Hey,
It’s Easter and we’re working like mad dogs on the Sunday Post. What gives?
Each week, the post takes on a different aura, mood or mantra. A couple of weeks ago, it was all humor and good spirits. The next week it was all hot chicks and sex. The following week the creative spirit was alive with cool rides and hot new parts. This week it smacks of politics, regulations and bad mojo. What the fuck? Let’s fight back and ride. Check it out:
SEE, THE POLITICAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK– A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money. – G.Gordon Liddy
–from James Schnarr
Buell Recalls over 3000 units for possible brake line trouble– The National Transportation Highway Safety Adimistration announced today that Buell has issued a recall for 3316 models for a potential problem involving the front brake lines. According to the report a number of 2008 model 1125R, 2009 XB12R and XB12SEG have a front brake line which may contact the front tire. The condition could cause a hole to develop in the front brake line, allowing brake fluid to leak. This condition might cause an ineffective front brake, leading to a possible crash and potential injury or death of the rider.
Dealers will re-route the front brake line. If damage to the brake line has occurred, the brake line will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before April 20, 2009. Owners may contact Buell at 1-414-343-8400 Buell recall No. 0838. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?s Vehicle Safety hot line at 1-888-327-4236 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V109000
–from USRidernews
Bridgestone Americas tire operation (Bridgestone) is recalling 1,018 Bridgestone Exedra G850G motorcycle tires, size 180/70r16 77h, sold as original equipment for model year 2008 and 2009 Triumph Rocket III touring motorcycles–
The motorcycle to which these tires are applied develops very high torque and can cause torque-induced degradation in a body ply which may result in inner liner cracking that may lead to a slow leak in the rear tire. This condition does not affect the front tire.
The affected tires may begin to vibrate at moderate speeds. Continued use of a tire with this condition could lead to a vehicle crash. Bridgestone is working with Triumph to notify owners and the defective tires will be replaced free of charge. In addition, the front tire will be replaced free of charge due to the matching requirements of the motorcycle. Owners may contact Bridgestone toll-free at 1-800-465-1904.
–from USRidernews
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY RELEASES PHILOSOPHICAL FINDINGS– All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
In the 60s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, “I think I’ll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?”
Who was the first person to say, “See that chicken there? I’m gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt.
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
–from Dave Monson
GOOD GOD OF CHROME AND LOUD PIPES–Obama taps MADD CEO for NHTSA’s top post The Trucker News Services– WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said today he would nominate the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as the next administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Charles A. Hurley has headed MADD since 2005 and previously held senior leadership positions with the National Safety Council and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety during his 30-year professional career.
In addition to his work on drunk driving issues, the White House said Hurley had worked extensively with law enforcement on air bag and seat belt issues, teen driving and child passenger safety.
The White House said Hurley worked with Illinois State Senator Obama on Obama’s successful efforts in 2003 to strengthen Illinois’ seat belt, teen driving, child passenger safety and racial profiling laws.
Prior to his career in highway safety, Hurley worked for a governor, a state speaker, mayor and member of Congress and was a naval intelligence officer. “Last month, GHSA announced our ambitious ‘Toward Zero Deaths: Every Life Counts’ initiative to end traffic fatalities. In order to achieve such an aggressive goal, strong national leadership is needed from the White House and NHTSA,” Betkey said. “By nominating Hurley, President Obama has demonstrated his administration’s strong commitment to rid our nation of the tragic 40,000 deaths each year on our roadways.”
–from Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Belt Drive Heaven for 2007 Later Harley’s FROM RIVERA PRIMO– The past few years have been years of considerable change for our industry, but change is a good thing, right? Well it definitely is when you talk about our line up of Primo Belt Drives. Since the release in 2006 of our Primo Brute IV Extreme, Slimline open belt drives, someone decided to change their complete driveline design. But as we already said, change is good???
So this year we are unveiling our brand new American made Brute IV Extreme 2007? 3″ Electric Start Open Belt Drive.
This state-of-the-art belt drive incorporates dazzling good looks with Ptimo ultimate quality, and has the optional capability of running our U.S.A. made billet mid controls. Why mid controls you ask? Well, there are a couple of good reasons. During the 70’s 80’s (if you remember that far back) alot of us grew up on Big Twins with stock mid controls and liked them. In fact, there were lots more bikes with stock mid controls then stock forward controls.
Fast forward back to the present and you now have alot of new riders out on the road with short legs and few options for mid controls. Mid Controls are great for those riders, and many female riders on the road today will tell you thier forward controls are out to far.
Why is our Brute IV 2007 Open Drive so great?
When Primo? makes a product we look at several major components; functionality, fit and finish. In simpler terms we make stuff that goes on easy, works properly and looks great. Thats exactly what we did with our Brute IV Extreme 2007? Belt Drive kit. Finished in flawless show polish finish, we made this baby a real sanitary look, ease and simplicity of installation. The drive works effortlessly all the stock components found on late model Harleys? including the Cruise Drive? 6 speed, but eliminates the problems of the stock chain drive such as the tensioner and the chain stretch. The Brute IV Extreme 2007? fits all 2006 Dyna models and all 2007 later Softail? Dyna? models. On 2006 2007 models it will be nessecary to replace the stator rotor with the 2008 part number for best performance.
This is a Bullshit Bill and trying to sneak a law in. The Military has all the control it needs over those in the service. Please support Jan by contacting North Carolina Legislators and ask them to Vote NO on SB 64–
To: NC House Transportation Committee Members,
cc: NC House members
cc: NC Senate members
cc: Governor
bcc: press and citizens
I urge you to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 64 in the NC House and in the NC House Transportation Committee. Please send a clear message to the base commanders that the NCGA does not pass new regulations upon the civilian population in order to solve their problem of getting 1% of the troops to follow orders.
According to this article in the Fayetteville Observer, http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=323565 , the Fort Bragg garrison safety manager says 1% of their people don’t follow military orders about getting mandatory training which the military provides them for free, and the military admits they have plenty of power to enforce their rules, but regardless of having the means to solve the military problem, the Fort Bragg base commander asked Senator Tony Rand (D) for help. Senator Rands’ efforts to get a bill passed met with opposition and failure in the last two sessions.
Now, Senator Harry Brown (R) tells us a request came in from the base commander at Camp Lejeune. He introduced a bill that looks like the old bill, and it is co-sponsored by Senator Rand.
So, the state senate has passed a bill to force new mandates on civilians across the state, at great personal cost, during the worst economic downturn since the depression, and for which there are not enough class seats available.
Here is the results of the Senate vote:
Ayes:
Senator(s): Albertson; Allran; Apodaca; Atwater; Basnight; Berger, P.; Bingham; Blake; Boseman; Brock; Brown; Clary; Clodfelter; Dannelly; Davis; Dorsett; Foriest; Garrou; Goodall; Goss; Graham; Hunt; Jacumin; Jenkins; Jones; Kinnaird; Malone; McKissick; Nesbitt; Preston; Purcell; Queen; Rand; Rouzer; Snow; Soles; Stein; Stevens; Swindell; Vaughan; Weinstein
Noes:
Senator(s): Berger, D.; Brunstetter; Forrester; Hartsell; Hoyle; Rucho; Tillman
I oppose Senate Bill 64, and ask house members to show more wisdom than their colleagues in the senate. Vote NO on S64!
–Janice MacKay
Wake County
The “Win The Military Bobber For The Troops Raffle” is now Online AND SPONSORED BY BIKERNET.COM– Proceeds From the Custom Military Bobber Goes to The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
April 9, 2009 Oklahoma City, OK – Brass Balls Bobbers’ “Win the Military Bobber for the Troops Raffle” is now online. Enthusiasts can now twist the throttle on their mouse and navigate to http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/Donate/Donation-Raffle.aspx or www.brassballsbobbers.com to make a donation to support our troops.
Brass Balls Bobbers is raffling off their award-winning Military Build-off Bobber to raise funds to build a hospital for traumatic brain injuries for the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces. The hospital is being built through The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
The announcement was made today by Dar Holdsworth, “The goal of Win the Military Bobber for the Troops Raffle is to raise the necessary funds for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological health issues.” “Now individuals that support the military can participate in this event online and may just come home with a custom Bobber.”
The Military Bobber will be participating in the Smoke Out Rally beginning May 8 and 9th, stopping in Oklahoma City at Brass Balls Bobbers on May 11 for a party during the Long Road and completing the journey at Smoke Out East on May 15 and 16th.
Each month sponsors provide gifts to the raffle participants to entice the ticket sales. Saddlemen is the first company to come onboard and will be providing a set of saddlebags to the lucky winner in April.
The Military Bobber will be given away in Daytona, FL during the 2009 edition of Biketoberfest.
All the details are available at www.winabobber.com.
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY SEMINAR–
XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one’s workplace.
IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying, but you find yourself unable to stop watching them.
PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.
ADMINISPHERE : The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.
–from Keith Wahl
MODIFIED SMOG TESTING LETTER FROM MIC TO SACRAMENTO–
The Honorable Alan Lowenthal,
Chairman, Senate Transportation & Housing Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 435
Dear Senator Lowenthal:
The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) is a not-for-profit national trade association that represents 30 manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles and approximately 270 other companies involved in allied trades. Member companies include Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, BMW, Piaggio/Vespa, Ducati, and Victory, as well as many manufacturers of aftermarket parts. After carefully considering the feasibility and potential benefits of adding motorcycles to the Smog Check program, MIC opposes SB 435 in its present form. We agree that a significant number of owners are removing catalysts from their motorcycles; but, for the reasons stated below, we are certain that adding motorcycles to the Smog Check program will not be an effective way to stop this practice.
Existing Smog Check stations and their employees are not equipped or trained to test motorcycles. (For example, motorcycles can?t be safely tested on current dynamometers.) In addition, no motorcycle-specific test procedures or emissions standards exist and the variation in emissions between models allowed under the ?corporate averaging? makes it impossible to determine whether a particular vehicle should pass or fail passed on model-year specific standards. However, the more fundamental problem with attempting to prevent catalyst removal through biennial inspections is that it takes, on average, less than one hour to change a motorcycle exhaust system. Assuming an effective test can be developed, Smog Check will only ensure that catalysts are installed one day every two years.
There is an alternative to Smog Checks that would be much more effective. Testing conducted by MIC during the last two years has shown that catalyst removal can detected using a new sound test procedure that will soon be published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Although California statutes specify a practical roadside test procedure for cars, there is no sound test procedure specified for motorcycles. Adoption of the new SAE roadside sound test procedure for motorcycles (SAE J2825) would deter catalyst removal every day of the year, not just one day every two years.
MIC has offered to work with the sponsor of the bill on the specific changes to the Vehicle Code that would accomplish the objectives of SB 435 without subjecting motorcycles to the Smog Check program. Please contact me or Tom Austin, our consultant on emissions and noise issues, if you have any questions regarding our comments. Mr. Austin is located in Sacramento and can be reached at (916) 444-6666 or by email to TAustin@SierraResearch.com.
Sincerely,
–Pamela Amette
Vice-President
cc: Senator Fran Pavley
Bonnie Holmes-Gen, American Lung Association
RALEIGH ? It could become harder and more expensive for someone to get a North Carolina motorcycle license– At the request of military leaders at Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base, the state legislature is advancing a bill that would require motorcyclists to take a safety class before they can get motorcycle endorsements on their licenses.
The military already requires these classes before its soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors can ride, regardless of whether they ride on a military base or a civilian road. Those caught violating the order could face discipline from their chain of command.
North Carolina?s proposed law change would extend the requirement to civilians, although people already licensed to drive motorcycles would not have to meet the new standard.
The change will help the military, said Fort Bragg acting garrison safety manager Richard Eppler, because some soldiers don?t follow orders to take the class before they ride. ?It?ll help ? catch some of those 1 percent out there that try to bend the rules,? he said.
State Sen. Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat who supports the bill, said the goal is not to make things harder for people getting a motorcycle license.
?We?re just trying to make sure people have a little training and a little education about things, to make sure they?re just prepared,? he said.
Rand said he used to ride motorcycles with former Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett in the 1970s. He sold the motorcycle after he came close to crashing on a rainy day. He said he accidently slid through a slick intersection.
The legislation, Senate Bill 64, passed the Senate on March 11. It would take effect July 1, 2010. The bill is pending in the state House.
Between 2003 and 2007, deaths from motorcycle crashes nearly doubled in North Carolina, from 101 to 194.
Nationwide, the military lost 41 people to motorcycle crashes in fiscal 2001. That tripled to 124 in 2008.
Fort Bragg reports six people died in motorcycle wrecks in 2006, none in 2007 and two in 2008.
In 2008, Fort Bragg soldiers were involved in 25 wrecks, up from 19 in 2006, said Eppler. About half were caused by irresponsible riders, and half were caused by the other drivers involved in the wrecks, he said.
North Carolina?s existing law requires motorcycle riders to take a written test and a motorcycle driving skills test to add a motorcycle endorsement to their driver?s licenses. The endorsement costs $1.75 per year, or $14 on an eight-year license renewal.
Riders can skip the skills test and, solely on the basis of passing a written test, get a motorcycle learner?s permit instead. The learner?s permit can be renewed indefinitely. The learner?s permit costs $15 every 18 months, and the biggest difference between it and a full license is that it?s illegal for the driver to have a passenger.
The proposed change would stop riders from indefinitely renewing motorcycle learner?s permits. The permit would be valid for six months at a time, and after riding for a year on a permit, the rider would have to get a full motorcycle endorsement or quit riding.
Motorcycle riders who have taken a motorcycle safety course usually recommend it. Several thought the proposed law is a good idea.
?Everybody should take the class. I don?t care how old you are,? said Delzora Robideaux, a rider in her 50s who has been riding for four years. She said she took the class before she started riding. She was nearly killed in a motorcycle crash last year. A truck driver illegally pulled in front of her, and she hit the truck so hard it knocked a wheel off. Now, Robideaux says her limbs and joints are held together by metal.
Duke Durham, the parts manager at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson in Fayetteville and a founder of the Cape Fear Valley Concerned Bikers Association, likes the class but had a caveat: ?Don?t discriminate against motorcyclists,? he said. ?I?m a big fan of the class, but I?m also a big fan of ?Let?s make it all equal.? ?
At Fayetteville Technical Community College, the 22-hour motorcycle safety class costs $120. It has a waiting list of several months.
Over the course of a weekend, riders go through a mix of classroom instruction and riding instruction on small school-owned motorcycles. Each class can hold 12 students. The class is so popular that people show up at the start time on Friday evenings hoping to replace someone who reserved a place but failed to show up on time, said head instructor Doc Halliday.
Statewide, 14,818 riders took motorcycle safety classes in North Carolina in 2008, according to data from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. About 11,000 of these were at community colleges, and the rest were on military bases or from private instructors.
High demand is a problem, said state Sen. Peter Brunstetter of Winston-Salem, noting during a Senate debate March 11 that more than 70,000 people received motorcycle endorsements in North Carolina last year.
?There?s not adequate training available right now,? he said. ?They?re good courses, but they?re virtually impossible to get into? because the schools face a shortage of qualified instructors.
He voted against the legislation.
The military offers a motorcycle safety classes free to its personnel ? although there is a waiting list there, too. Riders bring their own bikes to the military class.
Kurt Ballash, a specialist in the Army who recently completed the military?s class, said he found it helpful, though he thought it too difficult for someone who has never ridden before. He had 18 months riding experience, he said, before he took the course.
Motorcyclists sometimes avoid getting their endorsements because the state driver?s license offices are frequently crowded, with hours-long waits in line, Ballash said. And others choose to be irresponsible thinking they won?t get pulled over, Ballash said.
Staff writer Paul Woolverton, Fay Observer
AMSOIL BIKE WINS EDITOR’S PICK– On Monday we received a nice email from Jeremy Cupp whose very special bike has been featured in several AMSOIL ads this past year. Writes Cupp, “I thought I’d let you know that the Panster has won the Editor’s Pick for best in show at the Easyriders Invitational this past weekend.” In addition, his new TT Deluxe, wearing an Amsoil decal, won a VQ award at the same show, which is considered the Emmy of motorcycling. Cupp was delighted to see his workmanship get this kind of industry recognition.
A native of Virginia, Jeremy Cupp has a wife named Lindsay, three kids and a dog named Zeke. He grew up on dirt bikes, 4-wheelers with a little mountain bike racing for good measure. He?s currently a machinist at Cupp Manufacturing and in his spare time president of LC Fabrications, when he?s not fishing or camping with his family.
When we caught up with him, Cupp was still on a high from his weekend.
Where did you get your ideas about what you wanted to do with the Panster?
The Panster started with a pair of Trock Cylinders that a good friend had in his stash of vintage motorcycle jewels. I?m a hard core Sportster fan, and wanted to do something different, he told me of the Shovsters that Trock was doing years ago, so I decided to try a Panster. The rest of the bike was loosely based on a picture of a 1911 Harley that I have, I wanted a sort of modernized, hot rod version of that bike. And what was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in this project? Definitely the engine, to tear down, inspect, replace parts, and rebuild an engine is one thing, but don?t think that makes you a mechanic, a project like this one was a huge learning experience and took a much greater understanding of how things work and how you can alter basically everything and try to make it still all work together.
LEAD LAW ACTION–Acting Chairman of the CPSC Grants Enforcement Delay– Acting Chairman Nancy Nord of the government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission has denied a petition filed by companies and associations representing the ATV and motorized bike industries, for an exclusion from the lead content limits recently imposed by Congressional legislation. In her decision, however, Nord also said she has decided not to enforce Section 101 and related provisions of the CPSIA as it relates to the Youth motorcycle and ATV market for a period of twelve months.
This action clears the way for dealerships to resume sales of these products to the intended market. However, it is not clear how the manufacturers will react to this new wrinkle. This action says in essence, “go ahead and sell the banned bikes, we’re not going to prosecute you, but we can’t promise what might happen in the future.”
It was hoped that the Commission would grant a permanent exemption for youth ATV and motorbike components because of the infinitesimal chance that small children would absorb any measurable lead from the parts on these types of products.
In today’s press release Nord said, “During this time-out, it is my hope that Congress will consider how the law needs to be fine-tuned to address this serious child safety dilemma. This enforcement hiatus will also give industry the opportunity to examine what reasonable changes can be made in their products to bring them closer to the requirements Congress set out in the CPSIA. Staff will meet with industry to do more testing to determine how their products can meet the 300 ppm threshold Congress set and determine what is possible. I will expect periodic status reports on progress to this plan.”
Nord said the law as written does not give the CPSC the power to grant an exemption to the powersports industry. “Congress wrote Section 101(b) in such a way as to leave little discretionary power with the agency to grant common sense exclusions. This lack of flexibility was brought to the attention of Congressional staff working on the legislation during the conference process and it was confirmed this is what was intended. As our career staff has discussed on many occasions and as we now have been formally advised by staff, we do not have the statutory authority to grant the exclusion requested in this case.”
Nord said denying the petioner’s request frees the Commission from enforcement during the rulemaking process. “During the…stay of enforcement, ATV’s and motorized bikes appropriately sized for children twelve and younger can again be available and the Commission will not seek penalties for violation (of this rule) I hope that the state attorneys general will follow the lead of the agency on this matter.
Nord said her staff has determined that the act can have the unintended consequence of doing more harm to the consumers it was written to protect, children 12 year and younger. The law, as written, only affect those products “marketed” to children 12 and younger. Teen and adult ATV’s and motorbikes are not included. This means that parents, not having the option to purchase an ATV or motorbike sized for their child, may opt to buy a larger and more powerful machine. Nord said, “This will most likely increase the number of adult ATV’s purchased to be used by younger children; therefore increasing their risk of injury and death.”
–from USRidernews
BRIEF REPORT FROM THE ISLANDS– ALOHA CHOPPER??????
–hank foto
–from Chris T.
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