Bikers are drawn to skulls. More specifically, bikers are drawn to skull jewelry. This is why I’d like to call your attention to the talents of Nino925.
Nino925 was established in 1989 by designer/owner Frank Zubieta and specializes in superior, handcrafted custom jewelry. Nino has a commanding presence in the biker world and is being worn by celebrities, movers and shakers in the music industry and celebrity bike builders. The Nino925 brand has also become a fixture at biker events across the country. You may have even seen some him featured in motorcycle magazines like Easyriders and V-Twin.
I’ve been collecting skull rings since I was a teenager. These are the kind of rings that I would have dreamed of owning to adorn my fat little fingers! They are the kind of rings that any quality collector would want to have.
And more than just rings, there is a nice selection of heavy, sterling bracelets to choose from as well.
Oh, let’s not forget about the pendants and necklaces…
If skulls aren’t your thing, don’t fret: Nino925 has a few non-skull designs with a flair of rockabilly/tattoo design influence.
I first heard of Nino925 from my friend, ArtBiker, who has not only been a longtime supporter and collector, but recently commissioned a custom piece based on his own logo design. Even from the photo alone you can see the quality of this piece.
Custom designed ring for ArtBiker by Nino925
For more information on Nino925 (or if you’re interested in shopping his online catalog), visit www.Nino925.com.
As a sucker for interesting and fun graphic design, I couldn’t help but to get drawn in when I saw the helmets from the french company, Ruby Helmets (or Les Atelier Ruby as they are officially known). Sleek and unique are the words that come to mind when I perused through the collections, which creator Jérôme Coste describes are “inspired by Steve McQueen, science fiction, mechanical beauties and Tokyo biker gangs.”
All Ruby helmets are made of carbon fiber, Kevlar and fiberglass and all of the screws are made from aluminum & titanium, guaranteeing strength while being lightweight. All helmets have a red inner lining that is padded with foam of different densities and the outer layer is made of claret-colored lambskin. And inside is a little bonus: the presence of your potential guardian angel, Lady Ruby. Each helmet comes in a traditional, protective red box. According to them, their helmets are DOT approved.
Guardian Lady Ruby
The Ruby red box
There are currently two different featured styles in the Ruby Helmet collection:
The Pavillion
The Pavillion is an open faced helmet of retro design and also the flagship model of Ruby Helmets.
Pavillion by Ruby Helmets
Pavillion's many styles
Pavillion styles and colors
The Belvedere
The Belvedere’s design is based on the Pavillion, but has the option of incorporating a full face visor, giving it a retro-futuristic style.
Belvedere by Ruby Helmets
Belvedere's different styles
These definitely fall into the “luxury” category (if one exists for helmets) as they will hit you in the wallet for upwards to $1000 USD.
The designer in me appreciates the visual appeal and general “coolness” of these helmets. In theory, if someone had the right style bike, this helmet would be a great compliment to it. However, the realistic biker in me knows that if a “typical” biker saw someone wearing one of these helmets, they would think they were a hipster wannabe and would probably kick that person’s butt!
K&G Cycles and DHL Partner to Offer Customers Complete Online Shopping Experience
The site that boasts over 100,000 motorcycle parts available online, K&G Cycles, your one-stop motorcycle parts specialist is offering customers one more reason to purchase their motorcycle parts at kandgcycles.com. K&G is now pleased to offer shipping through DHL. Through special arrangements with the world’s premier global delivery networks, customers will be able to ship their merchandise effortlessly to anywhere in the world.
K&G Cycles
K&G Cycles is synonymous for providing customers state-of-the-art online motorcycle parts shopping. With over 900 categories of parts from over 200 manufacturers and 5 major motorcycle parts wholesalers, K&G Cycles guarantees that you will find exactly what you need for your project. K&G has changed the face of online motorcycle part sales and has brought a new kind of shopping experience to this growing marketplace. They have revolutionized the market once again, and now also guarantee door-to-door shipment to anywhere in the world.
In order to better serve international visitors, K&G is offering customers new, low rates at about half of what you would expect to pay with the #1 international shipping company on the planet. Synonymous for providing customers with the greatest variety of parts for the best price, K&G is now able to better cater to customers worldwide. New lines are being added daily and the widest selection of American and foreign-made motorcycle parts are ready for shipment anywhere in the world.
K&G welcomes all international customers and is looking forward to serving all of their customer’s needs regardless of geography or location. Check out kandgcycles.com and see what they can do for you.
Diesel’s new motorcycle helmet, Diesel Mowie, is a really cool looking helmet to me. At first glance, it looks like a helmet that a fighter pilot might wear while flying an F-15 E. At closer inspection it looks down right sci-fi and badass.
Here’s what the promotions company has to say:
You’re a hotshot – you’re a maverick renegade, speeding through life to hell and back at up to 30 mph straight, 25 hours a day, 8 days a week.
Sure you’re having the time of your life; you’re young, ripe and so very supple – so you need highly styled head protection which comes in a fully branded shoulder bag in printed canvas of course.
Mowie is an advanced utility headwear with interchangeable visor, padded stitched ergonomic neck support, trademark Mohican crest, and truly exceptional robustness.
And it’s as hygienic as you are too! With hygienically treated, ultimate-comfort padding and a leather neck-roll made from fully removable for washing, parts can be replaced or cleaned with ease.
The micro-lock retention system allows quick and easy fastening/unfastening of the buckle to adjust to comfort.
The outer shell, in High Resistant Thermoplastic resin and 2 different sizes, allows the perfect fit no matter how big your head.
Plus the helmet is easily stored inside the space under the saddle of the majority of scooters on the market, and, coupled with drop down, clear, anti-scratch polycarbonate aviator visor (which offers 100% protection against UV rays) you’ll look like the top 1% of dogfighters on the planet no
matter how clumsy you ride, and that’s an empty promise we can keep.
Designed by the Diesel Creative Team, headed by Creative Director Wilbert Das, the unisex helmet is available in sizes XS to XL in the following colours: mat White, mat Black, mat Green and mat Bronze [RK: what, no pink??].
The helmet will be available at an average price of $250 in Diesel stores across the United States starting in the fall of 2009.
Sure the month of April is almost over, but no matter what month it is every rider should be assessing their gear to ensure they’re properly protected with a few vital inspections. No matter what style your helmet is, you should always inspect it.
What to look for when you’re checking your helmet:
Fit is Vital
A helmet must fit properly to be effective, and not all helmets fit the same. A well-fitting helmet should rest one inch above your eyebrows and shouldn’t roll forward or sideways on your head. To ensure a comfortable fit that doesn’t squeeze too tightly, wear a helmet for 15 minutes before making a final buying decision.
Helmets Don’t Last Forever
Over time, exposure to UV rays and the aging of adhesives and components will damage a helmet’s protective qualities. That’s why manufacturers and the SNELL Foundation recommend that helmets be replaced every three to five years, depending on use. Every new Harley-Davidson helmet comes with a “purchased on date” sticker that can be placed under the comfort liner for a quick reference.
Keep it Clean
A clean and well-cared-for helmet will protect better and longer. Use a mild soap to wash the outer shell and internal liners. Never use solvents or chemicals for cleaning as they can destroy protective coatings.
One Drop and it’s Done
A helmet is designed for only one impact. Even a small impact may fracture the outer shell or compress the impact-absorbing liner despite no visible damage. If a helmet has been dropped or suffers an impact, it should be immediately replaced.
Who to Ask?
Riders can learn more about helmet fit and care with the “Harley-Davidson Helmet” brochure available at Harley-Davidson dealers. Most Harley-Davidson dealers carry a wide range of helmet styles, including half-, three-quarter, full-face and modular designs.
There is a great little guide available on the Harley-Davidson site with information about helmet styles, components, fit, care and replacement, and you can check out the selection of helmets offered by Harley-Davidson MotorClothes as well.
Genuine Motorworks opened its new store in Brooklyn with great response from customers, motorcycle industry notables and both local and national motorcycle media. An invite-only soft grand opening was held on Thursday, April 16th and the public grand opening was held on Saturday, April 18th.
Elisa Seeger’s Genuine Motorworks is a ground-breaking, artistic lifestyle shop that caters to male motorcycle and hot rod enthusiasts that want to pay tribute to American heritage through their apparel choices. It features hip, rider-focused apparel, motorcycle art, helmets, accessories and more. They feature many admired brands including Indian Larry, Levis, Frye Boots, Salinas Boys, Johnson Motor Company, and Filson, to name a few. She successfully achieved a perfect mixture of the true spirit of motorcycling and an alternative to the standard bike shop. It is an experience, rather than simply a place to shop. “We wanted to invite all our supporters and friends in the media to celebrate our grand opening. We are grateful and excited to say it was a rousing success” says Elisa.
The Genuine Motorworks crew
The new space combines a contemporary feel with classic motorcycle style to create a fun and comfortable environment. The response from the press and attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Drinks and hot dogs were served and the crowd stayed well into the evening, despite the cold weather. The artist’s gallery was thoughtfully planned out and featured the photography of Bobby Seeger Jr. Displayed were shots he has taken of Indian Larry over the years and the Indian Larry “Wild Child” motorcycle. The “Grease Monkey” bike was also on display in the front window and shows passersby that Indian Larry’s inspiration is still alive and well. Genuine Motorworks will continue to feature inspired custom bikes and artwork from artists on a monthly basis.
Indian Larry building the "Wild Child"-photo by Bobby Seeger Jr. (I think)
The Genuine Motorworks store is located at 195 N. 14th Street in Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, N.Y., and is open every day 11 a.m.-7 p.m. For more information about Genuine Motorworks, please visit www.genuinemotorworks.com or call 718-486-6971.
This is the time of year where a lot of us are yawning and stretching from our winter slumber, getting our rides ready for the season and reassessing our gear to see if it’s fit for another season of riding. Since the day I started riding, I’ve never really found the right kind of gloves for myself. They’ve either been too thick, too thin or not warm enough.
And their performance while riding in the rain is typically nothing short of dismal. Is there anything worse than a raw, rainy day with your hands sopping wet and freezing, only to find your hands stained with black dye from the leather? That’s just not good riding.
LOTS of companies make the promise that their gloves are waterproof. So you can imagine my interest, along with a bit of skepticism, at the discovery of Hugger Glove Company. Their tagline is “a dry hand is a warm hand” and they claim to have completely waterproof, yet breathable leather garments.
Perusing through their online catalog, they do have an impressive selection of glove styles for both men & women. They offer lined gloves, unlined, fingerless and touring styles and while the majority of the men’s styles come in basic black, the women’s styles have a bit of color incorporated in between the fingers or offered in the form of piping giving them a bit of extra flair. While they’re definitely not priced at “rally prices” they certainly aren’t astronomically priced, either. And if they’re as good as they say they are, I think a lot of us would agree that they’re probably worth the price. They also offer some jackets, chaps and accessories (leather clutch bags, scarves and face masks).
100% waterproof leather motorcycle gloves
The gloves from Hugger Gloves are indeed pure leather, but they use a process called Technaline® that renders the leather absolutely waterproof. This process ensures that your hands stay dry and that your gloves don’t stretch, get misshapen or crack. In addition, the inner Wonder Dry® lining keeps your hands dry and warm. Sounds too good to be true, right? Keep reading.
So here’s the skinny: I tested a pair and here is what I found.
As I said before, there are lots of styles to choose from and since it’s just the beginning of the season where I live, that still means some colder and potentially inclement days ahead. For me, that definitely meant lined gloves. And since I’m a bit of a traditionalist in style, I wanted more of a classic riding glove and chose the Mary classic riding glove. But instead of going for my normal basic black I got a little kooky and got them with a silver accent. Plus, I thought they would go well with the gun metal gray paint on my bike.
So, are Hugger Gloves really waterproof?
We had an especially craptastic day here in New England, with lots and lots of rain. Seemed like a good day to put these gloves to the test. To my amazement, the water literally beaded up and ran off the gloves. My hands were nice and toasty, not even a hint of dampness. Hmm. It was a steady rain out but I’ve had to ride in some real torrential downpours and my outdoor test just didn’t do these gloves justice. So in an effort to really put them to the test, I decided to put my hand under my kitchen faucet for a few minutes. Nothing. No trace or feeling of water on my hand inside the glove. SWEET!
So, are Hugger Gloves really waterproof? You bet they are. Do they keep your hands warm? Yes they do. Are they worth the $40+ price tag. Yes again.
If like me you are in the market for a new pair of riding gloves that will be perfect for inclement weather, the Hugger Motorcycle Gloves should be top on your list.
If you’re an Ami James fan (tattoos, choppers and now jewelry!) then this press release may be of interest to you! The jewelry is pretty cool but you’ll be shelling out some BIG bucks to own some of it!
Ami James Jewelry Company announced the launch of its new Web site, which will make the company’s signature “Love Hate Choppers” jewelry collection available to the public.
A tattoo artist by trade, James’ tattoo art and creative designs exploded to life as he expanded his medium from skin and canvas to precious metals for Ami James Jewelry Company. James teamed up with Larry “Benj” Weymouth, a Boston-based jeweler who has been making custom jewelry for 25 years, to produce the company’s first designs – the “Love Hate Choppers” collection. The collection includes leather belts, hand-finished pewter belt buckles, high-polished or brushed-antique solid silver rings and pendants with diamond insets, and sterling silver fluted or frosted necklaces and bracelets. Each piece of jewelry features details taken from James’ Miami shop logo. Limited edition necklaces, bracelets and belt buckles, as well as several “Rock the Ink” pieces are also available on the site.
“The Love Hate Choppers Jewelry Collection reflects another aspect of my artistic side,” said James. “With Benj’s craftsmanship and my designs, we created a collection of high-quality, unique pieces that, like tattoos, are a form of wearable art.”
In addition to serving as the inspiration for the “Love Hate Choppers” jewelry collection, James’ logo design details have also been incorporated into accent parts on another one of his business ventures – the new “Love-Hate Choppers” production bikes built by the unsurpassed talents of Sucker Punch Sally’s. The production bikes made their debut during Daytona Bike Week and are available for purchase through Sucker Punch Sally’s.
All pieces available from Ami James Jewelry Company can be purchased via the new Web site. To make a purchase, or for more information, product details and pricing, please visit www.amijamesjewelry.com or call the customer service number at (603) 898-0013.
What biker doesn’t like some skulls with their jewelry?
BadAss Jewelry is the baby of David Barkhordari and is a great online resource for good quality, chunky biker jewelry for both boys and girls.
My eyes got nice and wide when I browsed through the inventory of rings, pendants, dog tags and bracelets. I don’t know what it is about silver skulls but I just love them! I also like wearing jewelry that is unique and this site has a lot of unique pieces.
You may remember back in January I mentioned BadAss Jewelry in my post about the Smokeout Rally which features a cross country ride called the Long Road from Cottonwood AZ to Rockingham, NC. Since it’s the 10th anniversary of the Smokeout, all registered riders that complete the ride will receive a serial numbered, solid-sterling-silver Long Road HORSE medallion, designed by David Barkhordari. Pretty cool!
Long Road HORSE medallion
Anyway, not only does BadAss jewelry sell unique biker styles, but they also carry Stingray Jewelry, which is genuine stingray leather (yes from actual stingrays) on sterling silver, by designer Alan K. According to another jewelry site, many people believe that stingray leather brings strength and power to anyone wearing it. It is also believed that the stingray leather brings good luck and good fortune. Whether that’s true or not I’m not sure, but I do know that it makes for very interesting looking jewelry.
You can purchase directly from their website (don’t forget to check out their coupons) and they ship internationally. Bonus.
Darcy Betlach has launched a new online store called Pink Partz. She is a woman who has a love for motorcycles and wanted to “provide a line of product that embraces what we love about riding and make it cool. Clothing for ladies that ride doesn’t need to be pink. Right? I hope you agree.”
The site design is pretty hip and trendy and while the product is limited, it’s worth checking out.
women's tshirts from pinkpartz.com
Skulls are a large part of the biker culture, but tend not to be very feminine. Voodoo King Designs has the answer with these delicate sterling silver gemstone skull rings. Priced at only $99 with your choice of gemstones: blue topaz, peridot, citrine, amethyst, cubic zirconia, pink cubic zirconia, and faceted black onyx. The result is that you still have a badass skull ring with a bit of feminine flair!
skull rings by Voodoo King Designs on etsy.com
Don’t worry guys, they have some jewelry options for you, too!
Update about the Myrtle Beach bike rallies: this article says a new poll suggests that the Mayor and City Council are listening to a vocal minority who is against the motorcycle rallies while an overwhelming number of residents polled are in favor of the Harley-Davidson event and are against having their taxes raised to fund an anti-rally campaign.
Ladies love Harley-That may be true, but do any women under the age of 45 ride a Harley?
