Baggers Magazine December 2016

About 48 hours ago, I returned home to SoCal from the 2016 Hot Bike Tour grinning ear to ear. Sure, I was kind of bummed to be back because I’d just spent an entire week of riding motorcycles through the North Carolina countryside, and I was able to do so with some of the friendliest folks this country has to offer. Although I was extremely exhausted, I was overwhelmed with a sense of pride that 1) the event was again a great success, but 2) the Baggers Invitational Build-Off builders definitely showed up with some of the best custom works I’ve seen to date. Thank you again to all the builders who worked their asses off to make it happen and made the long trek out. You’re the best. But…

Can’t we just ride motorcycles without involving that dang, dumb internet thing? Maybe. But… The internet isn’t by nature evil and dumb. It’s like a light bulb or a sharp knife; it is what you do with it that makes it what it is. It takes on whatever characteristics we give it. So it’s also sort of a digital mirror reflecting us, sometimes reflecting what is best about us, such as the community and solidarity of riding. Or sometimes reflecting the worst. A success of the internet is how it connects people of shared interests. Preinternet, it was difficult to meet other philatelists, pugilists, or prognosticators. To find humans of such ilk you had to physically go hang out in a library basement, a gym, or to a palm reader,…

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I shipped my 2015 custom big-wheel bagger from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles and collected it on July 20, 2016. We started our journey to Sturgis up the California coast to San Francisco, then onto Seattle and into British Columbia, and then rode through the Rockies dropping into Montana until ultimately landing in Sturgis. I met one of your guys in Rapid City and he liked the custom paint and overall look of the bike. A very good friend of mine, Terry Stephens (a.k.a. Kiwi Terry) who lived in Huntington Beach, did the amazing airbrush work. I bought the majority of the parts from the boys at HHI last year in Sturgis. Had everything shipped back to New Zealand where the bike’s neck was…

We’re big fans of brown leather. Something about it oozes cool, and if it’s from the right manufacturer, it’ll offer the same protection and comfort you’d find in any motorcycle riding gear. Take, for instance, the following goods we’ve compiled this month: Pagnol, Indian Motorcycle, and Alpinestars. These pieces are made from topquality materials to keep your bits and pieces intact, and they’re pretty damn stylish to boot. And when coupled with a superior quality motorcycle helmet, like Arai’s Defiant helmet, you’ll feel 100-percent confident from head to toe. PAGNOL M1 LEATHER MOTORCYCLE JACKET + Features a 1.2mm tumble-aged cowhide leather thickness + Comes standard with 1/4-inch shock absorption padding on the shoulders with a removable back protector that stuffs easily into the pocket located in the lining + Sleeves…

Whether it’s your local hangout, a distant roadhouse, or a dusty happy hour at the honky-tonk, the sights and sounds of America wouldn’t be complete without the sound of amplified music. Unleash your inner Skynyrd with Firebrand’s new Baritone Slip-Ons that bring that slice of Americana to your ride. THE FACTS Available in show-quality chrome or black ceramic mufflers and with your choice of chrome, black, or contrast-cut billet end caps, the Baritone 4-inch slip-ons fit all Touring models, including Tri-Glides and those with extended and skirted bags (Freewheeler specific version also available). Additionally, the end caps can be rotated to four different positions, allowing for even more customization. Equipped with 2.5-inch perforated core baffles wrapped in dual-density packing, Baritones belt out a deep bass note, which blends perfectly with…

The holidays are here! But shopping for the holidays can be a terrible experience if you procrastinate. Which is why we wanted to help you compile your ultimate wish list this season and get it submitted to your spouse/family early. After all, if you don’t communicate what you want, you’ll end up with something unspeakably lame like a competing magazine’s one-year subscription renewal. Plus, your missus will be much happier shopping online rather than dealing with the zombies at the local malls or department stores last-minute. Check out these fine products and much more at baggersmag.com. WOLVERINE 1000-MILE BOOT (ROUGH OUT) The Men’s Wolverine 1000-Mile Rough Out boot (Waxy Brown shown) features a new twist on the classic pattern. The Rough Out features Goodyear-welt construction for durability and flexibility and…