MotorcycleInsurance.com

Stealing The Most Expensive Motorcycle You Can Never Sell

Todd Halterman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:19:27 +0000

Ever since I read over the weekend that a pair of smash-and-grab idiots stole a couple of motorcycles worth $1.5 million from a home in tony Bel Air Estates out in California, I’ve been running it over in my mind attempting to figure out one critical thing – what the hell do they plan to do with them?

It’s not like you can head down to the local Honda dealer and trade one in. You sure as hell can’t put them on Ebay, and trying to get either of them, particularly the rare-as-hen’s-teeth Cyclone, out of the country would be an act of madness, so I’m still left with the same burning question?

One of the bikes, the 1914 Cyclone, was worth the vast majority of that loss figure. The other, a vintage 1952 Honda racing bike, was certainly valuable beyond imagining as well, but I’m still left wondering, what do you do once you find yourself, through your filthy, thieving efforts, in possession of the Mona Lisa of motorcycles?

Why? Why would anyone steal an item so valuable as to be instantaneously recognizable, stamped with identifying numbers which have been loving documented for nearly one hundred years, photographed as often as Scarlett Johansson and which is arguably the most high-profile collector motorcycle in the world?

I can only come up with one motivation (and that’s if I throw out the obvious explanation that the thieves are a pair of moronic tools who have completely completely stripped the gears inside their tiny brain pans) – they just wanted to take world’s most awesome and dangerous joyride.

Maybe I’m not giving the perpetrators them enough credit for their nefarious abilities. Perhaps the thieves have already crated and shipped the machines to an insanely wealthy collector in the Far East bent on owning such rare and beautiful artifacts.

But what I’m really hoping is, that later this month, one of them will be pulled over on the PCH riding full-bore with a snootful of cheap vino in his guts and an ounce of weed hanging out of the back pocket of his Ed Hardy jeans.

Officials said the thieves kicked in the front door of the home, tied up the husband and threatened his wife, loaded up two extremely rare motorcycles with a combined value of $1.5 million. The owner was clearly targeted as he regularly took the vintage bikes out for public showings. And the bikes take weren’t your average collector machines as you may well imagine from the price attributed to them in the media would indicate. The robbery took place around 4:30 a.m. last Saturday on Linda Flora Drive in Bel-Air Estates.

It’s the rarity, and the pedigree, of the Cyclone in question, coming as it did from a time when motorcycle racing was as popular and shocking as an alien landing in the New Jersey hinterlands, that makes the Cyclone a hot commodity on the track – and now – at auction.

The bike in question also happens to be an astonishingly beautiful piece of engineering.

The racers of the time were young men during the early 20th century who rode their motorcycles around banked wooden tracks at speeds exceeding 100 miles an hour, and that was some serious business when most of the roads were still being clotted with horses and four-wheeled ‘cars’ powered by steam. Board-track motorcycle racing was and is pure Americana.The first mass-produced American motorcycle, the Indian, rolled out of a shop in 1901 to be quickly followed by the first Harley-Davidson in 1903, and shortly thereafter, both of those manufacturers were sponsoring teams of riders who competed against each other around large tracks built purpose-built for motorcycle racing.

The most expensive motorcycle ever sold

1915 Cyclone Board Racer

The artfully-executed motor of the Cyclone was a precursor to the ‘litre bikes’ of today and boasted a 996cc, 45 degree V-Twin with a pair of bevel-driven overhead camshafts.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Insuring your collectible or vintage motorcycle

As for insurance? You should be able to get Agreed Value coverage on a 1959 BSA valued at $15,000 for somewhere around $25 a month, and that gives you the whole shooting match of coverage. You can spend a lot less, but if you plan to ride the bikes in your collection, the above pricing is a reasonable approximation of what you can expect to pay.

A Biker A Babe and A Nikon

Todd Halterman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:46:58 +0000

If there’s one thing bikers like, particularly sport bikers, it’s seeing a little video footage of their exploits. The advent of the GoPro series of small, HD-capable video cameras has resulted in some stunning footage, but what makes a motorcycle video really watchable is some sort of narrative element and some great camera work.

The new Nikon D800 sports some impressive video capabilities, and the company has released a film designed to demonstrate those capabilities to potential buyers.

This not-so-aptly-titled film (as everyone depicted seems a touch concerned or downright surly) is called “Joy Ride” and was shot by one-name photographer, Sandro. If the footage was meant to demonstrate the versatility of the D800, is does one hell of a job as Sandro makes it work in a wide variety of tough lighting situations. The motorcycle tracking night shots and the candle-lit scenes look damn nice.

Keep in mind that buying one doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly be capable of this kind of work…results, as they say, may vary.

Joy Ride from Sandro on Vimeo.

Finding the Right Motorcycle Insurance

Buying Your First Bike? The Guide to Motorcycle Insurance

Whether you ride a sport bike or an American cruiser, your insurance needs can get complicated.
We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance, whatever you ride…

Tips for buying your motorcycle insurance, coverage you need:

Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
Towing / Pickup
Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.

Japanese Motorcycle Manufacturers Coming Back With Improved Economy

Todd Halterman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:50:24 +0000

It seems the motorcycle business is coming back, and that usually means the economy in general is due for an uptick. Sales of Triumph and Harley-Davidson motorcycles are strong, but the real leader of the pack is the Japanese manufacturers.

Motorcycle sales from Japanese manufacturers in 2011 resulted in the export of 164,875 motorcycles to the U.S., an increase of 87.2 percent compared to the year before. In the fourth quarter of 2011, the same companies exported 53,342 units to the U.S., a year-to-year increase of 86.9 percent. Exports increased for the first three quarters of the year: 81.1 percent, 105 percent and 82.7 percent, and those are some heartening numbers for the industry in general. The figures come courtesy of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and are reported from Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha.

Japanese motorcycle makers didn’t fare quite as well in Canada, to which they shipped 14,353 units – a decrease of 21.0 percent.

JAMA reported total motorcycle production in Japan was 638,987 units, which compares to the 664,175 units recorded for the 2010 year, a decrease of 25,188 units, or 3.8 percent. The production drop follows an upturn from last year.

Motorcycle makers exported 504,985 units from Japan to all parts of the world in 2011, and that’s an increase of 2.3 percent. Good news following four years of declines, and the U.S. share of exports shot up to 32.6 percent from 17.8 percent the previous year.

Total motorcycle production in Japan by manufacturer in 2011:

Honda, 200,493 (down 0.3 percent)
Suzuki, 160,200 (down 4.4 percent)
Yamaha, 162,821 (down 10.9 percent)
Kawasaki, 115,420 (up 2.4 percent)

Total motorcycle exports from Japan to countries worldwide by manufacturer in 2011:

Honda, 121,914 (up 14.6 percent)
Suzuki, 116,273 (up 2.7 percent)
Yamaha, 157,731 (down 4.3 percent)
Kawasaki, 109,067 (about the same as last year)

The SHR Enterprises Jay Springsteen XR750 Replica

Todd Halterman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:38:49 +0000

Dan Jacobson asked us to find some photos of this custom gem, and so we have…

These Jay Springsteen XR750 Replicas are being put into production by racer and bike builder Billy Hofmeister, owner of SHR Enterprises.

Hofmeister’s first race – a hill climb – came at the age of twelve. He not only took on a full slate of adult riders with years of experience, he took third place and then went on to start ripping up tracks at county fairs, community festivals, and AMA national events across the country. Lots of first place trophies and a Canadian National Championship title in hand, Hofmeister is still running with pack to this very day.

His real love, the oldest type of American motorcycle racing, flat track, dates back nearly to the inception of motorcycling. Riders on the flat track circuit drift through the turns mere inches from each other at speeds over 100 mph. And the bike that has dominated competition on the flat tracks since the early 1970′s – the Harley Davidson XR-750 - has always been the force to be reckoned with on the AMA Grand National racing circuit.

As an homage to that venerable machine, Hofmeister created his hopped up version of the XR-750. It’s 105 hp Buell motor is sure to move it along at an alarming rate…

Jay Springsteen XR750 Replicas Specs:

1200 Buell XB motor 105 hp
19″ PM racing wheels
Custom Oil in frame , single shock chrome moly racing chassis
PM brakes front and rear
PM controls
Aluminum fuel tank
Custom paint and graphics signed by Jay himself
Supertrapp exhaust
Flanders bars
Custom “9″ imprinted seat
Aluminum pegs
Penske shock
Headlight and tailight

Optional Equipment:

Wire Spoke Racing Wheels (And don’t they look sweet)
Color Choice of “Harley Orange” or Blue and White “Supertrapp” race colors or Burgundy over White “Bartells race colors
Nickel, Chrome or Painted frame

What kind of dent will all this wonderful horsepower put in your bank account? How about $24,605 in a turn-key version or $26,995 loaded for bear…

Link: SHR Enterprises

Stunt and Motocross Riding

Buying Your First Bike? The Guide to Motorcycle Insurance

You’re going to take it to the limit when you head out to ride. Across deserts, up the sides of mountains and down the highway to feel the thrill of the open road as it stretches out in front of you. When you do, you need to make sure that both you and your machine are covered by the right insurance protection.
We’re here to help you that correct motorcycle insurance package, whatever, and however, you ride…

Tips for buying your motorcycle insurance, coverage you need:

Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
Towing / Pickup

Treycycle Development Has NASA Engineers Playing Their Trade

Todd Halterman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:42:21 +0000

If it has three wheels, it’s not a motorcycle, it’s a Trike.

And with that bit of nitpicking out of the way, it seems some former NASA engineers thrown out of work by changing times have quit looking to the skies and are now hoping to find an outlet for their design skills back here the ground.

One idea, called the Treycycle, is a prototype three-wheeled vehicle which the developers hope will offer a safer alternative to law enforcement motorcycles.

“Instead of dealing with trying to fix the problem, you have to fix the solution. And the solution is to develop a frame which is going to provide additional protection for motorcycle riders,” said Michael Shulman of the Emerging Growth Institute. “With so many NASA engineers being out of work over that period, there’s been an influx of those coming into the shop.”

The company say the frame of the Treycycle will provide three hundred and sixty degree protection for the rider and a kevlar-strengthened body will give additional stiffness.

The company got some feedback from the Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition during a meeting at USF. Unlike a conventional motorcycle, the prototype has two recumbent seats, and the developers say it’s that riding position that makes their machine perfect for law enforcement use.

“They have to drive eight hours a day and their legs are hanging down and it gets very uncomfortable,” said Ray Ackley, the designer and builder of the prototype machine.

MV Agusta F3 675 – Video of How You Assemble A Really Fast Motorcycle

Todd Halterman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:53:13 +0000

2012 MV Agusta F3 675 being assembled in Varese:

The team from Varese have the new 2012 MV Agusta F3 675 on the first iteration of the assembly line, and they’re putting together the first versions of what they hope will be a long line of the 126-horsepower, 675cc, three-cylinder engines.

MV Agusta will include a customizable electronics package called MVICS which features the ride-by-wire engine mapping like the Brutale 675, and as a bonus, gives riders eight levels of adjustable traction control.

Need more bells and whistles? Have no fear as add-ons include a launch-control module with anti-wheelie programming and an Electronically Assited Shift system.

The 2012 MV Agusta F3 675 weighs in at a tiny 381 pounds dry which makes it a giant in a tiny package.

MV Agusta says they’re ready to introduce affordable versions of the existing models like the MV Agusta F4R & MV Agusta Brutale R 1090. The 2012 MV Agusta F3 675 and the MV Agusta Brutale 675 are machines they say will do the trick. Those models, put on the drawing board when Harley-Davidson owned the company, were both designed to be affordable supersport machine aimed at jacking up sales toward the 10,000 unit mark.

As for price, the MV Agusta F3 675 will hold its own against the Triumph Daytona 675. MV Agusta says the F3 675 will retail at $13,495, while the 2012 MV Agusta F3 Serie Oro set you back about $27,900.

While the Triumph Daytona 675 costs $10,499, the MV Agusta F3 will command more of a premium in the US market on name and brand value alone.

Rick Carmody Discovers the Joys of Catalina Island on a 1974 Honda Elsinore

Todd Halterman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:24:09 +0000

Back December 2010, the Catalina Grand Prix was held for the first time in over 50 years.

The most decorated motorcycle racers from around the world were invited to compete on the pristine terrain – untouched for decades – of Catalina Island off the California coast.

Accomplished road racer Rick Carmody had never competed in motocross, but he decide he had to take part in this historic event.

Carmody set to work prepping ‘ELSIE,’ his 1974 Honda Elsinore, and they set out for Glory or Heartbreak on the fire roads of Catalina with a bunch of pals and competitors.

After taking a year off, it looks like the race will be back on for the end of this year:

“SCICo felt that additional planning was needed in order to make the Grand Prix more unique to the Island and more special than if it was just an annual event on the normal race calendar,” said Brad Wilson, Senior Vice President of Sales and Chief Marketing Officer for Santa Catalina Island Company. “SCICo will take an active role in securing sponsorships with the City as well as administration to enhance the overall visitor experience.”
The City will continue to coordinate race operations, safety and logistics. Both entities will share in the permitting process and expenses over the next 18 months. The 2012 race week will include an array of activities designed to draw fans to the island for an extended stay. Additional activities planned include:

· One to two days of practice on the course
· Improved spectator areas
· Concourse of Classic Motorcycles
· Vintage Original “1950’s Grand Prix” Motorcycle Display
· VIP Food and Beverage Area
· Top name entertainment in the Casino Ballroom
· Parade of motorcycles
· Electric motorcycle exhibition race

Major sponsors are lining up to support next year’s Grand Prix race, which will once again take place on SCICo land. Race organizers expect another sold out event, including top riders from around the world.

The Catalina Grand Prix is an historic race that took place through most of the 1950s and was brought back to life in 2010 for the first time in 52 years. The course, just under 7 miles, included a variety of terrains, including pavement, rocky cliffs and hills, winding turns and an exciting motocross sections. The 2012 Catalina Grand Prix will follow a similar course, and provide excitement for both the racers and spectators.

Stunt and Motocross Riding

Buying Your First Bike? The Guide to Motorcycle Insurance

Tips for buying your motorcycle insurance, coverage you need:

Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
Towing / Pickup

10 Worrisome Elements of Motorcycle Design

MotorcycleInsurance.com Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:09:18 +0000

Motorcycle lovers agree: supreme function, beautiful form, and the need for speed are what fuel their fire and love for the motorcycle. Difficult to understand for those outside bike culture, motorcycles are loved and cherished by their owners.

There are, however, some really stupid problems with them. Enjoy this look at this list of 10 worrisome elements of motorcycle design.

Motorcycles Have Two Wheels

Can’t even stand up on its own — what is that about?! Although an impressive strata of physics and engineering goes into making motorcycles run, it’s a bit worrisome that a motorized vehicle with the capacity to tour the world can’t stand up on its own. And aren’t kickstands on a bike just a little bit dorky?
They’ve Gotten Fat

Everyone puts on weight as they get older, but motorcycles are ruling the road. Much like the injection and fire-paced popularization of the Sport Utility Vehicle into American car culture, huge motorcycles are becoming increasingly popular, especially in suburban populations. Why chunk up the slim lines of cafe cycles and the languid angles of an Easy Rider-style bike?
The Cyborg Segway

The Deus Ex Machina is a wearable motorcycle concept, and looks like a human-Segway hybrid. Although the future is amazing and cyborgs are certainly hip, it’s unclear whether turning your body into a motorcycle is in any way a safe way to travel.
The Harley Wobble

The Harley Wobble is a design flaw noticed in the early 2000s, and is a distinctive wobble that occurs when riding, usually on curves. These bikes tend to shake from side to side — while on sport bikes and other brands of road cycles, this rarely occurs.
Disc Locks

Ever had your wheel lock up and been shot face first off your motorcycle? This embarrassing fumble probably occurred because you forgot to disengage your disc locks. It’s OK, rookie. It happens.
Crotch Rockets

This entire class of motorcycle? Total design flaw. It seems like the Ducati 999 and the Yamaha YZF-R1 were designed to give jerks and wannabe stunters the idea that they could act like they run the road.
The Motorcycle-Tank Mashup

Leave it to 1930s France to design a bothersome motorcycle. Perhaps not at the top of their game (you know what happened a few years later, right?), the 1937 military designed tank-motorcycle hybrid is more operable (read: barely) in targeted reproduction today than it was 80 years ago.
Bad Handling

The 1972-1972 Kawaski 750 Triple 1V and H2s were known as widowmakers. Honda, Kawasaki, the Ariel Arrow, Moto Guzzi: all of these bikes (and many more) have had various recalls, customer complaints, and accidents caused because of poor vibration frequency, shocks, acceleration, weak swing arms, and more. Bikers beware: although the mystique of the wind in your hair and the road grumbling below are intoxicating, don’t be surprised if your dream bike is more lemon-scented than fresh.
Invisibility Cloaks

The Moto Undone, an “invisible” motorcycle created by Joey Ruiter is as fascinating as it is beautiful. But worrisome here is the idea that your fellow motorists can’t see your perimeters. Good for a show-off and certainly fetching as a work of art, this abstract cycle is better for showcases and design philosophy than five o’clock traffic.
Inclement Weather

One of the biggest design flaws of motorcycles — and certainly a barrier of entry and interest for many non-cyclists — is the lack of weather protection on a motorcycle. While road rash and burns from poor exhaust routing are issues for some, the idea that there’s no true shield on a bike from the wind, rain, and other sinister elements leaves a lot of prospective riders, well, out in the cold.

Swimming With the Shark

Todd Halterman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:08:37 +0000

Designers are always hard at work trying to re-invent the wheel, and they’re particularly fascinated with re-inventing machines on two wheels.

Car builders long ago switched to monocoque construction for tooling, weight-saving and assembly reasons, but for the most part, the motorcycle stayed with a simple tubular supporting framework as a starting point. There have been some notable exceptions like the Buell and some Ducatis, but most bikes are built around that tried-and-true frame. Once in a great while, a builder slaps on a fairing or some plastics for aerodynamic reasons, but usually for styling.

This supremely attractive machine, The Sharker, is an attempt to break the tradition using carbon-fibre bodywork to support the rider, engine, and wheels. What does all that fibre do? Lowers weight and improved stiffness, to name a couple of benefits.

But a bike is nothing without performance, and this one sports 140 bhp which can push the bike to 60 mph in something like four seconds. With a top speed of between 125 and 175 mph (depending on gearing choices), it won’t lack for top-end punch, either.

The Sharker does one other thing that most motorcycles don’t, at least in general. It looks really, really fine.

Performance is also aided by incredibly light overall weight, somewhere around 280-285 pounds, and the seats and handlebars are both adjustable to the rider’s preferred posture.

The Sharker also harkens back to the past with a hub-center steering system like some of the beautiful bikes of the past like George Roy’s 1929 Majestic or this classic Henderson. Other cool features planned for the bike are an electromechanical push-button gearbox, thumb-brakes for the rear wheels and a keyless operation ignition system which will take a passcode to start.

Not really sure if I love that last feature as having your bike start is sort of critical to the enjoyment of the thing, but they’ve managed to make those systems work fairly well in cars, so it might not be as dodgy as it sounds…

Custom Motorcycle Insurance

Custom motorcycles require the correct insurance coverage package to protect what is, after all, a significant investment on your part .

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance for your custom bike…

Tips for buying motorcycle insurance for your custom:

Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
Towing / Pickup
Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
Additional coverage to replace or repair accessories specific to your bike.

Help Get the Ron Finch Documentary Off The Ground

Todd Halterman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:41:04 +0000

Ron Finch is truly one-of-a-kind. The Salvador Dali of motorcycle art. The Antonio Gaudi of Grease.

Metal worker, painter, artist, and custom bike builder extraordinaire, Finch is an eccentric and a legendary force in the history of custom motorcycle building.

Filmmaker Danny Grinnell’s documentary featuring Finch is in post-production and needs funds to help him complete the project. Watch the teaser to “Ron Finch – That’s All You Get,” and if you love custom motorcycles, I guarantee you’ll want to see the whole film finished.

Finch opened his Finch’s Custom Styled Cycles back in 1965, and independent filmmaker Grinnell has been working hard on a documentary about the legendary custom bike builder and could use help funding the final project.

Finch is a true American original and if you’ve seen his work, you know how important this project is.

“I’ve been filming a documentary about motorcycle legend Ron Finch since last June,” Grinnell says. “I’m in post-production now and I’ve started a Kickstarter Project to raise the completion funds. People that donate to the project get movie merchandise rewards such as digital downloads, movie posters, company logos in the credits, coffee mugs, t-shirts, signed movie handbills, and even signed Ron Finch Artwork.”

What more motivation do you need?

Check out the teaser here and make sure this doc gets seen by The People:

Hero Biker Tracks Down Drunk Driver and Trusses Him Up For Cops

Todd Halterman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:13:41 +0000

Sisto Perez took matter into his own hands to subdue a drunk driver who plowed into a group of three pedestrians in Austin, Texas on Friday.

Perez was out for a ride in downtown Austin when he witnessed a Chevy Impala slam into a group of pedestrians after running a red light, and he wasn’t about to let that go by without doing something to prevent further injuries to bystanders.

“He plowed through those people like they weren’t even there. He didn’t slow down, no brakes, no nothing,” Perez said.

Though he lost sight of the Impala for a second after the driver ran over a group of mail boxes, Perez said that because the driver was so destructive, he easily found him again.

“I heard a ‘kabam!’ on top of the hill and I took off again flying after him. Sure enough, I see him and he had apparently hit another vehicle and he kept going,” Perez said.

The car then ran into a median divider which immobilized the vehicle. Perez said he jumped off his bike and caught the driver trying to exit the car from behind the wheel.

“He said, ‘I’m not trying to resist,’” according to Perez who wasn’t taking any chances. “I grabbed hold of him, pulled him to the side, kicked him in the knee and dropped him to the ground.”

Perez then borrowed a woman’s belt to truss up the obviously intoxicated driver to await the arrival of the police. Police arrested 22-year-old Nicholas Colunga for intoxicated assault and failure to stop and render aid.

And it wasn’t the first time Perez stopped to lend a helping hand. An officer at the scene remembered him from a previous chase just nine months ago in the area. During that incident, a female driver stuck a pedestrian and kept going before Perez, one the spot that time too, caught up with her and snagged her car keys.

Among the injured this week was a University of Texas soccer player, 22-year-old Kylie Doniak, and Doniak remains hospitalized in critical condition this weekend. A man and woman who were walking with Doniak were treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.

‘My father didn’t raise any cowards’: kxan.com

Motorcycle Monkey Is the Future of Motorcycle Stunt Riding

Todd Halterman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:52:38 +0000

It’s really hard to come up with something to say about this piece of awesome other than, “Ride on, my simian friend…”

While there is a person holding a leash attached to the monkey’s collar, the monkey seems to enjoy going out for a hot lap, and I really like his launch position when he screws on the throttle. He tucks in real nice and pulls a sweet hole shot.

The helmet had to be a tough find.

I bet the monkey could do without the plaid pants. Chicks don’t really dig plaid pants…

Custom Motorcycle Insurance

Custom motorcycles require the correct insurance coverage package to protect what is, after all, a significant investment on your part .

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance for your custom bike…

Tips for buying motorcycle insurance for your custom:

Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
Towing / Pickup
Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
Additional coverage to replace or repair accessories specific to your bike.

Harley-Davidson Insurance Kicks In Sponsor Cash For AMA Pro Flat Track Events

Todd Halterman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:40:12 +0000

AMA Pro Racing Grand National Mile

Harley-Davidson’s insurance arm extended an existing partnership with AMA Pro Racing which will retain Harley-Davidson Insurance as the Official Insurance of AMA Pro Flat Track and title sponsor of the AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and the premier AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Expert division.

Wow, that’s a long name…

The sponsorship agreement calls for H-D to offer up $100,000 in rider bonus awards again this season.

“Harley-Davidson Insurance has been an exceptional partner and we are proud to have such a strong association with one of the most admired names in motorcycling,” said David Atlas of AMA Pro Racing. “The Harley-Davidson Insurance Bonus Awards ensure that the AMA Pro Flat Track grids will continue to be filled with some of the finest motorcycle-racing talent on the planet.”

With the debut of the series back in 1954, Harley-Davidson riders took 13 out of the year’s 18 races.

The re-upped deal will provide space in the race events paddock and special incentives for H.O.G. members and authorized Harley dealers.

“The AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship has been a staple in the motorcycle community for more than 50 years, so this partnership is a great fit for us,” said Eduardo Bravo of Harley-Davidson Financial Services. “We’re looking forward to another great year of racing with the fantastic fans and riders who represent the sport so well.”

So how do the riders get their hands on the H-D Bonus cash?

All the expert-level riders must display a Harley-Davidson Insurance patch their riding gear and the official AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance series sponsorship logo on their front number plate during all Expert Singles and Twins events. Additional information about the $100,000 Harley-Davidson Insurance Bonus Awards will be released in the coming months.

AMA Pro Flat Track 2012 Events Schedule

Daytona Short Track I
Round 1

Daytona Short Track I
DAYTONA Flat Track, Daytona Beach, FL

March 15
Daytona Short Track II
Round 2

Daytona Short Track II
DAYTONA Flat Track, Daytona Beach, FL

March 16
Springfield TT
Round 3

Springfield TT
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL

May 26
Springfield Mile
Round 4

Springfield Mile
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL

May 27

Round 5

TBA TBA
TBA, TBA, ZZ

June 9
Lima Half-Mile
Round 6

Lima Half-Mile
Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH

June 30
Hagerstown Half-Mile
Round 7

Hagerstown Half-Mile
Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD

July 7
I-96 Half-Mile
Round 8

I-96 Half-Mile
I-96 Speedway, Lake Odessa, MI

July 14
Sacramento Mile
Round 9

Sacramento Mile
Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA

July 28
Castle Rock TT
Round 10

Castle Rock TT
Castle Rock Race Park, Castle Rock, WA

August 4
Peoria TT
Round 11

Peoria TT
PMC Race Park, Peoria, IL

August 12
Indy Mile
Round 12

Indy Mile
Indiana State Fairground, Indianapolis, IN

August 18
Springfield ST
Round 13

Springfield ST
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL

September 1
Springfield Mile II
Round 14

Springfield Mile II
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL

September 2
Knoxville Half-Mile
Round 15

Knoxville Half-Mile
Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, IA

September 8

Round 16

TBA TBA
TBA, TBA, TB

September 15
Santa Rosa Mile
Round 17

Santa Rosa Mile
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, CA

September 30
USA Raceway Half-Mile
Round 18

USA Raceway Half-Mile
USA Raceway, Tucson, AZ

October 6
AMA Flat Track Finals at the Pomona Half-Mile
Round 19

AMA Flat Track Finals at the Pomona Half-Mile
LA County Fairplex, Pomona, CA

Carlos Condit Scrap at UFC 143 Over Nick Diaz Wins Him A New Harley

Todd Halterman — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:14:16 +0000

If you’re going to step into the Octagon against one of the scrappiest fighters in MMA, you should get something sweet out of the deal if you emerge in once piece, and Carlos Condit did that and more last night at UFC 143 from Las Vegas.

Condit’s war with Nick Diaz earned him an interim title, a nice paycheck and a brand new Harley-Davidson Softail Slim. Now that Condit holds the interim welterweight title and is in line for a matchup with champion Georges St. Pierre, he can clear his head with a few long rides on his new bike before he takes on St. Pierre.

“It will be an honor to fight St. Pierre,” Condit said after his win over Diaz.

Though Diaz pressed forward in the second round and it looked like he landed the more damaging punches, Condit landed leg kicks throughout the fight that opened Diaz up for counter strikes and gave Condit the victory on all three judges scorecards, 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46.

Diaz was none too thrilled with the decision and dropped the retirement bomb when the decision was announced.

“I’m not going to accept this as a loss,” Diaz said. “I think I’m done with this MMA stuff, I don’t think they can pay me enough to do this again.”

Maybe if Dana White worked it out so Diaz got a consolation Harley 72 he might change his mind?

Harley-Davidson Back From The Lost Years After Restructuring

Todd Halterman — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:47:08 +0000

A few short years ago, the prognosis was looking grim for America’s iconic motorcycle manufacturer, Harley-Davidson.

With a history of posting annual sales losses piling up, the recession hit the Milwaukee company hard and forced it to sell off its holdings in MV Agusta closing down the Buell Motorcycle line in order to keep its core business unit operating.

But in the second fiscal quarter of 2011, Harley-Davidson posted its first year-to-date growth since 2006, and the Motor Company brand continued that trend throughout the rest of the year and finished the last quarter of 2011 with sales up 10.9% worldwide (11.8% in the US) over the previous year, Harley-Davidson finished the year strong with sales up 5.9% worldwide and sales in the United States up a similar 5.8% for units sold.

The total unit volume of 235,188 bikes being sold worldwide broke down to 151,683 units sold in the US and 83,505 units sold internationally, and during Q4 2011, Harley-Davidson sold 40,359 units worldwide while 23,753 of those units were sold to US buyers. Sales were also solid outside the US with 16,606 units sold internationally in Q4 2011. That represents an uptick of 9.7% over the same quarter of the previous year.

Those solid sales numbers meant Harley-Davidson posted some some gains on the bottom line in the bargain. Though they took a $46.7 million loss in net income for Q4 of 2010, Harley-Davidson reported a positive net income of $105.6 million and it was that increase which helped Harley-Davidson quadruple its net income for 2011, as the Motor Company brand made $599.1 million in net income. No small change, that, as compared to the $146.5 million in net income the company made in 2010.

Totaling $4.6 billion in revenue for 2011 (11.6% over the $4.1 billion it hauled in for 2010) Harley-Davidson performance can be attributed partially to dramatic sales increases domestically and abroad, but the real lynchpin of the numbers was the fact that the company saved several hundred million dollars in expenses due to a comprehensive restructuring effort which pushed Harley back to consistent profitability.

The expectations? That Harley-Davidson expects to ship 240,000 to 245,000 bikes worldwide in 2012, and that would be a 3% – 5% increase over last year. For Q1 of 2012, Harley-Davidson expects to ship 58,000 to 63,000 bikes to dealers worldwide to open the year.

It might just be better than that if a couple of new models keep the revival moving forward.

The two new motorcycle models, the Seventy-Two and the Softail Slim, were inspired by what the company thinks is a move by buyers toward favoring a “garage-built” custom motorcycle look. They should be available immediately at authorized Harley-Davidson dealers.

The Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two

Based on the Harley-Davidson Sportster, the Seventy-Two will feature a sparkling, metal flake color option, a solo seat and side-mount license plate bracket, a bobbed rear fender and the whole beast will be moved along by the Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin powertrain finished in gray powdercoat with chrome covers and a new round air cleaner with a dished cover. Also in the mix, a Sportster 2.1-gallon fuel tank, narrow white wall tires, chrome laced wheels, and high mini-ape handlebars. The whole thing is supposed to look like the chopper customs of the 1970s.

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

This is Harley-Davidson’s attempt to pare a Softtail chassis down to essential elements along the lines of the custom bobbers of the 1950s. Featuring a trimmed-down front fender and a narrow rear end, a solo seat and very little chrome. Hollywood handlebars and a headlight nacelle are finished in gloss black, a period “cat’s eye” tank console, half-moon rider footboards, and gloss black wheel rims and hubs complete the hot rod look. Harley’s 1690 cc Twin Cam 103B powertrain will sport polished covers instead of chrome, and the the Softail chassis is set up to ape the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame. They kept the rear suspension control which is provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight within the frame. A 23.8-inch seat height and rider foot boards make this bike ideal for a wider range of riders large and small.