APPLETON, Wis. February 2, 2011 —Weldcraft has expanded its premium tungsten electrode offering to include 2 percent lanthanated and zirconiated tungsten electrodes. Like its existing tungsten electrode offering – pure, 2 percent ceriated, 1.5 percent lanthanated, rare earth and 2 percent thoriated – the new additions have undergone rigorous testing to ensure the highest quality and performance.

Harley-Davidson will celebrate 110 years of great motorcycles and epic riding experiences with an array of global events and activities in 2013. Among the events during the year-long celebration will be a rally in Rome, Italy, June 13-16, and a massive party over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, in Milwaukee.

Corona, CA- MotoRider in Kenosha, WI has teamed up with Race Tech to offer Race Tech products and services in the Great Lakes region. MotoRider is the newest Center in the Race Tech network.

Biker's Choice has rolled out the 2012 catalog which is now in dealerships and available on-line at www.bikerschoice.com. The 2012 catalog has a new look making it easier to find the products you are looking for, and as an added bonus there is a pin-up calendar attached to the front cover. With over 2900 new products like Kuryakyn, Fat Baggers, Jagg Coolers, Rush Racing, Freedom Exhaust, Skid Lids and Twin Power, the Biker’s Choice catalog is now over 1200 pages of very cool product. More Product. More Brands. More Biker.

Hollister, CA- Corbin announced today the introduction of the World Famous Gunfighter saddle that was designed by Mike Corbin back in 1982 for 2006-2012 Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna-Glide, Switchback and 2006-2008 Dyna Wide Glide models. This timeless design has been the most recognizable and revolutionary seat design to ever hit the motorcycle industry and also has become the most copied seat ever produced. To this day, this seat is still one of Corbin’s most popular seat models for Harleys and Metrics alike.

The ALL NEW 2012 AFX FX-200 SLICK beanie helmet is the perfect combination of ground braking high-tech features at an affordable price. Its high-performance, DOT fiberglass reinforced plastic shell is lightweight and super strong, while the hypo-allergenic and antimicrobial nylon liner and ear cover pads are super comfy. This is simplicity redefined, no shields, no visor, and no ear covers. The minimal helmet with maximum potential. The adjustable d-ring style retention system ensures a perfect fit. Available in sizes X-small to XX-large in gloss black or flat black.

MILWAUKEE (Feb. 1, 2012) - Pare down a Harley-Davidson^® Softail^® motorcycle to its essential elements and you have the Slim. From its trimmed front fender to its narrow rear end, Slim is a no-nonsense, back-to-basics motorcycle. Call it stripped. Call it old school. Call it lean and mean. What's left is the elemental Softail profile and iconic Harley-Davidson^® style that recalls classic custom bobbers of the 1950s.

Working as The Painter at West Coast Choppers (WCC), Pete “Hot Dog” Finlan had seen plenty of bikes roll through the shop’s webbed gates and into the waiting hands of salivating customers. While it was tough to watch a paintjob that he’d just spent days, maybe even weeks on, roll out onto the sand-swept streets of Long Beach, California, working at the prolific chopper shop allowed him the unique ability to “test” out the various WCC style of builds the shop turned out. “I sat on a lot of bikes we built at WCC and decided on this style of bike for myself,” Hot Dog comments.

There are two questions we repeatedly get asked. The first is, “How can I get my bike featured in the magazine?” Which is usually then followed by “How can I get my bike on the cover?” While we wish there was an easy answer to both these questions, it really comes down to what we are looking for at the time, what style of bike is popular, or what kind of bikes we are in need of. As for the cover well, since we only have 12 main cover bikes a year, we have to be very discerning and select a bike that we think will appeal to a large audience. Building a sharp-looking bike that is equal parts performance and custom with a mix of off-the-shelf and unique one-off components, and doing it all out of your garage for less than the cost of a slightly used Harley on Craigslist, is definitely one way to get our attention and make the cover. Which is exactly what Greg Sefcik, owner of Overkill Inc. outside of Madison, Wisconsin, did.

Staring at this custom bagger built by John Shope of Sinister Industries (SI) made me flash back to the very first bike of John’s we ever featured. It ran in the December 2006 issue and the bike was a radical black and copper high-neck, drop-seat, S&S Shovelhead chopper with a wild exhaust and tons of attitude.

Editor’s Note: There are several custom motorcycle builders in the industry whose style is so distinct you could walk up to a row of motorcycles and immediately spot one of their bikes. Whether it’s one of Dave Perewitz’s signature flamed paintjobs, the wild metal melting of Ron Finch, or the smooth raked and stretched lines of Eddie Trotta, certain builders have developed a signature that can be applied to any style of bike. Russell Mitchell is absolutely one of those builders. Choppers, bobbers, trikes, it doesn’t matter. Russell can apply his blacked-out, chunky tire, minimalist Exile Cycles’ theme to any bike project and the result will be a badass and highly recognizable bike.

Check out what's inside the current issue of Hot Bike on sale now! Grab a copy at newsstands or subscribe online to get the newest issue first. Here's what's new: Hotbikeweb.com

Email your submissions to: Hot.Bike@sorc.com Or snail mail to: HB Reader’s Showcase 1733 Alton Parkway, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92606. Please include hi-res jpegs, your name, hometown, email, phone #, bike year/model, engine size, frame, wheels, sheetmetal, painter, custom accessories, and anything else interesting about your bike.

Mother Nature can really do a number on your motorcycle trip if you’re not prepared. Don’t let her win. Fight the good fight by having the right gear on hand to protect you from the elements.

Custom Cover-Up
$375

Looking to spruce up your saddlebags with custom lids? Camtech Custom’s Pro Mod bag lids may be what you need. Made from durable fiberglass, these new bag lids add a custom flair without breaking the bank. Simply paint the lids, bolt up your stock latches and hardware, and mount. Done!

Camtech Custom
(843) 552-0336 | camtechcustom.com

Describe yourself in three words?
Honest, hardworking, loyal.

Pumping up a stock 60-or-so horsepower Harley-Davidson to 80-, 90-, or 100-plus ponies with torque to match, with those basic Stage 1 mods and a cam swap, opens up a whole new world of motorcycling. But all that newfound power won’t mean much if it doesn’t get where it belongs, to the rear wheel. A high-performance engine needs a high-performance clutch, and bagger bikes, usually packed heavy and ridden two-up, would be well served with a clutch upgrade, too. Regardless of the engine’s state of tune.

In the never-ending quest for more power, there are many options available. A noticeable addition can be had from a high-flow air cleaner upgrade, and high-performance slip-on muffler swap. That’s exactly what we were thinking for the ’10 Dyna Wide Glide (WG) in our test bike stable.

Soft, leather saddlebags serve their purpose, but a set of hard saddlebags have the edge for multiple reasons: cargo capacity is larger, latches are lockable, and they look much better than a set of soft bags. A friend of HOT BIKE, Mat Virgil, has a ’00 Softail Standard that was in dire need of a hard saddlebag conversion.

Last issue we showed you a basic stage one upgrade on an ’11 Street Glide using Fuel Moto’s Jackpot stainless steel 2-1-2 head pipe, 4-inch Touring Mufflers, Stage 1 Air Cleaner kit, and Power Commander’s new Power Vision EFI tuner. A simple bolt-on affair, that install made for a great performance improvement over the stock 65.34 hp and 78.16 lb-ft torque numbers with the bike putting out 80.28 hp (nearly 23 percent gain) and 94.41 lb-ft of torque (21 percent more torque) with a nice torque curve above 90 lb-ft from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm. The owner really liked the sound and noticeable seat-of-the-pants gain in power the upgrade provided.

The Sweet Tracker is getting closer and closer to the finished product. I started this project with a bone-stock 2000 XL883 Sportster Hugger in hopes of transforming it into a dirt track racing replica. So far, it’s coming along as I anticipated. In the last issue of HOT BIKE, I installed the Biltwell Tracker handlebar, Whiskey Throttle Assembly, Slimline Risers, and Kung Fu Grips; however, I wasn’t sure what kind of hand controls I wanted to use. I wanted something unique that encompassed a racey aesthetic. After scouring the internet, I found the yin to the bar’s yang in the ISR Hand Controls from LA County Choprods.

A few issues back, we introduced you to Harley’s H-D1 program and a new Sportster Custom to which it had been applied. We followed the bike from the assembly line to the dyno room. This time, we’re taking it to the street.

The old engine whirred along through the Outback heat, its slight mechanical clatter mixing with the sweet exhaust-note staccato that only a 1940s Harley-Davidson V-twin can make. A faint aroma of heavyweight mineral oil wafted up to the rider, who was settled in a comfortable slouch on his tractor-like seat. The rider looked over his shoulder to confirm the exact position of his fellow riders. Their presence was already apparent by the rising and falling of the exhaust resonance that occurs when motorcycles run in close formation. The sound was like a group of World War I biplanes, out on a mission. This was a mission, too. It was an attempt to ride a group of hand-shift, foot-clutch Harleys on a six-week circuit of the continent of Australia.

January 31, 2012 La Palma, CA – For more the 40 years, Performance Machine has been rolling along as the industry leader in brakes, wheels and performance accessories because of passion synonymous with the brand. This well-oiled operation is known for both its innovation and attention to detail… a direct result of the top-notch people behind the brand, says company President Mark Finnie. “We are proud to recognize Kelli Murrow’s award-winning brand building by promoting her to Performance Machine’s Director of Sales & Marketing.”

Fort Worth, TX - February 1, 2012
Grateful Dead Productions and Rhino Entertainment announce a new relationship with Tucker Rocky Distributing, a leader in sales and distribution of Powersports products. River Road, a Tucker Rocky brand, will create and market apparel and accessories for the Powersports industry using legendary Grateful Dead artwork and will introduce the first collection at the Indianapolis Dealer Expo, February 17-19, 2012.