Body and Machine

Thank you to all who submitted entries for the #ultimatebikermakeover We have 61 entries to read through, and like every year, wish we could help everyone “Score” the gear! The best part of our “Garage Community” is the ability to help one another. We encourage you all to help others out any opportunity you have. What may seem simple to you, can make a huge difference to someone! Thank you to Allstate Motorcycle for helping us to #keepridersriding We also want to say a sincere thanks to the sponsors that help us organize this event, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Indian Motorcycle, Spectro Oils, Design Engineering, Inc., S&S Cycle, Inc., Kuryakyn, Klock Werks, MotoChic Gear, Mustang Seats, Memphis Shades. We will announce the winner here on August 10th! Stay Tuned!

As many enthusiasts make their way to the legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip this year, they will be happy to find Spectro Oils as the official oil for the venue.

“We couldn’t be more excited to work with the Sturgis Buffalo Chip” said Alex Josefson, President of Spectro Oils. “They run an amazing operation at the highest level and have many exciting events including legendary concerts, rides, races, contests and more. The experience at the Buffalo Chip is unlike any in the world.”

As part of the partnership Spectro Oils will have a large booth in the vendor area that will be staffed with oil experts able to answer any questions you have about oils.  Oil changes will also be available at the newly built Sturgis Rider Superstore at the Buffalo Chip. Talking on the partnership, Buffalo Chip Owner Rod Woodruff said “Spectro Oils is the go-to name in motorcycle oils. We are all about motorcycles and we chose to partner with the best. They value quality and appreciate the highest level of performance as do we.”
When riding out, around and then back home from Sturgis, many riders will need a complete fluid change to keep up with the amount of miles put on their rides. Riders can find all they need at the Sturgis Rider Superstore at the Buffalo Chip.  Spectro will have a wide variety of oil change options for you to make sure your motorcycle is protected and running at peak performance while visiting Sturgis. Spectro Heavy Duty 20w50 Engine Oil will be available in Petroleum, Semi-Synthetic, and Full Synthetic options.  Combine that with Spectro Oils award winning 6-Speed Transmission Oil, and Primary Chaincase Oil for a full fluid change.   Riders will then be able to see (and feel) what makes Spectro Oils The Best Oil On Planet Earth!

We like this bag from Kuryakyn, looks like we could stuff a bunch in here!

You have seen his builds on TV, John Shope of Dirty Bird Concepts® takes a vision and pushes it beyond conventional boundaries. The renegade “Risk Taker” is a veritable mastermind of unadulterated concepts capable of taking any ride to another level. Now the Dirty Bird is teaming up with Mustang Seats to develop the new Shope Signature Series designed exclusively for Indian Motorcycle. Two brands founded on quality, purpose-built products, are now delivering the ultimate fusion of custom design and quality craftsmanship.

Available in either a Café or two-up Tripper style, seats feature a diamond-stitched pattern with the exception of the Café style for the Scout which is Tuck and Roll stitched. All four seats feature double stitched, high quality expanded vinyl plus a perforated design center panel for a custom flair.

As with all Mustang seats, the marine-grade fiberglass baseplate, proprietary comfort foam and individually sewn covers are proudly handcrafted and assembled in their New England facility (tours are available by appointment).

For more information, visit www.MustangSeats.com

Kuryakyn has released a small but visually effective part of Indian Scouts. the new Coolant Hose Cover picks up where the factory left off, delivering a clean, custom appearance for the liquid-cooled middleweight powerplant. The bolt-on cover features A380 aluminum construction with a grooved and contoured “elbow” profile offering full wraparound coverage of the exposed coolant hose to help minimize excessive engine heat. Available in chrome or satin black finishes, installation is hassle-free for all ’15-’17 Scout and Scout Sixty models reusing factory bolts. Check them out here.

Below is an update from our 2014 Ultimate Biker Makeover winner Chris Gibbany, she has been busy and is now gearing up for a cool long ride. Check out what she has to say.

“Since my last update in early 2016, my life has kept revolving with new adventures.  One of my biggest goals has always been to attend The Horse Smoke Out.  With pets and other obligations, this has not been possible….until NOW!  Our beloved dog of almost 11 years passed away in late December and a few months later I found out some exciting news; “The Long Road” is leaving from Eureka Springs, Arkansas, just 45 miles from where I live!!!!  “The Long Road” is a multi-day journey in June that consists of 1000+ miles and starts each year from a different part of the US and ends up at Rockingham, North Carolina, where The Smoke Out is held.

In 2015 my Panhead tattoo sleeve was in the magazine’s “Tattoo Corner” segment and the following month, my 1981 Ironhead “Iron Man” received a four page feature.  The Horse Backstreet Choppers is one of my favorite magazines and I wanted to be there in 2015 when the issue went on sale at The Smoke Out  with my Ironhead.  Fast forward to 2017 and I am riding my Panhead full time and almost done with my 1939 Knucklehead.

When I decided to ride my 1956 Panhead chopper, that I designed and my husband and I built in a backyard shed, everyone was skeptical.  My bike has an open belt primary and just a small strip of leather screwed onto a Baas Metalcraft seat pan.  I was told that no woman has ever ridden a vintage, much less a hardtail vintage bike on “The Long Road”.  I would have never dreamed that when I bought my Panhead engine eight years ago that I would be doing this!  I have also been fortunate to obtain supporters for my big ride. Most of which were part of the Garage-Girls Ultimate Biker Makeover.

STA-BIL  and 303 Products are my main sponsors for riding “The Long Road”.  I love STA-BIL and 303 Products are the best I have ever used, especially the 303 Aerospace Protectant.  Gold Eagle, makers of STA-BIL and 303 has been great to support me in all the events that I am involved with.

Avon Tyres has come on board as a sponsor since they remembered me winning the Garage-Girls Ultimate Biker Makeover in 2014.  I only run Avon MK II’s on the front and back of my bikes so I am very grateful to have them as sponsors.  The Avon MK II’s look awesome on classic rides plus they handle and perform even better!

Spectro Oils also stepped up as a sponsor for my trip.  Spectro sent me a case of oil when I won the Makeover in 2014 and I am now getting the chance to use their straight 60 weight oil in my vintage bikes!  Not only are they supporting me on “The Long Road”, they are also helping support my vintage car addiction by sending me their Motor Guard high zinc oils made specifically for flat tappet cams.  Most conventional oils do not contain enough zinc or phosphorous so I am really looking forward to trying this oil from Spectro!

Viking Bags and Motorcycle House have decided to sponsor me as well by providing me with a Go Pro Hero 5 Session video camera to take on my trip!  I have been working with Viking Bags and Motorcycle House on and off since 2014.  I have recently had the opportunity to test some of their AWESOME products.  Their Viking Bags are very well made and I am really in love with their moto backpack, but I am most impressed with their leather jackets (which weigh six pounds each) and are high quality like the vintage Wilson Leathers of yesteryear!

Baker Drivetrain has agreed to help me and I absolutely won’t build a big-twin Harley without the N-1 shift-drum that puts neutral on the bottom.  In my opinion, that is where it should have been from the factory.  I bought my first one in 2013 and purchased another one for my Knuckle shortly thereafter.  My tattoo artist, Dessa Blackthorn, owner of Tattooz by Sassy  in nearby Mountain Home, Arkansas has stepped up to sponsor me; so has my favorite cousin, Carla Curtis!

My main passion in life (besides old Harleys and hot rods) is PROMOTION and MARKETING.  Several magazines are already up for running this as a feature.  I am looking for other sponsors to help supply me with gear or anything else I might need.  I will be taking my camera with me and recording images along the way.

I am currently in the midst of hosting my second annual “Throwback Thursdays” where I show old car movies at the local Drive-In, free of charge to anyone driving a pre-1980 vehicle.  Although everything I do is 100% volunteer, I am using my GOD given passion to not only promote women but the hobby in general.  I would like to motivate others that if you have your priorities straight, you can accomplish almost anything you set out to do!

I live and breathe for the machine!” ~ Chris Gibbany, Old Iron Never Dies!

You can be a part of history during first ever all-women’s motorcycle festival at the largest party in the world: the Sturgis Buffalo Chip during the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!
The Wild Gypsy Tour is for the unbridled spirit: the ones looking for a place to belong and live freely.

This is a festival that combines the freedom of the past with the untapped spirit of the future. The Wild Gypsy Tour will curate an original experience uniting women from all corners of the globe with the common desire to ride, live, learn, and have fun all at the world’s largest party, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip motorcycle rally. to learn more check out The Wild Gypsy Tour.com

Be advised, this is a women only event; no men?? How does that make you feel?

Kuryakyn® and the Sturgis Buffalo Chip® kicked off the Midwest’s biggest bike show with a bang, debuting the 2017 Rock, Rumble & Rebellion signature build in front of a packed house at the 30th annual Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show.
Representing seven days of electrifying racing in August at the Buffalo Chip Moto Stampede™, the sleek, industrial appearance of the 2017 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® strikes a balance of refinement and straight-up rawness.
“As an aftermarket company, we were honored to take on the challenge of representing the Buffalo Chip’s 35th anniversary last year with a bike build,” said Holger Mohr, Kuryakyn President. “As enthusiasts first and foremost, this year’s focus of bringing racing back to the Chip is equally exciting for us. The Kuryakyn design team came up with an authentic race theme that truly embodies the ‘rumble’ in Rock, Rumble and Rebellion. There’s no better way to introduce our newest products to core Kuryakyn customers, and we’re proud to do it alongside the Buffalo Chip on the biggest stage in the motorcycle industry.”

It’s no secret that Harley® FL touring riders have a reputation for putting hard miles on their baggers–which can mean scuffed or scratched hard saddlebag lids!  Whether you want to hide those battered bag lids or wisely protect their showroom-fresh look, seasoned riders know that Mustang’s lid covers are the perfect solution.

For years, Mustang’s popular lid covers for 1993-13 and 2014-17 FL Touring models with OE hard bags have been available in plain black (only $109 per pair) or with chrome or black pearl-centered studs ($129 MSRP).  Mustang is now introducing a new line of lid covers to match their latest seats: diamond stitch, deluxe style, carbon and the Dave Perewitz Signature Series for only $139 per pair.

Mustang’s form-fitted lid covers are made from the highest quality expanded vinyl and are uniquely designed to fit snugly with no wrinkles, unsightly straps or Velcro tabs.  As with all Mustang seats, lid covers are proudly designed and individually hand sewn in their New England facility.

If you need to keep your bag lids protected check em out here Mustang Seats

How would you like to score a HUGE list of parts and accessories for you AND your Motorcycle? You can, if you enter the Garage-Girls Ultimate Biker Makeover 2017, brought to you by Allstate Motorcycle Insurance.

Contestants (Girls and Guys) must submit a 600 words or less essay – describing why they are most in need of a biker makeover as well as a photo (jpeg no larger than 5mb) to bikermakeover@garage-girls.com Deadline for entries is July 7^th, 2017. Submissions will be narrowed down to the final four by selected judges from Garage-Girls. From there, the judges will decide who they feel most deserves the Ultimate Biker Makeover and will get to take home all the prizes which include; A wardrobe of shoes from Harley-Davidson Footwear, a case of full synthetic oil from Spectro Oils, A new Mustang Motorcycle Seat, a set of tires from AVON Tyres, A Valerie bag by Motochic, Surprises from S&S Cycle, Klock Werks, Kuryakyn, DEI, Memphis Shades, Indian Motorcycle and MUCH MORE!!  Winner will be announced August 10th on Garage-Girls.com and Garage-Girls FB page.