Editor’s Note:What appears below is a guest blog post from veteran biker Jeff Maddox, who regularly holds court over at the JMAdog blog.

Winter was a long one – for sure! For those of you who have had to sit and look at your motorcycle from the shop stool in the garage, you may have been taking mental notes of the spring and summer to come: where to go, when to go and who might be coming with you have crossed your mind while patiently waiting to pull the bike back onto the highway. It will be a great summer if you just let it. Be patient, relax when you … Continue Reading

Despite the stray snowflakes falling from the sky in parts of the Midwest today, it really is spring! At  the J&P Cycles headquarters in Eastern Iowa, we’re gearing up for our first motorcycle event of the season. Our usual Cruise Night event has a new name – Hot Rods & Harleys Cruise Night – sponsored by J&P Cycles, and a new location at the Chrome Horse Saloon in Cedar Rapids.

If you’re in the area, cruise in with your motorcycle or car and show it off! The event starts at 5:15, and live music begins at 6 p.m. Plus, enjoy great drink specials and door prizes.

J&P Cycles knows how to have one hell of a bash in the cornfields of Eastern Iowa! 2013 marks the 34th annual event, which is now called the J&P Cycles Open House Rally. This year’s event is scheduled for June 29-30. Founders John and Jill Parham started the original one-day event as a customer appreciation of sorts to thank their loyal customers for their business. Today that one-day event has grown into two and is bigger than ever!

Last year more than 30,000 motorcyclists converged on Anamosa, Iowa and the J&P Cycles headquarters. This year we hope to up the ante and attract even more. Ryan Hurst who plays … Continue Reading

As presenting sponsor of the AMA Pro Flat Track, J&P Cycles has the inside scoop to all things flat track racing. Here AMA Flat Track Champion Joe Kopp takes you inside the race, explaining what the series is all about. Additional insight is provided by 2012 AMA Pro Grand National Champion Jared Mees and AMA Pro Flat Track Announcer Barry Boone.

Bike Week signifies the beginning of the riding season for many riders across the nation. Attending the event stirs up the senses and resurrects the feeling of freedom that can only be obtained on a motorcycle traveling the open road. One of the only things that can make that feeling better is sharing the road with fellow riders and enthusiasts who share the passion for anything on two wheels!

This year’s Bike Week did not fail to satisfy. Thousands of riders made their way to Daytona Beach, Florida to celebrate their love of motorcycles. The J&P Cycles Destination Daytona Superstore lot was filled with vendors eager to meet the crowds … Continue Reading

The reigning champion of the 2012 Baker Smokedown Showdown in Sturgis is J&P Cycles’ own Gorilla suit wearing Patrick Garvin. This Wednesday, he’ll face 12 other participants in Daytona during the Bike Week Baker Smokedown Showdown.

The Smokedown Showdown begins at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the Iron Horse Saloon on North US Highway 1, Ormond Beach. Take part in the chaos as the Baker’s Dozen of industry builders, TV personalities and celebrities go head-to-head in a drag style burnout competition.

This year’s Smokedown Showdown is courtesy of Baker and J&P Cycles.

Today we are going to introduce you to Shawn Stone, head of our Quality Control department. In this capacity, he is responsible for a variety of duties at J&P Cycles. Shawn began his career at J&P Cycles  in 2000 (five weeks after me).

It has been a pleasure working with him over the past 12-½ years. A Des Moines, Iowa native this 48-year-old spent a portion of his early life in Southern California, Phoenix, Arizona; Houston, Texas and Breckenridge, Colorado. A dirt biker since high school, he began riding on the street 30 years ago. Currently, he has a 1997 Custom Softail. On the side, he has a … Continue Reading

 Editor’s Note: Don Bova has been with J&P Cycles as an Inventory Specialist in the J&P Cycles SuperStore in Ormond Beach, FL. since May 2007   Originally from Michigan, Don attended Wayne State University and Detroit College of Business. He brings to J&P Cycles his experience with marketing, cost accounting and supervising staff at 15 Miss Hawaiian Tropic International Pageants in addition to retail supervising and training.  Don bought his first motorcycle in 1970 upon returning from Vietnam and has never looked back.  He spent the next 14 years riding from last snow to first snow in Michigan, then eight years of TRYING to ride 12 months a year in … Continue Reading

Editor’s Note:What appears below is a guest blog post from veteran biker Jeff Maddox, who regularly holds court over at the JMAdog blog.

Sturgis 2012 – wow, what a trip to make and memories to share! Coming home from this amazing rally, I had time to reflect on exactly the randomness of it all. Heading to Sturgis, as usual, there is excitement and anticipation of a long ride mixed with a few butterflies of what might happen along the way. I love the ride there and back as you meet so many people heading in the same direction and all of us are all going to share our love … Continue Reading

Labor Day weekend in Eastern Iowa marks one of our favorite motorcycle events of the season, the AMCA Fall National hosted by the Chief Blackhawk Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA). A couple of J&P Cycles’ staff members spent the day there on Friday, Aug. 31, shooting video, taking photographs and talking with vintage riders and enthusiasts from across the country. The swap meet portion is a “Pickers Paradise” of sorts, where swap meet enthusiasts converge seeking out the rarest of rare motorcycle parts and memorabilia.

One of the highlights of this weekend is the half mile Antique Flat Track Races on Friday. With no clutch and … Continue Reading