I arrived in Cincy Friday night about 7:30 pm. Long damn drive from Charlotte. I got to the hotel and ran into BUB, Dennis Manning first thing. Dennis has got to be one of the funniest guys I've met in a long time. He is also one of those unique individuals who knows his racing but can only relate it to people in a easy, almost comical way. His discussions on aerodynamics and his study of fish were funny, enlightening, not to mention mind boggling.

Dennis was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Sunday. A great tribute to a great innovator and true racing enthusiast.

Met up with Trock and the mind expansion continued through the whole weekend. It was good to see Ron again this year, as always. There were many old and new friends I ran into. Click Baldwin and his crew, Erik and Jay, from Carolina H-D were there showing three of their custom bikes. They really turn out some cool Iron! Click has just opened a new 70,000 sq. ft. facility in Gastonia, NC. This H-D dealership is a must- see if you're passing through NC, on your way to Daytona Bike Week in March. This is a real first class operation.

Of course there was all the cool stuff to see. BC Gerolamy had some of his latest Delphi EFI throttle bodies on display.

On another note for the V-Rod people. A certain piston maker is coming out with a 4 1/4" bore slipper skirt piston and cylinders for the V-Rod gear heads!! They are due to be released in a couple of weeks. Be sure to look for it after the Indy PIR show.

There are also some other High Performance engine parts, stroker crank's etc. coming our way. It's just a matter of time. Allen Alvarez has invested in an all new EFI system for stock bikes that includes the exhaust sensor for accurate carb tuning. The company is called Daytona Twin Tec, www.daytona-twintec.com. We will publish a tech on it shortly. There was a new Merch/Norton model on display which we will also feature in the near future. Cleveland Motorcycles have some secrets up their sleeves and Kustom Kulture is building rigid Evos with a rigid late model Panhead look. Watch for these. Bob Kay recently left Bikers Choice to become a boss at American Iron Horse. If you're looking for custom manufactured bike, study some of these stretched monsters. Alan Mahon sold Delkron and is taking a break for the summer. Roger Borget is building a bike for the Grammy's and a special model with S&S containing the new S&S 145-inch motor--hang on. PM had a killer Sportster in their booth that we hope to feature. It features PM parts and wheels that he bead-blasted for a different look. Great notion. Some of the new wheels are the hottest I've seen from PM in a long time. They are making a slim set of billet wheels called the Vader, after the old Invader mags.

Eddie Trotta is working with Baker right hand drive transmissions to build a bike that will hold 270 tire and not have an offset tranny or engine, which is the only way to go. Eddie's business Thunder Cycle is going great guns in Fort Lauderdale. John Kosmoski turned 65 at the Expo. He's still working with House of Kolor, which he founded. Prism colors are expanding and won't have the coppery look in the future. A new flake system is available along with new pearls. By 2008 custom paints will be water based and strong to prevent harm to painters and damage to the atmosphere. Cycle Visions out of San Diego now produces a kit to turn a V-Rod into a bagger. You've got to check this puppy out. Believe it or not Hallcraft is making a wide 21-inch rim. Corbin is building slick twin cam three wheelers. The ultimate Mirlin Roadster. And a company called Quick Start, www.ebeyond2000.net is building electronic ignitions for distributor bikes from '36-69. GMA is now building wheels to compliment their brake caliber designs. And Excel is building the slickest hidden forward controls known to man.

The Cycle Visions touring V-Rod kit.

Today back in North Carolina I got to see some V-Rod heads that were reworked/ported by a well known Road Racer. They had some very good CFM numbers with nothing more than just some general clean up, nothing exotic. For some reason 4-valves just work better and flow more air at low valve lifts.

So it looks like Spring is going to be a "Large" time. A perfect lead in for Harley's 100th celebration this summer. Can't wait!!

--Pablo