As I was preparing for my trip to Sturgis, for the rally, I decided I needed a new helmet. Besides the normal reasons I wanted to upgrade to one that handled rain better. I started researching helmets, and I came across the Harley-Davidson Boom-Audio NO2 Full-Face Helmet. It is made of a fiberglass composite and weighs about 3 pounds 12 ounces. It has a washable removable liner and standard Double D-ring chin strap and of course meets all the Dot FMVSS 218 safety standards.

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS PRODUCT REVIEW ON BIKERNET

Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

by Elena Gorgan from https://www.autoevolution.com

Daredevils love to do daredeviling stuff, that’s a fact. It doesn’t make any of these impressive feats less impressive.

It’s that time of the year again, when the Guinness Book of World Records comes out. The 2021 edition was announced the other day and, with the announcement came a brief presentation of some of the new record holders. All of them are amazing in their own right, but not a single one is more relevant to us than one Marco George from the UK, a 31-year-old man who currently holds the record for the fastest speed on a motorcycle while performing a headstand or handstand.

To be clear, Marco set this record last year, on August 17, in Elvington, the UK. He hails from Hampshire and is a stuntman by profession, having done work on TV and movies, and even put in an appearance on ITV’s hit televised competition Britain’s Got Talent. Marco has been stunt riding since 2014, so he has plenty of experience.

However, training for the Guinness record was an entirely different kettle of fish, as the Brits like to say. He got the idea for it when he was young, reading the Guinness books. Like most kids, he too dreamed of one day being the fastest or toughest or generally bestest, so he could have his name jotted down in the history books.

In 2017, Marco added headstands to his stunt competition routines, and this is how he came up with the idea of trying for a record. It would be nearly three years of planning and working hard, and seven full months of intensive training before he was able to set the record, breaking the previous one by double the speed.

Even for someone like Marco, who defies death on the regular as a profession, this was no easy achievement. He trained with his father (stunt riding runs in their blood, and both his father and grandfather were in the business), focusing on the record attempt with such dedication that everything else faded into the background. He worked on getting a strong core, so his body could stand upright on the bike against strong winds, on balance and timing.

Marco’s attempt was possible through his partnership with Straightliners, which helps facilitate land speed records.

On the day of the attempt, it seemed like the odds were against him. He had to get a new helmet, because the one he had didn’t meet safety regulations, and this resulted in a few failed runs. The wind was heavier than they’d expected, so that too posed challenges.

Then, as Marco just went with it, he topped 76 mph (122.3 kph) on his Honda, even though he’d promised his mother he wouldn’t dare go over 70 or else she’d kill him. His exact speed was 76.17 mph (122.59 kph) and this landed him his own chapter in the Guinness Book.

Now that he doubled the previous record of a headstand on a speeding motorcycle, Marco is looking for new challenges. He tells Guinness he’d be open to the idea of a contender to the title, so they could go against one another and top that speed. He’s also thinking about attempting to break Dave Coates’ record of fastest speed while riding a motorcycle backwards 151.7 mph (244.1 kph) and Gary Rothwell’s record for the fastest speed dragged behind a motorcycle, but has no concrete plans in this direction right now. If he does, he’s not disclosing them just yet.

Guinness notes that, during lockdown this year, Marco has been giving his body some well-deserved rest. Meanwhile, he’s promoting fellow stunt riders on his YouTube channel: for instance, on August 15, 2020, Jonny Davies set a new World Record for the fastest High Chair Wheelie at 109.2 mph (175.7 kph).

Here is the video with Marco’s record-breaking headstand and a bit more from him on what it means to have been able to turn a childhood dream into reality with it.

 

by Denny Bedard from https://klyq.com

One Facebook post was titled, “Yellowstone National Park: Invasion of the Idiots!” That might tell you everything you need to know.

According to an article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, an Arizona man and a Utah man each pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that accuse them of riding motorcycles off-road in Yellowstone National Park and harassing bison. Dallin McAllister of Utah, and Tyler McAllister of Arizona, are each charged with operating a motor vehicle in prohibited areas and feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife.

The article states that last Friday, the two men rode motorcycles off-road near the Fountain Flats Drive. A tourist’s video shows them riding within feet of several bison, including some calves.

Without fail, Montana always experiences a handful of ridiculous stunts pulled off by a few tourists every year in Yellowstone National Park. I suppose when you look at visitor statistics, a few out a few million probably will never be fully eliminated. Which leads us to our related story.

Yellowstone National Park hosted 881,543 recreation visits in August 2020. This is a 7.5% increase from August 2019, making it the second busiest August on record. The busiest August on record was in 2017, the year of the solar eclipse. So far in 2020, the park has hosted 2,546,373 recreation visits, down 18% from the same period last year. A pretty impressive number, when you consider the park was closed due to health and safety reasons related to COVID-19 beginning March 24. Two Wyoming entrances opened on May 18 and three Montana entrances opened on June 1, 2020. All five entrances have been open since June 1. We wish it were 2,546,371 subtracting two bison-harassing motorcyclists, but that’s the way it goes.

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com

Germans never fail to amaze us with their fascinating displays of top-grade engineering.

Let me tell you, ANX Prototypes’ Nick Xiromeritis is no stranger to the automotive industry. Over the course of several years, this Detroit-born petrolhead’s career would carry him all around the globe. After spending a good chunk of time working for Mazda in Japan, he took off to Paris, where he was employed by Renault.

As of today, he lives in Cologne, Germany. Xiromeritis founded his very own workshop a few years ago, while his interests gradually shifted towards motorcycles. He shares the workspace with none other than JvB Moto’s Jens vom Brauck, a gifted aftermarket surgeon that’ll happily tackle just about any two-wheeled custom exploit.

For a clear demonstration of Nick’s abilities, we’ll be having a quick look at one of his spectacular undertakings. The project is based on Honda’s feral 1983 VF500C, otherwise known as V30 Magna. Needless to say, this bad boy loves its intricate retro-styled livery!

Before we go into any details about the build itself, we’ll start by reminding ourselves of the donor’s main specs. This fiendish piece of machinery is brought to life by a ruthless four-stroke V4 powerplant, with a total of 16 valves and as many as four 34 mm (1.34 inches) Keihin carburetors. The liquid-cooled DOHC leviathan boasts a compression ratio of 11.0:1 and a respectable displacement of 498cc. Additionally, it has a glorious redline of 12,500 rpm.

At around 11,500 revs, this nasty animal is capable of delivering up to 68 bhp, along with a torque output of 32 pound-feet (43 Nm) at 10,500 rpm. The engine’s force travels to a chain final drive by means of a six-speed transmission. Ultimately, this whole shebang enables VF500C to reach a top speed of 122 mph (197 kph) and run the quarter mile in just 12.8 seconds.

Up front, the entire structure is supported by a set of air-assisted telescopic forks that allow 5.5 inches (140 mm) of travel. A single shock absorber handles suspension duties on the opposite end, permitting up to 4.53 inches (115 mm) of rear wheel travel. Stopping power is taken care of by twin 255 mm (10 inches) brake discs at the front, joined by a drum setup at the rear.

Now, Xiromeritis’ one-off entity features a plethora of repurposed components from other bikes. A Honda VF1000’s front end modules, including the 16” Comstar wheel, triple clamp and 41 mm (1.61 inches) forks were all transplanted onto his V30 Magna. You will also find a VF1000’s clip-on handlebars and braking units, along with a larger radiator from a VF750.

On the other end, he installed a pair of fully-adjustable shocks, VF750’s exhaust tips and a 17” wheel, as well as a Cagiva 125’s rear-mounted foot pegs and controls. Furthermore, we notice a Kawasaki AR 125’s fuel tank and a leather saddle from Ducati’s Pantah.

ANX Prototypes’ mastermind also equipped a healthy dose of custom goodness, such as the new tail section and aluminum front fairing. As a result of his surgical interventions, the VF500C experienced a whopping weight reduction of approximately 73 lbs (33 kg).

All things considered, this magnificent machine does a pretty sweet job at looking unique! I’ll have to say that I’m stoked to find out what Nick Xiromeritis might come up with in the future.

 

For those who value freedom and still believe the Constitution matters, you have reason to celebrate. On September 14, a federal judge ruled that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s coronavirus lockdown measures are unconstitutional.

According to the judge, “The court believes that defendants undertook their actions in a well-intentioned effort to protect Pennsylvanians from the virus. However, good intentions toward a laudable end are not alone enough to uphold governmental action against a constitutional challenge.”

The judge also wrote, “even in an emergency, the authority of government is not unfettered. The Constitution cannot accept the concept of a ‘new normal’ where the basic liberties of the people can be subordinated to open-ended emergency mitigation measures.”

Thank goodness for this long-overdue ruling. Pennsylvanians have been living under a seemingly never-ending set of shutdown rules that were originally intended to flatten the curve and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. Both of those goals were achieved months ago.

However, despite the Keystone State’s success in curbing the spread of COVID-19, Wolf has continued to keep unnecessary and arbitrary rules in place.

For instance, in Pennsylvania, indoor gatherings of more than 25 people are not allowed. Outdoor gatherings are restricted to no more than 250 people. And restaurants and bars can operate at only 25 percent capacity.

Wolf’s ongoing, draconian shutdown rules have devastated Pennsylvanians. The unemployment rate in the commonwealth has skyrocketed to 13.7 percent. Even worse, 63 percent of Pennsylvania’s small businesses said they were in danger of closing permanently due to the governor’s overbearing shutdown orders.

However, these stunning statistics seem to be lost on the leaders of Pennsylvania. Immediately after the ruling declaring Wolf’s lockdown rules were unconstitutional, the governor doubled-down on his policy.

“There’s no sense debating a ruling that will be appealed,” Gov. Wolf said in response to the recent ruling.

Then, Wolf dropped this nugget, “But what’s not up for debate is that our early and decisive action saved lives. While the federal government dithered, Pennsylvania took action. Our hospitals were never overwhelmed and research tells us thousands of lives were saved.”

So, if Pennsylvania’s hospitals were never overwhelmed in the first place, why are Wolf’s harsh lockdown measures still in place?

Wolf, like so many out-of-touch governors, is under the misguided impression that lockdowns are the only way to keep Americans safe. This is a straw man argument that is insulting to the intelligence of his constituents.

“I will continue to do what is necessary to keep people safe and contain the virus. That’s the key. Containing the virus is the only way to protect our health and keep our economy going. We will appeal, and we will take that appeal as far as necessary to ensure we can do that. I want to reassure people that may be nervous or worried about what’s ahead this fall: no matter what, we will find a way to keep Pennsylvanians safe,” Wolf said.

Does Wolf really believe that the only way to keep his constituents safe is to keep them stuck at home? If so, he should rethink this fallacious approach.

Perhaps, Wolf should consider the huge negative effects that his lockdowns have wrought on his state. Aside from the horrible joblessness and other economic ramifications that have crippled his state, lockdowns have dealt many other damaging impacts. Data show lockdowns have led to increased drug and alcohol abuse, more suicides, an uptick in domestic violence, amid a host of other adverse consequences.

Benjamin Franklin, the governor of Pennsylvania during the American Revolution, once said, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

All Pennsylvanians, including the present governor, should read and think about those words carefully. They are more relevant now than ever.

Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is an editor at The Heartland Institute.

NINJA® ZX™ – 10R Equipped with 125/70-17 SC2 and 200/65-17 SCX Slicks Set the Pace for the North Carolinian Facilities First-Ever Race

ROME, Ga. (September 18, 2020) – For the second time this season, Stefano Mesa captured a new motorcycle track record using Pirelli’s new, larger World Superbike derived sizing in the DIABLO™ Superbike range. Mesa’s impressive riding set the track record at NCBike in Garysburg, North Carolina, during a round of the Championship Cup Series (CCS), which served as the racetrack’s first-ever race, and marked the sixth absolute motorcycle track record bounty of 2020 for Pirelli. Just two weeks ago Mesa raced to his first track record of the season aboard his Kawasaki NINJA® ZX™ – 10R at Nelson Ledges Road Course as he had nothing but praise for his Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tires.

The lap record of 1:21.899 was set by Mesa during the Unlimited Superbike race that saw his ZX™ – 10R motorcycle equipped with Pirelli’s DIABLO™ Superbike 125/70-17 SC2 front and 200/65-17 SCX rear slicks.

“I was excited to come race here (NCBike) because it’s not too far from my house, so technically my home track,” Mesa said. The team did good work and Metric Devil Moto (Pirelli Trackside vendor) came into the weekend looking to enjoy and go fast. We ended up having a bit of competition, so it made things more interesting. We ended up with all of the wins in my classes and we broke the track record two times. The first was in the GTO race at a 1:22.6. The second was in the final race where my Pirelli Moto crew said ‘you better go faster now’ so I got to work and it paid off! We got it down to a 1:21.899.”

“I had a feeling Stefano would end the weekend with the fastest time,” said Oscar Solis, road racing manager at Pirelli. “The SCX rear tire has only been used for two racing weekends here in the United States and it has managed to capture three overall track records. So far, the tire has been extremely well received, and yes, it’s available through any authorized Pirelli trackside vendor.”

Pirelli continues to offer a tire credit prize for setting a new motorcycle track record and four different riders have managed to capture a track record so far this season.

For complete results from the NCBike round of CCS, Click Here.

For more information about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit Pirelli.com

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com

Who would’ve thought Ducati’s monstrosity could make for such a sexy naked bike?

Jesse Spade’s passion for motorcycles goes all the way back to his childhood. At the age of nine, he was already twisting the throttle of his very first dirt bike and things just went from there. Later on, Spade kicked off his adventure in the realm of custom rides by purchasing a 1996 Honda CBR600F3 and tweaking it to his liking.

Over the years, he undertook an array of two-wheeled ventures as side projects, while his main activity revolved around modifying Jeeps of all shapes and sizes. As of 2016, this ambitious fellow decided it was time to spice things up and turned his moto exploits into a full-time activity. You can probably imagine that a fresh start should prove to be a genuine relief after spending twenty years with Jeep’s behemoths.

Since its foundation, Spade’s workshop stacked up on some truly fascinating creatures, including a brutal 2005 Kawasaki ZZR1200 and one rad 1971 Triumph Tiger, to name a couple. As you browse their portfolio, you will encounter a magnificent Ducati 750SS-based masterpiece that does a splendid job at looking delicious.

In fact, let’s examine this mechanical work of art a little closer. I’ll have to point out the obvious and say that the donor is one competent machine. It is put in motion by a ruthless four-stroke V-twin colossus, with two valves per cylinder head and a generous displacement of 748cc.

The air-cooled leviathan is fed by a Marelli CPU 1.5 electronic fuel injection, complemented by a desmodromic valvetrain. At around 8,250 rpm, this feral piece of machinery is capable of delivering up to 61 hp, along with a solid torque output of 44 pound-feet (60 Nm) at 6,000 revs. A five-speed constant mesh transmission is tasked with channeling this force to a chain final drive. Ultimately, this whole ordeal will produce a top speed of 127 mph (205 kph).

750SS’ powertrain is hugged by a tubular steel trellis frame. Up front, the entire structure is supported by inverted hydraulic forks, coupled with a single shock absorber and a steel swingarm on the opposite end. Braking duties are handled by twin 320 mm (12.6 inches) rotors and four-piston calipers at the front, accompanied by a 245 mm (9.65 inches) disc and a one-piston caliper at the rear.

As to Jesse Spade’s one-off entity, the beast was dubbed Terremoto 3. Besides fiddling with the visual side of things, they also treated its weary components to an extensive restoration process. In some cases, the crew even went as far as replacing these units altogether.

For starters, the 750SS was stripped bare of its stock body panels. In their stead, Spade’s team installed a unique blend of readily available counterparts, such as a Ducati Monster’s front fender and a curvy fuel tank from an early ‘90s Supersport.

Additionally, they crafted several one-off modules to round out the new aesthetic. These include a hand-built tail section that houses a menacing lighting package, as well as a unique fairing with integrated twin headlight assemblies and a gorgeous custom saddle.

The workshop disposed of the stock forks and swingarm to make room for a 900SS’ setup. At the rear, the suspension was honored with a top-grade monoshock from Ohlins. Terremoto 3 crawls on a pair of Sport Classic GT1000 multi-spoked wheels, wrapped in track-ready Metzeler Racetec RR rubber.

Furthermore, you will find a set of Driven clip-on handlebars, a GPS speedometer and a healthy dose of LED goodness from Motogadget’s inventory. To top it all off, the folks over at J Daar Customs were tasked with enveloping Terremoto in a mixture of gloss and matte black paintwork, while its frame received a tasty powder coated finish.

Now, this is what I call a full transformation! If you happen to live in Atlanta, Georgia and own an ageing bike that could really do with a thorough makeover, then you might want to pay these pros a visit.

 

–Sam Burns

• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and obey all evacuation orders from officials. Back your car into the garage or park it outside, facing the direction of your evacuation route. Confine pets to one room, so you can find them if you need to evacuate quickly. Limit exposure to smoke and dust. Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in. Don’t use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves.
• If you’re trapped outdoors, crouch in a pond, river or pool. Don’t put wet clothing or bandanas over your mouth or nose, as moist air can cause more damage to your airway than dry air at the same temperature. If there is no body of water, look for shelter in a cleared area or among a bed of rocks. Lie flat, face down, and cover your body with soil. Breathe the air close to the ground to avoid scorching your lungs or inhaling smoke.
• Listen and watch for air quality reports and health warnings about smoke. Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in. Use the recycle or recirculate mode on the air conditioner in your home and car. If you do not have air conditioning and it is too hot to stay inside with closed windows, seek shelter elsewhere. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves. Avoid vacuuming as it can stir up particles that are already inside your home. If you have asthma or another lung disease, follow your health provider’s advice. Seek medical care if your symptoms worsen.
• Don’t return home until officials say it’s safe to do so. Inspect the roof and entire home immediately and extinguish any sparks or embers. Avoid damaged or downed power lines, poles and wires. Keep your animals under your direct control. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn them. Wet down debris to minimize breathing in dust particles. Wear work gloves and shoes with heavy soles. Throw out any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke or soot.

CANCELLED | Third Sunday Ride – September 20th

Hello all,
With the continued threat of the coronavirus, we are again cancelling the 3rd Sunday Ride.
Please be safe and we hope to see you all very soon.

Cheers,
-VVMC

Make sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram, or go to venicevintage.com for the latest updates an events calendar.