by Nithyanandh Karuppaswamy from https://www.rushlane.com The Husqvarna E-Pilen is most likely to have India as its primary production location KTM and its sister brand Husqvarna are betting big on electric mobility in the long term. Following an electric scooter, the Swedish two wheeler brand Husqvarna is also working on a zero emission motorcycle called E-Pilen which is most likely to employ the modular electric platform which is being developed by KTM in association with Bajaj. The existence of Husqvarna E-Pilen came to light, thanks to an internal document which was shared at an investor meeting organized by Pierer Mobility AG (KTM and Husqvarna’s parent company). The document not only shared an early concept sketch of the Husqvarna electric motorcycle but also revealed some key details. For starters, the compact street fighter will be available with modular battery pack and two power levels – 4 kW and 10 kW. The document also indicates that the Husqvarna E-Pilen will be ready for a launch in 2022. Further details are scarce but considering that the Bajaj-KTM modular electric platform is being developed to cater to power outputs ranging between 3 to 10 kW, this product is most likely to be one of the first beneficiaries. What does the image say? The low resolution image of the Husqvarna E-Pilen appears to be that of a tentative concept. As the development process nears completion, the final design and equipment are expected to change. From what we can see from the photograph, the E-Pilen derives its design inspiration from the IC-engined Vitpilen and Svartpilen street fighters. The trellis frame, USD front forks, rear monoshock, alloy wheels and tyres are likely to be shared with its siblings. The fuel tank is there only for aesthetic purposes and the space occupied by IC engine will accommodate an electric motor and modular battery system. It remains to be seen if the rear wheel is driven by chain or belt. To be made in India The aforementioned modular electric platform for compact premium motorcycles will have India as its primary production base. Like the compact displacement KTM and Husqvarna products, the upcoming electric models up to 10 kW will be made by Bajaj at its Chakan facility. We can expect the e-mobility platform to also spawn KTM and Bajaj branded products in due course. Rivals The Husqvarna E-Pilen will be positioned as a lifestyle urban mobility solution for young audience in Europe. In India, it will be a premium alternative to the likes of the Revolt RV400 and upcoming Tork T6X.  

It may be crazy, but we’re still living in the best of times..

We are putting our team together for Bonneville 2021. We currently have Micah McCloskey, who is a master mechanic. Edge, the Commander of the Smoke Out for its entire history. Eddie, Micah’s son, a master fabricator. Dr. Hamster is always on board to keep us healthy. Jeremiah Soto our Union organizer, the Redhead; Laura, the bookkeeper, who constantly tells me we’re out of money.

I’m working on the 90th episode of the Cantina series. It’s going to be wild and of course about freedom.

A buddy of mine bought a Sportster and has been flat-track racing it. It’s going to be a wild feature, coming in the very near future.

We have a tech on a Dyna Glide rubber mount swap with Custom Cycle Engineering. I should wrap it up next week.

It’s never dull anywhere, but I don’t get how folks want to make everything bad, when we are living generally in the best of times. Hell, just look at the capabilities of your phones and the technology in your cars, that they want to take away…

I’m looking at a new Harley because they are flat out amazing.

Ride fast and Free forever!

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

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

We’re used to having our Harleys (be them stock rebuilds or ground-up creations) served in extreme forms. After all, there’s an entire industry dedicated to making Harleys unique, and what better way to do that than to go above and beyond?

At times however a more discrete job is preferable. An almost invisible lowering of the bike, the addition of chrome in strategic locations, and a medium-sized list of mechanical and visual upgrades are all it takes to make a bike stand out.

Over the past few months, we’ve talked at length about the projects, new and old, of a German garage by the name of Thunderbike. Just like the rest of world, the Germans too got hit by the health crisis, and for the better part of the year, Thunderbike has been up to much fewer stunts than we’re used to.

The Deluxe in the gallery above is one of the projects that finally made it to light in 2020. Commissioned last year by a Swedish customer, the bike was ready in no time, but had to spend about nine months away from its owner, given how borders closed and all.

Now the two are reunited, and it’s the perfect opportunity for us to take a closer look at how just a smaller number of carefully chosen modifications can rebirth a Harley.

Mechanical changes include the lowering of the fork and the shortening of the rear shock. New, bigger wheels were added front and back and shod in Dunlop tires, making the bike look a tad more compact. Some modifications were made to the brakes as well, as the discs have been replaced. We’re not being told if the engine was modified in any way.

As for the looks, the motorcycle is a chilling apparition. That’s due to the use of cold chrome in generous quantities all over the bike, and its blending with the impersonal touch of black on the fuel tank, seats, or fenders.

We’re not being told how much the customization of the motorcycle cost, but the parts listed as used for the build amount to a little over 4,000 euros ($4,700).

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, to put it lightly, so it’s hardly surprising that the state-backed Aurus luxury carmaker has been working on an e-bike for the Presidential convoy.

Putin has been on a mission to replace most vehicles on the Presidential convoy with newer, Russia-made models, and he’s doing it with help from Aurus. So far, the luxury carmaker has delivered a van, the Presidential Senat limo and the Komendant SUV. They’re all armored and tech-packed, as befits any prez, but more so since we’re talking about the Russian tsar.

The Escort, which is the dubbing currently attached to the Aurus electric motorcycle, will join the rest of the Aurus Presidential fleet sometime in 2022 as the first (and only) EV. There is no official information on it and only a few minor details are available, but that’s the timeline a recent report in Moto Station gives.

According to the same media outlet, the Escort will be used primarily in the Presidential motorcade, which explains its massive size and touring bike appearance. With an aluminum frame, the Escort comes with a large and adjustable windscreen, hard side panniers (that could carry anything from emergency supplies to weaponry) and a monoshock on the rear swing arm. The front fork has been replaced with a monoshock similar to that on some BMW bikes.

The Escort is bulky, but it’s also very fast. Power comes from an 112 kW (150 hp) electric motor that will take the bike to speeds of up to 240 kph (150 mph), which is incredibly fast for a bike that’s supposed to be used mostly as part of larger convoys.

As noted above, the Escort is supposedly coming out two years from now, which means it will be a while before we get anything more specific in terms of specs.

by Andrew Cherney from https://www.cycleworld.com

Switchable ABS and new color options make the scene for the new model year.

The trickle of 2021 model announcements has officially morphed into a steady stream as more manufacturers have started locking down their lineups for the new model year. Part of the growing tide is Royal Enfield’s confirmation that its Himalayan model will be returning for 2021. It looks like the popular 411cc midsize adventurer will come into the new model year mostly unchanged, though it does get switchable ABS this time around, as well as that ever popular manufacturer “upgrade”—new color options.

On its face, those changes sound pretty underwhelming, but then, since its introduction in 2016, the Himalayan has piled up enough accolades and impressive sales figures to the point that Enfield probably saw it as an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” situation. Which means the 2021 Himalayan retains all the original architecture and underpinnings, and simply adds a few subtle features to improve the riding experience. That includes a switchable antilock braking system (ABS) to give riders more control during sketchy off-road conditions, as well as a revamped rear brake mechanism that improves brake engagement and rider feel for decreased stopping distances. Royal Enfield says customers also requested a more refined sidestand design, so the new Himalayan gets a tweak to that unit as well. Additionally, the company improved the hazard light switch design as well for better accessibility during road- or trailside emergencies.

Now for the new colors, because for some folks that’s important too. The 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan will be available in three new colorways: Lake Blue, Rock Red, and Gravel Gray, which join the existing Snow White, Granite Black, and Sleet hues. As before, the bike comes with a three-year warranty and will be available across all Royal Enfield dealerships in North America at the slightly increased price of $4,999.

“The Himalayan continues to be one of the best-selling units in North America,” said Krishnan Ramaswamy, interim business head and president of Royal Enfield Americas. “The affordability, versatility, and capability of the Himalayan has established it as a must-have adventure bike, and with these updates, it’s better than ever before.”

There’s also a wide variety of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories on tap so you can customize the Himalayan accordingly. To see the full lineup, visit royalenfieldna.com; interested parties can reserve a 2021 model starting September 1. Royal Enfield says quantities are limited, though we’re unsure if that’s temporary or not.

AHDRA motorcycle drag racing series

race coverage report

event: AHDRA Numidia Nitro presented by Vreeland’s H-D

when: August 29-30, 2020

where: Numidia Dragway, Numidia, PA, USA

The revived AHDRA all-American motorcycle drag racing series thundered into the bucolic countryside of Numidia, Pennsylvania this past weekend, August 29-30. Delaware legend Bob “Opie” Malloy led pro class winners, while Illinois sportsman Kevin Winters showed that any weekend is a good weekend for winning twice.

Malloy’s win came on his iconic nitro Buell in Top Fuel. “I went there to test (for the following weekend’s NHRA U.S. Nationals) and was fortunate enough to win,” said Malloy, who qualified third while focusing on half-track hits.

Malloy raced past Cordova winner Rich Vreeland in round one of eliminations. Vreeland is a bona-fide Numidia hero, and along with his brother Ray is the Harley-Davidson dealer in nearby Bloomsburg.

“Billy Jack” Jackson was Malloy’s final round opponent, and the number one qualifier. “Came out of trailer after not running a bike since June 2019 at NHRA’s Epping event and ran a 6.72 at 201—which put me as number one qualifier for event.

“Second pass we ran a 6.64 at 220 miles per hour, clicking it off at 5.50 seconds. 220 is my personal best.

“Had a bye in E1, then hopped it up for the finals against Bob. Unfortunately, we had a starter cart malfunction.”

That allowed Malloy to solo for the win, running only 8.51 at 107 after dropping a hole, and no doubt Jackson’s heart through the sole of his boot.

“The crowd wanted to see another pass so we blew it out,” said Jackson, who clicked off at 1000 feet, running a 6.94. “So we settled for a runner-up

“Kevin Garrow is owner of the bike but could not attend due to his birthday party, and let me represent Showtime Racing Team. Nice to be back in the saddle again.”

“I really want to see (AHDRA boss) Bill Rowe and the AHDRA succeed,” said Malloy. “I am going to try to support him when I can.

“That track up there is really nice. That brought me right back to grass roots racing.”

Grass roots racing means sportsman racing, and there’s no AHDRA sportsman racer more successful this year than Kevin Winters—so successful that it’s notable that Winters won “only one” class at Rockingham.

But Winters won two at Cordova back on July 4 and doubled up again at Numidia, winning Pro Eliminator 10.90 and Crete’s Performance Street Eliminator 11.50.

Winters had to race his venerable Buell past 10.90 number one qualifier Derek Christensen in the semis. The 10.90 final was all about the tree, as Winters’ .018 was nearly a full tenth over runner-up Chris Hoppe’s .116 and Hoppe was unable to make up the difference.

Ditto for the Crete’s Performance Street Eliminator 11.50 final. Winters, himself the 11.50 number one qualifier, took another big—even bigger—advantage at the tree with a .008 to runner-up Loren Potter’s .171. Poor Potter broke out by large margin with an 11.276 on his mad charge to the stripe.

Don’t feel to badly for 10.90 runner-up Hoppe. He went on to win Super Pro 10.30 Index. In the final, Hoppe faced Jeff Jampo, who beat number one qualifier Gary Degrange in the semis. Hoppe took the tree in the final by .044 before Jampo encountered a problem and ran well off the index.

Degrange went on to win Zippers Performance Modified, beating Rockingham winner Jeff Workman in the final. The race would have been the best one of the day in all classes, with Degrange running a 9.553 to Workman’s 9.558, were it not for the .076 that Workman gave to Degrange at the tree.

Gary Douglass was the Modified number one qualifier, but his son Charley Douglass found winning success in Horsepower Inc. Hot Street.

“This was the first race of the year for Douglass Racing,” noted Charley. “We have not even been to our local track to test.

“My first pass of the year on my Hot Street bike started off good with a .012 reaction time but went down hill from there. I was very rusty when it came time to footshift through the gears.

“We ended up with three number one qualifiers—one in Hot Street, one in Pro Mod, and my dad in Modified. The cool thing about being number one in Pro Mod was that I was riding my dad’s bike. This was the first time in 20 years that I had ridden a bar-bike, I always ride no-bar bikes and my dad rides bar-bikes.

“I went on to run 9.82 for the win in Hot Street against Scott Schenkel.” Rockingham 9.70 winner Schenkel gave it up on both ends of the track to lose Hot Street at Numidia to Douglass.

“Dad and I are a father and son team that has been racing together since 1999,” continued Charley. “We had crew help from my nephew Jacob Bush. We usually have a large crew with us, but due to COVID and other health issues, the rest of team Douglass stayed home.

“I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing us with a safe, fun and successful race weekend. I also would like to thank my very supportive wife Angel Douglass and all of our family, including cousins that traveled to this race to watch and cheer us on.

“We have some faithful sponsors as well—Energy One clutches, Zipper’s Performance Products, CP-Carrillo, SA racing, Chad Hart, and Xlxbhorsepower.

“We plan to race the rest of the AHDRA circuit this year.”

Charley qualified number one in T-Man Performance Pro Mod but redlit in round 1. In a replay of the Rockingham final, John Price took the win when Keith Carper—like Douglass—lit the redeye.

A redlight also decided the 9.70 Index final when John Shotts nicked it by -.006 and Bob Maier ran out to the win.

Like Winters, Mike Motto also picked up two wins—GMS Racing Engines Extreme Gas and Outlaw Street—both against Rylan Mason. Motto took a whopping .291 advantage at the tree over Mason in the Extreme Gas and ran a strong 8.36 at 157 while Rylan cruised through the traps at highway speeds.

Motto had it even easier in Outlaw Street when Mason broke.

Cordova Mad Monkey Motorsports Draggin’ Bagger runner-up Branon White took the win this time around, ceding the tree by .175 to Crosby Blair and driving around with a 9.90 at a class record 142.78 to Blair’s 10.67 at 127.68.

“We fought a clutch issue and I left easy—late not to redlight,” said White. “I have lost two semis and not been able to win. I had the bike, no questions, so I chose to limp it out and let it eat.” White’s previous best was 138 mph.

Back to nitro and we find Cordova Hawaya Racing Pro Dragster winner Preston Bartlett bagging another one at Numidia. Number one qualifier Bartlett faced John McConnell in the final, and both put in two good green lights at the tree. But Bartlett had the Team LSR power between his legs to power across the finishline first with a 7.52 at 169 to McConnell’s 7.72 at 158.

“There were two rounds of qualifying, and our first pass locked us in for the number one qualifier,” reported Bartlett. “We had a bye (in E1) but made a pass anyway and improved our time, and then went faster for the win. That’s the Long and Short of it!”

The Workhorse ET final saw Steve Kajewski and Kevin Laughman leave within .006 of each other before Laughman took way too much stripe, handing the win to Kajewski.

Laughman rebounded to put .115 on Eric Kuhns at the tree in the Lumbee Racing Trophy final and carried a strong advantage over the stripe for the win.

Bill Rowe and his crew thank all the racers, crew and sponsors and look forward to seeing further growth for the new AHDRA at Atlanta Dragway on October 2-4 in Commerce, Georgia.

The AHDRA website is at http://raceahdra.com/

The AHDRA Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ahdraracing/

The AHDRA Facebook group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/AHDRA/

Hey,

I’m confused, but that’s nothing new. Some of the stats they run in the news are nuts. Like they try to blame 20 Chinese Covid cases in Colorado on the Rally. Then the CDC announces that only 6 percent of the people who died all year long, passed only by the Wuhan Covid complications. The other 94 percent died of what Chinese Covid and a heart attack?

They never say 6 percent died of Chinese covid only and 100 folks died of heart attacks, diabetes, cancers, whatever. Actually, if they did a real true analysis they would discover that this year there have been fewer accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, heart attacks, etc. They would also discover that bikers proved that going outside and traveling is bitchin! Hell, they would discover that if all 465,000 rally goers stayed home, they would have had a much higher chance of catching something, getting fat, a higher depression rate and more family issues.

Here’s an AMA report: STURGIS, S.D. – COVID-19 cases in eight states have been linked by health officials to attendance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally held in early August. The North Dakota Health Department tweeted that 17 people “who are connected to” the rally have tested positive for the virus. Other cases have been confirmed in Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and South Dakota. The Associated Press reported more than 100 cases in total have been linked to the event, which drew a crowd estimated at more than 450,000. South Dakota does not require that masks be worn in public.

There’s more in the news, but these numbers are so insignificant they are not worth mentioning. Bottom line, this too shall pass and we’re living in the best of times. Although, some folks want it to be the worst of times. Hell, they want to take you cars away, your guns away, make healthcare mandatory, give your house to a homeless drug addict, and burn your shop, so you can’t work. Nuts. Don’t forget to Vote!

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

FROM USA TODAY--How we’re developing a COVID-19 vaccine at ‘Warp Speed’–We are encouraged by the progress so far, and hope to celebrate the successful delivery of a safe and effective vaccine soon.

Alex M. Azar II and Moncef SlaouiOpinion contributors

President Trump launched Operation Warp Speed (OWS) to accomplish something the world has never done before: harnessing the full power of the Federal government, the private sector, the military and the scientific community to deliver substantial quantities of a safe and effective vaccine within a year after the discovery of a new virus. The strategy we devised for OWS will allow us to accomplish this goal while following all the same procedures for safety and efficacy, applied by the same apolitical FDA experts, that Americans expect with all vaccines.

So far, the OWS strategy is working. We originally established our objective — substantial quantities of a safe and effective vaccine no later than January 2021 — as an optimistic target. While one can never guarantee success in any scientific endeavor, it is now becoming increasingly likely we will deliver this historic victory for the American people and the world.

The strategy behind OWS was recently described in a perspective published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In brief, the strategy aims to accelerate the timeline and maximize the probability of delivering a safe and effective vaccine by carefully selecting scientifically sound and promising candidates, building a diverse portfolio of vaccine candidates to mitigate risk of technical failure, providing unprecedented levels of support for clinical trials, and engaging simultaneously in industrial-scale manufacturing “at risk”— i.e., manufacturing the vaccine candidates while still conducting the clinical trials.

Each of these elements of the strategy makes OWS a unique public-private partnership and an unprecedented alliance of scientific and industrial expertise. This partnership will substantially shorten the timeline needed to bring a vaccine to the American people and, through transparent sharing of all safety and efficacy data with the scientific community, ensure that FDA’s assessment meets the same standards as those applied for any other vaccine, without undue pressure or influence.

Results from all these efforts are promising: three OWS-supported candidates are in Phase 3 trials in the United States, and more are expected to enter United States Phase 3 trials by the end of September.

Alex M. Azar II (@SecAzar) is U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Moncef Slaoui is chief scientific advisor to Operation Warp Speed.

–USA Today

SALT TORPEDO UPDATE—We are putting our team together for Bonneville 2021. We currently have Micah McCloskey, who is a master mechanic. Edge, the Commander of the Smoke Out for its entire history. Eddie, Micah’s son, a master fabricator. Dr. Hamster is always on board to keep us healthy. Jeremiah Soto our Union organizer, the Redhead; Laura, the bookkeeper, who constantly tells me we’re out of money.

With Jeremiah’s input, I have a solid plan for mounting the front fenders to the axle. I had to order some pieces, but then it should be a one-day operation. I have the new tank from Paughco almost mounted, then I will take it to have it professionally painted. Sometime this week, we will mount the bottom of the body and next week test the top. Jeremiah has volunteered to handle the first low-speed handling test.

We will test to make sure it tracks properly at very slow speeds until it’s completely dialed in. Mike Stevenson and I handled alignment issues and weight issues, and feel confident. But we need to cruise and test tracking next. Of course, Micah will handle the high-speed runs at Bonneville.

We have access to a trailer, from our motorcycle history guru, Don Whalen, that the Torpedo fits in perfectly. I just wanted to put everyone together, because we will start to discuss plans for Bonneville 2021 and logistics very soon.

–Bandit

‘ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST DAY’–
Balderson Touts House Resolution

U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to recognize July 11 as “Antique Motorcycle Enthusiast Day.” The resolution, announced at the July 11 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Open House and Bike Night, celebrates those who restore and ride antique motorcycles, what these motorcycles represent in American history and the jobs supported by the restoration of these bikes.

“Restoring antique motorcycles is not only a passion for many Ohioans, it creates well-paying, highly skilled jobs for people in all 50 states,” Balderson said. “A beloved icon of our country’s past, antique motorcycles represent the rich history of Americana. I can think of no better way to honor those who cherish these patriotic symbols than by designating the Saturday after the 4th of July as ‘Antique Motorcycle Enthusiast Day.’”

The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), co-chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus.

THE MASTER OF LIGHT PAINTS 5-BALL MODEL--“The Alchemist” by David Uhl used Imogen, a jewelry designer from London’s and the Great Frog, Los Angeles jewelry store, who was also a 5-Ball Racing leather model a couple of times.

They have some of each of the 6 Steampunk pieces for sale by clients. Various sizes. Please inquire about specific pieces.

–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
Uhl Studios
15801 W. Colfax Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
303-913-4840

www.UhlStudios.com

This low profile, high performing windscreen creates a smooth airflow 3 to 4 inches taller. Made of the finest materials and simple to install. Available in a variety of sizes.

SizeColorPart #
4″Light Smoke65-4010
4″Dark Smoke65-4040
5″Light Smoke65-5010
5″Dark Smoke65-5040
6″Light Smoke65-6010
6″Dark Smoke65-6040
7″Light Smoke65-7010
7″Dark Smoke65-7040
8″Light Smoke65-8010
8″Dark Smoke65-8040
9″Light Smoke65-9010
9″Dark Smoke65-9040
10″Light Smoke65-1010
10″Dark Smoke65-1040

BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH LAB-– Subject: Old Geezer

An old physician, Doctor Gordon Geezer, became very bored in retirement and decided to reopen a medical clinic.

He put a sign up outside that said: “Dr. Geezer’s clinic. Get your treatment for $500 – if not cured, get back $1,000.”

Doctor Digger Young, who was positive that this old geezer didn’t know beans about medicine, thought this would be a great opportunity to get $1,000. So he went to Dr. Geezer’s clinic.

Dr Young: “Dr. Geezer, I have lost all taste in my mouth. Can you please help me?”

Dr Geezer: “Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in Dr. Young’s mouth.”

Dr Young: ‘Aaagh! — This is Gasoline!”

Dr Geezer: “Congratulations!

You’ve got your taste back. That will be $500.”

Dr Young gets annoyed and goes back after a couple of days figuring to recover his money.

Dr Young: “I have lost my memory, I cannot remember anything.”

Dr Geezer: “Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in the patient’s mouth.”

Dr Young: “Oh, no you don’t — that is Gasoline!”

Dr Geezer: “Congratulations! You’ve got your memory back. That will be $500.”

Dr Young (after having lost $1000) leaves angrily and comes back after several more days.

Dr Young: “My eyesight has become weak — I can hardly see anything!”

Dr Geezer: “Well, I don’t have any medicine for that so, “Here’s your $1000 back” (giving him a $10 bill).

Dr Young: “But this is only $10!”

Dr Geezer: “Congratulations! You got your vision back! That will be $500.”

*Moral of story* — Just because you’re “Young” doesn’t mean that you can outsmart an “old Geezer”.

*Remember:* Don’t make old people mad. We don’t like being old in the first place, so it doesn’t take much to tick us off.

ENJOY YOUR DAY!!!
P.S. Written in large print for old Geezers.
–from Joe Smith

LE PERA ACCESSORY OF THE WEEK—Le Pera Solo Bag for Softails 1984-2020

Regular price $240.00

Ships in 2-4 weeks

Part#: L-SLSBFXST

The Le Pera Solo Softail bag was designed to attach to the swing arm “V” on the left side of the motorcycle. It mounts to the swing arm with four leather belt straps. Great storage area for water bottle, gloves, tools or other items.

Measures 11 ½” wide, 14” tall at front & 7” tall at back, and 3” deep
Includes (4)14” x ½” leather belt strap for mounting
Made of 10-11 ounce thick full grain leather to keep its shape
Vat dyed black so the color goes all the way through the leather
Tanned to be UV and water resistant so leather doesn’t fade, spot or swell
Sewn with heavy-duty nylon thread and reinforced with rivets at stress points

Made in the USA and built to last!

Note: May not work if there is a left side mounted license plate that comes from the axle forward.

KODLIN Lower Risers for 2018-2020 Breakout Models—

• Optical / Stylish ‘must’ for a Breakout (especially when doing
a handlebar conversion due to stock pullback riser)
• Works with stock upper clamp and speedometer housing
• Made from forged aluminum
• Black and Chrome finishes available
• Easy installation

WHEELS THROUGH TIME LOTTERY–HISTORY COULD BE HEADED TO YOUR GARAGE!

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a classic American motorcycle, this is your chance! In less than 80 days, you could be riding away on this beautiful 1939 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead and join the family of winners here at Dale’s Wheels Through Time.

This machine was hand-built to factory specs right here in the Wheels Through Time restoration shop and looks just as stunning as the day it rolled off the assembly line floor. Even better, with each ticket purchased, YOU are helping to fuel “The Museum That Runs” and ensure that the history and passion continue for generations to come.

For the month of August, by getting the “Best Deal” package, you will receive the WTT Duffle Bag, new Anniversary Tee, and our newly designed Pandana! For everyone who enters our annual raffle at “The Fine’39”, you will get the new Anniversary Tee and our newly designed Pandana, and the “Better Deal” package will get you the newly designed Pandana.

www.wheelsthroughtime.com

TEXAS WEATHER REPORT–A little at a time, some have not fared well. I found these two, I thought I still had Hollyweed & the dude sliding up to the curb in front of the bar (my favorite I think, but I was never that cool) and Know Ye of course!

Still wish I had them all, the ones in the barracks with my roommate Zippy the Pinhead’s. That was garage number one, along time ago.

Apparently. I ordered something from Bikernet. So, time to pull the Shovelhead down to fix all the leaks, trans & cam seal and rocker boxes (possibly warped a little). I will paint the lifter blocks and I forgot and crankshaft seal. I didn’t install it, when the lower end was built, the others sat for 5 years.

–RFR
Certified Weatherman
Bikernet.com™

RNC shows us what Trump, GOP-led economy would look like vs. Biden, radical left’s vision–At the Republican convention on Wednesday, Americans were reminded that when November rolls around, they will be faced with a stark choice: dramatically expand the size and power of the national government and impose a mountain of jobs-killing new taxes and regulations — the path laid out by Democrats — or build on many of the pro-growth economic principles that helped President Trump and Republicans create the strongest U.S. economy in two decades.

Prior to the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic and the government-mandated lockdowns that accompanied it, Americans had enjoyed one of the most prosperous periods in the past century. That was thanks in large part to the Trump administration’s deregulatory policies and Republicans’ 2017 tax reform legislation.

The stock market — which is intricately tied to Americans’ retirement accounts — was higher than ever prior to the coronavirus outbreak.

In 2019, the national unemployment rate hit 3.5 percent — the lowest level since the Nixon administration in 1969 — and unemployment for African Americans, Asians and Hispanics was at or near historic lows.

Further, as daughter-in-law and presidential adviser Lara Trump noted in her speech on Wednesday night touting the tremendous economic improvements experienced by women during the president’s first term, “Under President Trump’s leadership, women’s unemployment hit the lowest level since World War II. 4.3 million new jobs have been created for women. In 2019 alone, women took over 70 percent of all new jobs. Female small business ownership remains at an all-time high. And 600,000 women have been lifted out of poverty — all since President Trump took office.”

All told, more than 7 million full-time jobs were created from the start of 2017 to the end of 2019, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Governors closed state economies in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus and as a result, the economy crashed in spectacular fashion.

Now, several months later, the United States is still struggling to fully recover. More than 100,000 small businesses have closed — many forever. Millions of jobs have been lost.

The only way to fix the country’s economy is to return to the pro-growth policies that catalyzed the economic growth that occurred during the first three years of Trump’s term, and that’s exactly what the president and Republicans are promising to do.

By cutting red tape and offering tax reforms, the Trump administration claims it can create 10 million new jobs in 10 months.

The Trump administration plans to achieve this goal in a variety of ways, including by continuing to speed the development of a coronavirus vaccine, which the administration says it aims to finalize by the end of the year; providing tax breaks for businesses that move their operations from China to the United States, with special expensing deductions offered to “essential industries, like pharmaceuticals and robotics”; and expanding “opportunity zones,” which provide massive tax incentives for investments made in “disadvantaged communities.”

According to Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Brooke Rollins, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, “Nearly 8,800 disadvantaged communities, home to approximately 35 million low-income individuals, are already seeing billions of dollars in new investments due to their status as ‘opportunity zones.’”

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his far-left allies in Congress, on the other hand, are offering a very different vision for the nation.

Rather than spurring economic growth by helping businesses get back on their feet, Biden and congressional Democrats want to raise taxes on wealthy individuals and businesses by $3.8 trillion, much of which would be paid by job-supporting corporations, which would face a 33 percent tax increase under the former vice president’s plan.

Congressional Democrats have also said they would push Biden to issue a number of new environmental regulations, including numerous policies that would cause great harm to America’s farms.

As Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, correctly explained to voters at the Republican convention on Wednesday, “The Democratic Party of Joe Biden is pushing this so-called ‘Green New Deal.’ If given power, they would essentially ban animal agriculture and eliminate gas-powered cars. It would destroy the agriculture industry, not just here in Iowa, but throughout the country.”

Further, in an attempt to appease the far-left wing of his party, Biden has rolled out a gargantuan $2 trillion “green” infrastructure plan that he promises would create “millions of new, good-paying jobs.”

What Biden won’t tell you, however, is exactly what Vice President Mike Pence said during his convention speech Wednesday night at Fort McHenry.

In order to “create” those “green” jobs, “Biden would abolish fossil fuels, end fracking, and impose a regime of climate change regulations that would drastically increase the cost of living for working families,” destroying millions of jobs in industries related to conventional energy sources like oil and natural gas and sending hundreds of thousands of other jobs overseas, as manufacturers and other energy-intensive businesses leave the country to escape high energy prices.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for cities looking to repair their failing economies, Democrats have made it clear repeatedly that they will not take a firm stand against the lawlessness, looting and rioting that has occurred throughout the country over the past two months in cities like Chicago, New York, Portland, and Seattle.

If cities aren’t safe, businesses will not reopen and residents who have fled urban areas seeking safer communities will not return.

That’s why Michael McHale, the president of the National Association of Police Organizations, delivered a strong endorsement of the Trump administration’s pro-police policies at Wednesday’s convention.

“Joe Biden has turned his candidacy over to the far-left, anti-law-enforcement radicals. And as a senator, Kamala Harris pushed to further restrict police, cut their training and make our American communities and streets even more dangerous than they already are,” McHale said.

“The differences between Trump-Pence and Biden-Harris are crystal clear,” McHale later added.

“Your choices are the most pro-law-enforcement president we’ve ever had, or the most radical anti-police ticket in history. We invite those who value the safety of their family and loved ones to join the hundreds of thousands of members of the National Association of Police Organizations and support the reelection of President Donald J. Trump.”

–Justin Haskins is editor-in-chief of StoppingSocialism.com and the editorial director of The Heartland Institute.

Motorcycle Club Crashes Black Lives Matter Street Protest in Florida – Starts Chanting, “USA! USA!…”

Black Lives Matter were having a perfectly fine protest against cops in Florida on Friday when several members of the local motorcycle club interrupted their march by revving their engines as they drove through the protest.

They hate cops until they need cops.

To make matters worse the bikers started chanting “USA! USA!…”

–The Gateway Pundit

MOTORISTS VOTE 2020-– Advocacy Starts at the Ballot Box.

For the first time, the NMA has developed a national guide for voting called, appropriately enough, Motorists Vote 2020. The confirming (and most important) step in any advocacy effort is signified by the casting a vote in local, state, and national elections. If you don’t have time to write letters to the editor or visit with elected leaders about the issues most important to you, voting for the candidates and initiatives consistent with your views becomes even more critical.

For this year’s election, we encourage everyone to decide soon how they will vote on November 3rd due to complications caused by the pandemic. If you decide to vote by mail, ask for your ballot early and make sure you vote according to the rules. Timing will be everything, particularly with potential postal service issues, so either mail your ballot well ahead of Election Day or consider delivering it yourself to a designated drop off locations.

For example, here in Wisconsin, we are required to have an adult independently verify each mail-in ballot for it to be valid. The witness must sign his/her name on the outside envelope, signifying the integrity of the ballot inside. Then, as in most places, the ballot needs to be at the county or city election office by the deadline. Get out the Vote volunteers who can help with questions, serve as ballot witnesses, and help with voter registrations are sometimes available at public libraries and other government buildings. Check with your city or town clerk for details.

If you have never voted before or have let your voter registration lapse, registering to vote is the first step. All states and the District of Columbia require voter registration except for North Dakota, where eligible residents can vote with suitable personal identification.

Voter registration generally takes place at the city or county level. In 17 states and DC, voters may register the day of the election. The rest of the states require registration ranging two to four weeks before election day.

Check out the Motorists Vote 2020 Guide to link to your state’s voting information.

Voter Registration History and the Driver’s License

In 1993, Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which allows states to provide citizens the opportunity to register when applying for or renewing a driver’s license. This often is referred to as “motor-voter.”

According to the US Election Assistance Commission, approximately 25 million motor voter registrations, originated at state departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) during the 2016 election period. In many states, the collection of voter information has been shifting from paper-based to digital registration forms. Many DMV systems are linked to state voter registration databases.

In 2016, Oregon became the first state to implement automatic voter registration or AVR. As of April 2020, 19 states and the District of Columbia DMVs participate in AVR.

We have posed some questions in the Motorists Vote 2020 Guide that you can use to build your own candidate report card on motorists’ right issues.

Voting is the most important democratic act any citizen can do.

NEW COMPANY COMES TO BIKERNET—With their “Super Prism” Throttle
$229.99 USD

Description
“Super Prism” Throttle Assembly contains the following:

Polished aluminum throttle housing
1/4 turn action with built in internal stops
1″ aluminum throttle sleeve
Includes all necessary mounting hardware
Designed to be used with all stock HD throttle cables with snap ring
Includes a barrel end to cut cable to desired length
Throttle Lock Screw sold separately
Clear Throttle Cover sold separately
For a designed fit we recommend purchasing our throttle cable with this throttle assembly.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORLD REPORT-–
The New York Times has published an article suggesting that plastic waste is, or should be, a high-priority for poor African nations, and that the best way to deal with it is by not having plastic at all.

In fact, poor nations in Africa need to use more, not less plastic, since doing so will improve people’s lives.

It turns out that most everything people say about plastic waste is wrong. The ocean biodegrades 99.9% of it. Bioplastics are worse than fossil-plastics. And landfill & incineration are better than recycling.

Nobody likes waste but it’s wrong to deny plastics to poor nations

Below is my latest column for Forbes!

–Michael

Plastics save species and human lives and are best disposed of in landfills or incinerators not recycled.

The New York Times has published an article suggesting that plastic waste is, or should be, a high-priority for poor African nations, and that the best way to deal with it is by not having plastic at all.

In fact, poor nations in Africa need to use more, not less plastic, since doing so will improve people’s lives, just as plastic has improved people’s lives in developed nations for over a half-century.

It’s true there are few things more demoralizing for a first-world conservationist like myself, than hiking to a place of great natural beauty only to discover plastic waste.

But for people who live in those places of great natural beauty, there are many things more demoralizing than plastic waste. Chief among them are the unmanaged impacts of human waste, which causes a half million deaths from diarrhea annually, and is thus a far higher priority waste issue than plastic waste.

Half of all people in sub-Saharan Africa, about a half billion people, still lack access to proper sanitation, resulting in millions of premature deaths a year. It would be a tragedy if first-world anxieties over plastic waste diverted human and financial resources from dealing with that problem to trying to deal with problems like plastic waste.

Plastic waste does harm some species, and we should seek to reduce it, but the best way to do that is by helping poor nations gain access to waste collection and management, not by depriving them a fundamental technology for prosperity and development.

Bioplastics are not the answer. A study of the life cycle of bioplastics made from sugar found higher negative respiratory health impacts, smog, acidification, carcinogens, and ozone depletion than from fossil plastics.

And switching from fossil plastics to bioplastics would require expanding farmland in the United States by 5 to 15 percent, which would reduce the amount of land available for conservation.

In truth, plastics made from fossil fuels already biodegrade.

Between 2007 and 2013, a team of nine scientists took twenty-four separate expeditions around the world to measure plastic waste and were shocked by what they discovered. “The global weight of plastic pollution on the sea surface,” they wrote, “from all size classes combined, is only 0.1 percent of the world annual production.”

Then, last year, a separate team of scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced it had discovered that sunlight breaks down Styrofoam (polystyrene) in ocean water over a period as short as decades.

Why? The answer is in part because as large plastics get broken down into smaller and smaller particles, they start biodegrading ever more rapidly.

Perhaps the findings were less surprising than they should have been. After all, the expression, “The solution to pollution is dilution,” dates back decades.

Plastics made from fossil fuels have also substituted for plastics made from endangered species.

For example, for thousands of years, humans around the world made exquisite jewelry and other luxury items from the shells of hawksbill sea turtles. Craftsmen heated the turtles over a fire, sometimes alive, so they could peel the misnamed “tortoise-shell” away from their skeletons.

Artists and artisans used heat to flatten and mold tortoiseshell into various luxury items including eyeglasses, combs, lyres, jewelry, boxes, and, at least in Japan, penis rings, penis sheaths, and condoms.

Scientists estimate that since 1844, humans killed nine million hawksbill turtles, or about sixty thousand each year. Fossil-based plastics replaced plastics made from sea turtles, allowing for their populations to rebound.

The same thing happened with the ivory tusks of elephants, which Americans prized for their beauty and plasticity in making combs, piano keys, and billiard balls, and with whales, whose baleen was used to make corsets and fishing rods, before the emergency of plastics made from fossil fuels.

The biggest factor in determining whether waste ends up in the ocean or not isn’t how much plastic we use but whether we have a strong waste collection and management system.

But shouldn’t we still try to recycle the plastic waste? We shouldn’t.

The New York Times itself notes, “In 2019, American exporters shipped more than 1 billion pounds of plastic waste to 96 countries including Kenya, ostensibly to be recycled, according to trade statistics. But much of the waste, often containing the hardest-to-recycle plastics, instead ends up in rivers and oceans.”

But the journalists failed to follow through on the logic, which is that we should be burying our plastic waste in landfills, or incinerating it, since trying to recycle it is what results in it being sent to Africa.

Ultimately, it’s just cheaper for plastic makers to simply produce new plastic resin from petroleum, and recycling equipment and collection practices come at a massive premium over refuse collection — up to fourteen times the cost per ton.

Using plastics made from fossil fuels has saved both human lives and endangered species, and is best disposed of in landfills and incinerators, not recycled in a misguided bid to be green.

The coronavirus pandemic has recently reminded many in the rich world of the importance of single-use plastics as we saw our front-line health care workers swathe themselves in plastic-based protective gear and work with plastic-based equipment.

As such, writers for rich-world newspapers like The New York Times need a broader perspective of the development priorities of poor nations, and greater self-reflection in terms of how we in the rich world live our lives. Once they have that, they’ll see it’s wrong to deny plastic to poor nations.

Michael Shellenberger is a Time Magazine “Hero of the Environment,” and president of Environmental Progress, an independent research and policy organization. He is the author of Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All. Follow him on Twitter @ShellenbergerMD.

–Michael Shellenberger
President, Environmental Progress
2569 Telegraph Avenue,
Berkeley, CA 94704

[page break]

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2016 Harley-Davidson FLHXS – Street Glide Special
for $18,995.00

See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=9331450

Do you want plush, top-end touring technology and infotainment or unruly stripped down bagger style? We vote yes.

Rockin’ the miles made better than ever.

You’re looking at the answer to the question, how do you fully load a touring bike with premium features and still roll with the stripped down bagger look? Check inside the sleek Project RUSHMORE batwing fairing and you’ll get an idea. Your looking at the top-of-the-line 6.5 inch touchscreen infotainment system and BOOM!™ Box 6.5 GT audio system. Then check out the details: color matched fairing skirt, 19-inch Enforcer front wheel, custom rear taillight and fascia. The list goes on. Yeah, it’s stripped down But The Street Glide® Special is loaded.

Features may include:

Control

Project RUSHMORE started out as a way to re-think the venerable Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle from fender tip to fender tip. It’s turned into a never-ending quest. Each year the going just gets better for the rider who points one of our bikes down the highway. As you might guess, a big part of the effort has gone into finding ways to help riders pass faster, stop quicker, take curves tighter and see further at night.

Here are a few of the ways Project RUSHMORE is currently adding the control you feel in the saddle: Reflex™ Linked Brakes with ABS, Daymaker™ LED headlamps and fog lamps, brighter Tour-Pak® luggage carrier lighting, brighter turn signals, brighter brake lights, and a steering head with stiffer front forks. The bikes are better then ever. Project RUSHMORE control. An invitation to see how good you can be, written in Milwaukee steel.

Infotainment

When we go to work on the infotainment system for a Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle we follow one simple principle. If you’re going to live in the saddle of a top-end touring bike, you deserve better sound than most people have in their living rooms. More sound. Purer sound. Big, full-color touch screens. Switches that are located where you intuitively want them to be and can reach without removing your hands from the grips. Voice activation for your music, phone and GPS.

Think of it this way. Back in the day there was nothing wrong with the sound of Johnny crackling out of a dashboard Philco. But what the latest Project RUSHMORE infotainment systems do for your ears, and eyes, is infinitely better.

Style

With a name like Project RUSHMORE, you know we were aiming high when we set out to rethink what riders experience on our Touring machines. These weren’t just motorcycles. They’re part of the American landscape. So we set about perfecting the way they work, feel and look the only way we could. By riding. Millions of miles. Countless hours.

More grueling road tests than any sane person would ever want to endure. We discovered the technology and the innovations to make the ride better. And through it all we never took our eyes of the style of the machine. Give your eyes a slow ride from fender tip to fender tip You see classic Harley-Davidson style and a sleek modern look come through at the same time. Clean. Tight. Modern. As up-to-date as the weather report blasting out the infotainment system. As timeless as the road is endless.

AMA STATE AND LOCAL UPDATES–
MAINE

ATV riders will be able to travel from Roxbury to Rumford, Woodstock, Peru, Dixfield, Byron, Andover, Carthage and Mexico Trails, thanks to a new trail that opened in July. Riders also can access additional Roxbury ATV Riders club trails farther north.

Funds for the trail came from memberships, a municipal grant and a $10,000 Polaris Trail grant.

More information is available from the club at roxburyatvridersclub@gmail.com.

MISSOURI
Gov. Mike Parson signed H.B. 1963, which gives motorcyclists 26 or older freedom of choice regarding helmet use while riding. To ride without a helmet, though, motorcyclists must provide proof of health insurance and have an “M” endorsement on their driver’s license.

The new law takes effect Aug. 28.

OHIO
Two bills were introduced in the state legislature on the topic of distracted driving.

S.B. 279, from state Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester), would expand the current law for minors to all drivers, prohibiting hand-held device use and making it a primary offense. Currently, adults texting while driving may be cited only if they are stopped for another reason.

S.B. 285, introduced by state Sens. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) and Sean O’Brien (D-Bazetta Township), would make comprehensive changes to the state’s distracted-driving laws based on recommendations from the Ohio Department of Transportation Distracted Driving Task Force.

The bill would restrict all hand-held e-device use and make use of devices a primary offense. It would add incremental penalties for repeat offenses.

The bill would add to the existing offenses of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault the new offense of “vehicular harm.” It also would make device use violations a “strict liability” offense, meaning the driver’s intentions are not relevant. This provision addresses the defense of “but s/he didn’t mean to crash.”

S.B. 285 also calls for distracted-driving instruction in driver’s education courses.

WISCONSIN

The state Department of Natural Resources issued a notice reminding ATV riders of the new restrictions that went into effect this year. The new laws for ATVs affect passenger requirements, headlamps, operational requirements, vehicle legal definitions and more.

ATV operators cannot have a passenger riding in or on any part of an ATV that is not designed or intended to be used by passengers. Previously, this law only applied to roadways. Aftermarket seating does not comply with the law.

Low-pressure tires are no longer required. Instead, the only requirement is three or more tires. ATVs are required to be commercially designed and manufactured, and their width cannot exceed 50 inches, measured between the outermost wheel rims.

ATVs and UTVs must now have a lighted headlamp and tail lamp during operation, regardless of time of day or location.

ATV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who are at least 12 years old, must complete an ATV safety certification course, unless riding is restricted to private property owned by operator’s immediate family.

Full details are available at dnr.wi.gov/topic/atv.

NICB Report: Motorcycle Thefts Fall Again–DES PLAINES, IL – August 31, 2020 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Millions of people will take to the road over the Labor Day weekend, by jet, train, car, and motorcycle. If you are one of the tens of thousands of motorcyclists taking advantage of the great riding weather, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) urges you to protect your motorcycle from theft.

Nearly 41,000 motorcycles were stolen in 2019, according to a new report by NICB, with most thefts occurring in warm-weather states and in the warm-weather months of July, August and September.

Motorcycle thefts have fallen 12 percent since 2016. Reported thefts totaled 46,467 in 2016, falling to 44,268 in 2017, 41,674 in 2018, and 40,380 in 2019. California was the top-ranked state with the most reported motorcycle thefts with 6,913, followed by Florida with 4,085 thefts, and Texas with 3,165 thefts.

The top five most stolen motorcycle brands include Honda (8,122), Yamaha (6,495), Harley Davidson (4,737), Suzuki (4,686), and Kawasaki (4,641).

On the flip side of motorcycle thefts is the high rate of theft recoveries. Of the 40,830 motorcycles stolen in 2019, 18,857 had been recovered, a recovery rate of 46 percent.

While motorcycle thefts are on the decline, owners must remain vigilant and take steps to prevent their motorbikes from being stolen. The NICB recommends that owners:

Purchase motorcycles from reputable manufacturers or dealers. When purchasing from a private party, avoid custom or “assembled vehicle.”

Take the motorcycle to a local dealership for inspection before purchasing.

Use common sense; park in well-lit areas, lock your ignition, and remove your keys.

Don’t store your title in your motorcycle’s storage compartment.

Place unique markings on your motorcycle and take photos of them. If your bike is stolen, you can use these markings to identify your property.

Most motorcycle thefts occurred in August (4,642) and the fewest in February (1,972), which continues to reflect a weather-influenced pattern that is consistent with previous years.

REPORT FRAUD: Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422) or submitting a form on our website.

–from Paul Cote

TWISTED ROAD NEWS–How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle for a day?

Motorcycle rental companies have been increasing in popularity over the last few years. Although Harley-Davidson has been in the game for awhile, Hertz and Indian motorcycle rental programs recently launched in the US. And Twisted Road has been gaining popularity with their platform allowing riders to rent from other riders.

Although renting a motorcycle may seem like a fairly simple process, there are many things to consider when you’re looking at the total cost.

Daily Cost – all companies start with the base cost to rent a motorcycle. Pricing starts here. For example, to rent a Harley-Davidson Sportster may cost $100/day from one company and $89/day from another. But is that price the real rental price? It all depends on three factors:

What is a “rental day?” Companies define a “rental day” differently. For Indian, a rental day begins at 10AM and ends at 5PM on the same day. For other companies, a “rental day” is 24 hours long. Make sure you understand how long your rental day is.

What are the operating hours? Make sure that if you choose a rental option with a physical location — like Indian, Hertz, and Eagle Rider — can you rent a motorcycle on exactly the days you want? For example, some aren’t open on Sundays, so if you want to rent from Saturday to Sunday, you’ll need to extend the ride to Monday and will pay for an extra day of riding.

Are there multi-day discounts? Some companies offer multi-day discounts, which is a great benefit. However, it’s important to understand their discount plan before you ride. For example, Riders Share may show a price of $59 a day to rent a Ducati Scrambler, but that rate is only valid for trips that are 5 days or longer. The rental price for this motorcycle jumps to $88/day when renting for a single day.

Model Guarantees – have you ever been given an unexpected auto at the rental car counter? For example, you reserved a black Honda Civic, but were given a bright red Ford Focus instead? Well, some motorcycle rental companies do this too — unless you’re willing to pay extra to guarantee the ride of your dreams.

For example, Eagle Rider charges an extra $88 to make sure you ride your requested motorcycle. So, if you rent a Honda Rebel from them in Los Angeles for $49 a day (a great price), you’ll need to pay an extra $88 to make sure that when you arrive, you ride off on a Rebel and not a “comparable model.” That $49 just became $137 – a little steep for a Rebel. Some people don’t mind riding a different bike, but we know of some die-hard Harley riders who declined this charge and were forced to ride Indians down the PCH. They weren’t too happy.

Insurance – this gets a little complicated as there are two elements to motorcycle insurance. First, there’s damage done to the vehicle (sometimes called collision) and second, there’s damage done to other people or property, called third-party liability. This can vary significantly by company. For example, some companies, like Twisted Road, bundle these together. Others, like Eagle Rider, separate these options out. Another, Indian Motorcycles, only charges for liability, and they include damage in that base price.

If you’d like more detail on how this all works, please read our article on Twisted Road insurance for motorcycle rentals.

Gear – Many rental companies offer gear for rent. Make sure you factor this cost into your calculations.

Roadside Assistance – What if the bike doesn’t start? Or you get a flat? Or run out of gas? What do you do? Many rental companies offer Roadside Assistance as a convenient option to make sure you stay safe and your trip isn’t ruined.

Tire Protection – Check to see if you’re protected if you get a flat tire while traveling. Some companies charge the rider; others include it in their insurance coverage. For example, Eagle Rider includes it in their premium insurance offering with up to $100 coverage. For Riders Share it’s included in their base insurance package, once a deductible of $500 to $2,000 has been paid. Twisted Road offers an optional Tire Protection plan for a few dollars a day that covers all tire mishaps and replacements.

Taxes and Fees – There are often additional costs at checkout that will be included in the cost. Traditional rental operations often have environmental fees, taxes, and other surcharges, while online marketplaces charge for maintaining their extensive web platform and for 24/7 customer service. These costs are unavoidable—just make sure you understand them.

Other charges – some companies have many hidden costs that we didn’t cover above. For example, we’ve heard of drop-off fees, surge pricing, environmental charges, and minimum rental periods during busy times. Please do your research to understand these charges before you rent. We don’t have these additional charges at Twisted Road.

Mileage – Depending on the length of your trip, this can get really expensive, really quickly. Some companies — like Twisted Road, Indian, and Eagle Rider — offer unlimited mileage for your vacation. Hertz, on the other hand, provides you with some free miles, but additional miles will cost you more. For planned shorter trips this may not matter, but any trip more than a few hundred miles a day can add up quickly. Riders Share owners set their mileage rates ranging from unlimited to $1 a mile.

Referral Programs – A few companies offer programs for first-time renters who were referred by a friend. Motorcycle rental referral programs can significantly reduce your rental costs. More traditional rental companies that follow car rental-type models, like Hertz and Indian, don’t offer referral programs.

Below is a chart that compares these costs across a number of different motorcycle rental companies:

Because these costs vary so much across companies, we compared the 24-hour rental price of a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 in when renting a motorcycle in Los Angeles, CA. You’ll see that we chose two scenarios for each company, Minimum Coverage and Full Coverage, based on the insurance and extra options selected. This analysis illustrates that Twisted Road has the lowest cost option for renting a Sportster—ranging from $80 – $115—while Eagle Rider’s costs are the highest, and range from $175 – $303.

* For Twisted Road, Eagle Rider, and Riders Share, we used the first Harley 1200 that appeared in their search results. For Hertz and Indian, we used comparable motorcycles in their fleet.

Renting a motorcycle can be a very exciting and fun experience, but it really helps to understand all of the costs going into your ride. Regardless of which company you choose for your trip, please make sure you read our article about motorcycle safety tips that all riders should know, and—as always—take pictures!

–BY AUSTIN ROTHBARD

SUPPORT THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION--Auction Items are Still Needed – Meeting of the Minds 2020

Thank you for your ongoing dedication and support of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.

In less than a month, I hope to see you at the 2020 Meeting of the Minds Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. Given your enthusiasm, I’m sure that your reservations are in order and you’re almost packed for the trip.

Before you over-pack your bags, I’d like you to think about the MRF’s “World Famous” silent and live auctions.

First, a little history… The Saturday night auctions were never planned, they just sort of evolved after MOTM #3. A few supporters brought a small number of one-off items and the auctions grew from there. Adding to the fun, Lee Richardson, then lobbyist for ABATE of Georgia, and I were “recruited” as auctioneers. Neither of us had any auction experience, however, it was believed that all auctioneers had southern accents and we fit the bill!

By the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Minds, the auction was the highlight of the evening and states were competing to bring quality one-off items to the event. Limited edition belt buckles, limited edition bottles of wine, a hunting knife from Alaska, even a commemorative set of ashtrays! Plus, an eclectic collection of items that had heads turning as the bids bounced from one side of the room to the other and thousands were raised in fun in the name of motorcyclists’ rights.

That spirit of competition has seen a revival during the past few conferences. The quality of items donated has once again risen to exceed the swap meet and garage sale collections we once tried to auction. I hope that you and your SMRO will once again search your hearts and archives for those one-off items that make the auction fun, exciting and profitable.

In the few weeks remaining before you head to Indianapolis, think about what you’d like to see at the silent and live auction. Ask yourself, “Would this be something that I’d like to own?” That should be your bottom line. If you haven’t thought about an auction item, you still have time to find something to represent your state and our lifestyle.

Let’s keep the auction at the level it was noted for 30 years ago. The days when the MRF auctioned a pair of well-worn jeans for $900, a lady from Arkansas bid over $1000 to win the shirt off my back and insisted that MRF lobbyist, Wayne Curtin, throw in his limited-edition Harley tie, may be long gone. However, they were a fun part of our history. With your contributions, we can keep that spirit alive.

In addition to counting on generous MRF members to liven up the auction, this year we’ve spread the auctions over two days. That’s right, the silent auction with take place on Friday and end at 5:00 p.m. The “live” auction will, as always, be one of the high lights of the Saturday evening awards banquet.

While you still have time, find the item that yells “This is something I’d really like to bid on and own!” Because that’s exactly what makes the auctions successful.

Thank you for your support of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and your dedication to the rights of motorcyclists. See you in Indianapolis!

Yours in Freedom — & fun!

–FREDRIC HARRELL
Director, Conferences & Events
Motorcycle Riders Foundation

P.S. Use the forms listed below for auction donations and include them with your item.

P.P.S. Got something too neat & too big to fit in your baggage? No problem: Just send the item to the hotel.

Flying to Meeting of the Minds?

For those attendees flying into Indiana… The conference hotel does not provide a shuttle to and from the airport. ABATE of Indiana will be providing a shuttle with some re-planning. If you are flying in for the conference and need some assistance with a shuttle, please contact Paulette at the MRF Office. MRFOffice@mrf.org or (202) 546-0983

Silent and Live Auction procedures for MRF MOTM 2020:

To help MRF make the most of YOUR donation item(s) and have the auction be entertaining to the attendees the following changes have been made to the auction procedures.

Drop off item(s) with completed form to designated area at the conference hotel
Drop off deadline at the hotel by NOON on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2020.
If you are mailing items ahead of time please send attention to: Paulette Korte/MRF. Please include the description form with your donated item(s) to the address below

Waterfront Hotel Conference Center
2930 Waterfront Pkwy W Dr
Indianapolis, Indiana 46214

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Once Silent Auction is closed the winner bidder will be able to pick up their item(s) between 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Live Auction SATURDAY NIGHT after dinner & awards
Should you need your items shipped home please make arrangements with an auction volunteer
There will only be time for 15 items at the live auction at the dinner banquet so your item may or may not be in the live auction

Let’s have fun and make some money for MRF!!

Please contact paulette@mrf.org with questions or issues getting your Auction item to the hotel.

Bikernet supported their efforts with a couple of vests and two signed books.–Bandit

KERKER EXHAUST FROM LOWBROW– How It’s Made, Lowbrow-Style…

If you are interested in how things are made, and interested in motorcycles, then go to the Lowbrow site and check out the video.

Watch step-by-step as American steel is turned into Lowbrow Customs by Kerker Exhausts right here in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lowbrow by Kerker 2-into-1 SuperMeg exhausts are currently available for Harley-Davidson Sportsters, Dyna, FXRs and Softails.

More How It’s Made videos are in the works, so stay tuned!

MIC Spotlight on Wyoming–Wyoming business relief includes three grant programs to distribute $325 million in federal CARES Act funding for small-business owners who have experienced hardship related to COVID-19. Applications for the first grant program (businesses with 50 or fewer employees) opened in June. Applications for the next two waves of funding opened just last month. Complete details are here.

MARKED, THE UNFORGIVEN FILMING NEWS–Marked-The Unforgiven starts filming first week of October in Spain. George Christie’s story, turned motorcycle comedy held auditions during the Chinese Covid Pandemic and pulled together a stellar young cast.

But then they were forced to wait out the Wuhan Chinese Pandemic scare before filming got started. The Sturgis Rally proved that more people can become infected sequestered at home, so more events are scheduled and filming was planned once more on the coast of Spain.

–Bandit

QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY—NO Mask required.

Tax return submitted by a New Jersey person

The IRS returned a tax return to a man in New Jersey after he apparently answered one of the questions incorrectly. In response to question 23: “Do you have anyone dependent on you?”

The man wrote: “2.1 million illegal immigrants, 1.1 million crack-heads, 4.4 million unemployable scroungers, 80,000 criminals in over 85 prisons, plus 650 idiots in Washington, and the entire group that call themselves politicians”.

On the returned form, someone at the IRS had attached a Post-it Note beside the question with an arrow and the words: “Your response to question 23 is unacceptable.”

The man sent it back to the IRS with his response on the bottom of the Post It Note: “Who’d I leave out?”

–from Joe Smith

MEDIA REVIEW—It’s tougher and tougher to read any media news. In the Week magazine this week they called the Sturgis Rally a Disease spreader with 100 cases and maybe one death since the rally.

How stupid can reporters be today? They’ll do anything to attack their political opponents. Out of 465,000 riders 100 got sick. That’s a celebration of Freedom and the great outdoors. Imagine if 465,000 folks stayed home in cities, how many would have been infected? Did they ask that question? No. Did they ask how many folks would have died of other causes like cancer or heart attacks.

I say Freedom won! And I will quit reading The Week Magazine. For years they seemed to be the only balanced news magazine, but they’ve lost their way.

–Bandit

[page break]

KEEP THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN AND MASK FREE–
A Boeing 777 was lumbering along at just under 500 mph at
33,000 feet when a cocky F-16 fighter jet flashed by at Mach 2.
The F-16 pilot decided to show off. On his state of the art radio
that is part of his state of the art 3D & million dollar headset, the
younger told the 777 driver, “Hey, Captain, watch this.”
He promptly went into a barrel roll followed by a steep,
unimaginable vertical climb. He then finished with a sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier as the F-16 screamed down before
leveling at almost sea level.

The F-16 pilot asked the 777 pilot what he thought of that?
The 777 driver said, “That was truly impressive, but watch
this.”

The 777 chugged along for about 5 minutes at a steady
498 mph and then the 777 pilot came back on the radio and said,
“What did you think of that?”

Puzzled, the cocky F-16 kid asked, “What the heck did you
do?”

The 777 pilot chuckled and said, “I stood up, stretched my legs, walked to the back, used the toilet, then got a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll and secured a date for the next 3 nights in a five-star hotel paid for by the company.”

LESSON:
When you’re young and foolish, speed and flash may seem like a good thing. When you’re older and smarter, comfort and dullness is not such a bad thing. It’s called SOS: Slower, Older and Smarter.

–Sam Burns
Certified Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina™

Danial James contributes to Bikernet Deadwood Chinese Whorehouse—I started to work with Danial James, who is another amazing artist. He’s part of the Scott Jacobs team at the art gallery in Deadwood, South Dakota.

He was kind enough to offer to make some Chinese Dragon modifications to one of his giclee for our joint in the Badlands. Here’s what he came up with.

Reach out to him directly or through the Scott Jacobs gallery in Deadwood.

–Bandit

DAV UPDATE–It is a unique chapter in DAV history — just as it is an unprecedented time in all our lives.

Serving as DAV National Commander has been the honor of a lifetime. And now, with our national convention canceled for only the second time in our organization’s 100-year history, I will stay in this role and serve a second term as DAV National Commander. It is my honor to serve you again.

As our great organization continues to improve, grow and adapt, we will remain dedicated to taking on the big fights for veterans like you.

In the coming year, DAV will focus our legislative efforts on securing benefits for veterans made ill as a result of exposures to toxic burn pits and Agent Orange, addressing gaps and inequities in programs and services for women veterans, improving benefits for spouses and survivors of disabled veterans, and strengthening veterans’ mental health care and suicide prevention programs.

As we carry on these important fights for our brothers- and sisters-in-arms, my pledge to you remains the same: Each and every day, I’ll continue fighting to ensure ALL veterans get the benefits and support they have earned — and deserve.

Thank you for standing with me in this fight as a member of DAV. With you by our side, we will take on this next chapter with vigor and make incredible progress for our nation’s veterans.

Stephen Whitehead

Stephen “Butch” Whitehead
DAV National Commander

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES NEW COLLECTION DESIGNED BY RIZOMA–Style that Breaks Boundaries

MILWAUKEE (September 3, 2020) – For those unsatisfied with the status quo, Harley-Davidson is proud to announce a new collection of Parts and Accessories designed by Rizoma to bring a whole new look to H-D’s iconic motorcycles.

This sleek collection of billet aluminum accessories is the first co-branded collection of its kind designed exclusively for H-D motorcycle riders. These parts and accessories fit a broad range of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and feature components specially designed to personalize H-D’s first electric motorcycle, the LiveWire model.

Harley-Davidson by Rizoma

Precision craftsmanship and unmistakable style define this collaborative collection from Harley-Davidson and Rizoma. Lasered H-D and Rizoma logos on a subdued black on black finish display minimal branding that lets the machined texture and performance aesthetic take the lead. This sleek collection of billet aluminum accessories is the first co-branded collection of its kind designed exclusively for H-D® motorcycle riders.

Harley-Davidson® by Rizoma® Hand Grips
Harley-Davidson® by Rizoma® handgrips are 1.44 inches in diameter and feature a textured rubber grip to inspire confidence in handling while riding.

A bright, machined surface on Harley-Davidson® by Rizoma® footpegs offers the rider a level of confidence in boot grip while adding a striking element of contrast to a dark-finished style.

A bright, machined surface on Harley-Davidson® by Rizoma® footpegs offers the passenger a level of confidence in boot grip while adding a striking element of contrast to a dark-finished style.

These Harley-Davidson® by Rizoma® mirrors feature an aspherical outer portion which shows more of the rear and peripheral reflection providing a broader view for the rider in motion. They complete any blacked-out or moto-sport inspired look.

Add a solo custom element or complete the Harley-Davidson® by Rizoma® on your LiveWire® motorcycle with this sleek, sport-inspired charge door.

Complete fitment information can be found on H-D.com.

NOPE: Turns Out the Sturgis Biker Rally Was No COVID ‘Super-Spreader’ After All–No matter how much we would like to change the minds of all Americans who have been brainwashed into believing that COVID-19 is a planet-killer, no single news story is going to do that.

Changing – or rather easing – minds will take time and a series of reports before those folks will come around and realize that the virus isn’t the global threat the anti-Trump fear-porn pushers in the ‘mainstream’ media have led them to believe.

Left-wing Democrats and their fear pushers in the media bemoaned the fact that the town of Sturgis, S.D., decided to go ahead with its annual motorcycle rally this year in spite of the pandemic. Never mind that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, never shut down the state, to begin with, and never mind that the state has never been a coronavirus “hot spot.”

Like a predictable broken record, they all said that the rally would become a “super-spreader event,” leading to death and suffering and pestilence on a Biblical (or a “Walking Dead”) scale.

Once again, the fear pimps in the Democrat Party were wrong, as PJ Media’s Stacy Lennox noted Wednesday:

The 80th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally took place from August 7-16 in South Dakota. Attendance at the rally was slightly down, at 462,000, a 7.5% decrease from 2019. No doubt COVID-19 fears played a part in the attendance reduction. Perhaps those with pre-existing health conditions declined to attend.

COVID-19 panic certainly preceded the rally. Indeed, it was predicted that it would be a mass superspreader event that would result in significant illness and death. Or not. The numbers are in for the City of Sturgis, and they are quite laughable. More people died from fatal crashes during the rally than from the virus.

“The City of Sturgis conducted mass COVID testing for its citizens after welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors for the 80th annual Motorcycle Rally. Now, the city is announcing the results,” officials said.

“A total of 650 people took advantage of the free testing, with 26 people testing positive for COVID-19. All of them were asymptomatic at the time of testing.”

Two takeaways, at least for Americans who have long accepted the reality that COVID-19, while certainly no ‘hoax,’ is also not the end of the world as we know it:

1) Once again, we see that the virus is virtually harmless in healthy, younger individuals who don’t have underlying health problems;

2) The disease is so mild in the vast majority of cases people don’t even know they’ve got it.

A regional health correspondent for Fargo, North Dakota-based Forum News Service posted even more yawning coronavirus numbers in a tweet late last week.

“In total, it appears, as of August 28, 12 days after the rally, a total of 196 positive tests were linked to rally attendance,” Lennox writes.

No need to panic. No need to clear out the hospitals in the states where Sturgis attendees traveled from. No need for a mass order of body bags. No need for a run on funeral plots.

But what this does indicate is that Americans need to calm down, relax, and stop slurping up the fear potion pushed by media whores who are still trying to exploit a virus to destroy a president.

–Trending Politics.com

AT LAST…TANYA TUCKER
ANNOUNCES 2021 RESCHEDULED TOUR DATES FOR
“CMT NEXT WOMEN OF COUNTRY: BRING MY FLOWERS NOW TOUR”
AND MORE–NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For Tanya Tucker, whose relaunch last year and into 2020 saw her rekindle her passionate fan base, win two GRAMMY® Awards and perform to SOLD-OUT crowds across North America, the thought of not returning to touring until 2021 seemed unthinkable.

Today, the original female outlaw and country music icon announces her rescheduled shows, including stops for her headlining “CMT Next Women of Country: Bring My Flowers Now Tour,” as well as some new dates, beginning in July 2021.

TANYA TUCKER 2021 TOUR DATES:
July 11 Club Regent Casino – Event Centre – Winnipeg, MB, Canada
July 13 Door Community Auditorium – Fish Creek, Wis.
July 31 Sugar Creek Casino – Hinton, Okla.
Aug. 6 Knuckleheads – Kansas City, Mo.^^
Aug. 10 Royal Oak Music Theatre – Royal Oak, Mich.^^
Aug. 12 Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, Ont.^^
Aug. 13 The Egg – Center for Performing Arts – Albany, N.Y.^^
Aug. 14 Foxwoods Casino – The Fox Theater – Mashantucket, Conn.^^
Aug. 17 The Wilbur – Boston, Mass.^^
Aug. 25 The National – Richmond, Va.^^
Aug. 26 Jefferson Center – Roanoke, Va.^^
Aug. 27 Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center – Cherokee, N.C.
Sept. 10 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion – Bristol, Tenn.
Sept. 11 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colo.**
Sept. 12 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colo.**
Sept. 14 Ent. Center for the Arts at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs, Colo.^^
Sept. 17 The Kessler Theater – Dallas, Texas^^
Sept. 18 Women Who Wander Outdoor Retreat – Concan, Texas
Sept. 19 The Heights Theater – Houston, Texas^^
Sept. 29 Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center – Deadwood, S.D.
Oct. 1 Bluebird Theater – Denver, Colo.^^
Oct. 5 Knitting Factory – Boise, Idaho^^
Oct. 6 The Bing Crosby Theater – Spokane, Wash.^^
Oct. 8 Showbox Theatre – Seattle, Wash.^^
Oct. 9 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, Ore.^^
Oct. 10 Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, B.C., Canada^^
Oct. 12 State Theatre For The Arts – Red Bluff, Calif.^^
Oct. 17 Fox Theatre – Bakersfield, Calif.^^
Oct. 18 Fremont Theater – San Luis Obispo, Calif.^^
Oct. 20 Crest Theatre – Sacramento, Calif.^^
Oct. 21 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, Calif.^^
Nov. 02 Royal Concert Hall – Glasgow, U.K.
Nov. 05 Royal Festival Hall – London, U.K.
Nov. 08 DR Koncerhuset (Studio 2) – Copenhagen, Denmark
Nov. 09 Sentrum Scene – Oslo, Norway
^^CMT Next Women of Country: Bring My Flowers Now Tour
**with Brandi Carlile

NOTE: As part of the “CMT Next Women of Country: Bring My Flowers Now Tour,” the Oct. 5, 2021 show at Knitting Factory in Boise, Idaho is a venue change where tickets are honored. The Oct. 21, 2021 date at Great American Music Hall, in San Francisco, Calif. is a venue change where previous ticket holders will be refunded.

For real-time updates, please visit TanyaTucker.com and CMT.com. Follow Tanya on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and use #CMTNextWomen to join the conversation.

LATEST CLASSIC TRIUMPH FROM LOWBROW--A different take on a classic bike

Our latest Lowbrow Spotlight is showing off Todd’s latest build, a Triumph with a twist…

The repop Harley hillclimber springer front end paired with 5.00-16″ Firestone Deluxe tires front and rear give this bike a stance quite different than the stock Bonneville.

Another interesting tid bit:

The engine in this bike is the one featured in Lowbrow’s popular (and free) 13-part, 9.5 hour video series: Triumph 650 Motorcycle Engine Disassembly & Rebuild.

PS – be sure to browse our selection of parts for vintage Triumphs. We have a wide array of specialty tools, stock replacement and custom parts found nowhere else, world-wide!

NEW TEXAS DISCOVERY–Apparently not on a Sunday night, need to pull her down to fix all her leaks. But man does she sound good!

Found the Bikernet ad from Hot Bike. Three of the four are my images.

–RFR

THE END—Remember that everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not currently all right, it’s not the end.

I’m working on the 90th episode of the Cantina series. It’s going to be wild and of course about freedom.

Check the little piece we did on Cruz Tools for old classics. We put a set in a Bandit’s Dayroll for the good Doctor’s Pandemic.

A buddy of mine bought a Sportster and has been flat-track racing it. It’s going to be a wild feature, coming in the very near future.

We have a tech on a Dyna Glide rubber mount swap with Custom Cycle Engineering. I should wrap it up next week. Also, Doc Robinson is going to send us a tech on bagger handling issues.

It’s never dull anywhere, but I don’t get how folks want to make everything bad, when we are living generally in the best of times. Hell, just look at the capabilities of your phones and the technology in your cars, that they want to take away…

I’m looking at a new Harley because they are flat out amazing.

Ride fast and Free forever!

–Bandit

from https://citizen.co.za/

BMW Motorrad now presents exclusive high-tech carbon fibre components for the road and the racetrack.

The M Performance carbon fibre wheels for the BMW S 1000 RR are an ideal area of application for the material, which is processed in a complex process using high-pressure furnaces, the so-called autoclaves.

The benefits are obvious. Less weight means lower rotational masses leading not only to improved acceleration and braking behaviour but also makes the bike easier to handle. In short: The motorcycles become even more agile and dynamic. In addition, the carbon fibre surface, which is coated with high-gloss clear lacquer.

The M Performance carbon fibre wheels for the S 1000 RR are 1.7 kg lighter in total than the standard aluminium wheels, which were already reduced in weight by 1.6 kg when the two models were relaunched last year. All parts such as the five mm thick brake discs (standard: 4.5 mm), sensor rings, wheel bearings and tyre pressure control valves are included in the complete wheel set.

from https://www.financialexpress.com

Like the current X-ring chains, the new BMW Motorrad M Endurance motorcycle chain also has permanent lubricant between the rollers and pins but there is now no need for additional lubricant.

BMW Motorrad recently introduced the M Endurance motorcycle chain which needs no lubricants and no maintenance. The new chain is available on the S1000RR and S1000XR as a factory option and will come on more new models as well. Existing customers can also purchase it as an accessory. Like the current X-ring chains, the new M Endurance chain also has a permanent lubricant filling between the rollers and pins enclosed by X-rings. However, the additional lubricant is no longer required and neither is re-tensioning of the chain due to usual wear.

The M Endurance chain uses a new coating material for the rollers: tetrahedrally amorphous carbon (ta-C), also known as industrial diamond. This coating is characterised by extreme hardness and resistance and in this respect, it is placed between the well-known DLC coating (Diamond-Like Carbon) and pure diamond.

In contrast to the metal surfaces used so far, the coating with the ta-C industrial diamond does not wear off. This type of coating also reduces the friction coefficient.

The dry lubrication properties and the elimination of wear, the tetrahedral amorphous carbon-coated rollers of the M Endurance chain offer maintenance comfort equivalent to that of a shaft drive motorcycle. This includes all the cleaning work that is unavoidable with a conventional chain due to splashed lubricant.

The M Endurance chain in 525 pitch is now available initially for the two 4-cylinder models BMW S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR. The M Endurance chain is available as an accessory or directly from the factory as an option. Further BMW Motorrad models are being prepared for this feature.

by Fraser Addecott from https://www.mirror.co.uk

A huge engine with oodles of torque on tap, plus all the latest electronic wizardry – including sound system – make this Harley one of the ultimate touring bikes

If your idea of what defines a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is a big, powerful, laid-back tourer, this is surely it.

The Street Glide Special is all of the above – and more.

In fact, big and powerful are understatements.

Harley’s best-selling model is driven by the awesome air/oil-cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine.

That 1868cc V-twin pumps out 120ft lb of torque.

But this bike is not just about muscle – there’s refinement too.

irst of all it looks stunning, with lusciously deep paintwork (in a range of seven colours) and on-trend blacked-out everything else.

Climb aboard and settle into that plush seat, and you’re presented with a console which resembles something you might find on an aircraft.

Grouped behind the batwing fairing are four clocks, a large touchscreen infotainment display, two speakers and even the two mirrors.

That 6.5in Boom! Box GTS screen has pinch, drag and swipe functions, even with gloves on, so you can move through the navigation, music, communications and weather options.

It’s all connected to your phone via Bluetooth or can be plugged in.

With the key fob safely in your jacket pocket, hit the start button and that V-twin roars into life sounding the way only a big Harley can sound.

For me, the big fairing and console create a psychological impression that the front end is going to be heavy and unmanageable.

The Glide is by no means light and it’s true home is out on the open road as opposed to nipping in and out of traffic around town, but it’s actually more manoeuvrable and controllable than you might think.

That’s helped by the low seat height, which means you can always get your boots firmly planted on the tarmac.

The engine is a delight, with oodles of torque on hand when you twist the throttle in any of the six gears, and shifting smooth but firm.

The suspension is as plush as the rest of the bike looks, with non-adjustable Showa Dual Bending Valve front forks and manually adjustable rear set-up.

At speed, the bike is beautifully stable and through the bends, well, obviously this is no sportsbike, but it performs admirably, holding a line with no cause for concern.

The Glide comes with Harley’s Reflex Defensive Rider System.

This includes ABS and electronically linked front and rear braking, cornering traction control, drag-torque slip control – which prevents the rear wheel slipping under harsh deceleration – hill-start control and tyre pressure monitoring.

As with all Harleys, none of this comes cheap, but it’s a fantastic all-round package and you’ll be riding one of the best big cruisers on the planet.

The Facts: H-D Street Glide Special

Engine: 1868cc V-twin

Max power: 89bhp

Max torque: 120ft lb

Price: £22,895