Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011

A biker’s wish list

Eric "Big E" Rutherford

 

Dear Santa,

I hope you and Mrs. Claus and all the elves are doing well. It was great seeing you at the Surfside Beach Christmas Parade. You are certainly making the rounds. I know this is a busy time of year for you. I have been a pretty good boy this year. More nice than naughty, but as the song goes, “I’m a work in progress.” That said, there are many things any biker would like to see under the tree on Christmas morn so I thought I’d include some last minute shopping ideas in my column to help my readers take the heat off of you.

My dad just got a Honda Silverwing Scooter for his birthday in November. While I know a scooter may not appeal to everyone reading this column, he turned 80-years-old and scooters have come a long way so this ain’t your daddy’s scooter. Actually, I guess it is my daddy’s scooter, but they have come a long way. The Silverwing looks like an old Vespa and the Space Shuttle shared a romantic evening together and this was the offspring. My brother Kirk’s family and mine chipped in to get him a top-of-the-line, GIVI brand top case and the mounting hardware. A top case is that storage trunk that sits behind the passenger. This one is large enough to hold two full-faced helmets and it’s lockable. We ordered it from a Web site called www.Cli-MAXRidingGear.com. Unfortunately, the items were backordered and didn’t make it in time for the party, but they have since arrived. As much as everyone is touting online shopping - especially around the holidays - there is a lot to be said for walking out of the store with gift in hand.

While I was at the local Harley-Davidson dealership on a recent toy run, I noticed plenty of good looking Harley apparel, but I struggled to justify the prices. Everyone knows that once you add that Harley logo to anything – and they will add it to anything – the price goes up. I have always said, though, the best gifts are things someone wants, but either can’t afford; or, they’d never overspend on it for themselves. Practical, schmactical! There were racks and racks of goodies at the Harley shop to put a smile on many a biker’s face. Everything from shiny new motorcycles and accessories (with free installation of up to three bolt-on goodies, excluding handlebars from now until February at the Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach locations) to cool hats and jackets for the guys; and cute hoodies and Ts for the ladies; to collars and silly hats and goggles for your four-legged family members. Also plenty of stuff for the man cave. As mentioned, there are two local Harley-Davidson shops here on the Grand Strand at 4710 South Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach and 4002 U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach, plus a retail store located at the Broadway at the Beach shopping/entertainment comple.

Another place you’re sure to find something for the biker in your life is at Jamin’ Leather, but don’t look in Surfside Beach anymore. According to a Dec. 7 press release, “The region’s largest leather apparel retailer Jamin’ Leather Catalog Outlet…recently moved to a new Horry County location just outside the city limits of Myrtle Beach…The new location is located just north of the Back Gate, between S.C. 707 and U.S. 501...The new address is 1222 Port Drive.” In the past I found a nice pair of Harley-Davidson boots and my wife Sissy got her chaps from Jamin’ Leather when it was located on U.S. 501.

Another great gift would be a copy of the FX cable network series “Sons of Anarchy.” If you haven’t been hooked yet, it is a sexy and action-filled drama based on the fictional Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club. Bikers I have talked to all love the show and the Beaver Bar in Murrells Inlet has even shown it drive-in movie-style on a screen outdoors. The fourth season just wrapped up and the first three are available on DVD and Blu-ray formats. In fact there is a full line of “Sons” apparel and gear including bar stools, shirts, rings, bandanas, scarves, shot glasses…even the hat and shades the lead character Jackson “Jax” Teller sports, at www.shop.fxnetworks.com. I haven’t seen Sons gear in the storefront retailers, which is a good sign that it hasn’t jumped the shark yet. Look for it soon though as the show continues to gain popularity in the mainstream, and beware the risk of an elevated poser factor when giving or wearing the shirts and fake club apparel.

Good luck with your last-minute shopping and Merry Christmas everyone.