Well, since we didn’t have enough drama in our life over the past year, we figured it would be great to update everyone on the situation of the “Hard  Rock Cafe Guilty Guitar Saga“.  Some will remember about 5 months back we were asked to participate in the Hard Rock Cafe exhibit that features guitars painted and/or modified by builders in the industry.  We feel very fortunate to be among those participating as there are some great names represented  on this traveling exhibit: (Bling Cycles, Lead Sled, Nash Motorcycles, Bare Knuckles, French Kiss to name a few).

The initial unveiling of the “Guilty Guitar” (or “GG” for short as we call her) was to have happened last month at an event in southern Florida.  But alas, that was not to be….seems we’d had a paint malfunction prior to the final assembly and we got jammed up and didn’t make the deadline.  But, thanks to Steve O’Brien of Liquid Illusions of Sanford, we’re now up and running again.  And with all the problems resolved, we’re now reassembling and shipping this bad boy off to the appropriate parties to become part of their traveling display.  As you can see we chose a traditional “Flame Job” tastefully done by Steve and highlighted with pin stripping done by Darren-Did-It (who by the way has done all our pin stripping over the years!). And check out that flying-motorcycle-riding-eyeball.  Sick huh? So, when your out and about throwing your money around at the casino’s or attending an upcoming motorcycle event, make sure and stop by the Hard Rock Cafe and check out the guitars. You won’t be disappointed.  And yes, they do have to be “player friendly”.

Hey, thanks for coming back! Great to see there are a few of you out there that have taste and style! Seriously, thanks for visiting. If you know of stories you think people would be interested in, shoot us a line C'ya!

We’ve always been fans of the narrow springer front ends and when we got a chance to get our own line out to the market, well to be honest we jumped at it!  These custom built springer front ends (built exclusively for Guilty Customs) are already getting to be the “talk of the town” because of their craftsmanship and price.

Each one is TIG welded using only the highest quality metals and components.  These  springer front-ends embodies the spirit of the industry’s original springers by using original HD springs with inner helper springs, choice of custom milled brass/stainless bushings and brass/stainless fittings, and state of the art technology for one of the industry’s highest quality and most reliable front-ends. Front legs- 1.00x.120 wall dom tube. Rear legs- 1.250x.156 wall dom tube

Because each is built to your specifications, expect 4-6 weeks for delivery. Lengths range from stock 2″ under   to 11″ over.  The Guilty Springer comes raw but is available in chrome or painted (call for details). You can     call or visit the website as well as eBay for details and more pic’s. And look for it on the cover of a upcoming national publication too. Price: $1369.00.

We’re not getting all “pretty boy” on ya, but did want to show off some of the newest swag rollin out of our friend Frank Zubieta’s NINO925 shop for Guilty Customs.  Having worn Nino925 jewelry for a while it was only natural that Guilty and Nino925 teamed up to bring the Guilty line to the market. As you can see the line includes a signet ring, bracelet and pendant. All using the Guilty Customs famous rotating “G” insignia.

Made from Sterling Silver and hand crafted, the ring weighs in at .20 grams and is 19mm wide with 22mm height.  This ain’t no prissy ring!  There will only be 50 of each item being made, so grab yours either online at nino925 or at Guilty Customs store. Oh, yeah, the price. $145 for the ring. $250 for the bracelet and $45 for the pendant.  Not bad for some cool swag.

With all the things going on in the world; 401k dropping off the radar, real estate in the crapper, war and political scandals bombarding us, Guilty Customs figured what better way to forget all that than with some new bling!

So, teaming up with Frank Zubieta at Nino925 they’ve designed this killer signet ring using Guilty Customs famous rotating “G’s”. Made from Sterling Silver and hand crafted, this ring weighs in at .20 grams and is 19mm wide and with 22mm height.  This ain’t no prissy ring!  

There will only be 50 of these made so grab yours either online or check Guilty Customs out during Sturgis this year.  They will be set up with the Limpnickie Lot at the Broken Spoke. Oh, yeah,the price: $145.00.  Not bad for some cool swag! Stay tuned also for new bracelets and pendants with the same cool rotating Guilty “G”.

 

Guilty Customs expands it Square Tube Girder Line. With success from the previous release of the Narrow Glide Square Tube front-end, the gang at Guilty Customs are releasing two new expanded versions of this popular front end. The new addition, (aptly named Mid-Glide and Wide-Glide) will be made in stock or custom application lengths. “You can style a front end to look just about anyway you want it, but, if you want something that looks good, works properly and will last, you owe it to yourself to check out our newest product”, says Carl (CJ) Hanlon, owner of Guilty Customs of Florida. Cj’s passion for providing the riding community dependable and unique motorcycle parts is the reason for the release of these two unique front ends that harkens back to the earlier years of this industry. The unique styling, superior handling characteristics and superior grade materials used make this girder not only of interest to those nostalgia fans, but has gained the attention of custom builders. “We are only interested in producing truly unique and useable motorcycle parts”, says Hanlon. In keeping with the level of customization needed by today’s builders, the Guilty Square Tube Girders, can be built from 4″ under to 12″ over stock. Due to efficiencies of production, the base price is now $1525.00. Powder coating and or chroming available upon request. Guilty Customs, LLC (www.guiltycustoms.com) is a custom motorcycle and parts company that has established itself in the industry by bringing to the general public, innovative and affordable American made parts and custom motorcycles.

We love rat rod’s. You know those cars or trucks that look as if their owner hasn’t actually finished the build. But rather slapped, welded, chicken wired together the raw steel or aluminum body in a rush. Using minimal comfort interiors combined with slammed or cut off roof lines and old wheels and cool pin stripping (if even that). Well the Guilty Gang is on a hunt of sorts to find a donor car/truck/vw etc, we can get our grimy mitts on in order to make a “corporate sponsored” rat rod. We’ll be approaching various corporate sponsors (tire, wheel, body shops, engine, etc) for this build that will travel with us to events around the country in the Limpnickie Lot. So, if you’ve got some piece of crap hanging around your yard, garage or know of someone that does, give us a shout. We will post every entry and then let the readers choose which one we go with. Then this build will be documented on the site and who knows, maybe even some cool carma will come your way!

The 9th Annual V-Twin Expo will open its doors February 6th and run through Monday the 9th. Like past years thousand of dealers, members of the media and industry will flood into the Cincinnati Duke Energy Center to meet hundreds of exhibitors showing their 2009 products. This year is special for a few of us as the Limpnickie Lot will be present showing off the various products from the participating builders in the Limpnickie Builders Manual. See ya there!

Tired of having those “run-of-the-mill” lights on your ride? Fret no more. These custom hand made tail/brake lights will make sure your ride stands out from the crowd. Each one is hand made and numbered. Sorry, no fancy LED’s. These hand polished aluminum bodied beauties come with brass hardware and brackets that pivot to any angle for either over, under and side mounting. 3″ long, 2″ round & 2 1/2′ high. Glass is cut from old Harley lens then shaped and polished. They are 12 volt with 3 wire shrink wrapped hook up. Retail $175.00. You can order by emailing Guilty Customs at info@guiltycustoms.com.

In our earlier post about the new “Wide-Glide Girder Front End“, we were only able to show you a CAD rendering of this product. Well, now we’ve got the real thing! This girder front-end uses 4130 seamless, aircraft allow tubing and is TIG welded and heat treated. The wide glide girder embodies the spirit of the industries original girders, but using modern day technology for one of the industries highest quality and most reliable wide glide front-ends. If your not familiar with TIG welding (also known as Heli-Arc) this process is the best and strongest way of building a front end. So, if you’re looking for something alot different than the same old front ends everyone else is using, check out the “Guilty Wide Glide“. There is free shipping and expect 4-6 weeks for delivery. Lengths range from 2″ under to 11″ over at present. The Guilty Wide Glide will come raw but is available in chrome (at additional cost), so contact Guilty Customs for details.

Having consumed far too many “Red Bulls” and twinkies, and just in time for Sturgis Guilty Customs has rolled out their newest “Builders Box Kit.” This package includes a dual powder coated and (industry leading) ChopperShox seat shock system with all necessary mounting hardware, 1/8 inch thick seat pan (choice of bobber or chopper) and a heavy duty custom Battery box. Also included is a choice of a .070 gauge tear drop (shown) or traditional chopper gas tank with 2″ tunnel which holds 4.5 gallons. ALL parts are made in U.S.A and come with 100% money back guarantee. And the price? A very reasonable $463.00. For more information visit the website or call 407.453.0844.

Eager to offer an alternative to “run of the mill” or “foreign made” motorcycle products, Guilty Customs has released yet another product; the “Square Tube Girder Front End“. Timeless styling. Legendary strength. These girders are state-of-the-art precision built with triangular design, TIG welding and square chrome-moly tubing (along with proper mating of parts) all add up to benefits no other current front end can match. This front end from Guilty Customs in collaboration with Paul Durfee uses triangular structure and state of the art materials which gives it the ability to withstand 58,000 pounds of compression strength. In keeping with the level of customization needed by today’s builders, these girders, can be built to fit the needs and wants of any individual from 4″ under to 12″ over stock length. The base price is $1525.00 and is available in powder coated or chromed finish upon request. For more details contact Guilty Customs at sales@guiltycustoms.com or visit the website at www.guiltycustoms.com.

Thought we’d update you on the newest build from Guilty Customs. Actually just 1 of the builds going on now. This “1/2 Pint” took shape in Guilty’s gray matter over a year ago but only got started about 90 days ago. She was supposed to have been shot for a national magazine a few weeks back, however due to some “issues”, it just didn’t work out. Anyway, Guilty is planning to formally unveiling this little dynamo at the Horse SmokeOut in NC this June. So here are some of the spec’s: The power plant comes from a donor 99′ Buell Thunderbolt, custom frame from Twisted Choppers, sheet metal work by Mike Drum, Pin Stripping by George Sedak and seat by Duane Ballard and Chopper Shox seat shocks, which makes this sweetheart a real head turner. And, yes it will stay in “raw metal” condition. If you’ve followed any of the other Guilty bikes you’ll automatically notice the trademark Mooneyes oil bag mounted up front, along with drag racing influences on this bike (note the clear fuel/oil lines and racing connectors). The bike WILL be up for sale, eventually.

As Guilty Customs has “matured” in this industry (as well as had our heads kicked in with the economy over the past year), we’ve found that while building bikes is rewarding, your money seems to run out way before the month does. And we’re not alone! Just look at the number of shops in your own hometown that have shut their doors. So what’s a small shop to do?
Well, you expand your product line and start offering them to others who 1) are builders 2) need to repair their rides or 3) people just looking for some cool stuff. As you can tell we believe in American manufacturers! We still produce products that compete in the world market. Products that are both affordable and meet the rigorous demands of the consumer. This is what has made America the leader for decades. Some people may have lost faith that America can’t produce quality products priced competitively, well, here is Guilty’s notice to those folk!
These Roadhard fenders are made using 14 gauge metal and measure 36” from point to point and are available in 8.75”, 11” and 13” rear fender width and 4.67” for fronts. Rear fenders are trimmed with 4” of skirting for customization and front fenders at 5” of skirting. Guilty is also offering two gas tank kits: the traditional “Chopper Gas Tank” (8” Tall, 12” wide and 22” long and the “Tear Drop Chopper Gas Tank”. Each made using .070 gauge metal with a 2” tunnel and holding 4.5 gallons.
All rear fenders (regardless of size) are priced at $150.00 and front fenders are $130.00 plus shipping. Gas tanks are priced at $140.00 for the Chopper Gas Tank and $209.00 for the Tear Drop Tank. All fenders and gas tanks come with a 100% money back guarantee. A $20.00 discount per fender for quantities over 4 will be offered through June.

Guilty Customs announces the release of their first “Guilty Wide Glide” girder front end. Working with Paul Durfee this girder front-end uses 4130 seamless, aircraft allow tubing and is TIG welded and heat treated. The wide glide girder embodies the spirit of the industries original girders, but using modern day technology for one of the industries highest quality and most reliable wide glide front-ends. If your not familiar with TIG welding (also known as Heli-Arc) this process is the best and strongest way of building a front end. So, if you’re looking for something alot different than the same old front ends everyone else is using, check out the “Guilty Wide Glide“. There is free shipping and expect 4-6 weeks for delivery. Call for pricing. Lengths range from 2″ under to 11″ over at present. The Guilty Wide Glide will come raw but is available in chrome (at additional cost), so contact Guilty Customs for details. The very first “Guilty Wide Glide” girder is being put on Guilty’s build for Ash Spurlin, (the Special Ops soldier) returning from Afghanistan this summer. Check out his story HERE.

If you keep up with economics (or even the current gas prices) your more than aware that times are tight. And the custom motorcycle/parts business isn’t immune to the slow down in the economy. Just take a look at the amount of shops closing over the past 2 yrs. So, part of any smart business owners plans for survival should include some form of diversification of income streams. Which is where Colleen Swartz comes into the picture. You’ve probably recognized that name as the attractive freelance motorcycle photographer who regularly contributes to magazines such as Cycle Source, The Horse, American Iron and many others. Due to her connections in the industry as well as insight into the needs of builders, Colleen has started a new business called “Master Link International” for the purposes of exporting custom motorcycle parts overseas.

The idea behind the venture is pretty simple. Builders here in the states hate shipping oversea! Especially small shop. We just don’t have the manpower, resources, time, money etc! You have to deal with shipping, taxes, tariffs, governmental regulations, insurance, language barriers, etc etc….you get the idea. So after talking with an initial group of builders (Leroy Thompson, Fab Kevin’s, Guilty Customs, Kundratic Kustoms, Matt Daniels Union Cycle, Nash Motorcycles, Walter Siegl, led Sled Customs, Cook Customs and Rich Phillips) who all expressed frustration as well as wanting ways to widen our income opportunities, Colleen teamed up with Eiji Kumagai who worked as a Harley mechanic while in the states; was from Japan and recently having returned to Japan, is working in one of Japan’s largest and well known chopper shops, Satsuma Cycle Works. Satsuma will be our exclusive dealer of “Made in the USA” parts to Japan and will be sharing space with Master Link at shows to display the parts from participating builders. So, as of March 17th 2008, the first shipment of parts left the US headed for the Joints Chopper Show in Nagoya Japan on April 20th, 2008.

Colleens plans for Master Link are to firm up relationships with dealers in Europe, New Zealand and Australia along with any other opportunities that come her way. If you would like more information on how to become part of Master Link International, you can contact them at Colleen@digitalmagicbigshots.com. Or by phone at 414-380-9005.