You often see custom baggers with oversized 34-inch rims on the front wheel. If you own a custom bike shop, putting 34-inch wheels on a motorcycle may be a frequent request from your clients. It's not an easy job to do, so most everyday riders won’t risk-taking on the task themselves. However, it is not so easy for bike shops to find 34-inch rims for bagger bikes either. That's where...
Last October, bagger racing officially became a thing. The King of the Baggers race series was a tremendous success, and because of it, a new league has been announced: The Bagger Racing League. If you missed the commotion last year, don’t worry, we have you covered. Learn more about the (short) history of Bagger Racing and what to expect from the 2021 League. The History Of...
At SMT Machining, we have been proudly leading the way in the custom motorcycle industry for more than 20 years. That hard work has paid off. We are honored to have been featured on the cover of Urban Rides 10 out of 12 issues in the past year. Urban Rides is a leading custom motorcycle industry magazine run by custom bike enthusiasts. It fills in the gaps for the custom motorcycle...
If you’ve owned a motorcycle for any length of time, then you know how expensive customizing parts and accessories can be and how quickly your build can add up. Aftermarket parts can be even more costly for trike conversions and fully custom bikes. So, you may be wondering what drives these high costs. The answer comes down to simple economics and manufacturing. Motorcycle wheels are...
Let’s face it. Shop prices can be a real downer. Are you looking to do some upgrades to your touring Harley-Davidson but don’t want to break the bank by paying for parts and labor? One simple upgrade you can do at home is a 21-inch wheel upgrade. You’ll love how it transforms the appearance of your bike. Getting Started with Your 21 Inch Wheel Upgrade To get started with your wheel...
Riding a motorcycle is a good way to treat your lockdown blues, whether to do your essential traveling or, where states allow, just to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air. States are in various stages of stay-at-home lockdowns and re-openings, with some regions seeing some leveling off in COVID-19 cases while others are spiking. Regardless of where you may live, chances are...
5 Reasons Why Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is the Perfect Way to Ride Out the 2020 Pandemic Among the many events canceled due to concerns of spreading the COVID-19 virus, the 2020 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is most decidedly NOT one of them. Now in its 80th year, the annual gathering of motorcycle aficionados has received the official go-ahead from the Sturgis South Dakota City Council to...
Customizing your motorcycle is one of the most fun parts of owning it. You can make it your own and turn it into a reflection of who you are. One of the most significant ways to enhance both the look and the performance of your bike is to change up one or both of the wheels. While some upgrades require the expertise of a professional repair technician, a wheel installation is fairly...
There are several reasons you may want to install a wider wheel on the back of your motorcycle. Wide wheels provide more traction. Just like a drag racer, allowing the everyday rider to get off the line without the rear wheel spinning or skidding. The wider the wheel, the better the functionality, performance, and safety - especially when riding in inclement weather. Street riders also...
Bulldog Series 21" x 5.5" custom wheel on a Road Glide with Classic fender When it comes to a custom motorcycle wheel, there is tough and there is badass tough. Upgrading your motorcycle to a wide front tire fat wheel can amplify its toughness factor in a major way and give you solid street cred. Fat wide wheels have come a long way in recent years in the motorcycle industry....