www.ArtBikerWorld.com is now LIVE!!!!

Yes Friends!  www.ArtBikerWorld.com is now live and all the new posts are going to be at the new site.  Don’t worry if you have not been here before, everything ever done here has been ported over for your perusal.  So, please do yourself a favor and head over to the new site, add it to your favorites, bookmark the RSS Feeds, and let everyone know!

We really appreciate you reading this little blog of ours and we love you all for it… I think big things are about to happen with the new site.

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

Mongols Update

As you have read earlier in the week, the Mongols Motorcycle Club was subject to a multi-agency investigation that ran three years.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the LA County Sheriff’s Department, the Montebello Police Department, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were all involved in “Operation Black Rain.”  Apparently four ATF agents were able to infiltrate the club and become full patch members.  They found enough evidence to serve 110 arrest warrants and 160 search warrants in Southern California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, and Ohio.  Over 22 bikes were impounded in Los Angeles alone.  Approximately 61 members of Southern California based motorcycle club were arrested under a racketeering indictment that included murder, attempted murder, assault, and gun and drug violations.  In Reno, more than 6 pounds of methamphetamine and 75 weapons were seized.  The findings of other contraband have not been reported.

Ruben Cavazos, the clubs former National President was one of those arrested.  It seems Roger Pinney, a previous National President for the club, alleged that Cavazos was the problem and that the club was “on the verge of cleaning up their act.”

An injunction to seize the Mongols’ trademarked name has been requested by U.S. Attorney Thomas O’Brien.  If this is granted, which seems ridiculous, law enforcement would be able to seize any member’s cut right off their back and it would not be legal for members to display the club’s name or colors.

Again, if more is reported, I will do what I can to keep you informed.  In the meantime, keep an eye out for my book reviews of titles concerning the Mongols MC.

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

Ruben Cavazos Arrested

According to the Associated Press, 38 members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, including former President Ruben Cavazos, were arrested on RICO charges today.  Cavazos is the author of the book “Honor Few, Fear None: the life and times of a Mongol” published by Harper Collins.  ArtBiker has included this book for upcoming review on this website.  To be reviewed will also be two other books written by ATF agents who infiltrated the group in 2002.  I will try to keep you up to date on Cavazos and his Brothers as news filters in.

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

OCC Has Their Own Rollercoaster!

Well, just when you thought the boys from OCC couldn’t get their fingers into any more projects or marketing schemes, they go from theme bikes to theme parks!  It’s true my friends, Orange County Choppers has their name on a new rollercoaster ride located at Darian Lake in Darien Center, NY.

This new Motocoaster was designed by Zamperia and places the riders on/in sportbike style cars.  Rider’s shoot around the nearly 1200 foot track at speeds up to nearly 40mph.  The coaster accelerates quickly, going from 0 to 38 mph in only three seconds. 

For any of you who freak out taking your bike over a long tall bridge, this could be therapy or a nightmare… depends on how you are feeling that day.  Regardless, being 44 feet in the air astride a sport bike has got to get the juices flowing.  I just wonder why they didn’t make the cars look like their new Splitback bike that received so many awards in 2008.  Maybe Paulie was trying for something “new.”

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

 

Trikes… part III

I have spoken about a few bike companies that specialize in trikes, but I have not mentioned them all… Here is a more complete list of OEMs in North America… again, there may be more and there are, of course, a lot of custom builders out there as well.  If you have someone to add, please do so, we would all love to know about them.

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe

ArtBiker

 

www.BoomTrikesUSA.com

www.BossHoss.com

www.CheetahTrikes.com

www.DFTTrikes.com

www.HanniganTrikes.com

www.Harley-Davidson.com

www.IronHorseTrikeworks.com

www.LVTrikes.com

www.LightningMotorcycles.com

www.MTCVoyager.com

www.mysterydesigns.com

www.RatRaceProductions.com

www.RenegadeTrikes.com

www.SantiagoChopper.com

www.sstrikes.com

www.TetraTrikes.com

www.TrikeEnvy.com

www.USTrikes.com

Cool trikes from the past… http://www.bikemenu.com/photostrikesorig.html

Trikes, Trikes (part II)

 

 

 

Finally, the exciting world of custom bikes has not left the three-wheeled world alone.  We have all seen the Exile trike by Russell Mitchell and the crazy semi engine turned trike by Mr. Jesse James, but there are others out there that turn out really nice trikes for an affordable price.  Other custom builders like Covington’s cycles make the occasional trike as well as high end OEMs like Bourget Bike Works.  You can’t deny that the trike is becoming trick.

 

 

Besides the really nice kits we looked at in the last section of this blog, there are a few other builders/companies that turn out some sweet sleds.  Let’s start with Santiago Choppers.  This homegrown family business is built on five, count ‘em 5, generations of bike enthusiasts.  Alan Bernard is the man behind the scenes at this great shop in Gibsonton, Florida.  The trikes they turn out come in a softail and hardtail version.  They also make some kick ass Harley to trike conversions as well as some sweet traditional chops.  They have too many cool examples of their work to mention here, so I am going to send you directly to their site.  Enjoy! http://www.santiagochopper.com

 

 

Art Morris at Trike Envy in Sherwood, Oregon also creates some beautiful ground up customs.  These bikes remind me much of that big wheel I used to ride as a kid, long, low, and a mother of a back end.  These trikes come with HUGE rear tires.  We are talking funny car, dragster rubber.  Put yourself on one of these sleds and hang on! http://www.trikeenvy.com/

 

 

Alas, we cannot forget the trikes of yore.  Yes, those three wheeled creations that meld the world of bikes and cages, the hybrid of the VW Bug and the stretched out chopper.  Big in the 70’s, these bikes are sure to come back with a vengeance, and the company who will lead the way?  Well, it could very well be Phoenix, AZ locals, Rat Race Productions.  These guys have been turning out badass VW based trikes for over 30 years.  I know you have seen their work in magazines past, but check them out today.  They are still on the ball and at the forefront of their craft. http://www.ratraceproductions.com/

 

 

The last few posts have focused on the trike as art form and ride able machine.  As stated, I do not have any personal experience on trikes, but am hoping to get a demo machine to try out soon.  As soon as I do, I will be letting you know.  Until then, keep your feet on the pegs for a change and enjoy profilin’ on a three-wheeled machine.  Next up?  Sidecars!

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

Trikes, Trikes, Trikes (part I)

I have very little personal experience with these three-wheeled animals, unless you consider the Big Wheel I loved as a kid growing up in the desert of New Mexico.  Boy, I rode the wheels off that thing.  Anyway, I have had an eye on the adult variety of these machines for a few years now and have my own favorites.

I think it can be stated without too much dissent that the major trike manufacturers are Lehman, Motor Trike, DFT Trikes, and Boss Hoss.  Each has been in business for quite a while and turn out some beautiful products.  Motor Trike has its manufacturing plant and HQ just outside a little town called Troup in East Texas.  They have a few different models available, but I am partial to the “Trog” line.  The Trog is specifically set up for Harley Davidson models and works with the Electra Glide, Road King, Heritage, Fat Boy, and even the Deuce and V-Rod.  Motor Trike also makes kits for a variety of metric bikes and even has one for the Triumph for those interested in an English trike.  Drop them a note for more info on their various kits, conversions, and installation. http://motortrike.com/

DFT is located in Addison, Illinois and has been turning out wonderful kits for a long time now.  They have been adding new dealers all year and those include Genes H-D Repair of Smithfield, RI, Arnolds Motor Sales of Zanesville, OH, Texas Trike Werx of Belton, TX and Longbow Motorcycles in Rome, GA.  Truth is they have dealers all over the country as well as located internationally.  I suppose this lets you know their popularity.  DFT makes kits for both Harley and Honda and both sets are really good looking.  For more info on them, please be sure to check out their site at http://www.dfttrikes.com

Lehman makes the other, and perhaps most well known, trike on the market today.  They have a couple manufacturing plants with the original still residing in Alberta, Canada and the newest plant in Spearfish, South Dakota.  Mr. Lehman created the first trike for his wife because she could not take her kids on a standard bike… and the rest is history.  The brand took off and is now publicly traded on the market.  Lehman is also the only manufacturer to have a factory sponsored trike owner’s group.  But, perhaps the most impressive program that Lehman offers is the “Good Turn Trike” program.  This began in the 90’s when Lehman built a trike with special controls and components for a man who had lost his leg and could no longer ride.  This has become a regular program of the company and Lehman installs kits free of charge for customers on a case-by-case basis.  Now that is good PR.   Harleys, Victorys, and metrics accept the Lehman kits and conversions.  For more detailed info visit Lehman Trikes directly at http://www.lehmantrikes.com/

Lest we forget the Boss Hoss… this company has been making trikes for at least ten years and introduced the first V-8 powered bike in 1990.  In fact, in 2006 Boss Hoss received full vehicle approval from the European Commission making them the only globally approved V-8 motorcycle!  That is a pretty beefy achievement.  And speaking of beefy, you have not been on a muscle bike until you have been on a Chevy V-8 powered two (or three) wheeler.  Boss Hoss is famous for their crazy car like trike bodies.  They look like the back ends of a ’57 Chevy with a nice trunk and tons of space for two to ride comfortably and very, very quickly.  Check them out at http://www.bosshoss.com

Yup, it is a three-wheeled world all right and there is a lot more power out there than was available to my Big Wheel and me thirty some-odd years ago.  Check back for the next installment when we look at a few custom trikes and eventually get to sidecar hacks.

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

The Future is Coming

Taking a queue from our Native American Brothers of yore, I have been keeping my ear to the ground.  What do I hear? A rumble.  But, there is something a bit different about this roar.  You can hear the bikes running side by side, two by two, flying down the highway as they come closer and closer.  Problem is, the engines are too in tune, the rpm’s too in time, the cadence of rubber to asphalt, too in sync.  It is almost as if the bikes are in perfect time.  One barreling forward as the other keeps time in a high and mighty wheelie, running perfectly alongside his Brother.  But that can’t be, can it? No, it is something else. I hear the future coming down the road and it is a three-wheeled world.

We all know that baggers are the hot things going right now.  I myself have been a big fan of Brian Klock of Klockwerks for about six or seven years, and I have really appreciated some of the newest works by Paul Yaffe.  Not that I wasn’t a fan before, quite the contrary, it is just that the new work he has been doing with Bagger Nation is really exciting.

It seems that as the current biker population continues to age, and as a new population of riders comes into the fold because of rising gas prices, and as those with certain physical limitations refuse to be kept back, trikes and sidecars are going to be more prevalent on the road.  As you have probably heard, the Motor Company itself has come out with their own production trike.  For Harley-Davidson to put it back into production, there has to be a market (their last trike, besides the servicar, was produced about 30 years ago). And as far as sidecars go, HD has had them available for a long, long time.

But the Factory is certainly not the only company with a foothold in this segment of three-wheeled fun.  In fact, they may not even be considered the leaders.   Depending on your point of view, there are a few industry leaders.  Everyone has his or her own opinions, and you are soon to be subject to mine.  Watch for the next few posts focusing on trikes and sidecar rigs.  And keep your ear to the ground; you can hear the rumble.

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

 

Myrtle Beach Bike Weeks Are In Trouble!

I am a little worried about Myrtle Beach… I have been attending the Myrtle Beach Bike Weeks for many, many years now.  It was an easy rally to attend, as it would double as a vacation to visit my grandparents who lived there up until last year.  MB was always a rally with a different feel; less riding than Sturgis and Laconia, attractions and landscape similar to Daytona, but with worse traffic, and bikers had their choice of evening entertainment, one of the many strip joints, or a round of mini golf, up to you!

The rally has been upsetting locals for many years.  Myrtle Beach is a huge retirement community and makes its primary income from tourism, both spring breakers, and golf devotees.  The beachfront properties are huge, plenty, and reasonably priced.  The restaurants and bars are not bad, and the inflated prices could be worse.  Problem is, many locals remember when MB was not such a huge destination, when their streets were a bit quieter and the lines to get into restaurants were shorter.  I believe that as the local population continues to age, the relaxed sprit goes by the wayside and folks start complaining more loudly, apparently loud enough to be heard over straight pipes.

This year’s Fall Rally has just started and will run through the end of the week.  New sound ordinances and other “anti-rally” laws have been put into place and will be tested at this much smaller event (the fall rally attracts around 60,000 bikers as opposed to the spring rally’s 300,000).  So far, the police are planning bike checkpoints that will force all traffic to stop while bikes are checked for sound level violations, equipment violations, and licenses, registration and insurance information is confirmed.  It may not be too big of a hassle to the 60k riders who are currently rolling into town, but you can bet that when the spring rally rolls up, there will be perpetual gridlock.  It will take you all day to get from Barefoot Landing to the Esplanade.  If anything, the rally will have to get longer simply because you can only see half as much in the currently allotted time.

The rally talks are serious folks and I, for one, will not be surprised to find out that future rallies are cancelled and the event is cut off.  With all the money that the rally brings to the area, locals claim that it is not that far above and beyond a good week of attendance by quiet and well-behaved beachcombers.  Well, I think they will eventually look back on that idea as a huge mistake. 

As of this moment, Myrtle Beach has created 15 new ordinances concerning Bike Week.  The ones that will most likely affect the average attendee are: helmet and eyewear required (only in Myrtle Beach city limits – SC is a no helmet state for anyone over 21); no loud mufflers (over 87 decibels); photo ID required for hotel/accommodation check in as well as ID of all guests per room and of all vehicles in parking lots; no open containers; no trailers parked on public streets; no use of parking lots for non-parking activities; and only two motorcycles allowed per parking space (including metered and pay parking).

The ordinances in combination with a limit placed on vendor licenses has set the stage to phase out the motorcycle events held in this tourist town.  And, some folks are already questioning the ability of the Myrtle Beach City Council to pass such ordinances.  The most obvious problem is the helmet and eyewear ordinance.  South Carolina has no law requiring a helmet for motorcycle riders over the age of 21, and a law firm from Virginia has already filed suit against the city to see if the city law overriding the state law is constitutional.  I would like to think not.

I will do my best to keep you apprised of what is happening in Myrtle Beach this year.  You may also visit the local news website for very valuable info including a full list of new city ordinances (www.myrtlebeachonline.com).

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe

ArtBiker

Biker Weddings

 

Comrade and Big Mamma on their honeymoon trip to Sturgis, SD for the 2003 Rally.

 

I have been thinking of weddings the past few weeks… my youngest sister is tying the knot and I am going to officiate.  You see, about four years ago I went ahead and became an ordained minister on-line.  Why?  Well it just seemed like the thing to do.  Plus, it would allow me to perform weddings for my Brothers, if the situation arose.  As it turns out, they have been more in the market for divorce lawyers than wedding officiants, but that is another story all together.

For any of you who have not witnessed a biker style wedding, it is something to see.  There are many varieties, styles, and levels of commitment to the motorcycle culture that can be included.  From couples who have a passing interest in riding because of recent television exposure who might include some decorative element; to the serious riders and enthusiasts who may tailor the ceremony to their passion, even including motorcycles in the ceremony itself; to the hard-core types whose wedding more closely resembles a club run and binge party than any type of formal, or even organized, ceremony.

I suppose the most common ceremony that might be considered a “biker wedding” is either one that takes place at a major rally or motorcycle event or a wedding in which motorcycles play a large part in the ceremony itself.  For example, the wedding party often arrives at the venue on their bikes and park on either side of the “aisle.”  The groom and officiant may arrive on their own bikes and await the arrival of the bride to be.  She may also arrive by bike.  Whether she arrives by foot or two wheels, the wedding party will rev their engines as she comes down the aisle… the biker version of the wedding march.  The officiant will call for the silencing of the engines and begin the ceremony.  The bride and groom almost always use their own vows, rings may be exchanged, and the wedding party lights up the bikes as the new couple finishes the ceremony and takes their first walk (or ride) back up the rows of bikes as husband and wife.

My Ol’ Lady and I had a non-traditional wedding and we spent the following few weeks traveling from Houston to the Dakotas for our annual pilgrimage to Sturgis.  It was a fantastic honeymoon that included a stop in Linton, North Dakota to celebrate Big Mamma’s new last name.

While my little sister does ride, she and her fiancé have planned a beach wedding rather than a biker wedding.  It is going to be beautiful and the whole family is looking forward to getting out of Houston and the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Have you or someone you know held a biker wedding?  If so, I would love to hear about it.  I know many of our readers would also be interested.  By the way, if you are interested in having me officiate your wedding, just drop a note to save the date.  And, a quick search for “bike wedding” will give you a few nice websites with great info and ceremony ideas.

 

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

 

 

Just Married, Sturgis. SD. 1994 : copyright Michael Lichter