What a wacky week it’s been. Tomorrow the industry is heading to Cinncinati for a weekend party. Who knows what will be accomplished. I’ll be there for American Rider covering the show and passing out Bikernet stickers.
For the last week I’ve had the priviledge of riding the new Victory Vegas. Nice scoot. There’s more on that below. The Pan is running fine and we’ll start work on the King again next week. We better get to the news.
BIKER-FUGITIVE DISCOVERED–Investigators stand near the box that contained the body of Lawrence William Cook, 44. Cook, whose body was found in Bayou Cocodrie last week, was a wanted fugitive from Texas. A man whose dismembered body was found in a plastic storage box floating in Bayou Cocodrie was a fugitive from the law in Texas.
Lawrence William Cook, 44, had four outstanding warrants against him from Grayson County, Texas, including one for allegedly stealing a policeman’s motorcycle, according to Grayson County (Texas) Sheriff Keith Gary.
Cook, known in the Grayson County area as “Larry-Larry,” had a lengthy criminal record with at least 18 arrests.
Cook had a gunshot wound behind his ear when his body was found last Friday. His legs had been cut off, apparently to make his body fit into the box, Evangeline Parish sheriff’s detectives said. The legs have not been found.
Cook was a member of the North Texas chapter of the Banshee motorcycle club. It is unknown if his club involvement was a factor in his death, detectives said.
–Mandy M. Goodnight / The Town Talk
THE RIGHT AGE FOR CUSSING– A 6-year-old and a 4-year-old are upstairs in their bedroom.
“You know what?” says the 6-year-old. “I think it’s about time we start cussing.”
The 4-year-old nods his head in approval.
The 6-year-old continues. “When we go downstairs for breakfast I’m gonna say “hell,” and you say “ass.” “OK!”
The 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm. Their mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6-year-old what he wants for breakfast.
“Aw hell, Mom, I guess I’ll have some Cheerios.”
WHACK! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out, with his mother in hot pursuit, slapping his rear every step. The mom locks him in his room & shouts, “You can just stay there till I let you out!”
She then comes back downstairs, looks at the 4-year-old, and asks with a stern voice, “And what do YOU want for breakfast young man?”
“I don’t know,” he blubbers, “But you can bet your fat ass it won’t be Cheerios.”
–from Rev. CarlR
VICTORY VEGAS ROAD TEST–Off and on for a week I’ve been riding a new 2003 Victory Vegas. If you’re looking for a new bike, give one a try. I was impressed. I equated it to a Sportster in some regards, although it’s 92 inches of overhead cams, 4-valve heads and plenty of torque was rubbermounted. It weighs 615 pound, whereas my King weighs 723 lbs. dry, and a Sportster weighs 489 to 503 lbs. dry, depending on model.
My report will be available in Cruising Rider magazine.
–Bandit
POLICE STIFLE TOY RUN–Each fall for the last four years, thousands of motorcycle riders have driven their bikes through eastern Delaware County in a festive event organized by the nonprofit Bikers Against Child Abuse Inc. to raise money and collect toys for abused and neglected children.
The group, which has its national office in Delaware County, has been honored for its efforts in the past and has attracted wide support. U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R., Pa.) was the grand marshal for yesterday’s ride.
Yesterday, however, bikers gathering in Darby Borough at 10 a.m. were greeted with heavy police presence. About 135 officers who had been called in from more than half a dozen municipalities inspected each motorcycle for motor-vehicle code violations before the ride could proceed – something they had not done before previous rides. Neither police nor the bikers would say how many citations had been issued.
–By Dan HardyInquirer Staff Writer
BIKERNET WEAPONS TEST–Question: You’re walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, a dangerous looking man with a huge knife comes around the corner and is running at you while screamingobscenities. In your hand is a Glock .40 and you are an expert shot.You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
Liberal Answer:Well, that’s not enough information to answer the question! Does the man look poor or oppressed? Have I ever done anything to him that isinspiring him to attack?Could we run away? What does my wife think?What about the kids?Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out ofhis hand?What does the law say about this situation?Is it possible he’d be happy with just killing me?Does he definitely want to kill me or would he just be content to wound me?If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for a few days to try to come to a conclusion.
Conservative Answer:BANG!
Texan’s Answer:BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BAN! G! BANG! click…(sounds of clip being ejected and fresh clip installed)
Wife: “Sweetheart, he looks like he’s still moving, what do you kidsthink?”
Son: “Mom’s right Dad, I saw it too…”
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Daughter: “Nice grouping Daddy!”
–from Al Friedman
BANDIT IS NO PUBLIC BURDEN?–You spend the last TWO years paying off medical bills from an uninsuredmotorcycle accident? Man, you’re screwing up the works! Don’t youlisten to your government? All uninsured motorcycle accidents areautomatically a public burden. There must be a government agency thatpays for all medical bills of uninsured motorcycle accidents and youneed to contact them immediately to get a full refund.
As usual O’ great one your words have inspired new thought. I havealways stopped at the point of showing that NHTSA’s bloated accusationsof helmet-less motorcyclist costing the public millions of dollars asbeing a lie. They site their 1996 report showing unhelmeted ridershaving 5 percent higher medical costs then helmeted riders. Then theytake that 5 percent, multiply it by some estimated dollar figure formedical expenses and tell congress, judges, and the world thatunhelmeted riders are costing the public millions of dollars. Theyfail to mention that the data used for the 1996 report states it has a5 percent margin of error making the estimated numbers a meaninglesslie. There didn’t seem much reason to give it further consideration.
NHTSA making unsupported blanket statements that every motorcyclist injured without medical insurance is automatically a public burden isanother lie. You are a prime example. My brothers wife had to havesurgery without insurance and they spent 5 years paying off medicalbills. Doctors and Hospitals don’t just let people walk and not pay ifthey are uninsured. There is no government agency that pays for thesebills. People have to pay their debt, medical or other wise, or theymust file for bankruptcy, or go to jail. That’s how the system works. Exactly how do helmet-less motorcycle riders become a public burden?
Public burden is the only reason the government, both legislative andjudicial, have come up with to force us to wear a potentialy fatalpiece of “safety gear.” The public burden theory is unproven, it is alie.
–FTW,Stroker
BIKERNET REVEALS HOW TO BUILD A FLOW BENCH– This is the second Flowbench I have built. The first one was modeled after a commercial one but was under powered. I could barely get 8″ w.c. test pressure on intake testing.
I have been working on this thing for quite some time now. This second design is not of the Laminar Flow type benches like Jerry Branch or Don Tilley use. This design is more like the larger comercial Flowbenches most commonly used by alot of cylinder head porter’s nowdays.
–Pablo
Watch for the tech to be revealed in segments starting next week.
?SATAN’ BIKER BUSTED OVER DRUG LAB– By JOHN LEHMANN. January 15, 2003 — A 300-pound biker, who leads a gang known as “Satan’s Soldiers,” is facing a hellish future after being nabbed manufacturing drugs in a clandestine lab near a school in The Bronx, the feds charge.
Angelo “Red” Cruz surrounded himself with an arsenal of guns while directing his gang to produce crystal methamphetamine – also known as crank and ice – in a trailer near the gang’s clubhouse, according to court papers.
Cruz, wearing a tent-sized red and black jacket, was hauled into Manhattan federal court yesterday after a close pal ratted him out to cops.
–from Rogue and New York Post Online
NEW BUELL LIGHTNING LOW XB9S–STREETFIGHTER PERFORMANCE FOR SHORTER RIDERS–Milwaukee, Wis. – (Jan. 28, 2002) Buell Motorcycle Company recently revealed the 2003 Lightning Low XB9S, a new model with a 1.5-inch lower seat height than the standard Lightning XB9S. The Lightning Low delivers uncompromised street performance in a package that will be more comfortable for a shorter rider.
The Lightning Low XB9S has a seat height of just 28.6 inches, achieved by altering the front and rear suspension and reshaping the seat pad. According to Buell engineers, the Lightning Low retains the responsive handling and exhilarating performance of previous Buell models. The Lightning Low also offers the same lean styling and advanced design features found on the innovative Buell Lightning XB9S and Firebolt XB9R, including fuel-in-the-frame, oil-in-the-swingarm, and Zero Torsional Load front brake, with the muscular torque of a 92-horsepower, 984cc air-cooled, 45-degree V-Twin engine with Dynamic Digital Fuel Injection.
The new Lightning Low XB9S will be available in Buell dealerships in February with an MSRP of $9,995.
For photography and information on Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Buell American Motorcycles, visit www.h-dmedia.com.
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