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HARLEY-DAVIDSON REPORTS RECORD FIRST QUARTER
MODERATES 2005 MOTORCYCLE SHIPMENT GROWTH FORECAST– Milwaukee, Wis., April 13, 2005 — Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HDI) today announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 27, 2005. Revenue for the quarter was $1.24 billion compared with $1.17 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 6.0 percent increase. First quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) were 77 cents, a 13.2 percent increase compared with last year?s 68 cents.

?As I prepare to take on the role of Chief Executive at Harley-Davidson, I am pleased that the Company is on a strong footing, having achieved another record quarter,? said Jim Ziemer, Chief Financial Officer and CEO Elect, Harley-Davidson, Inc. ?Looking ahead, we expect Harley-Davidson?s business to continue to grow and 2005 to be our 20th consecutive record year.?

?At the same time, U.S. retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles during the first quarter of 2005 have been relatively flat with the same period last year?falling short of our expectations. Despite our continued optimism for the year, we feel it is prudent to limit short-term production growth, maintaining demand in excess of supply. This action will result in a change to our previous guidance for both shipments and earnings growth for 2005. Our shipments are now planned to increase from last year?s 317,000 units to a target of 329,000 units compared to our original target of 339,000 units. Our 2005 earnings are expected to grow by approximately 5-8 percent in 2005 compared to our previous forecast of mid-teens earnings growth.?

?While this volume adjustment may prevent us from attaining our previous goal of 400,000 units in 2007, we see no reason to change our long-term unit growth projection of 7-9 percent annually based on just three winter months of sales data. Similarly, we are not changing our projection of mid-teens earnings growth other than for this year,? Ziemer added.

?For nineteen consecutive years, this management team has delivered record results, and I have the utmost confidence that the actions we are taking are appropriate and in our stakeholders? long-term interests,? said Jeff Bleustein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc.

Motorcycles and Related Products SegmentFirst quarter revenue from Harley-Davidson? motorcycles was $979.0 million, an increase of 6.5 percent over the first quarter last year. Shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles totaled 76,716 units, up 2,626 units or 3.5 percent over last year.

First quarter revenue from Parts and Accessories (P&A), which consists of Genuine Motor Parts? and Genuine Motor Accessories?, totaled $176.9 million, a 4.6 percent increase over the year-ago quarter. For the longer term, the Company expects P&A revenue to grow at a rate slightly faster than the motorcycle unit growth rate.

General Merchandise revenue, which consists of MotorClothes? apparel and collectibles, was $59.5 million in the first quarter, up 9.3 percent over the same period last year. For the longer term, the Company expects General Merchandise revenue to grow at a rate lower than the motorcycle unit growth rate.

First quarter gross margin for the Motorcycles and Related Products Segment was 37.6 percent of revenue, approximately the same as the year-ago quarter of 37.8 percent. Gross margin was negatively impacted by higher material costs, primarily metal surcharges; it benefited from favorable foreign currency exchange. Operating margin grew to 24.2 percent from 22.9 percent due to lower operating expenses.

Motorcycle Retail Sales DataIn the United States through March, Harley-Davidson retail motorcycle sales finished down approximately one percent compared to 2004. Similarly, the U. S. heavyweight motorcycle market declined 0.4 percent in the first quarter.

Worldwide retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew 2.8 percent for the quarter, driven by strong performance in Europe and Japan, which increased 20.6 and 10.6 percent respectively. On an industry-wide basis through February 2005, the 651+cc segment grew slightly in Europe, while the heavyweight market in Japan was down for the same period. Data is listed in the accompanying tables.

Financial Services SegmentHarley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS) reported operating income of $53.6 million, up $3.3 million or 6.5 percent compared to the year-ago quarter. HDFS continued to experience strong customer acceptance of its financial products.

During the quarter, HDFS sold $730 million in retail motorcycle loans and recorded a gain of $19.2 million. This compares with a gain of $25.2 million on $625 million of loans securitized during the first quarter of 2004. The gain of 2.6 percent as a percentage of loans sold is slightly above management?s guidance which is now 1.7 to 2.5 percent in the current interest rate environment.

Annualized credit losses on a managed portfolio basis increased during the quarter to 1.07 percent in 2005 from 0.77 percent in 2004 due to the combination of a higher incidence of losses and lower recovery rates. HDFS is maintaining its credit loss target of 1 percent or less of managed receivables.

In 2005, HDFS operating income is expected to be slightly lower than that achieved in 2004 primarily due to a highly competitive marketplace and an increasing interest rate environment. For the longer term, the Company expects the HDFS operating income growth rate to be slightly higher than the Company?s motorcycle unit growth rate.

Stock Option AccountingOn January 1, 2005 the Company adopted new accounting rules requiring it to recognize expense related to the fair value of its employee stock option awards. Total stock compensation expense recognized by the Company during the first quarter of 2005 was $7.0 million.

Shipment GuidanceHarley-Davidson is revising its previous guidance and now plans to ship 329,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles in 2005. This 329,000 unit target represents a 3.7 percent growth rate over 2004 shipments. The Company believes that this 10,000 unit reduction will occur almost entirely in the second quarter and will involve reducing planned production of 2005 Model Year motorcycles. Revised quarterly shipments are expected to be as follows: 77,000 units in the second quarter, 87,500 units in the third quarter and 87,500 units in the fourth quarter.

BIKERNET STEALTH REPORT–Not a lot to report on this week. I am waiting for the town planning meeting next Tuesday and hopefully I can report next week that everything has been approved for STEALTH BIKE WORKS. The red tape you have to go through is crazy!

Have any of you noticed how at the H-D dealers, that their customers are called “ENTHUSIASTS” now. I see it in their adds, t.v. commercials etc. What’s up with this? Maybe the factory has told them not to use the term biker? Who knows? I guess the bikers are customers at the independent shops.

I am sure most of you watched the biker build off award show a couple of weeks ago. I have heard mixed reviews on the show. Good and bad around here. I thought the show was pretty cool. As to whether you like the bikes or the guys who build them, you have to agree that they all are very talented. My favorite guys are Russell Mitchell, Billy Lane, The Detroit Bros. and Indian Larry’s crew. I like the style of bike these guys build. All of the bikes are cool in their own way and these guys have done a lot of good for the industry. I guess too, that Jesse James opened a lot of doors as far as “bike t.v.” goes, to make these shows possible.

Like I said there is not a lot to report this week. I have my crew in place to finish the building next week after the town planning meeting. These guys are what bikers and brotherhood used to be about and still should be about. My good friends Shorty, Little Mikey, Chopper John, Dennis, Jay, and Ben have all volunteered their services to get the shop up and running. No money exchanged hands, they did it because they know what being a biker is about and also because they believe in the shop and what it can become. Thanks in advance to all of you!

So I guess that is a wrap for this week. Hopefully next week I will have GREAT news about STEALTH BIKE WORKS! Keep us in mind as we face the powers that be next Tuesday!

Until next time,
STEALTHMAN

Inspired by the 1928 shovel project, thanks. I just finish it and I hope you like it.

Jim Theis

SPECIAL OLYMPICS POKER RUN–First I would like to thanks West Coast Choppers, Wiley-X, EyeRide, Johnny Suede, Indian Larry, HondaHog, Tribal Motor Works, and so many others for all your generous donations of t-shirt, sunglasses, goggles, hats, motorcycle flag holders, posters, helmets, etc. to last years Special Olympics Poker Run.

It’s about that time again to contact all those that have supported us in the past with donations to our Special Olympics Poker Run. I’m contacting you all again because you were so generous in the past and have helped to make this annual event so special for the riders as well as the Special Olympic athletes.

Special Olympics can only continue to operate through donations from businesses and private citizens, so I have agreed to organize this Poker Run again this year, and solicit items for our Chinese Auction.

I’ve enclosed some important information in the email that you may need for you tax records, and also our Mission Statement.You can send any donations to me at the address listed below, and if you have any further questions you can contact me at (724) 730 – 2957.

Thanks so much for you time, consideration and help.

Rev. Michael T. Wimer
Pres. Pa. Chapter Messiah’s Disciples Motorcycle Ministry
5 East Hazelcroft Ave.
New Castle, Pa. 16105
(724) 730 – 2957 cell
mikewimer@dynatektelecom.com – (office email)

Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Inc. is a 501(c)(03) public charity with aEIN:23-2078543 tax number.

Our Mission Statement is to provide year round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with mental retardation. Giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships with their families and other Special Olympics athletes and their communities.

Thanks again and God Bless.

Rev. Mike

THE ROCK– THIS IS AWESOME!!!I’m told that there is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy. 25 in rural Iowa. For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, and obscenities on this rock, changing it’s character many times. A few months back, the rock received it’s latest paint job, and since then it has been left completely undisturbed. It’s quite an impressive sight. Be sure to scroll down and check out the multiple photos (all angles) of the rock. I thought the flag was draped over the rock, but it’s not. It’s actually painted on the rock too.

Here’s the artist, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen.

AWESOME Work, RAY…Thank you!

“God Bless America” & “Our Soldier’s &Vet’s”

CR Thompson

PROFAB ? YOUR STOPPING POWER–As usual, Profab Metalwerks will get right down to the product. Eliminate the need for a rear brake while enhancing the look of your bike with the new Pro-Tranz Brake. The innovative Pro-Tranz Brake is a direct bolt-on brake application for RSD-brake applications. It comes complete with a polished S&S brake disc, hydraulic clutch, 2-piston caliper, new chain sprocket, and S&S hardware. The Pro-Tranz brake is chain only, that’s right-no belts, no need to change any seal, you don’t even have to drain the oil. Already used by many top builders, one being Doug Keim on the Hard Rock tour, it’s rearing to stop your ride.

For more information, contact: Profab Metalwerks, (866) 683-2228, or online at http://www.profabmetalwerks.com.

Tell ?em Bikernet sent you.

NEW FROM PRO ONE – INTERNAL BRAKE LINE CONVERSION–Pro-One has just released what is certainly one of the most noteworthy custom innovations in years. Developed and manufactured by the world-renowned B.I.G.S. group, the revolutionary B.I.G.S NEW GENERATION BRAKE SYSTEM. is an internal brake line kit that locates all but a very short, well hidden line, to the inside of the fork tube(s). The system is compatible with most bikes with plunger style forks and can be used on both new and used front ends. The internal line kit conversion can be installed in forks up to 20″ over stock and is works with single or dual brake layouts. Extensively tested, the system has passed the rigid standards of, and been approved by, the European TUV. Available exclusively through PRO-ONE, the B.I.G.S NEW GENERATION BRAKE SYSTEM offers precisely controllable braking power and a brake-hose-free front end.

For complete details on this exciting new braking system call 800-884-4173 or visit http://www.pro-one.com

V-ROD ROAD RAGE– BASSANI has just released their record setting ROAD RAGE system for the Harley-Davidson V-ROD. Available for all V-ROD models, these aggressive 2 into 1 pipes feature a stepped diameter layout tapering from 1 3/4″ to 1 7/8.”. Tuned for a rider friendly wide power band, the V-ROD ROAD RAGE exits through BASSANI’S dyno proven true reverse cone megaphone fit with a unique polished billet aluminum end cap.

These pipes emit a comfortable exhaust note at normal riding levels, but tweak the throttle and it’s sure to bring your hair to attention. The complete system comes complete with custom mounting hardware and retails for $519.00. Available exclusively from North County Customs at 866-439-4287 or visit http://www.bassanipipes.com

HARLEY-DAVIDSON STOCK PLUNGES ON OUTLOOK–
Slowdown in shipments raises warning flags for analysts
Harley-Davidson stock took the worst spill in its history Wednesday after the famed “hog” maker throttled back its 2005 production schedule, saying sales had fallen short of expectations in the first quarter.

The warning overshadowed news of an 11 percent rise in quarterly earnings, and raised questions among analysts about the long-term growth outlook and strategy for Harley-Davidson.

“Management attributed the cuts to slow first-quarter sales, but we think the issue may run deeper than that,? said RBC Capital analyst Ed Aaron. ?We think Harley?s underlying (production) growth rate is lower than either management or investors perceive.”

The century-old motorcycle maker, based in Milwaukee, said it would cut 2005 production by 10,000 units from its original forecast and now plans to ship 329,000 bikes this year, up just 3.7 percent from a year ago.

Harley’s chief financial officer Jim Ziemer, who will take over as CEO this month, said the shortfall in sales was mostly due to poor U.S. weather. He tried to reassure the market that demand exceeds supply and that inventories are in good shape, adding that the first quarter is not indicative of the year?s trends.

“We are taking a precautionary measure by moderating our 2005 shipment schedule to maintain that demand remains in excess of supply,” he said in a conference call. ?We still have great confidence for the retail sales environment for 2005 ? we just have to moderate wholesale shipments this year.”

But many analysts on the call continued to seek other reasons for the productions cuts, raising questions about dealer?s inventory levels and higher credit losses. Tony Gikas, an analyst for Piper Jaffray & Co., said his checks with dealers suggested trends had been weakening for eight months.

“There is less confidence in forward bike sales, the level of dealers seeing bikes exceeding expectations is on the decline, and inventories were high,? said Gikas, who has a “market perform? rating on the stock. ?Management is still overly optimistic on the longer-term opportunity, … and what the story lacked today was strategy.”

But Jake Balzer, a senior equity analyst at Guzman & Co., called it ?a pretty ugly announcement.?

He questioned whether Harley was still too optimistic in its long-term forecasts, which call for unit sales growth of 7 to 9 percent, and earnings growth in the mid-teens.

?The slowdown may already be here,” Balzer said. “Everybody just needs to pare down their expectations for this company.”

Balzer said Harley?s chief obstacle is its older demographic of buyers ? baby boomers with disposable income.

?This baby boomer generation, they?ve got a lot of money, and they?ve spent a lot of money on things like this,” he said. “There?s going to be a lag time between the time when they stop buying bikes and the time when they pass that money on to the next generation as an inheritance and they start buying bikes.”

For the first quarter, net income rose to $227.2 million, or 77 cents a share, from $204.6 million, or 68 cents a share, a year earlier ? topping analysts? estimates by a penny. Revenue climbed 6 percent to $1.24 billion.

Worldwide sales of motorcycles rose 2.8 percent in the quarter, driven by strong results from Europe and Japan. But retail sales in the U.S. fell about 1 percent from a year earlier.That resulted in the company?s decision to trim production and cut its earnings growth outlook for the year to about 5 percent to 8 percent, compared with analyst expectations of about 12 percent growth.

Ziemer said the cutback in production, which will take place almost entirely in the second quarter, will cut earnings for the period due to inefficiencies stemming from the disruption.

While the company stood by its long-term growth projections, it backed away from a target of shipping 400,000 bikes in 2007.

“We are still seeing increases in demand, but we are also seeing greater increases in supply,? Gikas said. ?I still think there are additional risks to production later this year and certainly to their outlook for 2006 and 2007.”

Ted Parrish, a co-portfolio manager of Henssler Equity Fund, said he sold the fund?s stake in Harley-Davidson earlier this month.

“At this stage in the recovery, if and when consumers do decide to pullback on spending, a product considered somewhat upscale that is relying on the marginal consumer to step up to buy (it) is in jeopardy of having a slip-up like they just did,” he said.

MSNBC News Services Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Bob T.

I CAN SMELL THE WEEKEND–And damn it smells good. It’s warm ridingweather and the whiff of Laughlin is creeping over the desert. Thisweekend’s devoted to finishing the Sturgis Chop to the point of teardown.Next week parts fly to the powdercoater, if I’m lucky. We’re shooting PrunoGirls on the Harbor for an article in Hot Bike or Street Chopper on Sunday.

Oh, Sinwu, Layla and Coral handled the news again this week,while I wrote a feature on Matt Hotch for the August Issue of HOT BIKE.Yesterday was our final deadline. Only three articles short, mine, aterrific piece on how to pick Big Inch Engines. I don’t like the Crate Motortitle. Their too fine to be called Crates, as if they’re all cast-ironproduction engines kicked out of overseas sweat-shop plants. When it comesto big inch engines, the August issue will show you the way. Oh, and Dr.Toph is still dialing in his Victory Vegas road test. He’s ridden it forseveral months and fought with the factory for spec material. He’s astickler for complete stories and I’m pacing the halls for its arrival.

This issue packs in Daytona coverage, seven hot bike features, afeature on the first American motorcycle manufacturer, Storze performancefrontends and Heartlands 250 wide tire install. Hang on. Get ready for theweekend. Find a girl to haul into the desert next weekend or meet you at thefront door upon your return. Next week I ‘ll tell you about the HOT BIKEorganized ride to Sturgis. It’s coming together. We’ll meet in Phoenix,spend the night in Durango, Aspen and Cheyenne before riding into Deadwood.Four days on the road with the editors, a charity ride to support theCrazyhorse monument and maybe breast cancer. We’ll have a helluva good timeand anyone can come along.

Ride forever,

Bandit

I?VE GOT TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE–Pack my bags and leave in July! I know that?s not how the song goes, but I?m singing my own tune. The Choppers Only Show set for July 3rd is on and we?re going! After much debate, consideration and negotiations, the date is set, plane tickets been bought and a vacation waits. If anyone can get the time to go to Honolulu, HI for the July Fourth weekend, it?s the best time to double your pleasure for a tropical vacation AND attend a kick-ass bike show, Island style. If you?re thinking about going, you have to check out the Choppers Only website for bike shipping info, or bike rental from the one and only, Big Kahuna.

As for the gorgeous redhead above, her name is Christy Hemme and Bandit is in negotiations to do an article on her and her custom Dyna Lowrider for one of the magazines. I say he just brings her home to the Headquarters and we just look at her for a while. Yeah, just look? Alright, alright, there might be some touching but I think then we?d be up for a major ass-kicking cause she?s not only beautiful, she?s also WWE?s newest ?Diva?. I think we?ll just look and you can too if you subscribe to one or all of Primedia?s motorcycle titles, Hot Bike, Hot Rod Bike and Street Chopper. You don?t want to miss when they do the feature on Christy, do you?

Now for Bikernet. I dropped a couple more articles in yesterday, between last minute tax hassles and dropping off the Mikuni carb for the Sturgis Chop at Rivera Engineer. I still have more articles to post so keep checking ? I?m getting there. Layla

Enjoy the news?

CRAZY SUE MEMORIAL BENFIT–Hey, Just a reminder to those who’ve committed (and those who still have time to commit) 🙂 …. The Crazy Sue Memorial Benefit, hosted by the Monroe Iron Coffins Motorcycle Club, benefiting the Penrickton Center for Blind Children is coming up soon… April 30th…

Crazy Sue 2005 at Pirate’s Landing, last stop before the cemetery…We spoke of Crazy Sue, and all our fallen brothers, we spoke to the children at the Pentrickton Center, we talked about Southern Rock Allstars, who’ll be playing the event, and we asked for your support for the Silent Auction.

Some of you have responded positively, (however, we haven’t received the merchandise yet), others still have time to help us to help others.

Watched the Discovery Channel’s ULTIMATE CHOP the other night. What we wouldn’t have given to be there with ya’ll…. Looked like a G R E A T time. And the Indian Larry tribute… well, we were both in tears when Bambi heard that bike start up.

Well, if you’ve got a few, please take the time to send a wearable or two to the Coffins…

You can forward your donations to me, Hustler… at my home (the clubhouse mailbox isn’t very big and there’s no one there during the day to accept packages).

FOR ALL YOU ARE AND ALL YOU DO…. THANKS!!!!

Hustler (Chuck Childress) and me, his wife, Barbara
6170 Leroux Road
Newport MI 48166-9509
cchildres2@aol.com

LEE CHAPIN PROMOTED AT MIKUNI AMERICAN– Lee Chapin has been promoted to Vice President of the Aftermarket Business Division for Mikuni American Corporation, Northridge, California. Industry veteran Chapin formerly served as the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the Aftermarket Carburetor Division at Mikuni. In his new expanded role Lee will now oversee all aspects of the Aftermarket Carburetor and related component business for Mikuni American. For more information visit http://www.mikuni.com or phone 818-885-1242.

DEVIL AND A REDHEAD–Check out the Blue leather seat thanks to Joe Noack!

Just goofing around as usual. . How is the building coming? Hope all is well.

Take care, The Devil

HOW TO MAKE MONEY–A city boy named Kenny, moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey to him the next day.

But the next day, the farmer drove up in his old truck and told Kenny, “Sorry, son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died.”

Kenny replied, “Well then, just give me my money back.”

The farmer said, “Can’t do that. I went and spent it already.”

Kenny said, “OK then, just bring me the donkey.”

The farmer asked, “What ya gonna do with a dead donkey?”

Kenny, “I’m going to raffle him off.”

The farmer said, “You can’t raffle off a dead donkey!”

Kenny said, “Sure I can. Watch me. I just won’t tell anybody he’s dead.”

A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, “So, what happened with the dead donkey?”

Kenny said, “I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at $2 a piece and made a profit of $898.00.”

The farmer said, “Didn’t anyone complain?”

Kenny replied, “Just the guy who won, so I gave him his $2 back.”

Kenny grew up and eventually became the chairman of Enron.

Chris T.

BIKERNET WEBSITE OF THE WEEK–I wanted to let you know that I have a link to your web site on the motorcycle section of www.HURT911.org. You can find your link at: www.HURT911Biker.com.My name is Philip L. Franckel, Esq., and I’m the owner of www.HURT911Biker.com which is a part of www.HURT911.org, the first and most comprehensive Personal Injury research web site on the Internet with a substantial page rank, 60,000 page views per month, saved 100 times per day as a favorite web site and growth of nearly 250% per year. www.HURT911.org is used for research by people hurt in an accident, plaintiff and defense lawyers, insurance company claim representatives and doctors.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would link back to my site by inserting this short HTML code on your web site:

Sincerely,

Philip L. Franckel, Esq.
1-800-HURT-911, Inc.
www.HURT911.org
www.HURT911Biker.com
email: Phil@HURT911.org
42 Davis Lane
Roslyn, NY 11576
Phone: (516) 621-9399

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–As you might know and there’s no secret here, I spend as much time as possible and as work allows in Rincon. Yes I know that all of you know that shit already, but I have to start the line of thought somehow, and I guess that’s why it is what it is. Usually we just get on road 2 and hit the whole North coast ’till we reach Rincon (west). Well this time the waves were non existent, and having some time on my hands I decided to take the South route. I don’t know why, since it’s a bit longer, but I guess I wanted to try out if the highway (and higher speeds) would get me home quicker, then again, who cares. Believe it or not it’s been some time since I rode down that stretch of road, so we went for it. Yeah, I know, riding, surfing???? There’s something fishy there… Nope, that’s the cool thing about having the house there, leave the boards and bags and just head back home.

Since Rincon is the westernmost part of Puerto Rico all we did was whip around and head south. It?s a couple hours of riding, but in the late afternoon and with the sun falling right behind you it was a pretty cool trip. We started at the end of the central Mountain range, the flatlands that hug the fishing villages that have become towns and tourist attractions. The Caribbean sea to our right, home and roaming waters of those famous pirates of yesterday, the access to the West Indies and the infamous Windward Passage. Yes many piracy stories are based in areas around what I’m talking about, even the town of San German, known for the black market trading back then lays in front of us. As we gain miles, the mountains (to our left) keep getting near, the road winds around and takes us over them. The topography changes from arid flat land to lush mountain green. As you head upwards you can see some of the cays and small islands like Caja De Muerto (Coffin?s Island) and Boca del Infierno (Hell’s Mouth) a favorite hideout for the most famous local pirate, Roberto Kofresi. I remember in the old days as soon as you went up in the mountains you could see the huge tobacco plantations and the curing and storing shacks, once one of our main crops. Now we would be lucky if we catch a glimpse of a few plants.

Dusk settles in and sometimes there’s nothing like the view from atop the mountain towns down into the city. The flickering lights with that weird amber glow, which sometimes gets weirder when the fog sets in. We twist the throttle since the temperature up there gets a bit too cold for our Caribbean souls, but alas, we step on it bearing the crisp air, although making it a bit colder, but knowing that the quicker we get to the downhill, and closer to San Juan, the temps will go back to the balmy normal. The only thing that breaks my line of thought is the damn tolls, how I hate those fuckers……

It’s dark now, so we are hauling ass, big time, to make it back home before the Sunday drunks get in their cars and are out to really do some damage. Time and time again we let the throttle go and let those pans pop and rumble. If you have ever had the chance to ride an old bike with straight pipes you know what I’m talking about. Nothing like the deep tone of those 1 and 3/4’s decompressing.We haul ass, cutting lanes like actual madmen that we tend to be, fourth gear is whining, the stretch home is just a couple dozen miles, we are all safe and really fucking enjoying the ride. I’m sure everyone is totally absorbed by their own thoughts, we just grin, nod and fucking hit the gas even more. The brightness of the city welcomes us, we are home, and being home means that you do whatever you do when you get back to reality. What the fuck, another day in paradise, another cool weekend of surf, sun, babes and a ride to finish it off. Can’t fucking bitch. I would be an ingrate.

And now to some news…..

The last week end in May there’s an event going on, in the town of Lajas road 100, it’s a 3 day event and we have been invited over. So I guess we will spend the weekend there. We will stay at the fishing town of Parguera, world known for the phosphorescent bay, let’s see what happens.

I want to thank Von Zippers sunglasses for jumping in as my new sunglass sponsor, check their sight out, they got pretty cool shades…. If I can hook up with Vans…..anyone…anyone ???

The Biker Build Off of Ness vs Sands has been very well received here in PR, the phones at the shop are ringing off the hook. Sure there’s also some nay sayers, but those can fuck themselves. 99% has been very positive feedback and we hope that in the near future we can expose some more of PR to the world once more. Thanks to Original Productions for heading down this way….

Anyway guys…. See you next week, got a ton of stuff to do….

Jose ? Caribbean Reporter

SCREAMIN? EAGLE/VANCE & HINES TEAM MAKES POSITIVE STRIDES; WINS ROUNDS IN HOUSTON–
Rider GT Tonglet leads Harley-Davidson into two round victories
BAYTOWN, Texas (April 11, 2005) ? GT Tonglet tried to make his 22nd birthday a special one by giving the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team its first victory of the season during Sunday’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.

Tonglet and teammate Andrew Hines both came up short on that goal, but they aren’t short on motivation to get ready for the next race.

Tonglet earned two round victories before falling to eventual race winner Karen Stoffer in the semifinals. It was the first time Tonglet made a semifinal appearance since the fall event in Las Vegas (October 2004). Tonglet beat Matt Smith in the first round, recording a 7.196-second pass at 186.54 before winning his second-round matchup against Craig Treble, going 7.210 at 183.02. He posted a 7.266 run at 179.78 in the loss.

“Going to the semi is a big boost, especially since I haven’t been there for a while,” Tonglet said. “It’s a big step for me and I’m just trying to stay focused and get this Screamin’ Eagle team a victory as soon as possible. The Screamin? Eagle V-Rod is a great bike and it’s capable of going rounds and we’ll make it to a final round shortly.”

The team was more disappointed they were unable to continue the performance they started at the season-opening race in Gainesville in March. There, Hines recorded the first sub-seven-second run in NHRA history. Hines rode his Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod to a 6.991 pass at 196.10 for the history-making marks.

The Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Ford Truck, Dunlop, Matco Tools and S100.

LOS ANGELES CALENDAR SHOW JULY 16-17 2005–America’s premier custom and performance street bike event is excited to announce its affiliation with American Motorcycle Dealer magazine, the world’s leading dealer trade magazine for the American V-Twin market, as an official Affiliate Sponsor and Qualifying Round of the AMD Pro Show World Championship of Custom Bike Building sponsored by Custom Chrome.

The Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show is produced by Gianatsis Design Associates, a well-known and respected advertising design agency in the motorsports market, and producer of the world famous FastDates.com Motorcycle Calendars and Website. Agency Director Jim Gianatsis had this to say about the Show’s new affiliation with the AMD Pro Show series of events:

“We have been a strong supporter and friends with publisher Robin Bradley and his American Motorcycle Dealer magazine since he first began publishing it some 10 years ago. For our own advertising clients like Mikuni American and STD Performance, Robin’s AMD magazine is the most effective, affordable and attractive way of reaching dealers and distributors world-wide in the American V-Twin market.

Our affiliation as a Qualifying Round for AMD Pro Show’s World Championship of Custom Bike Building sponsored by Custom Chrome is a natural pairing. It brings together our LA Calendar Show, America’s premier custom and performance consumer street motorcycle event with its key industry manufacturers and retailers exhibiting their products here to the public, our international media attention from all the world’s top motorcycle magazines and TV shows, along with many of the world’s top custom bike builders showcasing their hottest newest machinery here, now joining together with AMD’s recently established World Championship of Custom Bike Building which will is poised to become the crown jewel in the professional bike building world.

For additional Spectator and Exhibitor information on the LA Calendar Motorcycle Showand AMD World Championship Qualifier in July go to http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM

For additional information on the AMD World Final in November go tohttp://www.AMDProShow.com

CRIME SCENE CHOPPERS INTRODUCES POLISHED P-PAD–
High Style Companion Pad Coordinates with Hard-Ass? Solo Seat
Crime Scene Choppers announces the availability of the Polished Companion Pad, a passenger-pad styled to match their Hard-Ass solo seat. The seat is hand-formed from stainless steel and show polished. It comes standard with your choice of red, black or white leather inserts. The Polished Companion Pad is made in the USA.The Polished Companion Pad is shaped to fit radiused rear fenders as found on the current breed of fat tire choppers.

Quality and Style?Most p-pads available today? said Joe McGlynn, owner of Crime Scene Choppers. ?are just square blocks of foam and vinyl. We wanted to create a p-pad with serious style and the highest quality materials possible. This seat is styled to coordinate with the Hard-Ass solo seat.?

Hard-Ass AvailabilityThe Polished Companion Pad is available through http://www.CrimeSceneChoppers.com immediately. Special order upholstery is available. New products are being introduced every month, so check the website for the latest news.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY TO HOST THE 2ND ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CELEBRITY MOTORCYCLE RIDE– Dierks Bentley, Lonestar, The Warren Brothers, Ira Dean of Trick Pony, Shelly Fairchild, Trent Willmon & James Otto Will Join Montgomery Gentry On The 2nd Annual Ride. Proceeds To Benefit Newly Created Academy Of Country Music Charitable Foundation Today the Academy of Country Music announced its 2nd Annual Academy of Country Music Celebrity Motorcycle Ride, a star-studded daylong trek through the Nevada desert that will benefit the newly established Academy of Country Music Charitable Foundation, an in-house organization designed to raise support, and embrace programs dedicated to the awareness, growth, and education of music.

As part of the festivities surrounding the 40th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, the Academy will host this scenic, half-day excursion beginning at the world’s largest Harley-Davidson dealership, LAS VEGAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON. The 2nd Annual Academy of Country Music Celebrity Motorcycle Ride will take place on Sunday, May 15th, 2005. [Anyone interested in signing up for the ride should contact Brandi Brammer at (818) 842-8400 x.214 or visit the Academy’s website athttp://www.acmcountry.com.]

“Last year the Charitable Ride raised money for the Academy’s Charitable Foundation by letting artists and fans get together and ride their bikes through the beautiful landscape that only Nevada has to offer,” said Rod Essig, Vice President of the Academy of Country Music. “This year guarantees to be better than last year! I urge you all to sign-up and come join us.”

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy is best known for presenting its annual ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, which are televised, live on CBS and honor excellence among the industry’s brightest stars. The Academy, which is comprised of 3,800+ professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, CA.

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION With a heartfelt commitment to the welfare of music and its community, the Academy of Country Music Charitable Foundation will endeavor to support and embrace programs dedicated to the awareness, growth, and education of music.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on May 17th, 2005 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on The CBS Television Network.

LAS VEGAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON, the world’s largest Harley-Davidson dealership, located at 2605 S. Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV, has been serving Southern Nevada since 1995. Winner of the Gold Bar & Shield Circle of Excellence Award and Humanitarian Awards, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson holds several events each year that support the sport of riding and benefit the community. The dealership is also the recipient of multiple Promoter of the Year Awards.

WEST COAST THUNDER VI ? MEMORIAL WEEKEND BASH– Expands To 3 Days Adds “Chrome Build-Off” & More Motorcycle enthusiasts can choose from two big Memorial Day events — the East Coast has the “Ride To The Wall” and the West Coast has West Coast Thunder.

West Coast Thunder VI, the sixth annual event commemorating Memorial Day Weekend at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside, CA expands to a full three-day motorcycle festival May 28-30, 2005 with live entertainment, great food, fun, bike games, a poker run, a “Chrome Build-Off” competition, prizes and a parade of more than 4,000 motorcycles to Riverside National Cemetery to honor our national heroes.

Festival activities will take place at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson, 7688 Indiana Ave., in Riverside, CA and motorcycle enthusiasts can either pre-register or sign up at the dealership starting Fri., May 27th.

Registration is $20 before May 23rd and $25 after. Registration includes an official ride pin, Sunday poker run, continental breakfast and parade entry on Memorial Day and lunch following the memorial service — and one ticket for a chance to win a 2005 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. A portion of all proceeds throughout the weekend event will benefit War Memorial construction funds at Riverside National Cemetery.

The “Chrome Build-Off” is a new competition at West Coast Thunder. Two pre-registered participants will be selected to compete in this “Chrome Build-Off”. Each competitor will begin with identical Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which contestants will enhance by adding Genuine Harley-Davidson Chrome Parts and Accessories.

Everybody attending the event will have an opportunity to cast their vote for the “Chrome Build-Off” bike they like the best. Both customized motorcycles will be for sale at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson following the event.

Live entertainment, vendors and bike games will keep the festival rockin’ throughout Memorial Day weekend. Festival activity builds to a Memorial Day parade on Monday to Riverside National Cemetery to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The parade begins at 9:11 a.m. sharp.

To register for the event visit www.skipfordyce.com or call 951-785-00100 and ask for the West Coast Thunder coordinator.

FIFTEEN DAYS–Fifteen days ago, I read that smoking can kill you; The nextday I stopped smoking.

Twelve days ago, I read that too much red meat can kill you; The next day I stopped eating red meat..

Eight days ago, I read that drinking can kill you; The next day I stopped drinking.

Yesterday, I read that having sex can kill you; This morning I stopped reading.

Vern

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BURGESS ENDORSES REVTECH/NEW INDUSTRY LEADING 3 YEAR/30,000 MILE WARRANTY–Morgan Hill, CA. ? April, 6th, 2005. Custom Chrome announced today that Geoff Burgess, Senior Vice President/Chief Technical Officer and world-renowned V-Twin engine authority has fully endorsed the RevTech Gen. III engine lineup. The following are Geoff?s statements and reasons for his endorsement:

?I have been at Custom Chrome for several months and in this time have visited our Far East operation, suppliers and engine manufacturing facility. I found these vendors to be world class with the appropriate quality certification pedigree, ISO, QS and industry knowledge. I have made an in depth technical analysis of our RevTech line of power plant and driveline products and reviewed the RevTech warranty information that has been collected since the introduction of the initial RevTech Engines in October of 1999.

I have analyzed our RevTech products with the engineering team in terms of design, materials, specifications, properties and applications. I have found them to meet or exceed the V Twin industry standards for motorcycle, air cooled, over-head valve, engine and transmission design practices. The RevTech engine design has evolved over several years from conception and has seen progressive improvements particularly in the Gen III design. I have investigated the durability and reliability issues in all RevTech Engine designs, the corresponding engineering solutions and found them to be robust. These facts are reflected in the warranty data. There have been some recent oil system changes to the Gen III engine which have improved power output, drive-ability and decreased oil temperatures. In fact, continuous improvement will be our strategy to further enhance our power plant and overall performance while delivering increased value to the end user.

Therefore, based on the above information, it is my judgment that our 2005 catalog RevTech Gen III engine line up of 100? 4×4 and the 110? engine have a robust and solid design and are an industry standard product. I endorse the new 3 year/30,000 mile warranty on all Gen III RevTech engines. Future planned performance and competitive enhancements will prove that these engines can be further improved and continue to satisfy our market segment customers.?

The new warranty extends the current 4×4 Revtech 100? engine from 2 year/ 20,000 miles and the 110? from 1 year/10,000 miles to an industry leading 3 year/30,000 mile warranty.

Along with the extended engine warranty Custom Chrome also announces a RevTech oil system upgrade for all Gen III engines. This upgrade developed by the Custom Chrome in-house R&D staff offers lower operating temperatures and a slight increase in horsepower. The performance upgrade is now available for all Gen III RevTech engines from the 100? 4×4 to the ?2005 Engine of the Year? 110?. Call the Custom Chrome Tech line to obtain information.

THE NEW LIVING WILL–I, _________________________ (fill in the blank), being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means.

Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of peckerwood politicians who couldn’t pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it.

If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to sit up and ask for a cold beer, it should be presumed that I won’t ever get better.

When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my spouse, children and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day.

Under no circumstances shall the members of the Legislature enact a special law to keep me on life-support machinery. It is my wish that these boneheads mind their own damn business, and pay attention instead to the health, education and future of the millions of Americans who aren’t in a permanent coma.

Under no circumstances shall any politicians butt into this case .

I don’t care how many fundamentalist votes they’re trying to scrounge for their run for the presidency in 2008, it is my wish that they play politics with someone else’s life and leave me alone to die in peace.

I couldn’t care less if a hundred religious zealots send e-mails to legislators in which they pretend to care about me. I don’t know these people, and I certainly haven’t authorized them to preach and crusade on my behalf. They should mind their own business, too.

If any of my family goes against my wishes and turns my case into a political cause, I hereby promise to come back from the grave and make his or her existence a living hell.

_______________________________________
Signature

_______________________________________
Witness

RevCarl

HELP DEFEND SCOUTING–I have just signed the National Petition to Congress urging them to enact the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005. This legislation has been drafted by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and has been endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America.

There has never been a time when Scouting has been more important to our young men and to our nation than it is now. Yet, there has never been a time when Scouting has been under greater attack than now.

This bill will ensure that the federal government will continue to support Scouting and that the Scouts will be treated fairly and equally with all other youth groups. More background information is posted, along with the National Petition, is posted on the Scouting Legal Defense Fund’s Web site. http://ctserver.ath.cx/sldf/petition.html

The homosexual activists and others who are attacking Scouting are organizing to defeat this bill, so it is essential that all of us willing to defend Scouting let Congress know that we support it.

I hope you will visit this site and sign the National Petition. It takes just a few minutes.

Redhorse

AUSTRALIAN PAINT JOB OF THE WEEK–Hi Bandithere’s a tank and a guard that I have recently done here in Oz. Just thought I?d show you to see what you think.

Looking to come to the States next year, do you think anyone would be interested??

Perry Mallet – Australia
email : malletpk@hotmail.com

CIVIL RIGHTS OF HELLS ANGELS MEMBERS WERE VIOLATED–
Associated Press
Posted on Tue, Apr. 05, 2005
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – The civil rights of Hells Angels members were violated when authorities searched their homes and seized their property, including their Harley Davidson motorcycles, according to a federal appeals court ruling.The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a district court ruling that seven San Jose police officers and one Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy violated the civil rights of a San Jose chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.

The case began when a Hells Angels member was linked to a 1997 murder at a San Jose strip club.He was acquitted two years later, but the Hells Angels claimed that while investigators conducted searches of members’ homes in 1997 and 1998, they seized “truckloads” of property, killed three guard dogs and misled the courts about why they conducted the raids.

Members of the group filed a civil suit claiming authorities violated their Fourth Amendment right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures.The case weighed that constitutional right against the need for investigators to safely and effectively do their jobs, according to 9th Circuit Judge Richard A. Paez. He wrote that the judges concluded that the searches and seizures were unnecessarily intrusive and that “the intrusion was severe.”

The Hells Angels have asked for more than $250,000 in damages, but the court hasn’t disclosed whether the group will receive any money.

Rogue

CARIBBEAN REPORT DELAY–Sorry, I could not do the news today, my friend Israel, the editor of BikerSpot magazine is in the hospital after a motorcycle accident and I’m helping him out on bringing the next issue to print. Yes my fingers are on fire, but hey, what are friends for.

Hope all is well
Jose

Take your time, Bikernet will still be here when you come back. We wish your friend a speedy recovery.

Layla

JUSTICES DECLINE TO REVIEW USE OF DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS–
Houston man loses challenge to warrant based on use of canines
By ANDREW TILGHMAN
Houston Chronicle
Law enforcement’s authority to use drug-sniffing dogs was bolstered Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of a Houston case in which police brought dogs onto a man’s property and later obtained a search warrant for drugs.The decision upholds the 2002 conviction of David Gregory Smith, 41, a Bandidos motorcycle gang member serving a 40-year sentence for running a methamphetamines lab in his southeast Houston home.

Smith’s is the latest case to support police use of dogs while searching luggage, motor vehicles and homes for drugs. Smith’s attorney, Kent Schaffer, said it sets a potentially worrisome precedent.

“I find that just absurd and extremely troubling that the police could take a dog and go to the front door of anybody’s home, and if the dog scratches its tail or barks or winks or whatever, they can search your house,” Schaffer said Monday.

The search of Smith’s home near South Houston on Oct. 4, 2000, came after an 11-month law enforcement investigation into the gang. The dogs “alerted” when officers allowed them to sniff garage doors and house doors, and authorities used that information to obtain search warrants.

Cursory examination

At issue was whether the dogs’ sniffing constituted an illegal search of Smith’s home.Assistant District Attorney Sally Ring said easily accessible parts of a home’s exterior are subject to a cursory examination, such as a dog’s sniff.

“It’s akin to the Fed Ex guy or the flower delivery person; if they can go there, then law enforcement or anyone else can go there,” said Ring, who prosecuted Smith’s case in 2002.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected Smith’s claim that the search by federal and local officials on the Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force was illegal.The state court ruled that the dogs were not intrusive enough to invoke constitutional protection. It also said police did not unlawfully trespass because the garage door was along a walkway that visitors must pass to reach the front door. There is little legal dispute that an alert from a narcotics dog is reason to grant a warrant, said professor Herman Schwartz of the American University law school.

“It’s considered the equivalent of seeing something in plain view,” Schwartz said. “There is sort of an assumption that the dogs are infallible.”

Search tactics upheld

The U.S. Supreme Court has grown more accepting of police search tactics in recent years, and has repeatedly upheld the use of drug-sniffing dogs, Schwartz said.Schwartz pointed to a 1983 case in which a suspected drug smuggler traveling through New York’s LaGuardia airport was searched after a dog sniffed his luggage and alerted authorities to the presence of cocaine. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with police in that case.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Department currently has two narcotics-trained dogs used by its detective bureau. The Houston Police Department uses narcotics-trained dogs only at its airport security units, officials said.

Rogue

SUPER MAX BELT DRIVES–When is the last time you?ve seen a pulley like this? If indeed you or any of your customers have experienced a worn out pulley such as this, you now can offer them a re-build from Super Max.

Super Max has been in the belt drive business for over 33 years and we have an excellent reputation for our long life belt drive. These over-lay pulleys can be installed over most aftermarket and all factory pulleys. These pulleys will go well over 100,00 miles and don?t emit the squealing sounds of pulleys of metallic construction.

These pulleys will also extend belt life considerably as they are constructed from similar materials as the ?Gates Poly Chain? belts that we have all grown to love. Questions? Call Super Max 10:00am to 5:00pm Mountain time. 406-755-8688.

Super Max has invented a method of removing the worn teeth and replacing them with a Super Max over-lay pulley that will last. The over-tension is not necessary, if indeed it is not ratcheting, it isn?t too loose.

BIKE STORAGE AT IT?S BEST–We at Triple D Storage, Inc. specialize exclusively in motorcycle storage, detailing, and trailering located in Randolph, New Jersey.

Our facility is climate controlled, insured, and fully secured. We use the latest technology in waterless detailing to limit the chance of discoloration of factory paint.

Our staff consists of knowledgeable employees using techniques that optimize showroom finishes.

Feel free to contact us,
Steven D’Arco
973-895-2441
http://www.tripledstorage.com

HOME FOR SALE IN STURGIS–Hey Bandit, the furnace is new, the hot water tank is 3 years old all the bedroom stuff is new. 6 month old king bed, Serta hardside super plush pillow top, the dressers are so new they still smell like fresh wood. There?s 3 bedrooms, got two new twin beds, lots of stand up closets. The sink and faucet are 3 months old and same for the dishwasher. The washer is commercial grade and the dryer is same. The recliners are great; the burgundy one is 2 months old. The end tables and coffee table are new… TV. is 32 in with surround sound and DVD player. There?s a outside camera and monitor, all is in perfect condition. Without all off the crap I?ll take $12,500 for the place, you keep the piano. $20,000 furnished. The reason I?m selling is my ol lady split and I?ve had it here. Need to get away and start over…so let me know… Skooter at sandc@rushmore.com

THAT’S A WRAP–Once more the lovely Layla pulled it off. TheBikernet News and all that’s fit to print in this wild industry completedwith class. In a sense you’ve got the inside track with Bikernet. You notonly get the hottest digger data weekly, but the inside track on three majormags in the industry. It’s like a back stage pass to biker heaven. Am Ipushin’ it?

Ah fuck it. Let’s see what I have to report. I’ll hit the magsfirst. We’re working with H-D on an exclusive for Hot Bike and perhapsWillie G. will hit the cover. I’m also working with Randy Simpson andSouthern Chops from the Discovery Channel and Matt Hotch will show class onthe August cover with his customized V-Rod. We’re making major changes tothe Hot Rod Bikes, but it’s a Corporate secret. Can’t give that up just yet.We’re even considering a new start-up mag. Another secret. We’re alsoworking with Billy Lane to Sponsor his Blood, Sweat and Gears. Watch for itin Laughlin.

I hope to spend the majority of this weekend chasing the lovely SinWu around the complex and working on the Sturgis Shovelhead. I’ll do mydamnest to post a report. If I’m lucky I’ll tear it down at the end of theweekend, finish the welds, grind the bastards and off to powder next week.That’s a rush.

Oh, there’s a surprise on the dusty horizon. Mike Lichter shot agroup of knock-out Hooters girls with a Hooter’s bike that deserves to endup on the cover of HOT BIKE. I’ll try to bring you a sample shot. Hang on.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit

HELLO ALL! And welcome back for another week of news and jokes. It?s been quiet around the Headquarters; not much in construction since we?re in the final phases of the master bedroom finale. Waiting on Toresten, the master wood craftsmen to build the closet and Kyle, the master electrician to give us light. Two more weeks and another room will be finished.

Bandit?s Sturgis Chopper is sort of at a stand still. The carb has to be sent off for something, (guess I should pay more attention) and other than that, he?s ready to tear it back down for? what? It?s not gonna be painted, oh, powdercoating. Right?

I have a list of articles that will go up next week, in addition to the two I posted yesterday. If you?re not a Cantina member, you should pay the five bucks just to read the ?Poem of the Year?. It?s great by itself but I added some great beauty shots from Todd8080 to top it off. And the new feature on Steed?s Quarterhorse. Lots more on the way so stay tuned.

BIKERNET PAINT JOB OF THE WEEK– I started painting tanks again…thought you might like to see the 1st one. Hope you’re doing well…..Apache Jil

BRING INDUSTRY EXPERTS INTO YOUR LIVINGROOM TO TALK SHOP —
2005 V-Twin Expo Seminars Now Available on DVD
Fresh from this years most successful v-twin trade show, the V-Twin Expo by Easyriders presents three insightful video seminars. Each seminar was presented to live standing room only crowds. For those not able to attend, each is now offered on DVD. Get one for the shop or for home, either way they are a must have for your video library.

?We increased both the quantity and content of our seminars at the ?05 Expo- quantity because of demand for seating by v-twin dealers and content because the dealers want substance, not fluff. They asked for information that would be valuable to their business, not just entertainment? said show producer Jim Betlach.

Seminars available on DVD include;

Engine Panel Discussion

Learn from the country?s leading engine experts from S&S Cycles, TP Engineering, Kuryakyn, Zipper?s and Axtell. This informative video covers the biggest problems facing today?s big inch motors and how to overcome them. This 50 minute-long video is a must have for either the big inch motor owner or for the shop selling v-twin high performance products.

Electronic Fuel Injection Panel

In this video you will see and learn about the evolution of EFI and where technology is taking the motorcycle industry. Top professionals from Dyno-Jet, Terry Components, S&S Cycle, Daytona Twin Tec and Thunder Heart discuss the important issues and answer questions from motorcycle dealers across the country.

Way Outside the Box

Learn how to push the envelope and think outside of the box from motorcycle maverick John Wyckoff. John offers his amazing and fresh thinking to seminar attendees and now you! Wyckoff brings a lifetime of knowledge and insight to this highly entertaining and thought provoking seminar. John Wyckoff was the recipient of the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award at the V-Twin Expo ?Excellence in Motorcycling? awards.

Custom Paint Made Easy with Jon Kosmoski

Learn from the master, Jon Kosmoski. Jon, founder of House of Kolor, presents the latest technology, equipment, products and brand new techniques to keep you on the cutting edge of the custom paint universe. This seminar is upbeat and lively, we guarantee you will be not only entertained, but learn from the master too.

Order on or all of the videos today. Any single video is $19.95, or get both the Engine Panel Discussion and Electronic Fuel Injection Panel for an ultra low of $29.95. Each is produced in limited numbers so order quickly- supplies won?t last. Call 1-800-247-6246 or order online at: http://www.vtwin-expo.com

The V-Twin Expo by Easyriders focuses exclusively on the V-twin motorcycle market, takes place in Cincinnati and has become the v-twin industry?s premier trade show. It has steadily grown over the past five years in terms of exhibitors, exhibit space and V-twin dealers who attend the show.

The Expo attracts worldwide dealers with exhibitor space completely sold out. A waiting list now exists for exhibitors to secure display space.

Each Expo includes informative seminars for dealers, an industry reception, custom bike displays and honors for industry leaders and their products.

Dealers can register online now for the 2006 Expo at: www.vtwin-expo.com. 2006 Expo dates are February 4,5 and 6th. To learn more about exhibit space availability, contact Jim Betlach of Easyriders at 952-443-4168.

BLUE SUIT– A man who just died is delivered to the mortuary wearing an expensive,expertly tailored black suit. The mortician asks the deceased’s wifehow she would like the body dressed. He points out that the man doeslook good in the black suit he is already wearing.The widow, however, says that she always thought her husband lookedhis best in blue, and that she wants him in a blue suit. She gives themortician a blank check and says, “I don’t care what it costs, butplease have my husband in a blue suit for the viewing.”

The woman returns the next day for the wake. To her delight, she findsher husband dressed in a gorgeous blue suit with a subtle chalk stripe;the suit fits him perfectly.

She says to the mortician, “Whatever this cost, I’m very satisfied.You did an excellent job and I’m very grateful. How much did you spend?”

To her astonishment, the mortician presents her with the blank check.”There’s no charge,” he says.

“No, really, I must compensate you for the cost of that exquisite bluesuit!” she says.

“Honestly, ma’am,” the mortician says, “it cost nothing. You see, adeceased gentleman of about your husband’s size was brought in shortlyafter you left yesterday, and he was wearing an attractive blue suit. I askedhis wife if she minded him going to his grave wearing a black suit instead,and she said it made no difference as long as he looked nice.

“So I switched the heads.”

Chris T.

THE FEELING OF POWER–I was getting ready for work when I looked out the window and saw the utility company starting to erect a pole in front of my house. They were going to position it directly in front of my picture window.

No way, absolutely no way was I going to permit this. I gulped down my last bit of coffee and went directly to the crew supervisor and told him in no uncertain terms that I was not going to permit his crew to put that stupid electrical pole directly in front of my picture window.

He took out a map for pole locations and a right of way document and explained that it is the best location for it. I told him it is not thebest location for me and when I came home from work that day I did not want to find that pole in front of my window.

I told him I didn’t give a hoot where he put it but not in front of my window. I felt pretty smug as I drove off to work because I felt I got my point across. I know darn well they are afraid to put it there now.

Ahhhh….. the feeling of power…………

Chris T.

BIKERNET THOUGHT FOR TODAY–Laughter can cure a physical condition; it can and will positively affect an emotional illness as well. Laughter ushers in a new perspective which gives vent to a changed attitude. And our attitude toward any situation, any individual, is all-powerful.

A negative, critical attitude toward our financial situation, toward our disease, toward our boss, or spouse, or children, determines how we feel moment by moment. In like manner, when we raise our sights, look at the world with lightness in our hearts, expecting to enjoy the day, the people, the activity, we’ll succeed.

Finding humor in a situation, any situation prevents us from succumbing to feelings of powerlessness. Feeling powerless, behaving as victims, came easily for many of us before we chose this program and the Twelve Steps to live by. Choosing a humorous response, opting to laugh at our situation, at any point in time, keeps our personal power where it belongs–with ourselves.

My emotional health depends on my active involvement in deciding who I am, right now. Deciding to chuckle rather than snarl will give me an unexpected emotional boost.

RevCarl

STEALTH REPORT–I have been real busy this past week. I have been buying displays and getting security system estimates for “STEALTH BIKE WORKS.” One thing about doing this is the list of things to do continues to grow. We have a “town planning meeting” to attend on the 19th. Hopefully after that Stealth Bike Works will be cleared for take off. I would like to ask a little favor from everyone out there to keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, whatever you think will help to get us through the meeting. Thanks in advance!

I am excited about the possibilities for STEALTH BIKE WORKS. It seems every day we have people wishing us well or asking when we will be open. Hopefully we will be open by the end of April. So far we have our wrench “Little Mikey” in place and my buddy and good friend “Chopper John” will be doing some fab work as needed. He already has some of his wicked fuel finished and ready for display. This guy has some great talent with welding and a torch. I did a story on him last summer.

We have had a number of friends volunteer their services to help up fit the building. My buddy Shorty, the powdercoat king Ben Jordan, Chopper John and Jay the electrical wizard. As always I have had a ton of encouragement from my wife and best friend “THE MEANEST,” without her all of this would not be possible. I would like to also thank my friend Fritz who has encouraged me along the way, especially when the low times hit me, my friend Lee Clemens from Departure Bike Works for his advice last fall. Last but not least, thanks to someone I have always admired and looked up to my good friend Mr. Bandit for all of his positive e-mails. It seems I would get these e-mails when I needed to hear something positive and up-lifting.

One of the best things about doing this is when I put the key in the door, I know it is up to me and I get to call the shots and I know my heart is in the right place. It is a GREAT feeling. So stay tuned for the opening day and phone number and don’t forget to remember us on the 19th with whatever you want to do. Cross those fingers, say a prayer, make a voo-doo doll to persuade the “town planning” people say “YES!”

Until next time, RIDE!
Stealth

AIRBRUSH ARTIST AVAILABLE–I DO ALL STYLES OF ART. IF YOU EVER NEED MY SERVICES PLEASE CONTACT ME AT 1(570)223-6602, and at http://www.thirddimensiontattoos.com. I attached a sample of some bike parts, thank you for your time.

BILLY IS COMIN? YOUR WAY–Billy Lane and the Blood Sweat & Gears Tour will be fabricating in your face, live on stage at the Edgewater Casino in Laughlin, Nevada.

Show dates and times: April 22 & 23, 2005 from 2:00 pm ? 6:00 pm.

See the bike you could win? Watch Billy add a bit of Choppers Inc to a brand new 2005 Harley-Davidson Springer provided by Carolina Harley-Davidson of Gastonia, NC. When the bike is done, it could be yours. To win it is easy. At one stop during the Blood Sweat & Gears Tour, Billy will simply hand someone in the crowd the keys and they ride it off the stage and home. It?s that easy.

Come watch live fabrication like you have never seen it before~ In your face.

Blood Sweat & Gears is powered by Dodge and Activision games. To see all 2005 Tour dates check out http://www.choppersinc.com.

PARTY IN HELL–We are at it again, it’s party time. What are the chances of getting ya’ll to come out and play? I know it’s a long trip but we’ll rolllll out the red carpet for you.

Hope all is well!
Take care, The Devil

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PPG AUTOMOTIVE REFINISH LAUNCHES YEARLONG FUND-RAISING EFFORTFOR THE LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETYLAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida ? March 23, 2005 ? PPG Automotive Refinish has launched a yearlong fund-raising effort for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the world?s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing support and information to patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals.

The effort was launched March 5 with an auction that took place during PPG?s Platinum Distributor Conference, held at the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. PPG Platinum Distributors bid on racing paraphernalia, posters, body shop equipment and supplies and more to raise over $32,000 for the cause.

Unveiled at the auction was the ?Charity Chopper?, the brainchild of PPG Automotive Refinish, Ray Evernham of Evernham Motorsports, along with his foundation Racing for a Reason, and Dave Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fabrications. Featuring a spectacular Liquid Crystal paint finish from the PPG Vibrance Collection, the chopper?s design was headed by Dave Perewitz. Perewitz Cycle Fabrications custom built the one-of-a-kind V-twin bike, featuring a classic flame design by Perewitz himself.

The Charity Chopper will tour the country with the PPG Show Truck at custom car and bike shows, and select NASCAR events throughout the year. In October 2005 the Charity Chopper will be auctioned on eBay, with 100% of all proceeds benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Beginning in April until the Charity Chopper auction in October, PPG, Perewitz and Evernham will sponsor a monthly eBay auction. These auctions will feature high-profile collectible items which will help support the Society?s life-saving cancer research.

For more information on the Charity Chopper and the monthly auctions, visit http://www.ppgrefinish.com.

About The Leukemia and Lymphoma SocietyThe Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is headquartered in White Plains, New York, with 63 chapters in the United States and additional branches in Canada. The Society?s mission: to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin?s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $360 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made more than 812,000 contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. For more information about blood cancer, visit http://www.LLS.org or call the Society?s Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572.

COMPU-FIRE HAS CHARGING SYSTEMS FOR FUEL INJECTED ENGINES–With the recent announcements of new fuel injection systems becomingavailable from the major engine suppliers, Compu-Fire has developed chargingsystems that deliver the higher power output specified by them. The newCompu-Fire 40 Amp 3 Phase systems deliver twice the power of the standard 32Amp system under real life operating conditions. The features include anarrow stator and rotor designed to fit the Softail primary cases used onmost custom bikes.

The 3 phase systems provide 25 Amps output at an idle witha continuous 40 Amps output above 2400 RPM. The voltage regulator is set at14.25 volts and the mounting footprint is the same as the 32 Amp regulators.The precision balanced rotor is vented to allow the stator to run cooler tomaintain maximum output. The large flanged seal spacer provides additionalsupport for the rotor and a hard plastic sleeve is molded into the statorgrommet to prevent possible damage from mis-installation of the set screw.The voltage regulator case is available in either black or Endura-Shinefinish. Weather proof connectors and full epoxy encapsulation guaranty avery reliable system.

The systems are available from the major distributorsor call Compu-Fire at 909-598-5485.

SILLY BOYS– A Three-year-old little boy was examining his testicles while taking a bath.

“Mama,” he asked, “Are these my brains?”

Mama answered, “Not yet.”

KATMANDU

Here’s a mower that would actually get me out to mow the lawn.

Dusty Dave

RALLY IN THE ROCKIES UPDATE–For fourteen years the Four Corners Rally has been taking place in the Durango/Ignacio area. Although it has gone through some growing pains, the past few years have been a huge success. Riders from all over the U.S. come to this little corner of the world because of the unequaled riding. With mountains, waterfalls, wildlife, mountain lakes, mining towns and great weather this has become an extremely popular rally for not only bikers in the nearby four states, but also Californians and Texans who wish to escape the heat.

This year over 100,000 are expected to hit the Four Corners. This is also one of the last big rallies put on by bikers for bikers.

To keep up with more bikers this year the organizers have put together a full list of events to cover four days. Concerts this year will feature the Guess Who playing Saturday night, Super Tribute Shows featuring the sounds of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Lynyrd Skynyrd the other three nights, plus great local and regional talents performing daily. A $10,000 cash purse is the prize for the Cruising for Cash Run held during the Rally.

Two custom motorcycles are to be given away; a one of a kind custom chopper built by Wicked Brothers out of Phoenix and a one of a kind custom Harley V-Rod. Other entertainment will include Pro Male/Female Wrestling, Pineapple Pit Wrestling, the Hollywood Knockouts, Go Go Cage Dancing, Karaoke Contests, Beer Tents, Biker Bull Busting, Arm Wrestling and Tattoo Contest. The ever popular Biker Rodeo will again be held Saturday at the grounds. Over 300 vendors will be spread out from the rally grounds in Ignacio to Durango.

Make your plans early. Tickets and rooms will no doubt sell out this year. You can check on rooms by calling 866-to-rally, or check out the official website http://www.rallyintherockies.com or call 888-901-7701 for information.

ONSITE ON THE RUN–Hey Everybody! ONSITE / XLT Products is on the move! Steve Gilmore in the # 08 Camaro finshed 6th (out of 28) in the season opener at Irwindale Raceway, CA.

The Gilmore / Nelson Race Team is ready to introduce the ONSITE Automotive Spill Control product, due to be released this Spring, for containing spills in the pit areas at all the racetrack venues on the Vista Paint / Street Stock Tour ’05!

XLT continues to “go-high” by providing Purpose-built containment equipment for an all out assault in the field of Spill control!

Watch ONSITE put out the “YELLOW” on Trackside spills and go Green on clean-up!

See what’s new athttp://: www.onsitespillcontrol.com

RUCKER PERFORMANCE SPONSORS AHDRA SUPER GASS CLASS–
Horsepower and Rucker Performance Meet at the AHDRA Drag Racing Series

Fort Worth, Texas (March 29, 2005) – Rucker Performance, a leading custom manufacturer of high performance, highly styled, custom American Muscle Bikes, signed a class sponsorship for the AHDRA 2005 Screaming Eagle Series Championship in the Super Gas Class.

“Rucker Performance is proud to be the new class sponsor the AHDRA Super Gas Class,” said Bill Rucker, President of Rucker Performance. “We selected the Super Gas Class because it is the fastest non-professional class with the greatest amount of engine innovation.”

“The Super Gas class provides for unlimited engine modifications. This includes fuel injection, supercharger, E.F.I., turbo-charger, nitrous oxide and double engines.”

Rucker Performance’s American Muscle Bikes, the Assassin and the Predator are built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline of drag racing. Our custom motorcycles come with monster torque, fit and finish of one-off custom bikes, and exceptional handling.

“The reason that we are building a relationship with AHDRA is because our firm is about performance,” stated Rucker. “We live and breath high-performance American Muscle Bikes. In the not too distant future we will be producing the ultimate horsepower motorcycle and we see this class as a laboratory for testing new technology, enthusiast interests, and usable high-performance horsepower.”

About AHDRA

The AHDRA 2005 Screaming Eagle Series Championship is commencing its 28th season comprised of fourteen rounds of snarling American V-twin action stretching from Florida to California with the final round finishing up in Las Vegas, NV.

About Rucker Performance

Rucker Performance started production in 2004 and has quickly become a leading designer and manufacturer of custom American Muscle and Chopper motorcycles. Rucker Performance is known for ground-shaking performance with fit and finish that is comparable to one-off custom motorcycles.

Additional design queues include soft-style suspension, high-performance V-twin 124 cubic inch polished engines, clean, sharp lines, 6-speed transmissions, stretch tanks and fat tires. Designing and manufacturing is performed at the company’s headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

BIKERNET BIKE OF THE WEEK–Hi Bandit, I was wondering if there was anything you could do to help me get the word out concerning my bike for sale. It’s a 2002 custom-built softail chopper in great condition with low mileage. The complete build-up, specs, and tons of pics can be found on my website: http://coryhebert.home.comcast.net/

WEST COAST THUNDER VI EXPANDS TO 3 DAYS ADDS ?CHROME BUILD-OFF? & MORE Motorcycle enthusiasts can choose from two big Memorial Day events — the East Coast has the ?Ride To The Wall? and the West Coast has West Coast Thunder.West Coast Thunder VI, the sixth annual event commemorating Memorial Day Weekend at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside, CA expands to a full three-day motorcycle festival May 28-30, 2005 with live entertainment, great food, fun, bike games, a poker run, a ?Chrome Build-Off? competition, prizes and a parade of more than 4,000 motorcycles to Riverside National Cemetery to honor our national heroes. Festival activities will take place at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson, 7688 Indiana Ave., in Riverside, CA and motorcycle enthusiasts can either pre-register or sign up at the dealership starting Fri., May 27th.

Registration is $20 before May 23rd and $25 after. Registration includes an official ride pin, Sunday poker run, continental breakfast and parade entry on Memorial Day and lunch following the memorial service — and one ticket for a chance to win a 2005 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. A portion of all proceeds throughout the weekend event will benefit War Memorial construction funds at Riverside National Cemetery.

The ?Chrome Build-Off? is a new competition at West Coast Thunder. Two pre-registered participants will be selected to compete in this ?Chrome Build-Off?. Each competitor will begin with identical Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which contestants will enhance by adding Genuine Harley-Davidson Chrome Parts and Accessories.

Everybody attending the event will have an opportunity to cast their vote for the ?Chrome Build-Off? bike they like the best. Both customized motorcycles will be for sale at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson following the event.

Live entertainment, vendors and bike games will keep the festival rockin? throughout Memorial Day weekend.

Festival activity builds to a Memorial Day parade on Monday to Riverside National Cemetery to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The parade begins at 9:11 a.m. sharp.

Riverside National Cemetery is the fifth-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration. The dramatic, meandering landscape features memorial circles, lakes and an amphitheater.

Following the memorial service, it?s back to Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson for continuing entertainment, lunch and awards ceremonies.

To register for the event visit http://www.skipfordyce.com or call 951-785-0100 and ask for the West Coast Thunder coordinator.

MESSAGE FROM THE DEVIL–check out the fresh paint on the Blue Devil. Hope you had a blast on your trip , sounds like you needed to get away for a minute. hope all is well.

Take care, Kent

THAT’S A GODDAMN WRAP–As usual, Nyla, Sin, Layla and Coral did ahelluva job with the news. Sure I tossed my hat in the ring, but they pulledit together. In fact, I’m currently sequestered in the HOT BIKE offices inPlacentia, California some 28 miles from the Bikernet Headquarters. I told’em 30 miles and they could shove the job. I’m reading flats for the JulyIssue, which will ship off to the printer on Monday and fly to subscribersand cross-country newsstands the middle of May. Makes no sense to me.

This issue is slammed with Hot articles on 155-inch R&R engines,a hottie who airbrushed Agent Zebra’s leather and the very first productionAmerican motorcycle–1900. With the help of Susan Buck, we launched ourfirst-ever Laconia event Survival Guide. She did a helluva job. There’s morehot tech and features than ever before. Ah, but I’ve got an axe to grind.Check it out for yourself.

Tomorrow I jump a jet for Las Vegas and the awards ceremony for the 2005Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off finale at the Hard Rock. I watched Arlenand Roland Sands battle on the shores of Jose’s island, also known as PuertoRico, the other night. Looked like a good time. Saturday morning I’ll flyback to LA to work on my Sturgis Shovel chop. I’ll try to bring you anupdate on Sunday. It will also be featured in the August issue of Hot Bike.I need to wrap that sucker up for the September Pre-Sturgis issue.

Have a helluva weekend.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit

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BETTER TAKE YOUR PEDAL OFF THE MEDAL ? THAT BIKERS GOT A BADGE–
Anchorage Daily News
The Associated Press
FAIRBANKS — When the snow melts, some Fairbanks police officers will trade in four-door sedans for something with a little more style: Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

The department showed off the police edition of the 2005 Road King on Wednesday.

The Harley is one of two on loan for the summer from the Harley-Davidson Farthest North Outpost under a program that began in 2002.

The Police Department gets free use of Harleys annually.

“I’ve been able to drive them every year,” said Lt. Dusty Johnson. “It’s been magnificent.”

The decked-out touring bikes are white with Police Department insignia, two-way radios, lights and sirens. The motorcycles are valued at $22,000 apiece.

Harley dealerships across the nation loan motorcycles to police departments, said store sales manager Doug Chambers.

“It’s just basically a good will thing,” he said.

Mileage put on Harleys by police officers can be a selling point when the stores reclaim the motorcycles and put them on the showroom floor.

“It’s a cop bike,” Chambers said. “It’s about where it’s been and what it’s done.”

First National Bank Alaska donated $2,500 toward tailoring the motorcycles for the Police Department.

The motorcycles are used primarily for parades and some patrolling.

Rogue
www.bikerrogue.com

STEALTH REPORT–This past weekend ?The Concerned Bikers Association? held their annual spring swap meet. The swap meet is still one of my favorite events. The weather was good Saturday but Sunday proved to be a different story with the rain moving in.

This swap meet was different for me because instead of being on the selling side of things I was on the buying side. I was looking for deals to take back to my new shop ” STEALTH BIKE WORKS”, soon to be open. I had pretty good luck. I picked up some Joker Machine parts for a good price and some Pro One parts and a few other bits and pieces to decorate the walls. In the upcoming weeks I will have an update on the progress of the shop. I can’t tell you how excited I am! It is a lot of work getting the building ready, but fun.

Back to the swap meet. Time to see old friends and make new ones. The swap meet still takes you back to a time when things were a lot less complicated. It does you good to see young kids at the swap meet looking for parts to put their dream bike together. One of the things I like about the swap meet is that you never know what you will find and to me that is the fun part.

The temps have turned warm here 75-80 degrees and the bikes are out on the road. The first bike nights are starting up!

One last thing thanks to all of you who supported me on “Your Shot” last week. It means a lot!

Spring is here! Get Your Motor Running!
STEALTHMAN!

EBAY AUCTION LEADS DEPUTIES TO MOTORCYCLE CHOP SHOP–
GEORGE WILKENS
The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA – Two rented garages at an upscale New Tampa apartment complex concealed a chop shop specializing in stolen motorcycles, authorities say. Rafthel Morales, 26, was arrested Monday on multiple felonies related to vehicle theft, but his roommate at Addison Park at Cross Creek apartments remains at large, officials say.

The investigation started with information obtained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft Unit and a complaint from a victim who saw his property offered on eBay, the popular Internet auction site, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

A search warrant served Wednesday recovered stolen cycles and cycle parts in garages assigned to the suspects’ residence, 10307 Venitia Real Ave., just north of Cross Creek Boulevard, authorities said.

“It’s hard to tell how many motorcycles there are,” Carter said. Detectives will rely on serial numbers and vehicle identification numbers, but there were at least seven, she said.

Morales was booked into the Orient Road Jail at 1:30 p.m. on charges of grand theft, possession of a vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number and operating a chop shop.

A similar warrant has been issued for roommate Kyle James Kirkland, 18. Anyone knowing his whereabouts should call the sheriff’s office, (813) 247-8200, or CrimeStoppers, 1-800-873-TIPS.

Rogue

LA CALENDAR SHOW UPDATE–2005 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show Weekend July 16-17th 2005 Top Builders and Record $70,000 Awards Purse Highlight 2005 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show

The 14th Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show Weekend sponsored by Performance Machine and scheduled for Saturday July 16th and Sunday July 17th, 2005 at the beautiful Queen Mary Event Park on the Pacific Ocean in downtown Long Beach, CA, continues to grow every year as the most popular street bike show in America.

As always the LA Calendar Show offers one of the premier Custom and Sportbike Show Contests in America featuring top name Pro and Amateur bike builders from around the world vying for the prestigious Performance Machine Best of Show Trophy. Performance Machine and show producer Jim Gianatsis have bolstered the already huge $60,000 Bike Show awards purse with an additional $10,000 in cash prize money for the Best of Show and Best PM Equipped Bike.

Expect 3-time LA Calendar Motorcycle Show winner Jesse Rooke to return to reveal his latest cutting edge custom in another bid to secure the coveted Performance Machine Best of Show title. But competition will again be intense from many of world’s top builders like last year’s winner Shinya Kimura from Zero Engineering who flew in from Japan to took home the Best of Show trophy with one of his famed retro choppers that have customers on a 4-year waiting list.

An exclusive feature of the Show are the free Calendar Bike Builder’s Seminars held both days at the Show, conducted by the leading custom bike builders in America as featured in the Iron & Lace Calendar. You’ll meet many legendary builders with their latest bikes including 3-time Show winner Jesse Rooke, plus Russell Mitchell, Mitch Bergeron, Paul Yaffe, Mike Stafford, Harold Pontarelli and others. Plus exciting new builder Dreamcraft Studios who premiered their show stopper “Sega” at last year’s show, will return again this year with the world premier their latest $500,000 rolling piece of techno artwork featuring the world’s first fully machined 1-piece billet chassis. Each builder will be available to meet at their bike displays with free autographed posters, and at their Builder’s Seminars where they will tell fans how they really build their bikes. It’s better than reality biker TV show – it’s live!

On Saturday night Show promoter Jim Gianatsis hosts the Iron & Lace Calendar Builders Night Party beginning at 9pm on board the historic Queen Mary ocean liner in the Observation Room Bar with live musical entertainment by a sensational new national female recording artist.

Many of the top Iron & Lace Calendar bike builders together with other top celebrity builders attending the Show weekend will be there, together with fans and the beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Angels featured in the Iron & Lace Calendar.

Showcasing the Calendar Girls theme of the Calendar Bike Show will be the premier of the 2006 FastDates.com Calendars with the beautiful SBK Fast Dates World Superbike and Iron & Lace Calendar Angels in attendance. Featured is TV and movie star Miss Texas “Rockin’ Robin” Cunningham who will be hosting the stage activities both days, assisted by the legendary Keith “Bandit” Ball of Bikernet.com and biker magazine fame.

Spectators can find out more about The LA Calendar Motorcycle Show, the Bike Contest and all the available weekend activities online at http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM

CHROME HARDWARE SUPPLY– is teaming up with Brian Klock to create an amazing new bike-the Twin-Cam Bagger. The result of CHS’s first collaboration-Matt Hotch’s silver-flamed Softail, dubbed the “Continental”-received so much attention over the past two years that the company decided to follow it up with another talented builder.

Brian Klock and the Klock Werks team will infuse their creativity into another soon-to-be masterpiece for the CHS collection.

“Brian has impressed me for years with his talent, and I think he has a real knack for baggers,” says Taylor Anderson of Chrome Hardware Supply. “We like bikes that look good-from our printed materials to the shows-but they also have to work because we ride them all year long. We’ll start with a new Twin-Cam FLHT and see what Brian and the team can come up with”.

The Continental has been featured in Hot Bike magazine and Tom Zimberoff’s Art of the Chopper. It also graced the cover of the Dreamgirls 2005 calendar. CHS expects to turn just as many heads with the Klock Werks Twin-Cam Bagger.

For more information and updates, visit Chrome Hardware Supply online at http://www.chromehardwaresupply.com or call (888) 629-2476.

CRIME SCENE CHOPPERS RELEASES INDIAN-INSPIRED LEAF SPRING FORK PLANS–
Retro-Leafer? springer fork designed for style and ease of construction
Scotts Valley, CA ? March 30, 2005 ? Crime Scene Choppers announces the availability of blueprints for a leaf spring fork inspired by the late 30?s Indian Chiefs. The plans were developed with the homebuilder and small shop in mind; fabrication options are presented to eliminate the need for complex machine work.

There are 31 pages of plans, printed full-scale on 11? x 17? paper. Two different fork designs are included, one based on round tube legs and one that features oval legs. Details on building a friction shock are included as well. A complete list of parts and materials is provided.

Crime Scene Choppers is the home of the polished stainless Hard-Ass? seat.

Unique and Original?The standard springer plans we sell have been very popular.? said Joe McGlynn, owner of Crime Scene Choppers, ?I wanted to provide a way for folks with limited resources to build a unique custom bike, you don?t need to spend a fortune to have a awesome custom chopper?. ?It was important that the plans be based around commonly available parts and components that an average shop or home builder could fabricate themselves ? no complex CNC milling operations or chrome-moly welding?.

Retro-Leafer Plans Availability
The Retro-Leafer and Standard Springer Fork Plans available through http://www.CrimeSceneChoppers.com immediately. New products are being introduced every month, so check the website for the latest news.

BILLY LANE ON TV!Billy will be featured on the Discovery Channel on the following dates &shows:

SUNDAY APRIL 3 – 9PM (et) – THE ULTIMATE CHOP (BIKER BUILD-OFF AWARDS SHOW)

TUESDAY APRIL 5 – 10PM (et) – INDIAN LARRY TRIBUTE SPECIAL

More details on Billy’s TV times are always on the “HOT FROM THE SHOP” page on the Choppers Inc website.

BIKERNET BLOND JOKE–A blonde was terribly overweight, so her doctor put her on a diet.

I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip a day, eat regularlyfor 2 days, then skip a day. Repeat this procedure for 2 weeks.

“The next time I see you, you’ll have lost at least 5 pounds.”

When the blonde returned, she shocked the doctor. She had lost nearly20 pounds.

“Why, that’s amazing!” the doctor said. “Did you follow myinstructions?”

The blonde nodded. “Ill tell you though, I thought I was going to dropdead that 3rd day.”

“From hunger, you mean?” asked the doctor.”

“No, from all that skipping!”

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Rucker Performance Kick Starts S&S Cycle?s New Dual Feedback Closed-Loop Fuel-Injection System– Fort Worth, Texas (March 23, 2005) ? Rucker Performance, a leading custom manufacturer of high performance, highly styled, custom American Muscle Bikes, is proud to be working with S&S Cycle on their revolutionary Dual Feedback Closed-Loop Fuel-Injection system.

Rucker Performance is the only Original Equipment manufacturer to offer a motorcycle using the S&S Dual Feedback Closed-Loop Fuel-Injection system installed on the S&S 124? Twin Cam style engine. This system will be using the S&S dual runner air induction system.

?S&S Cycle?s Dual Feedback Closed-Loop Fuel-Injection system is a multi-port fuel injection method,? said Bill Rucker, President of Rucker Performance, ?this system delivers the fuel mixture precisely by the injectors from their location at the cylinder head?s intake port.?

Similar to other closed-loop systems, the electronic control unit (ECU) continually checks multiple parameters like air temperature, engine temperature, engine speed, manifold vacuum, and the exhaust oxygen level to determine the correct fuel mixture. However, S&S Cycle has designed their closed-loop system to monitor both cylinders ? this is unique throughout the entire V-Twin industry.

?Rucker Performance provides exciting American V-Twin motorcycles that perform,? stated Rucker. ?The S&S closed-loop technology allows us to keep our performance commitment and meet the future stringent EPA guidelines today.?

The complete engine package will debut on Rucker Performance?s Assassin motorcycle. The Assassin is built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline of drag racing. This motorcycle comes with monster torque, fit and finish of a one-off custom bike and exceptional handling.

?Bill (Rucker) is always on the cutting edge,? said S&S President, Brett Smith. ?He has vision and is not afraid of taking risks and implementing new products to position his company as a market leader. We are pleased to have Rucker Performance as a customer and we look forward to the future success of their Assassin motorcycle, using our new closed-loop fuel injection technology.?

S&S Cycle’s 124″ engine receives TUV approval. —GERMANY (March 21, 2005) S&S Cycle announces TUV approval for its popular 124″ high performance V-Twin engine. Addressing the strict guidelines regarding emission standards for the European Community, this engine has met the required criteria for EC regulations of emission (2002/51EC) and also passed the current noise limits (97/24EC Chapter 9) testing. The results of the testing on the S&S 124″ engine were in accordance to the strict requirements for TUV and testing of other S&S engines is expected to take place in the near future.

This is another important step for S&S to efficiently deliver products in the European community without having to rely exclusively on the verification or certification of other dealers and distributors. These stringent TUV guidelines help establish standards for safety and quality for a variety of products sold in the European community, including Proven Performance S&S products.

On December 20, 2004, S&S received TUV verification for its Quality Management System of their facilities which produce complete assembled engines and frames, among other things. This verification was approved following a detailed audit performed (#20662508) at the S&S facilities in Viola and La Crosse , Wisconsin . At that time, engineering consultant Dieter Schleier had the following comment, “S&S Cycle’s quality systems are above average and currently exceed the normal requirements to receive verification from TUV.”

“It was fitting that I received news of gaining TUV approval of our 124″ engine while I was visiting customers in Europe ,” said S&S President, Brett Smith. “We know that this approval is critical for our expanding business opportunities in the European Community. With our Quality Management Systems having received verification, along with today’s news about the 124” engine, we are definitely making a commitment to serving our European customers,”continued Smith. “Once again, I applaud our product development and manufacturing teams for their continued innovation and exceptional level of quality,” concluded Smith.

In 2004, S&S designed the 124 VFI Shootout to promote their popular 124″ engine. The results of that year-long campaign/tour have clearly displayed the reliability and performance of this engine. In addition to the success of the tour, S&S has teamed up with the AHDRA to create the S&S 124″ Challenge Class starting in the 2005 AHDRA racing season. This grass-roots AHDRA racing class will allow racers to enter the world of competitive motorcycle drag racing with a stock S&S 124″ engine. For more information visit the AHDRA web site at http://www.ahdra.com/rulesssc.html .

TUV sets the standard for safety and quality for new and existing products, systems, and services for the European community, with Germany having the most stringent requirements. This TUV verification gives S&S Cycle even more credibility in the European market as business continues to expand internationally. S&S products are sold through their extensive international dealer network, including direct dealers and distributors across the globe. For more information visit the S&S web site at www.sscycle.com .

DIRTY DAVE–Dave works hard at the plant and spends two nights each week bowling and plays golf every Saturday. His wife thinks he’s pushing himself too hard, so for his birthday she takes him to a local strip club.

The doorman at the club greets them and says, “Hey, Dave! How ya doin?” His wife is puzzled and asks if he’s been to this club before. “Oh no,” says Dave. “He’s on my bowling team.”

When they are seated, a waitress asks Dave if he’d like his usual and brings over a Budweiser. His wife is becoming increasingly uncomfortable and says, “How did she know that you drink Budweiser?” “I recognize her, she’s the waitress from the golf club. I always have a bud at the end of the 1st nine, honey.

A stripper then comes over to their table, throws her arms around Dave, starts to rub herself all over him and says, “Hi Davey. “Want your usual table dance, big boy?”

Dave’s wife, now furious, grabs her purse and storms out of the club. Dave follows and spots her getting into a cab. Before she can slam the door, he jumps in beside her. Dave tries desperately to explain how the stripper must have mistaken him for someone else, but his wife is having none of it. She is screaming at him at the top of her lungs, calling him every 4 letter word in the book.

The cabby turns around and says, “Geez Dave, you picked up a real bitch this time.”

Buckshot

BIKER BUILD-OFF–Be sure to tune in on March 29th to the Discovery Channel to watch our head designer Roland Sands take on world-renowned bike builder Arlen Ness. Roland battles toppling bikes, fires, and worst of all time. Watch as the adventure unfolds all the way to the Puerto Rican Bike Week. Make sure you check local listing for time and channel.

S&S RESPONDS TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON–VIOLA, WI (March 24, 2005) S&S Cycle was recently named in a lawsuit brought by Harley-Davidson concerning alleged infringement of several Harley-Davidson patents and trademarks. The lawsuit was brought in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Delkron, Inc. was also named as a defendant in this lawsuit. The patent infringement portion of the lawsuit is aimed at certain twin-cam engine parts that S&S is marketing. Harley-Davidson did not name any S&S customers as defendants.

S&S has reviewed the issues raised in Harley-Davidson’s complaint and believes they are without legal basis. S&S respects the intellectual property rights of others and the S&S products at issue in this lawsuit were the result of S&S’s own engineering designs. S&S does not have any connection to Delkron in this action and does not believe that Harley-Davidson had any basis to name them and Delkron in the same lawsuit.

While S&S would obviously prefer never to become involved in these kinds of disputes, they understand that as they continue to grow, there is always a possibility that they will become the target of lawsuits.

“It is a great disappointment that Harley-Davidson is taking legal action against us,” said S&S President, Brett Smith. “My grandfather, George Smith, helped found the V-Twin performance aftermarket industry in the mid-1950s and assisted Harley-Davidson with their Bonneville record run in 1970. We have always felt that a mutually beneficial relationship existed between S&S and Harley-Davidson; our 145-Tribute project in 2003 is evidence of that-100 years for Harley-Davidson and 45 years for S&S and the performance aftermarket.” Smith went on to say, “We do not understand why after all this time Harley-Davidson is raising these claims. Whatever the reason, this lawsuit will not affect our continued commitment to be the premier provider of Proven Performance components to the V-Twin aftermarket.”

Please direct any questions regarding this lawsuit to Brett Smith or Brian Conyers, Senior Manager of Communications & Marketing.

MOTORCYCLE RIDERS ? SAY GOOD-BYE TO BLACK/SCUFF SHOE MARKS CAUSED BY GEAR?UP-SHIFTING?–New easy-to-install gear shifter cushion not only prevents shoes frombeing ruined but also offers unrivaled shifting comfort by providing anair cushioned padding between the riders foot and gear shifter lever.

Los Angeles – Although the first motorcycle was invented over a hundredyears ago and has seen many major changes since it?s first inception, oneitem which seems to have been forgotten and left out of the technologyadvancement is the gear shifter lever.

?Every motorcycle rider knows there?s a problem with his or her shoesgetting ruined by the black peg rubber that?s standard issue on all gearshifter levers but no one seems to have sat down and thought up a solutionto remedy this problem?, says Shiftcush inventor Tony Wells.

Shiftcush, the revolutionary company which invented the product bearingthe same name, designed their Motorcycle Gear Shifter Cushion exactly forthat reason.

?I just got tired of all my good shoes getting ruined and also wanted tomake gear ?up-shifting? more pleasurable so that?s what led me to inventthe Shiftcush?, says the inventor.

While there are a couple of products out on the market today which do sellboot/shoe protectors, the drawback with these is that they have to beplaced on and removed from the riders shoes each time the rider starts orfinishes riding. These products also don?t offer the rider any type ofcushion or comfort while riding like the revolutionary air cushion in theShiftcush does.

Shiftcush comes with a Product Satisfaction Guaranteed whereby anycustomer whom is not completely satisfied with their purchase can returnit within 30 days for a full refund.

More information and photos can be found at http://www.shiftcush.com/

Top Builders and Record $70,000 Awards Purse
Highlight 2005 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show2005 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show Weekend July 16-17th 2005 The 14th Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show Weekend sponsored by Performance Machine and scheduled for Saturday July 16th and Sunday July 17th, 2005 at the beautiful Queen Mary Event Park on the Pacific Ocean in downtown Long Beach, CA, continues to grow every year as the most popular street bike show in America.

As always the LA Calendar Show offers one of the premier Custom and Sportbike Show Contests in America featuring top name Pro and Amateur bike builders from around the world vying for the prestigious Performance Machine Best of Show Trophy. Performance Machine and show producer Jim Gianatsis have bolstered the already huge $60,000 Bike Show awards purse with an additional $10,000 in cash prize money for the Best of Show and Best PM Equipped Bike.

Expect 3-time LA Calendar Motorcycle Show winner Jesse Rooke to return to reveal his latest cutting edge custom in another bid to secure the coveted Performance Machine Best of Show title. But competition will again be intense from many of world’s top builders like last year’s winner Shinya Kimura from Zero Engineering who flew in from Japan to took home the Best of Show trophy with one of his famed retro choppers that have customers on a 4-year waiting list.

An exclusive feature of the Show are the free Calendar Bike Builder’s Seminars held both days at the Show, conducted by the leading custom bike builders in America as featured in the Iron & Lace Calendar. You’ll meet many legendary builders with their latest bikes including 3-time Show winner Jesse Rooke, plus Russell Mitchell, Mitch Bergeron, Paul Yaffe, Mike Stafford, Harold Pontarelli and others. Plus exciting new builder Dreamcraft Studios who premiered their show stopper “Sega” at last year’s show, will return again this year with the world premier their latest $500,000 rolling piece of techno artwork featuring the world’s first fully machined 1-piece billet chassis. Each builder will be available to meet at their bike displays with free autographed posters, and at their Builder’s Seminars where they will tell fans how they really build their bikes. It’s better than reality biker TV show – it’s live!

On Saturday night Show promoter Jim Gianatsis hosts the Iron & Lace Calendar Builders Night Party beginning at 9pm on board the historic Queen Mary ocean liner in the Observation Room Bar with live musical entertainment by a sensational new national female recording artist. Many of the top Iron & Lace Calendar bike builders together with other top celebrity builders attending the Show weekend will be there, together with fans and the beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Angels featured in the Iron & Lace Calendar.

Showcasing the Calendar Girls theme of the Calendar Bike Show will be the premier of the 2006 FastDates.com Calendars with the beautiful SBK Fast Dates World Superbike and Iron & Lace Calendar Angels in attendance. Featured is TV and movie star Miss Texas ?Rockin? Robin? Cunningham who will be hosting the stage activities both days, assisted by the legendary Keith ?Bandit? Ball of Bikernet.com and biker magazine fame. Spectators can find out more about The LA Calendar Motorcycle Show, the Bike Contest and all the available weekend activities online at http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM

COWBOY BOOTS–Anyone who has ever dressed a child will love this one.

Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put on his cowboy boots?

He asked for help and she could see why. Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots still didn’t want to go on.

Finally, when the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat.

She almost cried when the little boy said, “Teacher, they’re on the wrong feet.”

She looked and sure enough, they were. It wasn’t any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on, this time on the right feet.

He then announced, “These aren’t my boots.”

She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, “Why didn’t you say so?” like she wanted to. And, once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off his little feet. No sooner they got the boots off and he said, “They’re my brother’s boots. My Mom made me wear ’em.

Now she didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. But, she mustered up the grace and courage she had left to wrestle the boots on his feet again.

Helping him into his coat, she asked, “Now, where are your mittens?” He said, “I stuffed ’em in the toes of my boots.”

Her trial starts next month.

Chris T.

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IRISH LAST REQUEST– Mary Clancy goes up to Father O’Grady’s after his Sunday morning service, and she’s in tears.

He says, “So what’s bothering you, Mary my dear?”

She says, “Oh, Father, I’ve got terrible news. My husband passed away last night.”

The priest says, “Oh, Mary, that’s terrible. Tell me, did he have any last requests?”

She says, “That he did, Father…”

The priest says, “What did he ask, Mary?”

She says, “He said, ‘Please Mary, put down that damn gun!’

Here it is guys, Daytona 2005. Wild Bill Style http://www.charliebrechtel.com/daytona.htm

Dave Perewitz Showing $300,000 Worth of Custom Bikes At Donnie Smith Bike Show–March 12, 2005, Prior Lake, Minn. ? Legend custom bike builder, Dave Perewitz, has confirmed his participation in the 2005 18th Annual Donnie Smith Invitational Bike Show on March 19th and 20th at St Paul?s Rivercentre Exposition center.

Perewitz is showcasing several new bikes worth an excess of $300,000, exhibiting his entire apparel line, signing posters and autographing the Art of The Chopper book.

?This is a down-home show because it?s all about the bikes,? explained Dave Perewitz. ?Neil Ryan, the event promoter, is a regular bike guy and he provides a great stage for seeing these custom bikes. With Donnie being a local legend, it adds to the mystic of the show.?

The Donnie Smith Invitational Bike Show not only pulls famed builders like Perewitz, magazine representatives from Easyriders, Ironworks, Bikernet, and Hot Bike are all scheduled to appear and report on the show.

?We are seeing a lot of crazy bikes being built by new builders out there; it?s not practical but it really wows the crowd,? commented Perewitz. ?Guys like Donnie Smith and I are still building the stuff we do best? practical, custom and bullet-proof bikes that look good and can be ridden hard. We should see a little of everything here.?

The Invitational hosts hundreds of custom and classic bikes, a huge swap meet and several hundred vendors including Drag Specialties, Biker?s Choice, Custom Chrome, House of Kolor and many more.

Tickets for the 2005 18th Annual Donnie Smith Invitational Bike Show are available online at http://www.donniesmithbikeshow.com through eBay?s wholly owned subsidiary Paypal. Each online ticket purchased for comes with entrance into the event one hour before admission to the general public.

Custom Bike enthusiasts can find information on special features, show facts, photo gallery, local hotel information, history of the show, media coverage, biker links, general info and much more at the website.

Contacts:
For further information please contact the Donnie Smith Bike Show Press Office:
pr@donniesmithbikeshow.com

HUNTING–A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Hunting Flies” He responded.

“Oh. Killing any?” She asked.

“Yep, 3 males, 2 Females,” he replied.

Intrigued, she asked. “How can you tell them apart?”

He responded, “3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone.” : )

Kenny P.

STEALTH REPORT–There seems to be a battle raging among the local H-D dealers concerning the upcoming bike week at Myrtle Beach. Before going into the story I would like to say that there is no love lost between me and dealerships but that is not why I am writing this. I am not writing this to get even with anyone, matter of fact I find this amusing. This is a story of greed and corporate America.

It seems that the local dealer in Myrtle Beach wants to change the dates of the rally and extend it by a few days. The Carolina dealers Association is against this. The powers that be at Myrtle Beach are as confused as a termite in a yo-yo, they don’t know what the dates are for the rally????

Stay with me now because it is starting to get real good! The local Myrtle Beach dealer says that the rally is in his territory and no other dealer can set up there to sell product. You ask where does this come from? It comes from the corporate Gods at H-D. You see they have this rule that says another dealer can not set up in the local dealers territory at any event in his area unless being granted permission by the local dealer. So since the dealers association is not backing the local dealers play to extend the rally, he says no to all the dealers unless they are willing to pay him a $2000 dollar use fee! You do the math, say if only 10 dealers show up, well that is a pretty good chunk of change! So the battle goes on.

Now for the really, really good part. The dealers association say they own the rally! Boy that is funny! How do you own a rally, it is not like buying land or a car or a bike even? You can’t put your hands on it or a price tag on it. Wait a minute I think I just hit on something, you see they put a price tag on everything, even the Myrtle Beach Rally. The rally belongs to the people who attend, the people who have made it what it is. Not the local dealer or the dealers association.

The dealers could care less about the rally. You see they show up in their Corvettes, their Hummers, and their H-D Ford trucks and what ever else is cool to them at the time and looking like something left over from the old T.V. show Miami Vice. The only reason they show up is to hear the cash register go jing a ling ling!

The time I spent at dealerships, I could write a book about it all. It never ends with these guys. Enough is never Enough! What this whole thing boils down to is that they are all afraid of each other. They are afraid that one will sell one or two more t-shirts than they do. In other words it is about what it has always been about GREED! You would think that H-D would step in and take control over this but really this is where the root of the problem lies.

So as the battle rages on, I find it very amusing to watch. What is ironic is that they are all such great friends until the almighty dollar is involved. Just a suggestion, maybe each dealer should hold a rally in his hometown each year and charge the others to set up, that way they could all break even, but I guess that breaking even isn’t an option with these guys!

And the beat goes on!

Until next time!
STEALTHMAN

People on the move:Mike Roland–Mike Roland has made history by positioning K?ryakyn as a world leader in performance. He was tactically scooped up by Tom Rudd?s personal lieutenant Tom Ellsworth a few years ago. Mike?s skills, hard work, and drive have been paying off. The company appears to be taking the lead in the respectable field of high performance v-twin after market parts.

The new line of K?ryakyn cams, pistons, throttle bodies, and heads has been re-engineered to increase horsepower, engine life and resolve pinging. Better yet, you can still use your stock starter. The cams are the heart of Mike?s passion. A simple addition of Mike?s bolt in cams in conjunction with a high performance air cleaner and tuned pipe can create up to 90 horsepower in a stock 88 inch Harley Davidson motor. The right recipe of parts and tuning can produce up to 120 horsepower in a 95 inch Harley Davidson motor.

Mike Roland has been riding motorcycles for 35 years. He is a former Top Fuel Harley drag racer, designing, building and tuning his own bikes. Mike has set many World, National and Track records and was the first man to run 190 MPH in the quarter mile on a Harley. Mike?s heads were on the National Championship winning bikes in the Screaming Eagle Top Fuel Championship 5 years in a row spanning 1999 to 2003. Many of the race cams he designed over the years are still in use.

Contact
See you your local K?ryakyn dealer for details.
Website: http://www.kuryakyn.com
Phone: 715 247-5008

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–Back from Daytona, as always the chaos, the not enough time to do shit, even worst by the amount of people driving around. Even though this year seemed to be a lot less people than usual, but still a total pain to try get someplace. Now a lot of the vendors have moved to the Speedway area, that means traffic in all parts of town… I remember once upon a time you could cruise Main street, then Beach street, then check the Swap Meet at Volusia fairgrounds and come back to enjoy some of the Main street antics once more. Sure, like I have said before, all the Chopper world gone TV has a lot to do with it. I guess we had a conversation about that in a parking lot after-hours with Greg, Ernie and Nick, as the last time, a conversation we did not get to finish. Sure you always get to see friends and such, ride a bit (if it’s not freezing) but more so, Daytona is a place to do business, get some shirts sold, some bikes shot and mainly a world wide networking havoc. Every single magazine from every place is there, and hungry for bikes, articles and photo shoots. Many of these guys have become good friends with time and it’s always great to spend some time hanging out, bikes or not.

Nigh time in Daytona is another completely different scene. In some places you can see groups of friends hanging out, friends that most of you see as famous bike builders, just being silly, having a couple drinks and unwinding from the day to day hustle. Nighttime amongst these guys is another story in itself, one that shall stay semi secret in order to protect the innocent, then again boys will be boys and be sure of one thing, at the end of the night, Lollipops is custom central. The running joke is that if a bomb drops there, 90% of the custom builder scene will vanish, but I guess you guys will have to wait ’till the full story unfolds here in Bikernet, but In a total separate section.

Speaking of the above, while there I received this e-mail, I know that lately I have been kind of relaxed, the venom saved for special occasions, but these short lines deserved a public answer (besides the one I already gave) and I know this might be similar to a response any one of us would give such a clueless guy. Sure there will be some here that will side with the guy and some with me, but since I have the ability to use this for whatever purpose I choose for….Here we go. (by the way I have not corrected his spelling)

Hi,
Just took a look at your website. So besides kissing famous peoples asses, copying other people’s work and writing crap that donesn’t really makes sense. What do you guys do again?

Regards,
JR

Ok, so let’s dissect it a bit.

Like Bandit told me once, good or bad, when people send e-mails its because they read what you wrote….and that’s what?s important….

Kissing famous people asses…I guess fame depends on the one that perceives people as famous. Most if not all of these guys you consider famous are, were and will be my friends. Not because they are famous, considering today?s standards, but because we were friends before the motorcycle mania show aired and started all this celebrity bike building. So let’s say your buddy Bubba from the boonies just became the last Nashville star, so now you are kissing his ass because he is famous? To me as someone that does not know shit about country western it might seem like so, although I will not be so quick to pass judgment. So you, JR, might as well not be friends with Bubba in order for us not to think that you are kissing ass. All this blabber has as much logic as your words.

Let me let you in a little secret, I have really famous friends, Oscar winners none the less, am I walking around dropping names? I just see them as friends, no more, no less.When you go out to a party, or a work convention, you hang out with friends and peers, right? So do we, I don’t see Billy, nor Jesse as the mega famous bike builders you see, sure I KNOW what they are and what they have accomplished, but then again, we can still sit down and talk about family and even how’s the surf. Simple and still I have known them both way before they were mega TV personalities, so why should I not now?

So kissing ass is trying to smooch to gain something? Sure I gain a lot, I gain time spent with good friends, people I admire and enjoy being with, people that I congratulate on their success, and try to help in what I can, as any good friend would do. Have you seen me on Monster garage or a Biker Build Off? Nope not yet. Do you think I can ask them, I guess I could, have I done so, the answer is in the beginning of this sentence. You might be the hottest rocket scientist in the Western hemisphere, and you might hang out with the other hot rocket scientist, why, because you are friends and peers, first, because you are in the same trade, second.Sure, not all builders hang out with other builders, there’s separate “cliques” if you want to call them that, but still there’s is a strong bond amongst a large group of younger builders, and yes we hang out together, all the time. So next time you pose for a photo with your buddy at your local bar, just think for a second, that any photo of any guys you might see may be there for the same reason, just a photo with a friend.

I’ll even let you into another secret, since many of our good friends have passed recently, our bond has become stronger, and we take even more photos and talk even more, since you never know what can happen. There is no need to smooch when you have friends, we all give each other a hand, without being asked for, we all push each other to new stuff, we all share a love for building bikes and creating, the party is a plus. If I ever become famous, I will pull my friends up with me, no need ask, it’s just a matter that some will never understand, it’s called loyalty, it’s called respect, it’s called word. Let me say something else, if any of these guys fall from grace, or the custom building becomes the next passe, we will still do what we do, cameras or no cameras, fans or no fans….

Copying others people’s work.
I have a very simple assignment, show me something that is completely original and someone will find it’s roots.. Of course you would have to specify which of my work is a copy (Hank Young has a very good comment on this months Street Chopper Busted Knuckles section) if JR knew what the fuck he was talking about, he would have said that my bikes are copies, but should have mentioned that copies of early choppers, done by no name builders with whatever tools and parts they had or made, then again they are not copies, they?re based on that past that many of us refuse to let go. 15 years ago I was doing what I am doing today, so I guess I am copying myself. Sure you can see influence of many of the people I kiss ass in some of my bikes, but not in such a major way that you can confuse one bike with another. That is the idea of all this, you take stuff that works and do it, but there’s a limited supply of things you can work with. For example, does anyone that uses a Daytec frame, wide rear tire, sportster gas tank and paint their bike black is imitating Russell Mitchell ? Think not…. How many frames does Daytech sells, how many sportster tanks, how many bikes painted black ? Still Exile has achieved their own style, and claimed it since they had the exposure from TV, those guys happen to be my friends (once more being doing biz with them for ages) and they will be the first ones to tell you the bikes came from the Spartan look of European bikes.

So if I slap together a wide tire rigid chopper, is it copying one of Billy Lane?s? It so happens that we get our frames made by the same people, and yes, I like using Billy’s bars, or spinner, but that’s when it all ends. To me a Billy Lanes? bike is the Devil in a red dress, or knuckle sandwich, even the blue shovel chopper. When I see a bike built by Billy, that’s what i see….. If every Diamond framed 250 rigid was a copy of his, there will be a lot of people aping.

Copying is getting something that you like and trying to do a replica. Copying is taking the bike that won the last show and doing the same thing, improved, with different colors. That is copying. If you are part of this world, and you don’t get influenced by friends who are doing rolling works of art there’s something wrong with you, then again, if I use a Paughco rigid frame, would I be copying Indian Larry ? Let?s add a mustang tank, or his twisted stuff….I guess then I would. It’s such a fine, one part line.

Let me use as an example; my Purple Bobber (early chopper) that I did for the Journey museum, I did it by the seat of my pants. Just tried to follow what people did back at the end of the 60’s, with my own stuff into it, and improvising each and every step. Who did I copy? I can tell you that the following bikes are based on that one, so yes I am guilty, of copying myself, of following a bike that was well liked by many people, and something I believed was the essence of simple, yet fun. Maybe some time from now I will see similar bikes, which there’s a lot around, instead of calling the guy a copycat, I should be glad that my influence was strong enough for the guy to actually “borrow” my initial idea. Is my bike the first rigid, short, panhead on the planet? NOPE, but that is singling out stuff, the bike as a whole is the one that makes it my bike.

Copying is easy; the very difficult part is reminding yourself where have you seen that idea before, in order not to repeat it. To do the purple bobber was a feat, and I shall not bore you with the parameters, (one was that it should scream Caribbean) but the toughest challenge is yet to come. Do a loosely based tribute to Indian Larry, while still being MY bike….

Writing crap that does not make sense…..
Let me tell you, with this I’m with you. I really don’t understand why people read week after week all this nonsense that I write. It makes no sense to me why so many people log into Bikernet to read my weekly rant, and it really boggles me why I always write what I think, and what I see as my truth. Maybe because it’s a refreshing change from all the bullshit you read (including dumb ass e-mails) all the time. Do you think Shakespeare makes sense to me? No fucking way, still I do not consider it crap (not that I am comparing myself to the uber famous brit) When you write some people will like it, some people will not, we all see ourselves inside words, sentences and paragraphs. Sure I sometimes hit a nerve, but what the fuck, we are supposed to be tough motorcycles guys, right? A little ranting wont kill us. The difference between me and many is that my name, last name, address, phone number and e-mail are available, for all to express their opinions, maybe I will get rid of all that shit and just go by JR ? How about that…….

This is not a personal crusade, this is just my point of view. I really want to thank JR for giving me a reason to rant this week. Having fans like him is what makes it all worth it. While I receive dumb ass e-mail like his, I receive cool e-mails ten times more.

Enough for now, I have to get my pucker back in someone?s ass, watch some TV and read some magazines to see who I can copy…. and about the nonsense writing, I guess I already did that.

Have a great week, Easter is near…… and I want to have the Chop Off bike ready for then……

Jose ? Caribbean Reporter

HARLEY GOLF BUGGY– Picture is of my 1977 Harley Davidson Golf Buggy which I have had restoredat a cost of approximately $11,000

It has gained a lot of attention here in Australia because not only does itappear another one does not exist down here but the fact that most do notrealize that Harley even made them.

Regards,
Ray Russell

FOR MY NEPHEW–Hello My Friends and Family,My son, Matt Olsen passed away on March 14th, 7:44 in the evening. He was 20 years old. Matt was blessed in many ways, and everyone who knew him, knew how special he really was.

He is survived by myself, Jan Olsen, his brother and sister, Larry and Shalana, Silvester Temblador his step dad, Dirk Pratt his father and his sister-in-law, Lisa Dennis. Matt has 5 nieces and two nephews, and many cousins, aunts and uncles and grand parents that will miss him greatly. He had a wonderful girlfriend, Heather, that helped to make his life so happy and complete for the last year and a half.

Matt?s friends were a very important part of his life, and they were special in understanding him and his needs, being patient and helpful in every way they possibly could. They loved Matt, and he loved them. I thank them all for being part of my son?s life.

With a heavy heart I pay tribute to my nephew. He struggled his whole life and now we try to take comfort in knowing he?s with Grampa & Goliath, and no longer suffering. I wish you God Speed, Matt. You will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Nyla

THAT?S IT–Helluva news. These Bikernet Babes do a nasty job with the help of Jose, Stealthman, Rogue and many others. Now let?s see where the hell was I? This weekend I hope to install the 42mm Mikuni carb, the driveline enough to know that it will work, finish welds, install the Fantasy in Iron air cleaner, if it shipped in and there?s something else, goddamnit. Oh yeah, Brembo brakes have arrived and I need to mount my Empire Internal throttle and prep for my Dewey custom grips. Then the hardware can be shipped to the powder coater. Rock and roll. Can’t wait to ride this sucker.

I?ll mention one aspect of Daytona besides the beautiful babes. I had the pleasure of riding a 128-inch Viper that was supplied to me by Terry Nesbitt. Incredible motorcycle, although I was never in traffic that allowed me to twist the throttle past 50. What a fuckin? shame. Every light someone rolled up and asked about the bike. In crowds of bikes or jammed in a parking lot full of motorcycles, people inquired about its sleek, distinctive looks. Check ?em out.

That was amazing. The bike was stylized enough to stand out in a crowd of half a million bikes. There was one other brand that stuck out at me more than once. First on Beach Street then on Ridgewoo, I was caught completely off guard by the number of Boss Hoss bikes. Then we rode out to the track and there was a growing line around the Boss Hoss road test truck. They?re bulky, 1-speed monsters, built around Corvette engines, but they?ve found a home in the American line-up. Wild. I always thought that if I made interstate, cross-country runs, on a regular basis that would be the monster to ride.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit