|
|
Distribution in IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI
|
Click for Bike Nights and Rallies
DO YOU HAVE A BIKE NIGHT OR EVENT?
CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US!
WE WANT YOUR STORY IDEAS! CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US!
Bike Night & Bike Event photos from around the Midwest.
CLICK HERE
|
May 2010 online edition:
|
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.
READ MORE
Do you know?
Jay Weller
Jay Weller is an aspiring A class motocross racer who comes straight out the hotbed of New York motocross, AMA District 34. This area is well known for being the home of choppers and includes the crew from V Force Choppers which are featured in this issue, but this area also has a thriving motocross and off-road scene and the racing is very competitive.
Jay started riding in 1994 on a Yamaha PW50. This is the popular choice for most motocross racers as they learn to ride and Weller was no different. Jay says his dad was the most important person in this regard, as he was the person who got Jay involved with motocross racing. Now 23, he has made the switch from the blue bikes to the yellow bikes.
READ MORE
ProCharger 40-80 more horse
Anyone looking for a boost can find it here
By Alec “Chop” Brynnenson
Historically, other supercharger designs havent produced much power on Harley-Davidsons due to the hot charge air temperatures they produce. These hot temperatures not only result in less air density, they rob power by forcing the reduction of ignition timing. All non-intercooled superchargers and turbochargers operate with an intake manifold temperature in the general range of 90°-160° above ambient (outside air) temperature at 8 psi.
At the same boost level, an Intercooled ProCharger (www.procharger.com) operates at only 20-30° above ambient. Designed by Lenexa, KS company Accesssible Technologies by their proven engineering team, all components are manufactured with the highest quality materials and latest CNC machining equipment. With industry leading supercharger technology and an integrated intercooler design, a new standard for V-twin performance has arrived.
This tremendous advantage from cooler air is just like the difference between riding on a cold winter day vs. the blistering heat of summer.
READ MORE
 HELMET HAIR.COM
Wake up call
The first and last time I rode over my head
By Jessica Prokup
It happened in less than a second, but I remember clearly two full sentences going through my head. First, “Holy shit, I’m really far over.” Then, “Holy shit, there’s the ground!”
Before I could react in panic, before I could do anything at all, the sportbike crashed to its side and spat me off. I bounced off the road and landed on my feet, watching the bike slide away. I stood there in disbelief for a few moments, willing myself the power to take it all back. It happened so fast, did it really happen? Was that bike really lying on the ground?
Reality came in the form of a bleeding gash in my knee.
This was my first big crash after years as a conservative, responsible rider. I’d put thousands of miles on all kinds of bikes, and now I’d just wiped out in a corner like a bona fide squid. This may be a good time to mention that it was a manufacturer’s press bike and, even better, it was supposed to be used in a photo shoot the next day. By the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Where I work as a communications staffer and a RiderCoach. Suffice it to say, as I stood there looking at the GSX-R I’d just tossed to the ground, I felt, oh, like a complete idiot.
READ MORE
Captain America returns
Easyrider captured the nations affection of riding
By Kody Wisner
It’s been 40 years since the movie Easyrider showed up in drive-ins all around the country. I was in my early teens the first time I saw it, some 15 years ago, and I can remember it well. Being too young to have a drivers license, I tended to hang out with the older, cooler guys. Guys that had their own places, cars and motorcycles, and ran around with all the girls who you would see hanging around town smoking Marlboro reds.
My good friend Billy is three years older than me. His dad was a hardcore biker. Billy had been over at his house and swiped a big stack of old biker mags and several VHS tapes with handwritten names on them, that we could barley even see. Not knowing what we were going to be watching, we waited anxiously as the movie started up. Imagine the excitement of several young gearheads when the opening scene of Easyrider appeared before us on the TV. None of us had seen it, much less had even heard of it, but we knew that it had to be good within minutes. Imagine our surprise when two of the coolest choppers we had ever seen came onto the screen, then they turned out to be the real main characters of the movie. This movie is one of the things that made me fall in love with motorcycles, especially choppers.
READ MORE
Something Awesome this way comes
Sioux City, Iowa’s “Awesome Biker Nights” is ready to be awesome
By R. Kabel
There’s a roar louder than thunder and heaps of leather as the streets of Downtown Sioux City, Iowa fill with motorcycles and enthusiasts of every walk of life. It’s Awesome Biker Nights’ 11th Anniversary of Northwest Iowa’s premier regional motorcycle event with an expected attendance of over 25,000 June 17-19 this summer.
Bike nights have become a part of every biker’s weekly “get out of jail” adventure. Whether, a fella or gal just wants to drive up the block to meet buddies, or wants to hit the road for a down yonder event, bike nights are an embedded part of motorcycle culture. However, this is more than an evening with the guys. This is an epic destination.
“Awesome Biker Nights” welcomes anyone and regardless of what you ride, a beer and telling lies with fellow riders makes the hum-drum cycle of life seem all that much more meaningful at an event of this magnitude.
READ MORE
Is noise the death of motocross?
Track noise levels may impact the future of the sport
By Sean Goulart, MXNewsfeed.com
Up until now, we’ve spent our time telling you about new gear, parts and off-road riding in general. But none of that advice is going to do us any good if we don’t have the sport to participate in.
And right now one thing threatens our sport more than anything else.
NOISE!
As we all know, the current popularity of four-stroke off-road motorcycles changed the face of our sport. Back when Yamaha released the four-stroke YZ400F and Doug Henry took it to victory, we knew the sport would be changed forever.
Although four-stroke bikes have plenty of advantages such as tractability, ease of use and smooth linear power delivery, they also have one huge disadvantage… they are LOUD. And anyone who has stood behind a modern 450 four-stroke or been near the starting gate when it drops can attest to the fact they are absolutely ear-splitting. This noise can be heard for miles in some cases, thereby potentially disturbing the peace and quiet of any neighboring persons.
READ MORE
|
|
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
Start planning your summer
Saying hello to new and old friends
We’re into meeting people from all walks of life. We hit rallies and events as much as we can. Albeit, for the most part, our weekly regiment is more close to home however, we already have 2010 mapped out for ourselves.
Along with the multiple bike nights we attend each week this summer starts out with Sioux City’s Awsome Biker Nights for us. Last year was an incredible time beginning with meeting extraordinary riders from all over the Midwest. By the end of the weekend we felt like we had met all 25,000 attendees, no kidding. Likewise, what was just as astonishing was to be up close and personal with Sioux City’s music attractions such as Boston, Edward Winter and Ratt to name a few. This year’s anticipation for the people and live music has us drooling as well.
Many of you might remember “8-Ball” whom was featured in out July issue last year. We’re looking forward to seeing him again, I’m sure.
Next up once again will be our annual trip to Anamosa Iowa for J&P Cycles annual Open House. Last year our favorite encounter was with the Motorcycle Monster and his gracious wife — save for the makeup. With friendly encounters the likes of Michelle Smith, Brian and Laura Klock of Klock Werks, Jason Britton stunt biker extraordinaire and Rick Fairless the 2010 Open House holds many more anticipated encounters we’re ready to savor.
Next up on the menu of course is Sturgis. The granddaddy of all rallies once again has us looking forward to the trip with friends, breathing in the open road and scenery of this incredible nation. That said, sorry to say this year will be strictly a pleasure trip for us so don’t look for our trailer or tent. We’re heading out as our own reward for a kick ass 2010 riding season as a strict hedonistic self indulging expedition.
Anyone that finds us in Sturgis or the surrounding landscape will get a complimentary beer — on us. We’ll be dawned in our Throttler magazine apparel so it shouldn’t be too hard to tap us on the shoulder for a cold one.
All that said we’re sure to see you all on the road and a few stops here and there. So don’t be shy. Step up, say hi, and for gawd sakes tell us about yourself. We’re always looking for story ideas and the likes. We wouldn’t and couldn’t be here without all of you readers and always need your input.
As always, ride hard.
Roderick Kabel & Scott Chambers
|
