Our winter break arrives again
It’s that time again when we take our winter break to await the snow fall and thaw. No, we’re not closing our doors for good for those of you new to Throttler magazine. This will be our third year in print and it’s our way of regrouping and gearing up for the 2011 riding season.
While we’re out we would love to hear from you about any interesting articles we should consider next year. Just drop us an email and we’ll get back to you on specifics.
This month’s issue has an interesting article that’s not our typical read. Dean Lambert takes us into a realm that we’re not comfortable with as riders and looks at personal safety. Not the kind of safety one would think, such as, bike safety. Rather, the personal safety we need to keep our eyes peeled for situations we encounter ourselves in.
Like when we might find ourself in an unfamiliar location in a bar or dark alley. We’ve seen it a million times when egos get pumped up and the alpha dog comes out at full speed.
Dean interviews a few law enforcement professionals about how to defuse hostile situations and proves that it’s always better to ride another day than to get mixed up with some dude’s ego.
Our experts also inform us about our own mental preparedness. Are we always looking around us for deer, obstacles, cars, a fist, a knife or anything that can harm us? How will we react and how fast is our reaction?
Keep in mind that these professionals are just that, and what they say isn’t what we’re (Throttler) instructing you to do. They are experts with years of training and years of practice. However, they do give us good reason to pause the next time we ride.
Our cover story this month is the AMA Flat Track races that will be held September 18 in Knoxville, Iowa. I assure you that this will be like nothing you’ve seen in quite a while. No, this is not a chance for you to bring your bike and race. These are the AMA Pros on the circuit racing for the crown.
We’ve been assured by Knoxville’s marketing director, Brian Stickle, that the atmosphere will be electric, the track will be fast and the fans will be packing the stands.
The Midwest has some really great riders that have become Grand National Champions and front runners in the series. Names like Chet Dykgraaf, Bart Markel, Jay Springsteen, Randy Goss, Garth Brow, Ted Boody, Scotty Parker, Rich King, Aaron King, Jared Mees and Henry Wiles.
Likewise, there are young stars rising to the top like 14 year old Kole King of Burlington, Iowa, whom has won two National championships and multiple top 3 finishes competing in AMA Flat track riding his KTM 250 and 450.
Youngsters like Kole are an inspiration to all of us that wish we had the guts to try flat track racing.
We hope to see you at Knoxville and please do us a favor by patronizing our advertisers. Without them, we wouldn’t be hear.
See you next year! As always, ride hard.
— R. Kabel and Scott Chambers
Distributed throughout IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI
If your business deserves a bigger presence in a respectable, authoritative motorcycle magazine that hits every motorcycle market then, increase your visibility in the iron horse thoroughbred of Midwestern motorcycle magazines — Throttler Magazine.
January 2011 online edition:
DUCATI UNVEILS THE 2012 MONSTER 1100EVO AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOW The flagship of the best-selling Ducati Monster family makes it US debut in New York
Cupertino, Calif. (21 January 2011) – Ducati North America unveiled the new Monster 1100EVO to the US market this week at the Progressive New York International Motorcycle Show.
As the flagship of Ducati’s best-selling Monster range, today’s unveiling of the 1100EVO represents a milestone in Monster history. The 1100EVO has opened the next chapter in the US Ducati Monster story- a legend that began with the debut of the original Monster 900 at the 1993 Chicago Motorcycle Show.
The unveiling was met by a great applause from media and fans alike; no doubt due to the impressive features of the best Monster ever. The 1100EVO is the first Ducati to reach 100 air-cooled horsepower, which is backed up by a significant 76lb/ft of torque thanks to the Desmodue Evoluzione engine. Wrapped into a svelte 373lb package, the 1100EVO also boasts the best power-to-weight ratio in Monster history. In the interest of rider comfort, the 1100EVO features a new seat design and higher handlebars- the combination of which gives the rider an excuse to stay on their bike longer and ride farther.
Perhaps the most significant feature of the new Monster 1100EVO is the addition of the new Ducati Safety Pack- a simple to use combination of rider aids incorporated into the motorcycle with the interest of rider safety. The Ducati Safety Pack’s four way adjustable Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Bosch-Brembo ABS braking system work together to keep riders safe and confident on the best Monster yet. This system represents a significant upgrade on a bike that retains the same MSRP as its predecessor- $11,995
The 2012 Monster 1100EVO will be on display alongside the new Diavel- which has already proven to be the other hit of the show- and the rest of the Ducati lineup throughout the weekend at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center in New York; where Ducati fans are welcome to come by for an espresso at the Ducati Caffe and to admire the Italian icon’s latest creations.
For more information about Ducati and the new Monster 1100EVO; please visit www.ducatiusa.com.
NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON® BLACKLINE™ IS SOFTAIL® STRIPPED TO THE CORE Dark Custom™ Softail Features New Fuel Tank Styling and Split Drag™ Handlebars
Contact: Paul James (414) 343-8735 | paul.james@harley-davidson.com
MILWAUKEE (January 21, 2011) - Lean as wire, hard as iron and dark as a tar road at midnight, the new Blackline motorcycle is a Harley-Davidson Softail model pared to the bone. A rebellious creation of the Dark Custom movement, the Blackline celebrates three fundamental elements of motorcycling: mechanical beauty, internal combustion, and the long black line of the road ahead.
The Blackline balances allegiance with rebellion, discarding previous conventions of color and chrome for a Dark Custom look thatÕs honest, functional and attainable. Visual elements of the original bobber movement are combined with the raw, hand-hewn style embraced by todayÕs young builders. The Blackline throws new fuel on a fire that burns across generations, an unquenchable desire to ride.
Lean and Tight
The rear fender is bobbed high-and-tight over a slim, 144mm tire that emphasizes an authentic hardtail profile. The compact headlight and speedometer are tucked low into the wide, FX front end, and thereÕs just enough shine to make the black parts look blacker. Black-rimmed laced wheels complete a look thatÕs tough, tempered and undeniably Harley-Davidson.
The styling spotlight shines on a Big Twin engine dressed in black and silver, and on a fuel tank shaved smooth and low. Aboard the Blackline, the rider hugs the frame on the lowest two-up seat ever offered by Harley-Davidson, and reaches high for new Split Dragª handlebars that bolt right to the top triple-clamp.
The Softail chassis utilizes rear suspension control provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally along the frame rails below the powertrain, where they are out of sight. So while the swingarm section replicates the lines of a vintage hardtail frame, the Blackline delivers suspension performance and handling that are thoroughly modern. The internally counter-balanced Twin Cam 96Bª engine is rigid-mounted within the frame, creating a solid connection between rider and the power that moves the motorcycle to enhance the emotional experience of riding.
Key features of the 2011 Blackline include:
NEW Powertrain styling
Powertrain is finished in gloss black powdercoat on the rocker box covers, the crankcase, the outer primary cover, and the transmission side cover. The cylinders are silver powdercoat with machined highlights. The derby cover and timing covers are chromed.
Rigid-mounted, counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B™ V-Twin engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), rated at 89 ft. lbs. peak torque at 3250 rpm.
6-Speed Cruise Drive® Transmission.
NEW Round air cleaner cover in brilliant chrome.
NEW Black Denim powdercoat frame and swingarm.
NEW Profile Laced Aluminum wheels with black anodized rims. Front wheel is 21 x 2.15 inches; rear wheel is 16 x 3 inches. Dunlop® D402 tires are MH90-21 front and MU85B16 rear.
NEW FX front end with black powdercoat triple clamps and black painted fork lowers.
NEW Split Drag™ internally-wired handlebars mount directly to the top triple clamp.
NEW Asymmetric five-gallon Softail fuel tank is clean on the left side, with a low-profile fuel fill on the right. Die cast "Blackline" trim panel flowing down the center of the tank is just high enough to cover the fuel pump hardware.
NEW Analog speedometer on a triple-clamp mount that also holds indicator lights. LCD screen on the speedometer includes low-fuel warning and "miles to empty" display function.
NEW Bobbed rear fender with combination stop/tail/turn lights in black housings, and a new composite license plate holder and light module that mounts on the lower edge of the fender.
NEW Raw forged rear fender supports are finished in Black Denim powdercoat.
NEW One-piece, two-up seat and passenger pillion. Laden rider seat height is 24 inches, the lowest two-up seat offered by Harley-Davidson. Gap between the nose of seat and fuel tank exposes the top of the frame.
NEW 5.75-inch diameter headlamp in gloss black shell.
Polished forward foot controls.
Over/under chrome shotgun exhaust.
Optional Security Package with Anti-lock Braking System and Smart Security System
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson's Web site at www.harley-davidson.com.
DRT Bros. still setting the standard Dream Ride Trikes, “like no other ride”
By R. Kabel
In little ol’ Colo, IA, Dan, Rick, and Tim Mortenson are recognized nationally as skilled trike builders and authorities in the trike industry, and have won several awards at various bike builder venues such as MCB on the east coast, and the prestigious annual Rat’s Hole in Daytona.
Their decision to convert motorcycles into trikes seemed a little unorthodox in the beginning, considering that at the time they started DRT Bros., custom motorcycles and choppers were going gangbusters across the country and trikes, for the most part, were built using modified VW frames and engines. These days, the Mortenson brothers are top-notch innovators that many trike builders take note of.
American Pickers “We’re the caretakers of treasures and the stories behind them”
By R. Kabel
Le Claire, Iowa’s Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are on a mission to recycle America, one treasure at a time. They’re part sleuths, part antiques experts, and part cultural historians. They are professional “pickers,” trolling America’s small towns and back roads to salvage rare collectibles and good junk from regular folks.
The History Channel’s American Pickers follows their adventures, giving viewers a glimpse at this little-known side of the antiques business. Their job: dig through junk piles, abandoned barns and neglected garages for hidden memorabilia. Sometimes they make a buck, sometimes they walk away with little more than the history of an item. They love their work, and the open road is their office.
V-Force striking back Vinnie DiMartino and right hand man Cody Connelly still building killer bikes
By Sean Goulart
Choppers. They’re everywhere… between popular culture icons like Easy Rider and the new crop of television shows such as American Chopper and the like, choppers have gone mainstream.
One of the driving forces behind this movement was the original crew from Orange County Choppers, and out of the OCC shop came not only cool bikes, but it showcased talented individuals.
One of those people was Vinnie DiMartino.
We took some time to chat with Vinnie and also met up with Cody Connelly, who you probably remember from his role on the famous TV show, and he’s now teamed up with Vinnie at V-Force.
The average everyday Iowan may not know what exactly goes on inside Don’s Speed and Custom Cycle at 2613 Ave. L in Fort Madison, but many motorcycle enthusiasts do. Inside, one of the country’s master bike builders toils away daily on custom bikes that could be being built for a Fort Madison resident, or could be being built for the CEO of a major motorcycle company.
But anyone who knows bikes has most likely heard the name Don Hotop. Think for a minute. Yeah, wasn’t that the guy you read about from Iowa in that issue of Easy Rider while you were waiting for the guy at the Harley shop to take out your baffles?
Or maybe you saw his custom parts when you were looking through that copy of The Fatbook or the Drag Specialties catalog you were thumbing through the other day. It could have been any number of places, including the episode of Monster Garage that featured him and several other master builders.
Back in 2009 Throttler magazine received a call from Jackie Ingraham of F & J Racing in Marshalltown, raving about a young boy they built a custom motorcycle for. “I wanted to tell you about Dustin Veld who came to us three years ago for a custom motorcycle. He’s even winning contests with it now, and he’s only 16,” she says.
When Dustin Veld was around the age of 13, a friend of Dustin’s father stopped by their home to buy a back rim off his dad’s shovelhead. It was that day that Dustin caught the bug and pondered the possibilities of building his own motorcycle. “The guy told my dad that he needed the rim for his own son’s project and it got me thinking ‘why not give it a shot?’” Dustin says. “Back then, all I knew was that I wanted a bad-ass bike by the time I was 16.”
A quick call to lifelong friends, Fred (a certified factory trained H-D mechanic) and Jackie Ingraham at F & J Racing in Marshalltown IA, got the ball rolling. “I told Jackie and Fred what I was looking for and they gave me a call a few weeks later asking if I wanted a hardtail or a softtail. I picked the hardtail, and even slept with the frame in my bed for a while until the build began,” Dustin said.
Without any practical experience under his belt, Dustin began his bike’s mock-up with his father in their family living room. Later, Dustin moved his conquest to the F&J shop with Fred leading the charge. “I was really into the old stories that people would tell me about building motorcycles around F&J, the David Mann paintings I had seen over the years, and at that time the biker build-off shows were all over the television — that kept me motivated,” Dustin says. “I’m not sure where the design inspiration came from. It just kind of came together this way.”
“Seeing as Dustin grew up coming in here with his parents, he knew Fred could build his dream. Dustin did help out a lot and watched because Fred wanted him not only to be happy, but be able to take care of his bike when it was done,” Jackie says.
“We looked long and hard at motorcycle swap meets for parts and Fred and Jackie filled in the gaps for everything else,” Dustin says. “I wouldn’t be riding today if it wasn’t for their kindness, generosity and expertise.”
Dustin’s bike build turned out to be an old-school ride with a new-school twist. The engine is a stock 80 inch Evo with some head-work by F&J with wideglide forks, an Ultima 6-speed transmission, and a 3 inch open belt drive. Dustin also mowed Harold McStockard’s yard for two years to get the bike painted. McStockard runs H.e.m.i Innovations in Whitten, IA.
On what Dustin would do differently Dustin says, “It rides like a Cadillac and it’s perfect the way it is. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Since its completion, Dustin has placed in a few bike build contests. He placed in 2008’s Ride Iowa in Baxter as well as at the Octember Fest bike show in Marshalltown and Capital City Custom Cycle Show in Des Moines. Dustin says he’s already looking for parts for his next build, and F&J Racing is ready to help out again. Dustin hopefully plans to attend college at MMI in Florida when the time is right. “I would like to come back home after college and work for F&J in the future,” Dustin says.
Lastly, we want to thank Fred and Jackie of F&J Racing in Marshalltown Iowa for assisting us in September with another break down. An end of summer ride found us in their neck of the woods with a flat tire. A quick call to Jackie and she and Fred came to the rescue. They’re the type of friends and business owners that exemplify the the best the Midwest has to offer. If you know them, you would agree. If you don’t, then get to know them. Contact Jackie at (641) 752-8652 for more information or www.fandjracing.com.
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David Mann: Outlaws who
saved biker history
David Mann — an American icon
known for his depiction of motorcycles
and the biker lifestyle — learned as
much from Iowa’s outlaw bikers as
they did from him. CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE
Throttler Magazine's 2009 Hole Shot
at the Iowa Speedway.
Filmed by Jay Knoll
Contact: Paul James (414) 343-8735 | paul.james@harley-davidson.com
By R. Kabel
By R. Kabel
By Sean Goulart
By Joe Benedict
Back in 2009 Throttler magazine received a call from Jackie Ingraham of F & J Racing in Marshalltown, raving about a young boy they built a custom motorcycle for. “I wanted to tell you about Dustin Veld who came to us three years ago for a custom motorcycle. He’s even winning contests with it now, and he’s only 16,” she says.
