RE:
“…if you spent as much time building bikes or riding as you do complaining …”

Dude, in just 35 years of commuting to work (rain or shine 65 miles a day) it’s likely i got more saddle time at intersections than the average Biker has thinking about scooters.

RE:
“…you MIGHT have an idea of what is going on in the industry!..”

Well, people pay attention to what they like and blow-off the rest.
Trends are interesting, but it’s your own ideas that really count.
To the extent that the “scooter market” reflects the overall economy, the “industry” is interesting.
Otherwise, needing “know what’s going on”…..?
Not really.

RE:
“…. time building …”
A look at the scooter on the frame-rail in the shop would tell ya:
-1- “what’s going on” in the industry ain’t going on here.
-2- there’s more CAD time in the design of the tranny than most shops have in a whole bike.

And “complaining,” Hell, that’s just a retirement hobby…..

-nicker-

Ya, like …..be needing to make a bunch of money………

-nicker-

>> Well, burnout if I was married to Sandra Bullock, I know where I`d be!

Thanks for the link to BTRmoto……… Great Stuff….!!

-nicker-

If you’re in the Bay area, consider checking out Curt Winter. He’s in Hayward, CA area. The black bike currently has a TC-88 motor, but he has considered adding a turbo setup.

He has been building sportbike chassis for Big Twins for over 11 years or so. I’m sure he could build a Street Tracker like you described. Albeit, it would be much better if he had an off the shelf compact transmission to work with him instead of against him.

The Yamaha 102 cu. inch motor has a very compact setup.
Victory’s engine is unit-construction.
S&S next?

The rigidity offered by this type of motor would provide a lot of variety when designing frames not only for performance applications, but for the cruiser market, too.

Curt builds big twin sportbikes, hillclimbers, road racers with MX motors, to chops….

http://btrmoto.com/

I assumed that scoot was the result of the new jj/S&S deal.
My mistake.

RE:
“… a compact drive train to go with the Big Twins? …”

Cool…!
That would certainly make for awesome “street fighter” style chops.

Don’t think the performance style hasn’t been “over done” (yet).
Sandy Cosman up here in San Fran. used to put together some hot scooters.
But the last big earth quake sent his milling machine through the floor and he moved…

A big inch sportster-size engine package without the fragile tranny-trapdoor? Nice!
With new Hemi heads and a turbo charger. Even better!!
All stuffed into a Mert Lawill frame. To die for!!!
Hay, dreaming is free….

Can’t wait to see what JJ comes up with.

-nicker-

I didn’t pick up from Cyril’s post that the bike pictured represents an outcome of the new partnership between Jesse and S&S. Isn’t that a picture from years ago just to show Jesse?

Something new for the industry?

How about S&S, Baker Drivetrain, Jim’s, etc. marketing a compact drivetrain to go with the Big Twins? Better yet, a compact, unit-construction motor & trans. setup. This would open up chassis options and bike styles.

CycleWorld’s article about the X-Wedge mentioned that S&S is considering a unit-construction case. I just hope it is compact using an over-under transmission setup. Baker built one like this for Ecosse.

All that torque could then be put into a more compact, performance handling chassis….”Ride The Torque Curve” - check the link on my name.

RE:
“… THE MARKET has nothing to do with why I ride…”

Well, that may be so. But this Blog is about bike builders. And many here are in the building business. So, “The Market” is sort-a important to them.

For those of us who build scooters for the sheer joy and challenge of building, market issues are more of an intellectual and parts availability exercise.

RE:
“…. Who didn’t have the black T shirt with the white iron cross?…”
No body I know (unless, maybe the shirt was free).
Why would anyone pay to advertise for someone else….?

RE:
“….negative tone he takes also gets me a little fired up…”
Why is that”?

When you say:
“…I have and will continue to like MY bike regardless …”
It wasn’t clear, is that a bike you built or are you a JJ customer…?

Most here respects JJ’s ability & talent as a builder.
Certainly his radial powered scooter he built was taking the industry in a new direction..
The issue is, the S&S bike above is nothing new.

Hope that helps.

-nicker-

As for S&S teaming up with Jesse James and WCC, great news. Part of “evobuilder’s” comment about the t-shirts, lunch boxes, tools, ashtrays, etc. and the negative tone he takes also gets me a little fired up. WE all, like any hot fad, ate WCC material up as fast as we could get our hands on it. Who didn’t have the black T shirt with the white iron cross?

JJ inspired what truly became the custom bike industry. Any of us in that position would have marketed the sh%t out of our logo too, don’t say you wouldn’t.

I’m not looking for WCC and S&S to save the “chopper movement.” Hopefully they will kick something cool out and get some people interested in bikes again. As far as I am concerned, I have and will continue to like MY bike regardless of what the MARKET is doing — and that is all that matters.

S&S announces the new 124″ Jesse James Edition Engine
It’s the same as before, only now it’s wrought with WCC Iron Crosses (the modern “live to ride, ride to live gold eagle” and 2 grand more.

I will wait for the S&S / WCC ashtray

Don’t get me wrong, I am a huige fan of both companies, they are both innovators, make grat products, and are as “focused on the main stream as anyone in the industry could be… it’s the marketing I don’t care much for.

late!

Ya, details like where the Hell did the market go.
Do they figure another “El Diablo..(whatever)…” is gonna bring it back…..(?)

Some how i don’t think so
But then, that’s just my opinion.

-nicker-