30/03/2012 by info.

JIMS® new Handcrafted Welded Covers have the same precision machined quality you would expect from JIMS, but are now available in our brand new RawCut & Welded design. These covers are plated with a bright dip, anodized finish and will update your bike to a tough new handcrafted look.

JIMS® Handcrafted Welded Covers all feature a clean, precision cut fin pack design to aid in cooling and add to the rugged, handcrafted feel. Every cover displays custom, hand-made welds that help create the RawCut look we were after.

Applications vary, for more information please visit us at www.jimsusa.com or call 805-482-6913.

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27/03/2012 by info.

 RASEINIAI LITHUANIA
12/5/2012

“RISING THUNDER – Custom bike show 2012” is an exclusive event for exclusive motorcycles and motorcycle admirers that takes speed with new energy. It is the only project of such kind in Lithuania, organized by the biker club “Twins forever MC”. The results of the last year showed that there are a lot of single people and custom workshops where various types of motorcycles are created, redone and renewed.

About 3000 people and 800 motorcycles visited the event last year.

Because of a great interest in this project we are obliged to enhance the organization of the event, in order motorcycle masters and their works to be presented and judged by the specialists of this area. This project is open to all motorcycle lovers and gives the possibility to show your own works to public at large. This year motorcycles are going to compete in 5 classes:

“Best American”
“Best Oldtimer”
“Best Bobber”
“Best Trike”
“Best Freestyle”

and 5 nominations:

1. “Best of custom show”

2. “Public’s best”

3. “Best aerography”

4. “Best engineerical decision”

5. “Crazy bike”

Qualified judges are going to choose the winners and the public will appoint “Public’s Best” by filling in the voting form and throwing it into the ballot-box. Voting forms will be available while purchasing a ticket. A bigger award fund will allow the winners to realize their motor projects and make their ideas real. The event “RISING THUNDER – Custom bike show 2012” will have some new developments: a bigger pavilion of “Custom show” exhibition, exclusive motorcycles and their creators who gained several awards in the world custom shows will participate as guests, “Non Stop Strip” pavilion, item storage, trading on motor accessories and parts, various custom workshops, aerographs and blacksmiths are going to demonstrate their products and services. Photo sessions with spectacular girls will not allow to forget the event.

Apply to organizers as far as trade and the arrangement of the pavilions presenting your production is concerned.

http://www.custombikeshow.lt/en/home

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27/03/2012 by info.

Knievel Custom Cycles

Knievel Custom Cycles, the custom-motorcycle company named after the famed stunt rider Evel Knievel, has been approved to offer two new “Fat Tire” motorcycles in Europe - the Patriot Pro-Street and the Patriot Chopper.

This news arrived after the Pennsylvania-based Knievel Custom Cycles was granted European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA), a system that approves motorcycles to be offered in European communities.

To secure these certifications, Knievel Cycles had to meet or exceed European Union 03 emission standards, as well as meet 26 separate vehicle quality, safety, and emissions directives.

Now, Knievel Cycles has five base models in Europe; in 2010, Knievel Cycles introduced the Evel One Springer Bobber, the Evel Commemorative Softail Bobber, and the Evel Commemorative Rigid Bobber to the European

The new Patriot Pro-Street and Patriot Chopper are the latest Knievel Cycles Customs with a “Fat Tire” look, the bikes using a 300mm- rear tire to acheive that American custom look and style.

The Vehicle Type Approval for these “Fat Tire” customs places Knievel Cycles in the position as the only US manufacturer approved to offer Fat Tire Motorcycles for sale in all 27 member communities of the European Union.

Greg Zappala (President of Knievel Cycles) says: “With the addition of our newly approved models, and soon to be released Cafe Racer, we believe we can offer European dealers the full spectrum of bikes needed to satisfy the demand of the American Motorcycle Enthusiast in Europe.

“Currently, we provide product to Absolut Cycles in Paris, France (absolutcycles.fr) and we are actively seeking new partners throughout all of Europe to expand our product network. I would like to invite any European dealers that are serious about handling the highest quality American motorcycles to contact us at 1-724-588-7040 or via info@knievelcycles.com.”

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22/03/2012 by info.

Jeremy Cupp of LC Fabrications is this year’s Ultimate Builder United States Champion after winning the FreeStyle class at the US Championship of the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show in Daytona. “Old Black”, a 1976 Harley-Davidson XL, is built on a hillclimber chassis and sports two reversed heads, dual Amal carbs and custom open rocker valve train. Special features include jackshaft dual drive chains and dual rear drum brakes.

Steve Iacona of Iacona Custom Cycles won the Modified Harley class with “Challenger”, his 2011 Modified Harley World Championship runner-up bike, taking home $4,000 in prize money and a 120ci Screamin’ Eagle engine provided by Harley-Davidson.

Special features on the bike include a hand fabricated fuel tank, rear fender tail section with built in oil tank, exhaust pipes and tips, handle bars, rear peg sets, headlight number plate, seat suspension, taillight, battery box, steering damper mounts and motor mounts.
Michael Beland of A1 Cycles took the Performance Custom US Champion title with his turbo and nitrous 140ci pro street bike “Janet”. It features a fully hand built frame, mono shock, Hayabusa stretched swingarm, hand built tail section and custom front end.

Results

Freestyle
Jeremy Cupp, LC Fabrications - “Old Black”, 1976 Sportster
Steve Broyles, Stevenson’s Cycle - “GL Special”, 2007 Stevenson’s Bobber
Steve Galvin, Wikked Steel - “Pipe Dreams”, 2012 Wikked Steel

Modified Harley-Davidson
Steven Iacona, Iacona Custom Cycles - “Challenger”, 1996 Harley-Davidson
Copper Mike Cole, Gravesend Cycles - “Coppa Choppa”, 1939 Harley-Davidson
Randall Medard, Pride Cycles - 2003 FLSTF

Performance Custom
Michael Beland, A1 Cycles - “Janet”, 2012 A1 Cycles Street Racer
Steve Galvin, Wikked Steel - “Battlestar”, 2012 Customs
Mike Brown, Spitfire Motorcycles - “Supertracker”, 2010 Spitfire Tracker

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20/03/2012 by info.

Joker Machine has responded to the current growing trend for café racer inspired custom builds with the introduction of universal, adjustable rearsets.

Machined from billet 6061-T6 aluminum, the brake and shift arms both feature ‘Dual-in-line’ sealed ball bearings. The actuation arms have four adjustment positions retained by pins, that can be easily set up due to the hex nut system being on the outside. Additionally, the entire assembly can be removed from the bike as all of the hardware can be accessed from the outside with Allen wrenches.

Two positions are available for the ’shift and brake’ pegs with the farthest position ideal for larger footed riders as it has a 53⁄4in centerline distance from shift peg center to foot peg center.

The rearsets are supplied in a clear anodized finish, and all mounting hardware has a gold zinc finish.

JOKER MACHINE
www.jokermachine.com

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16/03/2012 by info.

Lehman Trikes of Spearfish, South Dakota, has “suspended operations and may not reopen” according to the Rapid City Journal.

A number of workers were laid off in November while an investment solution was sought, but president and chief executive officer Ken Hines has announced that the company has been “unable to complete the proposed sale”.

Hines states that attempts to achieve refinancing are ongoing, but that the company cannot continue to operate in the meantime and that “there is no assurance that the company will be able to secure the required funding to recommence operations”.

The company has suffered a series of blows, not least the recent death at 60 years of age of founder John K. Lehman in January.

In 2010, Lehman’s contract to build the Tri-Glide trike for Harley came to an end and, despite subsequent trike projects on an number of platforms (such as Victory, Honda, Suzuki) as well as Harley based trike builds, the decision to put the company up for sale in November last year may have come too late and cannot have been helped by the nature of the economic climate.

LEHMAN TRIKES
www.lehmantrikes.com

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14/03/2012 by info.

The UK’s main motorcycle organizations have declared Motorcycle Lobby Day a great success. The Rider are Voters (RAV) badged event on March 7 brought together the key motorcycle organizations in a day of activities aimed at MPs (members of parliament) and Ministers and was organized to highlight key issues where the motorcycle world is calling for direct and positive action by the Government.

Nearly 50 riders and businesses attended a lobby meeting in one of Parliament’s committee rooms. Attendees also held individual meetings with their MPs.

The meeting, which was hosted by Steve Baker MP, was followed by an Associate Parliamentary Motorcycle Group reception which was attended by over 20 MPs and addressed by DfT Minister Mike Penning MP. Mr Penning spoke about the importance of motorcycling and pledged to bring the motorcycle test review to a positive conclusion.

Organised by RAV partners, the Auto Cycle Union (ACU), British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), Lobby Day promoted several key messages. These combined the importance of keeping awareness of the rider licensing review and the type approval campaign high among MPs. Other key policies which emphasised the social and economic importance of motorcycling and the industry were also highlighted.

The Government has been conducting a review of the motorcycle test and there is an expectation that a properly revised, fully on road test will start to be available from 2013. It is important that the Government fulfils this commitment and Ministers have expressed their determination to do so.

The Third European Driving Licence Directive will also be implemented in 2013. This will bring further pressure on motorcycling, business and jobs unless implementation is conducted properly. There are also concerns about a DSA proposal for a register of motorcycle trainers.

Riders and industry are concerned about European proposals for a new ‘Type Approval’ framework which covers the design and construction of motorcycles. The proposals are complex and could result in significant costs and bureaucracy to business and riders. This could threaten jobs and economic development, particularly in the area of so-called ‘anti tampering’ proposals.

Unclear timetables, a lack of clarity for technical requirements and the undemocratic aspects of so called ‘Delegated Acts’ (where officials can make regulations without proper scrutiny) are also causing concern. The Government’s close attention to the proposals has been welcomed, but as the issue progresses through the European system, it is vital that the Government maintains a strong line during ongoing European negotiations.

Government also needs to do more to maximise the opportunities that motorcycling can bring to transport policy, environmental policy, the economy and business. In particular:

The motorcycle industry’s economic contribution - over £7billion per annum, according to an MCI 2010 survey. Government should include the industry in business policy development and support the motorcycle, components and accessory manufacturing base and supporting industry sectors as part of the Prime Minister’s policy to ‘rebalance’ the economy. Triumph Motorcycles in particular is the UK’s largest solely British owned volume automotive manufacturer and, along with other British manufacturers, deserves wider recognition.

Motorcycle sport is worth over half a billion pounds per annum to the UK economy (MCI/ACU/AMCA survey). Government needs to take action to support efforts to safeguard the sport, particularly efforts by the sport governing bodies to bring better standards to off road motorcycle sport.

With motorcycles still emitting on average significantly less Co2 than the car average, Government is called upon to embrace the ‘PTW option’ in transport policy and including motorcycling in strategies to reduce transport Co2 and also to support the emerging alternative powered motorcycle sector.

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13/03/2012 by info.

Wilwood Engineering has a new range of brake rotors available that feature the company’s proprietary ‘Black Satin’ finish. Wilwood claims the E-coat on its stainless steel rotors offers superior corrosion resistance and uninhibited pad bedding over all conventional zinc or metallic based electro-coatings.

The brake manufacturer states that the satin finish on its rotors provides a protective layer that seals the microscopic surface of the base metal structure, in this case the brake rotor.
Once installed on a bike the first use of the brakes will remove the coating from the braking surface, while the rest of the rotor will remain untouched.

Satin finished Wilwood rotors can be used as a direct replacement with OE calipers or coupled with Wilwood GP calipers and high performance BP-10 compound pads.

WILWOOD ENGINEERING
www.wilwood.com

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09/03/2012 by info.

New exhausts from Vance & Hines

The Twin Slash pipes take their name from the 3in full-coverage heat shield that wraps around the 2-1⁄2 in muffler bodies that carry pre-installed louvered core baffles

Vance & Hines is continuing to release new exhaust options for 2012 H-D models with the release of its Twin Slash 3in slip-ons for the Softail Blackline. The pipes take their name from the 3in full-coverage heat shield that wraps around the 2-1⁄2 in muffler bodies that carry pre-installed louvered core baffles. In addition optional quiet and competition baffles are available.

The slip-ons, which fit ‘11 - ‘12 Blackline models, are available in a choice of chrome or matt black ceramic finishes.

The Shortshots Staggered feature full coverage heat shields, come as standard with louvered-core baffles, and can be fitted with optional quiet baffles

Moving on to the Dyna family, Vance & Hines has its Shortshots Staggered pipes available to fit ‘12 models. Like the Twin Slash, the Shortshots Staggered feature full coverage heat shields, come as standard with louvered-core baffles, and can be fitted with optional quiet baffles.

The 02 sensor mount included with the pipes is Vance & Hines’ new for 2012 design 12mm flat plane, which positions the sensor deeper into the exhaust stream, claiming to provide enhanced data feedback to the ECM.

VANCE & HINES
www.vanceandhines.com

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08/03/2012 by info.

Ride Wright Wheels has taken its Fat Daddy spoked wheel design and reworked it to introduce a range of new options.

Fat Daddy wheels are now supplied with the company’s new ‘one-hub-fits-all-wheels’ hubs, which means the wheels can be used on any bike and the idea is believed to be an industry first for spoked wheels. The Ride Wright modular hub ends allow swap-outs between rotor configurations, and interface between the bike and the hub.

The rims used on the latest Fat Daddy wheels are rolled spun rim from 6061-T6 aluminum, and this is said to prevent unsightly air-leaking imperfections.

In addition the rims are enhanced with a special silicon designed to handle added abrasion and flex for maximum durability. A final extra is the ability to have the rim edge of the wheel engraved, a service offered by Ride Wright.

RIDE WRIGHT WHEELS
www.ridewrightwheels.com

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