“Yet the hoaxes, conspiracy theories and attempts to rewrite history persist, muddying the public’s understanding of what actually occurred during the
most sustained attack on the seat of American democracy since the War of
1812.”_____AP hack of no consequence

This is a sentence of a Jan 1 article by a hack for the Ass-ociated Press,now widely reprinted by every other news cistern in America regarding the Jan 6th breaking-and-entering incident at the Rest Home for Aged Child
Molesters, often called “The Capitol Building.” Written by a hack who is worried about “the public” becoming confused. So, being the wise hack journalist failed novelist he is….he is going to save “the public” from falling into confusion or dismay. He will bring words of clarity and understanding.

Unlike what you – the public – have.

There’s a reason the world detests news hacks:
this failed novelist, or “journalist” as these untalented people call each other, is actually…..get this!……he’s actually calling a slowly moving wall of idiots in football paint over their bare chests, wearing moose antlers,
disregarding do-not-enter signs and wandering the hallways of taxation…..

He’s calling this sideshow of morons that had, at least, the reps and senators shitting their drawers “the most sustained attack on the seat of American democracy since the war of 1812.”

Do you know what the War of 1812 was? The war of 1812 was a major conflict between two entire fucking nations of vast global influence upon humanity: Britain and America. This fucking asshole journalist hack is
comparing an all-out war between two nations with histories of conquest, the British history of it being huge; battles between large armies with detailed strategies and armaments; losses of lives and fortunes on a major
scale…did I mention navies?….did I mention navies at all?……and this is being cited as on a par as a “danger to American democracy” as a horde of- probably drunk – weaponless, wriggling, sidestepping, leaderless
shitheads opening doors and looking into offices while gawking at the furniture and scratching at their balls.

THIS is the biggest sustained attack……wandering stoned and drunk through empty hallways…..on the
seat of American democracy since the war of 1812.

This isn’t rewriting history this is rewriting sanity. This asshole actually gets paid. By the AP. Not by the Podunk Times, but by the AP. The Gurus of Stupid in the front offices of the AP where this idiot “works” read this when
it came across their desk and they all got boners of love and admiration and said “This was MADE for our audience of losers.”

And just like that, it went to press and now it is revered by all the other news sewers as a masterpiece of insight.

Apparently a hundred Japanese warplanes vaporizing the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor does not come up to the horror of drunken housewives and rowdy grab-ass sports fans falling over each other enough to be called an
attack on American democracy.

Hirohito gets a pass from this asshole while Bullwinkle The Viking, making exuberant facial expressions like he
just won the neighborhood skateboard contest, is a threat to American democracy to be taken very seriously.

No one, not even a journalist, is that fucking stupid, I don’t care how many facemasks he might be wearing at the moment. For him to be ACTIVELY LYING would be a more respectable admission than, “Yeah, I am actually
that fucking stupid.”

So the more self-respecting admission would be,
“Yeah, I’m lying.” Because you can FIX a lie. And you can stop being a liar. But you can’t fix stupid. And you can’t decide to be from now on smart. So
of the two, being a liar would be a more welcome realization to one’s ego than a sudden realization that one was in fact moronically intellectually
fucked up to the point of actually fulfilling the definition of stupid. So, we have demonstrated that.

But he IS actively stupid. Don’t misunderstand me. For one thing he doesn’t know the definition of conspiracy. A conspiracy is something that is discovered and revealed. Statements, like the ones the insufferable piles of
imbecility called Q-Anon proclaim as existing…..are merely accusations without evidence or proof. Such as UFO’s always being assumed to be industrial-level spacecraft piloted by extraterrestrial beings rather than
“unidentified” flying objects.

If they’re unidentified….then they have not
been identified. Either as spacecraft or as moths. They’re U! fo’s. Not I! fo’s. It’s the same morass of insanity as “conspiracy” claims. They’re announcements: proclamations; slogans, like, say, “aluminum hats matter”
or “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should” – that may or may not have anything to do with actual reality until actually examined and researched.

Could be the claim is true for all I know. But whether the conspiracy exists, proclaiming its existence means you found out about it. So, it’s not still a conspiracy. So, you either get on board or you eradicate it. But no one ever
does anything about the “conspiracies” that people claim to be revealing.

So they are either totally harmless or no one cares. And if no one cares….then who cares?

Well, AP hacks care, apparently. Because these conspiracy theories have a different definition for this fucker: to him all conspiracy theories are untrue
by definition. Even though a revealed conspiracy is by definition not a conspiracy. It’s an accusation. You have to learn to think your way through legal, journalist, and political ever—evolving definitions of words because
all three groups are interested in one thing only: getting YOU to believe that total absolute horseshit is completely sensible….and must be obeyed.

But let’s get back to Q-Anon. Q-anon is idiotic. Just look at the “army” they inspired with their claims that the AP dope is calling “conspiracy theories”:
potheads, football fans and drunks in Valkyrie helmets.

Here’s the proof the Democrats and hacks are idiots: they’re AFRAID of these drunken clowns. Incidentally not one arson fire was started in the Capitol building and not
one Brave Representative of the Peoples Democracy was harmed. Because they fucking fled.

A janitor with a loud voice and a stern
expression could have stopped that breaking-and-entering of over-adventurous tourists. But then the mob would not have had any reason to harm a janitor: he never created a new legal way to fuck up the citizenry.

Ocasio of course proclaimed the loudest that her fear was the most justified. She must suspect America can’t fucking stand her because she lost no time in proclaiming that she was convinced her number was up.

I’ll give all the other cowardly representatives-of-the-people credit, they kept their mouths shut and didn’t admit they were shitting their pants. But no one
has EVER said Ocasio was more than a photogenic face in front of a nonexistent brain. And no one ever said she was courageous. Including her, now.

You may have noticed if you are older than 7 and paying attention that “democracy” when used by a Democratic Marxist, which would be any Democrat, means “any person or group opposed to the dictates of the
Democratic Marxist person or group.” To a democrat “democracy” means waiting for a corrupt election to occur: meanwhile patiently putting up with everything killing you until such time as you get to vote for its repeal. While 10 million more edicts you NEVER get to vote on become law. Democracy to a journalist Democrat/Marxist dunce who flees at the sound of thunder or
windows breaking means “enduring tyranny without fighting back.”

God forbid you fight back: you would see how weak and Ocasio-level cowardly your tyrants actually are. Meanwhile, if you MUST push and shove your
way into the Capitol building, remember, breaking and entering IS actually frowned upon by the Left AND the Right. But it’s not insurrection.

Despite what hacks at the AP say. It’s breaking and entering.

–J.J. Solari

“We are looking forward to introducing the full 2022 motorcycle line-up on January 26th at the ‘Further. Faster.’ World Premiere Event – we hope you join us for the show!” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson.

To take part in the January 26th “Further. Faster.” World Premiere Event, register at H-D.com/22.

Sport Category

Adventure Touring Category

Cruiser Category
To allow any rider to make a personal statement, Harley-Davidson offers a wide variety of motorcycle styles within the Cruiser segment, from nostalgic to very modern. A cruiser rider seeks to disconnect from an increasingly hectic life, and only the world’s most desirable motorcycle company can offer these riders so many ways to reach that goal. For 2022 new paint colors are offered across the Cruiser model line-up.

    • Softail® Standard model: With its raw, stripped-down bobber style, this motorcycle is a blank canvas for customization. New for 2022 Annihilator cast aluminum wheels with Silver finish replace laced wheels.

    • Street Bob® 114 model: A gritty, stripped-down bobber cloaked in black and powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, the Street Bob 114 model is an ideal foundation for customization based on performance. New for 2022, Annihilator cast aluminum wheels with Gloss Black finish replace laced wheels.

    • Fat Boy® 114 model: The original fat-custom icon commands the road with a steamroller stance. For 2022 its Lakester cast aluminum wheels are re-styled with 11 turbine-like spokes and an open center, and the classic Fat Boy® model tank badge is revised and now has a single trailing “wing” while retaining the centered star.

    • Iron 883™ model: Blacked-out and stripped-down Sportster® with a legendary profile.

    • Forty-Eight® model: Heavy-hitting fat-tire Sportster® style with an iconic peanut tank and bulldog stance.

Grand American Touring Category

For 2022 these Grand American Touring models feature new paint color options.

    • Electra Glide® Standard model: Everything needed for a lifetime of cross-country adventure with potential for customization. An attainable choice for purists looking to disconnect and enjoy the ride. Powered by Milwaukee-Eight® 107 engine.

    • Road King® model: A stripped-down highway legend with neo-classic chrome styling and modern touring performance. Powered by Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine.

    • Street Glide® model: The original hot-rod bagger for riders seeking a slammed, custom look with high style in town and the ability to cover highway miles in comfort. Features a Boom!™ Box 4.3 infotainment system. Powered by Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine.

    • Road King® Special model: A custom bagger with top-of-the-line power and a commanding presence for the rider seeking hot rod performance with iconic Harley-Davidson style. Features a Daymaker LED headlamp, Prodigy custom wheels and Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine.

    • Street Glide® Special model: The original slammed factory-custom bagger offers highway-shredding power and a choice of blacked-out or chrome finish. Features a Daymaker LED headlamp, Boom!™ Box GTS infotainment system, Prodigy custom wheels and Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine.

    • Ultra Limited model: For the rider seeking a premium, fully-loaded touring experience with zero compromises. Features include Tour-Pak® luggage carrier, Boom!™ Box GTS infotainment system, heated hand grips, cruise control, Daymaker LED lighting, Slicer II custom wheels and Twin Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine.

    • Road Glide® Limited model: A masterful touring machine built to cover mile after mile with gear and a passenger. Features include a frame-mounted, aerodynamic shark nose fairing with dual Daymaker LED headlamps, Tour-Pak® luggage carrier, Boom!™ Box GTS infotainment system, heated hand grips, cruise control, Slicer II custom wheels and Twin Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine.

Trike Category

    • Freewheeler® model: This cruiser-inspired trike offers hot-rod attitude on three wheels with mini ape hanger handlebar, bobtail fenders, chrome Hiawatha headlamp, Enforcer wheels and slash cut pipes, standard Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson and the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine. New for 2022 is a Chrome and Gloss Black tank medallion in a classic “V” shape. A new optional two-tone paint scheme in Midnight Crimson/Vivid Black is applied to the front and rear fenders and the fuel tank.

    • Tri Glide® Ultra model: A long-haul American touring trike designed to go the distance with comfort, torque and style. Features include Tomahawk™ custom wheels, premium Boom!™ Box GTS infotainment system, trunk and King Tour-Pak luggage carrier, Daymaker LED headlamp,  standard Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson and Twin Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine. New for 2022 is an intricate Cloisonné tank medallion in Chrome with Black and Red glass fill, and optional two-tone paint schemes in Midnight Crimson/Vivid Black or Gauntlet Gray Metallic/Vivid Black, each with a dual pinstripe.

About Harley-Davidson

 

I was personally reminded of this truth a few weeks ago, when I put a coat of primer on my cleaned-up winter project XR250R frame. With the freshly sandblasted and wiped-down frame hanging in the garage, I started spraying paint, and it wasn’t long before the fumes reminded me I should be really wearing some type of mask or respirator.

All of that got me thinking that I should review my garage’s safety items. Here are some items of essential kit for the home DIY enthusiast:

 

Safety glasses
Working on cars is tough enough when you can see what you are doing. This hobby is a whole lot more challenging if you lose your sight. Eye protection is no joke. I have a friend who lost an eye to a screwdriver, and another who had to visit the ER after a single wire from a wire brush on a grinder went straight into his cornea. Neither of them is shy about explaining what a horrible experience it is to suffer eye damage, and these two situation don’t even account for the risk of caustic chemical spray or splash.

Simple safety glasses can save your sight. Much like everything else in the garage, it’s wise not to cheap out; spend a little money here to get glasses that fit you well and are comfortable. You won’t wear them if you don’t like them, and safety glasses only work if you wear them.

Personally I have Oakley M-Frame glasses with changeable lenses. I find them to have great coverage while also being all-day wearable. Look around your local hardware store or welding supply as they typically have a range of OSHA-approved options.

 

Nitrile disposable gloves
The skin is also the largest human organ. Folks often think skin serves to protect our insides, but it needs to be protected too. Solvents and oils can be quickly absorbed through the skin and carried in the bloodstream, to your liver, which can’t really do much with non-organic chemicals. Over time, these can build up and cause significant health problems.

Some basic, disposable nitrile gloves can make all the difference. Latex and other glove options don’t hold up well to the chemicals mechanics expose themselves to, and thus should be avoided unless they are the only option. Nitrile is really what you want, and be sure to source a thickness that will hold up to the task at hand. Gloves offer no protection if they are torn open.

 

Heavy leather gloves
Nitrile gloves will keep chemicals from absorbing into your skin, but they do very little to protect from heat, cold, vibration, or abrasion. That is where a pair of leather gloves can really help. Awhile back, I got some (well-deserved) comments on an article about using an impact driver reminding me that using one without a nice glove is a quick way to lose some skin. Whether it’s holding a punch while hitting it with a hammer, keeping safe while working with hot things like welded parts, or handling items you are trying to break loose with heat, leather gloves can be a lifesaver.

 

Hearing protection
There is often no treatment for hearing loss. The annoyance of pausing for 10 seconds to cover or insulate your eardrums pales in comparison to the frustration of struggling to hear. Protection for your ears comes in a few forms, and each has its merits. Over-the-ear muffs are convenient, in-ear plugs are affordable and transport easily, and custom-molded are all-day comfortable (and very durable). I took an afternoon and visited an audiologist to have my custom molds made. While there, I realized I was the youngest patient by decades, which hopefully means I won’t be returning any time soon.

 

Respirator
The short list above covers three of the five senses, and a respirator is all about making sure you don’t taste or smell harmful aerosols. We all have to breathe to stay alive, and a respirator is designed to make sure your lungs stay in a condition that allows you to keep breathing.

A commercial garage is rife with airborne compounds you should not inhale, and home garages are not much better. Aerosol solvents and paints all have damaging effects on human lungs and should be carefully avoided. Sawdust or grinding debris is no different. Paper or fabric masks are better than nothing, but a proper well-fitting respirator is the right tool for the job. I just picked up a nice 3M unit with replaceable cartridges that covers just about everything in my garage. Only thing to keep in mind is that the replaceable cartridges do have a shelf life, both in their packaging and once opened. Extend it by keeping them in sealed plastic bags labeled with the date they were put into use, and replace them regularly.

 

Auto-darkening welding helmet

Stay safe out there!

This lifelong lover of two wheels grew up in Los Angeles in the 1960s, a decade marked by civil rights uprisings and antiwar protests. Fax’s parents sought to give her and her siblings a leg up and a foot out the door so the kids could achieve the life they aspired to, even if the social representation wasn’t there.

“We were actually very poor,” Fax recalls. “We didn’t have anything but a lot of hand-me-downs. We really weren’t able to get new clothes. We had old bicycles. But my father and my mother were insistent on making sure that we were exposed to things that most African American children were not exposed to.”

From a young age, Fax found herself the odd one out in most extracurricular activities. Her skin tone aside, she was a tomboy and often the only girl. She’s used to surprising people. Case in point: Her first experience behind the handlebars was a minibike race against a bunch of boys. Fax was 8. She learned the basics of the bike only minutes before approaching the starting line.

And she won her race.

When she was 13, her family moved to a small town in Ohio. A city slicker, born and raised, Fax was invigorated by the wide-open spaces and the chance to get lost in the landscape with her younger brother riding on the back of her dirt bike. They chased down long, rural roads and returned home with more than a few skinned knees. That’s where she finally figured out how to work a clutch. That’s where she came into her own as a rider.

Her first vehicle had been a moped at age 10 while living in Los Angeles. Then she upgraded to the 175 Honda dirt bike. With Ohio highways summoning Fax like a siren song, she needed something with more power.

“Went from the 175 to a street bike because I could go farther,” she says. “I got a 1969 350 Honda twin with a two-tone tank, red and white. By the time I was in college, I’d put 100,000 miles on that thing.”

“I rode that bike all the way back from Hazard County, Kentucky, to the little town in Ohio that I lived in,” Fax says. “Everybody kept telling me my life was going to change after I bought the Harley. Let me tell you something: Everything changed. Being a female on a big V-twin, alone, I think was astounding enough. The fact that I was an African American female on the bike made it an even sweeter deal — it was like the circus came to town …

“That motorcycle opened up more doors than I ever could have imagined.”

Today, Fax’s daily rider is a 2001 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic. She also owns a 1995 Honda XR250R dirt bike and a 1999 Sportster 883 Hugger that she turned into a bobber “for banging around town.” She’s currently rebuilding the Shovelhead.

Fax’s unabashed drive to reach for her dreams (and beyond) has led to a life packed with accolades that include appearing on the covers of biker magazines; starring in documentary films (Biker Women and The Litas); performing bass with the band Klymaxx on MTV and Soul Train, and becoming an entry point to motorcycling for so many other women riders around the globe. Earlier this year, she was invited by Polaris to join the company’s new Empowersports Women’s Riding Council, which was formed to increase representation, inclusion, and participation of women in Powersports. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her partner of 25 years, has a master’s degree in education, and works as a K-12 teacher. In light of Covid, she now teaches physical education online, concentrating her instruction on basic survival skills, health, safety, and teamwork until group activities are permissible again.

We caught up with Fax to find out more about what compels her to choose two wheels and live life in the wind.

What was your first bike?

I started riding when I was 8, but I didn’t get a “motorcycle” until I was 10. My dad had his own company as a painter and decorator, and he was working for Philip Fowler, who owned Southern Comfort Whiskey at the time. He was on a job, and Philip was giving him a walk-through. My dad happened to see this moped — basically a motorbike — in Philip’s garage.

Philip says, “We imported that from Italy five years ago. It’s been sitting in the garage since. If your daughter can get it running, you can have it.”

You’ve said motorcycles opened up new doors for your career. How so?

There were not many African American women on motorcycles, and even if they were, they certainly were not on Harleys. I became kind of a unicorn. It got me seen — for the first time, people were actually seeing me instead of me being invisible.

I ended up gracing the covers of American Motor Scene magazine, Harley Women, Girl Guide, and Black Rider. In doing those covers, I landed a few more modeling jobs, a few more commercials. I appeared in Biker Women, a documentary that was aired on the Discovery Channel. Within one week, it went international … All of us were on billboards. We were on the sides of buses. This was the biggest thing any of us had ever done, and it literally blew my head off my shoulders.

How do you hope to inspire other women through your endeavors?

What’s your favorite biker ritual?

I call it a circle of love or a circle of safety. Before I take off on my motorcycle, I walk around my bike very slowly, and I check everything on it to make sure everything’s good before I get out on the road. It’s also a form of meditation and prayer.

Where would you love to ride to next?

I want to go coast to coast. I haven’t done that yet. And then I want to go to Alaska.

The best thing about living life in the wind?

Honestly, I can’t breathe unless I can ride. I didn’t realize how much of a release it is for me until I was injured at one point and couldn’t ride for a while. I almost went crazy — at least, that’s what it felt like. Heaven forbid I become blind because that would be the worst. I would have to hire somebody to drive me around in a sidecar.

Somebody said to me, “Well, now that you’re getting older, do you think that you may not ride anymore?”

The sound…potato-potato, a rumble from within, these are all one in the same: this is Harley-Davidson. Whether young or old, once you have heard it, I believe, you will never forget it. Even more gripping is the emotion that “the sound” brings to anyone who has thrown a leg over the famous cycle and spent any time on the road with one. To be honest, it’s an addiction that I have yet attempted to curb. The feeling of the engine, the roads’ vibrations and the rhythmic thumping gets into your soul and once you are bit, it never truly goes away.

I am experiencing a real winter for the first time in my cycling life. My wife and I moved from Houston, Texas, where we’ve lived together since our marriage in 1996,
 to just outside Chicago, Illinois. I now understand the “chrome sweats”, and for the first time in my motorcycle enthusiast lifetime, I get to upgrade the bike in the winter and long for the warmer springtime to ride again.

The wonderful thing about modifying is it at least gives you an outlet until the roads thaw out and the bike can be taken out again. You have time to plan, to dream, to save, and to do the work if you can find a warm spot in the garage.

Whenever I would hear of adding pipes to a fuel injected motorcycle, I would cringe thinking of pipes, tuners, air filters, dyno time, dyno tuners, and the like. This combination of possible issues can be confusing at times, especially today as the newer bikes are becoming harder and harder to legally tune without the fear of the dreaded “voiding your warranty”. Almost like the Catholic kids getting threatened with the punishment of their evil thoughts, the warranty fear is held over your head and creates the dreaded “I don’t want to void my warranty” scare. Today’s market makes it much more enticing to try though…especially when you do a little research.

For myself, I decided it was time to remove the heavy, hot, stock head pipe (with catalytic converter), mufflers, and replace it with an actual exhaust system. Even though my bike is twin-cooled, it would get ridiculously hot on the right side. I have made two previous exhaust mods to this bike in the 6 years since I’ve had her, such as Rush Big Louie slip-on mufflers, Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannons, and added a high flow filter hoping to get a little rumble without breaking the bank.

I always loved the look of a clean 2-into-1 performance pipe and Thunderheader was the “go to” in years past. D&D came on the scene and I believe is now the most popular choice among those in the “performance bagger” world. Two Bros. Racing is starting to gain traction as well with their stylish and versatile applications. For me and my money, style had to match looks and I wanted the pipe that I feel has the sexiest bends in the biz, The Bassani!

I searched and searched and finally decided on the blacked out Bassani Road Rage 2. Being in Illinois, I’ve heard the roads can wreak havoc on chrome and the black has a durable reputation…we will see. Quick search on Amazon, placed it in my cart, and click…it’s on the way.

Of course, this modification also required a tuner. I decided on the Vance and Hines FuelPaK 3 as it is a blue tooth enabled program that plugs directly into my 6-pin connector and provides a basic map for my configuration. Plus, with this tuner, there’s no need for a dyno tune. As I read more about it, I realized this tuner has many more facets and features than I could want or need, so for the money it was the one I chose. Let’s see how I feel in a couple of years. It’s received reviews from every end of the spectrum but has been around long enough I’m hoping the bugs are all worked out.

The last modification came as a need vs. a want is my rear suspension. I decided on the American-made Legends Revo 12” for the rear. While they have the same height as the H-D Low shocks, they have more travel and better sag setting. Again, you can get into a whole new set of options when you decide to shop for suspension and can spend anywhere from 350-1500 on a set of rear shocks. I went with the base Legend Revo, which has great reviews and was reasonably priced.

Meanwhile back at the exhaust system: I removed the main fuse first, then the bags, then the mufflers. I had to remove the right floorboard and bracket to clear the way for the headpipe maneuvering and removal. I was extremely careful before I started removing anything and sprayed all the fasteners I would be working with the night before with some penetrating oil. Rust and corrosion had shown signs on a few fasteners and the last thing I wanted was to twist something off.

When you remove the headpipe, be extra careful when removing the O2 sensors and remember which one goes where. I always use a pen and paper to write notes while working on the bike and noted the plug positions, the black connector to the rear pipe and gray connector to the front pipe.

I made sure to loosely attach the headpipe, main bracket, main muffler bracket, and muffler support bracket until I could line everything up and then slowly tightened the headpipe first, then the main bracket, and then the muffler last. Of course, I plugged the main fuse back in at this point. Before I put the tuner or the heat-shields on the bike, I decided to heat cycle the pipe a few times to warm it up then recheck the tightness of the fittings. I also checked for exhaust leaks at the head pipe with a little spray of carb/choke cleaner at the exhaust connections (on first start up so as not to have a fire), and I didn’t hear or feel a change in exhaust note or intake noise.

It was hard to be patient as the more I placed each piece on the bike, the more awesome it looked and I wanted to rush to fire her up. Because it was in the low teens outside, the weather would force me to take breaks and go back inside to warm up. While this slowed the operation, it assisted in preventing me from rushing and screwing something up.

Once the pipe was on and heat-cycled three different times, I just followed the directions for heat-shield placement and carefully attached the shields. The look of the pipe was outstanding in my opinion and from the small sample I heard sounded dramatically different, and definitely in a good way. The deeper rumble replaced the old rattling and I am sure is far lighter than the stock monstrosity. Definitely worth the money for me.

Next step was the Fuelpak, which couldn’t have been easier.

You will receive instructions asking you if you would like to pair the tuner to your bike and gives you the option for maps. You can also select an “Autotune” option, but I just went with a pre-mapped program. You will be prompted that the bike has paired and mapped the download and then you get instructions to turn off the power for 30 seconds. Your phone’s app will automatically start a timer so you don’t screw up and then you get a prompt to turn the bikes power on.

The last mod for this project was the rear suspension. The shocks are as simple as it comes. Just jack the bike up enough so the wheel is stable but the swing arm is neutral, or doesn’t hang down. Remove one shock and replace with the Legend shock.

So, I basically spent a couple of bucks on Amazon, a couple of afternoons in the garage, and I was able to change the look and feel of my motorcycle significantly to improve overall enjoyment in my ride. While I can guarantee this isn’t the last mod I’m planning, it has been one of the easiest I’ve tackled. Since I made these changes, I have already ordered some new brake rotors and will replace next week.

I used basic hand tools, a Harbor Freight Motorcycle lift, a scissor jack, and a good radio station to keep me calm during the whole thing. I can tell you, if you start hitting a sticking point, or if you start having trouble with a nut, it is best to take a break. I have cost myself thousands over the years because I was in a rush and would push it past my limits and either I’d hear a pop, a snap, an abrupt release on the wrench…all bad things that required replacing something and more time down.

 

Batteries
Some amusing lagniappe with some interesting information on the subject.

 

See Also: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/12/breaking_the_maritime_shipping_impasse.html

My grandson, Frank Ball Jr. and I made the run to Sturgis with a Kendon two-bike trailer, our 1928 Shovelhead and the 5-Ball Racing Crazy Horse powered mascot bike. Both quirky, flat-side tank bikes. We jammed out and rode around the rally and had a blast.

Of course, he got the bug and had to make the run on his own terms in 2021. The changing times have been enormous. When I started coming to Sturgis it was about 50/50 between electric starts and kickers. The last couple of years Frankie rode a Pro Street styled FXR with a CCE glide front end I built, and Bob T.’s FXRP, but he was having the engine upgraded by Bennett’s Performance and Eric pulled a cylinder stud and we were on the hunt for a new set of cases. S&S came to the rescue with the help of Jason Mook at Deadwood Custom Cycles

Frankie had a few years under his belt with the evils of custom motorcycles, breakdowns and hard-to-find components. Plus, his dad recently bought a late model Road Glide and natch, wanted his son to be riding a similar bike.

Bada Bing, Frankie stumbled into Bartels, where Deb Black handles our 5-Ball Leather line. He plunked down $32,000 and rode out on a new Midnight Crimson Road Glide, which was blacked out. “Family seems to be moving away,” Frankie said. “I needed something reliable for long distance runs.”

That was his jab, since his dad moved to Austin, Texas recently, and I peeled out of California for the Badlands.

Rally time approached and Frank started checking his run options. He could ride with his brother, Charlie, the Barber, to Vegas and Salt Lake and across Wyoming on the 40 and then north and east into the Badlands.

He also met up with a group heading into Montana and then Yellowstone, sort of the long scenic way. But then he hooked up with Jeff Holt, the V-Twin Visionary with a shop in Phoenix. Jeff had a plan to ride the million-dollar highway out of the desert, into Wyoming and onto Deadwood, where they would all crash at the 5-Ball Headquarters in Deadwood.

There was an additional benefit to riding with the Visionary, who was scheduled to produced bike shows for Harley-Davidson. Jeff’s Phoenix based shop was available to install and new pipe on his Glide.

“He had a bunch of aftermarket stuff at his shop to throw on my Road Glide,” Frankie said. “Jeff was ready and experienced at installing the Sawicki, stainless, two-into-one bagger exhaust system.”

Charlie and Frank had a plan to peel out of Los Angeles before the crack of dawn. They could hardly sleep after packing, checking, packing, checking and packing again.

The coast to Phoenix would blister and LA traffic was always a challenge. They rose with a start at 3:00 a.m., suited up and hit the road by 4:00 a.m. They jammed in the dark from homeless encampment Venice to interstate 10 and across downtown Los Angeles on the escape route to Palm Springs where commuter traffic diminished and they could push their speeds and ramble around lumbering semi-trucks taking goods all across the country.

Outside Palm Springs Charlie signaled for a gas stop. The sun began to crest the mountain pass leading into 74 Palms, California where we have a brother who lives in a rusting ’59 Cadillac shell. They gassed up but recently learned of unrelenting traffic snarls leading into the Phoenix metropolis. They had to fill-up, pay, down a protein bar, share a coffee and hit the road.

The Bandit recommendations allowed them to dodge morning traffic as the sun warmed the asphalt desert streets. Frankie was excited. Everything went as planned, but Phoenix was hot. Their late model bikes carried them effortlessly to Jeff’s shop and they hung out for an hour before the Visionary arrived.

It was breakfast burrito time as they checked out the Super clean shop. Three lifts stood ready on Jeff’s side of the shop. They shared mechanics with Jeff and FXR manufacturing.

Maggie has an office. The industrial park was surrounded by galvanized chain link fence, sand and broke down cars.

The Collective of Phoenix shop shared a building with FXR Division, aftermarket performance shop, building exhaust and T-Bars. They also build super-strong brackets for Thunderheaders.

They went to work installing the two-into-one Sawicki Performance Pipe, Pro One running boards, LED headlights and bullets in the front and rear. Heading to Dyno-Tune, the Visionary noted that Harley changed the mapping on the 2021 models and no one had the software needed to dyno his new bagger. They had an aftermarket air cleaner, but he held off. “Can’t dyno-tune your bike,” said Jeff. “If you do it will void your warranty.”

The highly trained mechanic, Danny, Motorwitch, Ray who worked at Bartels previously took care of everything.

He’s also turns 114-inch M8s into 129 road dragons. Shops were cool and nice. Outside it blistered at 110 degrees.

They had some hand guards he wanted but they wouldn’t fit a ‘21. Otherwise, everything bolted up. They reach out to Zipper’s for help with mapping.

Everything went smooth except the second bracket nut to the Sawicki, which bolted to transmission. Sawicki didn’t ship with square nuts to fit inside the bracket, made it impossible to attach both mounting bolts.

Here’s the official data from Sawicki

**NEW** 2-into-1 Bagger Mid-Length Pipe

Our Bagger Midlength is now available, off the shelf, ready to ship TODAY!

Features:
Designed with Performance in mind. For a deadly look and great sound.
Same classic stepped performance headers from our best-selling Bagger Shorty pipe
Mandrel Bent Stainless Steel Tubing, 1-3/4″ primary to 2″ step to allow maximum transfer
Mid-length muffler terminates midway beneath standard bags
Hand Formed Merge Collector allows precise flow performance.
All TIG welds performed by hand in our Charlotte, NC manufacturing facility

Finish Options:
Brushed Stainless Steel
Black ceramic coated Stainless Steel
End Cap Options:
Billet end cap allows you to tune the sound for your liking, by adding or removing packing
Sealed End Cap “Cannon” is a fully welded stainless end cap

Badge:
All sealed-end Cannon pipes come standard with a badge on the front muffler cone

Other Details and Fitment Notes:
Accepts 18mm o2 Sensors for aftermarket tuners or 12mm Sensors with reducers
Must use flat mesh race style exhaust gaskets (not included)
Flanges not included
O2 sensor lengths may vary by year; extensions may be required
pre-’08 bagger models will require spacers at the mounting bracket

1. Remove existing exhaust, all existing aftermarket and factory exhaust brackets. **On baggers you will need to remove the Right-side floorboard to adjust the pipe into the correct position**

2. Remove factory exhaust gaskets. Replace with Part# 17048-98, Screamin’ Eagle Performance Exhaust Gasket kit. *These are required and provide a correct fit and ensure no gasket material blocking the port*

3. Remove transmission side cover (if your model has this cover). Remove two lower transmission housing bolts.

4. Install the mounting bracket to the transmission housing using the factory hardware. Torque to 13-16 ft-lbs. (Ensure the bracket is not cocked or caught on anything, it should be flat on the transmission housing) Make sure any factory standoffs are removed.

5. Move factory exhaust flanges and retainers to new exhaust system. *If installing a Ceramic Black pipe, leave protective film on the exhaust so it does not get scratched*

6. Apply a small amount of anti-seize compound to the threads of the oxygen sensors and install them into the new head pipe. **18mm to 12mm oxygen sensor adapter may be required on some models.** All of our Pipes run 18mm O2 bungs so you can run an auto tune system with Wideband o2 sensors.

7. Using stock flange nuts, carefully install the header assemblies onto the motorcycle. *Do NOT tighten, just start them a turn or two.*

8. Slip the collector onto the headers. You may have to use a soft/rubber mallet on the headers to slide them into the collector.

9. Position the muffler and headers so that it clears all points of the motor, frame and controls. **Remember, this is a 3-part system so it will require some adjusting to make everything line up**

10. Start the bracket hardware and snug down *Do not tighten them yet*

11. Check fitment and clearance around all critical areas; this is your opportunity to adjust the system by twisting and rotating.

12. From back to front, tighten down the exhaust system, ensuring that nothing moves as you go. (We question this procedure.  All other exhaust systems for rubber-mount bikes call for tightening from front to back. You don’t want to wedge the exhaust system against a vibrating engine. Could cause cracks.)

13. Install supplied exhaust springs once everything is tight.

14. Check all fasteners, fitment, and wiring. This is a great opportunity to make sure everything is clearing how it should.

15. Good practice with Raw stainless pipes is to get all the oils from your hands off before starting up so that it does not stain. You don’t need to go crazy! Acetone or something similar with a shop towel works great for this.

16. Start the bike and allow it to idle until the pipe is hot. Allow the pipe to completely cool. This will ensure that the coating is completely set up on black pipes and it will temper raw brushed pipes, so they keep that nice flashy stainless color!

17. You’re done! Go forth and disturb the peace!

Important Notes:

– A stainless steel pipe is a great indication of how your bike is running. A pipe that turns black or is unreasonably hot is an indication there is a tuning issue.

– We often get asked what to do if you burn something onto a Raw pipe. The best solution is to brush the affected area until it is free from whatever is stuck to it. We use RED Scotchbrite pads here. Go perpendicular with the grain of the pipe, not lengthwise.

This is a great way to renew the finish of a well-used pipe; Stainless can always look brand new with enough elbow grease!

FAQS

Do your pipes have O2 Bungs?

Yes!! All our pipes have 18mm bungs in them, so you can use aftermarket wideband sensors or factory sensors. If your bike came from the factory with 12mm sensors, you will need a 12mm-18mm Sensor adapter. If your bike doesn’t have O2 sensors you will need a 18mm sensor plug. you can request Custom pipes without sensor bungs if you so prefer

Does your pipe come with 12mm-18mm adapters?

No. You will need to get 12-18mm adapters from your local dealer if you are running the small style sensors.

What kind of performance gains?

Our Exhaust systems will provide performance gains across the RPM Range. The results will vary based on Displacement, Compression and General Performance modifications done to the motor. Please refer to our Facebook/Instagram for dyno Graphs we post.

Do your systems include exhaust port gaskets?

No, we suggest Screaming Eagle Exhaust Gaskets from your local Harley Davidson dealer.

Can I repack my muffler?

Mufflers with our removable endcap can be repacked to your liking with a variety of packing. they come packed with Stainless steel wool, but fiberglass and other options work very well and change the tone of the pipe.

Our Sealed cap / Slash Cut mufflers are non-Serviceable .

Do you make custom exhaust systems?

Yes! Contact us at admin@sawickispeedshop.com for all custom inquires

What if my pipe breaks?

We handle warranty based on a case-by-case basis. Unless the pipe is obviously broken from a crash/hit/dragged, then we will happily issue you a Warranty repair or replacement if it is within the first year (sometimes longer even). All warranty or repairs require the item in question to be sent back to Sawicki Speed Shop before a replacement/repair is sent out. please see

Where can I get spare parts?!

Almost everything is available under the “parts” section of the store. If you don’t see what you’re after shoot us an email.

Questions not answered here?

Feel free to email us at admin@sawickispeedshop.com with any questions we didn’t cover here

Much of the above, which was well thought out, will apply to almost any system.

They left the shop and rode to the Hotel. It was time to relax at a Phoenix Italian joint with Jeff and his magnificent and hardworking wife. After a good night’s sleep, they jumped out of the sack and met Jeff at 7:00 for breakfast and rode to Payson, Arizona, an hour away, at a cooling elevation of 5000 feet and met up with two other guys. One came from Oklahoma on a Road King. He had a 129-inch M8. It ripped. Fastest bike in the pack, but he took it easy, maybe out of respect for the other riders and the chase vehicle.

The other guy, Mark, was from Payson, with a population of 15,000. Frank tattooed him in Austin, Texas. Funny guy on a white Road Glide. Apes. He has a Shovelhead Chopper back home.

Jetted out through Navajo Nation and ran into a spiritual Indian biker, who gave them pins and wished them a safe trip. “We were in New Mexico briefly then into Colorado to Durango and met up with folks from Durango, H-D,” Frankie said. “We met with their Social Media girl at a famous barbecue place in Durango around the corner from the dealership.”

Next morning, they rode through Durango and over the winding Coal Bank pass on the San Juan Skyway with the Million Dollar Highway connecting Silverton and then into Ouray. Frankie felt good and strong as his bike crested the 10,000-foot pass and descended into the town of just over 500.

“Some in the pack were burnt out,” Frank said, “so we stayed in a small town. We didn’t make it that far but crashed out and hit it early.”

“Everything was running good,” Frank added. “The glide sounded like a real Harley, running strong.” In Montrose they headed East toward Gunnison and Salida. As they hit the road north out of Salida toward Wyoming, Charlie got crossed up at one of the many junctions outside Denver. The brother may have been looking for a two-laner around Denver and into Wyoming. “I went back for Charlie,” Frank said. “Then we peeled to Denver, got gas and hit Highway 28 as quickly as possible to catch the pack in Cheyenne, 100 mph all the way.”

They didn’t hesitate or hang out in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where monsoon rains met them, but they barreled through the state and into the Badlands and ultimately Deadwood to the new Bikernet Nerve Center in the center of town. They could smell the girls’ perfumes and chili from the crest of the pass in Lead, South Dakota. They followed lingering smells wafting through the canyon and the buzzing glow of the intergalactic headquarters as it generated 17 million watts of supreme chopper knowledge through the World Wide Web via staff members at all corners of the globe. It’s a little terrifying to watch a 100-year-old home glow against the hillside in the historic presidential district, but they didn’t hesitate to keep rolling.

“We were excited to get there,” Frankie said. They arrived on Thursday and by Saturday, refreshed they rolled to Legends Suspension on Whitewood Road on the outskirts of Sturgis. Speaking of high energy, Sturgis is the supreme being of motorcycle towns. Every year more brothers and sister move to the epicenter of the Chopper Nation. The sidewalks rumble. Buildings are made of old exhaust pipes and steel sculptures line Main Street. There are 400 bars, one motorcycle museum and two restaurants. Even the hardware store sells motorcycle parts.

The largest Indian Dealer in the World has three massive buildings on the edge of town. More and more motorcycle industry giants are moving to Sturgis just to feel the vibe 365 days of the year.

Legends did the same. They wanted a Road Glide to use for a tech for the V-Twin Instagram page. They chose Frank’s 2021 Glide to install front and rear suspension system. The Visionary set it up and here’s the straight scoop from the Legends World Headquarters on the edge of Motorcycle Nirvana.

I believe we installed our AXEO front cartridges and the 13-inch Revo-ARC Black Remote Reservoir system on Frank’s bike. Below are details on each of the products used.

The Legend REVO ARC (Adjustable Rebound & Compression) is available in Piggyback models for Dyna, FXR, and Sportster models and as Remote Reservoirs for all FL models.

The Legend REVO-ARC’s feature Adjustable Rebound & Compression damping and utilize Legend’s touring specific extended coil length. This creates a larger “sweet spot” without increasing overall shock length providing an improved, plush, yet performance ride quality featuring increased control, and resistance to bottoming out. Legend’s unique spring rate requires minimal pre-load adjustments between riders’ weights or loads. ACME course threaded body easily adjusts by hand, so no tools are required.

The Legend ARC provides optimum rebound and compression performance for any given rider weight, personal ride quality preference, or personal riding style. Seven position external adjuster knobs allow fine-tuning of compression and seven more adjustments fine-tune rebound. Light to heavy riders can fine-tune ride preference while aggressive to casual riding styles can tune to desired quality or personal preference.

The shocks feature 35mm billet aluminum monotube dampers, deflective disc damping valve stack, low friction sealing system and PTFE based sliding bearings allow stiction-free movement for improved performance and feel, balanced piston and base-valve designed specifically for motorcycle applications and include a Nitrogen gas bladder design allowing ultra-fast response. Easy installation and alignment are provided by spherical bearings on both top and bottom.

Made in the USA and backed by a lifetime warranty, Legend REVO ARC Remote Reservoir and Piggyback coil suspension systems are designed for optimum performance with any of Legend Suspensions’ AXEO high performance front cartridge kits.

Legend REVO ARC Piggyback and Remote Reservoir systems are available in 13” or 14” standard, or heavy-duty applications, with a Black Type III Hard Coat Anodize finish.

NOTE: FL Heavy Duty applications are recommended for 500lb. + rider and passenger total weight.

NOTE: DYNA, FXR, SPORTSTER: Heavy Duty application are recommended for 250lb.+ rider and passenger total weight. Also consider Heavy Duty if most of your riding is 2-UP, stunt riding, or aggressive riding style.

AXEO – Basic Overview

Our AXEO front end kits include two identically built cartridges with our unique design due to a floating piston that separates the oil filled damper chamber from a nitrogen chamber. This floating piston is essentially a load sensing component that allows for a nice comfortable ride while the suspension is traveling over normal road conditions (i.e., expansion joints, cracks, etc.) where you’re using the first couple inches of stroke.

In the situation where the fork travels into the third and fourth inches of travel due to high-speed cornering, hard braking or extreme road hazards (i.e., uneven bridge joints and railroad tracks, man hole covers, drain basins, etc.) the floating piston is engaged to provide the extra bottoming resistance. This is due to the velocity at which the fork is traveling and the fact that the damper piston cannot keep up with demand to flow oil through the piston and shim stack.

The difference in pressure forces the floating piston into the nitrogen chamber which compounds the pressure and reduces the bottoming effect. The other benefit to this is that the nitrogen pressure when compressed, assists the springs to return the front end back to the extended position, keeping the front wheel firmly planted on the road and the chassis back to the proper ride height. We have had resounding comments from customers that have installed the AXEO’s stating that they’ve never felt the front end of their bike feel so stable, secure and positive.

“First they replaced the rear suspension on a lift,” Frankie reported. “They took the bags off. It was easy except for mounting the adjustable reservoirs. They provided night and day suspension and handling over the stock system.” With the Legends system he could adjust for riding style, passenger or load. “It turns better and is cleaner and smoother the faster you go.”

Sturgis was once a wild party, and an escape from citizens, a showdown for clubs, the wild west for the last time. Over the years it calmed, became the highpoint of any biker’s year. It was the epicenter of the custom world with shows every day, celebrity builders, hot entertainment at night and open road rides to die for.

The bikes changed from stripped down choppers to full touring rides with high-tech electronics, massive bags and bling. The Visionary was hired by Harley-Davidson to produce a bagger show in Deadwood in Outlaw Square. Baggers rolled in from all over the country. They’ve become the lowered and metal flake ’59 Cadillacs of the motorcycle industry.

But recently they’ve challenged the factory. “Wild how baggers are done up like Dynas and FXRs,” Frankie said,” all performance and handling.” It’s up to the Visionary to market this movement through his vast social media marketplace.

Sturgis is shifting again to become the aftermarket marketplace center to meet the manufacturers and have custom or performance packages installed. It started years ago, when mechanics set up stations and discovered the money was in changing tires. Charlie had to wait several days and in line for several hours to have his thinning rear tire replaced. He stuck it out and got the job done.

True Track, designed by the late Will Phillips sets up for installations at only one event annually, and Ron kills it at the massive Black Hills H-D lot in Rapid City. It’s the only event he attends every year.

Now a brother can ride a stock bike to Sturgis and have it completely rebuilt in a week with products from any company in the country including S&S, Baker Drivetrain or…

There’s one aspect of riding to the Badlands, which hasn’t changed, and the granddaddy of the lot is the Buffalo Chip. Brothers and sisters come from all over the world to facilities like the chip, to pitch a tent, park a motorhome, or rent a cabin and party. The chip has all the facilities available from restaurants, state of the art concerts with major players, to shows, demonstrations, and you never need to leave the facility. Rod “Woody” Woodruff and his entire family run what will become the City of Buffalo Chip, like a fine-tuned clock.

In the early days, brothers were introduced to events encompassed in one location and cut off from the town to allow the party to rage without interference from the Man. That was a big deal in those days because the Man fucked with bikers constantly. The Chip took on that mantra. Once you rode through the tall gates, girls could be topless all day long and smoking a joint or revving straight pipes was cheered not frowned upon or ticketed. It was pure party 24/7.

One of Frankie’s other goals was to see and meet tattoo artists from all over the world. His missions included, jazzing up his dresser and checking what the tattoo wild west was up to.

Too soon the week dwindled, and folks started to peel for home, or maybe a ride through Yellowstone or the painted desert before heading home. “I felt like folks left early,” Frankie said.

Getting ready to leave the Badlands, Charlie broke his spark plug off in his rear head. He was bitching about his handlebar bushings. But Frank convinced him to leave them alone. So Charlie turned to replacing his spark plugs. They kept twisting on it and finally it left the threads in the head, bad news.

Bennett’s Performance upgraded his drivetrain and his bike contained tons of anxious torque and top end power. “He didn’t need to change his plugs,” Frank said.

This is a mystery to me. He didn’t just break off the ceramic top but took the nut with it leaving the threads in the head. I was up late consulting with the group as to the options before him. I was on Covid lockdown, so unable to help in the shop in Deadwood, but Jason Mook, from Deadwood Custom Cycles could, but he was going to shut his shop down for much needed break after the rally.

We made arrangements to deliver the bike to Jason’s shop for the repair. Ultimately Jason was forced to remove the head, remove the plug, check the threads and put it back together.

That wasn’t the only issue facing Charlie on the run back to the West Coast, and the story gets even better. But Charlie has a new love, so we won’t dwell on Strippers, disease, Vegas and delays.

Charlie followed Frankie and another rider in a rental car to Salt Lake where he lost his way. Frankie spent the night and the next morning his riding partner was gone and Charlie, well, I can’t go there.

Frank peeled onto Interstate 15 south and rolled into the Mandalay Bay resort for shower and an overnight rest. Charlie arrived late, but he had the Covid, so Frank peeled out at the crack of dawn to meet up with his Tattooing partner the magnificent Em. 

With state-of-the-art technology, GPS and communications he could navigate off the interstate to Amboy, through the desert and meet her in the parking lot of the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. At 28, this was his first solo ride, his first Sturgis run and still the glowing smile on Em’s lovely face made his day.

He’s already planning for Sturgis ’22.

Sidebar: Shortly after arriving back in Venice he noticed a problem with the Sawicky pipe but fixed it with exhaust gasket tape and a hose clamp until a new system arrived. Then he rode to San Francisco for a tattoo convention and broke the pipe bracket, had it welded at a shop, and it was cracking again when he rolled back into LA. He’s looking for another two-into-one system. What do you recommend?

The ongoing pursuit to preserve the Bonneville Salt Flats has scored another victory and SEMA, along with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Utah Geological Survey (UGS), and Intrepid Potash Inc. marked more progress in restoring the area’s precious salt. A new well installed in the summer of 2021, along with equipment that will collect data on evaporation, will inform the preservation and replenishment of the salt flats as the Restore Bonneville program kicks off.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a must-see natural wonder, even if you aren’t a land speed racing fan. The vast white landscape and environments of its kind are incredibly rare. Located just east of the Nevada/Utah border town of Wendover, the salt flats are the bottom of an ancient lake. The hard flat surface that forms each year after the rains makes for a fantastic racing surface, something land speed racers have taken advantage of for more than 100 years. The first Speed Week was held there in 1949.

While the salt flats are still quite vast, they have shrunk to 1/3 their former size and the salt thickness has diminished due to several factors, forcing land speed racers to move and shorten their courses over the years. The BLM cites several reasons for the shrinking salt, including shifts in rain and climate, but one very visible change that has taken place is the removal of potash from the salt, for use as fertilizer. The potash mining began in the early 1900s and went seemingly unchecked into the 1960s when ditches were dug to collect brine from the salt flats north of Interstate 80, near the land speed racing course. Intrepid Potash Inc. now leases land south of Interstate 80 and has been pumping processed brine back to the salt flats since 1997.

The new well and measuring equipment are some of the first actions completed by Restore Bonneville, a joint venture between BLM and DNR that will be operated by Intrepid Potash Inc. with the aim to better focus restoration practices and regrow the salt flats. With a better understanding of the environment, Restore Bonneville can learn how to best manage the pumping of brine and increase the volume returned to the salt flats.

The bulk of funding for the venture will come from federal and state appropriations but Save the Salt, a 501(c)(3) organization, has also been a big help in preserving Bonneville for future racers. Visit their site for more information if you’d like to help out.