Harley Davidson clothes are growing in popularity with everyone, not just those who ride the open road frequently. The dependable quality and hard-wearing craftsmanship of Harley Davidson clothes are what make them a great choice for everyone in the family. However, you want to make sure you are putting thought into the Harley apparel you purchase! HD clothing can be hard to find and is usually only available through dealership shops.

every day. This makes shopping online more convenient and easy than ever before. On the other hand it is important to approach every purchase as a cautious and educated consumer. That is why, when buying any type of clothing, including Harley Davidson clothes are what make them a great way to save and receive sales discounts. You’ll notice that most online Harley Davidson clothes will be reduced from their original retail price, but you can often receive additional savings by purchasing multiple pieces through the same seller.

If you are putting thought into the Harley apparel you purchase! HD clothing can be a bit of a gamble when it comes to shopping and it is important to be assertive when purchasing clothing online. Internet retailers are often great salespeople and offer incredible customer service. If you have any questions regarding the Harley apparel you purchase! HD clothing can be hard to find and is usually only available through dealership shops. This is not always necessary since the listing is usually accompanied by in-depth sales details.

But for extra safety, be sure to check out major sites such as Ebay.com because they will have a rating that shows how successful each sellers’ past sales have been. Just make sure before checking out and finalizing your purchase that you only buy from a reputable seller. You may want to make sure you are considering buying more than one piece of clothing, including Harley Davidson clothes they have for sale, be sure to check out major sites such as Ebay.com because they will have a rating that shows how successful each sellers’ past sales have been.

Just make sure before checking out and finalizing your purchase that you only buy from a reputable seller. You may want to check out major sites such as Ebay.com because they will have a rating that shows how successful each sellers’ past sales have been. Just make sure that they are have received good feedback from current customers. Tip 2: Don’t be Bashful It’s important to know the ins and outs of online shopping to avoid any second-rate purchases and wasted money.

I was driving along listening to the news, and you know when you hear statistics and they wash over you, well I was listening to a piece on immigration and the presenter said that last year the number of people that emigrated from the UK was 427,000.

It was only later that I realised 427,000 people is more than the population of Bristol!  We actually have the equivalent of entire cities of people leaving us, for good, every year! Be good if we could make it into  a reality TV show and we all get to vote on which city we would like to evict from the country every year….” We’re a city get us out of here…!” If we could choose the 427,000 people we could get rid of Hartlepool, Slough,  Dundee and the whole of the Vale of Glamorgan!  ”Dundee….you’re fired!”

One person who hasn’t emigrated is our new Account Manager Rachel Lilley. Rachel,26, has joined us from the Bowker Group where she was managing the marketing of BMWs, Minis and Harleys. Rachel lives in Bradshaw, Bolton with husband Brett, and has about a 20 mile trip into work. A graduate of Bolton University, she also passed her Professional Diploma in Marketing in the summer. Her degree was in fashion marketing, and I know she’s keen to get involved in any fashion shoots at Workhouse Studios. We welcome Rachel and I’m sure she’ll do a great job as part of our team.

Rachel Lilley, Account Manager at Workhouse Marketing

She missed out on the fashion shoot which Live Ribble Valley magazine did at our studios recently for their November/December issue. Here’s a taster, shot by Lottie Designs and styled by the brilliant Debbie Fish, get hold of a copy to see the rest of the pics. We’re big fans of Live Ribble Valley, and Tedd and the team at the magazine do a terrific job.

“The Machine” Washington State, Aug 2009.

A guy’s getaway is based within the structure of what men will do when the women are away. The key is that the kernel of intention is always in the back of the mind. The reality, of course, is to be oneself because that ultimately sells the idea in any situation. Granted going for the gold creates balance. But it is all about a sense of play. And that second dipper of blue cheese.

Daytona Beach has always had the beachfront lock on that aspect. For years, it was the poster child of Spring Break before the angle changed. But the young is always about what is new and hot. The power ultimately lies in the stamina.

Speed, power and this ideal of longevity truly cover the physical perception of what starts the engines…literally.

Located just minutes from the Daytona International Airport which from most gateways is only a short stop through Atlanta on Delta, the Daytona International Speedway, the mecca of all things racing, looms in shining glory. It makes other tracks like Charlotte and Chicagoland seem like infants, simply for its majesty. The Daytona 500, world famous for proper reason, is open year round for various elements of taste but on a normal day one can venture simply through to view history. A tram tour through the actual track and backfield show the intensive engineering required to make the park run. Inside the Daytona 500 Experience, the chronology shows the beginnings on the beachfront more than 70 years ago. Not simply walking exhibits, the activities are interactive including quick drop training as a pit crew changing tires on an actual stock car followed by a virtual race simulation inside stock car shells.

For a angle of the real, Speed Park Daytona, less than a mile away, offers a little more torque for the buck. Hidden behind its go-cart exterior lies Drag Alley where full size dragsters that go from 0 to 75 in less than 2 seconds lie revving under deep thunder as the waiting partipants sign the waiver and strap in. As the go line on the second light drops, the intensity is to floor it and hit the accelerator at full speed once the dial hits 4800 RPM. The blast off is a rush and anyone over 52 inches height regardless of age need apply.

Destination Daytona, in compelling perspective, a stone’s throw away near Interstate 95, offers the more practical side of the hog revolution. Mandy Rossmeyer Campbell, daughter of founder Bruce Rossmeyer, runs one of the largest Harley Davidson dealerships in the world. The sound upstairs in the garage room as these beautiful bikes, customized to the nines, are tuned raps pure thunder as bearded tatooed customers wait in patience while their rocked-out children are amped.

Wyotech Institute, a separate entity on the back of the property, is a national recognized school for the maintenance of these high end bikes as well as an exceptional array of marine proponents. If you know the basics followed by a craftman’s eye, life may become something between West Coast Choppers, opening your own garage, working on luxury boats or serving on a tanker fixing the big boys on a ride around the world. All are possibilities as well as the stability of an exceptional vocation with a school that has an almost eighty percent job placement rate, which is stellar, especially in this economy.

Speaking of marine, the full day excursions down at The Critter Fleet departing off Ponce Inlet warrants the motivation of the adventurous journeying more than 40 miles offshore to the cusp of the Bahamas. At this distance, five pound weights drop sardines to the ocean floor where an array of good size fish await the fight from red snapper to cobia to the occasional bonita. Armed with a cooler of ice and a case of suds, the day is not without run and workout both from the thirst inherent but also the incessant reel action needed to bring said bait up from the ocean bottom, fish or not. The end of day is fulfilling yet the soreness in the time after proves that work has been done.

For the less ocean inclined, a golf clinic over at LPGA International can improve the golf game immensely. Even for the experienced player, a refresher is always necessary to remember certain inherent truths especially in the poise of effective stance and follow through. The golf professionals are both patient and undeniably practical in their application.

The history culimates at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, which is on the national historic registry as the first place, albeit in a minor league game, where the famous athlete played his first non-segregated game. The venue is maintained just as it was all those years ago before the advent of digital. Throwing the ball over the plate as the Budweiser Bullpen looms in the backfield gives a sense of distance as the nights bring minor league action Chicago Cubs-style as they are the ball club who currently use the arena to bring players up to the big time.

Food and drink of course are of natural necessity both in vision and texture to the area. Certain permeatations offer desired results depending what is needed from breakfast through the day.

The Dancing Avocado Kitchen gives penitence in its massive breakfast burrito which goes two for one on certain days which can floor the desired engager. Led in tandem by a blended chai smoothie, the spinach, potato and onion filled concoction heightened by the owners own special chili sauce can start the day right on multiple levels.

The Daytona Diner, by comparison, is a biker stop right behind the riverfront Harley dealer which is also overseen by the Rossmeyers. The Betty Boop biker girl on a motorcycle in plain view is worth the trip alone. On the forefront, a skillet of scrambled eggs and potatoes topped with sausage gravy reveled by a glass of milk and cheese grits highlight that this is not a town for the faint of heart.

Lunch epitomizes a different inception as Houligans right near Destination Daytona offers chicken wings “Wally Style” both garlic entrenched and grilled which is hot and satisfying without being too messy. The cheese macaroni poppers needs to be tried simply for the perspective of their ubiquity along with the explosive enriched chili cheese fries and a draft Guinness or three.

Dinner, in continuation, requires different perspectives in ambiance, presence and taste.

Stonewood Grill simply offers the goods straight off without a thought straight to your stomach within a structured environment condusive to a business meeting or the requisite mid-week food coma. The Blue Cheese Chips simply are guilt inducing in the best way simply because of their indulgence while the main course of a filet mignon wrapped in a holy trinity of ravioli ensconced with portobello mushrooms and asparagus give the satisfaction necessary to either continue the night full force or pass out depending on your intentions.

By comparison, dinner at Martini’s Chophouse is a experience in the subtle and visually stimulating. Setting up with a pre-dinner cocktail which on a Thursday means $1 martinis around a refined fire pit makes the feeling good. The avocado shot in the men’s bathroom simply has to be seen to be explained.

Entering inside with the low light and excellent smiling service of the interior dining room, the meal commences with a sumptious tuna cocktail whose visual flair is matched by the light wasabi sauce that washes over the seared ahi. The main course of veal osso bucco offered tenderness without an overwhelming sauce which made its execution just right. The after dinner penance of a double expresso continued the journey as the french crepes with the lingering vivaciousness of peaches, recommended by the Santa Barbara-bred waitress, gave a light and delicious end to the proceedings.

The late evening possibilities have something for everyone while still staying within acceptable bounds depending which way tickles the fancy.

For the chill, the layout has the goods at Fletchers Cigar Bar which has an impressive array of different possibilities from full bodied intensity to simple smoothness. The briskness of a Macanudo, balanced by the vision of a well poured Guinness, sanctifies the experience along with a variety of other cocktails while the unique air filtration system allows for the ladies to enjoy the requisite ambiance without having to cough their way through the haze.

For the bar inclined, the need look no further than Main Street where a bulk of the world famous Bike Week occurs. The pinnacle of its essence rests on the steps of Froggy’s Saloon, less than two blocks off the beach, where the doors only close four hours a day between 3 and 7am.

The creation of a new cocktail marked the entrance into this reverent hall. The Irish Car Bomb, mixing a half pint of Guinness with a drop shot of Baileys and Jameson, was altered into the “Los Problemos”, inspired by the lunch excursion to Houligans (lovingly nicknamed “Los Hooligans”), in which Cuervo Silver Tequila and Kahlua replaces the ingredients of the requisite shot sinker. The concoction is smooth, tasty and more than a little dangerous as observed by a bad ass female bartender who gave no slack but could also belt out Crowes and AC/DC without missing a beat.

Boot Hill Saloon, just a stumble further down, rocked in its belief that closing time allowed for one more shot. As the 2am hour approached (which necessitates the cut off time), a Pabst draft consumed was only more apparent in the arrival of a brand new Red Stag dispenser which necessitated applause and a quick pour.

The last stop on the range revolved in Dirty Harry’s Bar, marked by shadowed cool as stained glass hues reflected in the guise of a Jager shot. As the lights came down, the lure of an after hours club allowed for the continuation. “Last Call” and “Poppy’s” swirled in the brain yet the lure of crashing Atlantic lulled the goal.

Daytona also permeates from the correct selection of domicile. With many people coming for the races as well as biker events, the key is to be able to be fluid to the situation.

The Cove On Ormond Beach, just down A1A, offers this flexibility in terms of its efficiencies set up with an exceptional balcony. The encompassing Wi-Fi coverage, password protected, as well as the inclusion of an HDTV with DVD Player allows for the balance of work which is undeniably needed.

The pool area offers something for both sensibilities. The Lazy River allows for simple hangtime while an old school enclosed water slide offers the ability to relive youth in a very specific way. The hot tub jets fire with ferocity as the simmering waves of the Atlantic offer that unfettered sea breeze which can be experienced late night with a cold infusion dip and a requisite Cheyenne Wild as the foam of the ocean races past your feet.

Daytona Beach gives the “man on the go” the ability to chill or rock out, burn the candle bright or simply hit the gas while still maintaining the order of the day: relaxation.

Motor Cycle Driver’s License for 1927, Initial Conditional and 1928, Conditional, for an 18-year old Camden, NJ boy, also the registration for a 1928 Harley Davidson, Port Wine color, in the name of his father, it appears. Nice pieces of motorcycle history!

1927 & 1928 New Jersey Motorcycle Driver’s Licenses & Harley Registration available at www.DadsVintageAds.com in the “ Motorcycle Gifts & Collectibles” category

Search our Magazine Back Issue Index for old Motorcycle Magazine Back Issues for sale.

To search our full inventory of Vintage Motorcycle Advertisements, Articles, and Road Tests CLICK HERE.

Published by Harley-Davidson more than 70 years ago. Cover: HD Servi-Car outfitted for American Airlines in front of their DC-3 airliner Flagship Cincinnati. Inside: 9-pg article “Let’s visit the Harley-Davidson Factory” with many pictures of the factory during this era. Another article documents Sam Arena’s 200 mile speed record at Oakland Speedway. Rear cover: H-D dealer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, then owned by Charles Pinckard.

1939 January ”The Enthusiast” Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Magazine Back-Issue available at www.DadsVintageAds.com in the “ Other Motorcycle Magazine Back-Issues” category

Search our Magazine Back Issue Index for old Motorcycle Magazine Back Issues for sale.

To search our full inventory of Vintage Motorcycle Advertisements, Articles, and Road Tests CLICK HERE.

Few companies are as iconic as Harely-Davidson. Since its humble beginnings over 100 years ago, Harley-Davidson has been producing quality, high-performance motorcycles that are distinct in design and construction.

In 1903, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, from a wooden shed no bigger than 10 x 15 feet, assembled the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle after labouring over William’s original engine plans for two years. By 1904, the first Harley-Davidson dealer opened for business and the company was on its way to achieving unparalleled  success.

As an interesting historical tidbit, Harley-Davidson motorcycles are affectionately known as “hogs” and received the nickname from their earlier racing days. During the 1920’s, Harley-Davidson’s professional riders, a team of farm boys known as the “hog boys”, consistently won races. The group had a pig as their mascot, and following each win put the pig on their Harley for their victory lap. 

It’s a rare to find long-standing and storied companies, such as Harley-Davidson, but even more  rare to find them still operating in North America. At Antonio Valente, we salute Harley-Davidson’s committment to quality, innovation and the community.

The 1907 Harley-Davidson model

Hombre, vamos a ver…. nueva, nueva, no es. Esto es una HD Sportster 883 de toda la vida con el logo de Honda, y punto. Y es que en Japón deben estar las cosas chungas, porque la marca del ala dorada vuelve a las prácticas de los inicios de los fabricantes japoneses de motocicletas, copiando descaradamente a otros para entrar en el mercado. Aunque en este caso deberíamos decir “para abarcar más mercado”.

Y es que hacía mucho tiempo que no se veía algo semejante, sobre todo entre grandes marcas. Quien quiera juzgar el tema de la copia que busque las 7 diferencias con la foto de abajo, una Harley Sportster 883 (low) versión 2009.

(vale, cada una es de un lado distinto, pero aún así es evidente el sospechoso parecido…)

En fin, que Honda ha sacado un derivado de su serie Shadow. Le han quitado el cardán y lo han sustituido por un transmisión por cadena, le han variado las geometrías y adaptado todo lo demás (chasis, motor…) a esos cambios. Los frenos y las suspensiones siguen siendo iguales.

Además le han cambiado el depósito, ahora más pequeño, más estrecho y sin instrumentación. El velocímetro queda en el manillar, junto al nuevo faro, que encoge sustancialmente, y los tubos de escape son 2, tipo shotgun. Todo ello para asemejarse lo máximo posible a la Sportster… aunque ellos dirán que es para aligerar la estética y tal. Claro, claro.

Se anuncian 14 kilos menos que la versión normal, quedándose en 229,5 kgs. en seco. Asimismo hay una pequeña reducción de potencia, resultando así 43 C.V. a 5.500 vueltas, con la relación de cambio un poco más corta para mejorar las aceleraciones.

Las llantas son ahora de diferente diámetro (19 y 16 pulgadas, delante y detrás respectivamente) y tanto los guardabarros como los grupos ópticos son nuevos.

La verdad es que nunca he sido fanático del custom puro americano y me parece ridículo ese talibanismo de muchos usuarios de HD, que desprecian a todo lo que no se fabrique en los estates. Pienso que los fabricantes japoneses han aportado durante años una visión diferente a esa estética motociclista, y han hecho suyos otros signos de distinción tan válidos como los de Harley. Sin embargo esto de hoy… no tiene sentido. Es incluso un poco triste. Cuando lo vi, no me lo podía creer, y menos tratándose de Honda.

En fin, esperemos que al menos el precio sea medio decente con tanto recorte, aunque de momento aún no se conoce.

Este año para las motos está siendo raro, raro…

For many biker enthusiasts, choosing a helmet is a big part of the excitement after selecting a motorcycle. However, it can be easy to become plagued when selecting the right helmet because of the wide variety of helmets available. For a new rider, buying a helmet may be more daunting than choosing a bike! Below you will find helpful things to consider in order to find the right helmet for you!

For starters, there are three main styles to consider; three quarter shell helmet, half shell helmet, and a full-face helmet. Three quarter shell helmets have been the most common in the past few years. They cover the head completely and are secured using a chin strap and chin cup. Half shell helmets, or “beanie helmets” as they are sometimes called, are the popular choice with owners of classic older, classic motorcycle, Harley Davidson’s. These helmets cover only the top portion of the head and offer very little protection. Lastly, a full-face motorcycle helmet is the most popular with those who ride racing motorcycles as they provide additional protection at high speeds. A full-face helmet covers the entire head from above the brow line to the base of the skull at the nape of the neck.

The next few things you want to consider are D.O.T Certification, retention and fit. A helmet is of no use if it doesn’t provide protection, and that D.O.T. (U.S. Department of Transportation) sticker on the back is your guarantee that when the day comes, the helmet will perform. So be sure to check for that sticker! Additionally, retention and fit are important too. Once again, a helmet is no good if it doesn’t stay on when you get off without warning. You should check if the helmet you are trying on will stay on your head using a simple retention test. Lastly, part of retention is fit. Most helmets come with advice for fit and sizing so make sure to look into this when purchasing your helmet.

After you have checked out the following considerations, you must then look into the comfort, coverage and faceshield of your helmet. A helmet ranks with a motorcycle’s saddle among the factors that can make a long ride pleasurable or turn it into misery. This is why making sure it is comfortable is important! Also, keep this in mind; a full-coverage open-face helmet offers better coverage than a half helmet and a full-face helmet provides more protection than an open-face style. Furthermore, if you are buying a helmet with a faceshield, the shield probably has certification info molded into it, so look into this.

Last but not least, appearance and cost should definitely be considered! Some people find these two factors to be the most important. There is an unbelievable assortment of graphics available on top-shelf helmets, classic motorcycle, these days, but you will pay a top notch for them, and the more complex they are, the more they tend to cost. If cost is an issue, you may not want to pick out the most detailed designed out there. Chances are that the helmet that looks the best,, classic motorcycle, fits your head the best, has the most useful features, and feels the best on your head costs substantially more than the cheapest models you tried. If the cheapest helmet you saw fits as well as or better than the pricey model and has a D.O.T. sticker, then go ahead and buy it without qualms. The protection will be similar.

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Circa 1937– Springfield, Massachusetts. Since the creation of the Indian Motorcycle, the Indian Factory (the Wigwam) has been the greatest of its kind in the world. The tremendous facilities of this factory are laid out over 12 acres of floor space– nothing short of an actual visit will enable you to visualize the manufacture of today’s Indian motorcycles. In making a tour of the 35 departments of the factory, a person would walk a distance of 7 miles. The row upon row of machinery, if placed end to end, would alone stretch out over 1 1/2 miles. Indian leadership has been maintained thru the years by that manufacturing expertness which finds its outlet in making each new Indian better than the best Indian which has gone before it. When you ride on an Indian, you ride on the Best. — Image by © Lake County Museum

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When you think of classic American Iron, two brands typically come to mind– Harley-Davidson & Indian. Well, Harley-Davidson always comes to mind– and if you know a thing or two about bikes, then hopefully you’re familiar with Indian too.  For those of us that came along after the heyday of American manufacturing, it’s easy to overlook that in the early days there were literally dozens (some even say hundreds) of companies producing motorcycles right here in the US.

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Indian co-founder Oscar Hedstrom on left, CA. 1902.  And I suspect that’s him on the right, ca. 1901.

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Dig around and you’ll find an amazing archive of stories behind companies like– Ace, Cleveland, Crocker, Cushman, Emblem, Excelsior/Henderson, Flying Merkel, Flanders (mainly accessories), Iver Johnson, Marsh, Pierce, Pope, Reading Standard, Schickel, Sears, Thor, Whizzer, Yale, just to name a few.  Out of the crowded pack, two iconic brands emerged, and for years went head-to-head for dominance on the race tracks, and in the hearts of the American motorcycle enthusiast.  In the end, one clearly came out on top.  And while we all know who won– it’s interesting to glean from the many missteps that would eventually lead to Indian’s demise.

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A vintage Indian motorcycle on display at the Guggenheim Las Vegas. -- Image by © Ted Soqui

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Indian is recognized as being the first major player on the scene, rolling out production (all of 3 bikes) in 1901– two years before Harley-Davidson.  Started by Oscar Hedstrom & George Hendee, a couple of bicycle racers and self-taught engineers, they set out by essentially bolting Hedstrom’s small engines on to Hendee’s bicycles, and from there they quickly honed their craft to create some of the best motorcycles of that era.  Indian became the force to be reckoned with, and first-to-market with innovation after innovation– the first V-Twin engine, the first two-speed transmission, the first adjustable front suspension, the first electric lights and starter, and many more.  Indian was clearly dominant in the marketplace, and on the race track– setting and breaking speed records hand-over-fist.

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Indian originally began manufacturing under the corporate banner of the Hendee Manufacturing Company, which was later reincorporated as the Indian Motocycle Company (an apparent nod to the European style of “Moto” motorcycle company names — i.e. Moto-Guzzi), early Indians were inspired by Hedstrom’s work with “pacing” bicycles, see below–

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Circa 1910 -- A track cyclist is shown in practice behind an early Indian motorcycle. -- Image by © Underwood & Underwood.

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Competition with Harley-Davidson in the early days was fierce, and factory sponsored racers were expected to be loyal– it was pretty unheard of for guys to switch allegiances back then without controversy.  Legendary Indian riders over the years like Bobby Hill, Bill Tuman, Ernie Beckman (all a part of the legendary “Indian Wrecking Crew” of the 1940s & ’50s) Ed Kretz, Burt Munro, and Mad Max Bubeck were motorcycling Hellcats in their respective days, and their exploits and success became synonymous with the Indian brand.

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Circa 1914– “Baker and O’Brien, transcontinental motorcyclists, back of White House.”  –How American is that, I ask you? Erwin ‘Cannonball’ Baker (right)– After the record-setting five-month, 10,000 mile transcontinental run by Baker on an Indian motorcycle in 1914, a New York newspaper writer compared Baker to the Cannonball Express train and he picked up the famous moniker that would stick with him the rest of his life.  Harris & Ewing. (images via Shorpy).

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You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in motorcycling history more interesting than ‘Cannonball’ Baker. His record attempts often put him directly in harm’s way.  In one three-flags record attempt back in 1916, Baker had to change routes several times to avoid vast forest fires. In another run he took a turn at a high rate of speed and came upon a herd of cattle in the road. In trying to miss the herd, Baker turned sharply, hit a hole in the road and was thrown off his motorcycle into a fence– which in turn bounced him right onto the back of one of the cows. The surprised cow bucked him off and he ultimately landed in a ditch off the side of the road.  Baker took his skills overseas and set numerous records in foreign countries, most notably Australia and New Zealand.  Baker began shifting his focus and most of his record attempts were in automobiles.  In 1922, he ran in the Indianapolis 500 and finished 11th.  Baker also worked for Rickenbacker Automobiles, which was owned by the famous World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Eventually he became an AMA race official, and later was named national commissioner for NASCAR. Not a bad run, eh?

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Circa 1911–  Motorcyclist Oscar Godfrey poses with his Indian motorcycle during the B.M.C.R.C. trials at Brooklands. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection.  Indians fast growth was fueled by early and impressive wins, such as the Isle of Man TT in 1911– when Indian riders Godfrey, Franklin and Moorehouse finished first, second and third. Indian star rider Jake De Rosier set several speed records both in America and at Brooklands in England, and won an estimated 900 races on dirt and board track racing.

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Circa 1914, Brooklands — J.C. Brooke sitting on his Indian motorcycle at the Brooklands Easter Meeting in Scotland. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection.

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Circa 1920. Herbert McBride, who recently broke the world’s motorcycle record for amateurs on his Indian.  His time was 105:24 miles per hour, which beats the old professional speed record. — Image by © Bettmann.  Speaking for myself, shots like these give me the chills.  The beauty of form and function coming together simply in all things, in a way that’s matter-of-fact and with a sense of pride, but not boastful.  The practical mix of quality apparel and accessories that are no nonsense and get the job done– all topped of with a neckerchief (tucked-in of course, so as not to flap in one’s face)– a nod to more civilized times. *

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With all their success early on, sadly Indian soon began a slow descent stemming from several changes in ownership and top management over the years. While great innovations continued at Indian, they often went unappreciated by a market that simply wasn’t willing or able to pay the steep prices that came along with them.  Bikes like the Model H– the first true board-track factory racer ever offered for sale directly to the public. It was loaded with features like a four-valve-per-cylinder,  overhead-valve engine and a lightweight rigid frame that was free of racing “nonessentials” such as brakes, fenders or a throttle (the bikes were run with the carbs wide open).  The Model H carried a top speed of over 120mph along with a whopping price tag of $375, roughly a third more than a fully equipped Chief of the era. Problem was that not too many club racers had that kind of dough to part with, and the motorcycle-buying public also lacked the finances, but also didn’t have the balls to get on the beast– so relatively few were built. But for Indian, it still notched a moral victory of sorts.  For those few Model H bikes were pure Hellcats in the capable hands of their sponsored riders, whom they “loaned’ them to with great success– bringing home trophies and track records almost everywhere they competed.  Still, perhaps there was an important lesson there that Indian should have filed away for future consideration–

Know your market, and what they’ll pay you for– and what they won’t.  Meaning that you should resist over-engineering a commodity product far beyond the end-user’s expectations– without their buy-in, and at their expense.  Always fully understand the specific needs you aim to address with your product, along with the price ceiling associated, and focus on delivering against that.  Don’t go cutting corners, but also be careful not to be driven by vanity to take it to the extreme where it’s no longer relevant (in terms of practicality or value) to the consumer– that is, unless you want to own them all.

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More proverbial writing was on the wall, when in 1913 Oscar Hedstrom left Indian after heated disagreements with the Board of Directors regarding their questionable accounting practices  that inflated the company’s stock values.  Co-founder George Hendee was not far behind, with him resigning in 1916.  The “powers that be” at Indian tapped Hedstrom’s long-time assistant Charles Gustafson and Charles B. Franklin (an Irish immigrant and former rider for the “Indian Rules” team that swept the Isle of Man TT in 1911) to pick up the company’s top engineering duties.  In the years that followed, Indian released Franklin’s iconic V-twin powered designs that would become the hallmark of the brand.

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Circa 1922, Los Angeles, California -- Speed demons beware... the Los Angeles motor corps with their new fleet of Indian motorcycles all ready and waiting to set out after Californian motorists who like to step on the gas. -- Image by © Bettmann.

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To be continued…

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Cool Condoms / Vanderlay Industries is gearing up for the Holidays.  Stay tuned.

            You might not have been taught the price our Founding Fathers paid to be free.  You might not remember the price paid by the first century church to set the body of Christ into motion in a manner in keeping with the calling God had placed on the body.  That might be because you have been listening to the new Gospel with its new pricing program.

We suddenly live in a place where we do not want to pay a price for anything.  We want it and we want it now.  It would be okay if this were an indictment against the secular side of America.  Unfortunately, it is also an indictment against the spiritual side of America.

            If we were founding America it would look more like Disney World than the country we love—one price gets you into everything, except the food is specially priced just to make sure we got you one more time.

            How do we move forward?  What can stop the slid into meaninglessness?

            There is really only one way—we have to get back to the basics.  We have to realize that we are not special; we are merely some of those called by God to a higher life, a life of giving and sacrifice instead of a life of taking and no pain.

            This also means that we have to quit talking the talk and start walking the walk.  We must find a way to live in the same manner as the Apostle Paul.  He counted all as loss.  The only thing that matter to Paul was the furtherance of the Gospel.  He could live in wealth and he could live in poverty—the moment does not matter, only eternity.

            We have to get past the pettiness of our culture and get back to real life.  That is one of the problems I see with the spiritual state of our world and especially our country.  We spend our time catering to the pettiness, how do we get more people to show up in the Church.  We spend our time trying to figure out how to get more people to raise their hand while nobody is looking. 

            In college we rewrote the lyrics to a famous hymn:  “Raise your hand, raise your hand for Jesus, put it down before anyone looks.  Praise God now you’re saved, your name is in the book.”  That sums up the current Gospel message.

            God wants you to have a Harley; He must because he gave me one.  No, wait, I am more special.

            We need to get back to living our life remembering that one day we will stand in front of God and give account for everything.  God might be love, but love is not syrup on your French Toast; love is justice.  Love is demanding of those to whom it is given.

            That might be a good thing to keep in mind the next time we are in the Harley shop thinking about living the good life.

There are quite a few Harley Davidson enthusiasts working at our Goodwill, including our President/CEO.  So when the local Harley Davidson retailer contacted us about hosting a donation drive, we quickly agreed.

The donation drive started at the beginning of October and will continue through the end of the year.  Harley has been encouraging people to donate their new or gently used jeans, gloves, hats, scarves and jackets at one of their three local Harley Davidson locations.  In return for their donation, customers will receive up to $20 off their purchase of a similar item.  In other words, if you donate a jacket to Goodwill at the Harley Davidson donation site then you will earn $20 a brand new Harley Davidson jacket.  And after visiting the Harley store last week I can honestly say that those jackets are pretty awesome looking.

What’s even better about the Harley Davidson Donation Drive (other then the amazing discounts) is the fact that every customer who donates can have the satisfaction of knowing that their donation is changing lives in the our community.  All of the donations we receive are sold in our retail stores and the money from those sales fund free job training programs for Triad residents. In fact our Goodwill placed almost 1,500 people into competitive employment last year alone.

So whether you are a Harley Davidson fanatic or just feel like browsing through some great merchandise, I highly recommend getting over to one of the local Harley locations.  And don’t forget to bring your donations!

Apa jadinya kalo rider Harley-Davidson suka juga sama Vespa?

hahaha…well u know, e v e r y o n e  love Vespa!

=D

Introducing soft lowers!

$50 can buy a lot of socks, you know...

These are not new, but they’re new to me.  Picked them up over the weekend at the $tealer$hip, and hopefully I’ll get to try them out over the holiday weekend.

Speaking of which, don’t count on much from me – hopefully I can finally take a crack at those custom baffles, but I have to host some inlaws and you know I’m the only one who can cook (fuck, I should make a cooking blog, at least that would have meaningful contributions to the interested community…).  And I have to build a computer for a certain down-and-out gamer.  Again, something I can do well … I should be blogging about that.

But NO, here I am, telling the world I plan to try something out.  Who gives a shit?!

See you over the weekend (or Monday).  Hopefully this freezing rain business will hold off a few more days.

Have a safe and happy holiday, all, and if you are on the roads RIDE SAFELY!  Peeps be crunkin’, yo.