Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Results compiled from over 10,000 digital and mail-in ballots. 2021’s Best Production Model motorcycle

Harley-Davidson Pan America While many of us kept one eyebrow raised as Harley talked about its impending offering to the dual sport segment, we also eagerly awaited its release. When it came out, the Pan America was anything but too heavy and underpowered as suspicions would have it. Instead, it featured the new Revolution® Max liquid-cooled power train with 150 horsepower. All of a sudden, it seemed as if Harley was back in the lead and then they started to show up everywhere. Even in the mad labs of performance mod guys who would look to quickly understand this new platform and find a way to work within it to make more power. The bike is fun, it’s full of technology and proof that Harley-Davidson still has an ear to the ground when it comes to its customer base. For continuing to lead we are proud to announce The Harley-Davidson Pan America as the 2021 Cycle Source Readers’ Best Production Model Motorcycle of the Year!

Photo Courtesy Of: Shawn Ponte

2021’s motorcycling’s Man of the year

Willie T Jones - Tropical Tattoo’s Head Man And ChopperTime Creator

This year we all took a deep breath and held it as the news of Willie’s accident came in. Hit by a drunk driver on Main Street of Daytona off rally in April. Suddenly, the man responsible for so many of us having a place to call home during Bike Week, was in pretty bad shape. A lifetimetime tattoo artist and shop owner Willie is best known to the motorcycle world for the twice a year event at his Ormond Beach business Tropical Tattoo. Choppertime as he and everyone calls it is legendary at this point but few of us could imagine what it would be like without him. Fortunately by Biketoberfest it was starting to look like he was on his way to recovery and we will never have to. Through the year friends and family got together and helped with some donations and even held an event to the same end called Willie-paloza. For his lifetime commitment to the chopper cuture, and for throwing the greatest chopper show in history, we are more than honored to name Willie T. Jones as the 2021 Cycle Source Readers’ Motorcycling’s Man of the Year!

2021’s motorcycling’s woMan of the year

Nancy Davidson

Nancy lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 89 but in those many years she lived as much as any two lives. As the wife of Willie G Davidson, Nancy was half of the dynamic duo who carried out the duties of ambassadors to the company that carries their last name, but her life started as a school teacher, then moving into full time motherhood before devoting her time to the motorcycle culture as a good will steward. By 2010 she was inducted into the motorcycle Hall of Fame and has undoubtedly touched millions of riders through the years. Wherever Willie was, Nancy was right beside him hitting hundreds of motorcycle events in the United States and abroad furthering the reach of Harley-Davidson. As sad as we were to report of her passing, it brings us great joy to name Nancy Davidson as the 2021 Cycle Source Reader’s Motorcycling Woman of the Year!

Photo Courtesy Of: Harley-Davidson

2021’s sportsperson of the year

Sit Down Steve - Stunt Rider

If one thing has come out of the last few years it is the new breed of stunt riders. While the credit of being the innovator of stunt riding a Harley cannot be attributed to 2021’s Sportsmen of the Year, (that title arguably belongs to Jason Pullen [modern era] and to Evel Knievel [OG]) no one can deny that Sit Down Steve definitely helped peg the needle this year as a stand out rider and showman. His group of riders are more of a “crew” rather than a “team” and you never know where or when they will show up. One thing is for certain, no matter when or where, you are definitely in for a show! We can’t wait to see where Steve takes his skill set in 2022. As one of the most influential stunt riders in the country (hell in the world!), Steve has become an overnight sensation in the last decade. Stunt riding has become a staple and like twenty years ago the young guns rode choppers these guys are no less serious and they are definitely driving our industry

Christian Newman - CT Newman Engineering For a relatively young man Christian Newman has accomplished a lot. Newman is a global engineering manager Derrick Corporation In Buffalo, NY. He designs mining equipment during the day and builds bikes after hours at his home shop. Terms like wizardry are often used when talking about his motorcycles as he has knack for finding complex solutions for simple problems on a motorcycle. Mixing new technology with old school styling seems to be a seamless transition in his builds. Taking skinny beyond what has been the skinniest. Finding a way to make something work that everyone swears he never will and challenging himself to build more and more of the bike from scratch each time he starts a new project. For pushing himself and the custom world to the next level we are thrilled to name Christian Newman as The 2021 Cycle Source Readers’ Builder of the Year!

2021’s Best accessory product

Custom Destruction - Custom Helmet Restoration As a welder by trade Wes Slayton was a big fan of vintage helmets but always felt that the old clapped out liners were the downside. During the off hours Wes began to try his hand at reworking the liners of the helmets and before long was using a variety of different materials and designs. His friends had a line of helmets at the ready for him to do and before long he was doing it full time and sending his finished world around the globe. As a veteran owned and operated small business we are more than proud to see that the motorcycle community has provided such an amazing amount of support. We proudly name Custom Destruction as The 2021 Cycle Source Readers’ Accessory Product Of They Year!

2021’s Best performance part

Bareknuckle Performance Axle Lock For Touring Bikes When Paul at Bareknuckle Performance determines a need for a product, It is simply not a casual attempt to sell a new gadget or widget, it is definitely a solution to solve a problem that no one else has made an attempt to fix. This axle lock eccentric kit makes easy work of preventing your rear axle from any fore or aft movement due to extreme horsepower, drag launches and or stunt riding for your bagger swingarm equipped [stock] eccentric axle adjuster. Designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA [as are all Bare Knuckle Performance parts] this part will absolutely solve any loose chain or belt issue you have or prevent any new one from even happening. These kits are labeled for easy installation and Paul and his team have made absolute certain that your axle can never move once the correct tension (chain or belt) remains exactly as you set it!

2021’s best custom product of the year

CT Newman’s Mag Mount Cam Cover Conversion

Few humans have the ability to conceptualize a new and innovative product that has the possibility to make everyone stop look and listen like CT Newman can. Whether he is selling weld together frame jigs, building incredible mind-bending Knuckleheads or inventing new ways to fire the cylinders on your Sportster engine. A magneto looks right at home on a Sportster and why shouldn’t it? For a number of years, the XLCH model Sportsters came from the factory with a similar system. We have seen this one in action ourselves so we aren’t surprised at all that the lot of you voted to make the Mag Mount Cover the Best New Custom Product of 2021 further proving that regardless of whether you think a Sportster is a worthy platform or not there is no shortage of innovation and creativity being thrown at one of Harley’s most legendary platforms in the history of Chopperdom.

2021’s Apparel Product of the year

Tobacco Motorwear Company - Riding Gear All Tobacco protective apparel is proudly made in downtown LA and carries a warranty that covers any flaws in the material or craftsmanship. The safety linings of their riding shirts are made from Dupont Kevlar and canvas shells. They are a solid three season option for riding. Their riding jeans are Salvage Kevlar lined and made to make you want to ride in them, offer serious protection and still have no bulky feel that would make you want to change when you get off the bike. They have a full line of men’s women’s boots and accessories. For keeping us safe and comfortable, looking cool with piece of mind we are happy to name Tobacco Motorwear Company Riding Gear as the 2021 Cycle Source Readers’ Best Apparel Product of the Year!

Christian Sosa - Sosa Metalworks

Christian Sosa is one of the cats in our thing that was an old master almost as soon as he broke out, he’s just that good. His talent with metal shaping gives his finished product the look of organic material. In truth, he started working with metal around the age of 16. In addition to his own custom bikes and hot rods, Sosa offers classes in the form of a 3 day workshop. He has produced his own power hammer named the Shape-o-Matic and has his own shop nestled square in the heart of Las Vegas. He continues to be an inspiration to everyone who wants to take their skills to the next level. For leading by example and teaching others along the way we are proud to name Christian Sosa as the 2021 Cycle Source Magazine Readers’ Craftsman of the Year!

2021’s Best event of the year

Tennessee Motorcycle & Music Revival

Unless you are living under the proverbial rock everyone talks about, you’ve already heard about the Tennessee Motorcycle and Music Revival in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Not to be confused with the old [now defunct] Tennessee Bike Week, this event is full of friends, fellowship, beer and [the best part] music. From country to rock-n-roll and even a few hip hop artist too, TMMR (as it is affectionately known to its attendees) is a one-stop four day long rally-esque event that offers some of the best riding in the nation couple with a pro-builder invitational hosted by Bill Dodge affectionately known as the “BC Moto”. All of this happens on the grounds of legendary country artist Ms. Loretta Lynn and her family. For those reasons and more we are happy to name the Tennessee Motorcycle and Music Revival the 2021 event of the Year!

2021’s artist of the year

Jessie Madera

Coming out of the New York underground art scene where he got her start as a lowbrow street artist Jessie has moved into becoming a multifaceted artist using many different outlets. As an accomplished airbrush artist her design work is raw and quite impressive. Many times they end up on helmets and body tins of motorcycles where an eye popping emotional response is solicited through her work. Jessie states that when she first started all of her art was commission based but as a moto-artist she now gets to do her thing which tends to be on the dark and even macabre side. Her skill level will keep you watching her feed for years and for turning us on with such brilliant designs we are happy to name Jessie Madera as the 2021 Cycle Source Readers’ Artist of the Year!

2021’s Best Media Release Of The Year

Five Dirty Bikers Podcast

Of all of the media options on the planet, podcasting has seemed to be the one that has garnered market share faster than all of the others has. Of all of the options available, The Five Dirty Bikers Podcast has been the one that was most selected from the heap of options available through Spotify, iTunes, Podbean and Patreon too. The Five Dirty Bikers Podcast is exactly what it sounds like; five bikers get together via Zoom and chop it up [usually] with an extremely interesting guest. Listeners can tune in on almost any platform and listen to these folks interview bikers like legendary skateboarder Steve Cabalero as well as any number of motorcycle industry professionals. The other advantage of podacasting is the fact that you can listen anytime whether it a long ride to work or a long flight from LA to Orlando!

2021’s Best shop related product Of The Year

Nine Finger Fabrication - Crankcase Plugs

Thank God there is someone out there still building clever and innovative ways to solve problems. Whether you are a professional mechanic, a garage builder or even a hobbyist, these engine plugs will positively prevent the average garage debris from infiltrating your engine and causing harm to your crankshaft assembly or costing you more than you intended to spend on your engine build. These are available for multiple different applications, will save you loads of money and are a far more effective solution to stuffing red shop towels down into the cylinder spigot bores and leaving little red lint behind to get trapped into the oil passages or tearing up the rotors in your engines oil pump.