Hey,
An associate jammed over to the Long Beach Ultimate Builder Show by J&P and came back with his impressions of the electric H-D bike and the show. Here’s his report, “The electric bikes are cool, but only good for 25 miles going fast. Nothing startling at the show, new models and such.”
I crawled out of bed on Saturday, tinkered around the shop and messed with the shop animals, and then worked out. About 1:00 I moseyed over to the show. The first person I ran into was Commander Edge, the supreme emperor of the Smoke Out, the wildest event for home builders in the world, in RockingWorld, NC.
He was a buzz of info about the industry and new models. He couldn’t wait to clamor through the massive doors into the convention center. Some nut scheduled a giant school cheerleader convention on the same weekend. Girls in short skirts everywhere—kids.
The first person we ran into inside the convention doors was Lee Parks at his deerskin glove booth. Lee also runs a series of motorcycle training schools. He just signed a deal with the Navy to run all of their base schools, and he’s talking to the Army.
In addition, he just signed to handle all the motorcycle training classes in California, taking the contract from the MSF, (the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, operated by the MIC, or Motorcycle Industry Council). Talk about some crazy news. We will have a letter from Tim Buche, the boss of the MIC, in the Thursday News. Hang on!
And that was just the icing on the cake. The show was jammed, all the parking lots were full. Everyone was busy. Let’s hit the news. Then I will touch on some of the new models.
BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL EDITOR HITS LONG BEACH SHOW—But he only covers the girls, natch.
Fri and Sat were the International Motorcycle Show – IMS
All manufacturers of new bikes and some custom bikes.
Like an auto show of new model year cars.
–Art Hall
Supreme Bikernet International Editor
In charge of everything
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY—
I was banging this nice lady on her kitchen table when we heard the front door open. She said, “It’s my husband! Quick, try the back door!”
Thinking back, I really should have ran, but you don’t get offers like that every day.
~ ~ ~
My wife just came in and said, “I don’t know if I am coming or going.
“I said to her, ‘Judging by the look on your face, you’re going, ‘cus when you’re coming you look like a Down Syndrome kid trying to whistle!”
–from EL Waggs
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIAN BIKE CLUBS ARE FUCKED—
Anti-bikie laws: High Court rejects challenge to Queensland VLAD laws
The High Court has rejected a challenge to the Queensland Government’s anti-bikie laws.
The United Motorcycle Council (UMC), on behalf of 17 Queensland clubs, had attempted to overturn the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) laws.
The case against the VLAD laws was brought forward by Stefan Kuczborski, a 44-year-old Hells Angels member and a tattooist with a minor drug possession conviction, and financed by the UMC.
It had argued the laws, designed to disrupt the activities of 26 outlaw motorcycle clubs in Queensland, were an attack on the judiciary, freedom of speech, and the right to associate.
The UMC argued the laws enlisted the courts to carry out Parliament’s intention to destroy their organizations, which was at odds with the Constitution.
But the High Court rejected that argument, and said the laws did not require the courts to do any more than exercise their judicial power in the usual way.
The Queensland Government introduced the laws after a public brawl involving Bandido motorcycle gang members on the Gold Coast in September 2013, calling it a “line in the sand”.
It said the laws were in the best interest of community and had the backing of attorneys-general from five states as well as the territories and the Commonwealth.
VLAD saw the introduction of extra powers for Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission, a bikie-only prison north of Brisbane, and mandatory sentences of up to 25 years for serious crimes committed as part of gang activity.
The UMC’s barrister, Wayne Baffsky, said the ruling was a blow to the people of Queensland and the laws would not improve crime rates.
“What we can expect to happen now is that innocent people will continue to be put behind bars and hard-working people will lose their livelihood,” he said.
“There is no doubt these laws are having a negative impact on local communities and significant impacts for many innocent people.”
The UMC has vowed to not to give up the fight against the laws.
These are strong laws, they are fair laws: Newman
The Queensland Government welcomed the High Court’s ruling.
In a statement, the Premier Campbell Newman said the people of Queensland have been able to “reclaim their streets” under the VLAD laws.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman on the court finding
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman urged other states to look at his Government’s anti-bikie laws.
“It’s a win for families who’ve got every right to be able to have a safe night out in a restaurant precinct without fear of violence,” he said.
“It’s also a win for parents who are worried about their kids being encouraged or pushed to take illegal drugs, particularly ice.”
The Premier urged other states and territories to follow Queensland’s lead
“It’s something we’ve all got to work together as as a team on. Crime doesn’t stop at the border of Queensland,” he said.
“I do indeed respectfully suggest to other state jurisdictions that they have a good look at this now.”
The Queensland Government has previously said the laws had the backing of attorneys-general from five states and territories and the Commonwealth.
Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said it had been clearly worthwhile introducing the laws.
“I’ve got to say that walking around the streets of Broadbeach now, talking to the business owners, lots of holidaymakers … spending a lot of time in the beautiful weather we’ve got here in Queensland, we now offer some of the safest streets and the safest communities in Australia,” he said.
Mr Bleijie said the laws were having the desired effect.
“You only have to go back just over a year ago to see a completely different situation where the criminal gangs said they owned the town,” he said.
“No, they never did – the communities own the town and the communities through this win today in the High Court have taken back their towns and I think critically important here is the upholding of the anti-association laws.”
South Australia was the first state to legally target outlaw clubs, but gang members claimed membership had increased since the laws there changed.
Well, there you have it.
The High Court of Australia is as high as it goes.
No challenges are possible.
—Australian Undercover Reporter for Bikernet
THIS JUST IN FROM THE OFFICIAL BIKERNET DRUG STORE—Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one.
Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of “cocktails”, “highballs” and just good old-fashioned “stiff drink”.
Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.
Race Tech Adds Service Centers in Connecticut, Minnesota, and West Virginia—
Due to a rapid growth in popularity and high demand for Race Tech’s hi-performance suspension products and tuning in the Central and Eastern regions of the United States; Race Tech has opened three new Service Centers across these regions.
Manchester Honda/KTM/Husqvarna, PDR Performance, and Performance Edge Racing/Beta of Henderson have all completed the necessary training with Race Tech and have become Authorized Race Tech Centers.
Serving the New England region for over 50 years, Manchester Honda/KTM/Husqvarna makes a great fit for Race Tech to reach customers in the Northeast. Manchester Honda/KTM/Husqvarna will service Dirt, Offroad, Street, Road Race, Touring, ATV, and UTV suspension.
PDR Performance owned and operated by top local rider and 2014 AMA District 23 Open A and 14-24 A class champion Clay Olson has been working with Race Tech for a few seasons and has rapidly become known because of their excellent support trackside. Olson and PDR Performance will also be operating out of Cedar Lake Arena providing trackside suspension support during the winter months as riders head indoors. PDR Performance specializes in Dirt and ATV Suspension and can also provide service for street bike suspension.
Performance Edge Racing/Beta of Henderson is one of the leading Beta dealers in their area, with years of military experience working with suspension, owner James Neville aligned with Race Tech to provide hi-performance suspension using Gold Valves to West Virginia, Ohio, and his surrounding area. Performance Edge Racing will service Dirt, Offroad, Street, Road Race, Touring, ATV and UTV suspension.
Chris continued, “Having Centers like Manchester Honda/KTM, PDR Performance, and Performance Edge allows us to do more testing and development with more riders, at more diverse locations. All the data is then compiled at Race Tech to make a better product available to all of our consumers. A lot of riders want the testing and R&D experience from a large company like Race Tech, but also want a suspension tuner that is at their local events; working closely with RT Centers; we can provide riders the best of both worlds.”
Manchester Honda/KTM/Husqvarna – 30 Adams St., Manchester, CT 06042 – Contact: Eric Block – service@hondaktm.com – 860.645.3125
PDR Performance – 2538 140th LN NW, Andover, MN 55304 (Also found trackside at Cedar Lake Arena, New Richmond, WI) – Contact: Clay Olson –pdrperformance@gmail.com – 763.226.5767
Performance Edge Racing – 403 Chestnut St., Henderson, WV 25106 – Contact: James Neville – that2inc@gmail.com – 304.675.5111
To find a Race Tech Center near you, click here.
For more information about Race Tech’s products, seminars and rider support program, please visit racetech.com or call our friendly sales staff at: (951)279-6655.
INNOVATION OF THE WEEK—As it turns out we are close to a couple of folks who were just awarded $200,000 for the green innovation of the year for a truck exhaust system.
MISSION
NG1 Technologies exists to research, manufacture and market cost effective energy savings technologies that solve problems our nation and planet face today. We are committed to serving companies and customers in the Transportation, Hauling, Construction, Agriculture, Mining and Military that utilize diesel engines by supplying the Techflo Exhaust System.
Our exhaust system reduces diesel fuel costs, emissions, and sound, while increasing diesel engine efficiency and performance. Our product launch for class 8 Trucks with a 10-20% fuel savings is an enormous first step in creating national energy independence.
The Techflo Exhaust system’s performance benefits support NG1’s encompassing vision of promoting green and innovative technologies. We at NG1 are committed to supporting inventors and products that create energy efficiency and emission reductions.
The NG1 Techflo Exhaust system serves the trucking, farming, and heavy equipment industries by creating greater fuel efficiency and cutting costs that can assist the overall economy. The Techflo product assists in reducing diesel fuel consumption in industries where fuel cost is one of the highest in company costs.
NG1 Techfo Exhaust .. a Solution for What America Needs:
• Energy Independence
• Environmental Sustainability
• Economic Stimulus through:
• Fuel Savings
• Job Creation
NG1 Tech Supports Business Solutions for America’s Needs through government and community collaboration.
NG1 Technologies is Committed to:
• American Trucking and Transportation Industry
• American Manufacturing
• U.S. Armed Services
• Pricing that is designed to pay Owners a substantial return on Investment
• Promote Social responsibility through our America Give Back Program
If your Class 8 truck runs the national average of 120,000+ miles per year:
• The numbers are staggering, every class 8 truck can average
$7,000-$10,000 return on investment the first year.
• 10-12 Class 8 truck units can return $100,000 in fuel savings the first year
• 500 units can average a $4,000,000 the first Year!
• How much Money could be saved for City and State Municipalities
that adopt our technology?
• How much would our Nation Save if the armed services
implemented our technology?
http://www.ng1tech.com/index-1.html
LET’S PAUSE FOR A RELIGIOUS MOMENT—
A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said,
‘If I had all the beer in the world, I’d take it and pour it into the river.’
With even greater emphasis he said, ‘And if I had
All the wine in the world, I’d take it and pour it into the river.’
And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he
said, ‘And if I had all the whiskey in the world,
I’d take it and pour it into the river.’
Sermon complete, he sat down…
The song leader stood very cautiously and announced
with a smile, nearly laughing, ‘For our closing song,
let us sing Hymn #365, ‘Shall We Gather at the River.’
See you at the River and bring a glass…
–from Gerry Celia
SONS OF ANARCHY BLING RELEASED—
A partnership with The Great Frog for a Sons of Anarchy jewelry collection celebrating the final season of the show.
The three ring collection cast in sterling silver, hand-carved and finished in The Great Frog’s flagship store in London, will be available worldwide on November 20, 2014.
The three-piece launch collection retails for $200-$350. The Great Frog Sons of Anarchy collection will be available in The Great Frog stores around the world and online at thegreatfroglondon.com .
SUNDAY BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT–Record-Level of Support for Guns in the Home.
Score this one as a victory for the judgment of the American people.
For decades, anti-gun groups have been trying to scare Americans into getting rid of their guns, with the claim that you’re more likely to have a problem if you have guns in your home, than if you don’t. But whatever they’ve been doing all these years apparently hasn’t been working. Not only have Americans been acquiring guns at record levels, Gallup recently reported that 63 percent of Americans now believe that having guns at home makes them safer, nearly double the percentage reporting the same belief 14 years ago.
Furthermore, Gallup found, support for having guns at home is shared by majorities of men and women, white and other Americans, people in all major geographic regions of the country, and Republicans and Independents. Only among Democrats does a majority still believe that having a gun at home makes them less safe.
Gallup’s findings are, in a word, huge. Ever since the mid-1980s, anti-gun activists have realized that to achieve their goal, they can’t attack only handguns, or compact handguns, like they did in the 1970s and early 1980s. Instead, they now attack gun ownership in general, with a particular emphasis on dissuading parents from introducing guns of any kind to their children, believing that children who aren’t introduced to guns won’t become gun owners as adults.
Most obviously, the fact that anti-gun groups now target guns of all types is evident in the groups’ names. The National Coalition to Ban Handguns has been renamed the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. The National Council to Control Handguns has been renamed the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Newer groups have taken the names Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, and the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Additionally, whereas in the late 1980s, anti-gun activists wanted a waiting period on retail handgun sales, now they want a background check on commercial and private sales and trades of all guns. They complain about “gun” nuts, the “gun” culture, the “gun” lobby, and the “gun” industry. Even mentioning the word “gun” or wearing a T-shirt with the image of any kind of gun can get a kid suspended from school (and sometimes even arrested). And the words “gun” or “guns” appeared 13 times in President Obama’s list of 23 executive actions on “gun violence,” issued in January 2013.
The anti-gun Washington Post covered Gallup’s new findings last week, but found it “interesting” that “even as people are increasingly embracing the idea of guns in the home, the number of homes with guns in them hasn’t really risen.” With a little additional research, however, the Post would have found Gallup’s explanation for the trend in household gun ownership reported to pollsters.
Referring to the period during and immediately after the Clinton Administration’s campaign against guns, Gallup said, “A clear societal change took place regarding gun ownership in the early 1990s, when the percentage of Americans saying there was a gun in their home or on their property dropped from the low to mid-50s into the low to mid-40s and remained at that level for the next 15 years. Whether this reflected a true decline in gun ownership or a cultural shift in Americans’ willingness to say they had guns is unclear.” (Emphasis added.)
Gallup’s finding that personal safety is the top reason that Americans own guns today, and its finding in 2008 that 73 percent of Americans believe the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, clearly show where the American people stand. The news that most Americans believe that guns enhance their safety at home should cause anti-gun activists to re-think not only their strategy, but the point of their disarmament crusade.
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
NRA, 11250 Waples Mill Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030 1800-392-8683(VOTE)
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT DIETARY WORD OF THE DAY—
adjective
Quotes
But the people who persevered in their panivorous propensities, accused the emperor of selling our corn to the English.
Origin
Panivorous is formed from Latin term panis, “bread,” and -vorous, an adjectival combining form meaning “eating, gaining sustenance from.” It entered English in the 1820s.
QUICK,Tips for Traveling Over the Holidays —
Holiday travel is around the corner, which can mean longer airport lines and larger crowds to navigate. Whether you’re traveling to visit family or taking a much needed vacation, these tips can help keep your travel plans running smoothly this holiday season:
Choose the right date. Sometimes the key to traveling during the holidays is knowing what days to avoid. The worst days are usually the weekends right before and after a holiday.1 The best days to travel? Try on the holiday itself, whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years Eve.
Travel early. Statistically speaking, early morning flights are more likely to be on-time.2 And, if your flight is cancelled you have the option of taking a flight later in the day. You might also be able to avoid some of the travel crowds with an early flight.
Book early and save money. Traveling over the holidays but not psyched about spending a ton of money on airfare? The old adage “the early bird gets the worm” holds true for flight booking. It’s best to book at least a month or more in advance of your expected departure date if you want to get the best deals. Web sites like Yapta.com will watch to see if your fare price drops after you purchase it – and may be able to help you to get a refund for the difference.
Fly nonstop. Some of the worst travel delays happen in connecting flight airports. With no friends or family to retreat to it can make a travel delay feel like a travel disaster. Try to avoid this scenario by choosing nonstop flights to your destination. If you do find yourself delayed, Travel Guard’s 24/7 assistance can help you rebook your flight and get you quickly on your way.
Ship gifts ahead of time. If you’re like most people you’re not looking forward to airport security carefully scrutinizing each gift you packed in your suitcase. Eliminate the hassle of traveling with gifts by shipping them ahead of time. You can also do your holiday shopping online and have each item delivered to your final destination.
Don’t wrap gifts. If you do plan to take some gifts with you, be sure to wait and wrap them at your destination. While wrapped gifts aren’t prohibited, TSA agents may have to unwrap a gift to take a closer look inside. The TSA provides more information on holiday food and gifts that can be brought onboard flights.
Inhale and exhale. It can be easy to get overwhelmed while traveling. Add in the stress of a holiday and it’s even easier. When things start to feel out of control take a deep breath and remember many of your fellow travelers are trying to get home to see loved ones too.
Pack travel insurance. Traveling over the holidays often feels chaotic. It can be nice to know someone will always be there to help with your travel related needs no matter what time of the day or night.
With a Travel Guard travel insurance plan you’ll have access to 24/7 assistance services that can go to work on your behalf rebooking flights and hotels, finding lost luggage, and more. Plus a travel insurance plan can cover you for things like travel delays due to inclement weather, trip cancellation/interruption and medical expenses so that you may book your vacation with confidence.
To find out more simply ask your travel agent, call 800.851.0048 or visit www.travelguard.com.
Source:
1: http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/air-travel/the-best-and-worst-days-to-fly
2: http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/travel-tips/articles/top-10-survival-tips-for-holiday-travel
–from TravelGuard.com
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION, Washington Weekly Updates—
Congress came back this week for the start of the lame duck session. During the day and half that they went to work this week, they went through the usual elections of leadership and jockeying for committee chairs. I would list the shakeups in leadership for both parties, but there were none. As the great rock band The Who put it: “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”
This was a historic election, but I feel like we have been saying that about every election in the past 15 years. Margins are slim and when you have razor thin majorities, they tend to Ping-Pong between parties.
We all have high hopes for the new Senate, but don’t get too excited.
Harry Reid ran the Senate like a fiefdom. He would only bring bills to the floor that he: A. knew would pass; and B. that would bolster President Obama’s agenda. So just about every vote in the U.S. Senate in the past six years were extremely left-leaning and in lock-step with President Obama.
This strategy is ironic in that it put every member of the Democrat party in the Senate shoulder to shoulder with President Obama. And in a year that the president’s approval rating has tanked, that’s not a good place to be. So in essence Reid thought he was protecting the president, but at the end he just forced his fellow Democratic Senators to vote much more liberally than they might have liked to by providing zero political cover.
This ultimately forced Democratic Senators into tight races to try to distance themselves from President Obama and it just did not work.
The Republican Senate will have much more votes and should be much more productive, right? Wrong. The Senate, along with the House, will churn out more legislation, but it will go to legislative purgatory. President Obama will heave a heavy veto hammer on everything that even remotely resembles a threat to Obama Care, which is going to be a lot of things.
So what’s in store for the lame duck? Well, for starters 60, out of 535 elected officials are not coming back for some reason or another. I expect the session to be fast-paced with lawmakers wanting to put this session behind them.
What will pass: government funding (they have to pay themselves, people!). Seriously, these are the must-pass spending bills to keep the federal government governing. I also expect to see some sort of an Ebola funding bill to make an appearance, as well as our good old friends, the tax extender bills.
Some are saying there may be a war declaration on ISIS. Also possible but not likely is the Keystone pipeline authorization. I personally think this is a waste of time right now, because this has becomes President Obama’s real “line in the sand,” not like the line in the sand he drew in front of Syria, but a real line. He will not budge on this.
Republicans are going to have to tie this issue to a huge sweetener for President Obama to even look in their general direction. For some reason this is President Obama’s “Holy Grail”, something to never be given up. What could possibly be his asking price? Immigration reform, his way, which means total amnesty. This is sure to make Republicans bristle.
This is shaping up to be a business as usual lame duck. Sort of like, packing up the fish camp at the end of a season. Sweep up, close the windows, turn out the lights, and see you next year.
–Jeff Hennie
Government Relations
FAT, SICK, AND NEARLY DEAD—Are you looking for the next health craze? You might check out this guy’s documentary. It’s all about drinking vegetable juice drinks. I might try it.
Ben Lambeouf, the Bikernet Advertising Director recommends this system. “I kind of make one single type of juice,” he said.
Carrots
Apples
Cucumber
Celery
juice from half of a lemon
“There’s much more of course; the sky’s the limit. Here are link for recipes.”
http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/recipes/
“Beet juice is a really hard one to swallow. I’ve had some, but it can be a real chore to drink. When I make a crappy-tasting juice, I chase it down with a carrot and apple juice I have made prior.”
We bought a Breville Juicer and got a killer discount when Sandra was still working in her kitchen store. She no longer works there otherwise I would be happy to hook you up.
But there’s a great option looking for used units on Craigslist. So many people buy them and use them only twice…
Check the link; they are so cheap second hand!
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=breville%20juicer&sort=rel
There’s also ‘masticating juicers’ These work differently and apparently yield more.
Link here for second hand units
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/sss?sort=rel&query=masticating+juicer
–Ben Lamboeuf
For your Digital Marketing needs on
Bikernet.com
818-268-3789
Anti-gun School Administrators Dishonor Veterans on Their Day— The Eau Claire Area School District set a new low for the actions of anti-gun school administrators Tuesday when they put a halt to what had been a Veterans Day tradition in the Wisconsin city. The school district barred a local veterans group, the Patriotic Council, from conducting their traditional Veterans Day program on school grounds because it includes veterans carrying rifles and a 21-gun salute with blank ammunition.
Attempting to justify the school district’s decision, ECASD Executive Director Timothy Leibham told local TV station WEAU, “There are just some conditions that we have to adhere to and the shooting of guns, even with blanks, is something we don’t feel is appropriate given society, and the concerns that we have and that the community has, on school premises.”
According to the Patriot Council, attempts were made to compromise with the school district, but their offers were rebuffed. Patriotic Council Vice President Kaye Olsen told WEAU, “It’s really hard to tell the veterans they’re not allowed to bring those rifles in… Which, the only purpose is, to honor our flag and our country and to teach the kids.” She added, “I was hoping maybe we could find a compromise, but when it comes to the weapons, there was no compromise.” The group eventually decided to move the program to the property of a nearby Burger King.
The fact that these school officials have targeted a patriotic, ceremonial, and formalized tradition of veterans honoring their fallen comrades from our nation’s wars illustrates the zealotry behind efforts to use public education to marginalize every aspect of the role firearms play in American life.
ECASD school officials would rather deprive students of the opportunity to learn about the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans, and deny veterans the opportunity to share their experiences with succeeding generations, than acknowledge the legitimacy of firearms for any purpose.
That is not only a disservice to their students educationally; it is an insult to those who carried those arms in defense of American freedom.
LONG BEACH ULTIMATE BUILDER SHOW JAMMED—Here’s some shots from the Long Beach show from Markus Cuff, the Bikernet official apparel photographer. Below is his first amazing book of tattoos.
ARCH MOTORCYCLES HITS THE LA TIMES–Keanu Reeves in new production
His company has created a $78,000 motorcycle.
BY CHARLES FLEMING, LA TIMES
Sporting a beard and wearing brown leather boots and jacket, Keanu Reeves summed up the new motorcycle he’s selling in a single word: “Awesome.”
The $78,000 KRGT-1, years in the making, is a “custom motorcycle you can really ride,” the actor said.
Reeves conceived and designed the bike in partnership with his Arch
Motorcycle Co. co-owner Gard Hollinger, who built the KRGT-1 off specs and sketches he and Reeves cooked up.
Standing in a high-ceiling brick-walled Hawthorne warehouse, surrounded by sections of KRGT-1s in various stages of readiness, Hollinger said his first introduction to Reeves was not very promising.
“Someone called and asked me if I was interested in building a sissy bar for Keanu Reeves,” Hollinger recalled. “I said, ‘No, but I’m happy to meet with him.’”
Within a short time, Reeves had given Hollinger a 2005 Harley-Davidson to customize, and a friendship was born.
Hollinger was a lifelong rider, mechanic and designer, having started racing dirt bikes as a kid growing up in Los Angeles. He worked in a boatyard in the San Juan Islands, owned a motorcycle shop in Seattle, and built choppers and bobbers as a “fabricator for hire” and then at his own Ziggy Harly Custom Motorcycles in Canoga Park.
Reeves came to motorcycles later in life. When he was 22, he bought a Kawasaki KLR600 while working on a movie in Germany. The bike was stolen, but the hook was set. When he returned to Los Angeles, he bought a classic Norton Commando.
Over the years, he acquired more bikes — sometimes buying them for the duration of a movie shoot, and selling them when the production wrapped — owning MotoGuzzis, Suzukis, and Harleys.
The KRGT-1 started as a one-off custom bike for Reeves, but as it became a reality, the actor started talking about making more of them. Hollinger couldn’t see it, and found reasons to dismiss the idea.
Finally, Reeves told him: “I want you to stop telling me why we can’t do this, and start telling me how we can.’ “
Once the design was underway, the two men were in agreement about what the KRGT-1 would be and do.
“We didn’t want a bike that would just look pretty sitting in your living room,” Hollinger said. “It had to be comfortable and reliable.”
“It had to go into extreme lean angles and really take care of you,” Reeves said.
Now completed and undergoing the testing required to pass emissions and noise standards, the KRGT-1 looks like a rough-hewn road warrior. Blacked-out rims, cylinder heads and fork tubes are stark against the bright chrome and polished aluminum of the gas tank, exhaust pipes and up-swept muffler.
The engine — a120-cubic-inch V-twin producing 121 horsepower and 121 pound-feet of torque — roars like an untamed beast.
But this beast is a beauty, a hand-crafted, 538-pound piece of motorcycle art. Each bike requires hundreds of hours of labor.
The two-section gas tank alone requires 60 hours of work to turn from 600 pounds of solid aluminum into the sinuously-curved 21-pound final product.
The bike is fast, too. At a recent test run on the track at Willow Springs International Raceway near Lancaster, Hollinger said, professional motorcycle racer Danny Eslick took the KRGT1up to138 mph.
Arch employs eight workers at the Hawthorne facility . It is in the process of assembling the first five production KRGT-1s and crafting parts for more.
The company is taking orders for bikes that Hollinger said can be delivered in 90 days.
Hollinger and Reeves plan to build a maximum of 100 machines a year, and may expand their line to three different Arch models.
But the price point won’t come down.
“There’s a general attitude that no motorcycle should ever cost $78,000,” Hollinger said. “But that’s the kind of person who’s never going to buy a Roll Royce. We never set out to make something affordable.”
MORE GOOD NEWS FROM THE NRA—
All categories of violent and property crime declined from 2012 to 2013, the FBI has announced, in conjunction with the release of its annual crime report for 2013.
From 2012 to 2013, the nation’s murder rate decreased five percent, to at least a 57-year low. The 2013 rate was down 56 percent from the all-time high recorded in 1980, and down 54 percent since 1991, when total violent crime hit an all-time high.
We say that the 2013 murder rate was “at least” a 57-year low, because it may well have set an even more impressive record. Mathematical projections accounting for the change in the FBI’s data reporting methodology in 1957 indicate that the 2013 rate was lower than any time since at least 1935, which translates into a 78-year low. There is even reason to believe that additional computations may reveal that the 2013 rate was at or near the lowest in American history.
The nation’s total violent crime rate, which includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, decreased five percent between 2012 and 2013, to a 43-year low, down 52 percent since the all-time high recorded in 1991. Rape fell seven percent, to a 40-year low, down 40 percent since 1991. Robbery fell 3.5 percent, to a 46-year low, down 60 percent since 1991. And aggravated assault fell 5.6 percent, to a 39-year low, down 47 percent since 1991. Crime data for years 1960-2012 are available from the online FBI UCR Data Tool and data for previous years are found in hard copies of the FBI’s Crime in the United States reports.
While Americans acquired between 135-140 million new firearms from the end of 1991 through the end of 2013, the nation’s violent crime rate decreased in 19 of those 22 years.
And that inspires us to reminisce.
In the 1970s, the Brady Campaign–then known as the National Council to Control Handguns and as Handgun Control, Inc.–predicted “consequences . . . terrible to imagine” if Americans continued to buy handguns. Americans owned 40 million handguns when the anti-gun group first made that prediction, and now we own over 100 million.
BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL EDITOR RIDES A CAN AM SPYDER–Friday was the first day of IMS.
Also go a short ride on the new Harley electric bike – Live Wire.
LOTS of immediate acceleration !!! Whiney electric motor.
–Art Hall
Bikernet International Editor Extraordinaire
MEDICAL UPDATE— Remember this the next time you have major surgery and need a blood transfusion! This is good to know. MEDICAL ALERT : Australian Medical Association researchers have found that patients needing blood transfusions may benefit from receiving chicken blood rather than human blood. It tends to make the men cocky and the women lay better.
–from Rogue and Jerry
QUICK AUSTRALIAN CLUB UPDATE–QLD bikie law challenger has left Australia.
The High court has dismissed a challenge to Queensland’s wide ranging anti-association/anti-biker laws by a Hells Angel member.
The applicant in the landmark case, Hells Angel member Stefan Kuczborski, is believed by police to have left the state, because the laws prevent him working as a tattooist there, and moved to Germany.
Mr Kuczborski did not respond to questions via email this week. His case was funded by the United Motorcycle Council of Queensland, who allegedly chose him for his lack of assets in case of an unfavourable costs order.
The high court ruled in a majority decision on Friday that Mr Kuczborski lacked standing to challenge the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) act, which adds up to 25 years to jail sentences for bikers who commit crimes “in furtherance of” their clubs.
Mr Kuczborski, who had not been charged with any crime in Queensland, also lacked standing to challenge laws banning motorcycle club “participants” from gathering in public in groups larger than two, the court ruled.
The finding also leaves in place laws that ban bikers from the tattoo and building trades and toughen bail provisions.
The court found “no restrictions” were placed on Mr Kuczborski by VLAD, the bail act or other mandatory jail sentences provisions under the criminal code.
Mr Kuczborski, with a legal team led by barrister Ken Fleming, launched proceedings in March to have a large sweep of laws designed to cripple outlaw motorcycle clubs declared invalid.
They argued that laws banning club members from gathering in public, entering clubhouses and wearing their “colours” in licensed premises undermined the court’s independence because they relied on a government decree that motorcycle clubs were “criminal organisations”.
But the court held that the laws did not force proceedings outside the bounds of the conventional “exercise of judicial power”, it said in a statement.
It is the second unsuccessful attempt by bikers to defeat criminal organisation laws in Queensland in the high court, after a challenge by the now defunct Finks Surfers Paradise chapter to previous laws last year.
The finding opens the way for other states to adopt the laws and allows a number of controversial trials in Queensland to proceed, including that of librarian Sally Kuether, who faces a possible six-month jail term under the anti-association laws.
BIKERNET BAGGERS SURVEY WILL SEE WINNERS ALL AROUND-–
So far I have received 50 survey responses. Here at Bikernet our quest continues. We are in search of the holy grail, the instructions for the content of the best motorcycle publication.
To complete our quest we need your help. So far the responses have been good and the information is giving us good ideas for future issues. But we need more, isn’t that always the case.
To throw a little motivation your way, we will be selecting two random survey responses to receive a Bikernet care package. So jump in and give us your feedback…
http://earlsgarage.co/survey/index.php/454545/lang-en
–David Campbell
THE DRAGON LADY COMES TO BIKERNET HEADQUARTERS—We are working with Jessica from McQuiston Custom Cycles on a wild art project on the door leading to the Bikernet Barracks. Here’s the latest sketch.
–Bandit
THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN–I saw a fortune teller the other day. She told me I would come into some money. Last night I banged a girl called Penny. Is that spooky or what?
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The missus asked me, “When you’re on a boys only trip, do you think about me?”
Apparently “Only to stop myself from coming too quickly” wasn’t the right answer.
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Some guy just knocked on my door selling raffle tickets for poor black orphans. I said, “Screw that! Knowing my luck, I’d win one!”
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I was pretty excited when my new girlfriend sent me a text message claiming that she loves anal. Then I realized that she is a dyslexic bitch and that she was trying to say she loves Alan, my best friend.
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I said to the wife, “Get me a newspaper.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “Here, use my iPad.”
That fuckin’ spider never knew what hit it.
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I bought a new perfume for my wife called Chloroform, but she says she doesn’t like it. She says that it makes her sleepy and her ass sore……
BACK TO THE SHOW—I need to pick the Editor’s Choice winner, but we might peel over to Sugar Bear’s shop for a minute prior to the show, then the awards ceremony and plans for the evening parties.
This week will be primarily wrapped around our 5-Ball racing apparel shoot on Tuesday with Imogen, Markus Cuff, the masterful photographer, and some of the bros.
I drank some whiskey, single-barrel Jack, and I feel edgy today. Too much shit going on. And next year I thought about trying my hand at a bronze sculpture for a Hamster Charity effort. George helped me with this sketch.
Maybe, just maybe I’m taking on too much. I had a plan, and it was next to perfect. Then I took on another project, then another. Maybe I’m just feeling the harried show vibe. It was all positive.
There are some new models from Ducati, the Bolt, even Indian. They are all coming after Sportsters, and Harley is stepping up to meet the market with customized stock Sportsters and big twins. Some of them are amazing and Ben is road-testing a new hot looking Softail right now. Hang on!
You’ll see it all on Bikernet day to day.
Ride free forever!
–Bandit
