JBN Custom Live to Ride" Business Card Holder

Since 2006 www.kandgcycles.com has been an efficient and state-of-the-art vehicle for accessing the hundreds of thousands of parts available online through K and G Cycles.  Their site’s unparalleled navigation bar has recently been updated to include a ‘Great Stuff for Christmas’ category located at http://www.kandgcycles.com/great-stuff-for-christmas.html. Once the category is highlighted, consumers will be able to check out an array of gifts organized by price point. Choose from under $10, under $25, under $50, or under $100. Combined with free shipping on orders over $350, there is no reason to shop anywhere else this Christmas season.

Universal Rider Tool Kit

Holiday shopping has never been more enjoyable or effortless for V-Twin enthusiasts courtesy of K and G Cycles. With easy navigation, superior customer support and streamlined search functions, customers are not only able to browse the best selection of V-Twin merchandise online, they can also purchase and ship the perfect gift to all of the bikers on their Christmas list with the click of a mouse.

Trifold Wallet With Chain Flames

Let K and G Cycles take the work out of Christmas shopping this year by visiting them at www.kandgcycles.com. Proudly owned and operated by motorcyclists, Kyle and George Marakas, K and G Cycles is committed to bringing bikers the largest selection of quality parts at the best prices available by providing customers with a new kind and caliber of shopping experience.

If you follow me on Twitter at all then you may have noticed that a few of us have a little coffee club going in the morning. Coffee, for me, is one of those simple joys in life. I really enjoy the ritual of shuffling into the kitchen for my morning cup and I love the smell of coffee in the house.

Chocolate, men, coffee – some things are better rich.

So for those who like to live all-biker all the time, check out the Biker Coffee Company.

Biker Coffee Company

Formed  a few years ago, Biker Coffee Company wanted to offer a premium coffee that bikers everywhere could call their own. Their beans are organic, shade grown and premium roasted. Now, I don’t know anything about coffee growing, but that all sounds pretty good to me.

Various coffees offered by the Biker Coffee Company

Right now they offer eight different flavors to choose from and sell for $13.95:
Original blend (medium roast)
Full Throttle (dark roast)
Disc brake (decaf)
Belt Drive Betty (rich and a little sassy)
Sissy Bar (French Vanilla Medium Roast)
Bavarian Bobber (Chocolate Medium Roast)

Two upcoming flavors:
Ignition Coil Irish Cream – Medium Roast
Hydraulic Hazelnut – Medium Roast

If you’re interested in trying some biker-inspired java, you can order some by the pound at bikercoffeecompany.com and to keep up to date on all things coffee, they’re also on Facebook.

One of America’s top 50 volume screen printers and the predominant leader in motorcycle apparel and accessories, Hot Leathers is continually proving itself as a world-class printer, designer and provider of premier merchandise. Hot Leathers’ most recent accomplishment involves accolades from the prestigious Motorcycle Riders Club of America.

Hot Leathers gets thumbs up from MRCA

The MRCA recently tested a number of Hot Leathers’ high quality products and presented their line of riding jackets with a 100% approval rating. Known for testing a significant variety of motorcycle products in order to separate the good from the bad, the MRCA is the standard by which all motorcycle industry products are evaluated for quality and durability.

Hot Leathers’ array of superior riding jackets received the highest score possible by each product tester proving that its superiority is unsurpassed. Each Hot Leathers riding jacket is quality constructed with high grade materials and heavy duty hardware. The quality and comfort of each jacket will exceed your expectations on even the most challenging of rides. Travel in comfort and in style in one of their many styles. All Hot Leathers jackets are available online at hotleathers.com in a variety of sizes from small to 3X large and start at only $99.95. With their durable construction and comfortable fit, Hot Leathers’ line of riding jackets is a cut above the rest.

Hot Leathers is the foremost leader in motorcycle apparel. They have supplied high quality products to the biker market for over 25 years. By traveling to every major motorcycle event in the country, selling wholesale to fine retailers and distributors across the globe, and selling on their website, they continually establish their position as the number one source of apparel and accessories for bikers everywhere. Unbeatable prices, unparalleled customer service, hot print designs and numerous industry accolades combine to make Hot Leathers your premier provider of motorcycle apparel and merchandise year-round.

The older I get the wiser I’m becoming when it comes to gloves. Perhaps the reason I have so many gloves in my closet is because I haven’t found the best ones for me yet. Maybe it’s an ever-lasting quest to find a pair that fit right, offer enough warmth, without being too bulky, and are still waterproof so that your hands stay dry and free of black dye.

Black-dyed hand: I've been there, have you?

River Road Taos cold weather gloves (for women)

I typically don’t have much of a problem with fit like some women with small hands do. I wear a size large (women’s) because of my fat sausage fingers and these gloves fit comfortably without the tightness around the base of my fingers or the common bulkiness at the tips of the fingers. I’ve only been wearing them for early spring weather (roughly 45-60 degrees) and my hands have stayed mostly warm in that temperature range.  I’m not so sure how well they would protect in more frigid temps.

River Road Taos Cold Weather Glove

The Taos gloves are constructed of soft leather, which means you can pretty much put them on and go without a breaking in period. They have Thinsulate insulation to keep your hands warm without all of the potential bulk and a Hipora® glove insert that renders the gloves waterproof (the water does initially bead up and run off), windproof and allows your skin to breathe. The lining in these gloves might be the only drawback.It feels like the lining won’t hold up well to extensive wear and tear.

One neat feature is the rubber squeegee wiper on the left index finger that you can use to clear water from your glasses or helmet visor. Simple and effective. These gloves also have a zippered gauntlet closure and adjustable velcro strap around the wrist area, which I like as extra protection to keep the wind out.

River Road Taos Cold Weather Gloves with rubber wiper on left glove

I did an extreme water test with these gloves (as I haven’t had opportunity to wear them riding in torrential downpour rain). As promised, the liner kept the water out while keeping my hands dry. After long exposure to water the lining was still dry, but the gloves began to absorb the water. Although your hands and fingers will stay dry, I’m guessing that if the temperature is cold enough your fingers will get cold at some point. However, this is a total assumption on my part.

The River Road Taos gloves run about $45 on Rider’s Discount (with free shipping!), which I think is a pretty good price for the quality of glove you’re getting. (The men’s version of these gloves can be found here, for the same price!)

These gloves came in a generous package of gear I received from Rider’s Discount for product reviews.

Related post:
Waterproof gloves: Hugger Motorcycle Gloves

Honda Points cover

Honda Points Cover- When building a CB550 project, the crew at Fuller Hot Rods ran into a problem. What to do with the ugly stock chrome points cover? The solution? Get a new one cast on site in Atlanta. Their cast aluminum points cover is perfect for that custom touch and allows for engraving or machining. It is offered in rough cast or semi finished and will fit CB500/4, 550/4 and 750/4 with points on the right side of the crankshaft. The Honda Points Cover sells for $120.00.

Buell XB Carb Conversion

Buell XB Carb Conversion- This Stainless Steel Intake will mount a carb on to a 2002-present XB-9 or XB-12. Normally these bikes are Fuel Injected but Fuller likes to switch his to carb to reduce the number of wires and remove the computer. Water Jet flanges out of 3/8″ 308 Stainless is fixture welded, and bolts directly to the engine so no other mounts are necessary. S&S Super G carbs or PSI Power carbs will bolt directly to this unit. Mikuni can be mated with their adapters. The Buell XB Carb Conversion sells for $399.00.

Triple Clamp set

Triple Clamp Set- These beautiful triple clamps are CNC machined from 6061 Aluminum to Fuller Hot Rods’ specifications. They are designed to fit Fullers’ Buell based “Fueller” choppers with stock XB Showa inverted forks but could also be used for custom Harley Davidson applications. Stem hole size is 1″, lower clamp fork ID is 56mm and the upper is 54mm. Fork offset is 5mm less than stock Buell XB9/12. Fuller’s Triple Clamp Set sells for $799.00.

Velocity stack

Velocity Stack- Beautifully machined carburetor intake velocity stack in 6061 Aluminum. 2″ ID, 3″ long, 3.4″ OD at wide end. 5/32″ thick material allows room for modification for custom applications if needed. The Velocity Stack sells for $50.00.

Shop online at fullerhotrods.com to purchase any of Fuller’s specialty parts or visit their website to learn more about Fuller Hot Rods and keep an eye on the progress of any of Fuller’s projects.

Press release:

A match made in motorcycle heaven

Fuller Hot Rods and Hot Leathers have teamed up to become the number one purveyors of coolness. Hot Leathers, the industry leader in motorcycle apparel and accessories and Fuller Hot Rods, the home of award-winning hot rod and motorcycle builder and designer, Bryan Fuller, have partnered to create a full line of clothing and accessories sure to top any biker’s wish list.

Working overtime, the creative minds at Fuller Hot Rods and Hot Leathers have melded their individual fields of expertise and have joined forces to create a line of clothing that embodies Fuller’s motorcycle savvy and Hot Leathers’ unbeatable design and selection.

Fuller Hot Rods and Hot Leathers Create Clothing Line

Fuller Hot Rods, the inspiration for this new line of apparel, has been building innovative and award-winning machines for over five years. Fuller’s mastery and prowess in bike-building has set him apart from other builders. He is has currently the co-host of the oldest “how-to” car show on SPEED, “Two Guys Garage” and caught the eye of Hot Leathers, who is always on the look out for design inspiration.

“I’ve been looking to expand my existing apparel line and am stoked to have partnered with Hot Leathers,” says Fuller. “They have been an industry standard for years. They have provided me with great designs that I know everybody is going to love.”

In addition, Hot Leathers who is known for their unbeatable selection of motorcycle merchandise for over 25 years, has earned its place as one of America’s top 50 volume screen printers. If you love the bold and original merchandise that has become synonymous with Hot Leathers, you’ll love the all-new designs available through their new line of Fuller clothing and accessories.

“We’ve been looking to partner with a bike builder who shares our tastes and passion,” explains Hot Leathers’ retail operations manager, Andy George. “Bryan is the perfect fit and our type of guy. We’re thrilled with the new line and you will be too.”

For a superior product, innovative designs and huge selection, check out the new Fuller Hot Rod line of apparel and accessories available exclusively through Hot Leathers available online January 1, 2010

Jesse ain't got time for bike buildin' no more!

Now it looks like Mr. James is expanding his empire by introducing a new line of heavy-duty industrial workgear that is available in a Wal-Mart near you. He revealed today via Twitter that he has ditched and donated all of his Dickies for his new line of workgear.

been wearing dickies for 25 years! Didnt think I would ever change…http://jessejamesworkwear.com

The New JJIWW Industry pants Rule. More Comfortable!, Deeper pockets, Bigger belt loops and thicker material.Not wearing anything else!

Well that’s that! I just clear’d my closet and gave 37 pairs of Dickies to the LB homeless shelter.

Well if that’s not a testament to the quality of the product then I don’t know what is! (kidding)

Jesse James Industrial Work Wear

Hell, I’m just a girl who doesn’t even wear workgear (but I like men who do!) but now you can go to your local Wal-Mart or check what they’re offering online (there’s even some positive reviews to read) to see for yourself. The prices looks very reasonable and if the clothing is as durable as claimed, then it sounds like a viable option over those over-priced-but-cool Dickies.

Anti Monkey Butt Powder

Where do I even begin? The silly, smile inducing name? The adorably whimsical monkey? The benefits of of a powder that could be used on your butt…among other areas of your body? How did I get involved discussing personal hygiene on a motorcycle blog?

About Anti Monkey Butt Powder

Here’s the official spin:

AMBP is a new product, invented by motocross athletes, designed to treat friction and irritation that can result from excess sweat. Excessive sweat from running can cause irritation, also known as “monkey butt”. Unlike other powders, AMBP has calamine and talc which gives it a cooling sensation instead of the burning that you might get from other products.

OK. I think we can all agree that “monkey-butt” is not something as motorcycle riders that we want to experience but probably have one time or another, especially during long road trips.

Does this look familiar to anyone?

But it is also useful for things other than gag gifts like: sweaty feet, chafing, diaper rash, razor burn and basic bed or saddle sores.

My thoughts of Anti Monkey Butt Powder

I don’t use powder a whole lot but I used this during the few hot summer days we had. I have a really sensitive nose when it comes to certain scents and this powder has a really flowery smell (and not that of monkey-butt, thankfully) that caught in my throat upon initial use. But you’re not really going to be sticking your nose in those areas that are vulnerable to getting sweaty or chafed.

AMBP biker monkey

It definitely helped keep certain areas dry and after some time out in the hot weather it helped cool those areas off. I also made my husband try it out and he thought it “wasn’t bad”-a glowing review coming from a guy’s perspective!

AMBP contains calamine powder and talc, two essential ingredients in keeping skin dry and less irritated. As far as powders go, this is definitely a valid option for anyone to use (despite the snicker-inducing name). Especially for those with a sense of humor who don’t want a boring powder in their medicine cabinet!

Check out antimonkeybutt.com for more product information, testimonials and stuff to buy!
They’re also on Twitter: @antimonkeybutt

Anti Monkey Butt Giveaway!

Now you can enter to win some Anti-Monkey Butt powder for yourself!

Anti Monkey Butt powder & sticker giveaway!

OK, here’s the deal:

2 lucky people will win a 6 oz. bottle of Anti Monkey Butt Powder
4 people will win a sample size of AMBP powder (.18 oz) and a sticker!

How to enter:

• Leave a comment on this post –OR–
  
• Twitter: if you have an account, tweet “I wanna win some Anti Monkey Butt from @rippinkitten” (make sure you use @rippinkitten so I know you’re entered, otherwise you won’t be eligible)!

Winners will be chosen randomly midnight September 15th, 2009 and contacted by me on September 16th.  There’s no limit on how many times you can enter over the next week. Any entries submitted in ways other than described above will not be accepted. Prize must be claimed by September 18th or a second drawing will be held.

Here’s to your butt!

Well, if you’d like to travel a little lighter here’s an interesting product for you: Biker Rain Chaps. If you don’t want to pack a full set of rain gear, but want to keep your legs dry when it’s wet and drizzly outside, then this could be a good solution for you.

Biker Rain Chaps

They are made of nylon, fully waterproofed and are lined inside to ensure that your legs will stay dry. The seams are reinforced and also sealed appropriately to keep water out. And what’s great is that they roll up into a really small package, taking up less room in your saddlebag.

Biker Rain Chaps bundled up.

If you’re wearing jeans, then all you have to do is slip them onto your legs, slip the velco strap through your belt or belt loop and you’re good to go. They are not flimsy to the touch, but I do wonder how easily they would tear if you happened to get snagged on something sharp or if they would melt if they come in contact with a hot pipe (I didn’t run into either problem when I tested them out).

slip the strap through your belt

I know for me, there’s nothing worse than riding with wet or damp jeans that stick to your legs. Biker Rain Chaps are great for keeping your legs dry on light rainy days or conditions where the roads are wet and you might get sprayed while riding (but if you’re going to be riding in full storm conditions, your normal heavy duty rain gear will probably be better!). And the best part is that they’re only $19.99 with lots of sizes available! *Thumbs up!*

Biker Rain Chaps are only 19.99!

Right now Biker Rain Chaps is running a sweepstakes where you can win a free pair! Head on over to http://www.bikerrainchaps.com/app/sweepstakes and register to be entered to win. Drawing date will be held on October 1st!

Follow Biker Rain Chaps for updates on Twitter: @bikerrainchaps

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.

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.

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.

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.

All orders will be shipped USPS Priority mail ($4.95 for shipping) and arrive in 3-5 business days (usually only 3!) from the day it was shipped (US residents only).

Not only do these shirts look great, but they’re fun to party in, too!

That was the subject of a contest held over at Crackberry.com recently for those who consider themselves BlackBerry addicts. They were giving away 10 BlackBerry Storms to those who were willing to do whatever it took to win one (and they actually had to follow through on their promise!).

They received 3,000 entries to the contest and “a popular theme of entry that emerged was extreme brand loyalty, or in other words, showing off your love for BlackBerry and/or CrackBerry for the whole world to see.”

The first winner was TJ of Revelation Tattoos in Toledo OH, who had a lifesized BlackBerry tattooed on his leg. Two things of note: 1. TJ didn’t pay for his tattoo. He works at the shop and had it done for free. 2. The tattoo artist, Brian, is a total Mac fanboy and die-hard iPhone lover. It must have killed him to do this tattoo!

While I don’t find the fact that he had the tattoo done to win a phone all that shocking (I hang out with a LOT of tattoo fanatics/artists who get work done for less meaningful things), I find the backlash a little surprising. What makes this guy’s tattoo any different from anyone willing to have a Harley-Davidson tattoo put on their body? It’s essentially showing the same kind of “extreme brand loyalty.”

If you’re interested in reading the war of comments you can read them at Crackberry.com and on Information Week’s blog, which also did a post about this today.

It’s an all-new, fun 2008 Halloween inspired Rippin-Kitten wallpaper! Celebrate Halloween festivities with me and show some love for one of your favorite motorcycle blogs!

800×600
1024×768
1280×800

They’ve got an inside zipper, made from man-made materials (great for you vegans out there) and only cost $49.50!

Moto Boot from Alloy

Whether you want them for riding or for everyday fashion (these probably look great with the right dress or a skirt) I’d grab these babies soon before they’re gone!

What better way to kick off “Fashion Fridays” than to announce that Rippin-Kitten t-shirts are FINALLY here!

These are not Cafe Press shirts done up from generic clip art. These shirts were completely designed by me, screen printed using two color inks and I have them in my hot lil hands right now. When they are shipped out, they’ll be sent by me personally.

“FASTER PUSSYCAT” $15.00
Short-sleeved black t-shirt with white printed skull & wing design, featuring the original “skully cat” Rippin-Kitten logo! Available in unisex sizes SM, MED, LG and XL.

All orders will be shipped USPS Priority mail ($4.95 for shipping) and arrive in 3-5 business days from the day it was shipped (US residents only).

Get ‘em now while they last!

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?

Sorry, I have to interject here: do you think if Jesse wasn’t married to Sandra Bullock that he’d even CARE about skincare at all? That he’d even know what the hell Kiehls was?

Photograph courtesy of Kiehl’s and Vanity Fair.

“I’m not metrosexual or anything,” insists James, whose ruggedness—or maybe his baby-smooth cheeks—has gained the charms of wife Sandra Bullock. “But I’m pretty fuckin’ hard on my skin.”

Mhmm.

Well, that didn’t stop Jesse from slapping his name on a Kiehl’s exclusive Jesse James Dopp Kit which includes: Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, “White Eagle” Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream, Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap, Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment and a deluxe sample of Ultimate Strength Hand Salve for a mere $66.

Anyway, here’s the accompanying video to the motorcycle build. Jesse’s not in it, but the end result isn’t too shabby.

“The story is amazing: I could not help but admire his courage, sheer bloody-mindedness and his soul-searching. His insights were deep and this was the aspect of the book that I enjoyed the most…Read her full review here.

From Santiago Chopper Specialties:

Are you one of those riders who is always looking for a unique helmet, whether it’s to wear while riding or just to have? Well, here’s one to definitely add to your collection!

Check out the matte-black, skull helmet from Santiago Chopper Specialties! Talk about evil…

Description: This badass-looking skull helmet will scare the crap out of any onlooker while your enjoying you mid day cruise. Not only is it light weight, but it’s very comfortable inside, and has a lot of breathing space. You might even want to buy one for your buddy.

Price on this bad-boy is $159.99 and it is not DOT approved. But it’s frickin’ cool so who cares, right?

The Harley-Davidson online shop has a plethora of ornaments to choose from, a vintage style tree topper and stocking holders to hang stockings by the chimney with care.

From mooshoes.com: this is a non-leather engineer boot. But I don’t like them because they’re vegan-friendly. I like the style, the rubber sole of the boot and the matte black finish on the buckles. They’re comfy and really easy to break in. I wish I got them earlier on in the riding season, but at least I will be able to enjoy them for fall riding.

Chopper Couture has some really cute clothes with biker-esque designs on them. I don’t love everything they have to offer, but I could see myself in a few of these shirts.

And of course, there’s Juicy Couture. I would never normally spend my hard earned money buying anything “designer”, but these gloves are really frickin’ cute.

Do you guys have some “biker” fashion that you like and want to share with me?

If you’re a woman looking into getting a cruiser, I think this is a good option. I put on a little over 600 miles during the time that I had it and I got really great gas mileage out of it. It’s a nice looking bike, rides smoothly and handles really well. Plus, it doesn’t feel like a heavy motorcycle. I never worried about dropping it (ok maybe I did worry, but mainly because it wasn’t my motorcycle to drop!). I also fund that I leaned much farther in my turns than I usually do. Some people with back problems commented that they didn’t like the forward foot pedals but I had no problems, especially after riding for a couple of hours straight.

The only drawbacks that I found with this bike: it kicks out a lot of heat on higher temperature days and there’s a lot of vibration at higher speeds that I never really got used to.

Bye, bye little red motorcycle…live long and prosper!

I’d quickly like to say thank you to Greg White for finding my site and pitching the idea of giving a motorcycle to a virtually unknown blogger to Kawasaki. And of course, thank you Kawasaki for giving me the opportunity and for trusting me with your fine-ass motorcycle!

It was a great day. And my video editing skills are improving quite a bit, too! By the way, I’ve got a new song, “Scary Kitty” featured in the video (got rid of that awful banjo music!) by my friends, the Missing out of NYC. So, BIG thanks to them for letting me use their song. They rock hard!

Unfortunately for me, that also means that riding time is dwindling. Kawasaki graciously extended more time with the Vulcan Custom, which is really generous. But I also feel like maybe I’m letting them down a bit. This is my first experience ever of doing a product review. I have been riding it every chance I get and I think that I have been really good at conveying my opinions about the motorcycle objectively—after all I need to keep it honest and true to my readers. I’ve been waiting to do a final thoughts kind of thing until I give it back, just in case something should jump out at me before then. Other than that, I’m not really sure what else I should be doing.

This weekend everyone was out on their motorcycles, bundled up to brave the chilliness. Added layers of clothing definitely make fall riding more comfortable, but also reflect the kick-off of autumn. We know what’s in store for us in the next few months: more layers of clothing, hot cider, pumpkins and motorcycle trips to mountain areas for fall foliage peeping. The summer is all but gone, the cold is coming in and soon the motorcycle will have to go into it’s winter slumber.

Since the Custom has such good throttle response, I did find myself getting a little daring with it. At stop lights I would pull up in the right hand lane next to other cars waiting at the light and just blow past them when the light turned green. I generally don’t do this on my Volusia because it just doesn’t have that kind of throttle response. I also noticed that more people tend to watch me ride down the street on this motorcycle and I think it’s because of the eye-catching paint color.

A kind of funny observation I had about the Custom is that the engine makes a whirring sound on acceleration that reminds me of a hovercraft from Star Wars. Which made me think of Star Trek and the obvious “Vulcan” reference. And the candy red color of the bike made me think of a lyric from Prince’s song “Little Red Corvette“-which made me giggle when I thought of Mr. Spock actually saying that line from the song:

“I’m gonna try to tame your little red love machine.“

Stream of consciousness while riding a motorcycle can be a funny thing sometimes!

But I will say that I was pleasantly surprised when I laid my own eyes on it. It is much better looking in person. Perhaps I was dazzled by the gorgeous red paint…(just kidding!) Sometimes just looking at photos of a bike (especially online) don’t do it justice.

Right now I’m going to take the time to post some of the specs here (pulled from Kawasaki’s website) and highlight, in my opinion, what I believe to be some of the nicer features of this motorcycle.

Engine:

• 903cc V-twin SOHC
• Gear-driven balancer allows use of single pin crankshaft without heavy vibration

-This is very true. There is minimal vibration and that contributes to a nice, smooth ride. It’s smooth like “buttah!”

Electronic Fuel Injection:

• Dual throttle bodies with sub throttles provide optimum performance and rideability

-what this means to me is: no choke! It’s great to be able to start the bike up cold and not have to worry about warming it up to go.

Dual Slash-Cut Mufflers:

• The mufflers are angled so that they look good when the bike is on it’s side stand
• Include honeycomb catalyzers to help reduce emissions

-They do look good, but they are very quiet. Almost too quiet. But if you’re a “green” person and care about things like emissions, then this is definitely a benefit!

Belt Drive:

• Lower unsprung weight than shaft drive to improve ride quality and suspension action
• More efficient so more power reaches the rear wheel
• Low maintenance and low noise

-All three of these features appeal to me. The less maintenance and the more power, the better.

Custom Cast 21 in. Front Wheel:

• Arranged in pairs, the wheel’s 18 “spokes” were designed by hand
• Tapered and flanged in two directions, every line and surface of each 3-D spoke is exquisitely curved

-Basically, it looks nice. It’s also easier to clean than spoked wheels, which some people would appreciate. I know from experience that it’s a bitch to clean spoked wheels.

Cooling: Liquid

Rear Tire Size: 180/70-15

Wheelbase: 64.8 in.

Front Brake/Rear Brake: 300mm hydraulic disc/270mm hydraulic disc

Fuel Tank Capacity: 5.3 gal.

Low Stepped Seat:

• Ultra-low 27 in. seat height allows riders to easily plant both feet on the ground at stops

-Seat height is a huge deal for some women riders. I’m 5’7″ tall and I am lucky to say that I have no problem putting my feet flat on the ground when I’m on this motorcycle. I don’t know if I could say the same for a woman who is 5’5″ or under. I’m also not so sure how easily (if at all) this bike could be lowered-if so desired. I’ll have to do a little research.

Dry Weight: 549 lbs.- I was surprised to learn that this motorcycle is this heavy. It feels, and handles like it’s much lighter.

This is Harold, who made a special trip fro NJ to MA to drop off this pretty machine.

And to give me paperwork to fill out and sign. There it is. The 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom. Ain’t it purdy?

Before I took it out for a spin…

And here’s the video shot shortly thereafter:
I also want to thank Mr. Forrest Frazier for all of the support, photo and video work that he has done for this site!

But recently there’s been a big difference in the performance of Rippin-Kitten.com. More and more people are coming to this site, linking to it and actually liking it. Hmm, maybe I don’t suck after all!

Earlier this month I received an email from someone I’ll call “Mr. White”, because that’s his name (hee hee). He said he worked for Kawasaki‘s PR firm. He said he had read my blog and was wondering if I might be interested in riding and writing about the 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom. He said he had a red one. He said it was in NYC and that they would have it shipped to me. He said I could have it for a couple of weeks. All I would have to do is ride it and write about it-no strings attached.

Wanna know what I said?

[insert sarcasm]

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

[end sarcasm]

I was absolutely positive that it was a big, fat joke. That Mr. White was some kind a scam artist looking for a sucker, and that sucker was ME. But I did a little research and it turned out that Mr. White was actually Greg White (you may know him from Speed TV) and the company that Mr. White worked for was legitimate and down with the blogging community.

And they were going to give me a motorcycle to ride and write about.

A week went by and I hadn’t heard from Mr. White. I figured that perhaps he was having some trouble convincing Kawasaki to give a shiny, new motorcycle to some chick with a blog. And I wasn’t surprised. I was just flattered to even be asked.

Another week went by when I discovered that I had a voice mail…from Mr White. I promptly called him back and much to my surprise he got approval to have that shiny, new red 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom shipped to me.

Guess what I got today? That’s right…..

More pics, vids and my first impressions tomorrow.

A few years back I was caught going through a stop sign in a Dukes of Hazzard-type scheme. I was on one of those hills where you have to pull a few feet past the stop sign to see the oncoming traffic. Even though I was going 2 mph, I still got a ticket. Fast forward 6 years and the ticket finally falls off my record. Since I just moved I figured I go and change my insurance agent (because my current agency is too far away and their customer service blows).

There is a company right by my house. I went in and met with some of the people, who seemed to be nice and on the level. They walked me through the options of what I need for insurance and how much, you know, all that fun stuff.

Now let me tell you how bad my state of Massachusetts is when it comes to insurance:

• there is no competition here so you pay the same no matter what insurance company you go with
• unlike auto insurance, when you insure a motorcycle you have to pay into “personal injury protection” but if you ever get injured you can’t collect anything
• no multiple vehicle discounts – if you have a car and a motorcycle you don’t save anything
• no seasonal discounts – I ride from about March/April to November-ish (depending on snow) but pay the same to insure the motorcycle for 6 months or a year
• no discount for alarms – not that I have an alarm on my bike, but I do on my car and get a discount for that

So what’s the deal?

In Massachusetts we pay more for insurance that any other state and from the looks of it, I get less if an incident ever were to happen. I talked to some people in Laconia this year who pay about $400 to insure a Heritage Softail for the year, which is about 1/2 of what I pay. As of now I am getting a safe driver discount and have no points on my license.

So why am I getting screwed?

I’m guessing that it’s part of the Mass state theory of knowing what’s best for me. But come on people I am subjected to ads for Progressive, Esurance and those cavemen guys, why not let me buy that insurance? AND….to go to one of those sites and try to get a quote, if you enter MA as the state you’re from, they boot you right out of the page.

I know this is a bit soap-boxy, but lets be real. My bike costs 1/4 what my car does and I ride it 3 months less than my car. Why should my insurance be almost the same?

While doing my morning message board reading I found a post about this site that, quite frankly, I was surprised I hadn’t heard of before. Biker Friendly (http://www.bikerfriend.org ) is a site dedicated to building awareness not only for bikers on the road, but if on the off-day that your in your 4-wheeled cage you can let other bikers around you know that you ride, too.

…if only there was a way that motorcyclist could get together in an attempt to non-verbally communicate that there was another biker in their midst. Knowing that this transplanted rider was aware of them and was eager to share the road with another biker.

Well, now there is a way. You can order free stickers from the site for free (at the site owner’s own expense). Larger stickers and t-shirts are also for sale or you can just be a good doobie and donate some cold hard cash to the cause and relax their wallet.

I literally got goosebumps when I watched the “Live by it” video and knew that I had to post it here because it doesn’t matter what kind of biker you are, this short video will speak to you in some capacity.

Head on over to the Harley Davidson website to see/learn about the creed film.

Get your very own “Rippin-Kitten” stickers now while supplies last! Are these adorable or what???

**STICKER GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. I’ll restock soon.**

This one is a 4.25″x1.37″size sticker

This one is a 1″x3″sticker-the perfect size to put on your helmet!If you would like some, all you have to do is send me an email with your mailing address (U.S. requests only please) and I will mail them directly to you! Did I mention that they’re free?

Here’s my fine-looking machine just out of the garage, although it’s not really looking so fine…I had a lot of cleaning ahead of me.

I’m all geared up for the ride back home. (How’s my new leather jacket look on me?)

A detailed shot of my handlebars. What a mess.

And now it’s gleaming.

Without the PowerBall Mini and the Nano polish this would have required a ton of elbow grease and a lot of time that I don’t have. (look at how filthy the spongy ball is!)

Before

After (so much better!)

Well, it’s not going to win any contests but this bike is on it’s way to looking buff and beautiful for the summer!

Guess what I did over the weekend. Thats right… spent the day detailing my ride.

I can’t believe that it’s the end of April and I’m not out riding every day. Normally by now, my weekend excursions would have begun but thanks to the craptastic weather we’re having I just don’t have my routine set up yet. The weather over the weekend was perfect to do some detail work on the bike though. Over the winter I spent some time researching some products I wanted to try and picked up a few winners.

I started out by doing a basic wash using Meguiar’s gold car wash. The way I look at it, any car wash is as good as the next as long as it is non-abrasive and doesn’t strip the wax you put on there. Now that all the winter dirt that made it’s way on there has been eliminated, I stood there looking at my non-shiny bike. For no logical reason I did the chrome next, starting with the front wheel and working my way back.

• step 1. steal your man’s powertools
• step 2. attach a Mothers power-ball mini
• step 3. apply thin coat of Nano-polish
• step 4. let the fun begin

That’s right, after being sucked in by a late night TV commercial I went out and picked up the Power-ball mini. It attaches to a drill with a 10″ rod and it’s small enough to get all those hard to reach spots, like in between your spokes, the back side of your forks, and the head casings of your engine. That made life so easy and greatly reduced the elbow grease needed. But the big surprise was the Nano-polish. Not only did it do a killer job cleaning up the chrome and making it shine, but it also got rid of some surface rust and filled in some minor scratches. I can’t get over this stuff.

I started working on the bike at about 10am and took a 2 hour break for lunch. Just when I was finishing up the rear wheel at 5:30pm the rain started up. I’m pissed I wasn’t able to take any photos of the chrome or that I didn’t get to the paint. Since I live by the ocean the fog has settled in and I’m looking out the window at my soaking wet bike cover. If the weather clears today I’m going to try and get to the paint and get some good photos.

Once the bike is all detailed it will be time to lower the back end. Stay tuned.

Well, I just found Silly Helmet Covers, which are latex rubber covers that fit over half helmets. I suppose these things are fun if you’re walking (or riding) around at a rally or just a plain old goofball…

Do I make you horny, baby?

All you would need is some shin guards and a battle ax and you could ride down the streets looking like you’re friends with GWAR. (GWAR rules! I met them 10 years ago-Oderus wanted to kill my family and make me his slave…)

Full-face helmet wearers feeling left out? No worries, SkullSkins for you! Made of machine-washable fabric and they come in a verirable plethora of designs to choose from!

But this is really important stuff to us bikers that want to look good after a long ride. Granted, we are somewhat limited with just how good we can look with a helmet ruining our ‘dos, dirt and exhaust caking our face and let’s not get into the bug-thing…

I know a lot of women bikers probably don’t even bother with worrying about hair and make-up and are probably laughing at me (and my vanity) right now. What can I say? I still try to be a girly-girl even when I know I’m going to get dirty from the road.

Now, hair in many cases can be a lost cause when doing long rides. I usually wear my hair in braids to avoid those scalp-wrenching tangles and that attractive sweaty, plastered down look. Bandannas, ‘do-rags and hats all help disguise the dreaded helmet-hair, of course. For shorter rides you might have a fighting chance and still be able to salvage your coif without too much damage.

I couldn’t believe how dirty I got during my first season of riding. My face, already slathered with high SPF sunblock, would get covered with dirt, exhaust and pollen (notice I didn’t mention that thing about the bugs?). And my complexion suffered from it. So, I started carrying those facial cleansing cloths in my saddlebags. They are incredibly useful to keep on hand and don’t take up too much room. I also make sure that I adhere to a consistent cleansing regiment.

Wearing make-up requires some skill and good products. I typically don’t wear a lot of make-up while riding. It usually wears off or smudges from your eyes tearing up due to the wind. And, I almost always have to touch it up once I reach my destination. My essential arsenal consists of: waterproof mascara & eyeliner, concealer and lipstick. With those things I am good to go.

Lipstick is tricky. If I’m wearing a darker color I usually matte it with powder from my compact so that things don’t stick to my lips. But sometimes that gets gross. I like to use Revlon Colorstay lip color (in sheer colors) because that stays on pretty well and when I arrive at my destination I just add the glossy topcoat and I’m instantly gorgeous. OK, well maybe not gorgeous but at least I don’t look like a dumpster rat!

Recently I discovered two companies marketing to the biker community. Biker Skin Care products offer skin, foot and tattoo care for motorcycle enthusiasts. There’s also a company called Bika Chic that features a whole line of cosmetics for the “hardcore ladies”.

I’ve not tried products from either company so I cannot vouch for the quality of the products, nor can I say if these biker-specific items are any better than any cosmetics and skincare that you can buy at drugstores. I’d be curious to find out if anyone else has tried them. If you have, feel free to contact me and let me know about your experience.

For me, the time I spent researching what I wanted out of a motorcycle paid off when I found my bike at a shop. It was the exact paint and chrome I wanted. I was happy to keep it stock for a while then, once I had a few trips planned, I picked up some accessories.

I got a windshield, some saddle bags and put on crashbars. Still enjoying the look and feel of my ride, I kept it like that for another season. But, like most bike owners the time had come to make some modifications to better suit me.

I started to notice a few people on a bike board I frequent had used a custom lowering kit to drop the back end of their motorcycles an inch or two and it really made the bike look better.

So, I bought a lowering kit last season and decided to tweak the bike. Unfortunately I don’t have access to a garage so this would be an outside job in the parking lot. But we had crappy weather, family obligations and my man had to have surgery. All of those added up meant me not being able to get anything done. This year I won’t let anything hold me back.

I will learn to love tools.

The thought of modifying my own bike is a bit daunting at first. It could mean ruining a perfectly nice manicure-ha, just kidding. Seriously, I’m no mechanic–how am I qualified to work on my own bike? I’m qualified because it’s my bike and I’m a fairly smart chick. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to run out and rebuild my clutch. I’m starting small and working my way up.

This isn’t some “I am woman, hear me roar” thing, it’s a simple matter of cash. Why pay a guy $300 for something I can do on my own (hopefully) in an hour?

This past weekend I picked up a Torin Big Red 1500lb Motorcycle Jack which I hope to put to good use. I already have the tools, so my first wrenching will be lowering the bike. I’ll take some before and after photos and you guys can let me know what you think.

My second project will be removing my stock pipes and putting on some clean, light weight after market ones. I figure that with the bike lowered 2 inches my stockers will now be scraping the ground when I take a hard corner (plus I love these turned-down pipes!! They are sweet! ).

Are you f*cking kidding me?!?! Sure, they’d be funny if you’re doing a Halloween ride or something, but honestly…