Its a good time to see whats happening, to meet people in the business and to see old friends. We’d appreciate it that if you happen to be going to the V-Twin Expo to stop by the IronWorks booth and say hello.

Posted by Sam Kanish

Images: R. Dosch aka Kali Kid

Posted by Sam Kanish

Sportster 72

Softail Slim

Also the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary next year as part of the Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee in 2013. H.O.G. is the official riding club of the Motor Company and boasts about one million members worldwide.

“Harley-Davidson is synonymous with adventure, passion and the experience of the open road,” said Mark-Hans Richer, Harley-Davidson Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “For this 110th celebration, our customers all around the world, with our support, are going to be taking everything to the next level and making their own history.”

Here’s a partial list of activities in Milwaukee, the home of Harley-Davidson, from August 29 to September 1, 2013: Entertainment (to be named later); a Custom Bike Show; a Motorcycle display area; the World’s largest Bike Night at The Harley-Davidson Museum on Thursday, August 29 and the Special H.O.G. 30th Anniversary Celebration starting on Thursday, August 29.

For information on housing options in Milwaukee and Rome go to: www.harley-davidson.com/110 . More details about the 110th Anniversary will be announced in the coming months. All Harley enthusiasts can access accommodations starting at 8 a.m. CST on February 17, 2012.

Source and images: harley-Davidson

Posted by Sam Kanish

“In creating the Seventy-Two, we were also inspired by the vibe of the early chopper era,” says Frank Savage, Harley-Davidson Manager of Industrial Design. “Those bikes were colorful and chromed, but also narrow and stripped down to the essentials. You look at period examples and they are almost as simple as a bicycle. It’s a custom style that’s very particular to America and that California scene.”

Metal flake used to appear in everything from dune buggies to vinyl diner upholstery and on custom motorcycles. Harley brings the sparkle back on the Seventy-Two with Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint. This new finish is created by applying a black base coat, followed by a polyurethane system that carries hexagon-shaped flakes that are more than seven times the diameter of metal flake used in typical production paint. Each flake is coated with a thin aluminum film and then tinted red. Four applications of clear coat, combined with hand sanding, create a smooth finish over the flakes.

“The final touch to the Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint is a logo on the tank top and pinstripe scallop details on both fenders,” says Savage. “Each was originally created by hand, and we recreated that art in a decal for production, so they still have the appearance of hand-applied graphics in that they are not exactly perfect. The graphics are then covered with a final clear coat application.”

A solo seat and side-mounted license plate bracket leaves much of the chopped rear fender and more of that paint exposed on the Seventy-Two. The powertrain is finished in Gray powdercoat with chrome covers and a new round air cleaner with a dished cover. A classic Sportster 2.1-gallon “peanut” fuel tank adds a final period touch to the motorcycle.

Key features of the 2012 H-D Seventy-Two include: Air-cooled Evolution 1200cc V-Twin engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), rated at 73 ft. lbs. peak torque at 3500 rpm; Powertrain is finished in Gray powdercoat with Chrome covers; Paint color choices include Hard Candy Big Red Flake with period pinstripe details on fenders and fuel tank, Black Denim, and Big Blue Pearl;  Classic 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank; Dunlop white side wall 21-inch (MH90-21) front and 16-inch (150/80B16) rear tires;  Chrome Laced wheels; Ten-inch mini-ape handlebar mounted on a two-inch high riser; Chrome, eight-inch round air cleaner cover with center screw mount; Chopped rear fender exposes rear tire; Side-mounted license plate bracket; Chrome, staggered, shorty dual exhaust with slash-cut mufflers; Solo seat with black textured vinyl cover; Handlebar-mounted speedometer with chrome cup; Chrome rear fender struts; Chrome coil-over pre-load adjustable rear shocks and Forward foot controls. Now that’s a factory custom! For more info ask your local dealer about the new 72.

Source and image: Harley-Davidson

Posted by Sam Kanish

“It’s time to make the engine the focal point of the motorcycle,” says Harley-Davidson Senior Designer Casey Ketterhagen, “so we put a Softail on a diet to get the proportions back in check. Scale down the rear with a narrow tire and chopped fender and the heart of the bike, the motor, once again becomes the focus. We left a gap between the nose of the seat and tank so the rider can see the top of the motor. I like to be able to look down and see what’s moving me.”

The rear of the motorcycle is simple and clean with a combination stop/turn/tail light and a side-mounted license plate. The rear fender struts are left uncovered, exposing the forged steel and fasteners. A thin formed-leather strap covers the fuel tank seam. The powertrain is finished with polished covers instead of chrome with plain black cylinders. The FL front fender is trimmed to expose more of the tire.

“I’d personally like to strip the bike down even further,” says Ketterhagen, “but this is as far as we can go on a production model. The Slim is intended to be a direct interpretation of home-built customs of the 1940s and 50s, and we used a number of components that evoke that era, beginning with a Hollywood handlebar.”

The ‘Hollywood’ bar is identified by its wide bend and cross brace was originally an accessory for the Springer fork. The name may have been coined because owners of that era who used the cross-brace to mount lights and bags had “gone Hollywood” with excessive accessorization. For the “Slim“, the cross-braced bar and louvered headlight nacelle are finished in gloss black. Other period styling includes a gloss black “cat’s eye” tank console with retro speedometer face, half-moon rider footboards, a round air cleaner cover, gloss black wheel rims and hubs. The cover of the solo seat is stitched in a tuck-and-roll pattern.

“The seat really gives you the feeling of sitting in the bike, rather than on it,” says Ketterhagen. “The bars are nice and low, too, so when you’re riding you have an unobstructed view forward, which reinforces the idea that this is a very elemental motorcycle, a real back-to-basics ride.”

A counter-balanced Twin Cam 103B engine is rigid-mounted within the Softail chassis which mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame. Rear suspension control is provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight within the frame rails. With seat height of a 23.8-inch and rider footboards, the Slim comfortably fits a wide range of riders and offers light side-stand lift-off. A pull-back riser from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories can be installed to move the handlebar back two inches without changing control cables and lines.

Key features of the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim include: Rigid-mounted, air-cooled, 1690 cc Twin Cam 103B counter-balanced engine with Automatic Compression Release (ACR) rated at 98.7 ft. lbs. peak torque at 3000 rpm; Powertrain is finished in Black powdercoat with polished covers; 6-Speed Cruise Drive Transmission; Chrome, over/under shotgun exhaust with slash-cut mufflers; Gloss Black round air cleaner cover; Classic 5.0-gallon Fat Bob fuel tank; Black “cat’s eye” console holds electronic speedometer with retro-style face; Dunlop 16-inch (MT90B16) front and rear (MU85B16) tires; Black, Steel Laced wheels; Hollywood handlebar with cross-brace; Gloss black headlamp with chrome trim ring; Gloss black nacelle with punched louvers; Half-moon footboards with retro-style foot control pads; Chopped rear fender exposes rear tire; Trimmed FL front fender; Side-mounted license plate bracket; Combination stop/tail/turn tail lights; Solo seat with black tuck-and-roll vinyl cover; Forged rear fender supports are finished in Gloss Black powder coat; Gloss black “horseshoe” oil tank; Paint color choices include Vivid Black, Black Denim, and Ember Red Sunglo; Security Package Option (factory-installed option) includes: Harley-Davidson Smart Security System with proximity-based, hands-free security fob and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

To find out more about the Softail “Slim” see your local H-D dealer.

Source and Images: Harley-Davidson
Posted by Sam Kanish

The “Steel Toe Tour” raises the bar for plant tours. For $35 visitors get a two-hour tour, a framed tour group photo, a fluorescent “high visibility” vest, a “Steel Toe Tour” pin and a $5 coupon for the tour center gift shop. The tours will start on February 20th and will be offered at 9:30 a.m. and noon, Monday through Thursday. Guests must wear steel-toed shoe covers so they can go into “employee-only” areas including an area of the paint shop where workers get an “air shower” to clean the dust and debris off their bodies.

For those who don’t want to go behind the scenes the free 1 hour tours will remain. Its estimated that the free tours have drawn more than 40,000 visitors annually into York County.
If  you want to go the tours start at the Vaughn L. Beals Tour Center, 1425 Eden Road, York, Pennsylvania. The two-hour “Steel Toe Tour” will start on February 20, 2012 and be held Monday through Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and noon. The cost is $35 per person with special rates for Harley-Davidson Museum members and groups.

For more info or to sign up for a “Steel Toe Tour” call 1-877-883-1450 or 717-852-6590. If you go you’ll notice that pretty soon all that’s left of the West Campus will be a concrete pad and the former visitors center. When demolition is complete the area will be taken over by the York County Industrial Development Authority.

Source: Harley-Davidson

Image and post: Sam Kanish

Source: Gratitude Campaign

Posted by Sam Kanish

I’m glad I turned down an invitation to be a ‘celebrity’ judge because there were some awesome bikes entered. I’m sure the judges are having a hard time picking the winners. But new and show bikes weren’t the only attractions at the show. There were all kinds of parts and services available for the motorcycling enthusiasts. Got a Softail or Dyna and the backseat passenger is begging for some arm rests? a company was there showing their ‘Love Handles’ (arm rests). The folks from the National Motorcycle Museum had a display of beautiful old machines for everyone to gawk at. The Power Sports Institute not only had a booth showing what their students learn but they also entered a bike they built in the show. Cool.

All in all the three of us had a great time at the show but we couldn’t agree on which bike in the show was the best. Each of us had our preference which is one of the reasons why I don’t want to be a judge at any show, it does come down to personal preference and I liked, “Whiskey Bent” built by Hoosier Daddy Choppers.  BTW I/we want to give a shoutout and thank Jeffrey Najar for all his help. Sorry we didn’t get to run into you at the show.

Post and images Sam Kanish

Whiskey Bent

a "Still" picture

now that's a custom seat

snifter shifter

open for emergencies only

real cool

H-D was there

Willie G signed axe

Phil Waters Royal Enfield

National Motorcycle Museum booth

Power Sports Institute student built custom

way cool furniture

I know I have enough parts to build this

Roger & Chamie checking out chairs for the man cave

Ed Vanaman's 'Triton'

ah...

Chamie schmoozing with the H-D cuties

Christina's cool classy crocodile Crocs

Now the last time I went to a show in Cleveland was in 1973 at the old Cleveland Convention Center. It was the first bike show held in Cleveland after a couple year hiatus do to a brawl between 2 rival clubs which left 5 people stabbed to death. Being young and full of vinegar a couple of us headed up to see if there would be any action. There wasn’t but Evel Knieval did jump a bunch of school buses in the basement of the place. Hopefully there won’t be any action at this one either.

Now if the weather would just co-operate.

Posted by Sam Kanish

To raise money for J-Bird Records Barbieri took the company public. Unfortunately it got caught up in the dot com boom. Those investors didn’t understand that J-Bird Records was a content based business, not a dot com company. With the bust of the dot com market it seemed like that was the end of J-Bird Records and the company sat idle for ten years. In 2010 Barbieri was able to get the music rights back from the public company and now in January 2012, J-Bird Records is re-launching its catalog under the new company name, J-Bird Music, and it is securing distribution through iTunes and Amazon MP3. To date, J-Bird Music has over 1000 songs online for sale and is in the process of gathering more of the original CDs and masters to restore the entire 3500 song catalog.

The concept for J-Bird Music is the same as it was back in the 90s To sign all artists to a record deal without passing judgment on their music, so if you’re an artist consider signing with J-Bird Music. There are a few things to know: (1) There are no recoupable charges. (2) Artists get royalties from the first song sold. (3) An artist can sign a single song deal or full CD deal. (4) Royalty earnings are a true 50/50 spilt between the artist and the label. (5) An artist can have as few or as many songs signed through J-Bird Music, and (6) One of the biggest differences between J-Bird Music and other digital distributions companies is that there are no costs to the artist.

J-Bird Music’s business model isn’t based on set up fees, recurring membership fees or additional services or marketing programs, but rather the success of selling the artist’s music. The new web site, j-birdmusic.com/ , was built by web designer John Colley and is officially up and running and ready to sign new artists. For more information contact:
info@j-birdmusic.com or call: 323 871-2247. You can also check them out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003126012205 . BTW tell them you read about J-Bird Music on the IronWorks blog.

Source: J-Bird Music

Posted by Sam Kanish

Last year new Harley motorcycle sales increased 5.9% to 235,188 units, compared to 222,110 units in 2010. For the year U.S. sales increased 5.8% to 151,683 units, while international sales increased 6.1% to 83,505. Industry-wide U.S. heavyweight new motorcycle sales were up 4.3% for the year.

Fourth-Quarter revenue from Motorcycles was $791.9 million, up 13.5%. Harley shipped 50,730 motorcycles worldwide during the quarter, compared to 44,481 motorcycles in the fourth quarter of 2010. Revenue from Motorcycle Parts and Accessories (P&A) totaled $161.2 million during the quarter, up 7.9% while revenue from General Merchandise, including MotorClothes Apparel and Accessories, was $69.3 million, up 12.8%.

In 2012 Harley-Davidson expects to ship 240,000 to 245,000 motorcycles worldwide, a 3-5% increase compared to 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, the Company expects to ship 58,000 to 63,000 motorcycles.

Source: Harley-Davidson

Posted by Sam Kanish

FreeStyle Class
1 –  Copper Mike Cole, Gravesend Cycles – Steampunk, 2011 Gravesend Cycles
2 – Stu Speigal, Stu’s Auto – 1989 Custom Chopper
3 –  George Stinsman, Chaos Cycles – Model “33”, 2011 Chaos Cycle

‘Copper’ Mike Cole of Gravesend Cycles took 1st place in the ultra-competitive FreeStyle class. with his latest piece of rolling art, “Steampunk”, which was from equal parts copper and brass. The 1973 Shovelhead features a rebuilt engine with engraved heads and has 10:1 compression. ‘Copper’ Mike used numerous antique gauges and parts and rebuilt them into functional pieces. Like he built a hand clutch with an old Harley mouse trap, the floor boards are made from old fire extinguishers while the air cleaner is a brass box with a welded –in trumpet horn. Head light and taillight are sourced from a submarine, a retooled dash mounted compass serves as an analog GPS while the saddlebags were made from a leather Russian ammunition bag.

Steampunk

Retro Mod
1 –  Fred Montalto – Spitshine – 1960 H-D Panhead
2 –  Dennis Harold, TT Cycles – 1970 Triumph T120R
3 – Steve Baufeder, TT Cycles – Tri Flyer, 1970 Triumph Tr6R

Fred Montalto’s 1960 H-D Panhead “Spitshine” took 1st place in Retro Mod. Sporting a Harley 1200cc mil in a custom bobber frame it has a pin-up girl  integrated into the tank with the paint being handled by Hi-Tech Auto Care, Inc.

Mod Harley
1 – Steve Iacona, Iacona Custom Cycles – Challenger, 1996 H-D XL
2 – Ron Cirocco, Thundercycle – thunder Bagger, 2008 H-D Street Glide
3 – Eric Schoder, Tribal Iron Choppers – Facet, 05 Buell SB12R

AMD World Championship alum, second place last year, Steven Iacona’s brought “Challenger“ and took 1st place in the UBCBS’s MOD Harley class. The1996 XL sports a Springer front end with Invader wheels front and back. Steve hand formed the fuel tank, rear fender tail section, oil tank, exhaust pipes, handle bars and mounts, rearsets, headlight number plate, seat suspension, tail light, battery box, steering damper mounts and motor mounts.

Performance Custom
1 – Roman Levin, Full of Hate– FOH Café, 2002 Suzuki
2 – GIO, Blacksmith Motoring Co. – El Patron, 2003 Suzuki Volusia
3 – Harold Bracero – Sephira, 2008 Hayabusa

Roman Levin’s highly detailed street fighter “FOH Café” took first in the Performance Custom class. Starting with a 2002 v-twin Suzuki  998cc engine Roman fabricated the frame and added a Triumph-based single-sided swing arm. The tank and tail section is made from flawless carbon fiber and then painted so that panels could be seen.

FOH Café

From the sounds of it everyone had a blast in NYC checking out the bikes in the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. The next chance you have to see them will be in Cleveland, Ohio at the IX Center this Friday, Saturday and Sunday; January 27, 28 and 29th. If you think your bike is cool enough to be entered just click here for details on how: www.motorcycleshows.com/static/ultimate-builder-brochure . And if you’re going to be at the UBCBS on Friday January 27th look for a big old boy with an IronWorks jacket on. Don’t be afraid to come up and say hello.

Source: Bikerpros
Posted by Sam Kanish

As for the other featured bikes the March 2012 IW starts with Stu Cohen’s 2000 Dyna. Featuring a Rosa’s built 117” mill putting out 133.5 HP and 142.9 ft/lbs of torque this stock looking bike will be a big surprise for would be challengers at a stoplight. Not only does it go fast but with Ohlin’s suspension parts in the front and rear and a Strorz/Ceriani steering damper it handles like a canyon carver. Next up is a custom FXR from the Shadley Brothers with a wild black and white tattoo looking paint job. To compliment the paint job the Shadleys used black chrome and a rough metal finish. Super cool. Following that is another cool custom from C&C Choppers in Ireland. Now being from Ireland you just know it had to be painted green and gold and sport a name from a U2 song, “Rattle ’n Hum”. BTW driving on the opposite side of the road isn’t the only thing they do backwards over there, just look closely at the images and you’ll see what I mean. Staying overseas the next featured bike comes from Big Twin Magazine out of Sweden. The natives over there seem to like stretched choppers with old Harley motors so the old 74” Flathead motor works well in this bike. Talk about a ‘low rider’ the next bike is from Three Two Choppers and it puts the rider about as low to the ground as you can get. A ’drop seat chassis’ on this lean mean machine puts the rider’s butt in the bike. From wild to mild we go as the next bike is a clean custom out of Connecticut. Owned by SteveB’s friend Wally, the bike and story are what motorcycling use to and still should be about. The last featured bike is a “Boat tail” 1971 FX Super Glide in Margie Siegal’s ‘Seasoned Citizen’. Yes sir this Willie G creation by mating a Sportster front end to a Big Twin chassis was the beginning of the factory custom bikes. The unique, and most often times discarded, rear seat/fender combination gave it the name “Boat tail”.

The shop in the spotlight is Franklin Church Choppers located in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. They can build you a classic style chopper, café racer or any type custom you want. FCC limit’s the number of new bike builds to around 5 a year so if you like their style you better get in line. The featured stories this issue are a look at the bikes that went to auction from the Lee Hartung collection. Hartung had a massive collection of cars, motorcycles and motorsports memorabilia stashed on his property near Chicago. The other fearture story is a test ride on a 2012 FXDF, Dyna Fat Bob. In the Departments is the regular IW buyers Guide with Riding Gear as the focus. The IW Eye catches riders doing what they should be doing, riding. Of course there are the regular suspects giving their views of the motorcycling world including a new old face. Marilyn Stemp has taken the reins of Editor so we’ll get a slightly different perspective.

Out in the IW Garage we get a look at a Lift Caddy from JIMS Machine. A real must have if you plan on putting your bike on a Handy or Direct Lift. T-Man Performance gives a rundown on what to look for when you’re ready for a performance tune-up. Loud pipes save lives may be true, but a good horn will do the trick to and probably be more legal. But if you want a loud horn RIVCO Products can set you up with 1 of their air horns for your bike that would make a locomotive engineer happy. Jet-Hot explains how their high temp performance coatings for exhausts work to keep your bikes cooler and less blue. Want some leather handgrips? E-Fab gives the lowdown on how to do it. Then Race Tech upgrades the suspension on a Sporty for more comfort and control. Do you ever worry about the quality control for the aftermarket parts on your bike? S&S takes a run through of their testing procedures for their performance parts. The folks at Chicago H-D pass along  a father and son duo who put together a sleeper 883, OK its now a 1200, surprise, surprise. We also have a couple Product Reviews. The first is a look at the versatile Harley-Davidson FXRG Midweight Leather Jacket. A hot jacket at a cool price. Then we get the ins and outs of H-D’s Modular Helmet. This isn’t your granddad’s skid lid. No sir, it has a retractable sun shield inside the outer shield. You won’t need sunglasses anymore.

As you can see its another packed edition of your favorite magazine and it will hit the newsstands early next week. But if you subscribed you’d have already been enjoying it. Its easy, just click on the Subscribe button above to get your issues earlier and for less money.

Posted by Sam Kanish

Source and image: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Posted by Sam Kanish

Source and images: J&P Cycles

posted by Sam Kanish

Editors note: Watching the web-cam on the main street of town I could tell it was cold. Of course it had to be since it was cold where I live, which is 200 miles south of Port Dover. The few bikes that did roll by seemed to be navigating the pavement fairly easily. More power to them.

Resource and image: SIMCOE REFORMER
Posted by Sam Kanish

The first is for a personal assistant for management. This is an entry-level full-time position where you can work directly for an internationally known custom builder in LA area. Must be detail oriented, have excellent phone skills, and be computer literate with a good team attitude.  Must be able to multitask; be dependable and willing to work hard. Some mechanical skills and knowledge of motorcycles is a plus!

The second opening is for a full-time hands on senior design tech/mechanic. Must have at least 5 years of experience in the motorcycle industry as a technician/engineer with experience as a v-twin mechanic, welding, fabricating and employee management. Machining and CAD design experience a plus. Must be very organized, a team player, a self-starter, have own tools, be a quick learner and flexible. Time will be split between fabrication, assembly, machining, design work, managing techs in the factory as well as numerous other duties.

If either of these openings sound like a good fit then please email an introduction letter and your resume to: motorcyclejobLA@gmail.com .

Source: Rise Above Consulting

Posted by Sam Kanish

On Thursday, January 19 at 7:30 pm, Willie G. will be on hand telling his Untold Stories. Tickets are $12 for Museum Members and $15 for Non-Members. Museum Members’ ‘Untold Stories’ program ticket admits you early for a preview of the exhibit with Willie G. and members-only reception on the 1903 Bridge beginning at 6:00 pm. Members also get first dibs on purchasing fine art reproductions of Willie’s “Knuckle” watercolor in The Shop. (Limited edition of 100 at $1,500 each)

Visit the Museum on Friday, January 20 from 5-8 pm during Gallery Night and be among the first to see Watercolors by Willie G. Over the past 24 years, Gallery Night has grown into premier art event in Milwaukee for both the experienced art connoisseur and most beginning admirer. Admission to the Museum during Gallery Night is free to the public.

Source and images: Harley-Davidson
Posted by Sam Kanish

The Biker Belles were created to raise funds for two South Dakota Charities; Helping with Horsepower and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Helping with Horsepower is a program that helps young women and girls who are at risk or are victims of abuse. The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum is a world-class motorcycle museum that will use the contributions to expand or enhance exhibits that feature women riders and their role in the history and culture of motorcycling.

The Biker Belles celebration starts after the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast in Deadwood and continues with the ride departing from The Lodge at Deadwood. The spectacular ride will be lead by Ride Captain (famed Motor Maids member, Meg McDonough) and friends, including renowned builder, land speed record holder Laura Klock. The ride ends but the celebration continues at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip for a special Biker Belle shindig including food, beverage, shopping, fashion show, silent and live auction, entertainment by Iron Cowgirl Missy and a headliner concert in the Sturgis Buffalo Chip amphitheater. You can ‘meet’ some of the Biker Belles by watching this video: http://youtu.be/OphNe4o6fIM .

Why not join the celebration this August for a day of real women, real stories and real fun at the annual Biker Belles celebration, presented by the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. Tickets for the 2012 Biker Belles celebration are now available at: www.bikerbelles.com , or by calling (605) 347-9000. The ticket contribution for the Biker Belles celebration is $150 per person with 100% going directly to the chosen charities.

Source: Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Posted by Sam Kanish

Source: Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Posted by Sam Kanish