Born Again-In The U.S.A.
Cashing in on that intangible American character is always risky business, but yet another revived American motorcycle brand plans to try where others have failed. Movie star Branscombe Richmond (www.branscomberichmond.com) was in Sturgis, South Dakota, this past August to help with the national rollout of American Motorcycle 1902.
If you're wondering, American Motorcycle is one of the oldest vintage motorcycle brands in the U.S.A. It was first established in-you guessed it-1902, a year after Indian splashed into the market, and one year before Harley-Davidson was launched. The original American Motorcycle Co. ceased production in 1922.
It's not clear, however, just how many actual machines the latest incarnation of American Motorcycle plans to build-we could only find a few custom projects on its website, www.amc1902.com. Apparently, the vision for this new trademark is to re-introduce the brand and its logo through a limited number of special-edition custom V-twin heavyweight motorcycles and to develop a brand with related apparel, accessories and motorcycle lifestyle products that will appeal to both motorcycle enthusiasts and mainstream consumers alike.
What IS clear, however, is that American Motorcycle 1902 is involved in the creation of four fully customized American motorcycles being built for the upcoming The Ironhorsemen movie (to be released in '06) featuring Branscombe Richmond; the website features images of these bikes in their formative stages. The principals of American Motorcycle are Branscombe Richmond, Robert J. Page and Murray Smith, former CEO of Indian Motorcycles.
The Bikers' Court
If you've had it up to here with revenue-generating speed traps set by the Man (who hasn't?) and your DMV rap sheet has more points than a pincushion, you might want to look at legal solutions to the problem rather than cursing out the ticket-scribbling trooper who just nailed you. A press release from BikersLegal.com claims motorcyclists can join the service for a mere $99 per year ($149 for the family), and upon receiving a citation or moving violation on their bike, watercraft, snowmobile or auto, can have an attorney provided anywhere in the U.S. at no extra charge. Bikers Legal claims their attorneys get citations thrown out or reduced to a lesser violation with no additional points applied to your driving record nine out of 10 times.
Still, the idea of utilizing a service to fight all the legal mumbo-jumbo invariably associated with high-mileage jaunts sounds appealing to us (not that we'd ever break the law). Time is money, after all, and Johnny Law has enough of ours.
Perhaps believing riders tend to choose their life partners hastily, Bikers Legal also provides plan members with uncontested divorces at discount rates. Go figure. Contact Bikers Legal for full details at (877) 292-2329 or www.bikerslegal.com.
Department Of Corrections
In last issue's Breva 1100 test, we misquoted the price-the bike's correct price is $11,990, and the bike still comes with a two year warranty. Our apologies.
And Mark Zimmerman informs us that, "Contrary to what I said in August (Q&A), someone has come up with an alternative fuel tank for the Suzuki LC1500 Intruder. For more info contact the G-man at www.GmanIndustries.com, if you want to ride farther, longer and faster. I know it sucks, but them's the breaks."
Cobra Calendar
September
Kentucky Super Show
Louisville, KY
Sept. 10-11
The Kentucky Super Show boasts two days of hot bikes, concerts and awesome rides through Kentucky's beautiful Bourbon Country, with Hot Bike and RC Components as sponsors. The whole thing goes down at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. Click www.rccomponents.com/septevent.htm for more info.