27/06/2008 by info.

JIM Nasi Customs now introduces the Nasi Bagger Series kit, which was seen in prototype form at the V-Twin Expo. The new kit is made up of replacement bags, rear fender, license plate holder/taillight, front side panels and slip-on mufflers.

The complete kit is designed as a bolt-on application to replace the stock fittings, and is described by Jim Nasi as being: “specifically designed for easy and quick installation.”

The new hard bags are fiberglass, unlike the stock items they are deeper, narrower and longer to create a more streamlined look, and mount lower on supplied brackets. Two versions of the bag are offered either with the exhaust cut-outs or without, and locks and hidden hinges are included.

The cut-outs in the bags were inspired by hot rod and custom car designs, the holes are filled by the Triple Shot slip-on mufflers, which can be fitted with baffles.

In addition, the kit includes new forward side panels, which help the lines of the bike flow visually into the bags, and a new rear fender. The fender is said to be the first replacement unit manufactured in steel, and is set up to take a billet license plate holder (also included). The holder has an LED taillight and indicators and is ready wired to connect to the stock bike’s electrics.

The Nasi Bagger Series Kit, available through Jim Nasi Customs, will fit ‘97 onward H-D Touring models.

JIM NASI CUSTOMS
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Tel: 800 964 6274
Fax: 623 879 8605
E-mail: sales@jimnasicustoms.com

www.jimnasicustoms.com

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27/06/2008 by info.

MARK Finnie has been named as the new President of Performance Machine. The announcement comes following the news that Perry Sands has stepped down from his role in the company he formed in order to join the management team at Motorsport Aftermarket Group, Inc. (MAG).

Finnie joins Performance Machine (PM) from Forge-Tec where he held the role of Vice President/General Manager and oversaw the company’s move from manufacturing wheel blanks to finished wheels and the launch of the FHO (For Harley Only) program. Finnie was headhunted for his role at Forge-Tec after being with Weld Racing Motorcycles, where over three years he aided the company in its move from private label wheel manufacturing to retail wheel supplies.

Mark Finnie’s appointment at PM marks a return to the company for him as he began his career in the motorcycle industry there in 1999, when he was appointed Director of Operations, having previously been primarily interested in hot rods.

In an exclusive interview with AMD Finnie told how he was approached by Arnie Ackerman, Chairman of MAG, to return to PM. A move which was backed by Sands himself, who said of Finnie: “There is no one better to take Performance Machine forward. I have known and worked with Mark for many years and I’m confident of his ability to run the company.”

Finnie was equal in his praise for the man whose role he is taking on, saying: “I am honored and humbled to follow Perry. These are big shoes to fill. He’s an industry icon.”

As Finnie takes on the challenge of continuing the success of Performance Machine in the current economic climate, he has the knowledge that Perry is still available to offer advice when needed. He explains: “As Perry is on the MAG Board of Advisors, he is there for me to talk to anytime I want to.”

Perry is not the only member of the Sands family involved with PM that Finnie can count on. He has the assistance of Summer Sands, who is continuing her work as VP of Sales and Marketing, and Finnie says: “We will also continue to utilize Roland’s design abilities as Director of Research and Development to create new products. He’s currently the best in the business as far as I’m concerned.”

Having acknowledged the strengths that Performance Machine has, Finnie is also aware of the weaknesses, saying: “When the market was buoyant no one had to actively sell, orders just came in and sometimes it was a struggle to meet the demand. When things began to slow down, PM was slow to catch up with the changing marketplace. Now we’re turning that situation around.

“My number one objective, right now, is to address poor delivery performance by working with the operations department. We’re going to take PM back to a customer-focused company. We’re going to focus on what made PM the company it is and head forward. We’re looking at changes in manufacturing to make us more competitive.”

Those changes are already beginning to happen, and MAG has invested in new machinery for the production of the company’s brake calipers, one of the key lines for the business. The investment is an indicator of the status of Performance Machine in the MAG group of companies, a point which Finnie is keen to elaborate upon: “I feel that Performance Machine is the Mercedes Benz of the V-twin aftermarket wheel and brake industry, and I intend to ensure that we retain that exclusive status.”

PERFORMANCE MACHINE
La Palma, California, USA
Tel: 714 523 3000
Fax: 714 523 3007
E-mail: sales@performancemachine.com

www.performancemachine.com

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18/06/2008 by info.

COVINGTONS Customs has increased its line of Diamond Edition parts with the addition of three new items.

The fork slider covers are from CNC machined billet aluminum and fit ‘80 and onward FLH models. The finish is black anodizing with diamond-cut fins. To match the slider covers, Covingtons are also now producing diamond-edged Street Glide dash inserts and gas doors.

The two other new parts work with the stock dash assembly on ‘08 Street Glides, ‘06 onward Street Glides, ‘04 and ‘05 FLHTCSEs. Like the covers, they are anodized and diamond-cut from CNC machined billet aluminum.

COVINGTONS CUSTOMS
Woodward, Oklahoma, USA
Tel: 580 256 2939
Fax: 580 256 2296
E-mail: info@covingtonscyclecity.com

www.covingtonscustoms.com

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12/06/2008 by info.

The annual rally organized by Moto Clube de Faro, in Portugal, is the latest event to join the Affiliate program of the Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building.

Taking place over July 17-20, the rally is now into its 27th year, making it one of the oldest such events in Europe.

The rally ran for 10 years before the first custom show was staged. The first event simply consisted of bikes in a field, but that was soon to change with the formation of a special team within the Moto Clube to organize and improve the show each year.

Such was the success of the organizing team that, 10 years after that first custom show, an additional area was added. Known as ‘Custom Farm’, it is specifically for professional builders to showcase their latest builds and has proved to be a major attraction, especially among editors of European custom bike magazines looking for potential feature bikes - such is the quality of machinery on display.

Now that it has become an Affiliate event, builders entering this year’s show will have the opportunity to win a travel expenses contribution to go to the World Championship of Custom Bike Building in Sturgis in 2009. With such a major prize on offer, the standard of bikes entered and on display is expected to be even higher than ever before.

To present a bike for consideration for entry, please email coolcat@clix.pt, attaching at least two clear photographs of the bike. Bikes may also be presented at the event itself, up to 2pm on July 19.

Bikes must run and be ridden into the showground, and from the showground to the stage for the prize-giving ceremony, to be eligible for prizes.

MOTO CLUBE DE FARO
coolcat@clix.pt

www.motoclubefaro.pt

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10/06/2008 by info.

BOURGET’S Bagger Group, Inc., the company set up by Roger Bourget to build production Baggers, will be holding Demo Days on June 19 and 20 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Those attending the event will be able to ride the new Drifter Bagger and see the prototype Entourage. Factory tours and the opportunity to meet Roger Bourget will also be available.

The Drifter is a custom production Bagger which uses an S&S X-Wedge engine and matching six-speed transmission. The bike is 50-state legal and is currently undergoing testing to assure it is also legal in Canada.

Talking about the concept for the Drifter, Roger Bourget said: “I’ve got the Chopper thing done well and decided that I didn’t want to be like everyone else and simply convert a Chopper into a Bagger. We’ve been working on this for two years, and over the past six months we’ve had regular Bagger riders out on prototype Drifters so that we can get the ride totally dialed-in.”

To ensure the ride of the Drifter is the best it can be, the motor is rubber mounted and the suspension has been developed with the help of former off-road racer Walker Evans.

Dealers stocking the Drifter will have the option of 10 paint finishes and three billet wheel styles. In addition, because of the bike’s modular design, dealers can buy a base model Drifter and offer upgrades to meet their customers’ budgets. A complete parts line will be offered within six months, and will include hard bags, fairing options, chin spoilers and a tour pack.

Anyone interested in attending the Demo Days should contact Brigitte Bourget (brigitte@bourgets.com).

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09/06/2008 by info.

Given the current state of the custom motorcycle industry, closures are a sad state of fact….. however I’m really sad to hear that Kim and Cheryl Suter have decided to call it a day. I’ve always enjoyed looking at their creations and know they have a good reputation within the industry. The industry will certainly be poorer for losing them….

Good luck in all your future endeavours.

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09/06/2008 by info.

Flying Choppers from Finland have won a bike freight expenses contribution to compete at this summer’s 5th annual Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building (OWC) by winning this weekend’s (June 7) Custom Bike Show, Norrtelje, Sweden.

Organized by Twin Club MC, Custom Bike Show is the OWC program’s Scandinavian Championship of Custom Bike Building, and is believed to be the oldest established custom motorcycle competition in the world.

Hugely prestigious in a European context, the event pulls competitors from all over Scandinavia and the rest of Europe and is a one-day ride-in show staged in a downtown City Park in a model of community collaboration with the City authorities.

As ever, the standard of the event reflected the tastes and styles of custom design and engineering in that part of the world. This was the fourth year that the event had been an Official Affiliate, and the winner’s prize (given by Twin Club MC) is worth some 5,000 euro (nearly US $8,000) with additional prizes of some 3,000 euro (approx US$4,700) each for second and third-placed winners to compete at the annual Official European Championship.

This year saw Peder Johanssen of Hogtech (Sweden) take second place with the bike that he has built for the S&S Cycle 50th Anniversary celebration at La Crosse, Wi., at the end of the month. Peder will then be keeping the bike in the Unites States to also compete at the OWC.

For the first time, though, two bikes tied for third place, and the builders will share the prize. Swede Lasse Sundberg scored with his 40 inch over, Redneck-framed chopper that featured twin dual updraft carbs on an Indian Power Plus engine. He tied with Anders Goeth’s very tidy ‘Speed Bob’ bobber, which all points to the incredible diversity that this show produces and that the OWC Affiliate program promotes.

The event itself drew excellent crowds on what is the National holiday weekend in Sweden, and saw outstanding weather and excellent support from several Europe-wide parts and accessory distributors, including Custom Chrome Europe, Motorcycle Storehouse, MotoSpeed of Sweden, and Redneck Engineering’s Sweden-based European operation.

www.custombikeshow.se

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03/06/2008 by info.

Following Nace Panzica’s decision to step down from the Custom Chrome and Global Motorsport (GMG) management team, and Frank Esposito’s exit from the Group last month, owners Dae-Il have selected Custom Chrome Europe Managing Director Holger Mohr to take over as the group’s CEO with immediate effect.

Mohr had decided to return to his post in Germany in August last year after a year and a half at the firm’s Morgan Hill, California, headquarters as President of Custom Chrome.

That decision had been triggered by former owner Cerberus’ reluctance to provide the necessary backing for the company’s business needs. With such backing for the business “now assured”, Mohr told AMD that he was “delighted to be asked to return and take the company forward”.

In an exclusive interview with AMD, Mohr was candid about recent events. “It has been a tough few months, indeed a tough few years for Custom Chrome / Global Motorsport Group, its vendors, dealers and employees, but thanks to Nace’s efforts and Dae-il’s backing throughout the past five months, we are now in a position to draw a line under the process of rescuing the company, and start building for the future”.

Part of that process has included settlement of some $7 million of agreed pre-petition vendor payables liabilities. In a letter to vendors Mohr said that “I am delighted to announce that as a result of our 90 day plan … we have achieved our goal for our vendor community”.

Commenting on Dae-Il’s decision to assume those liabilities in the first place, Mohr said that “some outside our industry recommended we not assume the previous vendor liability and start with a clean slate. Indeed, others in our industry have taken that route. Our decision to assume these debts underscores our belief that those liabilities represent relationships with key partners, and we understand that the best way to protect and promote our business is to protect and promote our vendors’ business interests too”.

Mohr has already been with GMG for 13 years and seen the entire cycle of the firm’s fluctuating fortunes throughout that time. He is one of several industry insiders that represent an emerging generation of managers and entrepreneurs now achieving strong reputations and important positions in the custom parts and accessory industry.

Mohr concluded his letter to vendors by saying “We owe our gratitude to Nace Panzica and Chairman Kim of Dae-Il. Their actions have placed Custom Chrome on a firm financial footing. It was their decision that having met agreed pre-petition obligations, leadership would be turned over to a new management team, and under our new ownership I am convinced that we have the tools to succeed in restoring this company to its rightful position in the industry”.

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03/06/2008 by info.

Brian Laine’s Harley GB1200R is one man’s vision of the perfect bike, with parts that originate from America, Japan, Germany and England. The bike won a third place trophy in the Mild Custom class at the May 18, 2008 Old Snohomish Motorcycle Show in Washington.

Read how Brian put together this interesting bike at his web-site

Link: Brian Laine’s website

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