Cycle Connections

If you like Rock 'n Roll, ribs and motorcycles—and who don’t, then I hope you made it to Worth Harley-Davidson North’s 10th Annual Rock 'n Ribs customer appreciation day on Saturday, August 20. Riders from all over KC and the surrounding area always look forward to this annual event, which can best be described as a fun-filled biker carnival. I mean where else can you go to get 15 percent off everything in the store, check out all the great 2006 bikes, listen to Blues Notions cranking out some awesome jams, while eating some of the best FREE barbequed ribs…

It’s that time of year again! Although fall is just around the corner, there is one event that many riders in Kansas City eagerly anticipate, and that is the Harley-Davidson Vehicle and Power Train Operations Open House event. This year's open house will be held on Friday September 9 and Saturday, September 10. What makes this such an anticipated event, you may ask? This demand is largely around the availability of the Motor Company’s large demo fleet. It’s also an opportunity to take a tour through the assembly plant and witness first hand the assembly of Sportsters, Dyna Glides and…

So you want to plan a beautiful, scenic trip on your bike. One that would challenge your riding skills a little, with some mountains, curves, bends and twists. And one that would end up at a warm, inviting resort, just waiting to fulfill your and your bike’s every need! If you think a place like that doesn’t exist, think again!If your trip planning takes you anywhere near the Birmingham or surrounding area in Alabama, you need to check out 29 Dreams Motorcycle Resort. Five years ago, Tim Langley and his wife Kathy had a dream (get it?), to open a…

Classic Leather and Lace is owned by Kay Fleming, who retired from BellSouth in May of 2003 and decided to venture out on her own. It has always been a dream of Kay’s to open her own lingerie boutique, so on October 9, 2004 Classic Leather and Lace opened their doors for the first time.Kay and her husband Danny are avid Harley riders and it was at Danny's suggestion that she add biker leather and accessories to the store. Needless to say, leather and lace go very well together! They are also hoping to expand their store to carry used…

Do you have a need for speed? Well Barber Motorsports Park was built to satisfy that need! You could sit back on your couch at home and watch the super bikes race on the Speed Channel, or you can ride to the Barber Motorsports Track in Birmingham, Alabama and experience the adrenalin rush for yourself—up close and European-style! We were fortunate enough to be there for the very first race weekend, and fortunate enough to have been granted access to the most recent AMA Super Bike Classic, including the paddock area. This event drew more than 48,000 spectators in the…

On Saturday, April, 23, our friends Mad Dog, Linda, Tim Peek, Roger Kinard and Jeff Singleton invited us to an after hours customer appreciation party at Riders Harley-Davidson in Trussville, Alabama. Tim works at the dealership and Roger and Jeff are members of the Birmingham H.O.G. Chapter. They have customer appreciation sales and parties often, which makes for a nice ride and a fun get-together, including plenty of great food and music. We have several nice Harley shops here in Alabama, such as the Heart of Dixie Harley Shop in Pelham, Alabama, which always has something going on. In conjunction…

Gail’s vision started years ago and now it’s a reality. The plan for her new facility had been in the works long before the groundbreaking ceremony that took place on Feb 9, 2004. Her sparkling new 55,000 square foot complex, the largest dealership in the Midwest, officially opened for business on Nov 6, 2004. Gail’s Open House on November 26 and 27, 2004 was a very memorable event, but as it turns out, the real party had not yet begun! From the Feel the Power web site: The comment has been, 'Wow what a big beautiful dealership.' Now they will…

MidAmerica PowerSports Plus (MAPSP) is a full service dealership for all makes of motorcycles and most years and models. Their franchised brands are MZ and KYMCO. MAPSP is a corporation owned by four partners and has been in business at 9909 E. Hwy 40 since April of 2004. In late 2003, Curtis and Paula Fisher approached Dan and Rosanne Prindle, owners of D&R Cycle Repair in Lee’s Summit, Missouri about a merger with MAPSP and the partnership began in January 2004. In the first year of operation, the team of MAPSP is raising the bar in Power Sports services and…

NKC Custom Apparel has been located in North Kansas City for just over four years now, but they have over 30 years of experience in the screen-printing and embroidery business. Since their start in Kansas City, they have made a tremendous impact on the biker community, providing event and rally T-shirts, and designing corporate identities for local and national bike shops and merchants. NKC’s father and son team of Santo (Pops) and Santo Jr. Smiroldo, have put together a highly talented and caring staff, including some very imaginative graphic artists. And they are cranking out some of the best custom…

Although he might not receive quite as much press as Jesse James, Billy Lane, Indian Larry or the feuding Teutuls of Orange County Choppers, Kansas City is home to one of the most talented up-and-coming bike builders in the industry; Kim Suter of KC Creations. When you are able to launch your own brand of motorcycles, host your own radio talk show, be featured in numerous motorcycle magazines and publications, and are invited to be part of the Easyriders® Centerfold Tour for two years running, you must be doing something right! On Thursday, December 23, we had the opportunity to…

Gail’s Harley-Davidson has a fabulous new home at the northeast corner of the intersection of Highways 71 and 152 in Grandview, Missouri. The migration process began with a groundbreaking ceremony on February 9 and culminated in the first day of business at the new location on November 6. The open house celebration at the new 55,000 square foot facility took place on Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27. The throngs who came to shop and tour the new dealership were impressed by the building’s attractive design, convenient layout, and by the wide variety of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and merchandise on…

On Wednesday, October 13, 2004, Beverly Harvey opened the doors to her new shop at 4914 North Oak Trafficway in Kansas City, Missouri, with one goal in mind; “We want to bring the most unique clothing, gifts, and artwork the industry has to offer to our customers in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Come by the shop and have a delicious cup of coffee as you browse through the store. If we don’t have exactly what you are looking for, we will order it for you. Plus, if you have suggestions or ideas, just tell us, because Moto-Gear is here to…

Ron Wright is the owner of Wright Brothers Bikes and has been selling trikes in Kansas City for three years. Wright Brothers specialize in Harley-Davidson and Honda conversions kits you can build yourself or have one of his highly trained mechanics build to your specifications. All trike conversions feature a D.F.T. manufactured fully independent suspension. For more details about what Wright Brothers offers, check out their business information page by clicking on the link above or just visit their web site.I was able to sit down with Ron for a little Q & A about his shop and as you…

Jackie’s Leather & More in Independence, Missouri, is located in the Colonnade Shopping Center behind the Salty Iguana Restaurant and Bar on 40 Highway. From the moment you walk in, you’ll feel right at home as Jackie and her husband John are about the nicest people you’ve ever met. First, they’ll offer you coffee or a soft drink and some chips, and then invite you to kick back and take a load off before starting your shopping experience. Jackie and John Meditz are bikers who wanted to offer quality leathers to the riding community at rock bottom prices; and they’ve…

What do you think of when you hear the words, “Trouser Mouse?” No, no, not that, you sick puppies! And no, it’s not a strip club. Trouser Mouse owners, Brad and Angel Mallen still laugh at the number of phone calls they receive asking how many brass poles were on the main stage when they opened. What you should think of when you hear the name Trouser Mouse Bar & Grill is a great place to hear live blues and jazz, enjoy your favorite beverage and grab a bite to eat. Okay, so the name is um…different, but you have…

On Friday afternoon, June 25th, I hopped on the Fat Boy and headed southeast out of Kansas City. At the end of my scenic two-hour ride, I dropped my kickstand and walked into the Corner Gardens Bar & Pizzeria in Warsaw, Missouri. When I got there, several bikes were already lined up out front. There were various makes and models, including a nicely restored Knucklehead and Shovelhead. I’ve been in a lot of biker friendly bars in my life, for research purposes only, of course, but I consider this place a true biker’s paradise. So, what makes the Corner Gardens…

On Saturday morning, May 15th, more than 50 riders packed into the small parking lot at Clay County Choppers in Claycomo, Missouri to help kick off their grand opening. There were many great specials throughout the store, and Julie, the eye-popping, bikini-clad Easyriders® Magazine April Fox Hunt winner, posed on customers bikes and autographed photos. Julie is scheduled to appear on the cover of Easyriders Magazine this fall, so make sure to watch your newsstands. Owners, Karen and Dave Foster, and manager, Steve Lauderback welcomed customers as they arrived, while Kristi Organ was busy working the counter. Clay County Choppers…

Whether you want to give your daily ride a new look or build a wild, show-winning custom, you need to meet Swampy Pete. He doesn’t work in the Louisiana Swamps or the Bayou, he is right here in the Midwest! He works out of several shops in Missouri and Kansas, and the fastest and easiest way to contact him is by calling the phone number above.Swampy Pete can do mild candy repaints to killer, wild graphics. He obviously is a creative perfectionist who never lets a piece of work leave his shop without his and the customer’s approval. He will…

Why is F.O.G. Cycles considered by many to be Kansas City's most unique bike shop? Maybe it's because they are the only bike shop around where you can buy a pre-owned Harley-Davidson, custom built chopper or trike; have your bike serviced; shop for parts, accessories and apparel; then walk through a doorway into a bar to commemorate your purchase over a cold beer while watching the owner play a washboard on stage with the area's finest musicians? If that doesn't convince you, grab your beer and walk out into the huge open courtyard where you'll find an old caboose that's…

Lightning Cycle may be the new kid on the block; however, they are quickly finding their niche in Kansas City's ever expanding motorcycle community. Glen and Jackie Holcomb opened their store in November of 2003, and have been anxiously waiting for the spring riding season so they can shift their business into high gear. When asked how Lightning Cycle got started, Jackie explained that her and Glen love motorcycles and have always dreamed of opening their own shop. They did their homework, found a high traffic area on North Oak Trafficway with reasonable lease terms, ordered their product, stocked their…