Its been a very interesting week, Bandit jumped ship, disposed of his cell phone in the harbor and left town. Is he escaping from the insanity of work, a busty redhead, or is he one step ahead of a federal indictment? The staff is clueless and we are all watching over our shoulder wondering if it will be a pissed off redhead or the Feds at the door in the middle of the night.
But just because the big man decided to act like Casper the Ghost doesn’t mean the Bikernet Minions haven’t tried to pick up the slack. In between tearing Headquarters apart looking for a bottle of Jack, and peering out the windows to see if the local SWAT team is ready to haul all our asses in for questioning we have managed to put together a Thursday News.
Its Quick, Its Dirty, and is sponsored in part by the staff of Cycle Source Magazine.
‘Chill’ — The latest in a series of paintings from Eric Herrmann
Internationally know artist Eric Herrmann has completed his latest painting in a new series exploring the finer side of the cannabis culture. This industry has finally come out of the closet and the art encompassing it needs to be updated from 1970’s black light posters states Eric. The technology and manufacturers creating products for this industry are some of the most creative craftsmen I have ever met.
In a simple, yet elegant table setting, Eric sets a mood of calm and relaxation. Sit back, relax, chill, and have a smoke. The bowls are always full and the glass is always clean in my paintings, states Eric. ‘Chill’ will adorn any home or business with style and grace.
The original ‘Chill’ painting was unveiled to the public for the first time during this years Cannabis Cup in Denver on 4/20.
The original ‘Chill’ painting measures 24″ x 32″ and is available for $14,000.00
Limited Edition Canvas Giclee’ prints are available in two sizes:
28″ x 21″ Edition of 250 produced $850.00
30″ x 40″ Edition of 50 produced $2000.00
Paper Lithographs, signed & numbered in an edition of 950 are available for $125.00 each.
Readers Comments — Mudflap Girl Part 1, the Concept
Great read man. Cant wait to see the end of this FXR build.
Jon
Chillicothe, MO
The MudFlap FXR is completed and Bandit is riding the wheels off it whenever we unchain him from his PanHead Desk. — Krash
Check out the whole build here. http://www.bikernet.com/pages/Mudflap_Girl_FXR.aspx
BARTEL’S IS YOUR STOP FOR 5 BALL RACING LEATHERS — The 5 Ball Racing Leathers’ Jack Shirt 5/8 Sleeve has sold out its 1st run. It’s still available at SOCAL’s Bartel’s Harley-Davidson. The milled buffalo leather features 2 chest pockets and 2 waist pockets and 1 inside gun pocket.
They have Eyes Everywhere! —
DELAWARE Dover: The Department of Transportation’s program generated more than 39,000 red-light tickets and about $4 million in fines in 2013. After expenses, the program brought in just under $900,000.
PENNSYLVANIA State College: State College is expanding its system of downtown surveillance, adding 71 cameras to a network that’s been in place for about a decade.
COLORADO Denver: The state Senate passed a statewide ban on red-light and speeding cameras Monday, and the House will now consider it.
Rogue
New Cam Covers For Sportsters Fresh From The Foundry — We just got news this morning from Nico, the big man at Esteves Motorcycle Design, that the first cam covers for Sportsters have arrived from the foundry. Check these out; they will completely change the look of your XL. They will be available very soon, so stay tuned. If you want to see more, click on the banner below.
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.— John Adams
REGISTRATION OPEN For “A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist”
We need your help telling Florida Motorcyclists about very special classes that are being sponsored by Celler Law in Boca Raton at the Hilton Garden Inn the first weekend of May. The classes (Basic and Advanced) are only $25 each (instead of $75 each) and is being taught by the author of the program, Vicki Sanfelipo, RN/EMT from Wisconsin. Now is the time to get your friends and family trained in Bystander Care!
We are also asking you to help us let any friends you might have who are Medical Professionals know that this weekend of training will surround ASM instructor Certification. The 4 day instructor training is only $100 (instead of $350).
Roaring Toyz…2 New Styles of Fenders for Custom Baggers — Sarasota, FL – Roaring Toys announced today that they have released 2 new fender styles to compliment the new larger size wheels that custom baggers are turning to…The “Classic” which is exactly that, classic in design and the “Wraparound” which follows the radius of the wheel perfectly…both designed to accommodate large custom wheels.
Cover your tire and keep you bike clean with this American Made “Classic” Style Bagger Front Fender. This fender is for Harley-Davidson Touring Models with a 21″ front wheel conversion and will bolt direct to your fork legs. This fender has the perfect clearance for your 21″ Inch front tire and comes pre drilled for a perfect fit. Comes with chrome plated fender spacers for that added detail and is also available for 23″ and 26″ front wheels.
Cover up that huge 30″ tire with this American Made 30″ “Wraparound” Bagger Front Fender. This fender is perfect for all Harley-Davidson Touring Models with a 30″ front wheel conversion and will require custom spacers with the correct width to bolt direct to your fork legs.
Both are constructed from biaxial hand laid fiberglass for strength and durability. No need to cut down welds and rework like steel fenders. Fenders are prepped and ready to paint with a supreme finish. You and your painter will love the finish on these custom molded front fenders. (All Roaring Toyz fenders are predrilled for that perfect fit) Available for the following models… Streetglide, Roadglide, Roadking, Electraglide and Ultra Classic.
(MSRP from $314.00 depending on size
For those interested in obtaining more information on Roaring Toyz, you can reach them at 941-953-4423, email them at robert@roaringtoyz.com or check them out online.
Round ‘Em Up Cowgirl!
Round Up of Articles from the Bikernet Family of websites.
Forever Bonneville Dreaming
Starting Line…11th Annual BUB Speed Trials.
The infamous Bonneville Salt Flats, where mere mortals dreams collide with Reality…in many magical ways. From life long friendships to temporarily etching ones name in the salt.
This is the spot where you can follow your 5-Ball Racing Teams aspirations and adventures has we inch closer to the starting line anticipating the Starters Green Flag waving in a near heart stopping figure eight.
The Endless Highway – Part Three
This brings us to Joe Sparrow, By Scooter Tramp Scotty.
Although on the road for 5 consecutive years now, Joe’s story began long ago…
In 1979 a motorcycle accident laid Joe up in the hospital for two months. While there the profound realization came that life is fragile and could end at any moment. This revelation brought the realization that he’d better squeeze as much riding as humanly possible into whatever time there was left.
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum – 1922 Ace Four
This 1922 Ace Inline Four is owned by local Sturgis collector Junior Glover, By Christine Paige-Diers (Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame) .
William G. Henderson is widely recognized as a truly innovative designer of early motorcycles and is especially well-known for his design of four-cylinder engines. He was the original owner of the Henderson Motorcycle company – which was founded in 1911. In 1917, he sold his company to Ignatz Schwinn, the owner of the Schwinn company that made bicycles and Excelsior Motorcycles.
NCOM Coast To Coast Biker News for April 2014
Universal helmet laws, Ethanol labeling, Red lights in WA, Rally for Mongols, and more, by Bill Bish, thanks to Richard Lester and NCOM, with photos from the Bob T. collection.
Motorcycle News from around the world bought to you by NCOM and compiled and edited by Bill Bish.
From BAGGERS we have the following:
LS2 CONVERT MODULAR HELMET REVIEW -NEW VIDEO BY REG KITTRELL-
By Gary Kroz
LS2 Helmets started in Spain in 2007 and in the last 6 years have become one of the top brands in Europe, selling over 1 million LS2 branded helmets per year, world wide. Owned by a factory north of Hong Kong are certified by the most extensive list of Motorcycle Helmet Standards in the world. In 2008 they became the only helmet manufacturer in China fully approved by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and received full ISO9000* accreditation.
Stabilizing Pre and Post 2009 Touring Front Ends
The Tough Custom Cycle Engineering Top Triple Tree, by Smilin’ Doc Robinson, Tech Editor, Heavy Duty Magazine, Australia
There’s nothing so good it doesn’t bear improving. I aim that statement at owners of 2009 and upward Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles. In 2009 the Motor Company came out with their new frame, the first for the tourers since 1980. By today’s standards, the bikes back then were underpowered slugs and therefore not ridden nearly as fast as they are nowadays, thanks to the much bigger and more powerful engines. And the new touring frame has certainly made a big difference.
POWER PIPES FROM SAMSON
Bolt-On Horsepower, by Buck Lovell and Kevin Jager, photos by Buck Lovell.
If you want to upgrade your current exhaust system with something that can produce more horsepower and sound good at the same time, take a long look at Samson. Kevin Jager’s 2004 Harley-Davidson FLHT needed a deep breathing pipe to go along with many other performance components he was planning to install on his eight year old Bagger. He chose Samson’s C2-311BB (black pipe, black muffler, black tip). Watch as we install the two-into-one Powerflow Samson system.
“Be vewy vewy quiet. I’m hunting wabbits!” –Elmer Fudd
Mistress Chris
EPA acknowledges that ethanol damages engines
April 21, 2014
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has publicly acknowledged that ethanol in gasoline can damage internal combustion engines by increasing exhaust temperatures and indirectly causing component failures, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The EPA statements are found in a rule proposal issued by the Federal Trade Commission regarding a new label for pumps that supply fuel blends high in ethanol.
According to the EPA, “[e]thanol impacts motor vehicles in two primary ways. First … ethanol enleans the [air/fuel] ratio (increases the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons) which can lead to increased exhaust gas temperatures and potentially increase incremental deterioration of emission control hardware and performance over time, possibly causing catalyst failure. Second, ethanol can cause materials compatibility issues, which may lead to other component failures.
“In motorcycles and nonroad products [using E15 and higher ethanol blends], EPA raised engine-failure concerns from overheating.”
These EPA statements, contained in the FTC document, back the long-held position of the AMA.
“The American Motorcyclist Association has fought the distribution of E15 fuel blends in an effort to protect motorcycle and all-terrain vehicles from the damage that ethanol causes,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “Now the EPA acknowledges that ethanol itself is harmful to emissions hardware and other components on all motor vehicles. It is time for the federal government to pause, take a hard look at this product and change its entire approach to ethanol in fuels.”
E15 is a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.
None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs currently in operation can use fuels with blends higher than 10 percent ethanol. Doing so could void the manufacturer’s warranty, in addition to causing damage to the vehicle.
The AMA applauded the EPA’s decision in its proposed rule to roll back the requirement for wider distribution and use of E15 under its Renewable Fuel Standard.
The AMA also is concerned about the continued availability of E10 blends and E0 fuels — gasoline with zero ethanol content — if E15 is allowed to permeate the marketplace.
J&P Cycles Founder John Parham Doing Well Nearly Four Years After Lung Transplant — April is National Donate Life Month, and today happens to be Donate Life Blue and Green Day, a day set aside specifically to spread awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation.
J&P Cycles has a special connection to this effort as founder John Parham received a life-saving lung transplant almost four years ago. As you may recall, we shared John’s story from waiting for a lung to his recovery just a week after his lung transplant and his last update, a year post-surgery on the J&P blog.
In the nearly three years since that last post, John has been busy promoting his love of antique motorcycles and the beautiful National Motorcycle Museum, located just a mile down the road from J&P Cycles. Since John’s retirement from J&P, he has been able to focus 100% on the Museum. In doing so, the Museum’s collection has grown to well over 400 priceless machines in addition to motorcycle memorabilia, antique motorcycle toys, photos and posters.
Like other transplant patients, John has had his share of ups and downs. There have been illnesses, trips to the hospital and changes in his medicine regimen, but he and his wife, Jill, are living their life to the fullest. They were able to spend five weeks in Florida this winter, even attending Bike Week. Looking forward to this summer, a motorcycle trip is in the cards, and they should be able to do so in style, and comfort as a new Harley-Davidson trike has been ordered and is on the way for them.
And then there’s his family. At the time of John’s lung transplant, the Parham family consisted of not only John and Jill, but son, Zach, daughter-in-law, Bree and grandson, Kaiden, who was a toddler. Now, 5-years-old, Kaiden isn’t the only grandchild anymore. There’s a granddaughter, Kinlee who will be 3 in May. Each day with their grandchildren is a reminder of the blessings that have been bestowed upon them, and they spend as much time as possible with the two of them
John is not shy in talking about his illness, organ donation and how important it is. He is a firm believer in the work being done by the Donate Life Organization and encourages everyone to consider being an organ donor. According to the Donate Life website, more than 120,000 men, women and children are awaiting organ transplants in the United States. In 2012, there were 28,052 organ transplants performed with 14,013 organ donors.
Without the selfless gift of another family, he never would have seen his grandson grow and his granddaughter be born let alone live life for another four years.
Another extremely bad joke — A woman goes to the Doctor, worried about her husband’s temper.
The Doctor asks: “What’s the problem? The woman says: “Doctor, I don’t know what to do. Every day my husband seems to lose his temper for no reason. It scares me.”
The Doctor says: “I have a cure for that. When it seems that your husband is getting angry, just take a glass of water and start swishing it in your mouth. Just swish and swish but don’t swallow it until he either leaves the room or calms down.
“Two weeks later the woman comes back to the doctor looking fresh and reborn.
The woman says: “Doctor that was a brilliant idea! Every time my husband started losing it, I swished with water. I swished and swished, and he calmed right down! How does a glass of water do that?”
The Doctor says: “The water itself does nothing. It’s keeping your mouth shut that does the trick…”
Rogue
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com
Readers Comment — Getting to the Bottom of the Bagger Wobble — I haven’t suffered the indignity of an off, as you have. I do agree however that the forks do have a lot to answer for, adversely affecting the behaviour of our bikes, but not due to the reverse trees. The top tree fixing of each fork leg provides very little proper torsional support to the forks, so the two legs can ‘walk’ relative to each other. When riding off-road the forks can be felt to twist very readily, allowing the front wheel to move around a lot. On smoother roads the darned thing can still twist far more than it should.
Thanks in part to an article you published about the CCE True Trac forks kit, my bike is apart even as I write, in readiness to install mine! That will I anticipate complete the upgrade of my 1990 FLHS, owned from new, which will include: CCE forks kit, with tuned Ricor Intiminators and Race Tech single-rate springs, plus Harrison 13″ rotors with Billet 6 calipers; 2007 swingarm and rear caliper with custom-built Ohlins shocks, True-Track stabilizer kit and Deuce rear wheel. I haven’t ridden any of the 2014 bikes yet, but they have the equivalent of a CCE trees kit and get good reviews for improved handling.
Graham Brown
Somewhere in Rainy England
IRS awards bonuses to 1,100 who owe back taxes —
STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service has paid more than $2.8 million in bonuses to employees with recent disciplinary problems, including $1 million to workers who owed back taxes, a government investigator said Tuesday.
More than 2,800 workers got bonuses despite facing a disciplinary action in the previous year, including 1,150 who owed back taxes, said a report by J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration. The bonuses were awarded from October 2010 through December 2012.
George’s report said the bonus program doesn’t violate federal regulations, but it’s inconsistent with the IRS mission to enforce tax laws.
“These awards are designed to recognize and reward IRS employees for a job well done, and that is appropriate, because the IRS should encourage good performance,” George said. “However, while not prohibited, providing awards to employees who have been disciplined for failing to pay federal taxes appears to create a conflict with the IRS’s charge of ensuring the integrity of the system of tax administration.”
Other examples of misconduct by workers getting bonuses included misusing government credit cards for travel, drug use, violent threats and fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits.
The IRS said it has developed a new policy linking conduct and performance bonuses for executives and senior level employees.
“Even without a formal policy in place over the past four years, the IRS has not issued awards to any executives that were subject to a disciplinary action,” the IRS said in a statement. “We are also considering a similar policy for the entire IRS workforce, which would be subject to negotiations with the National Treasury Employees Union.”
The IRS had about 100,000 workers during the period under review.
In the 2011 budget year, more than 70,000 IRS workers got cash bonuses totaling $92 million, the report said. In the 2012 budget year, nearly 68,000 workers got cash bonuses totaling $86 million.
The report said the IRS considers prior conduct before awarding permanent pay increases. “However, IRS officials stated that the IRS generally does not consider conduct issues when administering other types of awards,” the report said.
There are no government-wide policies on providing bonuses to employees with conduct issues, the report said. However, a 1998 law calls for removing IRS employees who are found to have intentionally committed certain acts of misconduct, including willful failure to pay federal taxes.
Tax compliance at the IRS is generally better than at other federal agencies.
In 2011, 3.2 percent of federal workers owed back taxes, according to IRS statistics. The Treasury Department, which includes the IRS, had the lowest delinquency rate, at 1.1 percent.
The delinquency rate for the general public was 8.2 percent.
Rogue
Texas Attitude
One day, a very gentle Texas lady was driving across a high bridge in Austin.
As she neared the top of the bridge, she noticed a young man fixin’ to jump. (“fixin to” in Texas means getting-ready to)
She stopped her car, rolled down the window and said, “Please don’t jump! Think of your dear mother and father.”
He replied, “My mom and dad are both dead; I’m going to jump.”
She said, “Well, think of your sweet wife and precious children.”
He replied, “I’m not married, and I don’t have any kids, i’m going to jump.”
She said, “Well, then you must remember the Alamo.”
He replied, ”What’s the Alamo?”
She replied, ‘’Well, bless your heart! – You just go ahead and jump…. you little Yankee bastard…. You’re holding up traffic”
Jim Waggaman
Benefit to Fight Cancer – 2014 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show Moves To Malibu
The 23rd annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show sponsored by Russ Brown Attorneys is pleased to announce that the American Cancer Society will be the 2014 Show’s designated charity recipient.This month the Society announced its first set of new 2014 grantees, awarding a total of $42,899,000 to 103 scientists and health professionals, both to find a cures for the many types of cancers, and to support and care for the facilities that treat and care for cancer patients.
“Everyone knows of friends and loved family members, or possibly themselves who have been impacted by cancer”, explained Jim Gianatsis, producer of the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show and the Show’s themed FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars. “I, myself, was cured of cancer 4 years ago, thanks to diagnostics, cures and surgeries, discovered by researchers funded by important charity organizations like the American Cancer Society. Motorcyclists are renown as a community for coming together to support important causes, and none is more important than curing the cancers which affect more people than any other disease. The LA Calendar Show will be giving $1 of each Spectator Admission purchased on-line at FastDates.com to the American Cancer Society.
The 2014 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show & Concours d’ Elegance on Sunday July 20th is just $20 General Admission, and $40 VIP Admission includes an awesome Food Truck Lunch w/ Beverages from the famous Baby’s Badass Burgers and The Grilled Cheese. Event parking is free, with separate paved Motorcycle and Car Parking areas. Show capacity is limited and advance ticket purchase is suggested.
The Malibu Golf Course is located at 901 Encinal Canyon Road. Malibu, CA 90265. Additional Information, Purchase Advance Tickets, Vendor and Bike Contest Registration is online at: www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM
A definition worth remembering:
There’s an annual contest at Bond University, Australia, calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term.
This year’s chosen term was “political correctness”.
The winning student wrote:
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end.”
Jim Waggaman
SHOVELHEADS RULE!
Crank and Stroker has these in Stock and Ready to ROCK!
Check em out here. http://crankandstroker.com/motorcycle-apparel/short-sleeve-biker-tee-shirts/shovel-heads-tee.html
Well that wraps up the news, or so I thought, at the last minute Bandit resurfaced long enough to Email me some photos of what he has been doing.
Guess they are kind of like a Where is Waldo Game as I have no idea who he is with or what he is involved in. ( That’s my story and I am sticking to it! )
You know what, I really dont care what the Old Salty Dog is up to! I am going to grab the Mistress and a bottle of Captain and have a great weekend.
Ride Safe! — Richard Kranzler