Attached is a pic of it. Thanks” Greg Shickle gregs@tech-alloy.com

HogTech Peder Johansson and Andreas Jarledal tested Hogtech`s frames on a grueling 45.000 km (30.000 miles) around the world.  They are TÜV approved in Germany to meet the highest standard of welding and strength and a certificate of approval comes with every frame. Custom Chrome Europe is offering the frame featured here in 2 versions. The popular “Northern Spirit” rigid frame with the classic sweden style geometry (3” up-stretch in front tubes, 46° rake. I80/200 rear tire/ with a rear tail section ½” shorter than stock rigid frames. Weighting only 21 kg. The second option is having a „Custom Northern Spirit“ frame built to specifications, with rakes ranging from 30 to 50°, down tube stretch 0-4’’, rear tail length from stock to + 2’’ and wide end tire options of 245 and 260. Custom Chrome Europe (picture HRF. CCE General Manager Andreas Scholz, CCE Marketing Manager Axel Scherer with HogTech Peder Johansson and Andreas Jarledal).

In this case, “Universal” means a gas tank model fitting a wide range of machines and styles, from choppers to open road cruisers. As a matter of fact they are designed for use on bikes with stretched top tubes and have an unmistakable “teardrop” shape. Each tank has stock style screw-in filler and vent and standard 22 mm external thread petcock fitting for use with OEM and aftermarket left side mounted petcocks.

Available in 3.4, 3.8 and 4.8 gallon capacities. Tunnel depth is just 3 ½”, overall length measures 21” and center hole-to-hole mounting bracket dimensions are 21” for the 3.4 tank and 22” for the 2 larger versions. All 3 sizes are just $314.95. Call   775-246-5738 or visit Paughco.

From Fat Katz this new “rejuvenated” Bobber gas tank. I loved it at first sight because it’s exactly in the line of what I have done as one-off tanks on my latest customs. It’s called the Ridgeback because of the ridge running on top (just an idea: why not request for same on rear fender…) and has a slight arch on the bottom for a refreshed Bobber look. Made of stamped 16 gauge steel, I promise you that this one will require none to minimum body work. Available in different widths and lengths for a perfect it to your frame. call Don on my behalf at Fat Katz Gas Tankz & Fenderz (CA time) at 530-273-2212.

Personally, I am sad to see so many with who I have worked closely during 20 years, forced or not, leaving the business. Time is flying and we forgot about it. Sometimes I feel a little bit lonely seeing old industry friends go away, even if they deserve their retirement. And to tell you the truth, I am also a little bit sad not seeing yet clearly among the less than 35-year old  those who are going to replace us.  To conclude Don, I want to tell you that I enjoyed working with you during the last 2 decades, and this since our 1st ”crazy” aluminum gas tank. Do you remember? Best to you and your family.    

“Cyril, Fat Katz Inc. is for sale due to old age of the owners. We are offering the complete business including all of the fabricating equipment, fender tooling and tank stamping dies for $385,000. The sale would include the rights to the Fat Katz name and website and all contacts and vendors.  Fat Katz has been the leader in setting trends in the custom motorcycle business for the past 20 years. We have enjoyed every minute of this ride and meeting so many great friends and customers. Contact info is below. Thanks Cyril for the great work”. In God we trust. Don Baumunk, President Fat Katz Inc. Grass Valley, Ca. 95949, 530-273-2212

And the sad thruth is that some of these parts may not hold up to vibrations and road abuse. For fenders a good address is 7 Metal West. Dan Knoblauch handmake them starting from a .125” thick aluminum sheet where many competitors use only .050”. They are 1-piece fabrication and when formed there is no weld seam to sand and fill. They weight about half the weight of a comparable .090″ thick steel fender and help you save 2 to 3 lbs. These ribbed fenders are offered in 5″ wide, 37″ in length, 26″ in diameter for a 16″ wheel and 27″ in diameter for a 18” wheel. Starting at $140.00. Call Dan on my behalf at 414.477.0380 or visit 7 Metal West.

Essential part to go from 2 to 3 wheels, a trike rear axle is a big weight handicap for its road velocity. If you didn’t know, the average weight of a trike rear axle is about 155 pounds. Santiago Choppers decided to conceive a new model whose shell being in aluminum weights only 82 pounds, trimming almost 50% of the fat. The shell being in aluminum you can get fancy by getting it polished or powder coated. This new rear axle kit is sold with 2 discs and 2 complete brake calipers from Wilwood. The company also sells swingarms for all trikes built from the ground up or 3 wheel conversions from factory bikes. Made In The USA. Patent Pending. Santiago Choppers (Dealers welcome).

It will bolt-on 2004-06,2007-09 and 2010 Sportster models (different systems) and can be installed with simple tools and requires no frame modification. This chopped fender replaces the traditional tail lamp with stop-turn-tail lights for a clean, stripped-down appearance. Installation requires the separate purchase of a Side Mount License Plate Assembly MSRP $170.00. A Chopped Rear Fender Kit is also available for Sportster models. The Brown Leather Solo Spring Saddle is covered in two-tone distressed leather and supported by torsion springs that provide optimal balance between suspension and support. A smooth-metal steel seat pan and simple frame cover leave a clean, finished appearance. The seat can be removed and replaced with a touring seat for two-up riding. The seat fits 2004-06 and 2010 Sportster models with the separate purchase of a Spring Seat Installation Kit (P/N 50474-10, $229.95). This seat can also be installed on 2006-Later Dyna models. At your Harley-Davidson Dealer.

There are quite a few board-track style frames available on the market. And each manufacturer does its own interpretation trying to improve what was used in the old racing days.  With a greater design freedom since these frames are not destined to be waved by the checkered flag. In this spirit here is a new roller with a double tube loop frame shown with 23″ wheels, a “Knuckle Dragger” front end, dual caliper rear brake setup and more. Notice the curved frame members on each section of the frame ad the use of gussets at all stress points for frame reinforcement…and looks. This particular frame is longer than the usual board-track frame because we are all taller than 80 years ago. You can buy the frame only, the unpainted chassis or have Lightning Rod Motorcycles complete it following your wish list.

Like Triumph’s marketing strategy of exploiting demand for retro motorcycles with modern engineering. More than one time, attracted by their look and sound I turned around the new Triumph Bonneville and Thruxton thinking that maybe…I should get one of them and give it my own cosmetic/mechanical treatment.

And if you are tempted, new from LC Fabrications is this weld-on Hardtail to use to build a custom Bobber or Chopper or Café Racer with the reliability of a modern Triumph. It fits any new Bonneville, Thruxton, T100 and Scrambler models, and feature 2” of stretch and 1” of drop compared to stock bikes. Using the stock rear wheel, axle, and adjusters, this Hardtail piece allows you to turn your stock Triumph into a true custom without having to build your bike from the ground-up. Made out of .120″ DOM tubing. All Brackets, gussets, axle plates etc are either laser cut or CNC machined for accuracy. In stock now at $375 and ready to ship. Sold exclusively through Low Brow Customs

When I started my business in 1992, Randy Simpson was one of the first major professional builders of the time that I met. It was during an Easyriders Bike Show in Charlotte, NC. I was displaying one of my bikes on a “James Dean” theme next to him exhibiting his vintage racing looking custom bikes (it was not yet the trend). Under the slogan “Steel Made America”, his company Milwaukee Iron in Lynchburg VA had already a very solid reputation not only for bikes but also for the quality of his steel fabrication.

Randy built a line of parts, high quality steel fenders becoming his forte to the point where the industry big catalog distributors became his main clients. Then, as you know, about 10 years ago foreign competition and cheap knock-off parts invaded the industry and Milwaukee Iron took a major financial hit when he lost his distributors looking for cheaper more profitable sources.

Milwaukkee Iron got renewed attention in 2004 and 2005 when the Discovery Channel aired a 13-episode series about Simpson and his crew called “Southern Chopper,” then renamed “Southern Steel”. Then the recession came and Randy says that it’s very hard for him to continue to keep up with taxes and other costs. Since he doesn’t foresee things improving anytime soon, and after 26 years in the business, Randy decided to close his shop at the end of the month. “I’m ready to step off and watch the merry-go-round, and ride my motorcycle while I still can”. Randy, please, never lose your trademarked. loud laugh. Best to you and your family. Cyril

It includes 4 exterior zippered pockets. Top carry handle plus shoulder straps included for ease of carrying. Big, easy-open top for quick packing. Construction is of the type Fully Rigid keeping it look great even when empty. Constructed of UV, water and weather resistant 1200 denier “SaddleTuff™” and leather-like vinyl panels. A weatherproof rain cover is also included. Size is 3300 cubic inch, 24” W x 11.5” H x 12” D . MSRP $134.95. Available through your dealer for Harleys via Drag Specialities and Metrics via Parts Unlimited. Saddlemen.

Michael Leeds and Randy Grubb, calling themselves the “Blastolene Brothers”, are originally 2 glass artists turned into motorheads who acquired a lot of notoriety and fame after they built the Jay Leno’s Tank Car. Their style? Oversized monster hot rod automobiles powered by V12 motors and using semi truck drivetrains! For sure nothing you have seen before. And when they turn their attention to a trike, you get this insane machine looking like an elegant top fuel dragster powered by a supercharged Hemi V8.  (via AutoBlog)

Owning a genuine Harley-Davidson Shovelhead? Want to turn it into a hardtail ride? You best, meaning easiest and fastest move is to use a pre-made weld-on complete hardtail section. This one is fabricated out of DOM 1 1/8″ tubing (seat section is 1″) with all the parts 100% tig welded. It is equipped with a helm joint axle block and comes with a 3/4″ rear axle and chain tensioner. If you are not an expert at welding, please ask for a professional to weld it to your Shovelhead frame. Retail price: $499 + $35 shipping in continental US. Available at Black Sunshine Customs or call Brian on my behalf: 217-433-8745

After-market bagger gas tanks have always been boring. At best they are offered extended with “bottom wings” or in a larger fuel capacity. But most of these custom 2-piece fuel reservoirs don’t have a sexy shape and need to be fitted with a dash that I always considered extremely unaesthetic. Fat Katz is about to release this new one-piece steel tank whose proportions and shape are meant to mean custom as soon as you install it.  Fuel capacity is 7 gallons, width is 19”, and is to be bolted on the frame via the stock Harley mounts. You will have to get rid of your dash (good) and use a custom seat (excellent). It fits Harley-Davidson FL models from 2000 to current. Reserve one by calling Don on my behalf at 530-273-2212 or visit Fat Katz Kustom Tankz And Fenderz.

Maybe it’s because of taste, of age, or because she told you so. Ready for a conversion by adding 1 more wheel to your ride? Santiago Chopper, out of Tampa, builds a lot of custom trikes, turns a lot of stock Harleys into 3-wheelers, and even produces some of his own propriatery parts to do it or let you do it in style. Several 2-wheeler brands can now be converted into a rigid trike thanks to this new tig-welded frame that Santiago Chopper just released. For example, in addition to Harley models, this frame can be adapted to welcome a Kawasaki Vulcan or Honda Shadow. More info by contacting Alan on my behalf at Santiago Chopper.

 
Got an old “Flatty”? (I am searching for a good one..). Look at what you can do with it when using the new components offered by Paughco to resurrect the 45’s. You can buy from them their new rigid frame and transmission plate (don’t use the 3-speed an replace by the 74 4-speed transmission), tapered leg Springer , wheels, seat, tanks, transmission plate, pipes brakes, etc (you can order the full chassis). It’s a quite simple bike to build in a short time when you know where to source all these parts. The red bike was assembled by Dave Perewitz and this style is the new cool thing to build & ride. Paughco.

I remember the day when I published the first authorized pictures of the new Harley FXCW Rocker. Immediate comments were “I adore” or “I hate it” (mostly because of the seat), with no reaction between these 2 extremes. Somebody commented that it was a good base for aftermarket improvement and customization. And here I show you an interpretation of the Rocker made by Heartland USA, a company specializing in easy after-market kits usually requiring little labor, no drilling, just bolting-on custom parts specifically conceived for your specific HD model (slogan is: the cure for the common Softail…).

I will just list here the main Heartland parts and a few others helping this Rocker get the custom look. From Heartland: Complete rear fender conversion ($1990), Front Fender ($299),), License plate & Holder ($219), Turn signals ($239), Axle covers ($89), Solo seat ($119) & taillight. From other sources.  West Coast Choppers Exhaust ($699). Renegade Wheels/rotors/pulley (Model Tahoe Elite). Todd Cycles (Foot pegs & grips), etc.  More information by calling on my behalf Lonny at: 310-822-2697 or for other conversion kits, visit Heartland USA

http://www.heartlandbiker.com