Happy New Year, goddamnit,
It’s cold in the shop this morning, although the California Sun is shining and the rain departed yesterday–good riddance. My fingers are still cold on the keyboard, as I ponder what to lead the news with.
Tomorrow is New Years Eve, and as I blow a mouthful of warm breath into my palms, I’m pondering a ride into Beverly Hills to see an antique bike collection, and discuss bikes with a handful of collectors on the Eve of 2011.
As of tomorrow night I have one month for finish my 1%er book for motorbooks. I’m stumbling with the last five chapters, the climax and the ending. I made a decision, about an hour ago. I’m going to get up a 5:00 each morning of January, so uninterrupted, I can ramble through each chapter. Then I’m headed out to the desert, where I will scour through each chapter with the subject of this book. I need more details, and impressions, to fill in the blanks.
It’s interesting, the nature of writing books. It’s not about fancy words and rambling sentences, but guts. In a sense, it’s like painting a moving picture, adding smells, sounds, action, and emotions, all through the words on a page. Let’s hit the news, then I’ll tell you about Bikernet plans for the new year:
ACE CAFÉ 10TH ANNIVERSARY–Ace Cafe London’s 10th anniversary of having fully reopened, kicks off with the countdown to 2011 at the cafe’s annual New Years Eve Party, featuring The Blue Flames, with their ever popular rockin’ sounds, together with DJ’s Bill & Jimmy Guntrip on the decks hosting a very special evening.
The Midnight madness will be preceded by an all inclusive Chicken & Chips Supper, as well as a free to enter prize draw raffle, to include a pair of entry tickets to the forthcoming Race Retro Show, plus goodies from Lucky 13, T-Bird Records and the Ace.
9pm – 2am
Friday 31st December
Entry £15
Sorry No Under 18s
EMERGENCY MEMO FROM THE BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER– A New Jersey Congressman (John Adler) called to make reservations, ”I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York.”
I was at a loss for words. Finally, I said, ”Are you sure that’s the name of the town?”
‘Yes, what flights do you have?” replied the man.
After some searching, I came back with, ”I’m sorry, sir, I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can’t find a rhino anywhere.”
”The man retorted, ”Oh, don’t be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!”
So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, ”You don’t mean Buffalo , do you?”
The reply? ”Whatever! I knew it was a big animal.”
–from Irving M.
MORE REVIEWS HEADED TO BIKERNET– I’ve got a couple of little projects that I’m wrapping up that I thought you might be interested in posting on Bikernet.
The first is a review of Bill Hayes’ new book: American Biker. Very impressive book that I felt compelled to write about. I’d contributed a short piece on the Gypsy MC in his Boozefighter book so I’ve been really looking forward to his new release.
The second is an unlikely subject for a Bikernet publication … it’s a review of the new MacBook Air. I’d been looking for the ultimate “saddlebag companion” and I think the Air hits the mark. I do a lot of traveling and always like to have some sort of computer with me. This article focuses on the challenge of maintaining capability while conserving space.
–Raoul
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY WORD FOR 2011 FROM THE ENGLISH CLASS:
malleable MAL-ee-uh-buhl, adjective–
1. Capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer, or by the pressure of rollers; — applied to metals.
2. Capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces; easily influenced.
3. Capable of adjusting to changing circumstances; adaptable.
His image for his own imagination is the acid, the catalyst, that is mixed in to make the gold malleable, and is then wiped away.
— “Nothing is too wonderful to be true”, Times (London), June 7, 2000
The natives proved less malleable and far less innocent than the Europeans imagined, so much so that early colonial history is filled with countless stories of monks who met hideous deaths at the hands of their flocks.
— Juan Gonzalez, Harvest of Empire
I think his request was just a vainglorious way of expressing the basic belief of behaviorism: that children are malleable and that it is their environment, not innate qualities such as talent or temperament, that determines their destiny.
— Judith Rich Harris, The Nurture Assumption
Malleable comes from Medieval Latin malleabilis, from malleare, “to hammer,” from Latin malleus, “hammer.”
THE BIKERNET BEIJING TRAFFIC REPORT–Beijing – At least seven people died and 15 were injured Monday in a pile-up involving about 100 vehicles on a fog-bound expressway in south-western China’s Guizhou province.
The pile-up started when a truck crashed into a petrol station in Zunyi county about 8 am (0000 GMT), the official Xinhua news agency reported from Zunyi.
After the initial collision, at least 100 other vehicles crashed into each other, causing a 20-kilometre tailback, the agency quoted firefighters as saying.
Heavy fog still limited visibility to about 50 metres by mid-morning, it said.
China records an average of about 200 deaths per day in road accidents, but the World Health Organization has previously estimated the daily total of Chinese pedestrians, drivers, cyclists and others killed at more than twice the official figure.//DPA
–Quick Throttle Art
BIKERNET STAFF EVALUATES THE RANDALL DOCTRINE– Hey, good start to the draft and the direction . Here’s my 2 cents to making America free – once more.
1. Some Title Ideas
Getting Freedom To Come Back To America
Bringing Back America’s Freedom Mindset
Freedom Under Attack- Where do we go from here?
The Rise & Fall of Freedom in America.
Where have all the freedom fighters gone?
2. Directions Suggested
a) Education Over Legislation
b) Personal Responsibility
c) Desire To Honor Freedom
Suggest you define “freedom” Keith as you see it for your reader. Do it early in your article. It’s my belief that the definition as been so watered down by politicians, bureaucrats and the public school system that there’s an entire generation out there who can’t relate to freedom like we bikers understand it.
Many people today are growing up in a world where freedom, is becoming a lost cultural issue. They are defining freedom as “free” “dom” – everything for f’n free.
I believe that in this type of article you will also need to define “personal responsibility”. What does it specifically mean to be personally responsible?
Many don’t have a clue about it. This is why so many people look for lifetime employment with the government or some other entitlement.
War! Military! Freedom?
Hey, I am a huge supporter of the military but let’s get real. The government has sent our warriors into the abyss on some vague mission. They are supposed to be fighting for “freedom” not running foreign countries whose thousand year legacies are welded into their core and caves.
Test your definition of freedom against the current mission in Afghanistan? WTF?
The Constitution.
I love it. Took me 10 years to become an American. And a proud one I am. But shit man, America’s political machine is driving the original intent of our Constitution crazy and rendering it towards becoming so watered down to the point of not being recognizable in the next generation.
I believe you need to specifically mention the parts of the constitution that relate to the “desire to honor freedom” so that the reader can connect the dots about what it means to “honor freedom”.
Other Points:
Hey, you may want to say something about the “new normal” as it relates to economics and freedom. Times are going to stay tough for many Americans for a long time I’m afraid. This “new economic normal” is forcing a lot of Americans to take on a “hunker down” mindset instead of kicking ass and changing their situations on their own. Let alone have the energy to fight for freedom at home.
Retirement for many is now a pipe dream. Traditional pension plans have all but disappeared. Only 15% of Americans have such a plan according to the Employee Benefits Research Institute. Many will “need” government and they’ll be willing to give up freedoms as a result.
We lost the last decade of investments.
One third of home values, a pot of retirement for many, is gone.
Boomers, lovers of freedom, are financially shell shocked. Few have savings of any significance. As a result, the chasing of “freedom” as we bikers define it may not be a priority for many boomers. Many are just trying to survive.
Medical costs are a killer of “freedom” Bro. Why? Because the average American can’t afford their medical insurance coverage. The government wants to take it over and “provide” it to citizens. Guess what this does to freedom? Kills it. Enslaves the people. Limited choices, death panels, rationed care, etc. result.
The Tools:
Like the “Freedom Council” idea. I would not use the word committee has it has a connotation of all talk and no action. Members best be heavy weights or sphere of influence will be low.
Love the education over legislation idea. You’ll need a strong politician on your side here to get the political lobbying clout to sell the concept in the halls of power.
Hey, my 2 cents is free to friends. Good luck with the Mantra of 2011. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
–Cigar Marc.
Bikernet Insurance
BIKERNET MIDWESTERN WEATHER REPORT– blizzards abound.
I just finished talking with a friend in Minneapolis and he said that, since early this morning, all his wife has done is look through the kitchen window and the snow is nearly waist high.
He said that if it gets much worse, he may have to let her in …
LIFESTYLE IS OPEN UNTIL 4pm NEW YEARS EVE!– LifeStyle Cycles is open on New Year’s Eve until 4pm. And we’ve got tons of deals going on in every department, and you’ll be sure to have a little green left in your pocketbook when you leave the store. So come on in, don’t stress out, because you still have time to get your shopping done before the end of the year … thanks to your friends at LifeStyle Cycles.
2010 Kendon Dual Motorcycle Trailer
WAS $2,395.00 NOW ONLY $1,999.00
YEAR END PRICE REDUCTION!! This is a brand new, 2010 Kendon Dual Bike Trailer, model no. BB207. This is the perfect trailer for hauling your bike long distances. Features improved tie down points, stronger fender material, new adjustable wheel chocks, high quality powder coating, and more. Come in today and check it out, Only one at this price!!
2010 Kendon Single Motorcycle Trailer
TAKE IT HOME FOR $1,799.00
This is a brand new Kendon Single Bike Trailer, model no. BB107. This is the perfect trailer for hauling your bike long distances. Features improved tie down points, stronger fender material, new adjustable wheel chock, high quality powder coating, and more. Come in today and check it out!
SALE CONTINUED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR!
BIKERNET CLASSIFIEDS FOR 2011–“Partnering with Keith Ball, arguably the “King of the Biker Culture” and his successful online effort Bikernet.com, will be instrumental in helping SprocketList connect with the important custom V-Twin niche.,” said Joe Tripp, formerly the Executive Director of Digital Operations at SPEED Channel and now President of SprocketList.com. “We welcome the loyal Bikernet readers to the SprocketList family and look forward to offering our powerful classified ads on Bikernet.com.”
Launched this past September, SprocketList.com offers powersports enthusiasts a free, easy-to-use platform for buying or selling motorcycles, ATV’s, snowmobiles, personal watercraft and associated gear, parts and accessories. For a small fee advertisers will have the ability to upgrade their ads to include premium features or to reserve a premier position on top-level pages. Ads placed on SprocketList will be visible throughout an entire network of classified sites powered by the same core technology and database, affording unparalleled reach and success.
The approach is a proven success model. Raceway Media Group, previously focused on the auto racing segment, has built a network that boasts nearly 1 million unique visitors and more than 70 million page views per month. Its myriad partner sites include marquee names such as ESPN Outdoors, SPEED.com and Autoweek. RacingJunk.com, its core property (and sister site to SprocketList.com), is the world leader in online four-wheel motorsports classifieds.
For more information on advertising and private label classifieds opportunities, visit http://sprocketlist.com or contact: Joe Tripp at SprocketList.com, (803) 287-1719 or email jtripp@sprocketlistl.com.
NEW YEAR’S THOUGHT PATTERNS FROM THE BIKERNET THINK TANK–
5. Visualize Your Successes for 2011
Form as clear a mental picture as you can about how you will feel 12 months from now – December 30, 2011. Take two five minute mental breaks daily to clarify and color that picture in your head. How excited will you be when you review your top three goals for the year and they are all accomplished? Remember, we are not looking for perfection, just for us and everyone around us to be honest and do the best they can be by giving it 100% all the time.
Many successful people are driven by competition and the need to win. We all have the natural drive in us to want to feel good and be successful. Use this DNA-given drive to focus, focus and focus on achieving your top three goals for the year.
And finally, BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT!
Become a 2011 winner NOW! You can do it!
BossMan@Bikernet-Insurance.com
Bikernet Insurance Center LLC
Toll Free: 888-467-8703
Email for fastest response: clientservice@bikernet-insurance.com
CA 0G67810 – Serving 20 states
ECONOMIC LESSON FROM AUSTRALIA– Had a mate around today who use to work for me when I had my bicycle shops and manufacturing plant.
He being Clive Burrows produced a photograph of what we believe was the last Australian Bicycle manufactured at my Frankston factory.
The big guns being Malvern Star, Repco, Hallmark etc had already started to import from Japan, Korea and Taiwan whilst I continued to produce an Australian product until alas I could no longer compete.
–Ramon
2010 DARWIN AWARDS CONTINUED–
4th Place
Sylvester Briddell, Jr., 26, was killed as he won a bet with friends who said he would not put a revolver loaded with four bullets into his mouth and pull the trigger.
3rd Place
After walking around a marked police patrol car parked at the front door, a man walked into H&J Leather & Firearms intent on robbing the store. The shop was full of customers and a uniformed officer was standing at the counter. Upon seeing the officer, the would-be robber announced a hold-up and fired a few wild shots from a target pistol. The officer and a clerk promptly returned fire and several customers also drew their guns and fired. The robber was pronounced dead at the scene by Paramedics. Crime scene investigators located 47 expended cartridge cases in the shop. The subsequent autopsy revealed 23 gunshot wounds. Ballistics identified rounds from 7 different weapons. No one else was hurt.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Paul Stiller, 47, and his wife Bonnie were bored just driving around at 2 a.m. So they lit a stick of dynamite to toss out the window to see what would happen. Apparently they failed to notice the window was closed
RUNNER UP
Kerry Bingham had been drinking with several friends when one of them said they knew a person who had bungee-jumped from a local bridge in the middle of traffic. The conversation grew more heated and at least 10 men trooped along the walkway of the bridge at 4:30 a.m. Upon arrival at the midpoint of the bridge they discovered that no one had brought a bungee rope. Bingham, who had continued drinking, volunteered and pointed out that a coil of lineman’s cable lay nearby. They secured one end around Bingham’s leg and then tied the other (!) to the bridge. His fall lasted 40 feet before the cable tightened and tore his foot off at the ankle. He miraculously survived his fall into the icy water and was rescued by two nearby fishermen. Bingham’s foot was never located.
AND THE WINNER IS…
Zookeeper Friedrich Riesfeldt ( Paderborn , Germany ) fed his constipated elephant 22 doses of animal laxative and more than a bushel of berries, figs and prunes before the plugged-up pachyderm finally got relief. Investigators say ill-fated Friedrich, 46, was attempting to give the ailing elephant an olive oil enema when the relieved beast unloaded. The sheer force of the elephant’s unexpected defecation knocked Mr. Riesfeldt to the ground where he struck his head on a rock as the elephant continued to evacuate 200 pounds of dung on top of him. It seems to be just one of those freak accidents that proves…. ‘shit happens’.
IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPORTANT TO THANK THESE PEOPLE FOR REMOVING THEMSELVES FROM THE GENE POOL!
–from Ted T.
THREE 2011 BIKERNET PROJECTS, NEW BIKERNET STAFF MEMBERS–First, our Classifieds department. We are very excited about bringing you a series classifieds service. Mike Pullin is taking the reigns for managing this area. Mike has a long history in our industry, and organizing charity runs.
WHEELER RACING PERFORMANCE REPORT– Peeled out of Long Beach this afternoon at 2 arrived San Jose 1/2 past 6, quite the white liner through Ventura and all points headed North, since I decided on riding the scenic 101.
Willie will be calling and returning your chains, Thanks for the offer. The good Dr. Willie in Long Beach dialed my Dyna’s suspension to the nuts, realigned the primary chain (.005) run out, Fisher Harmonic Balancer, fresh Rivera hub, plates, steels and a Lock Up Unit to top it off with a fresh Subaki rear chain. Runs like a sewing machine, until you pull the trigger…..hang on 2011!
Happy Holidays!
–Ray
President, Wheeler Racing
BIKERNET AD OF THE WEEK– *If you are not a Ford fan, that’s ok, but please watch this commercial, it’s not what you think, and it’s one of the best ways to promote a product I’ve ever seen. Loved it, it touches the heart.*
This can put a tear in your eye.
Ford has not accepted a penny from the government bailout and should be marketing their action. But in my mind they have chosen to take a higher road …a road with class. Enjoy this to the very end.
Ford out did themselves with this commercial.
They have now come up with a timely and heartwarming product commercial that would make Henry Ford proud of the company he founded in 1903.
To be completely honest you may want a Kleenex tissue nearby while watching this. Very special indeed!
GUN NUT REPORT FROM TEXAS– And that does not include those of us who do not hunt but have the means too. – the firepower.
–Sam
The world’s largest army? Could just be America’s hunters! I don’t spend my fall weekends tramping around the woods in pursuit of a buck, but a lot of my friends and neighbors do.
This blogger adds up all the hunters in just a handful of states, and comes to a striking conclusion:
The state of Wisconsin has gone an entire deer hunting season without someone getting killed. That’s great. There were over 600,000 hunters.
Allow me to restate that number. Over the last two months, the eighth largest army in the world – more men under arms than Iran ; more than France and Germany combined – deployed to the woods of a single American state to help keep the deer menace at bay.
But that pales in comparison to the 750,000 who are in the woods of Pennsylvania this week. Michigan ‘s 700,000 hunters have now returned home. Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia , and it is literally the case that the hunters of those four states alone would comprise the largest army in the world.
The point? America will forever be safe from foreign invasion with that kind of home-grown firepower.
RETURNING VIETNAM VET STORY–I came home and built my first Pan. 1968
–Bob Clark
FXRS RULE, BIKE OF THE YEAR FOR 2011–We are on a quest for 2011 to build two FXRs and ride them to Sturgis. We want to build two Evo powered FXRs as the best H-D configuration ever built. We need a slogan, like Evos Forever, Forever Evos.
We are having some fun with the competition between Evos and Twin Cams. Evos are the final refinement of the pure V-twin engine heritage. These engines couldn’t be more simple and efficient. We believe the factory went too far with the Twin Cam, although we admit, begrudgingly, to some benefits. The pure simplicity of the Evo configuration has been proven and tested from ’84 to ’99 and proved itself to be the best of the best.
Besides, from a economically viable platform, there’s nothing better, more simple, easier to work on, with plenty of parts available, and performance options galore. We are going to work with Branch Okeefe flowmetrics and Bennett’s Performance to pump up the horsepower without over doing the engine platform. How about an 80-inch Evo with 100 horsepower, with some headwork and a cam. Watch for reports right here.
LONG BEACH UTIMATE BUILDER COMPETITION SHINES WITH DIVERSITY– The Long Beach Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show was the 4th in the new series of custom bike shows sponsored by the International Motorcycle Shows, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha, Star Motorcycles and Bikernet.COM. The 11 shows staged across the United States and The United States Championship in Daytona are all affiliate shows that feed into the AMD World Championship held annually in Sturgis.
“Not only did the Long Beach Show have the most entries to date it also displayed best diversity of styles,” stated Bob Kay of Biker Pros, the show promoter.
In the Performance Custom Class we saw a “78 café styled Yamaha SR 500, a replica “37 Indian board tracker, a Spitfire Supercomp styled after an XR 750, an NHRA inspired Boss Hoss and the winner, a 08 stretched out Hayabusa.
In the Modified Harley Class we saw a slick “02 Dyna Wide Glide, a blacked out “08 street Glide, a 02 V-Rod with a race styled side hack, and a super charged 07 Nite Train and the winner, a bobber styled classic “53 Panhead.
In the Free Style Class we saw an extreme stretched out bagger, a 75 XLCH rigid, an Evo powered Bay Area styled Chopper, a “47 custom Knucklehead and the winner, a intricate reproduction of a “39 Indian.
Special thanks to our builders/owners with multiple entries, Bikernet.com , Spitfire Motorcycles, LA Speed Shop, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles, Lifestyle Cycles and Russ Brown. Thanks to all who entered and all who just came by and took the time to vote for their special custom.
JAKARTA’S NEW VEHICLE TAX HIKE–As the city administration prepares to impose a progressive tax on vehicle ownership in a bid to boost revenue, it also hopes to highlight its benefits in solving Jakarta’s traffic problems.
Under the new rule, owners will be taxed 1.5 percent of the vehicle’s value for their first vehicle, 1.75 percent for the second, 2.5 percent for the third and 4 percent for the fourth and above. The tax, which takes effect on Jan. 3, applies to new and existing vehicles.
Previously, the tax was a flat 1.5 percent of the vehicle’s value, regardless of how many other vehicles the owner possessed.
Iwan Setiawandi, head of the city’s tax office, said on Monday there were an estimated 490,000 vehicles in the city that could be classified as second vehicles, along with 111,000 third vehicles and 109,000 fourth vehicles.
With the progressive tax in place, he said, the city administration could earn up to 7 percent more in vehicle tax than before.
“Of the revenue from vehicle tax, around 10 percent will be earmarked for infrastructure development and improving public transportation, as stipulated in a 2009 law on regional revenue,” he said.
Iwan added that of the vehicle tax revenue from the previous fiscal year, which reached Rp 3.06 trillion ($340 million), Rp 300 billion had been allocated for infrastructure and transportation, including road repair projects.
He said the tax office would work with the city’s population and civil registrar to identify car owners.
“We’ll trace the ownership based on address to prevent people from fraudulently claiming to own fewer vehicles,” he said.
Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo previously said the progressive tax was necessary to stem the number of new vehicles hitting the city’s streets each day. The number of new cars and motorcycles in Jakarta increases by an estimated 10 percent a year, according to the administration, with 890 new motorcycles and 420 new cars registered each day.
Fauzi said the higher tax would prompt people to start using public transportation rather than private vehicles.
–Quick Throttle Art
NEW YEARS EVE ART FROM MARCOS–The party is close.
Enjoy it and Happy New Year!!
–Marcos Aurelio
Pop Artist
But I will continue to manufacture these, so please forward any inquires to myself @ Jstardoug@gmail.com
Thanks!
Doug McGoon
Jstar Motors – Anaheim Hills
p (866)906-0586
c (424)202-2334
NEW CAFÉ RACER TV SHOW–This week, we’ve been working feverishly to complete a few segments for the show that are near and dear to our hearts. The foremost is a piece we shot at London’s Lewis Leathers, known as the oldest and most respected leather motorcycle gear manufacturer on the planet. That’s no trite distinction as motorcycle gear has to be stylish, durable and capable of taking the sort of punishment that gives rodeo clowns nightmares just to survive, let alone for most of a century as has Lewis.
The shop is run by Derek Harris, one of the coolest cats we had the pleasure of meeting during our extended world tour. Derek is a quiet, soft-spoken type but has more arcane and fascinating facts stored in his noggin than most. He can drop science on the history and development of motorcycle gear for hours and never grow boring, and his insights on how leather gear worn by early aviators evolved into the same motorcycle jackets we wear today is, well, you’ll have to catch the TV show for his side of the story.
–Mike Seate
www.caferacermag.com
NEW YEAR’S EVE 24 4-A CURE & NEW YEAR’S DAY 1000
Rider’s 4-A Cure
We Need Your Support!
Republic is hosting the most exciting and unprecedented New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Events for the Houston Motorcycle Community and is requesting your assistance and support. We are hosting the Kevin Kline 24 hour non-stop treadmill run for the Snowdrops Foundation of the Texas Children’s Cancer Center and will be open for 33 non-stop hours – 9:00am Friday through Saturday afternoon! These events are being covered by ABC National and other local media! Please check out www.snowdropfoundation.org and www.republichd.com for full details!
Repubic, the Snowdrops Foundation, the Texas Children’s Cancer Center, and especially all of the young patients and their families need your support and to have
1000 cycles escort Kevin to the hospital New Year’s afternoon!
Registration 10:30am and KSU @ 1:45pm New Year’s Day and
Republic pays for the registration fees the same as last year!
Pre-registration call Minda at 281-295-1000 x163 or mharris
Republic and its dedicated staff are investing a tremedous amount of time, energy, and finances in this endeavor and have a goal of 1000 cycles – over 7 miles – all escorted by over 20 police motorcade officers!
To top that off, any participating enthusiast who makes an additional rider’s fee of only $15.00 or 2 for $25.00 can win a brand new Republic Harley-Davidson when we all get to Texas Children’s Cancer Center! The winning ticket will be drawn by one of the young patient’s immediately upon the arrival of the last cycle!
Thanks so very much for a wonderful 2010 and we are looking forward to seeing you Friday and Saturday!
Craig D. “Slojak”
General Manager
Weather Forecast……….. New Year’s Day 65 degrees with sunshine!
MOTORCYCLE NEWS FROM THAILAND– PHUKET police will begin the ”100 percent helmet” crackdown across the island on the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.
People heading home on motorcycles from Phuket’s two big rival celebrations – with top star performers in both Patong and Phuket City – will need to wear head protection whether they are driving or riding pillion.
The intention of police to enforce the helmet law across Phuket from the first minute of 2011 was emphasised today by Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong.
–ByPhuketwan
— Art
UNCLE MONKEY LOOKING DOWN THE 2011 BARREL– Christmas is behind us and we are staring at the New Year with both barrels cocked and loaded. It is an opportunity to take stock of the year that was and look forward. Most of us can smile; others breathe a sigh of relief. Life comes at us at full speed like an unfamiliar stretch of road, miles of twisting roads, peaks and valleys, wide-open spaces, sunny days and sometimes weeks of rain. When the dust clears we perceiver, careful when we have to be, carefree when we can.
Being a biker is a blessing. We are honest, hard working and dependable when it counts. We look at the world in its simplest form. We stand for what is right, stand against what is wrong with this country. We respect the old; respect the young men and women who serve in our military, respect the freedom that should be inherent to us all. We have learned to live minimalist knowing what really, truly matters is a good horse, laughing with good friends, lying with someone we love.
A new year means new thoughts, new ideas, new bikes and new adventures. It will take us down familiar roads and paths less taken. We take comfort that we are not alone, that there is a blood bond between the road, our motorcycle, and the brotherhood of riders. There are those that have our back no matter what, that we have their back when the chips are down.
As the dust settles around us we can’t help but smile. We’ve survived, even flourished in the face of adversity. It is behind us now as we gun the throttle towards the distant horizon.
–bad Uncle Monkey
BIKERNET ARTIST OF THE WEEK–My name is Bernard Oliver, I have been a illustrator Designer for over twenty years. I have a passion for illustration and design.
Business today is hyper competitive and passion is what separates companies. I have a long track record of working with great companies like Nissan, Toyota, Disney, Maui & Sons and Adidas.
I am located in the Panhandle of Florida close to Pensacola.
–Bernard
850 376 8822
Web Site: http://home.mchsi.com/~bernard.oliver
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BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER NIGHTLY STUDIES, Hangover Helpers– If you are planning on attending a New Year’s celebration, you may want to take a few precautions to lessen your chances of starting the New Year with an alcohol-related hangover. The surefire way to keep a clear head is not to drink at all and to be the designated driver for your friends who do drink. Alcohol is a strong toxin to both the liver and the nervous system, and it irritates the upper digestive tract and urinary system as well. If you do drink, remember:
1. Moderation is the best way to avoid hangovers – make sure to pace yourself.
2. Eat food if you have more than a drink or two.
3. Avoid dehydration (and cut down on alcohol intake) by drinking as much water as possible while you’re drinking alcohol.
4. Take a B-complex vitamin supplement plus extra thiamine (100 mg) to counter the B-vitamin depletion caused by alcohol.
5. Choose beverages that are “cleaner.” Some distilled beverages are rich in types of alcohol called congeners – toxic impurities that can greatly add to your woes. Bourbon, rum and cognac are particularly dirty, while vodka, which is just pure alcohol and water, is the cleanest.
–DRWEIL.COM
LOUISIANA COUPLE VOTED 2010 “COOLEST CLIENTS” BY THE BIKERNET INSURANCE CREW–Every year the staff at Bikernet Insurance reviews the year’s new client list and and votes on the company’s “coolest clients.”
“Its a tough job says, Bossman Marc B., since we have clients that range from big time celebrities to cool average Joes and Janes.”
One thing they all have in common however, is that they all absolutely love their custom bikes and could not live without them. It’s a part of their lifestyle. The bikes reflect who they are. Its personal for them so we go all out to make sure they and their machines are insured right.
For a quick peek at the story behind this couple and their custom beauty, go to http://blog.bikernet-insurance.com and click on the “Customs” tab.
Thank you Coy and Gwen for giving us permission to feature you and for being selected as the 2010 “Coolest Clients” by the crew at Bikernet Insurance.
The Team at Bikernet Insurance
Call toll free anytime 888-467-8703
For fastest response email clientservice@bikernet-insurance.com
Online services available at www.bikernet-insurance.com
Bikernet Insurance Center LLC
CA 0G67810 – serving 20 states.
THE MAN CAVE UPDATE–Just about finished with my Man Cave on the North wall of the motorcycle shop. Just have to finish the Panhead engine under the bar, and move the white paint cabinet on the right of the juke box to make room for my Harley slot machine. The fridge and stereo are under the bar with the engine. We’ll be rockin’ an’ rollin’, an’ buildin’ some SWEET iron out here next summer!!
–Buckshot
AUSTRALIAN BIKERNET CORRESPONDENT AND INDUSTRIAL MAGNET NEW YEAR WISH– Its time to wish you a Happy New Year:
There’s something exciting about leaving an old year and beginning a new one. It’s the chance to start afresh. Somehow we feel different at the beginning of a new year. We have new hope, and new determination … and new goals. Perhaps we plan to do better than we did last year. We plan to improve, achieve, succeed, and win?
New Year’s Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot! Unless, of course, those tests come back positive. The old year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The new year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!
The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
–Ramon
D&D CUSTOM BIKE OF THE WEEK–Richard Krall built a custom Harley-Davidson Night Train with high performance D&D exhaust. The hot rod scoot you see here contains a one off Suzuki 750 front end, slotted aluminum Fat Bob front wheel and a modified the gas tank using the hinged air box off a V-Rod.
One item Richard took off the shelf was the black 2 into 1 Fat Cat pipe. The pipe was designed in the dyno room to extract the most performance possible. The power is made off idle and when passing, meaning that power is made early instead at the very end of the RPM range. Depending on the Harley model, enthusiasts can choose from 1 to 3 sound profiles.
Get more details on D&D Performance Exhaust pipes.
BIKERNET FAMILY COUNSELING MOMENT– Earl and Bubba are quietly sitting
in a boat fishing, chewing tobacco and drinking beer when suddenly Bubba
says, “Think I’m gonna divorce the wife – she ain’t spoke to me in over 2 months.”
Earl spits overboard, takes a long, slow sip of beer and says, “Better think it over….women like that are hard to find.”
–from Jim Waggaman
Splinters in the Crotch– A woman from Novato, CA who is a tree hugger, a Democrat, and an anti-hunter, purchased a piece of timberland, near Colville , WA .
There was a large tree on one of the highest points in the tract. She wanted a good view of the natural splendor of her land so she started to climb the big tree. As she neared the top she encountered a Spotted Owl that attacked her. In her haste to escape, the woman slid down the tree to the ground and got many splinters in her crotch.
~ GOD BLESS AMERICA
KRYLON JOHN ON THE EVE– Here’s a quick report from So Cal. We just had a bunch of rain that soaked the snot out of everything, and did a bunch of damage, but in the process cleaned everything up. Then the wind was blowing like crazy for a couple of days, and did some more damage, but in the process made the skies completely clear.
Now it’s Thursday, December 30, 2010, and the sun is out, making it one of those incredibly beautiful days that California is famous for. It’s kind of funny how things work out, but the recent destruction done by the weather to my collection of old cars, trucks, and motorcycles has helped me to come up with a number one priority on my list of New Year’s resolutions. A friend of mine pointed it out to me one time by asking if I’d ever noticed how as a group us bikers are really good at finding the best example of anything in existence, and then are equally good at destroying it. I’ve owned my share of rare examples, and not intentionally, but nevertheless they usually end up meeting with a terrible fate. This is going to be the year that all of that changes.
I’m either going to get a vehicle safe under cover where it won’t be exposed to the sun and rain, or I’m going to cut it loose. One of the events that helped bring me to this decision was attending the rally put on by the Horseless Carriage Club for the second year in a row. It was last weekend, and the streets of Pasadena were crawling with some really neat examples of where all of this gearhead stuff started. The White steamer Jay Leno is standing next to is the same car he drove last year, and it hadn’t aged a day since the last time I saw it.
I was checking the White out, when some lady asked Jay if she could take a picture of him with it so I slid in with my trusty Canon, and took this shot. I asked Jay last year about how the White’s engine gets lubrication to the crank and pistons, and he told me the thing uses 600-weight steam oil. The intense heat generated by the steam turns the heavy oil into a vapor and the thing turns itself into a big two-stroke motor of sorts. I’m out of time, so that’s it for this year.
— Krylon John
MAKE IT A HAPPY NEW YEAR, GODDAMNIT–Our major mantra for 2011 is to relax and ride. The question is: In today’s rapid paced, complicated society, is that possible? You damn right it is. Although, I’m not exactly sure how, but I’m working on it. I know we took on too much bullshit, in an effort to survive the recession. But the key will be to turn off a myriad of projects, and turn on the fun stuff.
Here’s one other thought. Sometimes I think that I need to drop the philanthropic notions and focus on self, but I can’t do that. We need to think about how we can help others, help motorcyclists’ rights, and help the world with the economy woes. I may not be able to do as much as Donald Trump is capable of doing, but I can try.
Ride Forever
–Bandit 
