Rocket Bobs

Rocket Bobs Scoop Top Honors at Harley’s 115th Anniversary Custom Bike Show in Prague

Staged at Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, the European swing of Harley’s 115th anniversary celebrations (July 5-8) saw more than 100,000 riders from over 77 countries arrive for an event that included the “Prague Custom Gallery” - a unique exhibition of 50 custom Harley-Davidson projects from around the world selected especially for the event by a jury consisting of motorcycle builders, designers, engineers and Harley-Davidson executives, including Bill Davidson (Director of the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee) and Karen Davidson (Harley’s Creative Director). 

The top prize was awarded to the U.K.’s Rocket Bobs Cycle Works whose lightweight, compact street racer ‘Pressure Drop’ is said to have stood out in a strong field. The bike features a custom ultra-strong race frame which wraps around a JIMS 135” race engine and uses the Baker Grudge Box to put the power down through Rotobox (Slovenia) full carbon wheels. 

The rear end is controlled by a race monoshock custom built in the UK by Nitron; braking is handled by British made HEL race calipers at the end of the German made HC3 Magura hand controls. The bike weighs 420 lbs wet and “with a no compromise riding position, it’s quite a handful and not for the fainthearted”!
Pete ‘Rocket Bob’ Pearson took a year to design and plan, and three months to build the bike. “I was honored to be asked by Harley-Davidson to showcase one of our custom motorcycles at the 115th anniversary celebrations in Prague, and to take the ‘World’s Best V-Twin 2018’ award amongst such strong competition is an overwhelming experience”.

Comment by Editor-in-chief, Robin Bradley

Harley-Davidson is Meeting its Fiduciary Obligations

Congratulations to Harley-Davidson for having the courage and common sense to refuse to allow the interests of its stake holders, employees, dealers and customers to be compromised by inappropriate short-termism.
As Scott Wine said about Indian Motorcycles, Harley-Davidson is committed to seeing 50 percent of sales garnered from ‘international’ markets by 2027.
They have both set out that stall not because they are unpatriotic, but because not enough people in the United States want to buy their products at this time. As an alternative to simply allowing atrophy to kill their companies, Harley in particular has instead adopted the ‘American Way’ and decided to not be passive, but to actually do something about it and try to improve trading prospects.
Sadly, that reality is that whether air-cooled or combination cooled, normally aspirated or fuel injected, cruiser style 45/49 degree V-twin engined factory customs simply are no longer the riding lingua franca of enough domestic U.S. consumers to keep the dividends flowing, the union fees being paid and the dealerships able to meet their steepling local property taxes and regulatory overheads.
As publicly owned and traded corporations, they have a federally mandated fiduciary duty to make the best decisions they can at any given time to keep the lights on, keep meeting the payroll, and protect the investments their shareholders have made. It’s called “capitalism”.
 
 ‘Society has chosen capitalism’

At best, failing to do that is called incompetency, at its worst it is called gaol time!
I was recently dissed by a reader, someone I’ve known for many years, for allowing my “rag” to stray into territory where it apparently had no place to be - namely politics. The occasion of his ire was when I initially first reported on the prospect of EU retaliation to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs some months ago.
Actually, politics first and foremost, is 100 percent about trade. Trade created politics in the first place, and its own first and most important fiduciary duty is to enable and enhance the trading opportunities of its constituents - a duty mandated by the needs of voters to be able to feed their families, pay their own property taxes or rents, and prosper in secure and rewarding employed endeavor.
For good or bad (and I believe for good), society has chosen “capitalism” as the mechanism through which it will achieve these ends. Therefore, the responsibility that society has, through its governance, is to do everything it can to enable rather than disable corporations such as Harley-Davidson to meet its needs.
If the board of directors of Harley-Davidson has decided that, given the present outlook and the time it takes to enable new production operations, the best decision it can take is to add production capacity elsewhere than in the United States, then the purpose of elected and government officials becomes not to ask what the company can do for them, but what they can do for the company.
It is simple - no profits translates to nobody going to the bank. No dividends, no payroll, no taxes being paid, no federal budgets for defence, infrastructure, healthcare or anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, those who know me know that my politics comes from all over the radar. It is my firm belief that anybody who claims that they have all the answers, whether on the right or the left, patently has none of the answers. The reality of politics, as in life, is that there is no monopoly on wisdom. It is perfectly possible for all politicians to actually have some good ideas, and for all parties to do some good things.
If I have a driving force that is the default that I fall back on as my litmus to calibrate how I think of an issue, it is trade. What promotes trade, where the best interests of trade are to be found and how to further foster trade. That’s why, of all the media and publishing specialties available to me, I gravitated towards trade journal publishing.
For me trade is the first gear on the car of progress. Production of surplus, known nowadays as the profit, is what set mankind off on this journey, and I simply think that the primary responsibility of politicians, the primary defining characteristic of good governance is to do exactly that – encourage the making of profits from trade. Simple.
So why, in my own country as well as in the United States, are we led by politicians who appear to have no grasp of economics 101?
If you think I’m just a pinko liberal having a pop at President Trump, no, I’m not. I’m having a pop at all of them. I’d actually trade Trump for our Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson – did you hear about his “f%&£ business” remark as he prepares to be part of the team that is soon to conclude our (in my humble opinion misguided) negotiations to leave the European Union?
As I said, nobody has a monopoly on wisdom and everybody is just as equally capable as the next man or woman of being dumb sometimes. Is it too much to simply ask to have some maturity, balance, knowledge, understanding and context in how the affairs of governance are conducted in the 21st Century?

Indian Motorcycle

Indian confirms FTR 1200 production plans

Indian Motorcycle used the annual Wheels & Waves festival at Biarritz, France (June 2018) to confirm what had, to that point, been somewhat of an open secret - namely that the company will put a 1200 cc race inspired street legal version of its all-conquering FTR Scout into production for the 2019 MY season.

The Scout FTR1200 Custom, unveiled at EICMA in 2017

 “When we unveiled the FTR 1200 Custom at EICMA, we said we’d listen to feedback from riders around the world,” said Steve Menneto, President, Indian Motorcycle. “Riders definitely have spoken and we will be putting the FTR 1200 into production.” The development of a one-off FTR1200 Custom fuelled the speculation and expectation.
The flat tracker style 1200 will be a new V-twin engine housed in a trellis frame and powered by a new V-twin engine.
Indian Motorcycle Senior Designer Rich Christoph, who was instrumental to the design of the FTR 1200, FTR1200 Custom, and FTR750 said that “We wanted to make sure that the FTR 1200 wasn’t merely a regurgitation of the FTR1200 Custom, but something uniquely ‘street,’ albeit flat track inspired,” said Christoph.  “We’re thrilled about the character this bike possesses, and its ability to take American V-twin motorcycles into new territory.” 
“From the very beginning, our intention was to develop Indian Motorcycle into a global brand,” said Michael Dougherty, President, International. “Armed with a strong foundation, it’s now time to break new ground for an American motorcycle manufacturer and the FTR 1200 is where that begins.”
The company is to run a sweepstakes where riders can enter to win one of the first bikes to come off the assembly line.

Custom Bike Show - Latvia

Custom Bike Show - Latvia, July 21

The newest addition to the AMD World Championship Affiliate Custom Bike Show program will be the fourth annual Custom Bike Show being staged on July 21 at the same time as the annual town festival in the historic town of Cesis in Latvia.

The show is hosted by local club MC XIII and while the event is still new and the custom scene in Latvia (as in the other Baltic states) is small, the show is expected to attract around 50 bikes from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with the Best in Show winning expenses to compete at the AMD World Championship at INTERMOT Customized in Cologne, Germany (October 3-7) 2018.

The markets in countries like Latvia may be small, but they are growing. With new generations of custom bike enthusiasts who have only known the post-independence freedom starting to participate in the custom market, and a tradition of craftsmanship and creativity, the future looks bright for the custom bike lifestyle and market throughout Eastern Europe.
Classes will feature public picks, including best paint/finish and competitor/expert panel voting classes such as Best Custom and Best Old Timer. Cesis is one of the oldest towns in Latvia, famed for its ruined medieval castle, where the Custom Bike Show will take place.
www.mc13.lv
www.custombikeshow.lv

Biltwell

Biltwell Conquers Legendary NORRA Mexican 1000 Off-Road Race - with a Sportster!

The NORRA (National Off-Road Racing Association) Mexican 1000 all-terrain race in Ensenada, Mexico is not exactly what you’d term a V-Twin cruiser friendly undertaking - be it the versatile Sportster or any other kind of V-twin cruiser platform.
Run for the first time in 1967, the now legendary event pits men and their custom-built two- and four-wheeled race machines against some of the harshest terrain on earth. This year’s five-day stage race thundered past free-range cattle, over boulders, beaches, potholes and silt beds as it caromed down both coasts of the Baja peninsula before reaching the finish line 1,300 miles later in San Jose Del Cabo on April 27. 

For the first time in NORRA Mexican 1000 history, a Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 made it across the finish line, 1300 miles from Ensenada. The feat of derring do was the brainchild of Biltwell Inc. co-founder Bill Bryant along with co-riders Mike Deutsch, Erik Westergaard and Chris Moeller - with significant support from co-workers, friends and family.
To ensure their greatest chance of success, Biltwell enlisted the talents of an old friend, one-time Texas chopper builder and current surf bum “Rouser” Rob Galan to customize and service the Frijole 883 Harley-Davidson. Upgrades to the essentially stock MY 2000 Sportster included suspension modifications, the jettisoning of redundant onboard electrical systems, and ergonomically appropriate handlebars, hand controls and foot controls. 

Knobby tires with airless inner tubes on strong yet lightweight alloy wheels helped with the hostile terrain as efficiently as other machines in the race that weighed half as much and that were designed expressly for the task. Onboard equipment for bike maintenance and rider safety included a tool kit, reflective blanket, Lowrance satellite with iPad Google Earth backup, extra fuel, food, water and a wad of petty cash.
According to Bryant Team Biltwell’s race strategy for the five-day event called for two racers each day to alternate at mile marks that made sense for speedy gas stops and rider changes. Every evening, mechanic Rob Galan serviced the Frijole 883 by changing fluids and filters, tightening spokes, checking nuts and bolts, replacing worn parts if required, and sleeping next to the motorcycle on an army cot to help riders make the 6:00 a.m. check-in the following morning.

According to NORRA race results, 43 motorcycles started the 2018 edition of the Mexican 1000, with 32 finishing. The Frijole 883 was among 21 Modern Open bikes and finished 14th in class - overall standing was 27th out of 32 total finishers. None of the 13 Modern Open machines that finished ahead of the Frijole 883 started life as an American V-twin cruiser, and few if any weighed over 300 pounds.
In full race trim, the Biltwell Frijole 883 weighed 500 pounds, and could barely squeeze 70 miles per fill-up from its stock Sportster gas tank. Bryant says: “Wise men say you should bring a gun to a knife fight – we brought a WWII Sherman tank”!
www.biltwellinc.com

Bike Shed

Bike Shed IX - London, May 25-27

Billed again as “Europe’s best independent annual motorcycle show”, London’s Bike Shed Show (a “new wave motorcycle emporium”) is staged at the iconic 19th century Tobacco Dock, alongside the River Thames in London’s infamous but now achingly chic East End.
A spin-off from the equally chic City of London ‘Bike Shed’ moto store and urban riding club, this was the ninth show, staged at the historic and charismatic former Victorian warehouse venue for the fourth time, at the end of May.
Last year saw some 14,000 “New Core” visitors, with numbers growing to over 16,000 this year - a mighty crowd with a selection of 239 high-class custom bikes (up from 219 last year) for them to drool over.

As custom bike shows go, it is a world in which contemporary custom styling collides with artisan catering and a limited number of “curated” exhibitor opportunities. Masterminded by store and show owner Anthony ‘Dutch’ van Someren and a select investor cartel, the presentation values were as upscale as to be expected, the standard of the bikes invited was as high as ever, and with a growing number of bikes by established names and manufacturers starting to populate the displays and booths, the formula remains robust and is clearly in a safe pair of hands.
 
‘2018 numbers grew to over 16,000’


Indian Motorcycle were making a big splash again with streetable Scouts and FTR750s a-plenty; Royal Enfield’s new 650 (replete with S&S Cycle exhausts) was equally high profile, with other manufacturers in this largely Harley-free zone including Triumph, Indian, BMW, Yamaha, Ducati Scrambler and Fantic (Italian based small displacement Chinese engined off-roaders). 

The event sponsors were BMW Motorrad, Indian Motorcycle, Royal Enfield, Triumph, Yamaha Yard Built, Ducati Scrambler, and from the apparel industry, REV’IT! and Dainese ‘Settantadue’ - a sub-brand that marks the race suit manufacturer’s play for a stake in the millennial market. “Settantadue presents itself as a contemporary interpretation of iconic motorcycle clothing. The label features technical garments inspired by the extensive design legacy of Dainese and made specifically for cult followers of motorcycles,” says CEO and former Ducati executive Cristiano Silei.
 
“Europe’s best independent annual motorcycle show”

Dainese’s stated values for the brand encapsulate perfectly the market positioning sought by sponsors and organizers alike: “Settantadue is imbued with the gratification only exquisite craftsmanship can provide, made possible through advanced processing techniques and cutting-edge composition for maximum protection and a modern-day elegance.”

The formula is to mix the bikes with a weekend of “live music, live art, live pin-striping/screen-printing/ leatherwork, photography, food, coffee, bars, tattoos, barbershop and curated retail and brands,” and as such, with open-area booth style the preferred presentation, the show is a success.
Save the date: Bike Shed 2019, London, May 24,25,26.
www.thebikeshed.cc

TecMate

Updated OptiMate O-SAE connection system

First launched a decade ago, TecMate’s versatile OptiMate O-SAE connection system was modelled on, and is still able to connect with, the standard SAE 2-pin connection system used by many manufacturers.

The O-SAE’s interchangeable in-line and end cap seals allows the creation of a custom cable system from the various cables available in the range, with the important benefit of reliable and consistent protection against penetration by water, dust or grime.
The most important and most popular cable in the range, the O-01 weatherproof battery lead, sports an end cap sealing system that protects the connector when not in use, providing good sealing against any incoming O-SAE connector from an OptiMate battery charger or an OptiMate USB charger. The principle is simple - when the opposite O-SAE connector is plugged in, the connection is rendered weatherproof.
TecMate CEO Martin Human says that “it’s a great connection system, but as a motorcycle rider it has always bothered me that even our battery lead can flap about in the wind when riding, and at worst, maybe even catch in a moving part of the motorcycle. Fortunately, we figured out a solution.” 

Enter Version 2 of the O-SAE connector, with built in mounting slots that allow for quick and easy securement to a strut or other cable or tube on the motorcycle, using a Velcro strap or zip-tie.
The OptiMate Cable O-01 weatherproof battery cable is made with -40°C/°F rated 0.82 mm2 (18AWG) cable able to carry 7 amps of current and is protected by a 15 A fuse. The moulded M6 / 1/4” ringlets are perfectly sized for powersports batteries. This battery cable is available in consumer packaging as a single unit (O-01) or as a 4-pack (O-01x4). Trade / dealer options are available - a jar of O-01x20 and a box of O-01x100. Both trade / dealer options come with a ‘OptiMate READY’ hang tag that is clearly visible in a showroom, creating a visual value opportunity for the salesperson to equip the rider with an OptiMate battery charger that will guarantee that battery will work when it should.

TECMATE
www.tecmate.com
www.optimate1.com

S&S Cycle

Paint ‘em Black

S&S Cycle says that “carburetors are a bit magical” and of all companies, it should know! “They drink from a tank of volatile liquid, mix some air they found laying around and create a perfectly proportioned explosive mixture - yet allow you to control the delivery with a subtle twist of your wrist. Magic, indeed.”

S&S Cycle long ago sorted the wizardry of mixing air and fuel into a “joyous recipe for horsepower and happiness” and when not being all poetic about the dark arts they are being artistically dark!

Having previously only been produced in limited quantities and sizes, these new Blacked out versions of the legendary and highly tunable Super E and Super G carbs are now being offered as a permanent part of the armory S&S has available for dealers looking to elevate their customers’ Big Twins, FXRs or Sportsters.

S&S CYCLE INC.
www.sscycle.com