This month’s ride is a 1987 Harley-Davidson XLH 1100 belonging to Hugh O’Neill of Delray Beach, Fla. Just in case you haven’t been paying attention, café racers are back in a major way. This style was once associated primarily with older British and Japanese bikes. They were modified for speed and good handling rather than comfort and were originally designed to get from a café to predetermined point and back before the song changed in the café’s jukebox.

Harley actually tried taking this route from 1977-79 with the very short-lived XLCR. Perhaps it was just ahead of its time, because café racers are coming on strong in the v-twin world, and what better platform is there than the Sportster?  News flash!  These lightweight four-cam rockets rarely get the recognition they deserve and any meathead that calls them chick bikes never rode one. Besides, do you think Skelly would ride bitch on a chick bike? Here’s what Hugh had to say about his ride:

“The inspiration for my XLH is a 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR that I previously owned and still regret selling. This bike is an ongoing project, entirely built in the garage as time and funds allow. My next planned upgrade will be heads and cams, followed by wheels, tires and brakes.  The paint was also done in the garage with a rattle-can lacquer.  While the heads are being machined later this year, the paint will be redone with proper equipment and materials. Thanks J&P for selecting my XLH as this month’s Readers’ Ride.”

 

When I first got the call from Bandit telling me to check out this bike, I was less than enthusiastic. I have been especially bored with many of the “customs” lately and it seems there has been a shift in the biker genre. The “Dark Custom” movement is in full swing and besides the Blackline®, it seems everything coming out of Milwaukee (actually Kansas City), is a new variation of the Sportster®. While a Sporty was my first bike as well as one of my favorites, I have started to distance myself from the Sporty hoard due to their incomparable “little-bike” syndrome.

If you ride a Sporty, great! The last thing I want to do is listen to a 20 minute diatribe about how slow my Big Twin is and how your unstoppable Sporty will blow me off the road. Even more annoying is the mush-mouth crying about how he wants a bigger bike someday, but he figures he’ll ride a Sporty until he can get a bigger bike.

Seriously, shut the fuck up! Ride whatever you want to and be proud of what you got, but don’t melt the guys ear next to you about wanting this or wishing that. So, needless to say when I heard the big bastard tell me this was another Sporty, I wasn’t racing to the computer to check it out. Then I caught my first glimpse of this knockout little ’88 with a powdercoated frame to match the creamy skin of a porcelain princess from Okinawa.

Patiently I wait until I get the CD in the mail from Peter Linney showcasing the said Sporty. About 2 months pass and I realize one of my precious children got the CD out of the mail and was trying to play it in his Xbox 360. I inadvertently caught my son staring at a shot of a beautifully curved physique. I hadn’t even noticed a motorcycle was in the picture until I looked at it a while. The models’ gorgeous round..errr, eyes match the headlight perfectly. The way the sun blazoned across her thighs accentuated the sun soaked scooter in a way that made me long for summer days, margaritas, and motorcycles. I head to learn more about this bike.

Peter, the builder and owner, explained his introduction to this bike like this:

“I had Hondas all my life but I always wanted a Harley. I finally found a good, well-maintained bike so I bought it. I bought the bike from a guy that worked at a Harley dealer as the parts manager. He put every flamed billet piece you can buy on it but since that’s not really my style, I started to strip parts off and ride the bike bare. I rode the bike like that while I was trying to make up my mind about what I wanted to do with her (the bike), until I threw a rod riding at the beach; so a little part swapping turned into a complete custom build. I rebuilt the motor with all new parts, modified the rear half and powder coated the chassis, bobbed the rear fender, body worked and painted the tanks and fender and reassembled with cool un-flamed parts. 

The bike is like new. I ride it up and down the California coast as often as I can. I ride to work. It’s a lot of fun to ride. I recently took it to a big fund raiser and won Presidents Choice. I had to ride home with a 3 foot trophy bungee corded to my front bars.”

How can you top that story? Boy wants bike, boy buys said bike and fixes her up. Boy then wins trophy and has bike pictured with a smoking hot model. Sounds like the American dream to me. The best part (again, besides the girl) is he never once bitched and moaned about it being “just” a Sportster and he never once talked about his next bike being a Big Twin. So, big pieces of raisin pie to you, Pete, and when you get a chance, let’s check out that model in a Cantina styled photo shoot. What’d ya say?

Owner:Pete Wittenberg, Petes Rod and Custom

Address 1121 n.cosby way, suite d        

City anaheim

State/ Zip California, 92806

Phone: 714-632-6991

C Phone: 714-345-9437

Website: www.petesrodandcustom.com

E Mail:   kustompete@sbcglobal.net       

What kind of bike?

Make:   Harley-Davidson

Year: 1988

Model: Sportster

Type: 

Year: 

Fabrication: Bobbed rear fender, chopped rear frame section

Finish: golden tangerine 2 stage paint with pinstriped fender and tank, crème powdercoated frame

Time:    4months

Assembler: Petes Rod and Custom

Value: 10,000

ENGINE:

Type: v-twin

Displacement: 1200

Year: 88

Heads: Buell S-100 Lightning

Valves: Buell

Pistons: H-D

Cylinders: 2

Camshaft: crane cams

Lifters: H-D

Pushrods: H-D

Carburetor/Injection: Mikuni 42mm

Air Cleaner: KnN

Transmission: H-D

Blower/Turbo:

Ignition:   Screaming Eagle

Exhaust: Bassani

Finish: chrome

Fasteners/Hardware: all chrome gardner-wescott

Did you build or buy your bike?: Build

How Long did it take?: 4 months

In what order was the bike built?: Torn down to bare frame and reassembled from ground up

Frame:                                                             

Type: H-D

Year: 1988

Builder: Modified by Petes Rod and Custom

Stretch:   N/A

Swing Arm:   Chrome h-d

Shocks: progressive suspension lowered shocks

Modifications: Chopped back section

Molding:

 Finish: chrome

Forks: chrome and polished

Type:   h-d

Year: 1988

Builder: Petes

Finish:

Triple Trees: polished aluminum

Modifications:

Wheels Front:                                                   

Rim: chrome land mark teardrop twisted spoke

Size: 19

Hub:h-d

Builder:

Finish: chrome

Fender: no fender

Tire: 100-90/19

Brake: PM 4 piston caliper, 13” drilled floating rotor

Wheels Rear:

Rim: Chrome twisted spoke

Size:16

Brake: h-d chrome

Builder:Pete’s

Finish:chrome/polished

Fender: bobbed stock rear fender

Tire:140-90/16

Hub:h-d

What Connects you to the bike:                             

Handlebars : Harley drag bars chrome

Risers: 5”

Headlights: tri-bar halogen

Taillights: model a ford

Turn Signals F/R:n/a

Speedometer: stock

Tachometer: n/a

Gauges:

Electric’s:

Seat: biltwell solo saddle

Backrest?:

Footrest F/R: vintage H-D

Oil Tank: stock, painted

Fuel Tank(s): H-D peanut

Your extra notes:

Paint, Chrome, and other F/X’s:                       

Colors: golden tangerine

Type: house of color

Special Paint: 2 stage

The Painter: Petes Rod and Custom

Address:1121 n.cosby way, suite d, Anaheim, ca. 92806

Chrome:

Powder Coating:

Color: crème powdercoated frame

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. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

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

MOTORCYCLE-RIDING CONGRESSWOMAN SHOT
In what has been described as a national tragedy, a deranged gunman opened fire during a public meeting with constituents by Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords outside a Tucson supermarket on January 8 that left six dead and more than a dozen injured including the state rep who was critically injured with a bullet wound to the head.

Giffords, 40, rides motorcycles and married an astronaut at a wedding where everything had to be biodegradable. She is a centrist three-term Democrat who champions gun rights, lists fiscal discipline as one of her top issues and was re-elected in a conservative district when Republicans took control of the House.

Before entering politics she ran the family tire business, which was founded by her grandfather in 1949. Perhaps growing up in an auto-focused family led to her love of motorcycles. She is a co-chair of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus with Republican Walt Jones of North Carolina.

In 2009 Rep. Giffords taped a video message encouraging people to ride their motorcycles to work, saying that she likes to ride motorcycles, but also likes that they leave a smaller carbon footprint than cars. She also sided with motorcycle riders who favor state legislation to ride helmet-free, as she does.

Though early reports suggested Giffords was fatally shot, she miraculously survived being shot point-blank through the brain and her doctors are optimistic about her chances of recovery. The thoughts and prayers of America’s motorcycling community are with her and the other victims of this tragic assault.

NEW YEAR, NEW LAWS
The New Year rang in several new laws across the country affecting the motorcycle riding community, including the onerous new California anti-noise law that requires EPA-labeling for motorcycle exhausts on bikes built after 2012.

Other less volatile laws also took effect on January 1st, including another California law that requires would-be motorcyclists under 21 to complete an approved safety course before an applicant can receive an instruction permit to learn to ride. California lawmakers also passed a law to curb motorcycle thefts by outlawing possession of so-called “pigtails” which are homemade ignitions that allow a crook to start a motorcycle in as little as 20 seconds. Previously, burglary tools for the purpose of breaking into or stealing a vehicle other than a motorcycle were prohibited.

Several states have recently enacted legislation requiring the completion of a motorcycle training course before being issued a motorcycle license endorsement, and this year Connecticut and North Carolina join the growing list of states tightening restrictions on motorcycle licensure for newbie riders. In Oregon, a new training requirement went into effect to mandate safety classes for new motorcyclists under the age of 30, and the law will expand over the next few years to include all new riders regardless of age.

Already in the works for 2011, state legislatures are considering new laws to ban passengers under 8 years old in Virginia (House Bill 1850), allow Sunday motorcycle sales in Indiana (Senate Bill 108), and calls for a helmet law in Kentucky (House Bill 163). In Nebraska, Legislative Bill 62 has been filed to allow adult riders to opt out of the state’s mandatory helmet law with the completion of an approved motorcycle safety course.

EUROPE TO MANDATE ABS FOR MOTORCYCLES
A European Union Commission has presented its proposal for new framework regulation for motorcycles. It plans to mandate anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for motorcycles with more than 125cc displacement from 2017 onwards.

Although the first anti-lock braking system was installed on a motorcycle in 1988, only 16% of all newly manufactured motorcycles in Europe were equipped with ABS, and by comparison car manufacturers have made ABS standard equipment since 2004 which has contributed to a 49% overall decline in fatal car accidents in the EU.

Experts regard anti-lock braking as a huge boost to safety. For example, a benefit analysis conducted for the European Commission calculates that the proposed regulation would reduce the number of fatal motorcycle accidents by more than 5,000 over a 10-year period.

A study presented by Vagverket, the Swedish highways authority, in October 2009 showed that 38% of all motorcycle accidents involving personal injury and 48% of all serious and fatal accidents, could have been prevented with ABS. This active safety system allows motorcyclists to brake safely in critical situations without locking the wheels, and thus without having to fear an inevitable fall. Braking distance is also significantly reduced.

The proposal is currently passing through the EU legislative procedure but will likely be adopted next year. The regulation will come into effect from 2017.

In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has considered requiring ABS on new motorcycles sold in America, and will likely take up the issue in the near future.

ECONOMIC UPTICK HAS AMERICANS BUYING LEISURE PRODUCTS AGAIN
People are buying expensive leisure products again, after they held back during the recession. A new report from Milwaukee’s Robert W. Baird and Company said motorcycle sales fell by half during the downturn, and ATV sales were just 30% of what they used to be.

But Baird analyst Craig Kennison says many consumers now have a brighter outlook, in spite of high unemployment and a housing market that continues to be depressed. He said inventories for new leisure items are low, and there’s a strong demand for used goods.

Kennison said Milwaukee’s Harley-Davidson Motor Co. slashed its production during the recession – and that drove up the prices for used bikes. But now, he says more folks are buying new Harleys with the help of trade-ins.

And while it’s hard to prove, Kennison expects the same trend for cars, RV’s, and other big ticket items. He also said consumers are more confident about their personal wealth, especially after the Bush tax cuts were extended. Had Congress not acted this month, Kennison said it might have been a disaster for discretionary spending.

SURVEY SAYS; AGE UP, QUALITY DOWN
Bikers are getting older and they spend more at a motorcycle dealership they are happy with, according to a new ownership survey recently released by J.D. Power and Associates.

J.D. Power’s 13th annual U.S. Motorcycle Competitive Information Study also reveals that motorcycle quality has dipped to 2008 levels, with 152 problems reported per 100 motorcycles (PPM) — an increase of 29 PPM. One half of owners surveyed reported that most of those problems (44%) are engine related, and the study suggests that gearshift problems, clutch chatter, and insufficient engine power have the greatest impact on overall satisfaction.

The study cites a few no-brainers, like the fact that “Sales volumes and revenue of ancillary goods and services tend to be considerably higher — by an average of $957 — at motorcycle dealerships that provide a highly satisfying experience vs. dealerships that do not.”

But the causal relationship between customer satisfaction and dollars spent is less ominous than their findings that the average rider age has risen from 40 to 49 since 2001, “an indication that many owners may soon exit the market”… combined with the study’s findings that first-time motorcycle buyers are on the decline, makes it all the more imperative that the motorcycle industry seeks to capture the interest of younger riders who might consider buying their first bike.

FEWER BUSINESSES SELLING MOTORCYCLES, PARTS & ACCESSORIES
There are 10,428 retail outlets in the United States that conduct business related to motorcycles, scooters or ATVs, down by more than 25% from 13,973 such businesses in 2009, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

These were the principle findings of the MIC 2010 Retail Outlet Audit, a summary of which the council sent to its members this week. The audit was completed in December 2010.
The report broke down the total by the number of retailers that sell new major-brand vehicles — 5,134, or 49.2% — and the number of retailers not selling new vehicles, but specializing in parts, accessories, apparel, used vehicles or service: 5,294, or 50.8%.

The MIC conducted its research by collecting information from all the manufacturers above, as well as from the trade magazines Dealernews and Motorcycle Product News. Because the study’s sources vary from year to year, the MIC warns that comparisons with previous years are subject to “considerable error.”

The report further indicates that 58.8% of the new vehicle retail outlets carry only one of the 13 major brands. Slightly less than one-fifth are dual-line outlets, and 21.9% carry three or more of the major brands. The total number of franchises distributed among the 5,134 new vehicle outlets declined 5.6% to 9,182 from 9,731 in 2009.

NO BONES ABOUT IT
Most “experts” agree that riding motorcycles helps you to FEEL younger, but can riding actually make your body healthier and more youthful?

A recent Medical College of Georgia study found that; “A daily dose of whole body vibration may help reduce the usual bone density loss that occurs with age,” on top of improving muscle strength and promoting weight loss… so it would appear that pulsating power from a motorcycle engine and the rumble of the open road will help aging bones get stronger.

The extrapolation isn’t entirely far-fetched, and may lead to a healthy new excuse to ride; “Honey, I’m taking my exer-cycle for a workout.”

WEIRD NEWS: CANADIAN BIKERS OUTRAGED OVER GOVERNMENT SPYING
Motorcycle operators in Quebec are outraged that the province’s automobile insurance board hired a private PR firm “to spy on us” and gather information about the group.

The insurance board decided to monitor the group of motorcyclists earlier this year after learning that a coalition of angry owners had been formed to fight huge insurance rate hikes. The public relations firm National was granted a contract to investigate the activities of the Front Commun Motocycliste, which had set up kiosks at a Quebec City motorcycle show.

“They give the impression of being organized, documented and especially very motivated,” the firm stated in its two-page report after observing the group at the bike show. The report stated that the motorcycle owners were “dynamic and aggressive in their approach” with visitors.

Members of the group were appalled to learn that the government would pay a private firm to monitor their activities. “We are outraged, flabbergasted and scandalized to learn that taxpayers’ money was used to spy on us. We are average taxpayers. We aren’t al-Qaeda,” said Éric Lessard, spokesman for the group. “The government is showing complete contempt for motorcycle owners.”

The board denied spying on the group, telling the Globe and Mail newspaper that “There was a lot of anger and we knew protest groups were being formed,” according to a spokeswoman for the automobile insurance board, Audrey Chaput. “We granted a contract to the firm National to go out and listen to what the groups were saying and to feel the pulse of the movement.”

2011 NCOM CONVENTION IN ALBUQUERQUE
Mark your calendar now for the 26th annual NCOM Convention, to be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 5-8, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque located at 330 Tijeras Ave NW in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This annual gathering will draw bikers’ rights activists from across the country to discuss topics of concern to all riders, so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $80.00 by calling (800) 233-1234. Airport/Hotel transportation is available.

Registration fees for the NCOM Convention are $75 including the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $40 for the Convention only. All motorcyclists are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Meetings, seminars and group discussions will focus on legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.

To pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Political tags – such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth – are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.”
Robert Anson Heinlein (1907-1988) American author and science fiction writer

For the last chapter click here: http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=8770

Every bike build is an adventure. It takes a brother from an explosive divorce to the open road. It could drag a rider from a stock Sportster to his first ground-up bobber. Hell, I’ve seen riders start choppers, grow long hair and beards, lose their 9-to-5 jobs, get kicked out of their pads and end up happier than a lotto winner. Choppers have that unleashed freedom code etched into every component. That’s why the HORSE staff, the Bikernet.com crew, and the gang at Brass Balls Bobbers hooked up with a bunch of industry giants to bring a lucky reader a shot at open-road freedom. The odds are terrific, and the build adventure continues in every issue.

We missed a month when our Brass Balls girl, twinkling eyed Haley, was seduced to roll from the Brass Balls Headquarters in Oklahoma to Las Vegas. What could possibly lure any hot broad from the flatlands and constant jiggers in Oklahoma to the celebrity glitter and 24 hour-a-day action in the Nevada desert? I’ll bet it has something to do with a band called America. She’s a back-up band member, and when she took off, I buried myself in a hot tube fulla Bulleit frontier Whiskey for a month of limestone filtered distilled in Kentucky depression.

We didn’t turn a wrench on the bike until the Englishman called an editorial meeting and kicked our asses. I pulled my ass out of my female-induced funk when Dar called and started to describe Haley’s replacement. Seems she goes hot and heavy for older bikers with thinning hair. My spirits improved, although I’m currently steering clear of the bottled variety. Then I saw the new Brass Balls frame from Paughco.

I like the lines of the 3-inch up, 1-inch out profile. Plus Dar asked Jason and the Paughco crew to add 3 inches to the stern to afford room for the battery behind the Bikernet-supplied transmission. We started to make some progress and the Brass Balls crew loaded in the Rev Tech engine with the Xotic Pans for that traditional chopper look, coupled to late model RevTech technology for long road reliability.

This Paughco frame is set up with oil tank mounts and a Brass Balls battery box welded in. I like the Brass Balls design touches and the Paughco wishbone downtubes for that classic old school Harley rigid configuration.

Okay, so sign up for a chance to win this puppy, and I’ll do my damned best to insure a new girl comes into play and erases the Haley doldrums that sent members of the Brass Balls team to the bar. Next issue, more progress and a new female HORSE sweeps mascot.

http://www.thehorsemag.com/Pages/BB_Giveaway_Rules.html

Our Sponsors:

That might be true, if you could be sure that elected officials actually know something about the Constitution. But it turns out that many don’t.

In fact, elected officials tend to know even less about key provisions of the Constitution than the general public.

For five years now, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute has been conducting a national survey to gauge the quality of civic education in the country. We’ve surveyed more than 30,000 Americans, most of them college students, but also a random sample of adults from all educational and demographic backgrounds.

Included in the adult sample was a small subset of Americans (165 in all) who, when asked, identified themselves as having been “successfully elected to government office at least once in their life” — which can include federal, state or local offices.

The survey asks 33 basic civics questions, many taken from other nationally recognized instruments like the U.S. Citizenship Exam. It also asks 10 questions related to the U.S. Constitution.

So what did we find? Well, to put it simply, the results are not pretty.

Elected officials at many levels of government, not just the federal government, swear an oath to “uphold and protect” the U.S. Constitution.
But those elected officials who took the test scored an average 5 percentage points lower than the national average (49 percent vs. 54 percent), with ordinary citizens outscoring these elected officials on each constitutional question. Examples:
·                      Only 49 percent of elected officials could name all three branches of government, compared with 50 percent of the general public.
·                      Only 46 percent knew that Congress, not the president, has the power to declare war — 54 percent of the general public knows that.
·                      Just 15 percent answered correctly that the phrase “wall of separation” appears in Thomas Jefferson’s letters — not in the U.S. Constitution — compared with 19 percent of the general public.
·                      And only 57 percent of those who’ve held elective office know what the Electoral College does, while 66 percent of the public got that answer right. (Of elected officials, 20 percent thought the Electoral College was a school for “training those aspiring for higher political office.”)
You can take the quiz yourself — click here.

Overall, our sample of elected officials averaged a failing 44 percent on the entire 33-question test, 5 percentage points lower than the national average of 49 percent.

The fact that our elected representatives know even less about America’s history and institutions than the typical citizen (who doesn’t know much either) is troubling indeed, but perhaps helps explain the lack of constitutional discipline often displayed by our political class at every level of our system.

Given this dismal performance, it would seem that last week’s House reading of the Constitution shouldn’t be described “presumptuous and self-righteous,” but as a necessary national tutorial for all elected officials.

In fact, we can only hope that this trend of Constitution reading will continue to sweep the nation and states. After all, there are 50 state constitutions as well.

When elected officials take an oath “to protect and defend the Constitution,” shouldn’t they know what they are swearing to?

Richard Brake is co-chairman of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s National Civic Literacy Board. For more details regarding the ISI’s past and current civic literacy studies and to take the test online, go to www.americancivicliteracy.org <http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/> .

* * *
Are you smarter than an elected official?

1) What are the three branches of government?
A. executive, legislative, judicial
B. executive, legislative, military
C. bureaucratic, military, industry
D. federal, state, local

2) What part of the government has the power to declare war?
A. Congress
B. the president
C. the Supreme Court
D. the Joint Chiefs of Staff

3) In the area of United States foreign policy, Congress shares power with the:
A. president
B. Supreme Court
C. state governments
D. United Nations

4) The United States Electoral College:
A. trains those aspiring for higher political office
B. was established to supervise the first televised presidential debates
C. is otherwise known as the U.S. Congress
D. is a constitutionally mandated assembly that elects the president
E. was ruled undemocratic by the Supreme Court

5) What impact did the Anti-Federalists have on the United States Constitution?
A. their arguments helped lead to the adoption of the Bill of Rights
B. their arguments helped lead to the abolition of the slave trade
C. their influence ensured that the federal government would maintain a standing army
D. their influence ensured that the federal government would have the power to tax

6) The phrase that in America there should be a “wall of separation” between church and state appears in:
A. George Washington’s Farewell Address
B. the Mayflower Compact
C. the Constitution
D. the Declaration of Independence
E. Thomas Jefferson’s letters

7) The Bill of Rights explicitly prohibits:
A. prayer in public school
B. discrimination based on race, sex, or religion
C. the ownership of guns by private individuals
D. establishing an official religion for the United States
E. the president from vetoing a line item in a spending bill

8) Identify one right or freedom below guaranteed by the first amendment.
A. Right to bear arms
B. Due process
C. Religion
D. Right to counsel

9) Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government listed below?
A. Make treaties
B. Make zoning laws
C. Maintain prisons
D. Establish standards for doctors and lawyers

10) Who is the commander in chief of the U.S. military?
A. Secretary of the army
B. Secretary of state
C. President
D. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs

Answer key:
1) A; 2) A; 3) A; 4) D; 5) A; 6) E; 7) D; 8) C; 9) A; 10) C

Travis rolled off the throttle as he crested the hill. The open prairie opened up before him. It was one of the things he loved most about this country. How you could be cutting through rolling hills of a coteau one minute, cross a threshold and the entire countryside would change to open prairie. He rolled the linkage open on the S&S and rocketed down into the flat. In the distance he could see two steeples rising out of the trees just to the left of the road. As he drew closer the shapes of houses could be seen nestled in the small grove of trees on the otherwise barren countryside. The big man shifted in his classic La Pera seat.

It had been a long day. Good food, a good nights sleep would do him well. He pulled the Shovelhead onto the dry dirt service road that paralleled the highway. Most of the buildings were boarded up or simply abandoned. Life seemed to emulate from the small stucco building with rusting gas pumps in the middle. Travis pulled up to the pumps and dismounted. His body protested. It had been too long since he racked up serious miles. His body was punishing him now. It could only get better. It had too. The Shovelhead was his only form of transportation now.

The small bell above the door chimed as he stepped into the dark store. “You’re early. You usually don’t get here for another ten minutes.” called a sweet voice from the back. Travis stood still in the sun lit doorway. A small woman appeared from behind the far row of shelves.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were the bus driver. We’re closed.”

Travis smiled and looked her over. She looked to be in her forties. From behind tangled mousy hair he could tell she was beautiful, even after decades in this small town.

“I just needs some gas and if you could point me towards the nears restaurant or bar I’ll be on my way.”
Travis said in a reassuring voice.

The woman moved nervously about the store. “The pumps are shut down. Ted has the key but he’s gone into Willow Bluff, probably won’t be back till late.”

Travis moved slowly and purposely about the store.

“Nearest restaurant is in Willow. Not much around here any more.”

“How far?” Travis asked with a friendly smile. She explained it was about an hour. Travis looked out the glass door to his bike and the slowly setting sun.

“Nowhere else to get some food and gas?”

She shook her head, no. Travis asked if he could buy a couple of things. She hesitated saying that the till was empty. Travis smiled reassuring before he stepped to carousel picked up a bunch of bananas, an orange; from the rack across it he selected a bag of buns. The cooler in the back relinquished a packet of processed meat and a six-pack of Budweiser. Travis peeled some bills from the wad in his pocket and thanked her for the hospitality. Travis could hear the big diesel bus as the engine wound down on the highway.

A mile down the road Travis found the picnic area the woman mentioned. It was nothing more than a hand planted square of trees around a centre square. It would offer protection from the cool evening winds. Travis followed the dirt road around to the far back corner. It would offer him shelter and peace but still let him have a good view of the road leading in.

The sun was low in the sky as Travis unrolled his tent and tied his tarp to provide a make shift canopy for it. He thought about gathering wood from the fallen branches to make a fire but decided against it as the dry prairie grasses snapped and crackled under his feet. The last thing he needed was to burn down some town’s pride and joy.

His supper was simple, much like all his meals had been of late. He already noticed his jeans were looser then normal; the plumpness of home life was leaving him. After supper he wondered the campground finding the troughs left from a long gone swing. He stood in the grassy holes and thought about the hours children must had to spend to wear them into the ground. Near the gate he found a cast marker plate. Apparently on this very site nothing had ever happened. The date at the bottom was from the bicentennial. The bronze casting indicated a better time, a prosperous time when the nation celebrated its birthday. Travis remembered the parades from his youth. Sitting on his dad’s shoulders as he watched the brightly coloured floats go by. The upbeat tunes that the marching bands played. He longed to hear them again. Longed for a simpler time that only seemed to exist in his childhood youth.

Travis stretched out on his bike in the failing light and sipped on his cold beer. Only the occasional passing vehicle broke the silence of the prairie. So peaceful, so quiet. He thought about settling down here in a simple house, a simple life. Crickets chirped their nightly song. All was right with the world.

A slowing whine of tires on pavement caught his attention. A green minivan slowed and entered the park. From his vantage point he could see it stop behind the trees and outhouses, blocking its view from the road. Travis thought about greeting his new neighbors but resisted the urge as he heard another car enter. A slick Cadillac entered and stopped behind the van. In the quietness of the evening he could hear voices and laughing. Soon the creaking of worn springs in the van joined the cricket’s chorus. Even here adultery was alive and well. He thought about confronting the lovers. Telling them about the love ones at home waiting for them. Were they as naive as he was? Blissfully unaware that the one that they loved, the one they vowed to be with, to love and cherishes, was rutting away in the back of a minivan, children’s car seats and toys pushed to the side to satisfied their carnal desires.

He thought about exacting revenge on the unsuspecting couple. He would beat them like he wanted to do to the man in the Harley truck, like he wanted to do to his wife.
Travis’s company soon left, returning to the lies they were living. Travis sat alone in the darkness, nursing his beer. A rustling in the tall grasses drew his attention. He peered into the darkness; pushing the noises he had acquainted himself with away. Heavy panting echoed through the prairie sounds. Was it friend or foe?

Travis trained his ears on the panting, the swaying of displaced grass. He could sense the shape. Large canine? Its deep howl could only mean one thing, the memory of Pecos Bill and the coyotes that warned the Western legend. The shadowy figure stepped close, curious as Travis. The moonlight revealed a 20-pound coyote, it’s bushy tail aimed comfortably at the soft ground. Travis watched. It watched it’s ears twitching its mood, and listening acutely for any sound from the stranger residing in its territory. Satisfied that Travis was no threat it sat down and licked at its rear haunches before letting out a howl at the distant moon.

From beyond Travis could hear the replies. Would they come join him? Was he summoning them to come feast on his bones? Unlikely, since Coyotes usually eat mice, squirrels and sometime reptiles. Travis watched as the shadowy figure flinched at any movement he made. Travis unsheathed the buck knife from his belt. The coyote sniffed the air, its ears indicated attention to detail, and a warning. The coyote backed up and howled again. It knew it wasn’t alone; that there was something living that came with the strange oily scented object sparkling in the evening air. Its nostrils flared as it sniffed and broadened the distance from the man and his machine.

Travis watched as the coyote moved off and settled into the long grass across the road from him. Travis watched the wild animal. An understanding washed over him. Nature was about balance, about harmony, about freedom.

 

He started off with a 1953 FL frame hehad lying around and bolted to it a 1941 springer front end that he hadscored on eBay. He stretched the frame’s backbone 3 inches and extended thefork until the front wheel touched the ground—that’s the scientific method…Actually, Chris points out that there’s more to the fork than meets the eye:the rear legs are made out of 1940 Ford radius rods, narrowed 3 inches andlengthened 5 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

Spec Sheet

Owner: Chris Richardson/ LA Speed Shop

Website: www.laspeedshop.com

Make: Harley Davidson

Year: 1947

Model: FL

Type: knucklehead

Year:  1947

Fabrication:  Chris Richardson/ LA Speed Shop

Finish: Chris Richardson/LA Speed Shop

Time:    6 weeks

Assembler: Chris Richardson/LA Speed Shop

Clutch: Rivera Primo open belt drive                        

ENGINE:

Type: V-Twin Replica Knucklehead

Year:1947

Heads: Newly casted

Valves: Sifton

Pistons:8.5:1cast pistons with Hastingsrings

Cylinders: Cast iron 

Camshaft: Sifton lightning cam

Lifters: solid lifters

Pushrods: Sifton solid push rods

Carburetor/Injection: Linkert M 74

Air Cleaner: Vintage Buck Rogers BirdCatcher

Transmission: RevTec w/ jockey shift

Ignition: Distributor mechanical advance

Exhaust: Paughco

Finish: Chrome

Frame:

Type: Harley Davidson

Year: 1953

Builder: Chris Richardson / LA Speed Shop

Stretch:   stretched back bone 3 inches and stretched front legs5 inches

Rake:52 degree

Molding:

 Finish: Casey Johnson/Headcase Kustom Art

Forks:

Type:   Springer

Year: 1941

Builder: Harley Davidson/LA Speed Shop

Finish: Chrome

Triple Trees:Top tree and handle barsmade by LA Speed Shop

Modifications: rear legs are made out of1940 ford radius rods and narrowed 3 inches and lengthened 5 inches

 Wheels Front:

Rim: Excel

Size:21 1.65

Hub: Custom spool hub by LA Speed Shop

Builder: LA Speed Shop

Finish: chrome

Tire: Avon Speedmaster

Brake: no front brake

Wheels Rear:

Rim: dropped center

Size: 19” front rim 2.00

Brake: mechanical

Builder: LA Speed Shop

Finish: chrome

Fender: Vintage BSA

Tire: Replica Coker

Hub: Star

Handlebars: Custom made by LA Speed Shop

Risers: Custom made by LA Speed Shop

Headlights: 4.5” mini light

Taillights: mini bullet

Turn Signals F/R: My hands

Electric’s: Bike wired w/ cloth wire byMobile Custom Wiring

Seat: Riff Raff Leather

Footrest F/R: Front pegs and mid controlscustom made by LA Speed Shop

Oil Tank: Custom made by LA Speed Shopusing an Offenhauser 409 Chevy Valve cover

Fuel Tank(s): Narrowed & Tunneled byLA Speed Shop Sportster Tank

Paint, Chrome, and other  F/X’s:

 Colors: Metallic sea foam green basecoat, green micro flake with green candy and variegated gold leaf with limegreen pin striping

Type:PPG and House of Kolor

The Painter: Casey Johnson/ HeadcaseKustom Art

Address: www.headcasekustomart.com

Chrome: New California Bumpers

HARLEY-DAVIDSON REPORTS BROAD IMPROVEMENT IN FULL-YEAR RESULTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS FOR 2010

Company Forecasts 2011 Shipment Growth
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 25, 2011 — Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) reported full-year 2010 income from continuing operations of $259.7 million, or $1.11 per share, compared to income of $70.6 million, or $0.30 per share, from continuing operations in 2009. For the fourth quarter of 2010, Harley-Davidson recorded a loss from continuing operations of $42.1 million, or $0.18 per share, which includes the impact of a one-time, $85.2 million charge from the Company’s early repurchase of senior unsecured notes during the quarter.
Retail sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the fourth quarter were nearly level with the year-ago period, decreasing 1.0 percent worldwide and 0.2 percent in the U.S.

“In 2010, we expanded our international footprint, saw improvement in our motorcycle segment results driven by the restructuring of our operations and returned HDFS to solid profitability. A strong, financially sound Harley-Davidson is key to our ability to invest in the business and grow. While there is still hard work ahead and we remain cautious in our outlook, I am confident that we are positioning Harley-Davidson to succeed and deliver value for all our stakeholders into the future,” Wandell said.

2010 Retail Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Sales

“In the U.S., we are the market share leader in new on-road motorcycle sales, not only to Boomers but to young adults, women, African-American and Hispanic riders. In Europe, we moved into the number two market share spot for heavyweight motorcycles in 2010. For 2011, we plan to build on our position as one of the strongest brands in the world through our continued focus on customer-led products and experiences,” said Wandell.
Fourth quarter and full year data are listed in the accompanying tables.

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles and Related Products Segment Financial Results
Fourth Quarter: Revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the fourth quarter of 2010 was $697.8 million, up 26.4 percent compared to the year-ago period. The Company shipped 44,481 Harley-Davidson motorcycles to dealers and distributors worldwide during the quarter, compared to shipments of 35,938 motorcycles in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Financial Services Segment

Full Year: For the full year 2010, operating income from financial services was $181.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $118.0 million in 2009. Full-year 2009 results were affected by two non-recurring, non-cash charges totaling $101.1 million.

Guidance

The Company expects 2011 gross margin to be between 34.0 percent and 35.0 percent. Harley-Davidson expects full-year capital expenditures of between $210 million and $230 million, including $60 million to $75 million to support restructuring activities.

Restructuring Update

The Company and the unions representing its production employees in Kansas City, Mo. are scheduled to begin negotiations this week on a new labor agreement to replace the current contract which is set to expire in July 2012. The Company has advised the unions that the Kansas City operations must become more competitive and flexible if those operations are to remain viable. The Company expects to make a decision on the future of the Kansas City operations in early March 2011, and will provide any updated cost and savings information at such time as it discloses a final decision.

Income Tax Rate
For the full year 2010, the Company’s effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 33.5 percent, compared to 60.5 percent in 2009. The 2009 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by a one-time tax charge related to a Wisconsin tax law change and a non-deductible goodwill charge. In 2011, the Company expects its full-year effective tax rate from continuing operations to be approximately 35.0 percent.

Cash Flow
Cash and marketable securities totaled $1.16 billion as of Dec. 31, 2010, compared to $1.67 billion at year-end 2009. For the full year 2010, cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $1.16 billion, compared to $609.0 million in 2009, and capital expenditures were $170.8 million in 2010, compared to $116.7 million in 2009. In December 2010, Harley-Davidson repurchased $297.0 million (face value) of senior unsecured notes more than three years ahead of their Feb. 14, 2014 maturity date, at a price of $380.8 million, using cash on hand, and subsequently retired the debt. If held to maturity, Harley-Davidson would have incurred approximately $438 million in principal and interest payments over the remaining life of the notes.

Discontinued Operations
In the third quarter, the Company completed the divesture of its MV Agusta subsidiary. For the full year, Harley-Davidson incurred a $113.1 million loss, net of tax, from discontinued operations, comprised of operating losses as well as fair value adjustments. Including discontinued operations, the Company reported earnings per share of $0.62 for the full year.

Motorcyclists from across Texas rode to the State Capitol in Austin on Sunday, January 23rd to meet with Senators and Representatives at the newly convened 82nd Legislature of Texas on Monday. The Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA2), US Defenders/Coalition of Independent Riders and the Texas Confederation of Clubs and Independents (TCOC&I) hosted a meeting Sunday to prepare riders to talk with their legislators the next day. Upwards of 10,000 riders made the group ride to the Capitol Monday morning. Riders met on the Capitol steps prior to visiting their Senators and Representatives. The strong turnout confirmed Texas Motorcyclist’s commitment to protect their civil liberties and assure that we will continue to have a loud voice in Texas politics.

The TMRA2 and TCOC&I continue the fight for motorcyclists rights and freedoms championed by motorcycle lobbyist Sputnik who died in 2010. He was a staunch leader, a true voice for motorcycling and freedom. He will be missed, but he trained Texas freedom fighters well. Riders voiced their concerns to legislators about several issues including:

Support for the updated helmet law (SB1967) passed in 2009: It repealed the helmet exemption sticker program and prohibits a peace officer from stopping or detaining a person who is the operator of or a passenger on a motorcycle for the sole purpose of determining whether the person has successfully completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by a motorcycle health insurance plan. In 2009 there was a 15% reduction in serious injuries and a 20% reduction in deaths, proving that an emphasis on training and safety works.

Support for a Fusion Center Privacy Policy Bill: This legislation prohibits law enforcement from stopping bikers, photographing their tattoos and patches and putting the information in the Fusion database, even if they are not suspected of a crime. Approximately 60 “fusion centers” have been established nationwide, with some focusing exclusively on criminal activity, others on both criminal and terrorist threats and some on very specific acts, such as human smuggling, gang activity, online predators or drug trafficking.

The Fusion Center Privacy Bill will read: “A project shall not collect or maintain criminal intelligence information about the political, religious or social views, associations, or activities of any individual association, corporation, business, partnership, or other organization unless such information directly relates to criminal conduct or activity and there is reasonable suspicion that the subject of the information is or may be involved in criminal conduct or activity.”

Concern for Use of Funding for Motorcycle Rider Training: A Rider Training Fund has been established for the Motorcycle Safety Division of DPS. Currently only $997,775.28 has been released of the $2,200,000 budget that was established for rider training. Riders will encourage their legislators to make sure that all funds within the budget are actually spent for training and not diverted to other uses.

Concerns with Road Blocks/Check Points (HB 439 and SB288, both bills currently being evaluated by the Texas Legislators): Motorcyclists are opposed to these bills which allow road blocks and check points. The practice of setting up barricades on roads to stop and interrogate motorists suspected of no wrongdoing has been unlawful since a 1994 state appeals court decision ruled that a “politically accountable governing body at the state level” must first approve their use. The bill would add (literally) a new chapter to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure entitled “Sobriety Checkpoints.” This bill will authorize the police to stop vehicles without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Law Enforcement will be able to stop you for any reason or for no reason at all. They will then be allowed, after the fact, to “develop” probable cause that an offense has been committed.

After meeting with their Senators and Representatives many riders filled the galleries of the two legislative sessions to further reinforce the fact that Texas Motorcyclists are aware and involved in the political process. Escondido Paul, State Chairman of TMRA2 and National Lt. Commander of the US Defenders states that this Legislative Action Day is a “history making event … ‘that offers’ … an opportunity to exercise your freedom to speak, your freedom to assemble, and your freedom to ride with whomever you want …”

–Gypsy Raoul

There is nothing better than hosting a custom bike show to meet builders from varying disciplines and creative backgrounds. Over 30 custom bikes were displayed in three classes in front of 100,000 enthusiasts at the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show located at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center this past weekend in New York.

The builders hung out around their sleds and shot the shit with the fans and answered their questions for hours. The diversity of the bikes were exceptional. On display were motorcycles that made huge horsepower and bikes that required 1,000’s of hours of fabrication.

During the awards ceremony Brian Klock from Klock Werks stopped in to talk about how he got into the custom bike industry.

Performance Custom Class
John Loughlin’s bike from FOH Cycle Fab won the Performance Custom class. This is the first time that a Street Fighter has taken the top position in this class. The bike has many unique features including a single sided swing arm, carbon fiber tail and front light intergraded into a 2001 Triumph 955i Speed Triple.

Modified Harley Class
Jason Bochniak took home the winning trophy in the Mod Harley class with Phoenix, a bike that won the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show a week earlier in DC.
Bochniak is our first double winner and has taken $6,000 dollars in prize money.

His custom bike contains blindingly bright chrome by Freedom Cycle and hi-performance ProCharger that was fine-tuned with a Zipper’s Thunder Max and a D&D Boarzilla Performance Pipe. He went with super-sized Beach Bars that put you into a very comfortable riding position. The Headwinds billet lighting system supplies the illumination. The 2006 Harley Deluxe rocks it with 50 spoke Fat Daddy wheels with Avon gangster white walls.

Jason Bochniak Talks About His Win

Freestyle – George Stinsman of Chaos Cycle came to NY with his ”Lot Lizard” to compete in the Ultimate Builder. He had stiff competition with a 2010 AMD World Championship entry built by Joe Cooper of Cooper Smithing Co, which just missed the top spot by less than a handful of votes.

The start of the ”Lot Lizard” build began with an old Panhead that was raced back in the day by the father of George’s good friend Joey Serrano.

STD cases and Harley heads Cases were the only thing original from his father’s engine that was used in the build. Heads were ported and polished. S&S Flywheel, S&S rods, Wiseco pistons, big bore cylinders, Manley Severe Duty Stainless Steel Valves and dual carbs were used in the update.

The idea was to build something long, low and lean that featured a pumped up 102ci engine. The frame is tight to the motor with fat welds for a tough look.

Interview with George Stinsman of Chaos Cycle

FREESTYLE
1. George Stinsman, Chaos Cycle – 2011 Chaos Cycle Lot Lizard

2. Joe Cooper, Cooper Smithing Co – 1999 Harley-Davidson

3. George Stinsman, Chaos Cycle – 2010 Chaos Cycle Coco

4. Roman Levin, FOH Custom Raptor

5. Eric Schroeder, Tribal Iron Choppers – 2005 TIC

PERFORMANCE CUSTOM

1. John Loughlin built by FOH Cycle Fab –2001 Triumph

2. Shwan Page, Coleman Powersport – 2007 Suzuki Hayabusa

3. Edgar Rumph – 2006 Suzuki Hayabusa

4. Mark Klein, DAM Motorcycles – 2007 DAM Tech Twin

5. George Fanelli MPS Racing – 2007 Honda CRF450

MOD HARLEY

1. Jason Bochniak, 2006 Harley-Davidson (2nd Win / Won DC SHOW)

2. Gary Edwards, 2007 Harley-Davidson Fatboy built by Tribal Iron Choppers in NJ
Jesse Ramose, 1994 Harley-Davidson built by Tribal Iron Choppers in NJ

–Jeff Najar