Bike EXIF » Bike EXIF news

A Time For Thanks

Chris Hunter — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 17:30:50 +0000

It’s hard to believe that Bike EXIF started just four years ago. It’s now one of the largest motorcycle sites in the world.

So today feels like a good day to offer thanks. Firstly to you, the reader, for sharing our passion and joining us for the ride. Your presence and opinions—whether via the comments or social media—are vital for improving the breed, and driving the direction of the custom scene.

There would be no Bike EXIF without the builders, too. Their skills and ingenuity are the lifeblood of this site. Whether it’s one guy in a garage or five guys in a workshop, I tip my hat to you for making the motorcycling world a better place.

For me the unsung heroes are often the photographers. It’s easy to shoot a motorcycle badly, and difficult to shoot one well. The style and quality of Bike EXIF comes from your efforts.

Running a site with around two million pageviews a month requires a team of support people and considerable expense. Fortunately, there are motorcycle companies who share our vision, including big names like Icon Motosports, Triumph North America, Moto Guzzi and Ducati. Without them, there would be no Bike EXIF.

Over the past year, smaller companies have also played a big part in keeping our rubber on the road. Like the gear and clothing companies Davida Helmets, Les Ateliers Ruby, Maple Jeans, Vitesse Moto, Corazzo, Esemplare, Ugly Bros, Iron & Resin and Davida South Africa. Plus Urban Rider, the London-based online retailer.

Several bike builders have pledged their support of the wider scene: step up Zero Engineering, Deus Customs, CRD, El Solitario and Australia’s Rocker Classic Motorcycles. If you’re searching for components for your own bike, Dime City Cycles, Progressive Suspension, British Customs and Lowbrow Customs are the guys to go to. And from the media world we’re helped by the Australian magazine Just Bikes and the US television series Cafe Racer TV.

2013 is shaping up to be a great year for the custom scene. May your own 2013 be just as good. Happy New Year.

MotoForJapan

Chris Hunter — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:20:35 +0000

Over the past few days, you’ve probably been transfixed by television images of the disaster in Japan. So were motorcyclists Greg Hatton and Jon Bekefy, and they’ve set up a charity called MotoForJapan. Why? In their own words, “Whether you’re a rider, a racer, an industry employee, or a fan of any of the Big Four, this is your opportunity to give back to one of the most important nation-contributors of all things riding and racing.” MotoForJapan channels donations into the American National Red Cross, and every dollar donated through MotoForJapan will go directly toward funding the Red Cross’ relief efforts in Japan. “By giving, each contributor can be recognized as a motorcyclist who gave something back to the country that’s given us so much.” Bike EXIF applauds this iniative and wholeheartedly endorses it. You can contribute here.

Poll: Comments or no comments?

Chris Hunter — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:30:24 +0000

It seems like every day, I’m getting emails about the comments on Bike EXIF. Some folks are unhappy with the current tone of comments, while others are enjoying the fierce debate. I’ve been asked why I switched off the comments on the Justin Kell interview and not the Jeff Decker interview. (It’s because I didn’t have regular internet access when the Decker interview went live.) Some people have even suggested that I switch off commenting altogether.

In the interests of catering to Bike EXIF’s fast-growing readership and keeping the peace, I’m canvassing opinions on this. There’s a poll on our Facebook page: if you’re a regular here, please take a moment to cast your vote. (And feel free to expand on your thoughts in the comments below.)

Introducing Cycle EXIF

Chris Hunter — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:30:09 +0000

After raising the garage door in a low-key kinda way last week, we’ve now got the wheels spinning properly on our latest venture—Cycle EXIF.

The site follows the same format as Bike EXIF, but focuses on the most interesting classic and custom bicycles. It’s sponsored by hip Italian cyclewear company Pistard, and edited by Australian-based designer (and ex-courier) Adam Leddin. Readers will get a daily dose of road, cyclocross and fixed gear bikes, plus the odd BMX and mountain bike, and plenty of randonneurs (Adam’s particular fetish).

As with Bike EXIF, you can get your pushie posts via a free email or an RSS feed. There’s a Twitter account that’s growing fast too. If you like it, please spread the word by joining the Facebook page.

Any tips on bikes we should feature?

Changing gear

Chris Hunter — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:30:56 +0000

After pluggin’ away at this site on a daily basis for over a year, I’m going to take a little breather. But rather than leave you guys in the lurch, I’ve asked some of my favorite motorcycle bloggers to hold the fort while I’m recharging my batteries. The bulk of the work will be done by Scott from Pipeburn, with several posts also coming from Diesel of Visual Gratification and Richard Fowler of Motorsport Retro. These guys all have excellent tastes, and they’re in tune with the Bike EXIF vibe—so it’s worth checking out their own sites if you get a minute.

I’ll be back on board in mid-January, but will be checking in on the emails and comments now and then. In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday break and thank you for visiting.

PS Thanks also to photographer Josh Evans for permission to use the shot above—which has been featured in Intersection magazine. It was taken near Tooraweena in Australia, and Josh recalls, “I was on my first ever postie bike ride, in June 2005, from Sydney to Warialda near the Queensland border. We spent so much time laughing along the way, a cross between embarrassment and the really ridiculous: our leathers were worth more than the bikes. I set the camera up and started running back to my spot while the barrel was turning (there is no self-timer on a Noblex 135S). Ben quickly said, ‘Look tough’. And for about five seconds we did.”