American Iron Magazine, published since 1989, has suspended publication. The world has changed significantly. The motorcycle business has changed. And the magazine industry has too. Unfortunately, not for the better – short or long term. For the last 31 years our team has worked hard responding successfully to the trends, opportunities and changes. But when our advertising crashed with the recent spread of the virus, we ran out of options. We trimmed the page count and content in our magazines, but that was not enough to make a difference. Rather than watch our magazines decline even further, we have suspended publication as we explore our options. It is not an easy decision for American Iron Magazine, American Iron Garage and American Iron Salute, but it is the right one. The last issue of American Iron Magazine was Issue #390, on sale last week. Since 1989, I have been fortunate to work with really great editors, art directors and contributors who were dedicated, creative, hard working and smart. They had to be to achieve what we did for more than three decades. And a big thanks to all of our readers and advertisers, who supported our efforts so passionately. Rather than dwell on the end of our magazines, I hope you’ll join us remembering your favorite articles, writers, photographers and events that we have enjoyed over the years. There have been so many. Thank you one and all for your support, encouragement and friendship. It’s been a heckuva ride. Buzz Kanter – Editor-in-Chief.

Big Dave
Proprietor
The Ink Spot
Troy, Missouri

This link will get ya hooked. A totally Independent production. Love their Hollywood can kiss their ass style! A meld of the Tattoo world and Motorcycles! Real and raw – totally unscripted and takes you on an adventure in the deep south – where Big Dave and company are rollin’ out over thousands of miles to meet legendary Tattoo Artists. His mission is preserving their history for tattoo artists to come and he’s doing it on two wheels. They Their journey started June 1st, 2015.

10 episodes were created – and each one gets better than the last!

You can find the episodes on YouTube with social media on Facebook!

Episode 1 – The Journey Begins

Episode 2 – Guns Don’t Make Art

Episode 3 Electric Wizardry

Episode 4 – Werewolves of the French Quarter

Episode 5 – “What’s an Isopod”

Episode 6 – airs July 6th – on YouTube

They are asking for help with sharing their links on Social Media –
Facebook has been less than helpful with their algorithms and stifling their shares as they link the people over to YouTube –
The more they post the more they restrict!
They are trying to beat the algorithms and are asking for your help! 

Their First episode 2000 views the first day on YouTube
Second episode – 1000 views on you tube….. Doing way more promotion for half the views….

David asks for help:

https://www.facebook.com/david.canoy.7/videos/10223629332863005/

Better every episode

Share content with the world….share this video and share often…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwKaDsEwo5I&t=204s

“Life is all about the stories”

–Dmac

Royal Enfield Launches Slide School Presented by Moto Anatomy 

Johnny Lewis to lead flat track training program

MILWAUKEE, Wis (July 7, 2020) — American Flat Track racer Johnny Lewis will host Slide School presented by Royal Enfield, a multi-faceted flat track training program in 2020. Lewis will use a combination of Royal Enfield FT411 and a soon-to-be added FT 650 motorcycles as the primary training tools used in the curriculum. Lewis initially developed the program in India and will now debut at select tracks across the U.S. and also at his Moto Anatomy training facility in Florida this year.

“I’m excited to continue building a deeper relationship with Royal Enfield,” said Lewis. “It was a great opportunity to fine tune the program in India while being immersed in the Royal Enfield culture. I was also able to see first hand just how much potential the FT411 has as a training tool. I am impressed by its versatility and can’t wait to get my students on the FT411. Royal Enfield is committed to growing motorcycling and I’m proud to be part of that effort.”

Lewis will run Slide Schools out of his Moto Anatomy facility in central Florida including in conjunction with select AFT rounds. During the schools, Slide School participants will be taught the basics of flat track and then given one-on-one direction and coaching from Lewis. The program will equip any level rider with the skills needed to become a proficient flat tracker.

The program is built around a three and a half hour course with the FT411. Participants will use gear provided by JUST 1 Racing, EVS Sports and have the option to ride with the Bluetooth Sena communication systems, all for $250.

Additional stops will be added throughout the remainder of 2020. Classes are limited to eight participants per time slot and appropriate mask and social distancing guidelines will be in place to ensure a safe environment for all riders and coaches.

To learn more about Slide School and to sign up, visit https://www.moto-anatomy.com/slideschool.

2020 Slide School Dates 

July 19: Center Hill, FL following Volusia AFT

August 8: Cleveland, OH

September 13: Gettysburg, PA following Williams Grove AFT

October 6: Travelers Rest, SC

October 18: Center Hill, FL following Daytona Beach AFT

About Royal Enfield

The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the mid-size motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 110 dealers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the Bullet 500, Classic 500, Himalayan and the all new 650 Twins: INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles along with a range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, please visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

 

NEW BIKERNET AND BANDIT’S CANTINA PROGRAMS FOR 2020

To keep Bikernet moving forward in the New Year, we’ve shuffled things around a bit. We have decided to shut down all major advertising sales and will move all of Bikernet’s impressive library and 24 years of archived editorial content into Bandit’s Cantina, Bikernet’s subscription-supported section.

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

We will however keep the Bikernet Blog active daily and accessible for free.

All major content will be expanded into the Cantina.

So, from a business side here’s how it will work for the New Year. We will continue to build great content featuring the Weekly News, a variety of features and tech articles.

Our readers can stay abreast of all the action on Bikernet by joining the Cantina for as little as $24 yearly or $39 for two years. They will also receive a special package containing an assortment of Bikernet goodies and bling.

Industry members, if you’d like us to keep supporting your company and promote your products, events or services with editorials, we will do so for a mere $98 a year. Keep sending your press releases and we will take care of them.

For the company that wants to reach all 50,000 Bikernet readers and Bandit’s Cantina subscribers 24/7, your ad will be placed on our Blog page and your banner will accompany any and all of your company’s content. Just $165 a month. This also means all of your company content is archived on Bikernet for the duration working 24/7 and supported with your banner ad.

We’ve taken Bikernet Entertainment to a new level.

This is a very special area with whole books, broads, and rare antiques. And now you will also receive complete and amazing Jack McIntyre Event Galleries of images. For just about 20 cents a day, you will receive:

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

Bandit’s Cantina Access:

• Behind-the-scenes custom motorcycle news every Sunday with topless babes.
• Almost 10 years of antique bike features and motorcycle history.
• Girls of Bikernet: NEW Extra Spicy GIRLS! Topless Models posing on gorgeous Bikes to tantalize, with stories that will curl your toes. And new girls from: Photography by Jack McIntyre, Peter Linney and Markus Cuff.
• The Digital Discovery Area, where we bring you strange shit you’ll never find anywhere else.
• Bandit’s Cantina Soap Opera – About once a month, step into the Cantina and find out who is messing with whom.
• NEW – Bandit’s BikerPics. Photos by the esteemed photographer Jack McIntyre from Events around the USA, with nothing held back. Topless women, Bikes and more women! Jack hits events all over the country and his photography is a blast and lively. It’s like you attended the event, only better, because you miss the empty beer cans and see only the prime action.

All this and more for just $24.95 for a year or $39.95 for two years!

What are you waiting for? Each dime we take in supports Bikernet content; that’s archived forever–we hope…

TWO YEAR SIGN-UP SPECIAL: Receive a signed K. Randall Ball book and Bikernet Bling, Amazing.

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Industry members, if you’d like us to keep supporting your company and promote your products, events or services with editorials, we will do so for a mere $98 a year. Keep sending your press releases and we will take care of them.

SO WHADDYA WAITIN’ FOR?

WARNING: This site contains nudity. You MUST be over 18 to purchase a subscription. Not 18? Get on your Honda and come back when you are, junior….. We’d love to have you.

Feel free to email ideas and suggestions; ya never know, we just might use them.

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by Scott Prater from https://csmng.com

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Due to a recent increase in accidents and mishaps, Fort Carson active-duty, military-member motorcyclists must obtain a Fort Carson Motorcycle License, through their unit motorcycle mentor, to ride legally on or off post.

The policy, which affects military personnel only, is effective immediately, though military police and access-control-point personnel won’t begin enforcing the policy until July 15. Military members who are new to the installation will have a 30-day grace period to obtain the new license.

Though the new policy may seem stringent to some at first, it does follow Army regulation, and the process for obtaining the new license is fairly simple.

As part of the policy, most units on post are assigned a motorcycle mentor, who assists riders in obtaining the required rider training and filing the proper paperwork to earn their Fort Carson Motorcycle License.

“This new policy is designed to provide more mentorship to our motorcycle riders,” said Derrick Merriwether, safety specialist, 4th Infantry Division. “We’re training them to the best of our ability to ensure that they are safe on the roads. That’s what this is all about. When a rider joins the program, their unit motorcycle mentor will check the rider’s bike, check their personal protective equipment and their level of experience. Then the mentor will work with the rider to be better prepared for the road.”

All riders seeking a Fort Carson motorcycle license must hold a state issued driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement, and must pass the post’s Basic Rider Course, hosted regularly by experienced instructors at the Fort Carson Motorcycle Training Range.

“This really affects the new Soldiers — the (privates) through (specialists) — who buy these brand-new vehicles but are not very experienced riders,” Merriwether said. “The policy allows the command to see a rider’s exact proficiency on the motorcycle and then provides that all-important mentorship and knowledge.”

Motorcycle riding is inherently riskier than driving an automobile. Riders have no vehicle protective structure surrounding them, and are less visible to other motorists, so they must maintain awareness of other drivers, obstacles and potential escape paths to help mitigate that risk.

Maj. Chris Horton, the 4th Infantry Division motorcycle mentor, has been riding for roughly two decades and recounts a harrowing experience that occurred early in his riding days.

“I thought I was an experienced rider,” he said. “And after taking a basic rider course, I thought I knew everything I needed to know. I was as confident as I could be … then I had an accident.”

Horton’s description of the incident indicates it could have happened to any rider.

“A vehicle stopped suddenly in front of me,” he said. “I swerved to avoid it, but I ended up driving down into a roadside ditch, where my foot peg caught the side of the hill. I was able to repair the bike, but I injured my shoulder pretty badly and ended up needing surgery to repair it years later.”

In the rider courses at Fort Carson, mentors and instructors teach the best techniques for swerving, something Horton said would have helped him avoid his accident. Mentors also teach braking technique, obstacle avoidance, counter steering and finding escape paths.

“From the time a rider notices a hazard, it takes four seconds for him or her to execute a maneuver,” Horton said. “Executing a maneuver is a skill, and these are skills that can be learned and practiced.”

Skill development is a key part of the mentorship program. That’s why the new Fort Carson policy also requires riders to complete mandatory progressive training.

“We have two advanced courses at Fort Carson, the Basic Rider Course II and the Advanced Sportbike Course,” Horton said. “Required courses can be taken on or off post, but keep in mind that Fort Carson motorcycle training courses are provided to active duty military members at no cost to the service member.”

Early this week, several riders completed the Basic Rider Course at the Fort Carson Motorcycle Training Range on the post’s north side, near the railhead. Horton was on hand to mentor and teach along with other instructors.

Sgt. 1st Class Garret Pool, senior targeting NCO, Division Artillery, 4th Inf. Div., said he purchased a new bike in the last year and picked up motorcycle riding at the urging of friends.

“This has been helpful, even just the familiarization part,” he said. “I’ve learned some important new techniques, and I learned some things I already knew, but was performing sloppy. I’m not as proficient as I’d like to be, but I’m getting more familiar. We’re practicing things I’ve never thought about before, and I can see how they’ll be useful on the road. It’s obvious these instructors are extremely knowledgeable.”

Fort Carson motorcycle licenses are valid for five years. Riders can find more information about the new policy, reporting procedures, licensure and training requirements from their unit motorcycle mentor.

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

This year’s King of Kings competition was one for the ages. A total of 15 bike builders from across the world, specialized in remaking Harleys, took the center stage with their incredible creations until one of them, the Apex Predator, was crowned ruler of them all.

Being essentially a competition intended for the bike maker’s international network of dealers, King of Kings (known in previous years as Battle of the Kings) lacks the glamour of other things American. Thus there’s a good chance you didn’t know that much about the bikes and their builders, whom we’ve covered extensively back in May.

This competition has been around for some time, though, and the shows of the past are equally as exciting in terms of projects as the one that just ended. Case in point the Harley-Davidson called Black Power we have in the gallery above.

The bike is the work of German Harley shop Thunderbike itself was not an entry in the competition, but was inspired by one: the 2017 Thunderbike entry known as the Custom King.

Black Power is based on a Harley-Davidson Iron 883, and has been designed in the usual Thunderbike way, with a wealth of custom parts making their way onto the two-wheeler, and then wrapped in a special paintwork which in this case is obviously black.

Following the tradition of the Harley competition, there are fewer custom parts featured on this build than usual, but the result is equally stunning. We have new toppers and new covers for the ignition, new handlebar and new speedometer, new exhaust system and of course a reworked fuel tank, just to name a few.

Thunderbike does not say how much the conversion of the Iron cost, but the parts listed by the shop do not cost more than $2,000 combined – paint job and man hours not included, of course.

 

Hey,

I had a blast in Sturgis. I was tested two days ago, and I have never been contacted by the Chinese Covid. I was much more likely to get it if I stayed in LA. But they seem to leave that side of the equation out. The odds of getting covid from a rally rider is 1 in 1,200,000. Supposedly 700 become infected every day in LA. Only 250 got infected somewhere (maybe not in Sturgis) during the Rally period, like three weeks. Daily you have a 1 in 17,462 chance of catching it every day in LA.

Freedom and Motorcycles Work, but some folks can’t stand it. Check this:

Here is some Fake News:
Results Are In: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Was A COVID ‘Super Spreader’ Costing Billions
Anyone with a brain could tell that putting on the gigantic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year would be a bad idea. Now we have a scientific study to affirm this was a worst-case scenario, an event that appears to be accountable for 250,000 cases of COVID-19 at a public cost of $12 billion.

— Jalopnik

Can you imagine if they applied their logic to 700 a day in Los Angeles? The cost to the public would be in the Trillions every week. Hang On! I can’t stand it, let’s hit the news.

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.

M8 PERFORMANCE FIX–
As cams get bigger, so do valvetrain angles and we’ve found the best way to combat that is a roller rocker. Our version for the H-D M8 is now live! ~ DZ

Big lift cams can open up the high rpm potential of the M8 powerplant, but they can also add stress to the stock valvetrain geometry. Valve thrust and valvetrain wear in big lift cam applications drove the S&S engineers to design stronger, more durable components that will help you get the most out of your M8 and first on the list was Forged Roller Rocker arms.

Their new rockers are stronger, more durable, and designed to be easier on the rest of your top end. Oil routing is updated and is now sprayed directly on the valve springs, helping cool and lubricate these hard- working parts.

Compatible with stock or most CNC ported heads and featuring a 1.640 Ratio, capable of up to .650 valve Lift. An essential mod for increasing the longevity of your valvetrain components particularly with cams running .550 or greater lift. Making big reliable power has always been what S&S does best and the new Forged Roller Rockers are a solid addition to their M8 performance parts line!

For more details check out this link to their site https://www.sscycle.com/products/forged-roller-rocker-arms-for-m8-models/

–David Zemla
VP – Marketing
S&S® Cycle, Inc.

EASYRIDERS REPORT--Hey just read on facebook where the new Easyriders is out of business? Don’t know if it is true or not?

–STEALTH

I reached out to the previous owner, Joe Teresi, and he told me he would know more this week. Maybe I will hear something today.

Waiting on my next deadline for Cycle Source Magazine which has shifted to bi-monthly.

If you go to Choppers mag web site they are talking about going to print with their third issue. I never received or saw the second issue. I would like to. The cover was cool.

–Bandit

MRF ALERT–Tracking Autonomous Vehicle Testing

Whether the general public knows it or not, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are being tested on our roads every day. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, as well as other transportation groups, have voiced our concerns about the deployment of these “test vehicles” on our nation’s roadways. In many cases, the type of vehicles being tested, their capabilities and the roads they use has not been public knowledge.

This week, in response to these concerns, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled a new website that allows individuals to see where autonomous vehicles are being tested. While only a pilot program, the website allows users to see the cities where tests are taking place, the make and model of vehicles, the number of vehicles being tested and, in some cases, the actual streets where the AVs are deployed.

Currently, a limited number of states and manufacturers are participating in the program. The participating companies are Beep, Cruise, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Local Motors, Navya, Nuro, Toyota, Uber, and Waymo, with data available in numerous states.

“Through this initiative, the Department is creating a formal platform for Federal, State, and local government to coordinate and share information in a standard way,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

We encourage you to visit the website and see if AVs are being tested in your town. Feel free to share this information with non-riders as well, since all roadway users will be impacted by the testing of AVs. Remember this data is constantly being updated so check back often.

Bikers More Than Double The Fundraising Goal For Sturgis Meals On Wheels–The Sturgis Meals on Wheels was able to more than double its goal of $8,000 thanks to the generosity of riders who showed up to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

In addition to many donations from riders, Dixxon Flannel chipped in $5,000 and Buffalo Chip Campground pledged to match up to $4,000. This has made the latest fundraising effort for the organization a major success.

“Last year [Sturgis Meals on Wheels] raised about $1,300, so we crushed it,” GiveAShift founder Robert Pandya said. He told me that this year’s successful fundraising happened in about nine days total. That means they received over $17,000 in less than two weeks.

There’s a long list of organizations that depend on Sturgis for donations so they can do the kinds of good things they do every year. These include the Rapid City Special Olympics, the Colin Derr Foundation, the Shriners Transportation Fund, Helping with Horsepower, Motorcycle Missions, and many more.

“The amount of charity that happens is unbelievable,” Pandya said. “These foundations are funded by motorcyclists.”

More reports coming up.

–webbikeworld.com

CHINESE COVID TESTING ISSUES–PCR tests look for pieces of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nose, throat, or other areas in the respiratory tract to determine if the person has an active infection.

It does not help determine who had an infection in the past.

• It also does not help determine if a person who was exposed to COVID-19 will develop active infection during the two weeks after exposure.

In some people, the virus can only be found by PCR for a few days at the beginning of the infection, so the test might not find the virus if the swab is taken more than a few days after the illness starts.

• In some people, the virus can be found by PCR in the nose and throat for several weeks, even longer than the time that they are actually contagious to other people.

• This test requires certain kinds of swabs that are in short supply.1 If they allow folks to handle their own test, they are very inaccurate.

Antigen tests look for pieces of proteins that make up the SARS- CoV-2 virus to determine if the person has an active infection.

• It does not accurately rule out those who are not infected.

• Antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR tests, meaning there may be false negative results.

• Negative tests should be treated as presumptive. If a healthcare provider is concerned that the person has COVID-19, even after a negative antigen test, then the test result should be confirmed with PCR testing.

Antibody Test, also called Serology test looks for antibodies, specifically IgM and IgG, against SARS-CoV-2 in the blood to determine if there was a past infection. Antibodies is what gives your body the immunity to a particular virus.

A negative antibody test means that the person may not have had COVID-19 in the past. However, they could still have a current infection, and the antibody test was collected too soon to give a positive result.

• It can identify people who had an infection in the past, even if they had no symptoms of the illness.

• In some cases, it could help determine when COVID-19 illness occurred, since we know that IgM is formed before IgG and that IgM goes away before IgG.

• It can help determine who qualifies to donate convalescent plasma (a blood product that contains antibodies against COVID-19 and can be used as a COVID- 19 treatment).

• If lots of people take the test in a community, it can help public health leaders and researchers know what
percentage of the population has already had COVID-19.

• It may be negative if it is used too close to the beginning of an infection, which is why it should not be used to detect active COVID- 19 infection.

• In areas where there have not been many cases of COVID-19, many of the positive test results will actually be false positives (see Positive Predictive Value2). Some antibody tests have low sensitivity3 and specificity4 and thus may not produce reliable results.

• Some antibody tests may cross-react with other coronaviruses that are not SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, leading to false test results.

• We do not know yet if having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 can protect someone from getting infected again or, if they do, how long this protection might last. Until scientists get more information about whether antibodies protect against reinfection with this virus, everyone should continue to take steps to protect themselves and others, including staying at least 6 feet away from other people outside of their home (social distancing), even if they have had a positive antibody test.

If positive, the health department will interview the antibody-positive person about symptoms and if they were around someone who had COVID-19. If the person had symptoms or was around someone with COVID-19, the health department may recommend they get a PCR test. No contact tracing will be performed.

• If negative, no public health activities will be performed.

–Dr. Hamster

THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BOOK DISCUSSION--Here’s a page from Ross McCammon’s book, Works Well with Others: An Outsider’s Guide to Shaking Hands, Shutting Up, Handling Jerks, and Other Crucial Skills in Business That No One Ever Teaches You.

“Two Beers and a Puppy”: A Helpful Test for Determining How You Feel About Someone

“Two Beers and and a puppy” is a test I developed while working on the Esquire story on the American “son of a bitch.” The test is: In order to find out how you actually feel about someone, ask yourself: “Would I have two beers with this person?” And: “Would I allow this person to look after my puppy over a weekend?”

Some people are no and no. These people are to be avoided at all costs. Some people are yes and no. These people are two be cautiously trusted. Some people are no and yes. These people are no fun but they make the world a better place — for puppies, especially. And some people are yes and yes. These people are wonderful people and your life and work are better for having them in your life. Seek them out. Collaborate with them. Enjoy their company.

–Ujjwal Dey
Chief Life Investigator
Bikernet.com™ International News Bureau
India

FXDR FOR SALE–
2019 Harley-Davidson FXDRS 114
4,160 miles
Thanks for checking out this 2019 Harley-Davidson FXDR with 4100 actual miles. The FXDR is one cool motorcycle and the 114ci V-Twin makes this very fun bike to ride.

1-877-291-5508

–Cycle trader

We are sorta looking for a used 2019 Orange, black and white FXDR for the right price.–Bandit

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RE-LAUNCHES THE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE–A Re-Designed Publication to Inspire Riders and Celebrate Motorcycle Culture

MILWAUKEE (September 09, 2020) – Harley-Davidson is re-launching The Enthusiast magazine as a print and digital magazine designed to showcase motorcycle culture and the riding lifestyle through the lens of the Harley-Davidson brand. Originally published by Harley-Davidson from 1916 to 2008, The Enthusiast magazine will replace HOG Magazine as the official publication of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and will become more widely available through other distribution channels.

“This is the return to a great tradition,” said Jochen Zeitz, Harley-Davidson President and CEO. “We believe today The Enthusiast title is more relevant than ever. In a year when so many people have been stuck inside, we passionately believe in inspiring riders and aspiring riders to get out in the world to rediscover adventure through socially-distanced riding.”

The first new issue of The Enthusiast magazine appears in the United States this week with a cover story featuring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, stars of the new Apple Original series “Long Way Up,” premiering Friday, September 18 on Apple TV+. The series follows the epic motorcycle adventure McGregor and Boorman experienced on a 13,000-mile journey aboard two Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycles through South America, Central America and Mexico.

Printed four times annually, with a circulation of more than 500,00 print copies in the United States plus 150,000 copies internationally, The Enthusiast magazine is the most broadly circulated motorcycle magazine in the world. First published by Harley-Davidson in 1916, The Enthusiast magazine was among the first consumer motorcycle magazines in print, although Germany’s Motorrad (1903), Italy’s Motociclismo (1914), and Motorcyclist magazine (1909) in the United States preceded it.

From 1984 until 2008, Harley-Davidson produced two separate publications for owners and riders, The Enthusiast magazine and HOG Tales magazine. In 2009 they were merged under the HOG Magazine title into one new magazine that drew content inspiration from both publications.

With the movement of Motorcyclist to a digital format in 2018, the Enthusiast magazine, including the HOG Magazine years, remains the oldest continuously printed motorcycle magazine in the United States.

All Full and Life Harley Owner Group members will continue to receive a complimentary subscription to The Enthusiast magazine as part of their membership benefits. Free App versions of the magazine are also available for iOS and Android phones and tablets. Harley-Davidson is also exploring new ways to deliver the print magazine in the United States, including by selling single copies of the magazine on the H- eCommerce site and through limited retail establishments, including at Harley-Davidson™ dealerships and select boutique motorcycle shops. For more information and history about The Enthusiast magazine, visit h-d.com/enthusiast.

NEWS FROM BARNETT CLUTCHES & CABLES– 2019-20 FTR 1200

Barnett Clutches & Cables has added another new clutch kit to its Indian line-up – a complete Kevlar kit for the 2019-20 FTR 1200.

This complete clutch kit features Barnett’s exclusive proprietary Kevlar segmented friction plates, which provide better oil flow for cooler clutch temperatures and smoother, more consistent performance and longer life.
Completing the kit is a set of tempered steel plates and a set of heat-treated, heavy duty coil springs. This kit is a direct-fit upgrade to the stock clutch, providing a stronger, more positive, slip-free clutch action.

BARNETT CLUTCHES & CABLES
www.barnettcables.com

IT’S COMING! Climate Hustle 2 Set for Sept. 24 Worldwide release! Exposes agenda behind Green New Deal & UN Paris Pact

The film profiles Vaclav Klaus, the former President of the Czech Republic, who lived under Soviet domination of his country. “The green agenda and the environmentalist agenda and the fighting climate agenda is trying to basically stop the existence of the free market system which we were fighting for and we were dreaming about in the communist era for decades,” Klaus explains in the film. “They want to dictate it, control, regulate, mastermind from above,” he added.

It is finally arriving. Grab the popcorn, gather your family. The climate change debate is set to be rocked as CFACT’s new skeptical film, Climate Hustle 2: The Rise of the Climate Monarchy, hosted by actor Kevin Sorbo, is set for a global release online on Thursday September 24, 2020 at 8pm in your local time zone anywhere in the world.

The movie was set to be released in over 750 theatres in the U.S. and Canada on April 21, 2020, but then the COVID lockdowns arrived and the film was moved to September 24 to a global online release event.

The film is the sequel to the smash hit Climate Hustle which was released in 2016 in 400 theatres nationwide and in Canada. The film torches Hollywood hypocrisy, climate financial corruption, media bias, kids’ classroom indoctrination, political correctness, and pulls back the curtain on the massive global warming establishment.

The film features the reporting of Marc Morano, the number one ranked ‘climate contrarian’ in the media according to a 2019 Study in the Journal Nature. The 2020 Climate Hustle 2 is set to be a pivotal force as 2020 elections shape up to be a national referendum on the U.S.’s future regarding the Green New Deal and participation in the UN Paris Climate Pact.

Climate Hustle 2 pulls no punches and goes right to the heart of the Green New Deal and the UN Paris climate pact and exposes the motives behind the climate agenda. The film features prominent scientists, and policy experts who explain how the agenda to control the climate is about controlling YOU.

It is a film Al Gore, AOC, and the United Nations DO NOT want you to see.

Nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas: “No film debunks the faith of the climate change cult better than Climate Hustle 2. And it does it with facts!”

Movie critic Christian Toto of HollywoodinToto.com: “Climate Hustle 2 will be the most subversive movie of the year, no doubt.”

Kevin Mooney, an investigative reporter with The Daily Signal: “Climate Hustle 2 builds and expands on the first film’s detailed exploration of updated scientific research that debunks alarmist theories standing behind the Green New Deal.”

The film profiles Vaclav Klaus, the former President of the Czech Republic, who lived under Soviet domination of his country. “The green agenda and the environmentalist agenda and the fighting climate agenda is trying to basically stop the existence of the free market system which we were fighting for and we were dreaming about in the communist era for decades,” Klaus explains in the film. “They want to dictate it, control, regulate, mastermind from above,” he added.

The film lays out the climate claims and “solutions” and devastates them with such climate experts as Climatologist Dr. Tim Ball, Greenpeace co-Founder Dr. Patrick Moore, MIT Climate Scientist Dr. Richard Lindzen, Climatologist Dr. David Legates, Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist Dr. Ivar Giaever, Geologist Dr. Robert Giegengack and many more.

The film features an exposé on AOC’s Green New Deal and what is really behind the plan. The film also debunks energy and climate claims made by AOC and her supporters.

FROM THE GEARHEAD DIARIES–I need to tell a story , so here goes . Way back in the days of home built choppers there was a builder named Bret . This guy built one of the finest Panhead chops I ever seen .

He had just finished it up and he lived in the hills up by Ceasars ravine . He decided to have a fire-it-up party one Friday night . A lot of the the guys and gals that knew him from Glendale Harley took a ride out to check out this new chop . She was a beauty .

She was 10 or maybe even 12 inches over . A rake that was required for that much over with skinney 15-inch tire . He had built narrowed upper and lower trees , so to give that wide glide the narrow look . She was candy burgandy laquer on chrome highlights . The mustang tank was the right touch along with the flip tail rear fender .

The jockey shift with an 8-ball for a shift knob was a great touch . Suicide clutch and the clutch linkage rod was a welded and chromed rear drive chain to the exact length . She was a beauty .

Before we all could eat and let the whiskey flow , she had to have the oil lines primed , the carb primed and kick started by Bret . The first step completed on the oil prime and then a shot of quick-start into the S&S carb , a couple of primer kicks , then the switch on and one big kick and the new girl fires like the beast she is.

Bandido Fred lets out a Rebel yell that would wake up the dead . The rest of the night beer and whiskey flowed like the mighty Mississippi River.

The down side was that about a year later I had to attend a wake because he was cut off at the court house in Torrance by some teenagers in a low rider and left no place to go .

Here is the math. A suicide clutch , a jockey shift , a spool front wheel and long front end , the man was toast . I give you this because a lot of the old stories of our brothers and sisters have been lost over the years . You don’t get broken wings without becoming old school .

God bless those of us that survive and those of us that left in those golden days of choppers .

–Gearhead

NEWS FROM THE TWISTED ROAD—Grab your gloves, 12 Motorcycle Shows to Attend In 2021.

It’s time for riders to start dreaming about attending their next motorcycle rally. We love to take advantage of all the different moto events offered locally, as well as throughout the country. During the year there are a range of events suited to many different styles of riding, spectating or just hanging out with rad bikes.

There are hundreds of rallies and events all summer—this is just the list of events that we can’t wait to attend in 2021. We gotta keep the faith.

1. The One Moto Show

If you’re into custom motorcycles, then you know about The One Moto Show. This custom motorcycle show is hosted by Thor Drake and the crew from See See’s Motor Coffee Company out of Portland, Oregon. Just like the city, the show is an eclectic collection of custom motorcycles from some of the world’s best builders. For ten years, The One Moto Show was housed in a cold Portland warehouse.

With concrete slab floors and no heat, vendors quickly learned to wear thick socks, coats, and gloves during this frigid, “see-your-breath” event. This year, it’s all changing. Thor and the gang are moving the event to Oregon’s own Veterans Memorial Coliseum. There are three highlights to this show – custom bikes, flat track racing, and live music. We are looking forward to seeing our Portland Friends continue to up their game during this spectacular weekend.

SEE YOUR OPTIONS FOR RENTING A MOTORCYCLE IN PORTLAND

2. Mama Tried Motorcycle Show

It’s no wonder that one of our top ten shows is located in Brew city, Wisconsin, otherwise known as Milwaukee. Home to Harley-Davidson (as if you didn’t know), this town has oil in its blood, and the moto-culture permeates the city. The Mama Tried Show is a scaled-down version of The One. With custom bikes packed into a tight venue, builders flock to this show in their own “journey to Mecca.”

Throughout the weekend you can also see flat track racing and even ice racing (if the lakes don’t thaw). If you need a reason to visit Wisconsin in the winter (and trust me, many people need this), it’s an event not to miss. Milwaukee is a fairly cheap destination—often visitors rent an Airbnb for the weekend, go to the races on Friday and hang out at The Rave (Milwaukees major Rock Venue) for most of the day on Saturday. Milwaukee is special to us because living in Chicago the show tends to be a reunion of the Midwest builders community. This event always impresses everyone with a nice break from the cold, with its community, sausage, beer, and motorcycles.

RENT A MOTORCYCLE IN MILWAUKEE: CHECK OUT AVAILABLE BIKES

3. Dia De Las Motos

Jay LaRossa is a moto-genius. He’s spent his life around bikes, riding, building and riding some more. A few years ago, he and some friends started the OG Moto Show, which was fun. For a while. But it lost its purpose on many levels. So Jay left and started his own show. The show that he wanted the OG to be all along. 2020 is the first year, so make sure you’re at House of Machines in March to see Jay, and the LA motos, in all of their glory.

RENT A MOTORCYCLE IN LOS ANGELES—SEE AVAILABLE BIKES

4. The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
Austin, Texas—April 2021

The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show is put on by the rad dudes (and dudettes) at Revival Cycles. They do an incredible job managing and assembling this show and really invite some of the best custom builders (and their bikes). In recent years, BMW and other corporate sponsors have led to a broad array of beautiful bikes. This show is always held the same weekend as MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas, and is often Like regarded as the biggest moto weekend of the year. In addition, this is the first show on our list where the weather is good enough that you can ride a motorcycle during the weekend. Austin in April is fantastic riding weather—a perfect excuse to reserve a bike on Twisted Road while you attend the show. Who wants to show up to a custom moto show in an Uber?

Side note: Austin isn’t that far from Dallas where the incredible Haas Moto Museum lives. If you have the time, we suggest heading to Dallas before or after the Hand built Show. Buy tickets for all this stuff in advance as hotels book up quickly.

SEE BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN AUSTIN

5. Nowhere Moto Show
Joshua Tree, California, May 2021

The Nowhere Moto Show is just few years old. It’s remote. It’s a place that riders get lost just to be found. Think dirt, camping out, RVs, and live music. Triumph Bonnevilles and Harley Sportsters. You won’t find a Ninja here, but if it’s old-school cool or chopper retro, it’s at the Nowhere Show. And while you’re there, make sure you get a flash tattoo. Just to remember where you’ve been.

CHECK OUT BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN JOSHUA TREE

6. Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man, May 31–June 2021

Who knows of the Isle of Man TT? We’d venture to guess if you’ve made it this far down the list that you know what the TT is. If you don’t, you should—it’s a circuit designed around public roads on an island in the Irish Sea off the coast of England.

Really? Really. Think of motorcycles whipping around European villages and you’ve got the idea. This bucket-list event will allow all fans to see the high-powered GP style bikes run time trial laps on this 15-mile long course. The current record holder averaged 135mph around the entire course. Watch a video featuring two of the best riders to race this course—Guy Martin chasing Michael Dunlop—and try not to look up the cost of a flight to Europe.

7. ROT Rally
Austin, Texas—June 2021

Let’s start here. Do you know what the ROT rally is? Or better yet, do you even know what ROT stands for? Well if you’re from Texas, you really don’t have an excuse, but if you’re from any of the other 49 states in the nation, we’ll let you in on the secret.

ROT is the Republic of Texas, and the ROT Rally is the biggest moto show in town. With headline music acts like Steve Miller Band, and hundreds of vendors (yes, hundreds) it’s got it all. Good food. Amazing music. A moto-parade through downtown Austin, tattoos, and demo rides. And 2020 is the 25th anniversary of this show. What else could you ask for?

CHECK OUT BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN AUSTIN

8. Born Free
Silverado, California—June 2021

When we first heard about Born Free, we were told “get ready to stand around in the dirt,” which is…pretty accurate. Nestled in an old mining community in the Santa Ana mountains, Born Free invites some of the most accomplished builders to present during the show. This two-day event takes place in a field and got its roots with old-school choppers, but has expanded into other retro and classic styles. It’s a beautiful place to spend a weekend, especially when there are hundreds of bikes to admire.

SEE BIKES AVAILABLE FOR RENT NEAR SILVERADO

9. Springfield Mile Flat Track Race
Springfield, Illinois—September 2021

Really any flat track event will do, but we list the Springfield Mile as it’s huge one-mile track has been home to some of the most epic flat track racing for some time now. Flat track racing is an incredibly visceral experience. Watching the racers slide big, powerful bikes around the track at 100+mph is something that changed me. We’d recommend the experience to any moto fan. Usually entrance is cheap and you can grab a paddock pass that allows you to get up close and personal with the amazing machines and riders.

CHECK OUT RENTAL MOTORCYCLES NEAR SPRINGFIELD

10. Bikes, Blues, and BBQ
Fayetteville, Arkansas—September 2021

We can’t think of three better words to describe heaven than Bikes, Blues, and BBQ. Going into its 20th year, this rally has given more than $2.5M in charitable contributions to benefit women, children, and the underserved members of the Northwest Arkansas community. The event takes place in the heart of the Ozarks, some of the best riding in the Midwest. Their website showcases 15 different area rides from 10-80 miles in length to allow you to truly explore this beautiful region.

CHECK OUT MOTORCYCLES FOR RENT IN FAYETTEVILLE

11. Barber Vintage Festival
Birmingham, Alabama—October 2021

If there’s any reason to go to Alabama, this is it. Barber Motorsports Park hosts a custom motorcycle show, huge swap meet, vendor area, and weekend long racing at the on-site track. Barber’s facilities are among the best in the industry hosting a huge crowd in October. The grounds themselves are a thing of beauty, but the world-class museum is why this event is on the list.

Attend the show, watch some racing, and leave pretty much an entire day (or more) to walk through the world record for largest Barber Motorsports Museum. The museum holds everything from turn of the century motorcycles, to a one of ten ever 1000cc BrittenGP bike, to a Lotus Formula 1 car mounted on the wall. There’s something for every type of gear head at the museum. Bring a camera!

CHECK OUT AVAILABLE MOTORCYCLE RENTALS IN BIRMINGHAM

12. Babes Ride Out, California Central Coast
October [dates to be announced soon]

In 2013, when Anya Violet and Ashmore Ellis started Babes Ride Out, they just wanted to get away. Go camping. Connect with other riders. That small gathering wound up being 50 girls – a healthy start. Now, seven years later, it has expanded. Babes Ride Out. Babes in the Dirt. Babes Ride Out East Coast. And most recently? 1,700 tickets sold. Pretty amazing.

This “girls-only” moto campout is about bonding. And friendship. And riding. And music. And riding. And drinking. Oh – and riding. The bands? Girls. The vendors? Girls. With female riding at the highest in recorded history – a whopping 19% – this event is a must for all women riders. Period.

CHECK OUT BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST: SANTA BARBARA MOTORCYCLE RENTALS AND MOTORCYCLES FOR RENT IN VENTURA

So, this may seem like a shameless plug, but we highly recommend traveling to somewhere you haven’t been and renting a motorcycle to visit the area. On a number of trips, we’ve taken recently, we take the chance to see which motorcycles are available in the area. Rent a Ducati Panigale in LA? Yes, please. Rent a BMW R Nine T in Austin? Of course.

It’s all rentable on Twisted Road. Want to go to a place on the list? Take the chance to see which bikes are available during the visit and you may be able to rent something truly unique that you wouldn’t normally ride (Harley LiveWire™ anyone?)

Hopefully you found something interesting in this list. And as always, be safe.

–BY AUSTIN ROTHBARD AND GRANT SCHWINGLE ·
Twisted Road Motorcycle Rentals

[page break]

TRIUMPH Trident Design Prototype Unveiled

A design prototype for a new Triumph Trident has been unveiled by the British marque at the London Design Museum, our first peek at a forthcoming middleweight roadster model of the same name.

Triumph fans will immediately recognize the Trident moniker as an important piece of the brand’s history. Triumph’s first three-cylinder production engine powered the 1968-1975 Triumph Trident, and a full-factory racing Trident known as “Slippery Sam” became legendary, winning five consecutive Isle of Man Production TT races. In the 1990’s, the name resurfaced with the Trident 750 and 900 naked bikes.

Triumph representatives shared limited information about the prototype in a presentation with select members of the motorcycle press, but did confirm that a 2021 Triumph Trident would be available in early 2021. Technical specifications, pricing, and other information will be revealed in the coming weeks when the production model is officially revealed.

The all-white prototype gives us a glimpse at this new middleweight roadster, which is aimed at other middleweight naked bikes such as the Honda CB650R, Kawasaki Z650, Yamaha MT-07 / XSR 700 and Suzuki SV650, in terms of pricing and audience. Price is a major consideration for buyers within the middleweight segment and Triumph hopes that the Trident’s to-be-announced competitive MSRP will foster a new generation of riders.

This project is the culmination of a four-year development cycle at Triumph’s UK Hinckley offices, while manufacturing will take place in Triumph’s Thailand plant to maintain a lower MSRP. Italian motorcycle designer Rodolfo Frascoli was tapped and is said to bring an Italian influence to the Trident prototype. Frascoli has worked with Triumph several times in the past and most recently lent a hand in the design of the Triumph Tiger 900 lineup.

The Trident prototype features many classic design cues that we’ve come to expect from the Hinckley factory, with clean lines from nose to tail reminiscent of the Street and Speed Triple motorcycles, and fuel-tank indents that appear on a variety of Triumph bikes. Of course, the clean lines of the prototype are accentuated by the lack of turn signals and large license plate holder.

Details such as the round headlight and instrumental panel give the prototype a welcoming roadster appearance. Stylistically, the Trident prototype sits between the brand’s traditional “Modern Classics” and its aggressively styled roadsters and supersports. Riser handlebars and a relatively comfortable looking seat pave the way for what could be a neutral, enjoyable riding position.

Hinckley engineers were tightlipped about performance figures and displacement of the triple-cylinder powerplant, though they did say that this prototype is a non-running model, as evidenced by the lack of wiring, cables and other plumbing. However, the engine cases and bolt patterns seen here bare a striking resemblance to the original 675 engine used in the Street Triple 675 and Daytona 675 lines, so Triumph may be resurrecting and updating this powerplant for use in the Trident.

Currently, the middleweight category is populated by parallel and V-twin powered motorcycles, making the Trident’s three-cylinder engine the first of its kind in the class.

The all-new tubular frame looks like it may be made out of steel, which would certainly lower the overall manufacturing cost of this motorcycle. However, it does boast a cleverly styled swingarm that seems to be cast or machined aluminum. Braking components are dual floating Nissin calipers in the front and a single radially mounted caliper in the rear.

Unlike many of this motorcycle’s would-be competitors, the Triumph Trident prototype features an inverted fork. In the rear, a single shock takes care of suspension duties. These appear to be non-adjustable suspension parts, which fits with the theme of affordability for the Trident and is common within the class in which it aims to compete.

On the technology front, Triumph engineers have promised “class leading technology as standard.” Whether this means throttle-by-wire, ABS and traction control is unknown.

We’ll have to sit tight and wait for updates on the Triumph Trident, which is looking to be another enticing addition to a hotly contested segment of motorcycling. For now, feast your eyes on images of the Trident design prototype and allow the wheels of speculation to turn.

–By Nic de Sena, Rider Magazine

PRESIDENT TRUMP Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize Following Israel-UAE Accord

“President Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for helping broker a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” Yaron Steinbuch reports for the New York Post.

Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a member of the Norwegian Parliament, submitted the nomination. “For his merit, I think he has done more trying to create peace between nations than most other Peace Prize nominees,” Tybring-Gjedde told Fox News.

“Indeed, Trump has broken a 39-year-old streak of American Presidents either starting a war or bringing the United States into an international armed conflict.”

BIKETOBERFEST NEWS--Daytona Beach Says No, Ormond Beach Says Yes To Biketoberfest

Daytona Beach, FL – The decision’s been made. Daytona Beach city commissioners voted six to one against permitting outdoor vendors for Biketoberfest. Businesses will operate but no live bands, food & alcohol sales outside, or merchandise sales will be allowed. Commissioners against the permitting said it’s irresponsible to promote large gatherings during a pandemic.

While that was happening, Ormond Beach city commissioners voted to permit outdoor vendors for Biketoberfest on the US 1 corridor. Open-air live music, memorabilia, food, and drink vendors will be allowed on private properties. Sites are required to take current COVID-19 precautions.

–Diane Coston
WNDB

BIKETOBERFEST October 15-18, 2020
Biketoberfest is not one event, but a collection of activities that take place at venues and businesses in cities throughout Volusia County and beyond. While some of the things that traditionally take place during Biketoberfest® will not happen this year, our local hotels and businesses are open. Our parks and beaches are open for visitors to enjoy the area’s beautiful October weather and scenic rides. Safety is paramount. We ask all our visitors who do decide to travel to please visit responsibly.

For those planning farther ahead, the 2021 Daytona Bike Week 80th Anniversary is March 5-14, and Biketoberfest 2021 is October 14-17.

Is Biketoberfest cancelled?
This event is hosted by the many businesses that welcome visitors – so it can’t be canceled like a traditional ticketed event. Bike enthusiasts can enjoy our beautiful October weather as our destination and our state are open for business.

Are local businesses open?
Yes, our hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses are open, along with parks and beaches.

Are restaurants and bars open?
This is regulated by the State. Bars in Florida are not currently operating as usual. Bars that serve food may currently be open; others may offer package business only. Restaurants are open at 50% capacity indoors, and full capacity outdoors. Social distancing measures must be followed.

Will there be vendors?
Since each city decides whether to issue special vendor permits for activities such as outdoor live music, food and merchandise, the location and number of vendors may be different from past rallies depending on where the venue is located.

Where can I get more information?
Biketoberfest.org is the official source for information about Biketoberfest®. More information will be posted as it becomes available. We ask all our visitors to please visit responsibly.

What are the 2021 motorcycle rally dates?
Daytona Bike Week 80th Anniversary is March 5-14, 2021, and Biketoberfest® 2021 is October 14-17.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE MOTORCYCLE SETS NEW WORLD RECORDS–Angelle Sampey and LiveWire Model Establish E.T. Records for a Production Electric Motorcycle

The records were set during exhibition runs at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at the Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. This is another great pass at a bold future In Harley-Davidson’s quest to lead the electrification of motorcycles.

“Let me tell you what’s amazing,” said Sampey. “That was the first time I rode the LiveWire.” said Sampey, “I could not wait to get it on the track. The LiveWire is so easy to ride. Just twist the throttle and go, and you really go!”

Sampey and her Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines teammates, Andrew Hines and Ed Krawiec, made a number of head-to-head drag race runs on stock LiveWire models, with Sampey posting the quickest times. Sampey is the winningest female in motorsports history with three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle championships (2000-2002) and 43 Pro Stock motorcycle wins.

As Sampey proved at Indy, the instant torque provided by the H-D Revelation™ powertrain delivers exhilarating acceleration from a stop; the LiveWire motorcycle can rush from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 3.0 seconds and 60 to 80 mph (100 to 129 kph) in 1.9 seconds. Because maximum torque is always on tap, roll-on acceleration for passing from any speed is outstanding. An optimized center of gravity, rigid aluminum frame and premium adjustable suspension components give the LiveWire motorcycle dynamic handling. With up to 146 miles of range*, performance is optimized for the urban street-rider.

The H-D Revelation™ electric powertrain produces minimal vibration, very little heat, and minimal sound, all of which enhance rider comfort and creates a unique riding experience, even on the drag strip.

Licensed riders can take a complimentary test ride on the LiveWire motorcycle at select Authorized LiveWire Harley-Davidson® dealerships in the United States, Australia, Canada and most European countries.

*Riding range estimates provided following SAE J2982 Riding Range Test Procedure and are based on expected performance of a fully-charged battery when operated under specified conditions. Actual range will vary depending on riding habits, ambient weather and equipment conditions.

THIS JUST IN FROM THE BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER—The reports about Sturgis are bullshit. Hell, they don’t even consider how many folks would have caught the Chinese disease if they stayed home. Their facts attack freedom and are directed at the Governor because she is a Republican.

Here are some interesting facts our redheaded nurse came up with. If you went to Sturgis your chances of catching the Wuhan Covid were 0.00057 percent,
280 cases out of 460,000 people.

What Are the Odds of Dying From..
It might seem a bit morbid, but human nature leads us to contemplate our demise. We sometimes wonder, “What are my odds of dying from..”?

Are you more likely to be killed in a car crash or shot to death by an assailant? Is it really that rare to be struck by lightning? Here at the National Safety Council, we get those questions a lot.

So, we put together the Odds of Dying chart below. (Here’s another way to look at it.) Keep in mind these odds are statistical averages over the entire U.S. population and do not necessarily reflect the chances of death for a particular person from a particular external cause. Odds of dying are affected by an individual’s activities, occupation, and where he or she lives and drives, among other things.

That being said, if the odds of dying from all possible causes are 1 in 1, here are the lifetime odds of death for selected causes, from most likely to least:

Cause of DeathOdds of Dying
Heart Disease and Cancer1 in 7
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease1 in 28
Intentional Self-harm1 in 95
Unintentional Poisoning by and Exposure to Noxious Substances1 in 96
Motor Vehicle Crash1 in 114
Fall1 in 127
Assault by Firearm1 in 370
Car Occupant1 in 645
Pedestrian Incident1 in 647
Motorcycle Rider Incident1 in 985
Unintentional Drowning and Submersion1 in 1,188
Exposure to Fire, Flames or Smoke1 in 1,498
Choking from Inhalation and Ingestion of Food1 in 3,461
Pedal cyclist Incident1 in 4,486
Firearms Discharge1 in 6,905
Air and Space Transport Incidents1 in 9,821
Exposure to Electric Current, Radiation, Temperature and Pressure1 in 15,212
Exposure to Excessive Natural Heat1 in 16,584
Chance of catching the Wuhan Covid in LA 1 in 17,462 (not dying)
Contact with Sharp Objects1 in 38,174
Contact with Heat and Hot Substances1 in 56,992
Contact with Hornets, Wasps and Bees1 in 63,225
Cataclysmic Storm1 in 66,335
Being Bitten or Struck by a Dog1 in 112,400
Legal Execution1 in 119,012
Lightning Strike1 in 161,856
Chances of catching Covid from Rally Rider 1 in 1,200,000 (that’s just catching it, not dying).

Source: National Safety Council estimates based on data from National Center for Health Statistics–Mortality Data, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Deaths are classified on the basis of the World Health Organization’s The International Classification of Diseases (ICD). For additional mortality figures, and estimated one-year and lifetime odds, see Injury Facts® 2017 Edition, pages 40-43. Modified by the Bikernet™ Medical Center Research Staff.

It’s all class yet packed with function. 

–Bandit

NEW FROM NASH MOTORCYCLES–Jason Momoa’s Hands-On Collab With Nash

We tapped into Jason Momoa’s passion for the classic late 1930s era motor affectionately known to American motorcycle gearheads as the Knucklehead motor. This is the same motor that Jason’s personally hand-built bike is powered by. Inspired by Knuckleheads, Jason instigated and lead a design with Taber Nash and they worked together in releasing this very, very limited keepsake.

GRAB ONE!

Wind of these hammers will hit the mainstream public, but we want to reward the loyal Nash Motorcycle audience by covering the cost of your optional matching Hammer Hanger that goes with the Knuckle Hammer. Here is a discount code below that covers the $60 cost of the Jason Mamoa branded Knuckle Hammer Hanger:

STURGIS COVID CORRECTION–Gov. Noem says Sturgis Rally report is ‘under guise of academic research’

By KEVN Staff KEVN

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – A white paper released by four economic professors with the IZA Institue of Labor Economics that said the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was a superspreader event, leading to a national spike in COVID-19 cases that cost billions in healthcare dollars, is being disputed in South Dakota.

Gov. Kristi Noem echos what health officials said in their Tuesday morning press meeting the report should be dismissed.

“This report isn’t science; it’s fiction. Under the guise of academic research, this report is nothing short of an attack on those who exercised their personal freedom to attend Sturgis,” said Gov. Noem in a press release Tuesday.”Predictably, some in the media breathlessly report on this nonpeer-reviewed model, built on incredibly faulty assumptions that do not reflect the actual facts and data here in South Dakota.”

The report gathered its results by using cellphone data from SafeGraph, Inc. It shoed “smartphone pings from nonresidents” and “foot traffic at restaurants and bars, retail establishments and entertainment venues, hotels and campgrounds each rose substantially” through Aug. 7 through 16. It says that the Rally is linked to an estimated 267,000 COVID-19 cases nationwide and says the overall health costs from the Rally are $12.2 billion.

“At one point, academic modeling also told us that South Dakota would have 10,000 COVID patients in the hospital at our peak. Today, we have less than 70. I look forward to good journalists, credible academics, and honest citizens repudiating this nonsense,” Gov. Noem said.

— 2020 KEVN

THE SHIFTING ENVIRONMENTAL SCENARIO–
I’m delighted to report that, as renewables have faltered, pro-nuclear environmentalists have become increasingly vocal, even in Germany, the world’s most anti-nuclear nation.

Below is my latest column for Forbes. Please share!

–Michael

As Renewables Falter, Environmentalists Stand Up For Nuclear

Environmentalists have long promoted renewable energy sources as better for nature. But a new study suggests that the expansion of mining for the materials to make solar panels and wind turbines may pose a greater threat than climate change to endangered species.

“Most mining areas (82%) target materials needed for renewable energy production,” note the authors in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications. And, they add, “these new threats to biodiversity may surpass those averted by climate change mitigation.”

The study comes at a moment when the expansion of solar and wind energy is increasing local opposition, raising electricity prices, and contributing to electricity shortages.

Recent electricity outages in California forced the state’s governor to acknowledge the dangers posed by attempting to rely on unreliable sources of renewable energy.

“We cannot sacrifice reliability,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said on August 17. “We have to sober up to the reality that… we’re going to have to do more, and be much more mindful, in terms of our capacity to provide backup and insurance.”

The problem with relying on solar panels is that the sun sets during peak demand, which is between 5 pm and 10 pm, requiring a massive ramping up of natural gas power plants. And the same lack of wind behind the heatwaves has also meant a lack of electricity from industrial wind turbines.

Meanwhile, environmental resistance is blocking and slowing the expansion of industrial wind and solar energy projects. In Britain, Greenpeace has opposed a massive new solar farm, arguing that “vast continuous fields of panels on agricultural land [are not] the best way to go solar.” New York environmentalists, meanwhile, “say large-scale solar installations will spoil beautiful farmland,” reported Financial Times.

As renewables have faltered, pro-nuclear environmentalists have become increasingly vocal, even in Germany, the world’s most anti-nuclear nation.

Europeans Protest Greenpeace

Last Saturday pro-nuclear activists organized by the German pro-nuclear organization Nuklearia dropped a banner in front of Greenpeace’s Germany headquarters. It read, “Climate Crisis? Nuclear energy!”

Pro-nuclear activists similarly protested in front of Greenpeace’s Paris headquarters in late June, denouncing the NGO’s role in replacing nuclear plants with fossil fuels.

“Several dozen protesters — wearing face masks — carried banners in front of the Greenpeace headquarters in Paris, with slogans such as ‘Less nuclear means more coal,’” reported Reuters.

“In the following weeks, there will be similar rallies,” reported the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) last week, “where the five other German nuclear power plants that are still running but whose operating licenses will soon expire.”

Over the next six weeks, there will be over forty pro-nuclear demonstrations around the world organized by the Nuclear Pride Coalition. (My nonprofit organization, Environmental Progress, is a member of the coalition, but did not organize the demonstrations in Germany, France, or other nations.)

The chairman of Nuklearia is Rainer Klute, a computer scientist and “eco-modernist.” That’s someone who, according to FAZ, ”wants to save the world by relying on modern technology, not on using jute bags.” FAZ noted that Klute is finding allies “among those who oppose wind turbines out of concern for noise and the landscape.”

It wasn’t the first pro-nuclear demonstration in Germany. In December 2019, 120 people from Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic rallied near the Philippsburg nuclear power plant, forty-five minutes from the French border, which the German government had forced to close prematurely.

While Klute emphasizes the need for nuclear to combat climate change, Peters stresses the need for nuclear energy to avoid over-dependence on imported natural gas from Russia.

Concerns about over-dependence on Russian natural gas are growing in Germany. Earlier this year, the Russian parliament effectively gave President Vladimir Putin the power to govern for life. And late last month, Russia’s top opposition political leader was nearly assassinated in a nerve gas attack.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the attempted murder raises “very serious questions that only the Russian government can answer — and must answer.” But she has so far not taken any practical action to hold the Russian government to account.

A similar dynamic has played out before. Merkel publicly declared former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s decision to work for Russia’s natural gas company “not acceptable.” But she did, in the end, accept it.

Merkel used similarly strong language after the Russian government intervened in Ukraine. “Merkel issues rebuke to Russia,” a New York Times headline blared in 2014, “setting caution aside.” But in the six years since, Merkel has deepened Germany’s dependence on imported Russian gas.

Klute and Peters note that if Germany kept its nuclear plants open, and even expanded them, the nation could be as free both of coal and of Russian gas, as France is. That nation’s nuclear-heavy electricity supply produces one-tenth of the carbon emissions per unit of electricity as Germany’s, for little over one-half the price.

Klute acknowledges that he is a long way from winning over a majority of support from his fellow Germans, but stresses that popularity isn’t the only factor nations must consider when deciding what kind of energy to use.

And Klute notes that the times are changing. “When Angela Merkel is no longer Federal Chancellor,” he notes, “politicians will also dare to take our side.” Merkel will leave office next year.

In the end, it may take a more serious rattling of the global order, such as the withdrawal of the United States from NATO, to persuade a nation like Germany to hang on to its nuclear plants.

Generation Nuclear

As the failings of renewables have become more apparent, journalists have started covering pro-nuclear demonstrations more fairly and respectfully than they had in the recent past.

Der Spiegel, the largest newsweekly in Germany, covered last December’s pro-nuclear protest with undisguised anti-nuclear hostility.

But in June, France’s anti-nuclear Le Monde covered the pro-nuclear protest of Greenpeace in Paris far more fairly. “We are here to denounce the untruths of Greenpeace on nuclear power,” pro-nuclear leader Myrto Tripathi is quoted as saying.

Even German media are changing. In mid-July, Die Zeit, a major newspaper, published an article by Klute’s colleagues titled, “Stop the Nuclear Phase-Out!” And in mid-August, Der Spiegel published a long debate that gave space for pro-nuclear and anti-nuclear activists to make their case.

“Public opinion towards nuclear energy is changing,” said Bjorn Peters, who helped organize the December 2019 demonstration at Philippsburg nuclear plant.

But the biggest change to nuclear’s reception and perception can be seen on social media.

As recently as 2016, I had to routinely refute on Twitter obviously false claims, such as that nuclear energy isn’t low-carbon energy. Such claims have largely disappeared from view. And, in the rare instance they are still made, I find others debunking them before I have a chance to.

And there have been some recent surprises. Over the last few weeks, Isabelle Boemke, a 29-year-old Brazilian model with a large social media following, has released a series of videos about the environmental benefits of nuclear.

“One uranium pellet, about the size of a gummy bear, has as much energy as 2,000 pounds of coal,” she notes in a September 6 Tik Tok video that has been viewed a half-million times.

“This means we can create an insane amount of energy in smaller spaces, which means it requires less land, which is great news for the environment,” she explained.

Financial Times columnist Jonathan Ford made a similar point in his recent article about Greenpeace’s opposition to the proposed solar farm.

“It all goes to illustrate one of the awkward truths about renewables,” wrote Ford, “and one that is often buried beneath impressive statistics showing the declining cost of solar panels and wind turbines. Their relatively low ‘power density’ makes them more consumptive of resources.”

The low power density of renewables is behind rising conflicts in New York over efforts to spread solar and wind projects over the landscape. Solar and wind projects require, on average, 300 – 400 times more land than a nuclear or natural gas plant.

“One [New York] resident handing out flyers opposing the [wind energy] project found a dead rabbit in the mailbox,” reported The Financial Times. “This project is tearing our previously peaceful community apart,” he says.

And it’s their low power density that scientists say may make renewables a greater threat than climate change to endangered species.

Michael Shellenberger is a Time Magazine “Hero of the Environment,” Green Book Award Winner, and author of Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All (Harper Collins, June 30, 2020). He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, and other publications. His TED talks have been viewed over five million times.

–Michael Shellenberger
Founder and President
Environmental Progress
2569 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94708

IT’S ALL SO INTERESTING—I try to step back from much of the bullshit and take a broad look. I continue to support freedom and motorcycling. It seems to work, even if the other guys hate it and want to control everything. Here are a couple of other activities that also work, like sailing, riding bicycles or hiking. Getting outside and being free is the key. I keep reminding myself, we are living in the best of times…

In the meantime, we are about to deliver a short Dyna tech on motor-mounts from Custom Cycle engineering. We are still working on a Girl of Bikernet and a brother asked for a Chopper feature.

I’m working with Morris Magneto on the Pandemic Panhead. I’ll call them tomorrow about a question about the magneto. We’re close to firing that puppy to life. The doctor was supposed to order the generator gear and seal.

More reports coming soon. In the meantime, ride fast and free forever!

–Bandit

First Amendment Protections for Journalists and Bystanders
By the team at First Amendment Watch

Sixty-one percent of the U.S. population lives in states where federal appeals courts have recognized a First Amendment right to record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue. As a result, legal protections are fully secure only in those jurisdictions where federal circuits have issued a ruling.

However, given the resounding support so far for this First Amendment protection, it seems highly likely that the remaining federal appeal courts would reach the same conclusion if the issue appears on their docket.

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS IMPORTANT ARTICLE ON BIKERNET

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by Cristian Curmei from https://www.autoevolution.com

BMW has done it again. Offering us yet another concept vehicle that surpasses all previous bounds and expectations.

When I first saw it, a small lump of happiness stuck in my throat, nearly made mew cry. And for good reason. Just look at this wonderfully geometric symphony. You wouldn’t even know what it is if it wasn’t for the wheels and engine screaming “Batman’s motorcycle!!”. In this case, since it’s German, it’s probably a better fit for Fledermaus Mann!

In case you missed the in your face design, the BMW emblem should give you an idea of what it is you’re about to touch. It’s called the Vision Next 100, and it is a motorcycle like no other. Just the design itself is one only seen in movies or on concept projects. Thanks to BMW, however, this motorcycle is now a reality.

“When we develop a motorcycle,” adds Edgar Heinrich, “we are usually thinking around five to ten years in the future. So taking a look further into the future was especially exciting for us and highly appealing.”

With that in mind, BMW worked toward a cycle that is ready to integrate into the future cities our world seems to be developing. Just to give you an idea of what BMW Motorrad has done, please understand that in the photo gallery, the only product that isn’t part of the bike is the rider. But even then, it has to be a naked rider, as even the apparel is specifically designed for the motorcycle and works in tune with it to offer a more pleasing ride.

So, to explain this to you I’m gonna start from the top down. In the gallery I’m sure you’ve noticed that the rider has a pair of gigantic but chic glass-o-goggles. Those goggles are the only bit of protection that the rider needs. I’ll explain in a minute as to why. The goggles function as a windscreen for the rider’s eyes but also as the instrument panel. On them, all information any rider may need is projected, from speed and road tilt, to hazards and even a map showing selected routes. All of it accessed by positioning the rider’s head at different vertical angles. Looking straight up activates a rear-view function. All information seems to be displayed in a manner similar to aviation controls. Or crime-fighting, masked vigilantes.

Next up is the clothing line. BMW moved away from the classic leather apparel that seems to dominate the motor market, focusing rather on lightweight and flexible fabrics. The suit, because that what it basically is, molds to the rider’s body during cruising and offers support to areas on the body that would normally be put under stress during certain riding positions. For example, at higher speeds the neck region of the suit fills with air in order to relieve pressure on the spine to offer a more comfortable ride.

A diverse number of sensory located throughout the suit activate to respond to diverse changes during the ride. Some sensors activate to inform you of turn direction while others when reaching the maximum tilt during a turn. Now, the suit itself doesn’t do much protecting against road-rash, but then again, it doesn’t need to. Uhh, right. No protection?

The Vision Next 100 has an ace up its sleeve. Excuse me, not an ace, but a royal flush. She’s able to do a tight wire walk with some very neat self-balancing technology. Yes, sir! She can stand on a dime. No kickstand needed. No rider. No support. She features an assistance function that allows her to basically stay upright no matter the rider’s capabilities. How? Nobody knows. Does it even matter, really? Just think about it.

She’s able to control the angle at which you take a turn. She’s able to stay upright at a red light while keeping the driver in riding position. No more legs down or legs up. This means she’s perfect for riders of any level. But don’t think that because she can be controlled by a noob, she won’t give a pro the ride of their life. On the contrary, the self-balancing mechanism and software, are specifically designed to actually enhance your ride, and not diminish it.

Now the engine. The engine is just, wow! Those who know motorcycles also know that the engine compartment is a huge influence on the vehicle’s aerodynamics. That being said, you may think that this engine serves no aerodynamic functions, and you’d be wrong, just as I was. The Vision Next 100 hides a feature that made my jaw drop. When at rest, aside from remaining upright on its own, the Vision Next’ 100’s engine is seemingly compact. but the moment you hop on the bike, the engine compartment begins to stretch to the sides like the gills on a shark.

Then you start to ride, faster and faster, and continue to notice that your engine is growing along with your speed. It does this in order to offer the optimal aerodynamics needed for the speed and weather conditions, but also to offer the much-needed protection against any eventual mishaps the Vision Next 100 couldn’t foresee.

The body shape for this baby is set-up to keep the rider in a roadster position. Using carbon and aluminum as the base materials for design and construction, she’s able to offer a wonderful blend of color, ergonomics, design and functionality. The frame, however, with its wild design, includes a functionality feature that allows it to flex depending on the direction the handlebars are turned toward. Meaning if you want to turn right, you won’t have a pivot point for your fork, hell, there isn’t even a fork to begin with, instead the frame will bend or contract where needed to offer the turning capability.

And depending on how fast you’re going the frame will either tense up or relax to offer much needed protection to the rider in case of accidents. A matte-black finish to the carbon ‘Flexframe’ and the polished aluminum engine block offer it a visual balance only rivaled by its self-balancing technology.

As we can see, even the tires look like they’ve got to do some sort of something. Heck, everything else on this thing does, why would the tires be of any exception? The tires do offer some extra functionality aside from just rolling. They feature a dampening function, which offers a smooth ride and adapts to the terrain you are riding on to keep that comfort going

Got any words? Or do you just want one too?

 

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

Harley-Davidson itself has a build-off competition dedicated to its international dealers with a budget cap of around $6,500. The bike maker has this rule because motorcycles can be customized for far less than one would spend on remaking a four-wheeled vehicle, and with incredible results.

Over the past eight weeks or so, either as part of our Harley-Davidson Month or Two-Wheeler Month coverages, we’ve talked aplenty about custom Harleys coming out of a German shop by the name of Thunderbike. Diverse as they are, these creations have in general one thing in common: they’re not that expensive to make, provided you already own the base motorcycle.

The one in the gallery above is different, though. What you’re looking at is a Fat Boy S (which you can get in stock form today for a little over $20,000) modified so heavily that it’s price has jumped by at least $15,000.

That’s the number we came up with after adding all the prices of the over 20 custom parts that have gone into making it. It does not include the man hours put into it, the incredible paint job, and some other parts Thunderbike probably failed to mention.

The build is called as per the Germans Blue Vegas, partly because of the unlikely color chosen for the wheels and the flames on the tank.

Leaving aside the fact that the custom parts (ranging from the wheels and fenders to the handlebar and tank) fit together perfectly, the paint job is one of the main reasons the motorcycle looks so great. It might seem risky business for the garage to go the blue way, but since this was probably made at the request of a customer, the risk was not really theirs.

In the end, the bet paid off, as this certainly is a unique motorcycle in the world of custom bikes.