A big thanks goes out to Mike D from Biltwell and Matt & Dean from DICE Magazine.  You guys rock the casbah! Thanks for the sweet banners which are proudly on display in the garage amidst our collection of old band posters, Chuck Norris posters and old Davida posters.

If you guys haven't already take a look at Biltwell's kick-ass products...there's nothing like them.  We've got an entire section dedicated to them on the site for that very reason.  As for DICE, well, it's not a magazine.  It's collectors item!  http://www.dicemagazine.com/ check it out and buy a subscription today.  We'll have them loaded up in stock soon here at DCC as well!

Technology, it really is amazing.. We've gone from an under-communicative, paper driven society that used bike messengers on fixies to deliver the most critical up-to-the-minute information to a digital nation sharing the latest news at light speed shod full of high resolution images and content. All with a few keystrokes, or a fingers' swipe on an iPAD.

Granted, the mass communication overload has somewhat desensitized us to things like billboards and tv commercials but thankfully, a handful of forward thinkers are leveraging technology to not only cut-down on peddling, but share authentic worthwhile content. The recent development of high-quality digital publications has paved the way for culture's to leap bounds and continents for individuals to indulge in and adopt.

DCC friend, Miguel, the genius behind "8negro", one of the best BLOG's on the net, just recently released his first issue of "TonUp Spirit Magazine."  A digital-zine that taps into the innate thread our cult following shares; the pursuit of speed and individuality. And like every image or piece of content that graces the front page of 8nego, TonUp Spirit pulls the choke and richens your daily intake of visual fuel.

Here's a few shots from the debut issue we thought you might enjoy:

You can checkout the full issue right here: http://tonupspiritmagazine.blogspot.com/ and if you have not already, definitely bookmark http://www.8negro.com/. It doesn't get much better..

Keep it up Miguel, we appreciate all the hard work!

It pays to have good friends.. I mean, where it not for the fact that Ralph Miller, owner of The Rusty Knuckles clothing line, knows we just love retro cop magazines with good lookin' ladies on the cover (HA!) he would have never thought to lift this from one of the many long forgotten gas station restrooms on I-95 heading through North Carolina. Of which, he visited plenty on the recent Revenge Run.

Way to go Ralph! She's a real looker!

Aside from lifting long forgotten trash magazines that no one on Earth would ever imagine someone even took the time to print, let alone read...  Ralph also produces some of the coolest southern influenced motorcycle clothing around through the Rusty Knuckles brand.

Ralph's vision for the brand comes from living the lifestyle. He's an avid bike builder and has produced one of the sweetest Honda CB Cafe's around. He's as legit as a can of Dapper Dan hair treatment, and unlike other brands spawn'd from Hollywood punks destroying the good names of hero's long since passed while trying to make quick buck, The Rusty Knuckles brand is designed by motor heads for motor heads.

Thanks Ralph, the industry needs more guys like you!

Checkout the sweet Rusty Knuckles CB650 Cafe Racer for a glimpse into what we're talking about folks!

Be sure to visit the Rusty Knuckles section here at Dime City and definitely take a look at their BLOG when you have a moment- http://rustyknuckles.blogspot.com/

It's very difficult to put Shinya Kimura's work into words.  Few, have been able to do this and properly capture the essence of the creator.  Pictures, do it justice, no doubt.  However, they still leave questions unanswered.  Cinema though, created with the same level of intensity and passion- is simply astonishing.

It's as though your right there with the artisan twisting the throttle, feeling the wind all the while being consumed by the shear authenticity of his life.

Shinya Kimura, The Crew at Dime City Cycles salutes you.  You are a pillar of wisdom from which all of us draw from.  You ask for nothing in return and continue to provide inspiration.  You truly are a selfless individual.  For that, we thank you and will be forever in debt to you.

This film was produced by Henrik Hansen - http://www.henrikhansen.net/  Truly a visionary man.

For more information on Shinya Kimura please visit his BLOG - http://shinyakimura.blogspot.com/  Prepare yourself.  First, though.

A friend sent this to us via email last week. Not sure where it's from, but it's pretty funny! The bottom is cut off however ones imagination can fill in the blanks.

"Always use full throttle or full brakes."  - priceless!  :)

[Source; random Internet email- if this is your image please email us.]

 

I came across this video yesterday and was just blown away..

We've all seen Isle of Mann TT, it's nothing new. This video however, just seems to tap into your conscious in a different way. Maybe it's the high and wide angle rolling cinematography, maybe it's just the shear noise of the bikes or, maybe it's just the fact that there's nothing cooler than watching bikes blow by at 150MPH on standard roads.

Whatever the reason, the IOM-TT is one hell of a race and it should be on every moto-heads bucket list to attend at least once.

It's around 11:30PM and I'm dead tired from yet another 20 hour day at the Dime City Garage. Move this, grind that, cut that, fab this, start this, push that, sell this, the endless list goes an on as if it was it's own being. I, am just one of the vessels the being utilizes to do its will.

Except! For when it comes time to crash. Ah yes, the best time in a mans day. The boots come off, the last PBR get's topped and the dog finally gets comfortable on the floor in front of you far enough out of your way so you can stretch your feet. Priceless!

Listening to some Burnside putting me at easy, I grab through a slew of mags before passing out into the hot sultry summer night...Mens File, naw, not tonight- not enough time to enjoy it.  Sideburn, nahh...to fast for this time of night.   Maybe DicE? Love it...just can't handle all the colors and wild fonts this far into my workoholichallucinations.

Ahhh....

Lowside.

Bingo bango baby.

You just gotta love this friendly new publication guys and gals!  It's chock full of all the stuff that really matters.  Turning bikes by hand, having tacos in Mexico, hot dogs in North Carolina and riding for the sake of just riding.  These boys figured out what the secret formula was and they're adding to it page by page with every issue!

If you haven't yet, I strongly suggest you punch "lowsidesyn" into the google machine and see what comes out.  I know you'll be pleased...  Tell 'em the boys at Dime City sent ya and they might give ya a little kick in the pants.  Ha!

Or just head on over directly from here.  Lord knows it's easier then calling up another browser session: http://www.lowsidesyn.com/

Ride on boys!  And thanks for remembering what it's all really for!

- Jason

Without getting too deep into it we'll just say, that before before his name was sold off to the highest bidder, before the fancy trucker hats shod with patches and glitter and before the swanky parties in LA to his tribute there was a man, (quite possibly one of the most influential of his era) who followed his own path during the birth of grease culture on the West Coast. He lived a humble life doing what he enjoyed most. Customizing almost anything with an engine and painting pinstripes on it.

His name was VonDutch aka: Kenny Howard.

While surfing the web late one night when I should have been entering product on the website (don't tell Herm!) I went off on a tangent researching the late VonDutch. I've always been a fan of his work and the history behind him. He's built some amazing motorcycles and had his fair share of ups and downs as most artists do. Quite the intriguing man he was. What I would have given to know him personally.. 

I came across these vintage clippings from a magazine another admirer of his work took the time to so carefully scan and upload to the digital-socio-sphere.  Probably, like me, in the hopes that a few more would find them and learn a bit more about the man behind the label.

[click the images for full-size viewing]

Enjoy!

I'll also admit, I do have a couple VonDutch t-shirts however, they're covered in grease, not rhinestones and I'm pretty sure, that if Kenny saw them today he'd be proud rather than turning in his grave.. Which is more than I can say for Britney.

 

 

 

 

 

And the chicks not to bad either.

[source- random internet image, rights unknown- contact us if this is your photo]

It's no secret that here at the home of The Wing'd Piston we love Cafe Racers. There's just something about the actuality that comes with piloting a noisy, teeth chattering, air-cooled rocket at just over 100mph.

It takes more, than simply turning the throttle on one of these olds birds. An even balance of grift and guts... Only real men need apply here folks.