Before today, if you had looked up the word “biker” in the Oxford English Dictionary, you would have found the following definition: “a motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang: a long-haired biker in dirty denims.” With statical studies showing that only 9% of Britain’s bikers fit the long long-hair and “dirty denims” stereotype, 74% of all British motorcyclists felt the definition was inaccurate.

Bowing to pressure from Great Britain’s motorcycling community though, Oxford University Press (the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary) has redefined “biker” to fit with slightly more modern perceptions. Accordingly, the Oxford English Dictionary now defines a biker as, “a motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang or group: a biker was involved in a collision with a car.”

While the Oxford University Press scoffs at any mentioning of an Orwellian exercise in how language controls perception, the publisher says it only made the changes after it became clear that the term “biker” was aligning itself more closely with the word “motorcyclist,” while distancing itself from associations with motorcycle gangs like the Hells Angels.

Motorcyclists, or bikers as it were, will likely take issue with the usage example though, which for reasons beyond our imagination uses the term “biker” in reference to a collision with an automobile. Perhaps, this usage is meant to show how “biker” can be linked more closely to those individuals who commute on their motorcycles, and thus are more likely to be involved in a collision with a car.

Or, considering how aggressive the British insurance industry is with motorcyclists, we can’t help but raise an eyebrow on the new wording for the OED’s “biker” definition, especially when the the main article covering the story, written by the The Telegraph, opts to include an lengthy background and opinion on the change from Bennetts Insurance Director of Marketing.

With that whole issue aside, the question remains though, do you make a distinction between the use of the word “biker” and “motorcyclist” when describing particular two-wheeled enthusiasts?

BAKER, a name known for unapologetically innovating, top-end drivetrain components in the American Big Twin industry, is once again bringing the mayhem – this time to Daytona, in a way ONLY BAKER can bring it! Who knows more about burnouts than the Drivetrain Authority? And being the originators of the drag style head-to-head burnout competition we are prepared to make this year more monumental than any year before with our annual Smoke-Down Showdown Daytona Edition – this year at the Ironhorse Saloon with the help of our friends at J&P Cycles.

The Smoke-Down Showdown begins on Wednesday March 13th – at 8pm, at the Ironhorse Saloon on N. US Highway 1 in Ormond Beach.

Feel the energy and witness the chaos as a Baker’s Dozen (13) of your favorite industry builders, tv personalities and celebrities go head-to-head in a drag style burnout competition that will leave only one man standing victorious in the end!

With some amazing personalities already slated for joining us in this night of fire and chaos, and more falling in line, this is sure to be an event not to be missed!

For more information on the BAKER Smoke-Down Showdown, visit www.bakerdrivetrain.com, or call (877) 640-2004 and ask for Trish.

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The 2013 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show returns to the Queen Mary's Seawalk Village, Long Beach, CA on Sunday July 14th. 

Featured as always are the world's top Celebrity Builders displaying their newest bikes and competing in the Calendar Bike Building Championship & Concours d' Elegance, together with selected Industry Manufacturers and Vendors, and Calendar Girl Music Concert live performances. The Show also marks the world premiere of the 2014 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars featuring the world's top roadrace and custom motorcycles with the beautiful Calendar Kittens featured in the Calendars in attendance at the Show. For complete information go to: http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM

The Calendar Show has broadened its focus from just the American V-Twin custom market, to embrace the growing Collector and Cafe Bike segments. The Show still includes its popular Pro Builder and Street Custom classes, Cafe Bike / Bobber, and Sportbike / Racebike Classes, and now the growing Collector Bike Market for European and Japanese Classics. Show Entries will be placed in a Concours d' Elegance displays on grass and patio walkways in the the Queen Mary's Seawalk Village. There is also an opportunity for Builders and Sellers to join the very affordable Seller's Showcase to market their bike or services, without having to purchase a full size Exhibitor Space.

Among the top name custom bike builders expected to attend are former LA Calendar Show winners and featured FastDates.com Calendar bike builders Jim Giuffra and the Spokesmodels of AFT Metric Customs, Russell Mitchell / Exile Cycles, Shinya Kimura / Chabott Engineering, Richard Lock / Mule Motorcycles, Todd Silicato / Todds Cycle, Chris Redpath / MotoGPwerks and many more.

Headlining the live musical entertainment again this year is the all-girl Japanese Rock Band 'Nylon Pink' who will just be returning from their world music tour. Also featured will be some of Southern California's most talented and beautiful signer songwriters.

While the Queen Mary's own gourmet restaurant culinary chefs will be preparing an incredible BBQ lunch menu that promises to exceed expectations of what is normally served at bike events. In all, it will be a full day of incredible bikes and builder, beautiful girls, music, food and beverages that will overwhelm all five of the human senses!

The 2013 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show & Concours d' Elegance is just $20 General Admission, or $40 VIP Admission which includes a BBQ Lunch w/ Beverage and Queen Mary ghost ship admission. Show capacity is limited and advance ticket purchase is suggested. Purchase Advance Tickets, Vendor and Bike Contest Registration online at: http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM

On Line Exhibitor & Vendor Registration: http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.6Exhibitors.HTM

On Line Calendar Bike Building Championship Contest Registration: http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.7BikeContest.HTM

There’s a bit of the robot in Baron Margo, a bit of the puppet master, a bit of the Alchemist, a bit of the Welder, a bit of the DaVinci…. You could list dozens of different talents and all would be pieces of the Baron Margo puzzle.

Stand-by for Launch!

Now for the answers, or at least some of them….

There’s no doubt that he is a prolific Los Angeles artist whose unique metalworks include robots, spacecrafts, strange and fantastic metal creatures as well as “conceptual” cars, boats, planes and trains. His work has been often used as Hollywood movie props and made appearances in TV commercials.

He’s created legions of strange creatures…mechanical robot dinosaurs that eat smaller creatures, life-sized and very attractive female robots, even rocket motors styled into ceiling lamps as well as beautifully realistic large scale sculptures including gorillas, the real variety rather than King Kong.

He’s been infusing machines with his distinctive vision of the retro-future as far back as 1965. He’s a man of few words…very few words. When asked what inspires him to create his unique brand of fantasy-meets-reality he will tell you, “Everything”! though he will concede his second favorite artist (second only to himself!) is Dali. Not one to mince words he is always quick with an answer that usually throws everyone off guard. When asked about his upbringing he will tell you it was “Normal”, though there is nothing normal about the man or his amazing creations. His collection of totally bizarre “Art Cars” built in collaboration with leading edge fabricators was inspired by his belief that the “bland” automobiles of today should be more futuristic and imaginative. When asked “What is that?” by curious on-lookers who’ve spotted one of his cars, bikes or trikes, he replies ,”Just your everyday, average rocket ship!”

In this case, make that a rocket bike. He has his own name for the “wunderbike,” and simply calls it ‘The Wedge” based on its “slice of cheese”shape. He completed its fabrication and took his first ride in 2008 and it’s been running strong ever since. There’s definitely a SciFi theme involved, although it might be better described as an of updated echo of 19th Century fantasy fiction with strong echoes of Jules Verne of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and of H.G.Wells author of “The Time Machine” and “Things to Come.”

All manner of hardware, both custom made and those found in surplus aircraft parts and tool stores went into its creation, then fully enclosed in a tear-dropped shaped canopy of polished aluminum. Underneath lies a Kawasaki four-cylinder power train housed within a custom frame while the instrumentation and handlebar controls are also Kawi components. He does take a tangent or two, for instance one of the foot pegs is an adjustable wrench welded in place. The totally street worthy, and street legal, machine often attracts the attention of both the police and spectators whenever the Baron makes one of his runs through Los Angeles. And always the question…”What is it?”?

At times you would find the Baron and examples of his artwork on display at a very special gallery/museum/movie prop rental store called Jadis located on the Main Street of Venice, California, the area home to many restaurants, art galleries, hip clothing stores and night clubs and close to the famous Muscle Beach where a young Arnold Schwarzenegger did his body building.

First opened in 1976, the store was owned by the Baron’s late friend and self-taught engineer/designer/builder Parker Meek, the Jadis “gallery of eccentricities” is a fascinating, sometimes baffles mix of “odds and ends” from the past, present and future as envisioned by Parker, the Baron and other like-minded artists. Jadis is an idiomatic French phrase that loosely means “sit, here’s a story” or according to other interpretations “old time modern.” Jadis is a primarily a prop rental store, every inch crowded with curiosities collected over the decades and featured in many Hollywood movies and TV programs. The Baron’s motorcycle as well as his cars and other creations incorporate the same eclectic smorgasbord of such “arty-facts.”

When first discovering Jadis, you find yourself staring at one of the Baron’s lady robots in the front window. Along with the Baron’s robot people and animals, Jadis is stuffed full of a wide spectrum of SciFi flavored gizmos including vintage microscopes, a 500,000 volt Tesla coil, model submarines and blimps, ray guns, old telephones, butterfly collections, antique clothing, vintage posters, art and old furniture of every imaginable sort. The shop, like the Baron’s Wunderbike is a blend of Wizard of Oz meets Willy Wonka meets Tron all in one, where you walk around with your eyes, and mouth, wide-open in wonderment of what has been called “the improbable possible.”

Gaining entrance into the shop, like catching up with Baron Margo and his motorcycle, is often a matter of luck. When the doors are open to the public, Friday-Sunday, it only costs one dollar for the tour. While Parker Meek passed away in January 2010 at 86, his spirit of curiosity and inventiveness lingers in Jadis…and by his longtime friend Baron Margo who carries on the tradition of creating whimsical mechanical art that always brings a smile.

More Pix of the Gallery and its Contents…

There’s a bit of the robot in Baron Margo, a bit of the puppet master, a bit of the Alchemist, a bit of the Welder, a bit of the DaVinci…. You could list dozens of different talents and all would be pieces of the Baron Margo puzzle.

Stand-by for Launch!

Now for the answers, or at least some of them….

There’s no doubt that he is a prolific Los Angeles artist whose unique metalworks include robots, spacecrafts, strange and fantastic metal creatures as well as “conceptual” cars, boats, planes and trains. His work has been often used as Hollywood movie props and made appearances in TV commercials.

He’s created legions of strange creatures…mechanical robot dinosaurs that eat smaller creatures, life-sized and very attractive female robots, even rocket motors styled into ceiling lamps as well as beautifully realistic large scale sculptures including gorillas, the real variety rather than King Kong.

He’s been infusing machines with his distinctive vision of the retro-future as far back as 1965. He’s a man of few words…very few words. When asked what inspires him to create his unique brand of fantasy-meets-reality he will tell you, “Everything”! though he will concede his second favorite artist (second only to himself!) is Dali. Not one to mince words he is always quick with an answer that usually throws everyone off guard. When asked about his upbringing he will tell you it was “Normal”, though there is nothing normal about the man or his amazing creations. His collection of totally bizarre “Art Cars” built in collaboration with leading edge fabricators was inspired by his belief that the “bland” automobiles of today should be more futuristic and imaginative. When asked “What is that?” by curious on-lookers who’ve spotted one of his cars, bikes or trikes, he replies ,”Just your everyday, average rocket ship!”

In this case, make that a rocket bike. He has his own name for the “wunderbike,” and simply calls it ‘The Wedge” based on its “slice of cheese”shape. He completed its fabrication and took his first ride in 2008 and it’s been running strong ever since. There’s definitely a SciFi theme involved, although it might be better described as an of updated echo of 19th Century fantasy fiction with strong echoes of Jules Verne of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and of H.G.Wells author of “The Time Machine” and “Things to Come.”

All manner of hardware, both custom made and those found in surplus aircraft parts and tool stores went into its creation, then fully enclosed in a tear-dropped shaped canopy of polished aluminum. Underneath lies a Kawasaki four-cylinder power train housed within a custom frame while the instrumentation and handlebar controls are also Kawi components. He does take a tangent or two, for instance one of the foot pegs is an adjustable wrench welded in place. The totally street worthy, and street legal, machine often attracts the attention of both the police and spectators whenever the Baron makes one of his runs through Los Angeles. And always the question…”What is it?”?

At times you would find the Baron and examples of his artwork on display at a very special gallery/museum/movie prop rental store called Jadis located on the Main Street of Venice, California, the area home to many restaurants, art galleries, hip clothing stores and night clubs and close to the famous Muscle Beach where a young Arnold Schwarzenegger did his body building.

First opened in 1976, the store was owned by the Baron’s late friend and self-taught engineer/designer/builder Parker Meek, the Jadis “gallery of eccentricities” is a fascinating, sometimes baffles mix of “odds and ends” from the past, present and future as envisioned by Parker, the Baron and other like-minded artists. Jadis is an idiomatic French phrase that loosely means “sit, here’s a story” or according to other interpretations “old time modern.” Jadis is a primarily a prop rental store, every inch crowded with curiosities collected over the decades and featured in many Hollywood movies and TV programs. The Baron’s motorcycle as well as his cars and other creations incorporate the same eclectic smorgasbord of such “arty-facts.”

When first discovering Jadis, you find yourself staring at one of the Baron’s lady robots in the front window. Along with the Baron’s robot people and animals, Jadis is stuffed full of a wide spectrum of SciFi flavored gizmos including vintage microscopes, a 500,000 volt Tesla coil, model submarines and blimps, ray guns, old telephones, butterfly collections, antique clothing, vintage posters, art and old furniture of every imaginable sort. The shop, like the Baron’s Wunderbike is a blend of Wizard of Oz meets Willy Wonka meets Tron all in one, where you walk around with your eyes, and mouth, wide-open in wonderment of what has been called “the improbable possible.”

Gaining entrance into the shop, like catching up with Baron Margo and his motorcycle, is often a matter of luck. When the doors are open to the public, Friday-Sunday, it only costs one dollar for the tour. While Parker Meek passed away in January 2010 at 86, his spirit of curiosity and inventiveness lingers in Jadis…and by his longtime friend Baron Margo who carries on the tradition of creating whimsical mechanical art that always brings a smile.

More Pix of the Gallery and its Contents…

Carb Art Images For Your Desktop…….from www.sturgisbikerphotos.com

download the images and paste on your desktop!

 Tammy has done her fair share of maintenance and repairs so installing the Klock Werks Nav Bag on her trike was not going to be a problem. Check this super product, super-easy, super-trike, super-touring tech on Bikernet. From the Bikernet East Coast Tech Emperor in Charge of Whiskey, Rogue.

It's just bloody super.

We reached out to Darcy and Jim Betlach for reports on the Cincy show. You'll read the full rundown in the Thursday News this week, but here's a teaser from Drag Specialties:

The Drag Specialties team recently returned from the 2013 V-­‐Twin Expo feeling optimistic about the upcoming selling season. Saturday our booth was full of dealers asking for new product information and looking for assistance in growing their business. We had many existing dealers, potential new dealers, current and future vendors with new products, stopping at the booth.

Drag Specialties has in the past and will in the future support the V-­‐Twin Expo. This show has always been the benchmark for the upcoming selling season for the V-­‐Twin Industry.

–Jim Matchette
Drag Specialties National Sales Manager

EagleRider, the leading motorcycle rental and tour company, is partnering with Women Riders Now (WRN), the leading online magazine for female motorcyclists, to offer a series of all-women motorcycle tours in 2013. Three separate tours will focus on providing women motorcycle riders an opportunity to experience a two-wheeled vacation in the company of people who share the same passion. Come join us!

Tour #1: Palm Springs Escape

The five-day Palm Springs Escape tour experience, called the “All-Women R, R and R Tour” (for "ride, relax and rejuvenate"), will take place May 2–6, 2013, using beautiful, balmy Palm Springs as its home base. The R, R and R experience will include three leisurely day rides through the mountains and deserts of Southern California on EagleRider rental motorcycles. 

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Welcome to Deus Ex Machina’s latest addition to its global ground fleet of marvel outlets located in Venice, CA. The gas station turned flower shop turned Deus Ex Machina is an awesome place to get a coffee and peruse the goods. 

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