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Rant Archive - August 2006

August 26, 2006 - A VISIT TO S&G CUSTOM CYCLES IN COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE

Back in January I met a nice gentleman at the Music City Motorcycle Show & Expo who told me about his shop down in Columbia, Tennessee that was full of vintage bikes. I promised I'd get down there and check it out one day and today turned out to be that day. At 8:30 this morning I headed south out of Nashville on Interstate 65 , took 396 west and then 31 south into Columbia and my eventual destination of S&G Custom Cycles.

When you first drive up to S&G you're not all that impressed. The store is located in an old industrial type building that really gives no hint that there is anything relating to motorcycles inside but when you walk through the door you realize how wrong initial impressions can be . Wall-to-wall motorcycles greet you that are packed so tightly it takes a few second to realize that nearly all of them are rare and vintage specimens. There are so many that some are even hanging from the ceiling. The store staff was gracious enough to let me take a few picks that you can check out by clicking on the link below... but I can tell you that they don't do the place justice. If you are a "Certified Bike Nut" like me, you MUST check this place out. Like the old saying goes, it's like being a kid in a candy store!

CLICK HERE to check out pics of some cool bikes at S&G Custom Cycles.

I spent an hour and a half wandering around and after picking my chin up off the floor hopped on the Electra Glide for the cruise back to Nashville. I opted this time to take the backroads and picked up highway 99 out of Columbia which took me through Pottsville, Venable Spring, Chapel Hill and the likes. The road was excellent with slow, rolling curves, not much traffic and the usual awesome Middle Tennessee scenery. I made a quick stop in College Grove to check out College Grove Customs new shop and then found a nice little cafe in Eagleville called Huckleberry's to grab a bite before arriving back in Nashville. Another day of great riding and motorcycles!

ON THE MP3: Chicago XXX (that's roman numeral thirty... as in thirty albums...wow) was my choice of music on this ride. The legendary band shows again with this project that they have no intentions of stopping anytime soon. Produced by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts fame, the CD maintains the classic Chicago horn-based sound with modern, polished  production techniques. The highlights for me are "Already Gone" and "Better" which serve as evidence that Bill Champlin is still one of the best R&B influenced singers on the planet.

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August 23, 2006 - DISCOVERY CHANNELS "BIG" CHOPPER VISITS NASHVILLE

Some of you may remember a TV show that aired on The Discovery Channel sometime back called "BIG" where each week they would build grossly oversized versions of everyday items... like blenders and such. I personally never saw the show and my guess is that it didn't last long considering that searches on Google and The Discovery Channel's website turn up little to nothing about it but I do remember a commercial for one episode in particular where a group of well-known bike builders were to create a "BIG" chopper. It must not have grabbed my attention all that much because I didn't watch the show but when I heard yesterday that the bike would be passing through Nashville today, I thought I would check it out.

The "BIG" chopper is an actual functioning motorcycle powered by a 1500cc American V-Twin Motor. It stands over eight feet tall, is nearly twenty-three feet long and rides five people with ease. It's final destination is The Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina who recently acquired the one-of-a-kind novelty bike. You should be able to see it on display there soon.

CLICK HERE to check out pics of the "BIG" Chopper.

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August 19, 2006 - CHATTANOOGA: NIGHTFALL CONCERT AND LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

For months I have been hearing about the Nightfall Concert Series that takes place throughout the summer on Friday nights in Chattanooga. Rumors of hundreds of bikes, good music and a biker friendly atmosphere peaked my interest so yesterday the better half and I gathered with eleven of our friends and headed east to check it out. The trip started out a little rocky when one of the couples with us lost their rear break. Thankfully, they were able to get safely stopped with just the front break and after some minor roadside-wrenching, we were back on the road.

The weather, though somewhat muggy was excellent and the section of highway through Monteagle reminded me why Tennessee is one of the most beautiful states in the country. Soon after, we made a quick stop at our motel on the outskirts of Chattanooga and after checking in headed downtown to Market Street where the big event was taking place. I wasn't prepared for what happened next.

Turning onto Market Street from the south, suddenly an incredible sight came into view. For as far as I could see there were motorcycles filling the street with rows down each side of the road, two-deep down the center and many even parked on the adjoining sidewalks. It was hard to concentrate on maneuvering the Electra Glide through this maze when my instinct was to turn and check out the sea of motorcycles but somehow we all successfully snaked our way through the two-wheel heaven eventually finding a place to drop the kickstands a couple blocks past the main drag. There were easily 500 bikes there and we spent the next couple of hours taking them all in. Everything you can imagine from old BMW's to tricked out customs to scooters were represented and we checked out each one. The music stage was just off the street and blues singer Shemekia Copeland with her red hot band were providing the entertainment. If you like Blues, you gotta check her out. She is the daughter of Blues great Johnny Copeland and she and her band were absolutely smokin' hot.

The show ended around 9:30pm and since we hadn't eaten yet, we decided to grab some barbecue at Sticky Fingers, a must stop restaurant if you are ever in Chattanooga. The parking lot attendant was very cool, allowing us to park three bikes per space and the service was great... and oh yeah, the ribs were awesome!

When we woke up this morning we were ready to do some riding so we headed up the great roads leading to Lookout Mountain. Chattanooga was the sight of quite a fierce battle during the Civil War. It seems that the Union stormed the Confederates Lookout Mountain with some 8,000 troops and when it was all said and done, the Confederates lost the battle and 900 of 1,500 soldiers. Today there is a huge monument and park commemorating the battle and despite a little haze this morning, the view from Lookout Mountain was incredible. You can see for miles, including the entire city of Chattanooga.

After we got our fill of history and spectacular views it was back to town where we hopped on Highway 41 and came back to Nashville. The Interstate would have been faster but Highway 41 is the kind of road that bikers live for. Lot's of curves, hills and beautiful scenery.  By the time we got back to Nashville we had clocked 250 miles, made some good memories and shared another trip with some good friends.

CLICK HERE to check out pics of the Chattanooga trip.

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August 17, 2006 - MUSIC CITY BIKE NIGHT

Boswell's Harley-Davidson of Nashville hosted the third Music City Bike Night of the summer tonight so I thought I'd cruise over and check it out. Turn out was excellent with bikes from all over middle Tennessee and even as far away as Texas attending. The evening included a tasty barbecue and grilled corn-on-the-cob meal courtesy of Boswell's, lot's of door prizes (I didn't win) and entertainment by the Waldo Weathers Band, one of Music City's best blues bands. It was a good time and as usual I got some pictures.

CLICK HERE to check out pics of the Music City Bike Night.

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August 13, 2006 - VICTORY VEGAS DEMO RIDE

I've been admiring the Victory Vegas for several months now. I think it is one of the better looking factory bikes out there and if it wasn't for the fact that I needed a 2-up bike, it would have been a major consideration when I was shopping for a new bike earlier this summer. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to ride one for the first time. Sloan's motorcycle in Murfreesboro, Tennessee has what they call "Super Saturday" on the second Saturday of each month where you can demo ride just about anything they sell. That includes product from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and in my case Victory. I got to the store about 11:00 and discovered there was a 1:00 time slot available on a great looking Vegas in the Black w/Red Pinstripe color. There was plenty to do for a couple of hours thanks to another event going on at the dealership (see my RANT from yesterday) so I filled out a release/waiver, showed them my drivers license and waited for my turn while I wandered around taking pictures and chatting with other riders.

At about 12:50 they gathered us all together and briefed us on formation, etc. I'd say there were 8 to 10 of us in the group with riders on everything from Suzuki Boulevards to Honda Goldwings. I took my place on the Vegas and tried to soak it all in. The first thing that struck me, other than the fact that the bike looks fantastic, is how low it sits. Seat height is a low 26.5" and is very comfortable, even for a vertically challenged 5' '9" person such as myself. The pull-back handlebars add to the comfort and I immediately felt ready to ride the Vegas. The ignition switch is located on the left side of the bike, between the V-Twin jugs and with a twist of the key and push of the start button, the 100 cubic inch engine came to life. The bike has a nice, stock sort of rumble, reminiscent of a Harley-Davidson but without the depth. Nonetheless, the bike sounded good.

Once everyone was up and running a police escort stopped traffic on busy Murfreesboro Road to let us out of the parking lot as a group and we were headed out for our 20 minute ride. Controls are laid out nicely on this bike with a white faced speedometer positioned out front enough to allow quick glances without taking your attention off of the road. One thing that was noticeably absent however was a tachometer. I really expected a "hot-rod" bike like this to have one. The ride was stiffer than what I am used to but then again my main ride is an Electra Glide which is designed for touring. This bike is definitely a different animal and the mono-tube rear suspension seemed very well suited for hittin' the twisties despite the fact that the bike seemed much longer than what I am used to. Power was pretty comparable to the Electra Glide but I did notice a bit of flat spot when initially rolling on the throttle. This could be because I am used to the Harley Fuel Injection system.

Overall, I'd have to say that the Vegas is a pretty sweet bike if you are looking for a 1-up "hot-rod" with killer looks. The bottom line is that the Vegas is fun to ride and the custom look tank, forward controls, cast wheels, pull-back bars, flush-mount taillight and the likes give the bike a true custom look that is unmatched by most other factory rides. This bike is definitely worth checking out. MSRP=$15,799.

CLICK HERE to check out pics of the Victory Vegas I rode.

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August 12, 2006 - METRIC REVOLUTION TV TOUR AND LOCAL BUILDER DON GRAY STOP BY SLOAN'S

There's a new TV series scheduled to air this Fall (dates and network to be determined) that I am really excited about. Metric Revolution will feature customized import bikes and 22 of the top "metric" builders in America. I first heard about the show earlier this year from Road Bike Magazine Editor Jessica Prokup but I didn't know until just a few weeks ago that the production crew would be right here in Nashville to film part of the show. As it turns out, one of our local builders, Don Gray of Don Gray Customs in Hendersonville, Tennessee was selected as one of the featured builders with Sloan's motorcycle in Murfreesboro signing on as a sponsor and providing the Yamaha Roadstar for the project. The unveiling was today at Sloans and let me tell you, the bike that Mr. Gray came up with is unbelievable. I took about 40 pictures of the awesome build but the Metric Revolution production crew asked me not to publish them until after September and the episode airs. I'll post them here then, but in the mean time... I did get some pics of other Don Gray Customs for you to check out. CLICK HERE!

And speaking of Sloan's... my hats off to my friends down in Murfreesboro. This was a top-notch event all around. In addition to the TV filming, the dealership offered free demo rides all day long (something they do every second Saturday) which gave me the opportunity to ride one of the new Victory Vegas 100 CI beasts! I'll post my review soon. Visit Sloan's on-line at www.SloansMotorcycle.com.

CLICK HERE to check out a ton more pics of the Metric Revolution TV Tour at Sloans.

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August 8, 2006 - 66th ANNUAL BLACK HILLS MOTORCYCLE RALLY: AUGUST 7-13, 2006

Photo courtesy of www.rapidcityjournal.com

As I write this, thousands of bikers are gathered in a small town on the west side of South Dakota for the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally. For seven days every year, the sleepy little town of Sturgis, South Dakota is transformed into a motorcycle haven offering the motorcycle enthusiast everything from mild to wild… both in motorcycles and lifestyle. All types of motorcycles are there, all types of people are there, all the manufacturers are there, all the vendors are there, all the builders are there, and this year a newly constructed concert amphitheater is making sure some of the best music acts in the country are there. It would seem everyone is there… but me! Unfortunately, the 19 hour, 1291 mile trip from Nashville to Sturgis was not possible this year but sooner or later I will make that trip!

Perhaps the best known motorcycle event in the world, the Sturgis Rally was conceived in the late 1930's when members of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club noticed the attention that annual rodeos and festivals were getting in surrounding Black Hills communities and decided to create the Black Hills Motor Classic to create a similar attraction in Sturgis. Nine racers participated that first year while a small audience of mostly in-state bikers watched. Things have come a long way since then and this years rally is expected to draw well over 500,000 people. And incidentally, racing is still a big part of the rally. This years events include motocross racing, a 1/2 mile race, hill climbs, road tours and short track racing, all still sponsored by the Jackpine Gypsies.

If you're like me and couldn't make the trip, here are a few links to make you feel better. I wish I were there!

www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com - The official website of the rally.

www.sturgis.com - An unofficial website of the rally. Pictures are added each day of the rally.

www.jackpinegypsies.com - Home of the Jackpine Gypsies MC.

www.sturgis-sd.org - Home of the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce.

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August 5, 2006 - A TRIP TO KROONERS AND A BIRTHDAY BASH

I decided to visit one of our local shops today since I haven't been there in a while. Krooners is located in Lebanon, Tennessee and is an authorized dealer for a whole slew of brands including Arlen Ness, Biker's Choice, Custom Chrome, Drag Specialties, Kuryakyn, Performance Machine, S&S... and on and on and on... they have it all! I first became aware of them about three years ago when a buddy of mine asked me to go pick up a frame with him. I was surprised to find that the little store that is practically in my back yard was selling parts to custom builders all across the country. I was also very surprised to find that the store has a sushi bar on the premises and has adopted the slogan, Ride American-Eat Japanese. I've been wearing the shirt since my first visit!

After chatting with the staff at Krooners for a while, I made my way a block over to the town square in Lebanon and wandered around for a bit. It seems that the town is steeped in Civil War history and was the site of a fierce battle on May 5, 1862. There is a monument to Confederate soldiers in the middle of the square.

CLICK HERE to check out pictures of my visit to Krooners and the town square in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Next I was on my way to Murfreesboro, Tennessee for Bumpus Harley-Davidson's 9th Birthday Bash. The event was being hosted by 105.9FM The Rock and one lucky winner was going to go home with a free V-Rod courtesy of Bumpus. Well, I didn't make it in time to see the giveaway but I did get some pics of a few cool bikes that were in attendance. Man I never get tired of taking pictures of motorcycles!

CLICK HERE to check out pictures of the Bumpus Birthday Bash.

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August 2, 2006 - STAMPS... I'VE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THEM

Stamps… I've never really thought much about them. In fact, all they really are to me is a relatively inexpensive way of getting my hard earned money to the people that want it. You know, people like Mr. Mortgage, Mrs. Electricity and their children Petrol and Aqua. Recently however, my interest was peaked when a new series of American Motorcycle Stamps was announced. I wasn't exactly sure how motorcycles related to postage but according to the USPS website the American Motorcycle Series "recognizes the role of motorcycles in American culture." I'm certainly cool with that! After all, as far as I'm concerned, motorcycles are a huge part of American culture. The stamps should be available in your area by now so check them out but in the mean time here's the results of a little research I did on them.

There are four stamps in the series and they include a 1918 Cleveland, a 1940 Indian Four, a 1965 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide, and a circa 1970 chopper. The digital illustrations were created by an artist named Steve Buchanan of Winsted, CT. and other than the chopper, are based on real existing bikes owned by real people. How cool would that be? Not a lot of people can say that their bike is on a USPS stamp! Below is a description of each one as given by the USPS website.

Indian 1940 - The motorcycle depicted on this stamp was made by the Indian Motorcycle Company. The 1940 entry in a series of deluxe, four-cylinder motorcycles known as the Four, this streamlined bike featured skirted fenders that partially covered the wheels, a controversial design innovation that soon became an Indian trademark.

The model for the illustration featured on this stamp is a motorcycle owned by Michael and Larry Spielfogel of New York City. It is depicted in the deep red color often associated with Indian motorcycles.

Cleveland 1918 - The single-cylinder Cleveland motorcycle depicted on this stamp was built by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Advertisements claimed that this motorcycle, which featured a 2.5-horsepower, single-cylinder motor, could travel 75 miles on a single gallon of gasoline and reach speeds of up to 35 to 40 miles per hour. Weighing around 150 pounds and selling for $175, the Cleveland was both lightweight and affordable, making it a popular motorcycle of its time.

The model for the "Cleveland 1918" stamp artwork is a 1918 Cleveland A2 owned by Penny Nickerson of Long Island, New York.

Chopper c.1970 - The name "chopper" derives from the process of removing, or "chopping," unnecessary or unwanted components from a motorcycle. The term often indicates an extensively customized motorcycle with such features as a stretched frame, stepped seat, and raised handlebars. Typically, the frame has been stretched with an extended-length fork leading to the front wheel.

Especially prominent during the 1960s and 1970s, choppers follow in a tradition of earlier customized motorcycles that were known as "bobbers" for their shortened, or bobbed, fenders.

The circa 1970 chopper featured on this stamp was invented by the stamp artist in consultation with professional chopper builders. Although lacking various safety features such as mirrors and turn signals that are required today, this chopper would have been legal to ride circa 1970.

Harley-Davidson 1965 - With features such as whitewall tires, extensive chrome, large fenders, and spacious fiberglass saddlebags, the Harley-Davidson featured on this stamp is considered by many to be one of the company's most iconic motorcycles. Known as the Electra-Glide, this model was first manufactured in 1965, when its new features included a push-button electric starter.

The model for the illustration featured on the Harley-Davidson 1965 stamp is a motorcycle owned by George Tsunis of Port Jefferson, NY.

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