News

Hey, This is a tough one. I’ve been waiting for weeks for insurance approval for a root canal. Yesterday my tooth said, “Enough is enough,” and initiated a pain procedure that kicked me right in the ass. I grabbed the phone immediately. So tomorrow I will be strapped under the buzzing effects of a high-speed […]

Hey, I hate to discuss politics over custom motorcycles and redheads. It’s not fair, but it’s all over us. I mentioned how the government should be given a project and told to finish it before it causes anymore problems, like fix the Post Office, and don’t come back until it’s done. I watched a presentation

Hey, I have a notion for the government. Since they believe they need to regulate every aspect of our lives. How about a challenge? Fix the post office or turn in your membership cards and go home. The federal government has been dodging this issue for over ten years and put the post office even

Hey, There I was minding my own business. My to-do list was moderately packed with creative endeavors, bike build projects, Bonneville builds, book-writing schemes, and anything to help keep motorcycling freedom alive. Then the phone rang. It was Don Whalen, rare antique motorcycle curator. “I need to make a run north to deliver a 1942

Hey, I wish I knew which way to turn, but damn, the sun is shining, and my Mudflap Girl FXR is close to the road once more. We may be starting on our new Bonneville project in a week to 10 days, and I’m so close to wrapping up another Chance book and starting another,

Hey, This is such a crazy year. Each week seems to fly by, then another month. Can’t seem to accomplish anything fast enough. Here’s a hot one. I mentioned JIMS 116-inch engines. They produce a consistent 131 horses and torque with Branch heads. Eric Bennett is about to install a D&D system, a Power Commander,

Hey, This News column is already kicking my ass, and I’m just rolling off the dime and starting to edit. If this is any indication of this year, we are heading for some good times. The buzz is all about Daytona, the new models from Harley-Davidson, the new Indian engine, the new FXR from Big

Hey, We were doing some filming for the Smoke Out last week, then Tobey, our official BIKERNET certified welder showed up. He is helping Kyle, the shop intern, pass his welding certification and become a union crane mechanic. I don’t want to tell you how much this 25-year-old will make at the Port of Los

Has anyone seen the Day of the Falcon with Antonio Banderas? I am now going to change my title to The Sultan of the Citadel of Bikernet. How’s that? Another strange week unfolds since Doc Robinson the Australian journalist stuck around for another week after the Cincy show. He visited Power Plant, LA Speed Shop,

Hey, Another incredible week. We are flying at one thing after another. I’m supposed to be shooting footage of my old and ugly self for the Smoke Out. Doc Robinson is hanging at the headquarters for a week or… He’s a moto-journalist from Australia and searching out products for his next build, while writing stories

Hey, Damn, the country seems more divided than ever. I don’t get it, but maybe I’m just a simpleton who was brought up to believe in freedom, education, and strength were virtues. I actually see so many things as opportunities to be stronger, more free, and more resilient, not more regulated and more reliant on

Hey, This is a helluva news. We have a handful of adventures perched on our desk just waiting for the go-ahead. I’m so goddamn excited I don’t know which way to turn. Let’s just hit the news, and we’ll see if I don’t boil over at the end. I just want everyone to have a

Hey, It’s almost 11:00 a.m. on a Thursday, and I haven’t finished collecting news. Ray Wheeler and I stumbled into our favorite watering hole recently, Iron City, in San Pedro. As we sat down in the comfortable booth across the dark dining room, away from the myriad of brilliant TV screens overshadowing the bar with

Hey, Here we are smacked into a new year, and the Bikernet crew is flying at projects, tech tips, books and cleaning house. One of the major exciting factors of the internet includes our ability to share with you anything that moves, from bike builds, to repairs, to work around the Bikernet factory, race bikes,

Hey, The party continues. I just returned from Sacramento where I met with the gorgeous redhead and once Mrs. Ball number 4. What a life she’s lived since we were married in the ‘80s. Her recent beau started feeling poorly about 5 months ago and passed a month ago with complications to Hep C. He

Merry Merry, This is an amazing, heartfelt, holiday news. I can’t remember every witnessing this level of Christmas spirit, maybe because I was chasing redheads and drinking too much whiskey. So here’s our card for this year. MERRY MERRY FROM THE BIKERNET GANG— We want to wish everyone a terrific holiday and all the best

Hey, We just wrapped up the show goddamn extravaganza weekend. That means the shows are now spreading across the nation, so look out. It was an action-packed weekend with a party at the Bikernet Interplanetary Headquarters, with builders and movers and shakers from our industry, plus a couple of TV producers. It’s all nuts, but

Bananas, We are trying to handle the news and start the show load-in process in Long Beach. Ray is still working with the esteemed George, the Wild Brush, on pinstriping. Why is it always last minute?      This weekend in Los Angeles we have the Mooneyes show, the Long Beach IMS and Ultimate Builder

Hey, This day is strange, over-cast, drizzling, rainy day. It reminds me of a dismal day in junior high, when my teacher slipped me an equally depressing report card. I was forced into another dreary predicament with my folks. I had to stand tall and deliver the card for their signature. I was perhaps going

Happy Thanksgiving Goddammit, This is an interesting news, filled with the drive to help others during this special day of the season. Lots of folks in New York are hurting, and we need to help. You’ll see the reports from Carol. Speaking of giving thanks. I want to thank all the artists and contributors who

  Incredible, Each day is full of wonder, new opportunities, some disappointments, but at the bottom line, there is never a dull moment around here. I received a call from Eric Ellis the former Editor of Hot Bike, then Baggers. He resigned yesterday, and is headed to Mexico with his lovely wife to relax for

Hey, It’s almost Veterans Day and I plan to take advantage of the USS IOWA tour on Saturday, since I did three Vietnam tours on the St. Paul, a heavy cruiser. A very similar ship. I’m sure it will bring back memories of 5-inch shells kicking out onto the wooden decks as we bombarded the

Hey, Just returned from SEMA in Vegas to complete the Thursday News. Was up a 4:15 this morning to catch a flight. I hung out with Bob Kay and Jeff Najar, the bosses of Biker Pros who are the producers of the custom bike show aspect of the IMS show series of some 12 motorcycle

Yo, Another interesting day in Paradise. I rode to Bennett’s Performance yesterday, testing the Mudflap FXR once more with some adjustments to the Rox shock position. Sugar Bear wanted me to align the shock with the neck and I did. Then I adjusted the ride height up ½ inch, so the bike is very close