uring the course of the year there are many great motorcycle rallies and other events for riders and those in the V-Twin industry to attend, but none so great as Bike Week. As we point out in our report in this issue, it used to be clearly a Daytona Bike Week. But through the years, the huge crowds began to find vendors and other events up in Ormond Beach, then out in DeLand and other surrounding communities as far west as Orlando. This year, with Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona open for business a few miles north of his original Daytona Harley-Davidson store on Beach Street, Bike Week now seems to be officially a Florida Bike Week.
     This year’s event seems to have drawn as many motorcyclists as we’ve ever seen, the weather was great and a great time was had by all. It wasn’t easy to cover all the action, but contributing writers/photographers Joe Kress and Horst Rosler did their best. Joe reported he logged in excess of 1,000 miles on his motorcycle to get to all the hot spots on his checklist.
     I spent a lot of time at the race track this year and was especially interested in the debut of the new Buell XBRR in the Daytona 200. I was there in 1969 when my old friend Cal Rayborn became the last rider to win the 200 on a Harley-Davidson, and I wanted to see what kind of potential Erik Buell and his crew had. As you’ll read on page 12, they didn’t “get ‘er done” this year, but I think it was a very impressive first outing. It’s great to have Buell and their related Harley family back in roadracing and I look forward to the day when we start seeing these V-Twin riders getting up on the podium in American roadracing events.
     If you don’t normally go to Bike Week, maybe it’s time? Whether you’re into customs, sportbike, touring or vintage bikes, or if, like me, it’s flat track or roadracing you’re into, there is something down there for you. Who cares if you call it Bike Week, Daytona Bike Week or Florida Bike Week, just go and enjoy yourself. Hope to see you next year.
In this issue we continue to go behind the scenes with the top names in the V-Twin industry. Check out the story on page 30 about our “cover guy” Jesse Jurrens. His Legend Air suspension was really a revolutionary product when it hit the market a few years back and he continues to create more new and innovative products.
     In addition to Jesse, we’ve got Profiles in this issue on Bert and Lisa Baker of Baker Drive Train; Kevin and Tara Para of QTM, Inc.; Drag reps Bill Newell and Bob Cashwell; and two of the best custom builders in the business, Matt Hotch of Hot Match Customs and Tank Ewsichek of Tuff Cycle.
     Like Bike Week, this issue has something for everyone. Enjoy.