Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 2 - 18 i Baggers Magazine

Seeing that this is my first issue back with Hot Bike, I’d be lying if I told you there hasn’t been an insane amount of pressure to make this one special (notice my head in the vice, Casino style?). I do it to myself. I’m neurotic that way though. It’s also where I think I thrive. When my back’s against the wall, fight or flight kicks in and I definitely come out swinging. And the creative juices start flowing. Or at least that’s what I tell myself in order to maintain a certain sense of sanity. Whatever the case, things have definitely changed on the Hot Bike side of the fence since I last contributed to the book, and it’s been an interesting perspective to be on the outside looking…

$200 - rolandsands.com There are a handful of “riding shoes” on the market that aren’t totally lame. Riding shoes aren’t your traditional clodhoppers. They’re functional. They’re stylish. And they’re all the rage. Some companies are doing them, but are they doing them well? It takes a certain know-how and a s—tload of real-world expertise to really understand what it takes to blend functional motorcycle footwear with the mass appeal of a Vans Sk8-Hi classic. Style is the name of the game, but safety is paramount. Roland Sands Design is paying attention with its new Fresno riding shoe ($200). But isn’t Fresno the armpit of America? (Actually, it’s Bakersfield. I should know. I grew up there. But why Fresno?) “We were up in Fresno scouting some racetracks and wishing we had…

We’re nearly halfway into 2018, and already the pissin’ and moanin’ that the death of a dinosaur has settled to a faint murmur. That’s most likely due to the fact that a good number of naysayers have come to realize death isn’t always a bad thing. The Motor Company ultimately did them all a favor by finally putting the dual-dampered rubber soul to rest, once and for all. While Harley-Davidson clearly did its homework when developing its all-new Softail chassis (code name: Serengeti) and wet-sump dual-counterbalanced Milwaukee-Eight drivetrains to work in harmony, for all intents and purposes, a good portion of that technological prowess of the on-the-fly-adjustable monoshock rear suspension is hidden by the requisite rearmost sheet metal. For the average V-twin enthusiast, that’s all fine and dandy in its…

Back in the early ’80s, fresh out of college with an engineering degree, Paul Thede was making a name for himself throughout SoCal as an up-and-coming motorcycle-engine builder. Working closely with customers and racers, along with his own firsthand experience, he soon came to the realization that a fine-tuned suspension was just as good as, if not better than, a fine-tuned engine, and by 1984, he started his own company specializing in the finest suspension components available, naming it Race Tech. Engine building was initially part of the company’s service offerings, but before long, the suspension side took over, and the rest is…well, revisiting history, so to speak. By 2015, Race Tech felt it was time to bring back its in-house engine machine shop, once again providing customers with the…

Headsets have come a long way from the inconvenient bricks we used to slap on our helmets. Bluetooth communicators have become so popular and successful that some companies are now working in tandem with helmet manufacturers to build custom electronics. The $300 SRL from Sena (short for Shoei Rider Link) is designed to lay straight into the factory framework of Shoei’s new Neotec II modular ($699). Capabilities are similar to Sena’s popular 20S unit, meaning as many as eight intercom connections and “audio multitasking”—your music will gently subside, for example, when GPS directions are being piped into your lid. A charging port is accessible at the base of the main module, which tucks into a nook in the back of the helmet, and the three-button control unit sits on the…

Rough Crafts, from Taipei, Taiwan, is one of the custom-bike shops that commands respect. No matter its geographic location, owner Winston Yeh is definitely a power player when it comes to making factory Harley-Davidsons look cool. Winston’s minimal and sinister styling is representative of his meticulous attention to detail, and his signature usage of all-black aesthetic proves that a flashy paint job doesn’t always work. In fact, the subtle approach in highlighting Rough Crafts—and other aftermarket products—is a testament to properly including certain elements on a motorcycle. Rough Crafts is by no means new to the pages of Hot Bike, but its first-ever bagger build was definitely worthy of some attention. “Through all these years, we’ve never built a bagger. After the success of our Sportsters and Softails, somehow our…

The factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide seat does the job it was built to do. It provides a comfortable ride, has a universal shape that will suit a variety of riders, and it comes standard with the bike. But we were looking for something a little more than just “adequate” for our bagger. We picked a few new seats on the market and put them through their paces. And the most important tester (my wife) had a say in the matter too! LUCKY DAVES ($549) RIDER: Upon initial receipt of this seat, the first thing I noticed was the build quality, second-to-none and absolutely beautiful. The material feels thick and durable; the diamond stitch pattern adds the perfect touch of style and class, with stitch lines that are evenly spaced and…

Eric Bennett sparks a Marlboro Light and, like clockwork, he’s back to honing the cylinder heads he’s been tweaking for one of his loyal customers. Eric is dedicated to his work—driven and passionate. His Bennett’s Performance customers always come first. And because of his devotion to his craft, he’s established a solid reputation as the go-fast V-twin motorcycle shop. When I first met Eric and Bob Bennett, the father-son duo behind Bennett’s Performance in Signal Hill, California, in 2006, I was a bit intimidated. I was very green in the V-twin world and didn’t know s—t about making horsepower. Luckily, I had the Bennetts to guide me and pass on their know-how during a Twin Cam hop-up article I was assigned to tackle, with Bennett’s doing the work. During that…

OGIO ALL ELEMENTS Ogio’s All Elements backpack is ideal for those in temperate climates. This probably isn’t the pack for SoCal dwellers, but for the Pacific Northwest—or other wet climates—the All Elements pack is right as…rain! Whether you’re an everyday commuter or a weekend warrior, the waterproof material and roll-top construction locks out moisture to keep your gear nice and dry. Accessing belongings is easy thanks to the water-resistant front zippered pocket. For comfort, shoulder straps are great for long bouts in the saddle, and the adjustable sternum strap ensures security. When you want to keep your gear dry and portable, the All Elements backpack is a good choice. $139.99 - ogio.com VELOMACCHI SPEEDWAY BACKPACK 40L We’re really digging the style of Velomacchi’s 40L roll-top backpack, a larger version of…

If you don’t know the name, you’ve probably never tried a kickflip. As a gold medalist at the X Games and champion of not one but two Dew Tours, Greg Lutzka is skateboarding royalty, and since retiring from professional competition a decade or so ago, he has been an ambassador of the sport, skating at events and demos all over the world and designing and building his own line of boards for his sponsor, Darkstar. But Lutzka is more than a skater; he’s an entrepreneur at heart. He knew early on competitive skateboarding wouldn’t last forever, and used his contacts and connections to forge partnerships and build a professional portfolio out of his success. He’s also an “influencer,” boasting more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and Twitter combined. And if…

There is always room for improvement when it comes to a bone-stock bagger. Most riders are quick to bolt on products that are designed to increase horsepower and performance, and maybe make a little more noise in the process, yet sometimes overlook the true definition of performance. When a suspension system is tuned to match motor performance, there is a superior level of ride quality that can be attained, and it is simply tough to beat. To get a better perspective on just what improvements in handling that we’re alluding to, let’s make an example out of this 2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special owned by our pal Rogie, of Black Flys Eyewear. We reached out to George Quay, founder of Pro-Action Suspension, to see just how their new Street Series…