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When the Environmental Protection Agency created new emissions rules governing 2006-and-later motorcycles sold in the 49 states (California excluded) it started a flurry of rumors and misguided information. And it couldn't have happened at a worse time for the custom market: The real estate boom was screeching to a halt and customers were struggling to pay on their adjustable mortgages. All this plus the chopper craze cooling down puts a lot of stress into doing business in this clean new world.

What drives a wannabe doctor to become Colorado's largest Harley-Davidson dealer and a custom motorcycle manufacturer big enough to sit among the top five production custom builders in the nation? According to Todd Erdmann it was a combination of circumstances and a willingness to invest in his dream.

At the Full Throttle dealer forum during Dealer Expo in February, attendees claimed motorcycle noise regulation was becoming a major challenge. A quarter of the group of high-income motorcycle dealers said their street riders were feeling significant heat for running loud pipes.

While attending the Big Twin West show in December I spoke with several players in the industry, ranging from micro-sized independent shops to large parts and accessories distributors. One observation surfaced over and over — that the feeding frenzy for high-end custom bikes is losing its appetite.

In the past five years the skills and knowledge necessary to be an A-level motorcycle technician have changed about as much as the electronics on today's motorcycles. That is to say — a lot. It may not be a bold, new world, but it's safe to say that unlike just five years ago, the motorcycle tech of 2007 won't get very far relying on mechanical aptitude as his only strong suit.

A few years ago the EPA adopted stricter emissions standards for 2006-and-later on-highway motorcycles with engines over 280cc that are sold in any state except California. Basically, the EPA adopted the same standards that the California Air Resources Board created back in 1998. The EPA doesn't require evaporative canisters as CARB does, but it does have set permeation standards for fuel lines and fuel tanks.

Last month I stopped by Hal's Speed Shop in New Berlin, Wis. I'd heard good things about this outfit, which is owned by Hal's Harley-Davidson, a Dealernews Top 100 dealership.

The service department of Harley-Davidson/Buell of Washington in Fort Washington, Md., is like most service departments — male dominated. But unlike most dealers, H-D/Buell of Washington employs a female service manager, and a female service writer. That's two hens in a very efficiently running house of roosters. Coincidence? I don't think so.