30/03/2010 by info.

The annual Custom Chrome Europe Dealer Show once again played host to the prestigious AMD Official European Championship of Custom Bike Building at the Phoenixhalle, at Mainz, near Frankfurt in Germany on March 27th and 28th.

In an event that saw some 119 custom bikes from 20 different countries (making this the most international AMD European Championship yet!), Italian builders continued to confirm their emergence onto the international scene by scooping most of the top honors.

Garage 65 from near Pisa in Italy followed up their Verona, Zuerich and London successes by taking the win in the Freestyle class, claiming the title of European Champion, with their hub-center steered, radically styled ‘KCosmoDrive’ lowrider.

Headbanger Motorcycles of Milan were second with ‘Morning Sunrise’ by Luciano Andreoli, which features a radical rigid fork and pivot frame, down-tube shocks chassis concept.

The top three was rounded out by ‘One Eyed King’ by the Japanese/US based Cycle Kraft operation.

Affiliate event pre-qualifications meant that the three builders who won the World Championship ‘Sturgis’ bike freight vouchers, courtesy of DHL and Custom Chrome, were Luciano Andreoli of Italy for ‘Morning Sunrise’, Blech & Drüber of Austria for their Norton engined ‘Walton’ (5th in the European Championship) and Hungary’s Mücechoppers, whose much admired communist-era East German made Simson two-stroke single- powered styling masterpiece scooped sixth in the European Championship.

Fourth place was taken by Speed Dept/Mayhem Kustomz with the ‘Energicer’ lowrider that won them the domestic ‘Sturgis’ prize at Swiss Performance at Zurich in February.

Fine Custom Mechanics (FCM) of Moscow, Russia (7th), Bertrand Dubet’s Odyssey Motorcycles, France (8th), Hogtech of Sweden in collaboration with Dutchman Paul Funk (9th) and A.T. American Cycles of Germany completed the top ten for this year’s AMD Official European Championship ‘FreeStyle’ Class.

FCM’s top ten finish backed up their top-twenty at last year’s World Championship, and Bertrand Dubet and Hogtech both have fine track records of success in AMD’s Affiliate, European and World Championship events.

A.T. took tenth with ‘Osmane’, another bike that had already pre-qualified for this year’s World Championship, with a win at the Arneitz/CCE/Bikers Power World Championship Affiliate custom show at the Faak Rally in Austria last year.

In an extension to Harley-Davidsons’ burgeoning sponsorship and support for the AMD World Championship program, Harley-Davidson Europe sponsored the AMD European Championship Modified Harley Class first place with a brand new 120ci big bore kit engine.

The Modified Harley-Davidson class win was taken by Abnormal Cycles of Italy, with their FL ‘48.

Second was ‘Forsaken’ by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden, winning them a ThunderMax EFi kit; third place was taken by Germany’s Sasse van Essen with ‘Skull Racer’. Their prize was a Daytona TwinTec kit, and further reward in the shape of a SCS wide rear end swingarm kit for winning Sunday’s Public Choice award.

The Custom Chrome Motorcycles class saw a clean sweep for German builders with ‘Coppster 36′ by Kraftwerk Customs taking first place and a SuperTrapp/Paul Yaffe ‘Phantom’ exhaust system; second place and a Performance Machine brake system went to Deathfield-Choppers for ‘Gold Nugget’; third place saw Tobias Guckel (TGS Motorcycles) win a Progressive Suspension 430 series shocks kit.

The defining character of this year’s show was diversity. The 119 bikes included American V-twin power plants alongside Italian V-twins, a Norton, a Yamaha single, a pair of single cylinder Simsons and a pair of Japanese in-line fours. Bike styles ranged from traditional Choppers through board trackers and Bobbers to streetfighters and beyond to machinery that gloriously defies conventional categorization as the European custom industry continues to maintain its reputation for creativity, individuality, originality and craftsmanship.

Additional class wins and prizes included a RevTech 100ci engine for Spain’s Sbay Motorcycles, an Autometer speedo/tacho unit for Waka’s Bikes in Italy, and a stylish Thunderbike Germany air filter kit to Marcus Walz of Germany for the one, two and three in the Custom Chrome RevTech awards, and CCE/Jammer and KB Piston prizes for Arno Schmitz of Germany (first), B.C.C., Italy (second), and Oskar’s Chopper of Germany (third) in the Jammer ‘Old School’ awards.

Additional ‘FreeStyle’ prizes were generously awarded by Legend Air Suspension, Belt Drives Ltd., Fred Kodlin Motorcycles, Daytona TwinTec, BSL Exhausts of Austria and LePera custom seats.

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24/03/2010 by info.

The 23rd annual Donnie Smith Custom Bike Show and Parts Extravaganza is being staged this weekend, March 27th/28th at St. Paul, Mn.

Operated by Neil Ryan’s American Thunder Promotions, the Donnie Smith invitational, as it was known for many years, is now the first of a series of three famous-name events that Ryan has developed for consecutive spring-time weekends either side of Easter this year.

All new for this year, the first annual Viper Motorcycle Company sponsored Rick Fairless Strokers Dallas Bike Show & Parts Expo is being staged on April 10th to 11th at the Dallas Market Center, Dallas, Tx.

Following that the 4th annual Arlen Ness Bike Show is slated for April 17th to 18th at the San Mateo County Event Center near San Jose, California.

This year will see Arlen’s three-generation business celebrating 40 years in the custom motorcycle industry with an “adrenaline-producing show that offers a pro class and 42 bike categories”.

www.donniesmithbikeshow.com
www.rickfairlessbikeshow.com
www.arlennessbikeshow.com

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23/03/2010 by info.

This weekend will see the staging of the annual European Championship of Custom Bike Building at Custom Chrome Europe’s Dealer Show at Mainz in Germany.

Staged at the Phoenixhalle, on Saturday March 27th and Sunday March 28th, the event is expected to see one of the largest European Championships to date, with over 120 bikes pre-registered by the deadline.

Harley-Davidson are backing the Modified Harley-Davidson Class at the European Championship, with one of their new 120 inch Twin Cam engines as first prize.

The first three in the ‘FreeStyle’ Class will win bike-freight to compete at the World Championship compliments of Custom Chrome Europe, with additional prizes being provided by Custom Chrome and their vendors.

The CCE Dealer Show will see vendors from the United States and Europe introducing product lines to CCE Dealers, with the company continuing the celebration of its 40th anniversary.

In addition to guest appearances and a market history retrospective, the anniversary will be marked by a toast hosted by Arlen and Cory Ness, with special collectible edition anniversary glasses, marking the double celebration as Arlen Ness Enterprises are this year also celebrating their own 40th anniversary.

The event will also be an opportunity for dealers in Europe to meet Cole Foster and Kirk Taylor, and see the 1970’s style chopper (Foster) and up-to-date 2010 “Birthday Bagger” (Taylor) that Custom Chrome commissioned to mark the evolution of the custom market since the company opened its doors in 1970.

This weekend’s event follows the success of the return of Custom Chrome’s California Dealer Show ten days ago, where the anniversary celebrations kicked-off.

www.amdchampionship.com

www.custom-chrome-europe.com

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16/03/2010 by info.

Shares of Harley-Davidson  (HOG) rose 6% to a three-month high on heavy volume Tuesday morning amid trader speculation that the motorcycle maker could be the target of a leveraged buyout from private-equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

While the markets buzzed about the possibility the company could be taken bought out, KKR was mum. “We never comment on deal speculation,” Peter McKillop, director of corporate communications at KKR, told FOX Business.com

Harley-Davidson spokesman Bob Klein said, “We don’t comment on market rumor and speculation.”

Still, the motorcycle maker’s stock gained 6.98% in recent trading to $28.35. Earlier, it hit $28.46, its highest level since Dec. 8. Harley-Davidson’s shares have surged 137% from a year ago.

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16/03/2010 by info.

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16/03/2010 by info.

Manufactured from start to finish at  Paughco’s massive  complex in Carson City, NV, these awesome covers are formed from a sheet of solid brass to be an exact bolt on replacement for the originals. Both smooth and ribbed styles are available to fit 1948-1965 machines and retail for just $299.95. Paughco’s SOLID BRASS PAN COVERS use the stock D-Ring and an optional chrome Allen screw kit is available for $14.95.

For complete detail call direct to 775-246-5738 or catch them on line at www.paughco.com

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