“Cafe Racer” may seem like an odd term but it’s a well known term in Chicago. There is a hugely thriving Cafe Racer industry throughout the streets of Chicago, IL and it doesn’t seem to be dying down any time soon.

From posts on forums looking for Cafe Racer enthusiasts to theater performances, the cafe racer culture is all around and everywhere you look.

What is a “Cafe Racer”?

Typically, a Cafe Racer has been known as a type of motorcycle, the term is also used to describe a certain type of motorcyclists. The term started in the 1960’s in the UK from the Ton-up boys, a counterculture group. You could also find these guys in Italy, Germany and an abundance of other European countries. Cafe Racer’s were motorcycles that were used for short trips from one coffee bar to another.

The name “Ton-up boys” was derived from the fact that they would have a specific goal to drive along a certain route and try to return back to the cafe before a song would finish on a jukebox. The goal for the motorcyclist would be to reach at least 100 miles per hour which was referred to as “the ton,” hence the name “Ton-up boys”.

What Would Cafe Racers Be Like Today?

Cafe Racers are very much still alive, but now with the police diligently patrolling the safest streets, riders are somewhat restricted when it comes to full speed proficiency runs.

The most common comparable group of people would be bar hoppers. Since the Cafe Racers traveled from cafe bar to cafe bar on their journeys, bar hoppers do the exact same thing.

On a Friday or Saturday night, generally there will be at least one group of friends that will frequent several bars on a single strip, whether for discounted drinks or better music. Bar hoppers are very frequent in big cities, quite possibly as large as Cafe Racers are in Chicago.

Cafe Racer Clubs/Groups in Chicago

If you are one of the people who are interested in the Cafe Racer culture, there are plenty of clubs and people who are interested in the same things as you are! There are several showings of Cafe Racer culture films shown in various locations, there are also forums where you can speak with other Cafe Racer fanatics. The website CafeRacer.net is the perfect place to start your networking. On CafeRacer.net you can find out when Cafe Racer meets are happening and you can even obtain a few valuable friends if you are an avid poster. Either way, there are an abundance of places to get your name around and to meet other people.

Cafe Racers were a huge part of the Rockabilly culture in the UK when the culture was in its prime.

Over the years, fanatics of both the culture and the motorcycles themselves have been keeping it alive and trying to relive the same things that were done in the 1960’s. Chicago is known to be one of the most famous cities to participate in the Cafe Race/Ton-up Boys culture and the nightlife is even more alive than ever before…

Insuring your collectible or vintage motorcycle

As for insurance for your collectible motorcycle? You should be able to get Agreed Value coverage on a classic 1959 BSA Gold Star Catalina valued at $15,000 for somewhere around $25 a month, and that gives you the whole shooting match of coverage.

You can spend a lot less, but if you plan to ride the bikes in your collection, the above pricing is a reasonable approximation of what you can expect to pay.

Related posts:

1. Cafe Racer TV A Motorcycle Show Home Run
2. The Cafe Racer Goes Mainstream
3. Electric-Powered Cafe Racer Harkens Back to the History of Speed

If you happen to be a man like me with a Spectacular Spouse Who Does Not Understand or you’re just plain poor (and I qualify here as well), you’ll need to find a suitable bike you can pick up for next to no money.

The candidates are fairly limited as most serviceable bikes go for something like $3,000 to $5,000, and that kind of money at my household goes elsewhere to satisfy the bottomless needs of bankers, insurers and home improvement stores.

So what do you buy and how do you get it rock-bottom cheap? You could go for a sport bike, but that’s not really my style, so that’s out. You could buy something with a little cachet, like say a 60-70′s Triumph or a Harley, but you’re facing a serious outlay for increasingly pricey – and difficult to find – parts and accessories. The market is glutted, and like any competitive market, the money required for entry is dear.

What’s left?

It comes down to a few useful and inexpensive makes and models which are both rideable and which were produced in the proper abundance. Namely, the venerable Yamaha XS 65o or the pre-1999 Kawasaki Vulcan line. You could easily add the Yamaha V-Star line, but even those are still holding their value nicely and many of them are still on the road in stock condition. All of these model lines were made and sold in huge numbers, offer a variety of after-market parts suppliers and earned a reputation for being hardy and anvil-solid.

Nick Stringer's XS650 Board Tracker

At this point, it looks like what I can afford will be an XS 650, and my plan is to make something never before seen in the market. There are lots of superbly engineered  and built barhoppers, bobbers and choppers out there, but what I have in mind is something a little more practical and suitable as a daily rider. I want the project to harken back to a time when motorcycles were made to be ridden and needed to have the requisite fuel capacity, rider comfort and were easily repaired with a fairly small and common tool kit which will be provided and carried on board.

So there you have it, I’ve set the bar, now off to the shopping…and a chat with the Spectacular Spouse Who Does Not Understand.

Wish me luck and good hunting.

If you have a project underway or just want to send me some pics and tech details of your XS 650 project, do it.

I love home-built stuff and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

List of XS 650 Parts and Tech Tips

• Mikes XS
• CMSNL.com
• SpeedandSportInc
• 650motorcycles
• CustomXS650
• Hughshandbuilt
• Classic Cycles
• Ebay
• Electrosport
• Ardcore Choppers
• Motolanna
• TCBros
• Old Bike Barn

Non-US Suppliers

• Vanem

Tips and Parts Resources

• XS650.com
• XS650.org

Whether you ride a sport bike, an American cruiser or one you built with your own two hands, your insurance needs can get complicated.
We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance, whatever you ride…

Tips for buying your motorcycle insurance, coverage you need:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.

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2. 1936 BMW R12 – Bike Find of the Day
3. So Cool, So Old School – The Yamaha Moegi

9. The Tail of the Dragon, this stretch of US 129 is the 318-proof shot of twisties over the course of 11 miles. It’s sure to challenge any rider as it move through North Carolina into Tennessee. The roads which bring you to the Dragon’s Tail are nothing if not scenic. It may not be a road for the novice rider as the bends are so close together there’s rarely time for gawking. At Deal’s Gap, you can take a break for a beer and enjoy the hard-tack, low-rent offerings of a highway stop with real, lowdown character.

8. The Pigs Trail Scenic Byway makes its way through Arkansas and the Ozark National Forest. The route is so-named for being a short cut from I-40 to Fayetteville and the home of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Soo-eee, hog. The 13-mile-long ride from Breashears to Turner Bend on Highway 23 finds you leaning over – alot – through a ton of slow hairpin turns. Rocky cliffs, steep drop offs, views of the river and enough wildlife to prove hazardous will take you all the way to Hot Springs and a relaxing hot bath…

7. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway leading to New Orleans is truly a monster, and while a tad dull after awhile, it’s the longest bridge in the world. Starting off from the seaside at Mandeville, the causeway ends a mind-numbing 28 miles later in Metaire, La., a New Orleans suburb with some superb scenery of its own. It might take you some time to get there, but seeing the Crescent City loom on the horizon is not to be missed.

6. Route 66 was once the Great American Highway and covered the ground from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA in the days before you had long, boring strips of interstate to look forward to on a trip. There’s so much “Americana” along the way you’ll be glad to finally see the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX. The line of Cadillacs standing on their hoods in the dust will surely remind you that you don’t mess with Texas.

5. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 433 miles of Tourism Bureau Heaven. It starts – and oddly enough ends – in east Chattanooga, Tenn. Out to Cleveland and then north east to the Foothills Parkway and Gatlinburg through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Cherokee, N.C.

Real purty and along the way, if you’re adventurous enough, you can stop by and pick up some shine and all the fireworks you can carry in your saddlebags.

4. The Devil’s Tail through Hell’s Canyon and the Snake River Canyon in the Magic Valley of Idaho has a little motorcycling history attached to it. It just so happens that this destination is the place where Evel Knievel made a wholly unsatisfactory attempt to jump his rocket-powered and goofily-named “SkyCycle X-2” across the Snake River canyon back in 1976 on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. The journey begins in Oxbow, Oregon and crosses over into Idaho where, 22 miles later, it comes to an end at Hell’s Canyon Dam. It’s a real killer and the scenery makes it tough to keep your eyes on the road.

3. Iron Mountain Road in South Dakota winds back and forth on itself through the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park. For your trouble and a few tanks of fuel, you’ll be rewarded with great views of Mount Rushmore and switchbacks which will leave your neck sore. Go there at the right time of year and you can check out the iconic Sturgis Rally.

2. The PCS, or Pacific Coast Highway, is just plain long and lovely. The scenery and the run through the California version of small town America make this an awesome ride. You can go from Coos Bay, Oregon to San Fransisco, CA and see redwood forests, whales, seals and the home of John Steinbeck along your journey. An awe-inspiring rocky coastline, the smell of seaweed and salt, and the quaint towns make this ride a photographer’s dream ride, so take your digital and plan to stop often.

1. US 31 in West and Northern Michigan is, in my humble opinion, the ultimate strip of riding Nirvana. Starting at the Michigan border just east of Chicago, this little jaunt will take you along lovely Lake Michigan, through the startling beauty of the Manistee National Forest and dumps you off in the most beautiful place in the world outside of Carmel, CA. in Traverse City. Along the way, you can jump off on side roads that will take you into some of the coolest spots on earth. Of course, you have to plan your trip for the five months of the year when Michigan has weather that won’t freeze grain alcohol rock solid, but it’s well worth the added planning and vacation time, and it’s our number one ride.

Do them all and keep the rubber side down, Amigo

If you had the exceptional taste, refinement and pocketbook to buy an MV Agusta, your insurance needs can get complicated. We’re here to help you find the right insurance for your Italian superbike…

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3. Who Is The Greatest Motorcycle Racer of All Time? Valentino Rossi States His Case In the Twilight of His Career

The laws and regulations specific to motorcycling are designed to improve safety, reduce the occurrence of crashes, and cut down on fatalities from the accidents that do happen.

If you’re a rider, you should take some basic precautions like carrying the correct motorcycle insurance, keeping your bikes in top mechanical condition and wearing the proper safety equipment and riding gear.

Most US states require all riders to wear helmets, with a few notable exceptions.

Before you buy a new, or your first, motorcycle helmet, understanding how a helmet works to protect your brain and possibly  save your life is important  information to have on hand.

Helmets are constructed of several layers of protection designed to prevent head, brain and neck injuries:

• The outer shell – Generally made from fiber-reinforced polycarbonate or other thermoplastic composite materials, the outer shell of a motorcycle helmet is designed to collapse and even crack on impact in order to absorb shocks delivered by impact.
• The Liner – Usually constructed of polystyrene and designed to compress and absorb impact, this is the business end of a well-made helmet.
• The Padding – Included for comfort, soft foam provides comfortable fit and can often be detached cleaning.
• The Face Shield –  provides protection against wind-driven road debris and any bugs you may encounter. If you’ve ever had a Junebug strike your face at speed, you surely know how important a face  shield can be to moderate impacts.
• The Chin Strap –is pretty obviously designed to keep your helmet on your head. Straps come in a variety of designs and those designs vary widely in the amount of comfort they provide. A chin strap which proves uncomfortable while you’re trying it on at the dealer’s will sure be annoying on a long ride, so pay particular attention to your choices here.
• The Ventilation System – keeps fresh air flowing through the helmet for cooling purposes, and a properly ventilated helmet will prevent the face shield from fogging or building up condensation, so again, this is a critical factor to consider when choosing a helmet.

During 2008, statistics show that almost 60% of  bikers killed in crashes weren’t  wearing helmets, and that should be a sobering number is you ride without one.

Since 1980, all adult-sized helmets designated for use on the highway in the United States must meet DOT standards. Helmet dealers and distributors must ensure that all these types of helmets they sell display the DOT sticker, and if they don’t have this sticker, assume that they are so-called novelty helmets and not assured of delivering you the proper protection from impacts.

Snell has conducted motorcycle helmet  testing since the 1950s, and use of these Snell standards is voluntary but common among manufacturers. Unlike the DOT standards, Snell testing is regularly updated as helmet designs and technologies improve.

While the test methodologies differ, the goal is the same, to ensure that approved helmets have the maximum life-saving and shock-absorbing capability.

We’ve covered how helmets are made, now you need to know how they protect your brain and the mechanism of head injuries.

You might think the helmet’s purpose is to prevent a rider’s head from splitting open, and while that is one function, it’s not the only one.  A helmet can, and often does, split and still provide it’s most essential function – slowing the violence of an impact to the brain tissues. Skull fractures are not always life threatening. It gets dicey when a fracture causes a depression of the skull which impinges on the brain underneath. Skull fractures which don’t impinge on the brain heal relatively quickly.

Injuries to the brain however, frequently result in death, permanent disability or diminished brain function like personality changes. The actual tissues of the brain are very limited in their capacity to recover after a traumatic injury, so a motorcycle helmet’s primary function is to dissipate trauma to the brain tissue.

Closed head injury, meaning a trauma in which the skull is not broken, is the most common type of injury resulting from a motorcycle accident. Like the trauma which occurs when a boxer takes a shot to the head from an opponent, it’s the violent acceleration (and deceleration) of the head which causes the brain to slosh around inside the skull. It’s that sloshing motion  which does the most critical damage to brain tissue.

An impact to the front of the head causes the brain to lurch forward inside the skull. This motion causes compaction of the tissue near the site of the impact while simultaneously stretching the tissue on the side of the head opposite the impact. Once the impact has occurred, an opposing force reverses the process and the brain rebounds inside the skull, stretching the tissue near the impact site and squeezing the tissue on the opposite side. When this sequence of events happens, blood vessels attached to the brain may also break and cause internal bleeding.

An ideally-constructed helmet liner is stiff enough to decelerate the head as smoothly and uniformly as possible before it is completely crushed.

For a more complete rundown of particular helmet brands, check out this article from Motorcycle Cruiser magazine as they test and compare seven flip-face motorcycle helmets.

Without the proper riding gear, bad things can happen to you, and your insurance needs can get complicated. We’re here to help on all counts…

Related posts:

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2. What Kind of Motorcycle Helmet Should I Wear?
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They may be small, and they aren’t the fastest thing on the road, but scooters and mopeds still take skill to ride safely and effectively. Since they inhabit the entry-level strata of the two-wheeled market and are relatively easy to operate, many people never take the time to learn the finer skills of using them on the road.

Don’t make that mistake.

Here are a few tips for the safe operation of your moped or scooter:

Protect Your Brain

You may not like the idea of a helmet and you might find the very idea of wearing a helmet while riding your scooter or moped is, well, ridiculous, but you might rethink that stance after an SUV plows into you at 35 mph. Should the worst-case scenario occur, you’ll be glad your helmet was there to prevent and embarrassing and messy spill of your brain matter on the pavement.

Helmets can provide more than simply protection; a good helmet can reduce road and wind noise and keep your hearing intact. Helmets also reduce the chance of road debris and large, juicy bugs ending up plastered to your face. Once you’ve had a rock ricochet off your forehead or felt the impact of a Junebug at 40 mph, you’ll surely agree with this advice.

Higher Center of Gravity

The higher center of gravity and the position of your feet on your moped or scooter makes the handling characteristics of your machine a dicier proposition that riders of motorcycles face. At speed, the smaller size and lower profile of moped and scooter tires provide riders a smaller “contact patch” on the road and introduce some inherent instability, so be prepared for those factors. The lighter weight of your machine might give you cause for confidence, but the turning radius and shorter wheelbase of scooters and mopeds make them a dodgy proposition when it comes to handling at speed.

Eyes Are Useful

Eye protection. Use it. You might not be cranking it on and reaching 80 mph on your scooter, but rocks, glass, and miscellaneous road debris traveling at speed can do horrific damage to your eyeballs.

The simplest way to protect your vision is with a helmet with a face shield. You should be wearing a helmet anyway, why not just go all the way and take the full-face plunge. Failing that, or if you have style objections to the full-face helmet, a good pair of impact-resistant sunglasses can work wonders .

Wear Bright Colors or Reflective Clothing

Motorcyclists and scooter riders are already at a visual disadvantage; you just don’t cut a big profile when compared to that of an automobile. Scooters further complicate the matter by virtue of being smaller and quieter. Clothing will help you stand out from the roadway background. The more you stand out, the better chance you have of not getting run over by a distracted driver. I’ve seen some riders wearing brightly-colored vests lately, and this has the virtue of your being able to remove one and stow it on the bike when you reach your destination.

Other clothing choices? Keep in mind you’re riding out in the elements and there’s always a  chance you’ll have to lay it down to avoid more serious injury. Wearing clothing to help reduce road rash, such as long pants and a jacket, while not the most comfortable option on warm days, will prevent you from having to spend a week picking gravel out of various parts of your anatomy and cursing the day you rode in shorts. Sliding across the pavement at 10 mph is a lot like sliding down a playground-sized cheese grater. Not fun.

Staying on the Right Side of John Law

It’s always a good idea to check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles to determine what tests you might need to pass before hopping on your moped. Take the time to ask them about the location of training courses that can help get you on your way safely if you’re a novice rider.

Mopeds and scooters may be known for their ease of use, and part of that reputation comes from the fact that they generally feature automatic transmissions to simplify operation, but keep in mind that they’re also constrained by certain laws tied to the size of their engines. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the engine, the less regulation attached to the machine.

Scooters are a great means of transportation and they be an inexpensive and stylish alternative. Making sure you’re up to date with your riding skills will keep you safe and you’ll help everyone out by keeping those motorcycle insurance premium costs down.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Related posts:

1. Keep Your Motorcycle or Scooter From Being Stolen With These Helpful Tips
2. The Long Way Around – Plumber Builds the World’s Longest Motor Scooter
3. Motorcycle Safety Tips: How NOT to become a statistic

Manufactured by The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, the Rocket signaled the final stage of development in this classic line which was based on the BSA A10 twins. At its peak, BSA was the largest motorcycle producer in the world. By the 1950s they were producing more than 75,000 bikes a year. Loss of sales and questionable investments in new product development in the motorcycle division (which included Triumph Motorcycles) led to problems for the whole group.

Featuring a specially-tuned A10 Super Rocket engine in the rock solid BSA Gold Star frame, BSA had created a very fast bike for its time. The Rocket line featured exceptional handling and are they are now much sought after. Survivors in original condition with matching numbers are now in such demand that forgeries cobbled together using Super Rocket parts are on offer as originals.

The initial production run in February 1962 of the BSA Rocket Gold Star was 1,584 bikes, 272 of those being were off-road “scrambler” versions. The 9:1 compression Super Rocket engine was used with a BSA Spitfire camshaft and an Amal Monobloc carburetor and produced 46 bhp. The model line included options like ‘Siamese’ exhausts and the close-ratio RRT2 gearbox which jacked up the powerplant output to 50 bhp.

This hop-up kit also added 30% to the price.

The Rise to the Top and the Precipitous Fall

As the 1950s came to a close, BSA Motorcycles was the preeminent marque in motorcycling.The BSA Gold Star was an unqualified success on the track and they flew out of showrooms. The BSA A7 (500cc) & BSA A10 (650cc) non-unit twins shared a great reputation for reliability, handling and flat-out speed. At the time, BSA also owned Triumph Motorcycles and Ariel Motorcycles – all much-admired for their track prowess and styling.

From there, it was all downhill for the next two decades…

By 1970, the once-dominant BSA was shattered and nearly irrelevant as a motorcycle company. Triumph, the acknowledged world leader in BSA’s stable, was showing signs of disaster and was taken over by its workers in a failed attempt to keep the lines solvent.

The Lessons Learned From the BSA Debacle

Politics and poor management aside, BSA did create great lines like the BSA Gold Star, BSA A7/A10, BSA Lightning, BSA 441 Victor, the BSA A65 and the radically-conceived three-cylinder BSA Rocket 3 which were highly refined machines and the clear class of their day.

After starting out out as an alliance of craftsmen in the Coventry area who produced rifles for the English Army during the Crimean War during the mid-1850′s, BSA were among the first concerns to realize modern production techniques and wide-ranging product lines were their only hope for industrial survival. By 1884 the company was building bicycles, starting to envision a motorized bicycle line, and then graduating to building true motorcycles by 1905.

During a time when most motorcycles manufacturers were literally ‘cottage industries’ relying on parts brought
in from other manufacturers, BSA was a large enough concern to manufacture nearly every part for its bikes in-house.

As with nearly every other western manufacturer, war was a good break for BSA’s motorcycle division. The British Army was a built-in market and it provided a welcome boost to production. BSA quickly built a reputation for cranking out reliable, rugged, motorcycles. They weren’t necessarily the fastest things on the road, but they were as buletproof as an anvil.

The introduction of the Triumph 500 Speed Twin was the company’s watershed moment.

The bike was narrow and light like a single cylinder, but packed the punch of a V-twin. In 1946, BSA introduced a 500 vertical twin, the BSA A7, which was designed by the iconic mad genius Val Page. Four years later and blown out to a 650cc monster, came the BSA A10 and a star was born. The A10 led to the development of the the BSA Gold Star, and throughout the 1950s, BSA Gold Stars were dominating on the track and selling fast enough to make them an unqualified winners for the company.

It all turned ugly when BSA acquired Triumph Motorcycles in 1951 in an insider deal with Ariel Motorcycles and owner
Jack Sangster. Sangster made sure he secured a seat on the BSA Board of Directors, a position he held until the
early 1960s. More than any other single factor, the arrival of Sangster spelled the end of an industrial giant. Sangster began systematically paring down and selling off various BSA assets, and by the time of his retirement, the once-mighty BSA industrial conglomerate was a hollow shell. With all the assets gone, the talent responsible for a great generation of motorcycles was scattered to the wind as well…

What followed was a startling string of blunders and missteps which hastened the company’s demise.

Emboldened by the success of the A7 and A10 model lines of vertical twins, the honchos at the company decided to redesign them following the latest “unit construction” model. As Triumph had done with its 500 twin in 1959, BSA introduced A50 and A65 unit construction twins which debuted to universal apathy.The bikes were just plain ugly, were plagued by vibration problems and effectively killed the line.

Triumph went unit-construction with more satisfactory results. The Triumph 650 twin proved to be a piece of genius.

In yet another baffling move, during 1963, BSA killed off the best-selling line in it’s arsenal, the BSA Gold Star. With no viable replacement, BSA spent the rest of the 1960s producing a product line with no hope of success against increasingly sophisticated competition and failed to address serious issues like poor styling.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As always, you’ll need to insure your expensive classic British motorcycle, so check this out for tips on saving money when you insure your motorcycle…

Related posts:

1. 45 Classic British Motorcycle Clubs and Riders Groups
2. Triumph Motorcycles Bucking the Downward Trend In Big Bike Sales
3. Buying A Classic Motorcycle Can Be An Expensive – But Lucrative – Proposition

So polish up your fine machine, fill up the tank, strap it on and head out to one of these events to talk to your fellow riders and just hang out…

Bike Night Thursdays!
Thursday, July 21, 2011 5:00 PM
Motor Bar & Restaurant at the Harley-Davidson Museum
Thursday, 7-21-2011, 5pm

American, British, European, Japanese, All, Other, Auction, Clubs
Event Title: Bike Night Thursdays!
Who to Contact: Motor Bar & Restaurant at the Harley-Davidson Museum
Description: All bikes unite at Motor® Bar & Restaurant at 6th and Canal Streets for Bike Night every Thursday night! Check out the bikes and kick back for the music, food and drink specials. You won’t want to miss a single Thursday this summer! Learn more at www.motorrestaurant.com
More info: www.motorrestaurant.com

Carlisle Bike Fest
Friday, July 22, 2011 12:00 AM
Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds
Friday, 7-22 – Sunday, 7-24-2011

American, British, Eurpoean, Japanese, All, Other, Auction, Clubs
Event Title: Carlisle Bike Fest
Price: 8.00
Ticket Information: 717-243-7855
Link: www.carlisleevents.com
Who to Contact: Chris Hann
Description: Step off your bike on the fairgrounds – with free bike parking – and you will find yourself in the middle of an experience like no other. Carlisle Bike Fest is crafted with the rider in mind and is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier motorcycle event. Tens of thousands of bikes, trikes and open-air fanatics will cruise in for everything from non-stop entertainment to breathtaking local rides, industry guests, custom builders, the Garage Girls, test rides, motorcycle giveaways and live bands all weekend. Plus, if you haven’t experienced a Rat Rod Revival, come check out this bare-bones restoration movement celebrating builders’ creativity and resourcefulness. You don’t want to miss this three-day celebration of all things motorcycle. $8 Per Person — BIKES PARK FREE.  For Vending or Manufacturers Midway Space, call 717-243-7855
More info: www.carlisleevents.com

Easystreet Custom Cycle 2nd Annual Bikini Bike Wash
Saturday, July 23, 2011 11:00 AM
11802 Pacific Ave South
Tacoma, WA 98444
Saturday, 7-23-2011, 11am – 4pm

American, British, European, Japanese, All, Other, Auction, Clubs
Event Title: Easystreet Custom Cycle 2nd Annual Bikini Bike Wash
Price: 10
Description: The O.M.C. Racing Team will be there and will be showing off their Pro Nitro drag bike along with the Bikinis. There will be food, drinks, women, and fun. Dont forget to bring $10 to get your bike washed. We will have O.M.C. Race Team shirts for sale so if you haven’t got yours yet this would be the prefect time.The motorcycle games will go all day. The winners will be awarded at 4:00pm. We will also be showing Tacoma Twitch’s videos for everyong to check out. See you there!!! Dont forget to check us out on Facebook at Easystreet Custom Cycle.
More info: easystreetcustomcycle.com

Freedom Gives Back
Saturday, July 23, 2011 2:00 PM
Military Appreciation Event

July 23 2011   2 pm
Pic a Lilli Inn
866 Rt 206
Shamong NJ

$ 50.00
Ride includes concert ticket to see Bruce In the USA
All Proceeds going to various charities.

www.tdbankarts.com     wwwStrasports.org
Saturday, 7-23-2011, 2 – 11pm

Military Appreciation Event

July 23 2011   2 pm
Pic a Lilli Inn
866 Rt 206
Shamong NJ

$ 50.00
Ride includes concert ticket to see Bruce In the USA
All Proceeds going to various charities.

www.tdbankarts.com     wwwStrasports.org

More info contact Gary Cassera  609-760-0034

American, British, European, Japanese, All, Other, Auction, Clubs
Event Title: Freedom gives back
Price: 50.00
Ticket Information: 6097600034
Link: www.ticketmaster.com…
Who to Contact: gary
Description: Military Appreciation Event , July 23 2011   2 pm, Pic a Lilli Inn, 866 Rt 206, Shamong NJ , $ 50.00, Ride includes concert ticket to see Bruce In the USA , All Proceeds going to various charities., www.tdbankarts.com     wwwStrasports.org, Follow us on Facebook     , More info contact Gary Cassera  609-760-0034
More info: wwwstrasports.org

BIKE DAY SUNDAY’S 12-7PM FREE BBQ
Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:00 AM
Screwie Louies Porpoise Pub
8701 Seminole Blvd
Seminole fl,33772  727-393-7616
Sunday, 7-24-2011

All, Auction
Event Title: Bike Auction  12-2pm every 1st Sunday
Price: 0
Who to Contact: lou/richard
More info: www.screwielouies.net

So-Cal Cycle Swap Meet
Sunday, July 24, 2011 7:00 AM
Long Beach City College Veterans Stadium
Sunday, 7-24-2011, 7am – 1pm

American, British, European, Japanese, All, Other, Auction, Clubs
Event Title: So-Cal Cycle Swap Meet
Price: $10
Ticket Information: 800-762-9785
More info: www.toppingevents.com…

Long Beach Cycle Swap Meet
Sunday, July 24, 2011 7:00 AM
Long Beach City College Veterans Stadium
Sunday, 7-24-2011, 7am – 1pm

American, British, Eurpoean, Japanese, All, Other, Auction, Clubs
Event Title: So-Cal Cycle Swap Meet
Price: $10
More info: www.toppingevents.com…

So-Cal Cycle Swap Meet
Sunday, July 24, 2011 7:00 AM
Long Beach Veterans Stadium
Sunday, 7-24-2011, 7am – 1pm

American, British, European, Japanese, All, Clubs
Event Title: So-Cal Cycle Swap Meet
Description: The So-Cal Cycle Show and Swap Meet is a virtual supermarket for bikes at Long Beach Veterans Stadium. With hundreds of vendors selling all brands of new, used, and vintage motorcycle and bicycle parts and accessories, the event has become a must visit for the collector or rider. From shops liquidating excess inventory to the hobbyist selling left over parts from his latest project, you can find phenomenal deals on hard to find items. The meet encompasses all areas of the cycle hobby including apparel and gear at low swap meet prices. You can ride your cycle out and show or sell it among hundreds of others in our Bike Corral area located inside the event or reserve a vendor space to sell parts, tools, or cycle related merchandise.
More info: www.toppingevents.com…

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While it’s possible to save a mountain of cash – and you can surely get more bike than you could if you were shopping for new bikes through a dealer – you can also find yourself astride a monster trying to kick it over until your eyes pop out of your head and your ears produce jets of creamy, puréed brain matter.

When you’re finally ready to take the plunge and buy a bike, keep in mind these tips as you’re going to need something you can ride, not just a trailer queen that looks good with the garage door open.

Here are a few tips to consider before you dump hard earned money into someone else’s pocket:

1. Check the cosmetics.

Now’s the time to bring out the toothbrush and the flashlight.

Before you buy any used motorcycle, start by looking for any cosmetic damage. You’ll want to look for more than just big dings and dents, though those problems can lead you to find more serious issues if you follow them to their consequences.

Look at the handlebars. Are the handlebars scraped or scuffed up? How do the ends of the handlebars look? Dinged up bars are a clear indicator that the motorcycle has been laid down, and while that’s not the end of the world, it means you should keep digging. Is the frame tweaked? Cases damaged? All things you should check.

A few more key indicators of additional problems might be broken signal indicator posts, scrapes on exhaust pipes, and scuffs on the springs or shocks. Any signs of this sort should lead to a discussion of what happened with you and the owner. If the story is too good to be true, it most likely is.

While you’re looking for dings and dents, keeping digging through the mechanicals as well. Check the tires for tread thickness. Examine the brakes and break pads. Does the engine have an over abundance of grime, grease, or oil? Does the bike look like it was loved, or was it used, abused, and trouble waiting to happen? You don’t want to spend your hard-earned lucre on motorcycle insurance for a machine destined to drive you crazy with constant breakdowns and repair bills.

2. Do the start and stop game.

Start it.  Does the bike start cleanly and easily? With older machines there might be a bit more work to getting them started. The key factor here is that the bike starts and idles with little or no input from the throttle. A good bike is a bike that starts and idles without  manual intervention.

Start and stop the bike a few times. This not only helps you judge whether or not the battery is in good condition, it can also help you determine that the bike wasn’t just slap-tuned  for a quick sale.

Let the prospective purchase heat up fully at idle. This might let you discover problems with carburetion (in older bikes),  injectors  (in newer bikes) or cooling system failures.

Photo courtesy of MotorcycleCruiser.com

Give the bike a few blips on the throttle, and while you’re sitting on it, take time to bounce the shocks up and down a couple of times. Does the motor sound smooth, or is it choking on years of abuse? A good clean sound is what you want to hear. Move the bars back and forth vigorously. This might help you detect electrical system problems as well as any suspension issues.

If the bike coughs and rattles like a patient in a nursing home, you might want to consider moving on down your list of prospects…

3. Take a Lengthy Ride – And This Is Not An Option

You must take the bike for a ride. Around the block to begin with until you get  a feel for the overall condition of the machine, and don’t forget to make sure part of your ride includes a stretch of  highway or freeway. Not only will this give you a nice taste of how the bike rides, it will also reveal any suspension or handling problems. A longer ride has the added benefit of cluing you in as to whether  if your body position will be comfortable on the particular bike you’re dealing with. Comfort and handling are much more important than the amount of style points you’ll pick up on the road. You might like the way a particular machine looks, but if it rides poorly or proves to be uncomfortable, you won’t put in many miles.

Buying a used motorcycle can be much more fun than buying a new one. You dodge the guilt associated with blowing a huge wad of cash on something the kids can’t use, you get to shop without high-pressure sales pitch action, and during the process, you’ll learn something about a wide variety of different machines.

You may also find yourself meeting some very cool people.

Buying a used motorcycle is a common-sense process, and if you feel uncomfortable with how it’s going, ask a pal to come along for moral and technical support. An extra pair of eyes never hurts, and your buddy might spot something you missed that could come back to haunt you down the road.

A bonus tip?

Do a little research on the make and model you’re considering. Does it have a history of mechanical failure? Very high insurance cost? Shortage of available parts? All these are red flags and things you should consider before you hand over a sack of  Benjamins…

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