The country’s first automated, touch‐free wash for motorcycles (Patent Pending) is being introduced this week, coinciding with the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP motorcycle race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The prototype wash – Moto Express Wash™ was designed and built by Harrell’s Car Wash Systems, a local company that’s built and operated car washes for three decades around the Midwest.

Owner Mark Harrell, a long‐time motorcycle enthusiast, got the idea several years ago after talking to Paul Teutul Sr. from Orange County Choppers and the cable TV series American Chopper. Harrell was intrigued and went to work developing the country’s first automated touch‐free motorcycle wash (Patent Pending) at his shop on the west side of Indianapolis. It has taken three years, but Harrell’s team of engineers, computer technicians, welders and other specialists have designed and built the prototype, which is open for business at the Dirt Stripper Car Wash at 4980 Crawfordsville Road, about a block west of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

From a distance the Moto Express Wash™ looks like a normal automated car wash bay. The motorcycle is ridden into the bay, which is the same size as a standard car wash bay. The kickstand is put down, and the rider dismounts. The bike is secured through a computerized system that activates blocks at the kick stand and at the front tire, so whether you’re riding a Vespa or a chopper, the bike is held in place in an upright position during the entire wash process.

An arm moves across and over the bike for pre‐soak, wash and spot‐free rinse – at the same time, the front and rear wheels are being rotated and cleaned, and then it’s air‐dried. The whole process takes less than five minutes. Until now, motorcycle owners had to rely on hand washing to clean their bikes, a process that could take at least two hours. “Wash. Dry. Ride.℠ It’s really that simple,” says Harrell, who has spent the last several months test marketing Moto Express Wash™, and plans to make it available to other car wash owners and motorcycle dealers beginning in the spring.

Edelbrock is known for innovative products, and their new Nitrous Systems are no exception… All Edelbrock Nitrous Systems are dyno-tested and calibrated to deliver accurate and safe horsepower gains with even distribution to each cylinder. Edelbrock’s nitrous calibrations are determined through dyno-testing, not simple mathematical formulas, which do not take into account real-world variables.

Dyno proven to produce 35+ HP increase at the push of a button, Edelbrock Nitrous Systems and components are the quickest and easiest way to get large horsepower increases with a minimum of engine modifications and expense. Edelbrock Nitrous Systems have proven to be an effective power adder for carbureted Harleys and are NOW AVAILABLE for EFI Applications as well.

Edelbrock have designed an industry firs Radial Discharge plate for EFI applications. This high-tech radial discharge design offers unobstructed airflow within the intake runner minimizing the risk of air/fuel ratio changes by the bikes ecu. Edelbrock Nitrous Systems for carbureted and EFI Harleys offer:

* The Most Complete Bolt-On Nitrous Kits Available
* Designed Specifically for Harley-Davidson
* Engineered and Dyno Tested for a True 35 HP Increase at the Push of a Button
* The Only Plate System Available for Harleys
* Stainless Steel Jets Won’t Erode Like Brass Jets Found in Other Systems
* Order the Plate that Matches Your Carb and Two Bottle Frame Adapters for 12 oz. Kits
* Unique Electronic Module and RPM Sensor Activates Nitrous at 4300 rpm to Reduce Chance of Engine-Damaging Detonation
* Radial discharge allows for N20/Fuel-mixture to spray directly into the intake stream without compromising airflow.

MotorcycleUSA.com got the chance to test ride the new OCC production bikes at the Teutuls’ facility in New York. Full article here.

Lincoln and the Orange County Choppers (OCC) team unveiled a unique Mark LT Chopper today at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The build of the one-of-a-kind chopper inspired by Lincoln’s all-new luxury pickup truck will be featured on upcoming episodes of Discovery Channel’s hit series “American Chopper”.

Lincoln had the bike created to show customers what the Mark LT might look like on two wheels and to highlight the key luxury features of the truck. The OCC team handcrafted the chopper in their shop in Montgomery, New York over a three-week period in December 2004.

“Excitement had been building at Lincoln from day one just thinking about what OCC would design,” said John Fitzpatrick, General Marketing Manager, Lincoln Mercury. “I was amazed to see their interpretation of Lincoln luxury and the all-new Mark LT. The bike really turned out great.”

Mark LT Chopper
“When designing the bike I wanted to give it a substantial stance to match the truck. So I went with a wide tank and lowered it by inverting the front end,” said Paul Teutul, Jr., Orange County Choppers, Inc. “I really liked the grille and chrome accents so you can see how we carried that theme throughout the bike. The paint color with the chrome really worked great together.”

The chopper stretches over nine feet and sits on a 21×3.5 front tire and an 18×10.5 rear tire to give it a beefy truck-like stance. Lincoln’s trademark waterfall grille inspired the design of the gas tank, handlebars, air cleaner housing and oil tank. The dark toreador red metallic paint, the light parchment leather seat, chrome accents and Lincoln badges came directly from the Mark LT.

The bike also has a set of custom chrome rims that feature a patented “friction drive” system that tumbles three embedded Lincoln star logos in each wheel as they turn. Raised and etched Mark LT lettering adorn the belt drive and housing cover. The exhaust’s sweeping design ends in a custom flare that copies the seat’s unique shape.

The chopper’s power comes from a 2150cc motor that produces 131-horsepower and 141 ft. lbs. of torque. The motor connects to a 6-speed manual transmission and belt drive system for a smooth and powerful ride.

“We were excited when we partnered with Lincoln on this project bike,” said Teutul., “We visited Ford’s Dearborn design studio to see the creative development process that went into the Mark LT. The trip inspired me and allowed me to capture the true essence of the truck in this bike. I can honestly say that this is probably the classiest looking bike we’ve built at OCC.”

Discovery Channel’s “American Chopper” Lincoln Bike episodes will take viewers behind the scenes of the design, development and build of the Mark LT chopper. Viewers will watch the creative genius of the OCC team in action as they worked to get the chopper ready for its international debut.

Paul Teutul, Jr., a.k.a. Junior or Paulie, lead the creative development for the bike. With sheet metal in his blood from the age of 12, he spent his summers at his father’s steel business learning all the skills of fabrication that he would later use building motorcycles. In 1999, Paul Sr. recognized his son’s design and fabrication talent, and with his blessing, Junior left the rail shop to help establish Orange County Choppers as a business.

That year, the father-and-son team debuted their bikes at Daytona Biketoberfest with overwhelming support from bike lovers, and they never looked back. With Paul Jr.as the chief designer and fabricator, and Paul Sr. lending his considerable business talents OCC has been unstoppable. The hit show “America Chopper” allows viewers to see this real-life dynamic duo in action on the Discovery Channel.

Mark LT – Taking Luxury To A Whole New Place
The Lincoln Mark LT is a key part of Lincoln’s plan to broaden the showroom and build momentum and growth. On sale in early 2005, the new Mark LT is one of five new Lincolns that will be introduced over four years.

The Lincoln Mark LT is designed for customers who want equal amounts of luxury and capability. It has indisputable truck credentials with outstanding payload and towing capacity and adds an additional level of style and sophistication beyond high-end pickup trucks on the road today. The Mark LT offers four full doors, front captain’s chairs and a full rear seat, all providing ample comfort for five adults.

Mark LT’s exterior features a theme of chrome accents, asserting the vehicle’s status and enhancing its appearance. Its dominant signature waterfall grille, wide taillamps and thick-spoked wheels give it an unmistakable family resemblance to today’s Lincoln line-up. The Lincoln Mark LT uses contemporary finishes and warm colors that result in an environment that is both inviting and stimulating. The Mark LT delivers, with a standard 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton™ V-8 engine that produces 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 365 foot-pounds of torque at 3,750 rpm.

“Being a designer, I understand the commitment and passion that is needed to take an idea and transform it into a reality,” said Patrick Schiavone, design director, Ford North America Truck and Mark LT chief designer. “I am a fan of, Paul Teutul, Jr. and” American Chopper” the OCC team. I can appreciate the attention to detail they put in every aspect of the Mark LT bike.”

Few brands evoke the pride of ownership quite like Caterpillar. The Cat brand fosters strong emotional appeal and passionate loyalty from both the employees who design, build, sell and support Cat machines, and those who own or aspire to own Cat machines. Caterpillar has taken that legacy of pride in the build and reliability of its equipment and instilled it in the Cat Chopper.

To begin the build and design of the bike, the Teutuls traveled to Peoria, Ill., to visit Caterpillar headquarters and proving grounds where they test drove several pieces of Cat equipment. Of course, it was all for the sake of research, so that they could create a bike that would truly and artistically represent Caterpillar.

The unique features of the Chopper are inspired by the hardware and build of legendary Cat machines. Cat hardware helps keep the Cat Chopper on the move. Both the front and back wheels of the Cat chopper feature Caterpillar Grade 8 bolts – the same used on all Cat equipment. The air filter resembles the head of a Grade 8 bolt, showing the care and craftsmanship used to build each piece of the Cat equipment.

Inspired by the Exhaust on Cat Bulldozers, the exhaust stack on the Cat Chopper features a unique over and under system. The distinctive Cat yellow paint used on the fuel tank and other areas of the bike makes the Chopper a true symbol of the Caterpillar and the quality craftsmanship that used to build each piece of the Cat equipment.

The elevated sprocket on the Cat track-type tractors. The patented design improves the wear performance and reliability of the final drive by keeping it above the ground level work area. This protects it from impact loads, abrasions and contaminants.

The power behind the Cat Chopper is a 150hp engine with a 6-speed transmission. Maximum torque is 160 ft lbs. The stout frame embodies toughness and durability, two qualities every Cat machine is known for. The Cat Chopper is a purpose-built, rugged machine. Continued inspiration in the frame of the Chopper is evident in the grill-like portion of the front frame. The grated frame resembles the grill screen found on many types of Cat equipment.

Bucket teeth aren’t what you would typically see on the rear fender of a byke. But on the Cat Chopper they seem like a natural fit.

Established as a business in 1999, the shop grew out of Orange County Ironworks, a steel fabrication enterprise founded nearly 30 years ago by custom-chopper builder and rider Paul Teutul Sr. OCC jumped on the custom-bike scene at Daytona Biketoberfest 1999 with “True Blue,” a classic chopper built in the basement of Paul Sr.’s house.

Other signature bikes soon followed, including the Spider Bike, purchased by musician Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, and the Jet Bike. Built to honor U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, the Jet Bike was featured in the original American Chopper that aired on Discovery Channel in September 2002. Their popularity has led them to build custom theme bikes for some of the biggest names in corporate America such as Microsoft, Lincoln and Coca-Cola. Today, Orange County Choppers is regarded as one of the world’s premier builders of custom motorcycles.

Today, Orange County Choppers has garnered worldwide praise and recognition for their custom motorcycles. In 2002, for example, OCC was recognized by American Iron as one of the world’s top 12 builders; likewise, OCC will be among 19 other top builders profiled in the forthcoming book Haute Motor: The Art of the Chopper (November 2003). OCC bikes have also been featured on numerous magazine covers including American Iron, Freeway (France), Norsk Biker Journal (Norway) and Street Chopper. And the Spider Bike was one of three bikes chosen in the world-class competition at the Rats Hole Custom Show in Daytona, Fla., to receive an “all expenses paid” trip to Germany, the site of one of the biggest auto/bike shows in the world.

It’s a garage that’s come far in only four short years. Just wait to see what comes next.

Orange County Choppers at a Glance
Founder: Paul Teutul Sr.
Chief Designer/Fabricator: Paul Teutul Jr.
Established: 1999
Location: Rock Tavern, N.Y.
Employees: 20
Bikes Produced Annually: 150

Paul Sr.
The boss, and don’t you forget it.
Paul Jr.
OCC’s chief designer and fabricator of the custom bikes (as if you didn’t know).
Mikey
Phone-answerer and trash taker-outer and so much more.
Vinnie
OCC custom-bike fabricator alongside childhood friend Paul Jr.
Christian
Partner-in-crime with friend Nick on customer bikes, and pinch-hitter on theme bikes as well.

Now that you’ve read up on a few articles, here’s a few pictures of some of the most epic choppers around. Go ahead, look at them, and have fun

Buying your Harley Davidson or custom chopper’s parts online can be much more efficient and easier than it is when buying them offline. You can get detailed description, pictures, etc and you do not have to deal with a sales representative trying to convince you into buying stuff you do not need. Besides, you can always save enough time to take an extra ride on your chopper.

The first thing that you got to do is to locate sources for the parts that you plan on buying. You can either buy all your parts from one source, or compare prices over different sources and decide on what works best for you. A search engine like Google or Yahoo should be your starting point.

Generally, instead of jumping to a decision, comparing prices over different e-stores is recommended. Some of these e-stores often have different deals and promos while others offer free shipping.

While shopping online, make sure you verify that the e-store is legit and secure. Try to verify their contact information against the Yellow Pages. Calling up their phone number, if they provide one, is also a good idea. Besides this, you can always lookup on the internet and search for reviews of that specific e-store, etc. All in all, stay alert. The nature of the product will not prevent online fraud.

Online discussion forums and communities are a good idea too. Try to join those and then ask questions related to the parts you want to buy. You may also want to ask about reliable e-stores that sell parts for the chopper that you own. You can be sure to get some good responses as well as user feedback since these type of forums are usually full of chopper enthusiasts, just like you.

Online and offline magazines are also a good place to look at. They often have web addresses of authentic e-stores that sell parts you may want. Online auctions such as Ebay and the likes are also a good place to check out. They usually have parts at a lower price. But once again, before you bid, verify the seller’s contact info and be sure to check out on his ratings and past performance.

The tips outlined above can greatly assist you with your first purchase online. Once you’ve gone through everything and get your first part online, you’ll be amazed at the fact that it is a whole lot easier to buy your parts online than it is doing so offline. Always take pre-cautions and know who you’re dealing with online to avoid being scammed.

It can get confusing when choosing parts that you want your custom chopper to be made of. However, companies like Phantom Cycle, Biker’s Choice, etc have started to sell those famous ‘Chopper-in-a-box’ kits which make life a lot more easier. Custom choppers are now much more affordable.

You need to be aware of the kind of chopper you would like to build. Then you should go ahead and set a reasonable budget for the parts, and any labor costs as well as unexpected expenses. In many cases, the price of the parts is what keeps most of the chopper enthusiasts away from getting a custom chopper of their own. However, if you have clear specifications in your mind, you’ll end up with fairly inexpensive parts and a stunning finish.

Always try to use the authentic parts available within your budget. At times, even though you have an awesome finish in mind, you can end up with a relatively poor finish just because the suppliers did not pay much attention to the details.

Most of the ‘chopper-in-a-box’ kits usually consist of a chassis, engine, tires, exhaust pipes, metal parts, and steel tanks. They also often include a seat, headlamp, etc. Obviously, any other extras would depend on the brand of the kit you chose. Paint is vital to finish the custom job, as well as battery acid. Mirrors and other accessories are typically not provided in the kits because most people would prefer to buy their own designs.

Experts often recommend that you purchase your kit as well as the accessories from just one single manufacturer. This may, in some cases, require you to wait. It sure is not easy to wait, specially when you’re so close to doing what you’ve always wanted to do. But you’ll be definitely glad that you waited when the job’s finished.