Archive for July, 2009

Harley-Davidson Short Movie Winner

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

You remember that Harley-Davidson short movie contest called ‘Bikes, Camera, Action‘?  To participate, women had to produce a 2-minute video that would motivate and encourage other women to get up on a harley-davidson of their own. The following is the 2008 winner. Congratulations Victoria Rose Sampson.

I can’t wait to see this year’s (2009) short movie winner …

The 2010 Harley-Davidson Line-Up

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

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This past Saturday (July 25, 2009), Harley-Davidson revealed their 2010 product line to the public.  Part of that line-up included nine new models.

A couple of the new models are hybrids of existing models where enough engineering marvels and technical enhancements were added that it constituted the creation of a new model all together,  models such as the new Fat Boy Lo above.  While other models are completely new to the mix such as the newly introduced Trike line below.

The Tri Glide Ultra Classic:

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The Wide Glide (DYNA):

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I really like this one below … the Fat Bob (CVO)!

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There are 34 mechanical masterpieces now available in the mix and let me tell ya, if I had it my way, I would take one of each any day …

All-in-all, here are the highlights of the 2010 Harley-Davidson line-up:

  • The king of the Harley-Davidson Touring line, the Electra Glide Ultra Limited model packs a Twin Cam 110 ci engine and now features standard equipment items previously offered only as accessories on regular-production Harley-Davidson Touring models.
  • The re-designed Road Glide Custom model has a new suspension, 18-inch front wheel and a new 2-to-1 exhaust.
  • The Wide Glide returns (Dyna) model sporting an old-school chopper style, with black laced wheels a shortened rear fender, black “wire” sissy bar and a flame paint scheme.
  • The newly designed Street Glide Trike brings a hot-rod styling to the three-wheel category, and joins the Tri Glide Ultra Classic in an all new Trike family for 2010.
  • Done up in satin chrome and denim black, the new Fat Boy Lo (new) presents a darker and lower interpretation of the motorcycle that still defines the fat-custom segment.
  • The 2010 Street Glide model is souped-up even more with updates that include a larger front wheel, slimmed-down exhaust, and a new tail light assembly.
  • V-Rod, Night Rod Special and V-Rod Muscle. The explosive performance of the liquid cooled Revolution V-Twin engine keeps VRSC at the top of the power cruiser food chain in 2010.
  • The American motorcycle legend that is Harley-Davidson Sportster features six models for 2010, including the Iron 883 introduced mid-year 2009 and four others priced less than $10,000 (USD).
  • Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO),where all the shimmering chrome and bold paint comes from, are offering four new limited-production models for 2010. The CVO Softail Convertible, the CVO Street Glide, the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide and CVO Fat Bob. Also note that all CVO models are powered by a Twin Cam 110 engine that is the largest displacement offered by Harley-Davidson.

In spite of all the choices … I am still partial to the Cross Bones below. I’m not sure what it is, but it brings the youth out in me. Maybe it’s that solo seat configuration …

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And lastly, here is the 2010 Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-150 Pick-up.

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Photo’s supplied by Harley-Davidson, Inc

A Video is Worth a Thousand Words

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

If you love your Harley Davidson as much as I do, then you’ll appreciate this video.

It pretty much says it all …

POWERED BICYCLES: Looks Like a Whole Lot of Fun

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

You know there’s been a lot of talk lately about the environment, rising fuel prices and alternate methods of transportation.  Why just the other night I was engaged in a conversation about motorized bicycles and how they get 150 mpg (1.57L/100km) … not to mention how cool it would be to build one.

So I did some research and discovered that I wasn’t alone, there are all kinds of powered bicycles out there.  The thought would be to take a bicycle and then mount a bicycle engine kit on it, similar to the one below.

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So what would you need to get started?  First you would need a bicycle.  This can be any bike (mountain bike, comfort bike, even a touring bike), although I am partial to the retro looking cruiser type bikes.  Walmart has a good selection, but really you can pick one up almost anywhere, new or used …

Next you would need an engine.  There are several kits and sizes to choose from in the market place ranging from 49cc, 80cc and beyond, but I would think that 49cc would be plenty for just cruising around the back roads.  I’ve found two sites online who carry these bicycle engine kits, ZoomBicycles, based in the US and  CH80 Bicycle Engines, based in Canada.

Next, a little time, patience and know-how … in fact, the ZoomBicycles’ website even has step-by-step installation instructions that make is seem pretty straight forward.

And here’s what you get (this is an 80cc version) …

Now tell me this doesn’t look like a whole lot of fun …

And don’t forget, there are regulations on where you can ride these here in Ontario.

The Indian Motorcycle Company

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

The ‘Indian Motorcycle‘ is America’s oldest motorcycle and at one time, the Indian Motorcycle Co. was the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world.  The company was founded by George M. Hendee and Carl Oscar Hedstrom and the first prototype, sporting a single cylinder 1.75 hp engine, was launched in 1901 and from that prototype came the first two production bikes revealed in 1902.

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By 1904 production was up to over 500 motorcycles annually and reaching numbers of 32,000 in 1913.  In 1907, Indian built its first V-twin engine and was used to set the distance record across America in 11 days, 12 hours and 10 minutes traveling from San Diego to New York.  In 1916 a bigger 61ci (1000cc) V-twin named the “Powerplus”, was introduced and was capable of reaching speeds of 60 mph (100 km/h).

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The Scout and Chief, both V-twins and both introduced in the early 1920s, became the firm’s most successful models.  In 1930 the Indian Motorcycle Co. merged with duPont Motors and by 1940 was selling as many motorcycles as rival Harley-Davidson.

However, by 1945 controlling interest was handed over to Ralph B. Rogers who, as a result of post-war (WWII) decline, discontinued the Scout and started to produce lighter weight and smaller cc motorcycles. These bikes suffered from poor quality and a lack of development. Production of the lightweight Scout was extremely limited by 1949 and no Chiefs where known to exist in that year. As a consequence, manufacturing of all products was halted in 1953.  In fact, Royal Enfield bikes where imported from England, re-branded and sold as Indians throughout the remainder of the 1950s.

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In 2006, a newly formed Indian Motorcycle Company announced its new home in Kings Mountain, North Carolina where new life is being brought back into the Indian Motorcycle Brand and new (and limited) production models have been introduced this 2009 season such as the redesigned 105 cubic inch (ci) Powerplus V-twin.

Just look at these bikes … sweeeet!

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The company’s plan is to have 50 dealerships established by the end of 2011 with the flagship store, already established, located in Gastonia, North Carolina … What a come back!

I wish you well Indian!