IW Team

Who’s “Snakebit” Sam Kanish

I’m just a good old boy who loves to ride motorcycles. Back in 1971 I bought an old police Servi-Car to ride to work and ever since I’ve wanted to ride to see what was over the hill or around the next curve. Besides that old Flatty I’ve owned and ridden a Sporty, Pans, a Knuckle, Evos, a Twin Cam and even a SS350 Sprint. Way back when I rode with a local club for a couple years. Unlike some of my friends I never became a 1 per center and luckily stayed out of trouble.

Pointing the front wheels of those bikes down the road for the past 37 years has me heading towards the three quarter million mile mark. Not bad for a guy who’s had to put 40 hours a week in a couple different factories all those years. Yeah I’ve strictly been a blue collar guy all my life.

I’m a rider who writes, not a writer who rides. Besides IronWorks magazine I’ve contributed to Cycle Source and The Keystone Motorcyle Press. I’ve ridden a lot of miles, been a lot of places and met a lot of people. I hope to do more of each because I haven’t been everywhere and done all of that, yet.

Who’s Stephen Berner (steveb)

I am a NYC guy, born and bred in the Big Apple. I fell in love with bikes at an early age, growing up in a neighborhood that had a large number of bike-riders who favored the H-D marque.  The hook was set. Every time I could get near a bike, I did, and when the time came to get one – I pounced.

I am fortunate enough to own 2 bikes. My  89″ stroker powered 1986 FXRS-SP is my pride and joy. I love this bike , although there were dark days in the beginning where i don’t think it liked me a whole lot. In the many (18) years I’ve owned it, I ‘ve been through every single piece of it. It’s all me. I held it’s heart in my hands.

Since 1995, I’ve had a Dresser to travel on. Road tripping on the FXR was getting tiresome with my Beverly Hillbilly’s packing technique and an increasingly achy back. I also noticed that when I hit the road I went further and further each time… In 1995 I got Big Blue, an FLHTC.

After a total engine rebuild and 2 top-ends over 13 years, I decided to recycle Big Blue and buy my first new bike – a 2008 Street Glide. I call this Anniversary painted  beauty the *Shiny Penny*. I suspect that some changes will happen with the Shiny Penny, some cosmetic and some performance.

In a past life I worked for American Iron Magazine and also wrote for Hot Bike as a freelancer. I am a leather crafter and photographer and publish two of my own blogs – in addition to my 20-hr a day dream job with IronWorks : Steveb’s Daily Blather and 45dgree.   You can reach me at : steveb@steveb.biz

Who’s Marilyn Stemp

Marilyn holds a journalism degree from Pennsylvania State University. Her daily gig includes dotting the tees and crossing the “I’s” of the collective ensemble. Marilyn serves as new product editor on IronWorks, provides the reference shelf column, and is responsible for collecting our comprehensive buyer’s guides, as well as providing bike feature stories, photos, and touring articles. With the magazine since its inception in 1989, Marilyn used to ride shot-gun with her late husband, founding Editor Dennis Stemp, but now has her own ’96 Sporty. The Ms. has plans to restore a solo H-D 45. The raggy little 1954 Flathead is currently little more than a collection of mis-matched parts, with lots of blanks to be filled in, so don’t look for a story on this one too soon. But when finished, you can bet the rods will be in the proper places. Marilyn lives in Lewisville, NC.

Who’s Margie Siegal

If it’s American, has two wheels, and was built prior to 1950, Siegal has either researched, rode or written about it. “Walking Text Book” Margie has been Vintage Editor on IronWorks since day one, with her regular feature, Seasoned Citizens. Siegal is also a frequent contributor to American Motorcyclist magazines.

Originally from Queens, NY, Siegal now resides in sunny Oakland, Calif. Her specialty is searching for (and finding) the details on American bikes that were built when your grandfather was in high school. Count on Margie for technical accuracy and a unique sensitivity when it comes to the people and machines that established motorcycling in America.