For as big as the NYC urban sprawl might be from nearly every measurable perspective, when it comes to the community of bike enthusiasts of the H-D variety, the world really is a pretty small place. Yes, by numbers there are a lot of motorcycles out there, but where are they? I don’t see them out on the road, I rarely spy them parked on the street. I think they are hiding. Continue Reading →
Well I cannot lay claim to anything fancier than a good, serious well done BBQ.
I’d like to use charcoal, but where i live, gas it is!
Like the Honey badger, I dont give a shit, it works out just fine! Continue Reading →
A traditional Pie makes this unrepentant East-Coaster – very happy indeed.
I’ve heard it said – it’s all in the NYC water, which in a word is “just right” Continue Reading →
Although big bikes are all the rage, many lack a true hand crafted persona, being complied from the multitude of catalogs circulating reading rooms throughout the land. Nothing wrong with building a big custom from available parts, but we strive to bring something new to the table in terms of bike features. Continue Reading →
Vinny's Shovel: you will be seeing more of this killer home brewed (owned it 15yrs) machine in an upcoming feature
I said, “Yes, please, I’d like a big bike, with a tourpak and hard bags.” To which Jen Gruber, Harley-Davidson’s Product Communications Manager, responded, “Not a problem. We can do that.” Continue Reading →
I am always on the hunt for great shops doing great work (so if you know of one, let me know!) and to cover the territory I depend heavily on referrals and references, it is just impossible to cover the scene without some help. Continue Reading →
I met Satya Kraus a few years ago in Sturgis, introduced by mutual friend Bob Seeger Jr (Indian Larry Motorcycles). SeegerJr has introduced me to a lot of folks (thanks Bobby), but one of the most interesting guys I’ve met through the Heavy Hitter connection is Satya. Continue Reading →
I had my first GPS experience this past Spring, and I have to admit that it was a positive one. Having to navigate around Northern California for a week is a daunting task for an East Coaster without GPS. Having been through the special hell of getting sketchy directions, not being able to turn around for miles and hunting for gas stations on prior trips, I really appreciated the “directorial” help that GPS offers. Continue Reading →
By way of a setup, the fine machine you see here has been designed, built and assembled by one of the nicest, most generous, patient and talented guys you are likely to meet in the VTwin industry and someone I am proud to consider a friend – James Simonelli. Chances are if you’ve recently stopped by the BAKER Display at Daytona, Sturgis or points in between, you’ve met James. Not wanting to get between the story and you, we asked James in his own words to clue us in regarding this new bike he’s taken the wrapper off of. Continue Reading →
Andy has had a few bikes over the years, from an over the top Ironhead to this sweet, subdued Softail. Continue Reading →
During Sturgis Bike Week I didn’t get to eat much, or regularly. Moments of quiet respite were far and few between and I relished the moments of peace. So here I was standing off in a corner of the A.M.D. show tent during the media and industry party minding my own business, chilling out a bit, finally getting down to eating some food with a camera, beer and food in hand, all being juggled simultaneously. Friend Kirk Taylor comes over and says: “hey – did you see that?”, pointing across the big tent. “What?” I responded, spilling my beer and dropping half of my food, WHAT! Well, the “what” that Kirk was pointing to was the bike you see here, a sharp little bike , with it’s bright white wheels that was jumping off the Astroturf carpeting. Continue Reading →
I like my old comfortable junk. There are some things that just kind of mold themselves to your person after years of contact and develop the patina that can only be achieved through use, abuse and time. You can’t buy this in a boutique, you can only earn it. Continue Reading →
Recording the activities we pursue has never been more popular. Cell phones that shoot both stills and video (the iPhone for example) are pretty commonplace and many of us who are digitally oriented support our own “content streams”: blogs, web sites, flickr accounts, etc - keep them fueled with the things that we point our digital gadgets at: everything from the food we eat to the friends we hang out with to the things that interest us most and that we want to share Continue Reading →
My Street Glide’s stock OEM horn had finally given up the ghost for good. What had at least passed for a lame flock of ducks had deteriorated into the bleating of a lone ewe then finally a frog and then nothing. I yelled and screamed at foolish motorists wanting to knock me from my bike and as satisfying as that was on a visceral level, I got some strange glances from those around me. Make no mistake, my voice was heard, but it really isn’t the right way to go about things in a traffic situation, know what I mean? I was decidedly not representing, as a brand ambassador of the marque should! Continue Reading →
All of the important steps in prepping your machine for this install are outlined in the service manual and in the excellent documentation that BAKER suppliers with the trans – and you’d be well served to follow them if you are feeling ambitious and are inclined to tackle this project yourself. Continue Reading →
With the economy being what is, and the tenor of our day to day lives a little less frivolous than they were back in recent memory, we are focusing on the “core” in a lot of instances – both in our personal as well as business lives. Many of us eat at home, as much because we eat better and have some semblance of control over what we put in our mouths, but also because it’s pretty efficient and cost effective, especially with a family. Continue Reading →
There is so much written on the man, that I am not even going to attempt to give you a rundown on his accomplishments and his well deserved notoriety. Finch is a genuine OG. I recall reading about the man in magazines as a kid in the early 70’s. He was wild, he was cool. In 1965 he opened Finch’s Custom Cycles and built it into a thriving shop that employed a bunch of people; he had a catalog of parts available. He hated it. Being a boss wasn’t what Finch wanted, but it paid the bills and bikes gave him a good platform to express himself creatively. In time he made a break, reinvented himself and pursued the creative spirit. Continue Reading →
I will be showing a select group of images from my Abandoned America Series @ Genuine Motorworks on January 26 from 7-10pm in Brooklyn, NYC. I’ve made a very limited number of prints, 2 each of 12 images and will have them for sale at Genuine Motorworks, for a VERY reasonable $50 for a 16×20 in a sweet glass frame. This is a fine deal! Continue Reading →
Joe Friday was a rock solid wintertime sled that gained a reputation as unstoppable, until it was stopped cold in its tracks on a NYC street, but I get ahead of myself slightly.
I got Joe Friday during the period of time (early 80′s) that my VW van, Bertha was undergoing an engine and drivetrain rebuild/swap. It was the wintertime, the slush and ice on the ground made it impossible to complete the swap job (we worked outside in the dirt) and so I had to hunt and find a vehicle quick – and cheap – wintertime was approaching and you do not want to fuck around when it comes to wintertime in Bflo.
My friend Kenneth turned me onto a guy who horse traded cars like Joe Friday for cheap – and I paid $200 for the car, at this nice man’s kitchen table and did the insurance and registration there also, I think he was a magistrate or some such thing, either way we ate pie and chatted while he wrote me up.
I put a used battery in it, did a brake job (relined/riveted the shoes myself) and 4-fresh retread snow tires in the first week and I was off and running – i never put another dime in it for the 3 years i owned it. Except for a few “fusible links” giving me headaches and needing to spray a shot of starting fluid in the carb every now and then, Joe Friday was a champ, no frills, just the facts, but a champ. Evewryone I knoew borrowed Joe once my VW was up and running, it was my second car until i sold off Bertha and kept Joe as my lone vehicle …I could fit my amp in the trunk so it worked.
Joe moved me back to NYC and about a month after the move, I was driving down a side street, hit a substantial pothole and the engine wound up slipping off its mounts, digging itself about 6in into the asphalt. That was the end of Joe Friday, on a side street in Queens, NYC – not glamorous, but fitting.
Joe was a working class guy and he died in a working class ‘hood.
joe friday - a slant 6 American-made product - - just the facts
Looks like we have some good weather happening this weekend on the East Coast
it’s time to wander, not squander! Continue Reading →
follow the light
Well, it’s Christmas time – and if you “observe” this holiday, well – have a fine, safe and food filled day observing.
your friends at 45dgree
some will work to keep us safe while others party
with a groovy name!~
Rumblers 2011, Brooklyn NYC
A great bike, a great cause - please support
Steve,
Good morning. I hope this finds you doing well.
I was hoping you might be able to put something up on your 45dgrees site about this raffle for our troops. You were so good to do a feature on it, which I am grateful for. There are only 3 days left to buy raffle tickets (counting today). Anything you can do to help spread the word would be great. I’ve attached AMD photos which I had. But your photos would be really great on your site.
To recap the story:
I concepted an American Muscle Bike in 2008 and was going to develop it. But the economy fell out and I shelved the design (see attached).
I do a bike every year that supports the US military. I knew with such a tight economy, I’d have to do something big to get contributions from the top suppliers I was seeking to partner with. I wanted to build a no-compromise American Muscle Bike.
We partnered with race team, Rahal Lettermen Lanigan, with the idea of building a bike that would pay tribute to Bobby Rahal’s storied championship racing career as well as compliment his world class race team. The bike is being raffled to support our troops through two military focused charities, SteelAnchor.org & Pros For Vets (http://www.Pros4Vets.org)
The bike attached, the RLX, is designed and hand built by me and my team at Darwin Motorcycles.
The components listed have been generously donated by these exceptional suppliers and Darwin Motorcycles has built the bike for free.
The bike had a sneak peek at SEMA last year as a roller and officially debuted at the 2011 Indy 500 with Team Rahal.
The bike was entered in and Won the AMD World Championships of Custom Bike Building (production class).
We are raffling this bike through midnight pacific standard time, December 24th and need your help to raise as much money as possible to support our troops.
Link here to buy tickets online.
Go to http://www.DarwinMotorcycles.com to be directed to purchase your tickets.
Tickets are $20.
The bike is valued at over $65,000.
Only 3,500 tickets are being sold. Your chances are great.
Darwin Motorcycles : RLX
S&S 132″ X-wedge
Baker FFP primary w/ Baker King Kong Clutch
Baker 6 Speed Transmission
2 into 1 into 3 stainless exhaust built by Darwin Motorcycles (materials from D&D)
Beringer Dual 4 piston front and single 4 piston rear brakes
Beringer hand controls
Brock’s Performance BST Carbon Fiber wheels 19″x120mm front, 19″x180mm rear
World Ceramic Bearings
Dunlap Sportmax tires
Ohlins Road/Track suspension
Racing Innovations Muscle Bike frame: 25 degrees rake
Autometer STACK race gauge
Braille carbon fiber battery
Vortex clip ons
Vortex sprocket
Vortex gas cap
Vortex/Darwin foot controls with reverse shifting (GP style 1 up – 5 down)
Joker Machine bar end mirrors
Motion Pro cables & switches
MoFlo Air Cleaner
Alloy Art headlight
Hix Design custom seat
Escort / Passport radar detector (machined into top clamp)
Cycle Electric Regulator & Stator
Darwin tag bracket
Darwin custom Top Clamp & rear brake hanger using Summit Machine.
Custom body work by Darwin Motorcycles
Front Fender: Shark Skins
Paint: Manny’s Ink & Air
in every damn sense!
giddyup
we all looked forward to work
Welcome to Nova Dye
This long shuttered fabric treatment and dying facility is typical of many East Coast industrial complexes that were built to serve a number of wars and a growing America. It’s a patchwork of buildings, areas, processes, catwalks and huge machinery, such as walk-in Autoclaves . You have fabric treatment next to fabric dying, next to fabric drying – giant machines, many of them with open flames, pits of solvents and bolts of fabric all butted up against one another – a sure recipe for disaster under any circumstance and if all of the signage in the plant is any indication – fires were a regular occurrence.
check it out folks – ready to go – click on the picture below and go to BLURB!
lighten up, it's the weekend
before it was turned into a shitpile
no two ways about it
busting out for legalities sake
Satya rides his show bike at hi-speed, South across the cold lonely Cali desert for festivities – like a man!@
got it?
all clear now…
but it just might kill me too
unusual & nice
and very cool at that
goes on here, for sure
in all regards
uh huh
gold rules
just doing what they do
lots of flow
Lots of love in this machine built by Kirk Taylor as a tribute to Johnny Chop.
Rogers Playhouse
prism tank!
and it aint done yet
Vinny's machine
is necessary when your here
too low for safe operation actually~
and we’ve seen changes…..
