5 Latest Tips For Cross-country Motorcycle Road Trips
January 27, 2012 | 
Author Have you ever motorcycled coast-to-coast? Taking a day trip is one thing. Taking a weekend trip is another thing. However, taking a coast-to-coast trip is a completely different ball of wax. It requires much more planning and consideration. Of course, the trip should include a degree of spontaneity. However, considering the extremely long length of the trip, it is vital to be simultaneously as prepared as possible. Here are some tips to make a cross-country road trip successful:
1. Enjoy regionalism
A lesson I have learned in my worldwide travels is that cities are the same everywhere. When enjoying a cross-country road trip, take the back roads to experience some true local color. Chat with locals or read local newspapers to learn about where to find the best local cuisine, special public events, etc.
2. Pack lightly
There are several justifications for packing lightly. Of course, you will need to bring certain gear, such as Harley Davidson motorcycle boots. However, keep in mind that few heavyweight motorcycles that manufacturers produce are truly apt for heavy loads. Some items that you should certainly consider stuffing into your motorcycle saddlebags include:
o camera
o clothing
o raingear
o tire-repair kit
o toiletries
o tools
Packing light may cause some minor inconveniences, such as needing to wash your clothes frequently. However, overall, the approach is worthwhile.
3. Prevent situations before they happen
The last situation you want to be in is stranded in the middle of nowhere-in an unfamiliar town or country. Sure, “stuff” happens, but you can prevent many problems with your chopper, by having a dealer service it prior to your hitting the road. Also, bring your cell phone and join a club that provides roadside assistance. All of these steps will ultimately allow you enjoy your trip as much as possible.
4. Two can be company OR a crowd
I am extremely independent and prefer to travel solo. The main benefit of traveling alone is that you can set your own schedule. There is no waiting for a sidekick. Riding solo, you truly feel the sense of freedom that road trips provide.
That said, you could enjoy several benefits by traveling with a sidekick. You will be more secure, particularly in more secluded regions. Furthermore, you will have some extra help for making repairs.
5. Plan for pleasant surprises
Certainly, you should do a significant amount of planning prior to a cross-country road trip. However, also provide yourself with some opportunities for pleasant surprises. For instance, you may want to avoid making hotel reservations, but instead plan to arrive at a particular area by nightfall. In addition, you could avoid planning all of your routes. Sometimes locals can suggest more scenic course that you could have missed by taking a different route.
Taking a cross-country motorcycle tour may seem quite daunting at first. However, following some basic guidelines can make your experience more enjoyable and successful. Find a balance between preparing for your trip and creating opportunities to expect the unexpected. Happy riding!
Casual Wear Outfits For Pageants
Wouldn’t you like to dress up your little daughter in the most special way when she’s the flower girl at one of the family weddings? Similarly, for beauty pageants and theme parties, little girls need fancy dresses too. As a result, mothers and older sisters are constantly on the lookout for beautiful party dresses for little girls, and today, there are lots of stores that offer such dresses at different prices.
Pageant dresses are not all of the same style and finish. Some have cuts and fits like traditional ball gowns, only in a much smaller size. These are ideal for participating in beauty pageants. There are also cowgirl outfits (complete with cowgirl boots), cheerleader or dancer dresses, and interestingly old fashioned clothing that somehow don’t look out of place even today, especially if the wearer is a little girl.
There are many websites you will come across if you type in the keyword pageant dresses. But not all online stores will have the same collection. Some specialize in themed costumes, while others are great for ball dresses. You have to do some picking and choosing before you settle on what you need and what you actually buy.
Teen pageants are a popular contest today, and like many people will tell you, the dress is of prime importance; sometimes more important than the Q and A round or the talent hunt part. A great dress is an extension of the contestant’s personality. The judges acknowledge that, so there’s no denying it.
A pageant dress, instead of just making the contestant look good, should bring out her uniqueness. Quite a few dressmakers should be able to make you something that suits your body type, coloring, and attitude. Make sure that what you pick is a single piece. It would be very awkward if two contestants came in wearing the same dress. But if you can lay your hands on something worn by an ex-winner, you could derive some inspiration from it.
The point of being so choosy in getting a dress is that it should enhance the wearer’s figure, highlighting a toned back, or nicely shaped shoulders or long legs, but at the same time, is has to be elegant. All dresses won’t go with all pageants. For older girls, the objective should be to look classy and alluring at the same time. Older girls could get pageant dresses in a range of hues, well fitted on top, but flowing in sheer fabric at the bottom. Younger teens should not reveal too much skin. Sex appeal doesn’t suit a fourteen year old face and body. In contests with younger contestants, judges focus on personality and intelligence rather than perfect curves.
Never forget your figure flaws when you are shopping for a pageant dress. Get something that highlights the maintained parts and hides the flab. What draws you on the shelves may not suit you that well. Trying on the dress is a must before you buy it. The ideal dress is one which looks great both on and off you.
Trailers to Pull Behind Motorcycles
Motorcycle cargo trailers are a better option if carrying a large quantity of items. Thinking about moving or going or vacation and you want to bring a large amount of clothes, you need to get a cargo trailer. Having a cargo trailer is one issue but another issue is how the trailer is loaded.
Riding motorcycles is a very accelerating experience that is best shared with friends and family. But trying to take possessions on a bike was a problem. The solution emerged in the form of motorcycle cargo trailers. These are bolted on carts that are able to carry numerous items. This has been a great advancement because at one time it was only possible to carry things on your back in a backpack or on the motorcycle as a lap or gas tank pack. They could not hold a lot because they could weight down the motorcycle in curves making the bike unstable.
Loading cargo trailers with small items is not a problem. You will not see or feel an issue with having these items in the trailer. The concern happens when loading these trailers with a large amount of items. It is important to load these trailers in a way that the weight is distributed. Keep enough of the weight forward of the axle center point, this change will maintain a positive hitch load. Too much of a load on the rear of the cargo container will create a pull on the hitch at all points. Continuous pull on the hitch is a very negative event. Most hitches are rated to only support a load of about 20 to 30 pounds. With the continuous upward force the hitch may fail. Compensate by working to have only 5 to 10 pound hitch load at the coupler. Also, try to keep loads from shift during normal acceleration and braking. Strap down the load.
Licensing: Help To Grow Existing Product Lines
The attraction of licensing trademarks for business intentions appears to be at an all-time high, mostly in the fashion arena where consumers are buying more licensed products and brand names than ever before. For retailers, licensing opportunities provide them with a point of difference from their competitors.
Licensing is leasing a legally protected property (like trademarked or copyrighted name, logo, likeness, character, phrase or design) to another party in combination with a product, service or promotion. It is a process which lays stress on consumer management, development of brand equity in line with international imagery, providing right shopping ambience and perhaps is less about manufacturing. Licensing is a way of growing with an already established brand. It provides the brand recall benefits, which are not achievable in case one comes out with a brand new image.
There are many types of licensing business like art & design, corporate brands, events, fashion brands, food & drink, institutional, magazine brands, music, personalities, sports and television licensing to name a few.
The advantages of licensing for licensors
The main advantage for a licensor is the facility to use and develop its brand or property.
Licensing can achieve this by:
. Improving its brand existence at a retail or distribution outlet.
. Making further brand perception to support its core products or services.
. Providing and increasing its core values through various links with the licensed products/service or category.
. Coming into new markets (consumer or geographical) which were unfeasible with its own strengths.
. Making new revenue flows, often with little involvement or additional financial resources
The advantage of licensing for licensees
The main advantage for a licensee (particularly manufacturer or retailer) is the capability to considerably upsurge consumer interest in and sales of its products or services.
Licensing can achieve this by:
. Shifting the values and consumer favour towards the licensed product or service.
. Providing added value and differentiation in the competitive market.
. Offering additional marketing support or speed from the core property’s activity given by the licensor.
. Attracting new target markets who have not been paid attention in a licensee’s product or service.
. Providing credibility for shifting into new market sectors through product extension.
. Attaining additional retail space and favor.
Licensing: The increasing scenario worldwide
Reviewing the year-after-year worldwide retail sales from 2000 to 2004, the licensing business this year has shown an increase. In general, 2004 anticipated worldwide retail sales of licensed business increased 1.5 per cent to $175.3 billion against 2003 $172.7 billion, with the USA making nearly $110 billion (nearly $5.805 billion in royalties) and Europe $34 billion. In UK, the brand licensing industry is worth approximately £7billion in retail and £368million in royalties.
Recently many international textile-garment-apparel manufacturing companies are in news due to their licensing agreement with many other companies.
Everlast Worldwide Inc, which is a men’s and women’s apparel and accessories seller, recently announced signing a new four-year license agreement with Jacques Moret Inc of New York City. As of January 1, 2006, this new agreement grants Moret, a major supplier to the US apparel market, a license for Everlast men’s activewear, sportswear, outerwear and swimwear in the United States. Moret will partner with M. Hidary and Company Inc for design, development and sales of the activewear portion of the license. M. Hidary has achieved great success with its vast experience in the men’s branded activewear business. They will purchase certain men’s apparel inventory owned by Everlast and assume other transitional costs associated with the men’s business. Additionally, certain key sales, merchandising and operational personnel will join the new group.
Burnaby, B.C.-based ID Wear, a group of Pimlico Apparel, has recently received the sole license for the manufacture, design and sale of the Playboy brand of high-end denims for the North American market. Pimlico produces denim products for its own brands, ID Wear and private labels such as Nordstrom’s and Harley-Davidson. Moreover, ID Wear is the first North American company to provide laser logoing on its garments.
Marvel Enterprises, Inc., a global character-based entertainment licensing company, recently declared that it is strengthening its important apparel licensing business with leading partners Kids Headquarters (as master apparel licensee) and Mad Engine (which will spearhead t-shirts and tops). This statement means a brand new partnership with Kids Headquarters and an expanded relationship with Mad Engine.
Juicy Couture has partnered with Sàfilo Group for a full eyewear collection that it will introduce in spring 2006. A budget-priced set of sunglasses and ophthalmic eyewear for men will also be introduced via an agreement between fashion brand Haggar Clothing Co. and The Feldman Corporation’s I-dealoptics division.
Aviation and military-inspired leather outerwear and sportswear brand Avirex signed a multi-year license agreement with Kids Headquarters for sportswear and outerwear for boys.
Outerwear and Sportswear Company G-III Apparel Group obtained privately held outerwear companies Marvin Richards and Winlit Group Ltd. G-III now possesses licenses for Calvin Klein and Guess men’s and women’s outerwear, Tommy Hilfiger leather outerwear, London Fog and Pacific Trail.
Top 5 Children’s Apparel Character Licenses: 2004
1. Winnie the Pooh & Friends
2. Disney Princess
3. Spider-Man
4. Mickey Mouse & Friends
5. SpongeBob SquarePants
Sesame Workshop and Pearl Izumi, an athletic-wear producer, have tied up to launch Sesame Street cycling jerseys and socks. Through a licensing agreement with plus-size apparel manufacturer Bodywaves, Inc., Champion has set up Champion Plus, a full line of women’s activewear that covers both performance fitness and “ath-leisure” styles. Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Tunk Limited., a CINQ Group brand, have partnered to make tops, jackets and headwear.
Licensing practice in India on a rise.
Nowadays, many Indian textiles companies are entering into licensing agreements with international brands, leading to the growth of the concept of business through licensing.
Gokaldas Images Ltd, which owns and markets the apparel brand Weekender, has signed an agreement with the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for licensing and marketing the apparels with the WWE logos in the domestic market. A successful form of licensing – sports licensing, has developed into a multi¬billion dollar systematic business and has increased its scope to sporting events like WWE, the Olympics, EURO, Cricket and Soccer World Cups. It is estimated that one fifth of the WWE’s $ 300 million per annum profit is achieved by licensing. Moreover, Weekender – Gokaldas Images Ltd. markets the Enamour lingerie as well.
Character and entertainment licensing too has benefited in last few decades, making billions of dollars of profits each year.
S. Kumars is planning to introduce six new international brands into the country and it is looking towards a long-term partnership with these international textile brands.
Recently, Indus Clothing Ltd signed a licensing agreement with Disney cConsumer Products (DCP) to produce its kids’ wear brand Disney cJeans in India. This deal will permit Indus Clothing Ltd to venture into standalone retail stores for the complete product line covering the Disney brand. The company intends to invest about Rs. 21 crore to establish 20 standalone Disney jeans outlets by the end of 2007 and 50 outlets the following year. Their main focus is to put up a strong retail network for the brand and subsequently plan to develop and maintain a consistent brand image. Indus Clothing Ltd is also the licensee for Lee Cooper apparel to market their products in India.
Madura Garments possesses the world license for three brands namely, Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and Peter England. It has now also come into a strategic tie-up with the fast-growing brand Esprit, with an objective of strengthening its brand portfolio in key segments like women’s segment, premium relaxed clothes segment and accessories. An Italian brand that is synonymous with MTV, UMM (Underground Music Movement) has joined Pantaloon, one of India’s largest retail chain stores.
American innerwear brand Jockey entered the Indian market in 1998 through a marketing arrangement with Bangalore based Page Apparels. Besides the normal production and distribution rights in India, the brand also has a buyback arrangement with the parent company.
The Shirt Company (TSC) has been granted the license by the owner of the Barbie brand – Mattel, to make and retail Barbie apparel in India. For this it works closely with Smith & Brooks, the official licensee for Barbie clothing in the European market. Moreover, the apparel division of the Forbes Gokak Group is the licensee for brands like Daks, Trussardi and Savile Row.
Tommy Hilfiger entered the Indian market through a joint venture between the Murjani Group and the Arvind Mills. Called the Arvind Murjani Brands Private Limited, AMB has the licensing agreement for marketing and distributing Tommy Hilfiger apparel in India. The Murjani Group, located in New York, was established in 1930 by B K Murjani. By 1958, with a production of over 10 million units per annum, Murjani’s became one of the biggest apparel producers in the world.
It was in the early 1970s, when Murjani initiated brand name development and marketing. Over the years, the group has widened and introduced a range of major global brands, such as Gloria Vanderbilt, Coca-Cola Clothes and Tommy Hilfiger. Fashion retailer French Connection UK has firmed its plans to launch the brand in India. The company is assumed to be in talks for the licensee deal with Vijay Murjani, Murjani Group.
Many companies prefer licensing in order to reinforce brand image, create recognition and build brand equity. Licensing is the business arrangement in which the proprietor of the ‘product’, ‘trade mark’ or ‘brand’ allows some other group to use its brand name in return for specified royalties or payment.
Recently, the government of India has approved the UK-based kids’ care retail chain Mothercare Plc’s offer to set up a 100 per cent subsidiary in India with an investment of Rs 32.25 crore. The Indian division will find and purchase textile and garments from local traders and would promote the same in India through franchise operation with third party business associates.
Mothercare has already provided a license to Shopper’s Stop to use its trade mark and brand name on the products to be supplied by its Indian subsidiary to the retail major for sale and distribution in India.
Indian players have used the licensing practice after the huge success of the strategy in the international market. The inclination for making business through licensing has assisted many companies to post some big alternations of the otherwise ‘own brand extension’ concept. Oxford Industries, Inc. is an illustration of how a company can get bigger with licensing. The company is a diversified international producer, licensee and wholesale marketer of branded and private label apparel for men, women and children.
Oxford offers retailers and consumers with a huge variety of apparel products and services to suit their individual requirements. Its major brands cover Tommy Bahama, Indigo Palms, Island Soft, Ben Sherman, Ely and Walker and Oxford Golf. These brands are offered in national chains, specialty catalogues, mass merchants, department stores, specialty stores and Internet retailers. The company also has exclusive licenses to make and sell several product categories under the Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Geoffrey Beene, Slates, Dockers and Oscar de la Renta labels.
Fashion licensing is largely divided into two categories: apparel brands and designer names. The priority of fashion licensing is brand extension, which is mainly obtained by designers through licensing products other than their main apparel lines. Calvin Klein remains one of the premier examples for this type of licensing agreement, as its income tripled after adopting such a marketing strategy.
In 1997, licensing, which is responsible for more than 90 per cent of the label’s sales, has now made the brand’s global retail volume of about $ 5 billion from $ 2.1 billion in 1994. Many international brands catering to Indian players for licensing is a clear signal that a market which was premature a couple of years back, has now been accepted by the entire business community and will reach to its maximum level in the coming years. Licensing prospects now exist in all spheres. Leading international names that offer huge opportunities to harness the power of their name are Warner Bros, You and Me Baby, Nickelodeon, Barcode Kitties and BBC Worldwide, that is famous for operating brand names like Teletubbies, Tweenies and Fimbles.
Conclusion
In year 2004 licensing business shown tremendous growth, with notably 5.6 percent increment in entertainment, 3.8 percent in brands & trademarks and also showed good growth in other categories compared to 2003. So as character and entertainment licensing business showed a healthy growth in last few decades, and making billions of dollars of profits each year, the prospects of over all business, particularly fashion, textile and garment retailing will definitely have a bright future.
Long Distance Riding on a Harley-Davidson Sportster Motorcycle
One of the most frequently heard statements, or comments, from those riding big touring Harleys or other brands altogether, is that sportsters (and especially the 883 series) are only sound for short downtown spinning. While it is true that they are small, light and may not carry two heavy-weight persons comfortably, I have to disagree with the claim. My bike is a XL883C, with forward controls and 883 cubic centimeters engine displacement.
What I do agree with, is that extreme distances with a long-legged or well-eaten passenger may feel a bit cumbersome when riding a sportster. That is because the wheelbase and back seat passenger area are a bit shorter than on Big Twins. Not because the 883 CC engine would be underpowered, which it is not. And, lets face it, stock suspension in sportsters seldom is enough for comfortable two-up riding.
But, when doing LDR solo, things are very different from two-up. The 883 CC engine is very well able to make quick and safe passes from cages, and while its acceleration may not be the eighth wonder of the World, it has plenty of low-RPM torque. It can haul your bottom and your belongings with comfortably low RPMs, up until to the 120-130 kilometer per hour range. It will go faster, sure, if the rider is able to bear the increased wind resistance on his/her body for extended periods.
My longest 24h rides have been around 1500-1600 kilometers, or 900-1000 miles, with stock seat and stock suspension, and D&D exhaust (not the quietest around). Now while I could feel the ride on my back and on my bottom, there wasn’t anything that couldn’t really be done. I think attitude has a big role to play when doing LDR, if you prefer comfort you need to buy a really expensive luxury cruiser. Take a short break every 80-100 miles and you´ll be fine with a sportster.
One thing that could be better, other than stock suspension, is the standard lightning. Even if new models have very bright headlights, it is still just one light. Every time when riding at night and it is raining, I swear to buy a set of auxiliary lightning. Riding with just the standard lights at night can slow the riders average speed, which can be a problem during Iron Butt rides.
Many people have had to change the stock seat to something else, like to the Sundowner seat etc. Apparently I am lucky because I can sit at the stock seat all day. I guess they have made the stock seat a kind of a compromise, one size fits all, which of course it doesn’t do.
Big cruisers have lots of space on hard saddle bags to stuff up all your favourite camping equipment. Sportsters have none in the stock configuration. There are lots of cheap saddle bags under $100 or EUR100, and you dont absolutely need then, just take the biggest rucksag you can find, fill it up and tie it to the back seat against the sissy bar. There, you also have a nice backrest.
Custom models, XL883C and XL1200C have 4 gallons or 17 litres gas tank, which is good for touring purposes. You can get over 300 kilometers or 200 miles from it. Those models with the 3.3 gallon peanut tank may be a little limited as far as operating range is considered. If you have the 3.3 gallon tank, you may be well advised to buy a small 1 gallon gas can and tie it up somewhere on your ride. I personally keep 5 litres gas can with me if I ride somewhere far, just for the added peace of mind.
People have been doing long rides, Iron Butt etc, with much smaller and slower bikes, two-up included. if it can be done with 125 CC and 10 horsepowers, surely it can be done with 883 CC and 49 horsepowers. Maybe those commenting (jokes aside) just are too comfortably oriented, wanting their nice Big Twins with windshields, heated everything and a coffee maker. A coffee maker… Truth be told, a saddlebag-integrated 12V coffee maker _would_ be cool. Well, I DO use a navigator, and I DO have a 12V accessory outlet.
With those two exceptions, I personally enjoy the raw barebones feeling that sportsters do offer – no windshields, no fairings, no nothing. Its more up to yourself to make up the long hauls.
Some Popular Casual Wear Outfits For Pageants
Pageant dresses are extremely important for contestants. Every mother wants her daughter to be the most beautiful and stylishly attired participant at these pageant competitions. Therefore, the dress is an integral part of the entire contest. Some people are of the opinion that the dress counts for more than the question and answer round.
What kind of dress should be chosen for a child depends on many things. The complexion is an important consideration in this case. Therefore, if your child is of a paler complexion then you can choose light pastels for her. Darker skin looks better in solid purples, blues and greens.
The material matters a lot on stage. Some materials may look good when you see them on display in the shop. However, on stage with the intense lighting it may look cheap and flattering.
If your daughter is young, keep the dress simple and appropriate for her age. However, if the participant is older then she can experiment with sensual and fashionable dresses. prints should be chosen carefully to avoid over stylizing.
If you think it is appropriate enough then you can choose a dress that has a particular theme to it. Many shops keep cowgirl boots and cheerleader dresses. Some dresses are also designed in sync with a particular historic period. Therefore, many participants may wear dresses designed in old Victorian style or royal Egyptian outfits.
There are many pageants that take place nowadays. Some of them are based on particular themes. The dress is an important part of the contest. It shows off the personality of the contestants. Therefore, participants of these contests take great care when they choose their outfits.
Dresses for such contests should be chosen keeping in mind the personal style of the contestant, the fit of the outfit and its comfort. if you are slightly overweight then avoid wearing very short dresses. You should also avoid bearing your shoulders if you are on the broader side. Although appearances are not everything, in case of pageants they play a central role in impressing the judges.
Accentuate your figure by wearing something that shows off the positive side of your body and camouflages the flaws. Therefore, if you have long legs show them off. Make sure you are not over the top. Neither should you turn up under dressed. The first impression of a contestant is based to a large extent on her outfit. The dress should be appropriate for her age.
Therefore, you should search for the perfect pageant dress for your daughter so that she makes the perfect impression on the judges. There are many shops that have a wide variety of dresses. Depending on your budget you can get a good dress for your child. if you want to have more options you can always check out the websites online that sell pageant dresses. One thing you should make sure when you choose a dress for yourself is that it is not chosen by someone else. if you think selecting a dress that has been worn by a previous winner of the pageant will give your moral support then you can always wear it. However, if you want your dress to stand out from the rest of them then you can always get it tailor made. Although this may be a little expensive compared to a readymade one, your dress will be one of a kind.
Harley Davidson and the Hells Angels – A Tangled History
Harley-Davidson and the Hells Angels. Few pairings are as synonymous as
those two names. The pairing of Harley Davidson and the Hells Angels is
something akin to peanut butter and jelly, but sometimes it turns into
oil and water. In other words, sometimes the two don’t mix. Since the
formation of Hells Angels, Harley Davidson has been their motorcycle of
choice, which hasn’t always thrilled the company. They faced
a negative reaction from the buying public, who connected the company
to the biker gang.
Since the early days of the biker gang, the Hells Angels have seemed to
revel in their poor reputation. To this day many members still wear a
patch on their jacket, signifying their
“one-percenter” status. The label was given to them
in the 1950s after the American Motorcyclist Association claimed that
1% of all bikers clubs were outlaws, the Hells Angels included.
Harley seemed willing, albeit reluctantly, to accept the relationship
until the 1966 release of a Hunter S. Thompson book. Hell’s
Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang
delivered an unflinching description of the gang in action. Thompson
lived around the gang for nearly a year, only leaving after receiving a
severe beating from some members. He wrote about everything
the gang did, including violent beatings and gang rape.
This rape of two teenage girls, 14 and 15, by a group of outlaws, sent
shockwaves across the country. Over 300 Hells Angels members were
gathered for a rally in California when the event occurred, landing
four members in jail, and the rest escorted from the area. The men were
eventually acquitted of rape, but Harley-Davidson was still left with yet
another black mark on their record. Suddenly the company saw themselves
as a willing participants to the actions committed by the gang.
Another incident, documented and verified in Thompson’s book,
occurred in 1961. A man accidentally hit one of the members’
bikes with his car, a shouting match ensued, and the man was severely
beaten as well as having his car destroyed. At the same time, articles
detailing the worst offenses of the Hells Angels appeared in Time,
Life, and The New York Times. In each instance, the bikers connection
to the bikes they loved appeared front and center.
The most famous incident involving the Hells Angels took place in
Altamont, California in 1969. Members of the Oakland chapter were hired
as security guards for a concert featuring some of the biggest bands at
the time. A concert goer who charged the stage was stabbed to death by
one of the Hells Angels. Despite charges being dropped, the incident
had already done damage to Harley-Davidson‘s reputation.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the tangled relationship between
Harley-Davidson and the Hells Angels became even more strained. A 1983
incident led to four members being charged with conspiracy, after a
conflict with another biker gang. In more recent years, the Hells
Angels tangled with a rival gang in Nevada. The skirmish ended with two
members dead, and two in prison.
Harley-Davidson‘s affiliation with the Hells Angels, willing
or not, suffered as a result of poor public opinion. The motorcycle
gangs were the long time loyal customers, who depended on the company
for equipment, but not their only customers. The majority of people who
purchased a motorcycle, had no involvement in a biker gang, but were
fearful of others thinking they were. When the Harley-Angels connection
formed, some customers took their loyalty elsewhere. Throughout certain
points in the history of the company, they’ve blamed their
financial woes on the biker gang. They claim that when the Hells Angels
make the front page, sales plummet.
The history of Harley-Davidson and the Hells Angels, is a long and
tangled one. Thanks to the publicity surrounding the bikers, the
company reached a widespread audience of new consumers. The same
publicity has caused damage to the company’s reputation, but
they have always managed to bounce back. Harley Davidson and the Hells
Angels are two groups that will forever be connected.
Great Gift Ideas For The Anime Fan
Whether you need a gift for Christmas, a birthday or other occasion, anime fans can be hard to buy for, especially if you know little about the world known as “anime”. First, let me explain a little about it. Anime is a type of animation that started in Japan. Basically, you can call it a Japanese version of cartoons. However, it has some big differences. Where American animation tends to be geared primarily towards children, there are actually many types of anime, geared for many ages and interests. For instance, there are series targeted squarely at young boys, young girls, young women and so on. There are also adult series, with more adult themes and content. There are also many different thematic styles of anime, including those centered around robots (called mecha), romantic series, fighting series, school life series and so on.
In order for you to choose a fantastic gift for the Japanese animation fan in your life, you first need an idea of what anime series or at least what kind of theme they enjoy. Find out by perusing their DVD collection or checking what they watch on TV. Once you know the series they like, here are some suggestions for surefire gifts for any anime fan:
Manga
Manga is simply the Japanese version of comic books or graphic novels. Many anime series are based on a manga series. Any anime fan would love the original manga their favorite series is based on. For original Japanese manga, you can usually find some on eBay and at Japanese importers like JustManga and Manga.com. For the most popular series, like Inuyasha, you can find English translated manga books at many major bookstores.
Live Action and Japanese Drama DVD’s
Some anime and manga series have a live action version, like Sailor Moon, that a Sailor Moon fan would likely be interested in. If they seem interested in Japanese culture, then consider getting them some Japanese TV drama series. There are many Japanese drama series aimed at tweens and teens that usually take place in school or high school. Check out Nodame Cantabile, Hana Yori Dango and Gokusen, each was based on anime or manga series or both. Look for these series at places like YesAsia and on eBay. Make sure to get the English subtitled versions.
Toys
Some anime series, like Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion and others, have many toys available. If you really want to get a special gift, try to get some of the toys that are imported from Japan. Toys available include action figures, vehicles, stuffed toys, models and dolls. You can find toys for the most popular series at major toy stores, but for not so popular series, try eBay, YesAsia and other import websites.
Video Games
Many of the most popular anime series like Naruto, Inuyasha and Bleach also have video games based on them. This is a great gift idea since what fan wouldn’t want to play a game as their favorite character? Make sure to find out what game system they have so you can get a game for their particular console or handheld.
Music
Many anime fans become interested in Japanese culture through anime, especially since popular Japanese artists and bands are used on the soundtracks to the majority of series. You can get them the soundtrack to the series or even a few JPOP or JROCK CD’s. JPOP and JROCK is the abbreviation of Japanese pop and Japanese rock music. Find many artists at both YesAsia and eBay. Popular Japanese music artists include Ayumi Hamasaki (pop), Utada Hikaru (pop/R&B), Arashi (pop boy band), L’Arc-en-Ciel (rock band), Morning Musume (pop girl band) and many more.
Collectibles & Decorative Items
There are also many collectibles and decorative items available for some series. Consider animation cells, limited edition toys, photo albums, calendars, posters and more. Find these at YesAsia and eBay.
Clothing & Apparel
Some anime fans enjoy dressing up as their favorite character, this is called “cosplay”. Try to find out who their favorite character is and get them a costume or accessories. For instance, an Inuyasha fan would love a necklace like the one Inuyasha wears or a play sword like he uses. Or go all out and get them a full costume just like their favorite character. One place to check out is CosplayMagic.com.
Language Books or Software
If your anime fan has a serious interest in Japanese culture, then consider getting them a book or audio learning set to help them learn, read and write Japanese. This is an excellent gift option if you’re having a hard time finding gifts from their favorite anime series. This is also a gift you can feel good about, since learning a new language is a very valuable skill for their future.
Food
From sushi to Pocky, if they have an interest in Japanese culture, they might like to try some of the food they have seen consumed in animes and dramas. Some suggestions include a sushi making kit, Japanese candy and gum, Pocky (a pretzel covered with chocolate), strange flavored Japanese versions of candy bars like KitKat and more. You can find many types of Japanese candy at AsianFoodGrocer and other Japanese food import sites.
Harleys For Sale: Get the Harley of Your Dream
The present article has been read by many of our visitors and greatly appreciated. Hopefully you will enjoy it likewise.
There are any number of people who have heard about Harley motorcycles. Buying this particular motorcycle is a dream for many people. They dream of driving over long stretches of road with no obstacles in their path but the wind. The way to see about this is to see what Harleys for sale that you can find.
The classifieds can give you an opening to look for the Harley motorcycle that will be suited for you. The price range of the various Harleys for sale can be either affordable or widely expensive. You must remember that Harley is not just a motorcycle it is also thought of as a lifestyle.
So if you do like the idea of owning your very own Harley then you need to be prepared to pay for all of the accessories that will make your Harley extremely comfortable for you to go touring anywhere that you want. You can find various dealers who will be more than willing to find you Harleys for sale that you want.
Sometimes you may want to see the various Harley showroom dealers on the internet as they maybe able to cut out the middleman and give you a great price bargain. You will need to understand that Harley motorcycles have been around for a very long time now. For this reason each model will have a different price range altogether.
You will have to select the Harley that you want from the various models and makes of Harleys that are available. The many Harleys for sale will be in a very good condition as they will be restored to a top quality finish that will attract many customers.
You can find dealers who will be able to sell you Harleys for sale can sometime mean that you can see what the lowest price for these living legends cost. Any additions that you might want to place on your prospective Harley can in most cases purchased at affordable prices.
Since Harley is considered as a long distance traveling motorcycle or a touring motorcycle you will need to consider the level of comfort that you want and buy the various accessories that will go with any of the Harleys. The showrooms that have Harleys for sale can sometimes have the accessories that will give you the look and comfort feel that you want.
Remember that Harley motorcycles are a way of living. The people who own these motorcycles think of traveling as a luxurious art that is slowly dying. When you look at any of the Harleys for sale means that you too have the chance to live that dream as well.
I hope you have been able to gain something from this article, thanks for reading.
Harley Davidson Rain Gear – Because Riding Wet Sucks!
There is nothing more liberating than a ride on a motorcycle. Nothing can beat the feeling of extreme freedom you get with the wind blowing back your hair and the sun shining on your face. Just like life though, riding outside means you will encounter the occasional rain shower. Riding in the pouring rain is not only extremely unpleasant but can be very dangerous.
Most people opt to pull over and seek shelter from an underpass, diner or gas station canopy. Sometimes out on the highway those things just aren’t an option. Especially if you’re going on long rides or touring you need to be prepared for rain and other nasty conditions. The best way to counteract wet weather is with Harley Davidson rain gear.
While riding and exposed to the elements the only way to keep the rain off you is by wearing coverings of nylon or other synthetic material over your riding gear. It might feel bulky but staying dry is supremely important. If you get wet and cold you can kiss being comfortable and even healthy goodbye.
Most Harley Davidson rain gear comes in the form of a jacket and pants pair. These lightweight but durable nylon coverings deflect the rain and keep you safe. Most of these come with neon, bright or reflective piping to alert drivers of your presence in less than perfect conditions. Standard rain gear is easy to slip on and off helping you get it on or off as needed on the road.
If you don’t feel like investing in high quality rain gear there are always temporary solutions. Many gas stations and convenience stores sell cheap ponchos that will keep some rain off of you. In a pinch you can even use a garbage bag with strategically placed holes.
Part of the freedom of riding is accepting the responsibilities that come with it. You need to make sure you are safe and those around are safe as well. This way we all live to ride another day. Harley Davidson rain gear is key to have on hand for a dry, comfortable and safe ride.