| | | | | Just in Time for the Holidays
| | | Just in Time for the Holidays
| | | Harley Sales Continue Climb
| | | For the first nine months of 2006, U.S. retail sales totalled 225,600 units, up 7 percent when compared to the first three quarters of last year, according to The Motor Co.'s third-quarter financial filing.
| | | Rucker's Assassin Gets Closed-Loop VFI
| | | Rucker gets first prize: Rucker Performance's 2007 Assassin is the first EPA- and CARB-approved production motorcycle to use S&S Cycle's T-Series 124 cu. in. engine equipped with closed-loop variable fuel injection.
| | | Saxon Sweeps Up '07 Lineup
| | | Saxon Motorcycle Co. has added a new model, the Villain, and is instituting "sweeping changes" over its entire model lineup.
| | | Buell Discontinues BRAG
| | | "Specifically, we are phasing our the BRAG membership program, including clubs," states a Nov. 2 letter to dealers. "This means, effective immediately, we will no longer take membership applications or renewals for membership."
| | | Easyriders Tour To Feature Yaffe, Weiss, Randolph, Among Others
| | | The 2007 Easyriders V-Twin Bike Show Tour will feature builders Paul Yaffe, Kendall Johnson, Detroit Bros. founders James and Dave Kaye, Ralph Randolph (Rockem & Sockem), Bill Rucker (Rucker Performance) and Austin Weiss (Streamline Design).
| | | IronHorse of Texas is Top Dealer
| | | Every year American IronHorse recognizes its No. 1 store with its Pinnacle Dealership Award. This year's recipient is Fort Worth-based IronHorse of Texas owned by Charles Strand (pictured here with fianc?e Loretta Fiester, who handles the store's promotions).
| | | SuckerPunch Sallys Seeking Dealers
| | | Old-school chopper and roller manufacturer SuckerPunch Sallys announced in early October that it was opening a factory in Scottsdale, Ariz. The company hopes increased production will allow it to improve customer service and give it the ability to support an additional six to 12 dealers next year.
| | | OCC Ramps Up Manufacturing
| | | Orange County Choppers has broken ground on a $13.4 million facility that will serve as its headquarters and manufacturing facility, reports the Daily Freeman. The 93,000 sq. ft. building will be located along state Route 17K in the town of Newburgh, N.Y. The move reportedly will increase the company's staff from 12 to 176.
| | | AMC1902 Goes Global
| | | American Motorcycle Co. 1902 says it has signed agreements to distribute its motorcycles in China, Macau, Singapore and Japan, as well as throughout the European Union. Licensing agreements have also been signed for the development and distribution of various products such as bolt-ons, accessories and apparel in those same countries. Development of prototypes is now underway, and sales are planned to launch in 2007.
| | | Wheel Brand Launched
| | | Oxnard, Calif.-based Advanced Metalforming Technologies (AMT), a wheel and blank supplier to several wheel manufacturers, has started manufacturing aluminum wheels under its own brand name: Forge-Tec Motorcycle Wheels and Accessories. Industry veteran Mark Finnie, who resigned earlier this year from a high position with now-bankrupt Weld Racing Motorcycle, will lead the effort.
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| | Red Horse to Raise Twin Bobbers
| | | Custom bike manufacturer Red Horse Motorworks is marketing its two new models, the Winchester SS5 and the Winchester E5, as "The Bobber Twins."
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| | | | New Breed of Tech
| | | By
Dave Koshollek
| | | 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.
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| | | | | | | Customize Your Image
| | | By
Rick Fairless
| | | This month I want to talk about the "business" part of the motorcycle business. Even though most of us are having a great time in this industry, there are always things we need to be aware of as business men and women. One thing I think we all need to focus on is building a positive image for ourselves.
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| | | | Master Rebuilder
| | | By
Alan Mayes
| | | Vintage motorcycles are hot right now, and rightly so. In the world of collector vehicles, bikes have long been overshadowed by antique cars. But bikes are coming into their own. Long-stored — and worse, long-ignored — basket cases and rolling carcasses are being resurrected. Some are being restored to their former glory; others are being transformed into choppers and bobbers.
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| | | | Economies of Scale
| | | By
Denny Berg
| | | In the '80s and early '90s, it was difficult to modify a metric bike. Bolt-on parts were not readily available because the production numbers were not there to justify prototyping and producing them. A company has to justify to their bean-counters that a part will pay for its long road from idea to finished product, and make a profit.
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| | | | Call For Cooperation
| | | By
Dave Scott
| | | Most of us at one point in our lives or careers have had them: the people who appear at a particular time frame (or job position) in our life and who want to be our best friend or most frequent caller when we have something they need. The minute we're no longer of value to them, the cards and letters stop coming.
| | | Same Dog, Better Ride
| | | By
Dave Scott
| | | So by now you've read all the reports from Big Dog's press launch in September. You know: the meeting where they bring us in, give us the company line and the factory tour, then take us for a ride before sending us on our way.
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| | | | Custom Chrome's Comeback
| | | By
Joe Delmont
| | | Custom Chrome president Holger Mohr says his biggest project at the company is dubbed "The Road to Cincinnati," an effort Custom Chrome plans to use as a showcase for its new strategy to regain lost ground in the V-twin parts distribution business. The venue will be the V-Twin Expo next February.
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| | | | Buying Groups Defined
| | | By
Bob Kay
| | | Big Twin Dealer asked me if I could profile the typical V-twin motorcycle buyer. I said, "Sure, but are we talking about the custom buyer or the buyer who prefers one of the larger, more established OEMs? And which age group did you have in mind?" They said, "You tell us."
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| | | | Capping It Off in Style - December 2006
| | | Customers looking for something to set their bike
apart may be interested in The Ball Cap made by
David Anthony Customs. The assembly includes a
billet aluminum ball-style cap and a solid-coldrolled-
steel bung that's ready to be welded in
place and comes with cap-compatible threads.
Each cap is vented and filtered for gas and oil bag
applications. The company claims a very affordable
retail price: $49.99 plus shipping and handling.
For an additional $10, David Anthony will chromeplate
the cap or anodize it in red, black, gold
or blue.
Value of the Product: Affordable ball-style gas
cap with several options
Suggested Initial Order: 10 for dealer pricing
Marketing Tips: Optional retail packaging
available
| | | Feeding Twin Cams Well - December 2006
| | | Daytona Twin Tec's TCFI Gen II fuel injection controller for '01-'06 Twin Cam 88 Harleys has a number of features. The unit:
- Simultaneously auto-tunes the fuel curves for
both cylinders during actual on-road riding using a new WEGO IID dual-channel wide-band oxygen sensor interface.
- Is a fully programmable plug-in replacement for the stock Delphi controller.
- Uses throttle-position-and-rpm-based alpha-N fuel control to eliminate problems with long-duration/high-overlap camshafts found in highly modified engines.
- Offers full support for the SAE J1850 data bus used on '04-'06 models.
- Comes packaged with Windows software for custom programming and data analysis.
- Also does data logging and diagnostics.
For further details, visit the TCFI section of Daytona Twin Tec's website.
| | | Fits Metric and American Models - December 2006
| | | Amsoil introduces a teardrop-shaped air filter for American and metric Big Twins equipped with Baron
Big Air Filter assemblies. The filter uses nanofiber technology and comes with a four-year guaranteed
service life. Epoxy-coated wire on the face back give the pleated filtration media strength and stiffness.
The filter can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or low-pressure compressed air.
Value of the Product: Longer service life, better airflow and higher efficiency and capacity
Suggested Initial Order: No minimum
Marketing Tips: Comes in an informative box
| | | Incredible Intake - December 2006
| | | S&S Cycle introduces the Single Bore
Tuned Induction System that fits all
S&S Super E and G carbs, stock CV
carbs, Stock Delphi throttle bodies
and, of course, the new S&S Single
Bore Throttle Body. Designed with a
curve that flows the intake of the dual
runners into the single bore, the system
reportedly adds a significant boost in
midrange and top-end power. S&S
says tests on a stock 2006 Dyna saw
gains of more than 9 horsepower and
9 ft.-lbs. of torque. The mounting
bracket, which doubles as a head
breathing system, was designed to
bring the system in as close as possible for additional legroom. The unit comes in chrome,
black and natural finishes, with red or blue air filters.
| | | No More Guessing Gears - December 2006
| | | Dakota Digital introduces the PGR-1000 Series of
gear position indicators that display first through
sixth gears as well as neutral. What's more, the PGR's
display automatically dims at night. These plug-andplay
indicators come in a chromed housing with a
built-in mount. Units can be installed above or below the
bar. Sizes are available for 7/8-, 1-, 1.25- and 1.5-inch bars.
The PGR-1000 comes with a two-year warranty against
manufacturer defects.
| | | Pedal For Floorboard Bikes - December 2006
| | | SoftBrake introduces a brake pedal for all floorboard motorcycles, metric or American. The
company says that when compared to pre-2002 OEM pedals, the pedal is 1.75 inches longer
and 22 degree lower, relocating the pivot point for "improved braking control and
pedal feedback." The chrome-plated steel pedal comes in three designs: plain, slotted
and circle-punched.
Value of the Product: More predictable braking
Suggested Initial Order: $500 of Softbrake product (afterward, no minimum; always free shipping with
orders of $200 or more)
Marketing Tips: Packaged for retail
| | | RoadLoK Tackles Harley Market - December 2006
| | | RoadLoK Security is unveiling at Big Twin West two new
models of its Motorcycle Immobilization Device (MID), the Sniper HD2/F and Sniper HD3/F. The MID is a high-end
integrated locking system/brake caliper designed by
brake manufacturer Hawg Halters Inc. and marketed by
RoadLoK Security. Unlike cheaper disc locks, the device
reportedly cannot do damage to a bike. The big news here
is that compared to previous MID models, these aren't as
limited in model fitment. In fact, the company claims the
new units cover all '84-'07 Harleys (except the Springer).
In other RoadLoK
news, Paul Teutul
Sr. chose to
include an MID
unit on Orange
County Choppers' new production
chopper, The Splitback. Teutul
Sr. also uses Sniper units to
protect his personal Harleys. Look for his HD3/F-equipped Road King to be displayed at Big Twin West.
Value of the Product: Stylish, safe way to protect over
two decades' worth of Harleys
Suggested Initial Order: 5 units
Marketing Tips: Boxed for retail; company provides continuous marketing support for all authorized RoadLok dealers
| | | V-Rod Clutch Kit - December 2006
| | | Energy One's affordably priced Extra Plate Clutch Kit for '02-and-later V-Rods consists of 10
Kevlar friction plates on 6061 T6 cores, nine tempered-steel drive plates and five zero-collapse
coil-type clutch springs. Stack height is set at the factory for maximum power transfer at all
rpm. The kit delivers a claimed 11 percent increase in clutch surface.
| | | Wicked Linkage - December 2006
| | | Manufacturer Wicked Image says a new assembly system allows
it to build billet shift linkages "without being constrained to
traditional mounting hardware." The linkages are built to
length to fit stock and custom applications and include all
necessary hardware. Sixteen designs and matching components
are on display at the company's
website. Wicked Image also
manufacturers mirrors, wheels,
forward controls, clamps, derby
covers, belt drive covers and
hitch coves. All products come
with a lifetime warranty against
structural defects.
Value of the Product: Built-tolength
linkage in 16 styles
Suggested Initial Order: No minimum
Marketing Tips: Shrink-wrapped for retail
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