Have
you bought this bike?
Mystery 2000 Sportster 1200 Custom spotted in Harley Press CD by anally retentive, sad sack Am-V staffers
Doing a bit of research in Harley-D's own promotional gubbins to back up this month's full roadtest on the 2001 XL 1200S Sportster, we discovered the unsung demise of the dearly beloved XLH1200, which was something of a shock to start with. So, having not been arsed to check whether the stock twelve-hundred had been surreptitiously dropped the year before, we checked the 2000 press disk, and you can imagine our surprise to discover – to our horror, indignation and, er, stuff – that we'd completely overlooked a style change on the Y2K XL 1200C Custom of perhaps even greater magnitude. It seems that the good ole boys in either the marketing or design departments down Juneau way had slipped a shaved fat bob tank onto the previously lovely baby custom, complete with aircraft filler cap and new trims an' everything … and a big squishy seat too! How could we have missed such a fundamental change so easily? Are we losing our grip? Have we got a grip? Then it all became clear … we haven't got a 2000 catalogue. So why didn't we spot it in the 2001 catalogue ('cos we've got one of them, see). Simpler still. The stylistic change created such an impact that it … err … reverted to its normal ho-hum, yeah okay, seen-it-all-before pre-millennium outfit. Coo.
So, what really happened? Did you see a real one? Do you know what the story is? Did you actually buy one, and are now keeping it garaged for life because you realised you're on to one hell of an investment? Please tell us, we desperately need to know the gen but can't ask Harley UK because:
A. We ask them stupid questions all the time and don't want to wear out our tenuous welcome.
B. It might be a bit, y'know, embarrassing for them.
Interestingly
enough, well for Am-V at least, the 2000 press CD showed another strange
anomaly: the oddly named XL 883CIN as well as the straight 53C that we
know and love, which I think you'll agree bears a striking resemblance
to the mystery 1200 Custom, or at least the illegitimate offspring of
a union between the 1200C and a Deuce. And that begs another question:
does anyone know what the "IN" means? Are they going to inject one!?!
Curiouser and curiouser (to swipe a phrase from probably, in Am-Vs sad little world, a very apt book)
STOP PRESS ... STOP PRESS ... STOP PRESS ... STOP PRESSING THAT DAMN BUTTON
We couldn't contain our curiosity any longer and when we returned the latest test bikes we spoke to a man "in the know" and asked what the story was ... and it seems it's a non-story: it never happened ... well, it did, but then it didn't ... which is to say it was scheduled to be a revamp of the range but, err ... it didn't pass the USA's safety board and so reverted before it ever got chance to vert in the first place.
Exactly what constitutes a safety issue with the swapping of a fuel tank for a bigger one is a moot point, but perhaps someone in the federal safety department knew a bloke with a big stick who wouldn't take kindly to folk mussin' with the Sportster. Well, it might have been. It's as plausible an explanation as I've heard.
2001
Isle of Man TT Races cancelled ...
... but the party's on, dude.
Foot and Mouth disease came close to chalking up another victim in the British Isles. In a draconian but completely understandable move, the Isle of Man's government, the Tynwald has, after great thought and with much regret, finally decided to cancel the most famous motorcycle road race series in the world for 2001. Done in order to protect the island's livestock from the scourge of the disease, the government were initially reluctant to move as Tourism is the Isle of Man's number one industry. However, agriculture is the second, and while tourism should quickly recover once the outbreak is eradicated, it would take years for the farmers to recover their lost livestock … if ever.
In a compromise deal, the racing has been cancelled to keep crowds away from vantage points aroud the island – typically on farming land – and instead the event will be the festival element which is concentrated more in the towns of the island, most notably Douglas and Ramsey. While it won't be the original full schedule of events, there will still be a hell of a lot of stuff to do for those who venture across the Irish Sea. If racing is not your bag, then you'll probably have more space and time to your thing in the absence of road-closures and the like. On the other hand, if you fancy putting your Buell or fettled Harley through its paces, you'll stand more chance of testing yourself against the famous mountain course without finding a seasoned course rider on an R1 or GSXR1000 up your chuff.
Titan finally go under
Anyone who remembers the blue marble ads on the back page of BSH about five years or so ago, will be familiar with the name of Titan, whose recent troubles have finally lead to their liquidation of the 11th April 2001. Powered by S&S engines, and built of from the choicest of components, Titans demanded a high price and weren't really in the volume market.
Having embarked on an ambitious expansion, the first public sign of difficulties came in January 2001 when they filed for Bankruptcy. All was not lost however, and they secured additional funding of half a million dollars by March, but they were forced to convert to liquidation, and the disposal of their assets last month by their bankers, who ran out of patience.
Smitty's
Applehead
Okay,
so it's hardly a news story, but then it's not especially a feature either
so it's here.
During
his recent travels Stateside, American-V team stalwart John Bolt came
across this albeit unusual but also brilliantly thought out slant on the
motorcycle customising art. Just as they're meant to; other bikers push
out the boundaries of custom bike building, but usually in some fairly
predictable directions. You know the thing, fatter rear wheels, even wider
'bars - so this chap Smitty, from Flat Lick, Kentucky in a nice piece
of lateral thinking thinks 'Like, why use metal?' ... that's pretty fucking
lateral. And so, creative eco-warrior head on, set 
about
making his Harley out of spare bits of wood which he'd gathered from fallen
trees using his trusty chainsaw ... oh, and a chisel for the tricky bits.
A good job he lives in Flat Lick - if he'd lived in Manchester he'd have had to use shopping trolleys, plastic bags, dead dogs and the odd burnt out Fiesta - which'd be way too easy.
Seven
years in the making, the Harley-Wood Applehead does actually run ... so
there, n'yah, it is a proper motorcycle, (which is kind of ironic for
anyone who remembers that infamous 'wooden Indian' fiasco during a certain
mid 90's Sturgis launch eh!) and can boast a top speed of a heady 25mph.
Smitty
quite rightly holds the secret of just how the Applehead actually runs
very close to his chest, but hell, speculating is half the fun. Whatever,
however, doesn't matter really - Smitty's won himself a fistful of custom
prizes with his 'Harley-Wood', including Joint Best Rat at the prestigious
Rat's Hole Show and a trip to Germany (presumably to build BMWs out of
the Black Forest!).
Specification
Owner/Builder: | Smitty, Flat Lick, KY |
Make: | Harley-Wood |
Model: | AppleHead |
Engine Mods: | AppleHead vine drive, with cherry bed post push rods and walnut wing nuts. |
Front Forks: | Poplar |
Brakes: | Of course |
Wheels/Tyres: | Fine cut oak/sawdust |
Tank: | Hickory |
Seat: | Coarse cut sawdust |
Mudguards: | Hickory |
Handlebars: | Poplar sapling/maple |
Oiltank: | Woven hickory |
Exhaust: | Roots |
Lights: | Rear: 4 prong sicamore. |
Wiring: | Roots, utilising walnut coil |
Rear Stand/Sidestand: | Dogwood / a stick! |
New Custom Chrome 2001 Catalogue Released
Custom Chrome have released their spanking new parts catalogue for 2001. Dubbed, (by CCE at least) 'The Mother of All Catalogues', if you were to be spanked by this tome it would definitely hurt - because, boasting 1200 pages, it is fairly weighty. Including for 2001 a frankly staggering 2000 brand new shiny things offered for sale and 25,000 parts all told, the catalogue should have at least something of interest to every Harley pattern American-V owner.
For a sample of just a few of CCE's new for 2001 BigTwin parts, among a hell of a lot of other things, leap manfully into New Products.
Or if you write or call:
Custom Chrome Europe, Planiger Strasse 154, 55543 Bad Kreuznach, Germany. Tel: +49 671 88888 0, Fax: +49 671 88888 29
e-mail: info@cceshop.de
Harleyworld
Another New H-D Dealer opens in Chesterfield. Harleyworld, Station Rd, (off Sheffield Rd) Chesterfield, South Yorkshire, England. Tel: 0044 (0) 1246 450850
Reported to already have had a 'soft' opening during March, presumably to ready the 15 new staff guys for the expected and hoped for onslaught after the official opening bash ... which has yet to happen, Harley UK have appointed another new dealer in Chesterfield, South Yorkshire, England. The second new UK dealership this year to open, it's all part of the H-D UK expansionist master plan for 2001, which looks to open a further 6 new dealerships in the UK this year.
Owned and operated by Autoworld, one of the areas leading car dealerships, which sells 'over 1000 cars a year' and holds franchises for Citroen, Suzuki, Rover, MG, Hyundai, Fiat, Alpha Romeo and Seat, and called, rather imaginatively, Harleyworld, the new shop is run by 40 year old Andy Chapman, who has managed various Carnell dealerships around Britain. Obviously excited by the prospect, Andy is quoted in the H-D UK press release:
"It's an extremely exciting opportunity for Autoworld and the area. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are the most famous in the world and they bring with them a whole lifestyle and culture that no other motorbike comes close to.
"We plan to make it one of the leading Harley dealerships in the country. Bikes are a new venture for us but when you add our local experience and resources to the power of the Harley-Davidson brand you can see why we are confident of making Harleyworld a huge success.
"We want the emphasis to be on creating a new culture in the area by introducing people to a new lifestyle and brand that has proved to be popular the world over."
Nice that.
So read into the above what you will. American-V will hold its council until we get a chance to pop over and visit Harleyworld ... but even so, presumably, the populace of Chesterfield and it's environs had no idea that there was such a thing as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle or Harley/biker culture until now?
Another New Official Harley-Davidson UK Dealership Announced.
Opening in early June, Harley-Davidson have just announced that they're opening another brand new dealership. Called Wayside Harley-Davidson, after the company which owns the dealership, it will be based along the popular Roman highway of Watling Street in Towcester (the A5 to you and me, a classic biking road) and hopes to serve the Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire 'catchment'.
Employing initially 12 new staff, Wayside H-D, has already had a 'seven figure sum' invested in it, partly to re-develop a former VW site. A confident Harley UK say Wayside is set to be one of their 'flagship stores' and will be run by 38 year old Mark Whitehead, who has 6 years experience of motorcycle shops and rides a Buell X1 Lightning.
"It's an extremely exciting opportunity for Wayside. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are the most famous in the world and they bring with them a whole lifestyle and culture that no other motorbike can match. Bikes are a new venture for us but when you add our local experience and resources to the power of the Harley-Davidson brand you can see why we are confident of making it a huge success.
"I want to achieve a Harley centre that is relaxed and informal but at the same time very professional. I want people to come and enjoy themselves - that's why we will be basing the HOG group here."
Among other ideas, Wayside H-D are looking to provide a local motorcycle training facility, while obviously promoting the Harley-Davidson Riders Edge school in Wales too. Following Harley UK's recent trend for newly appointed operators of official dealerships - Wayside, unsurprisingly turns out to be one of the areas leading car dealerships, which also boasts a car rental and a ally specialist bodyshop under its umbrella.
Wayside Harley-Davidson: Tel. 01327 353444
Warrs
Build 'Fifties-Style Sportster XLCH' …
... out of a Twin Cam Dyna!
London's
Kings Road-based Warrs' Assistant Service manager and closet Arlen Stortz,
John Towns has recently finished this seriously stonky Dyna custom project
which has unusually, but fairly successfully, used the classic fifties
1958 XLCH Sportster as its inspiration.
However it looks more like the bitching 1960's XLR, at least to American-V's serial hair-splitting department … except for the tank of course, that doesn't look like it graced any Sportster ever ... oh then again perhaps it resembles the mysteriously withdrawn tank on the 2000 as seen above …
Cue that coloured in stuff ...
Yippee. Another American-V Time-Out moment
The
official press release also claims only 500 of the original XLCHs were
ever built – so 
John's
only got to do another 499 and he's matched the model run (Though American-V
beg to differ … as usual … there was loads more XLCHs built at that time
than that). And the press release also goes on to state that these Fifties
XLCHs pumped out 60 horses, well that's good going because it says here
that in 1958 it was banging out 45bhp and the murderously powerful, Sportster
derived XLR knocked out 80bhp only after serious engine work! The XLCH
only reached 60hp in 1966 when it received a lumpier P-profile cam and
a larger Tillotson carb with an accelerator pump. Of course, it's also
worth pointing 
out
at this stage, that any of the current stock Sportsters – except perhaps
the whizz-bang twin plug 1200 Sportster Sport - would have problems whopping
out sixty ponies. So nobody's getting too smug.
'CH' We're also kindly reminded (by Harley's press release at least) stands for 'Competition Hot', though no clue is given for the preceding 'XL' and so we're left to guess … Xylophone Lovehandle perhaps. Xerxes Langoustine?
Though 'Xtra Legpull' might be more appropriate.
Anyway back to the plot; because who really gives a poop anyway, the bike looks cool.
Fifty odd changes over just a month was all it took John and his team to sort the XLCH, including the narrowed tank with period XLCH logo, new forks, chopped front and custom rear 'guards and the sprung seat. The XLCH Dyna also boasts 'retro tyres' though personally I'm not sure that's such a groovy selling point, when you consider the 1550cc big bore kit that this 21st Century XLCH has had fitted. Maybe Warrs were looking at replicating authentic mid-century scary handling too, though I doubt it somehow.
This particular XLCH/Dyna has been already sold to one, I suspect, extremely happy owner for £18,000 and so, fairly unsurprisingly, Warrs are working on other 'replicas' as this is written. Any potential takers should phone Warrs on 0207 736 2934 (er, and quickly).
Only one question still bothers this, albeit anal, writer. Why didn't Warrs opt to make the XLCH Sportster replica out of a modern XL or XLH Sportster rather than a Dyna? Would've made more sense, wouldn't it?
Perhaps we'll never know.
… and perhaps you
don't actually give a toss.
HOG is Huge: Official.
Harley now claim HOG is the worlds biggest customer organisation, with over 600,000 members world-wide and a good 10,000 of them are in the UK. That UK figure is certainly set to rise too, as with each new dealership H-D UK is set to open this year, a resultant HOG Chapter based 'round the dealership is founded.
... they go to those meetings and are secretly drilled as storm-troopers y'know.
MOTs for Men?
Despite being bigger, better, stronger, and more cleverer in just about every single way, 21st Century men on average still have an slightly annoying tendency to die between 5 and 10 years younger than gurls do - which doesn't seem fair but ...
... a fairly convincing reason for this quite possibly premature mortality is that men think they're bigger, better, stronger, and more cleverer ... and don't bother going to the doctors for a check every now and again. 'Cos Doctors is for Poofs!' presumably. But insanely, most biker men for instance, feel it's a damn good idea to run a 'Health Check' on their motorcycles at least once a week, and don't usually begrudge a yearly MOT by a qualified mechanic when their pride and joy starts getting on a bit.
With prostate and testicular cancer on the increase too, Chapel Ash Harley-Davidson, (37 - 43 Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton. Tel: 0044 (0)1902 371600) have initiated a bloody good idea. Figuring it was a hell of a lot easier to bring Mohammed to the mountain, and take medical testing facilities to a place where men actually want to go, Chapel Ash have set up a programme of FREE 'MOT health checks' in its showroom. The first weekend being the 7th and 8th of April with further opportunities for the check now being planned for this August and every subsequent 3 months afterwards.
The
free diagnostic service includes tests for blood pressure, height, weight,
body mass index, peak flow, testicular awareness, prostate awareness and
cancer awareness. And also, for a measly £5 (to cover lab stick costs),
the Chapel Ash 'Surgery' will also offer tests on your cholesterol and
blood sugar levels.
The 'qualified mechanics' in this case are overseen by 'engineering supremo' practice nurse Jane Deville-Almond who is an independent nurse consultant and vice president of the men's health forum:
"Our aim is to try and inform as many men as possible of the importance of early detection of health problems. And, as research shows, men won't go to their GPs so we're having to go to them. We have already done similar events in many local pubs in Walsall including The Moxley Arms, The Staffordshire Knot, The Harden and The Black Horse. This new programme in a Harley-Davidson dealership is much the same principal, providing health checks in a place where men come to meet up and enjoy themselves.
"We are expecting to test at least 50 men and hopefully more. And if the results are similar to those we have found in the pub checks, about 70%* of them will have one or more long-term health problems that require treatment. This is a worrying figure and why we are going to these lengths to ensure men are checked out."
Chapel Ash boss Neil Sebright comments: "It's an unusual event for us but one that I believe is important. Not only do I want to attract more people into the showroom by adding an additional service but I also want my customers to be fit and healthy so they can continue to enjoy riding their bikes!"
Chapel Ash Harley-Davidson is based at 37-43 Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton and can be contacted on 01902 371600 or by fax on 01902 371619.
(* based on the results of previous health checks carried out by Jane Deville-Almond)
Chris Goes To Warr
Former British Super-Sport Champ Signs For Warrs X1 Ride... (again)
Warr's Harley-Davidson, Europe's oldest Harley-Davidson dealership based on the King's Road in London, has announced that it will be competing in this year's 'Super Club Sound of Thunder' race series with a Buell X1. And the dealership has re-signed former Super Sport British champion Chris White, who raced for Warr's back in 1999, to lead the championship challenge on the track.
34
year old Chris from Derby will be backed by a team of 12 including Warr's
race boss, Martin Szlagowski: "We've designed and built an extremely
competitive bike for this season and with Chris' series experience we've
got high expectations of finishing on the podium."
The Super Club Sound of Thunder series (who thought that name up g'dammit? R.), part of the new ERA motorcycle racing club, is the highest level of twins specific racing in the UK and attracts full grids throughout the summer. This year Warr's Buell X1 will be taking on the likes of Suzuki's TL1000, 996 Ducatis, Aprilia RSV1000s, Cagiva Raptors and Honda's SP-1.
Warr's racing Buell, based on a production X1 Lighting features a frame especially hand crafted by the Buell Motor Company before being shipped to the UK where the team has made additional modifications including lighter three-spoke magnesium race wheels; uprated suspension components for both front and rear; new lightweight 330 mm brake discs, lightweight six piston callipers and carbon-fibre fully enclosed bodywork. Meanwhile engine builder Bill Healing has further refined the 1203 cc lump, claiming a further 10% more power over last season's machine.
Warr's managing director and team owner John Warr unsurprisingly says:
"I'd like to see as many people as possible supporting Chris and the team at this year's meetings. Harley-Davidson and Buell owners and motor sport enthusiasts from all over the country are welcome. The series provides an extremely friendly atmosphere and access to the pits." And continues: "If we perform as expected it will be a very exciting season."
Provisional dates for the 2001 Super Club 'Sound of Thunder' race series are as follows:
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Sponsors of the 'Sound of Thunder' Series this year include: Buell Motorcycles, Dunlop Motorsport, Dymag Wheels, ART Carbon Fibre and Exhausts, Mobil Oil, Maxton Suspension, AP Racing, B&C Express and HJ Mahoney.
You Don't Have Elvis' Bike – We Do!
Harley-Davidson Officially Denounce 'The Panhead that a mate of a mate found/bought that turned out to belong to Elvis' tale as Urban Myth.
Neeyahh, boo, sucks.
Yeah really. Here at American-V we've done our bit – we've scanned a pic of a '50s Harley and coloured it in, in pink, but in a somewhat surprising move Harley-Davidson UK have moved to quash a new bout of internet inspired rumour-mongering by releasing an official 'news' statement:
"Internet
revives old Elvis rumour
Harley-Davidson UK has again had a number of enquiries regarding Elvis Presley's lost Harley. An old rumour, which last surfaced in 1997, has been spreading on the Internet involving Elvis Presley and a 1950s Harley with an inscribed plaque under its seat.
Depending on which version you hear, the plaque allegedly states "To Elvis, Love, Priscilla" or "To Elvis, all my love." The bike has been owned for several years by a man in south Wales, purchased by someone's cousin near Salisbury or found in a garage sale in Vermont.
The mysterious owners have been offered anything from $250,000 by a Harley-Davidson dealer through to $5 million by Harley's C.E.O. The true identity of the bike was only discovered when the new owner ordered his or her first part, or was it when the bike was taken in for a service? It's a classic tale of an ordinary person being in the right place at the right time.
But, despite several enquiries to Harley-Davidson's UK office in recent weeks from leading TV journalists and inquisitive members of the public, the story is not true."
Harley UK's press release continues:
"Elvis Presley did own a Harley-Davidson, many in fact, and Harley-Davidson Inc. did buy one, a 1956 Harley-Davidson KH which is now housed in the company's archive facilities in Milwaukee. The Graceland Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, also has four Harley-Davidsons in its collection that were owned by Elvis."
So now you know, and consider yourself told. Of course the real conspiracy theorists will have a field day:
- 'Someone high up at Harley knows it's true really and is just trying to discredit the story to drive the price down'
- 'Whatever the plaque actually says it's dangerous 'cos it is in fact a powerful black magic incantation which, read backwards with a rabbit in your ear, will bring hordes of Elvi back from the dead.'
- 'Willie G. IS Elvis'
... sort of thing
Still, I don't care anyway; because, in my shed, I have the very Suzuki GP100 that God used to pass his CBT on before he was allowed to ride His Harley ...
And it could be yours. Serious Offers Only. No tyre kickers.
HOG
Europe Snubs Clacton
ST TROPEZ hosts the Euro Rally 17th to 20th May 2001
If you didn't already know, St Tropez, the extremely chic French Riviera resort has been chosen to host this year's HOG European Rally. Offering an irresistible combination of 'sun, sand, sea and Harleys' (not to mention a reputation for topless young women) with the added incentive of a chance to putt up the beautiful coastline road to drop into Cannes (with it's reputation for topless young women - which shouldn't have been mentioned either). Bearing in mind that Cannes is, conveniently, hosting it's world famous film festival at the same time ... if you don't enjoy it, you really, really haven't been trying hard enough.
HOG are confident that this year's attendance figures between 17th to 20th May, will top last years record, when the rally was held at Lloret de Mar in Spain. 10,000 people have been predicted to attend the event this year. If you've never considered going to one of HOG's big events because you're worried, y'know, it might be a bit ... tame ... don't believe it, some of the chapters go bonkers and, with that many other Harley riders there, you'll have a ball, guaranteed.
Nearly one third of the Harley riders in attendance are expected to be Brits and almost all will ride the whole way ... Apart from the Channel crossing of course. Brit HOG members will benefit from lower ferry fares, a discounted European recovery service and up to 20% discount on local hotels.
Jeremy Pick, UK HOG manager, says: "We have chosen Saint Tropez and the "Prairies de la Mer" camp site because of the beautiful beaches, the quality of the facilities, the superb hotels and the numerous activities that are planned."
American-V have been looking at Jeremy Pick with kicked Spaniel puppy eyes at every opportunity, but to no avail.
For further information on the UK HOG group and the European rally contact either Jeremy Pick or Vicki Seaton on 01280 700101