LEGEND OF THE MOTORCYCLE CONCOURS D? ELEGANCE— You think they could?ve added one more word to the name? Maybe not, but that?s where Bandit is heading with a group of guys. They left yesterday morning and are taking their time, cruising up the coast. Christian from Sucker Punch riding an old panhead, Billy on a Knuckle and Bandit & Jeremiah both on shovels.
They rode as far as Santa Maria yesterday and plan on cruising even slower today to arrive in Half Moon, Ca tomorrow. Bandit checked in last night and said the ride was perfect; I?m glad.
So, in the usual Layla fashion, the news will be short cause I?ve got some goofing off to do. Shopping, animals to spoil, girlfriends to play with? Enjoy the news!
BIKERNET EDITOR SCORES KING–Had an interesting day yesterday. I rode into Raleigh with the sole intention of getting some patches sewn on my vest (including the Bikernet patch you sent me). But in addition to getting the patches done, I rode home on a new-to-me 2007 FLHR Road King. Oh, the trouble I get myself into! I got what I asked for out of my trade, a fair price for the King, and I got them to throw in a factory service manual, too.
It?s dark red, 18K miles, and was previously part of Ray Price H-D?s rental fleet. First impressions after just a few miles:
?The 96? twinkie is a torquey, powerful sumbitch, very smooth, and will rocket up to 80 mph in no time. I?m not gonna mess with the fuel management for the time being; besides, I?ve still got a year to burn on the OEM warranty.
?Heat ? It puts out noticeably more heat out of the right side; I mostly feel it on my calf. No big deal, although some folks have complained about it, but I don?t see it as a problem, because I?m not one of those clowns who putts around in shorts and flip-flops.
?The tranny ? Smooth, although there?s a bigger gap between 1 and 2. Easy to overcome; you?ve just got to wind out first gear a little more. As far as the noise that some folks complain about with the straight-cut first and fifth gears, I haven?t noticed it. You don?t want to take it into sixth gear unless you?re cruising along at 70 mph-plus, IMO, even though the manual says 50 mph.
?Handlebars ? The stock bars suck and they?ll be the first to go. Too low and forward for my comfort, even though at 5?7? and 160, I?m not a knuckledragger. But more good luck ? a friend of mine in Fort Worth is gonna send me a set of Heritage bars gratis.
?Might search for a seat that drops me down ∏-1 inch. No problem flat-footing the bike, but I could use just a cunt hair more for better leverage when backing the bike.
?Oh, yeah; new buyers get to participate in an in-store poker run. I got a flush, which won me a $300 gift certificate. Burned up some of that this morning when I dropped off my old title and spare keys.
Above is a quick & dirty shot in the garage. Couldn?t shoot outside because it?s raining cats & dogs now. The good news is I didn?t get caught out in it. Cams will be coming. Had a pair of Andrews 26Gs in my Softail. It?s gonna be interesting, though, to see how the hydraulic shoes in the 96? twinkies fare compared to the old spring-loaded jobs in the 88. Speaking of cams, have you read Donny Peterson?s piece in American Iron on the Woods setup? An indy I know in Decatur, TX swears by ?em.
Bruce
Life is good!
How to Build A Bonneville Salt Flats MotorcycleAuthor: Keith R. Ball–The phrase, Bonneville Salt Flats, strikes a chord with any true gear-head. For motorcycle enthusiasts the allure is even stronger. How to Build a Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle documents the construction of ?The Worlds Fastest Panhead,? conceived and assembled by Keith R Ball, former editor or Easyriders magazine and current owner of Bikernet.com, the most popular biker stop on the internet.
Keith walks the reader through all the steps involved in the creation of a true Bonneville Salt Flats motorcycle. From choosing a class to picking a frame, from finding an engine builder to minimizing the aerodynamic drag at 200 miles per hour, Keith grinds his teeth and lots of steel throughout the entire process. ?It includes how to make guess-work fly,? Ball said.
A project of this size is bound to suffer setbacks. Keith Ball uses a personal, narrative style to take the readers on a wild ride, through the ups and downs of building The World?s Fastest Panhead. So come along for the ride down the salt with the man who is perhaps the best-known motorcycle journalist.
Available from Wolfgang Publications, order by mail at PO Box 223, Stillwater, MN 55082. By phone at 651-275-0194, or on the web at www.wolfpub.com, priced at $24.95 + $5.50 S&H.
BFC Benefit Poker Run – May 10, 2008–Registration 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Cost $15.00
At Boulevard Park in Bellingham ~ Woods Coffee
*Free Woods Coffee during registration
*Lots of prizes will be given out with all riders entered for a chance to win!
Map of the 60 mile ride & stop locations will be handed out at registration
All proceeds go to Bikers Fighting Cancer
PRIZES FOR BFC POKER RUN
Anthony?s gift certificate for $100.0
Woods Coffee ?Speed bean? gift card
Hand beaded medicine bag
Wine & wine charms
Complete first aid kit in a soft bag
Candles
Basket of lotion & skin care items
Woman?s MC Helmet from Steel Dreams
Steel Dreams cap
Skagit Power sports $25 Gift certificate
Battery Tender from Skagit Power sports
Skagit Power sports cap
Burt?s Bees Body and skin Collection
Harley Davidson shirts
UP AND COMING MAGAZINE ? COCHISE CHOPS–Bandit,Teach here writing again to give some info on a new upand coming real deal motorcycle mag. Cochise chops isa magazine that features and showcases only cool oldscoots and rods/cars/trucks from the early vinatgedays no evos or twin cam yuppie billet bardgebikes..just real deal garage built cool scoots. Themagazines? motto is “The way it was, and the way itshould be” and if you see an issue you will see whyand how cool the content is. This is a no bullshitkiss no ones ass mag that I can see quickly rising upand become a big hitter in the mag industry. Checkout the mag and get more information at http://cochisechops.blogspot.com/and http://cochisechops.com/
Thanks, TEACH
Kevin Baas
BAAS METAL CRAFT
Custom made steel signs, art, furniture and fabricated parts.
www.baasmetalcraft.com
952-215-1252
“When in doubt, burn out!”
LAUGHLIN GOOD OR BAD?–No matter what sort of doom and gloom you might hear, Laughlin was a pretty good show. Traffic was not as high as last year (how is that a bad thing?) and yes, there where room available and the wait for restaurant seating was little if any (again, how is this bad?). From a vendor perspective, sales where decent and the weather was even good. On another note, check this out. Signals built into the shock for the Dyna and Sporty guys. Too cool. David Z.
PROGRESSIVE SUSPENSION SHOCKS LIGHTS!–When are shocks more than just shocks? When Progressive Suspension adds their new Shock Lights to them! Designed to bolt onto the PSI 812 and 412 Series shocks, the Shock Lights can be wired into brake or turn signal systems.
Chromed aluminum caps features hidden hardware and an integrated LED that blends nicely into the cap until the super bright LED?s are activated. Kit includes load balancer, two Shocks Lights and required hardware. Contact your local Progressive Suspension dealer for more information.
Progressive Suspension
6900 Marlin Circle.
La Palma, CA 90623
877.690.7411
info@progressivesuspension.com
www.progressivesuspension.com
PRE-SHOW INFORMATIONBIKE and MUSICWEEKEND 2008German Burnout Nationals!–GERMANY?S TOP EVENT: 4 DAYS TOP VALUE FOR A FAIR COST!
August 7th-10th 2008, Autohof Geiselwind, Franconia/Germany
Autobahn A3 Wuerzburg-Nuernberg, Exit Geiselwind
All Motorcyclists welcome at the German top event in August: Ride-In Bikeshow + US Car Show + Dragster Burnout Show + INDOOR STUNT WORLD CHAMPION Chris Pfeiffer+ SPECIAL SATURDAY NIGHT SHOW + Poker Run + Biker Campground + Pro-Dealer-Mile + Biker Games + Go-Go-Girls + Oil-Wrestling + Bodypainting + Live Musik feat. Top-Bands including TEN YEARS AFTER, Hank Davidson Band, Stahlzeit, Gitty Fisher and more (complete lineup to be published on website) + 5.000 Euro price money to win + Event hall & Hotel + much more!
NEW: Rocket-Dragster Show PLUS 2007 and 2008 Indoor Stunt-Riding World Champion Chris Pfeiffer. Special Events watch website, SURPRISES are always to be expected! For 2008, the theme ?Burnout Nationals? was adepted to underline the character of the event as ?Guiness Book World record holder for Motorcycle Burnouts?.
Entrance opens: Thursday August 7nd afternoon, Friday/Saturday/Sunday from 10 a.m.. Advanced Ticket Sale: +49 (0)9556 – 180 or www.autohof-strohofer.de or www.bike-and-music-weekend.de. Entrance fees 2008: Check website
ATTENTION: Superb Event-Video/DVD European Bike Week 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Gerd Scheidel at www.Studio1-Scheidel.de!
Adress/Contact:
Autohof Strohofer
Anton Strohofer
Scheinfelder Str. 15-23
96160 Geiselwind/Germany
Tel. 0049 (0)9556 – 18 0 RITA 135
Fax 0049 (0)9556 – 18 189
www.Autohof-Strohofer.de
info@Autohof-Strohofer.de
www.bike-and-music-weekend.de
Text & Photography: Horst Roesler; www.motographer.de
NOTE: A FULL 10-STORY DVD named ?BURN TO BE WILD? with the best of Geiselwind?s Burnout shows and contests of the last years is available on request at MOTOGRAPHER@t-online.de
A.B.A.T.E. OF LOUISIANA, INC. HELMET FIGHT– Louisiana now has five helmet modification Bills of one kind or another. With each Bill bringing something different to the table you almost need a score card to keep up with them. The following Bills Abate Of La., Inc. supports in their current format:
HB 1295 Rep. M.J. Smiley (Dist. 88)Requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a motorcycle helmet and requires anyone seeking their first time endorsement to pass a Louisiana approved Motorcycle Operators Training Course effective 7/1/09. Anyone with an endorsement prior to that time will not be required to take the course.
SB 9 Sen. Eric LaFluer (Dist 28)Anyone with an endorsement prior to that time will not be required to take the course.
SB 9 Sen. Eric LaFluer (Dist 28)Requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. Those 18 and older who choose not to wear a helmet must obtain a $10,000.00 personal health insurance policy.
SB 83 Sen. Eric LaFluer (Dist 28)Requires anyone under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. Those 21 and older who choose not to wear a helmet must obtain a $10,000.00 personal health insurance policy.
SB 85 Sen. Eric LaFluer (Dist 28)Authorizes people 21 years of age or older to operate a motorcycle or scooter which is 250cc or less on a publ
SB 673 Sen. Eric LaFluer (Dist 28)Requires anyone under the age of 21 to wear a helmet.
After discussions with Representative Smiley he has informed me that our biggest obstacle will be Senator Joel T Chaisson, II the Senate Speaker, and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee that these Bills are getting assigned to in the Senate. We need to start e-mailing and calling these Senators. Senator Chaisson is a co-sponsor of the current helmet law and five of the seven Committee members voted in favor of it. For a list of the House Transportation and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee members go to http://www.abateoflouisiana.org , click on the Legislative Updates page and find the link under the list of Bills.
With over 140,000 motorcyclists in the State of Louisiana now is the time for us to make our voices heard and stand together. We now represent a large voting bloc that will be heard if we exercise our rights by contacting our Representatives and Senators and we need to do this now before these Bills are addressed in Committee. Always remember:
One voice is but a whisper, but a thousand voices are a ROAR!
James? Sisco
State Executive President
Abate Of La., Inc.
Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
CRO CUSTOMS CHECKIN? IN–Bandit, Hope all is well my man. You missed the best EDR ever! Ton’s of pictures floating around. Some amazing riding, great people, cool bikes. We would have all been arrested if we did the run in the states.
While on the EDR, I finally got to meet Michael Lichter. What a crazy fucker he his. Hanging off the back of bikes doing 90+ shooting pictures! I was honored that he invited me to be part of the Stay Gold show at Sturgis Bike Week 2008. It is a great concept with some fantastic builders. You know I’m not a big “show” builder and it is hard to let my bike sit in some display when it should be on the road, but I am very flattered to be part of it. So, now I actually have to clean my bike up.
Best,
cro
Caleb R. Owens
cro customs inc.
~ So – Cal ~
310-923-2613
crocustoms.com
CRIME SCENE CHOPPERS RELEASESRAPIDE 4.5? HEADLIGHT–Santa Cruz, CA April 2008 ? Crime Scene Choppers releases the latest addition to our Rapide line of custom parts, the 4.5? headlight. Reminiscent of another era, the evocative design of the Rapide series features the distinctive scallop pattern with matching grill. The New Rapide Headlight is available in two finishes; a satin aluminum bucket with polished scallops and brass grill, or all chrome. It accepts a standard 4.5? sealed beam (not included) or the Crime Scene Choppers triple-lamp Laser light (available separately). Each unit includes the hand finished bucket and grill, stainless hardware, mounting block, gasket and wiring harness. Retail Price $299 – $369.
The full line includes the Rapide Tail Lights and Air Cleaner. 100% made in the USA. For more information check it out at: www.crimescenechoppers.com or give us a call at 831.406.0126.
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