J&P Cycles flew a crew out to the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati this past weekend so everybody could get a first-hand and up-close look at what our vendors have in store for all of us this season. A good part of the reason we all even work here is so we can attend exclusive motorcycle industry shows where our vendors debut all the products they have been developing over the winter.

What that means is, everybody who’s lucky enough get inside the doors of this exclusive exposition are laying their eyes on literally thousands of new motorcycle products and accessories for the first time.

And because J&P Cycles is known … Continue Reading

The 19^th edition of Biketoberfest got underway yesterday in Daytona Beach, Fla., and while many states are chilling up, those of us lucky enough to live and work in Florida are at a point where a light jacket is reasonable evening wear.

And the onset of what we call fall here in Florida only accents the sounds of motorcycle engines, the shine of chrome and the smells of various meats on sticks.

If you can find your way down here, you will most assuredly not be disappointed. In fact, the only drawback to Biketoberfest is there’s not enough time to squeeze it all in. The event runs through … Continue Reading

Once again, the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building set up shop smack dab in the middle of Sturgis and true to form, exhibited the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to fabrication. In fact, it appeared to us that fabrication skills were on display more so this year than bike-building skills.

Functionality appeared to be lost in the translation on a lot of these entries. To us, it looked like builders were more intent on showing off their insane engineering and fabrication pieces, and the motorcycles themselves were secondary. So as Zach and I cruised the isles looking for the perfect machine for our Partner Pick … Continue Reading

This year marked my second consecutive in-person visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy MotoGP after years of following what I consider to be the world’s premier motorcycling championship on the television set.

Last year I experienced some culture shock during my first visit — but it was my kind of culture and so I embraced it! This year’s trip was just as exciting, but I experienced less awe and a whole lot more agenda. It was after all, a working trip, so the first few days were spent setting up the J&P Cycles rig in the interactive vendor display area.

Then it was off to ride “Willies … Continue Reading

All good things must come to an end, and that includes summertime and the J&P Cycles Cruise Nights and Swap Meets for the 2011 season. This Tuesday marks the final Cruise Night from 5:15 p.m. to dusk at our headquarters at 13225 Circle Drive in Anamosa, Iowa.

The majority of this year’s Cruise Night events have taken place just down the street at the National Motorcycle Museum, but this final wingding will be held back at J&P. Make plans for one last summer fun event before bidding the season farewell. Enjoy great company, good food and awesome-looking cars and motorcycles.

Our final Swap Meet of the season will take place … Continue Reading

For the past seven years I’ve worked in one capacity or another in Sturgis, and each of those years I’ve thrown a leg over my bike in late July, pointed it west and pinned it for 800 miles. I do the ride in one day, simply because I just don’t have all that much time.

I get there three weeks before the start of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and when I arrive, I’ve got exactly one day to do whatever I want before I get down to work. Other than my short morning blasts through Vanocker Canyon, that’s the last riding I do for the next month. While most of … Continue Reading

More than 200 automobiles graced the 18th fairway at the 61st Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance near coastal Carmel, California, on a recent Sunday, dwarfing the 18 shiny Italian motorcycles on display. But when it came time for the presentation of awards for these two-wheelers, it was the machines from the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, that took center stage.

The results of the Italian Touring Motorcycles class competition saw a first-place award going to a 1957 Aermacchi Chimera — a strikingly beautiful blue and yellow “streamlined” machine. Second-place honors went to a bright red 1956 Maserati 160 LM, also a motorcycle museum resident.

Two years ago, the producers of … Continue Reading

The fast-arriving Labor Day weekend marks Iowa’s biggest antique Motorcycle swap meets and vintage flat-track races, hosted by the Chief Blackhawk chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA) and held at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport.

The AMCA Fall National (Sept 1 through 4 this year) is one of the largest events of the year for this organization and it just so happens to be taking place pretty much smack dab in the middle of the United States — about an hour and a half from J&P Cycles.

This is an event that draws members and spectators from all over the United States. What’s the attraction? Besides … Continue Reading

There’s going to be this little biker event taking place in the hills of South Dakota next month. There will be a lot of motorcycle riders gathered there in a small town named Sturgis that boasts 6,442 residents when everybody’s tucked in for the night. Maybe you’ve heard of it?

Are you serious? Everybody’s heard of Sturgis. And this year marks the 71^st anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally & Races, with two-wheeled fun running from July 30 to Aug. 14.

But what you might not know is that the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building takes place at this motorcycle Mecca (Aug. 6-10), and J&P Cycles is … Continue Reading

You’re going to be seeing the J&P Cycles logo all over town next month as motorcyclists converge on Sturgis to celebrate the 71st annual Sturgis Rally & Races. This tiny South Dakota town is transformed almost overnight into “Motorcycle City USA,” and we’ll be there in full force for the entire event.

J&P will be well represented in town for the first half of August with not one, but two fully stocked stores — and that doesn’t even count our big rig at the corner of 8^th Street and Lazelle in downtown Sturgis.

The main Harley parts and accessories store, located at 1650 Lazelle Street in the downtown … Continue Reading