I loaded up the transport with Aeromach custom billet goods from my home base in NASCAR country and shot south on I95 to Daytona Beach, FL. We rolled into the first event of Biketoberfest at Willie’s Tropical Tattoo’s popular Choppertime party on Thursday. You can see Rat Chops to kick-ass Bobbers and everything in between.

One chop that stood out was this crazy art deco bike named “Simson” from the Hungarian builder Zsolt Müller of Mücechoppers. It’s powered by a shaft driven Simson 425 ccm3 tractor engine. And it sports a huge 32 degree rake, 16” wheels with Firestone donuts and hand fabricated titanium pipes. It looks like something Captain America would fight the war on terror with.

Willie’s Tropical Tattoo is a small place with adult beverage concessions about every 20th step. With the outstanding hot weather, a kicking band and eye candy at every turn, a good time was had by all. The winner of the show? Uhhh, don’t know… I don’t think it really matters; I think people come there to soak up the atmosphere.

Really, you can never go wrong at Willie’s. The attendees are as fun as the chops are cool. Since it is located at a Tattoo Parlor, you know you are going to see some skin. And this show didn’t disappoint. It is amazing how two lip-locked, tatted up hotties can add to the ambiance and splendor of the show.

After Willie’s, our team rolled down Highway 1 to Miller’s Custom Parts in South Daytona Beach to set up Aeromach USA’s command post. Miller’s draws in a lot of bikers. The LimpNickie Lot is across the street and always hosts some young righteous builders.

Which Aeromach products were people digging? Large mirrors. Guys are going for more real estate on their mirrors and want real glass instead of the acrylic or plastic mirror surface. The benefit of glass is clarity. When you are on a twin that shakes – and they all do – clarity and quality optics become important.

Another part we just released that got a lot of play was our Cruisin’ Pegs. They are designed for Baggers and come with a 3-position adjustment that secures under the floorboard.

I ran into my friend Matt at Big Dog and saw their new entry level choppa. It’s a no-nonsense design with a nice rake and wide rear tire that comes in at the low $20,000 range. My initial response is that this bike can haul the mail and looks like a chopper should.

The police attended their own rally called Baitoberfest. They deployed a series of bait motorcycles in high-theft areas, hoping to deter would-be thieves or catch real ones in the act. The hot spot they were targeting was on Main Street.

Speaking of Main Street, love was in the air along Main Street as Brian Kinnaman and Linda Crosby were hitched in front of Boot Hill Saloon. The ceremony was conducted at high noon as Harleys rumbled by nonstop.

Of course my pal Skeeter and I spent a number of hours relaxing on Main Street and doing some serious people watching. I’m unhappy to report no strippers were arrested putting on a show in the middle of the street like last year.

If you watch long enough, you’ll see some standouts like the Dragon Cycle Guy, the Dog with Goggles in the Sidecar Guy, the Pumpkin-Colored Bike With Coffin-Shaped Sidecar Guy, the touring bike with the high-decibel coffin trailer, the leather chaps and thong girl stretched out on a big-inch chopper… Ahh, makes you proud to be an American.

If love was in the air, so was sin. To combat it, Chuck Pickett and John Britz parked along Main Street on their motorcycles passing out Bibles. The voices of Pickett and Britz often were drowned out by the roar from passing hogs.

“This is nothing more than a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah,” Britz said, reports The Daytona Beach News-Journal. “I call it that all the time.” So do we, but it’s a good thing!

Everyone knows the virtues of having chow at Hooters. Well, we found a place with even more virtue, Ker’s WingHouse Bar & Grill. They specialize in buffalo chicken wings, hot sauce, beer and bikini contests.

Sure, sure, all the contestants wanted world peace, but we just wanted the night to never end. We weren’t sure who won because with this crowd, they all were winners. And rightly so, the post-contest celebration went late into the night with umbrella drinks served up and often to the bikini clad ladies.

As I sat around the WingHouse, I did an informal poll to see how bikers compared to the other tourists frequenting this fair city. From waitresses to bartenders, they say that bikers spend the most green, have the best time and are the easiest to deal with. The big myth is that you hide your women and your children when we come to town. Turns out Daytona waits for us with great anticipation… at least at the drinking holes.

Biketoberfest was started in 1992 as a way to build on the popularity of Daytona Beach Bike Week, a 10-day event held in March. It’s come a long way with crowds around the 100,000 range. It was a good time, with many people looking for a way to forget about their troubles and get away for a few days.

Until next year…

Paul Aiken – http://www.aeromachmfg.com/ 

ARLEN NESS’ 40TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE
By Buckshot
 

         In this day an’ age, where things just don’t seem to last, it’s great to see something that has, especially when it spans three generations, an’ becomes a world-wide legend! That’s what Arlen Ness has created, and now his son, Cory, and grandson, Zach, are handling the heavy work so “The King of Choppers” can have time to build what he wants, when he wants.

          Back when Arlen first started, the average income was $9,500 a year, the price of gas was 36 cents a gallon, a new house averaged $23,000, an’ “Bewitched” was on prime time television. Makes ya feel old, doesn’t it?  It’s amazin’ to me that over all the years, Arlen has remained on the cutting edge of style an’ technology, an’ come up with more innovative ideas over the long haul than anyone else in the industry. He has the imagination to see unique bikes, and the skill to make them reality, an’ that’s why he’s still #1, and always will be.

          I headed up from Madtown with my son, Kevin; Fresno’s premier custom painter, Jim Ogawa, of Ogawa Designs, an’ about thirty more friends under the threat of rain much heavier than the light sprinkles that were fallin’ as we left. That fear didn’t become reality on the ride up, but on the way home, everybody got soaked to the skin. Some things are just worth the discomfort, though, an’ Arlen’s parties are one of ‘em!

We rolled into the parking lot at Arlen’s shop in Dublin around noon, an’ the place was already packed. There was a line clear around the building to meet “Tig” (Kim Coates) and “Juice” (Theo Rossi) from the hit TV series Sons of Anarchy. I got to visit with these guys for a while later in the day, and they’re both the kind’a guys you’d want to meet for a beer after work. They’re genuinely nice, an’ they enjoy what they do, including meeting their fans, signing autographs, shirts, an’ the occasional female body part, an’ posing for pictures. Theo was telling us about the bike he’s going to build, an’ it really sounds cool! Old school Bobber, with lots of “patina”. I can’t wait to see it!
 

One floor up, Arlen’s museum was open, and all the bikes you’ve admired in magazines for years were shined up an’ struttin’ their stuff. Did ya know that Arlen built an electric chopper long before “those other guys” on TV did? Yep! It’s right there with all the other eye candy, even though he never brags about gettin’ there first! Just the symphony of colors sittin’ there on the floor will make ya think you’re back in the Psychedelic Sixties!
 

          On the third floor, the band was crankin’ out blues an’ rock, an’ tables were set up where everybody loaded up on hot dogs, chips, an’ sodas. Meanwhile, downstairs, the Rock Star energy drink folks were handin’ out free drinks to keep the crowd energized, an’ everybody’s eyes open wide.

          There were Victory test rides, so you could get a feel for the ride that converted Arlen to a big fan of Victory motorcycles. If ya ride one, you just may be converted too! Plus, Arlen can customize ‘em for ya to make yours just the way ya want it. Custom paint? A bit more “rake”? Billet wheels? Ask, and ye shall receive, Bro!

         Y’know,we hear all the time about how you can do anything if you have enoughdetermination, an’ you think; yeah, Riiiiight. After all, determination willonly get you so far, and then there has to be some other factors kickin’ in tosee you through. Well, my estimation of how far determination will get you hasdrastically changed in the last few days!
          Igot an e-mail from a guy named Stan Snodgrass who rides a trike. Now this initself ain’t unusual, but the fact that he’s a quadriplegic damn sure ISunusual! I’ve seen paraplegics ride in specially constructed trikes, and mywife, Reggie, who’s paralyzed on her left side rides one I built her, butremember; Quadriplegic means not only their legs are paralyzed, but their armstoo. Think how difficult it must have been for Stan to get the courage to startthis project, and to ride it when it was done. The guy’s amazing!

          You’veprobably seen the wheelchair trike that Orange County Choppers built a coupleof years ago, and anybody with enough cash can have one built, but that’s notwhat Stan did. Sure, he enlisted some friends to help him out on the build, buthe designed the entire thing, learned to weld, and handled most of the weldinghimself! Yeah! Think about what that means as far as frustration, pain, andeffort, and you’ll see how truly special his ride is!
          Towatch the video of Stan’s first test ride, just click on this link, then hisstory in his own words:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qytcK8gDbXs

“11 yrs ago I broke my neck in a bmx bicycle jump, leaving me a c5-c6quad,” Stan said. “I have no movement below the shoulders and onlypartial arm movement, partial wrist function, and no hand function. I used toride street and dirt bikes before I got hurt, so my love for biking neverdisappeared; it only got delayed.”

         “Two years ago I sawa Tomco bike sidecar rig for a wheelchair user and thought I’ll bet I couldmodify it to work for me, so I bought the rig. It was a slow little CB400Honda, but it got me riding again. After riding a while, I quickly sold myhandicap van, determining that I would become a hardcore bike lovin’ fool oncemore! After a year, that little bike gave up the ghost ‘cause I rode the lifeout of it, so now I had no transportation at all.”

“Overthe summer I bought a few “fixer upper” bikes to make a bit of money, which Idid, then took that money and bought an ‘86 vfr700 Honda that wasn’t running,for 500 bucks. After fixing the dirty kill switch, I had it running the nextday. After a good carb cleaning and some oil leaks sealed up, I had a greatrunning bike, so instead of selling it I said, ‘damn… That bike would beawesome if I could drive the beast,’ and made my mind up to make ithappen!!”

“Withthe help of my good friend, Nick Spano, and my good bud James Pratt, we set myideas in motion. Nick is my caregiver, and he stepped up to the plate to helpme five days a week, but he had no prior mechanical experience. Let’s just sayhe’s learned a lot since helping me! He and his wife have become really goodfriends to me, and Nick basically turned wrenches and screwdrivers, and cutmetal for me to weld.”

“Jamesis the owner of Bratts Custumz in Apple Valley, CA. He’s also in a wheelchair,but owns his own fabrication shop, and let me use any tooling and weldingequipment I needed, plus the use of his garage. He did the heavy duty welds forme on everything structural that I designed, while I did all the littleintricate welds on stuff like my steering outrigger/tie rod connection, myelbow operated throttle, my elbow operated shifter, and many other small thingslike handle bars, etc.”

“Garry,the owner of EFM auto clutch, donated a clutch for my bike allowing me to ditchthe clutch lever. It works great, and riding this trike wouldn’t have beenpossible without it, so a great big thanks to Garry, James, and Nick forhelping me achieve my goal. You guys rock!!!”

“A lot of people are inspired by my bike, (and myself, I suppose,) and Ilove the fact that my bike is way different from the rest, and quite fast andloud. I’ve had it up to 95 mph in fourth, but would love to really push it tosee what she can do. Maybe I’ll even set a quadriplegic land speed recordsomeday. Why not, right?”

“Peoplesometimes say things like “genius” or “incredible” when they see my bike in person,but I’m quick to point out that I’m no genius, or anything too special. What Iam is damn stubborn! I’m too stubborn to quit, too stubborn to believe I can’t,too stubborn to just roll over and die, and too stubborn to be sad aboutlife.”

“Ilove to ride and show my bike, and I also compete in pool tournaments, which Ido very well at. I also like to paint photo realistic art, and once in a while,I like to jam some blues on my slide guitar, keyboard, or harmonica. Myphilosophy is find something that makes you happy, and pursue that happinesswith a stubborn determination, cherish your family and friends, and never giveup on doing something new, or something that will make you happy.”

“Lifeis good, and it is what you make of it!”
 
Ride on, Stan! Maybe some day we’ll get ya on a Harley!!
-Buckshot

In early September, for the last three years, the FX Network airs a new season of “Sons of Anarchy.” The series is about a fictional 1%er motorcycle club whose mother chapter, Sons of Anarchy Redwood Originals (SAMCRO) is based in Northern California. Events happening in the lives of the Sons members occur in Gatling Gun cadence: explosions, murders and general mayhem are every day occurrences.

To say that the series has been successful is a gross understatement. From what I’ve read, Sons of Anarchy is the most successful series produced by the FX Network. Season two’s finale was viewed by an estimated 4.5 million viewers. Cast members make special appearances at motorcycle related events, i.e., Arlen Ness’ 40th Anniversary and Sonny Barger’s 71st Birthday Party.

Wikipedia contains an extensive description of the series including a summary of each season’s reviews by the Boston Globe, New York Times, Variety, Chicago Tribune, Entertainment Weekly and Time magazine. The series has its own web site and several motorcycle magazines have written articles about the series. There’s literally been hundreds of thousands of words written about the series and not one of them (to my knowledge) has voiced any concern about the negative image the Sons of Anarchy casts on motorcycle clubs. Each September I become furious about the way the series portrays bike clubs that wear a three-piece patch, the same layout that I wear and that hundreds of other clubs who enjoy motorcycling and brotherhood wear.

The Sons of Anarchy series portrays life in a motorcycle club to several million viewers and this portrayal is pure fiction; nothing like how a “real” motorcycle club operates. I wonder if the average viewer can separate the entertainment provided in a Sons episode from how they perceive riders who fly their colors on U.S. highways.

The series is great drama, somewhere between Days of Our Lives and the Sopranos on two wheels. Don’t overlook the observation that the plot line is a modernization of Shakespere’s Hamlet; good advice to those wanting to speculate on how the series will wrap up. If you’re so inclined do a Google search or read the Cliff’s Notes version of Hamlet. Enough said!!!

Those of us who ride with a club and wear a patch should have concerns about how the SOA audience associates our lifestyle with what they see in each SOA episode. Do viewers really believe that motorcycle clubs, even outlaw clubs, actually operate the way SAMCRO does? Unfortunately SOA doesn’t have a monopoly on biasing public opinion of MCs. The Discovery Channel’s “Gangland” and NatGeo’s “Outlaw Bikers” have both showcased many of the major 1%ers and the team of Quentin Tarrantino and Larry Bishop have gotten in on the action with their failed attempt (Hell Ride) to claim the “greatest biker movie ever made.”

What these “talkies” have in common is a portrayal of club life (violent and criminal) that’s gobbled up by an audience who’s naïve and gullible. Granted, there may be examples of true incidents that these programs either portray (Hell Ride and SOA) or chronicle (Gangland and Outlaw Bikers) but there’s another side to motorcycle clubs, a side that is far more common. The truth about the vast majority of motorcycle clubs is a story that needs to be told by someone who knows and a story that needs to be heard by those who don’t.

I may not have the ultimate qualifications to tell this story but I don’t see anyone else stepping up … so I’m going to give it a go! I belong to a well-established and long-standing motorcycle club. We wear that little “MC” patch on our backs just like the SOA. Like the Sons, we ride motorcycles but the similarities between the club I ride with, the Gypsy MC, and the Sons of Anarchy MC ends there. We are as different as Muslims and Infidels. Granted, the SOA are fictional and the series has only become a success because of the blood, the gore and the anticipation of what will happen next. But trust me, this is not how it works.

I’ve been a committed member of my club for close to ten years; seven of which have been as a chapter president. I respect my colors and I value the relationships I’ve developed with other members. I don’t speak for my club; the views that I express are mine alone and are my inalienable right to share as I see fit. I know that those living within the MC culture, regardless of the club they ride with, have a lot in common.

The most important tenets of club culture never see the light of day in an SOA episode. It is the plot writer’s short sightedness (or perhaps his shrewdness in recognizing that only violence and drama sell) that gives the SOA series its punch and the MC culture a bad rap.

Perhaps the most significant oversight in these dramatic portrayals is the motorcycles themselves. MC culture is focused on the motorcycles and the riders. The motorcycle is an extension of the member and club bikes are certainly not the cookie cutter black Dynas that SOA has established as member standard issue. Only one episode has included a scene where members had a bike up on a rack and were working on it. That’s just not how things work in real life. The bike is important to the member, we talk about our bikes, we modify our bikes, we paint them different colors and, most of all, we ride our bikes to far away places like Daytona and Sturgis.

The furthest we’ve seen SOA members ride is from Charming to Oakland or maybe to Reno. My chapter brothers would grow bored belonging to a Sons of Anarchy chapter that was so obviously “root bound.”

Most MC members are riders and all MC members like to ride with their brothers. I’m not talking about blasting down the freeway for three or four exits and then stopping at the next bar; I’m talking about saddling up and riding a few thousand miles together. Like Billy and Wyatt did in Easy Rider, but not as easy.

The guys in my chapter will ride five to six hundred miles a day and we’ll get to where we’re going by riding gas stop to gas stop … “you never make any miles sittin’ on a bar stool.” The friendships and the trust that are built during these rides form the foundation for the brotherhood. We really don’t know if members of the Sons of Anarchy can ride or not. We seldom get to see them in a pack and when we do, they’re riding in a “La-Ti-Da” fashion at forty miles an hour. Contrast this scene with the last time you saw a pack of 1%er’s blasting down the road, thirty miles over the speed limit, splitting lanes, riding handlebar-to-handlebar and nose-to-tail. The sight and sound of this scene makes a pack of SOA look like Club Scouts.

SOA misses this point altogether when it comes to brotherhood. Towards the end of season two the president and sgt. at arms conspire to murder one of their own full patch members. The murder is botched when the sgt. at arms guns down the member’s wife in a case of mistaken identify. The total lack of brotherhood becomes even more magnified when, during the funeral, most of the SOA members seem to know who’s responsible for the murder but do absolutely nothing about it. That little faux pas seems to be totally forgotten as we’ve moved into season three. So far none of the members have ratted out the club by going to the feds (although Jax is now conspiring with ATF Agent Stahl); but even that is a weak endorsement for the expectation of brotherhood any motorcycle club would set as its standard.

The meetings my chapter hold don’t ever include agenda items considering buying bulk military weapons, mass quantities of dope or diversification into the adult video business. Our meetings consider which runs and rallies we’ll attend or how we’ll respond to the latest “call to action” that might require us to write or call our legislators to lobby for our right to wear our colors, modify our motors and exhausts on our bikes and not be subject to HIPPA insurance exemptions because we participate in “high risk” sports activities.

When we ride to other chapters’ events we never spend our time fortifying our clubhouse and handing out fully automatic weapons to hold off rival clubs like we saw in an SOA episode in season two. In that episode Jax, the SOA vice president, provokes the Mayans, a rival club, when they meet on the road and lead them, in a high speed chase, directly to the newly patched over SOA clubhouse in the Sierra Mountains. Jax makes it to the clubhouse, and like the siege of the Alamo, the Mexicans (i.e., Mayans MC) open fire. They burn thousands of rounds of ammo without suffering any major casualties. This is pure poppycock!!!

This scene may have been as thrilling as an Indiana Jones movie but it’s hardly believable. Our club events (most are open to the public) are more like family picnics than military engagements. We serve food and beverages, hire bands for entertainment and spend our time talking to members who we might only see a couple of times a year. We’re more interested in the bike they’ve just bought or the motor they’ve hopped up than setting up any of the myriad of “deals” that SOA members seem to always be involved in.

There may be a spark of hope for the Sons of Anarchy series to right the wrongs they’ve committed to the MC community. From time to time I get the impression that Jax, SOA founder, John Teller’s son, is still considering what he’s read in his father’s manuscript during seasons one and two. If you’ll recall, Jax found Pop’s manuscript while digging through a storage unit and subsequently spent a lot of his time sitting on the roof of the clubhouse trying to digest what his father had written. It seems that John Teller, much like Wyatt in Easy Rider, came to the same conclusion: “We blew it.” The manuscript was his attempt to leave a record of what had derailed the club and what needed to be done to get it back on track.

Even though Jax burned his copy of the manuscript, Piney gave Jax another copy, and another chance, to do the right thing and put an end to the nonsense that goes on in the Redwood Original chapter. In season three, episode one, Jax is still having second thoughts about the club’s direction … maybe good will triumph over evil, Jax will somehow gain the power to pull Clay and Tig’s patches and turn the SOA MC into a decent and (for the most part) law abiding organization. Yeah, right!!!

It seems, instead, that the entire plot of season three will have SAMCRO chasing all over the world for the Prince’s son. I can understand that the chapter needs their heir back but really, this plot line seems to only serve the purpose of prolonging the series for another year.

True brotherhood does seem to exist in SAMCRO in the form of Piermont “Piney” Winston and his son Harry “Opie.” Piney was one of the founding members of the Sons and served with John Teller in Viet Nam. Opie is second-generation SOA and, like his father, exhibits the brotherhood and loyalty expected in an MC. Opie did five years at the gray-bar hotel without ratting out the club or making a deal. In season one Opie attempts to avoid the temptations to engage in SOA criminal activities but soon accepts the dark side when he realizes that working a 40-hour straight job for minimum wage doesn’t bring home the bacon.

Opie stands beside Jax like a true brother and supports the club in spite of the heavy price he’s paid (five years incarceration and his wife’s assassination). Watch Piney and Opie, they are loyal to the club and to John Teller’s vision. I’d be willing to bet their loyalty and brotherhood will become a significant factor when the conflict between President Clay Morrow and stepson and Vice President Jax Teller is finally resolved.

In the meantime, while we’re all waiting for this miracle to happen, real MC life goes on like it always has. We continue to recruit new members, weed out members who have lost interest or don’t participate, or have lost their perspective of the brotherhood we strive to cultivate. We’ll continue to ride our motorcycles and love the life we lead. We’ll continue to fight for our rights as motorcycle enthusiasts by speaking up when we sense pending legislation that will compromise our freedom to ride. We’ll continue to fight for our rights for “equal access” to businesses and events that we are sometimes denied just because we wear a vest that has club patches sewn on the back.

I can only hope that the millions of SOA viewers recognize that the series is entertainment, period, and when they see me riding my bike and wearing my colors they don’t mistake me for the characters they see on Sons of Anarchy.

–Raoul

This article appeared on the J&P Cycles Blog and is published here for the benefit of Bikernet readers. Please visit Bikernet sponsor J&P Cycles for all your motorcycle needs.

Like everything else, there are atleast two schools of thought when it comes to the gasoline in your tankissue. Do you drain it or fill up? There are those who recommend draining thetank, then starting up the bike and running it out of fuel. Others recommend afuel stabilizer in a full tank. Over the years, I have heard horror storiesabout fuel stabilizers, but I’ve never personally experienced any problems.

Something else you’ll need toaddress is the fact that dirty oil has fuel and contaminatesin it. My recommendation is to thoroughly warm up the bike and change the oil —before its long winter nap. Changing oil now gets rid of all the sludge anddirt before it can start to deteriorate.  Here’s another advantage: Whenit’s time to ride next spring, you just turn the key and go. Oh, one morething. You might want to consider synthetic oil for added life after the newseason starts.

Also, makesure to check out this video on Tech Tip Maintenance: How ToWinterize Your Motorcycle.

Clean and lubricate your bike before putting it to sleep. Dirt, sand and road salts have absolutely nothing better to do than corrode the surfaces of your bike if left on during storage. Use a metal protectant spray on the underside of your chassis and exposed surfaces. And you’ve heard this a hundred times, but never, never use WD-40 to do this!

Make sure your tires are properly inflated because low tire pressure can damage tires over the winter. And if you’re going to store your bike in an extreme cold situation, try to elevate the bike to minimize the load on the tires. Just make sure the bike is firmly secured because motorcycle lifts with small bottle jacks have been known to fail under prolonged load.

Even if kept indoors, your bike should be covered during storage. Make sure the cover can breathe, and not trap moisture on your bikes metal surfaces. A tarp would not be good for this. And if the bike’s to be stored in a barn or garage, cover the exhaust tips to keep the critters out. Fried rat in the spring smells lousy, and don’t ask me how I know that.

Once stored, resist the impulse to start the bike during its sleep. Unless the bike is thoroughly warmed up, condensation can form inside the engine. This is far harder on the engine than if it’s not started at all.

I’ve heard a lot of other suggestions over the years, but these storage tips have never steered me wrong. Every year when its time to ride again, I’ve hardly had any issues (stupid mice!). So if you decide to take these steps to heart, you should have no troubles at all. See ya next time!

Click Here To Visit The J&P Cycles Website

While Glenn’s enterprise does rent Harleys, his real focus is something on a smaller scale than Harleys, and adjunct of Route 66 Riders and under a separate banner, by the name of Route 66 Modern Classics. That would be scooters, both the sales and rental thereof. “Our scooters are booked for two months straight,” says Glenn. “It’s mostly Italians coming to Southern California on vacation and they just have to have a scooter, because that’s what they ride at home, Rome or otherwise.”

Glenn Bartels believes in hi-conspicuity. His scooter has more lenses than a giant mutant Wolf Spider. And yes, Glenn also has bunches of Harleys. Apples and oranges, yin and yang, dogs and cats, republicans and democrats, etc., etc. At some point after these photos were snapped, a guy came in and bought the scooter including all the lightning options.

Inside Route 66 Modern Classics, located at 4161 Lincoln Blvd., a main thoroughfare slicing through the west end of L.A. along the Pacific coast, you’ll find 50’s and 60’s Vespas restored to new and some done up custom a la Quadrophenia-style, and more recently scooters equipped with sidecars so you can pack friends, groceries, Fido, whatever.

Says Glenn, “After buzzing around Rome on a friend’s vintage Vespa, I got bit by the scooter bug and fell in love with these little, Italian rolling sculptures… they have a classic, timeless shape, they make cool sounds and vibrations, they get 90 miles per gallon, and girls love ’em. What else can I say!”

Glenn got hold of a ’66 Vespa and started playing around with it, jazzing it up with new paint and found people coming into his store to look at Harley’s were attracted to the scooter and asked if they could get one for themselves. “At the point scooters weren’t even on my radar, but all of a sudden now I have people pouring in the door in need of scooters because of the gas prices so I had to find a newer style, good quality, automatic version as opposed to the vintage twist-gear set-up on the older scooters. That led me to Genuine Buddy Scooter and a Chicago company that brings them from Taiwan, Genuine owned by the company that originally made all the parts for Vespas back in the 1970s. It’s important to note that there’s big difference between scooters built in mainland China and Taiwan where the quality is definitely higher and why we chose them after considerable research. It’s our number one brand and people love them. They just came out with a new retro looking model called the Stella, a 150cc four-stroke with a 4-speed gears you shift like a motorcycle, and it goes 60mph and still gets 140 mpg. It’s also freeway legal. The Buddy scooters come in a variety of displacements from a 50cc two-stroke to 125 and the 150 cc four-stroke models. Prices range from about $2600 to $4,000.”

Asked about having one foot in the Harley world, another in scooterville, Glenn Says, “If I’m going to ride my Harley, I’m going to ride far. On the other hand, our commutes are becoming intra-city or neighborhood commutes. A scooter is my choice for those short rides and the only way to get around, the only way to park. I also found out that different kinds of chicks dig scooters, to ride on them and to ride them. And six bucks will take you 150 miles. People don’t seem to notice that gas prices are creeping back up. $4 and even $5 a gallon, I think is inevitable. And as far as our sales, our scooter customers are split 45-55 between guys and girls and anyone from 17-year olds to 75-year olds.”

While “attitude” is a major ingredient for Harley riders, scooters are stepping up in that category as well as seen on the showroom floor at Route 66 Modern Classics. Case in point, an 110cc two-stroke model called the “Rattler” that features a “fat” rear tire, a remote reservoir adjustable shock, digital instruments, front disc brake, and obvious nimbly handling. Price tag is about $2600. And yes, they do pull “wheelies.”

Scooters are definitely high on the “Go-Green” score card. Says Glenn, “Many of us won’t give up our SUV’s, but did you know that simply by switching just 10% of your annual commuting to a scooter, you can help to save 15 million gallons of fuel per day and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 325 million tons. Call that good karma.”

Besides speaking the universal language of scooterese, the Route 66 Modern Classic staff is multi-lingual, for example, Leo, the shop’s Operations Manager, originally from Amsterdam speaks Dutch, German, French and English…all without any accent. It serves well since a large proportion of the rental customers that book both Harleys and scooters from the shop are from Europe. Back in the shop, Mike, the ship’s tech experts, speaks Ferrari, having been an exotic car restorer for many years and now more interested in less stressed working conditions. He fabricates custom components including melding sidecars to scooters, doubling the fun factor. Handling the vintage Lambretta scooters is Todd, while Sarah Rudoy handles scooter sales.

We were fortunate to hook up with Heather New, of New-Line Engraving several years ago. Since I was about to switch out my CrazyHorse engine ignition with a Blackhawk Motorworks cone cover I needed to come up with a classic point cover for the new unit and the 5-Ball Factory Racer. It was a natural choice to send her a chunk of aluminum, or I shoulda sent a piece of brass, but oh well. Either way I knew she would bring the project to life.

Heather started engraving in a small shop in downtown Edmonton in the Early 80’s, where she took care of over 100 jewelry stores. “I was engraving everything from I.D. bracelets to wine goblets to pocket watches, and more,” said the raving redhead, “items which other engravers said could not be done, I soon learned to do!!! This was when I first met Frank.”

Frank Gurney was (and still is) the best Hand-Engraver in Canada. “He is a true artist and craftsman, and along with the Alberta Apprenticeship Program, arranged for me to be his understudy,” Heather said. “I was thrilled!!! I learned so much from Frank in those years, confidence, trouble-shooting, and above all HUMOR!!!! We spent hours working and laughing (hoy-deedle-doy!!). He taught me so many things before he eventually retired out near Victoria, B.C.”

She then moved on to the largest Jewelry stores in Canada. “I was doing all of their machine engraving, as well as custom wedding bands, and one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces,” Heather said. “They treated me like gold, and I will always be thankful for the kindness I experienced there. I relocated near Calgary, Alberta, and began working for a gigantic company with more talent than I had ever seen gathered in one place. I naturally did the engraving there, and also moved on to operating CNC machines, and hand-carving moulds used in casting.” She became a programmer, writing the programs, which would later be used by the CNC machines to cut the actual moulds.

She started New-Line Engraving in the summer of 2005. “I hand-carved an inspection cover for my good buddy ‘Chicken’ and with her over-whelming encouragement, (she cried when she saw it) I decided to branch out into custom bike carving too (after all, a derby cover is just like a signet ring, only BIGGER.”

So here’s how the short, two-week process rolled:

Cover the piece in white water-soluble paint, and transfer the artwork onto the surface

I highlight the general outline, scratching the paint leaves a more permanent mark than pencil, and you don’t rub it off as you work!

For removing large areas you can try a dermal, but they tend to vibrate too much for any fine work…I used small gravers hooked into a pin-vice to cut in between the letters,
as this cover was done mostly under a microscope.

I also use fine sandpaper, jeweler’s files, and burnishers to “round-off” curves (as seen on her legs), and give some dimension to whatever artwork you are dealing with…
Details like hair, the features in the face, and fine shading are all done with fine gravers and files.

I then add an aluminum-oxidizing agent, which blackens the entire piece. When it is re-polished, the highest surfaces will become shiny again, while the black remains in all the nooks and crannies of the background. (I only do this by hand—a buffing machine can remove hours of work in a heartbeat!!)

“If anyone out there in Cyberspace wants to give it a whirl, I am always here with support and tips,” said Heather

Sources:

NewLine Engraving: http://www.new-lineengraving.com/

Blackhawk Motorworks:
http://www.blackhawkmotorworks.com/

Compu-Fire Ignitions: http://www.compufire.com/

Custom Chrome:

S&S:

As of 2010, any modification to your touring bike requires a modification to the engine control module (ECM), the brains behind the fuel injection system. There are several ways to go, but the Zippers Thundermax is EFI made simple (part number #309-362 for TBW Big Twin models). If you reach out to Zipper’s, they will set up your Thundermax to accept the components you plan to install. Then the Thundermax ECU will read and adjust the timing and air fuel mixture each time you start your machine and modify if for best performance with their AutoTune system. Plus you will have all the capabilities to modify your ignition or air fuel mixture with your laptop computer.

Here’s Zipper’s Description:

ThunderMax with AutoTune is the industry’s first and only stand-alone performance EFI management system developed specifically to meet the tuning needs of throttle-by-wire H-D motorcycles. This highly advanced tuning system allows the user to install a wide range of performance enhancements, which post-fuel devices cannot support.

The all new ThunderMax AutoTune TBW module includes all of the great performance engineering that made the brand famous – with benefits you’ll notice immediately, including quicker throttle response, increased power and cooler operating temperatures.

The ThunderMax EFI System is built to deliver uncompromising performance, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to install it, program it, or make adjustments. The ThunderMax with AutoTune is a wide-band, closed-loop system, which means it continually and automatically adjusts your air-fuel ratios (AFR) every time you ride, regardless of changes in ambient conditions. All you have to do is ride and enjoy!

The ThunderMax System can never be outgrown. Change pipes, add cams, whatever! Just download a new map. ThunderMax software, firmware, and map updates are accessible 24/7 with an Internet connection.

The ThunderMax with AutoTune is made in the USA and backed by a three-year warranty.

System includes:

1. ThunderMax TBW ECM with Integrated AutoTune Module
2. Two Wide-Band Oxygen Sensors
3. USB Communication Cable
4. ThunderMax Tuner Software
5. ThunderMax TBW Quick Start Guide

Zipper’s Testimonials:

ThunderMax Throttle-by-Wire Testimonial Received 10/11/2010

I purchased the ThunderMax because I had to rebuild my entire engine (2009 FLHTC) into a mismatch “Frankenstein” motor. I ended up with S&S 106” Big Bore ported and polished heads, S.E. 260 cams and a stock throttle body with stock injectors. A dyno tune with another aftermarket device left the bike with a lot of HP, but some rideability issues. It had a huge flat spot at 2800 RPM that would almost launch you off the bike when you passed through it. Not really a lot of fun to ride!

After many hours of frustration, I decided to purchase the ThunderMax. Needless to say, I wish I had done this in the first place! The bike rides better than ever! It pulls strong from idle all the way to 6400 rpm. It is a much more rideable bike than it was before. If this tuner can make the mismatch of parts I have run this well, I’m pretty sure it can work wonders on anything!!!

W.H. – IL

ThunderMax Testimonial Received 10/09/2010

I was so impressed with the ease of installing the ThunderMax that I wrote a technical article on it and put it on Bikernet, Bikers Inner Circle and my own web site. I have ridden the motorcycle around the country covering motorcycle events and it has run well, changing itself to conditions. I continue to tell people how well it works and suggest they use one. I can have any ECM I want on my motorcycle and I chose ThunderMax. What does that tell you?

Rogue – FL

ThunderMax Testimonial Received 10/08/2010

Overall, the ThunderMax is great for us here in the North of Australia. We are 300 miles away from North, South, and West Australia, so we have completely different weather and road conditions. The self-learning tune works great. The customer and I love that fact that the bike stays in tune whereever you are! Great product!

Leeroy, Townsville Custom Cycles – AU

Okay, so now you know what we installed, here’s how the process progressed. First Rosie from Thundermax asked us to insert the TMax Tuner CD into our computer. It automatically opened and installed Shield Wizard when the computer found the CD. We followed the instructions and installed the software. The TMax Tuner software package is designed to run on personal computers using Microsoft Widows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 operating systems. The computer system must have an adequate amount of free space on the hard drive. The TMax Tuner will take approximately 140MB once installed.

Then we started the ECM ThunderMax installation. We removed the seat and both side covers. By pushing up on the bottom of the fuse box, we removed the cover, located on the left side of the bike. Next, we removed the ECM fuse from the fuse box.
Next, we removed the stock narrow band O2 sensors from the exhaust pipe.

2008-2009 models: 18mm sensors are located at the top of the head pipe; supplied 18mm wide-band sensors will replace the stock narrow band sensors.

2010 models: If you plan to retain your factory head pipes, 18mm bungs will need to be added to the head pipes. Bungs should be located no more than 3-4 inches from the head/pipe connection. Weld-in bungs are available from Zipper’s. In this case, we ordered 2009 two-into-one pipes from Bub and that answered that question in a snap.

We then installed the wide-band sensors into the pipes, routed the front sensor connection along the cross brace on the frame in front of the engine and down the lower frame rail on the right side of the motorcycle.

Then we routed the rear sensor lead between the transmission top cover and the starter, then towards the ABS caddy located under the right side cover. We placed the connector under the ABS caddy.

The next move was to remove the factory ECM from the caddy by spreading the plastic caddy latches at the side of the ECM. Lift the ECM up and to the right to release it from the caddy.

Disconnect the ECM from the connector. We depressed the button on the socket housing of the connector and rotated the locking bar until it reached the full rearward position (the index pin on the locking bar will engage the rear notch in the socket housing).

The connector internal latches are not fully disengaged until the locking bar on the connector is seated to the full rearward position to complete removal of the connector. If you force the socket housing with latches partially engaged, it will result in damage to the connector. Once the index pin is fully seated, with steady yet careful attention, pull apart the connector from the factory ECM and remove it from the motorcycle. This seems daunting, but not so. Just follow the instructions and you’ll complete the job in five minutes.

With the factory ECM removed, route the AutoTune harness through the opening on the right side of the frame below the downtube for the seat, towards the ECM caddy.

If with the bike has a factory alarm, detach the alarm antenna from the ECM caddy clip by lifting slightly and sliding to the right of bike (do not disconnect).

We located the orange package of dielectric grease included with the communication cable. Spread a small amount of grease on the AutoTune harness plug inboard of the mounting flange to allow the plug to easily slide into the ThunderMax ECM, with ThunderMax logo on the harness plug facing up. We attached it with the supplied screws.

Then we installed the main harness connector to the ThunderMax ECM. Before installing connector, lightly spread some dielectric grease on the harness connector terminals, and on the inside lip of the connector port opening of the ECM to allow the rubber weather seal in the connector plug to slide into place without binding.

Before connecting, verify that the locking bar is in the fully open, rearward position (locking bar index pin is fully engaged with rear notch in the socket housing).

Important note: If socket housing with grounding pin is not properly aligned during connector installation damage to the grounding pin will likely occur, which will require you to return the ThunderMax ECM for repairs.

We rotated the locking bar forward to engage the connector. Watch that the colored cam locks are moving with the locking bar; proper execution will show both colored cam locks visible in equal amounts on the forward-facing side of the connector when the locking bar is in its fully seated position with the button lock engaged, as in the image.

Important Note: Pin and socket housing of the connector must be fully engaged before you rotate the locking bar to the forward position. Forcing the locking bar forward before the connector is fully engaged will damage the connector and the ECM.

We placed the ThunderMax ECM into the ECM caddy. If equipped, position the alarm antenna.

We connected the oxygen sensor harnesses to the AutoTune harness. Carefully wire-tie the leads to the motorcycle. Take extra care to ensure wire leads are safe from rubbing or chaffing on the motorcycle. Use all supplied wire ties; add extra ties if needed to properly secure wiring on your installation.

We positioned the front connector lead along the lower frame rail between the engine and the transmission and attached it to the existing harness with wire ties. We carefully inspected all the wiring on Jeremiah’s bike to make sure it was clear of moving parts and exposure to excessive heat.

Lastly, we reinstalled the ECM fuse and replace the side covers. If you worked closely with Rosie or Dan, your ECM was mapped very close to your existing performance platform.

We moved ahead with our component installation. Included in the Zipper’s instruction is a complete programming guide for use with your laptop computer.

Then we shifted to installing the new all black 2-into-1 Bub 7 Exhaust System for 2009 Harley-Davidson touring models, but first we disconnected the battery to prevent problems, fires, or electrical nightmares during installation. We initially installed just a slip on muffler from Bub over the stock 2-into-1 system. The muffler has a tapered body that finishes at 4-inch OD, while inside, the 2.5-inch high-flow louver core baffle quiets things down.

Each muffler comes with an aluminum end cap in either chrome finish or black Teflon and has a BUB laser engraved collector heat shield. Mufflers are available with a polished chrome finish and an optional quiet baffle.

If you are looking for a slip-on muffler for your 2010 Street Glide or Road Glide Custom motorcycle, the BUB 7 FL 2-into-1 slip- on muffler is unbeatable. It has dual mounting capabilities, exceptional finish and quality, and offers excellent performance gains.

We decided to go all the way this round. Bub recommends using masking tape to cover paint and chrome to keep from damaging when removing and installing any components.
We removed the saddlebag and set them aside on soft rags.

We removed the right side floorboard from the OEM mount brackets. Then we removed the two OEM right side floorboard-mounting brackets.

Since we were replacing the 2010 pipe with a Bub 7 for 2009, we just left the 2010 sensors in place and we were good to go. We removed the muffler, then the OEM heat shields, and removed the exhaust manifold fasteners. Then we removed the right side transmission-to-header bracket, but saved the bolt and nut.

Then we removed the header pipe from the motorcycle. We checked both exhaust port gaskets for damage and replaced them as needed.

If you have a 2-into-2 system, you might need to remove the bracket from the starter. We removed the OEM exhaust flanges and retainer rings off the header system. There’s a terrific JIMS special tool for this operation.

If you damage a sprung retaining ring, you’re going to need to replace it before you move on.

Next, we installed the new Zipper’s 02 sensors with a touch of anti-seize on the threads, without touching the sensor tip. We torqued the sensors to 32 ft-lb.

We had to remove the transmission header bracket and replace it with the official Bub unit and torque the stock bolts to 13-15 ft-lb. At this point, the experts at Bub said to install the header-to-pipe bracket, but we left it loose.

At this point, they suggested that we install the #28 hose clamps into the heat shield clips located on the backside of the rear heat shield. Position the clamps so they are hidden from view when installed. Install the rear heat shield on the Bub 7 pipe. Leave the clamps loose. Jeremiah had a formula and so did I. In some cases, my formula worked, and in others, his did the trick. It’s important to take your time and study how the clamp will be positioned once on the bike for tightening access.

It’s also a good notion to lay the heat shields on a soft towel to prevent scratching.

We installed the new Bub 7 system on the bike and finger-tightened both the front and rear exhaust flange nuts. Bub suggested that we install the front heat shield last.

We installed the new transmission bracket clamp (0.560 width) around the front header pipe and through the header transmission bracket. We jockeyed the clamp and bracket not to interfere with the heat shield installation.

Then we installed the front heat shield like we did the others. Next, we slid the muffler clamp over the inlet end of the muffler. It’s a tad tricky to keep all the clamps dialed it. Make sure you are using the correct clamp for the application.

We slid the muffler onto the Bub 7 header system. Bub suggested we use glass cleaner as a lubricant to slide the muffler into the header.

With the muffler in place, we slid the muffler body spacers between the muffler body and the H-D saddlebag mount, then attached everything with two 5/16-18, 1 ¼-inch bolts with flat washers. We centered the muffler with the bolts loose, then tightened them to 13-15 ft-lb. Note: The muffler body mount spacers are made with a concave surface on the bottom to align with the contour of the muffler. We made sure they fit snug before tightening.

We torqued the front and rear header exhaust flange nuts to 10-12 ft-lb. We positioned the muffler clamp towards the backside of the muffler body and torqued the clamp to 7-10 ft-lb. Next, we tightened the transmission header bracket 3/8-16 hex bolt to 18-22 ft-lb. This is a tricky one, so follow the directions.

Tighten all the heat shield clamps. We tried to position all the clamp heads so they are accessible but out of view. We decided not to install the header collector heat shield for that mechanical look.

With supplied spacers, we spaced out the footboard between the frame and the front floorboard mounting bracket. Bub supplied us with brackets and new fasteners, which we touched with Loctite and torqued to 30-35 ft-lb.

We installed the floorboards and torqued them to 7-10 ft-lb. Bub suggested wiping the system down with glass cleaner to remove all fingerprints, grease, and dirt before starting the Twin Cam. They also suggested retightening all the fasteners after 50 miles, to catch anything before it loosens up.

Now for the final coup de gras: The Performance Machine Roland Sands designed Wrath Air Cleaner. The Wrath Air Cleaner features a versatile design that accepts interchangeable faceplates designed match to Performance Machine wheels. A K&N filter behind a stainless steel wire mesh screen allows high volume airflow, resulting in increased horsepower. The PM Wrath Air Cleaner is CNC-machined from billet aluminum with built-in crank case breathers and comes with chrome hardware. Universal air cleaners and faceplates are available in chrome and contrast cut finishes.

PM Super Gas Air Cleaners and design-matched faceplates are sold separately.

This puppy was a treat from the slick package, to the fitment and the chromed fasteners. Here’s how we did it:

The PM directions kick the process off by recommending to extinguish all cigarettes, open flames, land mines, joints, bongs, crack pipes, and don’t forget to shut down the meth lab.

We removed the five ¼-20 bolts holding the universal outer ring in place. Don’t throw anything away, you’re gonna need this stuff.

We removed and set aside the plastic spacer ring. This ring would be replaced by the new designed matched Wrath faceplate. We disassembled and set aside the beauty washer, ¼-20 flat head cap screw, and ¼-20 locknut originally installed on the air filter element, which will not be reused.

Then we installed the new Wrath design-matched faceplate into the universal outer ring, making sure the o-ring was properly positioned in the groove.

This was a breeze. We assembled and positioned the universal outer ring, Wrath faceplate, mesh insert, foam ring, air filter, and secondary plate.

Using the original ¼-20 by 2 ½-inch bolts and spacers, we secured the air filter assembly before tightening the bolts index and the Wrath plate to the desired orientation. We torqued the bolts to 8 ft-lb.

We were done, except to apply the desired PM adhesive badge to the center of the Wrath faceplate. PM supplied two badges, one silver and one black.

Don’t forget to reconnect your battery before you attempt to hit the road.

Since these simple mods, Jeremiah put a comfortable, pre-tuning 100 miles on his bike and let the Zipper’s Auto Tune do its work. Then he rolled to Bennett’s Performance in Long Beach for a dyno run. It’s sad, but a stock 96-inch Twin Cam pulls only about 65 horses and 75 pounds of torque. With the Bub slip-on muffler and a Wimmer air cleaner, it bumped to 70 horses and 84 foot-pounds of torque. With this upgrade, it popped to 74 horses and 87 foot-pounds of torque. He needs a cam and some mild headwork to make this puppy pull what it should with this platform. With this setup, he can go anywhere with the engine – high compression pistons, cams, headwork – and be ready to rock.

Sources:

JIMS:

Bennett’s Performance:

Bub Enterprises, Inc:

180 Spring Hill Drive
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800) 934-9739
www.bubtech@bubent.com

K&N Filters:
http://www.knfilters.com

Performance Machine:

Zippers:

To order, call 410-379-0909. Orders received by 5:00 p.m. EST. ship same day! This item qualifies for *** FREE GROUND FREIGHT *** in the lower 48 states within the USA!

Right now Dave is building performance pipes for all the new Triumph models, but he still makes the components for vintage systems, so feel free to reach out to the D&D crew, if you see something you want to adapt to an older model.

Call Team D&D at 817-834-8961

Here’s the D&D Triumph line-up:

2009-2010 Triumph Bonneville

2009-2010 Triumph Bonneville SE Slip-on – Available in dual Black or Chrome megaphones with Billet Tips.?Expect 5-7% increase in power across the rpm range. Built with a chambered baffle for a nice deep tone and designed for more torque.

Each exhaust pipe is put on our dyno to produce low-end torque and horsepower. Triumph factory download #020262 required.

The 2002-2008 Triumph America / Speedmaster now gets a kick in the pipes with D&D’s Boss Slip-ons. They sport a large diameter muffler, which increases torque and horsepower. K&N Filter included for increased performance.

Comes with a unique heatshield designed to match the factory head pipe and comes with a jet kit and AI block-offs. These pipes deliver a satisfying growl. It makes your sled sound like a Triumph should.

2010 Triumph Thunderbird Boss slip-ons

2010 Triumph Thunderbird Boss slip-ons – Experience an immediate 10% increase in low-end Torque. Our Boss Slip-ons utilize stock heat shields and are a snap to install.

We’ve modified the mounting so that they shoot out the back perpendicular to the rear wheel… giving it a custom look. Must use triumph download #020359.

2006~2010 Triumph Scrambler stainless steel full system pipes that are manufactured with a stepped header design sporting megaphone mufflers and billet tips. The pipes are available in polished or faux-ti (titanium-texture) finish.

Comes complete with sidestand and right side passenger footpeg mount, and has O2 sensors for injected models and jet kit for 08 and earlier. Used in conjunction with Triumph download 20194 for fuel injected models.

Utilizes the same pipe and stepped header design as Scrambler without sidestand and right side passenger footpeg mount. Jet kit will work with all carburetor models. Injected models will require a download from dealer. . The pipes are available in polished or faux-ti (titanium-texture) finish.?

Available in high or low pipe with as much as 10% gain in Torque and Horsepower. (No difference in high or low pipe).

Rocket III

Chrome slash cut slip-on pipe. 3-into-1-into-2. Designed for more torque and power. Each exhaust pipe is put on our dyno in our facilities. Every pipe is designed to increase low-end torque and horsepower.

Triumph TT-style pipe

D&D has built a traditional Triumph TT-style pipe that is ceramic coated stepped header and muffler with billet tips. It is delivered in midnight black and comes complete with air pump eliminators and jet kit.

For more information contact D&D at 817-834-8961

Love to Ride or not to Love to Ride? If that is the question, well then, Love to Ride is the answer! Love Ride 2010, or as they named it, Love Ride 26 & a half did feel a lot like the old days, when the ride was just starting and a lot less complicated. Unfortunately when an event grows as rapidly and consistently as the Love Ride did over 26 years, it is a huge endeavor to continue putting it on in a struggling economy. In 25 years, the Love Ride made $22 million for various charities.

 

In our battered economy we have all had to cut back, even on things we didn’t want to. With less than 50% of his usual vendors, sponsors, and attendees, Oliver Shokouh, owner of Glendale Harley Davidson and founder of the Love Ride had to make the difficult decision to cancel Love Ride 26, which still ended up being a small gathering in the Glendale Harley parking lot. Then he planned the Love Ride for this year to be less than half the usual gathering, hence the name Love Ride 26 & a half. The hopes for this year were to be a back to the basics shin dig, to put the Love Ride back on track.

Bikers have long shown their big hearts and compassion for those in need by coming out to fund raisers for worthy causes. For a group of people still stereotyped as trouble makers, the motorcycle community continues to do what they can to help those that are unable to help themselves. The Love Ride has been able to help many great causes over the last 25 years, and it is their hope to be able to do that again in the years to come. In this time of economic despair, the ride had to go back to basics in order to even survive.

Back to basics meant back to 1,000 riders, back to the Malibu Hills, back to the Calamigo’s Ranch, and back to good, simple entertainment and no vendors. About the only thing I can think of that makes any of that a bad thing, is that less money is raised for the charities. Autism Speaks was the chosen charity for monies raised. For more information on Autism Speaks, go to: www.autismspeaks.org. Donations are always welcome. But this year the Love Ride needed to survive, and make future fundraising at the Love Rides possible. They wanted to have 1,000 riders at $100 a head and they did get that. And that seemed like the perfect amount of people out at the ranch.

In the morning Jay Leno with bed head hair, Lorenzo Lamas, and the Willie G. Davidson family all showed their usual support in kicking off the festivities. Jay was the Grand Marshall and led the 40 mile scenic ride through the Malibu Hills. Although most of us 1,000 riders are familiar with the Malibu Hills, so I saw riders getting off at Topanga Canyon, Malibu Canyon, and Kanan Canyon exits. It made for beautiful, open canyon roads instead of the crazy, crowded chaos we were used to on the 5fwy in recent years.

Having recently moved to Colorado, I enjoyed being back on my favorite roads with some of my favorite friends. My friend Masyn came in for the event from Colorado, and my friend Bean’re came in from……..where the hell is Bean’re from? I think he’s from the back of an old Volkswagon Bus, but he won’t disclose where it is actually parked.

Once out at the ranch, the ride featured old favorite entertainment like the “Slow Ride”, an “Egg Toss”, and the Victor McLaglen Drill Team. With everything less spread out, it kept the energy more together. Everyone seemed to really enjoy watching and participating in the games, the BBQ, and the perfect music of the “Doors”, performed by original member Robby Krieger. Members of the “Sons of Anarchy” were in attendance, and I met Emilio Rivera and his beautiful wife, and saw my friend Dayton Callie, who plays Chief Wayne Unser in the series.

Bandit and his better half Nyla of www.Bikernet.com hosted a Hamster pre-Love Ride party at their stylin’ old hotel near the ocean in Wilmington. Many of my yellow shirted old friends were there eating tacos and talking more about replacing hips and knees than motorcycle parts. I don’t know when it happened, but I grew old with these guys, and we had fun doing it, and fun talking about when we did it!

It was a weekend full of old friends, new friends, laughing, loving, riding…….

Love Riding! I don’t think I’ve missed a Love Ride in 20 years! Economy, schlubonomy.

I can only hope it comes back stronger in the years to come.