A Sturgis Photo Album

The population of Sturgis, South Dakota is 6,627 for fifty weeks of the year. When the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, now in its 74th year, comes to town the population swells to near a half million. South Dakota estimates that the event brings $800 million dollars in revenue to the state annually. The value of all the memories generated has not yet been determined. Here are some photos the AMSOIL team has sent back to the office for the purpose of sharing.

If you're there, be sure to take your photo in front of our Selfie Wall. 

Details on the AMSOIL Facebook page.

Everyone Is Welcome In Laconia, Whatever You Ride

One of the highlights of any biker rally is seeing all the varieties of motorcycles attendees ride. Especially fun is the customization that has gone into so many of the bikes, making one's passion a labor of love.

Here are a few of the bikes we saw so far this week...

If you happen to be in New Hampshire and choose to glide through Laconia, be sure to stop by the AMSOIL booth on the north end of the Lobster Pound to visit with AMSOIL corporate staff and learn more about how AMSOIL products maximize motorcycle performance and life. Or just stop by to say "Hi." And if you need an oil change, you can have AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil installed in your bike at one of two locations on Daniel Webster Highway within 10 minutes of Weirs Beach: Laconia Harley-Davidson and the Fun Spot.

Motorcycles: Let's Do Some Numbers

The March 2014 edition of Lubes N Greases magazine had a column by Steve Swedberg on the motorcycle market called, Two-wheelers Love Oil Too!  He begins with a little history and the numbers are revealing.

One hundred years ago, when World War I broke out, Indian was the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the U.S., producing 20,000 bikes a year. The war resulted in an increase in production with the young Harley-Davidson selling half of its products to the army.

But it's the current numbers that are especially fascinating. In a single recent year China built 27 million motorcycles and India another 15.4 million. That amounts to more than 116,000 motorcycles a day between the two countries. By way of contract, the U.S. built 500,000 units, or 1369 a day.

The author primarily uses the numbers to set up the real purpose of his article, to discuss the lubrication requirements of motorcycles and, more specifically, the differences between motorcycle oil and oil for cars. 

One of the new kids on the block as far as U.S. manufacturers are concerned is Erik Buell Racing (EBR) of East Troy, Wisconsin. For the past 30 years, one thing has remained constant in Erik Buell's life: his drive to create motorcycles on his own terms. The end result was the astonishing new EBR 1190RX that Buell and his new company unveiled in October at the American International Motorcycle Exposition (AIM Expo) in Orlando, Fla.

The new superbike is the culmination of decades of dedication, innovation and teamwork. Said Buell,  “We have been working to create a pure rider’s machine and a true world brand. From the heartland and the heart of America, these are extraordinary motorcycles that discerning riders everywhere will be passionate to own.”

Because this was his first production engine design he felt it important to make a statement about innovation. “There is a package of technology in the powertrain aimed at making it a very ‘green’ superbike,” said Buell. “The results are a high-horsepower engine that also has a wide and flat powerband, with huge torque, yet very smooth and easy to ride at part throttle, gets 51 mpg on the EPA drive cycle, makes only 25 percent of permitted HC+NOx exhaust emissions and, incredibly, only 6 percent of CO emissions. These are spectacular numbers.”

Earlier this year the new EBR 1190RX was featured on the cover of Sport Rider magazine. It's also the top prize in the AMSOIL Building Legends Sweepstakes. By year's end someone will be the proud owner of the remarkable piece of two-wheel technology. Here's the link to our entry form.

Stay current with news about Erik Buell Racing here at amsoilracing.com.

A Few Photos from Sturgis

It already seems half an age since the Sturgis 2010 bike rally, but there may still be people who wonder what they missed. Here are just a few of the sights, without sounds....

Something new this summer: AMSOIL expanded its line of premium motorcycle oils to include a new SAE 60 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil, specially formulated to excel in all areas unique to motorcycles, including the high operating temperatures of air-cooled engines, wet-clutch lubrication, and extreme pressure regions of gears and chains.

The new oil is an excellent choice for older Harley Davidson motors such as the Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead and other big-bore motorcycles requiring an SAE 60 viscosity grade.

LC Fabrications Fuses Quality with Originality

Jeremy Cupp, President of LC Fabrications, has been on the AMSOIL radar for quite some time now. In February 2009 his custom-built Panster won the Editors’ Pick for best in show at the Easyriders Invitational and his TT Deluxe was honored with the VQ award at the same event. The VQ is equivalent to an Emmy in the world of motorcycling, and Cupp is well-deserving of such an award. With acute attention to every detail on his custom builds, Cupp can start with practically nothing but the parts lying around in his garage and turn it into an original bike unlike anything else in the world. AMSOIL has featured some of his works in national advertising, and each build never fails to turn heads.

Cupp’s innovative mind has led to the creation of several custom bikes, each with their own stamp of originality. From the leatherwork to the frame, fender and bolts in between, Cupp tweaks each part until it fits his vision. He uses AMSOIL exclusively in each build to ensure the engine can take the many miles ahead of it when it hits the road. In addition to the Panster and TT Deluxe (left) that have already made the rounds on the bike scene, Cupp has poured his talent into a custom Bonneville-style bike named ‘Bonnie’, the Birmingham Bee-Liner, and the one that started it all, the Outcast. His website showcases each and tells the stories of how they came to life.

Never one to worry about the fame and fortune that comes afterwards, his pride comes from the end result of a job well done. Whether a simple build or one more complex, Cupp states in his own words, “It’s not about being better than the next guy or spending a fortune on paint, it’s about the need to create, the love for anything mechanical, and having a true passion for what you do.” It’s these beliefs in his own passion and talent that will catapult him to even higher success, and AMSOIL looks forward to being there with him each step of the way.

The TT Deluxe featured here will be on display at the Triumph annual dealer's convention in Orlando Mid-February.

Sturgis Heating Up, AMSOIL Cooling it Down

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul. ~Author Unknown

Each year, the world famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally draws thousands of dedicated motorcycle riders to the Black Hills in Sturgis, SD. For the second year in a row, AMSOIL is on board as the Official Oil Sponsor of Sturgis and currently has a staff out west bringing AMSOIL to attention. On Monday, the official starting day of the rally, temperatures reached 94 degrees... of course, that wasn’t an issue for those with AMSOIL installed in their bikes. For those who don’t, let’s just hope they still have a bike that runs by the time they leave after a week of these same high temperatures.

Staff updates are bringing good news with spectators stopping the crew every time they walk down the street. Questions are as varied as the AMSOIL product line. Many are sharing testimonials about their own experiences, who don’t know what their bikes are missing out on display a general curiosity. AMSOIL even has its own oil change facility set up in downtown Sturgis, so those who have not yet reaped the benefits can join the movement right there at the rally. For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to be in the action this year, updates are being provided regularly by the AMSOIL team. Just click here to stay current with the latest AMSOIL happenings in Sturgis.

Cupp Wins Awards With Panster & TT Deluxe

On Monday we received a nice email from Jeremy Cupp whose very special bike has been featured in several AMSOIL ads this past year. Writes Cupp, "I thought I'd let you know that the Panster has won the Editor's Pick for best in show at the Easyriders Invitational this past weekend." In addition, his new TT Deluxe, wearing an Amsoil decal, won a VQ award at the same show, which is considered the Emmy of motorcycling. Cupp was delighted to see his workmanship get this kind of industry recognition.

A native of Virginia, Jeremy Cupp has a wife named Lindsay, three kids and a dog named Zeke. He grew up on dirt bikes, 4-wheelers with a little mountain bike racing for good measure. He’s currently a machinist at Cupp Manufacturing and in his spare time president of LC Fabrications, when he’s not fishing or camping with his family.

When we caught up with him, Cupp was still on a high from his weekend.

Where did you get your ideas about what you wanted to do with the Panster?
The Panster started with a pair of Trock Cylinders that a good friend had in his stash of vintage motorcycle jewels. I’m a hard core Sportster fan, and wanted to do something different, he told me of the Shovsters that Trock was doing years ago, so I decided to try a Panster. The rest of the bike was loosely based on a picture of a 1911 Harley that I have, I wanted a sort of modernized, hot rod version of that bike. And what was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in this project? Definitely the engine, to tear down, inspect, replace parts, and rebuild an engine is one thing, but don’t think that makes you a mechanic, a project like this one was a huge learning experience and took a much greater understanding of how things work and how you can alter basically everything and try to make it still all work together.

Your TT Deluxe, wearing an AMSOIL logo, has now won a VQ Award. What is it that makes the bikes you build so special and unique?
I really think my edge is that I don’t pay a professional to do anything at all. I’m not shooting for perfection. I want a completely hand-made custom, one where you can look at each part and imagine the man in his shop late at night working away on it. It’s not about being better than the next guy or spending a fortune on paint, it’s about the need to create, the love for anything mechanical, and having a true passion for what you do.

You’re obviously passionate about bike building. Where does your motivation or drive come from?
I love anything with wheels or an engine, and I have a need to do things my own way, right or wrong. I always want to learn more and develop my skills and the only way for me to learn is to do it. The Bible tells us to do every job as if it were for the Lord himself, and often when I’m feeling tired or burned out I hear those words in my head and that keeps me moving.

EdNote: The photos here are Jeremy Cupp's TT Deluxe. The Panster can be seen in ads which have appeared in magazines like Hot Bike and American Iron, among others. Both bikes features AMSOIL synthetic motorcycle oils.

Report From Sturgis

The 2008 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has now come and gone, but what an event it was. Being “Official Oil of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally” gave AMSOIL a lot of additional visibility this year. Enthusiasm for AMSOIL products continues to bust through the roof. The traffic in the corporate booth was great as many new leads and customers will be linked to the AMSOIL Dealer network.

The weather was hot in the beginning of the rally but pleasant overall with temperatures in the high 80s and low humidity for most of the rally. Many rally attendees stopped by the AMSOIL booth to sign up for a chance to win a free case of oil and filters for their bikes. This generated a great deal of interest and a reason for people to stop by. We also displayed an HDT Diesel motorcycle, drag bike and hill climb bike in the AMSOIL booth. All of these bikes stopped people in their tracks and provided more reasons to visit.

For the second year, AMSOIL sponsored the “Rumble in the Hills” hill climb and once again it was a huge success. Hundreds of spectators watched as riders climbed straight up the hill. AMSOIL also provided a free case of oil to the winner of the AMSOIL “King of the Hill” shootout. This shootout involved the top five riders from the two day event. They each raced the hill an additional two times to be crowned the AMSOIL “King of the Hill.” One never knows where you’ll see an AMSOIL banner in the media or on YouTube, especially with MTV and the Discovery Channel on hand taping these races.

Many times, AMSOIL staff walking in downtown Sturgis with their AMSOIL shirts proudly displayed were stopped by people saying things like, “AMSOIL, great stuff! “AMSOIL, I run it in all my toys!” “AMSOIL is the only oil I use.” Moments like these are especially gratifying.

AMSOIL looks forward to the 2009 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and to promoting AMSOIL even more. It’s just one more reason AMSOIL motorcycle oil sales continue to soar. Now, it’s on to Daytona as the “Official Oil of Daytona Bike Week.” See you there!

HDT Turning Heads with AMSOIL

In 2001 Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT), located in Hesperia, California, began to produce diesel powered tactical military motorcycles for the U.S. armed services as well as the UK and EU NATO countries. Founded in 1961, the company originally manufactured electro-mechanical switches and relays to the military & aerospace industries.

The new HDT motorcycles are diesel machines combining both power and environmentally friendly performance efficiency. We’re talking about a bike that gets 100 miles to the gallon AND can do 100 mph.

The HDT team was out on the Bonneville Salt Flats earlier this month striving to establish new national and world records. Displaying the AMSOIL colors while going through the paces at Bonneville, they offered up quite a number of very strong endorsements with virtually no prompting. “We noticed an increase in horsepower right away when compared to Delvac 1,” said Fred Hayes, founder/CEO of HDT. “What was quite surprising was the condition of the engine after a 50-mile run-in and over 120 full-throttle dyno runs. The camshaft bearings, the small and large end rod bearings, didn’t even look like they had been run. During that series of dyno runs, we registered the highest horse-power and torque readings ever.”

Dave Anderson, AMSOIL Technical Product Manager, had flown to Bonneville to witness and participate in the pursuit of new land speed records. (See 4 and Sept. 6 Updates) Hayes said to Anderson, “Our testing proved that AMSOIL Series 3000 5W-30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil provided better cam bearing lubrication, better transmission operation and less blow-by than our previous oil. We picked up just over one horse power at the rear well.” This is a 3.7% increase and worth a 1 tooth higher gear ratio. “In addition, it appears that overall coolant temperature was down about five degrees.” That is roughly a 2.5% decrease in operating temperatures.

Very few bikers would be opposed to increased horsepower with lower operating temps, simply by switching over the lubricants.

“With over a year of testing, we have found that AMSOIL products continually outperform all other lubricants. AMSOIL provides improved performance, increased fuel economy, lower oil consumption, and significantly reduced engine wear in all operating conditions.”

Look for more on this unfolding story.

Four Records and Going for More

For those who don’t know, there is not just one week of racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Various “speed weeks” are assembled and managed by various sanctioning bodies. This week the AMA is on hand to oversee record breaking attempts by more than two hundred motorcycle race teams.

Due to rain and other interferences, the conditions are less the stellar. Nevertheless Fred Hayes, founder/CEO of Hayes Diversified Technologies, has already qualified for two national and two international records out on the Flat. Coming into the week Hayes already owned eight world and four national land speed records, all on diesel powered bikes. His company, Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT USA), is the largest supplier of military motorcycles to the U.S. Defense Department.

High winds are a problem at this moment, but it is hoped this will clear and our man on the scene will have more good news to pass along.