ow time flies! Ten years ago this month, our Summer issue featured Don Hotop and some of the new products that he was putting in the FatBook. His customizing advice is as true today as it was then: “You definitely have to have a plan. It’s the same for bikes that we build for people as it is for people who want to do it themselves.”
     Our Summer 1998 issues was, like this issue, our Sturgis Preview issue. We included a schedule of events to help our readers plan their week there. If you attend the annual Rally, you know that there is so much going on that the advice      Don Hotop had above applies to Sturgis too. You have to have a plan!
We featured some event reports in that issue from Laughlin and Myrtle Beach. Southern California sales rep Gene Koch was seen in the report, as was legendary stunt man Evel Knievel. Both are gone now and missed.
     Back in 1998, riders were judging Drag Specialties Seats by the “seat of their pants.” For style and comfort, Memphis Shades had a whole line of windshield variations, and T-Bags did the same with luggage.
     The “tire wars” were in full swing then with some of the top names in the business making their pitch to the V-Twin dealers and riders. Metzeler was introducing steel radials, while Michelin was rolling out its new Commander line. Kenda urged readers to “get a grip” with its Challengers, while Dunlop was reminding them that their bikes probably came new with Dunlops on them.
     And speaking of “wars,” no part of the aftermarket was hotter than the exhaust market. If you couldn’t find a pipe for your bike, you weren’t paying attention. Supertrapp, Kerker, Samson, Vance & Hines, Python and Cycle Shack all had some great looking designs for virtually any Harley-Davidson or custom V-Twin on the market.
     Chopper Guys had a big presence in the Summer ’98 issue with the statement “We fabricate frames that build reputations.” In the decade to follow, they did just that. Performance Machine had lots of parts to go with a project, as did Edelbrock, James Gaskets, K&N, Progressive Suspension, SBS, Saddlemen, Jay Brake and Russell Performance.
     Lastly, Barnett was promoting its 50th anniversary in business back in 1998. Which makes them 60 this year. Cudos to everyone at Barnett for being such an important part of the motorcycle business all these years.
     1998. Just another year in the 14 that we have covered so far. Watch for our look at other past issues in the upcoming months.