Daytona Bike Week '07 is History..

Spread Out = Slower, Safer?

The ten day run of Daytona's Spring Bike Week began with miserable weather. Friday & Saturday was like living in a fish tank, but Sunday's sun brought more bikers than we've ever seen on a "first" Sunday. Surrounding bars did a brisk business, and Main Street was absolutely packed. Here's where it gets weird; the second Sunday, drew only half as many bikers, in fact, we've never seen it so slow on the final day. Vendors did a steady, if not stellar business. All agreed that biz was down again this year. The city of Daytona's inability to either embrace us or throw us out is the usual whipping-boy of excuses, but how can a normal working couple afford to spend 200-300 bucks a night for a ONE star motel, when the chain flophouses just north of Orlando could be had for 50? The commute gets old fast, and the end result is bikers find places closer to their lodging to look for fun. What used to be a week long stay at Daytona has probably morphed into a day or two at best. What ABM did find was a lot of tourists from europe who didn't mind paying those prices, even though they'll be down to 89 dollars in a couple of weeks. Our dollar is cheaper than the euro, and they get the bargains we look for. Sometimes ABM feels like we bitch too much about hotel price gouging, but 1500 for a week in a one star? If they leave a third of the rooms empty, they're still ahead. Food for thought: A vendor lady on Beach Street asked me why they fine gasoline stations for price gouging, but do nothing about the hotels. She tried to find lodging for her family during NASCAR speed weeks, but was forced to put them up at a motel in Altamonte Springs, north of Orlando for 40 bucks a night, because they couldn't cover the 250 at the beach. So ya see, it ain't $6 burgers and $4 beers.

Price Deflation? Here's what we haven't seen in a long, long, time... $2 Bloody Marys. Full Moon Saloon, 9-5 pm. Merchants with strange foreign accents selling biker tees at four bucks. A leather jacket going for $99 last fall, same ones going for $69 last week. I picked up a new pair of brown leather riding pants, not chaps, for... $19.

Stats: 7 fatalites this year, less than half of the '06 spring rally.

Take the long way home: Gas prices are on the rise again, meaning fewer "Sunday" drivers, & out of Daytona, north to rt 100, then north on rt 17, after passing thru the outskirts of Platka, zipped past the "Cheyenne Saloon" & seeing a hundred bikes parked out front, back, and around the sides, pulled in for a coldie, which was a stellar decision, as their "wet tee-shirt" contest was in full swing. All we can tell you is that if you long for the "biker days of old", these ladies could bring a beer from ice cold to a full boil in less than a minute. What I love about these events, is watching the guys go nuts with their digital cameras, while the non-performing women stay back and approvingly, dissaprove. Know what I mean? Back to the Sunday drivers. Much as we detest $3/gal dino juice, it enabled us to share the road with almost no one else on the way back to the ABM compound, and was probably the nicest, most laid-back ride we had all week. Ya know, when the bike is running like a swiss watch, the sun is hugging the western skyline, and your girl is running her hands down the side of your jeans? Top it all off with a few plates of all-you-can-eat deep fried Florida catfish, and it don't get any better.

Keep checking back in. We'll post another when we get either (1) Inspired or (2) Pissed Off.

Builders, Bands, & Bikes

Gotta Look for the Music...

Using only the internet, printed advertising, or asking around, it'd be tough to find out where famous music acts are scheduled during bike week in the Daytona area. We had to ride around, looking for them. Last night, Blackfoot rocked a little bar on US1, just north of Destination. The White Eagle didn't seem to be as packed as it was during bike week last year, but the crowd was eager to party. I can't put down people who bring their kids along to these places, because my folks used to drag me around with them from joint to joint until I was old enough to babysit myself. Still, having an 11-year old hanging out with whom we assumed to be her mom didn't seem like the right thing to do. Even worse, this hangout is in a town named Korona, and they were out of Coronas. The lady next to me got the last bottle, and I couldn't convince her to swap me for a brown bottle. Out back, behind the stage, a burnout pit where some crazed biker had just finished tearing the hell out of his rear tire. Musta been a biggie, the haze and smell of burnt rubber was almost too much to handle. Even the smokers were coughing. Pat Travers did a two night stand at the Broken Spoke, and
Edgar Winter had 'em rockin' too.

Earlier in the day, an organized ride with free munchies took us north up US1, past Ormond Beach, and on to Flagler Beach, where, due to continuing beach erosion, there ain't much beach left. Every year, it's a DOT struggle to just keep the highway intact. We hung a left in Flagler, and pulled into a little joint called Mad Dog's, on the intracoastal waterway, the "river" that runs close to the beach. Paul Yaffe was parked at a picnic table, munching out, and sipping a Miller Lite. For some unknown reason, ABM has run into more builders this bike week than we can remember. Last Wednesday, the "Builders Breakfast", had at least a dozen famous builders, under a roped off tent, and you could see them all. Billy Lane founded this event, and continues to raise money for charity. Billy's cut his long locks back, & different from all the other times we've seen him. One of the bro's said it's because he hasn't been riding, that makes sense. Still, he was out there raising money for those in need.
Evel and Robbie will be signing autographs from noon through four today, which suprised us somewhat, because when we interviewd Evel at the '04 Arizona Bike Week, everyone said his condition was terminal, and in fact, he collapsed at Buddy Stubbs Harley, and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.

ABM spoke to the engineers from S&S cycle about their new 56 degree V-twin, "X-Wedge", a fully epa compliant engine which meets or beats stringent epa regs for 2010. We bet you'll be seeing quite a few of these mills nesteled inbetween the frame rails of some famous bike builders in time for Sturgis. One of the guys showed me an S&S 124 cu in engine which he cranked up and ran. It ran incredibly smooth, no shakes, and was nearly silent in operation. I once owned a 124, and believe me, mine ran like a hay bailer compared to his, confirming what we know to be an ultimate truth; every engine, every bike, is like every person. Ain't no two that run the same.

As usual, the weather prognosticators were full of s--- about today's forcasted rain. Most of the two and three star hotels are sold out until Sunday night, so we'll just make another run down the slab and see what's going on. Check back early next week for a complete wrapup of the 66th Daytona.

Ridin' Hard, Soakin' Up Sun!

The Original, The Best.

Willie's Tropical Tattoo's ride in bike show was jammed in wall to wall with beautiful bikes and people yesterday afternoon, just prior to the 4pm judging. Located on US1,
just south of LPGA boulevard, this show had a little of every kind of bike, but especially pans, shovels, and even a stretched, chopped, knucklehead Harley. The trumpets (Triumph) 650's were everywhere, most chopped, or altered in some way. Especially cool to me, was a beautiful job of crafting a hand-hammered tank and fenders beat out of raw copper. These are bikes built by someday-famous up-and-comming builders, but mostly by working dudes like us, investing time and sweat inside their own garage to bring these beautiful babes back to life after years of neglect. Willie had a rockin' band in the back yard, and plenty of ice cold $2 beers. ABM's managed to drop by this show lots of times over the years, but this was the best one ever, because it's by, and for, the working man. (and woman).

We're getting close to the end of Bike Week here in the land of fun 'n' sun, and that means the spring breakers are beginning to arrive, many on wild, stretched, rockets with 300mm rear rubber. They're bitchin' cool to look at, and some of the custom fab work, & paint must have cost a fortune. Later in the week it gets, the more sportbike riders will be on Daytona area streets.

Around a quarter of two yesterday afternoon, we were treated to none other than Mr. Arlen Ness riding one of his brightly colored yellow and silver flamed choppers from east to west, down Main Street. Ever the cool dude, Arlen gets respect wherever he rides. Who knows how many millions of dollars he's worth, Arlen respects bikers enough to make a pass or two each year without the aid of "handlers" or "bodyguards". Ain't that what they call...."keepin' it real"?

ABM's headed to the American Ironhorse ride today. Sadly, Saturday looks like a potential washout, but into each life, a little rain must pour. Sunday will bring bright sun and temps in the upper 70's. We have never seen so many New York State license plates as this year. Wonder if the 20 below windchill has anything to do with it? Wonder who's keeping an eye out back home for exploded water pipes? ABM lived up there, before trading the snow for blow...(HURRICANES, wise asses!)

Keep checking back for American Biker Minute's extended coverage of DBW-07.

Warm Daytona Weather Sucks In Bikers

Wet Tee Shirts, Cole Slaw Wrestlers!

Beach Street Vendors are quick to point out their business is not as brisk as last spring's rally, but this area of Daytona wasn't even open during Biketoberfest, and before long, will be covered up by a massive condo project. If you visited the Main street two weeks after the rally was over, you'd be lost among a sea of closed storefronts. Truth is, Daytona Bike Week has spread to surrounding areas, and the city is becomming a little paranoid about places like Orlando, and Destination Daytona, (which is really a part of Ormond Beach, to the north), stealing some of their thunder. ABM has not noticed any baby strollers along Main so far this year, but that doesn't mean there won't be any by this weekend. For those who miss the traditional, raunchy side of bikerdom, there is plenty of fun, skin, suds, and orbs on display at little out of the way watering holes like the "Cabbage Patch". Their cole slaw wrestling got under way yesterday, with finals comming later in the week. We observed one of the ongoing wet tee shirt contests at Dirty Harry's yesterday afternoon. One year ago, same outdoor stage, 20 degrees colder than the near 80 of yesterday, the ladies were freezing as pitchers of water were poured over their tees, but welcomed the refreshing liquid yesterday afternoon, as a couple hundred dudes with their tounges hanging out of their mouths stood, drank, and stared.

Rumor Mill: ABM is hearing reports about bike theft in the Daytona area getting a little out of hand. To be fair, this has always been a problem, but two bikers we met at Destination, reported a friend who alleges he parked his hog in a small $5 parking lot for bikes only, and returned an hour later to find an empty space where he parked his ride. (and you thought I was a cheap bastard because of riding around the block 40 minutes before landing a free spot on the main drag). Also hearsay, but we have unofficial reports of bikes being heisted from hotel garages. Alleged, three big dudes lay the bike over on it's side, then hoist it into the back of a pickup bed. Motorcycle thieves are the absolute lowest of all living things inhabiting this planet. There's nothing worse than losing your precious ride, so keep her in your sight, or add a GPS tracker.

Fatalities: Four more, bringing the total to six bike week related deaths. One guy died from injuries he got last weekend. Two more ran into one another, & one slid under a van. Tough as it is to not get too excited as you pull out into the beautiful Florida weather, and hit the road with all of your brothers and sisters, it's remembering to be just a little afraid of crashing that keeps you alive to ride another day. Riding safe, is riding smart, because it vastly increases your chances of staying alive.

With temps well into the 80's today, ABM is once again commuting down the superslab to the sun 'n' fun capitol of motorcycling, where the beer is cold, and the babes are hot. Run what ya brung. Let's see what ya got!

Keep checking into the ABM blog for breaking news at the 66th Daytona Bike Week!

Two-Wheeled Fun Seekers Arrive!

Cold rain turns to bright sunshine & bikers come out to play!

The first part of the first weekend of the 66th Daytona Bike Week was a nasty cold day of rain, making Sunday all the sweeter. Crisp, clean air, plenty of sun, w/temps in the mid seventies, turned Main Street, Daytona Beach, into a rolling sea on two wheels. ABM is not sure if we've ever seen this many bikers on the very first Saturday of a two weekend rally. As has become the custom, bikers are arriving earlier each year at the major rallys, hoping to avoid some of the humanity, so each year, the rally gets longer in time. How packed was it? Normally ABM hits the street well before noon, and gets a coveted parking slot near all of the action, maxium one or two passes down Main. This year, it was a forty minute ordeal. Mini-steps required on the jam-packed sidewalk to avoid running over the person in front of you. The sweet smell of motorcycles, burgers, sausage sandwiches, and beer permeated the morning ocean air, along with the scent of freshly perfumed babes, it don't get any better.

One Dollar Beer, One Dollar Hot Dogs!

Why in hell they named the road that runs along the intracoastal waterway as "Beach Street" beats the hell out of us, because the beach is on the other side of the strand. Beach St is the location of the old Harley dealership. Just behind, and across the street from their parking lot, you'll find an old boarding house, called the "Lyndhurst". Built back in the 1800's, the whitewashed sides ain't much to look at, but you won't give a damm about that once you sip a fresh 6 oz bud in a cup for only a buck. The steamed hot dogs with onion, relish, & usual fixin's are pretty good when you consider they're also just a buck. This place has a huge front porch with some old office chairs, and skynyrd, zz, & the scorpions were blaring outa a pair of cheap speakers as we sat, sipped, and watched the traffic go by. More on this joint by clicking "trips & rallys" on our website, go to Daytona Spring Rally, and please remember that ABM does not condone drinking while driving, or riding!

Beach Street is once again open, with motorcycle-only parking, as is Main street. For some awful reason, Daytona teases us with motorcycles only on Main, for only the first two days of the rally, then lets the dammed cages plug up traffic for the remaining 7 big days of bike week. Politics, ya know?

So far, two fatalities, a guy and his lady had a blowout allegedly crossing a bridge far away from the Daytona area, but since they had been visiting bike week, officially became the first, and so far, only two bw fatalities. Let's hope they're the only two. Last year totaled 21.

Keep checking in for more American Biker Minute coverage of the 66th Daytona!