By J.J. Solari Ladies and gentlemen of America; I want to tell you how much I cherish the honor of having been the President of what was once the hope of the world but is now scheduled to be the next conquest of the global Islamic/Marxist Jihad: the United States of America. The United States is united in what way exactly….. at this point it is impossible for me to say. Over and above the fact that passports will soon be required to go from State to State with armed guards at every border-crossing, half the Country wants liberty….and the other half wants lockdowns, facemasks, riots, black supremacy, white guilt, mandatory-Islam which is basically one word, Communism, equality – meaning everyone having nothing, – hopelessness, bums in the street, human feces in the street, a reversal of progress which they call “progressivism,” the abolishment of fuels that get the job done by fire and fission….. to be replaced by air and sunlight NOT getting the job done. At least not at night or on windless days.

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

“Lots of metal, lots of color, lots of everything!” These are the words used by German custom motorcycle shop Thunderbike to describe El Divino, a Softail Heritage 114-based project looking more like a bike worth admiring than riding.

True to the Chicano style of motorcycle building (the likes of which we’ve seen before from Thunderbike, like say with the El Dorado), El Divino came into the world sporting the exaggerated front and rear fenders of the style, an extremely long exhaust system, and a paint scheme that either makes your eyes hurt, or shed tears in delight.

The bike sports modifications all over. First, there’s a swingarm conversion especially designed by the shop for the Chicano style. Called Toxic, it was developed with the goal of being a fit for both the 18-inch wheel and another in-house-made piece of hardware, the pulley brake kit.

Then come the modified triple trees for increased steering angle, allowing for the fitting of a massive 23-inch wheel. An air ride suspension is also on deck to make the motorcycle get low for artistic value whenever the need arises.

From the minor parts like the license plate frame to more important ones such as the brake discs, almost everything has been tampered with in one way or another. In all, over 35 new pieces of hardware made their way onto the build, but none seem to be as in-your-face as the paint job.

The golden-wooden appearance is the work of one of Thunderbike’s partners, Chiko’s Pinstriping. Chicano bikes have a lot of metal skin on them compared with other styles out there, and Chiko took full advantage of this to create a scheme you’ll either love or hate: much like with all Chicano bikes, there’s no middle ground here.

As for how much this thing cost to put together, Thunderbike gives no info. They do however list most of the parts used, and since they’re available in the Germans’ online shop, we can tell you all the extras are worth at least 11,000 euros, or the equivalent of $13,300 at today’s rates.

Published in Easyriders Magazine in 1981 Xmas issue
By Bandit, Mike and Billy Tinney

This is too strange. I bought a house in Deadwood in the historic President’s district. It’s about 100 years old and so are the streets and retaining walls. Recently contacted by the Historic Society about my retaining wall, the boss asked. “Do you know about this article and how we can get in touch with the photographer?”

I asked to see what he found and he sent me shots of the pages. It was written by Billy Tinney. Billy was once a Bandido for a short period and a constantly traveling photographer for Easyriders magazine for over 50 years. He’s currently trying for pull photography from his massive archives for the next issue of Choppers Magazine. So, he said he would look for the brothel file from 1981.

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Up until the early 1960s, BSA was the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The 1950s had been a good decade for the marque, with the success of the Gold Star as well as the development of two well-respected pre-unit (separate gearbox and engine), vertical twin-engine series: the A7 and A10. Not only was BSA a giant in producing motorcycles, the company also manufactured other goods such as buses, agricultural equipment, bicycles and, of course, weapons. Flush with cash generated from this diversified business, BSA also bought up other motorcycle marques—Triumph and Ariel, among others—making it a true empire.

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Trekking, mountain or enduro – whatever your pleasure, Italian company Ducati has you covered this winter. The Italian company announced the arrival on U.S. shores, starting this month, of three e-bikes it developed over the past year.

Ducati joined the e-bike game not long ago after it partnered with THOK. Since then, a whole range of such two-wheelers has been developed, and is already available across Europe. Starting December, American customers will be able to enjoy them as well, provided they find the resources and courage to pay thousands of dollars for one.

The first to be made available at American Ducati dealers this month is the e-Scrambler, meant both for city use and trekking. It’s a pedal-assisted machine powered by a Shimano Steps E7000 motor and a 504 Wh battery of the same make. With the wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cycle-e GT tires, it can be rolled off the lot in exchange for $3,995.

The second arrival is the MIG-S, a mountain bike also powered by Shimano hardware (E8000 motor and 504 Wh battery). The two-wheeler is packed with high-performance parts, including Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork, Fox Float TPS rear shock, and 12-speed SRAM SX transmission. It goes for $5,295.

The most expensive of the three is the TK-01RR, an enduro bicycle running a Shimano EP8 drive unit and 630 Wh battery that gives it 85 Nm (62 lb-ft) of torque with a maximum servo assistance ratio of 400 percent. This one will become available in February next year for the princely sum of $7,995.

“The introduction of these e-bikes continues the Ducati tradition of creating exhilarating two-wheeled experiences and expands our product range into a growing segment,” said in a statement Jason Chinnock, Chief Executive Officer of Ducati North America.

“In addition to highlighting the connection between the world of cycling and the training regime of motorcycle racers the world over, including many of those on the Ducati Corse team, we’re looking forward to seeing our existing clients and those new to Ducati enjoy these new e-bikes, which are also part of a growing recreational segment.”

from https://www.outlookindia.com

Boy Chases Lions On Motorcycle In Gir Forest, Arrested After Video Goes Viral

The arrest was made on Wednesday after a video surfaced on social media platforms recently, which showed two lions being chased on a motorcycle.

Two persons, including a boy, were arrested for allegedly harassing two lions in Gir forest of Gujarat by chasing them on a motorcycle, a senior official said on Saturday.

The arrest was made on Wednesday after a video surfaced on social media platforms recently, which showed two lions being chased on a motorcycle by unidentified persons, who scared them away with loud noise of the vehicle and honking, the forest department official said.

“An investigation was launched into the video, which revealed that it was shot near Gadhiya village in Tulsishyam range of Gir East forest division of Gujarat by two locals. One of them was identified as Yunis Pathan, and another a minor,” Chief Conservation of Forests (Wildlife), Junagadh, D T Vasavada said.

“While going on their motorcycle, the duo had come across two Asiatic lions. They chased the felines away by honking and creating loud sound through the vehicle. They shot a video of the chase on a mobile phone, which they uploaded on social media sites later,” he added.

Pathan, who hails from Sarasiya village in the same locality, was arrested along with the minor under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act and was produced before a local court on Friday, which remanded him in judicial custody, Vasavada said.

Decision on further action against the minor is being taken, he added.

The official warned people against indulging in activities like harassing or teasing lions, which he said was a serious offence with a provision for jail term ranging from three years to seven years and Rs 25,000 penalty.

“We have arrested several persons for such offences in the past and are taking stern action. It is not easy to get bail in such matters. I would appeal to the people to refrain from such acts,” he said.

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Having been at the forefront of motorcycle building for decades, Harley-Davidson knows people don’t necessarily like its bikes as they come out of the factory doors. As such, the American company not only allows garages to do whatever they like with its two-wheelers, but also encourages them by providing a long list of custom or tuning parts itself.

And that applies not only to North America, where the bulk of the world’s Harley custom garages is, but also to the rest of the world. In Germany, for instance, a shop by the name Thunderbike has been having its way with Harley bikes for close to three decades now, and it’s taking full advantage of what the Milwaukee company has to offer.

The build we have here is an older one coming from Europe, and it is the perfect representative of how custom parts can be perfectly matched with factory-supplied ones.

Based on a 2008 Fat Bob, the bike is called Fredbob and took about two months to put together.

Moving along under the power of a 96ci fuel-injected engine controlled by means of a 6-speed transmission, the motorcycle packs hardware of both European and American make.

Thunderbike has been in charge of the overall design of the remade motorcycle, but also fitted on the build a number of home-brewed parts, including an exhaust that allows the above-mentioned engine to breathe, the air cleaner, and the handlebar.

Harley itself supplied the fuel tank, fenders, front end, swingarm, and the rims wrapped in Metzeler tires. Some of these elements, like the fenders or front end, have been further optimized by Thunderbike for the project. The whole reborn Fat Bob is wrapped in a paint scheme signed by the Germans’ favorite partner on this front, Kruse Design.

Usually, we are able to figure out approximately how much a build of this kind cost to make, but this time, due to the two-wheeler being rather old, we were unable to do so this time.

Up until the early 1960s, BSA was the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The 1950s had been a good decade for the marque, with the success of the Gold Star as well as the development of two well-respected pre-unit (separate gearbox and engine), vertical twin-engine series: the A7 and A10. Not only was BSA a giant in producing motorcycles, the company also manufactured other goods such as buses, agricultural equipment, bicycles and, of course, weapons. Flush with cash generated from this diversified business, BSA also bought up other motorcycle marques—Triumph and Ariel, among others—making it a true empire.

For any business to survive it needs to be constantly ahead of the competition, on the look-out for the next big thing to make its product stand out. When the early 1960s arrived, the design trend in motorcycles had shifted to a more simplified and enclosed look, more akin to automotive design. BSA was, however, fairly conservative with its design philosophy, and only for the 1966 BSA A65 Lightning did the company shows initial leanings toward more simplified design choices. Holding onto the success of its 1950s machines, BSA perhaps felt that totally reimagining the bike might alienate its loyal audience. These mid-1960s BSAs are great examples of the transition between the more established British bike look and a more forward-looking 1970s style.

The BSA Lightning appeared in film and television on a few occasions, the most notable being the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball. SPECTRE agent Fiona Volpe, played by Italian actress Luciana Paluzzi, rides a fully-faired gold Lightning armed with rocket launchers. In the famous scene, Volpe uses the rockets to blow up a black car chasing Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, a scene that is etched into many people’s minds. Filmed at Silverstone, the Lightning was actually ridden on track by motorcycle champion Bill Ivy—in a blonde wig!
Designed as an all-round sports machine, the Lightning was one of various A65 models designed be sold predominantly in the U.S. market, such as the Thunderbolt, Rocket, Spitfire, and Hornet models, along with sub variants such as the Lightning Rocket and Lightning Clubman. The Lightning was made between 1965 and 1972, and the bike illustrated here is from the early end of that spectrum. At the time it was a top-of-the-range machine, and the first to use 12-volt electrics. BSA had developed it to compete with the Triumph Bonneville. Some say it was the styling of the Lightning versus the Bonneville that let it down; the former’s performance and handling were certainly competitive.

As mentioned, our main A65 illustration showcases a few design elements that are distinctly traditional, namely the front and rear ends, but even the fuel tank to a certain extent is not too radically different from that of the earlier BSA A10 from which the Lightning evolved. It is the design of the engine and the oil tank that distinguish this machine from its forerunner.

In the late 1950s, Lucas switched its production of electronic motorcycle components from magneto and dynamo to alternator and coil systems. This change instigated a major change in British motorcycle engine design. BSA and Triumph (at this time owned by BSA) took the opportunity to completely redesign its engine ranges, moving away from pre-unit and semi-unit construction to full-unit construction. Full-unit construction meant combining the engine and gearbox into one complete unit. The A65 was one such engine, the product of lessons learned from the A10 engine that BSA Managing Director and General Manager Bob Fearon worked on with Bert Perrigo, Chief Development Engineer, to create the new vertical twins.

When it came to the unit construction of the A65, the outer cases were minimal in their sculpting, shaped into simple domed ovals; this became known as “The Power Egg.” Due to the investment in redesigning, tooling, and producing this new construction, “The Power Egg” stuck with BSA until the brand’s demise in 1973.

The A65 engine was designed to be quieter, more reliable, and less prone to oil leaks than its predecessors. When you take into account that, by 1969, 80 percent of BSAs production was going to the States, these were sensible goals. In America, reliability over longer distances and quieter running in urban environments were key selling points, favored by civilian customers and authorities alike. Later styling changes to the Lightning range—such as high rise handlebars and more streamlined fuel tanks—also targeted the American market in an effort to drive sales.

The A65 and its smaller variant, the A50, ultimately proved to be good engines. Both were continually developed throughout the late 1960s, and some say the peak of the A65 series was the 1970 model. Various problems during this time included oil pump issues, and oiling in general; BSA never fully resolved these issues, however with modern solutions these engines are still considered very usable within the classic motorcycle world.

The Lightning received a slightly modified version of the A65 engine, featuring a close-ratio gear box and a high-lift camshaft. This yielded lively acceleration characteristics and solid performance at higher rpm, though the close-ratio ‘box with its tall first gear meant that the rider would have to slip the clutch up to 10 mph.
With BSA back in the news and eyeing a 2021 comeback, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the classic British brand and its beloved machines.

This is too strange. I bought a house in Deadwood in the historic President’s district. It’s about 100 years old and so are the streets and retaining walls. Recently contacted by the Historic Society about my retaining wall, the boss asked. “Do you know about this article and how we can get in touch with the photographer?”

I asked to see what he found and he sent me shots of the pages. It was written by Billy Tinney. Billy was once a Bandido for a short period and a constantly traveling photographer for Easyriders magazine for over 50 years. He’s currently trying for pull photography from his massive archives for the next issue of Choppers Magazine. So, he said he would look for the brothel file from 1981.

 Billy used stringers to cover various events and action. When I reached out to him he mentioned that Pam photographed the whorehouse in Deadwood. Billy, who rarely came to the ER offices, tried to work his event coverage empire from a constantly moving motorhome with his very beautiful and organized wife, Tami.

As is turned out, Pam was the boss of the whorehouse and she fought the city over her business and the rally.

A drunk local smoking a cigar in the basement of Deadwood Cigars, while listening to the live blues band turned to me and asked which house was mine. I told him. Sorta cross-eyed and fading in the smoke-filled room, he looked hard at me and said, “What?”

I repeated my address and his eyes brightened, as if awakened by brilliant morning daylight. “You’re kidding,” he said. “The lot behind your house is where Wild Bill was originally buried!”

The Deadwood mysteries continue on several fronts.

–Bandit

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

It’s been a rough year for custom motorcycle fans, who, just like car lovers, had no major dedicated event in 2020 – except, perhaps, for Strugis. But that is more of a festival and less of a build display, so novelties were pretty much scarce.

The coming year is shaping up to mark a relative return to normalcy. That means we’ll probably be getting all those juicy gatherings like Mama Tried, Congregation, or Born-Free again. Before this happens, though, the year opens with the Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle auction at the end of January.

As usual, the auction house is flooding the market with old, vintage, rare, or custom builds. In all, 1,750 bikes are listed for sale, either on their own or as part of collections.

One prominent such display of bikes is by the Legends Motorcycles Museum in Springville, Utah. It comprises 36 motorcycles owned by the museum’s Rick Salisbury, and the 1971 Harley-Davidson Sportster chopper seen here is one of them.

Harley started making Sportsters in 1957 and launched them into the wild sporting four-stroke, V-twin engines, at first from the Ironhead family, and later on using the famed Evolution. Like all other Harleys, it was quickly adopted by custom shops and turned into different things entirely.

The one we have here pays tribute to the custom choppers of the 1970s. It’s raked build makes it look aggressive, though not as long as other bikes of the segment. It also looks extremely fresh, thanks to the warm blue custom fuel tank (hinting to an Indian Larry build) and rear fender that complement the cold of the exposed engine, exhaust, and wheels.

Mecum does not provide any technical details on the two-wheeler, and it’s not venturing into making a guess as to how much it is expected to fetch. What’s worth noting is that the chopper is going with no reserve.