s this issue comes off press, Sturgis is on the minds of most people in the sport and industry. Come August thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts, dealers, manufacturers, custom builders and more will be hanging out in the Black Hills for one of motorcycling’s longest running rallies.
     This time a year ago the industry was warming up for the big Harley-Davidson 100th anniversary celebration. But even before the corks were out of the champagne bottles, many were already wondering what the future would hold. After August of 2003, would the bubble that the industry had been riding on for the last ten years burst?
     Well, the good news is that midway through Harley’s 101st year in business, new bikes are still rolling out the doors of Harley dealerships in big numbers every day. We like to call them future Drag Specialties FatBook projects.
     Yes, life is good. Very good, in fact. Look at the consumer magazines like Hot Bike, Easyriders, American Iron, Iron Works and more. They all look healthy…and growing. Plus, there’s Advanstar and Easyriders producing trade shows specifically for this business, an increasing list of TV shows, and, of course, all the great rallies that we’ve enjoyed for years.
     Like never before, people want to personalize their machines, or in some cases, to have a machine that is personalized to their liking. As in the home improvement world, you have lots of people who want to do their own work, and in other cases, people who know what they want, but they just don’t have the time and/or mechanical abilities to do the work themselves.
     Many of you reading this magazine are from the growing list of custom shops that are set up to satisfy that segment of the motorcycle sport who rely on an expert to build their dream bike. To give you as many options as possible, Drag Specialties is working hard to align itself with the best vendors, and the best custom builders in the business to not only supply products, but also to provide insight about style trends and direction.
     An example of that is the bike on the cover of this month’s issue. Just when I think we’ve seen all the good ideas for FatBook bikes, in come photos of yet another one that really catches your attention. KC Creations came up with this design and another stunning Drag Specialties FatBook bike is in the books. Great job guys.
     Yes, the world of motorcycling as we know it has a bright future. Harley-Davidson’s 100th anniversary was a great milestone for that company, just like their 50th was back in 1953. But these are just steps on the ladder. Years from now I’m certain that the sport will celebrate Harley’s 150th, and hopefully 200th. So don’t slow down now, these custom Harleys are here to stay!