THE WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for October 19th, 2023
By Bandit |
Hey,
Here’s what we’re up against from one source, SEMA:
Rhode Island Re-Opens Comment Period for Internal Combustion Engine Ban
UPDATE: Don’t Wait—Please Comment on New Mexico’s Proposed Clean Car Plan
New Jersey Set to Ban Internal Combustion Engines
Ask Your U.S. Representative to Support the CARS Act
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill to Stop California’s ICE Vehicle Ban
EPA Pursues New Emissions Standards to Spur Transition to Electric Vehicles
Ask Your U.S. Representative to Support the REPAIR Act
Ask Your U.S. Senators to Support the American Outdoor Recreation Act.
As you can see, we are under attack daily. It’s so interesting. Is the doom real or is it made up? If it’s made up, who is responsible and who has the guts to expose it.
I just had a meeting with a staffer from Senator Rounds office in South Dakota. I asked the most simplistic question. “Can we show kids all over the world and especially in the United States the truth?” Seems simple enough, but he told me the chances of the Senate placing that question on the floor for open debate were nil, nada, no-way.
Think about that. We a living in the best of times from the standpoint of science, technology, communications and health (except for Covid) but our leaders (that’s not an accurate descriptive term) elected officials are scared, bullied, bullies, control freaks and avoiding the truth.
Get this. The last two issues of the AMA magazine have not mentioned any legislative issues. Did they miss the SEMA report or have they been taken over? The new MIC (Motorcycle industry Council) report just came out. No legislative alerts. What’s going on? 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, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
FEATURE BIKE OF THE WEEK–Raw Iron Choppers
jesse@rawironchoppers.com
–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™
LATEST FROM LEGENDS–LEGEND SUSPENSION FOR SOFTAIL MODELS
2000-2017
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REVO’S EXTENDED COIL LENGTH HAS LARGER “SWEET SPOT” WITHOUT INCREASING OVERALL SHOCK LENGTH.
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AXEO Softail Models
Available in various different part numbers depending on bike model.
Please contact the Department of Environmental Management of Air Resources immediately to voice your opposition:
Overview: The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Air Resources announced the “Rhode Island’s Low-Emission and Zero-Emission Vehicle Programs” regulation. If enacted, the sale of new gas- and diesel-powered cars and trucks will be banned starting in 2035. Because of a technical issue, the comment period has been extended to October 30, 2023. If you previously submitted comments, we ask that you please do so again.
–SEMA
BIKERNET READER TECH QUESTION —S&S Hot Rod Pro Stock 160-Inch Engines
Can this S&S engine be detuned for street use?
–Larry Chiltton
ON, Canada
“If you have this engine, yes it could be detuned, but it would be a costly endeavor. If you are thinking about buying an S&S engine, you can order it in any configuration from mild to hot.” –Bandit
CHOPPERS MAGAZINE ALERT– Pre-Order Issue 13
New to Choppers Magazine. Don’t Miss Out. Chance of a Lifetime.
EDITORIAL: INHERIT DIRT AND ASHES–
A Prediction of a Western, the Frontier as the Future
We have all seen and heard or read enough Western fiction and non-fiction; now it all seems predictable.
However, have you instead considered it all as a prediction of things to come?
Well, it don’t need to be a Mad Max movie kinda future if everything’s gonna be electric and digital. Ultimately, we would have to seek the assistance of Mother Nature and its creatures — whether you ride a horse or a buffalo or a wild ostrich in that future is yet to be decided based on what skills and life-forms remain in such a decadent Earth.
Only a few things separate our planet as an inhabitable life-nurturing rock in space— and guess what, some corporates are trying hard to control and possess it all, so as to put your air & water on a tab you can’t afford.
The basic frontier country story is all the same. Same as back when people had no nations, no flags. You find a tolerable piece of land, try and make a lifestyle from the life on it, hope the water don’t run out and pray the sun ain’t the death star of old legends. Then come all the competition—fellow humans who want your piece of dirt or want to tax it to protect themselves from you ever becoming an unproductive neighbour.
As sure as night follows the day and history repeats itself, the future, the science fiction to be faced as fact, is frontier towns and ghost towns. Us all striving to survive, hoping to be the strongest, allowing the dead to feed the living.
Imagine, blood-sucking leeches sucking out water from you instead, as hackers steal your life-energy rather than your money or data? A futuristic bio-engineered leech? Maybe a water bank where you sell your body’s precious resource instead of blood or sperm!
A future more like a cartoon, a wild child’s play—as if the movie ‘Rango’ (2011) was a documentation of things past that will replay beyond sands everywhere in due time.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1192628/
Do governments already work on protection of water resources internationally or is it too much of a conspiracy theory regarding monitoring of political tides and corporate ties.
Quantum of Solace (2008) was a James Bond movie that considered water as the new precious natural resource to pursue. We have yet to see people, ordinary folks, those complaining about taxes to take some effort at saving and recycling this gift of life, becoming self-sufficient— they remain a fountain of bitter truth that springs forth conditioned, busy and insect-like humans that are born, consume, reproduce, infest their surroundings and die.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/
My favorite superhero has worked on these issues and continues to strive for a sustainable human!
Bill Gates dares to drink which no billionaire has drunk before
This ingenious machine turns feces into drinking water— and may save lives. Why would anyone want to turn waste into drinking water and electricity?
FROM SubStack: Hot Air Cold Love
https://hotaircoldlove.substack.com/p/inherit-dirt-and-ashes
–Wayfarer
Editor in Chief
Bikernetblog.com™
“I don’t always go for Bill’s programs. He’s one guy who could put the Doomsday discussion on a national stage. We just want the truth.”
KNUCKLEHEAD OF THE WEEK–Atomic Custom
1946 Knuckle
Atomic Trent
406-980-1244
atomiccustom@gmail.com
–Sam Burns
Motorcycle Curator
Bikernet.com™
DICE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION : ONE YEAR
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VetTix provides Veterans and service members with free tickets to hundreds of events, including sports, concerts, performing arts and family experiences nationwide.
TITANIUM ROTOR BOLTS ON SALE— ON SALE UNTIL END OF MONTH
Gold Finish
Fits Hub Mounted Standard Pattern Rotors
$95.00
$82.65
RACELITE SERIES from Wana-Ryd
https://wanaryd.com/
THE MAGNIFICENT BUFFALO CHIP RALLY RECAP–
YOU HELPED MAKE THE 2023 RALLY A ROARING SUCCESS
The 2023 Rally started with an unprecedented rainfall, but that certainly did not dampen the spirits of our attendees and sponsors. The Best Party Anywhere rocked on with big name acts and a busy amphitheater every night. Facility improvements in the amphitheater included a highly revised East Entrance sponsored by Progressive Insurance that led directly into a remodeled Motorcycles As Art and Softail complex. ?
Motorcycles As Art drew significant attention this year, as a surge in visitors encountered an exhibit meticulously arranged by Kevin Dunworth and Savannah Rose. The gallery celebrated motorcycle art masters like Michael Lichter, Ray Drea, David Uhl, and Scott Jacobs. Additionally, the introduction of an art purchasing option and a VIP bar serving MotoDoffo wines created a nightly audience that appreciated the experience.
Royal Enfield took advantage of the increased attention in the space by hosting the reveal of a custom Super Meteor 650 built by Roland Sands. The spectacle featured a smokey burnout in a crate as an epic crescendo for the assembled media, influencers, VIP guests and sponsors.
Progressive Insurance had teams seemingly everywhere with an amphitheater activation anchored by a very cool mobile Skee-Ball display and highly engaged product experts. Their efforts were seen throughout the campus with activation teams patrolling the campground and the free-for-everyone Crossroads at the Buffalo Chip.
Buzz-Balls joined us this year with a very successful sponsorship at Club Chip. The late-night party venue had guests partying well into the evening and was the hot-spot following the headlining concerts every night.
Speaking of concerts, the line-up was as broad and diverse as always. Kicking off the rally with ZZ Top, the week featured an amazing performance from Styx and the legendary biker soundtracks from George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Each night ended with a killer show from legendary bands like Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Limp Bizkit, and others. See the entire 2023 lineup here.
Following an epic Monster Wall Smash, Thursday night showcased the retro-spectacle of the Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular featuring Kyle Ives jumping a motorcycle over Blake Wallenda on a high-wire. This first-time ever event drew in even more motorcycle and music fans!
While Mother Nature tried to wash out some of the rally week, motorcycle and music fans proved that the show will go on. Buffalo Chip staff and sponsors proved their dedication to serving the tens of thousands of guests who flock to the rally and this legendary venue. When you have a party that’s become an American tradition for over four decades, even the forces of nature have to join in!
The Chip staff thank everyone for their support and creativity at this year’s event and are already planning for 2024, which marks both the 85th rally anniversary and the 45th Best Party Anywhere celebration!
WHAT’S NEXT?
In addition, there are some new plans regarding our Buffalo Chip Campground website and the expansion of camping availability for a significantly longer period than “just the rally”. This will expose sponsoring brands to a wider variety of guests, while increasing the value of the relationship.
[page break]
Triumph to end Thruxton’s production with new Final Edition
– Triumph celebrating 80th anniversary of the first Thruxton
– Final Edition pays homage to the Thruxton of the 1960s
– Based on the top-spec Thruxton RS
Triumph has unveiled the new Final Edition of its iconic café racer, the Thruxton. As the name suggests, it will mark the end of the motorcycle’s legendary run and celebrate the 80th anniversary of its first-ever iteration.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/autos/other/triumph-to-end-thruxton-s-production-with-new-final-edition/ar-AA1irgFh
–Wayfarer
LIFE LESSONS—I think about the coffee I make every day and how I go through the sealed bag of magnificent Sturgis Coffee. As I come to the end of the bag, I plan to roll into Sturgis to buy a new supply, see the cute girl behind the counter. But this is about time and how it’s slipping away.
I look at my own existence and how my time is dwindling. I spoke to an older brother, an ex-Hells Angel the other day. He’s in his 80s and I asked him what he does daily. He said all his friends are gone. He watched over his mom until she passed. He’s not a veteran nor has a pension. He lives on Social Security and watches TV. He doesn’t have a motorcycle anymore.
I hooked him up with some riders nearby to Fresno, CA. I hope he will take advantage of the crew in Auburn, including Carlo and Emma Lujan who own the Indian Dealership.
The point is, the next time you open a new bag of your favorite coffee or a new tube of toothpaste, think about the time that passed and what you were doing during that delicate chunk of life.
I want to compliment many of the movers and shakers I know in the custom motorcycle industry including Rick Fairless, of Strokers Dallas and Paul Yaffe of the Bagger Nation in Phoenix. These are guys who make shit happen every day. If you’re one of them and never let a day pass without metalflake accomplishments, creating new, chromed bad-ass shit and constantly reaching out to friends, brothers, customers and enthusiasts daily, bravo. Never stop and never give up.
–Bandit
A FREEDOM FIGHTER ALERT–
Automakers finally blast Biden EPA plan to hike fuel efficiency rules – Would ‘boost avg vehicle price by $3,000…with absolutely no environmental or fuel savings benefits’
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) proposal was unreasonable and requested significant revisions.
The industry group argued the plan would boost average vehicle prices by $3,000 by 2032 because of penalties automakers would face for not complying, adding the figure “exceeds reason and will increase costs to the American consumer with absolutely no environmental or fuel savings benefits.”
By Marc Morano
Climate Depot
“Marc also wrote a book called the Great Reset. He basically points out how they are coming for everything we do and won’t stop until they have control of everything and destroy our country, because that’s the goal.”
–Bandit
BABE OF THE WEEK—
Monica Salvi (Monic) lives in Modena, Italy, originally from Barcelona, Spain. She is into motorcycle track racing and other outdoor sports such as swimming, diving, and freestyle skiing.
She enjoys car shows, aerobics, and astrology.
–Sam Burns
Babe Investigator
Bikernet.com™
UPDATE: DON’T WAIT—PLEASE COMMENT ON NEW MEXICO’S PROPOSED CLEAN CAR PLAN
New Mexico’s proposed automotive regulations could severely impact your ability to choose the vehicles you love. Act now to oppose this restrictive proposal, preserving your right to diverse automotive options.
DON’T DELAY! Make your voice heard by submitting comments to the state by November 13, 2023.
–SEMA
BIKERNET HISTORY LESSON–Simson-AWO 425 – 450 – 750
The origins of the company Simson go back to the year 1854 when the brothers Löb and Moses Simson bought one-third of a steelhammer works in Suhl, Germany. The production of carbon steel began and the firm Simson & Co. in 1856. Initially, weapons and bicycles were built. From 1908, vehicles were built including the Simson Supra racing car.
After World War I, Simson Suhl was the only German company that was allowed to produce machine guns. This explains why the company was forcibly removed shortly after the seizure of power by the Nazis. Hitler’s government forced the Jewish family Simson to flee the country in 1936. The company name was now Berlin-Suhler Waffen- und Fahrzeugwerke Simson & Co. (BSW).
After the Second World War, the works were largely dismantled and spent as a reparation payment in the Soviet Union. The production of hunting weapons, strollers and bicycles was started again.
In 1946 Simson & Co. Suhl, was incorporated into the Soviet joint stock company SAG Awtowelo (AWO). As of March 5, 1947, the company was named State Corporation “Awtowelo” Werk vorm. Simson & Co, Suhl.
In 1948, the Soviet Army Administration (SMAD) ordered the plant to build a 250cc, four-stroke, sidecar motorcycle. It was the overhead-valve AWO 425. Between 1949 and 1962 the Suhl factory produced more than 209,000 motorcycles designated Type 425 (4 meaning 4-stroke and 25 its capacity, 250cc).
Tanklogo 425
On May 1, 1952, the plant as a VEB vehicle and equipment made Simson Suhl a state-owned enterprise. In addition to the AWO 425 (from then on referred to as Simson type 425) were produced. A sports version was also developed.
Simson 425
In 1964, the production of the Simson 425 Sport was discontinued in favor of moped production. After the reunification of Germany, Simson was handled by the Treuhandanstalt and re-founded as Suhler Fahrzeugwerk GmbH. The Mokickba series have been modernized. After several near-bankruptcies, the company had to file for bankruptcy on June 28, 2002. The company was auctioned in 2003.
–text from b-cozz.com
–Sam Burns
Motorcycle Curator
THE GREEN THING— As I checked out at the store, the young cashier suggested to me I should bring my own shopping bags because plastic bags aren’t good for the environment. I apologized and explained, “We didn’t have this green thing back in my day.”
“And that’s actually our problem now,” she responded. “Your generation simply didn’t care enough to keep our environment safe for future generations.”
She was right — our generation didn’t have this green thing in those days. Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed, sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So, they really were recycled.
We refilled our writing pens with ink instead of buying brand-new ones, and we replaced razor blades instead of throwing away the whole razor when the blade got dull. But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.
We used the stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the grocery store instead of climbing into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
But the young lady was right. We didn’t have the green thing in those days.
We had one television or radio in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a screen the size of a handkerchief — not the size of the county.
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred things by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send by mail, we crushed up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the grass. We pushed a lawnmower that ran on muscle power. We worked, instead of working out at a health club, and running on electrically-powered treadmills.
But she’s right. We didn’t have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain or a tap when we were thirsty instead of buying water bottled in plastic, often in some other country. We accepted the fact that a lot of food was seasonal and we didn’t expect it to be flown in from parts of the world thousands of kilometers away.
We actually prepared meals that didn’t come out of a package, a tin or wrapped in plastic, and we could even wash our own vegetables and chop our own salads. But we didn’t have the green thing back then.
Back then, people walked, or took a streetcar or bus, and kids walked to school or rode their bikes, instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour Uber service. There was usually one electrical outlet in each room, not a bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized pocket device to receive a signal beamed from satellites in space just to find the nearest pizza joint.
But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?
Please send this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart-ass youngster. We don’t like being old in the first place, so it doesn’t take much to piss us off – especially when it comes from tattooed, multiply-pierced know-it-alls who can’t make change without the cash register telling them how much.
–Sam Burns
History Buff
Bikernet.com™
TURN 14 DISTRIBUTION APPOINTS PRESIDENT OF OWNED BRANDS, ROBERT SCHUETZ
Turn 14 Distribution, the industry leader in performance parts distribution, announces the appointment of the President of Owned Brands, Robert Schuetz. Bob is an established leader within the performance aftermarket and OE industries. His resume includes world-renowned companies like Warn Industries Inc, Ohlins USA, and KW Automotive, NA, where he held executive leadership positions of Vice President and President within these organizations.
Bob will oversee the establishment, structure, development, and daily operations of our owned brands team with its headquarters in the Dallas, Fort Worth area. He will lead the product development, R&D, brand management, and marketing of the manufacturing brands Turn 14 Distribution acquired through Tucker Powersports purchase.
“I’m excited to be a part of the rebirth of the brands we’ve acquired from Tucker Powersports, and I look forward to earning the trust of our longstanding partners and internal team as we seek to maximize our potential in each respective marketplace,” said Bob Schuetz, Turn 14 Distribution President of Owned Brands.
“Bob has years of expertise and industry know-how to spearhead our manufacturing efforts with our brands as we move forward,” said Jon Pulli, CEO of Turn 14 Distribution.
–Steve Piehl
ANOTHER CLASSIC CUSTOM KNUCKLEHEAD OF THE WEEK—By Motorcycles Den.
Check out how he mounted the bars.
–Sam Burns
OPINION OF THE DAY—J.J. Solari steps into the ring…
I don’t mean to shock America’s motorcyclists but it’s not auto drivers’ job to stay out of your way. It’s your job to stay out of their way. They have no incentive to stay out of your way.
They’re not going to die and likely not even going to get hurt in the crash. All these mighty biker types demanding auto drivers suddenly up-end all their instincts and prejudices in order to grant motorcyclists their equal rights on the road: if you’re on a motorcycle you don’t have any rights on the road. You don’t even have any rights in the Constitution. But you THINK you have rights on the road.
You have the right to fucking DIE on the road. Those are your road-rights. The right to fucking die. Here’s your fucking rights on the road: “You have the right to get splattered into mist, high-flying smelly clothes, and thousands of airborne bone chips in a collision with a car or truck or train. This is your right.
This right shall not be dissolved or suspended or cancelled in any way, such as, for example, by ‘the right to live,’ nor by any subsequent or previous right you might imagine to exist, nor by any slogan you might dream up to proclaim your road rights that you have fancied to compose in a fit of crossdressing euphoria while drinking daiquiris with your ‘bros’.” Those are your rights on the fucking road.
You don’t want a car to hit your motorcycle? Stay off the fucking road. Or else strap explosives to yourself so that when YOU go maybe he’ll go too. All these mini Ocasios going around pretending their motorcycle-riding lives matter: they don’t matter to car drivers. You know whose lives matter to car drivers? Semi-drivers’ lives: car drivers NEVER turn left in front of a semi. You know why? Because they know they’re going to fucking die! The same reason they DO turn in front of motorcyclists: because they know they’re NOT going to fucking die.
Meanwhile you’re going around, all skipping and vibrating in hysteria “Oh, now, listen car driver person man dude guy: watch out for us ‘bikers.’ Look out for us now, omigawd. We’re fucking invisible and can appear out of nowhere and lately we have come to believe that it’s your job to be aware of us in our fucking invisibility and for you to also develop such a fondness for us and our ability to escape from every traffic tie up that you’re going to be trapped within that you spend your time on the road hoping for an opportunity to show us that you’re a responsible motorcycler-loving individual, anxious to show us that our lives matter and that ‘watching out’ for ‘bikers’ is your top priority when you get behind the wheel of your 5,000 pound Tesla that’s on automatic pilot.”
Ya know, as long as I’m on the fucking subject, there used to be before bikers, and by bikers I mean clubbed-up lunatics wearing the military helmets of the Wehrmacht….those types of bikers: those type of bikers had an attitude that sort of morphed into a slogan which was “Ride Hard Die Fast.”
In fact the Early-When-It-Was-Cool Easyriders Magazine ran a full page or maybe two-page view from the ground of a painting of a skinny total fucking crazed, probably multi-drug addled shirtless, dungaree’d renegade from every form of socially-acceptable nicety imaginable, on a chopped, basically part-less, Harley larger than himself, he’s holding onto it with one hand, the other hand had I think a fucking human skull in it, he’s in motorcycle boots, remember those? That’s his “protection” from mishaps on the highway, and from the debris chaos going on behind him he’s obviously going in excess of 100 miles an hour on who even knows if it’s a road and with no shock absorbers except for little useless springs under the “seat” and it’s all like in a faded blue paint like twilight-under-heatlamps, like eternity is about to fall onto this guy, not that he fucking cares, and arching over him and the bike are the words RIDE HARD – DIE FAST.
This of course was before Easyriders became popular and before it decided it wanted to turn into the people it was trying to avoid ever appealing to. And before ride hard die fast was changed into ride hard be nice, and ride hard drink Pepsi, and ride hard play fair, and ride hard go gay. But that’s a different lecture.
The point is: motorcycling is a fucking crap shoot. It’s not a pulpit for “educating” car drivers on their need to do the impossible: which would be to learn to love and admire and be mindful of motorcyclists. Who they fucking detest.
–J.J. Solari
QUOTE OF THE WEEK— The Climate of Fear: Youth Mental Health in the Throes of Climate Change
We live in an age of unparalleled wealth and comfort, where bogeyman must be created because they don’t actually exist.
–Charles Rotter
Watt Up with That
BRAND NEW 100-WORD FICTION SUBMISSION–I gave it the title “Long Rides” and created a few illustrations of a solitary rider.
Read it here:
https://blog.bikernet.com/100-wfc-long-rides-by-steven-sanner/
I used this image above which had best details and shows the rider coming along alone —instead of the other three images depicting him on his way on a road where no one is ahead for him to look forward to. Sorta subtle optimism.
The below image has a better landscape but has him sitting too high on the bike — yet, I like it because this one has him wearing a hat instead of a helmet– with a very Old West atmosphere!
But perceivably, all of ’em are very good. I’m an amateur illustrator now. Gotta celebrate with a ride.
–Wayfarer
Editor
Bikernetblog.com™
VFW LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE GAMING LEAGUE FOR VETERANS—
The VFW aims to foster connections and combat veteran isolation
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural gaming league, Combat Tested Gaming. Working alongside veteran-owned KC Crew, this landmark initiative provides a new platform for service members and veterans to hone their gaming skills while building camaraderie with other members of the veteran community. Watch the promo.
An estimated 3 billion people globally will play video games this year, and the VFW recognizes the importance of providing diverse opportunities for veterans to foster connections and combat isolation in an inclusive and support environment. Combat Tested Gaming aims to fulfill this mission by bringing veterans together through esports.
VFW Combat Tested Gaming”Combat Tested Gaming is about more than gaming, it’s about leveraging social engagement and skill development opportunities to build a strong community of support,” said VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento. “Veterans find strength in unity, and this bold, new initiative harnesses the power of technology to connect them in a way that’s both fun and therapeutic.”
To kick off this exciting endeavor, Combat Tested Gaming’s debut season will feature leagues for popular competitive video games Call of Duty®: Warzone and Rocket League. League winners will go on to compete in the 2024 VFW National Gaming Championship that will be livestreamed at the 125th VFW National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, next July.
Combat Tested Gaming registration is completely free. The first league play registration closes Oct. 20, with weekly matches set to begin the week of Oct. 23. All matches will be streamed live to the VFW’s Twitch and YouTube accounts.
Whether you game solo or have a brigade of battle buddies, service members and veterans from all branches of the military are encouraged to join Combat Tested Gaming for the chance to connect with their fellow veterans and experience the positive impact of esports.
For more information about Combat Tested Gaming leagues or to register, visit vfw.org/Gaming.
Originally introduced in 1986, the Transalp touts a rich heritage in the adventure category, where it is renowned for its ability to perform on the pavement and explore past the road’s end. Carrying this same ethos, the new-generation Transalp has been a hit in the European market over the past few months, and now U.S. customers will be able to enjoy this versatile, middleweight ADV platform.
–DealerNews
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 MOTOAMERICA MISSON KING OF THE BAGGERS RACING SERIES
The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team will compete in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers roadracing series with team riders Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli.
Kyle Wyman won seven races during the 2023 King of the Baggers season and finished third in the season championship. Kyle is the winningest racer in MotoAmerica King of the Baggers history, with 12 total race wins in the 24 events since the start of the series in the 2021 season, plus the 2021 season championship to his credit. And yet he’s hungrier than ever after signing a new two-year contract with Harley-Davidson.
“Riding for the Harley-Davidson Factory Team has been a dream, and I’m excited to be given the opportunity to continue for two more seasons,” said Kyle Wyman. “We’ve had a lot of success in the class, but we have come up short on the championship two years in a row. Our goal is to win back the title in 2024 and I look forward to getting started with testing in the coming months.”
James Rispoli, riding for Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, won two races in the 2023 King of the Baggers season, plus he scored five second place finishes and three third place finishes for second overall in the championship. Rispoli, who was signed to a one-year contract with the factory team, has a long history of racing Harley-Davidson motorcycles dating back to racing an XR750 as a teenager, and earning the nickname “Hogspoli” after winning the American Flat Track Production Twins championship aboard a Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R in 2020. He also won back-to-back AMA Pro Racing Supersport championships in 2011-2012. Rispoli fulfills a lifelong dream by joining the Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory racing team.
“I am stoked to have signed with Factory Harley Davidson. It has been a dream of mine to be a factory rider ever since I was a little kid,” said James Rispoli. “Taking confidence and consistency paired with the backing of the factory, I know we are going to be a big threat in 2024. I am very excited to get to work.”
Rispoli replaces 2023 factory Harley-Davidson rider Travis Wyman. “I want to thank Travis Wyman for his three seasons aboard the factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide, and at all times being a consummate teammate,” said Jason Kehl, Harley-Davidson Director of Racing. “Travis joined this program mid-season in 2021 and has been invaluable in not only the development of our motorcycle, but also in building a factory racing program. Travis has been one of the fastest riders to ever race a Harley-Davidson, and we look forward to his continued contributions to our brand and to this program. We welcome James to the factory team after earning his seat riding in the King of the Bagger series the past two seasons. James’ brings with him an unrelenting desire to win for Harley-Davidson. With James now aboard, we focus on Daytona in March of 2024, kicking off the largest, most demanding, and fastest King of the Baggers season to date.”
The King of the Baggers series offers exciting competition between American V-Twin touring motorcycles prepared for competition and equipped with a fairing/windscreen and saddlebags. The 2024 season will see the King of the Baggers series expanded to 16 races over eight double-header weekends held in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike Series.
In March of this year, two of us, Matt and Michael, testified to Congress about the existence of a Censorship Industrial Complex comprised of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Big Tech companies working together to suppress disfavored views and disfavored people.
At that hearing and ever since, elected members of Congress, the mainstream news media, and the NGOs have argued that there is no Censorship Complex, just people doing research into and trying to correct misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.
But now, a group of 138 scholars, public intellectuals, and journalists from across the political spectrum have issued a strong call warning the public of the Censorship Industrial Complex and urging governments to dismantle it in the name of the “first liberty,” freedom of speech. It’s called The Westminster Declaration.
–MICHAEL SHELLENBERGER, MATT TAIBBI, ANDREW LOWENTHAL, LEIGHTON WOODHOUSE, AND ALEX GUTENTAG
(PUBLIC Substack)
If you’re looking to cover the rise of electric vehicles, and what needs to be done at the government and industry levels to ease the transition for consumers, Bill Klehm, CEO of eMobillity solutions provider eBliss, is available for interview and commentary.
With over two decades of leadership experience in the transportation and automotive industries, Bill can discuss the burgeoning industry, and how it fits into a more sustainable future.
Bill was an early collaborator at CarFax and the Fallbrook CEO who oversaw the development and launch of the NuVinci Continuously Variable Transmission—the first viable replacement for geared systems since the bicycle was invented over 200 years ago.
While at Ford Motor Company, Bill led the strategy that grew the customer service division to over $1 billion in a three-year period, and during Visteon’s successful IPO from Ford, Bill’s tenure as President grew the business from $80m to $280m. A well-regarded business and thought leader, Bill’s expertise has been featured in Hardball: Are You Playing to Play or Playing to Win, Wired, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, among other publications.
–Adam Romero
Ericho Communications
“Hmmm, maybe we should interview Bill. What do you think?”
–Bandit
Working with Atomic Bob. It’s getting that time of the year for a Xmas.
My VLXAFL is coming apart for final welding, powder and paint.
It’s amazing in the Black Hills. I love the mornings.
The ’58 Belair is still for sale and I’m still dailing in a couple of mechanical issues.
Correction from last week. This was Freddie’s 24th annual Twisted Nipple races, which I hope to cover tomorrow on Bikernet.
Remember the director of the Biker Build-offs, Hugh King (on the right). The King is now a student of Buddhism in downtown Los Angeles. I have his chopper, built by the greats and it’s in the Sturgis Museum.
I sent my engine sprocket spacers back to Tech Cycle. Billy is going to cut the big one down to 1.5 inch. That should do the trick.
We are looking for a Springer front brake to use on an early glide front end. We may have an inexpensive option with Fab Kevin.
So many projects and so little time. Ride fast and free forever.
–Bandit
BAN ZERO POLICIES BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for October 26, 2023
By Bandit |
Hey,
We are living in strange times. Zero policies means endless regulation and absolutely no freedom. Think about it. Zero emissions would mean we quit breathing. It also means death to plant life. They need, we need CO2.
Zero traffic deaths is virtually impossible. In one country, they immediately chose to ban motorcycles. Oops.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
California Suspends Self-Driving Car Company, Cruise–
Tuesday, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) notified Cruise, a self-driving car subsidiary of General Motors, that the DMV is suspending Cruise’s autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing permits, effective immediately.
Since June 2022, Cruise has been offering commercial driverless car service, which means no driver behind the wheel. There have been reports of Cruise vehicles clustering at intersections, blocking traffic, and engaging in worrisome interactions with emergency vehicles.
In the release, the California DMV said, “The department’s autonomous vehicle regulations provide a framework to facilitate the safe testing and deployment of this technology on California public roads. When there is an unreasonable risk to public safety, the DMV can immediately suspend or revoke permits.”
The agency cited four reasons for the suspension.
• Based upon the performance of the vehicles, the Department determines the manufacturer’s vehicles are not safe for the public’s operation.
• The manufacturer misrepresented information related to safety of the autonomous technology of its vehicles.
• Any act or omission of the manufacturer, or one of its agents, employees, contractors, or designees which the department finds makes the conduct of autonomous vehicle testing on public roads by the manufacturer an unreasonable risk to the public.
• The department shall immediately suspend or revoke the Manufacturer’s Testing Permit or a Manufacturer’s Testing Permit – Driverless Vehicles if a manufacturer is engaging in a practice in such a manner that immediate suspension is required for the safety of persons on a public road.
This step by the State of California is dramatic for a state positioned at the forefront of deploying this recent technology. In the past week, federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into recent incidents involving Cruise vehicles. However, the action by regulators in California is a powerful move to push back against the deployment of these vehicles, which many believe are not yet ready for our nation’s roads.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is committed to collaborating with federal policymakers to ensure the detection of bikers by self-driving technology. The lack of action by officials in Washington, D.C. remains frustrating. However, we are pleased to see regulators in California taking a stand in the face of growing incidents with Cruise vehicles. We will continue to watch other states and hope they will also fill the void left by federal inaction.
DEAD GUY QUOTE OF THE DAY–
“If it’s sent by ship then it’s cargo, if it’s sent by road then it’s a shipment” –Ray Russell
JACOBS ART GALLERY–
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming, I just wanted to remind you of the little guys.
Before falling for the savings at Big Box Stores; think of three of your favorite Mom and Pop’s.
We believe that Small Businesses are the backbone of our Nation and we’ve seen more and more of them close since 2020.
My family and our wonderful staff appreciate all of our loving customers that continue to Shop Small.
Without you, we wouldn’t still be open.
Have a Happy and Loving Holiday and Thank You,
–Scott, Sharon, Olivia and Alexa (and grandkids Daisy, Hendrix, and Levi)
WHO’S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?–
The old saying in Washington, D.C. is “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.” It is no secret that the Federal Government continues to spend more money than it takes in.
This week the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing on just this topic. The hearing entitled “Running on Empty: The Highway Trust Fund” focused on the growing shortfall between money taken in to pay for roads and infrastructure and the money being spent by Congress on those projects.
The Highway Trust Fund is intended to function as a piggy bank. Revenues from gasoline and diesel fuel taxes are collected and the money is dedicated to the construction of federal highways. However, over the last thirty (30) plus years the model has started to fall apart. The federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon has not been increased since 1993.
Surging inflation means that 18.4 cents per gallon does not go as far in 2023 as it did in 1993. Add to that the push for more fuel-efficient or electric cars and the result is less fuel sold and thus less money in the Highway Trust Fund.
In the last 15 years, the gap between money collected and money spent has reached $275 billion! This shortfall results in government borrowing and further government debt. The current system is not working, and policymakers are searching for solutions.
The most discussed solution is transitioning away from motor fuel taxes to a fee, charging individual vehicles for their miles traveled, called a VMT fee. The most recent 2021 Highway Bill included a directive that the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Treasury conduct pilot programs in all fifty (50) states.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) understands the need to properly fund the construction, maintenance and repair of our roadways. However, we remain committed to protecting the interests of bikers. Any tax system must be fair and equitable for motorcyclists. It goes without saying that the weight of a motorcycle does far less damage to a roadway than much heavier vehicles. As such, any tax should consider the wear and tear caused by the vehicles being taxed.
Additionally, privacy concerns with any tracked miles are immense! Tracking by outside parties using GPS or other technologies that collect and record where we ride, who we ride with, and how we ride is something the MRF takes extremely seriously. Both data recording and transportation taxes are two priorities that have been and will remain a part of the MRF legislative agenda.
The highway funding tab will eventually come due. The funding system for our roads is broken, but the MRF is committed to protecting and defending the interests of bikers no matter what solution is eventually agreed upon.
–MRF
KING OF COOL: Metisse Steve McQueen Desert Racer.
At the height of the ’60s counterculture you were either hip or a square and never the twain shall meet. But one man crossed the divide. he was everybody’s “King of Cool” and it made him the highest-earning movie star in the world.
But Steve McQueen wasn’t just a Hollywood actor, he was a child of the Depression, a Marine, a pilot, an avid car collector and a racer on two-wheels and four. So, when he proclaimed “This rig is the best handling bike I’ve ever owned”, the makers of that motorcycle got an endorsement money just can’t buy.
But the story of that bike is as complex and cool as the man himself, and this stunning motorcycle, The McQueen™ Desert Racer by Metisse Motorcycles is one of just 300 built to honour that incredible tale.
The journey to the creation of one of the most iconic race bikes ever built starts a long long way from Hollywood, California. Across the pond in the UK during the ’50s, Derek and Don Rickman were brothers successfully racing in the local motocross and scrambles scene.
But unlike today where you can walk into any dealer and buy a bike with all the bells and whistles, ready for some serious dirt track madness, there just really wasn’t much on offer, especially in the large capacity category. So, the brothers simply built their own bikes, and with the success of their racing program, Rickman Motorcycles was a booming success, evening earning the pair a Queen’s Award.
–from El Waggs
Pipeburn.com
Do We Really Know That Human Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cause Significant Climate Change?
It’s by far the most important scientific question of our age: Do human emissions of CO2 and other such “greenhouse gases” cause significant global warming, aka “climate change”? Based on the belief that an affirmative answer to that question is a universally accepted truth, our government has embarked on a multi-trillion dollar campaign to transform our economy by, among other things, eliminating hydrocarbon fuels from electricity generation (without any demonstrated workable plan for the replacement), outlawing the kinds of vehicles we currently drive, suppressing fossil fuel extraction, banning pipeline construction, making all your appliances work less well, and much more.
Express any doubt about the causal connection between human activities and climate change, and you could very well get labeled as a “climate denier,” fired from your academic job, demonetized by Google or Facebook, or even completely ostracized from polite society.
But is there actually any real proof of the proposition at issue? In fact, there is not.
The reason for today’s post is that a couple of important new articles have come to my attention that further make clear that the proposition that human activities, particularly “greenhouse gas” emissions, are causing significant climate change has not been proved and, based on existing data, cannot be proved.
–From the MANHATTAN CONTRARIAN
By Francis Menton
From WUWT
If you really want to know the whole story:
Ducati to begin Motocross Racing
Ducati’s race bike will be joined by a range of off-road models
Ducati has made it official, confirming months of speculation. Ducati will begin motocross racing. They will also introduce a range of off-road motorcycles. The much-admired Italian manufacturer follows Triumph as another major motorcycle manufacturer entering motocross this year. They willl compete against the likes of the Big Four Japanese brands and Pierer Mobility’s three-headed monster.
Read at: https://blog.bikernet.com/ducati-to-begin-motocross-racing/
–Wayfarer
Editor
What they will tell you is that you need to go out of business because you are destroying the earth. Wikipedia has a much longer, less accurate explanation of the outfit. If the companies won’t comply B Lab Global will try and talk their ad agencies into dropping them. Good luck with that. like ad agencies care about the truth, lies, saving the planet or whether cats live or die. hahahahahahaha
B Lab Global is partnered with the UN. Which is the building EYE would fly into if I was going to fly into a building in a 737.
–J.J. Solari
For years I received weekly legislative reports and sometimes editorials from the NMA and then nothing via email. I was surprised to receive a 16-page glossy magazine this week.
Of course, these are car guys, but many of the topics like red-light cameras impact bikers, so I stay in touch with them. Unfortunately, this issue covered the move to electric extensively and I’ll get to that, but I wanted to touch on their legislative report.
There’s a push by the Zero nuts to reverse RTOR or right turn on red laws. The NMA secured the inclusion of a provision in a measure to save RTOR, which is working through the House right now.
They are supporting the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration ACT (FAIR act) to protect innocent Americans from “Lawless” police seizures.
Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by the administration is ongoing. The NMA opposes several of the provision in that law. Again, the Zero road deaths and climate emergency notions or the war on Fossil Fuels is forcing strange changes to our roads to eliminate cars and force electric public transportation.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is now in the business of funding photo enforcement cameras in school zones and highway work zones. The NMA opposes them.
One of the ways to destroy the ICE automotive industry is to regulate cars so severely they become ridiculously expensive. Hang on, through the infrastructure bill they would require all new vehicles to be equipped with new technology, which will monitor the driver’s behavior, serious invasion of privacy and another Zero deaths notion.
These rules could lead to unjustified stops, unwarranted surveillance or even abuse of power like the government shutting off cars like Covid curfews.
After skimming through their cover story on Electric transition, I’m beginning to think they were paid off. The article leans heavily at the notion that whether we like it or not Electric is coming and it’s good.
I’m afraid I will never support or join the NMA again. Here’s the simple solution to 90 percent of these issues. If tomorrow there were no Zero mandates, no Stop Oil protestors, no Climate emergency, we would have a level playing field to test anything without fear of being doomed or persecuted. The United States could go back to being a free country and we could take a city or a state and test all these electric schemes. Let’s see if they work before we force anything on anyone. Seems simple to me.
–Bandit
Harley-Davidson, the iconic motorcycle manufacturer, is set to make festive season a whole lot better with jaw-dropping discounts of up to Rs 530,000 on their stellar lineup.
But there’s a twist – these deals are as fleeting as a summer breeze, and they’ll only be around while there are bikes left to go around.
Models included are:
- Pan America 1250 Special
- Sportster S
- Nightster and Nightster Special
Pan America Special is only Rs 1,609,000, down from its initial price of Rs 2,099,000, thanks to an impressive discount of Rs 490,000.
–Wayfarer
Editor
BikernetBlog.com™
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES OF THE WEEK–
“We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn.” ~ Mary Catherine Bateson
“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.” ~ Margaret Fuller
“Good people are good because they’ve come to wisdom through failure.” ~ William Saroyan
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” ~ Maya Angelou
“We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” ~ Marie Curie
“Poor eyes limit your sight; poor vision limits your deeds.” ~ Franklin Field
“Wisdom is knowing what to do next. Skill is knowing how to do it. Virtue is doing it.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“The wise person doesn’t give the right answers, but poses the right questions.” ~ Claude Levi-Strauss
From: https://www.TaiJutsu.art/
–Wayfarer
Monk in Training
Bikernet Temple
Pillar Peak, SD
[page break]
Soon, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will close its public comment period on proposed rule changes to the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) for cars and trucks. Under the proposal, the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard would rise from 49 mpg in 2026 to 58 mpg in 2032.
The key part of this is that under the CAFE standards, manufacturers get credit for each electric vehicle they sell in a model year, improving the average fuel economy of all the vehicles sold that year. By setting standards so high, NHTSA is knowingly pushing manufacturers to electric vehicles.
This action by NHTSA is the third in a string of maneuvers by the Biden Administration and its allies to eliminate the internal combustion engine. In April the MRF reported on Environmental Protection Agency plans to limit tailpipe emissions, designed to ensure that all-electric cars make up as much as 67 percent of new passenger vehicles sold in the country by 2032. This is in addition to the plans in California, which will require all new cars sold in that state to be zero-emissions.
While motorcycles are not included in these proposed standards, the writing is on the wall. The attack on the internal combustion engine is underway. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation submitted comments to NHTSA this week on the proposed rules.
To read the comments submitted by the MRF to NHTSA visit MRF website.
The Wait Is Over: Brough Superior Has Officially Launched in USA!”
Experience the timeless elegance of the Brough Superior SS 100 at its exclusive launch in California. Be among the first to own this motorcycle icon.
Reserve yours today and become a part of history.
Be unique, reserve now!
This legendary motorcycle, celebrated alongside Lawrence of Arabia, embodies luxury, beauty, and speed. It’s a masterpiece handcrafted in Brough Superior’s French workshop, blending classic design with modern engineering.
Experience the thrill of riding a Super Sports 100. Its updated look and cutting-edge materials like a titanium chassis and quad-disc brakes ensure both style and performance.
Don’t miss the chance to own a piece of motorcycle history. Get behind the handlebars of the Brough Superior Super Sports 100 today!
Known as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles.
The 1935 Brough Superior SS100 was one of the most powerful and luxurious motorcycles of its time, renowned for its exceptional performance.
RESERVE NOW
TROPICAL TATTOO INC. WINNERS LIST– ChopperTime Biketoberfest ’23
Chopper Show Winner’s List
BEST PAINT: Ray Llanes
WILLIE’S HARDCORE: Bill Dodge
BEST METRIC: Tom “Eggnog” Clayton
BLING CYCLE: Shannon Rae
BEST PAN: J. Crawford
BEST TWIN CAM: Micheal Valdes
TROPICAL TATTOO PICK: Steve Reed
SHOVEL HEAD COALITION PICK: John Hyatt
BEST CHOPPER: Harley
CROWD FAVORITE: Steve Alan Coe
BEST SPORTSTER: Dale Larrimore
ROADSIDE’S PICK: Bell
BEST SHOVEL: Little Bill
BEST FLATTY: George Casale
BEST KNUCKLE: Bill Franklin
BEST ANTIQUE: John Bartman
BEST CUSTOM: Matt Foster
BEST BRITISH: Tim Emala
BEST BOBBER: Madstork
WILLIE’S PICK: Guy Glover
TAR BALL RUN: Cochise
BEST EVO: California
TRAILER TRASH CHOPPERS: Drew Begersdorf
RAT BIKE: Jerry Diers
REVEREND AL’S PICK: Doug Cooper
Encourage your lawmakers to support the CARS Act, which protects consumer choice:
U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced a SAN-supported bill, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, S. 3094, to prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing emissions standards that would limit consumer choice and require that 67% of vehicles that automakers produce be electric vehicles. S. 3094 is the companion to H.R. 4468, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee in July.
The CARS Act prevents future EPA vehicle emissions regulations that would mandate certain technologies or limit the availability of vehicles based on its power source. If passed into law, the bill would ensure that consumers have the freedom to decide what vehicle works best for their families and prevent automakers from being forced to meet unrealistic mandates driven by the most aggressive light-duty emissions regulations in U.S. history.
Lawmakers Must Hear from You Right Away!
Use the following website link for an overview and lawmaker contact.
–SEMA
DID YOU KNOW?—Harley-Davidson once built a model with a quirky electrical issue. If the taillight went out, the bike wouldn’t run.
So, what model was it?
–Freddie Cuba
I WROTE TO SEMA—Maybe you can help:
“I am working with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation to help keep ICE engines free. We are also working with a couple of Senators. I follow your legislative reports. We have the potential to break the ICE mandates and restrictions. Would SEMA sign on for such an endeavor?
Thanks for all you do?”
–Bandit
A member of our Councils & Networks staff will be contacting you within 48 hours of your submission. If you have questions regarding the Councils & Networks Department, or need general assistance, please contact SEMA customer service at members@sema.org or 909-610-2030.
* * *
“I heard from Denise Waddingham from SEMA. We will kick off a discussion.”
1. All the goodies arrived safely — without any pilferage during delivery.
2. I never had the Bandit’s Cantina Sticker. I am going to use the auspicious orange color bandana when I use my Tarot cards. Spread the cards on the bandana. It is actually a good way to meditate on our problems and contemplate on our present situations, doubts, ambitions, desires, failures, etc. I used to do that as a side-gig back in 2014 but now I only read cards for myself.
Here is an article for non-professionals and how they may use tarot
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/style/self-care/tarot-guide-for-beginners.html
3. The Outlaw Justice paperback is exceptional quality– very well done.
The Chariot card suggests Bikernet is making progress yet, the environment (external factors) decides how turbulent or smooth the road ahead will be.
100-WORD FICTION CONTEST SUBMISSION—The Dealership
Not far from Hasting, Nebraska stood a crumbling brick Harley-Davidson dealership in a town of 18. The owner, a stub of a man, with a shiny bald head ran it without spare parts. Not a motorcyclist but a franchise collector, he scored a Saab dealership and a Fender guitar franchise. Happy to roll in the new models without spares, he made his living.
One day three riders approached, one with a broken clutch lever. “Sorry fellas, no spare parts.”
“How about the lever on that new ‘78 FL?” A tough demanded.
They surrounded him, but the .38 snub-nose behind his belt, in the small of his back made a lasting point. They headed back to the Highway…
By Bandit, inspired by Freddie Cuba
We’re Back! The all-new Hot Bike: Vol. 2 2023 Digital Edition is out now!
Get the latest American V-Twin Performance and Custom magazine chock-full of goods like the custom Pan America from FXR Division and much more from anywhere around the world!
In this issue… we dive deeper into FXR Division’s all-new sport touring concept of the Harley-Davidson Pan America. We caught up with co-owners Chris Staab and Justin Coleman to pick their collective brain on what exactly they were aiming to achieve with this unique spin on the already polarizing model.
It turns out Trask Performance’s latest Tornado Turbo System for the Low Rider ST is a straight-up fun-having machine. We’re still grinning ear to ear after our trip to Phoenix to test the Tornado on our ’22 ST. In just a few hours we added substantial performance gains.
FEATURE BIKE OF THE WEEK—from the Motorcycle Den.
–Sam Burns
Feature Biker Editor
Bikernet.com™
Will you help us fill our tank and give a gallon to help us over the finish line in Virginia? Our fight today is in Virginia, but this is a nationwide fight. Your contributions become the fuel that powers our nationwide journey to a more car-friendly future.
Virginia’s November election is just the beginning of the war for our right to choose the vehicles we love. DFA’s latest ad, “Common Sense,” calls for the empowerment of every Virginian and the roar of engines unburdened by radical agendas from afar. DFA has supported candidates for the Virginia Senate who share our vision and are ready to fight for your freedom, just like Governor Glenn Youngkin, who boldly champions repealing the state’s gas-powered car ban.
Our engines are revved, and our resolve is unwavering. The time has come to seize the wheel and steer our destiny. We shall not cede our laws to distant bureaucrats who fail to understand our passion for the open road.
Chance of a lifetime…
BIKERNET READER COMMENT—What We’re Up Against Bikernet Weekly News
J.J.’s opinion is spot on, Every day I ride is like a suicide ride watching out for careless drivers who won’t or don’t want to see you.
–Ruben
If you’re with the largest gathering of moto enthusiasts and music festival fans in the world and you can’t make your own scene, whose fault is that, really?
Find out exactly what it is and who it is for, click below.
https://sturgis.com/blogs/the-little-known-rowdy-sturgis-secret-camp-zero/
The decision had been taken because of “intolerable abuse,” Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia said. A surprise announcement on Friday mentioned the cause as inconvenience to pedestrians. The violations are so many, doubling the number of enforcement officers overnight would not have solved the issue as per the minister.
It is understood, private e-scooters will still be allowed, with incentives introduced to encourage people to buy their own.
Refer: https://blog.bikernet.com/paris-climate-accord-vs-paris-e-scooters/
Government earlier this year stated it will consider designated parking zones for the 5,000 scooters on the island, before banning them outright.
The term e-scooter may be confusing– it is not the typical scooter such as a Vespa. Refer above images of an e-scooter.
Red more at: https://blog.bikernet.com/malta-to-ban-rented-e-scooters-from-march/
–Wayfarer
Exploring the wheeled world on the web
Editor: Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page
2023 Sturgis Rally Summit numbers are in
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: The story was updated to use ‘visits’ rather than attendees to refer to the numbers in the official traffic count.
Attendance, demographics and sales tax revenue for the 83rd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally were announced today during the Post-Sturgis Rally Summit.
“The rally has swelled up larger than Sturgis can hold and impacts everybody throughout the whole Black Hills,” Sturgis Mayor Mark Castensen said at the Summit in Sturgis. “It’s also apparent that the Sturgis Rally has an impact on the whole state.”
During the 10-day rally, there were 617,000 visits, which is second only to the 75th Rally in 2015, Beka Zerbst, the president of the Sturgis City Council, said. The previous year saw 611,447 visits, 2021 had 700,295 visits and in 2020, only 549,747 arrived for the Sturgis Rally.
This year, the city used a new way of calculating Rally guests through people’s mobile devices. In previous years, Sturgis relied on Department of Transportation vehicle counters positioned on the interstate and highways for an attendance count.
“The numbers reflected one vehicle crossing the counter as traffic into Sturgis,” Zerbst said of the old tracking method. “One motorcycle could have two or more passengers or one car could have multiple passengers. Our new system collects data from an individual user’s cell phone.”
Deb Holland, director of Communications for the City of Sturgis, gave demographic information for the 2023 Rally. Attendees aged 25-44 rose to 29%, people 45-64 increased from 25% in 2022 to 29% this year and those over age 65 decreased to 18%.
“I know we talk about, ‘Is the Rally dying?’ We’ll look at that, 65 and older has actually dropped,” Holland said. “That’s encouraging to see some of the younger demographics showing those increases.”
Holland also said that the average income for Sturgis Rally goers was $84,000, with 25% of people’s income between $100,000-$150,000. The states with the highest in attendance were South Dakota with 21%, Minnesota with 7.5%, Colorado with 7%, Wyoming with 4.2% and Iowa with 4%.
The average time people spent in South Dakota for the rally was three days and one hour, which is down from last year’s four days and 14 hours, Mike Gussiaas, chief marketing officer for the Department of Tourism, said.
Zerbst said that this year’s attendees brought in $658,581 in sales tax revenue. According to a survey by the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce, 86% of the 300 chamber businesses in Sturgis said the Rally had an overall positive effect. Of that, 67% report an extremely positive outcome.
Veronica Grosek, the executive director of the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, said local businesses cited the biggest positives as an increase in revenue, business-to-consumer networking and advertising opportunities.
At Tuesday’s Summit, Grosek quoted a local, year-round retailer and their thoughts on the business the Rally brings in.
“Staff workload and availability is a challenge, they wish for better variety and quality of retail offerings throughout the event,” Grosek read. “But, our biggest benefit is the year-round tourism that the rally draws through Sturgis.”
–by Gracie Terrall
KELOLAND.COM
Read the whole story at:
https://www.keloland.com/keloland-com-original/2023-sturgis-rally-summit-numbers-are-in/
NEWS FROM THE KLOCKWERKS EMPIRE–
Experience the perfect blend of simplicity and security with our universal magnetic phone mounting system.
Whether you’re answering an important call hands-free, embarking on an adventurous trail ride, or simply keeping your phone within reach wherever you go, iOmounts® has you covered.
[page break]
Went to Biketoberfest had a blast. Billy’s race is off the hook.
But what I really noticed this year is many older and woman riders struggling to park and steer dressers. And the big wheel thing is everywhere which makes handling worse. And on the way home, I saw many trailered dressers? Isn’t that the reason for spending $35,000 on a 1000 lb heavily bagged motorcycle so you can ride it long distance? Just don’t get it.
Plus, Loud music from 10 speakers is Ugly! Just ugly -no class, no understanding of the beauty and flow of a streamlined, no frills Harley. Yea I know I sound like a bitter old man but I’m just saying the truth.
Bring Sportsters back!!
Harley-Davidson profit slumps on weakening demand, shares tumble 11%
Read in Reuters: https://stocks.apple.com/AU8TuTSPqRuq47lQ3-I9wgQ
–Geno
I can understand why girls would do this because we don’t really expect intelligence from women, we expect feelings and chitchat and ya know sandwiches but now men who claim to be all buff and making Arnold poses for the camera and getting on their RV-sized Harleys and “supporting” things and being all properly tattooed and yet wearing Converse shoes or maybe Vans…..
These fellows are actually all strident and uppity about letting me know that they are at the forefront and vanguard of sanctity and caring and love by making sure I do not disobey them and not get my dog from a sane competent gives-a-shit breeder, no, a far better and more sanctified and obedient thing would be for me to rather than get a dog that actually functions, to instead go to some dog-dump run by jihadists with children on pikes in their “yard” and select for myself a crippled, maimed, one-eye-missing furless infected skin-cancered drooling-blood four-legged catastrophe that could be carrying a new viral version of incurable human leprosy…..instead.
“No, excuse me, sir, I’m speaking now for all to hear and thus declare me kindly and loving but in a masculine way and this I am telling you now, do not get a contrived-for-perfection canine that will live a normal dog life, no, get instead this half-dead load that is legless and has pus in both eyes. Do this and I shall declare you as holy as myself.
And also, a douche bag of eternal douchery for even paying attention to me.” THIS is what is important to these miserable excuses for whatever they are convinced “caring” is. Dude, if you want women to think you’re sensitive, wear a fucking dress. Use exaggerated arm movements and say omigawd with tremendous energy whenever a woman says anything gossipy. But don’t be telling me what fucking dog to get just so you can attract effeminate men and airheaded broads into your idiotically autocratic universe.
Screw your maimed and diseased flea-encrusted ten-nippled abomination. I’m just gonna get me a normal, basically alive, excited to go for a walk, enthusiastic normal canine that doesn’t look like it came through the Transporter wrong and now has steam rising from its scabbed and legless carcass.
–J.J. Solari
It is with profound sadness that the family of Nace Panzica, announces his passing on Monday the 16th of October, 2023 while surrounded by family and friends. He leaves behind his wife Kathy, sons Mark Panzica and John Paredes, sisters Margaret and Mary,brothers Pat, Anthony, Joseph, Michael and Dominic, along with six grandchildren, thirteen nieces and nephews, and eighteen great-nieces and nephews. Nace was pre-deceased by his son, John Panzica.
Nace was one of the founding partners of Custom Chrome, Inc., also known by its initials CCI, in 1970. Under Nace’s leadership, Custom Chrome grew to be the world’s leading manufacturer/wholesaler of aftermarket parts and accessories for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, with annual sales totaling $250 million dollars before his departure in 1997.
Starting out as Coast Cycle, a small motorcycle shop in San Jose, California, before incorporating under the name Custom Chrome, the company grew to include its world headquarters in Morgan Hill, California, along with five US warehouses, Germany-based Custom Chrome Europe, and Custom Chrome Taiwan.
At its peak under Nace’s guidance, CCI employed more than 700 personnel worldwide.
As President and CEO of the company, Nace also led the product development team at CCI that specialized in bringing new and proprietary products to the Harley-Davidson aftermarket.
It was not unusual during the late ‘80s and ‘90s for CCI to introduce more than 500 new products annually, with some of the most successful programs being the RevTech oil, wheels, engines, gear sets and complete transmission assemblies, in addition to the Dyno Power, Premium and C.C. Rider product lines, to name just a few.
Nace took great pride in his team of designers, engineers and product specialists that closely followed developing trends in the Harley-Davidson world, and were able to quickly respond with exciting, new proprietary products, and comprehensive marketing campaigns that introduced them to dealers and consumers alike.
Without Nace’s drive and ambition, none of this would ever have been possible. He was always the first one at the office in the morning, and the last to leave at night.
Nace’s impact on the greater aftermarket industry is still felt today with many of the
products still being sold in the marketplace… decades after Nace shepherded them from concept to shelf. And his impact has also been felt because many of his former employees have continued working in the industry for a myriad of companies, bringing the knowledge they gained at CCI with them.
In the years since his departure from Custom Chrome, Nace stayed busy in the
motorcycle business with internet start-ups, and an engine and transmission driveline (TDC) business that he would later sell off.
Memorial services for Nace will be 12:00pm Saturday, November 18th at the Advent
Lutheran Church in Morgan Hill, California.
Godspeed Nace…
–Steve Massicote
Paughco
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“I have been doing these three basic exercises whenever I can’t lift weights for lack of time and also when it is too hot to work with weights.”— Wayfarer
Only Three Exercises for Full-Body Strength at Home
You can build muscle throughout the body and increase your strength level as well in just 30 minutes, all without leaving your home.
Strength training is very important:
- builds muscle mass
- improves bone density
- boosts metabolism naturally
Now, experts suggest you may not need to visit the local gym nor need any equipment for developing muscle and strength.
It’s the three-move routine!
- Push-ups
- Pull-ups
- weighted squats
If you combine this into a circuit training regular routine with planned sets and reps, they will deliver a workout for your entire body. Every major muscle and the core body will improve drastically, saving you time, energy and money.
Make sure you don’t rush through the sets and sequences– to avoid injury. Also, don’t put too much gap between it so that your body remains warm and the rush of energy continues to flow.
Options?
If you can’t think of any safe weights at home or elsewhere such as during traveling– just do regular squats. Make sure your posture and form are correct. Use a mirror during the first attempts and then develop the habit of proper form.
If you don’t know any safe place to perform a pull-up– lie down on your belly on the floor on a yoga-mat. Then raise your shoulders and keep your toes off the floor. Now raise your arms up parallel to the floor and then pull-them-down without moving the torso. Just imagine you’re grabbing a virtual pulley and pulling it from arms raised position toward your shoulders. It is often referred as ‘Superman pull-ups’ due to the position on the floor.
One cannot emphasize the need for push-ups often and we highly recommend them. They are an essential part of almost all forms of martial-arts.
If you find a push-up difficult, do it with your knees resting on the yoga mat. Alternatively, you can lean against a wall standing up with your core body straight and palms on the wall— then push away from the wall. This is good way to learn to do push-ups.
Try doing only these three if you don’t have time or don’t wish to put in the effort of your contemporaries. You will see an amazing difference in physical strength and agility.
As for number of reps– just do what’s comfortable and safe at first, then add to those numbers every other week as you gain strength (and muscle).
From https://www.TaiJutsu.art/
–Wayfarer
Official Martial Arts Guru
Bikernet.com™
California has mounting problems with a skyrocketing cost-of-living, spiking crime, failing schools, faltering state finances, flight of businesses and jobs, etc. But judging by the new laws approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Democrats the situation is about to get a lot worse.
“Governor Gavin Newsom and California Democrat legislators are completely unhinged from reality as they double down on fatally-flawed policies that are hurting Californians,” warns Carl DeMaio, Chairman of Reform California.
As he does each year, DeMaio is publishing a list of the top ten worst new laws approved by state politicians.
“Every year I pick out ten really bad new laws, but this year that was exponentially harder to do because there are so many terrible new laws that they passed in California,” explains DeMaio.
Here is DeMaio’s list of the 10 worst new laws approved in California in 2023:
Giving Free Lawyers for Illegal Immigrants (State Budget): Gavin Newsom and California Democrats are continuing to divert billions of dollars in state taxpayer funds to provide a wide range of free services and benefits to illegal immigrants – including completely free healthcare. To add insult to injury, California Democrats are using $60 million in state taxpayer funds to hire free lawyers that illegal immigrants can use to sue our own government as well as fight deportation.
Taking Children Away from Parents (AB 665): Newsom and state Democrats passed AB 665 which makes it easier for children as young as 12 to be taken away from their parents. Existing state law required that a child could only be removed and “emancipated” if a licensed therapist or health professional determined that abuse or neglect was occurring that posed a threat to the child in the parents’ home and the child was mature enough to govern their own affairs. AB 665 removes any need to show abuse, neglect or a threat – and allows even an “intern” or “trainee” to make the decision! Perhaps one of the most reckless and anti-parent bills ever conceived is now law.
Advancing Government-Run HealthCare (SB-770): California state government intrusion into its healthcare system has already resulted in a massive price spike for care, but that’s about to get much worse as the state initiates a complete government takeover of all healthcare with SB 770 approved by Newsom and California Democrats. SB 770 instructs state officials to begin negotiations on obtaining a federal waiver to redirect all federal health care funds (including from Medicare and other federal health programs) to support an untested government-run healthcare system costing $500 billion annually! Next step: a ban on private health insurance and a massive tax hike!
Creating a More Toxic Workplace (SB 497): California labor regulations already have made our state the worst place to create jobs in by imposing high costs and high risks, but Newsom and California Democrats approved SB 497 to exponentially increase the risk to all businesses by changing the burden of proof on worker retaliation cases. Under SB 497 any disgruntled employee will be assumed to be a victim of retaliation and the employer has very little chance of protecting itself from false retaliation claims.
In addition, Newsom and California Democrats made it harder for businesses to justify creating jobs in our state by passing SB 363 to limit the use of arbitration to resolve disputes and AB 594 which weaponizes local city attorneys to use their taxpayer-funded lawyers as free legal attack funds for local labor unions targeting small businesses.
Stripping School Boards of Curriculum Powers (AB-1078): Newsom and California Democrats approved AB-1078 they say is designed to stop book banning in California schools. Yet this bill will only serve as an infringement of local control over curriculum decisions and limit the ability of parents and communities to have a say in what is taught in schools.
Eliminating Discipline in Schools (SB 274): Newsom and California Democrats are fostering a culture of lawlessness by banning any suspensions of students who engage in “willful defiance.” California Democrats say it is “racist” to punish unruly students who disrupt the classroom with a simple suspension, but are always looking for ways to charge parents with crimes if they speak out too forcefully at school board meetings.
Expect the teacher shortage in California to get much, much worse as good teachers leave the profession because they cannot control unruly disruptors in the classroom.
Making it Easier to Release Criminals (SB-81): With property and violent crimes continuing to spike across the state, Newsom and California Democrats approved SB-81 to allow early parole for prison inmates regardless of their behavior in prison, chances of reoffending, or its impact on victims.
Infringing on Your Right to Self-Defense (SB 2 and AB-28): Newsom and California Democrats have created a crime wave with their other negligent policies, but now they want to make it harder for you to defend yourself by imposing a massive excise tax on guns and ammunition – as well as severely restricting your right to concealed carry. Both of these laws are unconstitutional on their face, but state politicians have shown zero regard for following well-established civil rights rulings.
Setting the Stage for a Carbon Tax and an SUV Tax (SB253 and AB251): Expect two new big taxes to come to California real soon under two new laws approved by Gavin Newsom and state Democrats. SB 253 establishes a carbon emission reporting requirement on all businesses and sets the stage to then tax companies based on their carbon footprint – a key element of the Green New Deal. AB 251 initiates a state examination on SUV impacts to justify the imposition of a new SUV tax – but it will be called a “fee” for the so-called “impacts” that AB 251 will document.
Repealing Prop 13 and Raising Taxes (ACA-1 and ACA-13): Newsom and California Democrats are supporting two laws (now being presented to voters) to gut Prop 13 and make it easier to raise your taxes. ACA-1 reduces the voter approval threshold from a two-thirds supermajority to just 55% for local general obligation bonds and special taxes. ACA-13 is designed to block the California Taxpayer Protection Initiative which itself would protect and strengthen Prop 13.
What can be done to restore sanity to California’s political system?
“We need to stop bad bills like this by changing who we elect to the state legislature in 2024,” DeMaio notes.
That’s why DeMaio and Reform California are leading a campaign to recruit, train, endorse, support candidates for the state legislature in seats across California.
DeMaio urges common-sense California voters to join the fight by contributing to Reform California’s campaign or signing up to volunteer to share the Plain English Voter Guide his group publishes each election.
If so, how much?
Sam Withrow
Muskegon, MI
President
HANG ON—Exciting stuff is going to happen, but it’s going to take hard work. Here’s a terrific example.
My grandson is a master tattoo artist. He took over 5-Ball Leathers, which is now five-ball. He just opened a new tattoo parlor in Venice, California, surrounded by homeless folks. He paints, has about four Harleys, works his ass off, hits the gym, attends AA meetings weekly and is a sponsor of guys who want help.
Moving around my shipping department I discovered something I meant to ship back to an Orange County engine builder, Phil. He rebuilt two Shovelheads, for my Sturgis Shovel about 10 years ago. What a great bike. I dug around and sent all the little pieces used to mock-up his ignition system, which I used on my 5-Ball Racer. I shipped ‘em back at last with some extra bling.
Here’s an odd one, which I need someone to figure out. A friend, Ray Russel passed recently. He was always working on a system to turn plastic and even old tires into pure, Sulphur-free diesel fuel. That could be amazing, and I was actually a share holder at one time. Let’s see if something can be done.
The master artist with AI software, Wayfarer, designed these desk calendars. I’m trying to order a handful for Xmas gifts.
Brittney Olsen, wife of Matt, above, is working on a report about the AMCA National event held in Deadwood. Hang on…
It snowed slightly this morning. Wacky how the weather changes.
Might go to paint tomorrow. Had to build the fifth tranny mount and weld it to the frame. Interesting project. Since this was originally a VL frame many of the castings were sweat-brazed in place and TIG welding isn’t happy when it runs into brass. Silicon bronze is the key, works like a champ.
Irish Rich highly recommends wiping down components with denatured alcohol prior to welding. I gave it a shot and didn’t burn the shop down. Prep is everything, when it comes to welding.
The MRF was kind enough to award Bikernet and 5-Ball for our contributions to the war against Fossil Fuels. I sent this certificate to my grandson to frame and put in his shop, since he is very involved in the growth of Five-Ball Leathers. I asked the MRF to send him membership pamphlets. Riders in California need to get involved.
Once a week, I hike to the top of the Deadwood’s Mt. Moriah and hang with the bros, watch the sunset and ponder my next whiskey. It’s good for the soul.
I can’t say this loud enough. Amazing stuff happens every day if you don’t ever give up. I tried to do my part to bring a waterfront to the people of Wilmington, CA. The story is unbelievable, and I was invited to the ground breaking ceremony shortly before I left the coast. Construction stalled out, as it did so many times.
Remember Hugh “the Chopper” King, the director of the Biker Build-Offs? I featured him in the news last week. I am the custodian of his magnificent chopper, built by all the great builders of our time. It’s now housed in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum for the world to see.
Goddammit, it’s time for whiskey and it’s snowing again. Stay alert, stay informed and stay free.
–Bandit
THE HISTORIC BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 2, 2023
By Bandit |
Hey,
As you know, I’ve pondered the issues, the war on smoke or fossil fuels for a while. I’ve studied the movement in our colleges to basically over-throw the government. Then last week I started to consider history. Hell, Greg Wrightstone from the CO2 Coalition just wrote a story about witches of the 1600s and the connection to this current mess. Maybe I’ll run a portion of it in the news.
Remember, after WWII the communism threat. Then the War in Vietnam. How about the Civil War. We’ve been through a bunch, and once more we are testing our freedom resolve. Then depending on your location in the country and heritage, you might take a different slant on any issue.
I’m originally from California and my father came from England as a small child after WWI. My mother was born in Kansas City, MO and migrated to California as a young adult, a serious child of the depression.
So, what’s it all mean? It means hope and resolve to me. My folks took a gamble on a better life, struggled and fought for it, moved half-way across the country and started over, fought in WWII and survived.
My generation partied and raised hell, but I was fortunate enough to be confronted with the fight for freedom and the processes. It made me more aware and attuned to the shit going on behind the party. It’s like sometimes you party, but sometimes you fight. Right now, we’re fighting.
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, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
NEWS FROM THE TOWN OF LOWBROW–Forget burns, they’re no fun.
Do you have a hot ankle, calf, or knee?
Well, with Lowbrow’s cast aluminum heat shields, they are a thing of the past.
Our innovative, cast aluminum mounts are coped perfectly for 1-3/4″ exhausts. They also work great with 2″ (minor filing of mounts necessary) and 1-1/2″ exhausts as well.
The included stainless steel hose clamps hold the mounts in place on your exhaust.
The supplied stainless steel screws mount your 6″ or 12″ heat shield securely in place with no welding or fabrication required.
CHECK ‘EM OUT
HOT BIKE MAGAZINE REPORT–Rev up Your Style Game with the Hottest Custom Bikes of 2023
Get Your Hands on the Latest Hot Bike Vol. 3 2023 Magazine
Attention custom bike junkies! The wait is over. The latest edition of Hot Bike Vol. 3 2023 is finally here and ready to be delivered to your doorstep.
Featuring garage builder Kyle Ray Rice’s new FXR Chop on the cover, we’ve also got the latest from the industry’s finest, including Ken’s Factory, Nightfall Customs, Biltwell and more.
You’ll also get an exclusive look at the metal shaping basics from one of the best in the game, Cristian Sosa, and some not-to-be-missed tech tips from the one and only Danny “Motorwitch” Wilson.
Don’t wait, check ‘em out today and stay ahead of the game!
BIKERNET STAFFER COMMENT– Lost comment
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Meet_Governor_Michelle_Grisham_of_New_Mexico.aspx
“Since the dawn of civilization, no one ever needed any academic or any skills, talent, decency, personality, aptitude or any such factor to be in elected political office. It was always a popularity contest and in modern times, a social-media influencer can be President! Maybe an AI chatbot may win next time around.”
–Wayfarer
Under a rock at Pillar Peak
SHOP BIKE OF THE WEEK— Phil’s Speed Shop, Orange Califa.
I just finished this custom. I would like to get it featured, but I know magazines are struggling.
(714)771-6727
–Fast Phil
LATEST TOOL FROM JIMS MACHINE— Milwaukee-Eight Shifter Shaft Bushing Remover and Installer
In 2017, Harley-Davidson launched the Milwaukee-Eight powertrain. Included in this powertrain upgrade, the inner primary shifter shaft bushing was redesigned to a thin wall bushing.
Although this is a design improvement, over time, this bushing will wear causing free play in the shifter shaft. Ultimately, the shaft, lever and pedal vibrate when in use causing a rattle noise and loose shifter.
The shifter shaft bushing cannot be pressed through to remove it requiring this JIMS specialty tool. This new JIMS tool, JIMS Part No.5512, is designed to remove the old bushing with a unique knurled driver and receiver cup.
A new installation driver is included in the kit to correctly install a new shifter shaft bushing to the proper depth.
Once complete, the shift lever will function like new again.
Removing this bushing without a proper tool is challenging due to the bushings thin wall design which could result in costly damage to the inner primary. Removing the bushing with this new tool makes the replacement process easy and quick.
This tool is a must for any mechanic servicing aging Harley-Davidson® touring models. MSRP for the shifter shaft bushing remover and installer is $121.00. For more information, please contact us at (805) 482-6913, email us at sales@jimsusa.com, or visit www.jimsusa.com.
Cruising is coming back to California after city ordinances had banned the practice for decades.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 436 into law on Ocrober 13, and it will go into effect starting January 1, 2024. The bipartisan bill, one of about 100 that were recently signed into law by the governor, amends Section 21100 of the Vehicle Code to remove the section that allows the banning of cruising, and it also repeals Section 24008 of the Vehicle Code that targets lowered vehicles in particular. The relevant portion of the bill, which also addressed other aspects of vehicle code, reads as follows:
This bill would remove the authorization for a local authority to adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or regulation regarding cruising.
Many of the anti-cruising ordinances passed in California were seen as discriminatory, specifically targeting lowriders. Cruising is typically a community event, and plenty of clubs will be taking advantage of the new changes to the vehicle code to get out and show off the custom cars and trucks they’re rightfully so proud of.
Plenty of those car clubs won’t have to wait until January 1, 2024, when the law goes into effect, as some cities have been working on removing cruising bans for years. Cruising had been banned in Salinas, Monterey County’s largest city, since 1992. That ban was lifted earlier this year, 31 years to the day after the ban was implemented, as the legislation was still making its way through California’s congress. Visit Alvarado Street in Monterey during Car Week and you can get a pretty good idea of what cruising looks like on the Central Coast. You can find lowriders, muscle cars, and custom pickups making a few passes in a loop of downtown, stealing some of the limelight from the exotics that invade town each year.
Cruising has been a big part of car culture for decades in cities and regions all across California, including Salinas, Los Angeles, and the Central Valley, which was immortalized in George Lucas’ American Graffiti, set in Modesto. We’re looking forward to 2024, when we can see more of these rolling sculptures hitting the road, and we’re sure that dozens of car clubs across the state are eager to put their best work on display.
This bill would repeal that prohibition.
Brandan Gillogly
Hagerty
“AH, but the Governor is also trying to ban old cars.” –Bandit
THE HALLOWEEN CONSENSUS–European witch hunts of the 15th to 17th centuries targeted witches that were thought to be responsible for epidemics and crop failures related to declining temperatures of the Little Ice Age.
A belief that evil humans were negatively affecting the climate and weather patterns was the “consensus” opinion of that time. How eerily similar is that notion to the current oft-repeated mantra that Man’s actions are controlling the climate and leading to catastrophic consequences?
The first extensive European witch hunts coincided with plunging temperatures as the continent transitioned away from the beneficial warmth of the Medieval Warm Period (850 to 1250 AD). Increasing cold that began in the 13th century ushered in nearly five centuries of advancing mountain glaciers and prolonged periods of rainy or cool weather. This time of naturally-driven climate change was accompanied by crop failure, hunger, rising prices, epidemics and mass depopulation.
Large systematic witch hunts began in the 1430s and were advanced later in the century by an Alsatian Dominican friar and papal Inquisitor named Heinrich Kramer. At Kramer’s urging, Pope Innocence VIII issued an encyclical enshrining the persecution and eradication of weather-changing witches through this papal edict. The worst of the Inquisition’s abuses and later systemic witch hunts were, in part, empowered by this decree.
This initial period of cooler temperatures and failing crops continued through the first couple of decades of the 16th century, when a slight warming was accompanied by improvements in harvests. Clearly, the pogrom against the weather-changing witches had been successful!
Unfortunately for the people of the Late Middle Ages, the forty years or so of slight warming gave ground to a more severe bout of cooling.
The summer of 1560 brought a return of coldness and wetness that led to severe decline in harvest, crop failure and increases in infant mortality and epidemics.
Bear in mind that this was an agrarian subsistence culture, nearly totally dependent on the yearly harvest to survive. One bad harvest could be tolerated, but back-to-back failures would cause horrific consequences and, indeed, they did.
Of course, the people’s misfortunes were attributed to weather-changing witches who had triggered the death-dealing weather, most often in the form of cold, rain, frost and devastating hailstorms. Horrific atrocities were alleged of the witches, including Franconian witches who “confessed” to flying through the air to spread an ointment made of children’s fat in order to cause a killing frost.
Across the continent of Europe, from the 15th to the 17th centuries there were likely many tens of thousands of supposed witches burnt at the stake, many of these old women living without husbands on the margins of society.
The worst of the witch hunts occurred during the bitter cold from 1560 to about 1680. The frenzy of killing culminated in the killing of 63 witches in the German territory of Wiesensteig in the year 1563 alone. Across Europe, though, the numbers of witches continued to increase and peaked at more than 500 per year in the mid-1600s. Most were burned at the stake; others were hung.
The end of the witch hunts and killings tie closely to the beginning of our current warming trend at the close of the 17th century. That warming trend started more than 300 years ago and continues in fits and starts to this day.
Gregory Wrightstone is a geologist and the Executive Director of the CO2 Coalition in Arlington Virginia. He is bestselling author of Inconvenient Facts: The Science that Al Gore doesn’t want you to know.
Celebrate 10 Years of the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show!
The Rave/Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
Here for the racing?!
FLAT OUT FRIDAY February 23, 2024
Indoor flat track racing returns to the Fiserv Forum. Heart pounding action awaits when hundreds of racers descend upon Milwaukee this winter. Come in from the cold and cheer on our favorite sport, flat track! Tickets on sale NOW.
On the 1st of March 2023, the European Commission published the long-awaited proposal for a Fourth Driving License Directive (4DLD). It did not differ too much from the previous one. Some main changes were the introduction of a digital driving license, a probation period of at least two years for novice drivers, and a zero-tolerance rule on drink-driving. Allowing young people to take their test and commence accompanied driving of cars and lorries from the age of 17, adapting driver training and testing to better prepare drivers for the presence of vulnerable users on the road, and a more targeted assessment of medical fitness.
Perhaps more important for us is what was not in the proposal: nothing about trailers behind motorcycles which from the point of view from the European Commission is still illegal, nothing about riding a small motorcycle with a B license and additional training, nothing about abolition of a useless stepped accession to the A license.
We communicated our support for the proposed 4DLD and our disappointment about the missing elements to the European Commission and to the European Parliament Committee for Tourism and Transport (TRAN)…
The rapporteur and shadow-rapporteurs must now streamline all 793 amendments in just a few and bring them together in ‘compromise amendments’ on which first TRAN and later the plenary parliament can vote. The voting in TRAN is scheduled on 7 December 2023. Separate from the European Parliament, the EU member states are discussing the Commission proposal too in the Council. They will later vote upon the proposal from the Parliament and come with their own amendments.
Written by Dolf Willigers
FEMA
“Read the full report on the FEMA website.” –Bandit
–Sam Burns
Collector of Collectors
Bikernet.com™
Just like Ford’s “Edsel” model in the 1950s, Trump administration economist Steve Moore cautioned that electric vehicles (EVs) may be the auto market’s “next big flop.”
“Henry Ford’s son was named Edsel, and this was going to be the great car, all of the executives said, ‘This is the car everybody’s going to want to buy.’ Ford made 500,000 of these new sedan cars, but guess what?” Moore said on “Varney & Co.” Monday. “Nobody bothered to ask consumers whether they wanted the car.”
“And of course, the Edsel was one of the great flops of all time,” the economist continued. “I’m here to tell you, if these trends continue, we’re going to see the EV market become the next big flop because car buyers don’t want them.”
Moore’s comments come as the EV push at Ford and General Motors hit a speed bump that’s cutting into the automakers’ profits and causing them to reevaluate their electric plans amid a price war and supply chain challenges.
–Steve Moore
FOX NEWS
GAVIN NEWSOM HAMMERED FOR SHOWING OFF $160K CHINESE E.V. DURING CHINA TRIP: ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’
Ford noted in its earnings report released last week that its EV unit posted a quarterly loss before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $1.33 billion – an acceleration after a loss of $1.08 billion in the prior quarter. It added that it’s cutting production of its Mustang Mach-E while scaling back about $12 billion in planned investments in the EV segment, including delaying its second battery plant in Kentucky.
[page break]
Honda CR Electric has made an impressive beginning in All Japan Motocross Championship last weekend. It debuted at Round 8, competing against 450cc gas-powered motorcycles in the IA1 class. All Japan Motocross Championship was held at Saitama.
Team Honda HRC advisor and test rider Trey Canard rode the Honda CR Electric prototype as a wildcard entry, setting the second fastest time in the opening practice session. He qualified in fifth overall on Saturday.
Canard finished second in the first of three motos behind reigning champion Jay Wilson of Yamaha on race day. Together, the electric bike and Canard made their fastest single lap time at 1:37.195, which was the second overall behind Wilson’s 1:36.503.
Canard crashed out early in second and third motos. He got a holeshot on two out of the three races.
–Wayfarer
International Editor
Bikernet.com™
NEW FROM COMPETITION DISTRIBUTING—Check this out. A swingarm JD frame.
A brother said this might make it easier on Cannonball racers. What’s it say about the vintage market. Let’s see what happens.
–Bandit
VICTORY!– Orsted Abandons Whale-Killing Wind Energy Project
They said it couldn’t be stopped but we stopped it — thanks to supporters like you
For years, the Biden administration, environmentalists, and the wind industry have argued that the building of giant wind turbines along the East Coast was inevitable. Wind energy was already cheaper than fossil fuels, supporters claimed. And President Joe Biden made wind energy a significant priority and was photographed in a meeting with wind executives holding talking points touting its benefits.
But now, Danish wind energy company Orsted has cancelled its South New Jersey projects, Ocean Wind 1 and 2, in the face of rising public opposition, evidence that wind industry activities were killing whales, and worsening economics. Ocean Wind 1 and 2 would have sited more than 200 massive wind turbines just 15 miles away from the New Jersey shore.
Orsted’s stock has fallen 60% this year and the New York Times estimates it will have to write off $5.6 billion in investments in the two projects. “There’s really not a Plan B right now,” confessed Jeff Tittel, the former director of the Sierra Club’s New Jersey chapter. “It’s a political disaster.”
In reaction to Orsted’s decision, an investment analyst told the Telegraph of London, “The wind power sector has stalled, with virtually no companies in the industry now turning a profit.”
“These Green New Deal-style wind farms were bad for our economy, our environment, and would have been a complete disaster for hardworking middle-class families in South Jersey,” said Congressman Jefferson Van Drew. “From the beginning, these projects were all about lining the pockets of foreign-owned offshore wind companies. Orsted repeatedly asked for additional taxpayer funds and tax breaks while expecting ratepayers to absorb a massive increase in utility costs.”
— MICHAEL SHELLENBERGER
See the whole story on Public News
SUZUKI– 25th Anniversary Hayabusa
In 2024, Suzuki is celebrating 25th anniversary of Hayabusa with a limited edition model and a big party next week at the In-N-Out Burger Finals of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
While the industry and market focusses on more practical and economical middleweight twin-engines,and daily commute two-wheelers– Hayabusa still continues to exist.
The 25th Anniversary Edition Suzuki Hayabusa retails for $19,599. It is offered in a glass blaze orange and sparkle black paint scheme.
DALLAS COWBOYS PARTNER WITH LEE GREENWOOD TO CHALLENGE AMERICA TO HONOR A VETERAN!
Cowboys Honor Veterans Nationwide on November 12th During “Salute To Service” Football Game
For the past two years, Lee Greenwood, known as America’s Patriot, has appeared and performed during the Dallas Cowboys Veterans Day weekend halftime show! Greenwood would perform his chart-topping, award-winning anthem “God Bless The USA,” and this coming Veteran’s Day will be no different.
In addition, as Greenwood continued to honor Veterans, he, along with The Dallas Cowboys will challenge America to “Adopt A Vet” and send them to enjoy a one-night-only concert experience entitled ‘An All-Star Salute To Lee Greenwood,’ and will feature performances by Gavin DeGraw, Scott Stapp (of Creed), Lee Brice, Michael Ray, Dustin Lynch, Tracy Lawrence, Jamey Johnson, Big & Rich, Sam Moore, The Oak Ridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, Janie Fricke, Debby Boone, and so many more!
“I am honored to be invited back by the Dallas Cowboys to perform for their enthusiastic legion of fans,” says Greenwood. “This Veterans Day is special to me as we have also launched this theatrical concert event to honor those who served that might otherwise not get a chance to get out of their homes due to PTSD or just plainly lack of funds. To have the Cowboys step up and buy out a couple of theaters and now to challenge other NFL teams to do the same is remarkable. I hope other teams join the effort to support these Veterans!”
Anyone wanting to accept America’s Veteran Challenge can go to adoptavet.com and donate $50. That will send a Veteran and their guest to the concert experience, and the sponsor will receive the concert experience on DVD in the mail. Everyone wins! Will you accept the challenge? The goal is 50,000 veterans!
–Jeremy Westby
100-WORD FICTION SUBMISSION—The Deer Hunter
I woke up flat on my back in tall golden prairie grass, the sun warmed my face. My right arm felt like it was on fire, my neck hurt like hell and breathing was difficult. Able to move my fingers and toes, I sat up gingerly, The tires on my Suzuki DR 650 still spinning, the motor hummed quietly. A white tail doe stood near and shook her furry head. Who survived? First, the big animal stumbled off, feeling the effects of the collision.
I moved, stretched, straightened the handlebars and rode home.
HOT ROD OF THE WEEK—Hang on for this one.
–Sam Burn
Hot Rod Editor
Bikernet.com™
RIGHT TO REPAIR ACTION–Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Discusses the Right to Repair
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez runs a successful auto repair shop along with her husband, Dean, in Portland, Oregon. She’s also a freshman Democratic Congresswoman representing Washington’s 3rd District, across the Columbia River from Portland, which covers the southwestern corner of the state.
A fifth-generation Washingtonian, she campaigned on kitchen-table issues that include “right to repair,” the legislative initiative that empowers individuals and their preferred mechanics and technicians to perform their own repairs on everything from PCs to Priuses without having to rely solely on the OE manufacturer.
The state of Massachusetts enacted an automotive right-to-repair law in 2012, and grassroots support for a federal version has been steadily growing ever since.
As a freshman legislator, Gluesenkamp Perez may still be learning the ropes in DC, but she is already making her mark on the legislative process. She’s currently a co-sponsor of SEMA-supported House Resolution (H.R.) 906, the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act.
–SEMA
FROM THE PAGES OF DICE MAGAZINE—Inside issue #101.
All up in the guts of issue 101 is a fantastic article with Jessop Cycles and his Born Free 14 Shovelhead.
Peep it on the DicE Blog.
SPORTSTER HISTORY LESSON–
SCIENTIFIC METHOD RESTORED– to Science Education in North Carolina
As a physicist, John Droz holds in high regard the Scientific Method, a 400-year-old approach to investigating reality. Rooted in Isaac Newton’s work, which included creation of the calculus, the Scientific Method has long underpinned examination of the physical world and technological advancement.
Quite understandable it is, then, that Droz, who holds degrees in mathematics and physics, was prompted to do some investigating of his own after learning that his state of North Carolina had abandoned the teaching of the Scientific Method for the promotion of a faddish theory of entirely unscientific inquiry.
“Upon reading a review of the North Carolina K-12 Science Standards, I was concerned that nowhere was the Scientific Method even mentioned,” says Droz, who retired at 34 as a successful investor and launched a 40-year career as a “citizen advocate” of wide-ranging pursuits.
Having a particular concern about the current state of critical thinking, Droz ultimately filed a written complaint with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
“They subsequently said that they had received some 14,000 inputs on the Science Standards, and apparently, I was the only one bringing up the issue,” said Droz, whose varied interests include climate science and election integrity.
The controversy had its beginnings in 2012 when a newly formulated Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) began nudging out the Scientific Method from much of public education. Politically inspired by progressive ideology and backed by the National Research Council, National Science Teachers Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the NGSS gained favor with the education bureaucracy of 45 states. The Scientific Method was replaced by something called “Science and Engineering Practices.”
Much of the public might not appreciate the implications of the Scientific Method’s fading from public education’s officialdom, but the loss is no less than a disaster to scientists and adherents of the traditional tenets of critical thinking.
The Scientific Method requires that questions be asked, observations made, and hypotheses formulated, tested, and proven or rejected. Conclusions are always subject to challenges with new evidence and insights.
The NGSS scraps this centuries-old process for computer models whose products are proof of nothing unless they are verified against real-world data and survive the challenges of new information. However, those criticizing the findings of this corruption of objective inquiry are often dismissed as “science deniers.”
Nowhere have the dangers of this travesty been more manifest than in climate science where a paganistic fervor has supplanted rigorous investigation and open debate. Challengers of the status quo are more likely to be met with ad hominem than data. Ideologically driven activists use flawed computer models to justify political actions like banning gas-powered cars, shutting down pipelines and spending trillions on “green” energy subsidies that provide no benefit to society.
In classrooms, students are encouraged by the NGSS to conform to politically correct views: Solar and wind energy are good. Fossil fuels are bad. Catastrophic global warming is the future. Carbon dioxide, a gas necessary for life itself, is pollution. Computer models that fail to predict weather days or months in the future can divine the behavior of the climate, Earth’s most complex system, in the next century. Questioning the most absurd of hypotheses is heresy.
Fortunately for North Carolina students, two members of the 18-person State Board of Education embraced Droz’s view that the Scientific Method should be restored to the state’s Science Standards, which it was in July. Droz said the support of the board members was instrumental in correcting the deficiency in state standards.
“I’m optimistic that the Department of Public Instruction will soon address my second major concern that the state Science Standards need more specificity regarding critical thinking,” says Droz. “It should be clear that there is an intimate connection between critical thinking analysis and the universal problem-solving procedure of the Scientific Method.”
John Droz’s example of standing for scientific integrity is an inspiration to the CO2 Coalition, of which he is a member. Determined to reverse the education establishment’s degradation of science teaching, the CO2 Coalition has created educational materials for students and educators.
The CO2 Learning Center’s books, videos and lesson plans are free for the asking. The cost of failing to repel the modern attack on rational thought is incalculable.
by Gregory Wrightstone
CO2 Coalition
–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™
Get the very best the rally has to offer! Don’t wait, get in on the action now. Why do we sell out every year? Because our guests all agree it’s one of the best values at the rally! Literally elevate yourself with our amazing balcony and VIP experiences.
Don’t be left at street level!
Which package is right for you?
Take advantage now before ticket prices go up! Hit the get tickets button at our website and we’ll see you in April!
The Norwegian government has allocated money to a number of road safety projects, but motorcyclists are completely ignored. Motorcyclists’ organization NMCU is not amused…
In the state budget for 2024, the government ignores road safety work for motorcyclists again. NMCU – a member of FEMA – applied for funds to continue to carry out road safety work for motorcyclists, in line with the decisions of the National Transport Plan for which NMCU has been given responsibility. However, NMCU did not receive any funds, which it is very disappointed and surprised by.
“How are we to achieve results without effort? If the government should be in doubt, it is limited how much can be achieved without funds. Over several years, NMCU has had a close dialogue with the authorities?” says Ole Jørgen Dønnestad of NMCU’s central board. “The National Transport Plan 2022-2030 deals with road safety, where motorcyclists are also highlighted as a highly accident-prone group that must be worked on specifically.
It is very regrettable that the government deliberately fails to include NMCU in the state budget so that we would have had the opportunity to strengthen our intensive work for safer traffic conditions for motorcyclists in the country. In the National action plan for traffic safety on the road 2022–2025, NMCU alone or together with other actors is responsible for 7 of the measures mentioned. This is more than any of the other road safety organisations.”
“If you spend your entire budget on measures that do not target motorcyclists, and without allocating funds to the group that has the best expertise in motorcycling, and then complain that motorcyclists are not getting better, then it is something that is jarring, says Ole Jørgen Dønnestad of NMCU’s central board, “Road safety for motorcyclists should be included in the state budget.”
–Written by Wim Taal
FEMA
[page break]
SUPERIOR DARKNESS– Yamaha Announces All-New MT-09 SP
Following up the announcement of the exciting all-new 2024 MT-09, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is proud to unveil the ultimate high-performance Hyper Naked middleweight, the all-new 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP.
Along with the same extensive list of upgrades seen on the class-leading MT-09, the new MT-09 SP takes the exceptional platform even further with a higher level of specification including upgraded suspension and brakes, track-focused technology and electronics, plus exclusive SP color scheme and finish for an unmatched Dark Side experience.
2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP
A Decade of the Dark Side of Japan
The introduction of the MT-09 marked a step away from conventional Japanese motorcycle design and introduced a bold, abstract new direction for Yamaha inspired by the unique urban motorcycle sub-culture found on the streets of Japan’s largest cities. Signifying an exciting new era, the MT-09 featured aggressive styling, a chassis designed for light, agile handling and a torque-laden CP3 engine to stimulate the senses.
Stripped of unnecessary bodywork, packed neatly into a compact aluminum frame and equipped with Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), the MT was the perfect blend of high performance, cutting-edge technology and purposeful functionality. The Dark Side of Japan was unleashed upon the world.
The heart of the new 2024 MT-09 SP remains Yamaha’s world-renowned 890cc DOHC CP3 engine, providing high-revving power, instant torque and a unique crossplane Triple soundtrack unlike anything else on the street, further enhanced through the addition of Acoustic Amplifier Grilles located on top of the newly designed fuel tank.
The potent CP3 is housed in a lightweight, compact controlled fill (CF) aluminum frame, contributing to the bike’s predictable handling and razor-sharp agility. Adding confidence and control is Yamaha’s advanced electronics suite, which includes a four-mode Traction Control System (TCS), Slide Control System (SCS), front wheel Lift Control System (LIF), two-mode Brake Control System (BC), a new Back Slip Regulator (BSR) and SP-exclusive Engine Brake Management (EBM).
Finally, expanding on this winning MT-09 formula, a number of additional SP-exclusive features provide committed enthusiasts with the highest level of specification, resulting in the most advanced, most capable motorcycle in its class.
Exclusive R1M-Inspired SP Colors & Finish
Along with its aggressive next-generation MT styling, SP specification raises the bar with a striking and distinctive R1M-inspired colorway. Also featured is the SP’s hallmark polished and clear coated aluminum swingarm, making the new MT-09 SP’s exclusivity and special status immediately recognizable at a glance.
New Brembo Stylema Front Brake Calipers
New for 2024, the MT-09 SP now boasts premium-spec Brembo Stylema monoblock calipers paired with a Brembo radial master cylinder for the ultimate stopping power. The Stylema calipers feature a slimmer piston and brake pad area compared to conventional calipers, as well as being lighter, more rigid and offering enhanced control. In addition, larger-diameter pistons create more braking force, allowing MT-09 SP riders to experience a new level in braking performance.
Premium Fully Adjustable Suspension
Premium SP-exclusive suspension brings Supersport-level handling and precision to the Hyper Naked class. Top-spec KYB forks and Öhlins rear shock feature a higher spring rate offering outstanding stability during spirited riding. The DLC-coated, 41mm KYB forks offer full adjustability for preload, rebound, and high- and low-speed compression damping, allowing SP riders to fine-tune set-up to suit a variety of situations. Completing the MT-09 SP’s high-end suspension package, the Öhlins® shock is also fully adjustable, and comes equipped with a remote preload adjuster enabling quick and easy changes.
SP-Exclusive Track-Focused YRC Settings
MT-09 owners can customize their riding experience via new Yamaha Ride Control (YRC) settings, which allow the selection of engine power characteristics and electronic intervention levels. In addition to factory and custom settings available on the standard MT-09, SP specification adds four exclusive TRACK modes allowing for more specialized track settings including the option of choosing between two Engine Brake Management settings and the ability to turn rear ABS off. The on-track riding experience is further enhanced by a dedicated SP-exclusive TRACK theme for the MT-09 SP’s new five-inch full-color TFT display featuring a prominent lap timer.
New Smart Key System
Taking the next step in technological advancement, the 2024 MT-09 SP becomes the first Hyper Naked to incorporate Yamaha’s Smart Key System. When the smart key is within a specified range of the motorcycle, such as in your pocket, the engine can be started by turning a newly designed switch. The new system also features a lock and unlock function for the fuel tank cap for added convenience.
2024 MT-09 SP-Specific Features
- R1M-inspired colors and premium finish
- Polished and clear coated aluminum swingarm
- Premium Brembo® Stylema calipers
- Four customizable TRACK Yamaha Ride Control modes including option to turn rear-wheel ABS off
- New two-mode Engine Brake Management (EBM) System
- Exclusive TRACK display theme for the new, larger five-inch full-color TFT dash
- Fully adjustable, DLC-coated, 41mm KYB® front forks
- Fully adjustable Öhlins® rear shock
- Smart Key System with unique starter switch and fuel cap design
- Sharper, more compact looks including re-designed bi-functional LED headlight, fuel tank and tail section
- More engaged ergonomics including separated seat unit and two-position adjustable handlebar and footpegs
- Larger five-inch full color TFT display with smartphone connectivity and navigation
- Customizable riding experience via Yamaha Ride Control (YRC) settings
- Redesigned intake with Acoustic Amplifier Grilles
- Latest 890cc, three-cylinder, four-valve DOHC liquid-cooled, CP3 engine
- Six-axis IMU with full suite of lean sensitive rider aids
- New Back Slip Regulator
- Lightweight controlled fill aluminum die-cast frame
- Lightweight SpinForged wheels
- New third-generation quickshifter
- New Brembo radial master cylinder
- Cruise control
- New self-canceling turn signals
- Adjustable brake and clutch levers
- New under-seat USB Type C socket
- New Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tires
The new 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP will be available in the SP-exclusive Liquid Metal/Raven color scheme, arriving to dealers in late spring 2024 for $12,299 MSRP.
Learn more about Yamaha’s complete Hyper Naked lineup, as well as other Yamaha products at: www.yamahamotorsports.com.
From the category of you can’t make this up, feels like an Easyriders bit, a leading European Transport Representative said in their push to make dirt bikes and adventure bikes all electric he proposed the solution to charging them out in the woods is that they could cut trees down, build charging stations using surplus diesel generators and haul fuel out in big trucks to deliver fuel to diesel run charging stations.
Not much different than Hardley-Davidson using huge diesel power stations in Deadwood to charge Livewires for demo rides.
–Kirk Willard
President
MRF
[photo 1228122]
The master Wayfarer created the art and produced these high-quality desk calendars, which we hope to use for Xmas presents.
We got started on Xmas stuff early this year, which is amazing. We kicked it off last year with plenty of time. Chopper Dave’s wife got sick and my spirit bell connection in China went to his Chinese New Year and didn’t come back. We blew right through Xmas.
The Redhead is rapidly becoming the soup master. Crispy date muffins in the morning and warm toasted sourdough bread and pea soup for dinner.
I’m working with Tim Petersen on new dragons for Deadwood. His magnificent signs are painted on ¼-inch PVC with sheets of aluminum sheet applied to both sides and sorta powder-coated white. He paints with automotive paints that last almost forever.
Here’s a piece of Tim’s original fine art. My neighbor, Luke owns it. The subject might be Pat our local mechanic.
Tim asked for some dragon samples… My grandson supplied them. Hang on.
It was Halloween so we rolled into Sturgis to the Ugly MC headquarters for a party.
Vinnie is going to sell a few motorcycles from his headquarters, but when I asked about the kidney belts he looked a little cross-eyed. “I might have something for Bandit,” he said and moved away.
I helped John move four cords of firewood into his garage. We are working on his 1960 Panhead roller project, and I stopped by to tell him about the fork slider felts I snatched from Charlie the master of Rust.
Fortunately, the Redhead hooked me up with a hearty Avocado omelet for breakfast.
The Panhead project is fraught with parts from various models. We discovered his fork tubes came from ’84-’99 models and were 4-inches over stock. I found a stock tube in my stash. So, we took the long tubes to Clauser Machine in Spearfish to be shortened.
I heard from Phil from Phil’s Speed Shop, rebuilding engines and building bikes for 38 years. He also builds compact ignitions systems and wiring billet boxes. I used one on my factory racer way back.
Tim, from Flat Earth Paint, mentioned above, convinced me to paint my VL Knucklehead frame. Everything is available right here in Sturgis, so I’m going to look into it starting with this DeVillis touch up gun. But I’m running into a space issue for a spray booth.
Tracy Lovell, who is the manager at Scott Jacob’s Gallery sold her Dyna, and Luke and I helped with the Kendon Trailer operation and loading. All went smooth and Serena made it back to Montana.
Dan started this build with a bare frame in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum last week. He got this far in a day. Nice piece. We will bring you more reports. We are going to work on a story lacing early bike wheels.
Hang on and have a fantastic Holiday Season.
Ride free,
–Bandit
THE FIGHTING FAMILY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 9, 2023
By Bandit |
Hey,
The motorcycle industry has a problem, but it also has the solution—if the family sticks together. We are under attack, but we also have a family of supporters lead by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, which is now joined by NCOM, NCOCs, and the new IMA. Hell, maybe SEMA will step up.
I could give a tiny bit of credit to the Bikernet team, but you can help by joining the MRF or the IMA family quick. Just join and get your family of riders to join so we can help these guys do the tough work in Washington and in your state legislatures.
Let’s hit the news and you will learn more:
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
BREAKING SEMA NEWS— U.S. House Subcommittee Passes REPAIR Act
Encourage your lawmakers to support the REPAIR Act:
The U.S. House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce passed H.R. 906, the REPAIR Act (Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair).
The SEMA-supported REPAIR Act is critical to protecting our ability to choose where our vehicles are serviced and do the work ourselves. The bill can now be considered by the Energy & Commerce Committee. SEMA is advocating for the committee to expand the REPAIR Act to protect our right to modify, and we need your help!
The REPAIR Act is a bipartisan bill that would ensure aftermarket parts businesses have access to the information and tools needed to produce and install parts that are used to maintain the cars, trucks, and SUVs we love. SEMA supports expanding the legislation to protect our right to modify. We are seeking changes to the bill to:
• Prevent vehicle manufacturers from employing any technological, legal, or cryptographic barriers that impede the ability of an aftermarket parts manufacturer or a vehicle repair facility to produce or install aftermarket parts and software that are custom or modify a vehicle.
• Amend the bill’s Cybersecurity provision to ensure that motor vehicle owners and their designees have access to cryptographic or technologically protected vehicle-generated data and safety-critical vehicle systems.
• Amend how the bill defines the term “critical repair information and tools” to include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) recalibrations necessary to return a vehicle to operational specifications.
As automotive technology continues to evolve, automotive enthusiasts and aftermarket businesses need access to the tools and information needed to modify and repair vehicles. SEMA is committed to protecting your right to these basic freedoms, but we need your help NOW!
Don’t wait—ask your U.S. Representative to protect the right to modify and repair vehicles now.
Use the SEMA website for an overview and lawmaker contact.
NEW ISSUE OF FULL THROTTLE—On Line Now!
NEW MAGAZINE IS NOW ONLINE
NOVEMBER 2023
FULL THROTTLE MAGAZINE
SERIES REVIEW OF THE WEEK—Shogun (February 2024) TV Series
Shogun is an upcoming American epic television series. It is based on the 1975 novel of the same name written by James Clavell. Shogun is announced to premiere on Hulu and FX. The novel was previously adapted into a 1980 television miniseries.
From Fox:
“Set in the 17th Century, the story is told from the perspective of British hero John Blackthorne, a sailor who rises from outsider to samurai, while being used as a pawn in Japanese leader Toranaga’s struggle to reach the top of the ruling chain, or Shogun.”
Shogun will follow ‘a collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female Samurai.’ Protagonist named John Blackthorne, is a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan. Back then, Japan was a land whose unfamiliar culture ultimately redefines John. Another character named Lord Toranaga is a shrewd, powerful Daimyo (rank of ‘Lord’ in feudal Japan). Toranaga is at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals. Then there is Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance.
Principal photography for this TV series began on September 22, 2021, in Vancouver (Canada), and lasted until June 30, 2022, a full two months over the expected timeframe. The 10-episode limited series is produced by FX Productions.
Check out the official trailer released last weekend.
https://youtu.be/yAN5uspO_hk?si=9U02owZCV8lH4tmP
Source: https://www.TaiJutsu.art/
–Wayfarer
Media Investigator
Bikernet.com™
NEW FROM NASH MOTORCYCLES–
Introducing the Nash Co. belt, the newest addition to our line of dependable US made leather belts. Stamped with our “Nash Co.” logo and handcrafted from 100% full grain, thick 8 -10oz leather. Outfitted with brass or nickel hardware / buckle and your choice of brown, black, or natural leather.
Belts come slotted for traditional frame & prong style belt buckle or can be outfitted with your favorite plate style buckle too!
ALL U.S.A. MADE AND MATERIALS
BUFFALO CHIP ANNOUNCEMENT COMING–First 2024 Sturgis Rally Band Announcement Coming
(And it’s a Biggie)
Hang on. I’m waiting by the phone to get the news. I have it, and it will be posted momentarily on the Bikernet Blog.
NEW FROM FEULING—No more head breathers.
We are still digging into our 121 CVO VVT. This week we tackled the new breather system, and with the cylinder heads removed we got an up close look at the new pistons and more!
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Check out our latest video and more on the FEULING YouTube Channel. Be sure to Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss out!
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE MRF–PURPOSE BUILT
During the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Meeting of the Minds this September several times I highlighted our partnerships with others motorcycling organizations and entities with an interest in motorcyclists’ rights and in protecting our way of life. It has taken years of good work by many to get to this point of having for the most part a united front, this has been an oft stated goal of the MRF since 2006.
It was over the top encouraging to see the room full of State Motorcyclists Rights Organizations (SMRO’s) who have strongly supported the MRF since the beginning and throughout our 39+ years in existence. Also in attendance were multiple Sustaining motorcycle clubs’ members representing themselves along with various Coalitions, Confederations, Alliances etc. that have significantly grown in involvement and influence in their legislative work with the MRF.
When tallying organizations’, we saw leadership from the National Council of Clubs (NCOC), the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), the National Council of Independent Riders (COIR), the Motorcycling Profiling Project (MPP), the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA), and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).
Importantly, we had two Founders of the newly formed Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Network (IMA) participate in an epic general session informational panel about the very real risks to our lifestyle. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation has recently agreed to formally partner with the IMA and serve as their lobbying arm, their issues are our issues, so this is a great opportunity to involve another important segment in our community as we battle for our very existence.
When we look at the MRF’s 2024 Federal Legislative agenda you’ll see we are taking on the 40-year-old definition of a motorcycle, having an accessible fuel supply that our motorcycle engines require, preserving the choice of internal combustion engines, the Right to Repair and Right to Modify our motorcycles, the profiling of motorcyclists’, the genuine concern that Autonomous vehicles are a hazard to motorcyclists’, and establishing the Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) that serves to educate federal organizations that oversee roadway design and related issues that affect motorcyclists’.
Plus, add the menacing impending additional EPA regulations, the California Air Resources Board draconian measures spreading to many other states.
Hang on for the end of life directives that the European motorcyclists rights organizations are fighting and that we in the United States have already been exposed in a program called “Cash for Clunkers”, fines being imposed on motorcycle parts manufacturers and those who install them.
Watch out for original equipment motorcycle manufacturers and their dealers no longer offering performance upgrades out of fear of suppression, the ramping up of fines, and negative publicity for their shareholders.
So, when I utter the words, this movement is now purpose built I mean it. It is going to take every single one of the groups and organizations mentioned above working closely together to survive the battle we’re in.
During the Meeting of the Minds, I repeated a quote from our Keynote speaker several times because it was so perfect. It came from the New Hampshire Speaker of the House, Sherman Packard.
Sherm said “We have to stay strong and united at this point in our history or we’ll have no future history.” Read this a few times, let it sink in, own it.
We must all dedicate ourselves and every organization we represent to remaining strong and united with the goal to keeping us free!
–Kirk Willard
President of the MRF
NEWS FROM THE FRONT–Hey
I am really Surprised how pro-Palestine the Universities and big cities are in the USA
Well did my fourth Rhodes visit last week
If I ever return to the US it will be in 2025, my 70th BD celebration.
I read your news every week. Love your stories from SD !!!
THE OLD SWEDE living on memories.
–The Sheriff
Sheriff World Wide Media Group
Sweden
“Yep, many of our colleges are anti-American.”–Bandit
Ronald Stein is an engineer, senior policy advisor on energy literacy for the Heartland Institute and CFACT, and co-author of the Pulitzer Prize nominated book “Clean Energy Exploitations.”
Historically, California has been successfully reducing in-state oil production over the decades and has increased crude oil imports from foreign countries from 5 percent in 1992 to more than 75 percent today to meet the California consumption demand.
California has more than 140 airports with huge fuel demands of more than 13 billion gallons of aviation fuel per year that includes these major airports:
9 International airports
41 Military airports
In addition, California has three of the largest shipping ports in America, with #1 Los Angeles. #2 Long Beach, and #7 Oakland. Ships arriving and departing from the shipping ports up and down the coast from San Diego to San Francisco require massive amounts of lower grade bunker fuels.
While California is pursuing the elimination of crude oil production, China has no intentions of abandoning its economic, military, or strategic ambitions – all of which rely on crude oil. Asia is the region with the greatest number of future petroleum refineries. As of 2021, there were 88 new facilities in planning or under construction in Asia.
The California Air Quality Management District (AQMD) policies have the potential to further reduce in-state refinery capacity, so the State can be more dependent on Asia for the fuels and petrochemical demands of the State.
Shockingly, Newsom has yet to inform the citizens of the State, and the citizens of America, as to how he expects the States’ airports, military, and shipping ports to continue operating without the fuels for planes and ships.
Read the whole tamale at WattsUpWithThat.com
I know this book has been out for a while but first chance I had to sit down and read it through.
You had sent along a copy of Salt Flat Motorcycle as a prize for the 100 word thing, Thank you.
I found it to be very good and in some-way put me, the reader, into the process. It condensed what I am sure was a very hectic and nerve wracking ordeal into a clear concise chronicle of what it took to get to the flats with that monster motorcycle.
What an adventure. Hats off to your crew and all those who helped and especially Valerie for her piloting skills.
Fun read!
–Rhys
Florida
“Thanks much,”–Bandit
[page break]
–Bandit
VETERANS DAY ACTION FROM NASH MOTORCYCLES— VETERANS DAY WEEKEND SALE !
STARTS FRIDAY, VETERANS DAY!
ALL HANDLEBARS – THE NASH CHOPPER AXES – LIGHTS OUT HAMMERS
BUY NOW
I read a recent report on the lack of Statin benefits and the proven impacts on cognitive functions, which lead to dementia.
I’m involved in my own clinical study. Add vitamin B-3 and D to my daily vitamins, exercise more and eat the following foods. Without Statins, I will check my Cholesterol levels in three months.
Avocado
Garlic
Almonds
Dark Chocolate
Apples
Walnuts
Oats and Oatmeal
Lentils
Nuts
Oily Fish
Salmon Legumes
Soy beans
Fruit
Olive Oil
Whole Grain
Eggs
Vegetables
Barley
Green Tea
Spinach
THE SHERIFF’S BLAST FROM THE PAST–
First photo Tom and Carol Fairbairn
He owned Bill Industries INVADER in SFV
Also started Zodiac in San Diego
He just turned 90!!!
I bought my first wheels from him October 1974…
My oldest friend in USA but you are close, Bandit
–Sheriff
Sheriff Media Group
QUOTE OF THE WEEK—
~ the Abbott in movie “Jackie Chan: Kung Fu Master” (2009)
–Wayfarer
Movie Reviewer
Bikernet.com™
BIKERNET BLOG COMMENT–
https://blog.bikernet.com/rhode-island-re-opens-comment-period-for-ice-ban/
Banning I.C. vehicles is really not the answer. I wonder how many people realize just how environmentally dirty current electric vehicles really are.
They may appear to be clean but the damage done by mining for lithium and the process of making batteries does more damage to the environment than the use of I.C, vehicles.
Until there is a true alternative to them, I think legislating them out of existence is a foolish move and is only politically motivated and pushed by those that want to make a profit from mining of lithium and the manufacture of batteries, just as ethanol fuel was pushed by the farming states/communities and later found that it did not help the environment and only created more problems
–Herbert King
BMW OF THE WEEK—1951, R51.
–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com
LE PERA SEAT OF THE WEEK—Tail Whip Basket weave for ’06-’17 Dynas
Taking the Kickflip one step further
If it’s more comfort for the passenger or just another platform to let your adventurous side explore, the whipped-up tail of the TailWhip will give you what you are looking for!
Available in Basket Weave, Double Diamond Stitch, Pleated Stitch, or anything your imagination comes up with
Driver Area 10.75″ Wide with 6″ of Back Support, Passenger Area 7″ Wide
Molded Marathon Foam
BikerTec Custom Cover
Highly detailed powder-coated steel carpeted base
Specs
Driver Seating:
10.75″ Wide
Passenger Seating:
7″ Wide
MSRP:
$548.00
Part Number:
LK-581BW [’06-’17] Dyna
NEWS FROM THE PRISM GANG–My Garage report with Brad Richards
The latest episode of My Garage was filmed in the desert of Santa Fe, New Mexico where we caught up with VP of Design and Creative Director of Motorcycles at Harley-Davidson, Brad Richards.
Brad’s garage doubles as his home office and houses a collection of bikes that span the generations of H-D.
It was fascinating listening to his thoughts on design and style while learning about his journey to get to where he is today. We hope you enjoy this episode.
GIFT NOTION FROM BRING A TRAILER–The BaT Limited Edition Chevy K10 Tow Rig and Trailer Combo is Here!
Last year’s die-cast BaT Ramp Truck model generated a ton of enthusiasm and sold out fast! This year, we’re upping the ante with our second limited-run, branded model truck—this time a 1972 Chevy K10 tow rig, complete with trailer (naturally).
This 1:18 scale workhorse is finished in orange and white two-tone and features a functional hitch ball, chrome wheels with off-road tires, and custom Bring a Trailer graphics. Removable trailer ramps keep your tiny race cars from bottoming out on the bookshelf.
Each truck is individually numbered, and supplies are limited—so order yours from our Gear Store before they’re gone!
MOVIE REVIEW: A movie about Jackie Chan that does not star Jackie Chan
“Jackie Chan: Kung Fu Master” (2009) — the Chinese title was actually “Looking for Jackie Chan” but rely on Western marketing gurus to ruin the good name of the movie as well as the well-known actor.
Yes, it does not star Jackie Chan at all. He is there in a brief guest appearance.
A 16-year-old kid in Indonesia admires Jackie Chan but cannot gain respect of his classmates due to poor grades in Chinese. He travels to Beijing to meet his idol and become his disciple, so that he can learn to beat-up his classmates. Will the arrogant, rude & ungrateful teenager learn anything?
He encounters three ladies who offer him three diverse lessons & experiences. Finally, the fourth lady is his grandma who manages to teach him something, though, via Jackie Chan. A very ideal movie for young kids & teenagers in all cultures. Timeless in its wisdom.
I don’t think people have watched the entire movie before giving it a poor rating on IMDB. They just saw it didn’t actually star Jackie Chan and decided to rate it badly.
Links:
Kung Fu Master: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478291/
Gorgeous: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0184526/
—Wayfarer
Official Movie Review Specialists
Bikernet.com
BIKERNENT 100-WORD FICTION CONTEST REPORT– October 2023
We are into the 7th month of this popular contest — a challenge to write fiction in 100 words or less– and win Bikernet swag and goodies.
October was the 6th month and we had contestants return to participate again. The contest can be addictive, especially once you know you can actually write a meaningful story within 100 words.
So delightfully, we announce that the winner for October is also the person who won this contest first-time around– back in May 2023 — so Congratulations to Steven Sanner.
He delivers action and emotion yet again on two-wheels with his latest entry “Long Rides.”
Check it out on Bikernet Blog at:
https://blog.bikernet.com/100-wfc-long-rides-by-steven-sanner/
Read all entries ever published by visiting:
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/100_Word_Fiction_Contest.aspx
All you gotta do is subscribe to Bikernet’s free weekly newsletter and send in your entry to wayfarer@bikernet.com
See you on the Blog. Happy inking!
–Wayfarer
Editor: Bikernet Blog
BIKERNET.COM ™
BABE OF THE WEEK—Brooke Clemmer
–Sam Burns
Talent Scout
Bikernet.com™
Fighting terror is impossible. But you are supposed to think it’s something actually sensible and noble. All the while what it really is, is government and journalists being on the side of the enemy and calling you an idiot and priming you for your slaughter.
So far they’ve been right. Calling the enemy terror is like calling firearms a health crisis, calling oil as having something to do with fossils, calling hairspray and air conditioners a destroyer of the ozone layer, calling Jan 6th an insurgency, calling looting reparations, calling healthy people a threat to the sick, calling something a vaccine that does not come under the definition of a vaccine, calling you losing your job “keeping everyone safe,” calling carbon dioxide a “greenhouse gas that leaves footprints” when there is actually no such thing as a greenhouse gas much less one that leaves footprints, and then there’s the one about the earth actually being a greenhouse – which in reality is glass-enclosed building which is heated by trapped incoming infrared light radiation. Not by carbon dioxide heating up the interior.
You’ll notice no greenhouse in history has ever erupted into explosive flames due to “overheating.” However, in government-journalistland earth is a greenhouse. Earth will someday be declared by these two petri dishes of diseased souls as being Paradise once everyone on it is extinct.
Then the government “employees” and the journalists will buttfuck each other into Green Monkey Rectal Disease oblivion and Gaia will rejoice by masturbating her own Earthtwat with a mighty Redwood whilst singing the Peter, Paul and Mary songbook.
You see, government “employees” and journalist “reporters” get away with these “let’s see how fucked up these zombies are” experiments because so far, they haven’t hit the Pushback Zone. Because apparently there isn’t one. The zombies are, in fact, at this point, actually zombies. Stay listless my friend.
–J.J. Solari
At least join the MRF:
NEWS FROM THE VA–
Veteran Appreciation! Free Coffee, Meals and Big Discounts for Veterans
Businesses, organizations and communities are showing their appreciation for Veterans all month long.
Get free breakfast at Denny’s on Nov. 10, free coffee from Starbucks on Nov. 11, free dinner at Golden Corral on Nov. 13, 20% discount at Walgreens Nov. 10-13 and many other great offers and events!
BRAND NEW, OLD SHIT FROM COMPETITION DISTRIBUTING—
FUEL TANK V, VL, VLD & VLH HARLEY DAVIDSON 1930-1936
Regular price$1,095.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
—www.competitiondistributing.com
FROM THE OLD GUYS FILES—
[page break]
THE INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE AFTERMARKET SOMETHING–
The face of the motorcycle industry changed drastically. Builders and shops are under-fire and severely regulated daily.
Enter the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and the new Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Network (IMA).
We (builders and shops) are facing extinction.
There is a war on Fossil Fuels or the Petroleum Industry, which is absurd. Everything comes from oil from bras to medicine.
There is a mass movement against Critical Thinking and true Science.
Many of the traditional Motorcycle Organizations have run from the legislative front.
There are only two groups in the country willing to fight and pay for lobbyists in Washington to stand for your freedoms, businesses and the right to build custom motorcycles and ride: The IMAN and the MRF
JOIN QUICK, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
Check this article below…
RGGI Halted in Pennsylvania–Carbon Tax Opposed by CO2 Coalition Stopped by Court
A proposed carbon tax — known as the Regional Greenhouse Initiative (RGGI) opposed by the CO2 Coalition has been killed by Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court.
In deciding a case that had been pending for months, the court found that former Gov. Tom Wolf’s unilateral action to have Pennsylvania join the RGGI regional consortium of states constituted a tax that required legislative approval and was in violation of Pennsylvania’s constitution. The current administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro has 30 days to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.
“We are gratified by the court’s decision and pleased to have been part of the widespread opposition to RGGI,” said Gregory Wrightstone, CO2 Coalition executive director. “Our analysis found RGGI to be unscientific, unnecessary, economically damaging and of no environmental benefit.
“RGGI, like all so-called green initiatives, is based on the false premise that emissions of carbon dioxide from human activity is overheating the planet. CO2 is in fact an essential plant food, and modern increases in atmospheric levels of the gas have contributed to record crop harvests and an overall greening of Earth. The decision to kill RGGI is a vote for benefiting humanity and a prospering economy.
CO2 Coalition findings of RGGI’s shortcomings were sent in a 2021 report to more than 400 Pennsylvania leaders in business, labor and government. Wrightstone and other CO2 coalition representatives testified against RGGI
in committee hearings in the Pennsylvania House and Senate and before the state Independent Regulatory Review Commission.
Others opposing RGGI included Power PA Jobs Alliance, an organization of business and labor groups, and Republican members of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Suits filed in Commonwealth Court by various parties, including members of the legislature and power plant owners, led to the court’s nullification of RGGI.
RGGI would have imposed a tax on emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants that burn coal and natural gas to generate electricity, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to energy costs and destroying thousands of jobs in the state’s energy sector. The 2019 proposal of Gov. Wolf is believed to have accelerated the July closing of the state’s largest coal-fired power plant at Homer City and to have discouraged the development of new fossil fuel-fired generation in the state.
–CO2 Coalition
PANHEAD OF THE WEEK—1951 FL
–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™
DO NOT WRITE OFF THE ICE-ENGINES- technology development yet: Experts
Electric is largely seen as the future of the automotive industry. However, technical experts specializing in emissions and alternative fuel technologies believe that the internal combustion engine has more to give, thanks to new engineering and fuel policy developments. But there are some challenges to be met.
–Wayfarer
International Investigator
Bikernet News Desk
NEWS FROM OUR SOUTH DAKOTA REPRESENTATIVE–Keeping America Safe
BIG Update
Nearly 55,000 veterans call South Dakota home. These veterans are our friends, family, and neighbors. They served to protect us and our country to help ensure freedom continues to ring. I’ve had the privilege to meet and thank many veterans through programs like the Honor Flight and the Vietnam War Commemoration. The Honor Flight Network is an organization that brings veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the war memorials created to honor their service and sacrifice. And the Vietnam War Commemoration is an organization I partner with to give Vietnam-era veterans a long-overdue welcome home. Over the past few years, I’ve had the honor to meet and thank nearly 900 Vietnam-era veterans for their service and hear their unique stories.
Each veteran’s story paints a picture of the brave sacrifice they made. I’m grateful for their service.
Meeting veterans on the Honor Flight in D.C.
Butte County Sheriff Fred Lamphere understands how the border crisis affects South Dakota. Although our state isn’t near the southern border, illegal immigration has cost South Dakota taxpayers $56.9 million in 2023.
I’ve been an advocate for securing the southern border for years. The Biden Administration’s open border has created crises for governors, mayors, and law enforcement across America. Sheriff Lamphere and I talked about solutions, like HR 2 that passed the House with my support. It includes the strongest border policies ever seen in Congress. Now it’s time for the Senate to take action.
BIG News
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started using public airports to house illegal immigrants. This is unsafe and is an improper use of our transportation and commerce hubs.
Individuals on the terrorist watch list have come across our southern border, along with illicit drugs and an increase of violent crime. Our airports are supposed to be safe and secure – but housing undocumented migrants does the opposite.
This week, I urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to block the continuation of this unsettling use of our public airports.
This is just another attempted band-aid on the Biden Administration’s failed border policies. Allowing unfettered entry into the U.S. through the southern border is a choice, and the Biden Administration continues to make the wrong one. We must address the root issue and put strong border security measures in place.
Right to Repair – You or the repair shop of your choice should have access to the tools, parts, and technology you need. However, manufacturers want to restrict your ability to service, maintain and repair your bike.
Right to Modify – The ability to modify and customize your bike is a fight the MRF has won before. In the 1990s the MRF defeated a proposal that would have limited modification to “color and chrome.” We continue to fight for consumers rights to modify products they buy how they see fit.
Renewable Fuels – The availability of fuel for use in motorcycles is under attack.The MRF fights for the universal availability of approved fuel blends, containing no more than 10% ethanol by volume.
Internal Combustion Engines – Not only is the fuel we need under attack, but the engines that burn that fuel are being targeted.A push to ban the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines is happening right now!
We believe Americans should have the right to choose what kind of engine to buy not have the choice mandated by the government.
End of Life Directives – In Europe,“end of life directives” require vehicles over a certain age be turned in for destruction.
Policy ideas that first appear in Europe have a history of popping up in the United States.
The ability to own, collect, work on, and refurbish older motorcycles is a fundamental part of who we are as motorcyclists.
The MRF will battle any end-of-life directives in the U.S.
Protect the Motorcycle Ecosystem – Inde- pendent shops and manufacturers are a critical part of the motorcycle ecosystem.
They provide choice and competition in the marketplace.The MRF be- lieves to preserve the lifestyle and culture of motor- cycling, independent shops and manufacturers must be protected.
Join Today!
Motorcycle Riders Foundation PO Box 9090 – Peoria, IL 61612 202-546-0983
MRF.org/join
NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE IN–
The second or the original front door on the Jackson house needed help. The fucker was a monster and solid wood, but Adrian added my porthole and some details. I’m waiting for the perfect weather to finish the detail painting.
We made a donation to the Bronze Sculptures being commissioned in Deadwood. On our plaque it will read, “In Memory of Buck Lovell.” I’m going to keep the bastard’s name alive…
I’m working on a story about lacing early wheels with Cabana Dan and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
I started to get a handle on the pain and I’m feeling human and mobile again. Woody and I took on the 2-mile hike to the top of Bear Butte mountain.
Woody blazed up the awkward path, but he’s done it before. That’s my excuse for lagging behind.
At one section of the 4,400 foot peak he pointed out the vast Buffalo Chip Empire. It’s massive and ready for the party to expand.
When we reached the top, I threatened to call Uber.
The Redhead loaded me down with protein bars, snacks and water. Woody wouldn’t have anything to do with anything. He just kept chugging away.
Working with Tim from Flat Earth paint on new Dragons for the Deadwood House. I’m also working with his son, Bill on some other house paint projects.
Cards are almost complete, with the help of Atomic Bob.
The VLXAFL Knucklehead project scrambled into satin black pieces and I found a local paint crew, Tim and Nikki to handle the 5-Ball colors.
I’m going to work on John’s mystic transmission this weekend. We ordered the sleeves for the countershaft, which said were for ’37-’76, but when John tried to order a box popped up and announced, “Not for 1960 Panheads.”
Ride free or die trying, goddammit!
–Bandit
THE HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 16, 2023
By Bandit |
Hey,
Here’s an odd thing to ponder. We’re being attacked from every direction. Your cars, motorcycles and way of life are under assault. The government is enticing people to invade our country and incentivizing them to bring fentanyl to kill our kids (100,000 a year). They are tearing our cities down and saying it’s a good thing to defund the cops. I could go on, but there’s a major positive side to this holiday story.
First the truth is surfacing and hoorah, we can still attend major football games. They are happening almost daily. We can party and ride to major motorcycle events. The holidays are coming and there’s no stopping them. We are going to enjoy Thanksgiving with a turkey cooked to perfection in a gas oven. Christmas ornaments, many made from petroleum based products are glowing on tall counters and display racks in stores all over the country. We can still light a fire in our fireplace. Hell, India will continue to warm their homes as the country increases coal production by 60 percent over the next few years.
So, what’s all this say about the future? We want the games to play next year. We want to ride our motorcycles to the Sturgis Rally in 2024 and watch Jelly Roll at the Buffalo Chip, and we want Ma to make a Thanksgiving turkey in her gas oven again. Next year we want the truth and will demand integrity from the government or die trying. Let’s hit the news.
“Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.”
–Ronald Reagan
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
REPAIR Act Passes First Hurdle in House Subcommittee–Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce passed H.R. 906, “Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act,” via voice vote.
The subcommittee markup included reviewing 16 pieces of legislation to improve product safety, secure supply chains, bring consumer transparency on hidden fees, and protect consumers’ right to repair their motor vehicles. The Energy & Commerce Committee will now consider the SEMA-supported REPAIR Act.
SEMA continues to advocate for the REPAIR Act to be amended in committee to expand the legislation to include our right to modify our motor vehicles.
–SEMA
4-SPEED HARLEY TRANSMISSION REBUILD—I haven’t been through an old 4-speed transmission in a long time but I’m digging in with the help of manuals and YouTube video, including this one from the Lowbrow team and Frank Kaisler, who I worked with for years R.I.P.
Transmission rebuild
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb9kMIYN-SY
Hang on for more reports.
–Bandit
PROJECT BIKE OF THE WEEK–Thrive is a brand founded in 2013 by five people who were born and raised in the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta.
They had been working together as a visual designer before they decided to manifest their idea into the customized motorcycle world.
The bike is known as the T 06 Kuzuri using a 2000 model XL 1200 engine.
–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™
BUSTED FOR LOUD PIPES IN INDIA–
Well for the first time in life I had to pay a fine for loud pipe. The thump and “noise” of the short bottle-neck silencer on the old Enfield Bullet is no longer acceptable in modern times.
I tried to explain to them, it is an old model cast iron engine with right-side gear shift but they put the throttle to maximum, held it like that and declared — it is too loud, unacceptable.
The traffic police will retain the silencer and they let me go with a INR.1,000 fine and warning. I will have to get a new silencer and ensure it is compliant with lawful decibel levels.
It was embarrassing to say the least, making me suffer it by the roadside in peak rush hour traffic, with grinning passerbys.
Wow– this old lady of a bike is really making me regret riding her.
–Embarrassed Rider
VENICE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE CLUB ACTION–
December 3rd, 2 Very Merry Moto Events!
FIRST – THE 10TH ANNUAL VVMC TOY DRIVE
Join us at Clutch Roadhouse @ 10AM for our daytime toy collection party! The event is free. All we ask is that you bring new, unwrapped toys for donation. We’ll be raffling off some fun prizes donated by Biltwell.
SECOND – 2-WHEEED TOY RUN
From Clutch, we’ll strap all the toys to our bikes. Departing from Clutch, we’ll take a short ride through the LA Westside, ending at the Venice Beach Boardwalk (next to Muscle Beach). We’ll join up with Santa, his helpers, and the LAPD Pacific Division.
DONATE
If you cannot attend the event, there is another way to give. You can Venmo your donation to @venice-vintage. 100% of the donations benefit the the LAPD Pacific Division Toy Drive.
Clutch
427 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Let’s Do It For The Kids!
Thank you all for your continued support!
See you there!
-VVMC
THOUGHTS FROM THE METALFLAKE TEMPLE–Today is a Gift, Don’t Waste It
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.” – Steve Jobs
In recent weeks, many friends and associates have transitioned from this life. Life is here to be lived today, as we have no idea what is going to happen next. Emerson wisely wrote, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Why not make today a great day?
As I age, I take more time to find things I am grateful for. I believe that when we are conscious of gratefulness, we enjoy life so much more. Every morning, I start my day by asking myself, “What was the best part of yesterday?” and then I write down five or more things that I am grateful for.
Some of the little gifts become incredibly precious. When I go on my walks and observe my surroundings, I am amazed by the artistry of nature. I feel blessed every time I receive a call from a friend or a family member. Just the fact that I woke up is a gift.
Today’s affirmation: As I begin the gift of today, I pause to set my course and choose the kind of day I am going to have. I take time to smell the roses, to find things to be grateful for. I never lose an opportunity to see something beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting. I make every moment count.
I refuse to give my power away to anyone or anything. I pause, I think, and I don’t react; I respond. I am not too busy to find reasons to smile and share a smile with everyone I meet. I let go of judgment and look for the good in everyone. I Pray for Peace. I see Spirit in All.
Today, I live life with gratitude in my heart. Today is good.
And so it is.
Namaste.
–Dr. Yale
Master
Yale Custom Motorcycles
“Lovely days don’t come to you; you should walk to them.” — Rumi
THIS CAUSED A MAJOR FREEDOM PROBLEM–
DETAILS OF THE WEEK—
–Sam Burns
Detail Freak
Bikernet.com™
LEGENDARY GIFTS: BE THE FAVORITE GIVER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON–
Gifts for Everyone on your List
This holiday season, surprise the special people in your life with gifts they will be excited to find under the tree. Whether it is custom bike parts, the latest riding gear, or their dream bike, make this year unforgettable with Harley-Davidson, there is something for everyone.
STOCKING STUFFERS
Stylish and comfortable, this essential 3-pack Sock Box Set features UltraDri™ moisture wicking material, cushioned soles, reinforced heel and toe and embedded arch support to reduce foot fatigue. For her, treat her hands to warmth on and off the bike with the Women’s Helm Leather Work Gloves. These gloves are built from a supple cut of goatskin leather with rider-friendly features like pre-curved fingers, padded palms and are touchscreen compatible. Or to cover all your bases with any rider, gift the ideal traveling companion, the All-in-One Folding Tool. This compact folding tool is equipped to perform the basic “on-the-road” service functions on most late-model Harley-Davidson® motorcycles.
TOP GIFTS FOR KIDS
Shower the new baby in your life with this unisex Creeper and Beanie. Or for someone with pedal power, you will be the favorite gifting this Fisher Price Harley-Davidson® Trike. Bigger kids will love the Hooded Sweatshirt that they will wear with pride.
TOP GIFTS FOR HIM & HER
Defined by the heritage and authenticity of Harley-Davidson, the unique and distinct lifestyle apparel lines offer a multitude of options to find the right fit for everyone on your list. Flannels and plaid shirts can keep them warm and toasty this holiday season while also adding flair for men and women. For those looking to give a more luxurious present, the Potomoc Leather Biker Jacket for women and men is the way to go.
TOP GIFTS FOR ANY MOTORCYCLE RIDER
A must-have travel companion, the Compact Air Compressor is an all-in-one pump that plugs into your bike’s battery charging harness and features a built-in 0-160psi pressure gauge and bright LED work light. A smart pair to that would be the Booster Portable Battery Pack. This lightweight, compact lithium powered battery pack is ready and waiting to jolt batteries back to life and is small enough to fit in a saddlebag or backpack. In the garage, give the gift of time with the HOG Blaster. This powerful dryer blows a stream of warm, dry, filtered air at 18,000 feet/minute, allowing drying time to be cut by up to 75 percent. Between rides the Premium Indoor Motorcycle Cover protects a bike from dust while its breathable luxuriously soft microfiber helps minimize corrosion during short- or long-term storage.
LEARN TO RIDE
There is always one person on your list who already has everything under the sun. Instead of stressing out to find the perfect tangible item this year, give an adventurous experience they will remember for years to come. The Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy New Rider Course is a unique option that will have the thrill seeker in your life learn the skills to ride with confidence in just one weekend. Offered at select Harley-Davidson® dealers across the U.S., the New Rider Course provides you with expert guidance from Harley-Davidson certified coaches. Send a digital gift card via email or ship a plastic card with flexible delivery options. It is a gift that keeps on giving—endless miles, adventures and memories.
Harley-Davidson is kicking off the holiday season by celebrating two of its favorite things — Black and Friday. A Pre-Black Friday sale is happening now, and starting Wednesday, Nov. 22, save up to 35 percent off and get a head start on all your wish lists with special Black Friday limited-time prices. Shop h-d.com/BlackFriday or in authorized dealerships. Then the deals continue with some of our most popular selections on sale during Cyber Monday and all during Cyber Week.
For more gift-giving inspiration, find the full guide online or in an authorized Harley-Davidson dealership near you.
CHIX at the Crossroads Opens Event Registrations–
Ride Applications Open Early!
November 15, 2023—Let’s get this show on the road! The Riveter Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America is now accepting applications for the Chix at the Crossroads event to be held June 15-June 28, 2024. Space on this ride is limited, so if you are excited about participating, and ready to sign up, please apply now! If you are one of the 50 women to secure a spot, the organizers will contact you with details by February 15, 2024.
The Chix at the Crossroads event blends the riders’ passion for motorcycles with a passion for music, which will be explored experientially throughout the entire route. And like our 2022 ride, Chix on 66, this event represents classic Americana, while offering a different perspective of our country’s heritage.
Chix at the Crossroads is a women’s motorcycle journey that begins in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, at the Wheels Through Time Museum, and covers approximately 1,200 miles through North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and ending in Memphis, Tennessee. Throughout the route, riders will be steeped in the history of American music, deepening our appreciation for the pioneering spirit of the early self-expressionists that span many musical genres.
To apply for the ride, go to www.riveterchapter.com and just click on the Chix at the Crossroads logo.
You must be a current member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA).
To join the AMCA and the Riveter Chapter, go to www.riveterchapter.com/membership. And we invite you to browse through the entire website which features a wealth of information about the event.
If you still need further information, contact Riveter Chapter President Karan Andrea at atomic@riveterchapter.com.
The Riveter Chapter is the first woman-focused chapter of the AMCA, with the mission of giving women motorcyclists an increased awareness of their own history, and an enhanced vision of their future in motorcycling.
www.riveterchapter.com/chixcrossroads
Facebook: @ChixVintageRiders
Instagram: @ChixVintageRiders
RECENT 100-WORD FICTION CONTEST WINNER REPLIES–
Thanks for selecting my 100 word count for best of the month again. Writing that helped me to accept that my wife of 39 years, 3 months, had succumbed to cancer after 2 years of fighting.
We were together as a couple from October 1982 (Married in June 1984) till September 30 2023. She tried making it till October but left 10 hours short of her goal.
The doctors said she only had 6 months when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2021. She went through the operations, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for two months and was told it had not stopped the cancer.
She agreed to go through an experimental treatment, she got the last spot that they were holding for he in the study. The treatment included immune therapy, low dose chemo, and drug infusion (at home, which I administered after being trained on it).
The treatment worked for a while, her hair even grew back and we were able to go on several vacations and closed on our dream farm, thinking the worst was over. But she got the news it had returned with a vengeance and spread to her liver and right lung (called and told me during Sturgis 2022 just after I left from meeting with Bandit at his new house).
She went through regular chemo again which seemed to hold it at bay until August this year, when the doctor said the cancer had spread rapidly. She went under Hospice care at home. We did all we could to keep her comfortable for the four weeks until she passed, at home surrounded by our four offspring and myself.
I held her hand and kept watch of her vital signs till there were none.
–Steven Sanner
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL OF KLOCK–Ignite Your Journey with Vibrant Style!
The wait is over, the Kolor Flare™ Windshields for Indian Challenger and Pursuit riders are here! These windshields don’t just shield you from the elements; they’re your new refined style guide.
Kolor
A range of kolorful hues allowing riders to choose a windshield that matches or enhances the look of their bike.
Ice
A clear or translucent element with a fluorescent edge. This adds an eye-catching visual effect, especially in certain lighting conditions.
NEWS FROM THE MIC–November 15, 2023 – All Street-Legal Bikes Must Have ABS?
Institutes Want Mandatory On-Highway ABS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute want the U.S. government to mandate anti-lock brakes on all new on-highway motorcycles and have filed a second petition with federal regulators.
In a joint news release this week, the groups stated that the “benefits translate to all types of on-road motorcycles, from cruisers to supersport bikes,” while also writing that “No technology can prevent every crash or fatality, and even with a government mandate it will be years before every motorcycle on the road is equipped with ABS.”
The IIHS and HLDI also acknowledged that there would be challenges adopting ABS regulations.
“One possible concern is that ABS can worsen handling issues on gravel and other loose surfaces, but this weakness can be addressed in the rulemaking phase of regulation. An off switch could be allowed or required so that riders could disable ABS when riding on loose surfaces, for instance. An indicator light could also be required to remind riders to turn ABS back on when rejoining a paved roadway.”
–MIC
[page break]
NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT–
12 Days of Uhlness – Day 1
If you are new to our subscriber list, this is the fourth year for the insanely popular “12 Days of Uhlness”. Let’s kick the 2023 version off today! At the end of the 12 Days, two lucky winners will be chosen to win a David Uhl original oil painting and a very rare Fine Art print! A minimum purchase of $500 during this promotion is required to participate in the drawing.
Pieces offered this year include the gently used display pieces (from our traveling gallery), some of David’s earliest works, pieces that were on payment plans that fell through, consignment returns and originals you may never have seen before. They are all signed by David, numbered and will come with the appropriate Certificate of Authenticity.
For each of the next 12 days, you’ll see a different group of pieces which are being offered in a 24-hour flash sale. You will only have 24 hours to reserve your piece from the time that day’s email is sent out. And, only one of each is available in most cases, so you’ll want to act quickly.
Many of these are hard, if not impossible to find and most are offered at great prices!
Perhaps the best part of this promotion is that, with each $500 you spend, you will receive an entry into our drawing for the original and print. The more you spend, the more chances you have to win!
The drawing will be held after the 12 days and the lucky winners are responsible for shipping charges.
The Sample shown above:
“The Spirit of Daytona”
Consignment return
** 20 x 26.5 – normally $2,850 and Rare, this one is $1,550
Jean Becq, from France, is another motorcyclist as was his father before him.
–Sam Burns
GLOBAL UNREST– energy crisis may dampen Switch Mobility’s e-CV demand in EU
“With the global uncertainty, ongoing unrest and the energy crisis, there has been an impact on demand in the EU,” Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland, told ETAuto. He also said that while the Indian government has been pushing forward the green agenda, many European countries, especially the UK, have delayed the timeline of phasing out diesel.
–Wayfarer
Investigator
International News Bureau
Bikernet.com™
ZERO DEBATE—Roger Pielke and Dr. Koonin recently debated Zero mandates at the Steamboat Institute. I’m hanging on. –Bandit
This debate will be posted to our website in the next few days.
Thank you for your interest,
–Event Team
THE BIKER MOVIE LIVES ON–Give the gift of The Biker Movie to your Favorite Biker Friends!
BIKER BLACK FRIDAY SALE!! Twenty percent off free shipping no tax all the way till January first!!! Buy two and get an extra FIVE dollars off!
–Pete Alva
www.theBikerMovie.com
BABE OF THE WEEK—Karin Noelle
–Sam Burns
Talent Scout
Bikernet.com™
HISTORY LESSON FROM COMPETITION DISTRIBUTING—
The first combustion engine motorcycle was invented in 1885 as an experimental consumer vehicle. As World War I broke out just three decades later, they were repurposed as core components of British, German, and American military fleets.
Seemingly overnight, armies went from needing more horses to needing more horsepower. In the eyes of generals, motorcycles were agile machines capable of handling rugged terrain, transporting injured soldiers, and running mounted artillery.
COALITION FILES NOTICE— of Intent to Sue Federal Agencies to Stop Whale-killing Virginia Wind Project
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Marine Fisheries Service have violated federal law by finding that the Virginia Offshore Wind project will not result in the destruction of the North Atlantic right whale as a species
The Heartland Institute and the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) announced today that they are filing with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) a 60 Day Notice of Intent to Sue letter for a violation of the Endangered Species Act. The violation is contained in a defective “biological opinion,” which authorizes the construction of the Virginia Offshore Wind Project (VOW).
The 60 Day Notice is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for parties who wish to commence litigation against BOEM for failure to provide adequate protection of the North Atlantic right whale and other endangered species. The North Atlantic right whale is listed as “critically endangered” by governments of both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. Numerous studies by federal and environmental organizations have found that only about 350 North Atlantic right whales remain in existence.
CFACT and The Heartland Institute assert that the Biological Opinion issued by the NMFS fails to consider the cumulative impact of the entire East Coast offshore wind program ordered by the Biden administration, and ignores the “best scientific information available” about the endangered population of the North Atlantic right whale. The biological opinion found that the VOW would not cause a single death of that species of whale over its 30-year projected lifetime — although it did acknowledge the wind project could result in Level B harassment. That level could, according to NMFS, result in indirect death, requiring the need for a “take” permit, which authorizes the “harassment” and potential killing of the North Atlantic right whale.
“We need to send a message to BOEM and NMFS that there will be legal consequences if they violate legal requirements for protection of the North Atlantic Right Whale,” said H. Sterling Burnett, Ph.D., director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at The Heartland Institute. “The Biden administration’s plan to industrialize the ocean along the East Coast must follow the law, and we will intervene, if necessary, to make sure that the North Atlantic right whale continues to exist as a species.”
“This letter officially puts BOEM on notice that CFACT is prepared to file suit in order to expose the agency’s clear violation of federal law in failing to protect the North Atlantic right whale,” said Craig Rucker, president of CFACT. “By refusing to consider the cumulative impact of the dozens of industrial offshore wind facilities, consisting of several thousand individual turbines planned for the East Coast, it adopted a piecemeal approach, which only considered each individual offshore wind project in isolation. This is clearly a ploy to artificially reduce the total impact of these projects on the North Atlantic Right Whale. This obvious violation of federal law was ignored by the oversight agencies but will not be tolerated by the courts.”
“BOEM has admitted that it produced noise control regulations for the North Atlantic right whale that were based on guesswork — not on the ‘best available science’ — as required by law,” said Collister Johnson, senior policy adviser for CFACT. “They have funded ongoing studies that will finally produce information necessary to determine the noise impacts of offshore wind factories on baleen whales, such as the North Atlantic right whale. The results will not be available until 2025, at the earliest. This is a further violation of federal law, in addition to ignoring the cumulative impacts.
“There is a reason why Dominion Energy’s stock price has declined by 50 percent over the past year,” Johnson added. “Investors know that Dominion’s wind project is a costly, risky gamble that has already driven most other East Coast wind developers to either renegotiate their utility contracts or abandon their projects altogether. If Dominion decided tomorrow to abandon this project, as it should, its stock price would improve dramatically, and a huge financial cloud hanging over its future would be removed.”
The 60-day notice letter instructs the federal government agencies to take corrective action to remedy the alleged violations. If no corrective action is taken, the signatories of the letter are allowed to seek relief through the courts. The most likely venue for this litigation would be the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The firm of Gatzke, Dillon and Ballance has filed the letter as counsel for the CFACT and The Heartland Institute. The firm is currently representing plaintiffs in ongoing litigation against BOEM and NMFS, who are opposing construction offshore wind projects in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.
Earlier this year, more than two dozen large dead whales washed up on the shores of New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, directly following 11 offshore sonar mapping activities conducted by wind developers. These “site characterization” studies use high-powered sonar pulses to determine the proper areas for placing the wind turbines. Sonar mapping has been found to interfere with the hearing capabilities of marine mammals. Environmental groups have successfully sued the Navy to restrict sonar mapping being conducted in the Pacific Ocean.
The 60-day notice adds to the risks faced by Dominion Energy as it attempts to build an offshore wind generation facility that would be the largest such project of its kind in the world. Siemens Energy, which has been designated by Dominion as the supplier of the huge 14MW turbines for the project, recently announced a write down of €2.4 billion for the 3rd quarter, leading to an annual loss of €4.5 Billion, due to costly mechanical failures in its new wind turbines. The company has said its turbine failures are a “quality issue” which “will take years to fix.”
Measured in megawatts, some 80 percent of the proposed East Coast wind projects have either been abandoned or are in the process of trying to renegotiate their power purchase agreements.
The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.
CFACT is a national non-profit organization founded in 1985 and based in Washington DC which believes that the power of markets and safe, proven technologies can offer humanity practical solutions to the world’s most pressing concerns.
–Charles Rotter
WUWT
DIRECT FROM THE GREASY CULTURE–Need a calendar for Xmas? Order now!
If you’re planning on giving a 2024 Greasy Kulture calendar this year as a gift and you’re outside the UK, we recommend you order now to ensure you receive yours before postal services get clogged up in December.
Calendars are A4-sized, opening out to A3 with a dropdown calendar section for each month of next year. And every month features a Greasy Kulture feature bike.
Half our stock has already sold, so don’t delay if you need one. Remember, last year we sold out in early December! They are shipping right now.
SONS OF SPEED RETURN— Join us Saturday March 2nd, 2024 at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach FL for the return of Vintage Outlaw Racing!
We have racers coming in from all over the country for this event. VIP and General Admission tickets are available now!
–Billy Lane
LEAD OPERA HOUSE FESTIVAL OF TREES--Join us for the 41st annual Festival of Trees! The Opera House will once again be filled with a variety of trees and wreaths decorated by local businesses and individuals. The silent auction will be filled with a variety of goods, certificates and more. Don’t miss out!
November 17 | 1-6pm Public Preview of Trees & Silent Auction Opens
November 18 | 4pm Doors Open
November 18 | 6pm Silent Auction closes & Live Auction starts
At the door fee is $10/person, kids 10 and under are free.
Date & Time
November 18, 2023 4:00 PM
Location
Homestake Opera House
313 W Main St., Lead, SD
605-584-2067
A Yates Shaft Yuletide
The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center and Sanford Underground Research Facility have made an incredible 4’x5′ wreath from wood from the Yates Shaft. The Yates Shaft is currently undergoing some construction to update and re-stabilize it. So the staff at the visitor center and lab took the opportunity to recycle the wood and make a wreath.
This wreath holds a lot of history in it as the Yates Shaft was built over 90 years ago! The Homestake Mine used the shaft to reach the different levels of the mine underground. Because of the hard labor of the miners and other builders, the Yates Shaft still stands today and is getting an uplift.
This item will be available at the live auction at the Festival of Trees on November 18. The event starts at 4pm with a $10 cover charge, kids 10 and under are free. Don’t miss out on this amazing piece of history with a holiday flare!
–Panhead John and the Commissioner
THE ORIGINAL SIN–The U.S. National Climate Assessment was Off Track from the Start
Over the past few days I have commented on X/Twitter about the just-released Fifth U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA). It is much more a glossy promotional brochure than anything resembling a careful assessment of the scientific literature on climate change and the United States. That’s a shame because scientific assessments are crucially important. Instead, the U.S. NCA pours fuel on the pathological politicization of climate science.
Among the issues I have highlighted:
Several reviewers asked the NCA to cite our various papers on extreme weather and U.S. losses. The NCA refused, in one instance claiming “this comment is inconsistent with the author team’s thorough assessment of the science” and in another, falsely claiming, “Pielke et al. only examined trends through 2005 and have not published an updated assessment since.” Someone should tell them about Google Scholar, where our most recent work is easy to find.
The report’s main chapter on climate trends was led by a scientist who works for Project Drawdown, a climate advocacy group. That chapter was also written by a scientist at The Nature Conservancy and the company Stripe, which makes money via carbon offsetting through carbon removal.
There is no need for these conflicts of interest to play such a prominent role in the report’s authorship, but they perhaps explain some of its errors.¹
The report leads with the “billion dollar disaster” meme popularized by NOAA. As Nature summarized the report: “Extreme weather events caused by global warming cost the country around US$150 billion in direct damages each year, says the climate report.” All U.S. extreme weather and its economic impacts can now apparently be attributed to global warming.
–ROGER PIELKE JR.
I could go on. See my X/Twitter feed for more.
https://twitter.com/RogerPielkeJr
NEWS FROM THE DICE MAGAZINE CREW–Herb Becker is an absolute LEGEND, so it was our pleasure to have him in Issue 101.
ANOTHER QUOTE OF THE WEEK—
“When someone is in your heart, they’re never truly gone. They can come back to you, even at unlikely times.” –Mitch Albom
Epoch Times
NEWS FROM THE BUFFALO CHIP COMMAND CENTER—Two more 2024 Bands Announced:
Travis Tritt
Sunday, Aug. 4, 2023
Aaron Lewis
Monday, Aug. 5, 2023
Jelly Roll
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2023
Another Headliner
ANNOUNCEMENT COMING
BLACK FRIDAY
(Friday, Nov. 24)
Don’t wait till then to reserve!
40% Off Pricing Ends Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. MST
IT’S ALL NUTS—But productive folks keep cranking along. While my bike is at paint with the TNT crew, Tim and Nicki, I dove into other projects.
Adrian approached me with a daunting task for one of his clients. We needed to frame a shop heater with train tracks. At first, he pointed at full sized tracks, massive, heavy and difficult to cut. I guided him to some small gauge track I scored in Sturgis and we went to work.
We just about killed my Makita cut-off saw.
Frankie sent me this tattoo sketch. I’m working on a new piece of fiction around the unknown Lovers’ Code. Hang on!
Toby sent me this shot of the Wilmington building. He’s hurting and ran a go-fund-me. We will bring you an update, when he sorts it out.
Ride fast and free forever!
–Bandit
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 23rd, 2023
By Bandit |
Hey,
I want to wish everyone the best Thanksgiving ever. We are actually living in the best of times. This next year could be the most comfortable and rewarding for the human race in the history of mankind.
What the hell does that say for bikers? We are capable of riding all over the globe, almost. We can build any motorcycle from something technologically advanced to a 1913 Board-track racer. We can build and restore Panheads and Knuckleheads forever and keep them alive.
We can build any chopper we can dream up with stock replacement frames, Paughco springers, you name it, it’s possible. We can build and tool up any shop and teach our kids how to build, weld, machine, anything and everything.
Hell, there’s more whiskey choices than ever before. The Buffalo Chip has Whiskey, Jesse James has whiskey and so does Mike Ballard at the Full Throttle Saloon.
So, have a great time, rejoice, and next year, let’s kick some ass.
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, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
CALL TO ACTION!–Tell Lawmakers to Stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s Attack on Internal Combustion Engines.
Bills in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House are taking direct aim at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) attack on the internal combustion engine. Over the next decade, the EPA is preparing to institute regulations that would compel over two-thirds of new vehicles to be electric by 2032.
The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Acts (S. 3094 & H.R. 4468) attempt to block the EPA from mandating the use of specific technology in new motor vehicles or issuing rules that result in limited availability of vehicles based upon the engine.
In the brief time since these bills were introduced, 33 U.S. Senators and 34 U.S. Representatives have signed on as cosponsors. Now is the time to act! To save the internal combustion engine, motorcyclists need to speak up to the folks in D.C.
Remember, these bills are like the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Acts (H.R. 1435 & S. 2090) but are focused instead on the federal government. While H.R. 1435 and S. 2090 are targeting states like California, which are trying to restrict internal combustion engines.
Even if you have answered the call to action on the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, you can and should support these two bills!
Click BOTH links listed below to reach BOTH of your Senators and your Representative!
To contact your Senators and ask them to support S. 3094, click here.
To contact your Representative and ask them to support H.R. 4468, visit MRF website.
–MRF
DIRECT FROM BIKERNET BUSINESS NEWS–Amazon to sell Hyundai vehicles online starting in 2024
Amazon will begin selling Hyundai vehicles online in the US starting next year, the two companies said on Thursday.
Customers will be able to shop for, equip and buy a car at Amazon and schedule delivery through a local Hyundai dealer, the companies said.
Electric car demand set to stall in Europe’s ‘valley of death’
Fully-electric sales in Europe were up 47% in the first nine months of 2023, but instead of celebrating, automakers including Tesla, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz sounded a sombre note. High interest rates and a subdued market are putting customers off, they warned, with Volkswagen’s EV order intake half what it was last year.
Dealers in Germany and Italy as well as research by four global data analysis firms say there is more behind the slower uptake than economic uncertainty, with the consumers unconvinced that EVs meet their safety, range and price needs.
“We call it the valley of death, which we will be going through in 2024 to 2027: low residual values, high supply, and low demand.”
–Wayfarer
Editor: Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page
HERE THEY COME, THE QUOTES IF THE WEEK—
“Anybody can jump a motorcycle. The trouble begins when you try to land it.”
– Evel Knievel
from SturgisRally.com
THE FUTURE OF THE STURGIS RALLY—
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been an iconic destination for motorcycle enthusiasts and music lovers since 1981. Over the past few decades, the Rally has seen major improvements, provided countless unforgettable experiences and cemented its status as a mecca for motorcycle culture. As we peer into the crystal ball and attempt to envision the future, let’s explore what the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally might look like in 50 years.
Technological Advancements:
In 50 years, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is likely to embrace a plethora of technological advancements. You can anticipate the integration of cutting-edge technology to enhance the overall experience for visitors. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) may transport attendees to immersive virtual environments, allowing them to relive the rally’s historic moments or explore fantasy worlds on the fringes of their imaginations.
Autonomous vehicles might become the norm, allowing attendees to travel effortlessly around the city and beyond. Smart infrastructure will likely be in place, providing a seamless and interconnected experience for all attendees, from advanced ticketing systems to smart wristbands for entry, payments, and personalized recommendations for popular destinations, like the Sturgis Buffalo Chip.
Future Sturgis Rally
Expanded Entertainment and Experiences:
As the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally looks toward the future, the realm of entertainment is bound to undergo transformation. Music, which has always been a cornerstone of the rally, will likely evolve to include a diverse range of genres and performances by holographic and virtual artists. Imagine witnessing legendary musicians of the past resurrected on stage through holographic technology, captivating audiences with their timeless hits.
The Rally could feature more state-of-the-art performance venues, incorporating interactive elements and advanced audiovisual setups. Attendees may find themselves immersed in 360-degree audio experiences, transcending traditional concert settings. The inclusion of emerging technologies like haptic feedback suits could allow visitors to feel the music pulsating through their bodies.
Future Sturgis Rally
Community and Global Reach:
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has fostered a close-knit community over the years, bringing together motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world. In the next 50 years, you can anticipate the Rally expanding its global reach even further. With the advent of advanced communication technologies, attendees may be able to connect and interact with enthusiasts from different parts of the globe, creating a truly international community.
Virtual attendance could become a reality, enabling motorcycle lovers who are unable to physically be present at the Rally to participate remotely. Livestreams and virtual reality experiences might provide a front-row seat to concerts and events, transcending geographical boundaries.
Envisioning the future of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 50 years is a thrilling exercise that combines imagination and technological trends. While no one can predict the specifics with certainty, it is likely that the Rally will embrace emerging technologies and expand its global community.
Sincerely,
–Artificial Intelligence
www.Sturgis.com
Concerts At the Legendary Chip
Ladies and gentlemen, the future is already here. This whole article up to this point was written in about 10 seconds by Chat GPT, an artificial intelligence chat bot.
We can take some comfort in seeing how unimaginative and dry Chat GTP made this article and predictions. The great and fearful A.I. doesn’t seem all that worrisome when you realize it has no true imagination for what the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally could become.
Sturgis.com Blog
Still, imagining the future is freakin’ crazy. With how far the Rally has come in 83 years, a lot of the things that this robot suggested for the next 50 years are not really that out of reach.
But the traditions built at the Rally are important, and some things will never change, like the four pillars of what you come for – Music, Motorcycles, Freedom, and Friendship. And we can guarantee what will never change is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally’s dedication to providing the center for motorcycle enthusiasts and to put smiling faces on otherwise plain boring heads.
Cheers,
–An Actual Human
BIKERNET HOLIDAY LETTER–
Hey,
Happy Holidays from the Bikernet Staff and 5-Ball Racing. I wanted to report in and ask for your continued support for 2024, which will be an amazing year for Bikernet, our 28th year.
As you know, this is going to be a turning point year for our country and the world.
I have been involved in motorcycle legislation and the freedom fight for over 50 years. This year with the help of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, we created a resolution to demand scientific truth from Washington. I was awarded the Thomas Paine award at the annual Meeting of the Minds legislative conference in Harrisburg, Pennyslvania in September and Bikernet, 5-Ball Leathers, and Bikers for Truth received a certificate of appreciation.
I am also a part of a new legislative effort to support motorcycle shops all over the country, the IMA, Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket. The fight for our lifestyle is more strident now than ever.
Bikernet.com has been around a long time and through enhanced technology the competition is tougher than ever. Throughout 2024 Bikernet.com will undergo a complete upgrade and transformation. It will be costly, but we want to insure all our historic content is safe and accessible. Bikernet.com will be reorganized and easier to navigate or we’ll die trying.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my outlaw heart for your continued support. We are also working hard to reach into the entertainment industry and present movie makers with story lines that reflect the true nature of our industry and the outlaw spirit.
Wish us luck and we wish you a tremendous holiday season.
Keith R. Ball
President
Bikernet.com
5-Ball Racing
P.S. I must give massive credit to Wayfarer, who is a Royal Enfield rider and writer. He’s been with Bikernet for over 15 years and recently dove into AI illustrations. He created the art for our calendars and the turkey illustrations.
FREEDOM FIGHTER READER COMMENT—
Just read your article in the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Nov. 23 issue.
Excellent information and a lot of details that I had forgotten.
Al Gore is a true opportunist who used the public trust to become a wealthily Socialist. I was at a Meeting in 1975 in D.C. for Am Farm Bureau.There was a person attending from his Home state. His comment was, “Al Gore preaches Energy conservation, but his monthly Electrical usage was documented at 15,000 per month and his house was 35,000 sq. feet with two outdoor pools.”
If this is conservation of energy, please explain what is considered as wasteful.
Keep up the good work and stay and ride Safe. Keep up the excellent articles for Bikernet.com
–Joe Smith
Garden State Abate V.P.
Joe@peachcountrytractor.com
CHOPPER MAGAZINE REPORT–PRE-BLACK FRIDAY SALE is here
15% Off Site Wide
No discount code needed
Order early before stock runs out
Early access for email subscribers
“We are just about to receive the lasted issue of Choppers Magazine. Can’t wait.”
–Bandit
LATEST FROM AMERICAN PRIME–TPP VARIABLE PRESSURE CLUTCH ASSIST
The TPP Variable Pressure Clutch Assist and pressure plate applies up to 60% more pressure against clutch pack enabling use of lighter black diaphragm spring for up to 50% lighter lever pull.
When used with a silver or even gold spring it exponentially increases the pressure against the clutch pack making it ideal for larger displacement, high performance motors.
Can be used on APM Comp Master Clutch or Rivera Pro Clutch. (1056-0032 Comp Master Clutch for M8 Models shown above right). We also have a new version for OE H-D hydraulically actuated clutches.
Got a TPP already? All the little bits and pieces that make up these units are also available! Just call the Clutch Pros at APM!!
ENTERTAINMENT ON AMAZON’S WILDERNESS
Well, since they are destined to take over the world and Mars too—we thought of looking into the large library of war movies on Amazon Prime streaming service.
Not to overwhelm you– we picked just a few you might not have otherwise watched.
While everyone talks about the Oppenheimer movie, and it is expected to release on Amazon Prime–back in 2018 there was an interesting movie on Nobel winning physicist Heisenberg in Nazi Germany and an American baseball player turned spy, sent to stop the Nazi development of the Atomic Bomb.
It’s also on Amazon Prime.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4602066/
(Beginning on Tuesday, November 21, Oppenheimer will be available to buy and rent digitally on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV)
If you haven’t already, check out Al Pacino starrer Hunters season 1 and 2 on Amazon Prime. It’s like someone stole Tarantino’s braindump and made a pulp extravaganza for Amazon Prime. Every time I say no to binge-watching, “they pull me back in !”
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7456722/
Meanwhile, pariah actor Tobey Maguire started producing his own films to earn back his lost reputation (and jobs) in Hollywood.
He showcases a game of brisk onset of insanity unfolding onscreen in the role of chess legend and recluse, Bobby Fischer.
On Amazon Prime.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1596345/
P.S. Did you know, The Frederick Forsyth novel title ‘The Dogs of War’ is based on a phrase from William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar: “Cry, ‘Havoc!’, and let slip the dogs of war.” The movie of the same name, as of November 2022, is available for free viewing on Amazon Freevee.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/splash/freevee_findus
–Wayfarer
War-mongrel, Dept. of Dogs of War
Bikernet University dog-house.
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FROM THE BIKERNET BLOG–
Honda launches a renewed 350 to rival Enfield Classic 350
Honda CB350 launched at Rs.2,00,000, will take on Royal Enfield 350. This is an even better retro-styled motorcycle from Honda than their previous 350 efforts in India and offers a lot of modern features that Enfield never has– at a price that can win customers over to their stable.
While it is primarily aimed at dethroning the King –Royal Enfield Classic 350 in sales pie-charts, it seems by co-incidence it will compete effectively with customers divided between Hero-made Harley-Davidson 440 and Bajaj-made Triumph Speed 400.
Those who want an Enfield will listen to no reason nor rhyme to change their mind about their purchase.
Meanwhile, Enfield is sending Meteor to USA (well the motorcycle model, relax!) and Honda H’ness 350 which was first designed and launched in India was soon released in Japan as well. So will America see a Honda 350?
It would be interesting if Honda and Kawasaki (Z650RS) brought the retro-styled motorcycles they presented in India to USA– because surely Harley-Davidson and Triumph won’t be bringing their 440cc and 400cc bikes over to ruin their American Dream of selling big bikes.
Clearly, sales volumes in India, a more dynamic and responsive market than China, seems to tempt brands to change their strategies in their primary/major markets as well.
All said, Honda still has a ‘big’ drawback with its sales and servicing of mid-weight bikes. Only Honda Big Wing brand of authorized dealers can sell and service these 350cc motorcycles apart from their other big engine bikes such as Fireblade, Africa Twin or Goldwing. This is silly because a 350cc engine is a common sight in all cities in India–thanks to Royal Enfield’s success at marketing and branding them.
So, unless Honda leverages its vast number of dealers who sell 100cc to 150cc commuter motorcycles and scooters, I don’t see a large dip in sales of Enfield Classic anytime soon. Ever since it was launched, Royal Enfield Classic 350 has been the highest selling model not just in Enfield’s range but also in the industry segment it created, namely, middle-weight motorcycles.
On Bikernet Blog:
https://blog.bikernet.com/honda-launches-a-renewed-350-to-rival-enfield-classic-350/
Other sources:
https://www.msn.com/en-in/autos/news/honda-cb350-launched-at-2-lakh-will-take-on-royal-enfield-350/ar-AA1k8wx6
https://www.rideapart.com/news/491449/honda-cb350-wide-global-release-rumors/
–Wayfarer
Exploring the wheeled world on the web
Editor: Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page
THE TRUTH FILES ARE OPEN–Texas, Textbooks & the CO2 Coalition
In late October, education experts at the Texas Public Policy Foundation asked the CO2 Coalition to assist in reviews of science textbooks in the Lone Star State.
Time was very short, and we quickly assembled a team of science and education experts. Within three days our team completed an analysis of the problems that we identified.
A common denominator was the demonization of carbon dioxide and fossil fuels while avoiding discussions of the benefits of either.
On November 17, the Texas State Board of Education outright rejected some textbooks, while approving others with recommended removal and editing of some of the worst offending material.
The important role that our team played in this effort was recognized by those leading the effort:
Many thanks to CO2 Coalition… This was a fantastic effort to impact K-12 science books that will be used around the country for a decade.
–Jason Isaac – Director of Life:Powered TPPF
–CO2 Coalition
THE OAK RIDGE BOYS HONORED— With “Tennessee Music Pathways” Marker In Oak Ridge, Tennessee
The Oak Ridge Boys Continuing To Add Shows On Their Historic ‘American Made: Farewell Tour’
“The City of Oak Ridge is proud to partner with the Tennessee Department of Tourism to honor The Oak Ridge Boys at the historic Grove Theater. 80 years after they first performed here, we get to unveil this marker for Oak Ridgers and visitors to see for decades to come.”
– Oak Ridge Mayor, Warren Gooch
“The Oak Ridge Boys have achieved enduring success and widespread acclaim, and it all started right here in Oak Ridge. It is an honor to recognize the group’s achievements and contributions to our state’s rich music heritage, as a part of the Tennessee Music Pathways.” – Commissioner Mark Ezell, Tennessee Dept of Tourist Development.
GRAMMY Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members, The Oak Ridge Boys were honored by The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development with the unveiling of the “Tennessee Music Pathways” marker in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on Monday, November 20. William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban were in attendance representing The Oak Ridge Boys along with Tennessee Representative John Reagan, Oak Ridge Mayor, Warren Gooch, and family members of former Oak Ridge Boys’ Wally Fowler and Lon “Deacon” Freeman, both original members of The Oak Ridge Quartet. Oak Ridge Mayor, Warren Gooch also presented The Oak Ridge Boys with a key to the city and a proclamation honoring their contributions to the city.
“I can’t think of anywhere I would rather have been than at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge with the kind folks at The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development who worked so hard to design this marker,” expresses Richard Sterban. “The Oak Ridge Boys as a group goes back 80 years to the original members, Wally Fowler, Lon “Deacon” Freeman, Curly Kinsey, and Johnny New, and we have never forgotten them or their contributions. It has been a privilege to build on that.”
The Oak Ridge Boys are officially celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and recently announced their American Made: Farewell Tour. The group, Duane Allen (1966), Joe Bonsall (1973), William Lee Golden (1965), and Richard Sterban (1972) shared the announcement with Billboard and People, as a way to celebrate with their fans.
In the early seventies, The Oak Ridge Boys continued to expand their cutting-edge style. After the addition of Richard Sterban in 1972 and Joe Bonsall in 1973, the Oaks were forever changed with a new direction, a new sound, and a new path. Their career stands alone with its legacy, its style, and its continued contributions to gospel and country music.
The Oak Ridge Boys Upcoming Tour Dates:
NOV 21 – Vern Riffe Center for the Arts / Portsmouth, Ohio
NOV 24 – Honeywell Center / Wabash, Ind.
NOV 25 – Paramount Theatre / Anderson, Ind.
NOV 26 – Midland Center for the Arts / Midland, Mich.
NOV 30 – Weldon Mills Theatre / Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
DEC 01 – Renfro Valley Barn Dance / Mount Vernon, Ky.
DEC 02 – Anderson Music Hall / Hiawassee, Ga.
DEC 07 – Firekeepers Casino / Battle Creek, Mich.
DEC 08 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.
DEC 09 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.
DEC 12 – Ryman Auditorium / Nashville, Tenn.
DEC 14 – The Carson Center / Paducah, Ky.
DEC 15 – Effingham Performance Center / Effingham, Ill.
DEC 16 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre / Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.
DEC 17 – Egyptian Theatre / Dekalb, Ill.
DEC 30 – Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa / Greenville, Miss.
2024 Tour Dates:
JAN 20 – The Grand 1894 Opera House / Galveston, Texas
JAN 21 – The Grand 1894 Opera House / Galveston, Texas
FEB 02 – Boot Barn Hall / Gainesville, Ga.
FEB 29 – Florida Strawberry Festival / Plant City, Fla.
MAR 01 – The Alliance Center / Burlington, N.C.
MAR 03 – North Auditorium, University of North Alabama / Florence, Ala.
MAR 15 – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Great Cedar Showroom Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Reservation / Mashantucket, Conn.
MAR 16 – American Music Theatre / Lancaster, Pa.
MAR 17 – American Music Theatre / Lancaster, Pa.
MAR 23 – Sugar Creek Casino / Hinton, Okla.
APR 05 – City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium / Morganton, N.C.
APR 06 – Alabama Theatre / North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
APR 10 – Clay County Agricultural Fair / Green Cove Springs, Fla.
APR 13 – George H. Henderson Jr. Exposition Center / Lufkin, Texas
For The Oak Ridge Boys’ full tour schedule, visit their website.
NEWS FROM THE MASTER IN THE DESERT—
Deal of the Day “Wash Day “Painted in the ‘90s, Wash Day has become an iconic work of art. This image is in collections worldwide and the Original is on the secondary art market for $96,000.00.
You never know when your painting hits a “Home Run” but this 4-month project definitely was.
SOLD
I have (1) Canvas Giclee’ from my 23 display for $500.00/frt. Normally $850.00.
(480) 280-8738 eric@ericherrmannstudios.com
SPORTSTER OF THE WEEK—
This 1993 XL883 was Nick’s daily runner last year. Then winter hit, and he decided to put it under the knife. The paint was done by Amanda over at Black Widow Custom Paint.
Build by Augment Collective.
Augment Collective is available at https://www.lightandgears.com
They publish a plethora of subjects on a variety of media platforms; one being custom motorcycles.
Apparently, Nick (last name unknown) was the owner/builder.
Black Widow Custom Paint is:
Amanda Brisebois
Guelph, Ontario.
info@blackwidowcustompaint.com
416.723.7706
@blackwidowcustompaint
–Sam Burns
Bike Feature Editor
Bikernet.com™
BLACK FRIDAY ACTION FROM NASH MOTORCYCLES—
NEXT WEEKEND BLACK FRIDAY SALE DISCOUNT WILL BE 30% OFF!
PROMO CODE: early40
EXCLUDES: ON THE ROAM PRODUCTS & PTM * PARTS
SHOP NOW
WONDERFUL NEWS FROM THE WHEELS THROUGH TIME MUSEUM–
We’re proud to announce that Alex Casey, from LaPlata, Maryland, is the lucky winner of our 2023 Annual Raffle! Alex visited the museum for the first time in October when he purchased his tickets. Alex was in disbelief when Matt called and couldn’t believe that he really won.
The second prize went to Bruce Wilson of Locust Grove, Georgia, and the third prize went to James Lane of South Jersey!
YOU are what fuels “The Museum That Runs!” Thank you for your support!
Among the festivities on Raffle Day, Matt unveiled the raffle bike for 2024, a stunning 1936 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. Finished in H-D Factory Custom Gold, trimmed in Brillant Black, and hand-striped with chrome accents. This 61c.i. OHV Knucklehead powerhouse sports a 4-speed transmission, art deco styling with full fenders, iconic “skull” dash, and 100 mph speedo. Plus, a list of one-year-only parts too numerous to mention.
The machine was meticulously restored to showroom condition in the WTT Restoration shop for one reason…
Going home with one lucky winner this 2024!
SEE THE 2024 BIKE
We are now closed for the 2023 season and will re-open on April 4th for the 2024 season. But don’t worry! You can follow along all winter long to see the newest projects hitting the Wheels Through Time Museum on our Facebook and YouTube!
EAT YOUR OWN CAKE–
And maybe stop comparing with the rich
Rich people have inspired plenty of fiction of all genres. From Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. There is the more appealing Pride and Prejudice with a rich bachelor and The Taming of the Shrew with a fake nobleman. We admire some, loathe some, envy some and some of ‘em seem mysterious or even inspiring.
Popular culture hasn’t ignored rags to riches stories or stories of how a super-rich celebrity loses all their wealth. Bad habits to bad decisions, pretty women to pretty awful life choices. There is a crime-drama biopic on John Dillinger which is thrilling and a more recent sports biopic on George Foreman that reinforces our faith in man and God.
Music is not left untouched by the beat of the penny and its pounding. There is ABBA’s all-time-hit radio mainstay ‘Money, Money, Money’ and of course Aerosmith’s ‘Eat the rich’.
What does a rich person signify to you? Do you imagine all of them or most of them have bent rules, laws, bent people and institutions to get where they are? Do you believe they have an obligation to rest of the citizens or nation and society? How important do you consider charity as a trait among mankind? Do you donate (time, effort or money) and feel the rich therefore should do more than the average Joe/Jane?
Personally, the below article seems like click-bait headline with lot of circumstantial allegations and implications. It also kind of makes me rethink doing any charity at all. If it is all fake or appears to be fake to others, why waste my resources? We can agree that’s an unhealthy way to consider it. Yet, such articles seem to discourage an average guy with a job, commute, bills and family from going the extra mile and giving a helping hand to his fellow citizen or community.
Ultimately, man is defined by what he does, not what he possesses (be it money or talent).
What fiction or poetry comes to your mind as you pore over the bitterness in the below article?
Billionaire Philanthropy Is a Scam
A new report from the Institute for Policy Studies finds, these pledgers aren’t following through on their commitments—and the often self-serving nature of their philanthropy is actually making things worse for charitable organizations.
From SubStack: https://hotaircoldlove.substack.com/
–Wayfarer
TRIUMPH OF THE WEEK— Bonneville T-120
Built by Pitstop Motor Werks
–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™
BILLY RAY CYRUS AND FIREROSE CYRUS
SIGN WITH BUCHWALD FOR GLOBAL REPRESENTATION–
Buchwald has signed GRAMMY winning multi-hyphenate Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose Cyrus for worldwide representation in all areas outside of music.
Billy Ray and Firerose continue to be managed by Scott Adkins and represented by Nick Meinema’s Action Entertainment Collaborative for agency representation for LIVE music bookings.
Their Top 20 single, “Plans,” climbed to No. 16 on both Mediabase’s Adult Contemporary Chart and Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart. Recently, the pair appeared on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and performed together on “Good Morning America.”
Billy Ray Cyrus is a critically and commercially acclaimed superstar who has established himself as a household name across multiple areas of the entertainment landscape, including music, television, theater and more. Throughout his nearly three-decade career, he has achieved global success as an actor including the beloved series Doc and carried Doc as the lead, which ran 4 seasons and 88 episodes.
Doc opened the door for worldwide syndication for Billy Ray and his film and television brand. Billy Ray also created and starred in the CMT comedy series Still the King, which ran for two seasons. In addition to Hannah Montana: The Movie, film credits include Mulholland Drive, Christmas Comes Home to Canaan, and The Spy Next Door, to name just a few.
Billy Ray exploded onto the music scene when his first album, Some Gave All, debuted on the all-genre Billboard album chart at No. 1 and stayed there for a record-breaking 17 weeks in 1992. The lead single, “Achy Breaky Heart,” became a phenomenon and went multi-platinum, also becoming the first ever song to achieve triple platinum status in Australia. After “Achy Breaky Heart,” Cyrus followed up with back-to-back hits “It Could’ve Been Me,” “She’s Not Crying Anymore,” “Wher’m I Gonna Live When I Get Home?” and the anthemic “Some Gave All.”
Cyrus knocked himself out of the top Billboard position with his second No. 1 album, It Won’t Be The Last, featuring smash hits “In the Heart of a Woman,” “Words By Heart” and “Somebody New.” His success continued with dozens more singles that redefined country music. In 2021, he celebrated the highest RIAA® 14x Diamond-certified song in recorded music history with Lil Nas X on the worldwide smash, “Old Town Road (Remix ft. Billy Ray Cyrus).”
Australian-born singer, songwriter and actress Firerose duets with her husband Billy Ray on their new single, “Plans,” which climbed to No. 16 on both Mediabase’s Adult Contemporary Chart and Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart. She has performed on national television programs, including “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” “LIVE with Kelly and Ryan,” “Good Morning America,” and has been featured in People Magazine, American Songwriter, Taste of Country, Us Weekly, CNN, iHeartRadio, The Today Show Australia, and many more. Be sure to follow Firerose on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Spotify. To keep up with Cyrus, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and visit billyraycyrus.com.
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BIG BUFFALO CHIP SURPRISE–The announcement arriving on
Black Friday will come as a surprise!
Don’t let the upcoming price increase catch you off guard, too.
– SAVE BIG –
Through Thursday Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. MST
40% Off 3-Day Package A
50% Off Select Multi-Day & VIP Passes
Don’t miss your chance to get 3 days of concerts, bike shows, camping and all-around good times for
ONLY $178!
BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS—Let’s eat
1. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn’t.
2. I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
3. Some people are alive only because it’s illegal to kill them.
4. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
5. Don’t take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.
6. You’re just jealous because the voices only talk to me
7. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
8. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
9. I’m not a complete idiot — Some parts are just missing.
10. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.
12. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
13. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
14. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
15.. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
16. Being ‘over the hill’ is much better than being under it!
17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
18. Procrastinate Now!
19. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?
20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.
22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
23. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
24. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.
25. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three
thousand times the memory.
26. Ham and eggs…A day’s work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.
27. The trouble with life is there’s no background music.
28. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
29. I smile because I don’t know what the hell is going on.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
Life is too short, and friends are too few!
–El Waggs
JOIN THE IMA, INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE AFTERMARKET, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE—
A new group of aftermarket shops and builders was recently formed under the MRF Motorcycle Riders Foundation umbrella, to keep our industry free and alive.
We are facing tough challenges the toughest in our history. Here’s just a touch of what we’re up against:
From the CO2 Coalition:
In our Scientific opinion, all of these Net Zero regulations and actions are scientifically invalid and fatally flawed science because they:
Fabricate data or omit data that contradicts their conclusions, for example, on extreme weather and internal combustion engines.
- Rely on models that do not work.
- Rely on iPCC findings, which are government opinions, not science.
- Omit the extraordinary social benefits of CO2 and petroleum products and internal combustion engines.
- Omit the disastrous consequences of reducing fossil fuels, internal combustion engines and CO2 emissions to Net Zero.
- Reject the science that demonstrates there is no risk of catastrophic global warming caused by fossil fuels, internal combustion engines and CO2.
–CO2 Coalition
About the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket
Founded on the principle to protect independent dealers and custom bike builders’ rights to repair and modify motorcycles, the IMA membership is determined to keep us free.
We are fortunate to be aligned with the MRF, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, which fought to protect our culture for over 40 years, has excellent
lobbying efforts in D.C and is connected to state organizations all over the country.
The IMA is pro-active and working on these issues every day, but we need your support now. The attack on internal combustion engines and the free-thinking values of the biker lifestyle makes support of the IMA an urgent and critical matter.
Go to mrf.org/join and click on the search button.
BABES RIDE OUT ACTION–Welcome home! We are thrilled to celebrate Babes Ride Out Borrego 5, home of where it started 11 years ago with a full blown Homecoming weekend to celebrate the kick off of another year of good times, good friends, and two wheels.
The homecoming theme is “Desert Disco” and the official homecoming “party” is Sat night so plan those outfits accordingly as there will be prizes, a crowning of the furthest rider as our “queen” and so much more!
We’ve rented out the entire Palm Canyon Resort to host an incredible weekend of riding. This location looks more like a western town with beautifully kept hotel rooms, glamping units, camping, and 80ft pull through RV spots for those who need more space or want to bring their off-road vehicles. Each camping spot has power, water, and access to hot showers, clean toilets, hot tubs and pools!
Space is limited so book your spot before we sell out!
LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–
Stock # 13666 is a 2015 Black/Silver Harley-Davidson DYNA LOW RIDER FXDL with only 12136.00 miles!
This bike is a super clean Dyna low rider done right and some of the features/Add-ons on this bike are
* 103c.i.Motor with a 6-Speed trans.
* Stainless Bassani Exhaust and a Arlen Ness high flo air cleaner
* Chrome mid controls-shifter-pegs
* Legends rear adjustable shocks
* Crash bar with sliders
* MX style risers and bars with
* Chrome levers
* Dual front disc brakes
* Two-tone paint
This bike is only $14,500.00
Plus license, $85.00 documentation fee, and local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like some dealers. And we have no reconditioning or prep fees. This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety/mechanical/structural inspection.This motorcycle has not been refurbished and does not come with any warranty expressed or implied! EXTENDED WARRANTIES are available!
Fill out an online application today. We have EZ FINANCING
Lifestyle Cycles is located at 1510 State College Blvd,Anaheim,CA,92806. Open 7 days a week.
NOT LOCAL? WE HAVE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! Call today (714) 490-0155.
Please contact me at
buffie@lifestylecycles.com
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WEBSITE REVIEW—Flirty Neighbors
Here is the synopsis. A website for the lonely called Flirty Neighbors. It seems to incorporate all kinds of women. The age brackets I was doing research on is 47 to 67. Boredom is a finicky mistress.
Well Keith there are many subcategories in this environment. We have women putting hits on my portfolio from all over the country. I will get into the categories in a moment.
We know that entertainment isn’t cheap. A bored biker can get really get screwed up in this program. You have to register, and your portfolio becomes part of their file to use for the female or male applicants.
The price is thirty dollars for about five visits to whomever is in the files of persons. Do we get entertained by applicants or do we go to the strip joint for a thirty-dollar lap dance?
I just want to make the biker community aware of the society snares of our brothers and sisters.
–Gearhead
ROGUE’S HISTORY LESSON OF THE WEEK—
In 1915, Effie Hotchkiss bought a new Harley-Davidson and attached a sidecar to carry her mother, Avis, as a passenger.
The pair then set out from Brooklyn to see the Panama Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco. Avis had instilled confidence in her daughter, and when asked if she had fears about the arduous cross-country journey, Avis replied, “I do not fear breakdowns, for Effie, being a most careful driver, is a good mechanic and does her own repairing with her own tools.”
The pair were the first women to cross America by motorbike, at a time when the roads, where they existed, were simply horrendous. After visiting the Pacific Coast, the pair rode back to Brooklyn, for an epic 9,000-mile journey.
–Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™
A SIGNIFICANT QUOTE OF THE WEEK—
“A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.”
~ John F. Kennedy
THE WOLFPACK ROAMS DEADWOOD–
STEP INTO DEADWOOD, WHERE DESIRE AND DANGER COLLIDE DESIRE IN DEADWOOD
In 1876 Dakota Territory, Deadwood is the most devilish and delightful, wildest and wickedest town on the frontier.
Tansy Wiley, with a cloudy past, is hiding behind the name Jigger Crown and fears Bolton is tracking her. But when she rescues the handsome stranger from the saloon next door and chaos erupts—there to capture her or not—Bolton wants the sexy adventuress.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT A FOSSIL FUEL EXEC IN CHARGE OF SOLVING CLIMAT CHANGE–
https://time.com/6335225/sultan-al-jaber-cop28-interview/
Sultan Al Jaber, the Ph.D. economist turned renewable-energy executive turned ADNOC CEO, who is presiding over the U.N. climate conference to be held in Dubai in December. The conference, known as COP28, comes as, at the close of the hottest year on record, scientific consensus demands that we cut fossil-fuel use right now. At the same time, money continues to flow into fossil fuels; more than $1 trillion in new funding was invested this year alone, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Al Jaber, as the head of both COP28 and one of the world’s largest fossil-fuel companies, is tasked with reconciling those realities. Sitting in a meeting room at the Emirates Palace hotel dressed in the traditional white thobe and sneakers, he is both a target for criticism and a symbol of possibility.
“It’s so unfortunate real journalism doesn’t exist much anymore. This isn’t the hottest year on record, not by a long shot. There is no Climate Consensus and there is no Climate Emergency that needs to be dealt with by eliminating our much needed Petroleum products. Oops.”
–Bandit
Registrations open for 2024 Budweis Indian Motorcycle Custom Show
The only custom show 100% dedicated to Indian Motorcycles
American Motorcycle Dealer “Approved” status
Visionary and “Godfather of Baggers”, Brian Klock, joins as President of the Jury
Pre-registration guarantees entry and includes three complimentary tickets
Registrations are now open for the third edition of the Budweis Custom Indian Motorcycle Show (BCS) where passion, creativity, and the roar of engines come together in a celebration of two-wheeled artistry. The AMD-Approved event, and the only custom show to be 100% dedicated Indian Motorcycle, builds on the success of last year and promises an even grander spectacle with the entirety of hall R1 dedicated to the custom show during the Indian Riders Fest in Ceské Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic, from June 13 to 16, 2024.
“There isn’t much in life that gets me more excited than a custom motorcycle show. As a designer and custom builder, I really feed on that creative energy. With the BCS totally focussed on Indian Motorcycle, it is a standout event for me. As a long time Indian Motorcycle fan from way back as a kid, the growth of this show in such a short time is food for my soul. The 2023 class winners were exceptional, and I’m looking forward seeing the creativity and ingenuity infused in metal, chrome and paint at BCS24,” said Ola Stenegärd, Director of Product Design for Indian Motorcycle
BCS24 is not just a display of chrome and steel; it is a celebration of the extraordinary craftsmanship of European custom bike builders and Indian Motorcycle dealers. Committed to fostering a community of creativity, the BCS welcomes builders of all levels, from aspiring rookies to seasoned veterans and with more exhibition space than ever before, the highly anticipated event promises an eclectic collection of innovative, and skilfully crafted motorcycles.
With its importance in the global custom scene recognised by American Motorcycle Dealer magazine conferring their approved show status to the BCS for a second year, the international judging panel is also bolstered by Brian Klock, President of Klock Werks, joining as President of the Jury. Inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2012, Brian Klock is a standout name in the industry and is acclaimed as the “Godfather of Baggers” with a plethora of awards and a long association with Indian Motorcycle.
During the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Klock confirmed his acceptance of the Presidency saying, “Indian Motorcycle is near and dear to my heart. Having been part of the aftermarket advisory team since 2014 and designing many of the limited editions coming out of the factory, just like Ola, a custom show dedicated to Indian Motorcycle is something I’m really excited about. I cannot wait to meet everyone at Budweis next year and see their craftsmanship and incredible skills.”
Klock, his wife Vanessa, and other dignitaries including Stenegärd and Onno Wieringa, Official AMD World Championship photographer, will evaluate the entrants in seven distinct classes with one build also being awarded the prestigious Best In Show trophy.
In a shake-up to last year’s classes, the ClubStyle/Performance Baggers class has been introduced in keeping with current trends and, to allow even more creativity, the new Freestyle class is the only category where entrants do not need to be road legal. However, entries in all classes must be able to start and ride their builds onto the podium to accept their awards.
The seven classes designed to ensure that every participant has an opportunity to showcase their unique style and creativity are as follows:
- Indian Scout
- Indian Chief / Non-Fairing
- Indian Motorcycle Bagger
- Indian Motorcycle Vintage
- Indian FTR / Sportbike
- Indian Motorcycle Freestyle
- Indian Motorcycle ClubStyle / Performance Bagger
While ride-in entries will be accepted until Saturday, June 15, potential participants are encouraged to secure their spots through pre-registration. Pre-registration not only guarantees a place in the spotlight but also includes three complimentary entry tickets to the Indian Riders Fest 2024. Pre-registration closes on Friday, May 31, 2024. To register an entry, please use the form at:
www.budweiscustom.show/#BCS24form
For more information about the 2024 Budweis Indian Motorcycle Show visit www.budweiscustom.show
Contact email for BCS24: customshow@indianridersfest.eu
Honda CB350 confirmed for launch in Japan with a new name and colours
Almost within a week of India launch, Honda Japan has announced that the new CB350 retro-styled motorcycle will go on sale in its home market. The new Honda CB350 has been christened as the new ‘GB350 C’ in Japan and will also get new colour options in the land of the rising sun. The new CB350 was launched earlier this month and comes closer than ever to challenging the Royal Enfield Classic 350 in the segment.
–Wayfarer
International Correspondent
Bikernet News Desk
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS—One of my accomplishments for this week was a major task. I had to remove the ’58 from the Deadwood garage and find a temporary home or a repair location. Jason was set to replace the garage doors.
I had no brakes and no gears to move. I solved the issues and found my original mechanic had an opening at his shop in Whitewood 15 miles away. It was shaky, the brakes faded, but I made it through the Crooked Canyon.
Received a text message from Cabana Dan this morning revealing his wife’s Christmas present. What a kick, the Coney Island special from 1980. Check the paint and the owner must have been terrified of getting rear-ended.
He’s not going to do anything to it, but a tune-up and put the electric starter back on it. He found it in Ohio.
Here’s a shot of Micah’s recent customer project. He’s the master. He called me about the carb. He wants an early S&S L carb.
Meanwhile back in the shop I’m rebuilding John’s 1967 4-speed transmission and taking pictures of all the parts I’m digging up out of the Bikernet bins and lockers.
My grandson, Frankie, is working on his winter 5-Ball clothing line.
Dan’s also trying to score this old J twin, but after trying for 15 years it might go to his cousin’s uncle. Seems the school teacher liked him better…
Hang on for the holidays.
–Bandit
Brothers for Truth
By Bandit |
Joey woke up early. He had to blast to work, a new job. The sky shown a brilliant blue with sparce clouds over the vast Wyoming plains. He was new to the area after riding his Sportster out from California and finding an apartment. He immediately faced a daunting issue, though. Winter loomed and motorcycles didn’t fit. He needed to find a garage and a used 4-wheel drive pickup truck. He also needed a dojo and there weren’t any in the small town of Pina.
The growing berg was split by a highway and the founding fathers of the community wisely put the town on one side of the highway and the industrial area and growing oil fields on the other. Joey showered, trimmed his tightly cut Vandyke facial hair, dressed for work and rode a couple of blocks to Mable’s Diner for breakfast. He passed fresh new franchise joints being built like plastic toy boxes and an old brick building being restored. The Pina was clean, vibrant and growing.
Joey rode passed a new bicycle shop. The hippie crew rehabbed an old clapboard building and moved in. He pulled up to Mable’s ’50 stone restaurant front. He kicked his sidestand down and strolled inside to the counter. Folks seemed friendly and happy except for a group on youngsters sitting at a table in the corner. They all wore nylon quilted, fluffy down vests over sweatshirts and goofy knitted stocking caps.
Joey sat down and Shirley the blond bombshell waitress pushed out through the polished swinging door from the kitchen. Her smile completed the sunrise outside. Her teeth white as snow sparkled as did her baby blue eyes. She was a sight for any soiled, grim-soaked oil worker.
“Hey Handsome,” she smiled. “What would you like this morning.
“How about chorizo and eggs but cut the onions,” Joey smiled back. “And I’ll take some coffee and an order of your special toast.”
“You’re working in the oil fields across the highway?” Shirley asked eyeing the stained canvas jacket under his brown leather vest sporting a Sturgis rally pin. She poured him a cup of joe in a ceramic cup as she checked out his bright green eyes and constant smile under his mustache and crisply cut facial hair. Sandy blonde, there was something honest and wholesome about his direct and upbeat nature. He had confidence and looked strong.
“Yep,” started last week.
“Better work hard,” a voice came from behind him. “Those oil fields are going down along with all Fossil Fuel products.”
Joey spun on his stool and came face to face with a bearded hippy in a knit cap. He was angry as a bull with a wooden sliver stuck in its hoof.
“Then I can get a job in your bicycle shop and pay for my growing family with Shirley?” He turned to Shirley and winked.
“We’re going to sue the oil company out of business,” this guy said and stood.
“Where are you getting the funds for that?” Joey returned. “The slum lord George Soros?”
The other three hippies got to their feet, two were American Indians. “We’re killing fossil fuels, just wait and see,” the leader said and they headed for the door joking with one another. They didn’t pay their bill, just tossed a couple of ones and change on the table.
Joey sat back down and turned toward the counter and the lovely Shirley. “My family has lived here for a couple of generations,” she said. “This place is growing finally, we have new streets, new schools. They’re working on bringing a community college here.”
“Good luck with that,” Joey said. “And no more asphalt streets if Fossil Fuels are gone. Hell, your chef won’t be able to cook my chorizo and eggs. It’s nuts.”
“Why is this happening?” Shirley asked.
Joey turned and looked outside through the plate glass windows. He could see his shiny Sportster and the pickups parked at the curb diagonally. The sun glimmered and life was good. “Because they can,” he said. “Don’t you know, we’re doomed.”
Shirley looked at him quizzically and moved onto another customer. Joey enjoyed his breakfast smothered with fresh salsa, the warm coffee and homemade toast.
He rode less than a mile over the highway to the oil fields beyond. He worked maintaining the rigs and at lunch met with the team. “What about the ban Fossil Fuel crew in town?” Joey brought it up over a chicken burrito from the lunch truck. He was a new guy but needed to test the waters.
Some of the guys stared at their plates and didn’t say a word. “There’s a town hall meeting at the end of the week,” an older worker muttered.
“We need to be there,” Fast Fred said, one of the other bikers. Maybe 50, Fred was wide and buffed, with numerous tattoos, maybe a patch-holder at one time. There were three bikers on the crew, Joey one of them.
“I was there for the helmet protests in the ‘70s,” Grizzley muttered a short graybeard and a Vietnam veteran. “If we don’t step up…”
“We will!” Fred snapped. “We will all be there.”
“That’s what bikers do,” Grizzley muttered and they split up to go back to work.
Friday, after work the brothers showered, dressed and rode to the small town hall, concrete building for the city council meeting in the court chambers. A handful of folks sat on either side of the mayor Martha Jones, a large middle-aged woman with a stern look and massive boobs sat in a dress that covered every inch of her being like a tent.
The environmental group in their knit hats sat in the front row and chatted loudly between each other. The secretary, another woman, thin and also middle aged read the minutes from the previous meeting, all normal stuff about the next festival, the plans for the Christmas Parade, new roads and infrastructure being built to allow the town to expand. There was the mention of hiring another police officer and checking the budget for an additional police car.
They voted to accept the minutes and moved on to discuss current issues. That’s when Martha asked for public comment and the alarmist started to shout about banning fossil fuels, suing the oil company, defunding the police and housing issues. This time Joey caught the leader’s name, Richard Marshall, a tall Irish looking sort with a red full beard. He barked a lot.
The startled mayor stammered and didn’t know which way to turn. Joey raised his hand and walked forward to the podium. “Just two things, maybe three. I get it. If we’re doomed, we gotta act fast, but what if we’re not. CO2 can’t be the issue. It’s the molecule of life. We need more not less. Second, we’ve got it pretty good now, the town is growing and these guys want to stop all the goodness and make it bad. So, what the hell are we going to do. I would like to propose a test.”
Richard jumped to his feet. “We’re in a climate emergency. We can’t test, we need to stop everything to do with Fossil Fuels, now.”
“What are you going to do with 80 gallons of oil in each wind turbine?” Joey said.
Richard stumbled and the mayor’s eyes brightened.
“Doesn’t it make sense to see if their plan will work before we step off the cliff?” Joey asked the city council.
“How would you propose to go about this?” The mayor ask, but Joey could tell she was relieved to encounter common sense.
Grizzly stepped forward with a one-page map of the town. He looked at it, rolled it up and used it to point to the framed map on the wall. “Let’s see if we can divide the city. There will be the green side and the oil side. We will eliminate all fossil fuels from the green side and go on with our life on the oily side.”
“We can’t do that!” Richard and his band of greenies jumped to their feet, “We’re here to take over not negotiate.”
The mayor’s gavel slammed against her podium. ?“No one is taking over anything.”
“But big oil is taking over the town,” Richard frothed at the mouth. “It must be stopped. It’s an environmental crisis.”
“Oil brought us wealth, stability, transportation, our new roads, medicine, electricity, you name it,” the mayor said. “It brought us you in your gas powered cars, spandex pants, oil-based tennis shoes and you’re afraid of a test?”
Richard fumed, his bright red beard shook as though it might come alive like Methuselah’s snakes. He sat down and whispered to a couple of his comrades. They slid out the back door.
The mayor, a middle-aged farm girl felt caught in the middle. “I’m going to table this issue for today,” the Mayor said and moved onto the festival of lights. The committee chair got up and gave a lengthily report and there was much discussion of the holiday decorations and who was responsible for what. Shirley from the restaurant stood up. She wore skin-tight denims and a plaid shirt. Her curly waves of blond hair danced on her shoulders as she spoke.
Mesmerized, Joey wanted to capture her attention and moved to a seat she couldn’t miss as she turned to leave. That’s when a knit cap ran in the back door and screamed, “Fire.”
The fire chief ran for the door followed by everyone inside. They discovered Joey’s Sportster seat ablaze and two alarmists handcuffed to his front wheel. They held a cardboard banner containing rough felt pen lettering, “WE MUST ACT NOW!”
Their leader stepped forward to proclaim, “We are not messing around. Fossil Fuel use will end immediately.”
Joey rounded Richard with the fire extinguisher. “We wouldn’t have fire extinguishers without fossil fuels,” he said and blasted his motorcycle. “It’s just like you bastards to do something that makes no sense. If my gas tank had caught fire, your brothers wouldn’t make it.”
The two kids handcuffed to the front wheel squealed as the front tire expanded with the heat and popped. Their cardboard plaque started to sizzle and they screamed to be released.
“I hope you have insurance,” Joey said stepping back from his smoldering bike. “You owe me a new motorcycle.
“They’ll all be banned shortly,” Richard shouted backing away from the flames, afraid.
“What, you’re not going to rescue your comrades?” Joey smacked. He used the fire extinguisher sparingly, allowing the flames to continue toward the gas tank.
The whimpering increased at the flames caught their cardboard banner on fire.
“Should we let them burn?” Grizzly asked staring at Richard who continued his frightful retreat. None of the other alarmist wanted anything to do with the conflict and scattered with their ol’ ladies.
Fast Fred stepped forward, a seasoned outlaw who carried a handcuff key on his keyring constantly. He unlocked the cuffs and the singed alarmist scrambled for safety their hair smoldering.
Joey finished off the motorcycle with the foaming extinguisher as the fire department arrived in their fossil fuel vehicle.
“They just caused 20 times the emissions of all the cars in town for the year,” Fast Fred said. “Sorta like a mini-volcano. Are they going to ban them?” He shrugged. “What’s the plan?”
The portly Mayor stood on the sidewalk. “Hey mayor,” Joey said. “How about that test. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this.”
“This is bullshit,” Martha said startling the others. “Something has to be done. Let’s do it.”
“Hallelujah,” Joey shouted. “We just want the truth, simple. The kids deserve to know what the real deal is.”
“You’re right,” Mayor Martha said. “We are going to divide the town into the Oily Gang and the Green Nation tomorrow.”
By noon the next day, the mayor had the city guys install a chain link fence down the center of town to the bridge leading to the oil fields on the other side of the highway. For security reasons the Green Nation wasn’t allowed across the bridge into the oil fields. Only one lane was allowed over the bridge and one back. No lanes were allowed off the highway into the Green nation, no trucks or fossil fuel vehicles allowed.
As the week progressed the mayor allowed heavy excavators into the Green area to remove all the asphalt. Troops from the local National Guard facility were allowed to walk into the Green Nation to confiscate anything made with fossil fuels. They searched and took all chemicals, plastics, computers, cell phones, you name it right down to women’s panties. All medicines were removed and when folks complained, the town council posted signs on the fence facing the test area, “No Fossil Fuels allowed.”
They sent tow trucks into the area and hauled out any fossil fuel powered vehicles, including lawn mowers and tractors. All natural gas connections were turned off, so stoves no-longer worked, neither did heaters or washers and dryers.
At the next meeting the alarmists looked a little frail and dirty. “We’re going to make this work,” Richard pounded the podium. “The President’s infrastructure bill gives us billions to build wind turbines and solar farms.”
“Sorry,” the mayor responded. “No wind farms, they are full of oil and solar panels are made from fossil fuels. And I need to point out that building fires or using your barbecues to cook won’t be allowed. That’s a no-no.”
“What the fuck,” Richard spat his scruffy red beard shaking. He turned to the three bikers sitting behind him, screamed and attacked pulling a wooden post from his padded vest.
“Sore loser,” Joey shouted and jumped to his feet. They went to blows right in the middle of the city hall city council chambers. The three bikers fought back as the cops from the back charged.
There were eight alarmists, but only four leapt into the violent fray.
As the cops approached one alarmist, a slick looking Hispanic, pulled a pistol and shot one. “We’re defunding you, right now,” he shouted and cocked his weapon again.
Joey made a move on the big man’s wooden bat. He jammed his open palm against the man’s fist, and then slipped his hand along the dowel-like post until he reached the end and the point of leverage. Twisting the wooden weapon, he took control of it, jammed it into Richard’s solar plexus and pushed him far enough away to smack the kid’s revolver arm.
It went off, missing the other officer, the bullet slamming into the wall. The next swing broke the kid’s nose and sent him to the deck.
The cops rounded up the alarmists and drug them off to jail. “You guys won’t have any problem,” a snarky looking cop told them after taking statements.
Three days later the alarmists were back on the streets, cut a hole in the chain link fence and strolled into Mable’s, sat down and drew out a wad of cash. “We need to order,” Richard spat.
Later that day two black SUVs cross the bridge and federal officers arrested the bikers. “What the fuck,” Joey said while being dragged off the derrick platform.
Handcuffed and tossed into the back of the long dark Excursion with tinted windows, they were given their rights but not told what they were being charged with.
The next day while residing in a holding cell in county lock-up, Richard walked into jail looking clean and over-confident. “Just thought you should know,” he said smugly. “I got cleaned up in your apartment. We are taking all the homes and handing them out.” He looked directly at Joey. “We will have the mayor arrested tomorrow.”
“What the fuck for?” Grizzly jumped to his feet.
“Because we can,” Richard muttered. “She’s a racist. She won’t be your friend anymore. We will replace her.”
“So, take some of your federals funds and buy me a new motorcycle,” Joey spat and charged to the bars. “What’s the deal, anti-capitalism?”
“No motorcycle for you, pal,” Richard muttered smugly. “We’re going to take over this town, close the oil fields down and make it ours. Yep, it will be socialists. Everyone gets a home for free, but they can’t own it. I will own ‘em all.”
Two weeks later the three bikers and the mayor stood in front of a county judge for a bail hearing.
“You were far too radical and aggressive during a city meeting,” the judge snapped. He wasn’t tall, but his snarky countenance indicated a small man desperate for power and suddenly he had it. “And the mayor didn’t perform her duty to control the situation. The violence is her fault.”
“What are they charged with your honor?” The oil company supplied an attorney. They needed their guys to be on the job.
“We’ll get to that,” the judge snapped, “but first bail. A man died during this shameful altercation. This must be handled very carefully.”
“These men had nothing to do with the gun fire. In fact, one of them prevented the gunman from firing again, perhaps saving another officer’s life,” the attorney, a young confident man, who was well groomed, direct but unfamiliar with wok politics.
“They attempted to bring sober reality to a difficult climate movement.”
The statement infuriated the judge who mopped his sweating brow and bald head with his white linen bandana, sporting his embroidered initials. “Nothing they are doing, has any political motivation or ideological rationale. It’s entirely a reaction to threatening science, to the mathematics and physics that explain what is happening to our planet. We are doomed if we don’t act immediately. I honor their efforts and will not set bail for six months. This case is closed for now.”
The brothers, jarred by the ruling each reacted differently. Grizzley, pissed off wanted to shout. Fast Fred grabbed the front of his plaid shirt as if he might have a heart attack and Joey pulled on his mustache and looked at the attorney.
The attorney turned to Joey and just nodded. “I don’t believe this. Then he turned to the concerned mayor who slumped in her chair terrified and stared at the wooden deck.
Martha’s gaze simmered. “What’s next?”
The attorney just shook his head dismayed.
“Hey,” Mark said to group as they were led back to their cells. “They don’t have any charges. They don’t have a case. They just want to control this situation and take over the town.” He turned to the mayor who looked disillusioned. “Your political career is over. They’ve assigned a new progressive mayor.”
“What about us?” Joey stepped forward.
“If you keep your noses clean in here, they will drag this out for a year and then charge us with a hefty fine or jail time,” Mark said shifting his briefcase. “I just want to get away from this place. It’s smells of corruption.”
Six months passed and they were finally given bail.
Shirley picked up the crew in Mable’s Diner van and they piled in with the Mayor sitting up front. As Shirley pulled away from the County lock-up curb she looked over at the Martha. “You’re going to choke on the new mayor. He’s all over working with the alarmists to destroy the town and the oil fields. The town has gone to shit.”
“Is Mabel’s still open?” Joey asked.
“Nope,” Shirley said. “They mandated all gas stoves be shut off. We can only make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They shut down the local chicken farms, and your oil company is gone.”
“When’s the next city hall meeting?” Fast Fred asked.
“This coming Friday,” Shirley said.
“We’re staying in the next highway truck stop,” Grizzly said to Shirley. “The Makeshift Motel.
Our bikes have been moved.”
“Okay,” Shirley said.
“We’ll be at the meeting,” Joey said and touched Shirley’s shoulder. He still had a thing for her, but he didn’t know how she felt. The mystery continued.
The meeting kicked off at 4:30 so the brothers rolled in on their bikes at 4:00. As they rolled off the highway, suddenly they were confronted by the transition. Homeless tents line the streets. Most businesses were closed and drug addicts sat on the curbs. There were no cars or lights on as dusk settled around the town. Trash and debris lined the streets. Illegals moved into the abandoned gas station, but there was no heat or food
As they pulled up in front of Mabel’s Diner Shirley came to the door a terrified frown on her face. Richard pushed her aside and stepped out of the door with a guy in a silky looking suit following. “This is the new mayor, Gavin…”
“I don’t care what the fuck his name is.” Grizzly snapped.
“Motorcycles are banned,” The tall angular, slick mayor said in a creepy way.
“And were taking yours,” Richard said forcefully and pulled on his red beard. He bubbled with authority and power.
Tough guy Fast Fred dismounted to confront the big redhead in his knitted beanie hat. Suddenly the brothers were surrounded and the fight began. Out-numbered four to one, the brothers came prepared with pipes and ballpeen hammers. They fought valiantly but there were too many and they kept coming. Joey signaled to make their escape.
They scrambled to their bikes and fired them to life. “You’re done here,” Richard screamed. “No more bikers in this town. You’re not welcome. He pulled Shirley to his side and wrapped his arm around her.
Wounded and cut, the brothers rode back to the Makeshift Motel where Martha met them. “You’re lucky you didn’t come,” Joey said. “There’s something slimy about that new mayor.
Martha and the cute Hispanic cleaning lady helped clean up the brothers. Joey called the shop in the next town over to thank the owners for fixing his bike. Fast Fred bought a used computer and started to google research the new mayor. Once healed the brothers rode over to the shop in the nearby town for a meeting with a local club of bike builders and shop owners.
“We can’t ride into that town anymore,” Charlie Chrome said, a little guy with a vest full of chromed event pins.
“What the fuck are we going to do about it?” Grizzly said. “Bikers fought for our freedoms back in the ‘70s. When the AMA said we couldn’t race, we started our own races.”
“They kicked the cops out of the town and defunded the police,” Charlie Chrome said.
“If we want it bad enough, we’ll go get it,” Joey said. “I don’t want it for you and me, I want it for the community and the kids. And fuck it, we want to ride free. Besides, did you hear they want to ban chrome.”
“We’ve got a month to get our shit together,” Fast Fred said. “We gotta be smart. This isn’t going to be easy.”
Joey looked around the room at the motley crew of grubby bikers who looked beat and concerned. “Reach out. We will be back in touch with you motherfuckers in two weeks to see if you’re still afraid.” Brothers started to sit up. “If you don’t believe what we are saying ride into Pina.”
“I will,” Rep Ricky raised his hand. “Goddammit, I’m not afraid. I need to see for myself.” A youngster and a member of the AGAVE MC a tequila drinking motorcycle club stood up. “I’m sure my brothers will support me and have a shot of 100% Reposado waiting when I get back.”
“I like it,” Fast Fred got to his feet with Joey and Grizzly. They thanked the brothers for their time and for hosting them.
“This is a no bullshit game,” Joey said. “We’ll be in touch in two weeks.”
They rode back to the scruffy Makeshift Motel. Funds fading, they didn’t have government supported income to keep the freedom fighters going. Seemed strange, but every day they packed every minute with survival activities. Joey trained, Fred lifted makeshift weights, and grizzly hunted for weapons.
At the end of the week Rep (for reposado) Ricky, sorta buzzed rode into the shattered town, over run with homelessness, drug addicts and shuttered buildings taken over by migrants. Dismayed and startled, he almost turned around immediately to escape, but kept going. One truck had pulled over in front of the bicycle shop. As he closed in on the vehicle, he noticed Mexican cartel guys unloading cases of nitazenes tabs—up to 20 times more potent than fentanyl.
There was some disagreement about the payment as he pulled up. “Where’s the rest?” A wiry Hispanic man wearing blue neoprene gloves shouted at Richard. “You get money from the feds and these losers.” He nodded to one of his men who pulled a 9mm auto and shot the environmentalist holding the bag of cash. He snatched the bag of cash as the young radical slumped to the pavement.
The leader pushed the last box of pills off the tailgate. It fell in the gutter, split open and pills scattered everywhere. The cartel guys scrambled into their grubby box truck and turned to leave.
Suddenly, this biker in the center of the street became the object of attention. Ricky recognized his dire predicament, revved into a burn-out 360 degree spin to reverse his direction and get the fuck out of dodge. The roaring FXR almost on its side spun and held off the ensuing cabal of alarmist charging in his direction.
Ricky pulled a wheel stand and headed after the escaping box truck, but not before the same slithering alarmist who gunned down the cop pulled his long-barreled revolver and fired. The bullet slammed into Ricky’s tequila drinking patch and he went down in a shower of sparks sliding along the fossil fuel constructed street surface. He was immediately surrounded by a gang of extremists who kick and beat him until his last dying breath, and then they set his beautiful motorcycle on fire.
Shirley captured the images on her phone from atop Mabel’s and sent a link to Joey. The film went viral. Joey called Country Cycle. Charlie Chrome called the local framers. They set a meeting in a barn in a field far from town. Joey, Fast Fred and Grizzly rode over.
The yard surrounding the large red wooden barn contained a hundred bikes and just as many pickups. Hispanic field workers, winery owners, spinach farmers, corn growers were all there.
Charlie Chrome introduced Joey and he stepped up on a milk crate. “I’m just a grubby biker trying to make a living here and they want to destroy everything we do,” Joey said, not knowing exactly what or where he was going. “Do you guys get it and what the hell are we going to do about it.”
“They want to shut down our farms,” one farmer said. “How can we feed the communities?”
“I just don’t get it,” A corn grower stepped up. “Why doesn’t anyone question their motives?”
“Shooting a guy in the back…” The big round boss of the Wild Agave MC shouted starting to breakdown. “We have got to do something.”
“They’ve pushed too far,” another biker shouted.
“So, what the hell are we going to do?” Joey asked.
Fast Fred noticed a little guy in the back pushing the barn door open, while glancing over his shoulder and bolting out the door. Fred followed. Outside the kid mounted a dirt bike but Fred snatched him before could leave and pulled him inside. The kid squirmed and fought but Fred dragged him to the front and slapped him.
Joey jumped down from the crate. “So, what’s the deal,” he said grabbing him by the collar.
“You people don’t have a chance,” the kids said and pulled a knife. He scrambled back and jumped to his feet. He stabbed a farmer who collapsed.
Joey snatched up the plastic milk crate, using it for protection the fight was on. The kid lashed out attempting to cut Joey, but a farmer handed him a long-handled rake.
“We can kill all of you and burn your homes,” the kids screamed lashing out at Joey and cutting his arm.
Joey struck back with the rake but it broke off.
The kid laughed hauntingly. “The authorities won’t do a damn thing. We own them.”
Joey dodged his knife, smacked him in the face with milk crate and drove the jagged end of the rake handle into his chest. The kid went down, blood gurgling from his mouth. “They’ve got your girl.” He laughed and died on the hay-scattered dirt floor of the barn. Ranchers and farmers started backing away.
“We’re farmers not warriors,” an old obese farmer said opening the wooden slat barn door.
“We can’t get involved with this,” Another business owner said. “I’ve got a family.”
Joey stood in the center as some of the folks in attendance departed. “We can’t give up,” he said holding the bloody rake handle.
“Fuck it,” Joey snapped and tossed the rake handle into a pile of hay. “I’m going to give it hell or die trying. The crowed parted as Joey jammed out the door to his Sportster. He grabbed Fred’s Ballpeen hammer from the scabbard attached to his rear shock. Grizzly tossed him a gun belt loaded with .357 magnum rounds and a 4-inch barrel revolver.
Joey cut a dusty trail across the fields to the highway. He had less than 15 miles to formulate a plan. Emotions running high, he ground his teeth against the wind as he neared the town and dipped off the highway into the storm drain gulley. Leaning his precious Sportster against the grassy dirt wall, Joey stepped back. He knew this might be the last time he rode her. He also knew this might be his last opportunity for escape, run, but he knew there was no escape from what was happening to his country.
Joey snuck into town looking for the back of Mabel’s. Alarmists and illegals seemed suddenly everywhere, but not doing much except destruction. He crept between buildings and around structures. A young guard spotted him, but Joey knocked him out with the ballpeen before he could alert anyone else.
He reached the back of Mabel’s and slipped into the back door to the store room, which was virtually empty and then into the kitchen. He could hear voices in the dining room as he approached. “You don’t have a clue,” Richard said to a lieutenant and to Shirley, who was tied to a dining room chair.
“We are basically taking over this country,” he continued.
“But what about the future?” Shirley asked struggling against her bonds.
“We don’t care,” Richard said. “We’ll be rich and in control.”
“So, you will turn it into a third world country, and then what?” Shirley squirmed some more and Richard smacked her across the face. “Stop, you can’t stop abject destruction.”
“What will you eat, bugs,” Shirley asked and Joey strolled into the dining room.
Richard jumped to his feet. His guard did the same but Joey had the drop on them pointing his pistol. “Fuck integrity and science,” Joey said. “You’ll rule with an iron fist and fuck anyone who doesn’t like it, right?”
“That’s right,” Richard said. “We politized everything from the top right down to city governments, the military and the courts. No one will stop us.”
Joey looked at the counter and saw a jar of some kind of new drug. “What’s this?”
“That’s even stronger than Fentanyl, Nitazene,” Richard said. “This will be in every American high school next year.”
Joey, still wearing his leather gloves grabbed a couple and tossed them to the guard. “Take them, then leave,” Joey ordered. He lifted the revolver and aimed it at the kid and cocked the hammer.
The kid downed them but didn’t make it to the door before he collapsed.
“Strong shit,” Joey said as he cut the ropes incasing Shirley. She jumped to her feet and rubbed her bruised wrists.
“Can you get out of here?” Joey asked.
“Not without you,” Shirley said.
Richard made a move and shoved the table at Joey and then bolted for the door shouting. Joey dodged pulled the bloody ballpeen hammer out of his belt and threw it as hard as he could at Richard.
The hammer head scuffed the side of Richard’s head and he went down but rolled and jumped to his feet as Joey hit him. “Go,” Joey shouted to Shirley. “They’ll be coming.”
“I’ll be back,” Shirley muttered and ran out the back door.
Richard, knocked down again, clamored for the door to alert the alarmist troops. Joey the smaller of the two hit Richard again, but he kicked him away and reached for the door. They fought for their lives crashing from table to the deck. Joey, determined to give Shirley enough time to escape, fought with all he had against the bigger man who seemed hell bent for destruction of everything.
The two of them crashed into the glass door and shattered it. A shard cut Joey and Richard pulled a knife slicing Joey’s cheek. The two of them crashed outside onto the porch and Richard made a final attempt at slitting Joey’s throat. Joey ducked the blade and came up with the revolver. Richard stood as guards started to approach. Joey shot him and he backed into the street and fell in a lump to the dirt.
Richard raised his right arm and pointed at Joey. “Kill him slowly and then burn him alive.” His hand fell to his side and his last breath escaped his quivering mouth.
Surrounded, Joey knelt and fired. He backed into the gunshot shattered and neglected dining room and ran out the back door, where he reloaded the revolver. A bullet whizzed over his head and ricochet off the adjacent wall. Joey ducked and ran down the alley to a shuttered bank building, but the bullets kept coming. He recognized the report from the long barreled 44 mag used in the city hall. The owner came around the corner of the bank along with the rest of the knit-cap radicals.
Joey stuffed the revolver back in its leather holster. The town destroyed, debris tossed everywhere he searched for a chunk of pipe. He a found a chain-link fence connecting rod used for a gate about 3-feet long. As he picked it up two young men rounded the opposite corner, started shouting and charged.
Joey stood between the buildings and knew his time was limited, the shooter would come and he had to move. He swung the galvanized rod and the youngsters cringed and ducked but followed. Joey forced to run directly into the street turned and smacked the alarmist. One went down and the other one backed away. A bullet, large caliper hit the asphalt at his feet.
Joey looked up as Enrique took aim from the top of the bank building. Joey dove and rolled, bullets smacking the pavement around him. He made it alongside the city hall but more attackers came. Some just followed the crowd, no desire to fight, some as mad as maniacs screamed, fools shouted socialist propaganda.
Surrounded, he threw the galvanized pipe into the crowd and drew his weapon. Behind him a voice challenged his position. “So, it’s just you and me,” Enrique said and holstered his weapon.
“I doubt that,” Joey said and turned toward the murderer. “You like to kill.”
“I fit right in with this crowd,” Enrique snarled. “They’re killing the country and I’m killing anyone who gets in the way.” Standing between the two buildings the sun began to set and the shadow grew and spread across the narrow space. Joey pondered his options, but there weren’t many. The crowd behind him expanded but split in case an errant bullet missed its target.
Behind Enrique another group gathered carrying makeshift weapons. “Kill him, brother,” one outspoke member of the gang hollered. “The town is ours. No more oil or capitalism! It’s all ours.” The kids around him shouted.
“What’s it going to be?” Enrique shouted at Joey.
“An old west shootout,” Joey said and shifted his gun belt. “The good citizen protecting his town against the evil marauders…”
Over-confident, a killer to the bone, Enrique grabbed at the ivory handle of the long-barreled .44 mag, but the gun was heavy, unbalanced and awkward for a fast-draw competition.
Joey knelt, yanked the .357 mag and aimed. For the second time in a day, he could end a man’s life. He had no choice as Enrique gained control of his weapon and attempted to aim. Bullets flew and Enrique’s gun shattered. The man’s face sliced by metal fragments caused him to dodge. His gun hand also severely wounded he screamed and fell in the dirt.
Members of his clan ran to Enrique’s side. Surrounded, Joey spun and fired into the air, he attempted to escape up a building’s fire latter. Alarmist uncertain of what to do milled in the alley like rats wondering where to find their next meal.
Joey knew they would be coming and ran to the apex of the building searching for options. The setting sun glared in his strained eyes as he looked west toward the highway and spotted a caravan of farm equipment heading his way. He looked north and saw a pack of motorcycles blasting into town. From the south slat bed trucks came carrying Hispanic workers packed in the beds with shovels and bats as weapons. From the south came emergency vehicles, fire trucks, loaded down with firemen, EMTs in ambulances, sheriff’s vehicles from the county, they all came. Oil field workers filled buses. They all came.
Only a handful of shots were fired before the alarmists, the illegals, drug addicts and homeless were rounded up. All were loaded and shipped to San Francisco. In a day the streets were cleared and calm returned. In a week, the bros returned to work, Mabel’s reopened, and Martha returned as Mayor. The slimy one was asked to leave. Folks came to town to open shops. Street lights glowed, house plants blossomed in pots outside stores, and gas stoves cooked the best burritos around.
Another week passed and a fossil fuel powered festival energized weekend activities with mariachis and colorful vendors selling fossil fuel fired ceramic pots. A vintage car show lined the street and a long chopper glistening with chrome and metalflake paint rumbled through the center of Pina pipes blaring. Kids ran to the curb screamed with joy and started clapping…
BAD BOY BERRY
By Bandit |
If you made it to Sons of Speed or Warren Lane’s Bike Show at the Broken Spoke Saloon there is a good chance you got to see Bad Boy Berry and if you were lucky have your photo taken with him and maybe even sign the stand.
Many years ago, there was a chain of restaurants that had a Big Boy statue holding a hamburger outside their business. Called Bob’s Big Boy, there’s still a weekly biker and hotrod meet and greet at Bob’s in Burbank, California.
Well Berry Wardlaw of Accurate Engineering in Dothan Alabama the engine builder of the stars, racers and others decided he just had to have one of the fine statues. Well not just any one mind you but one of the few that were made of aluminum as opposed to the fiberglass.
The first time I saw it was in May of 2023 before the group ride from Accurate Engineering to Clarksville and Berry and Vivian getting married.
There were all kinds of speculation on what Berry planned to do with Big Boy and since he was Not Holding a hamburger what would he hold in the future.
Most people speculated some kind of motorcycle engine, But Berry would not say what his plans were other than he would post photos on Facebook from time to time for anyone interested. Hell, everyone who knows him was interested.
From Time-to-time images of Big Boy appeared on Berry’s Facebook page, as he was being transformed.
The first public display was at Sons of Speed races by Billy Lane.
Attention to detail was carefully chosen, Tattoo, Belt Buckle, Shop Towel, the wrench and toolbox.
All In All, a cool combination and a Big Hit With A Lot Of People.
Bad Boy Berry is currently on display at the Accurate Engineering Headquarters observing the numerous projects going on there.
We will just have to wait and see where Big Bob shows up next.
OUTRUSH R MODULAR BLUETOOTH HELMET
By Bandit |
I have been trying different helmets for awhile and though they all had features I like but weren’t exactly what I wanted.
OH YEAH, It had Bluetooth – The second reason.
I have grown to like having speakers in my helmet especially when I am traveling, and this system is the one I like the most. Getting spoiled in my old age? YEAH, but I think I earned it.
Here is a bunch of tech information on what’s included.
- Bluetooth Specifications: Equipped with Bluetooth 4.1, it supports the Headset Profile (HSP), Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), and Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP). It also features Advanced Noise Control and wind noise reduction. The working distance is up to 900 meters (0.5 miles) in open terrain, and it can connect with up to 4 riders. Additionally, it has a built-in FM radio with RDS AF (Radio Data System Alternate Frequencies).
Integrated speakers and a microphone are built in, along with hi-definition speakers for better bass and sound quality. It even includes a built-in FM radio and comes with a rechargeable battery and charger.
Even though the helmet came with a charged Bluetooth I used the charging cord that came with to make sure it was fully charged. Just something I always do.
While that was happening I watched a couple of videos about how to make it pair to my motorcycle and cell phone. Even if you had paired systems before I always read the instructions and watch the videos, because sometimes there are new procedures and or updates.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/outrush-r-modular-bluetooth-helmet/p/98100-22VX
As it turned out, I was scheduled to go out of town the day after I got the helmet and set it up. It is now my favorite helmet. It is available in Matte Black and Matte Silver. I got the Matte Black one.
I personally like several Outrush R components, the Micro Ratchet Chin Strap that replaces the double D-Ring style, Flip down sun visor, air vents and the fact it has a removable and washable liner.
I am still riding all over the country in all kinds of weather and this helmet is going to do all the things I want and make the ride more enjoyable. LOVIN’ LIFE!
–Rogue
You had to ask: Harley-Davidson X440
By Bandit |
Harley-Davidson X440– There I said it and don’t regret admitting it.
It is not ugly nor a poor person’s substitute. It is actually a wonderfully designed and ingeniously engineered motorcycle. Moreover, it showcases adaptability for climate and terrain for a motorcycle. Besides, wasn’t Harley-Davidson always meant to be a motorcycle for the working class and not a fancy fashion accessory for some billionaire to park in his 50-acre garage?
The motorcycle is available in three variants and the top one is called X 440 S which only comes in a deep black color. All of them carry only the Harley-Davidson badge and branding. It is built on a tubular trellis frame which packs all the power and performance tightly between your legs. This is the only motorcycle in the segment offering auto-illumination and hazard lights. All LED lights, dual-channel ABS, USB charging, GPS navigation are some other features. Only the top-variant can get you a HOG membership though.
The oil-cooled engine is a long-stroke engine that helps with low and mid-range torque. It can beat any 350cc Enfield in power as well as top-speed.
The most criticized and obviously standout feature of the X440 motorcycle is its off-putting exhaust pipe. It looks bizarre and even cheap but is it? The nation of India follows closely the EU emission norms. Along with that is the noise pollution restrictions. I guess, they made the best possible exhaust pipe that can work with the engine’s purpose as also produce a “firing” that announces the Harley-Davidson on the street. The “thump” mania of Enfield “silencers” have also been dampened by the exact same laws and regulations.
If only, the top variant had more color options, but that would drastically change the variables for the accountants at their factory. The number crunching calculator holders, do hold all production models at ransom—the return on investment and effort—a tangible number that is derived through thinning hair of these mathematical “genus”.
Hence, the perfect, targeted product called Harley-Davidson X440 has been meticulously engineered, designed and marketed with precision. You can test-ride it before rejecting its looks. Once you know what it can do, you will know what you were missing. The catch, they won’t shine on stateside showroom floors.
For those who came in late, Harley-Davidson made an exit from India in October 2020 after ten years of being the most popular “premium” segment motorcycle brand in India. Apparently, they expected to do more than just outsell Triumphs and Polaris Indians. They had hoped a nation of billion people would at least buy a million units of a motorcycle costing more than a Mercedes entry level sedan model in India.
While this nation is the largest producer and consumer of two-wheelers, it is not for the purpose of collecting and customizing that people keep buying this alleged death machine called a motorcycle. We are not weekend riders nor are we people who ride during riding season.
Indians ride all day every day. A motorcycle or a scooter is the preferred vehicle for commute as well as for transport of goods, including commercial or retail goods and restaurant takeouts. One can see an entire family of five on a Honda scooter coming back with groceries from a mall. Everyday, a steady stream of two-wheelers ride to work and back, in-between struggling, haggling and arguing for parking space.
So clearly, Zeitz and his Board of Directors didn’t appreciate the lack of desire for world’s most desired V-Twins in a nation that rides till their butts are as good as horse-hooves. They wrapped up their statistics, numbers that don’t reveal their success and popularity and HOG rides in India—and overnight shutdown their Indian offices, abandoning their dealerships, showrooms and customers.
How does one ever build confidence in a company or a brand that acts in such a reckless, fickle-minded and rash method of business operations? Easy! Why not win over the trust of the most trusted Indian brand in India?
So, Zeitz & Co (because that’s all there is to Harley-Davidson legacy it seems) came up with a plan to make a comeback without coming back!
They franchised the Harley-Davidson badge to Hero MotoCorp, which is the world’s highest selling two-wheeler manufacturer. Originally, they had started as a partner to Honda under the brand Hero-Honda. A few decades ago, with liberalization and foreign direct investment being admitted to Indian coffers—Honda went for a solo seat and Hero decided to continue in its two-wheeler journey by coming up with their own models, designs, marketing and branding.
As recently as January 2024, Hero MotoCorp became the first Indian Factory Team to get a overall podium finish in the iconic Dakar Rally which had some grueling new stages such as ‘marathon’ stage and 48H chrono stage.
https://blog.bikernet.com/hero-motocorp-finally-gets-a-podium-finish-at-dakar-rally/
Alas, in Wonderland
So, clearly, this “Hero” was a survivor, innovator and competitor that suited the needs and ambitions of Harley-Davidson for India market. Volume sales was making Royal Enfield into a global player. Additionally, Bajaj two-wheeler brand of India had equity in global brands such KTM and Husqvarna. TVS produced BMW models in India. TVS also purchased rights to Norton while earlier Mahindra Group grabbed rights to BSA, Jawa and Yezdi. This Indian juggernaut was growing heads, wings and tails—expanding and offering a range of models for all mindsets and purposes of riding, in India and overseas.
BTW—did you know the origin of the word “juggernaut” comes from the Indian mythical God “Jagannatha’s” annual journey in the Holy city of Puri, Orissa in eastern India? “Jagannatha” literally means “Lord of the Universe”, i.e. Vishnu.
Since the Middle Ages, Europeans had been fascinated by accounts of the Ratha Yatra “Temple Chariot procession” at Puri, which claimed that pilgrims threw themselves under the wheels of the temple chariots which carried the idols of the Lord and his siblings. The gigantic chariot, its wheels and components are entirely made of wood and joined without any screws or metals.
The word juggernaut was contrived to refer to a literal or metaphorical force regarded as merciless, destructive, and unstoppable. This English usage originated in the mid-nineteenth century and was the early rendering in English of Jagannath, a very important deity in the Hindu pantheon and mythology of north-east India.
Hero MotoCorp itself probably knew that its homegrown rivals are growing at a brisk pace through technical and financial collaborations. It was a deal made in Heaven when Hero was appointed exclusive distributor for Harley-Davidson in India.
Wall Street and Americans themselves may have been vary of the deals with Hero in India and QJ Motors in China. Yet, the one in India made better noise in media –especially Indian media and that’s what matters to get sales numbers rising.
In China, Harley-Davidson released a 350cc model whereas for India, they decided that they gonna beat Royal Enfield by being neither 350cc nor 750cc (refer the formerly India-specific model called Harley-Davidson Street 750). Enfields were churned out at 350cc and 500cc engine power in fixed rigid designs, branding, sales and service. Then they stopped 500cc to promote their 650cc twin engines. Then suddenly they flooded the market with a dozen models, with multiple variants, having differing features and colors. All out of the V-Twin master’s playbook?
Well, Harley-Davidson decided, their India checkmate model will be 440cc, a weird number that Zeitz pulled out of his helmet.
Worse still, it won’t be a twin-engine, the very iconic emblem of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Why not reintroduce the Street 750 in an updated model? Well, that shite was buried with COVID dead bodies and Zeitz wanted a new playground in old territory.
Okay, yes, it ain’t as pretty as a Road King or Nightster or Iron48. Well, those are still available for sale at Harley-Daivdson dealerships in India run by Hero MotoCorp. So go grab it if that’s where your heart is. They are still prohibitively expensive, but then so is a Polaris Indian Chief or the Scout or a Triumph Bonneville.
Which is why we have the brainstorming between two giant brands to develop something that satisfies multitudes in the market.
At least its not a hogwash. It turned out to be a well-researched and thoroughly tested motorcycle which became a challenger to not just Royal Enfield, but many other brands within the 350+ segment –locally called under the trade term “middle-weight” motorcycles.
While Harley-Davidson is not known for a single-cylinder engine, they have had single-cylinder models till as recently as the 1970s.
https://youtu.be/aNkNzKcw2Ro?si=7wTO1wmeuCXJL_-M
Neither of the newly engaged business partners rushed to rehash a product of theirs for volume sales under the famous badge. It took three years of partnership to finally announce Harley-Davidson X440 to the world. Pre-bookings were surprisingly higher than expected –the price had suggested a low powered, poorly equipped motorcycle.
All that changed with the launch and media and fans getting to ride and post their reviews, video-logs and comments online.
I have to admit, launched on July 3, 2023, the motorcycle is not yet a common sight on urban roads which ply an Enfield at every end of the street. Once bitten, twice shy.
Buyers here buy for a very long-term. Then they also consider re-sale value. In-between it all, there needs to be assurance and consistency for maintenance, service and parts. All this is not very convincing from the better-half, Harley-Davidson, who upped and flew the cuckoo’s nest called Indian automotive market.
Hero MotoCorp is bearing the brunt of the crucifix, carrying the burden of past Karma of its partner, attempting to develop faith in the born-again brand and deliver a second-coming for its American friend in the improving economy & infrastructure of India.
How does this compete with the rapidly spreading, government-aided gospel of electronic vehicles?
Well, there have been explosions of EV scooters in India and fires on EV cars reported in the past. The EV subsidy was revoked and then re-evaluated. Stricter standards and demands were placed on EV manufacturers. While it is common to see EV two-wheelers and cars on the street, their penetration is solely urban. Why? Well, electricity is as much a privilege here as gasoline.
The nation imports 86% of its crude oil requirement, losing precious foreign exchange for it. Hence the push for sugarcane derived ethanol in petrol and solar power generation. Self-sufficiency is the motto but just as seen in Europe, it might ‘backfire’ and slow or stall the pace of industrial and economic growth of India and its people.
Will petrol and diesel disappear? Will there be a riot? Will all the billions of ICE vehicles in the world be collected and burnt in heaps reminiscent of book-burning mania of the Gestapo?
Hey, live or die, loss is the seemingly eternal feeling we have with possessions and people. Are you a person that cherishes what you buy or are you a modern brat who buys, breaks, throws away and buys again?
Don’t lose your dreams and ambitions! Only lose your cash once! Ride a vehicle that matters to you, that you can visualize riding free forever. The motorcycle offers cashback in terms of thrilling experience and epic memories.
Just as the Chinese made Harley-Davidson X350 was denied sale on American soil, ironically by Harley-Davidson USA, in the very same disembodied spirit, X440 is not allowed to be sold in USA.
While Americans are not allowed access to this vehicle, I believe the rest of Asia and even South America and Africa would love to ride this into new horizons, making record profits in the history of sales charts of nerds at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Well, they can’t all be square at the top brass, if they made this concept to rock and roll. As for segment leadership—no dice. That’s gonna take a while. Hero MotoCorp is rapidly re-hauling its existing showrooms and service centers to cater to X440 and other possible collaborations including the recently launched Hero Mavrick 440 which uses the same engine and trellis frame as X440.
Slowly but surely, people are getting interested in the X440. There is no widescale advertising and motion picture placement gimmicks. The only way to win over riders is to get them to ride. They need more test-ride vehicles is what I recommend from personal experience.
Will there be a second model from within this price and displacement range by Harley-Davidson? We are eagerly awaiting the next 4th of July hoping pre-bookings for something is announced by Harley-Davidson as the festive seasons starts from late August in India.
Buy it? Reasons? One, for the money’s worth. Two, for the show you will put on. Three, to get ready for your best riding experience for years to come. Now, go, cash it, go!
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