Attention Hot Bike Readers! We would like to start by asking you, the reader, to help us with your ride submissions. There is no shortage of Readers' Rides coming across the editor's desks; however, only about 1/4 of them can be used. The reason: bad photos, little or no info about the bike, and even worse, no contact info to get better photos or the needed bike specs. So before you put a stamp on that envelope or send out that e-mail, make sure that you have filled out the basics: Your name, phone number and/or e-mail, where you're from. Then fill out a spec sheet-all you need to do is copy the info from the magazine: Motor, tran, frame, wheels, and so on. Last, a brief history about you and your bike. Now that you know exactly what we're looking for, we can't wait to see what you're going to send in. Thanks!
No Need To Up-Grade
Jeff Kaiser from Toms River, New Jersey has owned his '99 Fat Boy style Softail from USA cycles since 1999. When he got the bike he was a single guy just looking for any ride time he could get, and a lady friend would be nice. Five years later Jeff meets his wife out on a ride. They both like to spend a lot of time on the bike, so they started thinking about getting a touring bike but after shopping around his wife still like the Fat Boy best. Jeff took the money they were going to put into the touring bike and added the Aero-Charger turbo, wide tire kit and some fresh paint. To Jeff this bike was now better than new and with a baby on the way he is back to riding solo anyway.
The Tigger Bike
Jim Deresinski of Moberly, Missouri was not trying to turn his '98 Fatboy into a custom show bike at first, but once he started adding some chrome here and there the bike was no longer a stock looking ride. Then came a custom paint job, custom wheels and more chrome. Jim rode the bike to Daytona, took home a few First place trophies and even more ideas for the bike like diamond cutting the heads and cylinders. Then at a show some kids were calling the bike Tigger. Jim said he does not see it, but the name stuck.
No More Honda's
After riding Hondas for over 20 years Greg Kiss of White Oak, Pennsylvania finally reached a point in his life that he was ready to trade in the Honda (the bike he could afford at the time) for the bike he always wanted, a '02 FL Springer. The bike was welcomed into the family and soon sent to the garage where it spent some time getting lots of shiny chrome parts and a custom paint job. By the time the bike was ready to come out of its room (the garage) Greg's wife had seen all the work done and was ready to get her own bike. We can't wait to see that one.
The Mad Ghost
His name is Carlos Ungomartinez of El Paso, Texas and here is his submission. Carlos bought The Mad Ghost (an '09 Night Train) in 2008. He said, "this has been my dream Harley, it took me over three years to get it after getting blown up in Iraq in '05 by a 155mm artillery round IED improvised explosive device road side bomb. After barely surviving combat, my mission was to experience the freedom for which my fellow Marines and I defended and shedded blood on the battlefield for. What better way to accomplish this then to ride the bad boy of Harley's motorcycles, the Night Train...Semper Fidelis!
It's My Bike
Cheryl Carey is a 44-year-old mother of two boys that loves riding her '07 Harley-Davidson Low Rider. It all started when she was a teen with dirt bikes, and by her 21st birthday she knew she was well on her way to being a Harley-riding momma. As her boys got bigger and her husband was hogging all the riding time with his bike, Cheryl wanted to get her own bike. It took some time but after taking the Motorcycle Safety course and passing, Cheryl headed straight to the dealership and road home on her new Low Rider.