Six decades of proven performance It’s doubtful that George Smith ever envisioned the motorcycle aftermarket empire that S&S Cycle would eventually become. A powerhouse like none other, S&S has risen from the mere passion of racing the fastest Harley on the strip to being a leader in performance products used around the world. Starting with a 1939 61” basket-case Knucklehead, ...

Rocking on River Road New Braunfels, Texas., Mar. 31—The Giddy Up Vintage Chopper Show is without a doubt one of the most energetic and robust motorcycle events currently in existence in the American South. The vibe of the attendees, the quality of the bike builds, the history of an offbeat culture shared between grey beards and hipsters and some of ...

Engineered for success The motorcycle industry is a fluid business, constantly changing and evolving due to current trends in styling, slick marketing ploys and even riders’ self-perception—stock bikes being modified to stretched choppers giving way to big-wheel production models, with baggers being the current rage. Keeping abreast of these changes in riders’ impulses is a monumental task requiring quick adaptability ...

A look behind the curtain Since the dawn of two-wheel transport, trikes have been viewed as an oddity, a second-class cousin not worthy to be thought of as a “real” motorcycle. But the days of three-wheel 45 c.i. Harley Servi-Cars and hacked-up Volkswagen experiments are a far cry from today’s trike experience. With an aging riding demographic, the trike has ...

(And why you should—Part 2) Continuing with our 10 epic unknown rides series, Thunder Press completes the list with our last five favorite adventures. Hope you enjoy then as much as we enjoyed riding and reporting on them. Interstate 70 How did an interstate make our list when normally we avoid them at all costs? Well the section of I-70 in ...

(And why you should—Part 1) Most riders have a “must-ride” bucket list of notable routes they hope to accomplish in their lifetime. But there are those magnificent sections of tarmac that remain mostly unknown. These are some of our favorites. The Gauntlet An hour north of Atlanta, Georgia, is a 133-mile loop aptly named The Gauntlet. Challenging the nearby Tail ...

How to avoid becoming a motor-cicle Itching to ride? Now that Punxatawny Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter, you may need these eight hot tips for cold-weather riding!  While stuffing your military surplus jacket with newspaper to act as insulation sufficed 50 years ago, thankfully technology has caught up with the problems associated with riding in adverse conditions. ...

Everything in Texas is bigger Galveston Island, Texas, Nov. 2–5—Promoted as the largest four-day motorcycle event in the U.S., the Lone Star Rally hit Galveston Island this year celebrating its 17th annual recurrence and proving to be one of the biggest ever. This event has endured devastating hurricanes that ripped the island apart just weeks before the rally, torrential rainstorms ...

Daytona Beach, Fla.—The introduction of the original Road King in 1994 was a game changer for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. One might even successfully argue that it set the stage for the bagger craze that rages until this day. And while the powerplant for this model has seen a broad spectrum of engine designs and displacements during the last two ...

Men’s Sully 3-in-1 Convertible Mesh Jacket Harley-Davidson P/N 98176-17VM $265-$290 harley-davidson.com Reviewed by Robert Filla At the start of my initiation into riding, my friends and I pressed a variety of wardrobe pieces into service. And while the standard military field jacket fell within our budgets, it was a minimal solution. The Holy Grail for all riders of course was ...