40th Anniversary bagger built with parts from the CCI catalog. The bagger was built by Kirk Taylor of Custom Design Studios.
40th Anniversary bagger built with parts from the CCI catalog. The bagger was built by Kir
Celebrating forty years of anything is a significant feat but two of the most impressive milestones have got to be marriage and longevity in the motorcycle industry (especially in these trying times). While I don't know too many people celebrating their 40-year wedding anniversary this year, there are a couple of companies in our industry hitting the historic Ruby anniversary marker this year like the godfather of custom motorcycles, Arlen Ness, in Dublin, California. Arlen turned his garage past time, into becoming one of the most well-known and well respected custom motorcycle builders and parts designers in the industry. Coincidentally, another northern California company is celebrating nearly half a century in the industry, which would be Custom Chrome, based out of Morgan Hill, California.
What started as a small motorcycle shop (Coast Cycles in San Jose) in the late '60s looking to serve the needs of the local motorcycling community, eventually turned into a manufacturer and wholesale distributor of aftermarket parts providing motorcycle enthusiasts across the country and beyond with parts to customize their bikes. And with that change in the business plan, so did the company name, and in 1970 Custom Chrome Inc (CCI). was born.
To help spur the aftermarket parts business and help its parts manufacturers get its newest components in front of shop owners and potential customers, Custom Chrome began hosting an annual dealer show. Basically a mini trade show, vendors set up booths, talked with shop owners and partied in the evening. This went on for years, until economic struggles forced the decision to set the show to the wayside and put the focus back on the business.
Well, we are happy to say after a couple year hiatus, and Custom Chrome looking to come back stronger than ever, the company celebrated it 40th Anniversary in style bringing back the dealer show, which was held at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose. We caught a plane and headed north to check out the show, and were pleased to see the facility packed with vendor booths and people cruising the isles. It was good to see the event come back, the vendors were excited about it and everyone had a positive attitude. Congratulations Custom Chrome, and here's to 40 more.
-
-
An assortment of Jammer Z-bars.
-
Terry Compnents, TV-3 Fuel Management System.
-
Wicked Image billet aluminum, Sniper (front two) and Talon (last) floorboards.
-
DNA Specialties billet black and machine cut wheel.
-
LePera Hot Rod Series Bare Bones seat.
-
To celebrate Custom Chromes roots, the company had Cole Foster of the Salinas Boys build the raked Shovlehead. The bike is a mix of parts from the CCI and Jammer catalogs.
To celebrate Custom Chromes roots, the company had Cole Foster of the Salinas Boys build t
-
-
-
In house CCI wrench and all around go to guy Rich Fulk turned this twin cam Softail into a new skool chopper. Some of the parts like the gas tank are new items to be seen in the CCI catalog.
In house CCI wrench and all around go to guy Rich Fulk turned this twin cam Softail into a
-
Dakota Digital gauges in red or blue.
-
Freedom Performance's new 2-into-one megaphone pipe.
-
New CCI Designer Series custom stretched gas tank for touring models by Paul Yaffe.
-
Rivera Primo HED LED headlight system.
-
Comparison of stock H-D chain drive cam set up (left) versus S&S Gear Drive (right).
-
Kuryakyn Zombie Taillight cover.
-
Stock H-D cam plate and oil pump versus Feuling set up.
-
Revolution MFG King Knurl grips and air cleaner cover insert.
-
Hawg Wired bagger audio upgrade.
-
Badlands black mirrors with turn signals built into back of the housing.
-
Arlen Ness Road King fairing.