HEY,
How’s the weather? This has been the strangest October in the history of SoCal. Mother Nature threw the wrong switch and we jumped from summer to wet winter overnight. I wish she’d get her shit together.
The Love Ride is just around the corner and we need dry streets. Folks usually fly out to the coast to avoid shitty weather, since November is generally warm and balmy. Hell, sometimes we don’t see rain until January. What the fuck?
Let’s hit the news:
LIMPNICKIE SPONSORED BY THE CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE– Night at the Broken Spoke, Ormond Beach Fl. – Biketoberfest
Not the best shots but you may find one or two you like.
–Rogue
THE CODE OF THE WEST RESEARCH LAB–Evening news is where they begin with “Good evening”, and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.
To steal ideas from one person is Plagiarism. To steal from many is Research.
A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
How is it that one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
–from BA Berry
THE SECRET BIKERNET HEADQUARTERS HEADS FOR REJUVINATION–It’s about time we refurbished the exterior of the Supreme Bikernet Nerve Center on the edge of the Port of Los Angeles.
Here’s the history of this joint:
The Catalina Hotel was built in 1925 and endured a vast varied history on the corner to downtown. In the ’20s Wrigley’s Catalina Ship Terminal induced travelers from downtown Los Angeles to the island and this hotel was just a couple of blocks from the terminal. In the ’30s it became a brothel in the form of Rosie’s, and ultimately a flophouse in the ’60s.
As the port became less people friendly and more industrial the hotel shut down, and in 1981 it was partially gutted to create a cold storage fishery and the Harbor Café opened out front. The fishing business quickly drifted offshore, and the plant became a sheet metal ducting fabrication shop, with an artist loft up stairs, and a bakery out front.
Wish us luck, as the Bikernet team moves forward. Hell, we already have a 5-Ball neon sign for the front.
MIC REPORTS SALES DOWN JUST 18 PERCENT TO SEPTEMBER– The Motorcycle Industry Council announced today that during the first nine months of this year, dealers retailed 18.3 percent fewer motorcycles, ATVs and scooters made by the manufacturers that report numbers. The decline is identical to the year-over-year drop recorded for the year’s first half
Overall sales in September fared a little better. They were down 15.6 percent compared to the same month last year. See the tables above for a full rundown.
Last year at this time, the industry was looking at a 40 percent year-to-date drop. New-unit retail sales eventually fell 37 percent in 2009 compared to the year before.
Published courtesy of DealerNews: www.DealerNews.com
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY HISTORY DEPARTMENT QUOTE OF THE DAY– “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” Martin Luther king Jr., quoted in the Baltimore Sun.
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY HISTORY ARCHIVES OPENED– Where did Piss Poor come from? They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & Sold to the tannery…….if you had to do this to survive you were “Piss Poor”
But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn’t even afford to buy a pot……they “didn’t have a pot to piss in” & were the lowest of the low.
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn’t just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell . ….. .
Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting Married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so
dirty you could actually lose someone in it.. Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water!”
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and
sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof… Hence the saying “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top
afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “Dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their
footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.
(Getting quite an education, aren’t you?)
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, “bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.
“URBAN COOL” MEETS “OLD SCHOOL” SWAP MEET– Sunday, November 28, 2010–Save the date! We are “on” for the first joint Cretin-Norton Club swap meet, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Motorcycles and motorcycle related items only. Plenty of time to get ready, clean your garage, make a bit of money for the holidays or find just the right part to complete one of your projects.
The Cretin clubhouse – on a rooftop parking garage with a panoramic view of downtown LA to the west and the San Gabriels to the east – is located at 1460 Naud St. It’s a one block street, parallel to and one block north of Main St between Ann and Sotelo, about halfway between downtown LA and the 5 Freeway. A fantastic urban scene!
The Cretins – www.cretins-la.com – are generally a bit younger than Norton club folk, but similarly eclectic and non-sectarian. Whatever you ride is okay. A great bunch of guys including serious racers on track days at Willow Springs and others with marked propensity to build great looking café racers out of 1960s and ‘70s Japanese and British street bikes on which function and performance are more important than chrome and carbon fiber. In
other words, pretty much like us.
The “gates” (?) open at 7 am for vendors – with single car-sized spaces free
to club members and $10 for others. The swap meet runs from 8 am to 2 pm.
Admission is $2 per person. Again, free to club members but a donation would help.
Please call or email me if you have any questions or want to reserve a vendor spot: 626 791-0259 or bibbiani@earthlink.net. We would really appreciate your support on what we hope will become a regular event. See you there?
–BIB
NEW ISLAND BOYS BIKES FROM HAWAII–Hank Foto took the photos, and I guess Richard Balicoco owns the bikes.
–Chris
I reached out to the only motorcycle-friendly writer on the Times staff, Susan Carpenter. “I think your best bet would be to go to the L.A. Central Library, actually,” Susan said. “They have extensive Times archives. I don’t think coming to LAT HQ would accomplish anything because everyone everywhere (including the library staff) are perpetually overwhelmed because we’re so short staffed.”
Prevent oil leaks with a BAKER High Torque Bearing Kit!– BAKER High Torque Bearing Kits Retail Price: $40.00 The 34091-85 inner bearing race has been used on Big Twins since 1985. The inner primary bearing rides on this race. By design, this race press-fits onto the transmission mainshaft. This system works fine for stock engines. 100 HP+ engines will make this bearing walk on the mainshaft. If it walks inboard, it will damage the maindrive gear seal and cause a transmission oil leak. If it walks outboard, it will cause a primary oil leak. Our high torque bearing kit eliminates this condition. Kit includes a precision honed bearing and seal.
“INTERMOT Cologne 2010 is the important trade fair of the year for the sector in Europe”–INTERMOT Cologne 2010 has impressively confirmed its role as the sector’s leading trade fair in Europe. Nearly all of the market’s important vehicle manufacturers came to Cologne to present their innovations and developments for the 2011 season. The highlights included BMW with the spectacular six-cylinder touring bikes, Kawasaki with the high-performance super sport bike and KTM with a bike for young beginning riders. In addition, numerous premiere models and concept models in the category of electric mobility were presented in the “INTERMOT e motion” segment.
INTERMOT Cologne
6th to 10th October 2010
–Koelnmesse GmbH
Phone + 49 221 821 2366
Fax + 49 221 821 3285
a.scheidt@koelnmesse.de
www.koelnmesse.de
Police told WSOC TV David Keen faces seven charges, but did not give any information on charges against William Holder.
Authorties say tips led them to an alleged chop shop, where both men surrendered without incident.
The men reportedly walked into a store around 2 a.m. Wednesday and talked with a clerk for several minutes, mentioning they owned a motorcycle shop. The clerk thought they were drunk and asked them to leave, then called police.
They were gone when police arrived, but left behind a picture of their Chevy Tahoe on security cameras. About half an hour later, an officer responding to a call at a condominium complex and stopped the Tahoe.
“A witness just happened to see them loading the motorcycles into the back of the Tahoe,” a detective said.
Posted by Holly Wagner
RECENT FEATURE BIKE FROM FARABAUGH STUDIOS– Check out this old Triumph I shot today for the Magazine.
–Michael
NEW JEWELRY FROM NINO 925: This Alien skull ring is very different from what you see anywhere else in the planet.
Dimensions: Approx.25mm wide by 33mm tall and 2.5mm thick, weights almost 2 ounces of sterling silver.
Victory Skull ring.
Dimensions: Approx.24mm wide by 20mm tall and 2mm thick.
GOING OUT WITH A ROAR– This is something I had not seen before, perhaps you have? Was told very popular for use of drug gang guys, after a shoot out. GO OUT WITH A ROAR!
–Bikernet Island Undercover Reporter
LATEST FROM WCC–We were wrenching at Bennett’s Performance on the Assalt Weapan, in Long Beach on Saturday. The report from the streets is that WCC employees were laid off recently and Jesse stiffed, the one who reported, out of his last two weeks of pay. We’ll bring you more as it surfaces.
BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER CAUGHT IN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT STING OPERATION– One day a young man and woman were in their bedroom making love. All of a sudden a bumble bee entered the bedroom window. As the young lady parted her legs the bee entered her vagina. The woman started screaming “Oh my god, help me, there’s a bee in my vagina!”
The husband immediately took her to the local doctor and explained the situation. The doctor thought for a moment and said “Hmm, tricky situation. But I have a solution to the problem if young sir would permit.” The husband being very concerned agreed that the doctor could use whatever method to get the bee out of his wife’s vagina.
The doctor said “OK, what I’m gonna do is rub some honey over the top of my penis and insert it into your wife’s vagina. When I feel the bee getting closer to the tip of my penis I shall withdraw it and the bee should hopefully follow my penis out of your wife’s vagina. The husband nodded and gave his approval.
The young lady said “Yes, Yes, whatever, just get on with it.” So the doctor, after covering the tip of his penis with honey, inserted it into the young lady’s vagina.
After a few gentle strokes, the doctor said, “I don’t think the bee has noticed the honey yet. Perhaps I should go a bit deeper.” So the doctor went deeper and deeper. After a while the doctor began shafting the young lady very hard indeed.
The young lady began to quiver with excitement. She began to moan and groan aloud. The doctor, concentrating very hard, looked like he was enjoying himself, he then put his hands on the young lady’s breasts and started making loud noises.
The husband at this point suddenly became very annoyed and shouted, “Now wait a minute! What the Hell do you think you’re doing?”
The doctor, still concentrating, replied, “Change of plan. I’m gonna drown the bastard!”
–from Dr. Rogue
Chief Bikernet Surgeon of Love
CLASSIC CAST H-D RIGID FRAME NECKS NOW AVAILABLE– Just got these four necks yesterday from heat treater. Top left is replica Panhead neck in cast steel , top right is pan neck with lock removed to look like late knuck necks, bottom left is neck raked to 56 degrees, (custom order) and bottom right neck is stainless steel. These necks are ready for machine process.
Small runs of these castings so call or click to check on availiability . Most frame casting availiable for panhead rigids. Steel or Stainless. for info or orders , contact, john@hardtailchoppers.com 360-750-6780. Again Bandit, Thanks. John
HAL ROBINSON BOOK OF HISTORIC EASYRIDERS ILLUSTRATIONS FOR SALE– I knew that some time ago, you were looking for a copy of Hal Robinsons Trash. I actually came across two. I was going to advertise one of them, as a make offer.
–Sam Chase
BIKERNET INSURANCE CONNECTION SUNDAY TIP, BIKE STORAGE FOR THE WINTER MONTHS–Winter is just around the corner for most parts of the country and its time to get your bike ready for hibernation. Here are some basic tips that will help your motorcycle survive through winter.
1. Clean and Lubricate
Dirt will begin to corrode and damage metal surfaces if left on your bike for long periods of time. Make sure to clean your bike before putting it in storage. Lubricate the chain if you have one. Lubricate all moving parts such as cables. Make sure you also lubricate the underside of the frame and engine. This will take care of any rust exposed by scratches.
2. Check your Tires
Prepare your tires by taking out any moisture that may be in the tires. Simply deflate your tires and then inflate them with clean compressed air. It helps if you have your own compressor. If at all possible, consider elevating your bike so both tires are not under load. Make sure your bike is secure. Use blocks under the frame instead of bottle jacks or a motorcycle lift. Lifts and jacks have been known to lose pressure and fail under prolonged load time.
3. Change your oil and add Fuel Stabilizer
This step is really important. Residual fuel and contaminants in the gas and oil can oxidize over the winter months and ruin your engine prematurely. Change your oil to remove all the dirt and particles. Put in a good fuel stabilizer and run it through your engine for about 10 minutes.
4. Prepare the battery – get a good battery tender.
We recommend disconnecting and removing your battery from your bike for the winter. Clean the battery cables and battery post connections. Once cleaned, put a fine film of grease on the posts to seal them and protect them. Simply remove the grease next spring. Double-check your battery for cracks and damage. We like Battery Tenders since they don’t overcharge your battery. Simply hook up a specialized battery charger and let it do its thing all winter long.
5. Park it and Cover it – in a safe area
Your bike should always be covered while in winter storage. Suggest you use a breathing-style cover and not a tarp or other plastic cover that can cause moisture to become trapped under the cover and against those shiny metal surfaces. Also, it’s a good idea to cover the openings of your exhaust pipes less you want to deal with rodent nests in the spring. This actually happened to me one winter while my bike was stored in an outdoor shed. It was quite the furry blowout when the bike was first started in the spring.
6. Change your insurance policy and save some money.
Many insurance companies offer special reduced rates for motorcycles that are in winter storage. Check with your insurance agent for specific details. Collision coverage makes up anywhere from 22% to 35% of your annual premium. You can delete the collision coverage if you feel that your bike is stored in a very safe location and surely not to be exposed to the possibility of any collision.(i.e. your teenager running their car into your bike while stored in your garage.) This is not an option for everyone but sure is worth considering.
7. Spring Time – inspect your bike before that first ride.
Make sure your bike has been inspected for any mechanical problems before starting your bike. Review any notes you may of made before putting your bike in storage. Double check your leathers, gloves and helmet. Polish that baby and ride off knowing that your bike is ready for the summer’s riding season.
Ride Safe Out There. We Care About You.
The Bikernet Insurance Team
Contact us anytime toll free: 888-467-8703
For fastest response email: clientservice@bikernet-insurance.com
BACK AT THE CODE OF THE WEST TRAINING SEMINAR– Rules for the Non-Military for Kickin’ Ass. Make sure you read #13
Dear Civilians, ‘We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military. For those of you who can’t join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:
1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem – kick their ass.
2.. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest – kick their ass.
3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks
their ass.
4. If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were.
Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be ‘Special Forces’. Collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old, now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.
5. Next time you come across an *Air Force* member, do not ask them,
‘Do you fly a jet?’ Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt).
6. If you witness someone calling the Coast Guard ‘non-military’, inform them of their mistake – and kick their ass.
7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart.
8. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her – of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe ass-kicking.
9. ‘Your mama wears combat boots’ never made sense to me – stop saying it!
If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore would kick your
ass!
10. ‘Flyboy’ (*Air Force*), ‘Jarhead’ (*Marines*), ‘Grunt’ (*Army*),
‘Squid’ (*Navy*), ‘Puddle Jumpers'(*Coast Guard*), etc., are terms of
endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service
member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them. Using them
could get your ass kicked.
11. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the
military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and
religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families. Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our Country would get it’s ass kicked.
12. It’s the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of
the press. It’s the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It’s the Veteran, not the community organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It’s the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
AND ONE MORE:
13. If you ever see anyone singing the national anthem in Spanish – KICK THEIR ASS.
ONE LAST THING:
If you got this email and didn’t pass it on – guess what – you deserve
to get your ass kicked!
–from Pablo
WEEKEND GOOD NEWS, NEW H-D DEALERSHIP WILL OPEN IN FLORENCE, OHIO– The new dealership will share the former site of Champion Used Cars with a Quaker Steak & Lube, says Josh Wice, the city’s business/community development director.
The project is expected to begin in 30 to 45 days, according to the Cincinnati Community Press.
Posted by Holly Wagner
Published courtesy of Dealernew: www.dealernews.com
THAT’S IT–Where do we go from here? I’m about to launch another Gary and Rick Sturgis Run piece, the final episode. The Zippers/Bub/PM touring upgrade tech is close to completion, and the dyno numbers came out sweet, a 10 percent power increase over stock pipes, air cleaner and ECM. I’m trying to work with Spyke, Compu-Fire and BlackHawk on my CrazyHorse Engine upgrade tech. You never know, I might ride it to the Love Ride. What a trip that would be.
The sun has graced us with its warmth, and I need to work on some electrical repairs around this joint. The Assalt Weapan is back together and ready for transport home to the headquarters from Bennett’s Performance in Long Beach, next to Branch for headwork. I will run it and cool it down, over and over, before anymore tuning dyno pulls.
I also have a report on scooter sales at Bartels’ H-D and another report on the Biketoberfest action from Prince Najar. Plus, I need to dive into more book chapters. This just in: Buckshot sent us a report on Arlen’s 40th Anniversary Party. You’ll see it next week. And another HORSE deadline with Brass Balls subscription sweeps bike build approaches. And don’t forget, if you need WCC type products, see Custom Chrome or Paul at Spitfire for frames and controls. Let’s see what happens next week.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
