butfailed-to-see” (LBFTS) crashes, these are the most common type of collision involving motorcycles, according to the 2017 US Motorcycle Crash Causation Study. Now, a new Australian National University study, “Allocating Attention to Detect Motorcycles: The Role of Unintentional Blindness”, has found that drivers are overloaded with more sensory information than the brain can handle. “So our brain has to decide what information is most important,” the study reports. Researchers showed photographs of “safe” or “unsafe” situations involving a motorcycle and a taxi, and 65% did not detect the motorcycle while only 31% did not notice the taxi. In other experiments, drivers modulated their attention to accommodate motorcycles when necessary, suggesting that motorcycles are given the least amount of attention. Participants said they believed a motorcycle was just as likely to be on the road as a taxi, but admitted they would be far less likely to notice the motorcycle. However, participants who have a motorcycle license were more likely to notice the motorcycles. “Motorcycles appear to be very low on the priority list for the brain when it is filtering information,” University
researcher Kristen Pammer says. Co-authors say their study highlights the need to encourage drivers to be more motorcycle-aware with special training for novice drivers to “put motorcyclists higher on the brain ‘radar’ of the driver.”
Pammer notes many ways drivers can be made rider-aware, including advertising campaigns. “I would put it into driver training programs where everyone who drives must also experience what it is like to ride a motorbike,” she says, adding, “If we could have everyone pass a simulator motorbike riding test -- I bet it would make a big difference.” -Bill Bish, NCOM Legislative Newsbytes
Harley-Davidson Trademarks Hint At New Models-48X, Pan America And Bronx All
Proposed Names - HarleyDavidson has applied for trademark rights on three new names that it intends to apply to ‘motorcycles and the structural parts thereof’ in the future. But what could the 48X, Pan America and Bronx models actually be?
Let’s start with the 48X. Harley already makes a bike with a similar name, the Forty-Eight. Note that the current machine spells the name out while the proposed new title uses numerals instead. The original Forty-Eight was inspired by the 1948 Harley S-125 ‘Hummer’ that first introduced the ‘peanut’ fuel tank that later became synonymous with the Sportster. There’s a pretty strong chance that the 48X will be a related model. It would certainly be confusing if the number 48 was applied to completely unrelated machine. The ‘X’ remains a mystery.
Under normal H-D practice the letter ‘X’, when used at the start of a model code (e.g. ‘XR750’ or ‘XL1200’), refers to a sports model. But all Sportsters, including the existing Forty-Eight, already have an ‘X’ designation like that. And even more confusingly, the existing Forty-Eight already has an additional ‘X’ in its code – it’s officially the XL1200X.
In more general use, an X can refer to ‘cross’ and is widely used for adventure-style bikes (Honda CB500X, for instance).
Finally, and the longest of all long shots, the 48X could be a leaning reverse-trike three-wheeler along the lines of the never-released ‘Penster’ prototypes designed more than a decade ago. These prototypes were eventually revealed at the H-D museum under the title ‘Collection X’ to reflect their ‘eXperimental’ nature.
There’s also a very strong chance that the 48X could merely be a celebratory derivative of the existing Forty-Eight. After all, 2018 is the 70th anniversary of the 1948 bike that inspired it.
Another thing that happened in 1948 was the introduction of the Panhead engine, replacing the earlier Knucklehead design on Harley’s V-twins. And the 70th anniversary of the Panhead could well be what’s behind the ‘Pan America’ trademark and its 2018 timing.
Equally, just as Honda has the ST1300 Pan European tourer, the Harley Pan America could be a longdistance touring model – although such machines are already well catered for in the existing range.
Finally, there’s the Bronx. There’s really no indication of what sort of bike this might be, although the name has overtones that make us imagine a stripped-back Sportster rather than something at the gaudier end of the Harley line-up.
There’s normally around six months to a year between the filing of a Harley trademark application and the emergence of the bike carrying the name. The most recent was the Sport Glide; the trademark application was published in May 2017; the bike was revealed in November the same year. Trademark applications for all three of the new proposed new titles went in during December 2017, so we’re likely to see the bikes bearing the names during the second half of 2018. -Ujjwal Dey; Bikernet Trikes
Bonnier Motorcycle Group Shifting
into New Gear in 2018-Bonnier Motorcycle Group is refining its print content to position it more toward the younger, millennial audience with higher quality products.
As we enter a new and exciting year within the motorcycle industry, it is imperative to recognize that the footprint of all media, including that within the motorcycle sector, is encountering significant change.
Among these refinements, print media is witnessing the most significant of changes. Consumers continue to enjoy traditional media, but advertising demand in all magazines has steadily decreased. However, it has been proven that Millennials, surprisingly, enjoy the printed product, especially when the magazine is of high quality, artistic and experiential.
Furthermore, nearly all people consume digital content now via web properties, news feeds (i.e. Apple News), video, or, most significantly, social media platforms. Facebook is social media content for Gen X and Baby Boomers, while YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat are implemented heavily by Millennials and Gen Z. To quickly adapt to this growing trend, the Bonnier Motorcycle Group is refining its print content to position it more toward the younger, millennial audience with higher quality products. To respond to the changes in consumer and advertiser media needs, Cycle World is moving to a captivating, quarterly, coffee table-sized journal focusing on the art of the motorcycle. Motorcyclist, fresh off a newly-redesigned package from early 2017, will continue to be produced six times a year and will now include additional productionquality improvements to further showcase the amazing experiences that motorcycling delivers.
Additionally, Hot Bike magazine will be combining with Baggers to become the premier American custom and V-Twin touring publication, which will be produced six times within the year.
The printed versions of DIRT RIDER and Sport Rider will not be produced in 2018 but will continue to deliver industry leading digital content via social, news feed, web, and syndication platforms.
Calling All Artists: Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Is Giving You The Chance To Cutomize A HarleyDavidson Motorcycle Through The “My Work Speaks For Itself” Contest Witness Your Work Ride Across The U.S. -In This Celebration Of Two American Icons--Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, a brand born to honor the father of American old school tattooing, Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, continues its multiyear partnership with the iconic motorcycle manufacturer Harley-
Davidson in the “My Work Speaks For Itself” contest.
This first-of-its-kind design competition invites old pros and fresh faces to submit their boldest sketches and bravest concepts for a shot at becoming one of six lucky winners to have their artwork emblazoned on 2018 Harley-Davidson® Street Bob motorcycles. Artwork submissions will be hand-chosen by a panel of rebel-raisers themselves – celebrity tattoo artist Megan Massacre, Spike TV’s “Ink Master” star Oliver Peck, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Ambassadors Ashley Marsh and Daniel “Gravy” Thomas and the Harley-Davidson Design Team.
So, pull out those sketchpads and tattoo guns and let your imagination run wild. The design competition kick-starts January 14, 2018, and runs through February 15, 2018, with winners scheduled to be announced February 28, 2018 via Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum’s Instagram and Facebook feeds.
To enter the design contest or for additional information, visit www.SailorJerry.com/ MyWorkSpeaksForItself. Not only will contest winners’ artwork be seen on Harley-Davidson motorcycles across the United States, they will also receive:
An exclusive, behind-thescenes VIP experience at the Harley-Davidson Museum, hosted by Megan Massacre and Oliver Peck.
In exciting events taking place starting mid-April, these custom painted motorcycles will be unveiled and begin their tour across the nation. After Labor Day, each motorcycle will be awarded to lucky winners through a separate fan-driven sweepstakes, letting the artwork live on infinitely.
Proposed TV Series: “ATK Motorcycles”, The Other American Motorcycle Brand That Defies All Odds.
ATK Motorcycles, America’s only Dirt Bike manufacturer is now poised to expand its winning traditions on a TV reality series that will follow the daily commotion of what happens at ATK Motorcycles.
The series will take viewers on what actually occurs along the way; from the initial concept of a new motorcycle, engineering, designing, developing, testing, crashing, then finally selling that motorcycle somewhere on planet earth.
ATK will ask for the viewers for their input on what they want to ride and ATK will manufacturer it. This will be a first in the motorcycle industry. Along the way viewers will be a part of the epic rides on the open
asphalt roads, discovering special places with biker history along with viewing impressive off-road trails, sand dunes, snow peaks on snowbikes that only a few people have ever seen.
Along the track, ATK will link up with the special VIP’s in the biker-world, from the legendary chopper guys to the world champion motocross champions who all share the same passion for motorcycling and how it changed their lives.
The series will also pick up along the way some special actors, celebrities’ and yes, even a few politicians, who are true bikers to make the series a little controversial and fun.
Each episode will have various roadblocks, cliffs and sand washes with different heroes in the cast overcoming these obstacles in making ATK a success against the mighty Goliath’s in the motorcycle industry. Everyone wants an underdog and ATK is just that by defying all odds. Every episode will include a special motorcycle give away to the viewers in being with the cast of ATK. If you want to help, contribute or know more contact Frank White, ATK motorcycles. -Frank White frank.white@atkusa.com
I Don’t Get It—But I’m just a grubby biker. In my younger years the media questioned everything the government spewed, which was correct. They asked questions and reported. Made sense. They understood the need for the first amendment and freedom.
Then came helmet laws and they no longer supported freedom. And now Global Warming that could regulate everything and they don’t question it, why? Are they afraid they might piss someone off? Bikers aren’t afraid of anything. We fight for freedom no matter what. Ride free forever! -Bandit
THE PILE....
it’s all but a haze of incoherent memories shrouded in exaggeration and mystic adventure. The characters have all changed but in the end the story remains the same. On occasion, I try to jump start my own history and relive memories that have rotted away years ago leaving holes where stories once lived. The streets I roamed as a little kid are still there, but the pavement is clean and the cars that sit in old friend’s driveways are new and unfamiliar. We’ve all moved on to capture whatever version of success we were imprinted with by our parents years before we were able to give a damn, but at least we had those days years ago. I didn’t know it, but by the time I was old enough to realize what the hell I was doing it was already too late to appreciate where I was. My dreams were filled with motorcycles, I never had a dirt bike so what my mind conjured up as I slept was a pure sense of ideal freedom, without limitation, that I hoped someday to experience. The ironic part is that the earliest memory that I have of an actual motorcycle besides the one sitting in my father’s garage was of a black undefined bike laying in a pile next to severely damaged car. My mother turned her head and with a firm tone forbid me to ever ride such a death machine in such an uncertain world. With so much hatred towards these two wheeled chariots of evil there had to be some reason that someone would want to have one. My Huffy was as close as I would come for many years. I would race down hills at perilous speeds void of all concern for my own safety, I didn’t know what a helmet even was. It was a dangerous time of freedom and my friends and I embraced it. A stolen piece of plywood and a hunk of a log would send us to the heavens as we soared to infamy in the footsteps of the fearless man named Evel. Deep in the woods we would be lost for hours with only our bicycles to deliver us home before dark; it was a childhood I wish I had more time to have.
The sweeping hills and endless roads were all we had in order to find each other. A series of turns and organized sweeping patterns would allow any twelve-year-old to comb his neighborhood in their search of “the pile”. And when you finally found it, you knew you had arrived. The pile was a symbol of your gang, six or seven beat to shit pedal bikes thrown across the lawn of the house where the parents allowed the most leeway. The pile was the beginning of adventure, a swarm of chaos galloping to the sounds of popping chains and the chatter of bearings as the pedals began to freewheel. As the pile became mobile it would absorb any kid in its path becoming a mute frenzy of opportunity and peer pressured destiny. No day repeated the last and no story stayed the same.
The surrounding fields of my neighborhood soon fell prey to bulldozers and general contractors that quickly changed the landscape with clone homes and convenience stores forever changing the path of the kids younger than my friends and me. We all soon found ourselves engulfed in the magic of rudimentary video games and cable television nestled inside homes comforted by central air conditioning and bulk store treats. The piles stopped moving and the landscapers moved the bikes off the yards, times changed.
I finally got my motorcycle, taught myself how to ride and began to start new adventures with new friends in a
new town. I found myself scouring the streets chasing that freedom that filled my dreams as I slept years ago. The piles are still there, just farther apart, spread all over this country in all kinds of landscapes. Different faces with different lives all searching for the same kind of freedoms. I think, that in some way, who you are as a kid is as close to what’s going to make you a happy adult as you ever may be. Whether you ride alone or in that frenzy of chaos at some time, you’ll end up in that pile once again. A pile with different versions of those you knew as a kid, just as familiar and just as exciting. Every day is the beginning of a new story and as soon as you fire that bike up you’re saluting that kid you used to be and, in some way, still are. Something has brought all of us to this point and it’s what we do from here that defines us. You shouldn’t need a reason to ride, you don’t need an agenda or a purpose. You just need to be free and chase that freedom till the day you die because in the end that is the only thing you owe yourself.
TC Bros. Chrome Louvered Air Cleaner Bendix Zenith & Keihin Butterfly Carbs
Add classic Hot-Rod style to your motorcycle with this TC Bros. Chrome Louvered Air Cleaner. Washable cotton gauze filter element provides high performance air flow to your V-Twin. Kit attaches easily using the American made, CNC machined, powder coated steel mounting bracket. This ultra-compact kit is designed to fit all Harley Davidson® Big Twin and Sportster models using factory Bendix Zenith & Keihin Butterfly Carbs. (WILL NOT FIT CV carburetor, see our other items for our air cleaner kit that does). It is highly recommended to use in conjunction with a support bracket for longevity. See TC Bros. SKU #109-0163 for 88-90 Sportster models. NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA $59.95 www.tcbroschoppers.com
Twin Power Expands Gasket Kit Product Line
The Cam Change Gasket Kits include all gaskets, seals and O-rings necessary for a camshaft change. The kits are designed for Harley-Davidson® 1970 to 1992 Big Twin models. $18.56 to $68.00. The new M-8 Gasket Kits are sold individually or in convenient package quantities depending on your particular application. These kits include: Top End Gasket Sets retails for $180.0; Rocker Cover Gaskets $57.50; Cylinder Head Gaskets $44.99; Tappet Guide Gasket $29.25; Cam Cover Gaskets/Seals and O-Rings $31.25; Motor Case O-Rings and Seals $11.25 to $19.80; Manifold/Carburetor/Air Cleaner Gaskets and Seals $2.45 to $51.80; Primary/Derby/Inspection Cover Gaskets $24.00 to $65.00; Transmission Rebuild Kit $75.24; and Transmission Oil Pan Gaskets $15.95. Made in the USA, Twin Power gaskets are offered as a kit that contains all the gaskets and seals necessary, or separately as needed, to perform a specific job. These high-quality kits include AFM and MLS style gaskets, and meet or exceed O.E.M.specifications. Visit your local Tucker Rocky | Biker’s Choice dealer.
“Reverse Motor” for all Harley-Davidson Tri-Glides.
. Included in the kit are: a new armature, a new field assembly (magnets), a new brush cap, and a new planetary gear shield. Terry Components reverse motor rebuild kits make it easy and economical to repair the Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide back-up motor. This kit retails for $300.00. Included in every kit is Terry Components traditional “Quality and Performance.” Dealer inquiries welcomed. For all further information please visit your local Drag Specialties dealer or contact Terry Components direct at www. terrycomp.com
Profile Low Touring Front Suspension
Original Equipment on the Electra Glide Ultra Low Model, this front suspension reduces the front fork length by over .7”, reducing seat height and delivering a closer to the pavement riding experience. Utilizes Dual Bending Valve technology to preserve original ride quality. Features springs that are wound to allow a compliant, yet controlled ride. When paired with the required Low Profile Hand-Adjustable Rear Suspension, the overall ride height is reduced. Provides the rider with a short inseam additional confidence when stopped or maneuvering vehicle in a parking lot. Kit includes two fork springs, two damper tubes, jiffy stand mount, seals and hardware. $159.95 www.h-d. com
This low profile rear suspension system is engineered to minimize ride height while maximizing comfort for the rider and passenger. Features Low height; A nitrogen charged emulsion design; Delivers enhanced compression and rebound damping for a controlled and comfortable ride with less bottoming; Large chambers that allow the suspension to react quickly to impacts, keeping the tires tracking while minimizing hardness transmitted through the frame; Simple knob behind the left saddlebag permits adjustment of the spring preload to adapt for light and heavy load; Reduces seat height by .75” to deliver a confidence-inspiring shorter reach to the ground; Kit includes left and right rear shocks $549.95. Visit h-d.com
DP Brakes For Harley-Davidson
DP Brakes, the pioneer and longtime industry leader in sintered metal braking technology, offers brakes that are an upgrade to original equipment for 2018 and earlier Harley Davidsons. DP Brakes are quiet and dust free. Fitment covers Harley’s from early 1970‘s. Added fitments the new Street Glide Trikes, Streets, Sportsters and Softail models with new calipers. In addition, DP Brakes are fitted as original equipment on all Performance Machine (PM) and HHI (Hawg Halters) calipers. For more information on the complete lineup of DP Brakes brake pads, shoes, rotors and clutch kits, contact (716) 681-8806, e-mail dpbrakestm@aol. com, or visit DP Brakes on the web at www.dp-brakes. com
BikeMaster® Expands Line with Heavy-Duty Moto and Enduro Inner Tubes
BikeMaster Heavy-Duty Moto Tubes are made from natural rubber, making them ultra-durable. Seamless construction, increased wall thickness and superior valve stems combine to provide better puncture and pinch flat protection in any terrain. Starting at $10.95. BikeMaster Heavy-Duty Enduro have all the same characteristics as the Heavy-Duty Moto Tubes, but also feature an average of 35% boost in wall thickness. These are designed to perform well in extreme conditions, giving you better sidewall stability and superior protection, and retail starting at $17.95. BikeMaster HeavyDuty Moto and Heavy-Duty Enduro Tubes can be ordered through your local Tucker Rocky/Biker’s Choice dealer. Visit your local Tucker Rocky | Biker’s Choice dealer.
Cycle X Vintage Racing Pistons
Cycle X and Wiseco have teamed up to offer state of the art strutted, billet and race coated piston sets. These 1.00mm over piston sets will be race legal in all formula vintage motorcycle road races and feature a 12.5 compression ratio. Lightest pistons in the industry for your go-fast project. www.cyclexchange.net
Yamaha XS650 Rubber Battery Box Boot
Yamaha XS650 Rubber Battery Boot, use this to isolate vibration on your battery. Fits: 12N14 type Batteries as used on 1974-84 Yamaha 650’s $21.99 www.tcbroschoppers.com
TC Bros. Breather Bolts For your 1999-2017 Twin Cam Harley Motors (does not fit Sportster models). These bolts are the cleanest way to solve your crankcase venting issues when installing aftermarket air cleaners on your Harley. They are fully CNC machined 6061 aluminum that is polished for a super clean look! They include stainless steel vent screens, stainless washers, circlips and foam filter elements. No more ugly hoses and bulky breather filters to deal with! MADE IN USA! NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA. Fits all Twin cam engines. Twin cam engines were produced from 1999-2017 in the following displacements: 88 cu in, 96 cu in, 103 cu in, 110 cu in. $44.99 www.tcbroschoppers.com
New gloss black Precision engine covers from Kuryakyn take blacked-out Milwaukee-Eight® powerplants deeper to the dark side. Now available in smooth gloss black, Precision covers serve as an extension of the Milwaukee-Eight’s design language, enhancing the sinister look of Harley-Davidson® “Special” and CVO Touring models, as well as the Gloss Black Engine Cover Kit (H-D P/N 92500059). The modern and muscular designs deliver a truly defined appearance for a seamless integration with every factory component, whether used individually or as a complete set. Everything in the Precision line is bolt on, creating a uniform aesthetic with the motor. The collection includes groupings of unique covers and accents that bring the same powerful appearance to often-overlooked areas of the engine and transmission. Focus areas include the cylinder base, inner primary, tappet block, transmission and starter, as well as the voltage regulator, oil cooler, and coolant pump for liquid-cooled models, among other areas. Coming soon to the Precision lineup are full kits for 2018 Softail® models offered in both gloss black and chrome finish options. To view the complete Precision collection for Milwaukee-Eight Touring models, visit www.kuryakyn.com/c/precision.
Valve and Spring Kits, 1948-1965 HD PANHEAD ENGINE KIT
Twin Power is proud to introduce a new line of high quality USA made valve and spring kits to the product line. These are offered as Replacement Valve Kits or Complete Engine Kits. Valve kits include (4) stock size valves for each application. Engine kits include (4) valves, A complete OEM replacement style spring kit, steel retainers and keepers, and valve guide seals (where applicable). From Knuckleheads to the latest Twin Cam models, we give you everything you need in one kit. Only one part number to order for a complete cylinder head overhaul. (Note: dealer must install and fit valve guides as needed). Easy to order, easy to stock, and Made in USA. $224.99. Visit your local Twin Power dealer.
AMCA ............................................37 5 Ball Racing Leather................. 109 Bare Bones Leather.......................37 Battery Outlet..............................111 Big Mountain Run.........................33 BikerNet.com................................113 Bikers Choice...................................3 Billet Proof Designs........................79 Boogie East...................................39 Kiwi Indian....................................37 Choppertime....................................4 Cycle Source Gear.........................85 Dennis Kirk....................................9 DK Custom Products....................111 Dirty Bird Concepts.......................79 Donnie Smith Flat Track...............35 Donnie Smith Show.......................52 Drag Specialties............................15 Dutchman....................................111 Faith Forgotten Choppers.............81 Feuling..........................................111 Fox Creek Leather..........................65 GEICO..............................................2 Harbor Freight...............................49 Hardtail Choppers........................110 Harley-Davidson............................16 Hijinx Apparel..............................110 Hogs 4 Hope ..................................105 Hot Leathers.................................105 Hydroclutch..................................110 I Draw Flies...................................108 Indian Larry Motorcycles..............27 Inferno Art...................................110 LePera Seats..................................75 J&P Cycles.....................................63 Kearney Rides................................56 Kiwi Indian....................................29 Led Sled Customs...........................69 Lutz Leather.................................110 Metzeler..........................................33 Mikuni...........................................51 Nash ........................................... 112 National Motorcycle Museum......110 New Air-A Vape Shop...................110 Pandemonium................................67 Paughco.....................................19,87 Progressive Insurance...................21 Russ Brown...................................45 S&S Cycle.....................................116 SBS Brakes....................................89 SpeedKing.....................................80 Sporty Parts.................................111 Steel City H-D..............................115 Tech Cycles....................................29 Thermo Tech..................................65 Three Two Choppers.......................47 Tropical Tattoo.............................113 Twisted Choppers............................5
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118 Dellenbaugh Rd. Tarentum, PA 15084 Or E-mail To cyclesourcemain@comcast.net
ANew York attorney representing a wealthy art collector called his client. “Saul, I have some good news, and I have some bad news. The art collector replied, “I’ve had an awful day. Give me the good news first.” The lawyer said, “Well, I met with your wife today, and she informed me that she just invested $5,000 in two pictures that she thinks will bring a minimum of $15 to $20 million, and I think she could be right.” Saul replied enthusiastically, “Well done! My wife is a brilliant businesswoman! You’ve just made my day. Now I know I can handle the bad news. What is it?” The lawyer replied, “The pictures are of you and your secretary.”
Earl
Two young boys walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of tampons and proceeded to the checkout counter. The man at the counter asked the older boy, “Son, how old are you?” “Eight”, the boy replied. The man continued, “do you know what these are used for?” The boy replied, “not exactly, but they aren’t for me. They are for him. He’s my brother. He’s four. We saw on TV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike. Right now, he can’t do either!”
Tim
My husband and I purchased an old home in Northern New York State from two elderly sisters. Winter was fast approaching, and I was concerned about the house’s lack of insulation. “If they could live here all those years, so can we!” my husband confidently declared. One November night the temperature plunged to below zero, and we woke up to find interior walls covered with frost. My husband called the sisters to ask how they had kept the house warm. After a rather brief conversation, he hung up. “For the past 30 years,” he muttered, “they’ve gone to Florida for the winter.”
Tony
A7-year-old and a 4-year-old are upstairs in their bedroom. “You know what?” says the 7-yearold, “I think it’s about time we started swearing.” The 4-year-old nods his head in approval. “When we go downstairs for breakfast I’m gonna say ‘hell’ and you say ‘ass’, O.K.?” “O.K.” the 4-yearold agrees with enthusiasm. The mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 7 year old what he wants for breakfast. “Aw, hell Mom, I guess I’ll have some Cheerios.” WHACK!! He flew out of his chair, tumbled across the kitchen floor, got up and ran upstairs crying his eyes out. She looked at the 4-year-old and asked with a stern voice, “And what do YOU want for breakfast, young man?” “I don’t know,” he blubbers, “but you can bet your ass it won’t be Cheerios.”
Emily
Ahigh school English teacher reminds her class of tomorrow’s final exam. She also tells them that there will be no excuse for failing to show up, except for serious injury, illness, or a death in the student’s immediate family. A smart-ass jock in the back of the room pipes up and asks the teacher out loud, “What about extreme sexual exhaustion?” The entire class has all it can do keep from breaking up, being barely able to stifle its laughter and snickering. When silence is restored, the teacher smiles sympathetically at the student, shakes her head, and sweetly says, “You can write with your other hand then!”
Cindy
An American tourist went into a restaurant in a Spanish provincial city for dinner and asked to be served the specialty of the house. When the dish arrived, he asked what kind of meat it contained. “Senor, these are the cojones,” the waiter replied. “The what, you say?” exclaimed the tourist. “They are the testicles of the bull killed in the ring today,” explained the waiter. The tourist gulped but tasted the dish anyway and found it delicious. Returning the following evening, he asked for the same dish. After he finished the meal, the tourist commented to the waiter: “Today’s cojones are much saltier and smaller than the ones I had yesterday.” “True, senor,” agreed the waiter. “You see the bull, he does not always lose.”
Fernando
The new priest was so nervous at his first mass, he could hardly speak. Before his second appearance in the pulpit he asked the Monsignor how he could relax. The Monsignor said, “Next Sunday, it may help if you put some vodka in the water pitcher. After a few sips, everything should go smoothly.” The next Sunday the new priest put the suggestion into practice and was able to talk up a storm. He felt great. However, upon returning to the rectory, he found a note from the Monsignor. It read: Next time, sip rather than gulp. There are 10 commandments, not 12. There are 12 disciples, not 10. We do not refer to the cross as the big “T”. The recommended grace before meals is not “ rub-a-dubdub, thanks for the grub, yeah God.” Do not refer to our savior, Jesus Christ and his apostles as “J.C. and The boys”. David slew Goliath. He did not kick the shit out of him.” The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are never referred to as “Big Daddy, Junior and, The Spook”. It is always the Virgin Mary, never “Mary with the Cherry. Jesus was Consecrated, NOT constipated. Jesus said, “Take this and eat it, for it is my body,” he did not say, “Eat me.” Jacob wagered his donkey, he didn’t “beat his ass.” David was hit by a rock and knocked off his donkey, he wasn’t “stoned off his ass.”. Last, but not least, next Wednesday there will be a taffy pulling contest as St. Peters. There will not be a Peter pulling contest at St. Taffy’s.
