Continued From Page 4
MOTORCYCLISTS REAP REWARDS FROM ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE–Motorcycling will reap some benefits from the historic two-year, $787 billion economic recovery and stimulus bill recently signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Language in HR 1, the largest spending measure ever enacted by Congress, provides for a tax credit for people buying new passenger cars and light-duty trucks, and now thanks to eleventh hour lobbying efforts by motorcycle groups and manufacturers, federal tax relief will extend to purchasers of new motorcycles as well.
Section 1008 of the legislation includes motorcycles as ?qualified vehicles?, and individuals purchasing a new motorcycle will be allowed to deduct the sales and excise taxes on their 2009 tax returns.
Four senators successfully lobbied for including motorcycles in the compromise measure: Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Christopher Bond, R-Mo., Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and Herb Kohl, D-Wis.
“The issues of consumer confidence and tight credit markets have not evaded motorcycle dealers,” the four senators wrote to congressional leaders who put the finishing touches on the stimulus bill. “The effect of the downturn not only impacts the dealers – it has hurt manufacturers as well.”
Expansion of the tax credit should attract more motorcycle buyers, Feingold said in a joint press release with Kohl. To be eligible for this ?above the line? tax deduction, you must make less than $125,000 ($250,000 for those filing jointly) and purchase a new bike in 2009 for up to $49,500.
MAKING NOISE ABOUT NOISE
As states like New York and New Hampshire wrestle with anti-noise legislation that would prohibit modifications to factory-installed exhaust systems, the Motorcycle Industry Council is seeking to postpone further legislative action pending their development of a new sound test.In comments to the N.H. House Transportation Committee, the MIC stated that they and the Society of Automotive Engineers are finalizing a new stationary sound test, SAE J2825, which will provide a quick, easy, economical, and science-based tool for accurately identifying motorcycles with excessively noisy exhaust systems.
“Our goal is to provide a consistent tool nationwide for identifying excessively loud exhaust systems without failing those that pass the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency federal sound limit,” said Pamela Amette, vice president of the MIC. “This sound test will effectively achieve the sound control goals of New Hampshire, and other states and municipalities, and more so than some of the proposed legislation currently being considered. On a national level, it will eliminate a lot of the confusion and frustration for motorcyclists when they ride through different jurisdictions.”
Amette said that California, numerous local jurisdictions, and Canada have expressed interest in the new test that was developed through extensive sound testing during 2007.
There’s one major question here. What is this level they are proporting to be an easy fix and how will his impact the aftermarket exhaust system industry? Will loud pipes be able to save lives?–Wilburn Roach
WEIRD NEWS: MOTORCYCLE SURVEILANCE SYSTEM INSTALLED IN U.K.–A new surveillance system installed on eight routes in Derbyshire, England designed to track movements of motorcyclists on the roads will be operational by Easter.
The technology can tell motorcycles apart from other vehicles, measure their speeds and will be able to read number plates under plans. Data such as the routes taken by individual motorcyclists along with time and date will be collected and kept even if they have committed no offense.
The project has prompted civil rights groups to express grave concerns about the potential for invasion of motorcyclists? privacy.
Speed camera bosses behind the scheme have named it the ?motorcycle data project? and the equipment a ?motorcycle detection system?. It will scrutinize movements of motorcyclists in particular and be switched on to coincide with the start of the riding season in April, they say.
The Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership said the aim was to ?gather intelligence? to ?prevent motorcycle casualties? through measures such as speed warning signs, extra police patrols and safer roadside barriers.
But Isabella Sankey, Director of Policy for the civil rights group Liberty, said: ?The road to massive-scale real-time surveillance is paved with good intentions. We have no problem with ANPR being used to locate vehicles whose owners the police firmly suspect of having committed an offence but it shouldn’t be used as a tool of mass surveillance.?
Did you know Australia is attempting to pass a law requiring a front license plate on all motorcycles, so camera can better catch the image?
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), American philosopher & statesman, 3rd U.S. President
NEW FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION LAWS–*SB 1908 by *Jackson. Firearms and Ammunition – As introduced, enacts the “Second Amendment Protection Act” prohibiting the sale of microstamped firearms or ammunition in this state. – Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.
These bills were introduced this month. There are also some which allows judges and P.O.’s to carry which scares the shit out of me!
*SB 1645 SB1519 SB 1261 *HB 0766 –from Capn Bill DAYTONA COURTESY CALENDAR–this is a courtesy calendar of events for Daytona, it is by no means comprehensive but I think it should be helpful…see you in the sun. Saturday Feb. 28th Gregg Allman Destination Daytona –Ken Conte ZAP Tasting update! —Wow – another fantastic tasting event. I’d like to thank all of you who came by our booth to say hello and to try our new releases. Our yet-to-be-released 2007 vintage “Del Fava” Zinfandel was well received and will be available in about a month or so. Here are a few pics I took between pouring breaks and wine-tasting with 8,000 of our closest friends: Huge Crowd at Fort Mason – 1 of 2 tasting pavillions. Bill & our newest V-Twin Vixen – Jackie Joanna, Lisa & Karen Poured mucho Zin Special offer of the Month from V-Twin Vineyards:“Economic Stimulus6-pak sampler” We can’t bailout the auto industry – but we can help our wine-loving friends with these special prices. Only $ 100.80There has never been a better time to order and save. We are moving warehouses and passing the savings on to you! Save 30% for this very limited offer!Your “Economic Stimulus 6-pak Sampler” contains 2 bottles each of: Regular Price $ 144.00 – You save save $43.20. (Shipping not included – additional discounts will not apply)Offer valid thru Feb 28th only. Member Photo of the month:Dain Gingerelli, Editor of IronWorks Magazine, relaxes with a glass of V-Twin Zin after the V-Twin Expo in Ohio earlier this month. Cheers! DON?T JUST SEE ANTIQUE BIKES?TRY ONE OUT IN DAYTONA–Visitors to Bike Week in Daytona Beach during the first week of March will get a chance to experience history firsthand, thanks to The Antique Motorcycle Club of America. The AMCA will host a display at the Limpnickie Lot, a custom-bike location in South Daytona Beach, that won?t just give visitors a chance to see historic motorcycles?they?ll be able to try them out as well. In addition to a collection of classic machines for visitors to admire, the AMCA will have two bikes set aside for hands-on demonstrations of decades-old technology. Those machines?a 1948 Indian Chief and a 1939 Harley Davidson Knucklehead?will be set up on stands so that anyone stopping by can try to kick-start them and learn how to operate a ?dead man?s? throttle, hand shift and foot clutch. Those demonstrations will take place all day on Wednesday, March 4. ?There have been a lot of times in the past, where I was out riding old bikes with friends, and whenever we stopped for a bite to eat, or to fill up gas, our group of old bikes would get bombarded by curious people.? said Matt Olsen, youth coordinator for The AMCA. ?I thought that it would be neat to provide the modern motorcycle public with an opportunity to learn about these old machines and to give people a chance to try out a classic machine for themselves.? On Friday, March 6, The AMCA will sponsor a class for motorcycles from the Linkert-carburetor era in the Cycle Source Ride-in Bike Show at the Limpnickie Lot. Linkert was the primary supplier of carbs to American motorcycle manufacturers from 1933 to 1965, and the class will be open to Indians, plus Harley Flatheads, Knuckleheads and Panheads, along with any bike that has been retrofitted with these carbs. The AMCA display will be located in the Limpnickie Lot at the Stone Edge Skate Park, 1848 S. Ridgewood Ave. in South Daytona Beach. For more information, go to www.limpnickielot.com.
Monday March 2nd 11 a.m. Freeway party at Bahama House 2001 South Atlantic Ave
Tuesday March 3rd Limp Nickie Night at the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Dog House 7 p.m.
Wednesday March 4th Confederate Railroad and The Horse Magazine Night at Seminole Hard Rock
Wednesday March 4th Brian Howe of Bad Company Destination Daytona
Thursday March 5th Willies Tattoo Old School Chopper Show
Thursday March 5th Ducati Dyno Shootout Destination Daytona
Thursday March 5th World War Cage Fighting Destination Daytona
Thursday March 5th Biker Fusion Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Dog House 7 p.m.
Friday March 6th AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast Hilton Daytona Beach
Friday March 6th Cycle Source Limp Nickie Chopper Show 12:00
Friday March 6th Boardwalk Bike Show
Friday March 6th Captain Morgan Bike Show Cabbage Patch 12:00
Friday March 6th British and Euro Bike Show Daytona Flea Market
Friday March 6th Love Hate Choppers Night with Ami James at Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse
Friday March 6th 68th Daytona 200 (Under the Lights)
Saturday March 7th AMA Daytona Supercross
Rise Above Consulting
– 2005 V-Twin Zin. GOLD MEDAL
– 2008 Riverside Int. Wine Comp.
– 2005 Poker Run Zinfandel. GOLD MEDAL – 2008 Orange County Fair.
– 2005 Bike Week Merlot. GOLD MEDAL
– 2008 Sonoma County harvest Fair 
EW JET BLACK SCREAMIN’ EAGLE FAT BOB MUFFLERS AND SHIELDS–Install Throaty Screamin’ Eagle Sound and a Durable Black Ceramic Finish.
MILWAUKEE (Jan. 30, 2009) ? Treat the Harley-Davidson Dyna Fat Bob to the beauty of black with the new Screamin’ Eagle Street Performance Jet Black Slip-On Mufflers (P/N 80601-09, $389.95) and matching Screamin’ Eagle Jet Black Exhaust Shield Kit (P/N 65247-09, $229.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories. These components are treated with a ceramic coating that maintains its uniform finish and meets Harley-Davidson durability and corrosion-resistance standards.
The 50-state-legal, slip-on mufflers deliver the throaty Screamin’ Eagle Street Performance tone and feature the embossed Screamin’ Eagle logo and chrome-plated Blunt Revolver end caps with cut-out chambers that reveal the black pipe. The front and rear head pipe shields feature the same Tommy Gun cut-outs found on the original equipment Fat Bob exhuast. Each is manufactured to original-equipment standards for a perfect fit and easy installation. Mufflers fit 2008-later Fat Bob models and require separate purchase of muffler clamps. The exhaust shield kit fits 2008-later Fat Bob model with forward controls.
Screamin’ Eagle Jet Black Exhaust Shield Kits are also now available to match the Screamin’ Eagle Street Performance Jet Black Slip-On Mufflers designed for many Harley-Davidson Sportster and Touring models.
For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada
BREAK OUT THE WHISKEY–We will bring you reports from Daytona. We’re not going. We’re sequestered in the Bikernet Interplanetary Headquarters delivering constant entertainment to you. I have a 1913 Merkel shot by the famous Markus Cuff on tap. I’m going to interview Don Whalen tomorrow and write the story. I also have a wild woman Tory Lane, our latest Girl of Bikernet posed with Scott’s chopper. We’ve got more girls, bike features, tech articles and fiction headed you way.
So goddamnit, I’m rolling out of here for a Margarita, chips ‘n’ Salsa and Mexican food tonight. Tomorrow we ride motorcycles from the teens at some Hot Rod Museum in Pomona, then we’ll check out the Headwinds hang out. Could be a blast and that’s what it’s all about.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
