Road Tests
By Gary Koz Mraz In the orchestral arrangement of Harley Davidson motorcycles the Ultra Classic Electra Glide Limited crescendos as the finely tuned instrument of touring enthusiasts. A deep exhaust note resonates providing a melody that sets the standard for long distance touring comfort and convenience. A four speaker, 80-watt Harmon/Kardon Advanced audio system is loud and clear even at freeway speeds. Amenities abound with a one-piece, two-up Electra Glide Classic comfort stitch seat with passenger backrest, adjustable fairing-mounted air deflectors, vented removable fairing lowers with integral glove boxes and spacious Tour-Pak carrier and injection-molded hard saddlebags. This Ultra limited...
We all know it’s either a recession or the entire demise of the free world economy. In either case, cautious motorcycle manufacturers have been recycling their existing lines for 2009. Adding fancy paint jobs, 2-up passenger seating or 3 wheels, its all just sheep in wolf’s clothing. We haven’t seen a truly new design by any major motorcycle manufacturer…except one. Even though they too have felt an economic bite, Big DogMotorcycles is bold enough to release entirely new motorcycle designs for ‘09. Another bold Big Dog stance is opening a brand new 12,000...
This is a story about riding a chopper, but also about riding THIS chopper. I had to have a torn rotator cuff tendon repair the next day. Why not go out with a bang? And ride a big 10-foot long chopper, for the very first time ever. Chris and Lisa met me at Left Coast Kustoms, where I was sitting on the Paradox, ready to head out of the parking lot. Chris came over to give me some props, since I guess I looked like I was about to puke. I mean the bike is a friggin’ 10 feet long....
By Koz Mraz, Pics by Koz and Art Hall Big Bear Chopper is still standing on all fours. Despite the economic wash out that’s devastated the custom motorcycle industry, Kevin and Mona Alsop have taken advantage of a slow market to improve operational efficiency. They have always built their business from the ground up. Since the inception of their “build your own bike in a box” their business model was Build to Order. In other words they have always built for the demand. Implementing lean manufacturing last year and reconstituting the organization, BBC has cut lead times in half in...
By Koz Mraz My first set of wheels was a trike and I remember that Christmas morning well. The smell of pine, piles of packages and there she was, my metal flake blue road to freedom. I took her down a flight of stairs within an hour. Once I out grew 3 wheels I never looked back, until now. Pacific blue pearl with a 1584 cc twin cam 96 V-Twin, 80 watt Harmon Kardon stereo, front and rear disc brakes and reverse gear, I am calling this baby Big Blue. Perhaps the old riddle makes more sense now – what...
By CD OK, I promise that’s the last cheesy canine reference I’ll make. Well I’ll try at least. You see I’m pretty darn happy with my 2005 Big Dog Chopper, and throwing a leg over that one and firing it up, still makes me wanna growl a little, or make guttural, primal Tim-the-Tool Man sounds when running it through the gears. I’ve ridden lots of bikes, most of them Harleys, and I swear there’s just something so cool about a chopper. I’ll take a Road King or Street Glide for 300 miles plus, but for having fun the minute you...
BY RANDY TWELLS WITH PHOTO ASSIST FROM YAMAHA’S KIM KNUPP TECHNICAL CONSULTATION BY ALL PRO CYCLE & OFFROAD, GLOBE, AZ Bike detail photos at Yamaha of Cucamonga, Rancho Cucamonga, CA Cypress, CA — Well there I was at the Yamaha Press Event November 15th at Yamaha’s USA headquarters. Yamaha introduced their new 2008 race team doing high flying stunts, a pit stop competition, and new model snowmobiles. But this day we also got to go hands-on with the Star gem of 2008, the all-new highly anticipated Raider. Oh the rake—and the slammed look—this is a bad ass bike. W-i-d-e 210...
By Art Hall Last month I go to bring home a 2008 FXDWG (Dyna Wide Glide) Anniversary Edition compliments of the Harley demo fleet warehouse. At first glance one is impressed with the good looks of the balance between chrome and paint. Harley has come a long way with the fit and finish criteria, and it shows on this bike. Because this is a 105th year anniversary edition it comes in one color combination only, two-tone copper and black, which I think looks pretty good. Everybody that saw it thought there was little missing in the looks department. After climbing...
With two chopper-style bikes and three pro-street models – including the completely redesigned Pitbull and all-new Mutt WICHITA, Kansas (September 5, 2007) – Big Dog Motorcycles, the world’s largest manufacturer of custom bikes, jump-started the custom motorcycle niche nearly 15 years ago, and, with each model year, new benchmarks are set in terms of style, technology, and riding comfort. For 2008, Big Dog Motorcycles again shows off its engineering prowess and builds on its already impressive resume of award-winning motorcycle designs and technology, riding comfort, and providing the enthusiast pure exhilaration. The soul-stirring 117 cubic inch engine (1,916cc) and award-winning...
It’s been a long winter. No really. Lots of people say that, but, more snowstorms have battered Colorado and have left an inch of snow on the ground, in the Denver Metro area, continuously, for the longest amount of time since, like, 1908. Believe me, for anybody who likes motorcycles, more specifically, the act of riding their motorcycle, these past few months has made for the worst riding winter that anybody, in these here parts, can remember. For anybody outside the front range area of Colorado, the words “riding” and “winter” are almost never used in that order. Southern States...
This Month’s Editions
