Guilty Customs: Affordable custom motorcycles, chopper builds, and motorcycle parts and accessories in Orlando Florida.

Archive for the ‘Health, Education & Well being’ Category

Chalk Some Up For The Good Guys!

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

lojack_white_bolt_sm.jpgLoJack Corporation today unveiled its annual wrap-up of the year’s top recoveries for 2007 involving the LoJack For Motorcycles recovery system. These stories underscore that organized crime rings continue to fuel the growing problem of motorcycle theft. The recovery stories of 2007 also revealed that today’s thieves continue to leverage newer mediums — such as the Internet — to sell stolen parts and make a profit from this lucrative crime.
Below are LoJack’s top motorcycle recoveries for 2007:

“Biggest Single Chop Shop Recovery” - One LoJack-equipped Suzuki GSX-
R600 led Orlando, FL area police and auto theft investigators to
discover a chop shop with 11 other non-LoJack equipped motorcycles, 8
motorcycle frames, multiple motorcycle parts and tools, with a total
value of $200,000.

— “Fastest Motorcycle Recovery” - In this recovery, a Yamaha YZF750 was
stolen from a locked garage in a gated community outside Denver, CO.
Fortunately, the owners also equipped the bike with LoJack and area
police were able to find the bike only SIX minutes after system
activation.

— “Best Bust Reflecting the Trend of Selling Stolen Parts Online” - In
this recovery, a LoJack-equipped Suzuki GSX600 led Chicago area police
to a chop shop with not only multiple stolen motorcycles and engines,
but also hundreds of stolen motorcycle parts - all readied to be sold
online. Officers discovered that the thieves had more than 200
transactions of selling stolen parts online in the previous six months.

— “Best Recovery From a Bike Rally” - In this recovery, the owner of a
Suzuki GSXR1000 had his bike stolen from a rally in North Myrtle Beach,
SC. Fortunately, he equipped the bike with LoJack and area police not
only recovered his bike within mere hours of system activation, but
also found multiple other stolen motorcycles.

— “Best Recovery Showcasing Strength of RF Technology” - A stolen LoJack-
equipped Yamaha motorcycle led police in Fort Worth, TX to the bike’s
location in a metal building. Thanks to LoJack’s Radio Frequency
technology — which operates even if the stolen asset is in a steel
container, under dense foliage or in a concrete building — the bike
was recovered in only 12 minutes after system activation. This
recovery also uncovered a chop shop with other stolen bikes.

LoJack’s time-tested system is optimized for recovering stolen mobile assets through its proven Radio Frequency technology and unique integration with law enforcement agencies in the United States that use LoJack’s in-vehicle tracking equipment to recover cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and motorcycles.

Biker+ID Hits High Gear

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

the-biker-id-420-x-600-ad_edited.jpgHey, call us blatant capitalist if you want. But we’ve got a mission here! Riding cool bikes, enjoying our families, having fun, eating good food and living! Heavy emphasis on the “living” part. Seriously though, when we hear from people either via email or at events getting excited about this product, it just makes sense to try and inform everyone of it’s benefits to them and their families.

The BIKER+ID ™ is a biker themed wristband made of woven nylon with a brushed stainless steel ID plate that is imprinted with up to 6 lines of important information (blood type, contact phone numbers, allergies, doctor, etc,) that can help emergency personnel save your life. The bands are available in five different colors and designs in two widths, for women or men. The BIKER+ID™ is perfect for any rider regardless of size or sex. The BIKER+ID™ can be ordered by visiting www.thebikerid.com. Retail $19.00 (Free shipping US).

Enough said!

Chrome Angels Charity Event Update

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

bobdougedited.jpgChilling winds, driving early morning rains and even temperatures in the low 40’s didn’t deter over 500 hearty souls determined to support this years 5th Annual Pink Ribbons For Life ride sponsored by the Chrome Angels. The event, who’s purpose is to raise money for women (and families) facing the devastating cost of medial insurance in their fight with breast cancer, once again succeeded in showing the community that whether your a biker or not, the cause is worthy, and the need great.
With vendors, live music, fun games (you have to see the tricycle races), chinese and silent auctions, great food and a well suited location at Cowboys here in Orlando, (along with strong community support) you can rest assured that this event has, and will, continue to garner financial and emotional support in order to fight the ongoing financial needs of those facing this devastating disease.
Guilty Customs wants to thank everyone for showing such great support (and resolve) for such a worthy cause and you can be sure the Guilty Gang will be there next year to give our time, finances and support! Great job Chrome Angels! Now there is a group of unique “angels”.

RevoLOUtionMovie.com

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

Ok, it’s not about anything “motorcycle” related. But it does affect us as consumers. If your like the Guilty Gang, we’re tired of spending our hard earned money on crappy movies (during the day when we’re supposed to be working)! We get to the local theatre where we throw down our money on the ticket, then eat too much popcorn and drink, then hate the movie. Then as we leave the theatre, we’re thinking to ourself “there goes my $20.00″! Seems that this producer (well know too) has given the power to the people. Take a look! Maybe one day this will catch on and actually become standard practice. Yeah, right!

Put Your Hands Up! And Step Away From The Pen!!

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

do_not_enter_brain.jpgWell, there are a few things worse than giving a biker a pen to write with or an opportunity to talk in front of a sober crowd. Things such as, a beer while they are riding; road rash or a bug stuck in their eye. Seems that there is an opportunity for all us budding writers to “express ourself” about the motorcycling culture. The Popular Culture Association and American Culture Associations are holding a series of panels at the next annual meeting to be held March 19–22, 2008 in San Francisco, California at the San Francisco Marriott. Proposals for individual papers, presentations, and panel discussions are requested on motorcycling and its impact on American and other societies and cultures. Granted, the deadline has already passed, November 1, 2007, but i think it would be interesting to see how academia and the general population respond to the topic’s presented by motorcycling speakers. Hopefully someone with better writing skills, and more time to kill than i, will attend and give us a look-see into what happens. Suggested topics include:

* Riders’ narratives or descriptions of the ride
* The motorcycle as art, poetry, or agency
* Rituals, norms, customs, or influences in motorcycle culture
* The biker as subaltern
* Movies, films, or other images of motorcyclists
* Analyses of media, consumer capitalist, corporate, or other power structures in relation to motorcycling culture or popular myth
* Biographical analyses of noteworthy motorcyclists and their influence upon myth, culture, or cultural capital
* Racial, ethnic, gendered, class, or demographic aspects of motorcycling culture
* Other literary, anthropological, geographical, historical, sociological, or psychological perspectives of motorcycling culture or myth

You can contact the Area Chair listed below with a biographical statement and an abstract of 150 words. Basic information about the conference can be found at the PCA / ACA website: http://www.pcaaca.org/

Gary L. Kieffner
Department of History
University of Texas at El Paso
Telephone: 915.747.5875
E-mail: Kieffner@miners.utep.edu

My own personal ideas of topic’s would have been:

*The wearing and maintenance of leather chaps and jackets
*Beer/buffalo consumption and how it affects the local economy
*Why H-D lifelong riders have faces made of leather
*The phenomena of skinny men and large women in the motorcycling community
*Riding “hands free”…..fact or fiction?
*How too much alcohol makes most women look like Pamela Anderson
*You will fall, it’s just a matter of “when”
*Great women rider butts…urban legend?

It’s just a few, i’m sure there are others…so submit your own…..we’ll post them!
Source: MBI

Guilty of Lovin’ Womens Clothes!

Friday, January 11th, 2008

bb_leatherlaceupbustier.jpgI’ll be the first to say, “I love women’s clothes“. Don’t get me wrong here, i don’t “wear” them, i just enjoy seeing lovely ladies wearing them….and if the clothing looks as sexy on them as we see in movies, tv ads and print, well…even better. Having a wife of Latino origins (i’m a very lucky man) i get the advantage of seeing her wear some HOT pieces of clothing. I’m like that dog in the “Kibbel n’ Bit’s” commercial that keeps saying….”I’m a lucky dog…I’m a lucky dog“…Anyway, if your looking to see some fine women’s clothing, (or trying to figure out what to get your better half for Valentines try out our friend Jennifers’ company, OneBadBitch. We were fortunate to meet them in Sturgis this year and have to say, “WOW”.
Hey honey, i’ve got something i need to show you…..how about this for Valentines?!?!

Keis X4 Bodywarmer. Keeping Your Body Warm!

Monday, December 24th, 2007

heated_vest.jpgGranted being located in the south has some definite advantages,one being not having to wear multiple layers of clothing in the winter. However for those of us that travel out of the south, they are necessary. One piece of clothing we’ve taken to is the New Keis X4 Heated Bodywarmer. Heated bike wear is recognised as the most effective way to stay warm as the temperature drops, but until now the relatively high price has prevented its widespread use. KEIS’s new brand of heated motorcycle clothing offers the latest technology at a price that makes it accessible to the majority of riders. Spearheading the range is the fleece-lined zip-up Bodywarmer that may be worn on or off the bike. It is fitted with carbon-weave panels over the kidneys and chest, which provide even temperatures, heating up to 65ºC when connected directly to the motorcycle battery. The woven conductive panels provide the heat, removing the need for traditional wire elements, making the KEIS Bodywarmer lighter, more comfortable and above all more reliable than traditional garments of this type.

Because no wires are used, it is possible to hand wash and drip-dry the product without affecting its performance. Owners wishing to adjust the temperature can invest in a 5-level control unit that is designed to provide adjustable heat from 40º – 60º when the Bodywarmer is powered from a 12V source on the motorcycle. KEIS even offer a rechargeable battery pack, with adjustable temperature settings, so the Bodywarmer may be worn off the bike – ideal for winter sports, hiking, etc.

+ Power the X4 Bodywarmer from the bike’s battery via the supplied interface lead or from the optional Li-ion battery
+ Lightweight construction - ideal for wearing under leathers etc. No Michelin men here!
+ Heat is centred in the crucial kidney and chest areas - Heating the kidneys helps heat the whole body.
+ So reliable you can even wash it.
+ 12 Months warranty

Available in: Sm/Med/Lg/XL

You can find them at select motorcycle clothing outlets.

Keep your Sh** to Yourself!

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

tena-for-men-ad.jpgImagine this: Background music, SteppenwolfBorn to be Wild“. Interrupted by guys voice saying “Guys, got to stop. Out of gas and need to take a leak“. Nothing new, right? New scene. Same Music; Interrupted by “Guy’s, no need to stop, my diaper isn’t full yet, let’s keep rolling!”
Ok, i’ll be the first to say it…”i’d never use this product, regardless of how old or weak my kidneys get, or how much they’d pay me“! The theory is sound though if your wanting to ride without limitations (other than gas necessities) to your destination. But lets get real here….who really wants to ride around with this “super absorbent and nasty odor killer” diaper for men? Regardless of age there has to be a certain level of pride we maintain when riding our favorite machine. Now, what you do off your machine is your business and we’re not going to pass judgement in that arena. But when riding, it should only be “butts and bikes”. So, when you’ve got to “walk the dog” or “see a man about a dog” or “drain a vain” do it like a man and stop on the side of the road or at the nearest pit stop and keep your riding pride in tact. Otherwise keep those diapers at home! BTW, the ad is in French, but the product is American….The headline says “It’s not a mechanical problem that is going to stop you…” Yeah, right. Next.

Your Next Wallet? The Jimi Wallet.

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

jimiarray.jpgYou’ve seen the “bulge” whenever your around bikers. That distinctive ‘bulge” from a guys back pocket (or front) that shows where the guy (or gal) keeps their stuff. They seem to be some mutant version of the character George Costanza from “Seinfeld” who had a wallet so overstuffed with junk that the term “Costanza wallet” became a way to describe a wallet ready to explode with receipts, cards, and other bits of personal trash.

As motorcyclists, most of us tend to travel light, and most of us can’t stand to haul a “Costanza” around. Motorcycling by nature requires serious space management, and unless you’re riding with saddlebags or a backpack, it’s almost impossible to keep bulky items on your person. Thick wallets in back pockets can be uncomfortable, and because you ought to ride with your license, proof of insurance, and at least enough cash for a tank of gas, products like the Jimi wallet offer an efficient way to carry the bare essentials.

jimiclosed.jpgThe “Jimi” wallet is a compact, water resistant and colorful alternative to that stodgy, old wallet that attracts old receipts and out of date library cards like a paper magnet. Jimi™ wallet holds just the essentials: five cards, a few bills, and even has a detachable money clip if you need to go super slim. Jimi™ wallet actually fits in your front pocket, but you can also carry it the slimmest of bags, or around your neck on a lanyard. Whether you’re looking for an everyday wallet, a travel wallet, or just made a New Years resolution to get more organized, Jimi™ wallet’s translucent shell helps you move quickly through airports, or into your favorite club with ease. It’s already a hit with the cycling and snow sport community, so Jimi’s water resistant shell makes it ideal for a huge swathe of outdoor activities. And to top it all, Jimi™ wallet is manufactured in the US from 100% recycled materials, (and 1% of its sales revenue is invested in the environment). The Jimi is priced at $14.95, and the JimiX runs $15.95.

Those Darn Motorcycle Myths we Just Keep Believing!

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

Art Friedman at Motorcycle Cruiser has a great post on Motorcycling Myths. Granted they aren’t as fun as some we’ve heard, (such as riding can give you colon, kidney etc cancer! see HERE.), but they definitely can save a life. Take a “click” over to their site and get the more detailed scoop.
1. Other Drivers Don’t Care About Motorcyclists
2. Loud Pipes Save Lives
3. Motorcycle Helmets Break Necks
4. Helmets Block Your Ability to See or Hear Danger
5. A Helmet Won’t Help in Most Crashes
6. A Helmet Will Leave You Brain Damaged in an Crash When You Would Have Simply Died
7. A Skilled Rider Should Be Able to Handle Almost Any Situation
8. If You Are Going to Crash, Lay It Down
9. One Beer Won’t Hurt
10. It’s Better to Stay in Your Lane than Split Lanes
11. I’m Safer on the Street than on an Interstate
12. A Skilled Rider Can Stop Better with Conventional Brakes than with Anti-Lock Brakes

Baldwin-Wilson Response on 360-Brake Debate

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

Our friend Cyril Huze first posted the letter from a past employee of BWDC who had some alligations on safety and the company who makes the “360-Brake”. This post is a follow up from the President of BWDC regarding these and other allegations.

“My name is Dale Needleman and I am the “new” President of Baldwin Wilson Development Corporation, home of the “360 Brake”. In the past few days an entry to your blog was made by Mr. Chet Burozski. While it is true that Chet was the Senior Salesperson at BWDC, he no longer works for the company and has not for many months. Thankfully, Chet took our call this week, and we were able to address his concerns, answer some questions and provide him with information that he previously did not have. I am writing this blog entry to help answer some of the questions and concerns posted by your readers, and provide additional information as well. The facts - free from salesmanship are this:

The “360 Brake” was designed in late 2005, and became an “instant’ success. BWDC began taking orders and selling brakes incredibly fast during late 2006 and early 2007. The reality, however, was that the company infrastructure could not keep pace with sales and production. The prior management was never able to structure a sustainable production and marketing method, and the foundation for future success was not included in the commercialization model of the company. While the “360 Brake” was great, there were long lead times, significant back orders, and “custom” demands from customers which took internal focus off the core product. In short the company began a difficult slide out of control.

In late July of 2007 the shareholders voted in a new Board of Directors, in hopes of redirecting the efforts of the company, and saving the product from falling victim to the apparent insolvency of BWDC. In quick fashion, the Board found that orders for non-standard brakes were being taken, custom installations that had not been well thought out were occurring, some customer complaints that had not been investigated were filed without follow-up, and there were over 120 brakes on back order. The new management team moved to put an end to the above actions. Members of the previous management were released and all brake sales stopped as of 7-29-07. Our focus was simply to investigate the overall condition of the brake, the existing market strategies that were in place, and the opportunities that were available to properly serve our customers and to save the company.

In September 2007, the new management sent a letter to all distributors, customers and dealers, explaining that the brake was sometimes being misused or improperly installed, especially in certain unique custom applications. Some of the blog entries on this website suggest that our letter was nothing more than a “CYA” or that we don’t care about our customers. To the contrary, we sent our letter PRECISELY BECAUSE WE DO CARE. We truly care about our customers, value safety over sales, and wanted to be absolutely sure that the improper use or misuse of our products did not result in harm or injury to any rider. We are huge motorcycle fans and riders and we are part of the biking community. You are our biking “family,” and we want everyone to be safe. Although the “360 Brake” is an innovative and amazing product, it has limits, as does any mechanical device or braking system. There were rumors that the “360 Brake” could stop almost any bike traveling at any speed. We felt a responsibility to make sure that no one would rely on those rumors and misuse our product.

There is some confusion about our previous letter, and we thank Chet for explaining why it was misunderstood by some. We do not blame any motorcycle magazine or publisher for printing representations made by third parties about the previous Baldwin-Wilson “360 Brake”. Publishers cannot control the rumor mill any better than Baldwin-Wilson could. I apologize to anyone that has taken offense to our letter. Our intent was not to place blame but simply counter the rumors and prevent the misuse of our product for safety reasons. The truth is that how well a brake will perform, depends on how well it will convert kinetic energy to thermal energy, i.e. weight, speed, conditions of the brake, the riders braking tendencies, riding style, etc. We became concerned that many installations were not well thought out, and were overtaxing the brake. Different applications require different brakes, despite what the rumor mill promised about the Baldwin-Wilson brake. Our letter to the biking community was an attempt to explain this so that our products were not misused.

The letter we sent was an attempt to educate and answer questions. I have spoken personally to many happy customers with many different set ups. Our “700 pound.- 70 mph” numbers have built in safety factors, and were chosen carefully. We will not advertise the brake for speeds that encourage anyone to break the speed limits and we cannot know for sure if someone is a casual rider or a mountain road street racer. Since July 2007 the current management has worked hard to improve the brake for different applications. We now have a “chopper” bike brake and are working on a larger brake for heavier bikes. We have spent a lot of time and money over the past few weeks on this research and development.

So here we are. After extensive R&D work with a new group of design engineers, we are planning to introduce the new “360 Brake” very soon. The new “chopper” brake is also being built to raise the weight and speed limit while fitting into the same mounting parameters as the previous brake. It is our goal to return to the market as soon as possible with improved safety margin, fill the back orders, create an exchange and/or upgrade program, and service the motorcycle industry with an outstanding product. Our business and customer-oriented approach herald a new day for the “360 Brake”. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from publishers, customers, distributors, etc., and we pledge excellence in all our future dealings in the motorcycle community. We are not simply “under new management” - we are a completely “new” company that has taken a great product and made it better as well as safer for all riders.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone, past and future customers, for the opportunity to answer some of your questions, address some of your concerns, and clear up some of the confusion. I stand proud of the “360 Brake” and look forward to an exciting future for the company and all customers who support and love our product”. Best Regards. Dale E. Needleman. President BWDC

360 Brake a Failure?

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

3601.jpgOur friend Cyril Huze recently featured a disturbing letter on his BLOG from a former 360-Brake employee disclosing some disturbing findings and making some alligations that should be looked into further by both the print media and authorities. We’ve posted the employees letter here. But for the whole story go to Cyrils BLOG.

“Cyril, My name is Chet Burozski. I was the sales rep for 360-Brake. Recently the company has gone through a take over by the minority stock holders and one of the partners. Prior to this the company had some Greening Lab. Tests done on the brake. The results were a complete and total failure. The prior management team didn’t want to admit they had a problem so they just ignored it. I was hoping, with the new team in place, they would have at least some dignity and responsibility, both to the company and to the customers riding and trusting these brakes to work. I was disappointed again when I received the following letter, basically blaming the industry, the magazines and the TV media for misinformation. Most of the information the media has was written by me and all of the information I had was given to me by the President, the Vice President, the General Manager or the Engineers who were doing the designs. Cyril, I was forced to sign a confidentiality agreement with the company but feel it is way more important to possibly save the life of a fellow biker than line the pockets of a few posers who could care less about a human life and are just worrying about being liable. If you have any other questions feel free to give me a call or drop me a line. Chet Burozski (317)370-0920 cell chetandadam@tds.net”

Public Service Announcement from Guilty Gang

Thursday, November 1st, 2007

If you have feelings of inadaquacy, shyness etc this video is for you! Enjoy


Converse Memories

Friday, October 26th, 2007

Ever wonder where your memories go when they aren’t present in your brain? Tough question, huh? We’ll some old memories were instantly awakened and right in my face this past week when my new pair of Chuck Taylor Converse High Top Tennis Shoes arrived from Rick Fairless!
(BTW, thanks Rick!)converse_1.jpg
I was like a kid at Christmas when i opened the box, slipped those puppies on and proceeded to lace them up! Nothing could have prepared me for the “memory lane” walk i went down that night. Memories of my most favorite pair of Red Converse High Tops (circa 70’s) that were held together with Duck Tape because hours and hours of skateboarding had proceeded to tear off the front toe. Or the time a friend and I got caught under the window of a certain girls bedroom and we had to book cause her old man arrived and chased us off….and me minus one shoe because i’d not laced them up tight enough. Never did get that other lost shoe back!

converse_2.jpgGranted, i’m not about to do those types of stunts now, but i could see myself really enjoying them as i slipped the newest Chuck Taylor inspired Converses’ on and headed out on the chopper for a nice evening ride. Yep, even got some comments of “cool shoes, man!”….from the local skateboarders. You too can have some of these by either visiting Rick’s Storefront or going to Converse’s site. There are alot of styles now available and you can even make your own unique styled shoe. Maybe you’ll stur up your own memories! Now where is that old board of mine?!

The “Packing-On” Of America

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

betsy in sturgisPart of every persons life involves issues that at one point or another have to be dealt with in a proactive and positive manner. Be it relationships, money, mental/spiritual health and for some, their physical condition. The press (Paper, TV or Internet) has been telling us for years about the obesity epidemic issue of children AND adults. Of course the motorcycle industry seems to have it’s fair share of “fit challenged” individuals too.
Our friend, Genevieve Schmitt at Women Riders Now has an excellent article written by Betsy Huelskam in her column Backroads with Betsy, discussing weight loss and dietary advice that everyone needs to read. (If your a frequent Sturgis attendee or reader of blogs and magazines-you’ll recognise Betsy). She is both a great spokesperson and example of the motorcycle lifestyle…..plus she’s easy on the eyes! Anyway, take a walk over WRN and read something that can help you take a positive step to a longer and healthier life.



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