Every year when it comes time for the planning meeting for the annual Ride-In Custom Show, our team fpcuses on one area that most bike shows do not- prizes. The assortment of top-flight gifts provided to each of the six judged class winners are donated by Cafe Racer magazine’s very generous advertising partners, who value the recognition and brand awareness the show provides them with. The folks who work long hours in their sheds and garages to design and build teh one-off motorcycles that make the event such a stand-out are also pretty damned excited to be awarded various bits and bobs, that make riding, building and generally being involved in motorcycles a better, more exciting experience. A bike builder we spoke with recently who resides just over teh border in Ohio asked why he should bother to ride his pride and joy teh 100 miles to Sewickley on a hot summer day was reminded that attending the Ride-In Show was not onlya saddlebag of fun and a chance to meet and chat with hundreds of like-minded custom motorcycle enthusiasts, it also provided him with teh chance to ride home with some incredible swag. If you’re facing the same sort of questions, dig on these class-winning prizes for extra motivation to dust off those wheels and head our way on Saturday, August 15th. Win or not, it’s one hell of a way to spend a weekend day,
Best in Show Prize: London’s iconic Lewis Leathers have donated a gift certificate for one of their timelessly cool, unbreakable Lightning jackets. These thick, cowhide riding leathers will outlast most everything else on the road, keeping riders warm with Lewis’ trademark red quilted liner and multiple zippered sleeves and torso. With a retail value of over $2,000 US, this one is well worth competing for.
Avon Motorcycle Tyres are another British brand known for high quality, unsurpassed roadholding and all-weather capability. As one of Cafe Racer magazine’s longest-serving advertising partners and brand sponsors, Avon have kicked in with a pair of their amazing, 3D Supersport radials. Yes, the winner of the People’s Choice Award will redeem this for both a front and rear hoop, in sizes to fit most modern two-wheelers.
When the event is over and the class winners are reflecting on their good work in the safety of their homes and garages, they can pop open a bottle of Lucky Sign spirits. The Pittsburgh-based distillers have been hand-crafting fine adult beverages for several years now, and a bottle of their bourbon, vodka, aquavit or rock and rye will be included for all six trophy winners. In previous years, it’s been a blast to watch class winners who come forward to claim their swag bags declare that they don’t imbibe at all, only to choose the Lucky Sign prize anyway! Go ahead- you deserve it!
Practical and well as fun prizes are another yearly staple of our show and this year, one deserving trophy recipient will also ride home with a new, retro-styled full-face helmet from Southern California’s Principal Helmets. The new safety gear manufacturer has drawn quite the positive response to their fresh line of lids for their cutting-edge ventilation systems, comfortable, washable liners and funky, 1970s style. A V80 helmet is being awarded to one fortunate winner.
Dedicated custom bike builders currently planning or working on their next project rides will really appreciate the electronic control module kit provided by our newest show sponsors at NWT Cycletronics and New York’s Recycled Customs. These all-in-one kits are packed with the latest digital technology and make the difficult task of re-wiring a custom motorcycle far easier. Recycled owner JR Cuartas runs one of these wonder-boxes on his custom Kawasaki Concourse cafe racer and swears by them. Good stuff for expert or amateur.
Another nifty item for custom motorcycle designers is being provided by one of this year’s main sponsors, Thermo Tec Industries. This Ohio-based manufacturer of automotive and motorcycle performance products has helped us majorly, even pitching in with rolls of their track-proven fiberglass exhaust heat wrap for not just one, but every trophy winner in this year’s competition. We just installed some of their groovy silver titanium wrap on the exhaust headers of Cafe Racer magazine’s Royal Enfield Shotgun650 project bike and it not only looks the business, it helps reduce exterior heat and saves power lost to heat dissipation.
As far as modern bling goes, nothing lends a custom motorcycle that high-performance, racetrack-inspired look like polished carbon fiber accessories. our partners at Quebec, Canada’s Motocomposites have been generous enough to kick in a $400 gift certificate form carbon accessories from their extensive aftermarket catalog. Whether you prefer Japanese, European or American rides, Motocomposites has lightweight, aerodynamic parts to spruce up your wheels.
And finally, we have to give much props to our longtime supporters at Virginia’s Cognito Moto. One of the world’s leading cafe racer custom parts and accessory providers, Cognito have bene responsible for designing and creating the spoked hub conversion kits that have made countless cafe racers safer and more roadworthy in recent years. Anyone with serious wrenching in their immediate future will appreciate Cognito donating a $250 gift certificate that will be awarded to a Second Place finisher whose wheels prove worthy of recognition.
If that’s not enough to get your best custom bike rolled out of the shed and headed towards Sewickley’s War Memorial Park come Saturday, August 15th. nothing is. See you at the awards ceremony!
