Quad Cam Bastards

The basic design of the Sportster motor is still confusing to me, but my father and I will be working on it shortly. I'm sure once we get into it things will seem more resonable. For now I am left staring at the single cam per vavle configuration and just scratching my head.



The cams I decided to run were the Andrews N2 cam. The grind featured on these units is suggested for good mid-range power increase with an Xl1200 or an 883 with a big bore kit(my scenario).

Give Me a Brake

I've sent my fork legs out to Rob @ Rouser Works to get the fender tabs trimmed off. I made sure to include this note so that he made sure to leave my brake caliper mounts. Thanks in advance Rob.

Motivational Mondays

Dyna-mite

Just got my new electronic ignition and coil kit in. This system is supposed to add some performance, reliability and make the bike start easier. Probably another 2 weeks until I can bolt it up, but its exciting.

Bust a Nut

Recommended by a friend, the Jims Meganut is supposed to be the cure all for loose sprocket syndrome on Sportsters and many other Harleys. They are a bit spendy, but the consequences of your sprocket or pulley flying off are far scarier than the price tag of this beauty.

To ME

The Sprotor Has Landed

I just got my Flyrite Sprotor in today. Can't wait to get my wheels laced so I can bolt this thing up.

Motivational Mondays

Polished Hubs

Just got my stock hubs back from the polisher with the coolest name, Geronimo. They are probably one of my favorite stock parts on the bike and the treatment did them the justice they deserved.

Performance and Profitability?

Although I never went on to college to further my education, I have always been a fan of learning. Thus, while attending the 2010 EasyRider's V-Twin Expo in Cincinatti I decided to attend to seminars. One about being profitable at making performance parts and the other discussing the future of the v-Twin scene. Both seminars were led by a panel of "leading" members within the customizing world. Unfortunately, I learned very little about either topic. What I did find out is that the silver hairs within the industry are afraid of the internet revolution that is influencing purchasing across the board and the younger guys on the panel are timid at correcting their older "wiser" peers. Much of the discussion obviously tainted by the fact that a leading print magazine was the host of the show and if the online revolution exists then it does nothing but deter companies from pulling their existing ads from print and going online. Or, it will force EasyRiders to change their business model to be online friendly which they are apparently not prepared to do.
The above described was hard to sit through and stay silent. While the lecture could have enlightened everyone to the free marketing they could be receiving through Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Youtube, blogging, etc they were kept in the dark due to the resistance to change found in this industry and an agenda the print media had. Now more than ever, powersports needs to scale back, find ways to sell to a larger audience and spend less money all together.
Hopefully, next year we will be able to put together a seminar to help our fellow retailers, distributors, customizers, competitors and anyone else who will listen and take a few lessons on how we can grow this scene and make it better through online interaction and progression.

Here's my favorite quote about how to sell perfomance and be profitable with my comentary:

"Rent a drag strip and bring a few of your customers out to race against you."
As uneconomical as this is, you might be able to make sense out of this. if you did it right. They could have added these tips to make this event a little more affordable and insure success.
-- Send out e-mail marketing blasts every week starting 4 weeks in advance to promote the event. Make sure to use Contstant Contact or Vertical Response when you do this to track the open rate of the e-mail. (Aproximately $20)
-- Put information on the event up on your blog on a bi-weekly basis 8 weeks prior to the event. This will give people time to plan for the event and tell their friends. (Free)
-- Have your blog RSS to your MySpace and Facebook page. This will allow you to duplicate your efforts without and extra labor. (Free)
-- Take photos and videos at the event. This will allow you to put them up on your website, blog, and other social media outlets so they live on the for all eternity and will create advance hype if you ever plan on doing the event again.
-- All of the above would take no more than 4 hours of solid work and only costs $20.

Motivational Mondays

BOTTL Back Under Control

A bunch of members of ChopCult and I started BOTTL, Brotherhood of the Traveling Lid, to see how many miles we could get on a helmet by handing it off to other riders throughout the US. It started in Montana, went to the Northeast and now its back @ Biltwell HQ. With any luck, I'll get the California leg of the lid's mission jump started.

Shiny New Lid

Shawn Long @ Imperial Artworks painted me a new Biltwell Lid. Not sure if Shawn was trying to get one over on me with the whole Smile Now / Cry Later theme by putting a lightning bolt (Chargers) on the Cry Later skull... Make sure to check his site out for other Kustom Biltwell helmets.

Reason for Being

Many people don't realize that I am a fitness nerd and I have taken up competing in endurance events as of a year ago. Last Sunday I completed the Carlsbad Marathon and I am still paying the price to do for going through that 26 mile death march. Competitor Magazine was hosting the first annual Triathlon Expo so I decided to go down to San Diego to check it out. The expo was really small, but there was a ton of trick stuff to look at. Below is a picture of my favorite item at the show. Shimano's full Dura Ace tri bike complete with carbon wheels and electronic shifters.



It's hard to imagine yourself looking like a bad ass covered in lycra, but not unobtainable when doing so on the stealth bomber of tri-bikes.

Motivational Mondays