BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–CARIBBEAN REPORT, FAT TIRE KIT FROM BIG BOAR, BANDIT ON MONSTER GARAGE, JANKLOW RELEASED AND CRAZY HORSE HITS MYRTLE BEACH

Continued From Page 3

CRAZY HORSE RIDES TO MYRTLE BEACH–I’ll be submitting a full report on Myrtle beach next week, but here’s a few teaser shots for now. As always, the best part of the trip was the ride there and back. The weather was perfect and the road was full of bikes making the trip. The Sportster ran great. The days were hot but the nights were totally freaky. I was staying with the Wall of Death crew at the Broken Spoke so I didn’t have to venture out at night. Good thing too, cos the riding stupid were out in force. What is it about the Myrtle Beach Rally that makes riders lose all their common sense? Downtown Myrtle was too much. The Doghouse Bar should have been called the nuthouse.

The bikes around were interesting to say the least. Myrtle Beach is not a big chopper event like Daytona or Sturgis. But the biggest chopper event is barely a month away. The chopper faithul are making plans to ride to The Horse BackStreet Choppers’ yearly event, the Smoke Out. Folks are riding in from as far away as California and Texas. Indian Larry, Hank Young, and Billy Lane will be among the celebrity bike builders strolling around. But the real stars of this event are the bikes. No place else will you see more interesting creations and some of the tales behind these creations are as cool as the bikes.

This week’s paint job is an oldie but still pretty cool. The deadline for my book is a mere five weeks away. So I’ve been writing and painting like a fanatic. The three days I took off for Myrtle Beach was a welcome and much needed break. Part of me is still out there, watching the countryside glide by, seeing the sun move across the sky, watching the clouds- checking to see if it may rain or storm, hoping for a break from the relentless sun, wondering where I’ll stop for some lunch. Ah, this work thing sucks. All I know is I need to spend more time out on the road, just me and Sporty.

—CrazyHorse

BIKERNET RELATIONSHIP ADVICE– One night, as a couple lays down for bed, the husband starts rubbing his wife’s arm. The wife turns over and says “I’m sorry honey, I’ve got a gynecologist appointment tomorrow and I want to stay fresh.” The husband, rejected, turns over. A few minutes later, he rolls back over and taps his wife again. “Do you have a dentist appointment tomorrow too?”

–from S&C

JANKLOW FINISHES 100-DAY JAIL TERM–A trim and smiling Bill Janklow walked out of jail Monday almost a free man.The former governor and congressman was released after serving 100 days for the traffic death of Minnesota farmer Randy Scott and rode off in a gray Isuzu with a friend, thus finishing a chapter on the most publicized lockup in South Dakota history.

Janklow, 64, made no comment as he walked past news reporters shortly after 9 a.m. to his ride waiting outside Minnehaha County’s Public Safety Building in downtown Sioux Falls.

“We love you, Bill!,” one supporter, Matt Rost, 31, shouted from the parking lot.

Janklow hugged Jeremiah Murphy, a Sioux Falls lawyer and longtime friend, then got into the sport utility vehicle, where Gerald Teunissen waited in the driver’s seat. They also hugged and shook hands, then drove off onto Minnesota Avenue.

About 75 people were outside the jail on a cool, gray morning, with half of them from the news media. Several spectators stood 100 to 200 feet away in the parking lot.

“He was not demanding,” jail warden Michelle Boyd said of Janklow’s time under her watch. “He was not high-maintenance. He was actually very quiet.”

Apart from the media attention, “I wouldn’t have known he was there,” Boyd said.

Certain things will not be in his plans for now. Janklow can’t drive, can’t carry a gun, can’t practice law and can’t leave the state without a permit.

But he is free to vote and will be free of his conviction for second-degree manslaughter if he fulfills the terms of the three-year probation Circuit Judge Rodney Steele assigned him in January. In 2007, the felony will be wiped from his record.

–by Jon Walker of the Argus leader.

–from Rogue

SOMETHING THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE NEWS– Maybe you’d like to hear about something other than idiot Reservists and naked Iraqis.

Maybe you’d like to hear about a real American, somebody who honored the uniform he wears. Meet Brian Chontosh. Churchville-Chili Central School class of 1991. Proud graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Husband and about-to-be father. First lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. And a genuine hero. The secretary of the Navy said so yesterday.

At 29 Palms in California Brian Chontosh was presented with the Navy Cross, the second highest award for combat bravery the United States can bestow.

That’s a big deal. But you won’t see it on the network news tonight, and all you read in Brian’s hometown newspaper was two paragraphs of nothing. Instead, it was more blather about some mental defective MPs who acted like animals.

The odd fact about the American media in this war is that it’s not covering the American military. The most plugged-in nation in the world is receiving virtually no true information about what its warriors are doing. Oh, sure, there’s a body count. We know how many Americans have fallen. And we see those same casket pictures day in and day out. And we’re almost on a first-name basis with the pukes who abused the Iraqi prisoners. And we know all about improvised explosive devices and how we lost Fallujah and what Arab public-opinion polls say about us and how the world hates us.

We get a non-stop feed of gloom and doom. But we don’t hear about the heroes. The incredibly brave GIs who honorably do their duty. The ones our grandparents would have carried on their shoulders down Fifth Avenue.

The ones we completely ignore. Like Brian Chontosh. It was a year ago on the march into Baghdad. Brian Chontosh was a platoon leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee. When all hell broke loose. Ambush city. The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville was in charge. It was do or die and it was up to him.

So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men to safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee came under direct enemy machine gun fire. It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish.

And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack. He told his driver to floor the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at them. And he had the guy on top with the .50 cal unload on them. Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across the machine gun and Chontosh was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines. Over into the battlement the humvee went and out the door Brian Chontosh bailed, carrying an M16 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride. And he ran down the trench. With its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers.

And he killed them all.

He fought with the M16 until he was out of ammo. Then he fought with the Beretta until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up a dead man’s AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up another dead man’s AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo.

At one point he even fired a discarded Iraqi RPG into an enemy cluster, sending attackers flying with its grenade explosion.

When he was done Brian Chontosh had cleared 200 yards of entrenched Iraqis from his platoon’s flank. He had killed more than 20 and wounded at least as many more. But that’s probably not how he would tell it. He would probably merely say that his Marines were in trouble, and he got them out of trouble. Hoo-ah, and drive on.

– by Bob Lonsberry ) 2004

BIKERNET POLITICAL NEWS– “President Bush told Donald Rumsfeld, ‘You are doing a superb job.’

I believe the last time a President said that, he was looking underhis desk.”

-David Letterman

–from Rogue

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–Time is flying. One of the few things that worry me is time. We all are trying to beat deadlines and I for one hate “having” to do something. But, I guess it comes with the territory. There use to be a time when I would do what the hell I wanted to while things could wait. If there was a trip, I was gone, but I guess it all has to do with growing up, and worst a dreaded word, responsibility.

Although my preference in bikes is Old School, I still wonder when I see all these kids today, maybe I wish I was ten years younger, maybe fifteen. You look at girls today, with their tight bodies and form shaping jeans. Internet and computers are available for everyone who goes to school, just imagine how much easier school life would have been if we had Internet back then.You see kids making a living, and a very well one, by skating, snow boarding, skate boarding and surfing. Stuff that some of us used to do, but it was kind of expensive or just a plain hobby. No multi million-dollar contracts back then, just a fervent desire to do what you loved. I see guys who are not even 25 and moving such immense amounts of money that it’s scary, is it the times, is it the extreme consumerism? Your guess is as good as mine.

Then again, being a kid growing in these times must be difficult. Values and all that the word complies are almost lost. Maybe I’m just jealous cause I see a lot of these kids having way more fun that I could have when I was their age. Then again we can’t follow trends and we can’t live through the TV set. Don’t get me wrong, I have done my share of damage, and I’m very pleased of the life I have lived and who I am, but man, those guys are have way too much stuff going on.

So with all this said, don’t blame the older guys for making their business grow, for getting those things that we all work really hard to achieve, you really want to freak out, watch E channel and check how much money these actors, celebrities and athletes make, and spend like it was nothing. (I guess it’s nothing to them) I remember when I had to save every red cent for a long time in order to get a new surfboard. I’ve seen guys break three boards in three waves, nothing to it. Or let’s talk about tattoos, back then (which is not that far back) you got some ink and you were the oddity. Full sleeves are as normal as baseball caps. Piercing all over, I bet younger people would not even pass through airport security, and still that has become the norm. Big tit’s (fake or not) skimpy dresses, your crack sticking out (male or female) and all that latest fashion stuff; do you remember when you saw some chicks bra thru her shirt, yeap a cheap thrill, just like that, it’s nothing now.

I guess things change for the better or for worse. Who am I to judge? Like the big hoopla these past weeks about the what to wear or whom to be, again, one of the biggest gains in this newer generation is that they want to be someone, sometimes while copying others, but still being themselves. Non-conforming younger people. I really think they don’t give a flying fuck what society in general think of them or the way they dress or are. True there’s a lack of proper identity, whites want to be black, black want to be whatever, some people want to be in Jerry Springer and others don’t give a fuck about real life, but just communicate with a computer screen. Nerds are filthy rich…I guess you follow, but then again there will always be leaders and there will always be followers. That does not change with the times, and I dare to say, it never will.

I know this has nothing to do with motorcycles but I tell you what; I am around motorcycles every single day so give me a break and let me rant about other things…. As long as it makes us think.By the way, while you are staring at the computer screen, trying to figure out my latest insanity. Check out what I see when I’m writing these words.

Life in the tropics is the best life. I wish I did not have as many things to do so I could enjoy it more.

I’ll see you guys next week, maybe I’ll have something more interesting to say. Remember that all the Discovery shows are coming soon. I have not gone to an event since Miami and have nothing to critic….

Jose ? Caribbean Reporter

NEW SOFTAIL FAT-TIRE KIT FROM BIG BOAR– Yes, here it is,The New 240 Fat Tire kit from Big Boar Products allows you to convert your stock Softail to Monster size! Kit comes complete with Fat swingarm, Strutless Steel fender, offset components for twin cam or Evo, and a 240 rear tire. Very high quality and reasonably priced. All you need is the wheel of your choice and you’ll have the cure for small tire envy! Available from Big Boar Products or your local dealer.

Thanks, Aaron @ Big Boar

SOUIX FALLS–SLEW OF VIOLATIONS LEADS TO ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CAMERAS–Flashes from cameras at the busy intersection of Minnesota Avenue and 10th Street don’t always mean a motorist will end up with a warning letter or a fine.

But the 544 incidents recorded in a five-day test period at the downtown intersection already have city officials thinking of other intersections where red-light cameras might be employed.

If the cameras work, similar systems could follow at 41st Street and Louise Avenue and at 49th Street and Louise, said Kevin Smith, Sioux Falls assistant director of public works.

“We don’t have anything budgeted right now,” Smith said. “We need to see how this works.”

–By John-John Williams IV, Argus Leader.

–from Rogue

Bandit’s grandson, Frankie, on the Amazing Shrunken FXR.

THAT’S IT–I’ve been invited to be apart of a Monster Garage segment with Don Hotop, Billy Westbrook, Lou Falcigno, and Kenny Boyce. Filming is due to begin the 28th of June. The players may change though, and I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, we’re still struggling to bring you our combined Laughlin Report. Our SBC DSL lines are down for the second time since installation less than two months ago. Watch out for these guys. We hooked up SBC phones, DSL and Dish television. The Dish is down constantly, the DSL doesn’t work any better than a slow modem and customer service is a struggle.

We have our own personal Laughlin saga, Franks hottest bikes of Laughlin, general reports and of course, the babes. Hang on. We’re launching a new Life and Times and Chapter 23 of Chance in the Cantina. I’m working on a chapter of the Cantina series, and there’s new techs coming to Bikernet.

Don’t forget to hit the Door Prize contests on Bikernet and in the Cantina. We have a brand new set of leather clad H-D Sportster saddlebags to give away next week, Samson gift certificates all the time, Bikernet Hats and A BDL Softail Belt drive this week. The belt drive will work with any softail, and whoever wins, must be able to bring his or her bike to Bikernet for the installation. Please, only serious Softail owners for the belt drive. Enter the contest areas anytime and as often as you want, then hit the road. Let’s party.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–NEW PM CLOTHING LINE, BUELL RACERS IN TOP TEN AND SHOVEL WIDE TIRE TECH

Continued From Page 2

CHOPPERS ONLY HAWAII CALENDAR–Here’s two shots from the new, hot Choppers Only Calender that will be availablle June1st at www.choppersonlyhawaii.com.

The island Calenders will be 15 x15 in size. The cost will be $14.99 for the high gloss knockout shots featuring choppers from around the island of Oahu withgorgeous local island girls and beautiful island scenery. You will be ableto purchase them on the Choppers Only Hawaii website atwww.choppersonlyhawaii.com

There’s nothing like a choppers in paradise with beautiful island maidens.

RON HILL JOINS BIG DOG–Hill brings nearly twenty years of manufacturing quality control experience to the $100 million dollar company.

WICHITA, Kansas (May 18, 2004): Big Dog Motorcycles(, the leading designer and manufacturer of high performance, highly-styled heavyweight cruisers, has named Ron Hill its Quality Assurance Manager, expanding the OEM?s quality control team to eleven. Hill is charged with managing the team as it focuses on improving the company’s inspection procedures, techniques, and effectiveness.Hill, a member of the American Society for Quality, brings twenty years of quality control and assurance experience. Prior to joining Big Dog Motorcycles, Hill most recently worked as an analyst and quality control engineer for Cessna Aircraft, a leading manufacturer of business jets.

BIKERNET FIREARMS REFREASHER COURSE–
1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
3. Glock: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it’s about control.
5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. Free Men Do not ask permission to bear arms.
8. If you don’t know your rights you don’t have any.
9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
10. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights reserved.
11. What part of “shall not be infringed” do you not understand?
12. The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.
13. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
14. Guns only have two enemies: rust and liberals.
15. Know guns, know peace and safety. No guns, no peace nor safety.
16. You don’t shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
19. Criminals love gun control — it makes their jobs safer.
20. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.
21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them..
22. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
23. Enforce the “gun control laws” we have, don’t make more.
24. When you remove the people’s right to bear arms, you create slaves.
25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
26. “.. A government of the people, by the people, for the people…”

WIDE TIRE SHOVELHEAD–I’ve only got four pictures of the back of the bike, but here’s the details. It’s a ’72 frame with round swing arm. The spread is the same as a square unit. I used a 160 tire on a 4 X16-inch rim, ’73 up. I needed a 1/4-inch offset trans mount plate and a 1/4-inch spacer for the sprocket.

The brake rotor is mounted with a stock spacer. Caliper & mount are aftermarket GMA, but stock will fit. The o-ring chain barely clears, but I can turn off the oiler & keep my back clean with the shorter modified chain guard.

The fender is an aftermarket blank we cut down to size and welded tabs to for mounting to the frame. It’s 7 1/2-inch wide.

If the frame looks different in the seat area to other owners, it’s because it’s been highly modified in the seat area. but the same stuff will work on all swing arms.

Total investment in parts not counting rim & tire about $650.00. Hope this helps other old Shovel riders looking to do something different, but not too expensive. Have also used the same proccess on a ’75 shovel with stock fender & struts, but with a 150 X 16 Avon.

Fits right in the fender.

–fritz

EARLY MYRTLE BEACH IMAGES–These were taken at Myrtle Beach Bike Week. I think they kind of go together.

–Bill Debo

BUELL RACERS IN TOP 10 AT BARBER FORMULA XTREME–Hal?s and Kosco Dealer Teams Take on Factory Teams in AMA Road Racing Competition.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 15, 2004) – Buell Firebolts entered by Hal?s Harley-Davidson/Buell and Kosco Harley-Davidson/Buell ran strongly and finished in the top ten in the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme class during the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship Series at Barber Motorsports Park. Hal?s rider Mike Ciccotto rode a Firebolt to ninth place in the event, while Michael Barnes placed tenth aboard a Kosco Firebolt.

?It?s really exciting to see our dealer teams out there competing in AMA Formula Xtreme,? said Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer at Buell Motorcycle Company. ?It was only their second outing in Formula Xtreme, and we all still have a lot to learn to help these riders race with the front-running factory teams in this professional class. I am very excited about the diversity in racing that this class is bringing to AMA fans. This class has a lot of technical innovation going on, with the fastest laps very close to Superbike times, despite the bikes having less horsepower.?

Ciccotto qualified in eighth position on the 2.3-mile, 16-turn Barber Motorsports Park course. Barnes qualified in tenth position.

?We pushed hard but we were a little bit off on our race day set up,? said Ciccotto, who ran as high as sixth position. ?The motor ran flawlessly all weekend and I?m really excited for the rest of this season.?

AMA Formula Xtreme is a class open to highly-modified motorcycles with 600cc four-cylinder engines or larger-displacement V-Twin engines. The next stop on the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship schedule is May 22-23 at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo.

BIKER LADY GRADUATES WITH HONORS–An original biker chick and Bikernet correspondent, who has lived and loved motorcycles her entire adult life, graduated fromcollege this May with the golden ropes of a high grade point average and was given a genuine bikergraduation party.

Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer took a twenty two year journey for a two year degree. Finally she gotto sit in the front row of the Indian River Community College Commencement Ceremony held onMay 8th at the St. Lucie County Civic Center. Katmandu graduated with an Associates of Sciencedegree in Graphic Design Technology. An Honor student, twice on the Dean’s list, she saluted herdevoted biker family cheering from the balcony. She also obtained an Associates of Arts degree inGeneral Education Fine Art.

Now in her mid-forties, Katmandu is a staff writer and photographer for two Florida basedmagazines, Saddletime and CrossRoads. She is a regular contributor to Long Riders Magazine,based out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her work has been featured in Bikernet, The Horse Back StreetChoppers, In the Wind, Biker, Easyriders, V-Twin , The Enthusiast , American Iron and OutlawBiker. She is page 194 in Sasha Mullin’s book “Biker Lady.”

Her work is on the cover of the Palm Beach Palm and Cycad Society Times, a new hobby that sheshares with her husband “Commander” Randy Palmer. They currently have over seventy differenttypes of palm trees on their small property in Port St Lucie, Florida.

Katmandu suffered from math anxiety for many years, a hurdle that seemed unsurmountable. Withthat formidable female biker courage, she spent hours at the Center for Personalized Training,working with tutors to understand the disciplines of Algebra and Trigonometry. “Math really is a cosmic universal language. Right triangles are everywhere.” she admits with wideeyed amazement at this recent accomplishment. “I’ll never say never again”

Her college experience offers big hope to many who may also be afflicted with thiscommon yet unspoken panic when it comes to math. ” I had to study. I cried. It did not come easilyfor me and that included staying focused on the goal. I had to miss runs and national rallies that arecontinuously calling my name. It got really wacky when I’d try to change the TV channel with mycalculator. That’s when I knew it was time to take a break, go for a ride and clear my head.”

After taking the short walk across that large stage, Katmandu was joined by over a hundred closefriends at a graduation party hosted by the Treasure Coast chapter of the US Military VetsMotorcycle Club at their Stuart Florida Post # 4198. Big thanks go out the TC US MV MC for a great time!

PERFORMANCE MACHINE ALL-NEW CLOTHING LINE–Naked is good for some people. The rest of us need clothes. With that in mind, it seems PM’s elite team of designers have taken a break from dreaming up new things to do with aluminum and applied their talents to cotton. As usual the result is unique and the finished product will undoubtedly be appearing on customs throughout the world.

Their new line includes both short sleeve, long sleeve and baseball cut t-shirts, as well as mens and womens zippered sweatshirts and a new work jacket featuring PM’s Hot Bike cover chopper. The headwear group includes a new cap and even a PM beenie for the truly devoted. We are currently engaged in intensive, hands on testing of all of these products and will be reporting on their progress in future issues.

To get yours, contact your local Performance Machine dealer or buy them online at performancemachine.com.

Performance Machine, Inc.
6892 Marlin Circle,
La Palma, CA 90623
714-523-3000

Continued On Page 4

BIKERNET NEWS ALERT–CHROME HELMETS, MISSISSIPPI MOTORCYCLE RODEO AND INDIAN CORRECTIONS

Continued From Page 1

LCpl. DC Purviance (L) provides security near the city of Tikrit, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.A Bikernet reader’s son in Iraq.

RUN TO THE WALL 2004– Run For The Wall 2004 is an epic journey by motorcycle that goes from Ontario, California across the heartland of America, and ends 10 days later at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Run For The Wall 2004 begins at 8:00 am on Tuesday, May 18, 2004. The run will depart from the parking lot of the T & A Truck Stop on Milliken Ave., one exit West of the junction of the I-10 & I-15 freeways in Ontario, California

For more information, please log on to: http://www.rftw.org

–from Trash, http://www.tra.sh
WriteTrash@GeezerFromHell.com

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF CUSTOM BIKE BUILDING–Santa Ana, CA, May 18th, 2004: American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD) and Custom Chrome, team-up to bring the “Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building” to the Custom Chrome/ Motorcycle Stuff US Dealer Show in October 2004.

Leading international trade journal American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD) is proud to announce an extension to its existing and exciting AMD ProShow Bike Builder contest and program.

The AMD ProShow is to be held in the United States for the first time; being presented by Custom Chrome at their annual dealer show in October 2004.

Held each year since 2002 in conjunction with Custom Chrome Europe (CCE) at their European Dealer Show (in Germany in March each year), AMD has produced a European custom bike competition.

The concept originated as a new feature to the CCE Dealer Show that provided AMD and CCE with a specifically trade? oriented platform and opportunity to recognize the increasingly impressive custom bike design and engineering standards being achieved by Europe’s dealer and professional custom bike building community.

The Custom Chrome Dealer Show at their Morgan Hill, California worldwide headquarters (October 8th, 9th and 10th, 2004) provides a ready-made and well-established trade based event at which to present the AMD ProShow competition in conjunction with the European winner.

The winners and other leading contestants and their bikes from the March 2004 European leg? of what now can now become a truly Official Championship? will, at Custom Chrome’s expense, be flown to California to compete against the best that the US bike building community can field in what can therefore be viewed as an Official World Championship?.

A top cash prize of $25,000.00, and total cash prize fund of nearly $50,000.00 is a major and unprecedented investment that hallmarks both the resources the company intends to bring to bear on the AMD ProShow.

For further information on this event, please visit the event website at: www.AMDProShow.com.

THREE CHARLIE BRECHTEL PROJECTS–also just FYI we’d like to let you know about the other three projects that we have: “Bikers: The Inner Circle” is a series that features Jim Elrite (one of the senior members of the San Jose chapter of the HAMC) as host, with their bar and clubhouse as a backdrop…the first episode features some “interesting” interviews…like with the Devil Dolls’ Goth Girl…Poncho from the Lonely Ones MC in NY and a “gun trick”…and some words of wisdom from Kim Peterson…we were also given the rights to do the exclusive ’04 Hollister Rally DVD…and the book, “The Original Wild Ones,” about the legendary Boozefighters MC is finished…the book is accompanied by a 47 minute DVD that features interviews with the surviving “originals”…

–BILL HAYES

Corrections from a Bikernet Reader

Just found your article about the demise of Indianand would like to point out a few points:

There’s a photo of a red Chief that’s identified asbeing an ’04 but it’s actually an earlier model. I cantell by the hand and foot controls as well as themuffler.

The new 100 cube inch engine is referred to as the”Powerhouse 100″ but that’s incorrect, it’s called thePowerPlus 100. The original Indian corp sold a modelcalled the PowerPlus many years ago, hence the name.

The last photo shows a PowerPlus 100 engine. This wasNOT built by S&S….these were all assembled by PowerAssembly Solutions of Livonia Michigan. Although forthe 2004 there were some S&S built PowerPlus 92engines. These were cosmetically modified S&S enginesthat resembled the larger PP engines (round cylindersand heads).

How do I know all of this tripe? I bought a LOT ofparts at the liquidation sale and am building a spoton correct 2004 Chief Vintage (I closely noted ALL thechanges and updates for the ’04 models). Also havequite a number of friends who are former Indianemployees so I have access to their first handknowledge.

Forgot to mention that the actual shutdown date for the factory was Sept 19 (it was listedas “around Sept 23” in the article).

–ANT

A.B.A.T.E. of Mississippi Southwest Chapter RODEO

JUNE 25-27, 2004
ATWOOD WATER PARK
HWY 84 E
MONTICELLO, MS

GATES OPEN AT 12 NOON ON FRIDAY

We the Southwest Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. will be hosting this RODEO to benefit the Shriners Children?s Hospital and Motorcyclists Rights. We will be making our donation this year to the Transportation Department of the Mississippi Shriners to help make transportation and housing available for our Mississippi children that have to travel out of state for medical assistance.

ENTERTAINMENT WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY

GRITS AND GRAVY followed by RECYCLE

Saturday the fun begins with a POKER RUN followed by BIKE GAMES and BIKE SHOW

Camping available on first come, first serve basis. Vendor booths available. For more info, contact Leigh Ann Neal @ 601-587-4870 or landcneal@aol.com or John Neal @601-587-0241.

SPEEDING WOMAN–A young woman was pulled over for speeding. As the TX State Trooper walked to her car window, flipping open his ticket book, she said, “I bet you are going to sell me a ticket to the Texas State Police Ball.”

He replied, “Texas State Troopers don’t have balls.” There was a moment of silence while she smiled and he realized what he’d just said. He then closed his book, got back in his patrol car and left. She was laughing too hard to start her car.

–from Rogue

THE STEALTH REPORT FROM N.C.–Every week when I submit my thoughts for the news, I start thinking about what to write about for my next submission. Sometimes it comes quick other times it goes to the deadline before I come up with something. I was stressing over what to write about this week and in walks a guy with one of those chrome dome helmets, the novelty type. This gave me my inspiration for this week. Read on!

I started a conversation with him and I asked about his helmet. I asked if it was hotter than a black helmet and he said “NO.” I asked if he liked the helmet and he said “NO”. I then asked if he didn’t like it, then why did he wear it? His answer was that, “my wife likes it.” I said but she doesn’t wear it, and he said he wears it because “she can use it as a vanity mirror while they ride!”

I said, “A VANITY MIRROR!”

He responded and said, “Yeah she can use it to put her lipstick and makeup on as we ride. So when we arrive at their destination, she can look fresh.”

I could not believe it! I guess in a way this proves the saying that for some, “IT AIN”T ABOUT RIDING ANYMORE, IT IS A FUCKING FASHION SHOW!” Come on, enjoy the ride and forget about how you look until you get where you are going.

Riding for me is about getting away from everyday restraints. Things like keeping time, things like worrying about bills, relationships and yes VANITY MIRRORS! Leave all this at home and just ride.

You will have plenty of time for all the everyday bullshit when you return home. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance but this takes it to extremes. So the next time you see someone riding with one of these chrome jewels on their head and they have a passenger on the back, check it out to see if they are “freshing up?” Well, I just had to share this TRUE story with all of you.

Riding season is in full swing here in the Charlotte area. There are bike nights at local restaurants and bars about every night of the week. Places that not long ago frowned upon having bikers as patrons, now seem to welcome us with open arms. I wonder if the money we lay down at these establishments may have anything to do with the change in attitude? You all know the answer to that question! The roads around Charlotte are filled with bikes this time of year. Charlotte is a motorcycle town. All the local shops are wide open this time of year. The bike shows and runs are gearing up and one of the best in the Charlotte area is fast approaching, the 6th Annual Run For Breath “IN MEMORY OF JUSTIN PULLIN” is July 25th. Stayed tuned to Bikernet for info and for pictures of some of the coolest bike show awards you will ever see. Check out Mr. Bandits Best of Show creation as it comes to life.

Speaking of riding season, for the past couple of weeks I have been doing a lot of night riding. The nights are warm and it has been great for clearing my head. The roads are not as congested and it is a great time to think. Riding at night brings to mind an old Bob Seger song,” Night Moves,” there is a line in it that says “working on mysteries without any clues.” I guess that is what I have been doing? Well, I guess that is it for this week, it is time to blast down the road to one of those bike nights. Maybe I will take some pictures for next week, so stay tuned!

Later!
Mike (THE STEALTH)

N.D. FREEDOM FIGHTER FACES LIVER DISORDER–Michael “Cutter” Jay, 53, of Mandan, N.D. is struggling for his life. President of the Freedom Riders, the North Dakota Motorcycle Safety Program and the manager of ABATE, Mike is hanging on while waiting for a liver transplant. His hereditary disorder is called hemochromatosis. He’s praying for a cure, if the transplant doesn’t come.

Rick “El Grumpo” Savenko let us know of Mike’s condition. If anyone can help contact El Grumpo at r.savenko@btinet.net, or contributions can be mailed to Michael Jay “Cutter” Benefit Fund, Capitol Credit Union, P.O. Box 2096, Bismarck, N.D. 58502. Or for more information call (701) 223-5609. Time is of the essence for Cutter.

Continued On Page 3

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–NCOM CONVENTION ROCKS, NEW GANG LAWS AND BIKERNET IN TROUBLE WITH HOT BIKE

Photo from RFR.

Hey, we blow it from time to time. Seems our report on Howard Kelly and Hot Bike was out of whack. The PrimeMedia bike books are not moving back to the Wilshire offices, nor is Mr. Kelly under indictment for misappropriation of funds. He told me that face to face at a Custom Chrome press conference, but he looked a tad nervous. I got mixed signals as the room crowded with Hot Bike staff packing weapons and lookin’ dangerous. I smelled a trick bag. They gave me that, “Nobody fucks with Howard Kelly,” look. I slipped out the back, jumped my Road King and headed for the coast. Another near miss with the Prime Media Crew.

I met the new Hot Bike publisher Kerry McCammon who has worked for several companies in the industry including Samson Exhaust. Let’s see what happens next.

Oh, speaking of the industry. Rick Fairless and the Strokers of Dallas crew were featured on SpeedVision last night. My dish took a shit again. That’s twice in two months. I may unbolt the sonuvabitch and throw it off the roof of the building, sorta like the cable commercials. Either fix it or fuck it. Rick’s show will air again in the near future. Check it out. Let’s hit the news:

METZLER MELT DOWN–In case anyone had be interested in How Many Days can you run a Metzeler ME 880 tire? The correct answer IS NOT one more day!

Granted a flat tire is something that happens. The problem would be the new ones have been sitting in the living room since Tuesday.

At least I was only 80 miles from home.

–RFR

SCREAMIN? EAGLE/VANCE & HINES TEAM HOT IN ATLANTA–Tonglet Rolls to Semi-Final Round; Hines Retains Pro Stock Bike Points Lead.

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 16, 2004) – The Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines team battled a tough Pro Stock Bike field at the 24th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, as riders Andrew Hines and GT Tonglet advanced in the elimination rounds aboard Screamin? Eagle V-Rod motorcycles. Hines retained the Pro Stock Bike season points lead, while Tonglet had a hot weekend, with a new track record top speed of 192.91 mph in qualifying and a run to the semi-final round of eliminations that moved him into second place in Pro Stock Bike points.

?Both bikes and riders were running strong again this weekend,? said Screamin? Eagle Racing Manager Anne Paluso. ?We?ve had one or both of the Screamin? Eagle V-Rods as far as the semi-final round at each event so far this season, and that consistency has us leading the series. Now we?ll bring some great momentum to the next event at Joliet, where we expect to have a big Harley-Davidson home-town crowd coming down from Milwaukee.?

Tonglet qualified fourth for the event with a run of 7.150 seconds at 192.91 mph. Hines was fifth in qualifying at 7.161/189.73. Angelle Savoie led all qualifiers with a run of 7.121/189.02.

?GT?s bike was dialed in all weekend,? said team owner Byron Hines. ?We?re still having some issues with perfecting our set up with the power we found in the off season, and we?re learning more with every run.?

Both Screamin? Eagle riders advanced cleanly through round one of eliminations. Tonglet (7.178/191.76) beat Chip Hunter (7.276/183.79), while Hines (7.217/184.42) defeated Karen Stoffer (7.251/183.94), his closest rival in the points race coming into the event.

That set up a showdown between the two Screamin? Eagle riders in round two. Hines (7.190/191.95) had a perfect light, with a reaction time of just 0.001 seconds, but Tonglet (0.011, 7.178/186.51) chased him down with a super run to take the win by just 0.0024 seconds, or about eight inches at the finish line.

?I always hate to lose, but getting beat by my teammate makes it a little easier,? said Hines. ?I had that great start, so he had to make a great run to beat me and he pulled it off.?

That put Tonglet in the semi-final round, where he faced top qualifier Angelle Savoie. Tonglet (7.217/185.41) jumped the start(-0.025) for a red light to hand the win and a trip to the final to Savoie (7.160/183.52). It was the first red light by a Screamin? Eagle rider of the season. In the final round Savoie (7.119/191.59) defeated Shawn Gann (7.248/186.15) to win the event.

?I was happy to be able to represent Harley-Davidson in the semi-final round this weekend,? said Tonglet. ?It?s unfortunate that I had to defeat my teammate to get there, but we sure had a great race. I think this shows that the Screamin? Eagle team is going to be competitive at every event this season.?

After three rounds of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Andrew Hines leads the Pro Stock Bike class with 250 points. Tonglet is second with 225 points, and Stoffer drops to third with 222 points.

The next Pro Stock Bike event on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is the 7th Annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals, May 20-23, at Route 66 Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

PRIMO’S NEW FLAMES BELT GUARD–Primo’s ALL NEW 3D Flamed belt guard keeps foreign objects out of the belt drive,and away from the pulleys, looking SUPER HOT (pun intended) while doing it. Theenhanced three dimensional characteristics of the guard allow you to customizethe guard by applying paint or other effects to the recessed areas to match yourexisting custom paint job for a totally custom look. Available exclusively fromPrimo Belt Drives.

2014-0010 Brute IV Billet aluminum 3D Flame Belt Guard kit includes super-duty bracket. Fits all Primo Brute IV, 3-inch wide open belt drive.

2014-0013 Brute V Billet aluminum 3D Flame Belt Guard kit includes super-duty bracket. Fits all Primo Brute V, 3 1/2 wide open belt drives.

Rivera Engineering, Inc.
12532 Lambert Road, Whittier, CA 90606
Tel: (562) 907-2600
Fax: (562) 907-2606I was sent this and thought you might want to see it. I can see it being used against motorcycle clubs very easy and eventually ABATE and groups like that also. Rogue

BIKERNET LOGO SEARCH CONTESTANT–My son drew this for your logo search. Let us know if you like it.

He is 17. His name is Jason Hamlin, he is a die hard Shovelhead rider, sincehis first solo ride two years ago.

–Scot Hamlin

I told Scot that his son is an artist. Very sharp.

WATCH US SENATE BILL S.2358–This Bill is sponsored by 4 Democrat Senators :Durbin (D-IL), Leahy (D-VT), Feingold (D-WI) and Kennedy (D- MA). This Bill has been read twice on the US Senate Floor and the Bill has been sent to the Judiciary Committee.

The bills stated purpose:”Quote” To allow for the prosecution of members of street gangs, and for other purposes. What should scare you here is “and for other purposes.” That pretty much gives Law Enforcement an open ended ticket.

Section 1 gives S.2358 the nameAmerican Neighborhoods Taking the Initiative Guarding Against Neighborhood Gangs Act 2004. That sounds pretty good and something most Americans could go for. After all, no one wants their children growing up in a gang infested neighborhood. The example these Senators used was the Blood and Cripps of Los Angeles and what they do to terrorize a neighborhood.

There are already plenty of laws on the books to take care of these problems. What is scary here is the broad brush this bill paints across all organizations and clubs. The only group excluded from any of this bill, are the Indian Tribes.

Critical here is the way Section 101 of this bill defines street gangs. In short the main determining factor of a qualifying to be considered a street gang is:
1) a common name, insignia, flag, means of recognition, secret signal or code.
2) a common creed, belief, structure, leadership or command structure, method of operation or criminal enterprise, concentration or specialty.
3) Membership, age or other qualifications, initiation rites, geographical or territorial sites, boundary, or location or other unifying mark, manner, protocol, or method of expressing or indicating membership.

What this bill calls a Predicate Gang Crime is any act or threat, or attempted act or threat, which is chargeable under Federal or State Law and punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year, involving so many laws I would be here all day just listing them. So basically it doesn?t take a lot to be considered a street gang involved in street gang crime.

If you are considered a street gang under section 522 you are prohibited from: recruiting, soliciting, commanding, employing, persuade, induce, entice, or coerce any person to become a member of or participate in, any criminal street gang with the intent that the person recruited will do any act to effect the criminal activities of a criminal street gang.

–Big Kid
e-mail: bigkid@airmail.net

–from Rogue

We run legislative reports in our rights section from AIM and Bill Bish monthly.

NCOM CONVENTION TAKES OKLAHOMA BY STORM– Despite deadly tornados that ripped through Oklahoma last May, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists scheduled their 2004 Convention for Oklahoma City, and during the weekend of May 6-8 the only thunder heard in the vicinity was from fired up bikes and riders.

Near-record numbers of bikers roared into the Biltmore Hotel and jammed into meeting halls for the 19th annual NCOM Convention, hosted by ABATE of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs.

Dubbed “Winds of Change” by event organizers, the conference brought together representatives of motorcycle rights organizations, patch clubs and rider groups to share knowledge, form bonds and plot tactics in an ever-changing whirlwind of politics, public perception and legal proceedings.

Meetings and seminars included; “Stricter Penalties Laws for Drivers of Cages Injuring Bikers”; “Status of EPA Regulations and it’s Effect on Your Business and Your Ride”; “Motorcycle Safety Awareness & Your Groups”; “Motorcycle Insurance”; “The US PATRIOT ACT and It’s Effects on Your Civil Liberties”; “Gang Enhancement Laws”; “How to be a Successful Grass Roots Lobbyist”; and a Mock Legislative Session on the topic of state emissions testing for motorcycles.

The traditional Silver Spoke Awards Banquet capped the weekend’s festivities, as the following people were honored for their contributions to motorcycling: Government – Rep. Teresa Forcier (R-PA); Legal – Marty Fox, Washington AIM Attorney; and Media – Paul Allen Cianci, Publisher of Full Throttle magazine. Special Recognition Awards were given to Bobbi Hartman (ABATE of Arizona lobbyist), Debra Knox (State Information Director for Concerned Bikers Association of North Carolina) and Preacher Mike (Christian Crusaders – posthumously). ABATE of Pennsylvania was honored with a Legislative Award for their recent helmet law modification effort.

The 2004 Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bill Carlton, a lifelong rider, past president of the Texas Motorcycle Riders Association, and veteran of two successful helmet law battles in Texas.

Next year’s 20th Annual NCOM Convention will be held in Kentucky next Mother’s Day weekend, May 5-7, 2005, so make plans now to be part of biker history.

–Bill Bish

BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE (BACA)–BANDIT, My name is Duane “Scooter” Herron. I am a member of a organization called Bikers Against Child Abuse or BACA for short.We are a nationwide group joined together to fight against people that abuse kids for sex or just plain mean. We are a big brother big sister type group. I got your name from a lady named Carrie with Biker Art from Tennessee. She said you might be able to help us get funds to help the kids we “adopt”,or just get noticed.

I would like for you to check out our website at www.bacausa.com and see for yourself what we do. If you think we are worth looking into contact me at scooterneets@yahoo.com man we need all the help we can get.

–Scooter

DEWEY’S CUSTOM PEGS–for the ultimate Bikernet Chopper project. On a rigid you need something with a grip, our your screwed. Dewey’s pegs are all machined on a CNC lathe from a solid bar of 6061-T6 aluminum. The have a very aggressive knurl on them so your hands won’t slip.

The grips and pegs also sport square rubber O-rings to give you hand a cushion. The O-rings have a life-time warrenty. Dewey’s in Farmington, New Mexico, (505) 326-5998, www.deweyspegs.com.

Continued On Page 2

THE BISH REPORT–FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE KILLED IN A CAR THAN ON A MOTORCYCLE

Bill Bish author and freedom fighter.

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at <

NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists

NCOM CONVENTION TAKES OKLAHOMA BY STORM– Despite deadly tornados that ripped through Oklahoma last May, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists scheduled their 2004 Convention for Oklahoma City, and during the weekend of May 6-8 the only thunder heard in the vicinity was from fired up bikes and riders.

Near-record numbers of bikers roared into the Biltmore Hotel and jammed into meeting halls for the 19th annual NCOM Convention, hosted by ABATE of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs.

Dubbed “Winds of Change” by event organizers, the conference brought together representatives of motorcycle rights organizations, patch clubs and rider groups to share knowledge, form bonds and plot tactics in an ever-changing whirlwind of politics, public perception and legal proceedings.

Meetings and seminars included; “Stricter Penalties Laws for Drivers of Cages Injuring Bikers”; “Status of EPA Regulations and it’s Effect on Your Business and Your Ride”; “Motorcycle Safety Awareness & Your Groups”; “Motorcycle Insurance”; “The US PATRIOT ACT and It’s Effects on Your Civil Liberties”; “Gang Enhancement Laws”; “How to be a Successful Grass Roots Lobbyist”; and a Mock Legislative Session on the topic of state emissions testing for motorcycles.

The traditional Silver Spoke Awards Banquet capped the weekend’s festivities, as the following people were honored for their contributions to motorcycling: Government – Rep. Teresa Forcier (R-PA); Legal – Marty Fox, Washington AIM Attorney; and Media – Paul Allen Cianci, Publisher of Full Throttle magazine. Special Recognition Awards were given to Bobbi Hartman (ABATE of Arizona lobbyist), Debra Knox (State Information Director for Concerned Bikers Association of North Carolina) and Preacher Mike (Christian Crusaders – posthumously). ABATE of Pennsylvania was honored with a Legislative Award for their recent helmet law modification effort.

The 2004 Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bill Carlton, a lifelong rider, past president of the Texas Motorcycle Riders Association, and veteran of two successful helmet law battles in Texas.

Next year’s 20th Annual NCOM Convention will be held in Kentucky next Mother’s Day weekend, May 5-7, 2005, so make plans now to be part of biker history.

TRANSPORTATION BILL SPUTTERS– Hope is fading fast for passing a transportation bill this Congressional session, as legislators are wary of provoking the White House during campaign season.

While supporters stress that the measure would create jobs and boost the economy, President Bush wants to rein in a ballooning federal deficit and has warned that he will veto any legislation costing more than $256 billion, unless Congress can find a way to pay for it without dipping into general revenues.

In April, the House voted overwhelmingly 357-56 to approve H.R. 3550, the “Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users” (TEA LU), a six-year $284 billion transportation funding measure which includes provisions to expand state rider training programs and other motorcycle safety initiatives.

The Senate approved a similar measure 76-21 in February, S. 1072, the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act” (SAFE-TEA) to reauthorize $318 billion for highway funding, mass transit and safety programs, but does not include language specifically addressing motorcycle safety concerns.

Both bills were to go to a conference committee to iron out discrepancies and submit a final bill to the President for his signature or veto, but no date has been set.

To complicate matters even further, a broad coalition of business, labor and environmental interests, among others, recently drew a firm line at $318 billion, and sent a letter vowing not to support any legislation that drops below that amount.

Both chambers have enough votes to override a veto, but no one wants to send the President a bill he will likely veto.

Since Congress could extend current transportation spending through a continuing resolution, doing nothing may be the safest option, though anything can happen during an election year.

U.S. SENATE DECLARES MAY AS NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH!– For the first time in history, the federal government is officially recognizing May 2004 as National Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, thanks to the efforts of retiring U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado. Campbell, an avid rider and longtime advocate of motorcycling causes, introduced Senate Resolution 168 which was passed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on April 28th.

“Motorcycles have become a big part of the American landscape and occupy a very important position in the history of this nation,” said Campbell in introducing S.RES.168 last June, adding that “As we continue to move through the riding season, I will continue to work with my colleagues here in the Senate and motorcycle rights groups such as the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, the American Motorcycle Association, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, ABATE, and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation to find solutions to educate the general motoring public about motorcycle safety and awareness. This resolution is a strong, positive step in the right direction to help achieve this goal.”

Although virtually every state and major municipality has issued “Motorcycle Awareness” proclamations over the past several years, no such Congressional resolution has ever been passed to bring national awareness to motorcycle safety. Representative Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado has introduced a similar measure in the House.

Senator Campbell has been riding for more than 50 years and has been a champion for motorcyclists’ issues on the federal level, including serving on the National Coalition of Motorcyclists’ Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF).

LIVE TO RIDE, RIDE TO WORK– Motorcyclists are encouraged to ride their bikes to work on the third Wednesday of July each year in a public demonstration of how many of us ride and how utilitarian motorcycles are. July 21, 2004 will be the 13th annual National Ride To Work Day, so mount up and let’s roll!

NEW TRAFFIC FATALITY FIGURES RELEASED BY NHTSA– Newly released traffic fatality figures reveal that there were 43,220 deaths on U.S. roads in 2003, an increase from 42,815 in 2002 and the highest number since 1990, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While passenger cars, vans and light trucks experienced a decrease in fatal accidents, large trucks, SUV’s and motorcycles showed increased involvement in fatalities. The preliminary report from NHTSA, released on April 28, 2004, indicates that motorcycle-related deaths are up 11 percent for 2003 with 3,592 motorcyclists killed, compared to the previous year when 3,244 riders died in 2002.

Increases in registrations and miles traveled were not taken into account when computing the data. Bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities were also down.

YOU BET YOUR LIFE — The National Safety Council has computed the odds of the average American biting the dust from the most common killers, such as accidents and diseases, and has determined that a car occupant’s lifetime odds of dying in a car accident are 1 in 242, while the chances of dying in a motorcycle accident are just 1 in 1,293! For a complete list of morbidity calculations, visit http://danger.mongabay.com/injury_odds.htm.

HELMET LAW REPEAL WOULD BOOST ECONOMY– As states face budget constraints and financial challenges, a study commissioned by bikers suggests that weakened helmet requirements could kick-start the economy.

The study done for ABATE of Michigan by Jake Miklojcik, who owns Lansing-based Michigan Consultants, suggests the state could collect $40 million in new sales and income taxes by joining the 31 other states that have eased or repealed mandatory helmet laws. The financial windfall would be the result of an estimated 20 percent increase in motorcycle sales; the addition of hundreds of jobs to the state’s motorcycle industry; and a boost in tourism spending by bikers who now avoid Michigan and its helmet law.

Michigan’s House of Representatives voted in 2002 to repeal the law, but the measure died in the Senate. Now, bills allowing motorcyclists 21 and older to ride without helmets if they have completed safety training are pending in the House and Senate transportation committees. The House has enough votes to end the mandatory helmet law and repeal is “pretty close” in the Senate, said state Rep. Leon Drolet, adding that a vote could come before the Legislature’s summer recess.

“If the economic study is accurate, it would be another reason to support the bill,” said Drolet, who does not ride motorcycles. “But individual rights, personal freedom and personal liberty arguments are the ones most compelling to me. If additional revenue comes to the state, great.”

In the meantime, the Concerned Bikers Association of North Carolina is showing their legislators that motorcyclists are letting their chain-drive wallets do the voting as they head for freer climes in surrounding states.

“Harley riders are, you know, 50 or older with a household income of about $75,000 and this will bring motorcycle rallies to our beaches, to our coastal areas, and to our mountains that other states are getting because they won’t come with a mandatory helmet law,” said Rep. John Sauls.

GREEKS PUSHING HELMETS– Greek police in Athens are getting heavy handed with bare-headed bikers, and penalties include possible bike confiscations on the spot. Greece used to have a very liberal attitude to helmet wearing, which gave the impression that freedom of choice prevailed in that country. According the Motorcycle Action Group of the United Kingdom, “There are suspicions that a European Commission decision to enforce helmet wearing across the European Union might be behind the Greeks less generous interpretation of their law.”

REBEL ART– Since the motorcycle jacket was popularized in the movie The Wild One, its attributes and styling have been adapted into identity-transforming high-fashion. Now the Phoenix Art Museum has organized a Motorcycle Jacket art exhibit that surveys how fashion designers, such as Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Moschino and Dolce & Gabanna, have interpreted the look of the motorcycle jacket in their creations, from black leather rebels to colorful motocross racing styles. The exhibition, which runs through August 29, also includes a black leather jacket that was custom tailored for Elvis Presley by Mike Howard of Beverly Hills, on loan to the exhibition from Graceland, and a garment worn by Cher.

McCHOPPER– A custom motorcycle designed by Desperado Motorcycles will be auctioned off to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ronald McDonald House Charities. The bike, which will incorporate visual elements of McDonald’s, has begun a 25-city tour visiting 35 Ronald McDonald Houses and other events before it reaches Chicago on November 6 for the Awards of Excellence Global Charity Gala, where it will be sold to the highest bidder and 100% of the proceeds will benefit RMHC.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD: CYCLIST HIT BY CASH– A Taiwanese motorcyclist was hit by a fortune after a $600,000 kidnap ransom dropped on his head.

Lu Fang-nan, 57, was knocked off his motorcycle after a relative of a kidnap victim dropped the money from a highway overpass. The stunned man re-mounted his bike and sought medical help for a swollen leg — and the kidnappers fled with the cash.

The person who dropped the money was following orders from kidnappers who had seized an electronics merchant. Lu said he did not realize he had been hit by the falling fortune until television news reported the businessman’s release and the delivery site of the ransom payment.

“Such a way to pay ransom is dangerous. It could get people killed,” the unlucky cyclist told the United Daily News. But the incident paid off for the kidnapping victim, who was released unharmed. Police say they are hunting several suspects.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW – What a Ride!”
Author Unknown

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–IT’S THURSDAY THE 13TH, WHAT’S IT ALL MEAN?

Pia from Lucky Devil’s Workshop.

I’m excited about a couple of things. We completed the Shrunken FXR and shot if for a magazine feature. It came out damn sharp thanks to Cyril Huze, Ladd Terry, Giggie and Harold Pontarelli to name a few.

But hang on, another project is about to slip onto the hungry lift. I’m after building the ultimate riding chopper. After years of riding rigids, I’m going to build a bike for riding, anywhere at anytime. Indian Larry used the word, “Nimble”, since he rides on the hetic, narrow, rowdy streets of New York. Last year I rode a long stretched, fat tire, chopper on the island of Oahu for the Choppers only show. The bike was as cool as they come, but it wasn’t agile. It was a freeway flier, not a winding island road machine. It got me thinking.

Most of the time a project starts with a find, a score or a basket case. I loaned a bike to a brother, Rick Kranzler and in exchange he gave me a big inch Shovelhead engine. The project was kicked off. I ordered a new Paughco Chopper frame and discussed the configuration with Ron Paugh, the owner. We came up with a 2 out, 4-inch up stretch and only a 180 tire for light handling. A JIMS 6-speed is on order and a smooth Kraft Tech fender is already under the bench. Here’s some other elements of the plan. No jockey shift or sidemount taillight. It’s going to be light, narrow and easy to handle. The front end will be the light tapered springer from Paughco, only 9-inches over. Other surprizes are on the horizon. Let’s hit the news:

NUGGETS 40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY–It’s this weekend, May 15th and 16th, starting at 10:00 a.m. at Camp Williams, 24210 East Fork Road, Azusa 91702. The charge is 15 bucks for a single or 25 for a couple. Live Band, food, games, raffle prizes 50/50 drawings, Limited Run souvenirs, 200 sites and limited RV hook-ups. Lots of room for bikes–Be There, Be There.

No weapons or attitudes and call Braids if you have questions (562) 305-8242.

RIGHT OF WAY EFFORT BY THE AMA–The American Motorcyclist Association created ?Justice for All? to focus the public?s attention on inadequate sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists, and to push for laws with tougher penalties when motorists? traffic offenses or criminal actions result in death or serious injury.

WHY:A $70 fine for killing three motorcyclists. And more stories of injustice.

You?ve heard the story: Former U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow was convicted of second-degree manslaughter for a traffic crash that killed a motorcyclist, and then got just 100 days in jail. Think that?s unusual? Think again. It?s just one example of what happens in courtrooms all over the country. And Justice for All, through the efforts of concerned motorcyclists nationwide, aims to change it. State by state.

HOW:If you want justice, you need to get involved. Learn about the AMA?s ?Motorcyclists Matter? program, which targets one of the leading causes of motorcycle crashes: motorists violating motorcyclists? right-of-way. Work with your local AMA Community Council — or, if there isn’t one in your area, organize one. And with a Justice for All kit, you can show the world that motorcyclists mean business.

WHEN:Taking justice on the road ? to Sturgis, South Dakota.The pursuit of Justice for All won?t end, of course, until we get tougher penalties in every state. But this summer, the road to justice will pass through Sturgis, South Dakota. And we?ll take our message to motorcyclists, legislators, and citizens throughout the Midwest, and to motorcyclists attending the 2004 Sturgis Rally.

VIRAGO CUSTOM–Don’t know if you remember me and the Virago, but I finally got it allfinished off. Here are a few pics of the finished poject. I have about a 100pics of the build, if you want any others. Let me know what you think.

–Clinton Hoines

Is that the finished paint job?

FLORIDA RED LIGHT BILL DIES IN SESSION–The speaker of the house has refused to hear the bill. He said that it was creating a new tax and would not allow it to be heard.

People were trying to call this a Stiffer Penalties Bill.

Hopefully the bill will be re-submitted next year and Not Raise the Fine or Points for people running red light UNLESS They Cause a Collision and Or Injure or Kill Some One.

If that is done the bill will get all the support it deserves.

–Rogue

STEALTH MAN UNLEASHES THE CODE–I have read for the past few weeks here on Bikernet different views of what being a biker is about. I have read what the Newbies think, what the RUBs think, what the HOG clubbers think and what us “old schoolers” think.

Being a biker to me is something I am very proud of and I hold it close to my heart. Being a biker is a way of life. It is an attitude, and when I say attitude I don’t mean proving you are a bad ass all the time. It is a mind set, a lifestyle. It is about having heart! It is about going to the end of the earth to defend that lifestyle.

Having a bike doesn’t make you a biker, yeah you have to have a bike to be biker, but it is only the start. Did you buy that bike to impress your friends and neighbors as it sits in the drive way? Did you buy that bike to let them know YOU had twenty grand to spend on that bike, or did you dream about that bike at night and dream how being a biker when you were a kid in high school, or is it just a passing fade for you? You see that is what I used to do when I was a kid in high school, dream of being a biker and riding, and to some that may sound corny, but I guess that is the difference between you and me. You see it has been in my heart for a long, long time.

Whether you are an “Old Schooler, Newbie, Rub or Hog clubber,” it really doesn’t matter to me because these are just labels, nothing more. What matters to me is what I see when I look past those labels. if you are into being a biker because you love the lifstyle and feel it in your heart, it will show and I will extend a hand to you as my friend. If on the other hand you just dig the Hollywood image of what being a biker is about, and you want to tell me how much your bike cost and how much your brand new leathers cost and how much that brand new “Live to Ride-Ride to Live” tattoo cost, then you are a poser and I have nothing in common with you. You don’t have to tell me everything is new, I can see! You don’t have to tell me how much everything cost, I work with it everyday! In other words you and I have nothing in common and we ride for different reasons.

Updated Best of Show Trophy for the Run For Breath. It’s Comin’.

Another part of being a biker is being honest and loyal. If I am your brother I am there for you, I have your back, no matter what stand you take. I am loyal to you when the shit hits the fan. I am not just there when the sun is shining on your ass. I am there for the cold rainy times too! Anyone can be there for good times and the easy days. A brother is there for all of these times. You have to be honest. You have to look youself in the mirror and be honest with yourself before you can be honest with anyone else.

Being a biker alson means taking a stand for what you believe is right. If it means going against the majority and most of the time it will, you still stand for what you believe. My dad never rode a bike in his life but he taught me this. He taught me to be my own man and to always stand tall for what I believe and to speak what is on my mind.

A biker doesn’t kiss ass, and he or she isn’t a YES man! When you see something that is wrong you say it is wrong! In todays politically correct world this goes against the grain. Being a biker is about being yourself, not wearing one face at work and another after work to please people. If you are a biker, you are a biker in your heart 24/7, not just after work or when you are around certain people.

In my opinion, that’s what makes Bikernet great. It’s the contributors to this site who are not afraid to speak their mind. If toes get stepped on, then so be it. Two people I respect the most, Mr. Bandit and Jose write about what they feel, and yes they and I catch our share of shit for doing it, but that’s all part of the wild picture. You can’t please everyone all the time, but you can be true to yourtself all the time!

Well it’s time to bounce to a Run For Breath meeting. We are thinking about adding two metric classes to the bike show. If we decide to do this the number of awards will grow to a total of 41! If anyone out there would like to volunteer to make a couple of these awards, it would be greatly appreciated. The 6th Annual Run For Breath “IN MEMORY Of JUSTIN PULLIN” will be held here in Charlotte, July 25th. If anyone is interested in making any awards, please contact me at:704-847-4647 Ext. 102 or 704-516-4630.

Later!
Mike (THE STEALTH)

BIKER PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL LICHTER LAUNCHES EXHIBITION IN FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA AND PENNSYLVANIA–BOULDER, COLO.- Longtime scooter photographerMichael Lichter launched a traveling MotorcycleArt exhibition. Recently exhibited in theMuseum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, FL, it’s opening in May at the Spartanburg Museum of Art inSouth Carolina. Coinciding with the popularity ofmotorcycle related television shows; Michael has seena big increase in requests by public institutions todisplay his photography.

Summer is always a busy season for Michael and hisstaff. In addition to several upcoming assignments onboth coasts, Michael will be making an appearance at anew Harley-Davidson shop in California, speaking at aPennsylvania event, co-producing the “Art on TwoWheels” exhibit at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival andis the curator of an exhibition at The Journey Museumin Rapid City, SD.

A feature article on Michael and his work canbe seen in the May / June issue of Digital Photo Promagazine and in the May issue of 5280.

For more information, call 303 449-3906. You can seesamples of work at www.lichterphoto.com &www.lichtercommercial.com.

NEWS FROM WHITEHORSE PRESS–A couple of new products in our current catalog are “flying out of here.”

The BACK-A-LINE BELT — a back-support belt with a unique, patented design that reduces back pain, prevents injury and promotes good posture. Because it is firm instead of elastic, it provides consistent support, while typical elastic back supports give out when you need them most. Available in six sizes to fit waists from 23 to 48 inches. $39.95

http://www.whitehorsepress.com/

Stop & Go’s POCKET TIRE PLUGGER — plugs tubeless tires while they are still on the wheel. You won’t want to leave home without one. Easy to use and carry, weighs just 12 ounces, and comes in a 3-1/2 x 7-1/2 inch zippered pouch that fits in a corner of your tank bag. $34.95

http://www.whitehorsepress.com/

One other reminder: Reg Pridmore’s new riding skills book, SMOOTH RIDING THE PRIDMORE WAY, is shipping this coming week. If you haven’t already ordered, do it now to get a lifetime of techniques from one of the great teachers in motorcycling. $24.95

http://www.whitehorsepress.com/

Whitehorse Press
107 East Conway Road
Center Conway, NH 03813-4012
603-356-6556

Continued On Page 2

BIKERNET NEWS ALERT–CHEAP WHORES ON BIKERNET, LIMITED EDITION GHOST RIDERS AT LAST AND CRAZYHORSE PAINT OF THE WEEK

Continued From Page 3

CRAZYHORSE PAINT AND MYRTLE BEACH REPORT OF THE WEEK–The weather here in the Carolinas has been perfect for riding. That’s good news for all the hordes that have been heading southeast for Myrtle Beach. I live near the main route to Myrtle, so each time I go out I see the bikes pass by. Each one packed up. At least from here, this is an event most people ride to. I see very few bikes being trailered. The lovely Jennifer Marquart, even rode her Redneck Rocket. Her hubby Mike is president of Redneck Engineering and trailered down a truckload of bikes. But Jennifer wanted to ride her evil teal hardtail seen above. So Mike gets to see the backside of his fine wife all the way to Myrtle.

My cop buddy traveled to New Jersey and back last weekend, and he was jonesin’ as the packs of bikes rumbled by on the Interstate. He left for the beach today on his black chopper, that he built with the help my hubby. Hope he doesn’t get pulled over. The only thing taller than his apehangers is the sissy bar. He even snatched the plate off my rigid. Bad Cop! No donut!

Wednesday I hooked up with Aaron Stevenson who is shooting my rigid for Easyriders. Then Friday I leave for the beach. My painter Wayne hates me. He says all I do is go on vacation. He sold his bike two years ago and is too cheap to buy another. We have many arguments about this, but I think he just likes to bitch and us painters do love to whine.

This week’s paint job is nothing to whine about. There must be a gazillion 100th Anniversary H-D’s out there with that gunmetal blue pearl color. Just ask Jose, I think he counted all of them at Sturgis. And everyone is keeping them stock so they’ll all be worth millions in 100 years. But Scott Berry wanted to change his just a little bit. I laid a few coats of thinned down candy blue over the stock pearl to brighten it up, taped off the stripes and emblems, and airbrushed a few metal effect flames on the tank, fenders and oil tank.

It was a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to set his bike apart from the crowd. I love jobs like this. So if you have a stock H-D with paint you want to jazz up a bit, gimme a shout. You’ll be happy. I’ll be happy. Your spouse will be happy you didn’t spend a fortune. Now if this wonderful weather will only hold up through the weekend. And don’t forget, if you’re Myrtle beach bound, stop by the Broken Spoke and see one of the best stunt riders on the planet do her thing. Sam Morgan and the Wall of Death will be there all week. I won’t be. I do need to work sometime, no matter what my painter says.

——CrazyHorse

FREEDOM BY THE CHARLIE BRECHTEL BAND–Charlie Brechtel doesn’t simply take us on a serious ride into the rock and heavy blues that propel the soundtrack to this way of life…he explores just what it means to be a real biker…he explains, through his music, just what the legendary personalities in this lifestyle represent…he examines how the history of American motorcycles and the people who ride them have changed society forever.

He makes us proud of who and what we are.

“Freedom” is more than just the title to his new CD…it’s the focus that drives him…it’s what he…and we…are all about.

Charlie is from New Orleans, and all of the exotic heat, the voodoo grip, the wild-alley passion…all the power that is the unleashed scream of The Big Easy comes out in his music. Charlie’s regular band and the all-star line-up of musicians he assembled for this disc take “the serious ride” through driving rock, emotional blues and even some sweet, Neville Brothers-like gumbo funk.

The title cut of “Freedom” is rapidly becoming a classic anthem. It has already been used as the theme in several other multi-media projects. It’s the only instrumental on the disc and the feeling it generates is completely haunting…it climbs into your soul…fueled by Jeff Turner’s Satriani-style guitar it has genuinely captured the fever and the fury of “the ride.”

The rest of the CD features Charlie’s vocals…an explosive mix that sounds like the best of Dr. John, Bob Seger and John Fogerty…and it showcases Charlie’s brilliant ability to pull the essence of biker life into his lyrics.

This year’s officially sanctioned Hollister Rally DVD will also be backed by Charlie’s tunes and he and his band will be playing live throughout the entire Fourth of July celebration there.

Then it’s on to Sturgis where they will be opening for Z.Z. Top at the Buffalo Chip…then back east for an extensive tour around The Empire State.

Charlie doesn’t slow down much…but then again, neither does this lifestyle…our strength and pride just keeps on growing…just like the music of the Charlie Brechtel Band.

Reviewed by Bill Hayes

–from Rogue

POT ABUSE RISES AMONG ADULTS–CHICAGO — Habitual marijuana use increased among adults in the United States during the past decade, particularly among young minorities and baby boomers, government figures showed last week.More onlineJournal of American Medical Association

The prevalence of marijuana abuse or dependence climbed from 1.2 percent of adults in 1991-92 to 1.5 percent in 2001-02, or an estimated 3 million adults 18 and older.

That represents an increase of 800,000 people, according to data from two nationally representative surveys that each queried more than 40,000 adults.

Among 18- to 29-year-olds, the rate of abuse or dependence remained stable among whites, but surged by about 220 percent among black men and women, to 4.5 percent of that population, and by almost 150 percent among Hispanic men, to 4.7 percent.

Among all adults ages 45 to 64, the rate increased by 355 percent, to about 0.4 percent of that population.

The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was led by Dr. Wilson Compton of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who said the rise in dependence probably was due at least partly to increases in the potency of pot during the past decade.

Also, the figures may indicate baby boomers “bring their bad habits with them into old age,” he said.

The researchers said adults were considered marijuana abusers if repeated use of the drug hurt their ability to function at work, in school or in social situations, or created drug-related legal problems.

BY LINDSEY TANNERASSOCIATED PRESS

–from Rogue

RENO H-D AND KRNV NEWS 4 JOIN FORCES IN CLOTHING DRIVE FOR NEEDY KIDS–

Seven-year-old Mayann was all smiles when she picked out her back to school clothes from Klothes 4 Kids at Reno Sparks Gospel Mission last year.

?She was so excited,? her mother Tanya explains, ?she was having a really special day.?

Reno Harley-Davidson and KRNV News 4 hope to help the Reno Sparks Gospel Mission make many more children happy this year with the second annual Klothes 4 Kids Motorcycle Run & Back to School Clothing Drive on July 24th.

The event will start out at Reno Harley-Davidson on 2295 Market Street (between Mill & Vassar, right next to U.S. 395) at 9 a.m. Saturday morning July 24th with registration, Krispy Kreme donuts and Boyds coffee.

The Run will take riders up to Lake Tahoe through the fabulous Sierra and end up back at the dealership for a party in the afternoon.

Drop off your article of new clothing for a school age child at Reno Harley-Davidson July 19th through the 24th for the 2nd Annual Klothes 4 Kids Motorcycle Run & Back to School Clothing Drive (boys jeans and shoes for boys and girls are particularly in demand).

The entry fee for the Motorcycle Run is $15 and includes the party at Reno Harley-Davidson following the ride. Registration begins at 9 a.m. on July 24th.

While kids aren?t thinking about going back to school in July ? their parents certainly are. And when money is tight ? parents are already worrying about the cost ofschool clothes for their growing children.

The Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission helps an average of 350 families a year with back to school clothing for kids.

?Each child gets three or four outfits. Girls get tops and skirts or pants, boys get shirts and jeans,? says Gospel Mission spokesman Rick Redding. ?It really helps the kids feel good about themselves to be able to wear something new to school. Their parents tell us they hold their heads high. It does wonders for their self-esteem.?

For details on the Klothes 4 Kids Motorcycle Run & Back to School Clothing Drive ? call Reno Harley-Davidson at 775 329-2913 or KRNV News 4 at 775-322-4444.

CHEAP WHORE ROLLING CHASSIS–The radical new line of CUSTOM ROLLING CHASSIS KITS just introduced by PRO-ONE have, without a doubt, some of the most creative names we’ve seen. And they actually do reflect the image produces by the different styles.

Shown here is the CHEAP WHORE, a rigid chopper frame that is anything but cheap in its quality and construction. The new frame reflects the company’s reputation for superior quality and workmanship with styling that’s right on the edge. CHEAP WHORE chassis are a perfect fit for 250, 280 and 300 applications and provide a nostalgic yet contemporary hard core chopper image. The frame is high quality tubing with 6-inch over single or dual downtubes, 5-inches in the backbone and 40 degrees rake. A custom fit steel strutless rear fender is included as is the steel Longshot front fender, oil bag, stretched chopper style gas tank and leather solo seat.

PRO-ONE provides each kit with your choice of PRO-ONE 1-piece chrome billet rims, chrome billet brakes, forward controls, side mount license plate, headlight, 1-inch bars, matching rotors and drive pulley and more. CHEAP WHORE shown here includes optional assembly, custom paint, Sinister II wheels and custom stitched seat. For complete details contact PRO-ONE at 800-884-4173 or go to www.pro-one.com

GHOST RIDER IS NOW AVAILABLE IN LIMITED EDITION ONLY 275– Legendary biker artist DaveMann (of Easyriders fame) has agreed to personally sign a small edition ofhis most well known painting: GHOSTRIDER. Mann’s ideas have depicted thebiker lifestye like no other for more than 30 years and this is a rarechance to own a highly collectable piece.

Specs are as follows: 1. Paper:20″ x 30″ image size, 275 pcs plus 25 Artists Proofs, Price: $400 or $650framed and delivered.

2. Canvas: 24″ x 36″ image size, 125pcs. Plus 15 Artists Proofs, Price: $1550 or 1850 framed and delivered.This is an extremely limited offer and time sensitive so please contact meat your soonest convenience to secure your piece of Biker history.

My best, Ron Copple

800-999-1297

Make sure to tell Ron that Bikernet sent ya. Keep in mind that we can release this news faster than any mag on the stands. You’re getting the first shot, before the world knows that these prints are available. Move fast, these classic prints could be gone in a hurry.

IT’S NUTS–These news days can feel like a bastard being shot from a cannon in front of a circus crowd. We hustle, clammor, research, chase images like mad dogs hungry for a bone. I can’t wait for the final fuze to be lit and the news is posted. Am I snivelin’?

As soon as it’s up we sit back, relax, run to to the bar for a drink, get the hell outta Dodge, to blow off some steam. Hope you enjoy this crap. We have a blast slamming it together, but we’re frazzed by the end of the day. Let’s ride.

–Bandit

BIKERNET NEWS ALERT–LOUNGE LIZARD FOUND, MISSISSIPPI PARTY AND RUN FOR WALL UPDATE

Continued From Page 2

INTRODUCING DEWEY’S HEEL HAMMER SHIFT LEVER–No more scuffing your shoes. Simply push down with your heel to up shift, or push down with your toe to down shift. Dewey patented this bastard. It’s machined from 6061, T-6 aluminum. Speed shifting is a snap. 100 percent guaranteed or your money back.

Once you get use to this puppy you’ll be spoiled. Triple chrome plated or polished, your choice. And it fits Dynas with forward controls and some Softails. More styles comin’ soon.

Damnit, it’s proudly mad in New Mexico, USA.

Dewey’s Customs
3108 Pontiac Dr.
Farmington, NM. 87401
(505) 326-5998
www.deweyspegs.com

SEABEE NEWS–It is with a heavy heart that I write to share with you the devastatingnewsthat we have lost 7 members of our U.S. Navy Seabee family who weremobilized as members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14,headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. These brave Seabees paid theultimateprice of freedom in two separate incidents in support of Operation IraqiFreedom as follows:

On Friday, 30 APR 04, two of our fellow Seabees were killed and 6 werewounded in action while conducting operations against anti-coalitionforcesin the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. They were all members of a convoythathit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Our Fallen Seabee Angels whogavetheir life in the defense of freedom are:

Steel Worker Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason B. Dwelley, age 31, fromApopka,FL, a member of the Orlando Detachment

Equipment Operator Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher M. Dickerson, age33,from Eastman, GA, a member of the Augusta Detachment

On Sunday, 2 MAY 04, the military installation in the Al Anbar Provincewhere some of the Seabees from NMCB 14 were located was hit by indirectfire. Three of our Seabees were killed in action while two additionalmembers died of wounds they received in the attack. An additional 28Seabees were wounded and survived. Please join me in praying for theirquick and complete recovery. Our 5 departed Seabee souls who gave theultimate sacrifice are:

Builder Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael C. Anderson, age 36, fromDaytonaBeach, FL, a member of Orlando Detachment

Equipment Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class Trace W. Dossett, age 37,fromOrlando, FL, a member of the Orlando Detachment

Construction Mechanic Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott R. McHugh, age 33,fromBoca Raton, FL, a member of the West Palm Beach Detachment

Builder Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert B. Jenkins, age 35, from Stuart,FL,a member of the West Palm Beach Detachment

Steel Worker Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald A. Ginther, age 37, fromAuburndale, FL, a member of the Tampa Detachment

All seven of our NMCB 14 Fallen Seabee Angels are now back on U.S. soil.They were met at Dover AFB by our Chief of Civil Engineers, Rear AdmiralMichael Loose along with a Navy Honor Guard from Washington, DC. As thedetails of funeral arrangements become available, they will be passedalongthrough the chain of command.

Let uspledgeto never forget them by providing anchorage to all members of our Seabeefamily as we continue to serve with Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

With the greatest respect and sympathy,
Barbara A. Sisson
CAPT, CEC, USNR
COMTHIRDNCR

DUI BIKERNET INVESTIGATION. THEY’RE OUT TO GET US–I have recently joined an organization named Responsibility In DUI Laws. I was doing some research and went to their web site http://www.ridl.us

I found the site to be full of FACTS that I found quite disturbing. Disturbing because they are apparently TRUE! I spent the last few days looking into the claims and have come away finding out the public has been duped. Do not get me wrong. Impaired driving due to alcohol or any thing else is a serious problem but various groups and our own government are misleading us. The question is why? It appears the DUI industry has mushroomed into over a billion dollar a year business. Laws have been created to aid this industry where everyone is Considered to be Guilty Unless They Can Prove Their Innocence.

When has it ever been a good idea to consider every one Guilty Unless Proven Innocent?

I now find out that Candy Lightner, MADD?s founder was forced out of MADD in 1985. Even she believes the organization has headed in the wrong direction. ?It has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I had ever wanted or envisioned?? said Mrs. Lightner, who founded MADD after her daughter was killed by a drunk driver. ?I didn?t start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving.?

We all have been fed misinformation and fudged up statistics. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has their hands in this. These are the same people that brought you the Mandatory Helmet Law with the same kind of misinformation.

All I am asking is that you check out this organization and if you agree with them, Join. It does not cost any money and it may save you a lot in the future.

–Rogue

RUN FOR THE WALL 2004 UPDATE– Run For The Wall 2004 is an epic journey by motorcycle that goes from Ontario, California across the heartland of America, and ends 10 days later at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Who: American Veterans of war, and all who support them.

Why: We ride for those who can’t. We ride to honor, support and not let be forgotten the sacrifices made by Americas Sons and Daughters who answer the call, take up arms and go forth to defend America against all enemies. We call upon our Government to account for all Americans who remain Prisoners Of War (POW?s) or are Missing In Action (MIA?s). We ride to honor and keep fresh the memory of our soldiers ?Still On Patrol? those Killed In Action (KIA?s).

When/Where: Run For The Wall 2004 begins at 8:00 am on Tuesday, May 18, 2004. The run will depart from the parking lot of the T & A Truck Stop on Milliken Ave., one exit West of the junction of the I-10 & I-15 freeways in Ontario, California

For more information, please log on to: http://www.rftw.org/

— Trash
Trash@GeezerFromHell.com
http://www.mudsoldiers.com

SPEAKING OF HAVING A FEW DRINKS–A woman and her boyfriend are out having a few drinks.While they’re sitting there having a good time together she starts talkingabout this really great new drink. The more she talks about it the moreexcited she gets, and starts trying to talk her boyfriend into having one.

After a while he gives in and lets her order the drink for him.The bartender brings the drink and puts the following on the bar — a saltshaker, a shot of Baileys and a shot of lime juice.

The boyfriend looks at the items quizzically and the woman explains. “Firstyou put a bit of the salt on your tongue, next you drink the shot of Baileysand hold it in your mouth, and finally you drink the lime juice.”

So, the boyfriend, trying to go along and please her, goes for it. He putsthe salt on his tongue — salty but OK. He drinks the shot of Baileys -smooth, rich, cool, very pleasant. He thinks – this is OK.

Finally he picks up the lime juice and drinks it …. in one second thesharp lime taste hits… at two seconds the Baileys curdles… at threeseconds the salty, curdled bitter taste hits. This triggers his gag reflexbut being manly, and not wanting to disappoint his girlfriend, he swallowsthe now nasty drink.

When he finally chokes it down he turns to his girlfriend.

She smiles widely at him and says, “So, how did you like it? It’s called’Blow Job’s Revenge.'”

–from Ken Miller

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI BIKER RALLY– It is held at the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center in Hattiesburg Mississippi and put on by the MISFITS MC

It is a five day event and only in it?s second year of operation and already a great success. All the activities, shows, bike parking, and vendors are under roof so weather can not dampen the party.

And what a party it was. The bands rocked the joint from 12.30 in the afternoon until 2:00 in the morning. Mean Gene Kelton, Dawn Barham, Haywire Band, Deepwater Band, Honest Brad Band and also the Navigators.

Mixed Drinks and Beer was served through out the complex and there were plenty of food vendors and some damn good Cajun Chow.

There was a stunt show by Fere, Bike Show, Biker Games, Miss. Mississippi Contest and of course a Wet T Shirt Contest.

The people who are putting this event on told me, “We’re dedicated to making this one of the biggest rallies in the Southeast.” I think they are going to pull it off.

I will be attending again next year and hope to see you there.

For more information check out the website: http://www.southmississippibikerally.com

Or contact ROGUE at mailto:rogue@bikerrogue.com

–from ROGUE

IS THAT A LOUNGE LIZARD?–You bet. In keeping with PRO-ONE’S trend setting PRO-ROLLER, power train ready, rolling chassis kits, the new LOUNGE LIZARD is certain to provide its owner with as much attention and riding enjoyment as he or she can handle.

Offered as shown, painted and completely assembled, or in pure kit form, the LOUNGE LIZARD is based on PRO-ONE’S proven chopper style Softail frame. A perfect fit for 250, 280 or 300 applications the frame is fabricated of heavy round tubing with 5-inch in the backbone and 6 inches in single or double front tubes. Buyers can pick and choose components that make up the complete chrome front end assembly from the billet lower legs to the 10-inch tubes, chrome billet trees and Pro-bars. Steel fenders front and rear cover a choice of 1-piece chrome billet PRO-ONE rims.

The latest if PRO-ONE gas and oil tanks are included as are chrome billet forward controls, side mount license plate frame with LED lighting and wheel matching rotors, and pulley. PRO-ONE billet 4-piston calipers provide stopping power while a leather solo seat and chrome Softail shocks soften the ride. As with all PRO-ROLLERS the LOUNGE LIZARD can be ordered with just about any option you could want including flawless paint and graphics.

For complete details call 800-884-4173 or go to www.pro-one.com.

Tell ’em Bikernet sent ya, goddamnit.–Bandit

Continued On Page 4

BIKERNET NEWS ALERT–BIKERNET SPORTSTER PROJECT, CARIBBEAN REPORT, LUCKY DEVILS AND HOT CANTINA CONTEST

Continued From Page 1

WIN A BELT DRIVE AND SEE YOUR BIKE FEATURED ON BIKERNET–That’s right. If you’re a Cantina member check the door prize section and enter. Here’s the deal. We have a brand new 3-inch BDL kit for a Softail. We also have a brand new exterior cover conversion for a BDL 3-inch belt drive for a Softail.

When you enter the door prize area make sure to let us know what year Softail you have and whether you can bring your bike to the Wilmington, CA ghetto or not. Bike must be here to have the unit installed and photographed for a Bikernet tech.

Only serious applications apply.

Ricky Nelson shot from Bob T.

RICKY NELSON’S MUSTANG–We stumbled across Mustang Jack and his story about Ricky Nelson’s Mustang. Ya got to check the Digital Discovery area of the Cantina, to see the results. It’s this level of rare material that you’ll find as a member, plus it’s cheap.

COMING SOON TO A WAL-MART NEAR YOU–All the feel of the TV show drama, without having to venture out on to theopen road! The “Learning” Channel tests their newest theme show.

–John Siebenthaler

ANOTHER BIKERNET PROJECT COMING–Choppers Unlimited noticed that we have a 2004 Sportster that we’re messing with. Soon you will not another department on Bikernet devoted to Sportster. Kjell of C.U. cohersed us into building another Sporty in a custom rigid frame with an exclusive C.U. hidden axle front end. No, we’re not pulling the 2004 rubbermounted Sportster down. Two Sportsters will see techs in our Sportster section: An Evo wreck mounted in the C.U. chassis and modifications to the new 2004 rubbermounted custom. It will be a wild comparison series indicating the opportunities with the new line of Sporties and how to build a reliable chopper for under ten grand. Find a wrecked Evo Sportster, tear it down and launch it into a C.U. frame. Watch for both.

Here are some examples of C.U. based bikes.

The first twin cam based chopper they built.

The longest bike built so far with a 30-over front end (it’s over 11feet long).Total rake 51 degrees, with a 5-degree tree, it puts the trail at 3.7inches (it handles like a stock motorcycle).

A classic excample on how to build an extreme chopper that actuallyworks

Kjell Bjerke
Owner
Choppers Unlimited
Phone: 1-866-938-3375 (Toll Free)
Phone: 1-910-938-3375
Fax: 1-910-989-0061
Website: www.choppersunlimited.com
E-mail: choppers@choppersunlimited.com

Kent and the Devil’s wife, Holly, from Lucky Devil’s.

CHECK THE LUCKY DEVIL TECH–Kent, the Lucky Devil himself, is modifying a stock Nigh Train on Bikernet. ” The rake is 38 degrees, trail is 6.5 inches, the backbone is 7 inches over stock, with 10-inch over on the front single tube for a 14-inch over front end,” Kent said.

Check it out. They’re a good group of builders and a blast in the process.

Click to see more from Lucky Devil

MICHAEL LICHTER’S TRIBUTE TO JR’S FUNERAL–It is almost a year, but I thought you might like to see these. JR’s funeral was quite the affair with the truce and clubs represented from all over the nation. The Feds were there in strength too.

–Michael

If you go to Mike’s site you’ll discover classic biker photos back to the ’70s. Signed prints are available for sale.

BIKERNET TECH REQUEST– Some of us owners of earlier model TC88’s are getting to the mileage where we’re going to have to consider putting in a new final drive belt. As much as I love dumping truckloads of money in the front door of my local Harley dealer, I’d rather do this job myself. When you look in the service manual, there are a lot of references to special tools that are unavailable to mere mortals like myself. You got any plans for a “How to in the Real World” for this job? You know what I’m talking about. “The Kent Moore tool #389493-80A rev B. “Transmission Air Volume Adjuster” (retail $783.23) can be replaced with a Craftsman “Wizard Wrench” and a Kenmore dryer.

–Hiwayman…….

This could be a good tech and we’ll look into it. Basically you need to remove the primary, the clutch and primary drive, the inner primary and the belt. I’m not familiar with twin cam clutches. Not sure they’re much different. I’ll bet the special tool has something to do with the clutch, pulling it. The bike needs to be jacked up and the swingarm detached.

Keep in mind that those belts will often last 100,000 miles. You may not need a new one for awhile.

COMING UP THIS SUNDAY – MAY 16TH

It’s The 3rd Annual -“Texas Style Party Drags” DALLAS CHAMPIONSHIPS At – Redline Raceway

Top Fuel Harleys, Nostalgia Fuel Harleys, Top Alcohol Harley Dragsters,& 32 Sportsman Trophy Classes for any type of Harley Davidson Motorcycle!!!!!!Hot Street Strokers & Choppers – Drag Modified Harleys & MUCH MORE !!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
ALL SPONSORED BY – Ancira RV?s & Chrome & Steel Fantasies>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CHECK TEXAS SCOOTER TIMES WEB SITE FOR MORE RACE INFO: SEE PHOTOS OF LAST SEASONS DALLAS CHAMPIONSHIPS !!

BRAND NEW DVD TITLE ?CHOPPERS ? WILD WEST? DEFINES THE NEW TERM ?CHOP-UMENTARY? WITH ITS VISUAL FEAST OF SEXY BIKES & BABES!–San Luis Obispo, CA May 10, 2004) ? Chopper fans and gear heads everywhere finally have the chance to bring home the bike they have always dreamed of, Rise Above Entertainment is proud to announce the release of The Game Entertainment?s newest video title, ?CHOPPERS Volume 1 ? Wild West.? This pure chopper-culture video breaks new ground by being the first chop-umentary project of its kind released to the mainstream. With coverage of the hottest chopper builders, the coolest events on the west coast and tons and tons of beautiful bikes and babes all cut to a killer biker-band soundtrack, bikers the world over will be drooling for a new ride after watching this.

CHOPPERS ? Wild West, Vol. 1 takes you into the garages of today?s hottest builders and behind the scenes wear the sweat and muscle produce the hot bikes, not just big money. Builders like Chica Custom Cycles, Count?s Customs, Death Valley Choppers, Viscous Cycles and Power?s Custom Cycles show off their latest creations and give the viewer something to drool over. Viewers also get a bird?s eye view of hot shows like the famous Hollister Independence Rally, the Las Vegas Bike Fest and a number of other shows and rallies. Today choppers are experiencing a huge comeback as the traditional bike look can be purchased off of the showroom floor by anyone. The chopper on the other hand has become the canvas for bike builders and modifiers to show off their skills with custom fabrication of parts and mind-blowing paint jobs and handiwork. CHOPPERS Vol. 1 ? Wild West covers it all.

Mike Freeny

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–I’m going to let you all in on a little secret. Before having to write here every week and for The Horse, I used to write stuff for fun. I have always enjoyed writing. The time I spent in NYC was mostly writing about everyday life; I would even have a small notebook with me all the time and write notes for later use. The only thing is that it was in Spanish. Why Spanish you may ask? Well, first it’s my first language and second I believe it’s a much richer language for expressing yourself, not trying to offend anyone. Other languages seem curt compared to Spanish, but I guess I can also express myself in English on a pretty good level. Where the fuck I am heading you might be asking yourself right at this moment…….

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I might as well have written my Daytona report in Spanish, or French for that matter, since some people did not get even a bit of it, even if it was written in their mother tongue. I guess we all know who I am referring to……While Mr. blah,blah was so busy expressing his point of view I guess he was totally oblivious of the “meanings” that flew over his head. Maybe I needed to add footnotes to further explain what each paragraph really meant, but let’s take the painful task of dissecting it bit by bit.

“Dropping names” I’m sorry, but when you mention people’s names and they are friends this does not apply. If I did not know any of these people, or were trying to impress someone by mentioning them, then the name drop would apply. Since this is not the case, that one is out the door.

“Company clothing? Since when I have endorsed any company clothing or said that it was the cool gear of the day? For someone that wears Vans every single day and does not own anything that says HD on it , it would be illogical to say that it’s the cool wear and what we wear…..I’m not a fashion advisor either. Bandit wears shit kickers all the time and what do I really care about that? I don’t remember the last time I wore boots, times change so do people. We wear (or I wear) what we wear for comfort, not to start a fashion rage. Sure we ride and Vans are not the safest, but then stand for endless hours at the booth or the shop and you will know what I mean, painful to say the least. More so, the only guy I know that wears boots day in and day out is Nick from Choppers Inc., (again not dropping names since he’s my friend) and I don’t know how he can manage.

After reading the comments I “saw” someone that has paid it dues in full, then again , what do I care, or who am I to judge what you do or don’t do. I really don’t give a bubonic rats ass what you wear or what you do, which bike you own or if you like your sleeves cut off or not. This is not the gospel according to Jose, it’s just my very OWN point of view of what goes on in the motorcycling world, or an event in this certain case. More so, sarcasm does not mean shit to me, the player has to have a bag to give and a bag to receive…In Ian Fleming words ” Live and let Live”

Don’t get confused with such attention dear Sir. If you have been here long enough, you might know that I take it to the extreme to answer each and every message or note that is aimed towards me, critique or praise, makes no difference to me. Even thought I’m sitting behind a screen I decide not to be an anonymous person or face, HIDING, behind the same screen.

The same words that you used applies , “you do not learn unless you listen?. If you are looking for a good tattoo artist I can let you know of many good ones, but the part of being like me, I don’t get, since as you claim, I’m just a “poser”. By the way, the assumption that I was talking about what you masterfully call “re-entry riders”, I’m talking about something else, maybe not, but then again you do not learn unless you listen…. Sounds familiar?

So be and let be. I really don’t care if anyone trailers or not, what you do with your money it’s your own business. If you want to look like a dork trying to fit in, be my guest, it really makes no difference to me. It does not impress me that you have added overpriced stuff to your bike, it should impress you and maybe your HOG buddies. Then again I guess you are fitting the mold since most of the things we see as weird is what you are doing to fit in. We do what we do and we live how we live and I for one don’t really care what others might think; neither I will stop saying the way I see things. Maybe next time you are enjoying the ride to the Marriott, while giving the finger take some time to take some photos and write up a report. I will dissect it hoping to comprehend it as well as you have with my Daytona one.

And now the news…

Our friends from Frisco, formerly Frisco tee’s have moved into a new showroom right in San Francisco, now called 415 Clothing. It?s open to the public and also has a tattoo shop on premises. We wish the best of luck to Rudy and Heather. For more info check http:// www.415clothing.com .

The Horse Smoke Out is near, join the usual suspects in Salisbury North Carolina June 25th and 26th

The Puerto Rico bike week end web site has been revamped, lots of info on the second year event check it out at httpwww.prbikeweekend.com .

I’m looking for a set of original white floorboard rubber mats, if you happen to have a set at a reasonable price, let me know.

Well, Summer is here, go hop on the bike and stop bitchin’. Remember that it’s Winter to those on the Southern hemisphere, so get ready to rock. The super fast pace this year is rolling; the warmth will be over before you realize it…

See you next week

Jose ? Bikernet Caribbean Reporter

Continued On Page 3

Let me lay out the background for this project. Scooter is anattorney. Maybe that makes him a yuppie, who the fuck cares? He’s acriminal attorney of the highest order, in fact recently herepresented a prostitute and we will have a full report on thatepisode. In this case, he was representing a jealous Bouncer from a stripclub whowas going after his girlfriend’s lover and was busted in route. Thecharges called for 20 strikes that would put him away for threelifetimes. As payment for Scooter’s courtroom talent he gave up thisbasket case. He ultimately received less than two years sentence andtwo strikes against his spotty record. He’ll have to be damn carefulin the future.

Scooter is a rider with a Dyna Glide, and a man who loves tolearn. He doesn’t stop at the surface of any project, but digs forall the knowledge he can muster to get the job handle properly. Thisis his first project bike which started out as a scattering ofassorted parts in boxes and strewn around the oily concrete floor,plus a rolling chassis which gave the rider a glimmer of hope.

It began life as a ’98 Softail Custom, but other than thesheet metal and wheels, not much of the original bike remained. Theframe was replaced with a Jammer 2-inch stretch with a 35 degreerake. The drivetrain kept the original H-D jugs, that were bored andhooked up to an S&S bottom end for 89-inches of pure power and aDelkron tranny. Rumor has it the engine work was done by Sonny atWestminster H-D before Scooter got the stuff, but it was expertlyassembled by Todd, who insisted on refitting with original H-D casecovers for a quality fit with (hopefully) no leaks. Before theengine could be mounted, the frame had to be heated and peened a tadto provide clearance for the rigid mount engine. It looked just alittle too tight when they did the mock-up, so they createdadditional vibration clearance. Also, the welds were rough andneeded some grinding and smoothing. We decided to paint the casesblack to match the cylinder fins.

The next step was to powder coat the frame to match the H-DLaser Red color on the stock sheet metal. The red they got wasbrighter and flatter, so we took it to a painter and got a niceclear coat to dress it up. Unfortunately, we now have to repaint thesheet metal to match the powder coat color, at least on the basecolor of the custom paint job. I spoke to Rock and Roll CustomPaintworks and Al Martinez about my paint scheme ideas, but haven’tcommitted yet. They both had some great looking airbrushed nudes onseveral tanks in the showroom which scooter drooled over, but wasconcerned about pulling up to courts and creating problems. Maybesome deep understated ghost flames instead.

Scooter was fortunate to hook up with a great custom bikeengineer named ScottLongnecker who currently builds custom bikes and just about everything elseat Kendon Industries. They manufacture a line of ‘stand up”trailers. Scott hooked Scooter up with a set of billet forwardcontrols and hand built a custom 2 into 1 pipe that’s currently at thechrome shop. The pipe is straight and clean, withthe collector running cleanly along the frame. The performance should bean improvement over the drag pipes that came with the basket, but thedownsideis they have no shields. Oh well, he can sometimes use the extraheat on his scrawnylegs when the temp drops and the cold wind blows. On the other hand,it’s not a problem to build a set of shields.

They’ve ordered up are the fat drag bars and stainlessbraided cables and hoses. The law says you gotta have front andrear turn signalsvisible from the sides and bright and big enough to be seen by everyonewithin your sphere of existence, but stock signals look … well…stock.Heopted to risk an uncomfortable discussion with the local constable byinstalling minimal lighting. Kuryaken has a new LED marking light/mirrorcombo that pairs a nice looking oval mirror and billet look stem with abright LED light mounted in the front side of the mirror housing. At about$180/pair they aren’t cheap, but may streamline the front end and stillprovide a degree of safety.

The rear lighting situation was confusing ashell, because everyone and his cousin makes a fender strut mounted markerlight. Scooter chose one that has a long, sleek housing that coversthe holes andhardware on the strut for a cleaner look. It also has a larger lens with adouble filament bulb and comes with both red and amber lenses. He’s alsohaving a tough decision with the pegs and grips. He really likes the lookandfeel of the Iso-pegs by Kuryaken, but… when I found out I couldn’t usethestock forward controls because the new frame wasn’t tapped for the rearmaster cylinder, he shifted to billet controls with an integralmaster cylinder.

The controls have billet pegs which are very custom, and don’t match theIso-pegs he already bought. Now he either is forced to find billetpegs and gripsthat come as close as possible to matching or live with mismatchedstuff (damn, he sounds like a chick picking out an outfit for ablind date!!) Ohwell, another installment with more photos when he drinks enoughvodka and gin mixed to makedecisions and move his jail house ass to the next phase.

-Nuttcase