It’s Sunday, relax,
I got my 1928 Shovelhead running. Whatta fluke. A pin was missing from the starter solenoid shaft, which allowed the piston to slip out far enough not to grab. It kept telling me I had bad solenoids and the rubber boot hid the missing pin, until I spoke to Berry Wardlaw, from Accurate Engineering, and he straightened me out.
Here’s the mental challenge for the week. We have the EPA bearing down on us. MADD wants the return of prohibition and some congresswoman want us all to wear helmets and shut up. Here’s my question: Isn’t this country based on freedom, not safety? “There’s no Safety Clause in the Constitution,” Said retired commander Greg.
There needs to be a Freedom consideration in every law passed. If it doesn’t endorse Freedom don’t pass it until it does. Let me know your thoughts. Former Minnesota Governor, Jesse Ventura gets it. I’m going to write the big guy governor of Kali-fornia, Arnold, before it’s too late. Let’s hit the news:
AMCA MODIFIED BIKE SHOW INFO– This years Antique Motorcycle Club of America?s Grand National Super Meet will be held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY the weekend of June 13th thru 15th.
In addition to the AMCA national judging for correct period restorations and a motorcycle time line featuring bikes from 1887 through 1973, Motorcycle photo- journalist TBear, Bikernet.com and Cycle Source Magazine will be hosting the A.M.C.A.?s Period Modified Bike Show.
This portion of the meet will feature any make modified motorcycle titled before 1973. ?We aren?t looking for pretty bikes with hi-dollar paint jobs, what we?re interested in are bikes built by guys in their own garages nights and weekends. Creativity is going to be the key? said TBear.
There will be no entry fee for this part of the show as young talented guys and gals are encouraged to enter. ?We?d rather see the entrants spend the usual $20 entry fee on their rides?. The top three winners will get righteous trophies and bragging rights and the first place winner will also get a spread in Cycle Source Magazine and a layout on Bikernet.com shot by TBear personally.
In addition, just for inspiration, we?ll be showing off a display of memorabilia honoring the legendary Ed ? Big Daddy? Roth and showcasing his original Mailbox Trike along with a few other surprises in tribute to the builders of the ?60?s and early 70?s.
Being just a short two hour ride north from New York City on some of the prettiest roads in New York, we?re expecting quite a crowd over the three day event. It?s set up to be a family oriented event so bring the wife and kids along and enjoy a day or a weekend in the countryside.
To find out more info on the event, check out the website at: http://www.rhinebecknationalmeet.com/
RUCKER PERFORMANCE IS MORE THAN MOTORCYCLES– Rucker Performance has solidified its reputation as a leader of custom American Muscle motorcycles in the V-Twin industry over the past four years, and now focusing additional efforts towards the automotive restoration industry. Rucker will be taking the same quality of service into the auto industry.
Rucker Performance machines are inspired by the vision and knowledge of industry leader Bill Rucker. Rucker ? the designer, builder and fabricator – has an extensive background in hot rods, drag racing and custom v-twin motorcycle manufacturing. Well known as the founder and CEO of Rucker Performance Motorcycle Company, in addition to many years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a local business entrepreneur, owning and operating many successful business ventures, Bill Rucker now takes his vision of quality custom machinery to the next level.
Located in Fort Worth, Texas, Rucker Performance has the in house capability to complete full frame off vehicle restoration and build brand new cars from a concept to sheet metal and body mold fabrication, custom paint, engine modification and restoration. The Rucker Performance team also manufactures motorcycles with custom fabricated sheet metal, high performance power, signature graphics and exclusive paint colors.
Recently, Rucker Performance purchased numerous classic cars and trucks from a local yard, with plans to customize and restore the vehicles to their former glory. The new inventory includes a 1958 Cadillac with stainless steel in great shape, a 1953 Kaiser Manhattan that was a special order and still has the original plate on the dash, 1949 to 1954 Fords and Chevrolets, 1963 Galaxie 500s, Corvair, Buicks, and even an AMC Marlin and Ambassador convertible. Rucker Performance will begin full restoration including updated electronic parts and complete custom paint.
?Classic, vintage, and muscle cars have always been a great passion of mine, since I was a teenager, and now I have been able to take this passion and create a business with full in-house capabilities, including a custom paint shop, fabrication d
?Classic, vintage, and muscle cars have always been a great passion of mine, since I was a teenager, and now I have been able to take this passion and create a business with full in-house capabilities, including a custom paint shop, fabrication department, and a well trained staff all of whom share my desire to grow this area of our business,? Says Bill Rucker. ?It is a dream come true.?
For more information on the auto restoration projects or to purchase a fully restored classic, please contact Rucker Performance at 817-838-3200 or check out previous restoration projects on our website, www.ruckerperformance.com.
Rucker Performance
5518 East Belknap St.
Ft. Worth, TX 76117
p 817.838.3200 f 817.838.3215
Custom Design Studios? Bikes to be Featured on DuPont?s Hot Hues Tour– Novato, Calif..?April 3, 2008? Custom Design Studios today announced that its two-wheeled masterpieces will soon be rolling into a city near you. Kirk Taylor, the owner and creative force behind Custom Design Studios, has been asked by DuPont to showcase his custom bikes as part of the DuPont Hot Hues Paint Tour, which will make stops in cities across the west.
Taylor?s father owned a machine shop, and as a child, Taylor was always around motorcycles, so naturally, he was drawn to an industry where he could utilize his mechanical and artistic talents. Taylor established Custom Design Studios in 1988 when he saw a need for custom paint work in his area of California. Since then, the business has grown and now has a full paint department, fabrication shop, and a service/assembly and parts operation to provide customers with everything from parts for simple modifications to full custom builds.
Now, through his partnership with DuPont?s Hot Hues line, Taylor can take his custom paint jobs to another level. By coupling colors like Gun Metal or Red Hot Meltdown with a variety of DuPont?s effect finishes, Taylor can create finished products as unique as his customers.
?I?m excited to work with DuPont and can?t wait to showcase some of my custom bikes on the DuPont Tour,? said Taylor. ?The Hot Hues line provides a lot of options, allowing me to take someone?s vision and turn it into a rolling piece of art.?
Custom Design Studios? bikes can be seen as part of the DuPont Tour in the following cities:
Laughlin, Nev. April 23, 2008 through April 26, 2008
Big Bear, Calif. June 7, 2008 and June 8, 2008
Hollister, Calif. July 11, 2008 through July 13, 2008
Sturgis, S.D. Aug. 8, 2008 through Aug. 10, 2008
Las Vegas Bike Fest Oct. 2, 2008 through Oct. 5, 2008
NEW DIAMOND BLACK COLLECTION FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON– Knurled Billet Hand and Foot Controls Finished in Satin Black.
MILWAUKEE (March 29, 2008) ? The distinctive knurled surfaces of the new Diamond Black Collection from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories expose raw billet aluminum for a dramatic contrast with the satin-black finish. Each item in this hand- and foot-control collection is designed to age and ?break-in? like a pair of comfortable stone-washed jeans, and the satin-black finish will complement both high-gloss and flat, ?denim? paint colors. The narrow rubber bands and the knurled surfaces provide a positive grip and protect boots from scuffing.
The Diamond Black Collection includes Hand Grips (P/N 56405-08, $69.95) with a comfortable 1.5-inch diameter and glueless installation that can be easily removed for service. The Diamond Black Shifter Peg (P/N 34690-08, $16.95) and Footpegs (P/N 50911-08, $79.95) have a slim design that provides a comfortable pivot point and a large-diameter end cap to keep the rider?s boot in place. Diamond Black Brake Pedal Pads (small P/N 41850-08, $39.95 and large P/N 46718-08, $49.95) and Footboard Insert Kits (rider P/N 50549-08, $199.95 and passenger P/N 50627-08, $179.95) will complete the clean black-billet look.
Diamond Black Collection components fit a number of Harley-Davidson Touring, Sportster, Dyna, VRSC and Softail models. See dealer for fitment details.
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.
SUNDAY TOOL TIPS FROM BIKERNET– PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.
BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
–from Buckshot
THUNDER BOB ON ALEXA REPORTING SYSTEMS–Here is a snapshot of www.metricthunder.com traffic for the past 5 years from Alexa. Notice that we were ranked extremely high back in 2004, (we turned on our site with a handful of products and zero advertising in September of 2003). That 2004 ranking makes no sense whatsoever and only served to mislead us into promoting our position on Alexa, which in turn, promoted Alexa.
The measurement below would lead you to believe that we were within the top 200,000 websites in the world back then, however we are not even on their radar screen today. All I can tell you is that we did have the Alexa Toolbar registration during that time period. I finally turned it off after being buried by too much spam.
Some believe Alexa is the benchmark, I am not one of them for obvious reasons.
BIKERNET INVESTIGATES THE YOUNGER GENERATION– “Stay away from prunes.” -Randy, age 9
“Don’t pull Dad’s finger when he tells you to.” -Emily, age 10
“When your Mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.” -Taylia, age 11
–from Rev CarlR
SUNDAY SPORTSTER DEAL FROM NEGOTIABLE– Just $3750.00, OBO, runs good.
BIKERNET GIFT PACKAGE REACHES VETERANS– Bandit happy belated congrats for making it around the sun for the 60th time! Sounds better that way! Hey wanna say thanks for the posters and books again as they went into individual rooms and the rec room for P.T.S.D. at the V.A. Hospital in Eastern WA. They are now opening more rooms for guys coming in “FROM THE BUSH”. We have been fighting for this for a couple of years. Those that are in the rooms I set up with framed posters are feeling it isn’t a “surgical sterile” as with the “glowing cabin pictures” ! One thing is that the posters cannot have pictures of bare naked or partial naked ladies. The one that they are allowing are the Run Posters that ya sent and show on the site. Brother I humbly am asking if ya can see it in yer heart to send some more of this type . BTW I put ya down on each one as the donor so they know where their support comes from. I use the woodworking to frame them and the Old lady applies the glass.
–Gar Freymann
P.O. Box 102
Benton City, WA.
99320
Never forget the Vet
We will send another package soon.–Bandit
REV TECH REPORT FROM KOREA– So some of my Korean buddies know I have a Rev tech engine coming… they are freaking right out.. They are calling one of the maybe two or three authorized dealers in Korea…and they are getting quotes.. an engine in a crate.. not installed 7,500 USD.. and the delivery time is about 40 days from the date of order.. un fuckin believeable!! So, they are all over me asking me where they can get these engines.. and how much installed. I think I may have just discovered which direction my life is going to head in..
Craziness… that engine landed in Seoul this morning.. and it’s Friday nite here now. So that means I will probably have it by Tuesday. I’ll have it in and running by Wednesday lunchtime, if everything goes as planned.
Keep you informed..
–H
HEARTLAND TECH QUESTIONS– Thanks for your time and your info? I have been all over their site and also called, not much input from them. (since I didn?t have cash in hand to buy anything at the time they didn?t want to waste to much time on me?. Can?t blame them I?m sure they have hundreds of knuckleheads like me asking questions). Did order one of their catalogs and seeing if it gives some more info. At this point I was just going to jump off the cliff and see how South this can go?.get the 180 kit, and get a rim that will hold a 180 tire.
Back up plan will be like you said, have the narrow pulley and belt, then if all that fails go find a 170 tire and that will fit.
I know Johnny did his documentary on the fender and such, would you like anymore input on this as I do mine?.???
–Dean
You will not need anything once you cut off your struts. The 180 tire they send is mounted to an 18 x 5.5 wheel. Once the struts are cut, it fits loke a glove. You can easily go to a 200 if you change the rear pulley to accept the smaller belt. No offset should be necessary. Best of luck, brother, and let us know how you like it. IT IS WORTH IT FOR THE PROFILE ALONE! Thanks again for checking us out!
–Johnny Humble
BIKERNET TESTIMONIAL– On another topic, can you answer me this? How many unique visitors per month you get. All my scans have you as the king over any other site, and so on. There seems to be a traffic war between two. Whatever it is, you?re winning.
–//Scout
Brand Vandal | Director of Marketing, Creative and PR
BAKER Drivetrain
Bikernet has an average of about 300,000 unique users who come to the site over 500,000 times a month, for 1 million impressions and 10 million hits. Not bad for this ghetto web site.–Bandit
NEWS FROM DOUG– Here is a video clip worth viewing? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCwz8wsma9U ? the ?Rally for RAACE? is coming this August 17th in nearby Maryland. PLEASE make what ever arrangements you can so you will be able to attend. Tell your friends, bring the family? we want to see you there. Please visit www.raace.org
Thank you?
the staff @ DKCC
NEWS FROM MD-EUROPE THUNDERBIKE WINNER– I’ve got news from the MD-Europe winner Thunderbike, his bike was shown today to the home-public. Means about 2500 guests and visitors through the day – and he is only one single dealer.
The one with the micro is the mastermind Andreas Bergerforth himself, the one riding the “Open Mind” called bike into the showroom is Rolf, the chief engineer.
www.thunderbike.com,
pix and note www.wikinger.com
–Andreas
Foto ? Grafik ? Texte ? Web
Wikinger.com Medienproduktion
Germany
www.wikinger.com
NEWS FROM CHOPPERS INC. AND LEGENDS OF THE MOTORCYCLE CONCOURSE COMING UP– When you get a chance, go to ChoppersInc.com, and watch The Chopper Diaries. I’ll be adding more this week. The Waverly is one of the bikes I’ll be bringing to Half Moon, along with the Henderson.
We just finished filming the rear half of the frame yesterday. And you can get an idea of what I’m going to do with your Pope.
The gold Knuck I sent you a photo of now has twin SU carbs on it, and a 92-inch stroker Pete Hill drag race Knuck engine (1940 EL). Looking forward to our ride.
–Billy Lane
THE COWBOY CODE FROM MONTANA– A Montana cowboy walks into a bar and takes a seat next to a very attractive woman. He gives her a quick glance then causally looks at his watch for a moment. The woman notices this and asks, “Is your date running late?”
“No”, he replies, “I just got this state-of the-art watch, and I was testing it.”
The intrigued woman says, “A state-of-the-art watch? What’s so special about it?”
The cowboy explains, “It uses alpha waves to talk to me telepathically.”
The lady says, “What’s it telling you now?”
“Well, it says you’re not wearing any panties.”
“The woman giggles and replies, “Well, it must be broken because I am wearing panties!”
The cowboy smiles, taps his watch and says, “Damn thing’s an hour fast.”
–from Rik
BOB KAY TO KICK OFF BIKERS GARAGE STORES–I just got my FL with side hack back on the road with a new drive train. I put a short 100-INCH EVO with Exotic pan trim, a 5-speed in a 4, and dual discs up front. Don’t know if you remember it, kind of a ’64 red and black pan paint scheme on my ’81 FL with a steel body hack. Fun to drive and draws a lot of attention.
I got a new partner and I am opening a chain of Retail Accessory stores, “A Bikers Garage” with same day installation and routine maintenance services. Check out the web site abikersgarage.com. The plan is 10 stores in Texas and the first one should open April 26.
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