1. Meet Kyle

“In a short while I got an e-mail from Kyle
With a deal on all my parts.
I saved time and cash on a custom stash,
Now my bike’s the Queen of Hearts.”

Kyle was featured in Newsletter #53 when he earned his yellow riding boots for "going the extra mile" with our Dutch customer Jan Soomers. Kyle's radically customized VTX 1300 Retro On his 3200 mile road trip Kyle stopped for a photo opp at Castle Craigs State Park, CA. The classic lines of the VT1100c attracted Kyle to the cruiser segment. The 1978 Honda CX500: "One of the ugliest motors to date… but a die-hard bike for sure. Amazing how cool you could be riding this beast to High School." CR80: "This CR80 was the bike I learned to ride one." 2002 DRZ 400S: "In the need for some dirt action, wanting the ability to “take it to the street.” What fun machine. My girl is now using it as her starter bike. Yes, it has been down a few times…" FJR 1300: "I had to wait over half a year for this bike to arrive. After just 4 weeks of riding it got totalled when a cager hit me." Kyle's awesome land rocket, a Kawasaki ZX12R. Trip to Diablo: "This VFR is the newest addition to my garage! It was owned and ridden by my brother Scott in this trip to Mt. Diablo with me on my ZX12-R, and Josh on his 600RR."

Greetings, Cruisers,
Maybe you remember those words from the Cruiser Customizing rap song we posted in the Backfire of Newsletter # 62. This jingle isn’t a mere rhyme, because Kyle is the individual who is responsible for customer service here at Cruiser Customizing. As you know, individuality is a powerful expression, a statement in chrome that speaks volume about who we are. And at Cruiser Customizing we’re all about individual riders with bikes that express their individual tastes. “Shared passion, Individual style.” That’s why we’d like you to get to know the individuals like Kyle who keep the gears freely moving at your online warehouse.

Kyle Bradsaw, the Director of Customer Service here at Cruiser Customizing, takes his job very seriously. He conducts weekly meetings with the staff to make sure that each member is well served. He knows well that the integrity and strength of our 100,000 member network rests upon the satisfaction of each individual customer. Kyle’s sole aim at Cruiser Customizing is to make sure that you get the right part for your bike. Period. In fact, Kyle still recalls with gratitude the 257 letters many of you sent him when his leg was broken by a challenged cager exactly one year ago this month.

Kyle has enjoyed a long and joyful association with motorcycles of all sorts since shortly after he learned to walk. He was four years old when he first hopped on a bike. It was his father’s brand new 1979 Kawasaki Z1000, his dad’s first new bike. Kyle still recalls the bright orange Bell helmet his dad let him pick out for the ride home. Over the years Kyle has owned and ridden a mind-boggling array of motorcycles. Today, the collection in his stable runs the whole gamut: dirt, sport and cruiser. He calls his street-legal Suzuki DRZ 400 his “most all-around all purpose bike” since he can ride it on the highway to the East Bay hills and trails and then “kick ass in the dirt.” When in the mood for a bit of time warping speed, Kyle throws a leg over his awesome land rocket, a Kawasaki ZX12R. Don’t tell anyone that, curled up in full racing position while shooting his Big Green four-piston down a straightaway into an expansive East Bay canyon, he saw his speedo needle run full rightside as he broke the two buck mark. Hmmmm…not for every rider.

I recently caught up with Kyle as he was returning from a 3,200 mile ride covering several Western states. Kyle, it turns out, is not “brand-centric”; he’s owned bikes across the board, Japanese, American and European. His philosophy is “it’s good if it has two wheels.” A confirmed cruiser at heart, Kyle’s favorite bike is his Honda VTX 1300S, and this is “the one he’d hang onto if came down to a choice.”

In fact, it was the VTX that brought him to Cruiser Customizing, at a time when the company had only five employees, in May of ’03. Kyle visited because he needed saddlebags and other parts for the big Honda V-twin. Becoming good friends with Cruiser Customizing founder Big Uwe, they not only began working together, but riding out together. As all riders know, bikes are the Great Equalizers. There are no superiors when you are out on two wheels together. And together Kyle and Uwe have taken all day moto-outings to Alice’s Restaurant, Santa Cruz beach, or up to Mt. Hamilton, home of the Lick Observatory. Kyle’s work ethic is simple: if the individual member is not happy, then the Cruiser Customizing team is not happy. His words express his commitment:

“First and foremost we are bikers serving bikers. Period. Cruiser Customizing’s twenty-five employees own a total of thirty-one motorcycles with a combined two and a half centuries of riding experience, averaging over 14,000 miles per year each.

“As a fellow rider, you are not only a customer but our friend. You are welcome to call us toll free, e-mail, chat online or visit us in person at our interactive showroom in Livermore. We’ll find the right accessories for you, and if you’re not happy you can send them back, no questions asked. And no restocking fee, either! Some other companies charge as much as a 20% just to take something back. We could never do that because it is not the right way to treat a fellow rider.”

Every Thursday Kyle leads a Training Intensive with Cruiser Customizing’s customer care specialists to hone the team’s service skills. Not only are customer satisfaction issues discussed, but also the plus points of the various parts we vend. Representatives from companies as diverse as Baron’s, Airhawk, Easy Brackets, Memphis Shades, Cobra, Bubs, Barnett, TravelCade, Carroll Leather and several others have addressed these meetings. Kyle says “We work hard with each of our manufacturers to ensure that we stay on top of the game.” Today Kyle looks back at his first ride on his dad’s Kawi 1000 and muses, “Little did my parents know what that ride would lead to.”

Miles Davis (Pavandas)
Editor Cruiser Customizing News

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2. Jen's Story: A Sweet Kiss for You

It all started in July of this summer; we had been looking for a bike for some time. My other half was very specific about his motorcycle needs. We had owned a rice rocket many moons ago, but had literally outgrown it. One friend chided us that we should get a “grandpa” bike. When we discovered the VTX1800 we knew that we had the perfect grandpa bike as well as a pretty capable go-fast machine.

Jennifer “Sweet Kiss” is gorgeous on her new Marauder. But please, Jen, call Cruiser Customizing for a set of riding leathers before you hit the start button!

Eric's "Grandpa" bike, a VTX 1800 Retro, turned out to be a "go-fast machine".

Well, it took about two trips riding pillion before I realized that hanging on the back sucks and “I WANT MY OWN MACHINE AS WELL!” I had been bitten by the “bike bug” real hard.

I looked around for something I could ride, starting small. I tried out a 250cc, but at 5’8” it felt like I was perched upon a kid’s tricycle. Then one day while at my job of delivering parts I spotted a For Sale sign on a 1999 Suzuki Marauder 800 cruiser in red and black. Two days later I found myself the proud owner of this sleek V-twin.

Then came the fun part: learning to ride. I didn’t have a clue about what I was getting into. Eric, my other half and life partner of eleven years, rode the bike with me hanging on to the huge parking lot of a store that closed down years ago. We live in Charleston, New Hampshire, and this parking lot is the place where all the new riders gather to learn. The test pattern is even spray painted on the asphalt. Eric gave me a quick lesson: clutch, throttle, brakes and “don’t forget, first is down.” After several stalls, I took off with Eric holding the throttle open and racing as fast as he could, his hand firmly on the bike. I began practicing every day after work, and gradually I am now becoming a rider. My plan is to get my license next April when the DMV starts giving motorcycle tests again. I can’t wait till spring to be out on the road riding. Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep up with the pack. Thanks for reading my story.


Jennifer Milewski, aka “Sweet Kiss”

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3. Christmas Gift Ideas

The Christmas shopping season is here, and it’s time to make those difficult decisions about gift giving. But this year don’t despair; we’ve made online shopping for the riders on your list easy. No traffic to fight, no crowded malls, no more agonizing over whether your gift will be appreciated. At Cruiser Customizing we don’t sell fuzzy slippers, because we know what bikers really want. To keep the motorcyclist on your list happy, check out our Christmas Specials below, sale priced to fit your budget.

	How about a compact fully chromed sound system from 2Wheel Tunes that delivers crisp, clear sound and even allows for the installation of an I Pod or MP3 player! What a great gift this will make.
	Or consider a new set of custom mirrors like these beautiful teardrop chrome mirrors from Arlen Ness. Mirror, mirror on the handlebar… you know we’ve got lots of other styles in stock. Take a peek.
	What about a tee shirt for the lady in your life? Check out this “pink is pretty” American Biker tee for your ladylove. And it has a delightfully scooped neckline…Also please take a look at our other great selection of tee shirts for every bike-loving member of the family, even the kids!
	Does the biker on your list complain about cramped hands after a day’s ride? Well, here’s a great gift idea: a cruise control from BrakeAway. This winner is a staff pick from the crew of Cruiser Customizing’s own pack of hard riders! Not cheap, but worth the investment.
	Cruiser Customizing’s own fashion sweats and tees are printed front and back, with blue flames running up the sleeves. These exclusively designed, brand name quality garments make great gifts that will last for years. This is a gift that makes a statement about motorcycling.
	What about a set of chrome handlebars with 9” risers from Cruiser Performance, a name you can rely on for enhanced fit and finish that will add panache to any bike.
	Now here’s a really useful and inexpensive item that the biker on your list will love you for: a tank bag. And we’ve got a great selection of magnet-hold leather tank bags from Daytona Gear for under forty bucks. The tank bag is the most useful invention since the motorcycle itself, and if the biker on your list doesn’t have one, this is one gift that is worthy of full consideration.
	President’s pick: This suggestion comes from Big Uwe himself. It’s a new take on the biker skull theme, the amazingly-detailed grinning skull shirt from Dragonfly in durable, breathable micro-fiber. At ten bucks off the list price, this is a hit that will make a great gift.
	Here’s a perfect gift for riders who are looking for optimum power and performance and who enjoy tuning their bikes themselves: the ignition unit by Dyna. At Cruiser Customizing we offer this item at more than $80 off list price, and we carry several models that fit most metric cruisers. Installation takes just minutes.
	A watch for Christmas? Well, then, how about a cruiser-specific watch! Check out the N-wave wristwatch from Formotion, a custom-designed heavy-duty timepiece married to the accuracy of a Citizen movement. Don’t even think about giving an ordinary watch this Christmas. Cruiser Customizing’s got a great selection of timepieces that match the cruiser lifestyle. Check out Formotion’s other great gift ideas, sumptuously chromed clocks and thermometers that mount right on the handlebars.
	Want a more, shall we say, hardcore, watch for the biker on your list? Then check out the line of skull watches by Hardcore. New to Cruiser Customizing, these hand-sculpted precision timepieces powered by Citizen promise to become some of our most popular items.
	Here’s a gift that not only beautifies the bike, but also creates comfort and safety for the most important person in your biker’s life, his passenger! Take a look at the Jardine tall backrest in chrome and leather. It will make a very thoughtful gift indeed.
	Here’s another great gift idea: a high quality, yet remarkably inexpensive leather tool bag from Heavy Duty. The name says it all, and the smile on the face of the biker on you list will say it all, too.
	Maybe it’s time for new grips. Then don’t settle for ordinary grips. Go with show quality Universal Iso grips from Kuryakyn, a name biker’s trust. These grips are winners, scoring high in customer satisfaction, and are among our most popular items.
	It is said that the devil is in the details, but here’s a detail you’ll be considered an angel for considering: a chrome choke knob cover from Pro One. This is a thoughtful gift for fewer than twenty dollars.
	There’s nothing like a little sparkle to brighten up that bike. And the integrated LED taillight from Clear Alternative adds flare and panache to the rear fender. This is a great gift suggestion that will brighten up Christmas.
	Motorcycle theft is up, but that’s one worry you won’t have if you give the biker on your list the Scorpio Alarm system, one of the most powerful tools to keep thieves away. A personalized cruiser is an investment in not only money, but time and individuality. Please consider this one gift item to preserve the chrome statement that is so important to the cruiser on your list.
	Still undecided about Yuletide gift giving? Then consider that a biker never has too many leather jackets. And Milwaukee Leather’s quality jackets in cruiser cut are built for real riders. Also, remember that Cruiser Customizing offers this tough and protective rider-wear at over 10% off list with free shipping.

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4. Backfire: Personalized License Plates

Make a statement with your personalized license plate.

As I was preparing the above list, going over the great products we offer at Cruiser Customizing, a thought occurred to me. I was thinking about the set of Illuminatorz LED license plate lights that we offer, which, of course, would make a great gift. The value of the Illumitorz LED lights would be magnified if the license plate on the cruiser of the person on your Christmas list has a real message. Hey, if the cruiser on your list has a vanity plate, the Illumiatorz is the ideal gift.

Does your bike have a custom message that you’d like to share with your fellow members here at Cruiser Customizing? When I first met Big Uwe, I noticed his license plate which says, well, “BIG UWE”. How cool is that, and how cool is your plate? If your ride sports a state-issued personalized tag, why not e-mail us a digital pic of your vanity plate and we’ll run it in a future Backfire? Hey, shared passion, individual plates. When you send in the pic, please also clue us in about why you’ve chosen those particular letters and words on your tag.

Thanks, and until next time,
Ride safely,
-Miles Davis
Editor Cruiser Customizing Newsletter

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