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AGENT ZEBRA REPORTS ON THUNDER MOUNTAIN CYCLES–Thunder Mountain flew me up to Loveland Friday-Saturday, limo from the airport, the works. They presented the new ’06 TMCC models to the H-D dealers (who were really impressed). They want me to cover that, talk about the new bikes, general press release stuff.
Their new custom dresser-chopper is killer and they think it’s a cover bike. Think we could do a cover on their new bike? It looks fantastic and the H-D dealers flipped when they saw it. Mitch told me they ordered something like 40 of them on the spot (he was thrilled). Also, we should run a piece on Bikernet.
Giving you the scoop every time will show folks how versatile the web is, as opposed to the slowpoke magazines
I’m going to make Bikernet their staple locale for ’06, with American Iron and Easyriders their print backup. I might also talk to The Horse, since they’re out here.
I told Mitch you wanted to meet with him and have a sit-down up north. He’s enthusiastic about it and wants to tell you all about their new product. They’re out there the latter half of the rally. I can try to arrange that meeting for you if you want.
FTW
–Z
7TH ANNUAL RUN FOR BREATH BUILD-OFF–The 7th Annual Run For Breath “In Memory of justin Pullin’ featured Charlotte’s first ever Bike Build-Off.The build off featured Jeff Clark and his crew from The Cycle Xchange and Russell Smith and his crew from Down South Customs. Both are Charlotte based shops. TCX”s bike featured a replica panhead engine “old school style bobber” bike. The bike had some nice touches such as powder coated wheels, open belt drive and a killer fork brace. Down South’s bike featured a “BIG INCH” Evo styled engine. Their bike featured a lot of nice machine work and some killer front-end work. Both of the paint jobs were real nice. The people who attended the RFB voted for the winner. At the end of the day Russell and his crew from Down South Customs edged out TCX to take home the trophy. Nice job guys! Pictures will follow.
HAND-TOOLED LEATHER CONNECTION–I’ve been Hand-tooling and carving custom leather as a hobby for about 12 years now, and being sick of working my ass off only to get screwed out of jobs working for other people, I am now in business for myself- creating custom leather items. I can make pretty much what ever you want, from custom cases for just about anything, to briefcases and day-planners, to motorcycle seats & accessories. Please send email to inquire. I just finished this order from New York for a wallet…more stuff on my website.
Jwalker@JwalkerLeather.com
TIM’S PROJECT REPORT–The project is getting close now. I finally got a fucking job and can pay some bills. I still need a couple things, but the rear axle is in and the bike rolls nice 🙂
Now that I have a job I’ll get the fucker on the road in the next month or so. I only need to buy a better set of pipes and a Speedo to finish it off. There are a couple minor things like blinkers and fork stops, but those are minor. I’ll send you the next section as soon as I cut the axle nut to size and take a picture.
I’m including a project update photo, but the fender is still the flat top Atlas one (not really mounted). I have a Diablo coming from WCC. I just have to wait for them to catch up with all the orders from their sale. Wish I had a contact there to speed things up.
Sorry it’s been taking so long, but when the job went so did my ability to move quickly. That’s changed.
–Tim
BIKERNET DISCOVERS NEW VIRUS-SPECIAL REPORT– There is a new virus circulating. It is called “WORK.” If you receive WORK from your colleagues, your boss, or from anyone else, do not touch it under any circumstances. This virus wipes out your private life completely.
If you should happen to come in contact with this virus, take two friends and go straight to the nearest bar. Order drinks immediately and after three rounds, you will find that WORK has been completely deleted from your brain.
If you don’t drink, check out the Dairy Queen Hot Fudge Brownie Supreme! Chocolate is a good substitute!
Forward this virus warning immediately to at least five friends.
Should you realize you do not have five friends, this means you are already infected by this virus and WORK already controls your life. If this is the case, go to the nearest bar and stay until you make at least five friends.
I think I have five friends, but I am not entirely positive, so I’m headed for the bar anyway…it never hurts to be safe
–from Bikerredneck
THE CONDEROSA REPORT–Just finished these for Lucky’s out of Seattle. The first one they wanted done was an old style race bike paint job from the 40’s. The other one they turned me loose on. I did my tribute to Von Dutch, using the #11 X-acto blade style I’ve been developing. I call it “Von Rip Off”. There is NO pinstriping or airbrushing on this bike. It has roughly 35 coats of ‘flake, candy and clear on top of the finest hand formed sheetmetal I’ve ever painted on. Thanks to Lucky’s Choppers for the work. I hope this finds you all doin’ great! Peace outtie, war innie.
– Tim
The Conderosa
http://www.armageddontopfuel.com
WYOMING: Coroner plans inquest in biker’s death–CHEYENNE — An investigation into the death of Cheyenne man Dwayne Sells,entering its fourth month, will probably go to a coroner’s inquest inAugust, officials said this week.
Sells, 35, died a few days after being knocked unconscious in the earlymorning hours of April 23 while being escorted out of the Outlaw Saloonafter a physical altercation.
Investigators have received varying accounts of the events of that day, withdifferent people’s versions of the story seemingly related to “who you’refriendly with in the bar,” according to Laramie County District Attorney JonForwood.
Sells was a prominent biker in the community, serving as president of the100-plus-member American Bikers Acting Toward Education of Cheyenne. Thegroup works for bikers’ rights and also does charity work, according togroup Treasurer Kerri Pestana.
By BILL LUCKETT
Star-Tribune capital bureau
–Rogue
BIKERS SUMMER PICNIC–Once-notorious outlaw-biker rivals, the Pagans and Warlocks are workingtogether to throw a fund-raiser, fresh from helping to repeal laws regardingmotorcycle helmets and high handlebars, known as ape-hangers.
What’s more, these outlaw clubs have joined with nonoutlaw bikers, whom theyused to rough up, to fight alleged discrimination and police harassment in apolitical and legal forum.
To give you an idea of how far these tattooed tough guys have come, they’rethrowing their first annual Summer Sizzler, a biker family picnic, from noonto 6 p.m. on Aug. 21, at the Nevlin Grist Mill Park, in Glen Mills, DelawareCounty.
The poster for the event says: No Pets! Drugs! Alcohol! Weapons! Attitudes!
Tickets cost $20 person, or $30 a couple, in advance, with children under 12admitted free. Tickets at the gate cost $25 per person.
A Warlock and a Pagan who asked that their names not be published areorganizing the event, with members from 23 biker clubs serving oncommittees, to ensure there’s enough food, coffee, soda, beer kegs, livemusic, portable toilets, vendors, bike games, trash bags and X-rated fun -away from the kids.
This is the first major fund-raiser for the Confederation of Clubs ofEastern Pennsylvania, founded in April 1999. The confederation representsmore than 1,000 members, with an average age of 42, from 23 clubs.
Nearly any “patch holder,” or motorcycle-club member, can join except thosecooperating with or connected with law enforcement.
By KITTY CAPARELLA
–from Rogue
BROS CLUB HELPING OUT–Here are 10 simple steps that can help you reduce the risk of your information being stolen and misused.SAFEGUARD YOURSELF AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT
Order your credit report. Get credit reports every year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. We recommend you space the reports out over the year. (See the listings at end of this article). A convenient resource is http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com, which was created by the three agencies as a centralized source of credit information. You can request free reports from each agency through this single website. Check each report for accuracy and for indications of fraud.
Guard your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card with you; store it in a secure place. Release your number only when necessary, such as on tax forms, or employment records. When a business wants your Social Security number, ask to use another number. Don’t have your Social Security number printed on checks and don’t supply it to merchants who want to write it on your checks. Review your Social Security Earnings and Benefits statement each year to ensure no one is using your number for employment.
Protect your mail from theft. Mail outgoing bills from post office collection boxes rather than in an unsecured mail box. Don’t leave outgoing mail for your postal carrier to pick up. Pay attention to billing cycles and keep track of incoming mail, particularly tax forms, pay stubs, credit card bills and bank statements. If statements are late, call to find out when the statements were mailed. Pick up new checks at the bank. Consider a locked mailbox and have the post office hold mail when you are away.
Destroy documents before disposal. Tear, or better yet, shred your charge and ATM receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements. Also, destroy expired credits cards and convenience checks or credit offers you get in the mail. If you do not want mailed credit offers, contact AnnualCreditReport.com Shop online with caution. Use only a credit card when shopping online, not a debit card. Designate a single, distinct credit card with a low limit for on-line shopping. Use a secure browser before you provide any credit information over the Internet. To determine if a site is safe, look for the “lock” symbols in the status bar at the bottom of your browser window. Look for the words “Secure Sockets Layer” or the acronym “SSL” in the merchant’s privacy statement. Never send payment information via e-mail. Keep your computer safe. Update virus protection software regularly. Download and install security patches for your operating system or browser. Use a firewall program, especially if you use a high-speed Internet connection like cable, DSL or T-1, which leaves your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. Before you dispose of a computer use a “wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive and make files with personal information unrecoverable. Never store personal information on a laptop computer. Pick your PINs carefully. Do not use any part of your Social Security number for any Personal Identification Number (PIN). Don’t use any combination a thief could easily figure out, such as birth dates, a pet’s name, mother’s maiden name, address, telephone number, or consecutive numbers. Memorize all your PINs and do not write them down anywhere. Finally, shield the PIN pad when you are entering the number in a retail establishment or at an ATM to prevent others from observing your PIN. Lock up important documents. Keep all documents with personal or account information under lock and key in your home. Always keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work, preferably a locked drawer. Carry only cards you need. Record your credit and bank account information. List or photocopy all of your credit and debit cards, including the account number, expiration date, credit limit and the telephone numbers of customer service and fraud departments in case your cards are stolen. Make a similar list for your bank accounts. Don’t take that call. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of mortgage companies, banks, credit card companies, Internet Service Providers and even government agencies to get you to reveal your personal information. MAJOR CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES Experian Transunion AnnualCreditReport.com http://www.AnnualCreditReport.comRequest credit reports from all three agencies online, or call: (877) 322-8228 Stop unsolicited credit offers: (888) 567-8688 Dana Coates is a principal member of United Agencies, Inc.United Agencies is licensed in all states and provides all forms of insurance. Dana J. Coates ILLINOIS: Helmet law a logical extension of seat belt law–Illinois’ buckle-up law, conceived during a fiery debate over public safety and individual rights nearly two decades ago, has obviously clicked. It has saved lives, prevented devastating injuries and gained acceptance. Where politicians once equivocated, Gov. Rod Blagojevich now trumpets his vital role in strengthening enforcement. Meanwhile, mobilized motorcyclists have vanquished those who would demand they wear helmets. This incongruity – same conflict in principles, different results – spotlights the reality that effective lobbying often trumps philosophical fidelity in the legislative arena.Consider the history. The state enacted a helmet law in 1969, only to have it struck down by Illinois Supreme Court justices who embraced the cyclists’ assertion of undue government intrusion. Seventeen years later, the seat belt dictate hit the statutes when safety enthusiasts struggling to change the hearts and minds of lawmakers found potent allies capable of twisting arms. The new law then was upheld by justices who adopted the public welfare argument and paved the way for a fresh motorcycle mandate. Yet, as the seat belt edict has taken root and even been toughened, Illinois remains one of the few states to resist any kind of helmet requirement, thanks to superior grassroots organizing by the cyclists. Easily the most instructive episode came in 1986 as the seat belt legislation cleared its first major hurdle. The charged oratory in the House focused on mangled bodies, shattered families, lost productivity, heavy costs to taxpayers for rehabilitation and disability – and, of course, Big Brother. There was nary a word from either side about Big Auto. But we later discovered the moment truly belonged to lobbyists for Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and the United Auto Workers who had quietly convinced a narrow House majority to dare the ire of constituents buckling up at a rate of less than 20 percent. The auto industry was responding to a threat, ironically from the supposedly conservative Reagan administration, that the federal government would insist upon air bags – an increased cost for the manufacturers and potential consumers – if states did not require seat belt use. But, even as we ponder the motivation back then and the eventual imposition of airbags, we should join the current governor in celebrating his crackdown on holdouts. Blagojevich is focusing on a sharp decline in fatalities and significantly increased seat belt usage since he signed legislation in July 2003 to toughen enforcement. The measure, which deleted a provision in the old law that barred belt citations unless the motorist had committed another offense, has helped to push compliance to at least 83 percent, compared to 76 percent before its enactment. But what about helmets on motorcyclists? Enter ABATE, which stands for A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education. The group, formed in the 1970s, includes 12,000 Illinoisans who believe the answer is safety instruction. Although it makes campaign contributions, its clout comes from the activism of its members. Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), who has warred with the organization for years, says ABATE packs more wallop than the National Rifle Association. Most recently, it buried legislation to require protective headgear on snowmobile operators and riders under 17 because approval just might embolden the likes of Cullerton. The skillful lawmaker has successfully championed seat belt legislation. He tried several times to advance a motorcycle bill, but he is tired of beating his head against the wall without a helmet. “It will never pass,” he says. Same principles, different principals, opposite outcomes: a valuable lesson in how Illinois laws are made and interpreted.Mike Lawrence heads the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University By KITTY CAPARELLA –from Rogue
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http://www.bikerrogue.com
EPA REGS AND Harley’s 2000 and 2450cc V-Twin Motorcycles?–EPA documents show design basics and performance info for 2450cc V-twin, but they also raise a few questions. Any new mega-displacement liquid-cooled Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine would incorporate some of the technology from the VRSC Rod series V-twin engines.Is Harley about to join the displacement race? That topic has been buzzing around the internet with the discovery of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documents mentioning a 2450cc V-twin engine. With Harley now running at the bottom of the big-twin displacement class, it’s only a matter of time before Harley, which was once distinguished by having the largest motorcycle engines on the road, produces a bigger V-twin.
The
However, don’t get too excited yet. The title page (page 7) for this section is labeled as a “Hypothetical Application.” There are other hints that the bike is also hypothetical. On the last page, the “Test Date” is listed as July 2007. The names of the bikes – Heritage Ultra Tail and Heritage Ultra Tail Special – sound more like jokes than anything Harley would bring to market, and a bike
–from Rogue
http://www.bikerrogue.com
PERSE PERFORMANCE TRAIL CALCULATOR–I often receive questions about rake, trail and fork length. Perse Performance helps you through the maze with a calculator on their web site and in the Drag Specialties Catalog. Check it out.
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