June 7, 2007 Part 3
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 2
JANUARY-MARCH MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE REPORT–Here is some newsstand dealer, draw and sale information showing how American Iron Magazine compares to other Harley-oriented magazines.
Please note these are for US newsstand only, and are comparing Jan-March 2006 to the same issues in 2007.
# Stores— 2006— 2007— Difference
American Iron— 40,186 — 35,510— -11.6%
V-Twin — 29,200— 27,180— -6.9%
Hot Bike— 25,902— 18,357 — -23.4%
Ironworks— 12,929— 10,194— -21.2%
Even with a 12% decline in stores, American Iron continues to dominate the number of stores displaying copies. Hot Bike and IronWorks are low and getting lower in the number of stores carrying copies for sale
Copies Distributed-2006-2007–Difference
American Iron–773,169– 569,951– -22.3%
V-Twin– 480,310– 333,344 — -30.6%
Hot Bike– 418,059– 327,888– -38.0%
Ironworks–137,750– 88,069– -36.1%
American Iron reduced copies shipped by 22%, significantly less then the other magazines in both units and percentages of total. Total Copies Sold, three months– 2006-2007– Difference
American Iron–180,745– 173,521– -4.0%
V-Twin–136,355– 92,565– -32.1%
Hot Bike–150,360– 87,172– -30.4%
Ironworks–34,577– 25,566– -26.1%
American Iron Magazine is relatively flat with a small loss of only 4%, while V-Twin, Hot Bike and IronWorks are all down at least 25% or more in sales.
–Buzz Kantor
We asked about Easyriders?–Bandit
All numbers are dropping on newsstand magazines – all categories, not just motorcycles. Our distributor is collecting sales trends on more titles, which I hope to have in a week or two. These numbers they collect on a regular basis.
I understand Easyriders is really hurting on newsstand sales, but we’ll have to wait to find out.
–Buzz
I received these numbers yesterday from Buzz Kantor the publisher of American Iron. He’s done a helluva job with his book. Day before yesterday I received the numbers for Bikernet in May. We received 335,000 folks who came to our site, our highest numbers ever. Our readers visited Bikernet.com 650,000 times, for 1 million page views and 10 million hits. Our numbers are up over 300 percent over the last four years.
From January to March 2006 we had 768,000 unique users and during the same time period in 2007 we’ve had 861,000 readers for an 11 percent increase.
Thanks to our readers and contributors, babes and Jack Daniels we continue to grow.-Bandit
KIDS AND CHROME BANQUET SELLING OUT FAST–Let your people know that we are selling tickets FAST and can only seat 425 people. We have approximately 150 left at this time.
Pepper
Executive Director, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
605.347.2001
999 Main Street, Sturgis, SD 57785
fax 605.720.0632
GARY N. SELLERS FREEDOM FIGHTER OF THE YEAR–It gives me GREAT pleasure to announce to all of you that Gary N. Sellers has been OFFICIALLY inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame for 2007! Gary will be the SOLE recipient of the Freedom Fighter Award for 2007! While the selection committee had the option of inducting up to three people from the U.S. and one Internationally, they have decided that Gary will be the ONLY inductee for 2007. What an honor to bestow on Gary for a job well done.
Take the time soon to give Gary a call ( 937-663-4954 )or drop him an E-Mail ( Thank you to those who helped honor Gary with letters of support. I hope to see all of you there this August.Honor & Respect, –Ken “Barron” Seelig MYRTLE BEACH ACTION LIVE ON BLINGMASTER.COM–We have just created a WebPage that has Pictures and Video from the 2007 Bike Week and Black Bike Week in Myrtle Beach.Go to –George Jurak” HINES AND KRAWIEC ANXIOUS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS WEEKEND’S ROUTE 66 RACEWAY EVENT–MILWAUKEE (June 6, 2007) – Andrew Hines is not normally one to be patient between NHRA POWERade events. The defending three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion is happiest when he’s at the race track, preparing to ride his Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod down the quarter-mile surface. Hines, 24, also works on the V-Rods, so he can appreciate the time it takes in the shop just to make the bikes race ready and competitive. But he does have his limits. Hines and the rest of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category will rejoin the NHRA series this weekend after a month-long break. Professional qualifying for the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., starts on Friday. “Route 66 Raceway is one of my favorite tracks on the circuit,” Hines said. “I get such a good feeling from the place when we roll in. It looks really cool, it’s the only stadium on the tour and the entire facility is just great. So I’m happy we’re finally going to race again, but just as excited about where we are racing.” Eddie Krawiec joined the Screamin’ Eagle team just before the season started. He will be making his first career appearance at Route 66 Raceway. “It’s about time we get back to the track,” Krawiec said. “I’m excited to get back on the bike and do some racing. I have heard so many great things about Route 66 Raceway that I can’t wait to check it out. A month is a long time to wait between races. I feel like when you’re just sitting at home, you get out of your race day rhythm. So I’m excited to get back on the bike and make some quick passes down the track.” Hines was the runner-up at Route 66 Raceway in 2004 and two of his 19 career No. 1 qualifying awards have been earned in Joliet (2004, ’05). He said the Screamin’ Eagle team has worked nonstop in hopes of making another final round appearance and turning that into a winner’s circle celebration. “I’ve had some success there in the past and have come close to winning but just haven’t gotten there yet,” Hines said. “Hopefully that will change soon. We’ve done lots of testing at our local track in Indy (O’Reilly Raceway Park) so we can try and figure out how to get these V-Rods off the starting line quicker. We’re trying to take baby steps toward picking up some more horsepower. “The time off has been good for us because we’ve been productive. Hopefully it will show during that first pass. We’ve accumulated some great data that we can use throughout the season but I’m anxious to get back out to a race.” Once the NHRA race is over, the Screamin’ Eagle team will travel to Milwaukee to visit Harley-Davidson headquarters. Hines and Krawiec will first be joined by their Screamin’ Eagle AMA Flat Track teammates, Kenny Coolbeth, Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Joe Kopp to help launch a summer meals program for kids. Fueling Young Minds provides meals for kids during the summer months when school is not in session. The Screamin’ Eagle racers will be at one local school – Bethune Academy – to help kick off the program. Shortly after that the racers will be at Milwaukee Children’s hospital to pass out gift bags for the admitted child patients. On Tuesday the team will be at Harley-Davidson headquarters, greeting employees, answering questions and racing employees on the V-Rod dyno bikes that are part of the interactive Acceleration Nation display that travels to all 23 NHRA POWERade events. Qualifying for the NHRA event will start Friday with two sessions at 3:30 and 7 p.m., continuing Saturday at noon and 3 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday. All the action of the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 starting on Saturday with qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. (ET), continuing with three hours of final eliminations coverage on Sunday at 4 p.m. (ET). NHRA Race Day – a live magazine show filmed at the track – can be seen on Sunday at 11 a.m. (ET), also on ESPN2. BIKERNET PHOTO ART EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK–Sometimes you just gotta cross the line. Ride Hard NEW CHROME CENTER STAND FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–MILWAUKEE (April 30, 2007) – The new Chrome Center Stand (P/N 91573-06, $329.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories makes it possible to lift 1999-later Touring models upright and off the side stand for more-convenient cleaning and servicing, and also reduces the space required for parking the motorcycle. The feet are adjustable and can be set to lift the rear tire clear of the pavement, or to keep the rear tire on the ground for reduced lifting effort. The stand attaches directly to the frame, works with all original-equipment suspension and Profile lowering suspension kits, and does not reduce the bike’s lean angle on the road. The lifting lever is inconspicuously tucked away below the passenger footboard, and fits with all Harley-Davidson footboard and exhaust configurations. 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. NEW GIRL OF BIKERNET COMING TO THE CANTINA–Ok Fellows here she is, ENJOY! Talked with Courtney last night he said it was cool if we used the bike because it’s already on the newsstands. This month’s issue of BIke Works. I have photos, but hell who wants to look at the bike, go buy the magazine, I would rather check out Megan!! We had the last two models flake on us… and G-spot said if the model showed and she was ugly he wasn’t going to let me use his bike. She was shy at first because there were a bunch of dudes around working on bikes, walking by every few minutes… She was cool and wants to do another shoot. SEMPER FI LAMA MEMBERS RIDE TO MILWAUKEE TO CELEBRATE 3OTH ANNIVERSARY–Approximately 100 International Latin American Motorcycle Association (LAMA) Members will ride from Chicago to Harley-Davidson’s Powertrain Operations on Capital Drive on June 18, 2007, as part of their 30th Anniversary celebration. Along the way, they will stop at Uke’s Harley-Davidson in Kenosha, Wis., where Harley-Davidson Motor Company employees will join the celebration by creating an ultimate Harley experience. LAMA Members will enjoy a reception with H-D executives such as Bill Davidson, director of motorcycle product development, as well as have chances to win prizes. Following the reception, members will ride with Harley-Davidson executives to the Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations on Capital Drive where they will participate in a factory tour. LAMA is the largest known international Hispanic motorcycle club with chapters in the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South America, Cuba, Australia and Spain. LAMA is a serious community of riders whose main interest is first and foremost to promote the love of riding, camaraderie and community among its members, in addition to maintaining deep associations within the Hispanic communities in which chapters have been established. BIKERNET PARENTAL COUNSELING MOMENT–One day mom was cleaning junior’s room, and in the closet she found a bondage S & M magazine. This was highly upsetting for her. She hid the magazine until his father got home and showed it to him. He looked at it and handed it back to her with out a word. She finally asked him, ” Well , what should we do about this?” Dad looked at her and said, “Well I don’t think you should spank him.” –from Carl R DROP IT WITH LICKS “SUPER SHORTIES”–Check it out. Lick’s Cycles has just released an updated version of their immensely popular SHORT SHOCKS. Measuring just 10″ eye to eye, the latest SHORTIES are designed to lower a stock Sportster seat height to just 24″! Low, comfortable and cool, SHORTIES fit 1979 through 2007 Sportsters. A direct bolt-on replacement for factory shocks they are available with chrome or black powder coated springs and end caps and fit with standard or heavy duty coils. Lick’s SHORTIES are also available for FLT, FLH, FXR and V-Rods. For detailed application information contact LICKS CYCLES at 413-663-9050 or visit them on the Web at WHO WILL IT BE THIS YEAR?–As the 4th Annual AMD Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building draws nearer, who will walk away with the coveted World Champion’s ring this year? Will there be an American winner for the first time? Will it be a Chopper? A Low-rider? A Retro/Racer? A Bobber? With some eight weeks to go before the doors of Champions Hall, at 3rd/Lazelle in downtown Sturgis, open to receive thisyears competitors, some 106 builders have presently confirmed140 bikes for a competition that, the advanced speculationsuggests, will be the toughest yet. The event is open to the public from 11:00 am Sunday, August 5th through Wednesday, August 8th. Throughout the event visitors will be able to meet many of the builders, with the awards ceremony slated for 4:00 pm on the afternoon of Tuesday 7th. MAN SUES OVER LONG-LASTING ERECTION–Jun 5, 11:44 PM (ET)NEW YORK (AP) – A man has sued the maker of the health drink Boost Plus, claiming the vitamin-enriched beverage gave him an erection that would not subside and caused him to be hospitalized. The lawsuit filed by Christopher Woods of New York said he bought the nutrition beverage made by the pharmaceutical company Novartis AG ( The lawsuit, filed late Monday, says Woods later had problems that required a hospital visit and penile artery embolization, a way of closing blood vessels. Closing off some blood flow prevents engorgement and lessens the likelihood of an erection. Woods’ lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, names Novartis Consumer Health Inc. as a defendant. A spokeswoman for the company, Brandi Robinson, said Tuesday the company was aware of the lawsuit but does not comment on pending litigation.Woods’ lawyer did not return telephone calls for comment Tuesday. Novartis’ Boost Plus Web site describes the drink as “a great tasting, high calorie, nutritionally complete oral supplement for people who require extra energy and protein in a limited volume,” in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry –from Rogue Continued On Page 4
937-964-8166Gary,
gjurak@tampabay.rr.com
Whiplash Biker Photog 
–Curt Lout
www.STUDIO9000.com
303.921.4590
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com
June 7, 2007 Part 2
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 1
JOHN REED AND CUSTOM CHROME PART WAYSMorgan Hill, CA (June 1, 2007)–In May of 1986 I signed an exclusive contract to design and prototype proprietary parts for Custom Chrome. These components would be put into production and sold to their dealers and help build their stand alone parts line.
I set up a shop at my house with enough equipment to do Custom Chrome projects, and set lofty ambitions of doing some of my own projects. For the last 20 odd years I have had the opportunity to make all sorts of interesting stuff for CCI, but lofty goals or not, there were a lot of personal projects that saw me gather a lot of parts and do nothing with them.
On May 23 2007 perverse luck smiled on me and helped me out of this predicament. Custom Chrome, due to lack of available work, asked me about ending our contract. I thought about it for 10 seconds and decided it was time to leave the motorcycle industry and retire. After many years making parts for other people, I would now be able to spend all of my time working on my own stuff.
My plan is to make some of the things I thought would be neat, but never could decide if they would work. This will be my time to finish some of the experiments I started and make the stuff necessary to take my own bikes to their next phase. Then I can test my work by riding as fast as I can–hopefully until I am too old to get my leg over the saddle. It may be the time to write a book filled with my observations, (I only said that to freak out a few people) or maybe I will just do nothing for an hour or two.
I have to figure out how to complete a very complicated race bike that beat me a few years back-currently that bike is smarter than me-and with time I think I can outsmart it. I want to finish rebuilding my 1926 Royal Enfield sidecar that made the journey here from England with me, it deserves to be complete. I think I have enough work to keep me happy until they dragged my wrinkly, old ass out of my shop in an ambulance-however, if it is interesting, I may still want to do a project for someone else.
The only regret I have about my new lifestyle is that most of my friends are motorcycle people; which means that I only see them at the rallies and shows during the year. I will miss them, and the time we spent together, dearly. Those of you who are friends, you know how to contact me.
I have been blessed with an interesting career that has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of honorable people-as well as many with no honor. There were people who would give you their life, and others who thought nothing of destroying lives for another dollar. I have met people who have become true friends and others that use friendship for their own gain. Truth be told, I met a lot of really strange people, but then again, think of the person I am. Upon reflection I don’t think I would have changed a lot.
–John Reed
DAIQUIRI WHACKER GAS POWERED BLENDER–Gas powered blender, you ask? Yup – it’s true. The Daiquiri Whacker Gas Powered Blender ($260) features a 25cc Homelite engine, an unbreakable jar, and Zip Start technology. The most manly feature, however, is the handlebar grip speed control which lets you rev it up like a motorcycle. Whacker indeed.www.uncrate.com/men/gear/outdoor/daiquiri-whacker-gas-powered-blender/
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MAKES ITS INAUGURAL SHOWING AT ATLANTIC BEACH BIKE FEST–Atlantic Beach BikeFest, also known as Black Bike Week, took place May 25-27, 2007, and was the first time Harley-Davidson attended the event. The annual Memorial Day event has an estimated 350,000 bikers visiting Myrtle Beach, S.C., for motorcycling fun, food and festivities.
In partnership with the local dealership, Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson, the H-D experience at Colonial Mall included demo rides on all Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles, bike wash detail center for all motorcycles using Harley-Davidson products, admission into the Harley-Davidson Traveling Museum, New Product Display showcasing 2007 motorcycles, MotorClothes and Parts and Accessories, Buell Team Xtreem stunt show performances, three-point basketball shoot outs, pool and a video gaming center. On Atlantic Beach, Harley-Davidson also showcased the latest MotorClothes fashions and accessories in the Ruff Ryders “Show Me What ‘Cha Working With” fashion show on the main stage.
Special guests participated in various events such as Atlanta rap sensation, Yung Jock (‘It’s Goin’ Down’), hip hop legend, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (of the famed group, “Run DMC”) and notable character actor, Clifton Powell (‘Friday After Next’). Myrtle Beach’s own DJ Dynamite, one of the South’s premiere deejays, was spinning records in the Harley-Davidson Experience area for the entire three-day event. All Harley-Davidson events and activities were free and open to the public.
MEES DOESN’T WASTE TIME MATCHING WIN TOTAL FROM 2006; EARNS VICTORY AT VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY–BULLS GAP, Tenn. (June 3, 2007) – Jared Mees wasn’t kidding when he said he thought his childhood would give him an advantage when the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track GNC Twins series rolled into town.
After all, Saturday was the first time the AMA Twins racers had ever been on the ultra-banked, half-mile Volunteer Speedway. Mees grew up on banked tracks in his home state of Michigan and he put those memories to good use in Tennessee over the weekend.
The 21-year-old earned the race win, his first of the season and fourth of his career. Mees and his Screamin’ Eagle/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson team have finished in the top three at both GNC Twins races this season.
Mees said his mechanic, Johnny Goad, gave him another big advantage before the race even started.
“Johnny had this Blue Springs Harley ready to go, right out of the box,” Mees said. “He had a great setup for a banked track on the bike before the first practice. We pulled the bike out and we didn’t have to change anything except for a few adjustments in the gearing. From the very first practice lap, the bike was fast and I felt really comfortable.
“When you come out strong from the very beginning and don’t have to worry about making a ton of changes, you’re able to relax a little and focus on riding more than anything else. Everything just came together for us. It was as close to a perfect night as you could ask for.”
Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth wasn’t able to follow up last week’s Springfield (Ill.) Mile win with another trophy and finished in fourth place. The rest of the Screamin’ Eagle Wrecking Crew – Bryan Smith (Pat Moroney’s Harley-Davidson) and Joe Kopp (Team Latus Harley-Davidson) – finished in 11th and 14th place, respectively.
“We’re proud that all four Wrecking Crew riders qualified for the show,” Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. “It’s always tough going to a track that we haven’t raced on before and we’re happy that Jared and his Blue Springs group took the win. I think the entire Wrecking Crew is doing a great job being prepared and competitive every weekend.”
Mees, 21, qualified in the No. 1 position and said the 32 degree banked track made the race – sponsored by the East Tennessee Harley-Davidson dealers – even more fun.
“I had a lot of fun at this track,” Mees said. “The track is banked so much that you could fly into the corners and the banking kept you from just sailing off the surface. The crowd was great, the race was quick and the bottom line is that it was a lot of fun.
“The speedway was small, even for a half-mile. It even made me a little dizzy on that first practice lap. I had to get used to going around so fast. We had 15-second lap times and our main event was so fast you could have held your breath for the entire thing. It was a great race.”
Mees opened the 2006 AMA season with an eighth and 12th place finish at the first two events of the season. Mees went on to earn second place in the final standings with one win (Saluda, Va.), but he likes the third place at Springfield and first place at Bulls Gap much better.
“In years past I’ve struggled with the beginning of the season because of bad luck or just being off my game,” Mees said. “This year is completely different. We have our guns loaded and we’re ready to battle.
“It feels great to already have a win. Every time you win an AMA Grand National event it feels like it’s your first win. There isn’t anything better than winning.”
That includes being the points leader, too. Mees took over the lead in the AMA GNC Twins point standings for the first time in his career, but isn’t putting too much energy into the two-week old list. There are, after all, 11 races left on the schedule.
“There is a long road ahead of us before the point standings really matter,” Mees said. “When you’re racing against guys like Coolbeth and Chris Carr, you have to take it one race at a time. We have to do our best every week and hope we’re near the top of the standings when it matters most.
“Coolbeth and Carr each finished outside the top three this weekend, but that’s rare. It’s nice we took advantage of it this time, but those guys are always right there, so we just have to keep doing our job and preparing for each race the best way possible.”
Bulls Gap, TN Screamin’ Eagle Wrecking Crew Race SummaryMain Event Finish Heat Finish Qualifying
Jared Mees 1st 1st 1st
Kenny Coolbeth 4th 2nd 7th
Bryan Smith 11th 3rd 11th
Joe Kopp 14th 1st 3rd
AMA Twins Top 10 Point Standings(Following two of 13 events)
1. JARED MEES, Screamin’ Eagle/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson 39
2. KENNY COOLBETH, Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson 38
3. Chris Carr, Quality Checked Certified Ford Harley-Davidson 31
4. Jake Johnson, National Cycle Harley-Davidson 29
5. Shaun Russell, Rogers Lake Rac Harley-Davidson 26
6. BRYAN SMITH, Screamin’ Eagle/Pat Moroney’s Harley-Davidson 23
T7. JOE KOPP, Screamin’ Eagle/Team Latus Harley-Davidson 19
T7. Johnny Murphree, National Cycle Harley-Davidson 19
9. Glen Schnabel, American Suzuki 17
10. Jethro Halbert, Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson 15
TRUE-TRACK BACK ON TRACK–Funny you ask, just spoke to Ronnie about it this morning!He’s got a new guy working at the shop, all debt paid of, caught up withback orders and actually making and stocking inventory!
True Track isback on track.
NEW MODELS FROM BMC CHOPPERS– Love the review. Thankx the BMC testimonial is the best. That’s what it’s all about……..
Check this bike BMC built for Leupold scope company. Their 100 year bike.
The company turned 100 and they had us build a BMC tribute bike for them. Way cool, it’s the biggest scope company in the world.
–Mike & Windy Rouse
mwrouse@bendcable.com
COLORADO NOISE FIGHT– Council members Charlie Brown and Jeanne Faatz voted against the measure.The ordinance will require all motorcycle pipes to have a stamp to show they are in compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency noise standards.
Councilman Rick Garcia voted for the ordinance. “Hopefully they will stay out of Denver,” Garcia said about the motorcyclists with loud exhaust pipes.
Two years ago, CBS4 reported on how many motorcycles were violating Denver’s 80 decibel limit. Police from several agencies conducted a brief crackdown, but using a noise meter to catch a moving motorcycle was not an easy task.
City Council members were given a demonstration of both motorcycles in compliance with noise laws, and those that are not.
“There are a lot of one way streets in my district and late at night they’re wide open,” Councilwoman Jeannie Robb said. “These things take off and if they’re not EPA certified, you heard the difference.”
But from those who make a living installing the loud pipes there is another side to the story.
“Loud pipes will save lives because I see people not even paying attention until they hear the pipes and then they look over and see you,” a motorcycle mechanic said.
First time violators of the ordinance would get a $500 fine. For repeat offenders, it could go up to $999.
–Source: CBS4Denver.com
DENVER NOISE LAW DUE TO GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1– The nation’s largest motorcyclist group complained today that Denver’s new noise law is biased against bikers, and said it hopes to persuade city officials to modify the ordinance.
“We do understand the motivation behind legislation like this,” said Bill Wood, spokesman for the 280,000-member American Motorcyclist Association. But by working with the city, “we can come up with something better,” he said.
The law approved by City Council on Monday allows police to issue tickets for motorcycles made after 1982 if they lack factory-issued Environmental Protection Agency sound-test stamps.
But noisy cars and trucks are subject only to a sound-meter test, which motorcyclists say is more fair because it’s more objective, Wood said.
“They have created a double standard there,” he said. “The (EPA-approved) equipment standard only applies to motorcycles, and everybody else gets a (sound-metered) performance standard, which is just exactly what we?ve asked for.”
But Denver police say metering is labor-intensive and costly.
Meters cost at least $1,000 each, said Capt. Eric Rubin, head of the Traffic Operations Bureau. “We could not afford to outfit every officer with one or to keep them maintained or to provide that kind of training,” he said.
Motorcyclists also complain that the new law punishes all bikers for the few who rev up their hogs outside bars at closing time and rumble home through neighborhoods at full throttle.In 2002, the AMA and other motorcycle groups convinced Albuquerque to drop a law similar to Denver?s new ordinance.
The city switched to the sound-meter testing.
As motorcycles soar in popularity, the Ohio-based AMA finds itself battling noise bans in cities across the country.
“Noise has been an issue for decades,” Wood said, noting that the 83-year-old association launched a pre-World War II biker sound-awareness campaign with a character dubbed “Muffler Mike.”
“We’ve seen it across the country on an increasing basis in recent years,” he said, as cities seek to combat an increasingly noisy world.
Mr. Rick Garcia of the Denver City Counsel– It is obvious that the new noise ordnance is discrimination towards motorcyclist. To single out only motorcycles the way you have shows your true intentions. Yes there are motorcyclist that don’t seem to have common sense about their pipes, they are the ones you need to target, not all motorcyclist. All we can do is try our best to get the word out about you and your agenda and work very hard to vote you out of office. You will be getting national attention on this issue. The freedoms of American citizens are at risk now more than ever before in the history of the United States.
You will get your wish about keeping motorcyclist out of Denver, but the ones that will suffer are origination’s like the Children’s Hospital who benefit greatly from Biker charity functions.
The law as written gives the DPD the right to harass any and all motorcyclist regardless of the amount of noise under the guise of checking for the EPA sticker. My new 2007 motorcycle doesn’t have a EPA certified sticker on the exhaust pipes, so I am now a criminal.
–William Gilstrap
THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON NIGHTSTER LAUNCH SERIES ROLLS THROUGH MANHATTAN AND AUSTIN–The bare knuckled Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200N Nightster is at it again, only this time, the motorcycle invaded the streets of New York City. On May 3, a cross-section of young adults packed into the Emerica Product Showroom in SoHo for the second of six Nightster Launch events. The showroom was shoulder-to-shoulder by 7:30 p.m. Within the first two hours, people were literally spinning on their heads as freestyle break dancing broke out downstairs.
The Launch Party featured H-D designer Rich Christoph’s original Nightster sketches, his vision of what the blacked-out, raw Sportster model would look like when created, and two Nightster motorcycles for admirers to sit on. Also on display were a series of Ed Templeton photographs taken on the 2006 Wild Ride – the Emerica cross country skateboarding tour on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The Motor Company, in cooperation with Harley-Davidson of New York City, treated attendees to a wide array of prizes.
From Manhattan, the series made a turn toward the lone star state as it rolled into Austin, Texas, on May 18, at the Scoot Inn. Over 500 people attended to see the bikes, the artwork and talk to representatives from Central Texas Harley-Davidson and Cowboy Harley-Davidson. The tone hit a fever as Austin’s own The Riverboat Gamblers rocked the crowd.
Future Launch Parties are planned for Minneapolis, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Dates and locations are TBD.
OPEN ROAD BIKER.COM REVIEWS BIKERNET–Just thought I would let you know that I have done a review of your site. I know your site needs no publicity; I am just trying to provide my readers with quality content and helpful information. If you do happen to read it then if you have the time drop me a line and tell me what you think. I am a new guy to this website stuff and I am still learning it all as well as doing everything that is involved with the site my self.
–James “36 Special” Terrell
http://www.openroadbiker.net/
http://www.openroadbiker.net/index.php?/archives/67-Bikernet.html> http://www.openroadbiker.net/index.php?/archives/67-Bikernet.html
In my efforts to make my sites better I scour the web looking for web sites and try to determine what they are doing right or wrong. Early on I ran upon Bikernet.com. This site has been around for quite some time and seems to be very popular. Founded by Keith “Bandit” Ball, a name you may have seen in copies of your EasyRiders magazine, who has went on to create a website that is a storehouse of Biker fact, fiction, and rescources that are beyond comprehension. I have explored the website and found some of the best Biker lore stories that I have ever read and trip tales (both fact and fiction) that are in depth and drive a person to feel a desire to ride continually.
Only one part of the website remains that I have yet to visit and that is the subscription only portion dubbed The Cantina. I am not a fan of website subscriptions, mainly because I am poor but also because a lot of web sites abuse it. I think Bikernet may be the exception though. The subscription is fair and the content provided in the free section is high quality so I can only imagine what I would find in The Cantina.
One example of a fine article is this noise study about motorcycle noise levels.
Only a few things stick out in my mind that they could improve on over at Bikernet;
1. The site navigation is a little sketchy. There are so many articles and stories that it would help if they were categorized a little more other than the long list of stories that they have.
2. Over in the forums it seems no one is minding the shop. I registered over a month ago and I still have not received my account activation.
I know those are a couple of petty points but even awesome sites like Bikernet could use some improvement. As far as Bandit goes, well you will probably read some fairly strange stuff about him and I am sure most of it has to be true. Tune in to some of the stories and you will find out what I am taking about.
Continued On Page 3
June 7, 2007 Part 1
By Bandit | | General Posts
Hey,
This week feels different to me, like after a month of riding on a flat tire, and I finally aired it up. There’s something fresh and new about the last couple of days. We’re making progress on the Assalt Weapan for Bonneville. I straightened out my World Run Book Chapters in the Cantina. Finally, Trish (see above), was just inducted into the Girls Of Bikernet.
Last month was the largest readership month in the history of Bikernet.com. Some 335,000 folks came to Bikernet.com 650,000 times. It’s amazing and we appreciate it. I swear by the Bikernet Code of Ethics we will continue to do our utmost to bring you the best level of biker content in the world. Let’s hit the news:
THE BDL PAPERS FOR JUNE–Approximately 18 months ago we decided to eliminate the extra belt in all 4-speed kits, which include the 8 & 11mm drives.
The extra belt was a marketing idea we had back in 1995. Old time riders used to buy an extra belt and keep it in their saddlebags. We did it as a service to them.
It seems that the gesture was misunderstood by the new breed of rider, and they thought that the first belt would break soon and that is whywe put the extra belt in the kit.
“We believe that we have the right to change the design, change the make up of a kit or eliminate the extra belt without any prior notification.”
We are sorry if the elimination of the extra belt caused any problems.
Sincerely,
–Bob Galletti
On a side note, belt technology improved consistently over the last decade. More and more belts are bulletproof. Hell, they outlast engine rebuilds.–Bandit
RIDE THE CHOPPER, BABY – LIMITED EDITION PRINT FOR YOUR HOME OR OFFICE– Chris Kallas captures the spirit and freedom of riding a sled in “Desert Chopper”, featuring a tight blonde beauty on a red EVO-powered Chopper. His quality color lithograph prints are a signed limited edition of only 300 and are produced on 80# acid free cover stock.
Check out Chris Kallas’ the work here.
DIRECT DRIVE STARTER BELT DRIVES FROM RIVERA/PRIMO–Perfect for high performance, high compression motors needing significantly more than averageelectric start capabilities, RIVERA PRIMO’s new DIRECT DRIVE BELT DRIVE SYSTEM (BRUTE V) uses a 78-tooth starter ring gear on the back side of the front pulley.
The starter motor is then mounted to the rear of the front pulley, allowing the pinion gear to engage the starter ring gear. With the 54:1 starting ratio at the crank, mechanical efficiencyis improved approximately 96% !
The starter is a proprietary MONSTER TORQUE assembly with a 6:1 planetary gear reduction, made with components manufactured entirely in the U.S.A. & Canada and assembled in-house.
This motor pulls about 120 amps, as compared to 280-300 amps with the stock starter placement. The motor turns over so, so easily ! A
Our DIRECT DRIVE primary system is sold complete with RIVERA PRIMO’s renownedPRO-CLUTCH set-up, a two-piece polished motor plate and a super-stylish “3-D Flamed”or “Smoothie” outer belt guard, both crafted from billet aluminum and polished to a high lusterfinish.
PART NUMBER: 2016-0052 Brute V 3-1/2″ Wide, 14mm Belt Drive System w/ “3-D Flamed” Belt Guard& Direct Drive Center-Mounted Electric Start System / Includes Pro-Clutch
2016-0060 Brute V 3-1/2″ Wide, 14mm Belt Drive System w/”Smoothie”-Style Belt Guard & Direct Drive Center-Mounted Electric Start System / Includes Pro- Clutch
For further info on these & other fine products contact:
Rivera Primo Inc.
12450 Whittier Blvd.
Whittier, CA 90602
Tel: 800-872-1515
o 562-907-2600
o Fax: 562-907-2606
Web: www.riveraengineering.com
THE LEGEND TOP 50 CUSTOM BIKE SHOW HAS ADDED MORE CLASSES TO THE COMPETITION THIS YEAR MAKING THE BIGGEST SHOW IN STURGIS EVERY BETTER– Each year the top custom bike builders from around the world show off their most prized pieces in competition with the hopes of being named the best of the best in the industry. Last year’s categories included Hardlife, Lowlife, Open/Custom and Old School.
The show has been expanded this year to provide more classes of bikes including Harley Baggers and Soft-tails as well as Metric cruisers and Sportbikes? plus an international class.
This year’s show will be held Thursday, August 9th at the Top 50 Rally Park off Exit 46 on Interstate 90. Public viewing is from 10 am to 4:00 pm followed by an awards ceremony at 5 pm.
Although these world-class builders and their bikes should be entertaining enough, Top 50 Rally Park has even more planned for the day’s events! Red Bull TNT freestyle motocross shows, custom built hot rods and roadsters from Boyd Coddington’s Garage, and the Suicide Girls pin-up models will all be part of the action.
For more information, check out www.top50rallypark.com.
–Tyna Bower
605.737.4200 ext.7 #3
tyna@independentcycleinc.com
www.Top50RallyPark.com
www.independentcycleinc.com
GO GIT CHA MOMMA– A redneck family from the hills was visiting the city and they were in a mall for the first time in their lives. The father and son were strolling around while the wife shopped. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again.
The boy asked, “Paw, what’s at?”
The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, “Son, I dunno. I ain’t never seen anything like that in my entire life, I ain’t got no idea’r what it is.”
While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small circular number above the walls light up sequentially.
They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.
Then the walls opened up again and a gorgeous, voluptuous 24 year-old blonde woman stepped out.
The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son,
“Boy………………go git cha Momma
–from Rik Savenko
JAMMER OFFERS A SPIT-SHOVELHEAD ROCKER BOX KIT FROM STEVENSON’S CYCLE–The Shovelhead is one of the coolest looking motors ever produced, and splitting the rocker boxes makes it look just that much cooler! Now, all you Shovel owners who were thinking about splitting your rocker boxes, can actually do it? yourself! Before this kit, the rockers would need to be removed, welded, machined to exacting specifications, then all the outside oiler parts fabbed; time consuming, expensive, and requiring a great deal of expertise.
These split rocker boxes fit all Shovelhead motors manufactured from 1966 thru 1984 as well as all aftermarket motors using the same type of rocker box. The kit includes brand new rocker boxes in raw metal form with the machined areas cut as shown, ready for you to finish and send out to chrome, polish, powder coat, or just leave in the rough form. Includes exterior copper oil line kit and machined rocker shaft nuts.
Developed in partnership with our buddy Steve Broyles, Sr. of Stevenson’s Cycle? thanks Steve, these are Bitchin!
CCI # 632910 Split Shovelhead Rocker Box Kit _ $599.95 Retail
BIKERNET TELEVISION LAUNCHES BANDIT’S INTERVIEW ABOUT HIS SALT SHAKING RECORD BY BILL HAYES– Bandit talks to Bill Hayes of The Biker Inner Circle on Bikernet TV about his 5 Ball Racing Team and their assault on Bonneville with the Salt Shaker.
Bandit recalls his AMA World Record on his Custom Chrome derived Salt Shaker. Click here for Bandit’s interview on Bikernet TV.
ASK MR. D&D – THE PERFORMANCE PIPE EXPERT– Question: Why do mufflers blue? Answer: Chrome turns blue due to oxidation at high temperature. If you look behind our heat shields you Will find bluing on all of our headpipes due to exhaust gas temperatures above 1000 degrees F. The heat-shields provide an air-gap to reduce conductive heat transfer, plus chrome plating to reduce radiant heat transfer. Also the billet clamp mounts and the heavy gage of the heat-shields themselves help prevent hot spots. Our baffle designs incorporate a variety of protective chambers, sealed exhaust pathways and heavy gage materials to protect the finish.
Bluing of heat shields and muffler housings is caused by excessive heat generated from improper fuel mixture, ignition timing, or a combination of the two. Rich fuel mixtures burn inside the pipe and lean mixtures raise the exhaust gas temperature .
This inquiry was sent in from Brian Cook of Speedway, IN. Mr. D&D is taking all questions. Send your performance exhaust question to Mr. D&D at Ol’ SKOOL RODZ ATTACKED BY ANOTHER PUBLISHER–Imitation is the sincerest form…..of being anunimaginative prick loser.– Josh STEAMED UP? CHECK THIS–These buttplugs from Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka Kansas should have been dealt with long ago. If you want to see just how perverted these idiotic assholes are, check out their web site, godhatesfags.com. They protested funerals of aids patients until the war came along, and use their resources to protest the funerals of our fallen heroes. A little good news from the mid west. Nut case, Shirley Phelps-Roper has been arrested for having contributing to the delinquency of a minor. You can read the article here Tinman Shirley Phelps-Roper, 49, of Topeka was protesting at the Bellevue funeral of Spc. William Bailey with a group from Westboro Baptist Church. The church, founded by her father, has protested at the funerals of numerous soldiers. Bellevue Police Capt. Herb Evers said an officer saw a boy stomping on an American flag. Phelps-Roper was then cited for allegedly contributing to the delinquency of a minor and desecrating a flag. Both are misdemeanors. She was released from the Sarpy County Jail after posting 10 percent of $1,500 bail. She has a July 11 court date. A 1977 state law prohibits desecration of the flag: “A person commits the offense of mutilating a flag if such person intentionally casts contempt or ridicule upon a flag by mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning or trampling upon such flag.” Phelps-Roper, who is an attorney, acknowledged that she allowed her 10-year-old son, Jonah, to stand on the flag – an action that she says is protected by the U.S. Constitution. In 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that outlawed burning the American flag. “Punishing desecration of the flag dilutes the very freedom that makes this emblem so revered,” the court said. Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov said he is considering filing additional charges of child abuse and disturbing the peace. He is also looking at the correlation between hate crimes and hate speech and her acts. Polikov said that the mother interjected the boy into a volatile situation and that the group may have crossed the line to using fighting words toward the families of soldiers, which he said would not be protected under the guarantee of freedom of speech. Phelps-Roper offered justification for the act. “Every symbol of the rebellious, doomed America must necessarily be disrespected,” she said. “The thing they worship, the flag, is worthless. It’s a piece of cloth.” She said the Nebraska statute forbidding flag mutilation should have been repealed years ago. “Those rogue cops cooked up this scheme,” she said, “and now the question is whether the person who sits in the office of the prosecutor has character. If they pursue this, our next stop will be federal court in Nebraska to challenge that unconstitutional statute.” Polikov said the charges he will be filing are not gamesmanship. “We won’t shy away from (prosecuting) desecration of the flag because of freedom of speech,” he said. “We will get a new ruling on these charges. We will file every charge we think we can prove.” –?Suburban Newspapers 2007 CURT LOUT COLORADO BIKERNET GANGSTA PHOTOG PLANS ART EXHIBIT IN THE DESERT–We are planning a Chopper Art Show at a Gallery in the Santa Fe Art district, will provide all the details next week. I was wondering if anyone is interested in buying some prints. GIVE ME A SHOUT!! Thanks for pluggn’ the Chopper Art Show, but the show is in Colorful COLORADO. No more Margaritas & Jack Daniels while you are sitting @ the keyboard! Bitchin’ Kustom Chopper Art Show! Details coming soon! Curt Lout GRIMES TAKES ANOTHER NITRO HARLEY-DAVIDSON VICTORY AT NHRA EXHIBITION EVENT–TOPEKA, Kan. (June 4, 2007) – Tommy Grimes continued his winning streak at NHRA exhibition events on Sunday. In fact, his competition hasn’t changed much either. Grimes faced Doug Vancil in the Nitro Top Fuel final for the third time as some of the biggest stars of the AHDRA series made the first of three scheduled appearances at NHRA POWERade national events in 2007. Grimes rode his Ray Price owned and tuned Harley-Davidson to a 6.321-second pass at 226.39 mph to beat Doug Vancil’s 6.426 at 218.23 on his Vance & Hines Motorsports Harley-Davidson. It was the third time the two riders have faced each other at an NHRA exhibition final, but the second time they have raced each other this season. Grimes beat Vancil in both of the final rounds at the 2005 NHRA race held at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., as well as the 2006 event in Phoenix. Vancil, however, earned the AHDRA victory over Grimes earlier this season at the national meet in Commerce, Ga. “Doug whipped me in Atlanta and I told him before the final that I owed him one,” Grimes said. “Once the race was over, he said we were even. Winning was fantastic and I think hitting the 226-mph mark was just awesome. We just wanted to come out here and do the best we could.” Grimes also took the top qualifying honors for the weekend. Grimes posted a 6.406 at 220.69. Vancil was second in qualifying with a 6.560 at 217.81. The Winston Salem, N.C., resident said the performances started out shaky for everyone this weekend. “I think the track came around a bit and the traction just got better,” Grimes said. “I had some problems on Friday and I went over and talked to some of the Pro Stock drivers and they said they had issues spinning the tires (and losing traction) too. But the NHRA does such a great job prepping the track and we were able to overcome those issues and run some quick times. Our Harley-Davidson just got better with every pass.” The AHDRA racers will have two more chances to earn an NHRA event this season. AHDRA competitors will also be at the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway (July 6-8) and the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park (Oct. 5-7) in Richmond, Va. Grimes will be at both, as neither is too far away from home. He’ll be there because his owner gave him the chance just before that first win in 2005. “Ray asked me to ride the bike just days before we won Chicago in 2005 and I’ve been honored to keep riding it ever since,” Grimes said. “It takes a lot of nerve to let another rider get on your bike and Ray helps me all the time. He’s so patient and we have a good time at every event. Especially if we can walk away with the win.” The next AHDRA Screamin’ Eagle championship event will be held in Norwalk, Ohio, June 9-10. TEASE OF NEWS TO COME–BIKERNET NEWS SPECIAL REPORTS–BIKERNET REVIEW ON OPEN ROAD WEBSITE, NIGHTSTER LAUNCH, COLORADO FIGHTING NOISE RESTRICTIONS, TRUE-TRACK BACK ON TRACK, H-D AT ATLANTIC BEACH BIKE FEST AND JOHN REED & CCI PARTING WAYS. Don’t miss almost 75 more pages of hot action about our industry. Continued On Page 2
Friday July 6th-7pm
238s Gallery
DENVER, COLORADO
www.STUDIO9000.com
303.921.4590
The Guilty Profile
By Bandit | | General Posts
1. How did you get started in the Bike building industry?
First let me say I’ve been a biker since my early teens with my first Honda moto-cross bike then migrated onto the street with a series of crotch rockets and cruisers. Only when I grew up and got into my 30s did I come to appreciate the v-twin market and the styling. Overall I’ve probably designed and built (with the help of countless friends) 15-20 bikes for myself. I jumped into the industry by merging two companies together…which is now Guilty Customs. My background is more business and design, while Jason Gray’s is paint and design and Mike Drum is mechanical portion…so it’s a good match for us all. Prior to Guilty, I have held executive corporate positions with Fortune 50 companies, small non-profits and consulting companies in the US.
2. Does Guilty Custom have a unique style of fabrication? If so, how would you characterized or define it?
At first glance you will see that we lean towards a very classic, retro style. But we don’t feel the need to strictly hold ourselves to the purist ideas of the“Old school” either. For instance, you will often see us incorporate modern styling cues like a wider rear tire on billet wheels or very clean internal wiring that looks more streamlined and less clunky and raw than what many people envision as “retro” style.
If I had to define it, I would put it this way: Whereas a few builders are known for being influenced by, and even incorporating classic Hot-rod automobile parts in their bikes, Say, Hank Young or Cole Foster. We are big fan’s of the resto-mods. Resto-Mods are old cars that have been restored but in a way that stays true to the original, or period-correct shape. So you would instantly recognize the car to be based on a classic ‘69 Mustang, or ‘57 Chevy for instance, but it would have a thoroughly re-worked motor, modern interior with all the creature comforts, riding on updated suspension, big wheels, wide tires, and insane paint. In other words, not just an old car, but one with modern twists like the rides built by guys like Foose or Coddington.
So we like our bikes to look very classic, not like some of these fully molded spaceship looking designs, we’re seeing a lot of lately. And we design them to work reliably and be comfortable to ride.
3. The Guilty Crew.
We’re a small and effective crew here at Guilty…..besides myself we have….
Jason Gray
Partner, designer/painter.
Over the last 10 years Jason has developed a strong reputation all over Florida and beyond with his own custom paint and body shop, but for the last few years he specialized exclusively in Motorcycles. Being a rider himself, and after tearing down and rebuilding countless bikes, it was a foregone conclusion that he would eventually start building ground-up customs for his clients. In early 2006 we (Cj and Jason) partnered to create Guilty Customs. Jason’s involvement in the design process from start to finish means that the whole bike, from choosing which components, to sheet metal fabrication to paint remains cohesive.
Mike Drum
Lead Tech, Shop Foreman.
Mike became the backbone of the shop. He is an MMI Trained Technician with a love for the old Harleys. (You know he must be good… He rides a '74 Ironhead and it always runs like new!) He handles the building and mechanical duties, and also shares in fabrication and bodywork when needed. He's worked with Jason long enough to become a decent painter. It's great to have an all-around talent like him at the shop, who can be counted on to take care of just about anything.
Derrick Addis
Inmate/Worker Bee
Derrick is the kind of young, willing worker every shop needs. A sports-bike enthusiast, at only 19 years old, he's already way ahead of the curve mechanically. He helps out in the paint shop, and even puts his computer skills to good use in the office. But don't think he's just a gopher… He's currently attending MMI, and hopes to, one day, put all this experience to work building custom sportbikes.
Jason O'Rand
Inmate/Worker Bee
This is another young guy working with us while attending MMI. He's almost finished, and is making plans to attend welding school. We like guys like Jason who know how to do just about everything. It's easier to work alongside people who understand your job also. Jason has somehow owned about 20 motorcycles and a few classic cars too which, I believe is the criteria for actual 'Gearhead' status.
4. When it comes to designing and fabricating bikes, what are the main priorities and objective of Guilty Customs?
Our design philosophy is simply: To make clean looking, retro styled motorcycles that fit the rider and can be ridden long distances. This means everything has to be in comfortable reach of the rider, so the profiles are hot rod inspired, but not too radical or extreme.
5. What kind of fabrication, design and build skills did you guys have prior to this venture?Jason- worked at and eventually owned his own body shop. Years of working with metal, fiberglass, urethane, plastics, etc… this type of experience taught him to mold various materials to his needs. Cj’s experience has been mostly working with design and fabrication of raw metal (welding mostly). Thank goodness for high school metal class!
6. Where do you get the inspiration to fabricate the way you do?
Combined, both Cj and Jason have, over the years, looked at thousands of motorcycles which has helped us develop an acute sense of what we like and what we hate. We have strong opinions about what a classic motorcycle shape should look like. Of course, we have our influences: Johnny Chop (r.i.p.) Hank Young, Scott Long and others have inspired us… But we feel confident that the stuff we are thinking up is pretty fresh on it's own.
7. What are those things you always try to implement or express when fabricating a new bike?
Cleanliness is paramount. Stream lined wiring, controls, simple lines, and a lack of tacky ornamentation and fluff. And we stay away from trends, especially in our paint. We don't ever want to build a “fashionable” bike, that two years from now, you'll be hesitant to ride because the fad has come and gone.
8. What were your main goals with fabrication of Lucille?
We pretty much stuck to our overall philosophy here. This is an unmistakably classic profile, with the gooseneck frame, Springer front end, and the peanut tank mounted high on the backbone. Also, the external fender struts and the satin wheels, that recall the torque thrust Cragers of the sixties, really stand out. But we included some modern elements, like a wide rear tire, and the modern drivetrain with electric start.
9. What are the main characteristics of this fabrication?
Well there’s not a lot of sheet metal on the bike, and of course that’s by design. But the Sportster tank, mounted high on the backbone, the short rear fender with the clean external struts, and the classic Moon Eyes oil bag mounted down low to create a lot of empty space under the seat, are all points of interest.
13. To what extent did you have to design, modify or relocate components in order to get the final result? Can you give us examples?
The Moon Eyes Oil tank always presents a challenge, how to use the Mooneyes mounts which are so recognizable, but integrate it into the flow of the frame.
Mike came up with the ingenious setup welded right into the down tubes that still allows the oil tank to be removed easily for service. The fender struts are our own design, created in cad and cut on a waterjet to fit perfectly. We fabbed up a clean little electrical box under the tranny to hold circuit breakers, relays, etc. the coil and regulator mounts are also custom made to fit down in the nooks and crannies of the drivetrain, but still remain accessible for cleaning and service.
14. What is the fabrication process for Lucille?
We set the Santee gooseneck frame on the lift, took the die grinder to every bracket, mount and tab, and then rebuilt her to be clean and functional with no fluff. This allowed us to integrate the sheet metal into the bike so it doesn’t look like an afterthought.
15. Based on the knowledge your team has as designers and fabricators of Lucille; which are the things (components, parts and/or forms) you consider are truly unique about this bike and about the way you do things?
We know there is nothing new under the sun. There isn’t really anything revolutionary about this bike, but with all the overdone complicated “choppers” out there, it almost feels like a fresh idea to strip a bike down and keep it real. For instance the oil bag mounted on the lower down tubes has been done before… but we felt like we hit on a way of doing it that we’ve never seen. Also we found a relatively new product out there, the NAMZ braided copper oil and fuel lines. When we saw them, we knew we had to put them on this bike, but the copper leafing in the paint really compliments those and brings the whole scheme together. It’s details like those that make you look twice or three times at the bike.
16. How long did it take to design and fabricate Lucille?
A lot of these ideas had been bouncing around in our heads for the last year or more, but we don’t usually completely design a bike on paper. Often you have to get it up on the lift and kind of let it design itself. In other words, put up the main components and then just watch it evolve. That’s what happened here. This bike really came together over about a 3-week period, from start to finish, and as usual, we were making it up as we went along. (At least aesthetically)
17. It is clear that engineering simplicity, functionality and retro styling are present in Lucille, What else, do you believe distinguishes this fabrication?
We are firm believers in the old idea KISS “Keep it Simple Stupid!” That pretty much sums it up. Clean looks, great paint, and total ride-ability governed our thinking here.
18. Why the name “Lucille”?
One of Jason’s favorite old movies is the Paul Newman Classic from 1967, “Cool Hand Luke.”
There is this great scene in the movie where the chain gang is working on the side of the road and this hot little thing comes outside her house and starts washing her car in a seductive way to tease the inmates. You know, all soapy and wet… the whole thing! One of the guys wonders aloud what her name is, and Dragline, this cool old guy played by George Kennedy utters this classic line in a way that only a desperate inmate could.
And that pretty much sums up this bike, innocent, well built, and seductive. Kind of a tease! So we went with the name Lucille.
19. As it is portrayed in Lucille, your fabricating skills are definitely clean, simple and functional. What can we expect from Guilty Customs in the near future? Are you going to continue with such style, or are we about to see something completely different from you guys?
You won’t find any dramatic changes from us anytime soon. As mentioned, we’ve found our niche, and we’re sticking with it.
Recently, we signed an exclusive relationship with Rick Krost’s U.S. Choppers, where we are offering the street version of his famous board track racing replicas. This bike offers authentic 1930's styling cues, but in a way that can be ridden every day comfortably. Rick developed the brilliant chassis, but we are taking it to the next level stylistically and we’re doing some pretty cool things with it to make it our own. You’re going to see a few of those coming out of the shop in the near future, along with the classic tall chopper, but with some Guilty ques.
Also look for variations on Lucille and the USChopper models that are more friendly for women and riders of smaller stature. This is a demographic we are really focusing on.
Bonneville Effort 2007, Chapter 14
By Bandit | | General Posts
Once the engine was in place I needed to make my custom set of D&D pipes in a couple of days, or die trying. The buzz was high for the Bub’s Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials. Dave Rash, the D&D boss, called me with the exhaust formula. He’s a speed and performance nut. D&D dyno tunes every exhaust system they make. “Don’t run 1 ¾ exhaust at all,” Dave started. “Start with 1 7/8-inch pipe for 14 inches and step up to 2-inch until each pipe is exactly 35 inches long.” Then I’m supposed to slip on and weld on a carefully designed and ground collector. Finally an empty, slip-on megaphone needed adapting
This system has been tested to give me maximum hp at 6,500 to 6,800 rpms. “We’ve discovered that the two-into-one systems generate 20 more horses than single exhausts,” said Dave.
Here’s more on performance exhaust systems from Paul Davis:
The Nascar exhaust are stepped, 3 steps for each runner. They are different animal though. For bikes 3 steps, 2 into 1 “Y” merge collector are a real good combination for the street.
You see alot of drag racers use 2 into 1 w/ a “Y' merge colllector. Top Fuel, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, etc. What you'll notice is usually they have 3 steps. 3 different dia. smallest dia. starting from the head. It's really nothing new.
Three steppin' moves the power band up and prevents reversion. Ceramic coating and or header wrap keeps the exh. gases moving good.
Individual pipes are good at WOT. Look at NHRS record setting Buell. They don't use a typical 2 into 1 Buell race pipe. Indivdual runners like what you were talking about using. Your thinking of Aero is right on.
–Paul
I was wrapped as tight as a .45 magnum shell the first day of pipe making. Bonneville was looming like a 10 pound ballpeen hammer over my thumbnail. We were scrambling, making calls, counting our pennies, praying for surf, and yet it was all going reasonably well in our over-heated shop—unless any obstacle jumped in the way or caused unforeseen delays and slowed progress. It was smoking that day as temperatures on the coast glided toward the 90s.
Enough sniveling, I had pipes to build, wiring to figure out and hydraulic lines to make. We were bugged by our first two-into-one attempt and I didn’t like how far they stuck out in the wind. I was burnin’ daylight and grappling with decisions. I like to make a solid plan, after thorough research and go for it. I questioned my plan, called Berry Wardlaw and Dave Rash for info, bobbed and weaved into action again with the best data at my back. We needed the pipes on and the bike plumbed and primed by Thursday when Berry Wardlaw, from Accurate Engineering flew in for tuning and dyno work. Man-oh-man, we were cookin' with hot grease and lots of garlic.
I needed to jump back into the shop. My nerves were shot, my head over-loaded with info and not enough time was pressuring me to the deck.
So much is happening. I wake up some mornings in a cold sweat, nervous, planning, reaching for contacts, phone numbers, answers and components. We built the exhaust system yesterday, Jeremiah and I. We worked for about six hours, stood back and proudly admired our completed, high-tech, D&D supported and designed, stepped megaphone system. Just then, in walked the queen of Bikernet, the gracious Sin Wu. The dog bowed to her then licked her leg as she passed and commented, “What about Valerie’s leg?”
I immediately knew what her highness was referring to. I had that aspect and obstacle to exhaust system planning engrained into my brain. Then, just an hour prior to system completion, I spaced. Dave Rash, the D&D Boss, suggested the lift and the line of the frame called to us, “Aerodynamics.” We lost sight of Valerie’s dainty foot being grilled. We adjusted and straightened out the system to a mere 3-degree lift.
Rick Krost, the boss of U.S. Choppers, drifted into the shop last night, picked up the pipes for precision TIG welding. We just tacked them with our shop MIG. Then this morning as I sat down to fire up the computer I noticed an exhaust sensor wire lead on my desk. “Fuck,” we need to install the sensor bungs into the pipes before they’re Jet hot coated. I need to remember to take them to U.S. Choppers on Monday.
At this point information and data gathering was on overload. In a matter of a half hour I can assembled three completely varied opinions and solutions and each one made perfect sense. Even the oil issue has considerations. Here’s a note from our oil guru and Amsoil sponsor:
I talked with Berry on Friday and he wants to use the 60W Racing oil. It's on it's way from the Las Vegas Amsoil warehouse. As I said the goal for me is to help you set another record and get you the products that you and Berry are most comfortable with.
You guys may want to try both oils (20w50 and straight synthetic 60w) while you are on the dyno to see which one gives you the best performance, since you should have more than enough oil for the event itself. Could be a couple of horsepower difference but the only sure way to know is to test both oils after you have the tuning dialed in. You'll also be able to listen to the engine to hear if there's any difference in the level of mechanical sounds the engine makes under power with each oil too.
–Nick
For All Your High Performance Lubrication Supplies.
http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/1124190/
Nick's Performance Accessories
Independent Amsoil Dealer ZO# 1124190
Phone: 502-548-3023
Fax: 509-691-4313
amsoildealer@mac.com
On top of a Bikernet Extreme Deadline, trying to build this monster, tune it and fly out to the Salt Flats, we have weather reports coming at us from the vast salty Utah.
UB Motorcycle Speed Trials Salt Condition Updates
Sunday, 19 August 2007
August 18th 2007
Speedweek is now over and our track prep guy is on the salt. It rained last night and the place is flooded again. There are huge potholes and problems at the access road due to the traffic. We are hoping to repair enough of this so that we have a better passage for access. Our International long course is badly damaged for the first few miles. While is it is still a little early to tell, the forcast is looking positive and we will be checking the salt daily and placing our updates here. We will endeavor to place the updates by 12 noon each day so that you can check in and get the latest information. Our best hope at this point is to get an 8 mile International Course and the 3 mile RWB course, but realistically it is looking more like and 5 International and 3 RWB course.
We’re at a juncture where data sorting is troublesome. I’m getting tons of information and trying to keep all my design aspects in check. I don’t want to bolt a damn thing on the bike that will catch wind, yet from time to time I’m caught in a bind between the air and horsepower. “You’re the Picasso,” Berry Wardlaw told me on the phone. “Stick to your guns.” That’s easier said than done when you’re headed into space on a untested, unproven rocket. But in a sense he’s right.
It was Sunday and it shoulda been Margarita time. We should fire up the barbecue, ride the coast and chase women around the shop. That’s not going to happen, unfortunately. We’re conflicted with a terrible case of Bonnevillittis. We are going to attempt to bleed the rear brakes, continue to mess with the wiring and make a list of nitrous system lines. The pipes need to be jet hot coated, a few more parts need Black Magic powder. Jim Waggoman is finishing the beanie helmet fairing and painting it. Jim Murillo is working on the tank finish and Berry Wardlaw is flying out for tuning on Thursday. No time to lose.
I need to have the bike ready to fired by Thursday afternoon. That’s just the overall list, there’s a myriad of tiny troubles attached to each chapter, but we’ll deal with each one, and attempt to accomplish an extra feat from time to time—if we have time.
One of my benefactors is Kent Weeks the master builder behind Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston. The bike building workaholic is always close by a phone, when I need a question answered. Recently he mentioned how cool it would be if he was down the block. Here’s my response:“Like you said about being down the block. Man, I wish that was the case, but it's good to know I can call you, if I'm in a jam.
This has been the scramble of a lifetime. Last week I was beginning to feel a tad out of control. Shit wasn't moving fast enough and time was slipping past.
Today, I set up the rear brake and bled the system, dug through old throttle cables and set up a set all adjusted and oiled. Then I cut and fit the spark plug wires. I want the bike to be running by Thursday when Berry arrives.
We made the pipes yesterday. Rick is TIG welding them and I'll take 'em to the Jet Hot joint, Engineering Applications in Vernon, California on Monday. I need to run a bunch of errands tomorrow. I need to wire on Tuesday and pick up the pipes on Wednesday and I'll be ready to rock. Hang on.”
He got right back to me, “Ah yes a fine dance of madness performed to a symphony of calamities,” Kent said. “If it's anything like trying to get something done on a deadline around here that is. Sounds like you are on track for the most part. I will send all the good thoughts and wishes I can afford your way, until you make it home!”
I’ve also grappled with the wheel bearing spacing with some unwarranted concern. These hot American Wheels cut by Renegade are equipped with sealed bearings and center spacers. I had all these crazed notions about spacing, torgues, end-plays, drag, etc. I called Kim Hotinger and he turned me onto Wendell Smith, of Renegade, for the bottom line (714) 936-5222. Unlike Timken bearings, which could be over tightened causing binding, wear and meltdown. Sealed bearings are lined up with spacers and everything is butted together for a simple fit. “You got it,” Wendell said and I was relieved to know all was well at 5-Ball racing.
Time is such a devastating factor for any race effort. I would love to research every miniscule aspect including the wheel bearings. A couple of readers have suggested ceramic bearings. Paul Davis found a connection: Check this website out for Ceramic Brg's Also The list will be long tomorrow, but spark plug wires are made, throttle oiled and cables adjusted. I soldered one set and brazed the other (one set was too short). Rear chain is adjusted and rear wheel tightened. Safety wire holes are drilled. Remind me to ask someone about spark plug wire boots. My helper bailed on me today–no show.I'm down to lots of wiring, oil lines, and gas tank. Pingle said they would send a petcock and I found one today digging for throttle cable ferrules. I knew there was something else. I spaced the caliper over the H-D rotor and bled the brakes with Nyla's assistance. A final note from a reader:It is great thing that you are doing. Bigger than you know, and Valerie is the best choice for a Front person. She is a great woman. She can handle a motorcycle too, I have a lot of respect for her. Keep it up Brother I will be watching. –Nitro Scott
June 5, 2007
By Bandit | | General Posts
THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com. NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish
National Coalition of Motorcyclists
UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY ?Speeding Into The Future? was the theme for this year?s NCOM Convention, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, over Mother?s Day weekend, May 10-13, 2007 at the University Hilton. Another near-record crowd attended the National Coalition of Motorcyclists? 22nd Annual Convention, converging from virtually every state and representing most Motorcyclists? Rights Organizations and Confederations of Clubs across the country.
Hosted by the Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of North Carolina and the Confederation of Clubs of North Carolina, this annual conference draws prominent leaders in the bikers? rights movement to a different location each year to discuss topics of concern to all riders. Meetings, seminars and group discussions focus on safety issues, legal rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride.
This year?s agenda was packed with informative and thought provoking meetings such as the NCOM Board of Directors Meeting, NCOM Legislative Task Force Meeting, A.I.M. Attorney Conference, A.I.M. Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Christian Unity Conference, Clean and Sober Roundtable, Women In Motorcycling, SMRO President?s Meeting, Minority Outreach, and the ever popular and always inspiring Confederations of Clubs General Patch Holder Meeting.
Seminars and workshops included ?Government Grants ? How To Write & Obtain?, ?EPA Effects On Shops & Riders?, ?Freedom of the Road & Use of the Courts?, ?Loud Pipes?, ?Fourth Amendment ? And Other Rights Under The Constitution?, ?National Transportation Safety Board?, ?5 Steps To Freedom?, and ?NAFTA Superhighway?.
Keith Ball, former editor of Easyriders magazine and founder of Bikernet.com, was entertaining and informative with his historical perspective on the roots of the bikers rights movement as the featured dinner speaker during the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday evening. He also gave a presentation on the Bikernet Independent noise study, which is being used right now to fight the new harsh Denver Noise Ordinance. It?s available on Bikernet for anyone dealing with noise issues.Bikernet Independent Noise Study
Silver Spoke Award recipients honored during the banquet were: MEDIA: Brian & Toni Shearon of Thunder Roads Magazine; GOVERNMENT: Tommy Thompson, former Secretary of Health & Human Services/former Governor of Wisconsin and Presidential hopeful; LEGAL: Mitch Proner, A.I.M. Attorney for New York & Connecticut; MERITORIOUS: Bill ?Snap? Lines of the Patriot Guard Riders; and SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Barbara Alvar of ABATE of New Mexico; Carmaletta Lara of ABATE of Oklahoma; and Patti Nasrallah of ABATE of Florida.
Receiving the Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was Rick Nail, past President of CBA/ABATE of NC and former member of the NCOM Board of Directors.
The National Coalition of Motorcyclists was happy to welcome the following as new NCOM Member Groups: ??The Patriot Guard Riders, ABATE of the Garden State (NJ), BikePAC of Idaho, Freemasons Riding Club ? National, Sovereign Riders MC, American Cruisers MC Chapters #56, #150, and #55, and the Southern California Biker Alliance.
The 2007 Convention was dedicated to the memory of Karen Bolin of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, KC Mallady of ABATE of Florida, Marty Shultz of ABATE of Maryland and ?Tank? of His Laboring Few Motorcycle Ministry.
Next year?s NCOM Convention will be held May 8-11, 2008 in Houston, Texas at the Sheraton North at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Call NCOM for further details at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.On-A-Bike.com.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION LABELS MOTORCYCLE DEATHS ?EPIDEMIC? The World Health Organization (WHO) recently expressed alarm over the growing number of accidents involving young people on motorcycles in Asia, warning that the situation has become a public health epidemic.
The WHO noted that young motorcyclists make up a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities among road users in many Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Malaysia. “Factors such as speed, no helmets, risk-taking behavior and drunk-driving contribute to the rising trend,” according to the WHO regional office, which is based in Manila, Philippines.
It suggested “simple measures” that could be taken to help make roads safer as the WHO marked observance of the first United Nations Global Road Safety Week, April 23-29. These measures include setting and enforcing appropriate speed and blood alcohol limits, as well as introducing and enforcing mandatory seat belt, helmet and child restraint laws.
SAFETY CHIEF SAYS HELMETS & RIDER TRAINING SHOULD BE PROVIDED It’s time to make helmets and training standard equipment for motorcyclists, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said during remarks to the Motorcycle Industry Council in Indianapolis on February 19th. Peters called on motorcycle manufacturers to provide free or heavily discounted DOT-certified helmets or rider safety training with the purchase of every new motorcycle sold in the United States.
“Helmets and proper training are just as important as brakes or headlights when it comes to the well-being of motorcyclists,” Secretary Peters said. “We shouldn’t be letting any customer take a bike out of the store without a helmet as part of the package. Safety shouldn’t have to be an option when purchasing a motorcycle.”
Secretary Peters also said the Department of Transportation was “attacking” the challenge of motorcycle safety on several fronts. Last September, the Department awarded over $6 million in safety grants to states to support motorcycle safety. In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has established a Motorcycle Advisory Council to focus on making roads safer for motorcyclists and will continue work begun by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on a Motorcycle Crash Causation Study to identify why motorcycle crashes occur and find ways to reduce the fatality and injury rates.
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY STUDY BEING CONDUCTED The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has launched a milestone 3-year study to determine the effectiveness of periodic involvement in a series of motorcycle rider education and training courses.
“The Longitudinal Study to Improve Crash Avoidance Skills” will study the crash-avoidance skills of motorcyclists who have taken a series of rider training courses, beginning with the MSF Basic RiderCourse, which is the learn-to-ride course, and graduates will be offered, via random sampling, three additional training opportunities at periodic intervals throughout the study.
“The MSF’s rider education and training system used in this study is built upon the principle of safety training renewal,” said Dean Thompson, MSF director of communications. “We believe a rider’s decision-making and crash-avoidance skills can benefit from being refreshed over time. It is important for riders to regularly refresh their knowledge, skills and risk management strategies. We’re strong advocates of lifelong learning.”
Rider knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences will be evaluated and measured over time. The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center will provide an independent evaluation of research that will for the first time take a comprehensive, field-based look at the benefits of ongoing participation in a rider education and training system, and its subsequent effect on crash avoidance skills and real-world outcomes.
MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS — COMING TO A STREET NEAR YOU Several cities in Massachusetts are working to keep motorcycle drivers safe on the roads in their communities.
Last year, the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) requested a grant from the Auto Insurer?s Bureau to help fund the erection of motorcycle awareness signs, and Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation awarded a $15,000 grant to the MMA to purchase and install 500 2-by-8-foot signs, which read ?Check twice – Save a life, MOTORCYCLES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!?
Representatives of MMA are seeking permission to install at least one sign per community. Over a hundred communities are participating.
According to Wendell Davis, MMA District II Coordinator, Massachusetts is on the cutting edge of motorcycle safety programs. ?This sign will help not just motorcyclists, but pedestrians, bicyclists, etc., by making people more aware overall,? he said.
Davis added that Massachusetts is unique in promoting such an active awareness program and that ?Massachusetts is one of the few states where (motorcycle) registrations have gone up and deaths have gone down.?
SAUDIS BAN BIKES Earlier this year, Saudi Arabian officials increased security in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the annual Hajj by banning motorcycles. In an article titled ?Reckless Bikers Risk Losing Rides?, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Saudi officials impounded 350 motorbikes during heightened security operations, telling Arabnews.com that the motorcycle ban was a response to problems related to hit-and-run accidents as well as thefts where criminals used motorcycles to navigate crowds and escape quickly.
Motorcycles have also been banned because riders in past years have used them as unsafe, unlicensed, one-passenger taxis. Transportation services are in high demand during the Hajj, causing a problem with taxis and buses. Noise and pollution caused by motorcycles and scooters was also cited as a concern.
AFRICAN COUNTRY BANS WOMEN FROM BIKES The Nigerian state of Kano has banned women from riding commercial motorcycles, according to the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which warned that women who ride risk being arrested.
“The sharia police, otherwise known as Hisbah committee, have concluded arrangements to commence enforcement of some aspects of the state’s sharia law as passed by the state House of Assembly,” the NAN said. The law bans women from riding commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada in Nigeria, and also bars Muslim Okada operators from carrying women on their motorcycles.
Other aspects of the sharia law that would be implemented include the ban on alcohol consumption, hard drugs and prostitution, the commander said. Kano, one of 12 states in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north that adopted the strict Islamic law in 2000, is the first to introduce segregated public transport.
INDIA MAKES HELMETS COMPULSORY IN CITIES Wearing helmets is now mandatory within the city limits of six city corporation areas in the state of Bangalore, India, though one large city was exempted from the rule in view of the high daytime temperatures there.
Passengers, or so-called pillion riders, are also exempted from the helmet requirement.
The Karnataka High Court issued a directive to the Government in 2003 to make the wearing of helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders, and wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders is now mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act of the Centre.
NEWS OF THE WEIRD: WOMAN CRASHES WHILE TEACHING DOG TO DRIVE A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China’s Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency announced.
The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog “was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive,” according to Xinhua. “She thought she would let the dog ‘have a try’ while she operated the accelerator and brake,” the report said. “They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car.”
No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but the following explanation may help put that figure in perspective:
A billion seconds ago it was 1975, and the Vietnam War was grinding down.
A billion minutes ago was nearly 2,000 years, during the time of Christ.
A billion hours ago was over 112 thousand years, and our ancestors were still living in the Stone Age.
A billion days ago it was 2.7 million BC, and hominids were learning to walk upright.
A billion years ago earth?s ecosystem became fully formed, and the first multi-cellular organisms appeared.
A billion dollars ago was only 3 hours and 53 minutes, at the rate Washington spends it.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “There is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence.”
Robert G. Ingersoll, US Lawyer & Orator (1833 – 1899)
Bonneville Effort 2007, Chapter 13
By Bandit | | General Posts
I hope the next couple of chapters paint a picture of the variety of emotions we’ve encountered during this week of September (12-18). We’re getting close, but every element must fall into place in a timely manner or… All my adult life I’ve dealt with deadlines. I told harried magazine staff members, crumbling under pressure, “Take it easy, no one’s gonna get shot. Just fix the mistake and don’t let it happen again.” I’ve lived through times in which getting shot was an option.
This is almost a year long deadline, a strident one, fulla emotion, research, alterations, let-downs and highs. This week Berry Wardlaw, of Accurate Engineering is flying out for tuning, then we have one week before we roll toward the salt. The bike is just one element in the massive mix. We have an ever changing and growing team, transport that’s shifted from pickups to trailers and now a motorhome. There’s lodging, packing, salt meal preparations handling, with loving grace, by the Bikernet Queen, Nyla Olsen. We needed team apparel, patches, stickers and bling. We still need our Bonneville Sponsor Banner and Nyla’s daughter Karley is supposed to have the Sponsor check list and make sure I install the right Sponsor stickers in the right places. Where is that girl?
It’s a wild undertaking for a couple of old scooter tramps, and I know every race team in the country is flying through the same scenario and praying for good weather conditions over the salt. I’ll clamber into this report on all fours using quotes and e-mails from experts and contributors. Our first note comes from our esteemed engine builder Barry Wardlaw:
We are waiting on the Yellow freight truck coming from Panama City and it might be as late as 7:00 p.m., but if they don't make it, it will be fine with me, as I am putting as many damn minutes of run time on this thing as I can. The next time we run it, we will be on a dyno. I REALLY want this thing perfect and am having some fun with the new laptop and ignition program. You'll see. So far so good.
My very best engine assembler/painter/polisher/fabricator and friend gave his two week notice today. Of course we are still friends but he had an opportunity and I told him to take it. VERY good money and he deserves it. I'm gonna' miss him.
The front end proposed a problem. Harley-Davidson helped with some ’06 Dyna 49 mm components, but one part was missing, which slowed fender mounting. I need to thank H-D profusely. I planned to use another front end and waited seven months for it to arrive. It never showed. Talk about a set-back. Harley moved quickly, and we had front end parts in a couple of weeks. I had to shift to plan B for the final component and called Larry Petri from Chop N Grind racing, who works at Palm Springs Harley-Davidson. He went into red alert on the missing part and grabbed old Bob T., our arch rival on the salt. They brought me a lower Dyna leg and I hunted down a piece of 49mm tubing, or something close.
We set it up on the chassis and Jeremiah and I began fabricating the front fender. Jeremiah is turning into a master fabricator and we worked well into the middle of the night beating steel and tacking pieces in place. This fender was always a critical component to our teardrop, aerodynamic shape. I fixed spacers to the wheel to allow for salt build-up clearance and did my damnest to align the wheel and the fender perfectly.
With the fender mounted Jeremiah began cutting construction paper panels, then cutting them out of 16-guage sheet metal with our plasma cutter.
The next morning I cut out two sets of wedges for the top, threw one away and started over until the fender was completely tacked and additional mounts were made to secure the front of the fender. I handled the final welding and Jeremiah worked the grinding aspect until the fender was ready for heavy Silver from Worco Powder Coating.
I devoted one solid weekend to the fabrication of the fender and fairing. The fender went as smooth as glass, and we had a chunk of 18-gauge cut for the fairing and bent to match the front fender. That took considerable drive time on Friday finding a joint that would back-door the project quick. A brother in the motorcycle industry stepped up.
We were in uncharted waters, and my esteemed associate didn’t show on Saturday, but the good Dr. Hamster rolled in as I began. He didn’t like my design and suggested that I contact Air Tech, a company known for quality fiberglass fairing manufacturing. Wink’s BDL bike fairing was handled by Air Tech.
I burned through Saturday without accomplishing much and cut into Sunday. I was staring down two-week barrels, before we rolled toward the salt.
The vote in the shop leaned toward Air Tech, but I burned through my fairing manufacturing time and needed to move onto final assembly. I took some time to mount two headlights backwards for some aero support and prepared the brackets for powder. I was frustrated. I still believed in our original wing design fairing and even attempted to find a airplane junkyard in the area. That didn’t pan out, then Jim Waggaman called from Del Mar, California, and I spilled my guts.
He jumped on the case like a true Hamster, cut an old custom bike, Arlen Ness fairing apart and stuck a beanie helmet in the center.
Jim started sending me shots from his cell phone and I coached him until he could make a run north to LA. We configured it once and he returned to his seaside shop and laid on the fiberglass, then returned for mounting efforts.
Jeremiah and I made a set of mock handlebars and House of Stainless bent them with thick wall stainless. I used a set of Custom Cycle Engineering risers turned upside down to give us a secure clip-on position with some steering dampening. Worked perfect and allowed us to move the H-D Dyna glide front end to any position for perfect ride height without interfering with the bars.
Jim and I made brackets for his make-shift fairing and he took it home for final grinding, bondo work and paint. The brackets were finish-welded ground and shipped to the powder man.
Berry paid extra so the engine would arrive on Friday–guaranteed, the 10th, but it didn’t show. On Monday several anxious calls to Yellow freight grilled them for the whereabouts of our Assalt Weapan engine. It was in Gardena, California, 10 miles away, but wouldn’t be delivered until Tuesday afternoon. Fuck that! I drove out Monday morning and picked up the engine and had it in the frame in the afternoon.
The next move was to install the Spyke alternator, carefully mounting the stator plug in place using some lubrication to slip it through the new Accurate Engineering case. It took some delicate time and effort. Then I installed the set screw and had to file some paint off the rotor teeth to slip it over the drive shaft splines.
The next move was to mount the BDL inner primary as a guide to driveline alignment. It’s always a roll of the dice. I start by mounting the rear of the engine with grade 8 fine thread bolts and snug ‘em up. If there was any gap under the front of the engine, I’d find shims. With the .030 shims in place, I loosened the rear of the engine and tighten the tranny plate but loosened the transmission.
Then with anti-seize on the 5/16 Allen fasteners, I attempted to bolt up the inner primary. It pulled the driveline into alignment then I checked the transmission. I needed shims under the front of the engine, then under the front studs of the transmission before the inner primary bolted up easily. It should just bolt up and unbolt without a problem. That's the key.
Each engine and transmission fits any aftermarked frame differently. This, I’ve been told, is the best way to align the engine and trans. I don’t ever want to mount a driveline and have it strain or bind by installing the inner primary. Many problems will ensue.
I started the Allens in the engine pulley insert, then drove in the pins, before tightening them. There’s a slight bevel on one side. That’s where the drive pins were started. Once in place I tightened the Allens and the engine pulley was set.
BDL CORRECTION FROM BOB GALLETTI: THE PICTURE YOU SHOW OF THE INSERT IS A STANDARD INSERT AND YOU INSTALLED IT BACKWARDS, ON THE STANDARD INSERT THE SPLINED SNOUT GOES INTO THE PULLEY FROM THE BACK SIDE AND THE BACK OF THE PULLEY IS FLAT, NO OFFSET. YOU ALSO INSTALLED THE BELT BACKWARDS. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!
–BOB
There’s a trick to slipping both the engine pulley and clutch hub in place, but first I installed the Spyke starter and BDL included all the components for the starter drive gear.
Next, I installed the clutch hub and engine pulley simultaneously and they slipped right into place. This particular BDL system has a much narrower, 2-inch wide Panther belt and seemed to fit on both pulleys without a problem. I needed to start the bike and see how she ran.
This BDL system also runs their new Ball Bearing Lock-up Clutch with 32- 3/8-inch steel balls and a set of seven ERCP-100 clutch steel plates. It’s a breeze to install and the spring tension is self adjusting with shoulder bolts. According to the BDL verbage, the clutch contains a performance Kevlar plates for positive shifting and consistent grab for any size engine. With a variety of covers this unit is available for any Softail, 1990 to 2006.
Just don’t install the beveled spring retainer over the diaphragm spring backwards, like I did the first time—flat side out. Then I tightened the ¾ sockethead shoulder bolts and turned them all the way in until they bottomed out. Then I adjusted the clutch as usual and one item was checked off the list.
Bonneville Effort 2007, Chapter 11
By Bandit | | General Posts
I don’t know where to start, but that’s nothing new. We’re down to three weeks and still standing outside waiting for the UPS driver to roll up with our final components. Jim Murillo has the Gard Hollinger modified tank for paint. Yvonne Mecalis is posed to paint the Assalt Weapan girl on the front fender. I’m hoping to assemble it any minute now. Hell, we’re still in discussion on how to spell “Assalt.” Should it be “Asalt”? Hang on.
The Accurate Engineering 120-Inch Outlaw Engine is scheduled to arrive on Friday (3 days from now) and the silver sled should be running by the end of the next week. Here’s a report from Berry Wardlaw, the master of Accurate Engineering:
My red label custom emulsion tube from Zipper's did not show up on Thurs. or Fri. Came today and turned into an air cleaner, although the invoice was correct. My son, Jennings, started school this morning, and his dog was stolen Saturday. I’m sending the engine without the Bonneville carb, as I am waiting for Zippers to correct this problem.
Yellow Freight guarantees engine will arrive Friday. This freakin' engine is AWESOME! Do you still have the same dimensions for the last pipes we made?
We will build the pipes over the weekend, have them jet hot, thermal coated and be ready to rock. My only real concern is the myriad of wiring details waiting patiently to be worked out. The Nitrous system, the Pingel electric shifter and the AIM sports data acquisition system are no problem by themselves, but we’re stacking untested and untried elements. It’s gonna be a photo finish.
Here’s the latest regarding the D&D on the exhaust system: Dave Rash is shipping me a kit of components, chunks of pipes and a design for maximum power between 4,500 and 6,500 rpms. He wants us to run megaphones and told me not to heat wrap the pipes. I'm supposed to thermal coat them. He's sending me a stepped plan. “Heat wrapping is great for turbo systems,” Dave Rash said. He’s the boss of D&D. “The exhaust creates a layer of fumes inside the pipe, which the remaining exhaust slips through, restricting the flow some. The more heat, the thicker the layer. Exhaust wrap prevents exhaust system heat dissipation and that’s not a good thing. Thermal coat will do the opposite, and the pipes will work more efficiently for more power.” The pipes will be between 35 and 38 inches long, with the megs added to the overall length.
This report will deal final welds before powder coating, fork stops, True Track steering damper and powder. In the end we’ll grapple with a taste of final assembly and a handful of performance considerations. We’ll discuss Green metalflake paint from Rollin’ Sixes, the Baker shift drum installation for neutral at the bottom and seat pan construction from MC Advantages (Chapter 12). Hang on, some of the following will blow your mind.
We also had the wheels shaved at Nate's in Long Beach, filled with nitrogen and balanced, for cooler running, larger rear patch area and enhanced traction. According to Bob Bennett of Bennett’s Performance, this one modification will be a considerable enhancement to our success on the salt. I took the wheels to a backyard tire repair and suspension joint on the back streets of Signal Hill called Nate’s.
Signal Hill, on the Eastside of Long Beach, California, was a lump of oil filled dirt peppered with oil wells for 40 years. It was an industrial wasteland, which is now home to high-dollar homes that overlook the vast Long Beach Harbor. There’s still a few old school, backyard repair shops and oil wells trying to maintain a low profile as yuppies plaster the area with textured stucco, manicured lawns and BMWs.
From day to day this is a humbling experience. I always tell folks that life is a roll of the dice, and it is. We try like hell to research, ask good questions, follow directions and learn from experience. At the end of the day we reach for a high percentage of correct decisions over bullshit ones. I learn to roll the bones, stumble and fall, pick my dusty ass up and hit it again. I’ll explain as we roll along quickly heading for the flats.
I yanked the Wil Phillips designed steering damper off the Salt Shaker and prepared to mount it to the Paughco frame and Harley-Davidson Dyna-Glide front end trees. It looked as though it would work.
I carefully drilled and taped the bottom of the cast aluminum factory triple tree for 3/8 coarse threads. We machined a longer arm for the damper system to reach the frame bracket and prepared to mount the bracket.
We machined the slot in the bracket a tad deeper and studied positioning until we were confident the bracket wouldn’t encounter the front end. Ultimately we were forced to shave the locking tab off the bottom tree to clear the damper system. We wanted to shave that lump off anyway.
Without the tank in hand, but some knowledge of its position we made up an adjustable fork stop and welded it to the neck being careful not to over heat the bearing race on the inside.
This was an edgy time. We tore the bike down to ship it off for paint and powder and wondered if we addressed everything. We couldn’t build the pipes without the engine so I had to wing an exhaust pipe tab on the frame and pray for surf. We had to keep moving. Jeremiah and I shared welding duties until all the tabs were welded on all sides completely. We checked and rechecked all the elements. We studied mounting holes and Jeremiah, the master-grinder, checked every edge and curve.
We cleaned and shipped everything off to Worco Powder Coating that’s run by short, 75-year-old, Tony Pisano, who has out-lived a couple of partners, racing efforts and divorce. He’s located in Long Beach north of Signal Hill and is a helluva upbeat guy to work with. Fortunately Tony powders lots of wheels and automotive components, so he knows how to handle parts, what to tape off, etc. Generally, I would suggest masking any surface we don’t want coated and filling holes with masking tape to avoid powder. The shit is thick and a time-wasting pain in the ass to remove. The down side to that rule involves sandblasting. They must remove the masking tape to blast. I suppose the best plan would include handling the blasting yourself and delivering the parts masked and plugged. That’s the way to handle it for max efficiency.
On the other hand, it’s a terrific notion to take a shot of all your parts, keep one copy and take the other. When we decided on a color I wrote the paint manufacturer and the color code on the photocopy and gave it to Tony. I did that for our Magic Black components and the Prismatic Heavy Silver parts.
We’re burnin’ daylight bad, so we didn’t go fancy, but had a couple of notions. Valerie’s hues, the GoDaddy.com colors are green, black and orange. We wanted the bike to have that Weapan, or Bomber theme, so silver worked. I worked closely with Jerry, from Rollin Sixes Choppers, for a color scheme with those parameters and he came up with his bizarre killer flake.
”The flake is on it’s way by camel,” Jerry said. “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.
”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 “Kill” symbol on the back fender like the fighter pilot painted on his fuselage. Like 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
Rollin Sixes.
While the powder was baking we pulled the Baker transmission down to replace the standard 5-speed shift drum with a N1 unit that moves neutral to the bottom. Here’s the definition from Baker:
The N1 Shift Drums have a 0-down all-up shifting pattern, and eliminates any possibility of catching neutral on aggressive 1-2 shifts. Neutral is below 1st. The N1 drum is also popular with handshifting bikes where finding neutral without doubt or error is critical to safety or riding and looking smooth.
FOR 5-SPEED: BAKER N1 Shift Drums are available for stock or BAKER transmission applications.
80-97 p/n 2-5R-N1, 98-up p/n 2-5RL-N1
The operation was simple and easy. We pulled the top off the trans, removed the four ¼-inch bolts, lifted the sprung shifting arm out of the way and replaced the whole drum assembly and pillow blocks, making sure the shift forks slipped into their drum grooves.
I retighten the four bolts, made sure the drum was facing the proper direction and tested the shifting. “Don’t forget to get it into 3rd gear and adjust the concentric screw on the outside of the case so the hooks are centered. I did so and tightened the lock nut and checked it a couple more times. Worked like a charm.
We also needed to order wheel sprockets and chains. Again I was recommended by Bennett’s not to run heavy O-ring chains. To reduce drag I ordered ordinary 520 chains. “We need a 40 and a 42-tooth rear sprocket,” Berry Wardlaw, from Accurate configured on his computer, based on RPM, gearing and horsepower curve. “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. The engine is nearly finished. We are cutting the pistons for compression today.” (This e-mail came a week ago.)
I spoke to Bert Baker about running light oils for reduced drag. Nick, from Nick’s Performance told me that serious racers run 30 weight oils, but he didn’t want to go that far and suggested 20/50 Synthetic. Bert agreed, although he felt the lightest transmission Synthetic oil was best.
SIDEBAR:Nick's Performance Accessories is once again offering a $500.00 Contingency Prize for Fastest American V-Twin using Amsoil Synthetic Motorcycle Engine Oil this year at the 4th Annual BUBS Motorcycle Speed Trials. Last year the prize went to N.R.H.S. Racing for their 217 mph Buell. Who's gonna take the prize this year? Looks like N.R.H.S. is the team to beat but at Bonneville anything can happen.
See You on the Salt,
–Nick Roberts
For All Your High Performance Lubrication Supplies.
Nick's Performance Accessories
9608 Tiverton Way
Louisville, Kentucky,40242
Independent Amsoil Dealer ZO# 1124190
Phone: 502-548-3023
Fax: 509-691-4313
Next move was to haul ass to Worco and pick up the powder. They did a helluva job and we hauled ass back to the Bikernet Headquarters. We needed to scramble, build a seat pan and ship it to Duane Ballard for some wild leather work for the salt. We should have handled that aspect before we went to powder, but shit happens. We hauled the tank to Jim’s Custom Paint and that sealed the deal. Jim actually tested the tank again, brazed leaks and sealed the entire tank with aircraft tank sealant.
May 31, 2007 Part 4
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 3
NEW FAT BAR RISER FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–MILWAUKEE (April 30, 2007) – The new Fat Bar Riser Kit (P/N 56916-07, $99.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories replaces the original-equipment riser on models with 1.25-inch handlebars, or can be used with most accessory 1.25-inch bars. Plated with brilliant chrome, the riser features hidden fasteners for clean, seamless styling.
This riser can be used on most Sportster, Touring, Dyna and Softail models (except FLSTF and FLSTC models with original-equipment handlebars). The kit includes all necessary mounting hardware. All models require separate purchase of additional installation components. See a dealer for specific model requirements.
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.
LAST CHANCE TO VOTE–This is your last day to cast your vote for the 2006-2007 International Motorcycle Shows’Best of Show’ custom bike! More than 250 custom motorcycles were displayed in these two showcases throughout the 13-stop tour with the top 27 now being featured in the online voting. The talent pool of these competitions runs deep with both locally and nationally recognized builders showcasing their creations. During the show season, attendees to the International Motorcycle Shows voted for their favorite custom bike in two different categories, cruiser and sportbike, resulting in a People?s Choice Award winner for each city. These winners are now pooled together in each of the categories and can be viewed online where you can cast your vote for one bike in each category to determine the 2006-2007 Best of Show?. PHOTOGRAPHER WEBSITES UPDATED–Both our websites, www.ccphotoart.biz and www.ccbikeart.biz, have recently been updated. We now also sell prints of some of our most spectacular motorcycle, landscape and other photography. Photos are available for personal use, but also for commercial use. Have a look at our sites, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our work. –Patrick Cusse ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR YOUR REVIEW–Aloha Bandit,You know I have been a fan of yours for 25 years at least and I have always admired your courage to stand up for FREEDOM and personal Liberty.So I am writing you asking for your help! You may be familiar with Dr. Ron Paul, he is running for President, he is amazing and needs all the support he can get!He stands for the Constitution and our Freedom and Liberty to live the way we choose without the government telling us how to do things.Now I don’t know if your willing to push this, but I just had to ask since I know you have much power and influence with many bikers!!!! If you get some time, please check out some Ron Paul videos on Thanks bro, I appreciate you taking the time to read this! I hope you will Publicly support Dr. Paul! Aloha, ps. here is a link to a recent speech Dr. Paul gave in Congress…………Probably one of the RIVERA PRIMO EMPLOYEE REQUEST–Just reviewed your “Thursday News” column and was thrilled to see two(2)entriespertaining to RIVERA PRIMO, one for the Brute III Extreme kit and the otherofferingthe 4 to 6-speed driveline conversion for swingarm Shovels(such a deal!!). Knowing how good a deal you make, perhaps you can help. See, I’ve beenlooking for a full-time nurse to attend to my every need. Unfortunately,after reviewing all of the app’s,I cannot seem to find one that has checked the box indicating that they are”double-jointed”. What’s this world coming to? Perhaps you have a better pool of applicants.Just keep inmind that the box indicating they are “double-jointed” must be checked !! –E.Z. BCCOM MEETING OF COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS–JUNE 6 – B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists Meeting & Movie Night at Deeley’s RSVP REQUIRED – Please call (604) 580-0111 or 1-877-580-0111 or emailoffice@bccom-bc.com to confirm your spot. Justin Ball of Red Coat Photo will be on the highway doing arrival by bikephotos between 5:45-6:30pm from his sidecar. If you’re interested you cansee his work at www.redcoatphoto.com AUGUST 19, 2007 – 3rd ANNUAL GASTOWN MOTORCYCLE SHOW N’ SHINE–It’s time to mark your calendars for the biggest motorcycle event thestreets of Vancouver have ever seen! On Sunday, August 19, 2007, the B.C.Coalition of Motorcyclists, in conjunction with the Gastown BusinessImprovement Society and the Gastown Merchants, will be closing down WaterStreet between Carrall and Richards to put on our annual ALL MAKE motorcycleshow n’ shine in the heart of Vancouver. Last years event saw thousands andthousands of people come out to enjoy this huge celebration of motorcyclingand it was a blast! Don’t miss the opportunity to show your bike off to thousands of people!Limited space available.More info and a bike entry form can be found here:http://www.bccom-bc.com/gastown_2006/index.html or by calling (604) 580-0111or 1-877-580-0111 Proceeds to the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists. More details coming soon. LIFESTYLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–UNBELIEVABLE FINANCING!!How does ZERO DOWN and up to 120 months of payments sound? LifeStyle Cycles works with some of the best financial institutions to help get you financed on the bike of your dreams with some pretty awesome rates. Come in today and see what LifeStyle Cycles can do for you! 10th Anniversary Texas Chopper WAS: $49.995.00 NOW ONLY $39,995.00 STOP THE PRESSES–In fact shut the bastards down. They’re burnin’ through too many trees. Did you know that more than half of all magazines printed are tossed. I hope some are recycled, but imagine the waste. Okay, enough of the trivia. In an off-handed way I wanted to praise our industry. Only two companies have failed to pay their advertising bill with us, and they were both publicly traded companies. One was Patriot Motor Corporation and the other Von Dutch Motorcycles. We live in a very small niche industry and try to make a living. If we made toasters or barstools, that would amount to big numbers. We could reach a vast market, but we don’t. You have to commend any man who pours his sole into 500 frames a year. I also like it when the money stays within the industry. It’s like buying parts from a U.S. made company like Paughco and building bikes, or buying an ad in Chris Callen’s Cycle Source magazine, the money stays in the industry and doesn’t go overseas or to bankers in New York. It’s just a good notion to support the folks in our small pearlescent lifestyle. Enough of my bullshit. Here’s what’s coming to Bikernet. Next week I’ll launch another update on the Assalt Weapan. The Nitrous bottle just arrived from Accurate Engineering and we’ll work on mounting, then gas tank mods and the oil bag with the help of BungKing.com. Tomorrow I’ll post another Cantina Drama. I’m grappling with the ending. Scooter sent us another GOB and she’s a knockout. I’ll also publish an Envy Cycle feature and a new model from Big Mike. Plus a new Bikernet writer just submitted a gruesome ride through Death Valley. It’s all happening on Bikernet, including another tech feature from Cycle Source magazine. Hold on. We never stop, or even slow down. Quick, someone pour me a Jack. Ride forever, –Bandit
Director Music Photography
CCPHOTOART.biz
+44 7799174199
runswithwind
DATE: Wednesday, June 6th
TIME: 7:00 pm
WHERE: Trev Deeley Motorcycles new location (1875 Boundary Road inVancouver)
WHAT: A short BCCOM meeting followed by the movie “The Worlds FastestIndian” complete with popcorn courtesy of Deeley’sAll riders are welcome. You don’t need to be a member to attend. Lots ofcool door prizes.
SAVE $10,000.00!!!!!
May 31, 2007 Part 3
By Bandit | | General Posts
Continued From Page 2
BIKERNET WEEKLY PHOTO ART EXHIBIT–When the road to Myrtle Beach ended, so did the rain and the urge to fire a few rounds at the cagers in our way. We drank the Jack and the played the game for a few days all the while looking forward to the 400 miles of open road ahead back to Florida.
Ride Hard,
–Whiplsh Biker Photog
whiplash@photo.net
SUCKER PUNCH, BIKERNET AND HOTBIKE GARAGE BUILD FOR IRAQ VETERAN UPDATE–Here’s a couple of pics. I went to the beach today and drank beer. Anyways, here’s a couple of me doing a few things last night. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.
The bike is flying together, when I’m not at the beach, drinking beer or chasing my wife around the house! I’ll go see Kent at Lucky Devil’s for my welding class.
–Johnny
COOLBETH STARTS CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSE WITH SEASON OPENING VICTORY AT SPRINGFIELD MILE– SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 29, 2007) – Kenny Coolbeth picked up right where he left off last season. The Warren, Conn., native started defending his 2006 AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track championship the best way possible – with a win.
Coolbeth took the checkered flag Sunday at the AMA GNC Twins season opener at the Springfield Mile. He didn’t win by a small margin, either. He had nearly an entire straightaway to himself.
The results, however, were not made official until Tuesday afternoon because of a discrepancy in the bike’s weight. Coolbeth’s Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson entry did not pass the weigh-in on site and another weigh-in took place at AMA headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. A separate measurement was also done by Holtgreven Scale and Electronics Corporation of Findlay, Ohio, an accredited lab.
AMA officials declared the bike legal Tuesday following the additional weigh-ins.
Coolbeth, the Screamin’ Eagle factory rider, also finished first in his heat before taking the checkered flag for his 10th career AMA victory.
“By the fifth lap I felt real comfortable and was running my own race,” Coolbeth said. “I never even looked back. I was wide open on the gas and thought it was the smoothest run around the Springfield Mile I’ve ever had.”
Coolbeth said he was not worried about the final results that came from AMA officials.
“I knew the bike was legal and I wasn’t concerned,” Coolbeth said. “My Screamin’ Eagle team is great and the mechanic who worries about that aspect does a great job and pays attention to every detail when building a machine for me to ride. We adhere to all the specs.”
Wrecking Crew riders Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Joe Kopp joined Coolbeth in the top five at the first of 13 scheduled events for the GNC Twins this season.
Mees rode his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson into third place, his fifth career podium finish. Smith took fourth place on his Moroney’s Harley-Davidson and the newest member of the team, Kopp, took fifth place on his Team Latus Harley-Davidson.
The 25-lap main event was delayed because of rain for several hours – adding to the anxiety of the season opening race.
“The start of the race was delayed and then we had to wait two days to get the final results,” Paluso said. “It was quite an experience for the entire Screamin’ Eagle team. We’re pleased with the way the team performed throughout the entire weekend but I am sure they are all anxious to get to the next race.”
The next AMA GNC Twins event will be held at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., on June 2.
PAUGHCO TRI-BARS–In the past couple of years Paughco has experienced a massive expansion to both their manufacturing facility and product line. Included in the latest offering are several very distinctive custom headlight assemblies.
Shown here, the TRI-BAR 4 1?2″, TRI-BAR 5 3?4″ and TRI-BAR STYLE, feature classic TRI-BAR styling and come in models fit with or without the Frenched-in headlight visor. Housings are show chromed billet and the light fixture includes a replaceable H4 bulb and TRI-BAR lens.
All lights are fit chrome headlight mounts and wiring for easy installation. Combine these new models with Paughco’s nearly 40 year old “industry standard” Chopper Bullet headlight and the company has a model for any style machine.
Better yet, the TRI-BAR lights start at just $99.95! For complete details call 775-246-5738 or visit them on line at www.paughco.com.
ARTIST REACHES OUT TO DESIGN T-SHIRTS–I would like to have the chance to design a great t-shirt for you or your event! Check out http://www.cazzco.com/ to see our full line catalog and some really cool artwork!
You can look at some of the sales we have going on and don’t forget to look at the events for information on the upcoming Steel Valley Super Nationals.
After you check us out give me a call so we can talk about all the endless possibilities!
There is no risk involved just give us a chance to show you what we got!
Don’t delay, take the next step, and call today to discuss all of your needs.
Hope to hear from you soon!
–Stacey Cox
CAZZCO Screenprinting
1-800-245-8118
724-658-2005
www.cazzco.com
PRO-LIGHTING–PRO-ONE has a number of unique LED tail light assemblies for custom and stock machines. Shown here, the DIAMOND, SHOWBIKE and OVAL tail lights feature the quality and distinctive look you would expect form PRO-ONE and the latest LED lighting technology.
All lights are finished in show quality chrome and incorporate a license plate light. The DIAMOND measures 4 7/8 W x 2 H x 1 1/8 D, the OVAL is 4 3?4 x 2 1?4 x 1 1/8 and the chrome billet SHOW-BIKE is 5″ wide by 2 7/16″ tall.
Available from PRO-ONE dealers world these unique lights start at just $62.95. Looking for a dealer?
Call 800-884-4173 or visit them on the Web at www.pro-one.com.
AGENT ZEBRA ON REDS–Why you lying, bolt-on-chrome, rat-out-to-the-cops, .22-caliber-carrying, wetback-supporting; sorry, guest amnesty undocumented wetback; wad of vermin dung. I’ve never been to Miami in my entire life. I’ve never even been to Florida. I don’t even know where Florida is. Hell, I don’t even know my own real name.
The reason you don’t see me in Bikernet is because the conservative Christian ownership– namely, Bandit’s grandmother– banned me from its yellow pages, just like Hot Bike, Street Chopper, Bike Works, and Better Homes & Gardens. They say I “incite anxiety in the readership” and that I might “reduce subscription rates with my untoward accusations regarding law enforcement, Car People and the mainstream readership”. I don’t know what they’re talking about.
I’ve never even heard of those magazines much less penned a cake recipe for them.
TRIVIA
Did you know that Keith “Bandit” Ball once logged over 40 yards, non-stop, on his FXR Girlyman Custom Tricycle, riding from the head to his 1959 Panhead-powered refrigerator for a beer?
–Z
MOTORCYCLE RED SHIRT GANG TAKES OVER MAUI–Just got back from Maui, was there for 5 days, rode all over the island, first time to ride on Maui. What a great island to ride, had a great time with the club. Wish you were there…….
I should have taken more pictures, but you know how that goes, always on the run…next time
–Chris & Joerline
ROLLIN’ SIXES OFFERS TO PAINT ASSALT WEAPAN– Jerry and I have been working with Joey Finz a custom pinstriper artist. If you haven’t seen his work it’s very good he did some valve covers for Jerry’s ’31 Ford. I’ll send you some pics so you can check them out.
Any way we were going to see if you need any lettering logos or what ever illustrations you may need done on your 5-Ball race equipment, and we’ll take care of it for you.
Later…
–Ellis
rollinsixescustomchoppers@yahoo.com
Of course we do and thanks. Send Finz over. By the time he finishes pinstriping our tool boxes and the building the bike parts will be ready. We’ll be in touch–Bandit
BIKERNET JOINS THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS–We are pleased to advise that you have been added as a Registered User to Patriot Guard Riders. Please read the following information carefully and be sure to save this message in a safe location for future reference.
Portal Website Address: www.patriotguard.org
Please take the opportunity to visit the website to review its content.Thank you, we appreciate your support…
–Patriot Guard Riders
ROLLING THUNDER 2007 REPORT COMING TO BIKERNET–I rode in Rolling Thunder on Sunday, 5/27. It was the 20th anniversary of RT and the turnout was huge. I haven’t heard any official reports yet, but suffice it to say there were tens of thousands, if not over 100,000 bikes in the run from the Pentagon, across Memorial Bridge, down Constitution, around at the Capitol and then back up Independence to circle the National Mall. Two bikes ran abreast for over two hours.
Folks were on both sides of the line of bikes cheering and showing their support for the troops. I actually don’t remember seeing a single protester on the route. Everyone was showing their support and patriotism, and it was really a special ride. I can’t think of a better way to show our support for the troops, past and present, or to give you the opportunity to understand what Memorial Day is all about.
We were lucky enough to get special positioning as a veteran’s motorcycle club and left the Pentagon parking lot about 20 minutes after the first bikes began to roll out. We completed the ride, made our way out I-66 west and eventually back to our rally point at the Marriott in Alexandria, arriving a few minutes after 1:00 PM. I called a buddy who was in the general public part of the ride and he was still sitting in the Pentagon parking lot and hadn’t even fired up his bike yet.
I plan to write an article about participating in the ride for the first time, but in the meantime here’s a couple of pictures to whet your appetite.
–Chuck
criddle123@earthlink.net
We look forward to it, Chuck.–Bandit
JUNE DATES TO REMEMBER: JUNE 4TH THROUGH JUNE 9TH, AMERICADE; THURSDAY JUNE 14TH, FLAG DAY AND SUNDAY JUNE 17TH, FATHER’S DAY–Whitehorse press has what Dad’s want:Running with the DevilNew Undercover Action Book.
The infamous Sonny Barger once declared that the Hells Angels would never be infiltrated. Running with the Devil tells the story of the ATF sting and the two undercover agents who risked their lives to prove him wrong. For two years they posed as members of a Mexican renegade motorcycle club, earning the trust and respect of the notorious Arizona Hells Angels. Their work led to the shocking 2003 bust in which ATF agents arrested fifty people and seized 650 guns, 30,000 rounds of ammunition, and more than 100 explosive items. $24.95.
FACTS TO PONDER–(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171.
Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health Human Services.
Now think about this:
Guns:
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000.
(Yes, that’s 80 million..)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is.000188
Statistics courtesy of the FBI
So, statistically, doctors are approximately9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.Remember, “Guns don’t kill people, doctors do.”
FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN,BUTALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!
Out of concern for the public at large,We have withheld the statistics onlawyers,for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention!
–from Mothergoose
BIKERNET WRITES TIME MAGAZINE AND THEY RESPONDED–Hey Gloria, I have a problem with our media, not just Time. Daily I’m forced to hear criticism regarding the Iraq conflict and the fact that 3,400 have died in four years. They hammer these soldiers constantly (how must that make them feel?), but 150,000 die each year, that’s 600,000 innocent folks died in the last four years from hospital infections. We don’t hammer doctors daily in the news, why not? Over 44,000 innocent folks die a year in automobile accidents, that’s 176,000 over the last four years on our highways. Finally 17,000 people are murdered every year in this country, for a total of 68,000 Americans killed in the last four years. Why isn’t that number updated daily and question drilled at law enforcement officials constantly. Do we want to save lives, do we want to curb terrorism, do we want to stabilize Iraq, what’s the priority?
Thanks for your time,
–K. Randall Ball
President
Bikernet.com
Bandit@Bikernet.com
COME TO THE REUNION!–JUNE 1-3 2007Late Registration Open until MAY 25th!PRE-REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.But, don’t worry, you can still purchase a complete package when you get to the Reunion in Helen.
$45 per person – $80 per couple
Call Toll Free 888-374-3371 when you’re ready to pre-register.
Pay by Credit Card, Check or Money Order.
What do you get for your hard earned $$$?1 Event T-Shirt couples get 2 cause we can’t expect them to share
Entry into Friday and Saturday Night Parties
Choice of either Poker Run or Guided Tour Ride
Guided Rides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Raffle Tickets for thousands of dollars worth of door prizes
Event Patch
Bike Show Entry
Bike Games
Vendors – Fun -a chance to roll the dice to win the Victory Motorcycle!
Model to be announced!
What is the Reunion Run?The USRiderNews Reunion Run is held on the bank of the Chattahoochee River in beautiful downtown Helen Georgia and is organized and sponsored by USRiderNews. The staff members and volunteers all work hard to put this party on for you, our readers. The rally attracts upwards of 5 thousand people to this North Georgia town during the weekend. It is designed to be a small party for our readers that’s why we don’t advertise it anywhere else. We don’t put it on the radio or in other magazines. We’re not out to make money with this rally, just meet old friends and make new ones.
What does it cost? You don’t have to pay a dime to attend anything but the party Friday and Saturday nights. Access to the vendors is free! But, if you want the swag and full access, then a measly $35 covers it all! Except your hotel room and we’ve even negotiated discounts on that for you! Call us today to find out if we have any discounted rooms available. 888-347-3
–Rogue
Continued On Page 4