Hey,
This news is a wild compilation. You name it, we’ve got it, from TV news to No Colors policies. I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas for the SEMA show. Vendors were reportedly down 20 percent, but the crowds were on hand and excited. SEMA is the second largest convention annually in Vegas. It represents the automotive aftermarket, from hot rods, to metric tuners, to tools, custom paint displays, and major manufacturers. The show is open to dealers, shops, builders, painters and the public. I could spend all day long in the building set aside for only tool manufacturers.
This year they kicked off a special section for bikes, but builders and custom bikes were scattered throughout. “If they don’t have a babe in a booth, they use a custom bike to draw attention,” a brother told me once. Anyway, I survived several meetings, but let’s hit the news, and then I’ll report:
BIKERNET NEWS FLASH, HARLEY’S NEW WATER COOLED ELECTRA GLIDE SPOTTED–This just in from Ernie Chavez
Harley-Davidson and Buell to roll into Italy, EICMA–BUELL AIN’T DEAD YET!–Harley-Davidson and Buell are getting ready for the EICMA in Milan, Italy, one of the largest motorcycle exhibitions worldwide, which will open it’s gates to trade and media visitors on November 10, to the general public two days later on November 12. Yes, you read it right: Buell will be part of the Motor Company’s display as well ? and we have that from the highest authority, Harley-Davidson Italy themselves. Despite the shock of the production stop a short while ago, Buell appears to be by far not dead and buried. While continued display of Buell motorcycles may be just an effort to help dealers sell the bikes they still have in stock, it would be only appropriate if an opportunity would arise for Eric Buell and his team to continue the amazing work they have done.
Harley-Davidson will be presenting their full European model lineup of motorcycles, including the Dyna Wide Glide, Ultra Limited and Fat Boy Special in Italy, while Buell will be represented with the XB12SX and the new City X.
And should any of you ladies happen to be in the area, here is some good news for you from the organizers of EICMA: They would like to invite all the ladies to visit the show free of charge on ? here’s the catch ? Friday, November 13.
One more thing: The bikes shown in these pictures are the European models, so don’t go running to your H-D dealer complaining that your’s has a different bolt somewhere.
– – C.S. Berg
FIND THE VINTAGE CLASS BOOTH FOR WEIRD OLD SHIT– Here is where we will be set up for the rest of 2009! Thanks for all the support as always.
11/8 Rose Bowl Flea Market – Pasadena – vintage clothing areawww.rgcshows.com
11/22 Long Beach Cycle Swap – Veterans Stadium – 614/615www.toppingevents.com
12/6 Long Beach Cycle Swap – yes again – see above
12/12 Mooneyes Xmas Party – Irwindalewww.mooneyes.com
12/13 Chopperfest – Venturawww.chopperfestival.com
–Joel and Mary, Vintage Klass
Vintage Helmets and Leathers
949 355 8098
www.myspace.com/vintageklass
INDIAN LARRY COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE FROM CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE–It?s been five years since the custom motorcycle scene lost one of their greatest talents. Indian Larry was the man and the story of his life was as unique as the motorcycles he built in his Brooklyn shop. Larry lived life on his terms and touched many people as he blazed a trail across the chopper culture. Now, to mark this five year anniversary, Indian Larry Motorcycles and Cycle Source Magazine have joined forces to release a commemorative issue in his honor.
Never Before Seen Images:
Acclaimed New York photographer, Clay Patrick McBride, has opened the vault for this special edition and inside you?ll see incredible imagery of Larry and the life and times that defined his character. Included in this issue will be a 16.5? x 21.5? full color pull-out poster of the man himself.
Incredible Content: Inside we?ll take a look at some of Larry?s most notable builds with commentary from friends who share what that time in his life was like. A special section titled ?The Coney Island Days? will revisit one of Larry?s deepest passions; life around Coney Island and the sideshow life-style that went with it.
Interviews And Commentary:
Some of Larry?s life long friends have come forward to share their memories with the man behind the question mark. You?ll get a feeling of what it was like to spend time around the shop, getting coffees or being on the road with Larry.
Where Are They Now:
The shop where it all happened played host to a whole cast of characters and inside this issue we want to take a look at where they are now. From Bobby and Elisa, Paul and Keino to Bambi and the Coney Island players, we look at what has happened to the ?Chopper Shaman?s? family over the past five years.
Release Date: January 2010
Distribution On The Newsstand Will Be Very Limited To Let Our Best Resellers Carry It Exclusively.
To pre order, please visit http://www.cyclesource.com/indianlarryspecial.htm
For More Information Go To: www.cyclesource.com www.indianlarry.com
Indian Motorcycles extends Cash For Clunkers, Ride Free programs–The success of the Cash For Clunkers program has led Indian Motorcycles to extend the company’s incentive for all 2009 Indian Chief models in dealer stock until November 28, 2009. They continue to offer $3,000 bonus trade-in credit on any new or demo 2009 Indian Chief.
Eligible for the Cash for Clunkers program is any running and rideable street legal motorcycle above 100cc displacement, and you must have a clear title to the bike. For newer bikes, interested parties can receive $3,000 above NADA trade-in value toward a new 2009 Indian Chief.
Indian has also extended the ?Ride Free? program through November 28, 2009. This special incenive is also good on any 2009 Indian Chief model in dealer stock. Indian will make the first six payments of up to $500 per month on the bike.
For more information and details, visit www.indianmotorcycle.com or your local Indian Motorcycle dealer.
– – C.S. Berg
AIR FORCE BLASTER MOTORCYCLE DRYERS– Are you looking for just the right gift to give the biker who thinks he or she has everything? Tired of the gloves, scarves, and all the stuff that you can only use in the winter? Biker?s Choice? has what you?re looking for.
The Air Force Blaster comes in three sizes, small; the Sidekick, medium, and the Master Blaster. They are all constructed of steel and proudly made in the USA and feature a 1-year manufacturer?s warranty.
The Sidekick weighs just over three pounds and is compact enough to put in your saddlebags, but powerful enough to dry your bike off in minutes. No more water spots or streaks!! This model features a 950 watt, 8 amp motor and has a 12? heavy-duty 3 conductor cord and one attachment. This retails for $99.99.
The medium size has a 4.0 peak HP motor, a 10 foot heavy-duty hose, a heavy-duty rubber blower nozzle with 4 interchangeable attachments. This model is great for water traps. Retail is $239.99.
The Master Blaster is the biggest of all with two twin fan 4.0 PHP motors for a total of 8.0 HP. Two switches allow the user to control the air flow and the temperature at three different levels. Add in a 10 foot heavy-duty hose, a heavy-duty Neoprene? blower nozzle, 3 attachments; an air stream tool, micro adapter and a 1-1/4 adapter and an easy change foam filter, its perfect for any bike. This retails for $429.99.
For more information on this or any other product we carry, visit www.Bikerschoice.com or go by one of our many Biker?s Choice dealers.
Happy and Safe Riding!!
–Carmen
BIKERNET FREE CONTEST WINNER–Your Winner isGAR FREYMANN FROM BENTON CITY, WA.USA
Wanted: I COULD REALLY USE THAT SLEEPING GEAR FROM OZ AS I AM A NAM VETERAN WITH MY LEG AMPUTATED.
It doesn’t cost a thing to enter. So what are you wating for?
CYCLE SOURCE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC WORLD WIDE NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION VOTING EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR BIKERNET READERS–This is just a quick last minute reminder to let you know that we have about a week left in the voting for the ?Best Of Awards? that will appear in our January 2010 issue. If you have not cast your vote yet, please get on it now. Please send this along to as many friends as you can or post it on your facebook, myspace, etc. so we will get a good idea of everyone?s picks this year.
http://www.cyclesource.com/yearinrev.htm
Thanks!
–Chris-
Lisa Ballard
Cycle Source Magazine
603-377-0517
www.cyclesource.com
Victory Motorcycles Offering Special Incentives To Military Personnel– MEDINA, MN (Nov. 4th, 2009) ? Victory Motorcycles is honoring U.S. and Canadian military personnel for their dedication and commitment by providing them with a special offer. Victory salutes the efforts of those who serve to protect the freedom we value so highly.
For a limited time, U.S. and Canadian military personnel are being offered $1,000 cash back on the purchase of any new Victory model during the Victory ?Full Throttle Salute.? All active, National Guard, reserve, and retired military personnel are eligible with proof of a valid military I.D.
?We at Victory respect and appreciate the sacrifice and service of our armed forces? said Victory General Manager Steve Menneto. ??The Victory Full Throttle Salute? is an opportunity for Victory to show that appreciation, and offer these men and women the chance to get on a new Victory and enjoy the escape motorcycling provides.?
Details about the Victory ?Full Throttle Salute? are available from Victory dealers, and at www.victorymotorcycles-military.com.
For a limited time, all 2009 and earlier Victory models come with a 5-year warranty. Model Year 2010 Victory models are covered by a two-year warranty.
Show off your ride at the International Motorcycle Shows–Advanstar just announced a new custom bike display for their International Motorcycle Show series, starting November 13 in Dallas, Texas. The new show element called Custom Showcase has been designed to offer local and nationally recognized builders and owners the opportunity to show off their custom creations to thousands of fans and consumers. At each show, attendees will vote for their favorite custom ride to receive the People’s Choice Award. In addition, all participants will be entered into an overall People’s Choice Award, which will be decided by online voting.
If you have a custom cruiser or custom sportbike and want an opportunity to display it in front of tens of thousands of attendees, e-mail your name, contact information, and photos to Kurt Whittington at kwhittington@advanstar.com. Put ‘Custom Showcase’ in the subject line.
If your ride makes the cut, you’ll be contacted with additional information and instructions on how to participate.
– – C.S. Berg
Bikernet Desert Correspondent
BIKERNET ENGLISH CLASS WORD OF THE DAY– redolent RED-uh-luhnt, adjective:
1. Having or exuding fragrance; scented; aromatic.
2. Full of fragrance; odorous; smelling (usually used with of or with).
3. Serving to bring to mind; evocative; suggestive; reminiscent (usually used with of or with).
The 142-foot-long sidewheeled steamer . . . ferried people from place to place, . . . its two decks redolent with the aroma of fresh grapes, peaches, and other fruit headed for the rail spur at the Canandaigua pier, then on to markets in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
— A. M. Sperber and Eric Lax, Bogart
The simple, semisweet and moist cake was redolent of cinnamon and nutmeg and studded with Mr. McCartneys favorite nuts, pecans.
— Bryan Miller, Lots of Smidgens, But Hold the Meat, New York Times, September 7, 1994
The economy is redolent of dead fish.
–Renegade, Bikernet Red freak editor
Redolent derives from Latin redolens, -entis, present participle of redolere, to emit a scent, to diffuse an odor, from red-, re- + olere, to exhale an odor.
York Harley non-core outsourcing would affect hundreds of jobs–Even if Harley-Davidson decides to keep its local vehicle assembly operations in York County, the company would likely cut hundreds of workers in addition to cuts already made this year.
Noncore production, including some sub-assembly, chrome-plating and stamping of parts, would be outsourced to Harley suppliers under a plan the company told workers about Wednesday.
The moves would reduce the number of workers at the York operations regardless of whether the company decides to keep any of its operations in York County.
Harley-Davidson spokeswoman Pat Sweeney said Wednesday the company has settled on a restructuring plan that would include vehicle assembly, metal fabrication and painting of Harley motorcycles in York. But the company found that a plan to also keep non-core production as part of the Springettsbury Township plants lacked the needed savings.
All that is contingent on Harley deciding to keep operations in York County at all. Sweeney said the company is still on schedule to make a decision to stay or go some time in December. The preferred option remains staying in York, she said.
Sweeney did not say exactly how many positions could be cut by outsourcing non-core operations.
But Tom Santone, directing business representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 98, said the decision would displace workers numbering into the hundreds.
Santone said, when contacted early Wednesday afternoon, that he did not have an exact number. Efforts to reach him later in the day were unsuccessful. IAM Local 175 represents employees at the facilities in York County.
A study has been under way since May to examine whether Harley should move the operations elsewhere to save costs. Such a move would mean about 2,000 manufacturing employees would lose their jobs here.
The union is also negotiating a new contract ahead of a scheduled Dec. 2 contract vote. The contract, which is being negotiated early, is also a step toward helping Harley stay in York County.
Santone said the union had hoped to save non-core production work and keep it local. He said the union worked for months to try to make it happen.
In addition to examining the best way to restructure York, Harley is also examining alternative locations in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Shelbyville, Ind. and Shelbyville, Ky. Sweeney said Wednesday that outsourcing of non-core operations would be occurring even if the company decides to move core operations to any of those sites.
Bob Jensenius, executive vice president of the York County Chamber of Commerce, said the outsourcing plan is not surprising. He said when companies talk about efficiency, it often indicates a company plans to cut its business down into its core components.
“That is more common these days,” Jensenius said.
Boiling business down has already been evident this year in several Harley moves, most notably with a decision to jettison the Buell and MV Agusta brands from the company to concentrate on the Harley-Davidson brand.
The job cuts would come as a blow to the local economy, but the impact could depend on which suppliers Harley decides to outsource to and where they are.
Jensenius said that if those suppliers are in the local region, they might be able to absorb some of the workers Harley would let go. From a transportation standpoint, it might make sense for Harley to outsource to companies nearby, he said.
Sweeney said that Harley has not designated any firms to outsource work to yet, but said the company would look to outsource the work mostly domestically in its existing supplier network, including some suppliers in Pennsylvania.
Sen. Bob Casey released a statement about the outsourcing plans Wednesday evening, saying he was disappointed part of what is now done at Harley’s Springettsbury Township site would go elsewhere.
He continues to urge Harley to keep core operations in York County.
Shrinking workforce
Before the now long-running flurry of job reductions began at the facilities in York County, about 3,000 people reportedly worked at Harley’s York County operations.
The local union this summer put production workers at around 2,150, not including nonproduction positions.
That number was further reduced by a previously announced layoff of around 71 workers earlier this fall.
Many nonproduction workers also work at the site, although those ranks have also been hit by reductions
–Rogue
HARLEY MAY BE DOWN, BUT THE D&D DEALER PROGRAM CONTINUES TO EXPAND–If you need performance exhaust, check this, or run to the D&D web site for the dealer nearest you. We are in the process of shooting a V-rod tech article with D&D exhaust and Zipper’s EFI and air cleaner.
1) Deluxe Harley Davidson 3300 Cennestoga Dr Gillette, WY 82718 307-687-2001
2) Cycle Sports ltd of Houston 9802 Clay Rd Houston, TX 77080 713-690-9802
3) Wisconsin Harley Davidson 1280 Blue Ribbon Dr Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-569-8500
4) California Speed Dreams 6260 Rivercrest Dr # C Riverside, CA 92507 951-656-6686
5) J Dog Customs 8041 Orangethorpe Ave Buena Park, CA 90620 714-562-8500
6) Valley Moto Sport Kelowna 1075 McCurdy Rd Kelowna, BC Canada V1X2P9 250-765-3400
7) X-It Cycles 220 W Main St League City, TX 77573 281-554-7333
8) Everglades Motorcycle Service 3888 Mannix Dr # 316 Naples, FL 34114 239-649-4362
9) Murder Creek Customs 1450 South Blvd Brewton , AL 36426 251-867-7788
10) Top Dog Performance Cycles 8843 Monterey Rd Gilroy, CA 95020 408-847-4120
–Jennifer Millican
D & D Performance Ent
And as always RIDE SAFE & LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES
817-834-8961
Fx: 817-831-4260
Steve McQueen Indians at Bonhams Auction Los Angeles, November 14–Several Indian Motorcycles previously owned by legendary actor and motorcyclist Steve McQueen will be up for auction at the Bonham’s auction at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles November 14.
Even though Steve McQueen is most often identified with the Mustang fastback from the movie Bullitt, or the blue-and-orange Porsche 917 he raced in the movie Le Mans, the first motorized vehicle he owned was in fact an Indian motorcycle. After his time in the military, he moved to New York in the early 1950s, where he started acting. His old Indian had a sidecar attached, and with it he terrorized the streets of Greenwich Village. ?McQueen was a good sports car driver, but an even better motorcycle racer,? said legendary motorcycle and off-road racing pioneer, Bud Ekins.
In the 1960s and ’70s, McQueen preferred Triumphs, and later Husqvarnas, for racing but his street ride of choice was most often an Indian. Of the 150-or-so motorcycles he owned throughout his life, it is likely that several dozen of them were Indians.
On auction on November 14 at the Petersen Museum are Steve McQueen’s 1940 Indian 74ci Chief and his 1919 Indian Daytona Twin Racer with FLXI Sidecar, along with numerous other exclusive rarities on two and four wheels. Check it out at www.bonhams.com.
– – C.S. Berg
BIKERNET READER ON H-D SALUTING THE MILITARY ARTICLE–Thanks for putting up the link to H-D’s site saluting the MilitaryIt means a lot to me, as I’m a Air Force Retiree.And to think I was going to email you this morning about it, as usual Bikernet is on top of things
— Don Kline (Loner)
BTW I might have a go at getting a new Iron 883 I like the blacked out motor better.
CUSTOM CHROME & RINEHART ARE OFF TO THE RACES–
Custom Chrome? and Rinehart Racing Agreed to Worldwide Distribution Program
Custom Chrome? and Rinehart Racing have agreed to a worldwide distribution program with True Dual and Slip-On products being available for shipment as early as mid-November.
More great biker stuff @ www.bikernetstudio.com
Help your Santa cruise through the holiday season with gift ideas from Zipper’s Performance Products– Can’t Decide about gift certificates? Zipper’s Performance offers Gift Certificates in Every Amount!
Zipper’s Gift Certificates never expire and can be used towards any purchase.
Let the Zipper’s Elves Help Make Your Christmas Powerful!Need a little help? Contact Us!
Give Zipper’s a call: (410)579-2828
To Make More Power, you must have more airflow!
MaxFlow and HiFlow air cleaners include 100-percent washable, pleated filter elements made from multiple layers of cotton gauze material that traps the smallest dirt particles while providing dramatic flow increases.
ThunderMax Cams by Red Shift provide smooth, linear power with great valve train dynamics.
Several models are available to match stock or installed engine components.
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