Hey,

Have you noticed how annoying most major news sites are? They are scattered with google video ads between every paragraph, pop-ups and ads screaming out from the right margins? Have you noticed how clean the Bikernet content is?

I would only allow Google to run ads at the bottom of the pages, but now rumor has it Google doesn’t like the girls on our site. I would rather our pages remained clean and unencumbered without annoying ads.



Speaking of rumors, there’s gossip going around Hollywood about a new Easy Rider movie, which would be a shot in the arm for the new Easyriders Magazine. I’m wondering if Hollywood won’t force the producers to include gay lovers. We will see won’t we?

Another quirky week in Paradise. Let’s hit the news.



The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.





LATEST FROM TMZ–Jay Leno released from the hospital

According to the TMZ website, comedian and car collector Jay Leno has been sent home from the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles where he was taken after being burned in a gasoline fire in his Burbank garage.

Leno was repairing a fuel line on his 1907 White steam car when gasoline, which is used to heat the car’s burner, splashed on his face and arm and then was ignited by a spark. A friend helped extinguish the flames, and Leno was taken to the hospital.

“The ex-late night host posed for a photo taken and posted by the Grossman Burn Center, where JL has been receiving treatment for the past nine days. In it, he seems to be in good spirits alongside the facility staff, but there’s noticeable scarring on his face and hands,” TMZ said. “In a statement, the burn center says Jay will receive follow-up care at their outpatient facility, this after receiving burns throughout his upper [body], including on his chest.”

–Steven Cole Smith
Hagerty Media





ROLAND SANDS DESIGN AND KRIEGA— Announce Product Collaboration Launch

Long Beach, California, USA / Deeside, UK:
Forging a path in the 2-wheel world is not a simple task. It takes commitment, creativity, relentless drive, a few great ideas and sometimes, a little luck. The crew at RSD & Kriega brands are no strangers to this process.

Through the years both brands have become global leaders in their respective fields; RSD with iconic custom motorcycles, premium parts & apparel; and Kriega with industry defining backpack and luggage products; RSD & Kriega are known for premium quality, craftsmanship and performance.

Meet the ROAM Collection, a collaboration by RSD X Kriega. Forged by countless miles on the highway, trails, and canyon roads this new collection of rider bags and accessory products perfectly blend classic and modern materials, technical construction, and functionality.

The ROAM Collection features materials unique to each brand, and together allow for truly amazing product. Including RSD’s proprietary heavy duty waxed cotton & Kriega’s QUADLOC-Lite™ harness system. The ROAM collection was created to offer bag and accessory solutions to riders that appreciate design aesthetic and branding that are subdued, clean and timeless.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Kriega on this collaboration,” said the prez Roland Sands. “Mixing our premium waxed cotton material with their proven technical products and a slight twist on design language really makes for a unique, and amazing product. The team at Kriega has been rad to work with, and I could see additional products being added to the mix in the future.”

ROAM 34 BACKPACK

The Roland Sands Design X Kriega Roam 34 Backpack is constructed from RSD’s propriety wax cotton together with 1000D Cordura and combined with Kriega’s groundbreaking Quadloc-Lite harness, to create a marriage of classic style and unrivalled functionality.

Comprised of 3 sections: a waterproof roll-top 15″ laptop pocket, a 4-litre fold-down zip compartment packed with organizer pockets and a spacious main compartment with heavy-duty YKK® zip access, expandable from 22 to 30-litres when needed. Ideal for carrying a full-face helmet around town or loading with the weekly groceries. Additional features include a fleece-lined goggle/eyewear zip pocket, an optional waist strap with storage pockets, and Sissy bar attachment strap/s.

Available in 2 colour options: Black or Ranger.

FEATURES

• Waterproof 15″ laptop compartment
• Expandable main body (22-litres to 30-litres)
• Adjustable QUADLOC-Lite™ Harness
• ‘Soft-feel’ back panel for rider comfort
• Goggle/eyewear zip pocket (fleece-lined)
• 4-litre front compartment with organizer pockets
• Reflective panels on harness
• Hydration compatible
• Optional waist-strap with storage pockets
• Sissy bar attachment strap
• Harness pocket compatible
• 10 YEAR GUARANTEE





When I retired in 2004 my wife and I moved to the Fort Myers, Fla., area. I thought it
would be the cat’s meow because I could ride my beloved Ultra year round. While this is a great biking state it has very dangerous obstacles I never considered before moving here: Cotton Tops, the elderly automobile drivers who also live in Florida.

Although most are safe, sensible drivers there are a bunch who don’t see (or care
to see) motorcyclists. After too many close calls with Cotton Tops that turned in front of me, pulled out without looking either way and generally made a nuisance of themselves, I installed the loudest air horn on my Ultra.

On my first ride with the horn, a little old lady who could barely see over the dashboard pulled in front of me from a stop light. I hit the horn and the old gal slammed on
her brakes to let me pass. Best 60 bucks I ever spent.

P.S. The hurricanes chased us back to Wisconsin.

— Jack Mrozinski, Mosinee, Wis.





BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–Bandit’s Cantina Episode 100

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Bandits_Cantina_Episode_100.aspx

I liked reading this episode. I also thought the choices of panel jokes were great! Keep up the good work and keep bucking the system.

After checking the best investments right now, I see that nickel (the stuff that is used for batteries) is one of them. Well, how will the earth fare if we over exploit the nickel that comes out of our ground?

The only real solution, in my opinion, is to try and balance fossil fuels with the extra nickel use for more and more batteries, etc. if that is possible. Also, not to go to extremes. Cut down on both a little individually and use with intelligence. We haven’t found the perfect answer yet but hopefully we can come closer.

My big green thing is to keep our trees from burning down at too rapid a rate and replacing them as soon as possible. All of this requires work and a genius to come along with a better idea.

–Ann Robinson
Long Beach, CA







Indian Scout Rogue by Hardnine Choppers revealed at EICMA

Danny Schneider brings his hard riding, performance style to the Scout Rogue
Distinctive paint scheme inspired by King of the Baggers winning Indian Challenger



Danny Schneider, the man behind Hardnine Choppers, revealed his latest custom build at EICMA, Milan alongside the new 2023 models from Indian Motorcycle. With its distinctive paint scheme inspired by the factory’s King of the Baggers racers, stripped back front end and performance parts, Danny’s Scout Rogue was an eye-catching addition to the Indian Scout lineup on the booth, drawing in visitors to take photos and discover the finer details.

As a former FMX star and award-winning vintage custom builder, Danny Schneider has a reputation for exciting, performance orientated customs and is no stranger to working with Indian Motorcycle. In fact, the build he credits as his best ever was his 1931 Indian Scout, the bike that started his love of Indian Motorcycle, a love that was cemented with the launch of the FTR, “ever since then, I’ve been hooked,” says Danny.

“My idea when I first saw the Scout Rogue, I actually liked it a lot, was performance racing – this is where I’m coming from – I really wanted to craft it to suit my hard riding style and we’ve done everything we can with performance parts. We started out with the Öhlins front forks and Öhlins rear shock, suspension is the most important thing for me coming from a motocross background.”

Modifying the triple trees to accept the Öhlins front forks, the handlebar has been replaced with a 22mm higher ProTaper unit fitted with ProTaper soft grips and the Scout Rogue’s mini-fairing adapted to work with the new bar placement. The stripped back, racing feel is also enhanced by miniature turn signals and the removal of the front fender.

The racing look and spec continues with performance tracker wheels from Roland Sands Design allowing the use of twin OEM discs grabbed by dual Beringer calipers operated by a Beringer master cylinder/lever with Danny creating bespoke adapters and mounts for the wheels and the braking system. For performance gains during starts and gear changes, the clutch lever is also by Beringer with a Dynojet quickshifter ensuring the slickest of shifts and a one-off 2-into-1 exhaust by Jekill and Hyde ramping up the soundtrack.

“I’ve added some custom touches, by cutting down the primary cover to the minimum that’s still safe but making it lighter and giving it a more performance look and I’ve also added wider footpegs to suit my riding style. But, look closer and you’ll see the gold leaf applied to the iconic insignias on the engine and the gas cap, the gold stitching in the seat which all complement the awesome paint by Vince Customs.”

“I’ve been building bikes for about 10 or 12 years now. But I stopped for a while as I’d lost a bit of the passion. When it came to the Rogue, it just came back, the light just fired up again. Indian Motorcycle engineering is amazing, they think further than other brands. If you need to do something, it’s done super quick. This is what I love.”

“Now it’s just a case of setting up the bike, dialing in the suspension and going for a ride. Riding to me is everything. It’s absolute freedom.”







LIFE’S WORK WISDOM QUOTES:

“In life, hard-work keeps the mind pure and speaking truth keeps the heart pure.”

“Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn’t give you credit.” ~ Kamari aka Lyrikal

“Discouragement and dissatisfaction are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision” ~ Kamari aka Lyrikal

“The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” ~ Mother Teresa

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” ~ Earl Nightingale

“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” ~ Napoleon Hill

“Nothing will work unless you do.” ~ Maya Angelou

“Our passion is our life’s output, our life’s purpose; be it a day’s work or a lifelong effort.” ~ Wayfarer






ELECTION UPDATE–2022 Mid-Term Elections

RPM Act The 2022 mid-term election has been an exciting and somewhat puzzling one for political prognosticators as votes are still being counted in many key U.S. House of Representatives races.

It is clear, however, that SEMA is well positioned for success during the next two years as a result of our support for lawmakers who have stood with the hobby. From grassroots advocacy through the SEMA Action Network to digital advertisements for our strongest allies to highlighting all the RPM Act cosponsors who were on the ballot this November, SEMA and automotive community did our part to help shape the 2022 elections.

Republicans have regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. At present, Republicans have won 218 seats in the House, while Democrats won 210 seats in the mid-term elections. Seven races are still too close to call. Republicans will control at least 49 Senate seats in the next Congress, and Democrats will control at least 50 Senate seats. Democrats will lead the Senate in 2023–2024 regardless of the outcome of the December 6 runoff election in Georgia, since the vice president is the tie breaker vote in the Senate.

There were 110 RPM Act House co-sponsors up for re-election, and 15 RPM Act sponsors either ran for re-election to the Senate or competed for a Senate seat this year. The results have been overwhelmingly positive for lawmakers who have supported the bill.

Thirteen RPM Act sponsors won their Senate races while the Alaska race is still being decided. More than 100 RPM Act co-sponsors in the House were re-elected, three lost and two RPM Act cosponsors are up in their races where votes are still being counted.

A closely divided Congress in 2023–2024 increases the chances that the final month and a half of the current legislative session will be productive, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have priorities that they will seek to have enacted before the end of the year.

Looking forward to next year, we are encouraged that the narrow margins in the House and Senate will prevent extreme policies that would be detrimental to the hobby (such as aggressive federal efforts to favor ZEVs over ICE vehicles, closing roads and trails for motorized recreation, etc.). One cautionary note regarding divided government is that it will encourage President Biden to rely on his executive powers to implement partisan policy changes, particularly from his environmental activist base. SEMA and the SEMA Action Network will be monitoring these efforts closely.

We are grateful to everyone who has supported SEMA’s advocacy efforts. We are making incredible strides to boost the industry’s political horsepower in Washington. To learn more and get involved, visit www.SEMASAN.com.

–SEMA







QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY—

A Little 10-year-old girl was walking home, alone, from school one day, when a big man on a black motorcycle pulls up beside her.

After following along for a while, turns to her and asks, “Hey there little girl, do you want to go for a ride?”
“NO!” says the little girl again as she hurries down the street.

The motorcyclist pulls up beside the little girl again and says, “Okay kid, my last offer! I’ll give you 20 Bucks “and” a Big Bag of Candy if you will just hop on the back of my bike and we will go for a ride.”

Finally, the little girl stops and turns towards him and Screams Out… “Look Dad” “You’re the one who bought the Honda instead of the Harley… YOU RIDE IT!!”…….

–Steve Bauman
Register Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina Band Joke Library







NEWS FROM CHOPPERS MAG— You have to love the distinctive styles some artists are able to create. Styles that immediately make you go… oh yeah that’s that kat. This truly applies when talking about Matt Wilkins, aka @matt_sabbath.

Being an artist myself, I appreciate someone like this. He has honed his style and skill set to develop a style that is instantly recognizable. Matt has been creating art for bikers, bands and country western stars for a few years now. He is also a member of the artist collective known as the Mystical Freaks.

–The Chopper Mag Staff







DO YOU NEED A 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON CALENDAR–Harley-Davidson 2023 offers 16 months of iconic motorcycles from the world’s most iconic motorcycle manufacturer.

Created in cooperation with Harley-Davidson, this 17″ x 12″ latest edition of Motorbooks’ top-selling calendar includes bikes spanning Harley-Davidson’s history from classics to today’s top machines.



Harley-Davidson 2023 features stunning portraits commissioned specifically for this calendar and photographed by talented photographer David Blattel as well as historic images from the Harley-Davidson archives.



The calendar features a convenient page that shows the months of September, October, November, and December 2022 followed by individual pages for the months of 2023. Included with the calendar is a stunning 17″ × 12″ frame-ready print.

–Quarto Knows
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D
Beverly, MN 01915





NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT— Artist David Uhl – Days of Uhlness

Reminder that a minimum $500 purchase qualifies you to win a David Uhl original painting. Scroll down to for more information.

“Indigenous”
** 15 x 11.25 paper framed – normally $850 and Rare, this one is $500.

Please email me or call me at 303-913-4840 with any questions, or to place your order. Thanks for your time! Don’t go to the website for the best deals.

–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
Uhl Studios
303-913-4840







A LETTER FROM THE DIME BAG FOUNDER–I’ve appreciated your support throughout this year and wish you and yours a happy holiday.

Finished your Ride Free Forever timecover buckles that I braze soldered mild steel handmade in house.



Also, a long line of legendary chopper friends are putting their orders in for a DimeBag Leather Travelers Timecover.



This weeks Timed feature goes to Ray ILanes at Copper Top Garage in Ormond Beach Florida. Ray specializes in building custom choppers. Dimebag Leather is certified seat maker for all his custom choppers.

He is opening up a shop with storefront around the corner of a world famous tattoo shop in Ormond Beach FL.

All the best
–Adam Croft







NMA NEWSLETTER–Taking the Politics Out of Speed Limit Setting

All traffic is local, and nothing gets people riled up more than speed limits. The 85th percentile has been the standard for measuring speed limits for years. Due to pressure from groups such as Vision Zero and Complete Streets, this standard of measuring speed is losing ground in states such as California, Oregon, and Massachusetts, and even on a federal level. But it’s still the standard in many places around the country.

The 85th percentile is “the speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions past a monitored point.”

In the past, traffic engineers employed the 85th percentile by observing traffic on the ground using a radar gun on the part of the road that needed a survey. More recently, traffic engineers have used pneumatic road tubes stretched across a roadway, which according to the US Office of Highway Policy Information, can measure the following:

How many drivers use the road every day?

The direction the vehicle travels and during what time of day

What class of vehicle (car, tractor-trailer) uses the road

The speed at which drivers are traveling

The data collection process can be labor-intensive, expensive, and doesn’t always return the most accurate results. Using GPS solves this problem.

For the past ten years, TomTom, a consumer navigation company, has been mapping the world using GPS. We also recently learned that along with navigation, the company has been putting together speed profile calculations. Utilizing street data from a company like TomTom, traffic engineers can take the political rhetoric out of speed limit determinations.

What is GPS? First developed for the US military at the beginning of the space race, civilians have had access to GPS since 1989. Onboard vehicle navigation systems use 24 satellites that orbit the Earth twice daily to calculate routes, find local addresses, and monitor road conditions. This navigational technology offers users PNT (positioning, navigation, and timing) services.

The New Hampshire Union Leader recently interviewed state traffic engineer William Lambert to discuss a data system his department bought recently from TomTom. Within a month of purchase, Lambert already ran 30 traffic reports to determine the speeds vehicles traveled on targeted roads in the state.

In the past, the process would have taken much longer. Lambert says he can now analyze the TomTom speed profile calculations data on his computer to see how traffic behaves along a targeted route. He added, “I’m trying to use this data to make sure that speed limits are credible for the character and conditions of the roads across the state.”

For Lambert, reducing a speed limit due to a “wishful thinking value’ usually doesn’t work. He added, “We find that traffic is not going any slower because we want them to.”

Lambert says that target speed is the answer and the lowest crash rate occurs at the 85th percentile of measured traffic speed. He’s right when he said in the interview that ensuring speed limits on particular roadways are ‘credible’ will make all roads safer. Otherwise, drivers will ignore posted speed limits. “If some speed limits are credible and others aren’t, and people disrespect them in places where they’re not, then they can disrespect them in other places and go too fast.”

Using this kind of aggregated digital data will help traffic engineers do their job by setting safe speed limits at the 85th percentile and taking the arbitrariness of setting speeds out of the equation.

We all want safer roads, and this kind of technology can certainly help make that happen with real-time traffic data.








EnerSys (NYSE:ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications and the manufacturer of ODYSSEY batteries, will soon add three of the most popular sizes for powersports vehicles to the Company’s premium ODYSSEY battery portfolio. An official premiere of the new models is set to take place in ODYSSEY battery booth no. A1838 at the 2022 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) from November 1 – 3, 2022 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The three models, ODS-AGM14 (Group size BTX14), ODS-AGM20L (Group size BTX20L) and ODS-AGM30L (Group size BTX30L), are ideal solutions for a variety of popular vehicle models including Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and can also be used in other powersports vehicles, including snowmobiles and Personal Watercraft (PWC) applications.

Upon launch, all three models will feature a drop-in fit, so no accessories will be needed for proper installation, and will represent the first in these group sizes to be available with proprietary Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology.

“The models we use in our existing portfolio of ODYSSEY batteries are suitable for the powersports applications, but they require the installer to use additional hardware to secure the fit,” said Dave McMullen, Senior Director of Marketing, Transportation & Specialty at EnerSys. “With this upcoming launch, we will now have ODYSSEY Powersport battery drop-in fitments for the three most popular group sizes for powersports vehicles and the first to be available with our advanced TPPL technology.”

Proprietary TPPL technology in ODYSSEY batteries uses pure lead plates that can be made thinner than those in conventional flooded lead acid batteries, so more plates fit into the same size footprint to provide greater surface area.

This enables more electrochemical reactions with the electrolyte to produce more power than conventional batteries of comparable size. The results include engine cranking pulses that are significantly higher than that of equally sized conventional lead acid batteries.

ODYSSEY batteries also feature Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) construction, which packs the plates tightly in absorbent fiberglass separators that hold the electrolyte and make the batteries virtually maintenance-free.

The rugged AGM construction and non-spillable design of ODYSSEY batteries also protect against high-impact shock and mechanical vibration to help provide longer service life. Backed by an industry-leading warranty, they come with the required Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to fit the needs of each application.

For more information on EnerSys and its full line of products, systems, and support, visit www.enersys.com.

To follow the latest ODYSSEY battery news, visit our website at www.odysseybattery.com.





[page break]



WEEKLY LESSON FROM BIKERNET UNIVERSITY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT—

184: GREENHOUSE GAS…….Two words assembled together in such a way as to put it into your head via relentless repetition by infinite human parrots including suddenly-genius first-graders, that earth is a man-made greenhouse, not a 4-billion-year-old mammoth amalgam of the entire periodic table.

The earth is not a green house. Nor is it a Popsicle. The expression “greenhouse gas” has one function: to put the idea of rising earth temperature into your head and associate it with you using an air conditioner or hair spray because your personal conveniences are killing others less fortunate.

That’s right, it’s just more fucking Marxism. The expression “greenhouse gasses” has been selected solely for the bizarre imagery that the phrase conjures: that the earth is not a successfully-self-operating monster of life-out-of dirt, winding and wending its way through a galaxy of a billion stars and a trillion planets, no, it’s fucking a greenhouse: a big glass building with its already hot, wet, humid essence being further compromised by your car which is turning the earth into more of a place for lizards and spiders and plants that eat animals than it already is, and you are at fault because of your selfish need for “modern conveniences” while others die.

The expression “greenhouse gas” has also been selected via some random bureaucratic catastrophe-generator to be associated with the sudden newly-appearing mysterious version of meteorology called “climate science.” Meaning “the science you created and made necessary for us to investigate so that you don’t kill everybody.” Climate science. Greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gasses. Global warming.

Attribution science. Gray swan climate event, Hotter. And hotter. Wetter. Droughtier. It’s a fucking mess. Do you care??? No. You have electricity. So, YOU don’t care. (You’ll notice there is a worldwide sudden electricity problem in all the white countries.) You won’t stop stop using your air conditioner? We’ll shut off the power. You won’t stop driving your gas and diesel vehicles? We’ll outlaw oil. You’ll use our mandatory electricity vehicles. Which don’t work. We don’t care.

We need you dead before you realize you don’t actually need us. Eventually there will be something called “terrain science” that will explain why walking on the ground rather than just lying six feet beneath it is causing warts on the moon. Just like all the other things declared out of nowhere, claimed as fact and always suspiciously designed to handcuff human life, human happiness, human progress and discourage more cool stuff and to keep people glued to one spot.

Ya know, like Covid-19 successfully did.

–J.J. Solari
Senior Scientist
Bikernet University


ANOTHER QUOTE OF THE WEEK–Here is another quote from lyrics of a song.

“Takes more than combat gear to make a man… Takes more than a license for a gun… Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can… A gentleman will walk but never run” — Sting

(from the song ‘An Englishman in New York’)

–Wayfarer





And we will throw in special gifts with each order.





–Bandit







Glad to see Wimmer Coolers still around. I had two on the Little Red Rigid. They worked great and they’re actually hooked up correctly on mine!



Yes, they look cleaner the other way, but not how the manufacturer lists to use them. Take it from someone who traveled across Germany in the ‘70s, as post after post kept blowing up newly installed Cummins engines, even got a letter of Commendation somewhere. None of mine ever exploded, that was then. Man, I miss that bike!!



Then I came upon the Keiti throttle stop when I was doing 130 mile a day Willis shuffle! Worked sorta, but not the products fault. About the only thing I didn’t change on the previously used to carry golf clubs ‘07 Dyna were the Lowbrow Custom grips, which happen to be tapered at the ends. So, the Keiti would lose its grip.

Think I’m going to put regular old factory grips on the Dyna, so I can use it on my Willis runs. (I may have shared the stop before?)



Finally, this screwdriver, I got it for free many, many, many years ago.

–RFR

“That’s the Snap-On screwdriver I’ve been missing for a decade…” –Bandit





MORE FROM THE SEMA ACTION NETWORK— FTC Seeks Comments to Combat Fake Reviews and Other Deceptive Endorsements

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks public comment on the potential harms stemming from deceptive or unfair review and endorsement practices used by businesses.

“Companies should know by now that fake reviews are illegal, but this scourge persists,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “We’re exploring whether a rule that would trigger stiff civil penalties for violators would make the market fairer for consumers and honest businesses.”

The FTC is asking for comments regarding the pervasiveness and potential harms to consumers and competition cause by fake reviews, paid reviews, fake review websites and similar practices.

If you are aware of competitors engaging in these practices that harm your business, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org to be incorporated into SEMA’s comments.

–By Washington, D.C., Staff
SEMA







BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN—

A man goes to a marriage counselor, worried about his wife’s temper.

The counselor asks, “What’s the problem?

The man says, “I don’t know what to do. Every day my wife loses her temper for no reason. It scares me.”

The Counselor says, “I have a cure for that. When it seems, your wife is getting angry, take a double shot of Jack Daniel’s bourbon and swish it in your mouth. Swish and swish, but don’t swallow it until she either leaves the room or calms down.”

Two weeks later, he goes back to the counselor, looking fresh and reborn. He tells the counselor, “That was a brilliant idea. Every time my wife started to get angry, I swished the Jack Daniels and she would start to calm down. It was amazing! What is it about Jack Daniels that makes it work like that?”

The counselor said, “The Jack Daniel’s does nothing. Keeping your mouth shut is the trick.”

–El Waggs
Certified Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina Bad Joke Library







QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 24, 2022

Click Here to read Spirit of Thanksgiving News Article

Just got back from a visit to Maine. Burrrr. Hey regarding that CO2 pic. That would make a cool sticker.

–Rhys
S. Daytona, FL

“I will check it out.” –Bandit






This 61c.i. Knucklehead powerhouse sports a 4-speed transmission, bobbed fenders, and Flanders accessory risers and bars, flaunting its authentic period-modified look and feel.



On November 19th, we gave away the 2022 Raffle Bike, the 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. The winner was Ed Shequen of Motley, Minnesota! Second prize of ten thousand dollars went to Randy Cooper of Quinton, Alabama, and third prize of five thousand dollars went to Randy Farabee of Gilbert, Arizona. We want to thank everyone who supported Dale’s Wheels Through Time through our 2022 Annual Raffle! Your support is what fuels “The Museum That Runs!”







HOLIDAYS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT—

Artist David Uhl is running another daily promotion, but we can’t keep up. Give Greg a call if you’re interested.

Hoping that everyone in the States had a great Thanksgiving holiday!

From the Holiday Steampunk series, we have three pieces for sale.

“Holiday Alchemist” (above)
** Image size 16 x 20, this framed piece is $900

“Holiday Prodigy”
** Image size 16 x 20, this framed piece is $900



“Holiday Saboteur”
** Image size 16 x 20, this framed piece is priced at $900.

Please email me or call me at 303-913-4840 with any questions, or to place your order. Thanks for your time!

Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
303-913-4840







2013 Harley-Davidson FLTRXSE2 – CVO Road Glide Custom FOR ONLY $19,995.00

SEE IT HERE: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=13004442



2013 Roman gold Harley-Davidson SCREAMING EAGLE ROAD GLIDE FLTRXSE2 with only 24,865.00 miles!



This bike is a super clean fully custom CVO Road Glide and some of the features/Add-ons on this bike are:

* 110c.i. Screaming Eagle motor with a 6-Speed trans.
* 19 inch Black apes all Blacked out with hand guards
* Black braided cables
* Rockford fosgate radio
* Speaker lids and leg warmers with speakers
* P/M wheels
* P/M air cleaner
* Super trap exhaust
* Flush mount tail and running lights and license plate
* Color matched fork cans



This bike is only $19,995.00

Plus, license, $85.00 documentation fee, and local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like some dealers. And we have no reconditioning or prep fees.

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety/mechanical/structural inspection.

This motorcycle has not been refurbished and does not come with any warranty expressed or implied! EXTENDED WARRANTIES are available!

Fill out an online application today. We have EZ FINANCING

Lifestyle Cycles is located at 1510 State College Blvd, Anaheim,CA 92806. Open 7 days a week.

NOT LOCAL? WE HAVE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! Call today (714) 490-0155.

We are California’s pre-owned Harley Mega-Store with over 200 Pre-Owned Harley-Davidsons in stock!







There will eventually be a reckoning of the insane postulate that burning fuel changes the temperature of the planet.

Small minds create small myopic ideas, Those silly ideas catch-on with the millions of other small minds around the world.

Then we get complete rubbish being spouted by the masses and goaded on by the people who can make their gains from perpetuating those lies.

Such an idea is that Climate Change is caused by man-made influences.

IT’S NOT!

–Ray Russell
Senior Investigator
Bikernet Outpost
 


THE HERO HARLEY IS COMING—

First HeroMotoCorp and Harley-Davidson co-developed motorcycle likely to hit market in two years

India’s largest two-wheeler maker, which has leadership in the budget bike segment (100-110cc), is looking to drive in models to bring in volumes and enhance profitability in the 160cc and above space.

–Wayfarer
Editor
Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page





ANOTHER New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 24, 2022

Click Here to Read the Spirit of Thanskgiving News Article

Love the poem, “Oil of Love”

–Mutha
Long Beach, CA






Bringing together “motorcycling legends, enthusiasts and industry leaders from across the country,” AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inducted six new members for 2022 at its annual Induction Ceremony.

Members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2022 include Kenny Coolbeth, Greg Hancock, Effie Hotchkiss, Sandy Kosman, Ben Spies and James Stewart.

“Every year, with the exception of 2020, it’s been our privilege to honor motorcycling’s most accomplished and significant people in a very special AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction celebration,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said when addressing the audience.

“But it’s more than just a great banquet and ceremony to honor the incredible inductees who’ve contributed so much to our sport – it’s also a chance for us to come together in the interest of preserving motorcycle history for future generations.”

Those gathered also honored the memories of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers who have recently passed away: Wes Cooley, Ed Fisher, Bobby Hill, Loretta Lynn and Preston Petty.

Left to Right: Alec Dare (representing Ben Spies), Nadia DeSimone (daughter of Sandy Kosman), Craig Dove (great-grandson of Effie Hotchkiss), Greg Hancock, Kenny Coolbeth and James Stewart.

Kenny Coolbeth
Born in 1977, Coolbeth began his professional flat track career in 1994. He raced to his first AMA Grand National win at the Columbus Half-Mile in 2002. He won his first AMA Grand National Championship in 2006 while riding for the factory Harley-Davidson team and followed that up with two additional championships in 2007 and 2008.

Throughout his successful career, Coolbeth raced to 37 AMA Grand National wins, putting him sixth on the all-time win list, along with 108 AMA Grand National podiums.

Coolbeth retired from professional flat track racing at the end of the 2018 season while still competitive in the sport. He continues to give back to the sport and now works as a rider coach and setup tech for the Turner Honda Racing team – “I was just a kid who knew how to ride motorcycles. I never dreamed I’d be in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, it’s an amazing honor to be here.”

Greg Hancock
Born in 1970, Hancock began racing in Junior Speedway competition at age 9. At age 15, he won the Junior Speedway National Championship, his first of many titles. Soon he began competing across Europe, and in 1997 won the FIM World Speedway Championship.

Through the 1990s, Hancock also won the FIM World Pairs Championship and claimed three FIM World Team Cup Championships. He went on to win his second FIM World Speedway Championship in 2011, winning it again in 2014 and 2016.

Throughout his nearly four-decade career, Hancock became one of the most decorated motorcycle racers of all time, earning four FIM Speedway World Championships, three FIM World Team Cup titles, as well as eight AMA U.S. National Speedway Championships.

Effie Hotchkiss
Born in 1889, Effie Hotchkiss began riding at age 16. She began working on Wall Street in the banking industry but got tired of the job’s monotony. Using the inheritance her father left her, she purchased a 1915 Harley-Davidson 3-speed twin and a Rogers sidecar for her mother Avis and their luggage.

The two set off on their adventure on May 2, 1915, riding all the way to San Francisco, then started back towards their home in Brooklyn, N.Y., in late August. Hotchkiss became the first woman recorded to complete a transcontinental motorcycle ride, covering 9,000 miles over five months.

Hotchkiss quickly became a female icon for her endeavor and was celebrated in the very first issue of Harley-Davidson’s ‘The Enthusiast’ and countless newspapers across the country.

Effie Hotchkiss’ great-grandson attended the ceremony as her closest living relative and commented: “Thanks to the AMA for inducting my great-grandmother into the Hall of Fame. Today is the best day of my life.”

Sandy Kosman
Born in 1941, Sandy Kosman had both the mind and vision of a genius. As a self-trained designer of high-performance chassis and wheels for customized road, off-road and drag racing motorcycles, Kosman was a builder of champions as well as a highly successful entrepreneur.

In 1965, at age 24, Kosman started Kosman Specialties, building lightweight motorcycle gas tanks in his basement. The business thrived, and he moved into a building in San Francisco, expanding his products and services over time.

Through his 30-plus years in business, most drag racing bikes, many flat track bikes and a few AMA Superbike race teams adopted Kosman products, including American Honda, Vance & Hines, Performance Machine and others. Despite no formal training, Kosman and his company became a household name in racing and performance circles.

“It’s not been that long since we lost my father,” Kosman’s daughter Nadia DeSimone said, “but I know what being inducted into the Hall of Fame would have meant to him. Tonight feels like my last moment with him, and this means so much to my entire family.”

Ben Spies
Ben Spies, one of the greatest American road racers in the sport’s history, won five national titles and raced to 44 national wins during his career. Born in 1984, he came of age during the dominance of six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin, unseating the champ in his prime in 2006. In 2007, he defended the title in one of the tightest AMA Superbike Championship battles ever.

Spies’ AMA National Championships include the 2006, ’07 and ’08 AMA Superbike titles, the 2007 AMA Superstock title, and the 2003 AMA Formula Xtreme title.

In 2009, Spies joined the Yamaha Italia team in World Superbike competition. His rookie year proved exceptional, and he won the 2009 World Superbike title. Racing MotoGP full time in 2019, his performance earned him Rookie of the Year. He retired from professional racing in 2013.

James Stewart
Born in 1985, Stewart displayed potential early, winning his first national amateur championship at age 7. Before age 16, he claimed seven AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships.

Going pro in 2002, he won the AMA 125 MX title later that year while riding for Kawasaki, becoming the first black man to win a title in the sport. Stewart won the 2007 AMA Supercross Championship, claiming a second in 2009.

Incredibly, Stewart won all 24 motos of the 2008 Pro Motocross series – a perfect season – securing the 450 Class National Championship.

Stewart’s professional racing career ended in 2016 after tallying 50 AMA Supercross premier class wins and 48 AMA Pro Motocross national wins, cementing him as one of the greatest motocross racers of all time.

“I want to thank the AMA…this is such an honor,” Stewart said in an emotional acceptance speech. “I was never the cool kid, I wanted to ride motorcycles. But now, when you say my name, it’s Hall of Famer James Stewart. Out of all the things I accomplished in my career, this is the best part. This is like winning the ultimate championship. It’s amazing!”

www.americanmotorcyclist.com







HEADING INTO THE WINTER SEASON—A constant Sturgis Vintage rider said the other day, “I’m ready for Spring.”

He rides right up until the first snow. I remember a guy I wrote a story about who worked at the factory all his life and rode every day. When it snowed in Milwaukee, he bolted up a sidecar and kept going. I know a Hamster brother in California who surfs every first day of the year. We just keep going and doing what we love till the end.

I found out yesterday that Louie Falcigno passed away. I was just writing about him in my first report on my winter VL, XA, FL, S&S Knuckled build. He had a distinct style about his bikes and this bike would give him a nod I hope…



I’m working on an article about the last traditional Sportster built at the factory. It’s turning into an interesting piece. And as you know, Sportsters were always in a transformative process from the K-model to my first XLCH is ’69, when they first added electric starters. You name it, it changed with the times. Hang on for the story.





We are also working on another Tank article with photos from Markus Cuff. This time it will cover the paint aspects from style to paint materials, pearls, candies and metalflake. Hang on.


I got frustrated with my shop. I bought shit I had stashed in unorganized boxes and milk crates. We tore into everything and sorted like mad. It’s better…
Next on the Winter build project I need to have a discussion with the Paughco or the Black Bike Wheel team. I need all the ground clearance I can muster. Like handlebars, it seems easy until you discuss all the options available.







Atomic Bob blew me away with his illustration of the VL, XA, FL project.

Hang on for the next round of reports.

In the meantime have a terrific holiday season and think about riding free into all the sunsets forever…

–Bandit

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS:

* is there another Easy Rider Movie in the works?
* Advertisements and Pop-ups on free content websites
* TMZ & Jay Leno
* Roland Sands new baggage solution
* Loud pipes and its Road Test
* Custom Indian Scout Rogue
* Wisdom Quotes
* SEMA & the mid-term elections
* Harley-Davdson Calendar
* new David Uhl artwork
* Hal Robinson cartoons
*** AND SO MUCH MORE COOL EASYREADING STUFF

Click Here to Read the December 1, 2022 Weekly News on Bikernet.com

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by K. Randall Ball with Illustrations from George Fleming, Atomic Bob, Hal Robinson Dick Allen

Joey Bunch woke with a start. He rode an old ’69 Sportster XLCH with a magneto. It took him a few minutes of kicking to get it started on the cool morning. But then he blazed through the back streets of Venice, California, just west of downtown Los Angeles toward the designated meeting spot.

Through one trash strewn alley after another he darted, making his way to the freeway. A confused kid, he watched his neighborhood deteriorate as more illegals, homeless and drug addicts filled the streets.

He didn’t dare leave his vintage Sportster in full view of street traffic. It would be ripped-off in a hot second.

Click Here to read this 100th episode in the Bandit’s Cantina series.

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by Bandit with photos by the Redhead and Atomic Dice illustrations

It’s all started on a Sunny winter day when I met with old friend Randy Simpson and he declared, “I want to buy the Dicey Knucklehead.”

I didn’t want to let it go, but I also wanted to honor Randy’s wish. His co-builder, Gary Woodford, passed away and he wanted a tribute to him.

For the first time in 20 years, I didn’t have a shop. I had to do something or chase women and drink whiskey. Irish Rich, from Shamrocks just moved to Sturgis from Denver and had a couple of rusting VL frames. At least I could find parts and start planning.

Click Here to read this Photo Feature and Tech only on Bikernet.com

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Support Riding Free, click to view Membership Options for Bandit’s Cantina

It’s all started on a Sunny winter day when I met with old friend Randy Simpson and he declared, “I want to buy the Dicey Knucklehead.”

I didn’t want to let it go, but I also wanted to honor Randy’s wish. His co-builder, Gary Woodford, passed away and he wanted a tribute to him.

For the first time in 20 years, I didn’t have a shop. I had to do something or chase women and drink whiskey. Irish Rich, from Shamrocks just moved to Sturgis from Denver and had a couple of rusting VL frames. At least I could find parts and start planning. I reached out to Matt Olsen. The last time I saw him he mentioned coming into some stock springers.

His score hadn’t arrived but he did have a slightly modified stock XA front end, 2 inches longer. I jumped on it and ordered a set of stock styled rockers from Paughco and an axle. I discussed wheels with Steve Massicote from Paughco.

What I had in the shop was a 19-front capable of dual discs. It has an aluminum rim, race style with an aluminum hub. The rear is an 18-inch Metal Sport wheel with a brand-new Avon tire. Steve and I discussed, and I liked the spoked classic Paughco wheels, probably black rims, stainless spokes and star hubs. I’m thinking about a 21 up front.

That brings up brakes. On one hand I would like to go all class and mechanical brakes. One the other, this could be a mountain hard-riding fast bike and maybe disc brakes would do the trick. Or, I could go disc in the rear and mechanical in the front. These decisions will impact the wheel order. Let me know your thoughts.

Then there came the next challenge, a Knucklehead engine. My first source said, “A rebuilt Knucklehead engine goes for $17,000.” Holy shit. My next conversation with Domenic went like this, “I just bought a rebuilt Knucklehead engine for my girlfriend. It cost $19,000.” WTF, over?

Since those conversations the price elevated to $20,000. You know those adages like, “What is meant to be, is meant to be,” and, “Keep an open mind.”

I did and ordered a new Knucklehead engine from S&S for several reasons. Sure, the price played a major part, but then this engine is upgraded significantly, and 93-inches. Plus, I could order it with an alternator left case, splined shaft so I could run a belt drive, a 5-speed trans and an Evo styled starter. Finally, the S&S Knucklehead engine comes with an electronic ignition system, intake manifold, S&S super E carb, air cleaner and a spin-on oil filter bracket, which fits into the generator hole, beautiful.

In addition, there’s a choice of finishes and the list goes on with S&S, but there is a wait list…

In the meantime, while the shop was being built, I had to make shit happen. In the corner of my upstairs garage, I created a welding bench and Laban from Legendary Electric was kind enough to wire the upstairs garage with a 220 outlet. I could weld. I mounted a vice to the wooden bench, and I didn’t stop collecting parts and working with Irish Rich of Shamrock Customs to see what the puppy would look like as a roller.

Irish Rich is a pro and builds bikes for customers all over the country, plus modifies frames. We took a look at the wild 5/8-inch coarse studs sticking out of the rear legs on the front end. I went to Clausen’s machine shop in Spearfish and ordered two varieties of extensions. I ordered some riser clamps for 1-inch bars online, which I might modify in the future.

Rich ordered neck Timken bearings, developed a sleeve so both Timkens could be the same size. He also had a fork-lock system which he made work with the front-end neck and the forks.

I still needed to machine a shorter crown nut. Matt sent a top crown with risers carefully built in. It’s cool but I faced a number of questions. If I use it, I will need to shave off the riser studs. I didn’t know the welder who did the work or whether I should trust the welds on the crown. I needed a set of stock dog bones and clamps and I didn’t like that swept back style. They would likely smack the tank.

I kept my mind wide open, since the source of antique shops in the Sturgis and Black Hills area are amazing. You can find wild shit and the historic elements are still strong in this outlaw region. I found this foot warmer from the early 1900s. It was used to keep you warm with hot water on cold winter nights. I am going to train myself in copper-pipe soldering and try to make this my oil bag with brass fittings soldered to the body and leather straps made to hold it in place.

I also found these cranks for operating old equipment. At first, I considered using them for foot pegs and foot controls, but if it’s going to be a solid canyon rider I will need rubber Harley pegs. We will see. I also though about Louie Falcigno in Florida. I hope he’s still around. He built amazing classic chopper in his tradition. They were narrow and light. I’ll try to find a photo. He was a big Hells Angel fan and lived in the center of Outlaw MC land. I met an Outlaw leader who went to visit Louie as one time and asked him to tone it down a notch.

So, the Bikernet Sturgis, or Black Hills, or Boulder Canyon shop was finally finished just before the rally by Jason Alexander Construction. His crew helped move crates and position equipment. I went to work, organizing and making the shop work. I purchased a Smithy Lathe and we positioned it, but I had electrical issues to deal with.

Of course, the rally hit, then relatives came to visit and I bought a ’48 UL in Carson City, but it needed modifications. My goal was to free up a lift, then I could start the VL. It’s November and I finally pulled the UL off the lift. I was free to start my winter project, sorta. I still had plumbing, electrical and organizational issues.

Actually, there are always projects surfacing around the new digs. So, between snow, resource hunting, parts, and deadlines I was able to cut some time loose to start to make it a roller. A brother, John, came over who lives is Sturgis, his wife is a city commissioner and he is on the zoning and planning commission. But he also owns two 45 trikes, I believe a ’46 and a ’47. He also drives a ’47 Willies Jeep and his wife rides an Evo bagger from the ‘90s.

I had attached the front end to the 19-inch wheel, worked the frame into position without dinging the tank, dug through the spacer drawer and set up the rear mag wheel. With the redhead we were able to muscle the S&S 93-inch Knucklehead into place. That’s where it stood when John arrived.

The Redhead and I were able to position two of the engine mounting bolts in the rear but the front ones didn’t come close to alignment. When John arrived, we discussed the problem. Rich told me to run a drill up from under the frame through the engine cases. I thought John could help with that operation, but something bothered me. With the engine loose in the rear it slipped left and right almost 3/8 of an inch. I didn’t want to guess where to start drilling.

Plan B called for installing a primary system and ultimately a transmission and rear sprocket, align them all, then drill. Sounded like a plan. I recently bought a Crazy horse engine, and an Evil primary system. I usually work with BDL and have a lot of confidence in their products.

I had the Evil, so I decided to give it a shot. John and I discussed the peg position, foot controls, rear brakes and shifting. We found a piece of thick wall tubing and positioned it in what was the crossover tube for brake linkage. This frame has no forward footboard or peg mounting tabs. Generally, that would have been handled from the front motor-mounts.

Okay, so we decided to give the bike a shot with low, mid controls and see how it might fit me. We ran the tubing through the frame and then tried to position the thick aluminum Evil primary and pray the foot positioning wouldn’t clash with the belt, it didn’t. We were golden from that perspective. Cornering will be another issue since these pegs will be low and won’t fold.

That was another vote for a 21-inch wheel up front. John and I bored the primary, ground one of the tabs on the inside rear to clear the frame and it bolted right up. During the build process, I use never-cease on the bolts into the new engine cases to prevent any wear or damage to the threads.

I’m working with Randy Cramer at Dakota V-Twin in Spearfish, SD for my tranny case. JIMS builds a 4-speed mounting trans case that will house a 5-speed transmission. Hope to have it in three weeks.

Plus, I hope to have all the components to build a 5-speed trans. We will see. More and more I think I’m going to go with a 21-inch front wheel for better ground clearance. Rich said it’s 26.5 inches in diameter with a tire. I need to keep discussing the front brake. If I go with a star hub and a mechanical brake, I need to change the left rocker, spacer and axle. It’s already set up for a disc brake system. Would that eliminate the Star Hub?

Next, we will cover the trans build, the oil tank soldering. I need to order some fittings from McMaster Carr. I was looking for a 4-wheel-drive truck, but I would rather buy fittings from McMaster Carr and stay focused on the VL, XA, S&S FL build…

Wait, there’s more. Most of my shit stayed outside in crates last winter and there were some rust issues. We started a process of dealing with rush, including a Paughco oil bag. This was our first attempt as dealing with corrosion. We took a glass container, lined it with tinfoil and soaked some shafts. It did the trick in a couple of days. You’ll see more in the next report.

Hang on, still working on a name.

Atomic Dice

YOUR GIFT WILL BE DOUBLED TO HELP OUR HEROES THIS GIVING TUESDAY!

Tomorrow is the big day — it’s GivingTuesday, a global day of giving back! And we have a chance to make a lasting impact for our nation’s veterans, because all GivingTuesday donations to DAV are being MATCHED, up to $50,000!

But you don’t have to wait until tomorrow to show your support for fellow veterans! YOU can help us get a jump start on GivingTuesday by making a gift that goes TWICE as far today.

Your generous GivingTuesday gift will help fund the free, life-changing services veterans in need depend on each and every day. Thank you so much for all you do for your fellow veterans.

Get Your Gift in Early, click here https://www.dav.org/

About DAV: DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. Last year, the organization provided more than 163,000 rides to veterans attending medical appointments and assisted in filing over 151,000 claims for benefits. In 2021, DAV-represented veterans received more than $25 billion in earned benefits. DAV’s services are offered at no cost to all generations of veterans, their families and survivors.

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Bikernet.com suppports Freedom and encourages all motorcyclists to protect their rights and freedoms by our regular News services. Click to know more.

 

A Tale of Twisted Fates of Artisans

Deus Ex Machina was arguably the most popular and most impressive global brand for custom built motorcycles.

Deus Ex Machina was built upon the development and creation of custom motorcycles. A clothing line got added for those fans of the brand who found it more satisfactory to order a Deus tee-shirt. This motorbike brand is now a luxury apparel handling the biggest names in fashion, peddling dreams to people, nay, to the masses.

“Deus Ex Machina makes high-end motorcycles and loses money on each one” announced the newspapers.

“That’s why we make clothing,” said Deus founder and owner Dare Jennings in that news report. “Otherwise, we’d go broke.”

How could this be true? Why would one of the most successful and iconic custom motorcycle brand of the 21st century lose thousands of dollars on every bike they sell?

CLICK HERE To Read this Photo Feature Profile of Deus Ex Machina.

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Click to Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter from Bikernet Blog for free. Stay updated, stay ahead of the curve.

by Rogue
Comfort On Long Distance Bike Rides

Though my 2022 Harley Ultra Limited is a very comfortable motorcycle, past experience has taught me that being able to change my position from time to time is definitely important.

I have used this same set up for over 100,000 miles and it was an easy decision to put them on this motorcycle.

Stretch out for added comfort. This Adjustable Highway Peg Mounting Kit can be set for shorter riders, and it can be reversed to reach far forward for those with long legs.

• 5-inch angled peg mounting kit in gloss black finish

• Angled design allows the arm to reach back and around to clear fairing lowers

• Arm can be raised and lowered for a custom fit

• Mounting clamp firmly grips the engine guard, and the locking design secures the peg at the desired angle

Click Here to Read this Photo Feature and Tech only on Bikernet.com

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Go get yours and learn more by diving into history of chopper builds & related tech. Simply Click to Join Bandit’s Cantina !!!

Deus Ex Machina was built upon the development and creation of custom motorcycles. A clothing line got added for those fans of the brand who found it more satisfactory to order a Deus tee-shirt. This motorbike brand is now a luxury apparel handling the biggest names in fashion, peddling dreams to people, nay, to the masses.
‍

Timeline of all that kickstarts….

2006: Dare Jennings founded Deus Ex Machina with the money raised by selling his surfwear brand ‘Manbo’. Lifestyle and culture inspired the art & design.

Jennings and co-creator Carby Tuckwell (ex-Creative Director of Moondesign) began on an uncharted territory blazing a new trail, heading onto unknown tides. A new fashion identity that became popular worldwide.

Pen-peddling authors such as myself know the literary device called ‘Deus Ex Machina’. It is oft-used in desperation to break out of the corner one has written themselves into.

Thus, any unexpected power or event or ‘agent’ saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel is termed ‘Deus Ex Machina’.

Irony of the whole thing is, the founder/s of this brand themselves had driven themselves into a corner where no ‘device’ they could design would save their world of beautiful soulful art & craft.

A culture was now available with genuine label price tags around the globe. Fashion range of bikes and minimal clothing lines was expanded to include variations such as boardshorts, bike jackets, wetsuits and casual wear.

2010: ‘Bike Buildoff’ was launched after Dues was firmly established. It showcased non-professional motorcycle enthusiasts and their creations. Its fashion empire enrolled many more footfalls. The annual bike building challenge grew to involve many more locations with the competition increasing and increment in number of new store outlets.

2012: Deus Ex Machina comes to USA biting into the Big Apple. Its New York stay expands to LA, near famed Venice Beach.

2014: A store opens in Milan for promoting bicycles in ‘gear’ with De Marchi who are known as the world’s oldest cyclewear company. Another store props up in Tokyo with unique custom motorcycles and of course the clothing and many other collaborations.

2015: Custom cafe racers are offered, a fast-paced move that may lead to abrupt brakes on festivities. Form and function of the customized German BMW R100 marks a happy checkered flag in the press.

2016: ‘MA-1 Flight Jacket’, an original American Navy & Airforce bomber jacket drapes the canopy as Deus teams up with Alpha who had been making military jackets for over 50 years.

2017: In ten years, this shooting star, the fast moving, brightly burning, prodigious comet called Deus Ex Machina changes its leadership. Dare Jennings sold his stake in Deus. This tumultuous event is barely mentioned in business news, as if the hushed change of hands at Deus was indeed concealing a big deal.

Federico Minoli is revealed as CEO. A new ‘Zeus of the Deus Machina’ He has been chief of Italian motorcycle maker, Ducatti in the past, and also had been at the head of fashion houses Bally, Benetton and Woolrich, Minoli in his career.

2019: Deus is now in South Africa as well.

2021: Why not South America? Brazil store is size of a mansion, one of their largest flagship outlets to date. This Sao Paulo location is appropriately branded  ‘Mansion of Munificence.’ The floor space includes entertainment.

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WHAT COULD HAVE GONE WRONG

Even LA Times carried the news with the headline, in 2015, well before the exit of Dare Jennings.

“Deus Ex Machina makes high-end motorcycles and loses money on each one”

“That’s why we make clothing,” said Deus founder and owner Dare Jennings in that news report. “Otherwise, we’d go broke.”

Top-end Harley-Davidson motorcycles, without customization cost $40,000. Bikernet.com sponsor, the truly unique ARCH Motorcycle, had its very first bike priced at $78,000. They are more than cool, not dependent on brand-image for a sale. ARCH motorcycles are one-of-a-kind and their 2022 model-1s retails at $128,000.

Sometimes art can cost more than sweat and blood though. This was certainly true for the founders of Deus Ex Machina. Their customers didn’t sweat at the great deal they got, while all the time, they were bleeding the brand dry.

To give you their secret for losing money, they earned pennies per hour they spent building a magnificent custom motorcycle.

Yes! That much hated subject of minimum wage! Considering man-hours per dollar on every bike project.

INSPIRATION:

“The worst thing you can do is go to another country and do what they’re doing already, because they’ll laugh at you.” ~ Dare Jennings

“If you don’t take that risk then you’ll just end up with something that’s the same. Take the risk, you have to take the risk, and back yourself.” ~ Dare Jennings

READY REFERENCE:

When it began: in 2006 in Sydney, Australia

Founding members: Carby Tuckwell and Dare Jennings

(you grubby greasy bikers, refer: “LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, is a French holding multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods, headquartered in Paris.”)

Current boss: Federico Minoli, CEO

Company vision: Core values are inclusiveness, authenticity, enthusiasm

Staff strength: The estimated number of employees is 75

HQ: Company headquarters is located at 98-104 Parramatta Rd Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia

Products: Specializes in lifestlye products, custom motorcycles and clothing (mostly just clothing now)

Website: https://us.deuscustoms.com

It’s when you really enjoy your work that such great things materialize. If you get into something only to make money, it will lead to misery and degradation of your talents.