American-V 49 Preview by American-V

AmV48.COV.indd 1

21/11/2011 07:39

BRAND NEW BRANDS

9905-1119 UK AMERICAN_V 210x297mm.indd 1 Zodiac 01.12.indd 2

16-11-11 08:56 18/11/11 10:22:18

American-V: Contents 49

www.american-v.co.uk

Issue Forty Nine

4: NEWS & NEW PRODUCTS 14: REVIEWS Motorbooks Calendar Time, Guardian Bells, Asphalt

52: STURGIS 2011 Second only to Route 66 in terms of American

destinations for real road riders. Steve Kelly’s been back: you can’t keep him away!

18: TRADERS’ DAYS

58: HDRCGB’s International: Walesby 2011 A return visit to the Nottinghamshire forests before a

20: Victory 2012

62: Rosmalen 2011 Idiots abroad ... and that was just in our truck. Don’t

22: Fat Boy Special

66: Shipley 2011 Still going strong up on the tops, rain or shine ... or

Angel T-shirts, “Tinker Tales: Unmentionable” Old Indian Never Die DVD.

At last: somewhere for open days to live! There’s always something interesting turning up. What’s coming out of Spirit Lake, Ohio next season. We grab a last chance to ride the Special before it becomes a Black Fat Boy with dull silver pipes ... and no that isn’t what it already is.

30: Warr’s Evisu Sprinter

A meeting of minds bring Japanese Denim and English custom engineering together, using an American motorcycle.

36: Long Term: Victory Hammer 8-Ball

Less contentious than the Vision, we’ve got six months of winter to put the bargain Hammer through its paces, and a few upgrades.

42: Kraus Motor Co Special Steve Kelly meets up with Satya Kraus, and a couple of his bikes.

44: Kraus Achura If you’ve ever wondered what that flash of aluminium

was riding round London, here it is standing still and it still looks quick.

48: Kraus Bolide Third place bike at this year’s AMD World

Championship in Sturgis, and a super clean street machine.

Editor andy.hornsby@american-v.co.uk All editorial enquiries to: editorial@american-v.co.uk FEATURES EDITOR rich.king@american-v.co.uk REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Steve Kelly, Amanda Wright, Snob, Horst Roesler, Alan Hill, Darryl Godfrey, Matt Goatley, Takayuki Ono, Marianne Logica, Pete Griffiths, Nitro. Managing Director Tony Stephenson OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Tom Stephenson Production Manager Julie Arnett Magazine Design and layout Mini Ha-Ha and Erika McAston Marketing assistant James Mason Tel: 01684 588521 email: marketing@traplet.com Advertising Sales Amanda Wright Tel: 01270 446556 email: amanda@american-v.co.uk

change of venue and date for next year.

mention early morning beach racing!

both, with intermittent hail. And no complaints!

70: LONG TERM: Victory Cross Roads Well, those baggers are so damn useful, and we wanted to know how the more conventional CORE-framed tourers compared to the Vision over time.

76: Barrie’s Shovel I’ve been wanting to catch this properly used generator Shovel for years!

80: Night Rod Special The Waterhog gets a makeover for its 10th anniversary season, so we recap over those ten and check out the restyled bike.

6: Thor’s Indian 8 A redskin with a story to tell. 90: Road King Tech It’s getting there: it’ll be a motorbike next time you see it. 94: VEGAS STRIPPER TECH This is getting complicated now: we got sidetracked! 98: RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS

Advertising Copy Control Cindi Griffiths Tel: 01684 588517 email: adcopy@traplet.com Printer Warners plc Newsstand Distribution Seymour Distribution Ltd. (020 7429 4000) Hobby Trade Distribution Traplet Publications Limited (01684 588568) US Distribution Traplet Distribution USA Ltd., P.O. Box 6178, Champaign, IL 61826, USA. Tel: 217 355 2970 Fax: (001) 217 351 4135 email: usa@traplet.com

Published by Traplet Publications Limited, Traplet House, Pendragon Close, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 1GA, England. Tel: 01684 588599 Fax: 01684 578558 email: customerservice@traplet.com Subscriptions 6 issue subscription prices: UK £29.70 W/Wide £42.90 USA & Canada US $59.94 Europe £39.60 12 issue subscription prices: UK £59.40 W/Wide £85.80 USA & Canada US $119.88 Europe £79.20 BACK ISSUES UK £4.95/US $9.99 Order Hotline: 01684 588599 Online Ordering: www.traplet.com

Australian Distribution Traplet Publications and Hobbies, P.O.Box 501, Engadine, NSW 2233, Australia. Tel: (02) 9520 0933 Fax: (02) 9520 0032 email: sales@traplet.com.au South African Distribution Traplet Publications South Africa (PTY) Ltd., P.O. Box 1067, Oudtshoorn, 6620, South Africa Tel/Fax: +27 44 272 5978

This magazine is sold subject to the following conditions: that it shall not without written consent of the publishers be lent, resold or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in excess of the recommended maximum retail price. All rights strictly reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the prior agreement of the publisher. All letters must be accompanied by the sender’s full name and address. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited correspondence nor some of the opinions expressed. All material and artwork originated by Traplet Publications Ltd., photographs, drawings, plans used in this magazine become the publishers copyright under Copyright law. Some photographs may have been digitally re-mastered. The Company reserves the right to suspend or refuse any advertisements without giving reasons. Whilst every care is taken to avoid mistakes, Traplet Publications Ltd. cannot be liable in any way for errors or omissions. Nor can the Publisher accept any responsibility for the bona fides of advertisers. © Traplet Publications Limited 2011 ISSN No. 1746-8515

AmV49.CONTENTS.indd 3

21/11/2011 09:11

News  Maidstone Harley-Davidson 

Stratstone Harley-Davidson, Stoke

Harley’s New Dealer Double Two new authorised dealerships have opened since last issue: a new showroom for Kent, and the long awaited Stratstone operation that relocated from Walthamstow to Stoke-on-Trent. Maidstone and Stoke have strong teams of people in place who ride Harleys or have done in the past and have experience of working with the brand. Dealer Principals Andy Card of Maidstone and David Kennedy of Stratstone both believe that the knowledge and advice that their teams can provide will be the key to future success. Maidstone Harley-Davidson is run by Laguna Motorcycles, an established family-run business with a good track record of running showrooms for premium brand motorcycle within the Kent area, and is based in a purpose-built two-storey showroom with a whole floor dedicated to clothing, constructed from reclaimed brick. And while it might be a new build, it features a huge old bread oven in one wall and a giant safe in the another – there’s a cheap gag to be made about dough here, but I’m not going to stoop so low. “Almost all of us who work here ride Harleys or have done in the past” says Dealer principle, Andy Card, “we come to work on our bikes, we’re out there rain or shine, so we understand our customers’ passion.” He continues: “The opening of the dealership is particularly good news given the current state of the economy – Maidstone is an area which has suffered – but this project is all about investment and new jobs. Laguna Motorcycles, already has

a number of very successful showrooms for other luxury motorcycle brands, which have operated for many years. Harley really is the perfect addition to complete the portfolio.” Meanwhile, further north – and a few pages further on – Stratstone Harley-Davidson, Stoke’s move into the premises previously occupied by one of Stratstone’s Jaguar dealerships strengthens the group’s position in the Midlands, with the new dealership forming a tight triangle with its existing HarleyDavidson showrooms in Birmingham and Wolverhampton; and will be under the watchful eye of Stratstone Group’s Dealer Principle, David Kennedy. He explains: “This is a very exciting time, both for us and for motorcycle riders in the area. The dealership looks fantastic – nothing has been forgotten and it’s really a great building to be in. We’re looking forward to getting to know our customers – we can guarantee we’ll always have a fantastic range of bikes and be on-hand to offer friendly advice.” Maidstone Harley-Davidson, Forstal Road, Aylesford, Maidstone, ME20 7XA, Tel: 01622 711680 www.maidstoneharleydavidson.co.uk Stratstone Harley-Davidson, Stoke, Victoria Square, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 4JU Tel: 01782 211833 www.stokeharleydavidson.co.uk

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.News.indd 4

19/11/2011 21:47

W&W Cycles_AmericanV DEC/JAN12.indd 5

21/11/11 09:37:20

American-V # ONE

News

ACE PRIZE FOR WARR’S WINNER

A year’s worth of Warr’s Harley Davidson sponsored Harley Nights at the Ace Cafe culminated in the big prize night on the last Thursday of October. Europe’s oldest Harley Davidson dealership and the iconic London venue struck up a partnership earlier this year to host a monthly Custom night at the Ace Café, with all of the events culminating in the recent big prize night to award the ultimate winner. Raffle tickets in aid of motorcycling charity, Riders for Health, were also available to purchase to be in with a chance of winning the prize. A dream trip of a lifetime to the legendary Daytona Bike Week in Florida awaits Harley owner Robertas Sakalauskus and his lucky guest after winning the top prize. Robertas, from Stanmore in Middlesex, had hedged his bets by entering the custom competition and also buying raffle tickets to increase his chances, but that didn’t stop him being amazed when it was his name pulled out of the hat by cult comedy Red Dwarf actor, Danny ‘Cat’ John Jules. Visiting Daytona Bike Week is a long held dream for the biker, so he did everything possible to boost his chances. “When Danny pulled my name out of the hat I couldn’t believe it!” exclaimed Robertas. “I never thought that something this cool could happen to me. I’ve always wanted to go to Daytona bike week so a big thank you to Warr’s Harley Davidson for making my dream come true!” The prize includes flights, accommodation, car hire and £500 spending money and the draw was the highlight of the evening where the winter weather failed to dampen spirits, with attendees dancing along to live music provided by 13 year old guitar prodigy Aaron Keylock’s band, and an impressive showcase of Warr’s Kings Road Customs and vintage Harleys was on display. Dealer Principal for the family run Warr’s Harley Davidson, John Warr, said, “It was a great night to mark the end of a series of events which started right back in the Spring. It was fantastic for everyone to come and show us what they’ve done to their bike, share tips, meet others and have the chance to win an amazing prize. I am really happy for Robertas and hope he has a great time!” . www.warrs.com / http://www.ace cafe london.com

AMD SHOW FRENZY LICCS

Alexander Palace February 25/26 2012

The London International Custom Show has sneaked a second C – Classics – back in: well it is organised by Andrew Greenwood’s Classic Shows. Consequently, it will henceforth be known as the London International Classic and Custom Show ... or Ally Pally for short. It is still an associate round of the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building, and the custom show is organised by BSH Magazine again, but the hope is that they will make more of the The Great Hall next year. That seemed to have been allocated to a trade that largely didn’t turn up – leading to some complaints of there being nothing to buy, and no special show deals – leaving the custom show bikes crowded into too small a section of the West Hall. The return of classics will certainly increase the number of traders, and broaden the show’s appeal, and we look forward to seeing it realise its potential this year. www.classicshows.org/liccs2012/

MANCHESTER BIKE SHOW EventCity

March 17/18 2012

A new show in the north of England brings another affiliate round of the AMD World Championship to the UK, and is organised again by Holmfirth-based

Andrew Greenwood’s Classic Shows: sister to the LICCS show. Filling a gap left by the sad demise of the Manchester Motorcycle Show at GMEX, it will be spread over three halls at EventCity each with its own focus: mainstream bikes and accessories in the New Bike Hall; the self-explanatory Northern Classic Bike Show; and the Rainy City Custom Show, in tribute to the custom car club of the same name – as opposed to Rainy City HDC who organise Rainy Daze, and who I’ve just discovered will be taking a stand, which should confuse people all the more. Unsurprisingly, it is this hall that will host the AMD Championship. www.classicshows.org/manchester2012/

THE CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SHOW Beaulieu

June 16/17 2012

The show formerly known as California Dreamin’ has kicked off it’s beach shoes and relocated itself in the heart of the New Forest at the home of the world famous National Motor Museum. It too is an associate round of the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building, which will attract a world class field, the freestyle class just one of several categories including Modified Harley, Period Chopper, Daily Rider and Streetfighter/Performance Custom. And if that weren’t enough, running alongside that will be a ride-in show that will take place on both show days.

And it’s taking place on the same weekend as the established Hot Rod and Custom Car Festival, adding to the broad appeal of the show. And all in stunning parkland, with nearby camping facilities throughout the New Forest, and B&B accommodation that I suspect will fill up pretty quickly: all very different to the English Riviera, and likely to be more coherent than was possible in Bournemouth this year. www.thecustomshow.com

BIG BIKE EUROPE Essen

May 10-12 2013

Yes, 2013! You might recall mention of the Custom Chrome Show in Mainz having gone its own way this year, and no longer hosting the European Championship of Custom Bike Building? Well, that was Phase One in establishing the AMD European Championships as an Expo independent of key sponsorship, the first of which will take place at a three day show in Essen: one for Trade and VIP guests followed by two public days. The show is aimed at large capacity motorcycles of all kinds, and the aftermarket that supports them, but it will also play host to “Custom America”, specifically showcasing the products and services from American vendors, as well as the relaunched European Championship that, it is planned, will send winners to the World Championships in Sturgis in bigger numbers than ever before. More details as they emerge. www.bigbikeeurope.com

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.News.indd 6

19/11/2011 21:47

SMOKE HIGHBALLED! SIGNALS I’m a little concerned that in the last issue I might have implied that the first Polaris-built Indian Chief was indicative of the sort of bikes that would be coming out of Spirit Lake for perpetuity, which isn’t the case. Between we even managed to print the mag, we were at Polaris Britain’s headquarters swapping one long term test bike for two, and discovered that the PowerPlus Chief is a short term fix so that beleaguered dealers have got something to sell while the new Indian team get established and come up with a new range of motorcycles for 2013 – and that’s a big ask. Obviously, it is critically important that the Spirit Lake Chiefs are beyond reproach, because this is Indian’s last best chance of re-establishing itself in a generation because if a company with the engineering resources and experience of Polaris can’t get it right, it might be time to close the book on the Iron Redskin. After all, we’ll still have rose-tinted memories of a world-leading bike manufacturer whose engineering innovations contributed massively to motorcycling’s pioneering days, and whose bikes would give a Harley rider a run for their money right up to the end, despite having already lost the technology race. No, of course it isn’t time to close the book, and I reckon that if they can avoid the generic metric cruiser style – and I begrudgingly include Triumph’s cruisers in that, because I hate the mechanically excellent but bland and faceless Thunderbird as a wasted opportunity – they’re in with a chance. The designer largely responsible for the Thunderbird and Honda VTX – and the Rocket 3 and Rune – Tim Prentice, was also the man behind the Gilroy Chief, which gives John Reed someone to remonstrate with regarding plagiarism and taillights, and suggests that he discovered how to open a CCI catalogue while he was at Gilroy, but not a lot else: he certainly didn’t find any genuine empathy in there. And that is what Indian needs this time from their dedicated design team: well, that and intelligent, original ideas which don’t mutter “cruiser” but shout “INDIAN” at the top of their lungs. It’s unlikely that we’ll see anything for six months at least, but we do know that the ‘concept drawings’ in MCN a few months ago were mischievous and didn’t come from Polaris. www.indianmotorcycle.com

We don’t mind waiting for MCN to pass verdict on stuff they don’t understand, because it makes us look good, and so when we were given the opportunity to swing a leg across the much awaited High Ball as long as we didn’t tell anyone before the big boys had chance to say something, we jumped at the chance ... or at least I did: Amanda was scared of getting lost. The contrast between it and the bike I was returning – the Vision 8-Ball – could hardly have been greater and just gripping the monumentally tall apehangers raised a smile. This is a stock bike? Seriously? Feeling like a naughty schoolboy, I thumbed the starter, engaged first gear and took off. If you haven’t ridden behind a pair of apes you will almost certainly have dismissed them as madly impractical, but in doing so you will have robbed yourself of one of the most exhilarating rides of your life. And we are talking about proper apehangers here, not the socially acceptable, half-arsed variety that make a motorcycle more accessible to a wider group of people: these are unapologetically ‘out there’, your hands higher than your shoulders, and it throws a switch inside your brain: no more Mr Nice Guy. Your smile turns surly as your lips curl, your shoulder muscles wonder what the hell you’re doing, and your neck visibly shortens as your jacket rides up your back. And then you realise that you’ve covered all of fifty yards and the red light has finally turned to green. This time the road ahead is clear and straight. Releasing the clutch, mindful that there aren’t that many miles on the odometer, you gun the motor just a little and feel the wall of torque from the 106-inches dig

in and catapult you forward. You soon discover that the width of your grin is directly proportional to the effort required to hang on to the bars. Maybe the unnatural position is pulling your skin tighter, but just maybe it’s a hell of a lot of fun. A ridiculously short circuit and a few millimeters off the footrests’ telltales later I was back on the apron at Polaris beaming like a fool, explaining to Amanda that I could shadow her on ‘our’ new long term Hammer 8-Ball and we were off again. By comparison the Hammer felt tame, an impression reinforced by the transformation in Amanda from ‘lost’ to ‘black’ sheep within yards: it was her first stint on a bike with apehangers and it proved to be seminal. If I’d known how she’d react, I could have taken a swear box and subsidised the American-V fuel budget for a month. The Highball is said to be the best selling Victory in the US, and it’s easy to see why: it grabs you by the scruff of the neck and demands that you ride it, and any styling concerns from the press shots evaporated: there was nothing that couldn’t be fixed, and nothing much that you could see from the saddle, if it came to it. The $64,000 question is how quickly will the novelty of those mad apehangers wear off, but that’s a question for another time. There’s only so much Victory content we can slot into the mag without upsetting the natural harmony ... but next issue? Bring it on! www.victorymotorcycles.com

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.News.indd 7

19/11/2011 21:47

American-V

Back in the day, manufacturers would think nothing of adding an extra coachline here, either in paint or metal, and for no better reason that it made it look nice. Much the same as all those twiddly bits of plaster moulding in Victorian terraces, that our parents’ generation ripped out in the sixties in search of a new utopia! And just as subsequent home owners have been sticking those cornices and covings back up, so too have bobber builders reclaimed an automotive past, and nothing says ‘Classic’ quicker than a ribbed mudguard, especially if accompanied by a rolled end ... rather like this Zodiac-supplied Mustang front fender. It comes with a mounting bracket to fit narrow glide forks with 18, 19 or 21-inch wheels, and will fit Wide Glides with the appropriate spacers.

RIBBED FOR YOUR PLEASURE

Zod. 090486

€75.00

www.zodiac.nl

10Gallon

Beanie Get off your bike, and drink the cocoa ... doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but then I can’t hear John Wayne saying that? I can’t imagine John Wayne in one of these Stetsons either, for that is what they are. Northport knit beanies to be precise. Make from 100% Merino wool, they stow easily when you’re riding and hide male pattern baldness when you stop and feature a double-turned cuff to keep out the cold, and all for just €39 in black (96-000), red (96-001) or anthracite (96-101). www.wwag.com

HOT SEAT AT THE CAFE

RSD’s new Café Sportster seat takes the simple line of a café tail and blends it with the tank and frame rails of the stock HD Sportster creating a clean, comfortable and beautifully detailed custom seat. A perforated ‘number plate’ and seat area define the shapes of the seat and contribute to the deep rider’s perch, essential for control when the red mist descends ... after all those classic rock n’ roll singles never lasted much more then three minutes and the roundabout is a good mile away! An RSD Steel Eagle badge caps off the design, and it is obviously designed to compliment the RSD café product line.

www.rolandsands.com distributed by www.mageurope.eu

Blah blah, coachline, blah blah, plasterwork ... what he said! And you can get matching tanks too, with that same rib running front to back. Instant classic! This 3.3 Gallon / 12.5 litre steel Mustang tank – yeah, I always though it was a shape of tank rather than a name, too – is 17-inches (430mm) long, 11½-inches (290mm) wide and a 2-inch (50mm) wide, low tunnel, and comes with universal brackets so it’ll fit pretty much any stock or custom frame. It comes either to suit an ’82-up vented fuel cap, or else complete with a pop-up style cap at a price starting from €200 inc VAT Zod 012890 With screw-in style filler cap (style B) Zod 012892 Complete with pop-up style filler cap (style G)

www.zodiac.nl

Stratospheric Rocket Covers from Rocket Bobs Cycle Works

Hot off the CNC Milling Machine after twelve hours under the blade are these stunning billet rocker covers, hewn from solid 7075 T6 aluminium and a direct replacement for the oem Twin Cam covers. Shallower than the stock items, they have fewer clearance issues in stock frames and can be supplied even shallower, to order, for stroker applications but they’re primarily intended to tidy up a Twin Cam’s top end, blanking the plug side bolt mounts for a cleaner, distinctive look. Precision-machined, with the upper cover located by a hidden O-ring for a seamless appearance, the channel traversing the Rocket Cover conjures up images of reworked Shovelheads without cynically attempting to reproduce those lines, lending a new aesthetic to any Twin Cam motor as well as improved material quality of your top end: 7075 does not oxidise or tarnish, promotes world peace and looks great in a swimsuit. The Rocket Cover Kit includes all gaskets, bolts and new breather valves – everything needed for a quick bolt-on conversion, transforming your Fat Head into a Rocket Head. Prices are £689+vat for polished, £789+vat for anodised or from £889 for a custom contrast cut: and the sides can be polished smooth or left rippled. Fits all Harley-Davidson Twin Cam models from 1903 to early-2087 except ’29 JDH, including two-strokes, bicycles and pool tables ... at least I think that’s what he said. www.rocketbobs.biz

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.News.indd 8

19/11/2011 21:47

8Ball_AmericanV DEC JAN12.indd 9

22/11/11 12:08:33

American-V

SISSY!

FLOATING ROTORS You don’t have to be a seventies throwback to see the benefits of a sissy bar, but then by the same token it doesn’t need to be an ironing board masquerading as a backrest either. Whether you want a bump stop to prevent your pillion from sliding off your fastback seat under the relentless acceleration of a torquey twin, or a practical rack to bungee a daysack, tent or something like a Deemeed onto, there’s something that will fit the bill. And it’s as simple as getting the right side-plates for your model and choosing how high you need to go: Motorcycle Storehouse have recently added new options to their range which now covers a wide range of big twins and most Sportsters: see your local dealer for specific models.

www.mcseurope.nl

Small Butt Well Bilt

Nice and narrow with a substantial kick in the back, the Biltwell Slimline seats are perfect for small chops, with a pan stamped from heavy gauge high-tensile steel, featuring ribs and indents for added rigidity and stiffness. The padding beneath its black vinyl cover is molded, medium-density polyurethane not just market stall foam – “your butt will know the difference” – and stainless steel carriage bolts slide in the slotted holes beneath the black electroplated seat pan to match almost any mounting brackets. 40-696 Tuck n’ roll or 40-497 Smooth

€121.40

www.wwag.com

baby, it’s cold outside

Heated grips are for wusses? Bullshit! Forget the machismo: there’s nothing cool about the burning sensation in your hands as you run them under the cold tap to warm them up, and every good reason why you might want hands that function readily to control your throttle, brake and clutch when the temperature drops. This is a €75.90 pair from W&W – the lunatics that took on the ice road with Panheads – which feature a 3-level heat control and soft rubber grips: get them wired in professionally, especially if your bike has got HD-LAN wiring. 21-989 Heated Grips for 1996-on models www.wwag.com

These STX disc rotors are made by Europe’s leading brake parts factory using a special high-carbon stainless steel that offers almost the same braking characteristics as cast iron without the rust. The still radical-looking wave design is more than merely cosmetic, enabling better radial expansion under extreme heat, and better heat dissipation, and they come with stainless-steel carriers which are available in a polished or black finish for €205. Discs replace Harley 11½-inch (292mm) rotor. Zod. 701378 polished carrier / Zod. 701379 black carrier

www.zodiac.nl

Sensory depravation All late model Harley-Davidson are fitted with closed loop injection systems and require an O2 sensor in the exhaust to feed information back to the ECU ... but what about header pipes that haven’t got a fitting to take the O2 sensor? Well, for them you need something like this: K&N’s weld-on boss for all 18mm sensors, and an idea as to where to put it – polite answers only please: I was only referring to the fact that everyone seems to be undecided how far down the header it needs to be placed. MCS 909895 K&N weld-on O2 fitting

www.motorcyclestorehouse.nl

HC TRAVEL FLIES NEW COLOURS H-C Travel, one of the UK’s leading motorcycle tour operators, launched Orange & Black at the NEC Bike Show, to became one of a select few worldwide Harley-Davidson Authorized Tour Operators offering guided and self-guided tours in the USA and South Africa. David Grist says “It is a privilege to be selected to become a HarleyDavidson Authorized Tour Operator. As a small specialist company, we have always tried to make sure our tours and service are the best available, yet remain competitively priced. I see the launch of Orange & Black as a vindication of our strategy, reflected in our motto: “.... because only the best is good enough!” Personal and travel trade bookings are welcome. Trade support is also

available, and with over 15 years experience offering tours in the USA and Africa, Orange & Black tours include: • Harley-Davidson Authorized Rental Motorcycles. • Experienced, local professional guides. • Personally selected quality accommodation. • Support van with spare bike, First Aid, cold drinks. • Unique on-tour experiences • Attention to detail – little things make a big difference • Highest levels of service • ATOL bonded • Self-guided tour programme based on our proven guided tour itineraries www.orange-and-black.co.uk

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.News.indd 10

19/11/2011 21:48

www.facebook.com/VictoryMotorcyclesUK

American-V

Give it a rest! Springer Mount

Here’s a simple idea if you’re looking for an alternative headlamp mount for your oem or repro springers: the LeBeef Headlight Bracket. Not only does it fill a couple of holes in the front legs, but also gives you something to tuck cables behind. LeBeef Springer Headlight Bracket www.wwag.com

Great design never goes out of style, and these Sanderson footpegs by Biltwell, based on popular 1960’s aftermarket parts, could be just what you’re looking for to finish off your period bobber or chopper. They are made from bulletproof, investment cast stainless steel, they fit all late model H-Ds with female mounts and many other universal applications, and the male mounting portion – infinitely adjustable and can be rotated into any position before being locked down – is 4130 Chromoly for unbeatable strength. They’re available in a black electroplate or polished finish for €129.60 a pair. W&W 45-722 Biltwell footrests polished W&W 45-723 Biltwell footrests black

www.wwag.com

PROGRESSIVE’S NEW SOFT TOUCH Softail shocks are a pain: hidden under the frame makes adjustment difficult, so they just don’t get adjusted. But not any more: Progressive’s engineers have designed their RAP (Remote Adjustable Preload) to give high performance shocks a remote preload adjuster. Packing a lot of gear for a big ride? Give the knob a few turns and the bike is set. Riding solo? A few rotations the other direction softens things up. The 422 RAP Series are based on Progressive Suspensions proven gas charged monotube damper, combined with heavy duty progressive rate springs for excellent ride quality and bottoming control; and threaded rod ends provide several inches of additional height adjustment www.progressivesuspension.com distributed by www.mageurope.eu

RAKE KIT FOR BAGGERS

You can’t possibly not have seen the state of the art of customising as it applies to baggers, with front wheels up to 26-inches in diameter barely clearing the bottom yoke, and looking for all the world like a post-puberty ‘Big Wheel’ bike from the people who brought you Stewie off Family Guy or adult nappies. Well, not you personally, obviously ... hopefully. Have you ever stopped to think what would be involved in accommodating that in an otherwise stockish bagger. No? Me neither, but bear with me. A bigger wheel will have a bigger rolling radius, and that will jack the front of any bike up. You can counter some of that elevation with a fork lowering kit, but you haven’t got too much room for manoeuvre on an FL, so you kick the front end out to lower it again. Simple. Except the geometry of an FL is already on the odd side of weird – the headstock further forward than the fork legs, with trail adjustment that is frankly just showing off. It works, and that’s about as far as most of us want to explore it: the last thing we want to do is contemplate taking a hacksaw to the steering head. Enter Getraked with their ‘Neck Rake Kit for Touring Models’: a choice of three kits offering an extra 7, 10 or 19-degrees depending on how far you want to take things. If you want to go to extremes with a 26-inch front, you’ll be looking at an extra 10-degrees in the headstock, but not using the same 10-degree neck as the 23-inch front wheel requires, and 9-degrees in a new set of yokes, and a new set of forks stops. You’ll be pleased to hear that the kits come with a template to make sure the original headstock is lopped off in the right place, but better still they are very keen to point out that this isn’t a job for an amateur enthusiast with a

stick welder. They also reassure you that there’s a window in the huge metal construction that someone is going to have to weld to your box section spine, so that the original frame VIN number can be seen. They are designed to use stock length forks and up to a 2-inch drop on the rear suspension – any more, and it’s a special order. It’s all very easy when you say it fast. Lois, I think I need changing. 1980-2008 FLH/FLT series Zod. 747000 7° neck for 16,17 or 18in. front wheel Zod. 747002 10° neck for use with 23-in. front wheel Zod. 747006 fork stops for use with 23-in. wheel Zod. 747010 10° neck kit for 23in. front wheel, includes fork stops Zod. 747004 10° neck for use with 26-in. front wheel Zod. 747008 9° fork yokes Zod. 747006 fork stops for use with 26-in. wheel Zod. 747011 19° neck kit for 26in. front wheel, inc. 10° neck, 9° yokes and fork stops 2009-on FLH/FLT series Zod. 747001 7° neck for 16,17 or 18in. front wheel Zod. 747003 10° neck for use with 23-in. front wheel Zod. 747006 fork stops for use with 23-in. wheel Zod. 747012 10° neck kit for 23in. front wheel, includes fork stops Zod. 747005 10° neck for use with 26-in. front wheel Zod. 747008 9° fork yokes Zod. 747007 fork stops for use with 26-in. wheel Zod. 747012 19° neck kit for 26in. front wheel, inc. 10° neck, 9° yokes and fork stops

www.zodiac.nl

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.News.indd 12

19/11/2011 23:27

Quasar Products +44 0 1827 61754 Specialists in motorcycle lifts and stands LIFETIME GUARANTEES FOR ALL PRODUCTS

Strong Arm lift

Eazy Rizer

Remove the front or rear wheel quickly and safely! Only £75

Big Blue Professional es The worlds safest cruiser lift giv 360 o access to your bike! £395

izer Eazy R d Bike Lift

Original Re £325

rab s Bike G ck that take

ho The wheel c r wheel! front or rea Only £89.95

ALL OUR PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED IN THE UK TO THE HIGHEST SPECIFICATIONS

Lift any make and model in complete safety! America: www.lifts-and-stands.com Tel: 404 550 5123 Australia: www.oneup.com.au Tel: 417 320 742

www.on-bike.com p072_avjulaug11.indd 1 Quasar 01.12.indd 13

26/9/11 10:17:03 21/11/11 09:41:02

Reviews Asphalt Angel T-Shirts: Fat Skeleton: £27.50

I was sitting at my desk when I heard the letterbox rattle as a parcel was shoved through the door, landing lightly on the floor. I discovered why when, having torn it open, out flew a t-shirt: well, it does have wings! My eyes were met by varying hues of purple, pink, blue and brown with subtle imagery of flowers, feathered wings, clouds, tribal symbols and a twin-cam Harley engine (which, according to Andy is a very good rendition) with the signature, ‘Asphalt Angel’ repeated endlessly amidst the mix of all the other ingredients listed above that morph together into a unique – and somewhat bizarre – 360-degrees of lifestyle biker icons. I don’t normally do pinks or purples, but I love the subtlety of how they work together on this t-shirt. In short, it is probably one of the most beautiful t-shirt designs I’ve seen: the imagery used is so well balanced and aesthetically dreamy: I guess you’re never too old to be a hip hippy-chick. It reminded me of some of the work I

GUARDIAN BELL: Fat Skeleton: £12.95

Are you a believer of myth and magic? Do you walk around ladders, throw salt over your left shoulder after you’ve spilt some and live in dread of breaking a mirror? Personally, I always walk under ladders and have broken so many mirrors in my brief life that I’m well and truly doomed, but legends do seem to get linked to all aspects of life and we’ve got our very own, hence these bikers’ Guardian Bells. I’ve seen these on increasing numbers of bikes over the years but hadn’t heard the story behind them until I got these to check out. Apparently, one legend has it that evil road spirits exist and are responsible for all those really annoying mechanical/electrical problems: they attach themselves to your bike as you ride past. But, if you’ve got one of these bells on your bike, they get stuck in the bell, the constant ringing drives them insane and they fall off again! Voila! No more pesky little mite. And, rumour has it that the powers of the bell are enhanced if one is given to you by a loved one: just as a timely card can protect the giver from a well-placed right boot.

did in shades of blue at university, and perhaps that’s why I just love the design. Better still, I’m not a ‘girly’ girl by any means, but I could imagine myself wearing it anywhere, anytime as it is smart, feminine and, on the right-shaped body, would look quite fetching – I am too big for it to look fetching on me, which is why we’ve used Fat Skeleton’s pic, but I like it so much that I’ve joined a gym to lose the weight so that I can wear it without resembling a sack of spuds with wings. It is made out of a 55/45% cotton-poly mix and has held both its shape and size after a couple of washes, and because it is printed using Dye-Sublimation, it won’t fade, flake or peel, according to the bumph. The material is quite thin and so would be great for summer rallies as you would be cool in it and being longer than most female t-shirts, you could either tuck it in your jeans or wear loose as a cheeky figure-hugging number. They are available in sizes 10-18, and at £27.50 each including p&p, I think that is There is another story, that the high pitched tinkling sound is audible and irritating to deer, which are a hazard on forested roads in the States, and keeps them off the road, but that’s challenged too. I don’t buy into it, myself – the gremlin bit, that is – but I’m a sucker for bells and find their tinkling comforting, which is perhaps a throwback to the hippy jewellery of my youth – and I will be attaching one to my Cossack: I’ll need all the help I can get in terms of gremlins, and because there are wild deer in Staffordshire: I’ve seen them ... perhaps because I didn’t have a bell with me.

OLD INDIANS NEVER DIE

Dukevideo.com £17.99 (Duke Club £14.99) Running time 48 minutes There’s something about old Indians that spawns gentle videos ... not that I’ve seen many, but certainly this and The World’s Fastest Indian share a relaxed pace. It has been anything but relaxed for Motolux Proprietor, Alan Forbes, since this video was made for Broadcast on the BBC, fighting for use of the name against overwhelming odds, but this tells the story of the 1995 rally when 100 Indian riders from all over the world descended on the Scottish Highlands to celebrate the history of their beloved Indian Motocycles, and has only recently been released on DVD.

a reasonable price to pay for a piece of clothing of this style and quality. GUYS TAKE NOTE: this would be a great xmas pressie for the lady/ladies in your life, and you have time to get one ordered if you act now! More designs are available on the website and I have word from the man himself that he has more stock arriving at the beginning of December so there’ll be plenty to go round. http://www.fatskeleton.co.uk/ladiestshirts.html

/Amanda Legend or not they’re still a cool piece of kit, a harmless bit of fun and an affectionate token. They are just over an inch high and are very solidly cast, and they come in about thirty different designs from hot rod flames to fairies, which covers just about everyone I know. They make for an unusual, affordable gift at £12.95 each inc. p&p, and make a great little stocking filler. www.fatskeleton.co.uk

/Amanda

The story focuses on the collaboration between Forbes and Christian Zimmerman, a Berlin-based Indian enthusiast who also ran a shop that concentrated on keeping classic Indians on the road, and is beautifully shot, giving a real sense of what it is to engage with a classic motorcycle – especially one that fosters an affection bordering on obsession, and that just keeps on going, and they plainly do. It’s also shows that Harley-Davidson riders haven’t got a monopoly on pride in their machines – or indeed the ability to dismiss anything else as less – but it is mainly a good excuse to watch enthusiasts riding their old motorcycles on the road for the sheer pleasure of it. /Andy

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.Reviews.indd 14

19/11/2011 22:03

OWNERS CLUB

15% UP TO

DISCOUNT

Pete. Bikesure Sales Team.

BIKE INSURANCE FROM THE ENTHUSIASTS (CALL US FOR A GREAT DEAL). Bikesure Insurance Services has been built around the enthusiast markets. Because we share your passion for bikes we offer fantastic tailor-made insurance deals based on your own personal requirements and riding history. Call us today and get a competitive quote for your AmericanV-Twin. We can provide: • Helmet & leathers cover • Free legal cover

• Owners’ club discounts • Payment options

FREEPHONE 0800 089 2000 Quoteline hours: Mon to Fri 9am-7pm | Sat 9am-4pm

bikesure.co.uk

Part of Adrian Flux Insurance Services Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Performance Bikes p057_avjulaug11.inddDEC 1 JAN12.indd 15 BikeSure_AmericanV

Standard & Modified

New Riders

Multi Bike Policies

Instalment Plans 26/9/11 09:43:04 10:16:02 21/11/11

American-V # ONE

Reviews Okay, so we’re an issue late with these, and the 16-month editions – with the last four months of 2011 will be wasted but for a stunningly reproduced picture – but they’re well worth a look ... so we’re looking. All calendars are available at a special price to readers of American-V of £7 by ringing Grantham Book Services on 01206 255800, quoting “American-V” and the ISBN below.

Harley-Davidson 2012

David Blattel ISBN 978-0-7603-4095-0 RRP £9.16 It’s easy to see this as the new model calendar, if only because of the current model on the cover, and the existence of the Archive Collection Calendar, but there are some real gems and fewer wildcard oddities – in fact, only one: the MT500. Unless you count the Forty-Eight on the cover with its oil filler carelessly left open. The rest are a selection of old and new, any of which can justify a place on my wall any time, and the ’77 XLCR, ’34 VLD, ’52 Pan and ’66 Shovel might just get framed once their months are out.

Choppers + Bobbers 2012

Michael Lichter ISBN 978-0-7603-4089-9 RRP £9.16 There are never any punches pulled on this annual extravaganza, which highlights thirteen of the world’s most creative builds. You can start it off by pulling out the page showing the last months of 2011 and framing it – Kraus Motor Co’s Achuma, as featured in this very issue – before tentatively rolling into January and a roller coaster ride through the sublime to the incredulous. It ranges from a 1911 single cylinder Indian to a street legal incarnation of the Lightcycle from the 2010 Tron movie, via mad choppers, big wheel baggers and the awesome Vincent Black Lightning replica that means 2012 will be forever May in my office. Brilliant: I get twelve birthdays next year!

Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Archive Collection 2012 Calendar.

Randy Leffingwell ISBN 978-0-7603-4096-7 RRP £8.33 The collectors choice, and the most eclectic of the bunch, 2012’s selection takes you back to the 1912 X-8-A – a 4hp single – and back up to a 1983 XR1000. It’s the stops along the way, however, that will raise a few eyebrows: a 1968 Rapido based on an Aermacchi 2-stroke; the Rhinestone HarleyDavidson bedecked in more geegaws than a well-stocked geegaw shop; and the Nova mockup that might have brought Harley up to date in 1981, although I suspect that the Softail a few years later was a much more prudent decision. On firmer ground, however, you’ve got an army-spec 1919 FUS, the first XLCH, the 1936 Joe Petrali Knucklehead Streamliner and the “Billy Bike” from Easyriders ... but inexplicably not the Electra Glide pictured on the cover. / Andy

Tinker Tales: Unmentionable

Allan Lowson, Xlibris ISBN: 978-1-4653-6146-2

RRP £9.00 inc. p&p available now, from Xlibris on-line, good bookshops or direct from the author: lowson@dccnet.com

This, the third volume of Allan’s series of previously unpublished Tinker Tales, continues the adventures of gypsy biker, Tinker, getting into more magical scrapes whether he wants to or not. An easy read, noted Indian fanatic Allan not only knows how to tell a tall story but also has an intimate understanding of the biker sub‑culture both here and across the pond, dividing his time as he does between the UK and British Columbia. Pleasant to dip in and out of, no prior knowledge of Tinker is necessary and each chapter is in fact a complete short story, illustrated by talented biker lifestyle artist Louise Limb. Be warned not all is fluff in Allan’s world of fey: some serious messages and the odd truly shocking conclusion await the reader. If you’ve missed the previous two books, Tinker Tales and Tinker Tales Untold – recently voted Fiction of the Year and Book of The Month respectively by motorcyclefiction.com – you can buy any two for £16.00 or all three books in the series for £22.00, including a message of your choice from the author. / Rich

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.Reviews.indd 16

19/11/2011 21:50

American-V.co.uk

hogfather.indd 1 DEC_JAN12 Adverts.indd 17

17 26/9/11 14:56:02 21/11/11 09:55:32

NEWS: Traders’ Days

Traders’ Days Second City Customs’ Open Day, Bromsgrove 18th September 2011 Ian Cushing and Second City Customs, with the creation of the the Ultima Shovelhead-powered Hells Bay, currently very visible on the show circuit, have gone from success to success in 2011. We first saw its motor sitting on his stand at Tattoo Freeze in mid-January, and the finished bike appeared in Mainz at Custom Chrome’s Show in April, California Dreamin’ and more recently at Rosmalen where it finished in the top ten in the very competitive Freestyle class. But it’s been a busy year in other ways too, because Second City Customs has

gone from strength to strength, having recently expanded their Worcestershire based premises to more than 7,000sqft. That provides a home for a showroom where there is always a selection of quality used Harley-Davidsons on sale, as well as a clothing department; fully equipped workshop to handle servicing, insurance work and general mechanical tasks, and a full fabrication shop. The fabrication area has tripled in size with the recent improvements, offering aluminium and steel welding as well as all machining work, enabling Second City to offer a full in-house build service from concept to

SHD Autojumble, Stoke-on-Trent I’m sure, that there’s a bloody good reason why people see the need to get up at stupid o’clock on a Sunday morning to kick boxes of used parts round a lonely car park ... oh yes, I remember now: the early bird catches the worm, and all that. All of which is a gentle way of admitting that we rocked up at eleven o’clock to a busy event that, if I’d only been paying more attention, I would have realised was starting to close down. We got waylaid before getting our helmets off, by friends who had been there much earlier, and were getting ready to leave. And by the time they’d gone, the chance of really busy photographs had passed, with only the stalwarts remaining.

rolling it out of the door – including MSVA and DVLA registration. It’s a perfect compliment to the workshop and MoT facility, staffed by full qualified technicians and equipped with the diagnostic equipment essential these days to resolve complicated issues quickly and easily. And what better way to celebrate the changes but an Open Day with live music, trade support and a custom show to make sure everyone – well, everyone who wasn’t on deadline – is aware of the broader range of services on offer, the three hundred bikers who attended helping to put the new and improved, bigger, Second City Customs firmly on the map. /Jo

13th November 2011 SHD’s newish premises couldn’t be better suited to this kind of event, with space enough on an otherwise empty industrial unit parking area on the one side, and a cafe that opened especially to cater on the other, and loads of parking on the road outside which is all but unused on a Sunday. Indeed, there was already talk of doing it again in the spring, running it as a double header with Mark from Ed’s Motorcycle Emporium, who runs events at Abingdon and now Jacks Hill Cafe: watch this space for details. And the punters came from far and wide, making the best of unseasonably warm weather for November, and riding a widerange of Harleys, including a few that will

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.Vic2012.indd 18

19/11/2011 22:14

YOU'D BE OUT OF YOUR SKULL NOT TO SUBSCRIBE

Get 6 issues for £24.75 – it’s a no brainer Call now on 01684 588599 and get 6 issues for the price of 5 USA 6 issues: $52 (217) 355 2970

Europe 6 issues: £32.95 +44 1684 588599

RoW 6 issues: £37.95 +44 1684 588599

Your subscription will begin with the next available issue. All prices are correct at the time of going to press and may be subject to change without further notiﬁcation. All offers end 31st January 2012. This offer is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. If you wish to cancel your subscription, please notify us to make arrangements. For one-off payments, requests for a refund must be made in writing. Refunds will be made at the publisher’s discretion. An administration charge of 15% of the remaining credit may be deducted from the refund issued.

subs page.indd 92

21/11/11 16:35:33

NEWS: Victory 2012

VICTORY 2012 There’s an awful lot of Victory in this issue already, but we can’t drift into 2012 without a quick precis of what’s coming out of Spirit Lake for the news season. And at first glance it looks like it’s more of a housekeeping operation than a major year – almost as though Polaris has got its hands full with another brand launch – but there’s some activity beneath the surface that is worthy of note, and a couple of toe-in-the-water limited editions. Inevitably, with their broader range of baggers Victory are increasingly splitting up their range into families: Cruisers, Tourers and Ness Signature, and we’ll do the same in a moment. Mechanically, the engines are the same 106/6 Freedom motors that have powered their international range for a couple of years now plus the 100,000 mile gearbox introduced in 2011, and the only difference I can pick up on is a change to the shock absorber in the gear-driven primary – they’ve changed the thickness of the two pairs of Belleville Spring Washers that absorb any impacts in the drive train, and added a third, much lighter pair which I would expect to take out lighter shocks more effectively. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t know what Belleville springs were either, and to save you looking it up they’re very simple dished washers, and the spring action is in their resistance to being flattened. They obviously work in pairs – placed face to face, otherwise they would just form a stack – and while I can’t tell you what thickness they were last year, I can tell you that each of the main four are now 2.54mm thick and the extra two are 0.9mm each, which gives you some indication of the resistance they’ll offer, and what the lighter pair bring to the party. It’s easy to pick through the ranges, with Cruisers meaning Vegasplatform, tube framed models, Tourers being the CORE-based hollow-cast frame models; and the Ness Signature range being a little like Harley’s CVO without the engine enhancements. And as they’ve separated them more completely, they’ve done some housekeeping.

Cruisers Victory might have launched with the V92 Cruiser, but the Vegas was the first bike that captured popular imagination, quickly followed by the full-fendered KingPin with its better long-haul potential. It evolved into the Kingpin Tour, which was effectively replaced by the Cross Roads, and we lose the base model and the 8-Ball this year. And speaking of losses, the basic Hammer has gone, squeezed out on style by the Hammer-S, and on price by the 8-Ball Hammer, and again I don’t think there’s much of a surprise there. The Vegas continues in a choice of two, two-tone schemes – Sunset Red joining Imperial Blue combined with white pearl – but they are otherwise unchanged from 2011. The Hammer 8-Ball is unchanged too, but it does get a new gloss 2-tone red and white colour scheme to sit alongside the matt red and black, and they both get a red stripe on new black, forged aluminium wheels. We’ve also got a very limited edition Hammer for 2012 too, that will have been seen for the first time at the NEC – as in 106 bikes internationally: the Hammer-S 106 is defined by its suede black with black highlights, with just the odd hint of chrome. Victory’s flagship custom, the Vegas Jackpot, also gets a new choice of colours on an otherwise unchanged specification – there’s still solid black, but the ‘Extreme Graphics’ option is a monochromatic black tribal flame on white pearl, and the scalloped, pin-up option has switched last year’s black for Fireball Red. And then there’s the High Ball. These have now hit our shores and bring a completely new custom dimension to the Victory line-up. Already a best seller in the US, the High Ball brings with it the tallest stock handlebars of any production bike that I’m aware of: tall enough to come with instructions for some American states where your hands can’t be higher than your shoulders. It also includes black-painted, laced sixteen-inch wheels, white wall tyres, a classic matt two-tone paint job and wiring that is begging to be threaded through the handlebars. It also brings a very different attitude to the West Coast custom style of the Vegas platform customs ... and a ticket price that is guaranteed to ensure that demand outstrips supply.

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.Vic2012.indd 20

19/11/2011 22:28

Tel: 01773 835666 AMERICAN IRON HORSE BIKE KIT

FRAME FUEL TANK OIL FENDER MSO £3299

2 Styles of kit USA made ultimate quality 250 RSD

NEW- Sportster INJECTION Hypercharger kits only £295 National Cycle bullet proof LEXAN windshields! 4 U NEW HD DARK SIDE PIPES £399! HOOKER PIPES!

HOOKER HEADERS £369!

Matt’s Machine Shop Specialist Motorcycle Machine Shop mattsmachineshop@btopenworld.com

ALL MODELS!

FOR XL FLHT DYNA ETC GLIDE PLUS ALL MODELS BIG DOG pipes PRO TUNING CENTRE

SIDEWINDER CENTRE

VFI TUNING CENTRE

U.K’s Oldest Established S&S Dealer • U.K’s First Pro Tune Centre We supply the whole s&s range from carb kits, through spo slipon mufﬂers for touring models to the entire range of engines. We deal direct with S&S so no lengthy order times, trade enquiries welcome.

special -PROGRESSIVE AIRTAIL for SOFTAIL COMPRESSOR KITS 50% OFF + FLT DYNA

We have a fully equipped machine shop and the experience to build and repair all S&S and HD motors and transmissions from vintage to modern.

FREE HD ULTIMA CD

We run a dynojet 250i dyno to set up fuel injected and carbureted bikes • 883-1200 conversions • Twincam 1550 Conversions • Twincam 96 to 103”Conversions • Serdi Head Overhauls • Crank Rebuilds & Balancing • Vapour Blasting • Case Boring • Thread Repairs

Tel/Fax +44(0)1443 742791 18a William St.Abercynon, Mid Glamorgan South Wales, U.K. CF45 4RW

Unit 5B Monk Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 7RL

www.customcruisers.com ULTIMA ,DRAG SPECS,MID USA

VAT Reg. GB791 0597 0-8

American-V.co.uk matts machine shop.indd 1 DEC_JAN12 Adverts.indd 35

custom cruiser.indd 1 26/9/11 10:21:52

35 26/9/11 10:19:24 21/11/11 10:04:42

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/49.FatBoySpecial

Last Chance to See?

2011 Fat Boy Special

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.FATBOY.indd 22

20/11/2011 00:06

Roadtest: 2011 Fat Boy Special

Bang-up-to-date, us, with this roadtest of the 2011 Fat Boy Special. Some would say that it is appropriate with our recent history of delays, but there is always a good excuse and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as true of showing you the 2011 Special as the loss of September 2011 in our calendar.

Âť

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.FATBOY.indd 23

20/11/2011 00:06

Harley-Davidson Authorised UK & Eire Dealers

â&#x17E;¤

Harley-Davidson dealer network.indd 28

23/11/2011 09:09

If you’ve got a Smart phone – whether an iPhone, Android, Blackberry or Windows – or have switched your computer for an iPad or Tablet, don’t just sit there admiring it, use it here. If you haven’t got a barcode reader, you’ll find one at your App store, f-o-c. And if your device is particularly sensitive, mask off those codes that you don’t want to scan.

1 Black Bear Harley Davidson Black Bear Lane, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 OJT Tel: 01638 664455 www.blackbear.co.uk

2 Cheltenham Harley-Davidson 599 Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 7PA Tel: 01242 240570 bladegroupharleydavidson.co.uk

Chester Harley-Davidson

Dublin Harley-Davidson

Maidstone Harley-Davidson

12 Newcastle Harley-Davidson Elliot House, Silverlink, Wallsend Newcastle Upon Tyne NE28 9ND Tel: 0191 236 9315 newcastleharley-davidson.com

13 Norwich Harley-Davidson Norwich Harley Davidson, 120 Ber Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3ES Tel: 01603 620222 info@norwichharley.co.uk norwichharleydavidson.co.uk

14 Oxford Harley-Davidson

6 Guildford Harley-Davidson

Corner House, Wootton, Oxfordshire OX13 6BS Tel: 01865 735121 bladegroupharleydavidson.co.uk

Edinburgh Harley-Davidson

Weyvern Park, Portsmouth Road, Peasmarsh, Guildford, GU3 1NA Tel: 01483 207222 info@guildfordharley.co.uk guildfordharleydavidson.co.uk

7 Harleyworld Station Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 9EG Tel: 01246 830444 harleyworldchesterfield.co.uk

Jersey Harley-Davidson

9 Lakeside Harley-Davidson Lakeside Estate, Heron Way, West Thurrock, Essex RM20 3WJ Tel: 01708 805005 lakesideharley-davidson.co.uk

10 Lincoln Harley-Davidson 8 Tritton Road, Lincoln LN6 7QY Tel: 01522 850098 lincolnharleydavidson.co.uk

15 Plymouth Harley-Davidson Langage Business Park, Eagle Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon PL7 5JY Tel: 01752 332775 plymouthharley-davidson.co.uk

16 Preston Harley-Davidson West Strand Park, Strand Road, Preston, Lancashire PR1 8UY T: 01772 551838 harleydavidson-preston.com

Provincewide Harley-Davidson

21 Shaw Harley-Davidson Holmes Hill, Nr Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6JA Tel: 01825 872003 shawharley-davidson.co.uk

Southampton Harley-Davidson

23 Stratstone Harley Davidson, Birmingham Waterlinks Motor Village Lichfield Road,Birmingham B6 5RQ Tel: 0121 335 7043 hdbirmingham.co.uk

24 Stratstone Harley Davidson, Stoke Victoria Square, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 4JH Tel: 01782 211833 stokeharleydavidson.co.uk

25 Stratstone Harley Davidson, Wolverhampton 37-43 Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton WV3 0UF Tel: 01902 371611 hdwolverhampton.co.uk

26 Sycamore Harley-Davidson North Street, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9RN Tel: 01572 823296 sycamorehd.co.uk

Warr’s Harley-Davidson, Kings Rd

Riders of Bridgwater

Warr’s Harley-Davidson, Mottingham

Riders of Bristol

Waterford Harley-Davidson

Robin Hood Harley-Davidson

West Coast Harley-Davidson

Dealers: where this code points is up to you. It could be your news page, used stock list or even a redirector to give you control over its destination. Talk to Amanda about all the options, to make your advertising work best for you.

Harley-Davidson dealer network.indd 29

22/11/2011 22:23

Think of a sponsored bike, designed to showcase the product range of a corporation and regardless of whether you watch Discovery Channel or not, you can’t help but think of bikes destined to sit on pedestals in glass atriums; an hour of TV filled with a long-running family argument trotted out in front of a voyeuristic audience and the sponsor’s brand positively reinforced in a way that conventional advertising can’t hope to match.

Kamome Sprinter

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.WARRS.SPRINTER.indd 30

19/11/2011 15:32

Custom: Kamome Sprinter

This, however, is England, and we do things a little differently over here, and that’s never more true than when we’re working with that other island race who match our infamous reserve with their own brand of quiet respect. This isn’t some loud, brash exercise in excess, but an exquisitely crafted, classically inspired motorcycle that is both understated and luxuriously rich at the same time, and somehow manages to combine the cultures of America, Britain and Japan, and I’m not absolutely sure that it would work in any other combination. That may seem to be a strange assertion to make, bearing in mind that all three nations have solid reputations for automotive engineering, quality tailoring and a creative eye for the bespoke, but this just seems to work even if you’re not familiar with Japanese couture. In fairness, it is a collaboration between Japanese denim label, Evisu, and Warr’s Harley-Davidson in the guise of Charlie Stockwell and King Road Customs: the Americans only supplied the raw material in terms of their traditional engineering. Both Warr’s and Evisu are synonymous with high quality design and handbuilt perfection, and with the one-off engineering and abundant heritage that Charlie puts into his builds – able to call upon the rich heritage of Europe’s oldest Harley-Davidson dealer – coupled with the production values of the iconic Evisu, there’s a clever twist in the bike that can easily go unnoticed. I’m almost ashamed to say that most of it passed me by when I first saw the bike at Bournemouth at the California Dreamin’ expo, despite being impressed by what I’d perceived as a custom tribute to the Brough Superior, but I made a mental note to catch up with Charlie – because it could only have been one of his – to find out more about it. To his credit he wasn’t deflected by my interest in his Brough tribute, any more than I was by his desire to talk me through the

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.WARRS.SPRINTER.indd 31

19/11/2011 15:33

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/LTT.Hammer8Ball

8-Ball Hammer

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.HAMMER_8BALL.indd 36

20/11/2011 12:31

Authorised UK Victory Dealers 6 Newcastle Motorcycles Newcastle-upon-Tyne

7 P&H Motorcycles 61-63 Gatwick Road, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9RD Tel: 01293 413300 info@phmotorcycles.co.uk phmotorcycles.co.uk/bikes/victory/cruiser.html

8 PGH Motorcycle Broomhill Way, Torquay, Devon TQ2 7QL Tel: 01803 616164 sales@pghmotorcycles.com pghmotorcycles.com/category/80/Victory

9 Robinsons Foundry Ltd Broad Oak Road, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7QG Tel: 01227 378430 robinsonsfoundry.co.uk/victory/pages/victory/the-foundry

Thunder City Motorcycles Leeds

Celtic Motorcycles ... TBC Aberdare ... check before visiting

1 Adventure Extreme

4 Freedom Motorcycles

Glasgow

March

Blade Motorcycles Swindon

Millennium Motorcycles St Helens

11 Thunder Road Motorcycles 8 Baker Street, Birmingham B11 4SF Tel: 0121 766 8111 enquiries@thunderroad.com victorythunderroad.com

Windy Corner Barwell

Dealers: where the QR code points is up to you. It could be your news page, used stock list or even a redirector to give you control over its destination. Talk to Amanda about all the options, to make your advertising work best for you.

Victory dealer network.indd 41

23/11/2011 09:10

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/49.Kraus

KRAUS DOUBLE VISION The Kraus Motor Co. has been building one-of-akind bikes for the past seven years, the likes of which have never been seen before, and believe me they are anything but your typical bolt-together catalogue custom bike.

Can you imagine riding a machine that has been designed, engineered and built completely for you? It must be so exhilarating; to have a machine that fits your individual personality. Not just the colour of the paint, or even the shape of the petrol tank, but every aspect starting from the framework of the chassis. When the Kraus Motor Co take on a commission, they want to know what the bike is going to be used for: cruising the highway, riding mountain roads, ripping it up through the city or turned loose on the racetrack? With this information Satya can produce a bike that will do exactly what it is supposed to do, because for a rider to be completely comfortable

on a machine, it makes all the difference â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not only for their enjoyment, but ultimately for their safety too. Unlike most custom motorcycle companies in the US, Kraus have no interest in production line bikes; on the contrary, they build genuine custom bikes from one-off precision pieces, which possess spirit and innovation for a very discerning clientele. A Kraus-built bike is undeniably expensive, but Satya and the Kraus team â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alan Kraus and Kyle Thompson make up the trio â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are not driven by the mighty dollar but are designers, innovators, and creators foremost: guys who push the boundary while keeping the riding characteristics of their creations

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.KRAUSb.indd 42

20/11/2011 14:41

Custom: Kraus Double Vision

100% in the real world. With every project, the aim is to build an amazing bike that forms a lifetime bond with the customer. Thirty-six-year old, Satya, the driving force at Kraus Motor Company, has proven to be both resourceful and original in his creative thought process, manufacturing parts that are a blend of art and function in equal measure, and guaranteed to turn heads. And together they have tackled everything from gunmetal blueing frames to inventing the first leverless twist brake system. Their Northern California shop in Cazadero, some sixty odd miles north of San Francisco, is dedicated to full custom bike building; it is not a place to drop by for an oil or tyre change, or to bolt on some piece of cheap faux, made for the masses, custom catalogue bauble. They build motorcycles for people who want to step out of the box and test their limits as well as their imagination. Having spoken at length over the years, I know that building custom bikes does not feel like a choice for Satya, it is a way of life for him: an urgent necessity that he feels from the moment he awakes each morning. From the seed of an idea, through the mill, lathe, grinder and complex finish, Satya has a hand on the build from start to finish. And every bike he builds has a story to tell, and he feels a personal responsibility to join it in its progression from cold steel and aluminium to a bespoke custom motorcycle. In a matter of just seven years, Kraus has transformed from backyard wrenching to a full fabrication custom motorcycle shop receiving high

honours at custom bike shows across America, including this year’s prestigious AMD World Championships held in Sturgis, South Dakota where Bolide came third overall in the most heavily contested ‘Freestyle’ category, where he ranked fifth just two years before. But as well as custom show accolades, Satya has been fêted by TV and the print media, and it’s clear to me that Satya has an intrinsic need to draw new lines in the sand. It is a rare talent that can produce innovative mechanical engineering that holds such broad public appeal, but Satya pulls it off with ease. Putting ergonomics and rider comfort as the most important element of a build, he believes that a bike should be an extension of one’s physical self as well as representative of one’s personality, and his respect and appreciation for the motorcycles of the past has instilled classic design traits that can often be found in his own creations. Take a close look at any Kraus bike and you will find historical references held within completely new and fresh designs, but then the Kraus team are also recognized within the custom motorcycle industry as innovators. The bottom line is that they stay true to the concept that a motorcycle needs to be fully functional, and that is what sets them apart from a sea of shops building unusable customs; but then Satya has spent much of his life on a motorcycle, prides himself on being a rider, and is one of the best motorcycle riders I know – and holds Land Speed Records at Bonneville Salt Flats to prove it, achieved on a Kraus-built Dyna custom back in 2009. Indeed, when I shot Bolide in Sturgis, South Dakota this year, I discovered that he had ridden his own 1,650cc Kraus Dyna all the way from California: a three thousand mile round trip. Where does this deep love of motorcycles come from? Well, from a very early age Satya has ridden dirt bikes, tweaked and modified them and enjoyed the wrenching almost as much his time spent in the saddle. Growing up in the country with very limited funds and no place to buy parts, he was forced to get creative with his mechanics and being a natural problem solver, his early experiences taught him the importance of ingenuity and imagination. By the time he graduated from high school, motorcycles were already his life, but like many young men he would do a number of other jobs before finding his niche, which in his case was taking the reins of his own custom motorcycle company. I know first hand that when asked what motivates him to create the custom bikes he builds, he will just simply grin and proclaim ‘building one-off bikes that appear to be a work of elegant simplicity but, foremost, are heaps of fun to ride!’ The way he sees it; a bespoke motorcycle is one of the coolest ways to define your individuality: the ultimate lifestyle accessory! It is loud, visually exiting, and when engineered properly, it will do exactly what you ask of it. All of your friends will be jealous, chicks will throw themselves at you and even your wife will think that you’re cool again: your life will instantly become amazing ... okay, so that’s Satya pushing the hyperbole a little there, but I think that it was said tongue-in-cheek. What I do know for sure is that Kraus’s strong attention to detail, fit and finish is faultless, and I defy anyone to find fault in either Achuma or Bolide … American-V.co.uk

AmV49.KRAUSb.indd 43

20/11/2011 14:42

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/49.Sturgis2011

Prior to departing, I was thinking that it was going to be hard for me to think of something new to write about this, my twenty-second trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota for the annual motorcycle rally, but Sturgis has a way of surprising even us stalwarts of the event, who might think that we have already seen it all.

71stSturgis Motorcycle Rally

I should have known better really, I have always discovered something new to do, or see, so why should this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 71st Rally be any different? Unlike any other rally on earth, the focal point of this event is the riding that it offers, and the options available to every biker could not be greater or the scenery more picturesque. The more that I think about it, the harder it is for me to believe that such awesomely diverse landscapes and roads to inspire riding are all fitted into such a neat little package that encapsulates South Dakota, Wyoming and neighbouring Montana. But more of that laterâ&#x20AC;Ś The Black Hills of South Dakota are recognised as the oldest mountains in America. Some sixty million years ago, at a time when the dinosaurs were disappearing, these majestic mountains emerged to rise above the surrounding flatlands. The Lakota Sioux named the area Paha Sapa, which translates as Black Hills because of the thick forest of pine and spruce trees that covered the slopes, making them appear black from a distance. Today,

because of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, these beautiful Black Hills are sacred ground to motorcyclists the world over as they are to the indigenous Native American Indians who believe that they have mystical powers. Every biker should make plans to visit Sturgis at least once in their life because there is nowhere else on the planet where you can better live your biker dreams. For your information, the 72nd Sturgis officially runs from the 6-12 August 2012 but bear in mind that hundreds of thousands of bikers will already have rumbled into the

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.STURGIS.indd 52

20/11/2011 18:12

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/49.Walesby2011

The Riders’ Club’s annual international event is making a change to its events calendar for next year, which means this year’s return visit to Walesby Forest in Nottinghamshire could signal their last August Bank Holiday outing, while they try other dates and venues.

Walesby 2011 Harley-Davidson Riders Club International

26-28th August 2011 If the change sticks, it will represent a pragmatic decision by the committee to surrender its allotted slot in the calendar, but is based on sound information and the experience of last year when The Lake District hosted the International. For the first time since the Riders’ Club left Shipley, there weren’t any conflicting loyalties and a lot of members headed back to Yorkshire to meet up with those who’d steadfastly refused to leave, or else have slowly returned over the years. It also allowed Shipley loyalists to attend the International without missing out on what has become an annual pilgrimage, and, by all accounts, both scratched an itch that had gone unattended for years. How much that affected the turn-out for this year’s return to the excellent site that hosted the club’s 60th Anniversary event is difficult to put a finger on with any certainty, but any impact on the numbers – significantly down on two years ago – will be shared between that, the price of fuel and the atrocious weather conditions. It’s also worth considering that the 62nd International doesn’t cut it as a landmark event, so wouldn’t have dragged out a higher than average proportion of the membership – or attracted

the attentions of a wider audience. But numbers are only an issue when the gate doesn’t cover the outlay and the Riders’ Club are a happy bunch, and there was plenty of bedraggled spirit at work in the huge marquee that hosted the bar as well as providing shelter from the sporadic rain and a stage for the bands. While numbers might have been down, they did give lie to any accusations of Harley riders being the fair weather

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.WALESBY.indd 58

21/11/2011 00:14

Installed in over 60,000 Heritage Softail Classic Saddlebags around the world.

saggy bags.indd 1

26/9/11 10:19:54

If you want to advertise in

Call Amanda: 01684 588616, mobile: 07854092597 email: amanda@american-v.co.uk American-V.co.uk

DEC_JAN12 Adverts.indd 61

21/11/11 10:07:25

www.american-v.co.uk/49.Rosmalen2011

With the staircases between the traders’ balcony and the main hall resembling little less than the north face of the Eiger, ashtrays on tables, and the white noise of a hall of chatter sporadically broken by the revving of engines demonstrating the effectiveness of decibel killers, either the health and safety fascists were on an extended holiday, or this wasn’t Kansas any more.

Rosmalen

2011

It’s taken me a full three years to drag myself back to the season closer most frequently associated with Zodiac, whose trade show piggy-backs onto Bigtwin Magazine’s expo at the Rosmalen Autodrome. It took three years to block out the memory of the walk back from the post-show dealer party to my hotel, which saw me almost circumnavigating the neighbouring town of s.Hertogenbosch – Den Bosch for short – and lose my phone, stumbling for the umpteenth time on a grass verge that was miles away from where I should have been, and the parlous state I was in for the next two days, through willful overindulgence of epic proportions. Still, lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice, and poncing a lift off Yeti from The Hogfather Motorcycles – who was dropping a bike off in Belgium on the way – I would at least be chaperoned by responsible adults, to save me from myself. The theory was good, but the Hogfather Massive – Yeti, Chops and Midas – responsible adults?

This could so easily have just been a roadtrip story, because it was an adventure before we got into Holland, but while the badge on the side of the transport said Harley-Davidson, it also said Ford and this isn’t that sort of magazine. And once I’d managed to replace the cheap reading glasses and a lead to charge my phone that I lost on Bredene beach – apparently Belgium’s only official naturist beach – the weekend proper started. What was that? What were we doing on a naturist beach? Well, what else would you do at 4 o’clock on a November morning having seen the signpost, with three hours to kill

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.ROSMALEN.indd 62

22/11/2011 22:40

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/49.Shipley2011

It started with the first rider arriving at noon on Thursday 25th, all the way from Cumbria, and getting an extra day free of charge for his trouble, and by Thursday night, with a live band in the Malt Shovel, the party was swinging: just what I needed!!

Shipley 2011 Rally Baildon Rugby & Cricket Club

26-29th August 2011

The early arrivals were the lucky ones because, sadly, Friday’s bleak forecast proved to be correct and the rain didn’t relent until evening. Riders from Holland, Germany, Belgium, France and across the UK were arriving absolutely soaked, but we turned the cricket pavilion into a makeshift drying room and by nightfall we had over 350 through the gate. Eight trade stands and the caterers turned up too, which helped provide a vibrant feel to the rally for those staying on-site. Our resident DJ, Steve Moore from Warrington, started proceedings on-site at 6pm followed by a stunning set from The Stones – a Rolling Stones tribute band from Derbyshire. I usually avoid tribute bands like the plague but these guys were brilliant, and kept the marquee rockin’ ’til 2am. Saturday brought an improvement to the weather, which was good news for the mystery ride-out: Fred Aveyard loves his little tours and this year he took about seventy bikes for a run into the Yorkshire Dales. Lunch at the Sun Inn, Fewston – a well-known biker haunt – followed by a ride to Brimham Rocks near Pateley Bridge, where the Great British Weather had one last trick up its sleeve: hailstones and heavy rain, interspersed with glorious sunshine!

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.SHIPLEY.indd 66

21/11/2011 02:38

JUNK JUNK バイクブック

バイクブック

GET All OVER YOUR LIVING ROOM issue #4

MoToRcYClE MaGaZiNe

dedicated to classic custom motorcycles & specials

£4.25 GBP

s & specials custom motorcycle dedicated to classic

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

Dedicated to classic custom motorcycles WWW.TRAPLETSHOP.COM

El MiRaGe SpEEd TrIaLs.. SuMmEr 2011..

EvEnTs SpEcIAl..

BOrN FrEe 3.. HoT RoD HaYRiDe.. ToN-uP DaY & MoRE! PlUs All ThE ReGuLaR FeATUreS, BIkES & InSaNiTy..

www.facebook.com/ junkmotorcyclemagazine

CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

BIKES BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMISATION UNDERTAKEN SICKBOYZ CUSTOMS APPAREL AVAILABLE ONLINE

tel: 07040-900-957 fax: 07040-900-958

NOW STOCKING A RANGE OF BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES

www.sickboyzcustoms.com sickboyz.indd 1

B & H Motorcycles Ltd Harley Davidson & Custom Specialists

JRJ10:25:05 custom.indd 1 26/9/11

26/9/11 10:36:52

exile.indd 1

26/9/11 10:36:31

Wide range of Harleys for sale Servicing & Repairs Mail Order specialists - wide range of parts in stock Custom Bikes Built

For Gifts, Accessories, Riding Gear and more...

Tel: 01726 824256 We have moved back to the Roots at Springﬁeld, North Road, Whitemoor, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 7XN www.bnh-motorcycles.com e-mail: bnhmotorcycles@btconnect.com

Shop at our online store

Cornwall’s mail order specialist for:

B&H motorcycles.indd 1

DEC_JAN12 Adverts.indd 69

www.blackbear.co.uk

26/9/11 10:37:21

American-V.co.uk

22/11/11 11:59:44

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/LTT.CrossRoads

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.CROSS_ROADS.indd 70

20/11/2011 22:56

NEW Long Term Roadtest: Victory Cross-Roads

Legend has it that one Robert Elroy Johnson met the Devil at a crossroads, generally considered to be in Clarksdale, Mississippi – or at least that seems to be where the money is – but it could have been Memphis … or pretty-much any crossroads in America’s southern states. And there, it is said, he was magically transformed from a mediocre guitar player into the man accredited for creating the modern blues, in exchange for his immortal soul.

Victory’s

Cross Roads American-V.co.uk

AmV49.CROSS_ROADS.indd 71

20/11/2011 22:56

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/49.BarriesShovel

There are some Harleys that will be forever associated with a paint scheme, which is why a grey bike with orange bands round its rockers boxes and engine covers will scream Fat Boy long before you realise youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at a Sportster.

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.BARRYS_SHOVEL.indd 76

20/11/2011 23:34

Custom/Classic: Barrie’s Shovel

Barrie’s Shovel The same was true for me when I first saw Barrie Reid’s Shovel on an early trip to the Riders’ Club’s Region 7 rally at Talgarth some years ago, spotting it immediately for a 1978 FXS Low Rider – the bike I’ve got imprinted on my heart as the first HarleyDavidson that stopped me in my tracks – which, of course it isn’t. In fact it isn’t even close. It’s a gunmetal grey fuel tank with the classic tank decal “straight out of 1917”, as Harley put it in their 1978 catalogue, and a Shovelhead engine, but even then they’re the 5-gallon Fat Bobs topped off with an FLH cast dash, and it’s a generator Shovel. D’oh. More importantly, though, it’s a great looking, real world motorcycle: practical and flexible, and one that is used and is carrying its years well. It will have started life as an FL of some description, but it was far from standard when Barrie bought it off a mate in July

1991, and while we know it was based round a 1969 generator Shovel chassis with FXR forks, there have been some major serious changes over the last twenty years and 100,000+ miles. It could so easily have been different, because two weeks into his ownership the engine let go in a big way, leaving only the cylinder heads and timing gears intact. That might explain why he has recharged the motor every 1,500-2000 miles since, with fresh 50-weight oil, but the subsequent £2,000 engine rebuild at least meant that he knew he’d got a good motor at the heart of the bike. He also tells us that he has still got the feed and scavenge for the primary drive still plumbed-in, and has had no problems with it. It was back on the road again in March the following year and proved to be ‘reasonably reliable’ for the next fifteen years and 80,000 miles with nothing more than a set of rings and valves to freshen

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.BARRYS_SHOVEL.indd 77

20/11/2011 23:34

www.american-v.co.uk/pics/49.VRSCDX

Night Rod

Special

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.NIGHTROD.indd 80

21/11/2011 02:08

Roadtest: Night Rod Special

The V-Rod that has stood the test of time better than any before it is getting a makeover for the 2012 season – its tenth – and the differences are more significant than first appearances suggest. But are they just cosmetic?

The V-Rod could be said to have had a chequered career. It landed, unexpectedly in 2002 and caused a hell of a stir, managing to become the most talked about and most filmed motorcycle of a generation. It made such an impact that when pottering about on a pre-production model I was accosted by the widest range of people imaginable, all knowing exactly what it was and what it represented. People shouted their approval as I rode past, and drivers wound down their windows at traffic lights to make sure I was aware that it was the best-looking bike they’d ever seen. Seriously. That was in 2002, the year before the 100th Anniversary, and you can’t blame Harley for a degree of complacency in expecting their new Wunderkind to ride the crest of its own wave to fame and glory. Except it didn’t. Within a couple of years, the bubble had burst: it was the equivalent of meeting the most attractive person in the world, immersing yourself in their beauty and then realising that there is nothing behind the eyes. Stunning, great to be seen with and the envy of your friends, but ultimately a lot less fun to be with than your best mate, and Harley dressing it down for the 2004 VRSCB – B for the black of its ‘hydroformed’ frame, but looking like it stood for Budget – did little to make people look again. There were issues. The solid disk wheels were interesting in crosswinds, because not only did the V-Rod lack the weight of a Fat Boy to anchor the bike, but the radical steering – 34-degrees with an extra 4-degrees of trail adjustment – gave it greater license to steer the bike than was desirable. The 1130cc Revolution engine delivered 115hp, which gave Harley the confidence to shout about horsepower for the first time in years and it was a lively lump, but it was also thirstier than a big twin if you used its performance potential, and the 14-litre tank didn’t help its range much.

And, shock horror, it didn’t have the same power characteristics of the traditional Harley motor, which it turns out was more important to the majority of riders than the name on the side of the tank or its manufacturer’s heritage. The sixty-degree, short-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve per cylinder, water-cooled Revolution engine red-lined at 9,ooorpm, and generated peak torque – the Motor Company’s preferred measure – of 100Nm at 7,000rpm for the first season, and 105Nm at 6,600 from 2003-on, using the stock pipes. It was powerful enough to make mainstream bike magazine headlines, but it was busy. The arrival of the big bore 1250cc/116Nm Screamin’ Eagle motor in the 2005 CVO V-Rod underlined the potential for tuning the new liquid-cooled motor, but also its complexity. You could get a big bore VR, but the crankcases are horizontally split and the upper case with its integral water-jacket – and the engine number – needed sending off for specialist reboring to hold a new, big bore wet-liner. The Screamin’ Eagle was the first VR to lose the solid wheels, replacing them with chrome-plated forged 5-spokes, and the mainstream 2006 models flirted with the idea with the new VRSCD Night Rod running slotted discs, while the new VRSCR Street Rod – the VR for the modern sport rider, complete with upside-down forks – got a very strange staggered spoke setup with only the V-Rod itself resolutely true to its origins. The budget VRSCB disappeared without trace. The Night Rod and Street Rod models also introduced a revised exhaust system that allowed the fitting of rear-set footrests on the VR frame, but the big ticket items were a change to an 18.9 litre fuel tank on the Street Rod and a fatter 240/40-section rear tyre in the CVO Rod, in place of the original 180/55. The ill-timed high water mark for the V-Rod came in 2007 when it competed for headlines with the new, improved 96-inch Twin Cam

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.NIGHTROD.indd 81

21/11/2011 02:08

WIN

* a fantastic Roadside Harley Toolkit worth £39.99

A big thanks to the lovely people at Roadside Toolkits, www.roadside-toolkits.co.uk, who have donated one Roadside Harley Toolkit to be won by one lucky winner. For your chance to get your hands on this great tool kit, simply answer the question on the form below and return it to us NO LATER than 1st February 2012. The “Roadside Toolkit” is just about anything you’re likely to need before you start needing a bike lift (not included). • • • • • • • • • •

3/8 inch drive ratchet 5/8 & 13/16 inch spark plug socket 3/8-7/16 inch open-end wrench 1/2-9/16 open-end wrench 5/8-3/4 inch open-end wrench 10 mm combination wrench Small Phillips screwdriver Phillips screwdriver Small slotted screwdriver Slotted screwdriver

• • • • • • • • • •

6 inch adjustable wrench Locking pliers 7-piece torx set T-10 to T-40 9-piece hex key set Tyre pressure gauge Spark plug gap gauge Electrical wire Mechanics wire Electrical tape 5 x Cable ties

John from Roadside Toolkits says: “After getting the ‘Harley bug’ in 2008 and buying my first Harley, I soon discovered that buying parts and trying to find tools at reasonable prices was near to impossible. I wanted to be able to do bits and pieces myself, like changing grips, mirrors, tightening things up, stuff that doesn’t take a fully qualified technician 45 quid an hour to do. It didn’t take long to discover that there weren’t too many suppliers who sold tool kits that had the right mix of kit that you needed to tighten or change any bits on your Harley; not to mention if/when you break down at the side of the road. I got advice from all sorts of places – Harley riders, Harley technicians – and came up with a tool kit that covered just about every roadside repair that I could think

ENTRY FORM

• • • • • • • •

Spare turn tail light bulb WD-40 Loctite Shop towel Multi-Tool with torch Siphon hose Tool Roll Weatherproof outer bag

of, thus was born ‘The Roadside Toolkit’ designed for Harleys and American V-Twin motorcycles. Whether it’s a Softail, Fatboy, Sportster, Heritige, Road-King, Electra- Glide or Full Dresser This Kit’s Got it Covered. I decided to start my own Company, Roadside Tool-kits for Harley & Custom Cruisers and in October 2009 I ordered my first 1000 tool kits. Up to now I’ve sold over 3000 kits and I’m very proud to say, not one single genuine complaint. This is a small Family run business/hobby, no wages, no mortgage & no debt. Quality and service also aren’t hard to provide, so you’ll get them here in droves. The craic’s good too!” John has also given us a tin sign to give to one lucky runner up!

Name: ...............................................................................................

Please fill in this form and return it to arrive no later than 01 February 2012. Send completed forms to:

Address: ...........................................................................................

AM-V Toolkit Competition, Traplet Publications, Traplet House, Pendragon Close, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 1GA, UK

..........................................................................................................

Q: In what year did John at Roadside Toolkits get the Harley bug?: A: ......................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................

Postcode: ..........................................Tel: ......................................... E-mail: ............................................................................................... It is Traplet Publications Ltd’s policy to not pass on details to any third parties

Not a fan of snail mail? You can email your answer to competitions@traplet.com, no later than 1st February 2012. Please ensure you give the email header as ‘AM-V Toolkit Competition’ and include your answer, name, address and phone number in the body of the email. *UK only. Terms & conditions apply. Closing date for entries 1st February 2012. Winner will be notified after this date. Competition is open to all UK residents, except Traplet employees, their families, and regular contributors of Traplet Publications Ltd., its printers, or anyone connected to the competition. Only one entry per person. There is no cash alternative and prizes are not transferable. No responsibility will be accepted for postal entries lost or damaged, or for network problems causing non-delivery of emails. Photocopies of this page will be accepted. American-V.co.uk

Roadside Toolkits Comp.indd 75

21/11/11 16:31:20

s e is Ac st m e u ’t th ug at h A r’s 8t -2 th

Warr’s ‘Tracker’ Customised Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Warr’s - Serving the Harley enthusiast since 1924 Europe’s oldest dealership www.warrs.com +44 (0)20 7736 2934 © H-D 2011. Harley, Harley-Davidson and the Bar & Shield logo are among the trademarks of H-D Michigan, LLC.

WARRS.indd 85

22/11/11 16:29:06

High Plains

Bobber

There aren’t too many new generation Power Plus Indians on these shores, and with Polaris only committing to produce their versions to give existing dealers something for their showroom floors until their dedicated design team relaunch the marque in 2013, we’re not likely to see very many more. This, however, is one that got away. 86

As I understand it, the original bike – or at least the chassis – was constructed at Indian’s Kings Mountain factory when it was new. It was destined to go to one of the major investors whose company was part of the joint funding venture, raising capital to restart production, and as such is fitted with the last evolution of Gilroy’s 100-inch PowerPlus motor – the oem engine that had a pre‑requirement in allocating of the Indian brandname to the California Motorcycle Company, and whose development and launch ultimately stretched the fledgling company’s finances too far – readily identified by its timing cover, which incorporates a stylised solitary feather, and a circular inspection cover in the primary chaincase that links it to its Baker 5-speed gearbox.

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.THORS.INDIAN.indd 86

21/11/2011 03:47

Custom: Thor’s Indian

When we got involved, the original brief was to give it a simple makeover based on a factory bobber concept – seen here, pictured at Daytona – using what looks like a Chief Black Horse, the owner believed he could come up with a better looking bike, to show custom builders the true potential of the revitalised Indian range, as an alternative to the established king of the custom motorcycle genre. It looks as though it is based on an existing production line model, and would be an affordable, low budget exercise, and we reckon that the idea behind the factory bobber was that it could go into production quickly and cheaply if it got attention at Daytona. Without the financial justification of production engineering to consider, we had no such constraints and after many proofs, to-ing and fro-ing, we finally all agreed on a bobbed but stylised version of the original bike and set about the build with a vengeance. And then hit a brick wall. A picture of the iconic Chief leaf spring, trailing-link forks that now grace the front of the completed project hit my in-tray. The owner loved them and so did we, relishing the new experience of working with the Kiwidesigned, Paughco-made replicas. Matt, our in-house 3D Design Engineer, spent hours working with the owner to create a good balance of form and function that was true to the look and feel of a 1930’s

Red Indian Chief while retaining modern rideability and reliability, what you see in these pictures is as close to realising that as possible. The owner loved it, and I’ve got to say so do we. I’d love to say that it was plain sailing after that, but new parts throw up new challenges and the forks created more than their fair share: not in terms of quality, but functionality. Once our master fabricator Tamas (late of Hungary) had attached the forks to the Indian frame, and we’d fitted the black spool-hubbed, black-rimmed 21-inch front wheel – complete with classic Avon Speedmaster tyre – we had the chance to test the forks. That’s when we discovered that they only had about two or three inches travel, but more importantly that the arc described by the wheel spindle is very different to anything else we’ve seen before. Like Harley’s Springers, a tight-fitting mudguard was going to be interesting, and it was definitely going to have a mudguard: smaller than the fully skirted original, and closer to Indian’s 1930s models. After a couple of attempts Tomas finally got the front fender to follow the lines of the wheel, supporting the fender with a pair of hand crafted stays, but the first attempt – snugly fitting the tyre – proved an old engineering rule of thumb: enough tyre clearance is never enough clearance for a tyre. It also reminded us just how much flex is in a long and slender fender, which was originally only mounted at the centre and how vibration affects it. Back to the fab shop, to be greeted by a couple of foreign swear words, and an executive decision was made to add stays to the fender, front and rear. You don’t have to look too closely to see the pair of twin-pot PM calipers, which appeared after an in-depth and heated discussion with the owner, leading me to put my foot down and insist on a twin disk braking system. I wouldn’t hear of his idea to have a drum brake, or even

American-V.co.uk

AmV49.THORS.INDIAN.indd 87

21/11/2011 03:47

Kenny Harley Motorcycle Repair Centre 11 Woodgate Way, South Eastfield Industrial Estate Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland KY7 4PE khmrc@blueyonder.co.uk tel/fax: 01592 773950 www.custombikebuilder.co.uk

SERVICE DIRECTORY TO ADVERTISE IN THE SERVICE DIRECTORY CALL AMANDA ON 01684 588616 OR EMAIL AMANDA.WRIGHT@TRAPLET.COM

40F Lindisfarne Court, Bede Industrial Estate, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear NE32 3HG Call for more details on (0191) 430 0060. www.twincitymotorcycles.com

SERVICE DIRE

Shop/Workshop: 01624 677 728 Mobile: 07624 33 66 84 1

THREE SPIRES CUSTOMS FIXED PRICE SERVICING/SPARES/ REPAIRS/CUSTOM BUILDS Unit 20, Salisbury Road Business Park, Salisbury Road, Pewsey Wiltshire SN9 5PZ

01672 569 200 www.threespires.org

Tel: 0161 796 5467 w w w. p e a k y s . c o. u k

2 6 Station Yard, Hospital Road Haddington, EH41 3PP Tel: 01620 820377 Mob: 07836 229973

MOTORCYCLES

01782 844440 www.shd-stoke.co.uk

Email: allan@ customizedchoppers.com www.customizedchoppers.com

Unit A, Dewsbury Road, Fenton Ind Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST4 2TE

3 Unit 1, Tenter Lane, Mansfield, Notts, NG18 5ST

01623 632266 info@le-rock-ltd.co.uk

13 Taylors, Gravel Lane, Chigwell, Essex IG7 6DQ

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE SERVICES

020 8500 9025 www.hogbitz.com

www.secondcitycustoms.co.uk Telephone 01527 576996 info@secondcitycustoms.co.uk

4 Services Directory.indd 93

UK Tel. No. (029) 2036 9420 The Trike Shop (UK) Ltd Unit 10, Waterside

40F Lindisfarne Court, 22/11/11 Bede Industrial Estate,

Kenny Harley

11:35:42

ery day count ery day day count count ery

BigBoar Motorcycles Motorcycles Bulwark Bulwark Business Business Park, Park, Chepstow Chepstow NP16 NP16 5JG 5JG Tel: Tel: 01291 01291 645999 645999 BigBoar Suppliers of many major brands check website for details. Suppliers ofof many many major major brands brands check check website website for for details. details. Suppliers

Email: Email: info@bigboar.co.uk info@bigboar.co.uk www.bigboar.co.uk www.bigboar.co.uk

*warranty. Made in the USA.

SEE ‘HEY BOYS’ VIDEO ON WEBSITE. METRO BIKE DRYERS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL BIKE DRYERS ON EARTH! DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON CHEAP COPIES!

BUY ONLINE WWW.BIKEDRYER.CO.UK

Cafe Resto

Motorcycle Parts and Acc

Motorcycle Motorcycle Parts and Accessories Motorcycle Parts Parts and and Accessories Accessories �� MATT’S BLAST WATER OFF MATT’S MOTORCYCLES MOTORCYCLES

BIKES IN SECONDS!

169-171 FISHPONDS RD. EASTVILLE, BRISTOL BS5 6PR 169-171 FISHPONDS FISHPONDS RD. RD. EASTVILLE, BRISTOL BRISTOL BS5 BS5 6PR 6PR 169-171 TEL/FAXEASTVILLE, 0117 951 7609 TEL/FAX 0117 0117 951 951 7609 7609 TEL/FAX

EVERYTHING FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON & MERIDEN TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES, EVERYTHING FOR FOR HARLEY HARLEY DAVIDSON DAVIDSON && MERIDEN MERIDEN TRIUMPH TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES, EVERYTHING S&S PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR HARLEYS, CUSTOM PARTSMOTORCYCLES, FOR JAPANESE S&S PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE PARTS PARTS FOR FOR HARLEYS, HARLEYS, CUSTOM CUSTOM PARTS PARTS FOR JAPANESE S&S CRUISERS, ONE OFF CONTROL CABLES FOR JAPANESE CRUISERS, ONE ONE OFF OFF CONTROL CONTROL CABLES CABLES CRUISERS, M.O.T.TESTING M.O.T.TESTING M.O.T.TESTING WE UNDERSTAND CLASSICS & CUSTOMS WE UNDERSTAND UNDERSTAND CLASSICS CLASSICS & CUSTOMS CUSTOMS WE ZODIAC, CUSTOM CHROME, LUCAS, AMAL & CARBURETTORS , BOYER ZODIAC, CUSTOM CUSTOM CHROME, CHROME, LUCAS, LUCAS,AMAL AMAL CARBURETTORS CARBURETTORS ,, BOYER BOYER ZODIAC, IGNITIONS, MOTORCYCLE STOREHOUSE, CHAMPION PLUGS, MORRIS OILS, IGNITIONS, MOTORCYCLE MOTORCYCLE STOREHOUSE, STOREHOUSE, CHAMPION CHAMPION PLUGS, MORRIS MORRIS OILS, OILS, IGNITIONS, SILKOLENE OILS, ARLEN NESS, KURYAKIN, W&W PLUGS, PLUS LOTS MORE. SILKOLENE OILS, OILS, ARLEN ARLEN NESS, NESS, KURYAKIN, KURYAKIN, W&W W&W PLUS PLUS LOTS LOTS MORE. MORE. SILKOLENE STAINLESS BRAKE HOSES, ONE OFF CABLES STAINLESS BRAKE BRAKE HOSES, HOSES, ONE ONE OFF OFF CABLES CABLES STAINLESS 2008 CATALOGUES IN STOCK NOW 2008 CATALOGUES CATALOGUES IN IN STOCK NOW NOW 2008 FULL OR PART RESTORATIONS, 883-1200 STOCK CONVERSIONS, TWIN CAM 1550 FULL OR OR PART PART RESTORATIONS, RESTORATIONS, 883-1200 883-1200 CONVERSIONS, CONVERSIONS, TWIN TWIN CAM CAM 1550 1550 FULL CONVERSIONS, CONVERSIONS, CONVERSIONS, TYRES & FITTING WHEEL BUILDING TYRES && FITTING FITTING WHEEL WHEEL BUILDING BUILDING TYRES 0117 951 7609 0117 951 7609 0117 951 7609

Unit 6, Lo

��

Ja 1.3hp

1 year*

4hp

5 year*

*warranty. Made in the USA.

SEE ‘HEY BOYS’ VIDEO ON WEBSITE. METRO BIKE DRYERS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL BIKE DRYERS ON EARTH! DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON CHEAP COPIES!

BUY ONLINE WWW.BIKEDRYER.CO.UK

Motorcycle Parts and Accessories

BLAST WATER OFF BIKES IN SECONDS!

15 years ex Cafe r Resto

Wor

Iron H

ww ww

��

Unit 6, Love Lane Estate, Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire SY9 5DW �� Email: malcolm@malarkeyengineering

1.3hp

1 year*

4hp

Design and Development Motorcycle Engineers 15 years experience building frames, rolling chassis and complete bikes for: Cafe racers, ﬂattrackers, bobbers, trikes, streetﬁghters and chops. Restorations, completions, machining, welding, wiring & polishing. Yokes, forward controls, girder forks all made in-house

5 year*

*warranty. Made in the USA.

SEE ‘HEY BOYS’ VIDEO ON WEBSITE. METRO BIKE DRYERS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL BIKE DRYERS ON EARTH! DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON CHEAP COPIES!

Tel: 01588 630288/638823 www.malarkeyengineering.co.uk

BUY ONLINE WWW.BIKEDRYER.CO.UK

Clothing ��

Vintage Style Clothing • Warranty standard servicing Made Stubborn using only genuine parts. • Suppliers of allMost leadingFamous Biker Denim Japan’s manufacturers parts and Traditional Jeans and Jackets accessories.

��

Painstakingly Crafted out of the World’s Heaviest Black and Indigo Denim 317-319 Hartlebury Trading Estate, Hartlebury,

Worcestershire, DY10 4JB. Tel: 01299 251111 Iron Heart Denim - Heavy-Duty Indulgence www.ironheart.co.uk - 07740 706464

26/9/11 09:57:28 26/9/11 09:57:28 09:57:28 26/9/11

DEADLY ENEMIES OF CHROME – WATER & SALT BLASTERS MAKE GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!

4hp

5 year*

1.3hp

1 year*

*warranty. Made in the USA.

PROTECT YOUR BIKE THIS WINTER. METRO BIKE DRYERS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL BIKE DRYERS ON EARTH! SEE ‘HEY BOYS’ VIDEO ON WEBSITE. DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON CHEAP COPIES!

classifieds.indd 4

• Warranty standard servicing using only genuine parts. • Suppliers of all leading manufacturers parts and accessories.

317-319 Hartlebury Trading Estate, Hartlebury, Worcestershire, DY10 4JB. Tel: 01299 251111

BUY ONLINE WWW.BIKEDRYER.CO.UK To advertise on the American V classified page Contact Amanda Wright 01684 588616 or Email: amanda.wright@traplet.com

95-97 classified.indd 95

• Warranty standard servicing

classifieds.indd 4

22/11/11 13:47:42

Worl

Iron H

Motorcycle Motorcycle Parts Parts and and Accessories Accessories Harley Dealers Dealers Classic & Custom Custom Specialists Classic & Specialists Motorcycle Engineers Harley

BLAST WATER OFF BIKES IN SECONDS! • New range of gifts and collectibles available

• The latest Harley-Davidson® Parts, Accessories and MotorClothes®

• Plenty of winter offers also •• Latest ••available Parts Latest 2012 2012 range range now now Parts & & Accessories Accessories in store and online available available •• Latest Latest range range of of Harley-Davidson® Harley-Davidson® 1.3hp off all items in our online 1.3hp •• Over MotorClothes® Over 80 80 used used bikes bikes in in stock stock • 15% MotorClothes® year* store when you11use the year* •• American ••voucher Fixed servicing American Diner Diner Fixed price price servicing menus code – AMV menus

4hp Part of Bowker Group, established since 1919. Part of the thethe Bowker Group, established since 1919. Part of Bowker Group, established since 1919. 4hp 55 year* year*

Preston Harley-Davidson®® SEE ‘HEY BOYS’ VIDEO ON WEBSITE. SEE ‘HEY BOYS’ VIDEO ON WEBSITE. West 8UY METROPR1 BIKE DRYERS ARE THE MOST West Strand Strand Park, Park, Strand Strand Road, Road, Preston, Preston, Lancashire Lancashire PR1 8UY METRO BIKE DRYERS ARE THE MOST *warranty. POWERFUL BIKE DRYERS ON EARTH! 01772 551 01772 551 830 830 www.preston-harleydavidson.com www.preston-harleydavidson.com *warranty. POWERFUL BIKE DRYERS ON EARTH!

DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON CHEAP COPIES! Made in USA. 2010 && 2011 Bar Shield 2010 2011 Bar and and Shield Award Award Winner Winner DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON CHEAP COPIES! Made in the the USA.

BUY Make Make every every day day count count BUY ONLINE ONLINE WWW.BIKEDRYER.CO.UK WWW.BIKEDRYER.CO.UK

© © H-D H-D 2011. 2011. Harley. Harley. Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson and and the the Bar Bar and and Shield Shield logo logo are are among among the the trademarks trademarks of of H-D H-D Michigan, Michigan, LLC. LLC.

��

Unit Unit 6, 6, Love Love Lane Lane Estate, Estate, Bishop’s Bishop’s Castle, Castle, Shropshire Shropshire SY9 SY9 5DW 5DW Email: malcolm@malarkeyengineering Email: malcolm@malarkeyengineering Free Dyno Runs on a Tuesday evening from 5-30pm

for Harley and Metric Cruisers.

Harley Harley Davidson Davidson Stock Stock ECU ECU re-mapping re-mapping for for stage stage one, one, two two or or three three set set up, up, with with no no piggy-back piggy-back add add ons. ons. Design Development Motorcycle Engineers Design and Development Motorcycle Engineers AMI Harley Certified. Servicing, maintenance, repair. AMI Harleyand Certified. Servicing, maintenance, repair. 15 15 years years experience experience building building frames, frames, rolling rolling chassis chassis and and complete complete bikes bikes for: for: Cafe racers, flattrackers, bobbers, trikes, streetfighters and Suppliers of custom parts for Harley and Metric Cruisers Suppliers of custom parts for Harley and Metric Cruisers Cafe racers, flattrackers, bobbers, trikes, streetfighters and chops. chops. Restorations, completions, machining, welding, wiring & polishing.

Restorations, completions, machining, welding, wiring & polishing. BigBoar Motorcycles Bulwark Business Park, Tel: BigBoar Motorcycles Bulwarkcontrols, Businessgirder Park, Chepstow Chepstow NP16 5JG 5JG Tel: 01291 01291 645999 645999 Yokes, forward forks all NP16 made in-house Yokes, forward controls, girder forks all made in-house Suppliers Suppliers ofof many many major major brands brands check check website website for for details. details.

Tel: Tel: 01588 01588 630288/638823 630288/638823 Email: info@bigboar.co.uk www.bigboar.co.uk www.malarkeyengineering.co.uk www.malarkeyengineering.co.uk

Clothing Services Clothing Motorcycle Parts and Accessories

Vintage Vintage Style Style Clothing Clothing -MATT’S MOTORCYCLES Made Made Stubborn Stubborn

169-171 169-171 FISHPONDS FISHPONDS RD. RD. EASTVILLE, EASTVILLE, BRISTOL BRISTOL BS5 BS5 6PR 6PR TEL/FAX TEL/FAX 0117 0117 951 951 7609 7609

Japan’s Japan’s Most Most Famous Famous Biker Biker Denim Denim

EVERYTHING EVERYTHING FOR FOR HARLEY HARLEY DAVIDSON DAVIDSON & & MERIDEN MERIDEN TRIUMPH TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, S&S S&S PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE PARTS PARTS FOR FOR HARLEYS, HARLEYS, CUSTOM CUSTOM PARTS PARTS FOR FOR JAPANESE JAPANESE CRUISERS, CRUISERS, ONE ONE OFF OFF CONTROL CONTROL CABLES CABLES

Traditional Jeans TraditionalM.O.T.TESTING Jeans and and Jackets Jackets M.O.T.TESTING Painstakingly Crafted out of Painstakingly Crafted out of the the WE WE UNDERSTAND UNDERSTAND CLASSICS CLASSICS & & CUSTOMS CUSTOMS World’s Heaviest Black and Indigo ZODIAC, CUSTOM CHROME, LUCAS, AMAL CARBURETTORS ,, BOYER ZODIAC, CUSTOM CHROME, LUCAS, CARBURETTORS BOYER World’s Heaviest BlackAMAL and Indigo Denim Denim IGNITIONS, MOTORCYCLE STOREHOUSE, CHAMPION PLUGS, MORRIS OILS,

IGNITIONS, MOTORCYCLE STOREHOUSE, CHAMPION PLUGS, MORRIS OILS, SILKOLENE SILKOLENE OILS, OILS, ARLEN ARLEN NESS, NESS, KURYAKIN, KURYAKIN, W&W W&W PLUS PLUS LOTS LOTS MORE. MORE. STAINLESS STAINLESS BRAKE BRAKE HOSES, HOSES, ONE ONE OFF OFF CABLES CABLES 2008 2008 CATALOGUES CATALOGUES IN IN STOCK STOCK NOW NOW FULL FULL OR OR PART PART RESTORATIONS, RESTORATIONS, 883-1200 883-1200 CONVERSIONS, CONVERSIONS, TWIN TWIN CAM CAM 1550 1550 CONVERSIONS, CONVERSIONS, TYRES TYRES & & FITTING FITTING WHEEL WHEEL BUILDING BUILDING

www.motorcyclefunerals.com Iron Heart Iron Heart Denim Denim -- Heavy-Duty Heavy-Duty Indulgence Indulgence

01530 274888 or 0845 3752106 www.ironheart.co.uk - 07740 706464 www.ironheart.co.uk - 07740 706464

.9 £39 NOW

Contains just you could eve take along R

Also av

0117 0117 951 951 7609 7609

HOME OF THE BROOKLANDS TRIKE

•• Warranty Warranty standard standard servicing servicing using only using only genuine genuine parts. parts. •• Suppliers of all leading Suppliers of all leading manufacturers manufacturers parts parts and and accessories. accessories.

York Trike conv cust

317-319 317-319 Hartlebury Hartlebury Trading Trading Estate, Estate, Hartlebury, Hartlebury, Worcestershire, DY10 4JB. Tel: 01299 Worcestershire, DY10 4JB. Tel: 01299 251111 251111

029 2088 0885 www.trikedesign.com

Unit 4 Va Tel/Fax: Email: Web:

To advertise on the American V classified page Contact Amanda Wright 01684 588616 or Email: amanda.wright@traplet.com

classifieds.indd 4 33 classifieds.indd classifieds.indd 4 95-97 classified.indd 96

classifieds.indd 5

26/9/11 09:58:09 26/9/11 09:57:28 26/9/11 09:57:28 09:58:09 22/11/11 13:56:40

classifie

Classic & Custom Specialists

Tools

Custom Bikes

ALSO AVAILABLE AT:

Peterborough – tel: 01778 346952

Tools Custom Bikes

Services Services

Roadside toolkits Designed for Harley Davidson Motorcycles Saddle Bags & Tool Rolls from £19.99 .999 3399.9 W ££ OW N NO

www.motorcyclefunerals.com 01530 0845 3752106 01530274888 274888 or 01324 555542

Tool-Kits Tool-Kits for for Harley Harley Davidson Davidson && American AmericanV-Twin V-Twin Motorcycles Motorcycles From From £19.99 £19.99 Leather Leather Saddle Saddle bags bags &&Tool Tool Rolls Rolls from from £19.99 £19.99

Contains Contains just just about about everything everything you you could could ever ever want want or or need need inin aa take take along along Roadside RoadsideTool-kit. Tool-kit.

Also Also available available pressure pressure guard guard valve valve caps caps & & roadside roadside puncture puncture repair repair kits. kits.

For free delivery Tel: 07841 100533

www.roadside-toolkits.co.uk

HOME OF THE BROOKLANDS TRIKE Yorkshires Premier Trike Builders. Most bikes converted. Ground up and custom builds available. 029 2088 0885 www.trikedesign.com

Unit Unit 44 Valley Valley Road Road Business Business Park, Park, Liversedge, Liversedge, West West Yorkshire, Yorkshire, WF15 WF15 6JY. 6JY. Tel/Fax: Tel/Fax: 01924 01924 235655 235655 Email: info@dtbpanthertrikes.co.uk Email: info@dtbpanthertrikes.co.uk Web: www.dtbpanthertrikes.co.uk Web: www.dtbpanthertrikes.co.uk

To advertise on the American V classified page Contact Amanda Wright 01684 588616 or Email: amanda.wright@traplet.com

classifieds.indd 55 classifieds.indd 95-97 classified.indd 97

26/9/11 26/9/11 09:59:02 09:59:02 22/11/11 13:57:27

AmV49.RnB.indd 98

21/11/2011 09:13

Kuryakyn Perfect Storm

Best Brands I Best Inventory I Best Service

Mag Europe 01.12.indd 99

18/11/11 10:24:02

25.000 WAYS TO

CHANGE YOUR LIFE

www.custom-chrome-europe.com Custom Chrome 01.12.indd 100

Phone: +49 (0) 671 - 8 88 88 - 0

info@customchrome.de 18/11/11 10:25:57