It’s actually raining in California. I can’t handle it. The depression is killing me. I need Jack Daniels (been out for a couple of weeks), a woman and a warm night. Even if I’m not riding, the thought that I can’t brings me down to the pits. Fortunately Krash sent me a bottle of Makers Mark for the Monster Garage show. I’m milkin’ it.
A call rang through from the headquarters just a couple of minutes ago. “Get your ass down here and hold this petcock bung,” Mr. Hall, the professional welder, three doors down, on our industrial wasteland street, hollered. “I want it to burn your hands not mine. His shop area was muddy and swamped from the rain, but he has a number or workshop 20-foot steel containers. In one is his partially completed hot rod project. Another houses his office, small project welding table and my aluminum XR tank for the chopper sat center stage.
He instructed me to hold the bung on a wire at a specific angle for him to tack. Natch, I dropped the dam thing right through the hole into the tanks. He snapped, set his tungsten tip TIG torch down to fish out the bung. I slipped out the back quietly. Let’s hit the news:
The Deal of Last Week Is Currently The Deal Of This Week
This is the perfect bike for a rider to start out with. It’s cheap, complete, registered, the engine and tranny are fresh and it’s ready to roll for nine grand. Grab it quick, bolt up a set of highbars and you’ve got an old school ride.
–Bandit
(310) 830-0630
BIKERNET READER PROJECT COMPLETED–Well the bike is finally done. Check out the photos and let me knowwhat you think (good and bad). If you’re still interested in doing afeature let me know exactly what you need. I have images from start tofinish. I could type up how this bike came about if you want, justdon’t know how much detail is needed.
— Vincent
Watch for the feature coming soon.–Bandit
S&S SHOVELHEAD ENGINES AVAILABLE–VIOLA, WI (October 18, 2004) S&S is pleased to announce the availability of complete Shovelhead style engine assemblies. These engines feature the finest parts on the market today, including the same bullet proof crankcases, flywheels, cylinders, and heads that we have offered for years. We have now topped these off with our new premium valve train components including an S&S billet gear cover, tappet guides, and rocker boxes. In addition, these engines feature Evolution style tappets and cams, collapsible adjustable pushrods, and forged Shovelhead style roller rocker arms for quiet and dependable operation. 80 & 93 cubic inch displacements will be offered in Generator and Alternator style, as well a new Alternator/Generator style for retro looks wit modern dependability.
?We have recently seen a huge resurgence in the popularity of retro style bikes as well as a demand for high quality replacements for several of the now obsolete parts used in Shovel engines. Rather than simply copy a 1966 design, several aspects have been reengineered and greatly improved. While our new billet rocker boxes feature the classic Shovel look, their two piece construction and our exclusive straight rocker shafts will assure that they perform as good as they look. I?m confident that the new Alternator/Generator style will be among the most popular of our new products?, said marketing manager Bruce Tessmer.
NEW DAYTONA MAIN STREET VISION–DAYTONA BEACH — Visiting urban planners offered city, resident and business leaders a new vision for the Main Street area Friday as bikers began bearing down for the kickoff of Biketoberfest.
A nine-person team from the Urban Land Institute, a non-profit group based in Washington, D.C., spoke of themed outside festivals for upscale bikers with landscaped buffers and speed bumps to protect neighborhoods from events.
The plans also include new condominiums, restored historic homes, pedestrian promenades, a new convention hotel near the Ocean Center and a parking garage with ground-floor shops and rooftop townhomes.
But in a presentation following a week of interviews with city leaders, the planners also identified an obstacle — a hardening of attitudes by various interest groups in the city on issues such as special events and development.
“It’s time to put aside this self-imposed gridlock,” said Frank Sparicio, the team’s chairman.
City leaders applauded the presentation, but some of Friday’s recommendations could ignite smoldering controversies — over the city’s power to force the sale of property for development, oceanfront condominiums in the core tourist area and outside festival vendors. The planners support all three.
By JOHN BOZZOStaff Writer, Daytona
–from Rogue
http://www.bikerrogue.com
ARLEN NESS PRODUCTS FOR 2005 OUT NOW– WE HAVE details of new lines to be introduced by Arlen Ness in 2005.The Signature Series wheel is forged from 6061-T6 billet aluminum.Offered in 21in and 18in diameters for front and rear applications, the wheel will be offered in chrome finish only.For fitting, a hub adapter and hardware kit will be required.The ‘Scoop’ and ‘Four Point’ mirrors are set to add style and practicality to stock or custom-built bikes.These are suitable for American motorcycles and metric cruisers. Mounting hardware is included for both applications.Of die-cast construction, the mirrors are finished in chrome plate and feature convex glass for an improved rearward view.
ARLEN NESS
Dublin, California, USA
Tel: 925 479 6350
Fax: 925 479 6351
E-mail: rick@arlenness.com
www.arlenness.com
DAYTONA CAR PULLS IN FRONT OF MOTORCYCLE, TWO INJURED– DAYTONA BEACH — Two Ponce Inlet residents were injured when their motorcycle spilled while attempting to slow down behind a car making a right turn on International Speedway Boulevard, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The motorcycle operator, Mark Weeksno age given, no age listed, was transported to Halifax Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition on Sunday, a nursing supervisor said.
Jinsong Weeks also was taken to Halifax, the FHP said, but a no age given condition was not available Sunday.
The accident occurred at 2:05 p.m. Saturday on International Speedway Boulevard near the intersection of Red John Drive west of Daytona Beach, said Trooper Kurt Glaenzer. The pair were westbound on International Speedway Boulevard when a westbound car driven by Heather Lovett, address unavailable, pulled in front of them from the inside lane to make a right turn, Glaenzer said. Mark Weeks tried to slow down but the motorcycle slid, throwing the motorcycle’s two occupants to the roadway.
Lovett was not injured and charges are pending an investigation, Glaenzer said.
By Daytona staff writer.
–from Rogue
CUSTOM CHROME’S CATALOG FOR 2005–Don’t miss it. It’s the biker’s bible. Click on the image to run to their site. Hopefully they have the order form up.
CUSTOM LEATHER SADDLEBAGS– My name is George from Mesa Arizona. I have been making leather motorcycle accessories for friends and myself for 25 years. My latest project is iron cross saddlebags, western throw over style. Made of glove soft high quality 5/6 oz chrome tan leather. Measurements are 11? X 11? X 5?. These saddlebags have unique features starting with the iron crosses. The leather is cleaned and prepped then airbrushed using acrylic enamel paint. This paint acts like a stain is very flexible and moves with the leather. It is then stitched around the outside using heavy nylon thread in silver for an inlay effect.
Under one of the flaps is a stitched black widow spider with painted hourglass. No two will ever be alike.
The hardware is top-notch 1-inch nickel-plate cart buckles with heavy leather straps, 1 1/2-inch chrome slotted conchos with leather scallops. Rivets used at all stress points.
The flaps are stitched using heavy 69 nylon threads in silver a very unique feature requiring precision and attention to detail not found on other saddlebags.
Optional yoke extension for wide fenders 12X5-inch. If you are interested please go to our ebay store.
— George.
http://stores.ebay.com
FLORIDA WOODWORKER MAKES WHEELS–DELAND — When John Richert grabs the oak and walnut handlebar grips of his 1979 Harley-Davidson, he holds two great loves of his life in his grasp. John Richert shows off his motorcycle in the garage and woodworking shop of his DeLand home.
“It makes him who he is,” says Gloria Ehmann, his girlfriend of 10 years.Family and friends tease Richert, a 69-year-old retiree, for his wild, white hair. Einstein in a biker tank top, they call him.
He takes his motorcycles so seriously he moved from South Florida in 1992 so he could be closer to Daytona Beach, home of events such as this week’s Biketoberfest.
But when he’s not riding, he’s in the garage building box joints or handling the head saw.
Ask how much it’s worth and Richert guesses maybe $10,000, not bad for a bike with 150,000 miles on it.
But, he adds: “I ain’t going to sell it.”It’s the work that gets him noticed in the biker crowds, Ehmann said.
“It gets conversations going, it’s so different,” she said.Much of the custom works on his 25-year-old bike are handcrafted accessories. From a sunglasses box at the base of the windshield to carved lettering spelling out the hog’s maker between the wheels, the woody is a timber titan amidst the thunder of chrome.
That very motorcycle — he has several others — was the one that brought Richert and Ehmann together 10 years ago. It was before he began decorating it with his handicraft.A friend introduced the two, knowing they both loved motorcycles.Both divorced, they have been together ever since.
By MARK HARPER, DaytonaStaff Writer
–from Rogue
http://www.bikerrogue.com
T-BEARS ZEN T-SHIRT LINE–We’ll be adding 2 new shirt designs to our line-up at TRENDY, THE YUPPIE CLOWN will be a big seller among the hardcore crowd but we’re having a hard time to come up with the correct tag line for the two with the ladies, sooo, We’ve decided to let the Bikernet readers put their $.02 in. If you come up with a tag line that we use, we’ll send you a first edition of the shirt free.Send all submissions to tbear@tbearwear.com and win a free shirt. Remember to keep it short and sweet(?). –TBear ROAD RIDE ROUTES– Was just looking through my bookshelves last night (they happen to be bigger than “W”s proposed Presidential Library….a cardboard box in a locker at the San Pedro Greyhound bus station). Stumbled across something I’d forgotten (happens more and more these days). Your riding buddy Clemente “Dago”Salvadori has written a lot of good books about rides in California. While these aren’t geared toward “bikers” per se, they’ve got routes I’ve tried and are generally pretty good. If you put a new section in the Cantina for good routes, maybe you could use some of his stuff (with permission, of course) and punch it up a little, biker-wise. If you see a route in the book you like, and it’s in NorCal, I can run the ride and find stops that are more “biker” than “Ducati”, if you catch my drift…you can put the stops in when you bring the route up on your site… Here’s a link to one of his better books, listed on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com We’re considering a section devoted to ride routes and recommendations. Whatta ya tink?–Bandit Ride Safe! UNDERSTANDING SUSPENSION WORKSHOP–The simplified theory and practical application of 21st Century suspensions. On November 22, 23 and 24th, 2004 in the Los Angeles area the most complete suspension workshop ever will host two of the most suspension savvy people in the world: Author and world lecturer, Tony Foale and David Hodges of GP Suspensions. MONDAY and TUESDAY, November 22 and 23, in Los Angeles is the Tony Foale Two Day Seminar. Tony Foale has called on his 40+ years of experience, riding, racing, building and studying motorcycle behavior to design a series of seminars on motorcycle dynamics. Foale says, “These seminars explain how tyres work, how we balance and corner, what stops us cornering faster, suspension, steering geometry, squat, braking, stability and much more.” Even factory racing teams have provided their staff members with Tony’s crystal clear understanding of suspension. DAY 3 at the track with Dave Hodges – November 24th.Under the guidance of master suspension tuner Dave Hodges of GP Suspensions, the California Superbike School staff will be on hand to help riders sort out their bikes at Willow Springs, in Rosamond, California. Dave will have his suspension shop on wheels, trailer and all the tricks and all the technology on what to do and how to make it work. The day will be limited to only two groups of 15 riders.Keith Code, Founder of the California Superbike School says, “That’s way too much track time and certainly more than enough to achieve a thorough understanding of suspension changes that will last a lifetime of riding.It’s going to be awesome.” To find out more – readers may call the California Superbike Schoolat: 323-224-2734 or visit: www.superbikeschool.com STEEDS CALENDAR COMING–Here’s a couple of sample mock up pages for concepts on layout for thecalendar. I plan on having all the modelsshot and ready to go to print by Febuary..for a June release. Any input orsuggestions, from the master, would be appreciated. –John THE BLONDE COWBOY– The Sheriff in a small town walks out in the street and sees a blonde cowboy coming down the walk with nothing on but his cowboy hat, gun and his boots, so he arrests him for indecent exposure. As he is locking him up, he asks, “Why in the world are you dressed like this?” The Cowboy says “Well, it’s like this Sheriff, I was in the bar down the road and this pretty little redhead asks me to go out to her motor home with her, so I did. We go inside and she pulls off her top and asks me to pull off my shirt…so I did. Then she pulls off her skirt and asks me to pull off my pants…so I did. Then she pulls off her panties and asks me to pull off my shorts…so I did. Then she gets on the bed and looks at me kind of sexy and says, ‘Now go to town, cowboy.’ And, here I am.” Continued On Page 2
–Stephen Thomas, netnoggin@sbcglobal.net
