August 02, 2007 Part 1
By Bandit | | General Posts
Wind ’em up,
If you ain’t going to Sturgis, you ain’t shit. Trailers are for queens. Stock bikes suck. The Badlands is where it’s at.
Okay, so I’m not going to Sturgis and we just rented a Fun Mover to haul our sorry, yuppie asses to Bonneville. Yep, while brothers and sisters, all over the country blaze through 100 degree heat to find the coldest beer in the Badlands, we turn wrenches in the Bikernet Garage till midnight.
Hell, I’ll probably get kicked out of the Hamsters, for missing the annual meeting. I’ve called the Prez a couple of times to plead my case, but can’t reach him. Lotsa Hamsters are coming to Bonneville this year for Brian Klock’s wedding and of course racing on the flats.
I better cut the bullshit, finish the news and jump down the stairs into the shop before I’m in any more trouble.
BIKERNET WEEKLY PRODUCT RELEASE FROM RIVERA PRIMO–TITE-SPOT OIL PUMP FITTINGS–Easy to install & turn even in the tightest places atop your oil pump, Rivera Primo’s new”TIGHT-SPOT” oil fittings are now available.
These 90 degree fittings are designed so that a 5/16″ allen wrench is used to tighten or loosen the fitting. No more custom wrenches, scraped knuckles, damaged fitting edges or leakyoil pump fittings.
Featuring fully machined oil passages for low restriction oil flow, the “TIGHT-SPOT”oil fitting is precision machined from solid brass and brilliantly chromed for maximumvisual effect.
Fittings are sold individually or in pairs:
For these & other fine products contact:
Rivera Primo
12450 Whittier Blvd. Whittier, CA 90602
Tel: 800-872-1515
Tel: 562-907-2600 Fax: 562-907-2606
www.riveraengineering.com
CANADIAN BUILD-OFF WINNER– The frame, all the sheetmetal, handle bars, exhaust, coil cover are of his own design & fabrication, which he also happens to sell.
The guy with the cup is Georges Thomas, the designer-builder of the bike called Alien.
The airbrush was done by world renowned Fitto (
This creation also won Best Paint during this same event, an award made even more precious due to the fact that it was awarded by none other than Cyril Huze, the guest of honour for the event, and world renowned bike builder, based in Florida.
We should be getting professional grade pics shortly, once the photographers have cleaned up what they shot over the entire weekend.
–Patrick Dubois
THE NBC TODAY SHOW WILL FEATURED THE CHOPPER CHICKS CREW BUILDING A MOTORCYCLE LIVE AT ROCKEFELLER PLAZA JULY 21ST WITH ALL PROCEEDS BENEFITTING THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BROWARD COUNTY– Fort Lauderdale, Florida – (July 21st 2007) -On July 21st ,Saturday edition of the NBC Today Show, the “Chopper Chick Crew” built a motorcycle live in the heart of New York City at Rockefeller Center, right outside the NBC studios. The completed bike is being auctioned off until August 20th on Charity Folks
The bike kit was donated by Tucker Rocky Bikers Choice to the “Chopper Chick Crew”. The all women “Chopper Chick Crew” consists of Athena “Chickie” Ransom of Vagabond Chopper Co., who has been featured in national magazines such as V-Twin, Outlaw Bikers, American Iron, Crossroads and many others. Athena & Vagabond Chopper Company have also been featured on Speed TV Shows, “Corbin’s Ride On” and “American Thunder” .,
JoAnn Bortles of Crazy Horse Painting, an award winning painter whose work has been featured in magazines such as Easyriders, Ironworks, and American Iron; Jayme Gray from Pussycat Choppers, an avid motorcyclist with a degree from MMI and extensive V-Twin experience; Katie Putnam from Mitch Bergeron’s an another MMI degree graduate with tons of mechanic experience; Vivian “Gypsy” Charros from Highway Custom & Discovery Channels 1st women builder on Bikers Build-off and Kate O’Shea another MMI graduate.
“We are very excited to be building this bike in Rockefeller and have it auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. “I believe that the Chopper Chick Crew as a whole has the opportunity to show the public that women have broken away from traditional roles. We are very proud of the work that we do and that will be evident in the finished bike.” Said Athena Ransom of Vagabond Chopper.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County is located at 877 NW 61st Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. For more information please call (954) 537-1010 or view the website at
For more information please view the auction website at
BIKERNET JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK–Inner Primary Cover Bearing and Seal Installer/Remover Tool from JIMS.Designed to safely remove and install the inner primary bearing, (H.D.No.9135) without any damage to the new bearing. This is done by pushing onthe outer perimeter of the bearing. Also removes and installs inner primaryseal, (H.D. No.12052A). This is the bearing and seal that the transmissionmainshaft passes through.
Use on Late 1984-2006 FXST,
1985-2006 FL,
1985-2006 FXR, FXD.
No.967 MSRP. $141.45
IRON HORSE TRIKES COMES ON BOARD WITH BIKERNET–Have you ever ridden a trike like this that can split the wind all day long a 250 mph. These things are incredible and Don Center has built them for over 20 years. Iron Horse Trikes is now a Bikernet sponsor and we will bring you reports on his builds and products over the years to come.
This product is all American and as powerful as a locomotive. If you know a friend who can’t ride anymore or wants to be in the wind and can’t ride a chopper, these are a serious option. Watch for more coverage in the near future.
GLENN PRIDDLE’S AUSTRALIAN CHOPPER– Do you have a better pictures of the bike that’s in the picture on the main page of the Bikernet webpage today? I’m building a similar swing arm frame set up and want to see how the fender is mounted. You don’t see many of these.
–LtCol Daniel “CRUSHER” Lathrop
MCBH AC/S G-3, Operations and Training
Nipr: daniel.lathrop@usmc.mil
Sipr: lathropdt@mcbh.usmc.smil.mil
CHRIS KALLAS ART COMES ALIVE ON BIKERNET–The guy I drew the art for came by with the finished bike the other day.
I told him we could probably do a follow up story on the site,I could schedule to take some pictures with better background, shoot it and write it if you like.
The bike originally was to be built by Larry Settle, but it went thru several shops/false starts to get done.That’s a 250 tire front and back.I’ve included the drawing so you wouldn’t have to look for it to compare to finished product.
–CGK
EXERCISE FOR OLDER ADULTS–This really works……..
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as longas you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. Each day, you’ll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato sacks. Then try 50-lb potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I’m at this level).
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.
–from Art Friedman
ASSALT WEAPAN CONCERNS FROM BIKERNET READER–Just thinking of Valerie’s safety here, but unless she has something to push against, she is going to be flying above the bike and just holding on with her hands.
Engineering tech in airborne weapons with Department of Defense.
–Richard
refry@3rivers.net
No sweat. We’ll either handcuff her to the bars or use tie-wraps.–Bandit
ACCURATE ENGINEERING QUESTION OF THE WEEK–What is the quality of the components used?Many manufacturers will use cheaper, foreign-made components in the production of their engines to keep the retail price low and their profit margin high. Good for them. Not good for you. The parts that are bought from Taiwan and other foreign markets are cheaper for a reason. Many times, they’re made from substandard materials and are not held to the tight tolerances and specifications necessary to withstand high pressures and torque requirements. The old saying that “you get what you pay for” is an old saying for a reason. It’s true! Low cost means low quality.
The performance, durability, reliability and longevity of your engine depends on the quality of the components. Accurate Engineering uses only the highest quality parts from major engine components to the smallest bolts…and they’re all made in the USA to our high standards and tolerance specifications. If we can’t buy a component that meets our standards, we make it in house or have it specially manufactured for us. We even “rework” new components in our machine shop to improve oiling or correct tolerances or geometry. This way, we blend the original Panhead design with todays technology. Backed by decades of knowledge, Accurate Engineering’s attention to detail, the latest in performance products and top of the line components are all that go into an Accurate engine. There can be no compromise.
Call and ask for our sales department today at 334-702-1993
HARLEY-DAVIDSON QUESTION OF THE WEEK–A couple of weeks ago a reader asked where the Deuce name came from. We quizzed the factory for answers. Here’s what surfaced:
From Paul James: As I recall, the Deuce was the replacement for the SoftailCustom, or next gen Softail Custom, therefore II or Deuce.
GIRLS OF BIKENET STRUTTING IN STURGIS–Get your picture taken with The Girls of Bikernet during the Sturgis rally at the Brass Balls Bobbers and Choppers Transporter located at 955 Lazelle, down the street from the Broke Spoke Saloon.
After you get your picture with the babes checkout the old skool kool Bobbers that have graced the pages of IronWorks, V-Twin, Barnett’s and more. Master Builder Sam Wills and Master Designer Dar Holdsworth will be on hand to give you a walk through on these exciting motorcycles.
But wait, there’s more! Enter to win a free set of D&D high-performance exhaust pipes for your Harley-Davidson motorcycle. All you have to do to win is to fill out the form in Sturgis. The winner will be selected at the end of Sturgis.
BANDITOS AND HELLS ANGELS KICK UP THE DUST IN ARKANSAS–Rumor from the front just before Sturgis that these two clubs battled and two members were killed. We’ll bring you more in the near future.
LONE STAR CHOPPER HEADING TO STURGIS–This is what I am taking to Sturgis, 31-day build so far. Just a few more details, but now I can sleep.
–Larry Curik
BRASS BALLS BIKE OF THE MONTH–“Bike of The Month” for June, was built for Grant Tonkin. He designed this cool unique bike on our web site then contacted us cover the details. It features the 80″ H-D Evo motor, custom pipes, a 6-speed tranny, drag bars, chrome Hawg Halters (brakes) and a 180 rear tire. Grant designed the paint scheme. Thanks Grant for allowing us to create this bike for you.
Grant chose a modern headlight for his ride. Notice also the chrome Hawg Halters brakes. He also chose our engine “hop-up” kit and added a set of our hand built, race tuned, and ceramic coated step pipes. This bike runs and sounds great.
Grant went with our smooth Tauer belt primary and 6 speed transmission to turn that 180 rubber. He also opted for a diamond tag bracket. I think Grant would say it was worth it.
Want one…? 405-285-0808 x208 or go online and start your own build. BrassBallsBobbers.comEmail: evolve@DarwinMotorcycles.com
Continued On Page 2
Junkyard Dog
By Bandit | | General Posts
For some Americans these are the best of times, and for others just keeping afloat is a daily challenge. For many of us working stiffs the lack of funds was the biggest hurdle to owning our own scoot. Too often we hear good bros say they bought brand X,Y or Z because they just couldn’t make the price tag attached to a sharp chunk of American iron. It just doesn’t have to be that way. The lack of big bucks is not an obstacle to a classy ride. It’s a defeatist attitude. Any man can put together a tough ride on a budget, one piece at a time.
We sat down with our local trash to treasure expert, Tim, a “scrapper,” who owns Negotiable Parts Inc. He buys and sells parts every day. We asked him to tell you, the readers, all about the junk parts biz.
—Kit Maira
Everybody buys used parts. One of the first major bike builders I traded with was Jesse James. He called me about some belt drives and it started as a trading thing, not a money thing. He had a lot of parts in the back room, stuff that he took off of other bikes to put his parts on, or stuff that they were experimenting on, prototype stuff, and it was just a cool thing. At the time he was coming up and getting real famous. I would take my son Tim over, and it was like Christmas, with toys, prototype stuff like the bicycle, he would trade us, all kinds of stuff, and I would take it to the swap meets. I gave him a really nice Panhead once, original, and it sits in his showroom now. Over the last ten years I’ve given him half a dozen bikes.
Billy Dodge introduced me to Eddie Trotta in Daytona Beach. I started going to Ft. Lauderdale to clean out his back yard. The last time I was out there, there must have been fifty sets or more of Big Dog pipes. He would put his pipes and other parts on the bikes for the customers, and throw the other parts in the back room. There was a treasure trove of Bourget stuff, that you could only get with a Bourget bike, all kinds of high dollar scrap, I call it, but if you went to buy it, it would be big money. I’d take it straight to Daytona and sell it at a swap meet.
I have dealt with Chica for years, selling him cool stuff, and he now calls me to come pick stuff up. The trading thing seems to work better for everybody. They have parts they don’t use and don’t have time to sell, and that’s what I do. I get them what they want and trade ‘em.
A lot of the manufacturers have new models, and they aren’t building the old ones, so they end up with excess inventory from the old bikes. We buy it for 20 percent of what they paid and sell it for fifty percent. A lot of it is new stuff, or might have a small scratch on it. They accumulate big piles, so they call in two or three of us scrappers and we bid on them. It is a big write-off for them. When we resell it, the customer is saving at least fifty percent.
This is where choppers came from in the beginning. Riders didn’t have money, so they would cut, weld and grind, did whatever they could to make anything work. They didn’t just walk into a custom bike shop and buy a part. For guys, who rode all the time, it was a way of life thing. They still do it today, people come here because they can dig and find what they need, and even if it is not the correct part, they take it and make it work. If they can pay $20 here instead of paying a hundred or two hundred for a new part, why wouldn’t they?
I have plenty of customers who don’t have money. They can’t afford to buy the part and have someone else put it on. A lot of guys who come to me, are broke, but they really need this part. So I’ll tell them, what do you have in your garage? Let’s trade.
That is how it started with Billy Lane, trading with him. The first time he came into my place in Daytona he asked me how much I wanted for a springer front end. Instead of telling him a price, I asked him what he had to trade. One time I was down there, there were twenty people in his front room waiting to get an autograph. I had my big truck full of parts and Jen the secretary asked me to pull my truck out back. Next thing I know Billy is in my truck digging, while all these people are in his shop waiting to see him.
Parts are an important thing to these guys, who are building stuff, Chica, Billy, Bandit, even Jesse. I have traded with them a lot, Knucklehead, Panhead, old hard to find stuff.
“There are a lot of guys like me buying up old parts and selling them. Paul Bethell up in Fresno has tons of stuff for newer bikes like Big Dogs and Indians. He also has a lot of old stuff, but he doesn’t sell the old parts. I probably sold him a hundred motors in the last ten years, but if you ask him if he has a Panhead motor he’ll tell you ‘No.’ But you can buy a brand new chopper, he built from parts he bought from Indian and Panzer and other companies that went out of business. He regularly buys companies that go belly up, which is what I try to do too, but he does it on a bigger scale than me.
There are many people like us around the country, Bud’s in Texas, Moon’s Cycle Repair in the Midwest, Billy Shotgun in Ohio, Joe Lupo in Daytona and Milwaukee, and others.
“Parts trading on eBay auctions is definitely the happening thing, it is taking over the whole swap meet scene. There are other ones too, like Craig’s List, George’s Antique Motorcycle Trader… people buy and sell parts on these lists every day. Also, swap meet forums like www.choppersandpunkrock.com, are filled with old builder dudes that have been around for years, like Irish Rich, Fabricator Kevin, Chopper Dave, they all go on there.
You have to fill out an application to be accepted. People from all over the world go on that site. It has a tech board as well as the board for exchanging parts. There are a lot of people there who have been around for a long time. It is a good place to get advice.
Buying and selling at swap meets is still a good way to go, but sometimes, for the vendor it has been hard to even cover the vendor spot costs, and I think the Internet has a lot to do with it. I don’t know how many times I have heard, “Why should I pay $100 when I can buy it on eBay for $50?” One day I heard some guys say that they couldn’t believe that swap meets were still happening now that there is eBay, and it clicked with me, now I am selling parts on eBay. The buyer can sometimes end up with real bargains buying on auctions. If the item is listed with no reserve and you bid $10, and nobody else bids on it, you own it.
Still there are cool swap meets all over, in California, Arizona, Denver has a big one every year, Chicago, New York, Daytona, they are all over the country. Not everything is a bargain, though. At a lot of the vintage swap meets same guys set up, year-after-year, with the same parts priced high. It is almost as if they go to show off their parts. I guess it’s just like fishing. They are waiting until the right guy comes along with the big candy. When the dealerships show up at the meets blowing off stuff like crazy, it’s always cool to see them blowing out the late model stuff.
With eBay, instead of going to a swap meet and dealing with a few thousand people, you are dealing with millions of people all over the world. It’s a beautiful thing. We seem to be doing OK and are steadily selling stuff. I used to buy piles of parts at the swap meet, and turn around and sell them at the shop. Now I call my eBay guy, he takes pictures and that afternoon we have them on eBay.
“Of course there is still an advantage to being able to handle and look at a part at the swap meet, where on eBay you look at a picture so you have to rely on the reputation of the seller. Another thing you have to consider si shipping costs! A lot of people charge a lot for shipping and handling. Sometimes that charge might be more than the cost of the part. You also have to be careful, I have heard of some people getting ripped off. A friend just transferred $20,000 into someone’s account for an ’03 Fatboy and now the guy has disappeared. To protect yourself Paypal is supposed to guarantee a safe transaction. Most of it is legitimate; we do a straight up thing and get positive feedback every day.
One important thing for buyers to consider, whether buying on the Internet or the swap meet, you need to know what fits what. There are swap meet guys out there who don’t know, they’ll respond with, “What kind of bike you got…Softail? Yeah that’ll fit.” That’s the guy who doesn’t pass out the business cards. The customer really has to know what they are buying. When you can, bring your broken part with you so you can match it up.
The Internet is the way to go for me. Instead of loading ten tons of parts and dragging them to the swap meet, I pick the parts, the mailman picks them up and I don’t have to kill myself loading the big truck all the time. “Still, I don’t think that swap meets will ever go away. I like to go to them just to deal with people straight one-on-one. It’s a good place to buy, and it’s also a social thing. I do the swap meets when I need to make some money to pay my rent. I don’t buy too much anymore. I go to sell.
Tim is the owner of Negotiable Parts, 3651 Oakley Ave Riverside, California. The phone number is 951-683-4304. He also runs an eBay store at stores.ebay.com/califswapmeet
July 26, 2007 Part 4
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued On Page 3
STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM ANNOUNCES 67th RALLY SCHEDULE– July 2006 – – The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame 2007 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally schedule of events:Thursday 2 August – Saturday 11 AugustMuseum Rally Hours – 8:00 am until 8:00 pm
Saturday 28 July – TBD September
Special Rally Exhibit – The Glass Ride – full scale glass sculptor replica of a “chopper” motorcycle with kiln cast and blown glass components by artist Joe Stanaway (www.joestanaway.com)
Monday 6 August
Jeff & Miriam Aranson Book Signing – 1:00 pm until 3:00 pmCrumbGobbler Press authors Jeff and Miriam Aranson will be signing copies of their books “Little Mike and Maddie’s First Motorcycle Ride” and the hot-off-the-press “Little Mike and Maddie’s Black Hills Adventure”. (www.crumbgobblerpress.com)
Wednesday 8 August
Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast9:00 until 11:00 am – Holiday Inn, Spearfish (exit 14)2007 Hall of Fame Inductees – Chris Carr, Bob Illingworth, Kaptain Robbie Knievel, Linda Peavy, Oliver Shokouh, and Jay Al Nelson who will be receiving the J.C. “Pappy” Hoel Outstanding Achievement Award2007 Freedom Fighter Hall of Fame Inductee – Gary N. Sellers
Thursday 9 August
Marian Hersrud Book Signing – 1:00 until 3:00 pmSturgis’ own Marian Hersrud will be on hand to sign her new book, Spirits and Black Leather, the sequel to her first hit Sweet Thunder, about a rally and a town not too unlike Sturgis.Both books will be available for purchase.
Saturday 11 August
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Raffle Drawing – 2:00 pmWill you be one the winner of the one-of-a kind Henry 44-40 commemorative rifle?
Museum admission is $5.00 per person, $4.00 for persons 65 and older, children 12 and under are admitted free of charge (must be accompanied by a paying adult).For further information on the Museum or the Rally visit our web site at –Marcia F. Dunsmore BUELL HIGHLIGHT– Go to –Pablo ARE YOU LEGAL IN DENVER? FIND OUT THIS WEEKEND–Can you pass the new, extremely strict noise laws in Denver? Come find out this Saturday Morning at the Colorado Tire & Service Center at Colfax & Chambers. We’ll be bringing you the show LIVE and we’ll be testing pipes. Can you pass? We don’t think so, as this new law makes most bikes in Denver illegal. Read the documents below then call in during the show at this number 1-888-551-WIND. __Read Warren’s Fullers opinion and watch his videos at www.choppersrule.com __Denver Council Bill No. 242 – Page 1, Page 2 USA Biker Nation BIKER BEAUTIES DESCEND ON THE BLACK HILLS–Livia Crisan’s Bikini Dream Team and Biker Beauties Magazine will be all over the Thunder Road complex this year working with Metzler Tire, Sherwin Williams and Sturgis Bike Week Productions. During the day the 7 lovely ladies from Biker Beauties will be signing their brand new 16-month 2008 Calendars and shooting photos with those in attendance at the ‘dome’. In the evening you’ll find them working the Beer Tubs at Rockin’ The Rally. Check out Jaime Nicole, Julie, Livia, and Pamela below who will be at Thunder Road all week long. You’ll be able to pick up the August Issue of Biker Beauties Magazine inside the Thunderdome from Livia as she will be signing the cover featuring Livia and Billy Lane of Choppers Inc. You’ll also be able to pick up a copy at the Builders Breakfast on Tuesday morning at the Broken Spoke. Billy Lane will be signing the magazines there along with Livia and you may also be able to get autographs from Chica, Paul Cox, and Russ Mitchell who are also in the August Issue. If you’re friends back home can’t make the trip to Sturgis tell them to check out BikerBeauties.com during Bike Week and look for the Live Webcam from the Thunderdome. Barring any technical difficulties Livia will have a live webcam in her booth all week so you’re friends back home can see you getting your photo with her and the Bikini Dream Team. You never know who you’ll see on our webcam? check it out on Wednesday and you might catch Chica as he makes a brief appearance in the Biker Beauties booth to sign some t-shirts and magazines. We’ll have a very limited edition poster available at Sturgis too. A very small number were printed especially for signing at the Thunderdome they are sure to be gone fast. We’ve seen a lot of posters at Sturgis but this one featuring Mt. Rushmore as a backdrop is one you definitely want to get for your wall to remember your trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. You can get them autographed by the model from 10a – 6p each day inside the Thunderdome while supplies last. The 2008 Biker Beauties Calendar is a 13 ? x 11 calendar (when closed) featuring bikes from APC Motorcycles, Vicious Cycles, Independent Cycles East, Winebrenners, CTM Customs, 301 Cycle, C&C Cycle, Colonial Harley-Davidson, Lucky Cycles, Charm City Choppers, and Freebyrd Custom Motorcycles. Only 5,000 printed and only 3,000 are coming out to Sturgis. The calendar starts in Sept. 07 so you’ll be able to hang it in your garage or shop as soon as you get home. Available for $20 and when they are sold out we will NOT be ordering more.Thunder Road is also where you’ll find Kim Suter of KC Creations, Eddie Trotta and Russ Mitchell of Exile Cycles. They’ll be there all week as well as Michael Lichter’s New World Chopper Exhibit. You can meet THE NEW MISS STURGIS 2007, NICHOLE GOLINVAUX. NEW SMOOTH HORN COVER FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–MILWAUKEE (June 29, 2007) – The new Smooth Horn Cover (P/N 68189-07, $34.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories is styled to complement the Smooth Air Cleaner Cover (P/N 29153-07, $39.95). This compact round horn cover features a mirror-chrome finish, and mounts easily to the stock horn cover bracket. It fits 1993-later models with a side-mounted horn. For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada. THERE’S THE PRE-STURGIS WRAP–All the good news and a handful of bullshit. Whatta ya want from me? Okay, here’s the bits I need to accomplish before the powder pours in. I need to install the Baker 1 in 5 drum in the 5-speed trans, so neutral will be at the bottom of the shifting curve. It’s cool for jockey-shift guys and you’ll see the tech on Bikernet. Next, I spoke to Larry from the Chop N Grind racing team and complained that I ordered 520 chains for less drag, and when the stuff arrived I freaked. The sprockets were dinky, narrow bastards and the chain wouldn’t fit over my Baker tranny sprocket. “I’ve got the secret,” Larry said lowering his voice. “Listen carefully. I’m only going to tell you once, and don’t tell anyone, anytime or anywhere.” Then the phone went dead. He ultimately told me to narrow my tranny sprocket on a lathe with a carbide bit. I’ll show you the operation. More parts arrived from Harley-Davidson today and maybe I can start to fumble with the front fender notion. I’ll show you soon. We have a fastener sponsor, Derek and DMP fasteners. My wish list arrived today and we’re ready for final assembly. So here’s what’s coming to Bikernet.com over the next week. The Chica feature is completed and will hit the site, perhaps tonight. We have a helmet citation complaint piece, another Todd travel adventure, Fiction I need to wade through looking for a gem, Coast to Coast Legislative update and another hot Krugger bike feature from Europe. The girl will singe your hair. Hang on. Oh shit, I almost forgot. I have a feature on racing history in the Badlands with historic shots from the Sturgis Museum. Ride Forever, –Bandit
Interim Executive Director, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
605.347.2001
999 Main Street, Sturgis, SD 57785
fax 605.720.0632
Phone: (303) 713-8178, (303) 713-8179
Denver, CO 80229
July 26, 2007 Part 3
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 2
BIKERNET PHOTO-ART EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK–Park it – let’s go have a Jack.
Live it up, GRAND NATIONAL BIKE SHOW COMING– Horse Power Promotions season finale is the Grand National Bike Show Oct.13th and 14th at the Cow Palace in San Francisco CA. This annual show draws the best bike builders from all over the west. Dozens of them will be show casing their latest creations. Last year the 80,000 square foot show sold out and it has been enlarged to 130,000sq feet to meet the demand of the enlarged motorcycle market place. The show will feature everything 2 wheeled and all the add-on bling that goes with them. This year’s tour has been one hit after another. Mays’ Motorcycle Madness had a record attendance. Hollister’s 60th anniversary reported increased sales and had the largest crowd by far, enjoying more vendors and entertainment than ever before. These shows have helped to fuel the fire for this years Grand National Bike Show. This year’s projected attendance is 14,000-16,000. The Grand National is filled with non-stop entertainment. Music, Fashion Shows and Motorcycle racing are just some of the highlights of this years show. Everyone that attends the Grand National Bike Show will get a chance to win the BMC Hooligan Chopper to be given away on Sunday Oct. 14th. For more information visit www.horsepowerpromotions.com ISR SPROCKET BRAKES FROM LA CHOPRODS–These Swedish designed, race-bred sprocket brakes have several advantages and options over other units. ISR systems from LA Choprods are available for left or right side drives, 2-piston or 6-piston calipers are available (for the guy who doesn’t want to run a front brake) and 46 or 48 tooth sprockets are in stock. They are specifically designed to allow more spacing between the calipers and rotors for a wider fastener variety. The holes in the Swedish steel rotors are 7/16-diameter, and the calipers are billet aluminum. LA Choprods has a complete line of matching brakes and ISR billet Swedish controls. Gard Hollinger URGENT CALL TO POLITICAL ACTION–The Motorcycle Riders Foundation issues urgent call to action.US House of Representatives passes transportation appropriations bill (HR3074) by a vote of 268-153, with no restrictions on any motorcycle fundingthe Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports. The US House passed the much needed transportation, housing and relatedagencies funding bill late Tuesday night without provisions eliminatingfunding for what is known as the Section 2010 motorcycle safety funds. The day before debate began on this bill it became known to the MRF thatRepresentative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) was going to propose an amendmentthat would have zeroed the funding for fiscal year 08 on the motor cyclesafety grants. The same grants that were welcomed by 44 states in fiscalyear 07. This amendment would have saved the taxpayers a paltry sixmillion dollars. After hearing from hundreds of motorcyclists, some intense politicaladvice, and a healthy amount of careful consideration Mr. Hensarlingdecided not to introduce the amendment. Hensarling was faced with thechoice of potentially saving a few thousand lives or saving the taxpayersa few dollars. In the MRF’s view he made the correct choice. The section 2010 motorcycle safety specific funds that the MRF and itssupporting organizations worked so hard to have included in the lasthighway bill (PL 109-59) remain intact and the popular grant programcontinues to be a success. To put things in fiscal perspective, the motorcycle safety grant programaccounts for about one half of one one thousandth of this entire spendingpackage. “In other words, the motorcyclists are asking for chump changein the grand scheme of this legislation” Said Jeff Hennie, MRF vicepresident of government relations. “What a great example of how motorcyclists get things done in WashingtonDC” Hennie continued. “Every motorcyclist who phoned in to their federalrepresentative earned and deserves the freedoms that we all enjoy”. The $104.4 billion dollar spending measure is now slated to be debated inthe Senate, where no anti motorcyclists provisions are expected, and thenon to the White House for final signature under a potential veto threat.The MRF thanks all of its members and supporters and will continue to keepyou up to speed on all happenings in your nation’s capitol of WashingtonDC. As for the remainder of Mr. Hensarling’s proposed amendments? They allfailed on the House floor. Maybe there is hope for wisdom in Washingtonafter all.
Whiplash Biker Photog
LA County Choprods
(310) 353-2467 Tel
(310) 768-4100 Fax
mailto:lacountychoprods@sbcglobal.net
DUANE BALLARD HELPS KIDS AND CHROME– So you about ready with a seat pan for the Bonneville bike? Here is the seat for the Kids and Chrome charity bike built by NYCC.
Duane Ballard Custom Leather
603-781-7505
36 Goen Rd.
New Ipswich, NH 03071
COOLER SCOOTER SPONSORS 5-BALL RACING FOR BONNEVILLE–They’re a life-saver on the salt. Besides while Valerie is racing the Assalt Weapan, I can race Roger Goldammer on my cooler.
ANOTHER NOISE ISSUE–Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.
A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.
The complaint: “Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a. m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated.”
The response:
Regarding “A wake-up call from Luke’s jets” (Letters, Thursday): On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a. m., a perfectly timed four-ship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques. Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.
Based on the letter writer’s recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I’m sure you didn’t hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and Parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son’s flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.
A four-ship Flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their Lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, “Whom do we thank for the morning air show?” The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and Parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus CO 63rd Fighter Squadron Luke AFB
–from Chris T.
DEPARTURE BIKE WORKS TURNS 35 IN OCTOBER–Departure Bike Works in Richmond, VA is working up to their 35th celebration. If you want to witness a true blue traditional custom shop that offers everything in the book from engine work, to drag racing, service, parts, chrome exchange, bad jokes, good people and one-off custom work, go to Richmond. You’ll keep coming back.
We’re about to feature the bike above and publish an article on the shop history to commemorate a lifetime of working on custom bikes by Lee Clemens and his wife, the ruler of all, Brenda.
COOLBETH WINS SECOND CONSECUTIVE AMA FLAT TRACK EVENT BY EARNING WIN IN GREENVILLE–GREENVILLE, Ohio (July 24, 2007) – Kenny Coolbeth has officially started a winning streak of his own. The rider of the factory-sponsored Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson won the sixth round of the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track series, taking the top spot on the podium at Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville. That makes three wins for Coolbeth this season, but his second on consecutive weekends. Coolbeth won the season opener at Springfield, Ill., along with the event in Saluda, Va., last weekend.
MASTER OLD SKOOL ARTIST WEBSITE BACK ON LINE–Just a note to say my old Armageddon Top fuel site has been added to my new website. It’s a great resource for folks who are interested in all the stuff for sale. Go to –Tim AMA FIGHTS MOTORCYCLE DISCRIMINATION–With five minutes of your time, you can help the AMA get legislation passed in Congress that will end health insurance discrimination against motorcyclists. The AMA is working to get HR 1076 passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would close a loophole that allows denial of health insurance benefits to people injured in a motorcycle crash, or other excluded activities, such as skiing or horseback riding. (A similar bill has also been introduced in the US Senate). If you’re not familiar with this issue, which can have devastating financial impact on motorcyclists and their families, read the article that appeared in the May 2007 issue of American Motorcyclist magazine. Look at the list below of members of Congress who have agreed to support HR 1076 by co-sponsoring this important legislation. Then, go to the AMA Rapid Response Center and do one of two things: If your representative is on the list, send him or her a thank-you message or, if your representative is not on the list, send him or her a message asking for support for this bill. The AMA Rapid Response Center makes it easy by providing a pre-written message that you can edit, if you want, and sign and send immediately. If you’re not sure who is your representative in Congress, the AMA Rapid Response Center makes it easy to find out. Just enter your ZIP code or home state. SO MUCH TO DO IN THE BLACK HILLS DURING THE RALLY–One of the things that I look forward to when at the Sturgis Rally is morning rides and one of them is to have breakfast at the Nemo Fire Department. Plenty of Good Food -Cheap. Grab yourself a map and plan it as one of your stops. There are many places out side the big cities that have events and welcome BIKERS so get out and explore the countryside you will be glad you did. –from Rogue BANDIT’S CANTINA DINNER MENU THURSDAY SPECIAL–The newly married Biker came to the cantina from work to find his bride stretched languorously on a Cantina table, dressed in only a sheer negligee. “Guess what I have planned for dinner tonight?” she asked seductively, then quickly added, “and you’d better not tell me you had it for lunch!” –from Rogue BANDIT’S CANTINA COMPETITION–Introducing$5.00 Lunch Days! Golden Eagle Deli Your Choice Meals 5.00 Each. Breaded Pork Chop-Breaded Chicken Cutlet-Meatloaf W/mushroom Gravy-Chicken Breast in Dill Sauce-Beef Stew-Stewed pork Filet in Hungarian Sauce-Breaded Pork Chop Stuffed W/mushroom-Roast Half-Chicken- (served with mashed potato and 1 side) What the fuck? Who sent this to Bikernet.com?–Bandit METRIC THUNDER IS ON THE MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION IN ORANGE, CA–MetricThunder.com Moves to New Facility to Support GrowthOrange, CA – July 26, 2007 – Metric Thunder, one of the nation’s leading motorcycle accessories and parts sellers worldwide, announced today the relocation of its new showroom and headquarters. The company has moved to 307 W. Taft Suite A, Orange, CA 92865. “We are very excited about our new showroom and warehouse facilities,” said Bob Osias, founder of Metric Thunder. “The decision to pull the trigger was clearly customer driven. Over the past 4 years, feedback from our local customers indicated that they wanted a larger showroom, better parking and an easier to find location. The new building warehouse will also improve and streamline operations for our online customers.” Metric Thunder, founded in June of 2003, offers an extensive line of Harley and Metric motorcycle cruiser parts and accessories from all major manufacturers at very competitive prices. The new retail showroom is located at 307 W. Taft Suite A in Orange, California. Enthusiasts can also purchase online at www.metricthunder.com. Customer satisfaction is Metric Thunder?s guarantee along with superior service with quick turnaround time even on hard to find items. For more information about Metric Thunder and Thunder Radio/Video, BIKERNET RADIO contact Bob Osias at (714) 744-8900 or by e-mail at Bob@metricthunder.com sales@metricthunder.com. MAPS AVAILABLE FOR STURGIS– Do you lose quite a bit of time when you are in Sturgis asking for directions? Want to know where the hot spots are? Do you want to know where the whorehouses are? Do you…? Do you want to know where certain vendors are, custom builders, music, roadhouses, eats, and etc. Do you want to get the biggest bang for your visit? To get the most of a motorcycles event, you need a map and a plan. But not any map. A rally map conceived specifically for bikers to help them uncover what they want to see and experience. A company called Biker InCite has produced over 2 million Motorcycle Vendor and Event Maps for Daytona, Myrtle Beach, Laconia and Sturgis. Each map contains ride information, vendors and events listings, and a list of “Top Ten Things to Do”. These maps are free on site, but if you need to guarantee your copy and preplan your visit, download your 2007 Sturgis Mini Map on www.bikercityguide.com. Continued On Page 4
452 Lanza Ave. Garfield New Jersey 07026
973-546-2040
Can’t Resist Treats
Blueberry Blintzes:$1.50 (each) Blueberry,Apple,Cheese, Strawberry & Cheese-Egg Roll W/meat-Egg roll W.kraut 
July 26, 2007 Part 2
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 1
THE GLASS RIDE OPENS AT THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME–July 29, 2007 – – A year in the making, direct from Edinburgh, Scotland, glass artist Joe Stanaway’s The Glass Ride exhibit will open to the public at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 29th at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame located at 999 Main Street in Sturgis, South Dakota. The Glass Ride is a full scale glass sculptor replica of a “chopper” motorcycle with kiln cast and blown glass components.
Artist Joe Stanaway, a Helena, Montana native, has just completed his Masters in glass and architecture glass design from the Edinburgh College of Art, where he unveiled The Glass Ride in December, 2006. Joe says of his work and himself “I find it easy to be drawn into the look of custom motorcycles. They are very much like glass; the extraordinary use of sculpted chrome polished to a mirror finish, the heavy clear coating over a beautiful buffed petrol tank giving it a transparent glass -like quality. In life we have a tendency to feel better in groups. The group I ran with chose to express themselves on iron horses; I was the black sheep that chose the road of hot glass.” Joe will follow that road of hot glass to Dillon, Montana where he has accepted a professorship in the Glass Department at the University of Montana Western.
The Glass Ride will be on exhibit through the month of August and into September with a closing date that has yet to be determined. The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is open to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, with special Rally hours of 8:00 am to 8:00 pm beginning July 30th and continuing through August 12th. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 65+ and free for children 12 and under. The museum will be closed August 13th and 14th.
Further information about the artist is available at –Marcia F. Dunsmore WILD EXHAUST TIPS FROM CRIME SCENE–Joe here from Crime Scene. I have some new exhaust tips I’m hoping you can squeeze into the news. I’d also like to start running banner ads on your site again. The exhaust tips are called “Mordor tips”, they fit 1.75″ pipes and are handmade in steel, triple chrome plated. $89 each. I made up a prototype set for my shop beater, and several folks commented that they looked like something out of Mordor – from Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”?and the name stuck. They certainly look the part. –Joe McGlynn MORE ETHANOL COMING– The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has expressed concern about unanticipated consequences of proposals that might allow gas stations to increase the level of ethanol in the fuel they sell. Currently, pump gasoline in the United States can contain up to 10 percent ethanol, which is used to increase octane, reduce carbon monoxide emissions and provide an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. But now, the state of Minnesota is seeking permission from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the sale of fuel that includes 20 percent ethanol. And that has led to concerns about the effects on motorcycle engines, which manufacturers say are only certified to run on fuels containing the current 10 percent blend. The difference could be significant, since burning ethanol creates more heat than conventional gasoline, which has the potential to damage air-cooled motorcycle engines. In addition, fuel systems on bikes may be susceptible to corrosive effects of higher concentrations of ethanol in gas. And while ethanol helps reduce carbon monoxide levels in engine exhaust, it can also increase the levels of oxides of nitrogen, one of the components of smog. The proposal currently under consideration comes from Minnesota, but the AMA notes that an EPA waiver would open the door to the sale of 20 percent ethanol blends across the country, without any evaluation of the long-term consequences. With the limited number of choices at gas stations, that could force out existing blends and leave some riders without a suitable fuel choice for their vehicles. The AMA is a member of AllSAFE, the Alliance for a Safe Alternative Fuels Environment, a group formed to ensure that new bio-based fuels such as ethanol are promoted in a thoughtful manner. AllSAFE is made up of associations that represent consumer and commercial users of ethanol blends, manufacturers of boats, vehicles, engines and equipment, and retailers who sell gasoline and ethanol-fuel blends. BIKERNET.COM TOPS 1 MILLION. PRESS RELEASE FROM BOB CLARK– Los Angeles, California: The 11 year old web site founded by K. Randall Ball recently hit their highest readership numbers to date. According to Ball, that number, over 335,000 reader visits, translates to around 650,000 viewers, 1.1 million impressions and 10 million hits. The average reader stay in the vast, ever-changing archives is 7 minutes a visit. “We’re very proud to hit those numbers,” Ball said. Bikernet changes daily with the addition of bike features, tech articles, fiction, event coverage, bad jokes, ride reports, road tests, radio interviews, Bikernet Television and the news covering everything that moves in the industry twice a week. “That’s in the free section,” Ball said. Over 80 percent of the site is absolutely free, but there is a special section called Bandit’s Cantina housing complete books by K.Randall Ball. The Cantina archives exclusive antique features, wild motorcycle historic discoveries, The Girls of Bikernet, Sunday News, Games and much more. The Cantina even has its own soap opera updated monthly. Bikernet was designed to be user friendly, archive everything for future use, and give bike features and tech articles all the space they deserve. “If a bike or a tech needs 10 pages, that’s what we give ’em,” Ball said. The staff of Bikernet.com is easy to reach. The boss is available at Bandit@Bikernet.com daily and they have their own forum board for immediate complaints or tech questions. BIKERNET READER QUESTION OF THE WEEK–Knowing you and your comments, I expect to hear something about a douche! Ask Willie G. or somebody where the name come from? Just bought a 100th. Anniversary Deuce, and am curious. — Hacksaw THIRD ANNUAL OLD SCHOOL CHOPPER SHOW THIS WEEKEND–The 3rd annual ol school chopper show is this sunday @horsetooth market at the south end of horsetooth resevior ft. collins CO., Rodney James and the Blue Flames are playing once again!!!!!!! see everyone there! starts at noon! –Curt Lout ORWELL BOOKS BY BALL ARRIVE– Hey man, just received my copy of Orwell. Thanks man!!! An for the 2 stickers too. Have a great day man! –Oneleged Motorsikle Hippie, CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE-ONE WEEK ONLY–2007 Iron Butt RallyAugust 20th – 24thRead All About It Check out our selection of books on the Iron Butt Rally and endurance riding. Against the Wind is competitor Ron Ayres’ personal account of the 1995 Iron Butt Rally in which he finished 6th. Going the Extra Mile, also by Ayres, is an insider’s guide to long-distance motorcycling and endurance rallies. The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Travel by Dale Coyner is full of tips, technology, and advanced techniques for long distance travel. US REPRESENTATIVE RIDES TO WORK– US Representative Tim Walberg Like many motorcyclists, celebrated Ride to Work Day by throwing a leg over a bike and heading to the office. But unlike most of us, Walberg’s trip to work ended at the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building where he serves as a representative for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.The longtime AMA member then delivered the following speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives: “Today is National Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day, and just a few minutes I ago, I proudly road a Harley-Davidson Road King to the steps of the Capitol Building. Motorcycle riding has been a passion of mine since my 20th birthday, and as a proud member of the American Motorcyclist Association and the Harley Owners Group, I can attest that responsible riding has many unique recreational benefits for millions of Americans.During this session of Congress, we are looking for ways to break our dependence on foreign oil, develop alternative fuels and increase domestic conservation. Motorcycles are an excellent alternative to current forms of transportation because they offer both fuel efficiency and greater enjoyment for the commuter. I encourage all Americans to learn more about the recreational and environmental benefits of responsible motorcycle riding by visiting the American Motorcyclist Association’s website and availing themselves of the motorcycle rider-safety training program.”For more about Ride to Work Day, see –from the AMA News GOVERNMENT ASKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE–(NHTSA) is asking for public comments on the Evaluation of State Motorcycle Safety Programs. The data are to be collected from State employees, in each State the State Motorcycle Safety Administrator and/or an employee of the State Highway Safety Office. NHTSA will conduct a survey of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators and/or State Highway Safety Offices in all 50 States and the District of Columbia to gather data on state-level motorcycle safety programs. This survey will consist of a questionnaire in mail (paper and pencil) format, which will allow a telephone follow-up for further details as necessary. The study will use the survey to gather comprehensive data on what each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia are doing to promote and ensure safe riding behavior. NEGOTIABLE PARTS COMING TO STURGIS–“We’ll be landing at 956 Lazelle near downtown Sturgis,” said Tim. He’s sharing a booth with Ray Wheeler of W8less Rotors and rumor has it 5000 rotors are being shipped to the Badlands now. WE BELIEVE–We believe in Freedom; We believe in the Open road; We believe in making inferior products in China, while paying pennies on the dollar and grossly overcharging our customers; We believe in waging a PR campaign in order to pose as the antithesis to big corporations, but in truth, we are quite the same; We believe in wrapping ourselves in the American flag, exploiting the emotions and sacrifices of our living and wounded soldiers in time of war, creating products aimed at American servicemen, feigning love for the American patriot, and charging them an arm and a leg for the privilege of sporting a service medallion on their bikes. We call that Patriotism! I call that Bull-Shit. –Black BIKERNET TV BRINGS YOU LIVE INTERVIEWS WITH NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS– Bandit and the 5-Ball Racing Team is headed North to the salt. Out in Hollister this year they brought him on stage, made him don a helmet and grilled him about the program. We’ve got it captured on Bikernet TV. Click here to see the interview. –Jeff Najar ASSALT WEAPAN FLAKE MAY MAKE RACING HISTORY– The flake is on it’s way by camel. Wait till you take it outside in the sun and you will know what I am talking about. It will blow you away. The flake needs to completely cover the bass coat so you can hardly see it. Put it on real heavy for the best effect. This bike will blow people away, just sitting there. I hope the painter gets to put the real rivets on the distressed panels. It would be badass. Make sure the chicks gun and the guns on the tank are blazin away(as if shooting down another speed record). I forgot to put a shot down symbol on the back fender like the fighter pilots used with last years speed record in it (to show it was shot down). Like I said if the painter needs to talk with me feel free to have him call me. This is like having a baby and someone else is teaching it to walk for you, you know how it is. It’s driving me nuts LOL. Let me know when you get the flake and what you think of it. — Jerry BIKERNET ON ITALIAN RELATIONS–An 18 year old Italian girl tells her Mom that she has missed her periodfor2 months. Very worried, the mother goes to the drugstore and buys apregnancy kit. The test result shows that the girl is pregnant. Shouting, cursing, crying, the mother says,”who was the pig that did this to you? I want to know!” The girl picks up the phone and makes a call. Half an hour later, a Ferrari stops in front of their house.A mature and distinguished man with gray hair and impeccably dressed inanArmani suit steps out of the Ferrari and enters the house. Hesits inthe living room with the father, mother, and the girl and tells them: “Good morning, your daughter has informed me of theproblem. I can’t marry her because of my personal familysituation but I’ll take charge. I will pay all costs and provide foryourdaughter for the rest of her life. Additionally, if a girl is born, I will bequeath a Ferrari, 2 retailstores,a townhouse, a beachfront villa, and a $2,000,000 bank account. If a boy is born, my legacy will be a couple of factories and a$4,000,000bank account. If twins, they will receive a factory and $2,000,000 each. However, if there is a miscarriage, what do you suggest I do?” At this point, the father, who had remained silent,places a hand firmly on the man’s shoulder and tells him,”You try again.” –from Chris T. ASSALT WEAPAN LAST MINUTE ALERT–I just had a flash for some reason in the shop and thought of you. Did you flush and clean all of the tanks (including oil bag I welded), and seal them? Just know your feeling rushed- so I want to remind you of little things that get forgotten in the mad dash for cash and world records…. PS- I would seal the oil bag and clean it- lots of fab work- I have the correct product… more of a varnish than rubber seal. -Slick
Interim Executive Director, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
605.347.2001
999 Main Street, Sturgis, SD 57785
www.sturgismuseum.com
Crime Scene Choppers
Joe.McGlynn@codegear.com> 
dmoyes64@charter.net
www.STUDIO9000.com
303.921.4590
Ron “Crash” Craddock
Rollin Sixes.
U.S. Choppers
2039 S. Lyon St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-546-4699
Appointments Only Please
Continued On Page 3
July 26, 2007 Part 1
By Bandit | | General Posts
Hey,
What a strange day. I can feel the Sturgis buzz in the air. Australians landed yesterday and tomorrow. I’ll help ’em find motorcycles, pack, then kick their asses out of here.
I’m proud to announce that we shipped the majority of our Bonneville paint work out yesterday, even though I’m still missing some front end parts from Harley-Davidson so I can make up the front fender and start on the fairing. Jim Murillo has already sealed the tank and is waiting a powder sample before he paints. I spoke to Air Tech about the fairing and hopefully they can help. They are the gods of speed fairings.
Let’s hit the news, then I’ll fill you in on any other calamities brewing around here and my list of to-dos before painted parts return. We still need a seat pan. Duane Ballard is waiting to handle the leather work. This puppy better go fast, it’s sure gonna look cool.
ON A SAD NOTE– We received a call this morning from Pete Alva, bearing the sad news that Chris Hill was found dead in his home yesterday. No confirmation on the cause of death or the exact time.
For those that knew Chris, knew he worked very hard, partied harder and played vigorously. He was the kinda guy you had to like as is, or not like at all. He put on a good front as a tough guy, but deep down he was a big teddy bear.
He overcame many adversities in life, such as a brain tumor that would have taken a weaker man, and numerous motorcycle accidents that only seemed to make him more daring and courageous. Or could he have just been crazy? He lost both of his parents and his brother too soon in life, which was a major source of loneliness for Chris, but still he kept an upbeat attitude.
Chris was an entrepreneur, a harsh business man, a successful business man and a friend that would do anything for you. Bandit coined a name for him, ?Mad Man? and it fit.
My prayer for Chris is that he is finally at peace and that he is with his family. We also hope that he is treated with respect and dignity by whoever handles his affairs.
God speed, Chris Hill. I’m having a shot of Jack tonight, in the shot glass that has your name on it.
Nyla
JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK–Hose Repair Kit 1/4? – 5/16?Hose bared end is .3125 (5/16?), threaded end is 12mm. It can be used witheither a .250? or .3125? hose. May also work to make up your own air testerkit, or for filling tires on the road, by threading into spark plug hole andat the other end of the hose is an air chuck fitting.
Works well to repairJIMS tool No.1087 leakdown tester, for the 12mm spark plug threads found onall Twin Cams, XL 1986 & later and Screamin Eagle EVO BT heads. No.1087-2
Suggested Retail $32.00
FLORIDA DRIVER’S LICENSE ENDORSEMENT LAW–Florida Statue 322.12 Section 16 will require all applicants for a motorcycle driver’s license endorsement, regardless of age, to successfully complete a motorcycle safety course. These courses are offered by different companies throughout the state. The course registration fees vary and there is no cap on what they can charge. It is expected that prices will rise with demand. It should be noted that no other form of vehicle operator’s license requires mandatory schooling.
–from AMA News.
20 U.S. CHOPPER FRAMES SOLD, MORE AVAILABLE–Its rumored the sale is officially over for U.S. Choppers. All 20 frames may be spoken for and normal pricing is continuing on.
Other news:
Greg Carter of Vicious Cycles in Lemoyne, PA ( http://www.viciouscyclesinc.com) builds a boardtrack racer for client in old copper tones. Sure to catch a bunch of attention in Sturgis, this U.S. Chopper boardtrack platform fills the bill for flash and shaazzam! Check those perimeter brakes set-up by Hank Young, that Accurate Engineering Knucklehead motor, and PM Control set-up !!!
This things gonna be a show stopper and these shots by Sam Dixon stopped us.
U.S. Choppers
2039 S. Lyon St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-546-4699
Appointments Only Please
http://www.uschopper.com/
ACCURATE ENGINEERING PRICE CHANGE FOR SIGNATURE SERIES–Accurate Engineering is now offering ourSignature Series93″ Panhead for $8750(natural finish only; show polished and other cosmetic packages extra; includes shipping inside the lower 48)
103″ and 120″ displacement Panhead engines also available.
Before dealing with our competitors, ask yourself two simple questions:Will there be any addition cost for parts to get my new engine to fire?What is the quality of the components used?
Or ask yourself just one:What am I getting for my money?
Here, at Accurate Engineering, we welcome these inquiries because we have the all the answers.
Will there be any addition cost for parts to get my new engine to fire?
Other manufacturers will make you think that you’re getting the complete deal for a lower price. What they don’t tell you is what they don’t include in their engine packages. This can send you scrambling to your parts catalogues for the costly components necessary to fire it up. After you add up the additional cost of getting the essential parts, the time wasted ordering the components, the delay in receiving the parts and the headache of back-orders, how much did you really save? Accurate Engineering engines come complete, pre-run and ready to go! Our engines include: carburetor, air cleaner, air filter and air corrector, oil filter adapter, oil filter, ignition system, spark plugs, 3 bolt exhaust flange kit, wires, coil, charging system and regulator/rectifier.Now add the cost of shipping included in our total price.
Call and ask for our sales department today at 334-702-1993
D&D V-BIKE HAS THE FAT BOOK FLYER IN THE CROSS HAIRS AT BUB’S BONNEVILLE MOTORCYCLE SPEED TRIALS– D&D Performance Enterprises is Looking to Smash the Fat Book Flyer Record.The D&D / Custom Chrome V-Bike vs. Fatbook Flyer Smackdown – In one corner is the #1160 D&D / Custom Chrome V-Bike and in the other is the defending champ and soon to be dethroned, #691 Fatbook Flyer. D&D Performance Enterprises is throwing down the gauntlet for supremacy and ultimate record in the 2000-M-PF class at the Speed Trials By BUB located at the Bonneville Salt Flats on September second through sixth.
The D&D / Custom Chrome motorbike, #1160, is a modified V-Bike from Custom Chrome with a RevTech motor slightly modified by the D&D team to produce 116 CID or 1905 cc. D&D is aiming to take the FatBook Flyer down and beat their 2000cc Modified Pushrod Fuel Record of 154 mph, which was set at the BUB meet in 2006.
Dave Rash, The Pope of Pipe, said, “This is a chance to prove that a RevTech motor can run with anything on the market; we are really looking forward to this challenge and taking the title back to Texas.”
D&D will be rolling out their Custom Chrome RevTech Powered V-Bike with a major performance enhancement, a new Custom Land Speed Exhaust designed by the Pope of Pipe. “We have fine tuned the power and fuel deliver system with our state-of-the-art in-house Super Flow Eddy Current Ram Air dynamometer and built a pipe to extract every ounce of horsepower from this machine,? said Rash. “We have the motorbike and team to take home the title.”
Team D&D’s V-Bike is built with race-proven components including RevTech? 6-speed overdrive transmission, Paioli adjustable inverted forks, 4 gallon ‘Regency’ one-piece stretched gas tank, carbon fiber fenders, monster carburetor, Brembo brake calipers, Brembo 13″ floating brake rotors and 17″ Marchesini forged alloy wheels.
D&D Performance Exhausts are available from Custom Chrome dealers nationwide or from the factory at 817-834-8961, www.danddexhaust.com.
HELMET LAW IN VIETNAM, AND THEY THOUGHT THE WAR WAS BAD–Vietnam will make motorcycle helmets compulsory on all roads by the end of the year in an attempt to cut down on traffic deaths in a country where 90 per cent of vehicles are motorcycles. The government is expected to issue a resolution requiring helmets soon, according to the Transport Ministry, which approved the measure on June 6.
With a population of 85 million people, Vietnam has more than 21 million motorcycles but only 3 per cent of the country’s riders wear helmets, according to Asia Injury Prevention Foundation.
AFTER FIVE YEARS WITH THE NESS FAMILY RIKKI BATTISTINI STEPS OUT ON HIS OWN–I was at Arlens for 5 years,” said Rikki. “My main roles were sales, but for many years, even prior to working for them, I acted as a sounding board for Cory. I helped with the catalogue, product design, and most of the everyday operational issues that comes running a muti-million $ business.”
The Ness family continues to support Rikki and sells a number of products he designed including grips, pegs, wheels, rotors, pulleys, one style of floorboard and passenger boards and the current style of saddlebag latch.
Starting this week we will feature Battistini designed products, predominately engineered for stock bikes including the Battistini’s Handlebars:
Style comes full circle then kicks up a notch with the latest creation from Battistinis Custom Cycles. The most innovative design in handlebars is hitting the streets Battistinis style and it’s all about form and radical new function. The new design allows any 1-inch handlebar riser to be used, on bolt centers from 3.5″ to over 4-inches, even on Springer models with OEM risers. How is it done? With a simple yet ingenious design feature referred to as the ‘underbar’.
The underbar is welded to the center section of the handlebar and it is this part that clamps into the risers, thus giving the bars a distinctive ‘floating’ look available nowhere else. But what’s even better is that the underbar changes the pivot point of the handlebars, so when the bars are adjusted up, or down, the grips actually can be moved toward or away from the rider.
This design offers the first truly adjustable handlebars to ever hit the market, and the design is Patent Pending. Styles include dresser-style ‘knuckle’ bars, two sizes of ‘ape hangers’ and a stylish ’tiller’ bar. That’s just the beginning, as more styles are being added.
All Battistinis handlebars are US-made and are mandrel-bent, dimpled and drilled for internal wiring, plus there’s a ‘guide wire’ installed to allow you to easily pull your wires through the bars during installation. Bars are available in show-chrome finish and black powdercoat. Style and innovation. From Battistinis, of course.
Rikki Battistini
1109 Langton drive
San Ramon
CA 94582
USA
Telephone: 925.270.4211
Cell: 925.719.5941
Fax: 925.905.4664
Email: rikki@battistinisUSA.com
Skype ID: battistinisusa
WWW.BattistinisUSA.com
THE MANILA DOCTRINE– The Metro Manila (Philippines) Council’s (MMC), the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, has passed a resolution requiring motorcycle riders to paint their license plate numbers on helmets dubbed the “Dual Motorcycle and Helmet License Plate Numbers Policy.”
The MMC came up with the measure supposedly in a bid to curb robberies, assassinations and other crimes committed by motorcycle-riding men. Under the policy, the license plate numbers on the helmet should be on a water-proof sticker permanently placed on both sides of the headgear and should be large enough to be seen by the public.
The resolution also requires that the license plate sticker should be readable from a distance of 25 meters and should be placed 40 mm high on the helmet.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said violation of the policy should be treated as a criminal offense, not a traffic violation. Violators will also be slapped with a P3,000 ($68) fine.
THE TENTATIVE STURGIS GYPSY RALLY SCHEDULE– * Aug. 7: 2nd annual Ryan Waterland Memorial Motocross, 10 a.m.
* Aug. 8: Mayor’s Ride, 8:30 a.m., Hill-climb, noon, and 1st annual J.C. “Pappy’ and Pearl Hoel short track races, 7 p.m.
* Aug. 9: National Gypsy Tour, 9 a.m.
* Aug. 10: Hill-climb, noon.
* Aug. 11: Short track, 7 p.m.
* Aug. 12: Hill-climb, noon.
Aug. 12: Short track, 7 p.m.
* Aug. 13: Short track, 7 p.m.
–from Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
BIKERNET BANKING STUDY DISCOVERED BANK OF AMERICA WRONGDOING–Bank: This is the Bank of America, can I help you?Customer: Yes, I want to cancel my account. I don’t want to dobusinesswith you any longer.Bank: Why?Customer: You’re giving credit to illegal immigrants and I don’tthinkit’s right. I’m taking my business elsewhere.
Bank: Well, Mr. Customer, we don’t want to see you do that, but wecan’t stop you. I’ll help you close the account. What is your account number?
Customer: (gives account number)
Bank: For security purposes and for your protection,can you pleasegiveme the last four digits of your social security number?Customer: No.
Bank: Mr. Customer, I need to verify your information, but in ordertohelp you, I’ll need verification of who you are.
Customer: Why should I give you my social security number? The reasonI’m closing my account is that your bank is issuing credit cards to illegal immigrants who don’t have social security numbers. You are targeting that audience and want their business. Let’s say I’m an illegal immigrant and you’ve given me a credit card. I have a question about it and call for assistance. You wouldn’t be asking me for a Social Security number, would you?
Bank: No sir, I wouldn’t.
Customer: Why not?
Bank: Because you would have pressed ‘2’ to speak in Spanish. Wedon’task for that information when calling in on the Spanish line.
–from Chris T.
TOP 50 RALLY PARK CELEBRATES WOMEN– Top 50 Rally Park, Independent Cycle, Legend Air-Suspension andHarley-Davidson have joined forces to celebrate and honor women bikers bycreating the new Sturgis tradition of Women’s Day on Friday, August 10, 2007at the Top 50 Rally Park.
* The exclusive event celebrates the independence, freedom and adrenalinethat inspires women to ride their own motorcycle, not just hang on for theride. Top 50 Rally Park is honored to be the first Sturgis rally park torecognize the rapidly evolving image of women in the motorcycle industry bycreating events designed specifically for women by women.
* The highlight of the day is the Top 50 Bike for Breast Cancer charityride, benefiting the American Cancer Society and their commitment to meetingaggressive 2015 breast cancer challenge goals – to reduce the age-adjustedincidence rate of breast cancer by 15%, reduce the breast cancer mortalityrate by 50% and increase the proportion of women 40 and older who screen forbreast cancer by 90%. The ride begins at noon and promises to be anoff-the-beaten-path adventure through the Black Hills region. Registrationbegins at 10 a.m. and the registration fee is $15 per person.
* The day will include words of inspiration from women legends in theindustry – the talented Laura Ellifson, from Klock Werks Kustom Cycles andthe world record holder on the world’s fastest bagger with a speed of 147mph; the brilliant Sara Liberte, author of “How to Repair and MaintainAmerican V-Twin Motorcycles,” fine art motorcycle photographer andaward-winning custom bike builder and painter; the philanthropic Gina Woods,creator of the XX Chromes All Women’s Bike Build, host of themotorcycle-themed radio talk show “Open Road Radio,” and inspirationalorganizer of bikers for charitable causes; the brillant Leslie Prevish,manager of product communication at Harley-Davidson motor Company, managerof public relations for Rider’s Edge and MotorClothes and the reason that90% of women riders choose Harley-Davidson; and last but certainly notleast, the innovative Athena “Chickie” Ransom, owner of Vagabond ChopperCompany, builder of motorcycles since the age of 15 and leader of theChopper Chick Crew, an all-women bike building crew that donates the profitof their creations to different non-profit organizations. Each speaker istruly a trailblazer for all women in the once male-dominated motorcycleindustry.
* Following the charity ride, Top 50 Rally Park will host a reception,including a for-women-only Ride-In Bike Show with awards for best of showand best paint. Two awards will also be presented to two worthy women – theSandy Leone Memorial Award, in honor of the woman who made Top 50 Rally Parkwhat it is today, and a Leader in the Industry award.
ILLINOIS TO USE PHOTO RADAR IN FREEWAY WORK ZONES– Illinois will begin using photo radar in freeway work zones in July of 2007. Anyone caught by these devices will be mailed a $375.00 ticket for the first offense. The second offense will cost $1,000.00 and comes with a 90-day license suspension. Drivers will also receive demerit points against their license, which allows insurance companies to raise their rates. The State will begin with two camera vans issuing tickets in work zones with speed limits lowered to 45 MPH. Photographs of both the driver’s face and license plate are taken. For more see www.dot.state.il.us/press/r033005.html.
BRASS BALLS CONTEST CONTINUES TO FIND A NAME FOR THEIR NEW MODEL–The deal is, if they select your name, you get a t-shirt for every day of the week, plus a shop shirt. Here’s another contribution from Bogart:
OK, like every other fuckin’ Einstein out there I have a submission for the Brass Balls new model name.
“Injuneer Bob”
“Injun” because of the Indian powerplant, hence Injuneer as in Engineering and Bob because, well shit, I better not have to explain that one! Could do a kool characature of an Indian in ‘biker’ gear or overalls too…move your damn trainset Engineer Bill, there’s a new model in town.
…Bogart
bogartcycledesign@sbcglobal.net>
Continued On Page 2
Brian Hatano
By Paul Garson | | General Posts
Taking a fast rewind to the year 1978, Brian Hatano started his first ten-year stint working for Eddie Paul at E.P. Industries in El Segundo, CA, Eddie already a topgun in Hollywood thanks to his radical stuntwork as well as his SFX aka special effects inventiveness that eventually led to him being described as “Mad Max meets DaVinci.”
For five years Brian helped build the Eddie Paul specialty vehicles seen in dozens of movies and TV shows, then changed gears when hired by the car mags as a staffer/gearhead, eventually taking a post at CAR Craft magazine, sister publication to HOT ROD.
In 1997 he made full circle and returned to E.P. Industries where work was a bit more “challenging/stimulating,” since there’s never a dull day when Eddie Paul is involved. “It adds up to twenty years I’ve worked with Eddie, and no, I didn’t get a gold watch but I got the world’s biggest tool box,” laughs Brian.
While he had years of experiencing building stout four-wheelers as both project cars for the car mags and daily drivers for himself, he says, “I’ve always a thing for motorcycles and always wanted a Harley and after starting to work for Eddie with all his bikes around I decided to make it happen. I finally got my Harley.”
He works on the bike when not otherwise occupied with a wide spectrum of projects including everything from a life-size mechanical Great White Shark for the Cousteau people to Vin Diesel’s XXX GTO to a deuterium laser for the Department of Defense. “Recently the biggest challenge as well as one of our most recognized projects was the real life streetable versions of the cars seen in the animated Pixar film “Cars.”
Asked how it was working with Eddie, Brian says, “He’s the one that comes up with these crazy builds. The work comes here because of Eddie and it’s just great fun for me to be able to do the work with him.”
Another recent project was one for the new George Clooney film “Leathernecks” where the production company had wanted to feature an original 1917 Indian but found the real bike too expensive and too difficult to operate for the filming. “So they came to Eddie because they knew he was the only guy that could make it happen and in such a short time frame,” Brian said. “We ended up building three Indians with sidecars in two weeks and adapting electric motors so that they could run silent in the filming and not disturb the sound recordings plus be easier to ride and easy to maintain. Bottom line is Eddie needs a crew that’s capable of helping making these types of projects possible, and I just happen to be one of them.”
After 16 hour days of making the impossible possible, Brian gets his R&R aboard his ’97 Badboy Springer FXSTSB, one of 3000 made for the limited run. The 80 cubic Evo motor benefits from a jet kit, a Force Winder air cleaner and the trick new and hard to find Hooker 4-Bidden blacked out pipes. Ratcheting up the attitude factor of the Badboy’s blacked out springer treatment, and pushing the stealth theme, Brian added the Black Bike wheels (21 front/18 rear) and also black powdercoated the headlight, turn signal housings, horn and timing covers and forward controls. He also opted for the optional H-D speedo-tach combo gauge, H-D black anodized mirrors, and to get the bike down and dirty as in pipe-scraping low, he went for a White Brothers frontend drop kit matched to Progressive 422’s on the rear.
As far as the comfort factor, he bolted on a Mustang solo seat and a set of Chubby drag bars. There was a method to all the madness says Brian. “I bought the bike and did the mods because we’re planning a trip from L.A. up to Canada, and the boss is riding his Boss Hoss, so I wanted to be ready.”
If you’ve got something in mind that others say can’t be done, go to the solution, and that would E.P. Industries. You can reach Brian and Eddie at 310-643-8515 or log onto www.deadlinetv.net.
July 19, 2007 Part 1
By Bandit | | General Posts
Hey,
Rumors abound about S&S and cops closing Presidential fundraiser because of notorious biker band leader, Charlie Brechtel. From Europe the Sheriff asked if S&S bought Flathead Power and whether they’re building rare Harley-Davidson vintage motors or not. I enquired and was told Brett Smith, from S&S, would meet me behind a phone booth on main in Sturgis at midnight on the first Sunday of the rally.
There’s more: It seems that Custom Chrome is competing directly with Drag Specialties in the 2000 MPF class at Bubs Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials this year. Dave Rash, the president of D&D exhaust, the builder of the Custom Chrome V-Bike with a Rev Tech engine said, “It’s a fist-fight on the salt.”
I’m proud to announce Custom Chrome stepped up to be a Platinum 5-Ball Racing sponsor and a reader, Hank Hill, yesterday became a Silver sponsor with a $500 donation. We can’t express how much every sponsorship dollar means to us. We’re scrambling. I took the tank out to Jim Murillo yesterday to begin the painting process.
CROWN GAS CAP KITS FROM LA CHOPRODS–These billet crown gas caps were inspired by Gard Hollinger’s work with Saxon on the best selling Black Crown Saxon model, Gard designed. “I can’t remember whether the Black Crown was inspired by the cap or visa versa,” Gard said
The stylish LA ChopRods caps come with a reversible steel bungs to mount them above the surface of your tank or level with it. They have been carefully designed with a precise positive O-ring seal, and they are available for custom applications or with a glue-inserts for stock tanks. Glue and instructions are provided.
The billet 6061 aluminum Crown caps come in a naturally machined finish, polished, chromed, black nickel plated or 24k gold plated.
For more information contact Gar Hollinger at:
http://www.lachoprods.com/
18001 S. Figueroa St., Unit F _
Gardena, CA 90248 _
T.(310) 353-2467_
F.(310) 768-4100
SOME CALL FOR STRICT HELMET LAWS–In the past week, three people have been killed in South Dakota motorcycle accidents.None of the victims were wearing helmets.
South Dakota only requires riders under the age of 18 to wear them. But adult drivers can make their own decision.
Members of law enforcement say it happens every time the weather warms up: deadly motorcycle accidents like this one, which happened in Sioux Falls just days ago. In that accident, both the driver and passenger were killed. And they were not wearing helmets.
“It’s a serious topic and certainly one worth considering and I’m surprised to learn we haven’t had a bill since 1993,” State Representative Joni Cutler said.
Cutler says even if a bill tightening helmet requirements was introduced into the legislature, there are a lot of factors to consider.
One of those is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which draws thousands of bikers from across the county to South Dakota each summer.
But as long as the drone of chrome is louder than activists lobbying for more strict helmet laws, Cutler says whether bikers choose to wear a helmet will remain a personal decision.
Twenty states have full helmet laws for all motorcycle riders. Twenty-six states have age restrictions that require younger riders to wear helmets, but not adults.
Only four – Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire have no laws about helmet use and motorcycles.
–Pepper S. Massey
Interim Director, Sturgis Rally Department
605.720.0800
I have a problem with the helmet will save everyone adage. Head injuries are the third deadliest injury on motorcycles and the most deadly car injury. If it’s all about saving lives, then helmets must be mandated for autos also. Ten times the numbers could be saved. I’ll wear a helmet always, if the car people will. If not, leave me alone.– Bandit
BIKERNET WEEKLY PRODUCT RELEASE FROM RIVERA PRIMO / 7-19-07,MONSTER-TORQUE STARTER MOTORS–The performance specialists at Rivera Primo? have added starter motors to the list of great product offerings. These 1.4kw and 1.7kw quality starter motors combine all the great featuresinto a rugged, great-looking get-the-job-done-unit.
All motors are manufactured in the U.S.A. and Canada using only 100% new parts. Each motoroffers the finest technology available to spin that big high performance engine to life. Precisiongearing, magnetic components and super-duty starter clutches all encased in a chrome & polished finish assembly leave you miles ahead !
In addition to the 1.4kw & 1.7kw models we now offer a motor that’ll fit our Direct Drive beltdrive, one that is located between the front and rear pulleys & drives off of the starter ring gearlocated on the back side of the front pulley.
1184-0001 1.4kw Monster-Torque Starter Motor for Big Twins $ 340.00 1989-2006 (except 2006 Dyna)
1184-0002 1.7kw Monster-Torque Starter Motor for Big Twins $ 393.00 1989-2006 (except 2006 Dyna)
1184-0005 2kw Monster-Torque Starter Motor for Big Twins $ 372.41 w/Direct Drive? Belt Drive
For these & other fine products contact:
Rivera Primo
12450 Whittier Blvd. Whittier, CA 90602
Tel: 800-872-1515
Tel: 562-907-2600 Fax: 562-907-2606
www.riveraengineering.com
2 WHEELERS ON MAIN IN STURGIS OFFERS WILD PRODUCTS–Including this nasty Custom Velosity for SSE and SSG carbs. It will be available in Sturgis in Steel and Chrome. Price $ 49.99. Or you can dodge the event and buy it on line. Don’t miss their shop, if you’re in town-wild selection of parts.
KNOCKOUT MOTORCYCLE HITS THE ROAD–WE WILL HAVE BIKES AT THE FOLLWING VENUES: THE TEXAS LONGHORNED THEMED BOBBER THAT WAS BUILT FOR MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY AT THE HARD ROCK ROAD HOUSE TOUR STOP AT THUNDER PASS AND THE EASYRIDER TOUR GIVE AWAY AND CENTERFOLD SHOW BIKES WILL BE AT THE BROKEN SPOKE.
WE MAY ALSO HAVE THE BLACK “ROCKEM” BIKE THAT IS CURRENTLY FEATURED IN THIS MONTHS ISSUE OF V-TWIN AND OUR 2006 AMD PRO SHOW AWARD WINNING 39 BOBBER IN TOWN AS WELL. LOGISTICS AND SHIPPING ARE BEING WORKED OUT AT THIS MOMENT.
WE WILL ALSO BE MAKING A TRIP TO OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION (EAA) FLY-IN TAKING PLACE 7/23 – 7/29. THE ’07 FLSTC BUILT FOR THE COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE (CAF) WILL BE MEETING THE P-51 MUSTANG NAMED “GUNFIGHTER” THAT OFFERED INSPIRATION AND STYLING CUES DURING THE SHORT 30 DAY BUILD TIMELINE. THE BIKE LOOKS AWESOME AND RIDES EVEN BETTER!!!!
–Matt Michalek
V.P. of Operations
Knock Out Motorcycle Co.
480-279-1734 / 480-890-0722 – fax
www.ralphrandolph.com
CHOPPER CHICKS TV BUILD REPORT–Here is the last item for the news before we leave. I’m hoping against hope Athena and her crew get here sometime tomorrow. It’s been brutal for her and I. I guess we’re finding out what we are made of. The chance of a lifetime has turned into the challenge of a lifetime.
It’s been a wild, rough ride getting the Today Show bike ready for the live build on the show. And the prep is not over yet. We still have to get on the road and get to NYC. It’s very strange when a once in a lifetime opportunity comes along. You drop everything, and work as hard as you can.
And while most of the time in the motorcycle business -thing go fairly smoothly, as in parts arrive on time to close to it, the days may be hit but they are sunny. When the big chance comes along, everything tries to go wrong. Shipments get lost, things go mysteriously missing, everything not only takes twice a long as you thought, it takes four times as long, the days fly by and no matter how fast you work – you miss the UPS guy again.
You plot, plan, think fast, compensate, trying to get ahead of the evil hand fate is dealing. People you need are out of town, monsoons strike every afternoon when you need to work outside, the paint store runs out of paint, the to do list grows instead of shrinks. But somehow, you keep going. And so it continues. But the paint is done. We`will all find out 7 am Saturday morning on The Today Show, the outcome of all this work.
HISTORIC BOARDTRACK RACING ON BIKERNET TV RIGHT NOW!– Bikernet TV has a treat for you! A vintage film on boardtrack racing that started in the early 1900’s and ran through the 1920’s. You see a lot of custom motorcycles built on this style of bike. The film was shot at a boardtrack in Daytona, FL. Bikernet TV has it so click here to see it.
KIDS & CHROME BENEFIT LAUNCHES WEBSITE– STURGIS, S.D. (July, 2007) – Children’s Home Society and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame are excited to announce the launch of the Kids & Chrome website at www.kidsandchrome.com.
Established to help children’s charities in the Black Hills, and preserve the history of motorcycling in Sturgis, this year’s Kids & Chrome evening fundraiser will take place during the 2007 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on Aug. 8, at the Black Hills Convention Center near Sturgis in Spearfish, S.D. Tickets cost $175 and can be ordered at
Participants will enjoy Budweiser beer (a major sponsor for the event), cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a four-star dinner as they bid on a wide variety of silent auction items including high-end motorcycle components, vacation packages, one-of-a-kind autographed pieces and more. Performance Machines Ted Sands will wow the crowd one more time as the event emcee, and South Dakota Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard will also be on hand to officially welcome the distinguished guests.
Also available for sale on the website are raffle tickets for two motorcycles, a Thunder Mountain Custom and a NYC Chopper.
This year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which takes place Aug. 6 through 12, enters its 67th year as the premier motorcycling event in the country.
About Children’s Home Society (CHS)
Children’s Home Society provides a home, school, and therapy for children, primarily ages 4 to 13, with emotional or behavioral problems. Most are victims of severe abuse and/or neglect. CHS also provides foster care, adoption services, and emergency shelter services for children who are victims of domestic violence. Visit
To learn more about the museum visit
ISLAND BIKER REPORTS FROM THE KING OF ISLAND BOBBERS– Yes, I do have several bikes that you might be interested in. I’ll send you pic’s of what I have got.I got some friends over here who ride and have their own tattoo shop as well. Really great bunch of guys. The shop is called the “Tattoo Krew”. They have a really cool style that I think you would like. I’ll get you as much stuff as I can get. I be in touch.
–Nui
ROLLING THUNDER KOREAN MEMORIAL RUN, SUNDAY JULY 22– Assemble at 10:00 am Ventnor Plaza, West End Ave- Wellington Ave. Leaves at 11:00 amEnds at Korean War Memorial, Brighton Ave, Atlantic City
A wreath laying ceremony will take place.Any group wishing to lay a wreath is welcome to participate.
Call 609-214-5864
MOTORCYCLE EVENTS OF SJ
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM ANNOUNCES LEGENDARY HOLIDAY GIFT–MILWAUKEE (July 16, 2007) – The Harley-Davidson Museum is inviting motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide to give a unique holiday gift this year by participating in Living the Legend, an exciting opportunity to showcase personal connections to the Motor Company and the highly-anticipated Harley-Davidson Museum, opening in the summer of 2008.
Living the Legend is a great way to honor the Harley-Davidson enthusiast in your life this holiday season by customizing a stainless steel rivet with a name and personal message. Rivets, available in three-inch or six-inch sizes, will be placed on either curved steel walls or special plazas on the grounds of the Harley-Davidson Museum. They can be customized in time for the holidays at
“A rivet is one of the strongest bonds around, connecting everything from I-beams to blue jeans,” said Stacey Schiesl, director of the Harley-Davidson Museum. “Harley-Davidson chose the rivet as a symbol of the bond between Harley-Davidson and all those who celebrate freedom and the individual spirit of adventure.”
The Living the Legend walls and plazas will be displayed on the park-like grounds of the Harley-Davidson Museum and will bring passion alive through the stories and experiences shared on each rivet.
“Harley-Davidson’s heritage has been built upon the stories, passion and experiences of each rider,” Schiesl said. “Living the Legend is a great way for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts to share those stories and connect with our one-of-a-kind Museum.”
For years to come, visitors from around the world will feel the Harley-Davidson pride when they explore the collection of personal messages on the Museum grounds. The Living the Legend walls and plazas will display thousands of stories, experiences and connections and will be a favorite destination of Harley-Davidson Museum visitors.
To ensure installation in time for the Museum grand opening in summer 2008, enthusiasts should customize their Living the Legend rivets by December 31, 2007. Currently under construction near downtown Milwaukee at 6th and Canal Streets, the Museum also will be an exciting part of the 105th Anniversary celebration taking place August 28-31, 2008, in Milwaukee.
Don’t Miss Chapters 3-5 of the news. Here’s just a taste of what’s ahead.BIKERNET NEWS ALERTS–RUDYS BIKE NIGHT, VALERIE THOMPSON-VT RACEGIRL UPDATE, TURMOIL IN AMES IOWA AFFECTING TEAM TOMMY AND CHARLIE BRETCHEL, KUDOS TO TRUE-TRACK, ROGUE YOU TUBE RECOMMENDATION, SCREAMIN EAGLE BIG WINS AND AIR CLEANER FROM LUCKYS SPEED SHOP.
Continued On Page 2
July 19, 2007 Part 5
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 4
BOUNTY HUNTER POKER RUNIMAGINE THIS. You and your loved one are on your motorcycle leaving a Veterans Benefit; some drunk comes along and changes your life forever! Now he is on the run sipping Margarita’s in another country! We need to raise $$$ so a Bounty Hunter can make sure he sips out of a tin cup behind bars!!!
Brian Willis and his friend Beverly Bender (Veterans) were on their way home from the Veterans Benefit on November 11, 2001 when they were hit from behind and ran over multiple times. Unfortunately Brian passed away at the age of 48 from his injures after suffering for 5 weeks. Beverly lost one leg, partial of her foot on the other and her right arm severely injured, she will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
The person who destroyed their lives forever is on the run. We are all getting together to raise money for a bounty hunter to go get this individual and bring him to justice.
PLEASE JOIN US!!!
SCOOTER HAVEN
19350 S.E. Butler Rd.
Inglis, Fl 34449
Saturday Aug. 4, 2007
For those not going on the Run, Scooter Haven will be open all day!!!
POKER RUN DETAILS11:00 First StopMikes Friendly Pub-5465 S. Oakridge Drive, Homosassa Springs
Thunder Inn-5210 N. Florida Avenue, Hernando
The Loft-10131 Citrus Avenue, Crystal River
Harbour Lights-48 Hwy 19 N., Inglis
Scooter Haven-19350 S.E. Butler Road, Inglis
Live Music, 50/50, Auctions, Food, Camping, Ship of Memories and much more!!!Blessing of the Bikes by CMA, Ride in Bike Show.Please contact Turbo Tim for donations and details: (352) 476-3420
WHERE IS BIKERNET IN 2007 STURGIS?–hey, where u guys settin up at this year at Sturgis?…
–todd
Hey, we’ll located at Carrie Repp’s Seminole Hard Rock Road House tent with major builders, then at the Top 50 Rally headquarters and sometimes at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and the Kids And Chrome banquet. Oh, I almost forgot. We’re also working with the notorious Charlie Brechtel at the Buffalo Chip, with Billy Lane at the Builder’s Breakfast and sometimes you can find us in the shade behind 2Wheelers downtown on Main having another beer. –Bandit
SOUTH DAKOTA RULES OF THE ROAD– Every motorcycle must be equipped with at least one but no more than two headlamps.
The handlebars of a motorcycle must be no higher than the shoulder height of the person operating the motorcycle.
All persons under the age of 18 must wear motorcycle safety helmets that are approved by the South Dakota Department of Transportation.
A person riding in an enclosed cab attached to a motorcycle does not have to wear a safety helmet.
A motorcycle operator must wear an eye protective device unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen of sufficient height and design that protects the motorcycle operator. When headlights are required to be on, a motorcycle operator cannot wear protective eye devices that are tinted or shaded to reduce the light transmission of the device below 35 percent.
Motorcycles must have at least one tail lamp, which when lighted emits a red light visible for a distance of 500 feet.
Noise Limits: Every motorcycle must at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise.Source: AAA Motor Law Digest, 68th (2002) Edition.
–from Rogue
MEMO FROM THE BIKERNET LAW OFFICES OF WILBURN, RENEGADE AND WRENCH–ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something youforgot?
–from Jester
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES 2007 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS–Harley-Davidson today announced its results for the second quarter ended July 1, 2007. Revenue for the quarter was $1.62 billion compared to $1.38 billion in the year ago quarter, a 17.7 percent increase. Net income for the quarter was $290.5 million compared to $243.4 million, an increase of 19.3 percent over the second quarter of 2006. Second quarter diluted earnings per share were $1.14, a 25.3 percent increase compared to last year’s $0.91. During the second quarter the Company repurchased $429.9 million of its common stock.
“During the second quarter, we shipped 95,117 Harley-Davidson motorcycles to our dealers around the world, driving strong financial results,” said Jim Ziemer, Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson. “On the retail side of the business, our dealers’ sales were down 1.2 percent worldwide during the quarter, with US dealers’ sales down 5.5 percent and international retail sales growing at double digit rates. Retail sales in every major country in Europe were up during the quarter, resulting in 13.7 percent growth in total European sales. Japan, Canada, and all other international markets grew at a combined rate of 13.4 percent,” Ziemer said.
Revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $1.25 billion, an increase of $226.4 million or 22.0 percent versus the same period last year. Shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles totaled 95,117 units, an increase of 15,321 units or 19.2 percent compared to last year’s second quarter.
Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $263.4 million, an increase of $11.7 million or 4.6 percent over the year-ago quarter. Revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes apparel and collectibles, totaled $72.7 million, an increase of $5.6 million or 8.4 percent over the year-ago quarter.
Gross margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 37.4 percent of revenue compared to 37.5 percent for the second quarter last year. Second quarter operating margin increased to 23.8 percent from 23.6 percent in the second quarter of 2006.
During the second quarter, worldwide retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles decreased 1.2 percent compared to the prior year second quarter. In the US, retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles decreased 5.5 percent for the quarter.Retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew 13.6 percent in international markets during the second quarter of 2007 compared to the second quarter of 2006. Second quarter retail sales increased 13.7 percent in Europe; Canada was up 9.9 percent; and Japan was up 5.2 percent. All other international markets combined were up 27.4 percent.
http://www.harley-davidson.com>www.harley-davidson.com
PROOF THAT BIKERNET ISN’T PERFECT–Bandit, I hope you’re finding time for fun with all the projects you have going on. I subscribed to Bikernet a while ago and I love the site. I especially enjoy the news and the Sunday Post. When I sent in my subscription, I paid an extra $10.00 for one of your books. So far, the book has never arrived. I don’t know if it got lost on your end or in the post office, but I thought you should know.
Thanks for all of your hard work keeping the site current and well worth reading. I hope your noise study creates some awareness out there. We really have a fight going on here in Denver with the new noise law. We also got hit with a new helmet law this year after some underhanded dealing in the legislative committees. The nannies are after us and we seem to be afraid to hurt their feelings.
I just don’t get it!Thanks again for keeping up the fight.
–Mike Gage
Terribly sorry about the book delay, but we shipped 60 “Sam’s” yesterday. Thanks for your patience.–Bandit
MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOP OWNER CHARGED WITH THEFT–The owner of a motorcycle shop in Frankford was arrested Tuesday after failing to provide services that his customers had paid for, Delaware State Police said today.
William T. Rementer, 36, of the 8000 block of Littleton Road, Willards, Md., was charged with two counts of felony theft.
Department spokesman Cpl. John Barnett Jr. said a 54-year-old Atlantic, Va., man brought his 1981 Harley-Davidson FLT motorcycle to Rementer’s repair shop, East Coast Choppers, in August 2006.
He paid Rementer $1,300 to restore the bike, but as of June 15, Rementer had failed to return the bike or the money, Barnett said. On July 2, the victim recovered the motorcycle from the shop but found it to be running out of order and missing numerous parts.
During the investigation, Barnett said, a 43-year-old Millsboro man reported he had paid Rementer $2,500 for a new rear wheel and chrome disc brakes in February, but again, Rementer failed to provide the services or produce a refund.
Rementer was released on $3,000 unsecured bond, Barnett said.
Delaware State Police asking anyone who believes they were a victim of theft by East Coast Choppers to call the Financial Crimes unit at 856-5850.
–By REBEKAH ALLEN, The News Journal
–from Rogue
BANDIT DELIVERS RUN FOR BREATH BEST OF SHOW AWARD–I just got the RFB Best of Show Award. As usual it is too cool! Whoever wins it, I am sure will be very proud to own it. People always talk about the past years awards you have done. I know I don’t have to say it, but I appreciate it very much.
–STEALTH
OUTLAWS DELIVER MESSAGE TO CITY–Monday night’s meeting of the Hudson City Council had more drama than usual when members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club paid a visit to City Hall. The Outlaws are upset with rules aimed at keeping them away from Hudson that have been imposed on Dibbo’s nightclub. Dibbo’s had to agree to the rules as a condition for keeping its liquor license.
Shortly before the City Council meeting was set to begin at 6:45 p.m., members of the motorcycle club reportedly showed up at Dibbo’s wearing their “colors” and asked to be served drinks. Their presence violated one of the conditions of an agreement Dibbo’s management signed with the city in order to keep its liquor license – that anyone wearing gang colors won’t be allowed on the premises.
After being refused service, the group of around 15 Outlaws gathered in the City Hall parking lot and then filed into the crowded council chamber after the meeting had begun. There was already a larger-than-usual audience on hand.
Residents of Aldrich Avenue were there to express their opinions about a planned storm sewer and street project in their neighborhood. Landowners, professionals and businesspeople with an interest in a petition for the city to annex 54 acres from the town of Hudson also were on hand.
Members of the St. Croix Valley Riders, a local motorcyclists’ rights organization, also unhappy with the Dibbo’s rules, were in attendance, too. The Outlaws’ leader walked in at the start of a public hearing on the Aldrich Avenue project and took a seat next to the podium from which members of the audience and city staffer address the City Council. The tall, burly man wore a beret, sunglasses and a vest with a patch on it showing a hand raised in a one-finger salute. The Outlaw sat patiently while residents expressed opinions – pro and con – about the Aldrich Avenue project. He appeared to nod his head in agreement with a speaker at one point.
After the public hearings on the Aldrich Avenue project and several amendments to the zoning code related to the downtown, Mayor Jack Breault invited anyone in the audience with a comment or suggestion for the council to speak.
Hudson resident Dave Anderson, a member of the St. Croix Valley Riders, was the first to come to the podium. He said the rules that were aimed at the Outlaws also had affected his organization, which could no longer hold its meetings at Dibbo’s. “We feel this discriminates against all motorcycle riders,” he said. Anderson was followed by Kim Heinemann, president of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce, who gave a rundown of coming Chamber events, including a Girls Night Out bike ride event planned for Sept. 7-8. Heinemann, apparently addressing the motorcyclists ringing the back walls of the council chamber, somewhat nervously added that it was a bicycle ride, and said, “Sorry.” The clarification brought a ripple of laughter from the audience.
Then the Outlaw leader stood to address the council. “Jimmy,” he replied in a gravelly voice when Mayor Breault asked him to identify himself. Jimmy said he had been at Dibbo’s on the night of April 14 when, according to Police Chief Andrew Smith, 30 to 40 members of the Outlaws took control of the nightclub. “Nobody got hit. Nobody got hurt,” Jimmy said. “?We didn’t come into town to hurt anybody. We came into town to have some fun.” The Outlaws leader said the rules the city has forced Dibbo’s to enforce are unconstitutional and that the motorcycle club would challenge them. “We will go there. And we will get arrested. And we will challenge you in court and win,” he said, claiming that a court has ruled that similar regulations imposed on Milwaukee establishments are illegal.
The Outlaws leader lectured council members that they took an oath of office to uphold the constitution. Instead, they ordered a local business to violate it, he said. Motorcycle engines were heard rumbling past City Hall after Jimmy had his say, and the Outlaws left the meeting.
–By Randy Hanson; Hudson Star-Observer
–Rogue
TOP 50 RALLY, THE PLACE TO BE FOR STURGIS 2007– News is we’re trying to make sure everything is ready and willrun smoothly. It’s coming up quick. I’ll get you more as soon as we writemore.
–Tyna
THAT’S A NEWS, DAMNIT–Life is so strange. We struggle from time to time, like many of the shops out there. Guys working hard, and when folks don’t pay, it strangles them.
We experienced the blues last week, waiting for checks and parts. Then the stars aligned and we jumped back on track. I gotta say that most folks who drifted behind in Bikernet payments in the past, ultimately caught up and another company did it again this week. It makes ya feel good when men honor their words and make it up to you somehow.
So what’s coming up on Bikernet. More girls in the Cantina and a feature about a rare 1923 Ner-a-car recently discovered in bicycle collection auction by Rick Krost, of U.S. Choppers. He snapped it up and we have the images and history to prove it.
I have a Chica bike feature that will drive you wild. He promised me lunch if I ride to Huntington Beach to interview him. We have two new pieces of fiction and I need to get to work on them. I need to write another soap opera for the Cantina and post another World Run book chapter. Several techs are hanging out there including a Matt Hotch disappearing tank cross-over line and flush mounted gas cap. We’ve been waiting on a clutch install from Kirk Taylor and I need to hunt it down.
Here’s the seat Glen Priddle built for the Bikernet/Hot Bike Iraqi Vet Build bike, being built by Bikernet Staffer Johnny Humble in Texas for his brother. Many of the components came from Sucker Punch Sallys and J&P. He was going to turn it over in Sturgis, but his brother’s return was delayed. That scheduling change gave Johnny more time to work with Kent, from Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston, to fix all of Johnny’s fuck-ups.
Bikernet is going to donate a front end to give this puppy class. It will ship out next week. The bike will be turned over to Johnny’s brother in Biketoberfest in October.That’s not all, but I misplaced my notes, so that’s all you get until tomorrow.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
July 19, 2007 Part 4
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 3
MOTORCYCLING ATTORNEY POINTS FINGER AT POLICE BIKES– A new law in Denver designed to curb motorcycle noise is being challenged in court by an attorney who claims police bikes may be violating the standards that went into effect less than three weeks ago. Attorney Wade Eldridge, himself a biker, also claims the noise ordinance is unconstitutionally vague.
The law “lends itself to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement,” he said Tuesday. “The police can stop you for whatever reason.”Eldridge’s claim that police motorcycles may be exceeding allowable noise levels is disputed by police and city officials.
“I think that is a specious argument from an attorney who is trying to get his client off,” said Ellen Dumm, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Environmental Health. “He’s trying to find some fine hairs to split.”
The law, born out of a growing number of complaints about loud motorcycle noise in neighborhoods, generated criticism from the start, mostly from bikers who said they were being singled out because of a few rotten apples.
The law limits noise levels to 80 decibels from 25 feet and requires motorcyclists with bikes made after 1982 to have a muffler with an Environmental Protection Agency noise-certification stamp.
Eldridge represents a biker ticketed downtown.According to court documents, tests conducted by the city on police motorcycles found sound levels at redline of 81.3 decibels and 81.7 decibels. The accuracy of the sound meters the city used is within plus or minus .5 decibels, so police motorcycles may be in violation of the new law, Eldridge said.
— By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News July 18, 2007
–from Rogue
VETERAN SPEAKS OUT– Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I’ll return to Iraq to finish my tour.
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it’s because I’ll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I’m tired.
I’m tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.
I’m tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
I’m tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they ‘Support the Troops’ by wanting them to ‘Cut and Run’ before victory is achieved.
I’m tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.
I’m tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I’m tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament.
I’m tired of the so called ‘Elite Left’ that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
I’m tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who’s loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.
I’m tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news. Mostly, I’m tired that the people of this great nation didn’t learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
–Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel , U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division
–from Tony Sanfelipo
AMES, IOWA EVENT ATTACK BY ZYLSTRA H-D BRINGS OUT THE DIRT–I can tell you first hand about Zylstra H-D. I worked for them for a short three months a few years back when they had their dealership in Cherokee, Iowa. That dealership closed last year due to lack of business.
First, they have no prices on motorcycles on the floor. They judge you by appearance prior to pricing or you must give them your credit history prior to pricing, most generally it is the second.
The employees had no discounts for anything in the store, which included clothing, bikes or service. Most generally, you waited like everyone else and purchased when there was a sale. In fact, I know of one guy who got fired because he could purchase the motorcycle he wanted cheaper at another dealership and did. The same way with parts and accessories, everything was always cheaper for employees somewhere else.
Along with that, each bike on the floor has a different price each day and most generally you could purchase a motorcycle anywhere else cheaper.
Robert Zylstra and his wife Marcia live up in the Spirit Lake, Iowa area, but farm a few thousand acres along with feeding livestock near Sibley where Robert grew up. Actually, Robert doesn’t farm, he has a staff that does that for him. They own the land they farm since most people won’t rent to them. I have never seen Robert dirty.
Zylstra will not support HOG or any organization that deals with motorcycles that I know of.Yes, I totally agree with you. DO NOT SUPPORT Zylstra’s while in Ames. Don’t even drive by their dealership! Gayle ‘gofer’ Henrich
–from Rogue
MODERATELY LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES–Rode in to work down here near Mayfair from WB on my yellow Wing (Big Bird) wearing a yellow jacket and yellow helmet and yellow side clearance lights, with the radio blasting. Had a large pickup almost change lanes (left to center) into me on Hwy 45 S near Good Hope. I was on the brakes and horn immediately. It was close. I don’t like to run the headlight modulator in heavy freeway traffic, but maybe I should. That still probably can’t break a driver’s concentration from talking, texting and playing games on the cell phone or PDA, and at the same time yelling at the kids to settle down and taking a sip of coffee and a bite from a donut.
I hear the arguments against loud pipes. However, more than ever, I agree that moderately LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES. If anything, they p-off (oops, annoy) other drivers who then get away. (Kinda like B.O. to the ears.) I’ve noticed that cars avoid me when I ride my noisy Sportster, but seem attracted to Big Bird, like the bugs are attracted to its yellow surfaces when parked on a hot summer day.
Guess I’ll have to trade in Big Bird for an older, rat bike, HD bagger with loud pipes that people want to stay away from. And put signs on my bikes all around: WARNING – STUDENT DRIVER! Whatever it takes to stay unhurt, yet enjoy MCing.
–Bird
–from Tony Sanfelipo
Bikernet Independent Noise Study
AMES, IOWA CONTROVERSY CONTINUES–As you know, Vicki has been working her ass off, playing nice with the Council in Ames and now the Chief of Police. They were unbending in their demands for payment for every little extra, including $400 for lost revenue from parking meters because we were going to get the street blocked off to bike traffic only. I
t appears to me that this is a thinly veiled effort to extort money from Vicki (as Campaign Chair for Team Tommy) thinking we are making a lot of money on this and we’re a big political machine. Nothing could be further from the truth. We’re hard working, middle class bikers who want to help a friend who is running for President. We have no money and we’re not charging money for the event. It was designed as a free concert to entice bikers to come to Ames to involve themselves in the political process.
Tommy Thompson appeared before ABATE of Iowa’s Board of Directors earlier this month to explain why he would make a good president. I introduced him to the Board, and Dave Zien was there to support him. Tommy explained that whomever the bikers of Iowa supported in the Straw Poll, whether him or another candidate, it was important for the bikers to participate. Besides the learning and the experience, it would send a message to all the other candidates that bikers are important, have issues and questions and they vote.
It seems the Council and Chief of Police see us as just a financial boost to their little oligarchy.Vicki is concerned that notification of the cancellation of the party on Friday, August 10th, will cause people to not come to Ames, which will hurt Tommy and the whole political action idea. We still plan on having a party downtown. Vicki has talked to the owner of the micro brewery. and he is looking into a party in his bar and beer garden. Of course, he has to apply for a permit for this but he’s a local business and they may not want to step on him too hard.
We had to cancel Charlie but we still have the local band that was going to open for him. Needless to say, Charlie feels bad and that he’s caused us some problems. I assured him he didn’t and I feel bad that he’s not able to play at the event. He’ll stay at Buffalo Chip and make more money there anyway, but he wanted to be in Ames.
The larger problem that I see, as Bandit pointed out, is that the authorities are using bikers and bike clubs as a basis to extort money from organizers, promoters, etc. I believe and know there was no threat of clubs coming to Ames to cause trouble. Why would they? Some of the clubs mentioned are mid-west clubs, and the Chief said he was afraid because of Charlie’s ties to West Coast clubs. So what? This is a myth being perpetuated by law enforcement to justify the creation and continuation of “gang task force” and tactical units, gleaning tax dollars to conduct “war games” and surveillance activities.
Charlie has never had a problem at one of his concerts and he plays all over the country. Bandit is right, someone needs to challenge this blatant attempt to blackmail money from promoters so law enforcement can conduct training exercises, all the while painting a disturbing picture of outlaw bike clubs and scaring the crap out of local citizens. Once an event is over, and there is no trouble, they point to the fact that the added police presence was the reason, which is baloney. But they have to justify the cost to tax payers and promoters.
It’s job security and nothing more. Yes, tax payers are footing some of this too, I suspect, because there is grant money out there from the federal and local governments for police agencies to tap into for this purpose. My question is, has the Ames Police Department applied for any of this money already to help with the Straw Poll? If so, then trying to extort money from Vicki would be double dipping. People go to jail for this type of fraud all the time.
I would love to test this in court with a law suit, but I’m not convinced that the Straw Poll is the place to do this. How much more damage will this cause, or will it effect Tommy in a more negative way. I’m sure they’ll paint a picture of him as having friends in the outlaw culture or something like that.
–Pan
BIKERS STEP UP TO SUPPORT THE AMES STRAW POLL–Let’s show the nation that motorcyclists are influential when it comes to politics! Join thousands of bikers in Ankeny, IA just north of Des Moines at the Metro Center off of Hwy 35, exit 90 for a Parade to the Straw Poll at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames. The parade will be Police escorted and led by Tommy Thompson, Randy Simpson (Bike Builder and star of Discovery Channel’s Southern Steel), Kirk “Hardtail” Willard (President of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation), Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo (Founder of ABATE of Wisconsin), Former Senator Dave Zien (Hall of Fame), Tommy Thompson’s Reunion Ride,and other National celebrities. We will update this website as special guests are confirmed. This event will be covered by well known Easyriders Magazine & Bikernet reporter Rogue and Time magazine. Parade staging is from 9-10:30 am.
Vouchers will be provided to Iowa bikers so they can vote. Tommy’s campaign will have a tent with food and everyone is invited to enjoy the event that is going on.In order to Thank YOU for letting us know that you will participate we would like to give you a Free shirt! Our logo, designed by Signs & Lines by Stretch and Easyriders, will be on the front and the rally on the back. Register to let us know you are coming and what your shirt size is. We will confirm and send you any updated info about the parade
–Rogue
NEW GIRL OF BIKERNET COMING FROM PETER LINNEY–Ja, this bike is coming soon from Rt. 66 Choppers. Just talked to him. He was out of town, but will work on it now. The model Laura is wonderful, and she is a very sexy girl with a little cameltoe and in general a good looking “package.”
–Peter
BIKERNET 5-BALL RACING ASSALT WEAPAN UPDATE FROM ENGINE MASTER–We need a 40 and a 42 rear sprocket. Start with the 42. Sorry it has taken this long, but I am the only cat around here right now and you know how busy that can be. Engine is nearly finished. We are cutting the pistons for compression today.
–Berry Wardlaw
Accurate Engineering
NEW FICTION COMING TO BIKERNET–My name is PJ Hyland. I met you and your girlfriend at Rip’s BAD Ride last month. I told you how much I enjoyed your writing and your web site. Not long ago, as I was browsing through “Two Wheeled Tales,” I noticed a piece entitled “Hotel California” by Richard LaPlante. I had read, and been inspired by, “Detours,” his stream-of-consciousness narrative about his trip to Sturgis.
This was the first time I’d read an example of his fiction. I found it spell-binding. Congratulations and thank you for publishing an author of such repute.
I mentioned to you that I was writing for Thunder Press and that I had written some stream-of-consciousness “ride” stories, which didn’t fit their format. You magnanimously invited me to submit one to Bikernet.com. I’ve attached, “Velvet Zona Nights” (3,200 words). It’s a highly descriptive, philosophically slanted, and at times personally introspective, romp through the AZ Desert during this past year’s Laughlin Run. Heh, heh, does that last bit read like something off a book jacket?
–PJ Hyalnd
pjhylandsings@aol.com
TORIAN CHOPPER LEATHERS TO DEBUT AT SMOKE OUT EAST–The Smokeout East Sponsored by Bikernet.com event was the debut of Torian Chopper Leathers line of old skool biker leathers. Chopper enthusiasts sampled the full line of products including Torian Chopper Leather’s Race Jackets, Work Jackets, shirts, vests and gloves.
Torian Chopper Leathers’ old skool jackets and vests are made from high-quality naked cow hide. Each garment has a supple “just right” feel, not a stiff leather construction that requires months of wearing to break in.
At the Smoke Out we heard from many bikers about how they liked the line.
“This jacket fits like a glove and has plenty of pockets. I’ll be wearing the Race Jacket for many years to come,” said Keith Ball, Owner Bikernet.
“The Torian Work Jacket is now my ‘go to’ leather jacket. It fits, looks good and feels great. Unfortunately I have three jackets in the back of the closet that won?t see the light of day,” stated Bob Osias, Metric Thunder President.
“I love the Race Hoodie,” said Amy from West Virginia. “It is soft and comes with all the pockets I need.”
On hand and doing field research at the Smoke Out was Bob Kay, Torian Chopper Leather designer. “Bikers that ride Choppers and Bobber don’t have storage so they responded to our jackets with multiple pockets,” said Kay. “They loved the hideout pockets and were impressed with the 10 pocket vest.”
He solicited feedback from the Smoke Out attendees to fine tune his new designs slated to come out in the fall.
The leather designs are a throwback from the ’60s and creates that old skool look for bikers that put the miles on their ride. Every leather garment is represented in designer black.
Torian Chopper Leathers are available at www.torianmarket.com. For dealer inquiry please call (817) 421-1333.
BIKERNET ANNOUNCED OPEN SEASON ON ALL DEER, THE MOST DEADLIEST ANIMAL IN AMERICA–A man kills a deer and takes it home to cook for dinner.
Both he and his wife decide that they won’t tell the kids what kind of meat it is, but will give them a clue and let them guess.
The kids were eager to know what the meat was on their plates, so they begged their dad for the clue.
“Well” he said, “It’s what mommy calls me sometimes”.
The little girl screams to her brother “Don’t eat it, it’s a fucking ass hole!”
–fromJoe Lankau
![rocktheblock_poster[1]1 copy](http://www.bikernet.com/news/images/PhotoID30616.jpg)
PANHEAD PHIL’S MUSIC CITY MOTORCYCLES”ROCK THE BLOCK”–Garage Party and Ride-In Bike show,Sat. Sept. 22, 11a – 11p,17th/Church Street,NASHVILLE, TN.
www.musiccitymotorcycle.com
http://www.myspace.com/panhdphil
HOLLISTER ROCKS AT 60– The 60th anniversary of the Hollister Rally was the largest one so far. July 6th, 7th and 8th brought more vendors, more bands, more builders and more entertainment than ever before.
Record crowds visited the rally to shop at California’s largest motorcycle marketplace. Friday was the largest in rally history and Saturday was almost twice the normal crowd. Rally week brought in 130,000 people to the sleepy little town of Hollister.
The new layout with the vendors on San Benito St (the Main st) was embraced by law enforcement and the city as well. This move has secured the rally for years to come.
The Baker Builders Square , sponsored by Baker Drivetrain was packed all weekend as fans check out over a dozen of the countries best bike builders and talked about new projects with them.
There were three stages with non-stop entertainment all weekend long. bands, boxing, fashion shows and the Ms. Hollister contest filled the 33 hours of the rally. If that wasn’t enough David Chaves International Trials superstar thrilled the crowds throughout the day in Vendor Village.
Sunday on the main stage there was a special surprise. Hollister dubbed the Birthplace of the American Biker Movement; it is home to some of the original riders of 1947. Six individuals, Peter Lomanto, Jess Bravo, Joe Bravo, Harry Prater, Babe and Johnny Lomanto from 77 to 90 years old gathered at this years Rally to celebrate its benchmark of 60 years. They represent one of the most extraordinary eras in our history. Following WWII there was an explosive energy of living and loving life. They shared stories of the tremendous freedom then? riding the hills, racing across open fields, sleeping under the stars amidst piles of hay.
Corbin’s Corner at 4th and San Benito was the hot location. Sunday morning this location hosted the Ego Tripp custom bike show. The bike show had a wide range of styles for all to enjoy. The Corbin factory was busier than ever and sales were an all time high. The official Harley Dealer House of Thunder from Morgan Hill also had a record weekend. They sold three bikes at the show on Saturday alone.
Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller recapped by saying “this was the safest, smoothest and most organized rally to date.” Considering that this was the largest that’s quite a statement.
Horse Power also plans on adding more VIP bike parking for next year as it sold out early this year. All proceeds from the bike parking along with the other profits go to local youth programs and non-profits.
Horse Power Promotions pulled this together in six months. Now with 12 months before the 2008 rally Horse Power will be focusing on bringing back racing, hill climbs, concerts and spreading out to surrounding areas and country side. “The riding is great up here and there is no reason for people to ride all this way and just cruise around the town of Hollister,” stated Seth Doulton of Horse Power Promotions.
The 61st Hollister Rally is July 11th, 12th and 13th 2008. Keep an eye on www.horsepowerpromotions.com as we announce more events for 2008.
WOMAN HITS FIVE BIKERS–JANESVILLE, Wis. — A 29-year-old Illinois woman hit three motorcycle riders on Highway 14 east of Janesville on Saturday afternoon, sending five bikers to the hospital, according to authorities.
The Rock County Sheriff’s Department said the woman drifted into the oncoming lane of traffic at about 2:15 p.m.
Authoritites said that when the car finally came to a stop, it was in the middle of the road with a motorcycle imbedded in the front bumper.
Two men and three women and the car’s driver were transported to local hospitals.
One was still in critical condition on Sunday.
“We’re still checking to see if there might have been a medical condition or something that contributed to this,” said Sgt. Kerry Schlittler of the Rock County Sheriff’s Department. “But right now, we’re thinking that maybe she was tired and passed out, or hadn’t eaten properly that day and may have passed out or temporarily lost consciousness.”
The motorcycles were part of a group of 22 bikes from Bellevue, Iowa, touring southern Wisconsin.
None of the bikers were wearing helmets, authorities said.
Schlittler said alcohol and speed weren’t factors in the crash. He said that he doesn’t expect criminal charges to be brought against the driver.
He said the driver was apparently moving from Madison to Woodstock, Ill., at the time of the crash.
–from Dean
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