El Superbeasto vs Nightster (You be the judge)

Superbeasto hits the road!

Today was one of the first outings with Kuwait HOG, the weather was great at 8:00am, however by 11:30am I was cooking under the helmet. We decided to head home, but I did manage to take some shots & videos of wife on the Nightrain.

Harley to close for one week

Sep 15, 2007 — Harley-Davidson will cut production by closing its Springettsbury Township plant and others for one week this fall, the company said Friday.
The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker, which continues to face low dealer sales, told its workers Friday that the company will shut down its final assembly plants in Springettsbury Township and Kansas City, Mo., for the week of Nov. 26.

In addition, Harley-Davidson will shut down its powertrain operations in Wauwatosa, Wis., and Menomonee Falls, Wis., and its Tomahawk Operations in Tomahawk, Wis., that week.
The company will not pay its employees during the shutdown, said Bob Klein, a spokesman for Harley-Davidson.

Workers laid off during the shutdowns will continue to receive health care coverage, company spokeswoman Rebecca Bortner said in an e-mail.

The manufacturer will recall all laid-off workers after the shutdown, Klein said.
“The company regrets the temporary impact the shipment reduction will have on so many of its employees as well as its dealers, suppliers and customers,” Bortner said in the e-mail.

Overall reduced consumer spending and low dealer sales in August are to blame for the production cuts, the company has said.

Harley Sales Drop!!!!

Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE:HOG) announced today that it will be cutting bike shipments and lowered its earnings estimates significantly for the fiscal year 2007. The Milwaukee-based company said that it anticipates earning $3.69 to $3.77 a share for the year. The company earned $3.93 per share in 2006. Analysts had predicted a climb in Harley's earnings this year, with the average estimate for 2007 prior to today's announcement sitting at $4.12 a share.

The earnings guidance from HOG is nothing short of dismal. It is extremely concerning that HOG is not only saying that August sales have tumbled, but also dramatically lowering 2008 estimates, and totally doing away with their guidance on 2009. This points that something bigger is going on at Harley-Davidson, not just a simple blip on the radar screen. The company is having trouble with operating margins and the demand for its newer products. HOG used to be a trusty stock that one could always count on, but it seems that the times have changed of late. I think investors would be wise to stay away from this company until they prove to be a worthy investment again.

Perhaps people are starting to get spooked with the current markets and the general uneasiness with all this talk of recession. The first thing to go in markets like that are the luxury items, like a $30,000 bike!

El Superbeasto Episode VII.I

Well things have not moved quiet well over the past 3 weeks, my painter is having a art crisis, does not seem to come up with a theme nor deliverables, last feedback I got he will commit to deliver in 2 weeks I hope for his sake. Today the engine is closed at last, after Aramex lost my four degree cam sprocket, exhaust is on yippee!! Misssing minor items here and there.

Why Do We Customize Motorcycles?

No two persons are alike. There is just something about each of us that set us apart from others. Since we are born we want to affirm our own personality, define and project our unique style and make ourselves more desirable both personally and professionally. And when you think about it, all our life is spent trying to escape pain and find pleasure in all our endeavors. We personalize the way we dress, customize our environment, our home decoration, the objects we use, etc and never stop dreaming about new solutions to make everything touching our lives look and work better. And it’s the only way we can live because people who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

Motorcycles cannot be defined only in terms of cubic inch and horsepower. They have a soul and are objects of affection. Customizing is the result of our need to reach for extreme beauty and perfection.. It’s all about the pleasure we feel when we are able to create and refine each feature to make our ride absolutely unique, in phase with our persona and becoming the object of others desires and admiration. For a motorcycle and parts designer there is nothing more satisfying than transforming individual dreams into one-of-a-kind customs. The result of the work of a professional builder is much more than new designs, colors, technical and mechanical improvements. It is about the pleasure to bring to a client. Evolution of power, handling, functionality & design is going to continue and will never stop. Simply as the consequence of the basic human need for improvement, personalization and customization.

So, you own a motorcycle and I doubt that it is just to move your body. If motorcycling becomes our passion, it’s because it moves our soul. Because of the landscapes we cross, because of the new friendships at the end of the highway and because of the emotions we get when straddling a machine; freedom, power, motion & style. It’s the way a motorcycle becomes an object of fascination and affection. But you want your bike to show its uniqueness, to feast your eyes even more and make your heart beat faster So, you are ready to spend a lot of time and money customizing it, trying to make it look more attractive, aesthetically and mechanically. And it never stops because your rider friends are doing the same.

Why ride the same bike as everybody else? Doing the work yourself, with friends or with the help of a professional builder, you are ready for any custom “tour de force”. Whatever your style, luxury that whispers, look that endures, attitude that show the street what you are made of, you want to wow the world. So, you work hard at creating new lines, refining details. Even before hitting the road you already feel an inner drive, the spirit of adventure, a strong sense of uniqueness filling you with happiness. Now your custom motorcycle is ready. You never felt this way before. You can’t imagine your life without it. When you are together on the road, it all falls in place. You are one. You feel an incredible sense of freedom. You are yourself, ready to let go, impatient to explore new horizons. An invisible thread reaching out around the world just connected you to all other custom motorcycle riders. A thread important to your life. The thread might stretch or tangle, but it will never break. Customizing is now under your skin. You feel rich, powerful and beautiful. (Copyright Cyril Huze)

Harley-Davidson And Ducati Could Merge

During these last two months I heard a persistent that Ducati and Harley-Davidson would consider a strategic merger. Then today Dennis Johnson, Dealernews and Big Twin Dealer Senior Editor, advises of an article just published by the very serious Financial Times and titled “Ducati Would Consider Harley-Davidson Merger Anytime, Ducati CFO Says”. Think about the alliances in the car industry between American & European companies. Some were very good, some turned bad. In this post, I am not going to explain the “total complementary” between Ducati and Harley-Davidson. I send you to the Financial Times article. It’s important news and if the merger happens, it can change all the landscape of the motorcycle industry. I always though the Monstro should have a Harley engine...

Harley Davidson, Bolivia Style!

Everybody loves Harley Davidson, but very few afford one. Some locals in Bolivia, which are included in the last category, thought to make their own motorcycles, they get a 10 for creativity!!!

El Superbeasto Episode VI

The tire and swing arm are in place, machining of the exhaust bracket was sent to a shop in shuwaikh. Cams were pulled out of the bike, it seems the pervious owner has setup 203 cams on it, which is why the bike had a good pull. Awaiting for 211 cams to show up and Kevalr clutch to close the engige in episode VII, in addition to rewiring. Tony did not start on the paint job yet as he is awaitinf the old school flake i bought off eBay. That wraps it up for this episode see you next week.

Cruising on top of the world on a Harley?

Lets not exagerate its actually 3000m above sea level, the venue is the Cedars in Lebanon, the date May 2004. So why am I blogging about it today, simply cause I recieved the scanned picture lately from the Saudi dude in the picture. I am the guy with the real Harley Gear :), sandals and an old jacket which I found at my grandma place. I will never forget the day, it was never planned. I was attending a meeting in Beirut, when I met the HOG team from Saudi, yes they do have one there and they call bike for "dabbab" not to be mistaken with Dabbabeh, although Harley are buily like a tank. Anyways the result was this unforgettable scenery viewed from a bike perspective.

Harleyrious Clip!!

Can't,remember the movie, very funny clip!!

Schumi's New Ride.

Finali Mondial Ferrari, an annual gathering featuring previously purchased ex-Ferrari team machinery held at the famed Monza racecourse near Milan. Additionally, this year Schumacher was going to be honored. They wanted to present Schumacher with a special gift of a Harley-Davidson. But not a stocker, they wanted something special.

The only hitch was the bike had to be transformed into a gift fitting for Michael…in Ferrari Red, of course, and they had just three weeks to complete it.

The timetable was tight, but the bike was completed in 20 days and shipped to Italy via Federal Express in time for the event.

The bike is a 1981 (crappy engine) FLH was transformed into the cool looking Ferrari Red “Bobber” seen here. The engine, frame, wheels and forks remained Harley-Davidson original, all I got to say, its a nice retirement gift from 500HP to 60HP :)

Nasty Grannies

Everytime someone gets on a Harley they wanna assume the bad boy image. Del Fuego beware there is a new gang in town.

Kuwait Bike Show 2007

Today was a great riding day, we woke up at 7:30, warmed up the bikes and headed up on the 50 Highway to Subhan, exit on the 40 to Ahmadi down to Starbucks Hilton, Mocca and Latte for one hour, back up Fahaheel, my wife got the hang of her Night Train, 140 KM/H racing me up to Messila. We picked up the kids and headed to Sharq Water Front to attend the Bike Show organised by HD. A good turned out lots of competitors from Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi and of course Kuwait. Lunch with the gang then watched the award ceremony. Overall great week end.I will be posting the picture from the show in the upcoming days.

Harley Barbie

Move over BRATZ, Harley Barbie is here, dressed to kill in leather and studs, a bit expensive though retailing at 75$ on Amazon. Barbie broke Mattel's heart in 2005 where the toymaker profit fell 28%, the interesting part is that Mattell warned investors it may have to raise toy prices if crude oil prices continue in the $50- to $60-a-barrel range, driving up toy production costs.

Barbie is not considered a hip toy when compared to Bratz, my kids can tell you that! This prompted Mattel to join the endless ranks of officially-licensed Barbie dolls (tie-ins have ranged from Harley-Davidson to the X-Files and literally everything in-between) are a pair of new plastic fantastic NASCAR fangirls-- Jeff Gordon Barbie and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Barbie.

Kuwait 4th Bike Show 2007 Location: Souq Sharq

Best Custom - Must have a Harley engine & frame
Best Softail - FX
Best Softail - FL
Best Dyna
Best Spotster
Best Touring
Best V-Rod
Best Paint Job

Hellraiser II Resurrected

Perception of women bikers, pink bikes, flowers naaaa, forget the norm, my wife's Nightrain started off as an Ugly Dukcling, the previous owner a british school teatcher (GSQ) have humilated this machine by leaving it parked in all kind of weather, custom violet paint job and lots of silicone to hold it together about the only thing in common with women nowadays :). Hellraiser is a bad ass flat black Nightrain, I thought I was building it for myself, until my wife saw it! It was love at first site she dumped her Sportster custom and went for my Nightrain. With a 5 degrees stretched front rake, stage one performance kit, this HD smokes its rear tire by dropping the clutch. My wife thinks its the best thing she ever rode, immagine a 48kg woman handling a 350KG beast, thats Hellraiser II.