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KENDON INDUSTRIES NEW STAND-UP AIR-OVER-HYDRAULIC MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE LIFTS–Kendon Industries has made the finest full-size, professional, portable maintenance lift even better! The Kendon Stand-Up? lift now comes standard with air-over-hydraulic operation. Use it in the shop with a compressor or on the driveway with the hand pump. Either way the Kendon Stand-Up? lift is a tool you won’t want to be without.
Three models available – Sport, Cruiser and Chopper. Also available – a variety of fantastic accessories, including a frame jack for unfettered access to front and rear wheels.
From Kendon Industries the manufacturer of the renowned Kendon Stand-Up? motorcycle and ATV trailers – http://www.kendonusa.com – you won’t find a better, more functional lift anywhere!
AWESOME TANK PANELS– Recently introduced for both Softail and Dyna machines these eye catching billet TANK PANELS manufactured by PRO-ONE are certain to make your scooter the center of attention in any crowd. Each TANK PANEL IS precision CNC machined from the finest billet aluminum for a perfect replacement fit and unparalleled quality.
Pro-One TANK PANELS feature a one-piece design and can be ordered with a sanitary plain surface style or with any of the unique patterns shown here.
Each TANK PANEL is 100% Made in the USA and offered in black anodize or triple chrome plated. Check them out at www.pro-one.com or call direct to 800-884-4173.
STEALTH REPORT FROM A SHOP IN NORTH CAROLINA–Last weekend STEALTH BIKE WORKS was set up at the 31st CBA Fall Swap meet and Bike Show. The weather was perfect for the event, 78 and sunny Saturday and 63 and sunny Sunday! People were riding in all day long both days.
As I said it was warm for this time of year. The funniest thing I saw all weekend was this guy get out of his car with chaps on??? I guess he wanted to look like he rode in???
I picked up a few parts we needed at SBW and we sold a good amount of parts ourselves, so for us the Swap Meet was a success. We had quite a few visits from our customers at our booth and it was good to see all of them.
The Swap Meet has always been one of my favorite events. For me it is the unknown factor, by that I mean you never know what you might find. The Swap Meet is a great biker tradition. I talked to a lot of vendors and most were concerned that the swap meets are shrinking in size each year and most gave the same reason, E-BAY! That is right good old E-Bay. As you can probably tell I am not a big E-Bay fan. It under cuts every small independent bike shop and also hurts the swap meets.
I guess it is really up to all of you out there as to whether or not Swap Meets survive. Think about it, E-Bay doesn’t have the good times that swap meets have and if your value system isn’t screwed up, that should mean something.
Here at SBW we are getting ready to start our first shop project bike. It is going to be a bare bones old school hot-rod. It is based on a Santee rigid frame, Evo engine, Rev-Tech kick start 5 speed tranny, and it will also feature an electric starter, dished fatbob tanks, 4″ under wide glide front end. That is enough on the details for now. I have had this bike floating around in my head for quite some time now. I know this may sound stupid to some but every time we start a new project it is like being a wide eyed 18 year old kid again, that feeling never leaves you I guess!
Well that about wraps it up for this week!
Until next week, RIDE!
–Stealthman
BIKERNET QUOTE OF THE WEEK–You can have anything you want — if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose. : Abraham Lincoln
–from Nick Roberts
ANOTHER CUSTOM BIKE EPA SOLUTION SURFACES–There continues to be a lot of discussion about the future of our industry as bikers, shop owners, and manufacturers struggle to deal with the new emissions restrictions from the EPA. We have the opportunity to continue our way of life by starting a new effort pulling together the grassroots networks of ABATE, MRF and others in defense of the industry.
My primary concern remains finding a solution that will keep all the aftermarket engine manufacturers like Flathead Power, R&R, Enginuity, etc in business and hopefully thriving.
SEMA in its effort to grandfather Kit cars and other customs crafted a bill that creates two new classes of car to be titled and registered: Street Rods and Custom Vehicles. The law states that vehicles will be titled and registered by the year the body most closely resembles. This helps the county treasurers/titling and reg officials determine how to title and register the vehicle while offering flexibility to the owner. The bill includes kit cars or newly manufactured customs as even a newly produced ’65 cobra replica resembles an actual ’65 cobra and is therefore titled and registered as a ’65 cobra custom vehicle.
Also the same regulations i.e. exhaust, safety equipment apply to the kit car as apply to an original ’65. The concession offered for this privilege is that the vehicles must be temporary use vehicles, or basically cannot be used for “general daily transportation”. This really doesn’t affect the way most people use these vehicles.
Applying this idea to the motorcycle industry the one distinguishing feature of any bike is to attach a style to is its engine/drivetrain. I’m currently drafting language to state that custom motorcycles will be titled by the year that their engine most closely resembles. This would allow a range of years for people choosing to use legacy designs (or reproductions) like flatheads, Knuckles, Pans, Shovels, Evos, etc.
All of these engines were in use prior to 2006 and as legacy designs are not meant to meet the new EPA tier 1 or 2 emissions regimes. As with SEMA’s bill the concession in my new bill would again state that these customs: “Will be maintained for occasional transportation, rallies, club activities, parades, tours, exhibitions, and other similar uses and will not be used for general daily transportation.” This probably wouldn’t change the way many custom owners use their bikes and for those who are daily riders they still have the option to get an EPA certified engine.
That’s a quick rundown on my current plan for the next legislative session in MT which convenes in January. Again my goal is to create a solution that is easy to implement and follows the logic of SEMA’s street rod bill which has met with great success in a growing number of states. I’m still working through the details and would be grateful to get the thoughts of bikers, shop owners, manufacturers and anyone with a stake in our industry. My goal is to create a model that will serve the needs of our way of life for years to come.
FYI I currently serve as chairman of SEMA’s legislative caucus that organizes state legislators across the US and remain very involved in their titling and registration efforts. I am also a SEMA member.
Senator John Brueggeman
321 Lakeview Dr
Polson, MT 59860
PH: 406.883.2395
FAX: 406.883.2390
senatorjohn@bresnan.net
BIKERNET HISTORY SHOT OF THE WEEK–Talk about not worrying about cam timing..(from a 1959 Benelli 250cc 35hp GP bike).
–John Leach – Sales / Racing Support
Avon Tyres North America
ROCKEM V-BIKE FOR SALE–Sorry, forgot to mention that we are only looking to get $11,500 out of the bike.
–“Racer” Rob Martin
Operations Manager,
Rockem and Sockem MotorcycleCo.
Rob@rockemandsockem.com
Office: 480.279.1734
Fax: 480.279.1743
Cell: 480.862.3825
www.RockemandSockem.com
BUELL LIGHTNING SUPER TT XB12STT UNVEILED AT MILAN SHOW– MILAN (Nov. 14, 2006) – It’s time to take to the street with attitude and style as Buell brings on the new Lightning Super TT XB12STT packed with tenacious performance and distinctive urban character. The Lightning Super TT, launched today at the EICMA 64th Annual International Motorcycle Exhibition in Milan, Italy, is built for battle with characteristic Buell Streetfighter innovation and excitement.
“Buell motorcycles let riders own the corners and have fun, whether it’s the corners on a back highway or corners of a city street,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Buell Motorcycle Company. “The Lightning Super TT XB12STT continues that concept by blending street and track performance with plenty of torque and power into a bigger, versatile Supermoto-inspired design.”
As the latest addition to the Buell Lightning family, the Lightning Super TT combines hard core Streetfighter attitude with the style of Supermoto bikes. The Supermoto (aka SuperMotard or US TT) category refers to an all-around style of motorcycle combining characteristics of road racing, dirt track and motocross bikes. The Lightning Super TT captures a rebellious and aggressive racing spirit. Other models in the Buell Lightning family are the Lightning XB12S, Lightning XB12Scg, Lightning Long XB12Ss and Lightning CityX XB9SX.
NEWS FROM THE BIKERNET PET SHOP–A man buys a parrot, but after several weeks of trying, is unableto get it to speak a single word. In desperation he takes thebird to a vet for advice.
The vet tells him that the parrot’s beak is too long which ispreventing him from speaking. He says that he can file it downfor $100.
The parrot’s owner thought that was rather expensive and wonderedaloud if he could just file it down himself.
The vet tells him that it is a very delicate procedure and mustbe done by a trained professional. If he does not file enough,the bird still wont be able to talk, but if he files too much,the bird will drown while drinking his water.
The man decides to think it over and leaves with the parrot.
Several weeks later, the vet happens to meet the parrot owner whois looking rather down. He inquires about the parrot and the manreplies that his parrot is dead.
“Did you try to file his beak down yourself?” asked the vet.
The man nods his head.
“And he drowned while trying to drink his water, right?”
“No,” replied the parrot’s owner, “he was dead when I took hishead out of the vise.”
–from Nick Roberts
NEW FROM THE DUMBASSBIKER BOYS THE KIL KEYLESS IGNITION SWITCH. CONTAIN A SPECIAL CODE THAT ONLY YOU KNOW, THROW THE KEY AND THE UGLY SWITCH HOUSING AWAY, AND GET A NEW MOTOR MOUNT TO BOOT– Keep your bike safe and secure without the need of keys with the keyless KIL switch. This innovative new locking system uses a push button code with ultra secure 4-digit pin code that does away with the keys. It is a clean and simple install that takes about an hour for the dash units, or motor mount/coil bracket mount style set up. Clean and shouts true CUSTOM.
We also offer builders kits that can be installed most anywhere you like. Excellent for bike builders. All units come with a code card for safe keeping, there is also a serial number on the back of the unit in case you forget or misplace your code, we keep it on file for you, and you can retrieve it by phone or e-mail. Switches are military grade and rated at over 1 million plus pushes. They are heat and weather proof, resistant to dirt and dust. Comes with full instruction manual and wiring diagram. E-mail and telephone support. Patent pending
MOTOR MOUNT AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY
P/N KIL4MMP POLISHED BILLET ALUM. FEATURES SIDE MOUNT SWITCH AND MOTOR MOUNT IN ONE UNIT LISTING RETAIL $500 DAB $450
P/N KIL4MMC SAME AS KIL4MMP BUT CHROME RETAIL $600, DAB $500
P/N KIL4GBPC SAME AS ABOVE ONLY POWDER COATED GLOSS BLACK $500
P/N KIL4WBPC SAME AS ABOVE BUT BLACK WRINKLE POWDER COATED $500
DUMBASSBIKER.COM/EASTSIDE H&D CUSTOMS
ROBERT (SQUIGGY) YEZEK
E-MAIL: ORIGSQUIG@AOL.COM OR
PARTS@DUMBASSBIKER.COM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON UNION NEGOTIATIONS–Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI – Several hundred Harley-Davidson union workers on Sunday applauded or jeered their labor officials who explained why the rank and file should consider sacrificing wages and benefits to ensure that 100 new motorcycle manufacturing jobs remain in Milwaukee.
Harley Contract DealBy the Numbers
$27+Per hour under current system
$20+Per hour under two-tier system
Many questioned union leaders as to why a contract that apparently was good until 2008 should be opened by the membership for negotiation. Others left the membership meeting feeling confused, angry and helpless, knowing they have only until Tuesday to make up their minds.
“I thought I had a contract that was good until 2008,” a longtime Harley worker said after the meeting. “This is a decision that really affects our future.”
The 1,600 members of United Steelworkers of America Local 2-209 are wrestling with a Harley promise to expand a production line here instead of in another state, provided the union agrees to the concessions from its current contract. Union members will cast their votes at the plants in which they work.
The $120 million production expansion would reportedly create 100 new jobs.”The gun’s at our head and the bullet is in the gun,” another worker said. “What can we do? Once those jobs are gone, they’re gone.”
Although many union members wanted to express their feelings publicly about the predicament, none wanted his or her name used for fear of retaliation at this volatile time among a tight-knit group of workers who assemble engines and transmissions.
Harley officials under the current contract can consider opening another production line either here or in another state when Milwaukee production lines are at capacity, union president Jim Wheiland said. An out-of-state site with a less expensive work force is an attractive alternative for many manufacturers, including Harley, experts say.
Last month, the union rejected by a wide margin Harley’s initial request for wage and benefits concessions to help finance a new production line for motorcycle power trains here. The company asked that new employees hired after the first of next year be compensated through a lower wage scale. The request did not affect job security or the pay of current employees.
A second proposal now contains a company promise to expand here if the concessions are reached.Many Harley factory workers earn more than $27 an hour. Under the proposed two-tier system, most of the new workers would earn an hourly wage of more than $20.
Some workers Sunday blamed the company and the union for turning against the rank and file. Following the membership veto of the initial proposal, labor and plant officials continued to search for a workable agreement, Wheiland said.
Some members interpreted that to be a betrayal of the overwhelming vote against the concessions. Current workers were being asked to contribute more toward health care, lose their cost of living wage adjustments and take reductions in pension benefits.
What makes the concessions difficult to accept is the $1 billion in profits that Harley is expected to bring in this year.
“The company lies. The bargaining unit lies. They should all have gone to church instead this morning,” an angry employee shouted while walking quickly from the Wauwatosa meeting hall to his truck.Wheiland responded that after the first vote, the membership clearly told him to continue talking with management.
A retiree at the meeting and friends said they supported the work of union leaders and that the membership should approve the measure in order to protect family-supporting jobs.
“I don’t really think there’s much of a choice here,” he said.
“I have plenty to say, but not until after the vote,” another worker said.
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