THE PERPLEXING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for February 1, 2018
By Bandit |
Hey,
This will be a week of reflection and panic over Harley’s Quarterly Report, the Kansas Plant shutdown and the State of the Union Speech.
Two things at play here. One is the nature of our media now, since everything is in real-time and negativity seems to be the order of the day. So, most reports are doom and gloom. That’s not the case.
The other notion is the fact that everything changes all the time. Companies are forced to navigate changing times, customers, and markets constantly. It’s not a big deal, but it’s the nature of the beast.
Bikers are a different breed. We’re going to have fun whether we have money or not. We’re going to build cool shit, whether we have parts or not. And we’re going to ride free whether they like it or not.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum. And the Smoke Out.
GEORGE CHRISTIE BACK IN THE NEWS— George is working with writer Richard LaPlante to produce a four-part, one-man show based on his book Exile on Front Street.
He has connected with Charles Lago and the producers at DTLA Entertainment. They published his first fiction book. We will bring you more news as production begins. They are looking for input and funds.
Charles Lago DTLA Entertainment
clago@DTLAent.com
+1 (310) 663-4226
EXECUTIVE & REGULATORY UPDATES – Infrastructure Plan Leaked, Chaos Ensues
Despite being on his checklist of priorities for the first 100 days of his presidency, President Trump has released few details on his infrastructure proposal…that is until now. And “released” probably isn’t the right verb to use. “Leaked” would be more applicable. The transportation world was abuzz this week when a 6-page document was obtained by a local D.C. news publication who promptly released it to the public.
It offers a glimpse of what may be the next major package of legislation Congress debates. (that is, after we figure out how to fund the government past February 8…ya know, no big deal!)
According to the document, there would be about $200 billion (that’s right, you saw a B and not an M) which would be divvied up to states (about half) rural infrastructure needs (about a quarter) with the remaining for “transformative” projects.
The other thing that caught many eyes? TOLLING. The leaked memo says that states should have the flexibility to collect interstate tolls and utilize toll for their infrastructure needs. This has been a big no, no – there is a current ban on tolling existing interstates with a few exceptions.
The Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates, of which the MRF is a member, quickly fired out a statement saying that if true, the plan is NOT good policy and they would actively fight against it.
The other rumor on the street? That a gas tax increase could help financing of the package. What are your thoughts on this? As citizens, drivers and most importantly RIDERS, I’d like to hear your perspective. Thumbs up or down on an infrastructure package? And if up, how do we pay for it? Tolling? Gas tax?
Charge it to America’s credit card? Shoot me an email to tell me your thoughts – remember, I work for YOU: Megan@mrf.org
RIDE FREE-
Megan Ekstrom
Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Write to Megan, if you have a minute. Infrastructure and the economy for the middleclass should be the first priorities for America. And I don’t think anyone should need to pay any more taxes. We are paying billions for other agencies including the DOT and the NHTSA and others responsible for infrastructure. We pay taxes that go to agencies that do little or nothing except ask for more money. It’s amazing. We need to get a handle on our run-away government. But what the hell do I know. I’m just a grubby biker.–Bandit
Couple of personal items – marvelous concept but luke warm on it because
of the chain – who wants to slop up this piece of art with chain lube not
to mention chain maintenance – easily could have been belt driven or
even shaft because I don’t see young crotch rocket jockeys buying this
but older experienced riders looking to do sport cruising and not chain
maintenance – also Yamaha really needs to put the effort in developing a
nice range of accessories to highlight the sport touring nature of this
beast – if they do at least that they may save some support for it
–PJ Karavlan
pjkaravlan@yahoo.com
Valencia, PA
Hi PJ,
Great insight. Thank you sharing. I hope the product teams at Yamaha pay attention to your voice.
–Ujjwal Dey
Most Magnificent Editor in Charge
Bikernet Trikes
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY BLONDE WING NOW OPEN–
This is the story of a poor blonde taking her first flying lesson, in a two-seater airplane with just the instructor: He has a heart attack and dies. She frantically calls a May Day: “May Day! May Day! Help me! Help me! My instructor had a heart attack and is dead, and I don’t know how to fly. Help me . . . Please!”
All of a sudden she hears a voice over the radio saying: “This is the tower. I have received your message and I will talk you through it. I’ve had a lot of experience with this kind of problem. Now, just relax. Everything will be fine ! Now give me your height and position. She says, “I’m 5′-4” and I’m in the front seat. “
” O.K. NOW ” …… says the clam voice from the tower. ” Repeat after me: Our Father… Who art in Heaven… “
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
PAT SAVAGE IS BORN TO RIDE– For the last 34 years, Pat Savage has graced the stage in many countries around the world with rock & blues artists such as The Doobie Brothers, Joe Cocker, Foghat, Saxon, Savoy Brown, Matt Guitar Murphy, Albert Collins, Uli Van Roth, Scorpions, Manfred Mann, Slade, Sweet, Uriah Heep, Steppenwolf, Molly Hatchett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, BB King, Marshall Tucker Band, Grand Funk, Georgia Satellites, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jeff Healey and Colin James to name but a few.
His latest tune is based on the movie Born to Ride. Hang On!
His song got my motor running this morning, along with a cup of coffee.–Rogue
$250,000 Policy Limit Settlement for College Student–Our client, a college student, was T-boned by a large truck in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The “Jaws of Life” were necessary to extract the victim from her vehicle due to the severity of the impact. The at-fault driver was inattentive and did not slow down prior to striking our client’s vehicle who had the right-of-way at the intersection.
The client was eventually air-lifted to a nearby hospital where her injuries included: two skull fractures, a brain hemorrhage, headaches, memory loss, balance issues, anxiety, back pain, neck pain, rib pain, bruising, and abrasions. Fortunately, the client made a full recovery and lives with no permanent physical injuries. At least not today.
After several months of negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, Attorney Benjamin Lynch obtained full policy limits and the amount of $250,000.00 was tendered. This settlement helped pay off all the client’s medical bills and put a sizable sum of money in her pocket for pain and suffering.
$250,000
–by Benjamin K. Lynch
1.of or relating to knowledge or the conditions for acquiring it.
— Michael Lynch, “Defending Science: An Exchange,” New York Times, March 11, 2012
THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN– A Jewish woman finds herself in serious trouble. Her business has gone bust and she’s in dire financial straits. She’s desperate, so she decides to ask God for help.
She begins to pray…”God, please help me. I’ve lost my business and if I do not get some money, I’m going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lottery.”
Lottery night comes, and somebody else wins.
She again prays . . .”God, please let me win the lottery ! I’ve lost my business, my house and I’m going to lose my car as well.”
Lottery night comes and she still has no luck.
Once again, she pray. My God, why have you forsaken me? I have lost my business, my house and my car . . . My children are starving. I do not often ask You for help, and I have always been a good servant to YOU. PLEASE let me win the lottery, just this one time, so I can get my life back in order.”
Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open. The Jewish blonde is overwhelmed by the Voice of God, Himself . .
. . .”Sweetheart, work with Me on this . . . . . . . . . . . Buy a ticket! “
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
MRF ALERTS–
STATE NEWS – Shout out to my Michigan Buddies
I made cracks about spending January in Lansing – turns out the joke was on me. ABATE of Michigan put on a solid show and conference and their members could NOT have been more welcoming to me. From asking insightful questions at the Saturday panel, to spending some serious $$$$ at the auction and raffle which also benefits the MRF and probably most importantly, plying me with jello shots and beer at the pool party, I had a great time. Thanks, Michigan for being one of the best.
I’m headed to Greensboro, North Carolina next. Excited to see that southern hospitality in action. Do you have any good pics to share from your state motorcycle events? Send them to Tiffany and she will feature them in our magazine or on social media. Here is her email: Editor@mrf.org or mrfoffice@mrf.org
MRF NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS –
You should have received a ‘Call to Action’ this week. This was a special one that comes directly from our Board Chairman and the legend himself, Kirk ‘Hardtail’ Willard. With the support of the MRF Board, he is asking that you (yes, YOU reading this) to take a few minutes to answer this 13 question survey about motorcycle profiling:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NMPS2018
This survey is being conducted by our friends at the Motorcycle Profiling Project and is intended to capture data from 2017.
You may not think completing this is important, but I assure you it very much is. The data that this survey captures helps paint a picture for us. It tells us if motorcycle profiling is on the rise (guess what, it is!) and where it is occurring. We take this data and turn it into advocacy talking points.
It helped get the anti-profiling resolutions introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives and is also helping to persuade more supporters. So please – help us, help you by taking a few minutes to complete the survey. Its totally anonymous and you should feel free to share the link with your friends/family and anyone who rides.
Until next time…
RIDE FREE-
–Megan Ekstrom
Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation
JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK– Cylinder Hold Down Nuts
These Cylinder Hold Down Nuts are an effective way to keep the cylinders in place when the heads are removed from the engine. This is particularly useful when installing the second cylinder over the piston and rings after the first cylinder has been installed, or when rotating the crankshaft for other work.
In any case, even a slight rocking of the cylinder can damage the base gasket or cause a cylinder to lift entirely off the cases. These Hold Down Nuts have different threads on each end to accommodate either the Milwaukee Eight or the Twin Cam.
With an MSRP of $71.50, you can’t go wrong. For more information please call us at (805) 482-6913, email us at sales@jimsusa.com, or visit www.jimsusa.com.
If you have any questions, please call me directly at (805) 482-6913.
–Greg Thiessen
Marketing Representative
JIMS
555 Dawson Drive,
Camarillo, CA 93012
Ph: 805-482-6913
www.jimsusa.com
NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT– The planet continues to cool after an El Niño induced string of warm years
By: Rob Bushway – Climate Depot
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/02/01/the-planet-continues-to-cool-after-an-el-nino-induced-string-of-warm-years/
From Dr. Roy Spencer: UAH Global Temperature Update for January, 2018: +0.26 deg. C Coolest tropics since June, 2012 at -0.12 deg. C. The Version 6.0 global average lower tropospheric temperature (LT) anomaly for January, 2018 was +0.26 deg. C, down from the December, 2017 value of +0.41 deg. C: The global, hemispheric, and tropical … Continue reading The planet continues to cool after an El Niño induced string of warm years
— gReader Pro
[page break]
AMA NEW ALERTS– National and Regional News
WASHINGTON, D.C. – WalletHub compiled its list of the best and worst states for driving in 2017. Using criteria including gas prices, congestion and 21 other data points, the company ranked Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and North Carolina the most motorist-friendly states. The worst areas for driving were Hawaii, Washington state, Maryland, California and Connecticut. The full list is available at www.wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-drive-in/43012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Valero Energy Corp, the largest American oil refiner, has left the Renewable Fuels Association due to cost cutting, a company spokeswoman said in a statement to Reuters. Valero has been lobbying to change the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, which dictates the amount of ethanol blended into the U.S. gasoline supply each year. The company spent nearly $750 million in 2016 to buy fuel credits to meet the mandate.
State News
SAN FRANCISCO – A motorcyclist involved in a crash with a self-driving car has sued General Motors. Motorcyclist Oscar Nilsson claims the GM Cruise Chevrolet Bolt changed lanes to the left. As he rode forward, the Bolt suddenly veered back into his lane, knocking him down. In a report GM filed with California Department of Motor Vehicles, the carmaker said the Bolt aborted the lane change and, as it was re-centering itself, Nilsson glanced the side of the car and fell over. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Custer Gallatin National Forest is preparing an environmental impact statement as part of its forest plan revision and has opened a 60-day comment period that ends March 5.
The revision effort is about halfway through its four-year process, and the team is seeking public comments from the public that are solution-oriented and can help to shape alternatives. The proposed action represents an interdisciplinary approach from many specialists across the forest, as well as consideration of input received from the public, other agencies, best available science and direction associated with the 2012 planning rule.
The draft EIS is expected in the autumn of 2018, and the final EIS is expected in the summer of 2019. Comments may be submitted electronically online at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50185. Written comments should be addressed to Custer Gallatin National Forest, Attn: Forest Plan Revision Team, P.O. Box 130, Bozeman, MT 59771. Comments may also be sent via email to cgplanrevision@fs.fed.us with subject line: “Comment draft plan, CGNF” or via facsimile to 406-587-6758.
PIERRE, S.D. – The state Supreme Court ruled in favor of Buffalo Chip City, meaning the 2015 vote to make the Buffalo Chip Campground and surrounding area a city was valid. The ruling reverses a circuit court finding that some of those voting for incorporation did not live at listed addresses and that the vote was invalid. Campground CEO Rod Woodruff and Meade County commissioners believe the city status will improve economic conditions at Buffalo Chip. The campground has evolved over the years into a mecca of motorcyclists attending the annual Sturgis rally.
SEATTLE – State troopers are cracking down on motorists under the new distracted driving law, which is the toughest such statute in the country. The Driving Under the Influence of Electronics law provides for a $136 fine just for holding a phone while driving. Drivers are allowed to touch a phone only to answer a call or start navigation. Holding a phone is prohibited while driving and while stopped in traffic or at a light or stop sign.
MADISON, Wis. – The state Department of Natural Resources is considering a plan to increase ATV access at three properties in the Northwoods area. In September 2017, the Natural Resources Board approved a recommendation from the DNR to evaluate several amendment requests the agency has received to provide all-terrain vehicle and utility terrain vehicle access across the Upper Wolf River Fishery Area and the Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area.
These trails would create linkages in the larger regional trail networks. The department has also received requests to construct a multi-use parking area at the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area to serve snowmobilers, ATV/UTVs, and boaters.
These facilities are not currently authorized by the respective master plans for these properties. In order for the trails and parking area to be constructed, the master plans would need to be amended to allow these uses. For initial information about the amendment process, search the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for “master planning” and click on the link for “Northwoods amendments.”
To comment, fill out the online questionnaires download the form and mail it in. Comments, either online or hardcopy, are due by Feb. 4.
Industry News
LINCOLN, Neb. – A bid to repeal the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law failed again this session when senators voted 30-15 to stop debate. The death of the bill (L.B. 368) means all motorcyclists and passengers riding in the state must wear DOT-approved helmets. Sen. John Lowe of Kearney said he may bring the bill back in 2019.
No Freedom of Choice there.
LAS VEGAS – Honda unveiled removable battery packs for its electric two-wheelers at the Consumer Electronics Show. The Honda PCX electric scooter was unveiled in October with two removable batteries under the seat, according to www. auto.ndtv.com. Now, Honda says those Mobile Power Packs can be shared with other machines. Honda uses the same batteries to power ATVs, an autonomous four-wheeled buggy and the PCX Electric scooter. All the vehicles use various numbers of the same battery pack.
LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio – The Ohio Controlling Board is considering a request to grant about $8 million in low-interest loans to the Transportation Research Center Inc. The center in East Liberty, Ohio, has served for decades as a 4,500-acre research site where manufacturers and engineers test prototypes of the newest sports cars, motorcycles and trucks long before they’re ever unveiled to the public.
According to the Springfield News-Sun, the Transportation Research Center began construction in the late 1960s to attract foreign automakers and new jobs to the state, a goal that was accomplished when Honda established a manufacturing facility nearby in the mid-1970s. But state lawmakers and other partners now see the TRC as a key asset to attract investment and even more high-tech auto research to the state.
MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson Motor Co. announced it will close its Kansas City, Mo., final assembly plant and move all its operations to York, Pa., by July 2019. Harley-Davidson President and CEO Matt Levatich said closing the Kansas City plant will eliminate 800 jobs. Meanwhile, 450 full-time, casual and contractor positions will be added at the company’s York facility.
WATERLOO, Ontario, Canada – Chemists at the University of Waterloo have announced a breakthrough that could boost battery performance for electric vehicles, according to a report at www.sciencedaily.com. The Waterloo team says the use of negative electrodes made of lithium metal holds the potential to dramatically increase battery storage capacity, which could triple the distance electric vehicles are able to travel on a single charge.
International News
GURUGRAM, India – Harley-Davidson India launched the Harley-Davidson University at Capital Harley-Davidson in Gurugram. The school will train Harley service personnel to work on the latest models of the company’s motorcycles. In addition to mechanic training, employees will be offered financial management and branding courses. The school is the company’s fourth in the Asian-Pacific region.
AMA News
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The AMA recognized its greatest champions and hardest-working organizers from the 2017 season on Jan. 20 during the AMA Championship Banquet at the Hilton Downtown Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. Cody Webb of Royal Oaks, Calif., was recognized as the AMA Athlete of the Year from National Championship Series competition.
The 2017 AMA Athlete of the Year from Grand Championship events was Justin Cooper, AMA Motocross Horizon Award Winner and AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.
Tayla Jones, who moved to North Carolina from Australia last year, was announced as the AMA Female Racer of the Year. She was the 2017 WXC Champion from the AMSOIL AMA Grand National Cross Country Series, the Women’s Pro Overall Champion from the AMA Full Gas Sprint Enduro Championship Series, and the Women’s Elite Champion from the AMA National Enduro Championship Series.
The 2017 AMA Vet Racer of the Year was Destry Abbott, who dominated his class in the 2017 AMA Endurocross National Championship Series.
The 2017 AMA Youth Racer of the Year was Ty Masterpool, who is the Supermini 1 (12-15) Champion and Supermini 2 (13-16) Champion from the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.
Top-three finishers were recognized from six regional championships and 21 national championships, representing all disciplines of AMA-sanctioned competition. More winners are listed at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Home/News-Story/american-motorcyclist-association-honors-2017-champions.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Tony Moseley won reelection to the American Motorcyclist Association Board of Directors in voting that ended Jan. 15. Moseley’s challenger for the South Central Region seat was Nancy Broen of Georgetown, Texas. “The motorcycling industry provided me a living, as well as a wonderful pastime, for 30 years,” Moseley said. “I’m happy to give back to the motorcycling community in any way I can by serving a second term on the Board.”
Moseley, of Fort Worth, Texas, has served on the AMA Board of Directors for three years. He is retired from Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A. His term expires in 2020.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Two AMA Road Captain workshops are being offered April 7 at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, covering various aspects of leading a group motorcycle ride. AMA EAGLES training also will be available that day.
AMA EAGLES (Education, Activism, Growth, Leadership, Expertise, Skills) is an advocacy and leadership program that empowers members with knowledge, tools and resources tailored to their interests. Through it, members learn about the AMA and become better grassroots activists, public relations representatives and membership advocates.
Two road captain sessions will be presented by AMA Recreational Riding Manager Heather Wilson: a morning session from 10 a.m. to noon and an afternoon session from 1-3 p.m. To register, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com/For-Members/AMA-Road-Captain-Workshop.
SPECTRO OIL FOR THE WINTER–
The Ultimate Winter Fluid Change to Protect, Extend Life and Keep Running at peak performance.
Engine Oil
Spectro Heavy Duty Platinum Full Synthetic 20w50
Spectro Heavy Duty 25w60
Spectro Heavy Duty 50W, 60W, 70W
Transmission Oil
Spectro Heavy Duty Platinum 6 Speed Transmission 75W 140 GL-5
Spectro Heavy Duty Platinum Sportster Transmission Lube 75W 140 GL-1
Spectro Heavy Duty Platinum Gear Oil 75W 140 GL-1
Spectro Heavy Duty Gear Guard 85W 140 GL-5
Chaincase Oil
Spectro Heavy Duty Primary Chaincase Oil – SAE 85
Brake Fluid
Spectro Heavy Duty DOT 5 Silicone
Fork Oil
Spectro Heavy Duty Fork Oil Type E / 20
Spectro Heavy Duty Fork Oil Heavy / 40
Spray Spectro 101 in the cylinders & to lube your cables
Use Spectro Fuel Conditioner to and Stabilizer to ensure top performance from season to season
Trusted and Endorsed by Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Baker Drivetrain, Jodi and Dave Perewitz, Nash Motorcycle Company, Top Suspension Manufactureres use our product, Speeds Performance Plus, Brass Balls, Brew Dude, Flat Track Racing Community and many more…
–Joe Russo
National Sales Manager
P: 203-775-1291 x108 C: 646-302-3484
W: www.spectro-oils.com F: 203-775-8720
We are working the Spectro Team on an article about transmission fluids. Watch for it soon on Bikernet.–Bandit
ROGUE’S MC TAKE OVER–
Bob has send Bikernet a shitload of pictures to over the years. On this photo here you see him with two Brother Speed members, but he also is friends with the old Easyriders crew and was involved with Easyriders breaking the land speed record on the Salt Flats.
Bob Tronolone is a good friend of the Brother Speed from Fucking Burley. The man has a long history of building and riding the most awesome choppers all over the US. We love photos from the ‘70s and Bob sent us a shitload today.
The pics show the freedom of the road, the brotherhood and the pride people had in building their own unique choppers in those days. Thanx a million, BOB!
The Rogues are a club with strong traditional bikervalues we try to relive those days of forgotten bikerhood as best as we can. More Bob T photos later.
The Rogues is a 50-year-old club from Holland, but we still sent this to Rogue the Supreme Senior Editor of Bikernet.com for his approval.
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BIKERNET NEGOTIATING SEMINAR–
A lawyer with a wife and 12 children needed to move because his rental agreement was terminated by the owner, who wanted to reoccupy the home.
The lawyer was having a lot of difficulty finding a new house.
When he said that he had 12 children no one would rent a home to him, because they felt that the children would destroy the place. He couldn’t say that he had no children, because he couldn’t lie; we all know lawyers cannot and do not lie.
So he sent his wife for a walk to the cemetery with 11 of their kids.
He took the remaining one with him to see rental homes with the real estate agent.
He loved one of the homes and the price was right — the agent asked:
“How many children do you have?
He answered: “Twelve.”
The agent asked, “Where are the others?”
The lawyer, with his best courtroom sad look answered,
“They’re in the cemetery with their mother.”
MORAL:
It’s not necessary to lie, one only has to choose the right words…
and don’t forget….
most politicians are, unfortunately, lawyers.
–from Sam Burns
POEM OF THE MONTH– Biker
The bar was packed, booze did flow,
shots of Jack Daniels, doing some blow.
Striker was out for an evening of fun,
planning to party and greeting the sun.
Music was blasting, the band played on,
dancing and rocking into the dawn.
Leather clad women moved wildly in dance, leather clad men had thoughts of romance.
Tattoos and patches on vests were seen, knives and guns concealed by the mean.
Drop of a word or look the wrong way,
fists would fly, turn into a fray.
Smokey room seemed to spin and twist,
for Striker a party he could not resist.
Barmaids were serving and taking his lip,
long as his money included a tip.
Two A.M. and the bar must close,
Striker was drunk as often he chose.
Walked to his bike, kicked it to start,
shook his head clear, he prepared to depart.
Onto the highway deserted and dark,
the cold air was manna light as a lark.
His motor did rumble the pulse of the night,everything felt so perfectly right.
The center line guided Striker this night,
till suddenly blinded by oncoming light.
Unable to see in the blinding flare,
there were no seconds for him to spare.
He pulled on the bars, hard to the right,
racing at speed into the night.
His bike it did wobble out of control,
whiskey and speed going to take it’s toll.
The bike went down sliding to ditch,
his next thought, “Ain’t this a bitch.”
Came mornings’ dawn in flashes of red,
cop said “ DUI, this one is dead”.
–Robert Gene Stoner Jr ©
THIS JUST IN FROM CHOPPERTOWN– We’re pleased to say that your Dice Digital Issue 77 is ready. Thanks for supporting Dice and Choppertown by being a subscriber.
Remember: This link is for SUBSCRIBERS ONLY. Your support keeps Choppertown and Dice going, please ask your friends to get their own subscription so we can continue bringing this wonderful magazine to you.
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Have a great week and enjoy! Stay independent.
–Zack, Scott, Dean, and Matt (forever)
Dice Digital Issue 77
WHEEL DEAL OF THE WEEK– We Must Sell 100 Wheels in 3 Days
We are cutting prices and making the best deals of the year to make sure we meet our goal! If you were quoted an earlier price, chances are in the next 3 days we can beat it.
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RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS IN FLORIDA
A Recent Poll Shows 80% of those responding Favor Restoring Voting Rights.
Thoughts on ex-felons and voting
Marshall Frank makes a strong case that any citizen who cannot present a physical photo ID should not be allowed to vote.
Frank does not address the question of the 1,500,000 Floridians, more than in any other state, who are prohibited from voting because at some point in their past they were arrested for a felony and lacked the money to hire a personal lawyer to get the charges reduced or restore their rights.
Are we willing to work as hard to restore the rights of 1.5 million Floridians who are currently disenfranchised, as 48 other states already do, as we are to prevent a single citizen without a photo ID from voting?
–Daniel Woodard, Merritt Island
–from Rogue
NEWS FROM TERRY COMPONENTS– Terry Components now offers a rebuild kit for the “Reverse Motor” in all Harley-Davidson Tri-Glides.
Included in the kit are: a new armature, a new field assembly (magnets), a new brush cap, and a new planetary gear shield. Terry Components reverse motor rebuild kits make it easy and economical to repair the Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide back-up motor.
This kit retails for $300.00. Included in every kit is Terry Components traditional “Quality and Performance.” Dealer inquiries welcomed. For all further information please visit your local Drag Specialties dealer or contact Terry Components direct at:
TERRY COMPONENTS
2916 East 4th Ave
Spearfish SD 57783
605 642- 5300
INSPIRATIONAL WORDS FROM THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN—
The Brave Create Destiny
The weak rely on destiny
The kind respect destiny
The wise change destiny
–Venerable Master Hsing Yun
ARCH MOTORCYCLES COMES TO A SQUARESPACE–
If you haven’t already heard, website building platform Squarespace is bringing a motorcycle riding Keanu Reeves to the Big Game. After weeks of Keanuisms and teasers, we’re thrilled to finally share our 5th consecutive Super Bowl ad with you.
As a longtime customer, Keanu brings the authentic story of building his company’s website, Arch Motorcycle, on Squarespace, while encouraging viewers to get out there, and make their own dreams happen.
*inspired, aren’t you? (and yes, he actually did that stunt)
–Amber
STATE OF THE UNION REVIEW– I will admit that I had pretty much stopped watching the State Of The Union speech during the past administration, but I am very Happy that I did last night to see and hear what President Donald Trump had to say at his first one.
I have been involved in politics since the late ‘60s fighting for Motorcycle Rights and other issues. Some years were good and others not so good. One must work with those in office and make the best of it.
I am one of the people that are Happy that Donald Trump is now the president. He made some promises during his campaign that the majority of the people in the last election liked and voted him into office. I do believe he is trying his best to keep his promises.
I like what he has done for veterans and I can say I for one have personally been affected by his actions. I agree with what he has done at the EPA but hope he will go further with issues pertaining to motorcycles. I am very interested in his infrastructure plans and hope they include motorcycles and with Vice President Pence and other elected officials riding motorcycles that should help.
Yes I am also interested in all the other subjects and we have plenty of people working on them. I will continue to work on motorcycle issues and am interested in what other motorcycle riders would like addressed. I also hope motorcycle riders will get involved with Bikers For Trump as a way to accomplish this.
–ROGUE
Supreme Commander Editor
Bikernet Baggers
[page break]
BIKE SHOW NEWS, Swiss-Custom is bringing the Rat’s Hole award to Europe– The Swiss-Custom Customizing and Tuning Show, staged at Swiss Moto (Zurich, February 22-25, 2018) has partnered with The Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show in the USA, with one of the “sought-after Rat’s Hole Trophies being awarded in Europe for the very first time – with the newly appointed Best-of-Show Bike from the 2017 Sturgis Rally also on display.”
After several years of successful cooperation with the biggest customizing show in the Middle East (Custom Show Emirates), Swiss-Custom says it has “set a further milestone with this new cooperation.
“An award from the Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show is regarded as a veritable Oscar in the customizing scene. For many years now, hundreds of thousands of motorcycle fans have been descending on the two Rat’s Hole shows at Daytona and Sturgis, and with this new cooperation bike builders and customizing fans in Europe will now be able to marvel at customizing art from America too.”
In addition, the overall winner of the Swiss-Custom Bike Show will be given a trip to the Custom Show Emirates 2018 in Abu Dhabi (March 30 – April 1). Visitors can look forward to the European premiere of the unique Sturgis Best of Show bike “Dyslexia”, by Hawke Lawshe of Vintage Technologies in Montana.
www.swiss-moto.ch
–from the AMD
BIKERNET TRIKES READER QUESTION– HAWG EFX RUNNING BOARDS: Lehman Trikes
Will these running boards soon be available for the 2018 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide, and where in Florida can I order them through if possible.
–Terry Frankcom
t.l.frankcom@gmail.com
Zephyills Florida, FL
I would highly recommend getting in touch with them. Tell them Bikernet sent you. They have a great dealer network across America.
Dealer List: http://www.lehmantrikes.com/dealers/search/
11841 Monarch Street
Garden Grove, Ca 92841-2110
USA
E-mail: customerservice@championsidecars.com
Toll Free: 1-800-875-0949
Fax: 714-847-1539
–Ujjwal Dey
Grand Emperor Editor
Bikernet Trikes
BOOK OF THE WEEK CLUB– Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress Hardcover – February 27, 2018
by Steven Pinker (Author)
#1 Best Sellerin Violence in Society
See all 4 formats and editions
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–Joe Teresi
Grand Marshall Publisher
Paisano Publications
April 7th is the date of the VNV M/C North Carolina Fischer House Ride to raise money for the Fischer House in Ft. Bragg NC
— Iron Mike VNV M/C North Carolina
IronMikeVNVMC@hotmail.com
Ellijay, GA
Thanks Mike. –Bandit
NEW FROM REVIVAL– Welcome the new Revival Wishbone, which started as a 2006 BMW R1200S. Head over to our website to see the build process with more photographs and details on this bike!
Feeling inspired? Watch this. The “How to Wire Your Motorcycle” Tech Talk walks you through the theory and practice of wiring your motorcycle. We even include a downloadable Electrical System Checklist with recommendations and links to all the referenced parts.
The INDIAN LARRY parts line has been widely celebrated throughout the years. Our attention to detail, craftsmanship, quality materials and folks who know what they’re doing, make our parts unbeatable.
We’re constantly working toward better for our customers and are excited to bring you new parts in the new year. While we work on that, take a look at our tried and true famous parts that you’ve come to relay on. Its never too late to finally grab those Triple Trees you’ve been eyeing, or how about that Derby Cover?
Whatever the part, get it here!
30% – 40% Off ALL Parts
Today – Friday February 2, 2018
Originally $240
SALE $160
The Indian Larry Push-rod Collars fit any Harley Davidson OHV style engine 1936 & up, polished brass for authentic vintage look.
RARE CAR SPOTTED IN THE GHETTO– The Fisker Karma, 2012. Hybrid. Fisker went bankrupt— battery supplier went under– was sold to a Chinese firm. They produce the successor: the Karma Revero.
We spotted it in the Wilmington harbor ghetto while shooting the 5-Ball Panhead project for the bastard Bandit. The shoot is destined for the pages of Cycle Source Magazine.
The one we saw is the Fisker Karma. Karma Revero is the one now produced by the Chinese owner. Gull wing doors, etc.
Headquarters, Anaheim. Manufactured: Delaware.
–Markus Cuff
DEALS OF THE WEEK– While we live and breathe four wheels, our affection towards motorcycles is undeniable as well. Here is a brief sampling of some of the two-wheeled offerings we currently have at the LBI stable.
1974 John Player Norton Commando
Inquire For Price
1 of approximately 200 produced worldwide, a highly original, thoroughly sought-after motorcycle.
INQUIRE
2005 MV Agusta F4 1000
Offered at: $12,000
A superb example of one of Tamburini’s iconic creations and showing a mere 245 miles from new.
VIEW OFFERING
2003 Ducati 999S
Offered at: $10,000
Well documented with one-owner history and showing just over 2,000 miles from new.
VIEW OFFERING
•1975 Norton Commando MKIII – 2100 miles from new, a true time capsule.
•1975 Norton Commando MKIII – Desirable “JPN” color scheme, 16K miles.
•1977 Harley Davidson XLCR – One owner from new, barn find.
•1975 BMW R75/6 – Black, one owner, barn find, 12K miles from new.
•1985 BMW K100 – Silver, 2500 miles from new, highly original.
•1993 Ducati Superlight – Yellow, desirable MK I specifications, #778.
•1995 Ducati Supersport – Red, 12K miles from new, #574.
Many other motorcycles privately available in a wide variety of conditions and price ranges.
Inquire
Interested In Consigning A Motorcycle?
Here at LBI Limited, we take great pride in our ability to provide top-tier marketing services and tailored content to achieve exceptional, market correct results for your vehicle. If you have a motorcycle you are interested in consigning or have any questions regarding the process, please get in touch with a specialist below.
LEARN ABOUT THE CONSIGNMENT PROCESS
Contact a Specialist
PROPOSED TV Series: “ATK Motorcycles”, the other American Motorcycle Brand that Defies all Odds.
ATK Motorcycles, America’s only Dirt Bike manufacturer is now poised to expand its winning traditions on a TV reality series that will follow the daily commotion of what happens at ATK Motorcycles.
The series will take viewers on what actually occurs along the way; from the initial concept of a new motorcycle, engineering, designing, developing, testing, crashing, marketing and manufacturing and then finally selling that motorcycle somewhere on planet earth.
ATK will ask for the viewers for their input on what they want to ride and ATK will manufacturer it. This will be a first in the motorcycle industry. Along the way viewers will be a part of the epic rides on the open asphalt roads, discovering special places with biker history along with viewing impressive off-road trails, sand dunes, snow peaks on snow-bikes that only a few people have ever seen.
Along the track, ATK will link up with the special VIP’s in the biker-world, from the legendary chopper guys to the world champion motocross champions who all share the same passion for motorcycling and how it changed their lives.
The series will also pick up along the way some special actors, celebrities’ and yes, even a few politicians, who are true bikers to make the series a little controversial and fun.
Each episode will have various roadblocks, cliffs and sand washes with different hero’s in the cast overcoming these obstacles in making ATK a success against the mighty Goliath’s in the motorcycle industry. Everyone wants an underdog and ATK is just that by defying all odds. Every episode will include a special motorcycle give away to the viewers in being with the cast of ATK.
If you want to help, contribute or know more contact Frank White, ATK motorcycles.
–Frank White
frank.white@atkusa.com
THE MOST WONDERFUL WORD OF THE DAY FROM THE BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH PROFESSOR–
[ad ab-sur-duh m]
adverb
1.
“Oh, if any argument’s pushed ad absurdum …” Fido controls her temper.
In Latin ad absurdum is a prepositional phrase composed of the preposition ad “to” and the neuter singular adjective absurdum “out of tune, harsh, rough; senseless, silly.” In English the phrase is used as an adverb and is still unnaturalized. Ad absurdum entered English in the mid-17th century.
Polaris Reports 18 Percent Fourth Quarter Increase in ’17– Polaris Industries Inc. has reported record fourth quarter 2017 sales of $1.431 billion, up 18 percent from $1.218 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016.
“I am proud of the Polaris team and excited to see their dedication and hard work pay off as we returned the company to sustainable profitable growth in 2017. Indian Motorcycles massively outperformed the motorcycle industry, building on its existing momentum with a flood of product news and a very successful year on the race track.
“We accelerated North American demand for side-by-sides throughout the year led by strong retail sales of RANGER and Polaris GENERAL along with increased international sales growth in all regions outside North America. Additionally, we made significant investments and improvements in our people, processes, product innovation and quality, which led to notable execution improvements in our Off-Road Vehicle business, marked progress on the TAP integration, and a substantial upgrade of our quality control systems and infrastructure,” commented Scott Wine, Chairman and CEO of Polaris Industries.
Motorcycle segment sales, including PG&A, totaled $103 million, saw a decrease of two percent compared to $104 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2016 which included $25 million of Victory Motorcycle whole-good, accessory and apparel sales. Indian Motorcycles whole-good sales increased in the high-single digit percent range in the fourth quarter, while Slingshot sales more than doubled.
Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $5 million compared to $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Adjusted for the Victory Motorcycles wind-down costs of $3 million, motorcycle gross profit was $8 million, up from the fourth quarter last year due to higher sales volume for both Indian Motorcycles and Slingshot and lower warranty costs.
UNCLE MONKEY ON GETTING OUT OF DODGE– For many people they reach a point in their life when they are looking for a change of scenery, a chance to get out of Dodge for once and for all. It can be tempting to see green pastures and hope for the best.
The first thing you have to ask yourself is why you want to move. For many they look at it as a fresh start, a chance to rid themselves of bad habits, bad acquaintances.
The problem with running away from your problems is that often you’re at least 50% responsible for those problems. If your an addict moving somewhere else isn’t going to magically solve your problem because you will gravitate to those same people, same additions in a new place.
A change in scenery doesn’t solve problems and in fact will probably amplify them. That applies to a wide variety of things. If you are a shy introvert you will not suddenly because out spoken extrovert. If you are fed up with homeless you will find homeless people whereever you go.
Hate immigrants, no matter where you go you’ll find immigrants. The only way to stop this is to deal with those issues at home, kick your demons to the road before you hit the road. Once you learn to live what your idea of a prefect life is at home, only then should you consider moving.
For those of us who have our lives together the temptation of green pastures must always be measured. For my friend Bandit wanting to move to the Black Hills it makes a lot of sense. I love riding the canyons, Badlands and the mountains like everyone else. But that is in the summer.
Winters are long and cold and there is no riding for those months. For those like me who grew up in the snow-belt we know how to adapt. We spend the days in the garage building bikes, maybe out skidooing. Some it is wood working or writing the next American novel.
Nights are spent curled up with a good book, good bourbon, and a good woman. The world closes in around you and you bunker down for the winter. It is something a California boy has to accept.
On the other side Mrs. Monkey and I would love to move to sunny California but as Canadians we’re use to universal healthcare, responsible gun laws and good solid education none of which the US is particularly strong at or even have some understanding the concepts of.
So there you have it. If you’re moving to get away from something – don’t. If you’re moving because the grass is greener – look at everything, 365 days of the year to see if those May flowers are still there in October.
Chances are, all you need to do is water your own lawn for a while. If you’re moving for adventure, the anticipation of the unknown – what are you waiting for – do it.
-bad Uncle Monkey
Yes, adventure. I’m going next month to look at properties.
THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL WIDE OPEN– Two well-dressed ladies happened to start up a conversation during an endless wait in the Toronto Airport Terminal. The first lady was an arrogant Torontonian married to a wealthy business man. The second was a well-mannered elderly woman from Timmins. After a little while the Toronto woman started by saying, ” When my first child was born, my husband built a beautiful mansion for me.”
“The lady from Timmins commented, ” Well, isn’t that fantastic? ”
The first woman continued, ” When my second child was born, my husband bought me a beautiful Mercedes-Benz. “
Again, the lady from Timmins commented,” Well, isn’t that fantastic? ”
The first woman went on, ” Then, when my third child was born, my husband bought me this exquisite diamond bracelet.”
Yet again, the Timmins lady commented, ” Well, isn’t that fantastic? ”
The first woman then asked, ” What did your husband buy for you when you had your first child? “
“My husband sent me to charm school, ” declared the Timmins lady.”
“Charm school?” the first woman cried, “What on earth could they teach you??”
The Timmins lady responded, “Well as an example… Instead of saying, “Who gives a Fuck?” I learned to say, “Well, isn’t that fantastic?
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
WOW, GOT TENTATIVE FOR A MINUTE— Sometimes the news kicks my ass and more keeps coming.
We have lots of exciting stuff coming up including a wet T-shirt competition in the Sunday Post this weekend, if you are a Cantina Member. Yes, we will launch a Sunday Post before we head out to a Super Bowl party. We’re dedicated.
Next week we will bring you Cleveland Show Winners. Then is have a report on the notorious Oklahoma swap meet. And from the AMA the history or women riders with historic shots from Bob T.
Don’t forget the David Mann Chopperfest in Ventura this Sunday.
We finished Grandson Frank’s Dyna and shipped it to Larry Settle’s Custom Bikes in Harbor City for a final tune and another set of eyes on the completed bike.
Keep the faith and keep riding free.
–Bandit
HOT ACTION BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for February 7, 2018
By Bandit |
Hey,
Hot action everywhere. Robert Pandya should add events to his study list. There are more events on the Calendar for 2018 than ever before.
The David Mann Chopperfest in Ventura, California on Super Bowl Sunday was bigger than ever. Easyriders Columbus finals are coming up. Builders recently flew to Japan for Mooneyes. The Colorado Motorcycle expo, which was closed because of a shooting, re-opened and was strong. Hell, Art Hall is back in Thailand for Bike Week and Australian shows are popping up like crazy.
Racing is stronger than ever before with Speedway, flat track, Land Speed attempts at Bonneville and Brazil. Shit is happening fast and furious. There are now motorcycle tours to the far reaches of the earth. It’s non-stop.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum and don’t miss the Smoke Out.
BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL EDITOR BACK IN THAILAND– Back in Thailand for the 22nd annual BIke week. Some 20-30,000 attend. Big show !!
Look just above the number 2 on the official Bike Week T-shirt. Amazing.
–Art Hall
Senior Bikernet International Correspondent Overseas
Let Me Break it Down for You: BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY
Hey, you, yeah, YOU reading this. Are you coming to Bikers Inside the Beltway on May 14 & 15? If not then you can skip this article, but you also should reevaluate your decision making because Bikers Inside the Beltway (aka BITB) is one of the MRF’s best events and is a good time for all.
Okay, if you are still reading this and you are confirmed to attend BITB or thinking about attending then you are going to want to absorb the following. Even if you are a long-time attendee – there is some good stuff you need to know. I am going to offer you a roadmap of what to do and how to do it as you prepare for BITB. Play along….
1. Register to attend! WHEN? ASAP!!!!
There’s no cost to you, but you do need to let us know you are coming because we need to make sure we have enough materials/space/etc. You can register at https://mrf.org/events/ or by calling 202-546-0983
2. Book Your Hotel WHEN? By April 15
We have 2 options for you – The Best Western in Falls Church for $125/night OR the Governor’s House Inn at $89/night. They are across the street from each other and a quick ride into the Capitol. Also, we’ll hold our prep session here on Monday night, May 14.
3. SCHEDULE Appointments with your Elected Officials WHEN? Start on April 16!
Okay, guys – this is the most important one. No more “drop bys” which many groups have done in the past. They are nowhere near as effective as scheduling an in-person meeting with the Member of Congress or staffer. Don’t know how to go about doing that? We’ve got you covered, so NO EXCUSES. See more on this below….
Upon registering for the event (see item #1!) we will provide you with a list of contact information for your state’s delegation. It has very useful information like their phone number, email address, and location.
USE THIS
Email the contact person for the office you want to meet with – don’t know what to say? Don’t worry, the contact information sheet incudes language you can simply COPY & PASTE into an email. Easy peasy.
Rather call instead? No problem. Call the phone number listed for the office you want to meet with and say, “I am going to be in Washington, DC on May 15 and would like to schedule a meeting with the Congressman (or Senator) related to motorcycling.” The receptionist will take it from there which may be sending an email (see above) or by connecting you to the SCHEDULER (that’s basically the secretary) who will either give you a time for a meeting or connect you to the appropriate staff person.
If they direct you to a staff meeting you’ll want to say: “If the Congressman (or Senator) is unavailable, I would be willing to meet with the staffer who handles transportation issues.” Then pick a time. Write it down. Carry on.
If you try to group your meetings by building, its going to save you a LOT of walking.
One more helpful hint – for those of you with large delegations for which you can’t possibly see all in one day, pick those Representatives where a constituent (that’s someone who lives in their district) will be present for the meeting.
Still have time to see more folks? Ask me who you think you should make an appointment to see. I can steer you towards the Representatives or Senators where you’re more likely to make headway on the issues.
4. Find a Way to Get to Washington, D.C.
Fly, train, walk or RIDE – we need you here by Monday, May 14 at 7:00pm. We’ll gather together, go over the issues, provide you with handouts to distribute during your meetings and answer any questions. The early Tuesday morning, we’ll be KSU and headed to the Capitol.
This year we’re also hosting a “debrief” session at the local American Legion just a couple blocks from the Capitol. Starting at 3pm you can drop by, download on your meetings, have a drink and some food courtesy of our BITB sponsors and compare notes and any follow-up that’s necessary.
If you’ve got more questions just drop me a line….
Via email megan@mrf.org
Via landline 202-546-0983
Via text message 202-725-5471
SEE YOU IN WASHINGTON, D.C.!
-Megan Ekstrom,
Vice-President Government Affairs & Public Relations, Motorcycle Riders Foundation
I was hoping to get confirmation that GL-5 does or does not cause problems with bronze bushings in older Harley transmissions. I have heard it will cause flaking of the bronze, or something like that, and should be avoided.
–Joe savino
jsavino@gdeb.com
Groton, CT
Yes, some GL-5 fluids can be a problem with soft, old bronze or brass components; however, the additive we use has a passivator in it that prevents
adverse reactions.
— John Dunne
Master Oil Scientist
Spectro Oils
BAKER DRIVETRAIN PRODUCT OF THE MONTH– Never miss neutral again…
Have you ever been frustrated searching for neutral between 1st and 2nd gears, or unintentionally catch neutral when making an aggressive 1-2 shift? The BAKER N1 Shift Drums have neutral all the way at the bottom of the shift lever travel instead of between 1st and 2nd gears, making it easier than ever to find neutral and ensuring you’ll only hit neutral when you want to.
The N1 drum is also popular with hand-shifting bikes where finding neutral without doubt or error is critical to safety or riding/looking smooth. N1 drums are available for applications in transmissions between 1952-2017.
I have one on the 5-Ball Racing Factory Racer, which is a tank shift. It saves the day constantly.—Bandit
NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT– Nice to see a real science explanation instead of one from or influenced by politicians
Computing power over the last 30 years has advanced at an incredible rate. And yet, one long-term climate prediction after another – all based on computer models – has been wrong. Why?
Emeritus Professor of Physics at Princeton University Will Happer explains the crux of the problem and what climate scientists do to get around it.
–from Rogue
Emeritus Editor Supreme
Bikernet Baggers
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– Man in a hot air balloon is lost over Iowa. He looks down and sees a farmer in the fields and shouts to him, “Where am I?”
The farmer looks back up and shouts back. “You’re in a basket you dumb shit!”
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
Ridin’ Out Winter Party 2/24 Serb Hall 5pm-12midnight– The Ridin’ Out Winter Party is on Saturday 2/24/18 at American Serb Hall (5101 W. Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee).
Party starts at 5pm with Raffles, 50/50’s, ABATE Product sales, free beer, and soda (cash bar available). We will have 200 Chicken Dinners available starting at 6pm for Only $4 each (Thank You to Hupy & Abraham, SC), and availble until 9pm or sold out. Dinners will be “extra good” this year.
Live music will start at 8pm with the Sociables rockin the house, and special guest appearance by Cadillac Pete (you gotta hear this). Band will be playing until 12midnight, when the Party is over.
Hotel Rooms are available at Comfort Suites located at 6362 S. 13th street (I-94 & College Ave). Call to Reserve your Room 414-570-1111 ask for ABATE Discount of $77 + tax (rooms & rate available until 2/12). This includes breakfast, a small happy hour, and Shuttle to/from our ROWParty at Serb Hall. Shuttle times will be pre set-up when you arrive at Hotel (probably 5:30pm shuttle to Party). Please do Not drink and drive, use this Hotel and Shuttle to enjoy the Party to it’s fullest.
We are collecting Raffle Items from our Milwaukee area Harley-Davidson dealers and many Business’s right now. Our big row of Bucket Raffle’s always has awesome items to win including; collectables, bottles of booze, signs, gift certificates, tickets, etc, etc. If you have anything to donate please contact me or an ABATE Milwaukee member to pick-up. Everything is very much appreciated. We need Items now, please help collect / donate to our raffles for this party.
Advanced tickets are $12 each , and still only $15 at the door to enter. This event is our fundraiser for ABATE of Wisconsin put on by the members of Region 1A Milwaukee. I appreciate everyone that takes time to work a shift or 2 (we ask all to Buy a Ticket to enter, even though you help work the Event).
This is the 10th Anniversary of the ROWP, and could be the last Party. Volunteers and attendence are all contributing factors. All funds go to ABATE of Wisconsin, protecting your right to ride a Motorcycle. We need you to attend this event to make it sucessful. I hope to see you there.
–Tiger Beyer
WORDS FROM THE LOUISE HAYES MOUNTAIN– One of our main struggles is creating the life we want.
People may tell us, “Just go out and do what you want to do!” Sounds like such a simple thing to do, right?
When we practice loving ourselves, we develop a certain trust that brings us closer to creating and living the life we want.
For some of us, this is easier said than done.
If you’re finding that you can’t get past your fears and negative emotions and it is holding you back, then you’re denying your soul’s purpose. You’re denying yourself happiness.
There are many ways to help you along your journey to creating the life you want. Here are 3 of Louise’s favorite tools for releasing fear and finding your courage:
Meditation. There is no better way than to relax, breathe and rest your thoughts. This is a great time to practice affirmations and reflect on what you want for your life.
Practice Mirror Work. Looking into your eyes and expressing your true feelings is a great way to discover underlying issues and dealing with them.
Practice Tapping. Nick Ortner taught Louise to release or dissolve problems of all sorts through the process of Tapping. And Louise found Tapping to be delightful!
I encourage you to practice loving yourself often because it’s the best way to get closer to who you are. If you have not tried Tapping yet, you can Google Nick and try it out.
Many times we find that doing inner work can sometimes take courage to connect with the fears that hold us back in order to release them. The Tapping technique on its own or even combined with affirmations can help you let go of your negative self-talk and love yourself.
I claim my own power, and I lovingly create my own reality.
–Reid Tracy
CEO
FRANK JR. DYNA GLIDE BACK ON THE ROAD— We published a couple of reports and ultimately we will produce a feature on the completed and repaired Dyna. It was a mess, and now it has a completely upgraded suspension system, now Zipper’s Thundermax EFI, Lindby crash bar and Love Jugs for cooling.
What do you think?
–Bandit
[page break]
TRAILBLAZERS NEWSLETTER BANQUET UPDATE–
DUES ARE DUE IN APRIL
Our year runs from banquet to banquet. If you attend the banquet, you are a member automatically. No need to pay dues. For those not attending the banquet you can pay $10.00 on line at:
www.trailblazersmc.com or by check at:
Trailblazers
% MIC Inc.
2 Jenner Ste 150
Irvine, CA 92618
JOHN PENNER R.I.P.
Brian Slark wrote with deep regret that John Penner passed away on January 28. John was one of the first Americans to go to Europe and ride Motocross. He was an active desert rider. The California scene will miss his presence greatly. R.I.P. my friend.
John was run over by a drunk driver in Wrightwood several months ago and never recovered. He was well known and loved. Condolences to his wife Karen, their family and friends.
THE TUXEDO IS BACK!
By Don Emde
The tuxedo is back! And so is Larry Huffman. The Trailblazers are proud to announce that Larry Huffman will be the emcee of this year’s 74th annual Trailblazers banquet, set for Saturday, April 7th in Carson, CA. Huffman, who is both a Trailblazers as well as AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, is world famous for his long running career as a motorcycle race announcer, commentator and voice of countless commercials on radio and television, and much more.
Famous for his trademark tuxedo outfit, Larry will again “suit up” for this year’s banquet, where he will be joined by Trailblazers president, Don Emde, for a night of award presentations and recognition of some special motorcycling friends. While tickets for the banquet are currently sold out, there is a waiting list you can get on by contacting Judy at: mctrailblazers01@gmail.com
PROPOSED MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM IN ORANGE COUNTY
It’s in the works .Todd Huffman and Rick Doughty are behind this project and has been working on it for over three years. “The International Moto Collective” will be a motorcycle-themed museum and event center located in or near Anaheim and it is included in Anaheim Resorts and Platinum Triangle.
Todd is a film and TV producer/director and Rick is Owner of Vintage Iron and one of the country’s leading motorcycle restoration experts. We are looking forward to following their progress. Article in Issue 4 of www.CycleNews.com
PHOTOS! OLD ELSINORE /PERRIS AND MORE
Take a look at Manuel Burton’s photos. He was track photographer at Perris.
www.faphoto.com
ODD REQUEST
We received an email from a motorcycle magazine in China, looking for part time correspondents. According to them, C2W Magazine was established in 2007 and is the only one-world-oriented motorcycle media in China. The only criteria is passion for motorcycles. (and I suppose you need to know how to write) (or maybe not) http://www.china2wheels.com or andrea@china2wheels.com.
PRADO RACEWAY SUBMITTED TO PLANNING COMMISSION
Specific Plan No. 396 has been submitted to establish the development of an off-road motorsports facility. Also on the application is a General Plan Amendment, Conditional Use Permit and an Environmental Impact Report.
The project is located at 11091 Highway 71 on approximately 163 acres. Consists of nine racetracks for varying ages& expertise levels, car and RV parking, concession stands, restrooms, seating, office and drainage. It doesn’t say what kind of tracks, but it would be nice to have an oval.
You can look this up on line under Prado Raceway. Applicant is EBR Motorsports, Bradley N. Etter. Thank you Mr. Etter. Chino Hills has some concerns, so it may not be a slam dunk. The best of luck.
OLD SCHOOL SCRAMBLES TT SCRAMBLES CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUND 1
Even is on Sunday, February 11th. FREE practice & overnight camping on Saturday, February 10th. Gates open at 7am-8pm. Sunday gates open at 6am. No membership required, medical insurance is required and verified, FREE entry for Kid’s Mini Class courtesy of sponsor, Rod Lake Racing. It is a family affair, Bring em all.
info@oldschoolscramblesracing.com questions@oldschoolscramblesracing.com www.oldschoolscramblesracing.com
Old School TT Scrambles Series schedule: Sunday’s, March 25th, June 17th, August 9 and December 9thth
VINTAGE DIRT BIKE RENTALS
Don’t let the lack of a two wheeler curtail you racing. Rent to race the TT Scrambles, or a birthday party, a gift for a special person, a track day with friends. They also offer a desert ride guided tour.
www.TMCCoRentals.com. (760) 403 3634 or (760) 953 8364
ENDURO RIDERS REUNION plus SPECIAL GUESTS
Larry Langley and Jerry Counts are organizing this fun event to be held on Saturday, March 24th in Randsburg California. Jack Penton said he will be there to meet up with his west coast riding pals.
Also, famous stunt woman Debbie Evans Leavitt. All Enduro riders from all years are invited, .including spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. Sign in noon to 4pm at GOAT’s Sky Ranch Hotel on Butte Ave. Get together and sign is Saturday afternoon at Opera House.
BBQ Dinner at 6 pm and Sunday morning pancake breakfast. GPS tracks available for trips to Husky Monument, Burro Schmidt Tunnel Limited free camping. $30.00 gets you dinner, hall and T-Shirt. Flyer sent separately. For more info, contact Larry Langley (559) 877 4514 or cell (559) 760 10033 or larry.mediaguy@gmail.com
THANKS TO THE DONELSON’S
The 9TH Racers Party in St. Louis, Missouri was fantastic as usual. a wonderful weekend with decent weather, great food & drink, old friends and motorcycles. What else could you want?
Most arrived on Friday and met for the free drinks at happy hour, so there was lots of time for tall tales and shared memories. About 173 people signed in and many more passed up the sign in table.
?After the Saturday party at Donelson Cycle and Flat Track Museum, we went back to the hotel where the Donelson’s reserved a dining room and fed us again. Thank you Kathy, Carl and Kim. See you next year if you will have us.
TEAM CHICAGO
Dan Schmitt was in St. Louis with his video camera, interviewing for his TV show, Team Chicago Challenge. So far the show covers 30 years of racing 1986-2017 It focuses on the Santa Fe Speedway and mid-west, but not limited to that.
He has CD’s available on a variety racers and heroes. Some feature Neil Keen’s BD parties. In October the Legends of Chicagoland Motorcycle Racing Group had a reunion and Dan has plans for another in 2018. For information: www.teamchicago.tv
AMA NATIONAL NUMBER SHIRTS
Once again Don LaRue supplied all the attendees in St. Louis, who had a National number, a shirt. The T-shirts have their National number on the front. On the back, is a list of the riders and years each wore that number.
There were lots of photos, so you can probably find one on Facebook or various websites. You can contact Don at (563)299 3346 or www.amanationalnumber.com Thanks Don
HOW ABOUT A VIP TOUR OF THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
You can get the VIP treatment with tours of all levels. Would you like a corporate tour, a private party, or all by yourself. Guided tours are available during the day or after hours.
They can set up a tour for special interest, the vault or whatever It is the height of VIP entertaining. Members of Executive & Checkered Flag 200 receive discounts.
The Petersen is open every day 10-6, 6060 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 940 2277 info@peterson.org. Contact them to arrange your fantasy.
SLAYGROUND 2
The second installment of Axel Hodges’ Dirt Shark-Slayground 2 is out. It was filmed on location at Jeremy McGrath’s ranch near San Diego. It is 6 minutes worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YGviuJ-EpY
26TH ANNUAL DUAL SPORT “RIDE FOR KIDS”
Saturday, April 14th. This event supports the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The start will be at Glen Helen. The route takes you to the San Bernardino National Forest and Lake Arrowhead and back to Glen Helen.
A great ride while supporting a very serious cause. Ride for the kids and for yourself.
Pbif.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=2967
EDDIE & JODI MULDER’S LAKE CACHUMA BRITISH BIKE RALLY
Put it on your calendar for June 1-4 2018. It will be at the Live Oak Campground off Hwy 154 in California. Campout for a fun-filled weekend, hosted by Eddie and Jodi Mulder.
Bikes, rides, prizes, food, field events and more. Check them out of Facebook. They have an information and registration form, but it wouldn’t forward so contact them at (661) 944-1184. We always hear good things about this event, so don’t miss it. In remembrance of Bruce Brown.
50 YEARS AGO IN CYCLE NEWS
Jody Nicholas was on cover after returning from a couple years in the Navy. He won the open class at Carlsbad. Preston Petty won the 250cc Expert class at the Hilltoppers TT Scrambles at Perris. Larry Bergquist on the cover.
He won the Adelanto Scrambles. Gary Bray formed a HD racing team with Gene Romero and Dan Haaby. Gary Nixon wore number one for the 1968 racing season.
40 YEARS AGO
New series “How to Ride Like Hannah”. Brad Lackey, Rex Staten and Danny Turner were winners at Hangtown. Bob Balentine won the CRC Hare scrambles in California City. Honda’s official National Enduro Team consisted of Don Sanford, Mike Hannon and Rick Munyon. Houston Astrodome photo on cover. Marty Tripes, Rex Staten and Broc Glover were winners at Carlsbad.
30 YEARS AGO
Bob Hannah on cover after winning Dade City round of Florida Winter AMA Series. Interview with Joanna Brownell, desert racer turned LA MC cop. Bubba Shobert on second cover of the month twice. He won the TT and short track rounds at the Cow Palace. Jay Mann, Bob Hannah and JoJo Keller top riders at Florida Winter AMA M Series at Diamondback. Rick Johnson won Carlsbad and Dan Smith won the Gold Strike Hare & Hound in Vegas.
ORIGINS OF THE LACONIA CLASSIS BY LARRY LAWRENCE
Check out the story in Cycle News, issue #4. Larry has done a lot of research and squeezed it into two pages. www.CycleNews.com is free and holds lots of memories in those pages.
REMINDER: AMERICAN FLAT TRACK 2017 NBCSN BROADCASTS NOW ON FANSCHOICE.TV
Relive the 2017 season on FansChoice.tv is at http://www.fanschoice.tv/american-flat-track. Watch on smart TV, computer, tablet or mobile phone. The links to each race are on the website.
CONTINGENCY’S STILL GROWING – NEAR 2 MILLION.
INDIANS ARE TAKING OVER AFT
The Indian factory riders for 2018 will be: defending champ, Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Brad Baker. They won’t be riding the only Indians in the field.
Privateers have chosen the FTR750’s also. Among them are Kenny Coolbeth Jr., Jeffrey Carver, Chad Cose, Jay Maloney, Henry Wiles and Jake Johnson. Indian has lots of incentives.. The American Flat Track season starts with the Daytona TT on March 15th.
BSAOCSC RIDES
Sunday, February 25 “Cinder Cone” Dual Sport Ride starts in Lucerne Valley at the parking lot of the highway 247 Restaurant, Hwys 247 & 18. Meet at 9am, ride at 10 am. For vintage British motorcycles only, with street registration and spark arrestors.
(760) 365 9292 or (310) 292 8997
Sunday, March 4 “Ortega Highway Street Ride” to Lake Elsinore and More. Meet at Capistrano Business Center Courtyard parking lot, 9am at 27124 Paseo Espada, Bld 800, San Juan Capistrano. Ride leaves at 10am. Lunch at Anne’s Café in Lake Elsinore. (951) 440 3521
RACES, RIDES AND STUFF
Saturday, February 10 Supercross PETCO Park San Diego
February 10 – 11 D37 Big 6 Grand Prix Round 2 Taft, CA
Sunday, February 11 BSAOCSC Vintage Bike OC, Castenada’s Mex Foot, 19071 Brookhurst, Huntington Beach, Ca 2 – 4
Saturday, February 17 SCFTA Perris Rd 1 Championship Series Gates 12:30, Practice 3:30 http://www.sourtherncaliforniaflattrack.com (951) 443 7622
February 17- 18 AMA West Hare Scramble Round 2 Prescott, AZ
February 23 -25 WORCS Round 2 Peoria, AZ
February 24-25 AMA National Hare & Hound Ocotillo, CA
Sunday, February 25 BSAOCSC “Cinder Cone” Dual Sport Ride. Lucerne Valley
Sunday, February 25 www.SoCalNorton.com Ojai Pilgrimage. Moorpark to Ojai.
March 3 – 4 D37 Big 6 Grand Prix Round 3 Devore, Ca
Sunday, March 4 BSAOCSC “Ortega Highway Street Ride
March 17 – 18 AMA West Hare Scramble Round 3 Gorman, Ca
March 23 – 25 WORCS Round 3-4 Lake Havasu, AZ
Saturday, March 24 Enduro Riders Reunion Randsburg, CA
Saturday, April 7 Trailblazers Banquet Reception & Bike Show opens at 3PM
April 13-5 MotoAmerica Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia
Saturday, April 14 Ride For Kids Start at Glen Helen
April 20 – 22 MotoAmerica Circuit of the Americas Austin, Texas
Thursday, April 22 MotoGP Circuit of the Americas Austin, Texas
June 1 – 4 Lake Cachuma British Rally
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN FOR LUNCH–
Miss Beatrice, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was admired for sweetness and kindness to all.
One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea.
As he sat facing her old pump organ, the young minister noticed a cut-glass bowl sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled with water. In the water
floated, of all things, a condom!
When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist. “Miss Beatrice”, he said, “I wonder if you would tell me about this?” pointing to the bowl.
“Oh, yes” she replied, “isn’t it wonderful? I was walking through the park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground.
The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know I haven’t had the flu all winter!”
The pastor fainted.
–from Sam Burns
OBITUARY FOR DAVID WILLIAM BELL–
David William Bell, 70, passed away on February 3, 2018 at his home. He was born April 17, 1947 to Orville and Dorothy (Reese) Bell in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Doug.
He is survived by his wife, Jill; daughter, Cierra (James, Jr.) Menke; son, Graydon (Gina) Bell; and 8 grandchildren.
He was owner/operator of Capitol Harley-Davidson, Inc. in Dimondale, MI for 35 years. He also was a longtime member of the Hamsters motorcycle group. Memorial Service will be 11:00 AM Monday, February 12, 2018 at Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw, Lansing with visitation 10-11 AM prior to the service. Pastor Rod Kalajainen will officiate.
The family is being served by Tiffany Funeral Home. Friends may visit the guest book at www.tiffanyfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of David William Bell please visit our Sympathy Store.
–Patty
[page break]
Legislative Update
Today, the following ABATE tracked bills are scheduled to be heard in the Senate Transportation & Technology and the House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources committees at 2:00 PM.
SB1261 – texting while driving; prohibition
ABATE as an organization will not take a for/against position on this issue. Even though most members are against texting while driving and the consequences it can have, most anti-texting bills have 4th Amendment implications. Read the bill, form your own opinion and weigh in.
HB2348 – vehicle emissions; California standard
The states that have adopted the California standards currently are: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico (2011 model year), New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia.
If this bill passes, motorcyclists could be restricted from ANY performance upgrades since most upgrades are fuel or exhaust modifications.
ABATE of Arizona is against this bill.
RTS Activism Needed
Note: These are time critical. Your RTS “vote” on each bill must be entered before the hearing.
The Request to Speak (RTS) system is the preferred method to register your position on bills scheduled for committee hearings. RTS “votes” and comments are transmitted to the committee members and recorded into the committee meeting record. While it is called “Request to Speak,” registering your support or opposition on a bill does not require you to attend a hearing to testify. However, if you are able to testify at any of these hearings, we encourage it. Please contact Mike Infanzon, ABATE of Arizona State Lobbyist, at lobbyist@abateofaz.org if you would like to testify at a hearing.
To voice your opinion on these bills, visit the AZ Legislature Applications page, sign into your account, click on the big blue “Request to Speak” icon then click on the “New Request” icon on the left side of the page.
verb
1. to use the mind; think or think about.
QUOTES
To think, then, is to cerebrate. To worry is to cerebrate intensely.
— George Wharton James, Quit Your Worrying!, 1917
ORIGIN
The verb cerebrate is a back formation from the noun cerebration, which is a derivative of the Latin noun cerebrum “brain, understanding.” Cerebrum is a derivative of a very widespread, very complicated Proto-Indo-European root ker- “uppermost part of the body, head, horn, nail (of the finger or toe).” This root has many variant forms and is related to the Latin noun crabro “hornet” (English hornet comes from the same root), Greek kár “head” and kéras “horn,” and German Hirn “brain.” Cerebrate entered English in the 19th century.
BIKERNET XMAS CARD REACHES INDIA– Thank you, I received the Christmas greeting card today. Everyone there looks genuinely happy.
Love the patch.
–Ujjwal Dey
Most Fabulous Editor
Bikernet Trikes
Harley recalls nearly 175K bikes in U.S. because brakes can fail– Harley-Davidson is recalling several hundred thousand motorcycles because the brakes might fail.
The voluntary recall, which last week Harley said would cost it $29.4 million, covers CVO Touring and VSRC bikes — model years 2008 through 2011 — equipped with anti-lock brakes.
Worldwide it includes more than 251,000 motorcycles, with nearly 175,000 of those bikes sold in the U.S.
In July 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating problems with the brakes after getting 43 complaints, including reports of three crashes and two injuries.
The problem is linked to a module that’s part of Harley’s anti-lock brake system that can corrode and fail without warning. Usually, only the front or rear brakes won’t work. But in one case, both systems gave out, resulting in a low-speed crash into a garage door,
The trouble appears to lie with the brake fluid, which some owners apparently aren’t changing as required every two years.
The old fluid can become contaminated by moisture and may be corroding the anti-lock brake system’s actuator valves. If it does, the valves won’t work.
“While it may be true that complainants failed to adhere to Harley-Davidson’s two-year brake fluid service interval requirement, the consequent sudden and complete loss of brakes, without warning, is a concern,” the recall documents said.
Dealers will flush and replace brake fluid starting Feb. 12.
–Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
–USA today
–from Alan Landsburg
BAKER DEALER OF THE MONTH– Plymouth, MI
Q: How long have you been in business?
A: Since 2003
Q: What is your specialty?
A: We do service and performance work on Harley Davidson and American V-twin motorcycles. We do complete engine builds, transmission and drivetrain work, dyno tuning and electrical work. We do it all, from oil changes and tires to full custom builds.
Q: What bikes do you own/ride?
A: 2000 FLH standard, 1978 FX shovelhead, 2000 FXDX Dyna, and 1997 Sportster
Q: What are your favorite BAKER products?
A: Where do I start? I have not used one I don’t like, but I would say the DD6 and DD7 are great upgrades for your everyday rider that wants to make his bike better. The compensator and attitude adjuster are also great service products. You really can’t go wrong with anything BAKER makes.
Q: What is your favorite bike your shop has built with a BAKER product in it?
A: We put BAKER in a lot of bikes. My favorite would have to be my bagger! It has a DD6 with reverse, a Baker 3 piece billet oil pan and a bunch of other fun stuff on it. If not that bike, then probably the built 124 with carbon fiber wheels and a Grudgebox. That bike moves!
Q: Do you have any interesting or funny BAKER related stories?
A: I have tons, but I’ll just share a couple. It would have to be the Grudgebox test ride that Scott and I took to Florida and back to visit Buddy Don over Easter. The other one would be the ride to the non-existent grocery store in Sturgis with Bert and Mark a few years ago. You find some of the best roads in the world when you get lost!!
Q: Any cool news about your shop?
A: Things are busy. We just launched a new website. We do have some other big news coming up very soon, but I cannot say too much right now. We are still working out all of the details!! Keep checking the website and social media for the news.
Q: What does American made mean to you?
A: American made is everything to us. We like quality parts from quality people. To us, American is family. You need to support the people who support you. We all need to eat. Buy American, buy local!
PLYMOUTH CYCLE AND SPEED
Web: www.plymouthcycleandspeed.com Phone: 734-416-8480 Email: evan@jrcycleworks.com
AIRSTREAM STUDIOS AT VENTURA CHOPPERFEST– Hey there, this blog (NOT written by me) went live on Russ Brown Insurance’s website last week. Here’s the link: https://www.russbrown.com/blog/chopper-fest-artist-profile-james-el-waggs-waggaman
Chopper Fest Artist Profile: James “El Waggs” Waggaman
If you’re coming to Chopper Fest next week, expect to see some custom tank work, one-of-a-kind framed illustrations and unique pieces of art from Airstream Studios.
–Jim Waggaman
Airstream Studios
Jim was there.–Bandit
Thanks so much – I have the same regulator I am going to install on my Panhead – but they don’t pack the instructions in the box anymore. Have been looking for days for definitive wiring instructions.
I am going to post the instructions for these regulators in a few places just to keep it out there, but would you have the original instruction sheet that came with it? I would love to get a copy.
— Ed Bosteter
bosteter@yahoo.com
Bellingham, WA
Hey Ed,
I’ll see what I can do. It’s been a long time. You can always share a link to that article on Richard’s classic. He passed and I was going to try to buy his bike for the new SugarBear Chopper Museum in Sturgis. It deserves to be there.
JIMS MACHINE TORQUE TALK– Racer Spotlight.
JT’s Auto & Cycle Racing
For over 31 years “JT” Toth has owned JT’s Auto and Cycle in Charleroi, PA, where they do collision repair for cars, trucks, and most certainly bikes. They also do custom paint/airbrush jobs and have had their work shown at the SEMA Show is Vegas.
JT has raced in the AMRA (American Motorcycle Racing Association), has 4 National Championships in the Hot Street Class, multiple records and has also raced in the NHRA Screaming Eagle Series. JT’s Auto and Cycle Racing Team has brought home a total of 12 Wally’s! Wow, what a success story! We are proud to be a sponsor of their team.
WORDS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamo
WORDS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalistically
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate
WORDS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. No thanks, I’m married.
2. Nope, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you’re not really my type.
4. No thanks, I’m not hungry.
5. I’m not interested in fighting you.
6. Thank you, but I won’t make any attempt to dance. I have no coordination and would hate to look like a real Fool!
7. Oh no, I must be going home now as I have to work in the morning.
8. No, you are too young and beautiful to sit on my face.
9. A blow job, no thanks I already have a job.
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
HANG ON— We have a ton of content headed your way. Over the next week with reports on the Chopperfest, Colorado Expo, and Paul Garson vintage stories.
In a couple of weeks I’ll be headed to Paughco to pick up the Salt Torpedo, then to Daytona Bike Fest and Deadwood.
You’ll start to see weekly stories about our Bonneville effort and even the Chop and Grind team is coming to the headquarters to inspect my progress.
Never dull around the Bikernet Headquarters.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
HUFF AND PUFF BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for February 15, 2018
By Bandit |
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including:
Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum and don’t miss the Smoke Out..Jpg)
Budget deal helps veterans, drug fight
Measure has goodies for millions of Americans
Eliza Collins and Maureen Groppe
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Congress passed a $400 billion budget deal Friday that busted through spending caps and suspended the debt limit for a year. It included money for disaster relief, opioid treatment and veterans, as well as a six-week spending package to keep the lights on at government agencies while a year-long spending bill gets drafted.
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HM2001 motorcycle awareness; profiling; prevention bill will not be heard in committee. With only 90 signatures on the petition and only 7 signed into the RTS system, I have very limited support to go to the Speaker of the House or the Committee Chairman to persuade them to make sure the bill is heard.
I did speak to Speaker of the House Mesnard and he did assign it to committee like I asked but it is the committee chairman Eddie Farnsworth who has allowed it to die.
I spoke to the bill sponsors and other Representatives, both Democrat and Republican, who are in support of this. I have met with Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Phoenix PD to discuss this. This is the language that law enforcement can support. It is not a “You have to do this” type of bill. It’s a suggestion that law enforcement and motorcyclists work together to fix the problem. It’s obvious that Representative Farnsworth, who says he rides a motorcycle, does not see this as an issue.
I asked for all of ABATE and other mro’s to sign the petition. I’ve asked for all to get on the RTS system and record your position on this. Both take less than 2 minutes each.
I do appreciate those who sent emails, signed the petition and on the RTS system. And especially those who made phone calls to Representative Farnsworth’s office.
But, without the support of the motorcycle community, there is nothing else I can do.
I’m sorry for those who will continue to be profiled. I will continue to fight for our rights. Even if others don’t care.
FREEDOM IS A TEAM SPORT.
Mike Infanzon
ABATE of Arizona, State Lobbyist
New Donations and Great Additions to the Museum!
The Sturgis 50th Anniversary Harley-Davidson, has been on loan to the museum for many years and through the support and dedication of the Parhams and our close relation to the National Museum, it now has a permanent home in Sturgis.
This year at Mecum Auction, Jill Parham officially donated the motorcycle by presenting the Executive Director with the title of the special motorcycle.
This limited edition motorcycle is on display in the Museum, be sure to come and learn about it and the other special exhibits.
Beautiful Work Donated by Quilter
Last summer, Jennifer & Roger Baggett visited the SMM and made an offer to sew a quilt from the museum t-shirts from the past.
True to their word and charitable hearts, they gave Myrick this beautiful, detailed quilt at the Mecum Auction in January.
This quilt will be used as a fundraiser for the Museum and you details on how you could own it will be announced soon!
Telling the Stories
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame Facebook page is great to catch the current news for the Museum, Sturgis and motorcycling, but did you know that it is much more than that?
The Executive Director has been posting cool videos on the motorcycles on display in the museum. These stories give you insight on these bikes and a close-up view.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and check-out our website for expanded stories and news!
Our Facebook Page
Meet Emma Garvin, the new Assistant Executive Director
Emma Garvin, has experience in office management and fundraising for non-profit organizations. She is associated with the flat-track racing community, friends with many Hall of Fame members and is well-connected with the motorcycle industry.
Emma will arrive in Sturgis, March 1st and will manage onsite events, memberships, and bookkeeping.
Please help us welcome Emma to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum!
Museum On the Move: Update
Even through the minus temperatures, construction has progressed and is on schedule.
The demolition is complete and the new addition foundation has been set. Next flooring and framing.
Thanks to your support, the museum will have more space beginning this summer!
By Lee Klancher
Available on Amazon
Be sure to use Amazon Smile when purchasing and Amazon will donate to the Sturgis Museum!
E3 Spark Plugs Announces Two Year Sponsorship
of American Flat Track Racing – Named Official Spark Plug
Ponte Vedra, FL, (February 15, 2018)…E3 Spark Plugs announces a renewed partnership with American Flat Track Racing for 2018 and 2019. As the series’ official spark plug for a second year in a row, E3 is very proud to be a sponsor of the world’s most prestigious form of dirt track motorcycle racing.
E3 Vice President of Motorsports & Marketing, Rob Fisher, says, “American Flat Track racing is always exciting to watch whether it’s new talent competing in AFT Singles short track, TT or half mile courses, or American Flat Track Twins racing globally in the professional ranks at 90+ HP. For enthusiasts like myself, this partnership allows us to work directly with racers that can test throttle response and durability under the most intense race conditions.”
In addition to the company’s partnership of American Flat Track Racing, E3 recently renewed its sponsorship program with Richie Morris Racing (RMR) for 2018. RMR operates a two rider program with Shayna Texter, riding in Singles and fresh off a win at Rolling Wheels, and GNC1 Rookie of the Year, Jarod Vanderkooi, who recently moved to flat track from road racing and is riding twins.
E3 Spark Plugs feature advanced DiamondFIRE electrode technology recognized for its immediate throttle response and consistent spark to achieve maximum horsepower.
In 2018, American Flat Track will be broadcast on NBCSN and offers encore telecasts on FANSChoice.tv in addition to live stream coverage. All events of American Flat Track Racing are available for viewing on NBCSN in 2018 or as post coverage on FansChoice.tv. Currently, all 18 events from 2017 are available for viewing. The 20 event schedule begins with the Daytona TT on Thursday, March 15. Gates open at 1:00 p.m. and the fun begins with AFT Singles Practice at 2:00 p.m. and concludes on October 6 at Meadowlands Mile in East Rutherford, NJ.
For more information about E3 ignition products, visit e3sparkplugs.com, or follow E3 on Facebook.
About E3
E3 Spark Plugs with patented DiamondFIRE technology, developed and validated by researchers from leading engineering universities, improves combustion efficiency for maximum performance. As one of the leading spark plug companies in the United States, E3 manufactures a complete line of spark plugs for automotive, small engine,powersports and racing application. In 2016, E3 expanded the company’s product line to include distributors, spark plug wires, coils and 02 sensors under the company’s DiamondFIRE brand. The DiamondFIRE line of ignition products firmly entrenches E3’s commitment to the automotive high performance and racing industry. For more information about E3 ignition products, visit e3sparkplugs.com, or follow E3 on Facebook.
BIKERNET WRENCH-IT REPORT– THIS BOARD TRACKER IS POWERED BY A LAWNMOWER ENGINE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ISN’T THE ONLY manufacturer with roots in Milwaukee. Briggs & Stratton—known for their lawnmower motors—were founded in the Midwestern city too, just five years after The Motor Company.
That makes them a century old. And what better way to celebrate, than with a hand-made board tracker sporting a hot-rodded Briggs & Stratton power plant?
This amazing machine is the work of Jeff Wolf, who’s been building custom bikes and hot rods as a hobby for the past forty years. Jeff operates as Wolf Creative Customs out of his home workshop in Culver City, California and his son—who has his own surfboard shaping business—is usually roped in to help with designs.
Jeff’s specialty is gas-powered bicycles and one-off parts; board trackers like this one are his favorite. “I’ve always been fond of the timeless board track racer style,” he tells us, “and wanted to do something different.”
“I told myself this will be my last small cc build before I venture in to the big cc builds. After building just about every power plant I could fit into a bicycle frame, this one would have to make a statement.”
Jeff started with a custom frame, whipped up from scratch by his friend Richard Helmutt in Arizona. Richard supplied the frame complete with a custom-made, built-in fuel tank.
The forks look retro, but they’re actually brand new and sourced from the bicycle manufacturer Felt. Jeff wasn’t totally happy with the functionality though, so he added brackets to accommodate a mountain bike shock from DNM. He now has rebound and compression adjustment, and a lockout feature.
The wheels are 26” units, also from Felt. Jeff radial-laced the front to an off-the-shelf billet hub, and the rear to a one-off hub. There’s only one brake; it’s out back, and features a cable-actuated hydraulic caliper on a hand-made bracket.
The brake’s hooked up to an inverted lever, mounted to a set of hand-made stainless steel bars. The other end’s sporting an internal throttle, with a pair of hand-wrapped leather grips (made from an old belt) rounding out the cockpit. For a seat, Jeff modded an existing chopper pan, mounting it on a small shock to take the edge off.
And then there’s the motor: a 208 cc Briggs & Stratton flathead ripped out of a Junior class dragster. “It’s a class of racing within the NHRA,” Jeff explains. “The Briggs & Stratton Flathead Raptor is the choice of motors, making anywhere between eight and 45 horsepower.”
Jeff rebuilt the motor using a billet head, flat top piston, billet connecting rod and a re-ground custom cam with heavy-duty springs.
The head’s been ported, and there’s super light billet flywheel with adjustable timing too. The reduction drive system is from Sportsman Flyer, and has been modded to run with a Bully centrifugal clutch—so there’s no need for a hand-operated clutch.
A hand-made stainless steel intake is hooked up to a 22 mm Mikuni carb, and the exhaust is a modified Hooker header with a stainless end piece. All in all, the little 208 cc motor’s good for an incredible 60 mph (100 kph) with the current gearing. And because the bike still has working pedals, separate from the motor, it’s registered as a moped in Cali.
Pore over Jeff’s handiwork a few times, and you’ll notice a number of discreet custom-made aluminum parts—all designed, built and polished in-house. Valley Customs handled the paint, shooting the tank in a classy black coat with a pair of silver Wolf logos.
Though it’s a small cycle, the detail is impressive (just take a look at that plumbing under the tank). We know Jeff’s itching to move onto bigger bikes, but we certainly hope he has a few more petite racers like this up his sleeve.
After all, he should have a lot more time on his hands soon. “I’m getting close to retirement from my day job,” he tells us, “and look forward to doing more of this work.”
Wolf Creative Customs
Up N. and down S. the river.
Typical mobile roadside motorbike tire repair
Here’s yesterday’s sugarcane being squeezed.
Dedicated tuk tuk Made by India
Pair of urbanized monkeys
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These were the only hi rise until just a few years ago. Now dozens. China is building most. Haze is visible In background
–Art Hall
Supreme International Editor
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Las Vegas, NV, February 15, 2018 – Las Vegas BikeFest, The “Premier West Coast Motorcycle Rally” announced today that the rally is moving to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center effective this year. The move creates an opportunity to produce a bigger, better and Vegas Style experience for vendors, riders and attendees.
The Downtown Las Vegas Events Center is located next to the Fremont Street Experience at 3rd and Carson. Everyone will now be within walking distance to more than 10,000 hotel rooms in Downtown Las Vegas.
This move will allow for the rally to be much more cohesive. Rally Central will be inside the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and surrounding streets, and Rally West will continue to be on the 3rd Street Promenade at Fremont Street and Ogden.
One main stage in the events center will be the focus of entertainment, Custom Bike Shows, activities, contests and more, making it easier for attendees to not miss out on any of the action. The move will also benefit rally vendors giving them access to the 60,000+ daily visitors at the Fremont Street Experience.
“This is a great move for the rally,” said Mindi Cherry, Event Manager. “Bringing the rally so close to the heart of the Fremont Street Experience, means we are in the middle of all the action.”
Along with the location move, Las Vegas BikeFest has changed its dates to one week later, October 11-14, to be a part of Powersports Industry Week in Las Vegas with AIMExpo at Mandalay Bay and the Monster Energy Cup at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Las Vegas BikeFest is like no other rally – taking place in the heart of Las Vegas, it provides the action of the “Vegas Vibe”, that no other rally has to offer. For more information about the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center visit www.dlvec.com.
Las Vegas BikeFest 2018 – October 11 – 14
Website: LasVegasBikeFest.com
Facebook: facebook.com/lasvegasbikefest
Twitter: @VegasBikeFest
Instagram: #LasVegasBikeFest
Michael Lichter Curates “Passion Built – Garage to Gallery”
For the 10th year, Custom bikes built from the pure passion and love of the machine will be exhibited at the Buffalo Chip free to the public this August.
Buffalo Chip, SD (Feb 13, 2018) The pure love of art and motorcycles will bring together a stunning collection of masterpieces for the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s 2018 Motorcycle As Art exhibit, titled “Passion Built – Garage to Gallery.” The exhibit, curated by Michael Lichter, will feature the work of over 40 builders and artists who demonstrate incredible passion and have built motorcycles especially for this show. All support themselves by other means, yet they all are building professional-quality custom motorcycles outside of a professional workplace. Each bike will be lit with theater lights and displayed atop an elevated pedestal to better give guests an open view from every angle. The Sturgis Buffalo Chip will host the exhibit in a 7,000 sq. ft. dedicated gallery in its Event Center. The exhibit is free to the public 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 4 through Friday, Aug. 10.
“Michael has once again brought together a group of incredible artists and builders who all have a real passion for motorcycles,” said Rod Woodruff, Sturgis Buffalo Chip President. “The fact that these people are creating these bikes, mostly in the evenings or weekends, after a full work-week, is amazing. We will clearly see their love for the work on display this year. Everyone attending the 2018 Rally really should see this free exhibit.”
The Motorcycles As Art exhibit has become more than just a bike show in its 10-year residency at the Buffalo Chip. Industry professionals frequent these one-time collections to examine the new ideas and trends put on display by builders from all walks of life and geographic locations.
“We are looking for the best custom bikes these builders can produce, hopefully the best they have ever built, to show off how diverse the world of custom bike building is,” said exhibit curator Michael Lichter. “It isn’t just a small handful of professionals who are driving this world and deciding where it is headed, nor has it ever been. Now, through new means of communication, these non-pros have a bigger voice than ever before.”
As a follow up to the 2017 “Old Iron – Young Blood” exhibit, which focused on the work of builders under age 35, this exhibit broadens the diversity of the artists to include those passionate about custom building motorcycles even through retirement.
Most of those chosen for the 2018 exhibit must find the energy and passion to work on their projects after returning home from a full-time day job. Some, such as Harley-Davidson Motor Company Vice President of Styling & Design Brad Richards, work in the industry but must still find personal time to fuel their passion for building. Musicians Xavier Muriel of Buckcherry and Gilby Clarke formerly of Guns and Roses will both be displaying their new creations. >From attorney Dave Polgreen to lighting expert Randy Noldge, the list of exhibitors for the 2018 Motorcycles As Art show brings together a varied group of motorcycle builders with a deep-seated desire to create.
“The diverse list of builders and two-dimensional artists coming together to display this year are all doing this for the sheer joy of building a custom bike from scratch,” said Lichter. “It may not be about anything more than bragging rights. These people are really creating a type of folk art without thought of reward. The enormous amount of time and energy results in custom bikes on par with any made by professional builders. And, the display of energy and enthusiasm demonstrated make this show a great follow-up to last year’s exhibit by millennials.”
The growing list of custom motorcycle builders and two-dimensional artists scheduled to present their masterpieces at the 2018 “Motorcycles As Art” exhibit include:
Ben Jordan – Waxhaw, NC
Brad Gregory – Glenwood, IA
Brad Richards & Ry Seidler – Milwaukee, WI
Chris Callen – Tarentum, PA
Chris Graves – Milwaukee, WI
Clinton Wallace – Cleveland, TX
Dan Rogensvoog – Franksville, WI
Dave Polgreen – Santa Ana, CA
Eric Stein – Monroe, NC
Gilby Clarke – CA
Jack Deagazio – NY
Jeff Holt – CA
Johnny Humphrey – Terre Hill, PA
John Barwood – Payson, AZ
Justin McNeely – Jackson, MO
Mark Shell – Idaho Falls, ID
Marty Davis – Pensacola, FL
Nick Pensabene – Edgewater, FL
Randy Noldge – Saint Louis, MO
Rick Pew – Fort Lupton, CO
Skeeter Todd – Maryland, NY
Stacy McCleary – Manteca, CA
Steven Bates – Saginaw, TX
Tim Dixon – Ten Mile, TN
Wayne Burgess – Fenwick, Ontario, CANADA
Will Thomas – Los Feliz, CA
Xavier Muriel – TX
In addition to the custom bikes and work of individual artists on the walls, the show will also include a display of ten hand-painted helmets, each from a different artist, provided by Biltwell Helmets, an exhibition sponsor.
For more information about the Buffalo Chip’s free-access Motorcycles As Art Exhibition visit BuffaloChip.com/EVENTS/Motorcycles-As-Art
Michael Lichter began photographing custom bikes and the biker-lifestyle in the 1970s. Working with Easyriders Magazine since 1979, he has produced over 800 stories for them. Michael is also a regular contributor to 16 other publications around the world, has 11 coffee table books to his credit and exhibits his photographic art in galleries and museums in the USA and abroad. As a curator, Michael first started creating themed exhibitions with custom motorcycles and art in 2001 at the Journey Museum in Rapid City. In 2009, the annual exhibition was moved to the purpose-built 7,000 square foot gallery at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip where it was given the name “Motorcycles as Art” and continues to this day. Michael has operated out of the same commercial photography studio in beautiful Boulder, Colorado for more than 35-years. Visit www.facebook.com/lichterphoto, Instagram (whistlingmike) or the all new http://www.lichterphoto.com to see his images. Contact Michael at mike@lichterphoto.com.
About Motorcycles as Art
Every year the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s indoor Motorcycles as Art exhibition presents a changing conceptual theme that brings together the most innovative collection of groundbreaking custom bikes from today’s premier builders with artwork from the most famed moto-artists. The Sturgis Buffalo Chip and curator, famed photographer Michael Lichter, present an environment that must be seen to appreciate. Free to the public and open for just seven days each year, all are invited to take their time and walk through history in the making that is the Motorcycles as Art exhibit.
About the Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling®. It is the world’s first and leading entertainment destination for the motorcycle enthusiast and South Dakota Excellence in Tourism Innovation award winner. Since 1981, the venue’s high-profile, nine-day festival, known as The Best Party Anywhere®, remains one of the world’s most televised and longest running independent music festivals. Located three miles east of Sturgis, SD on 600 creek-fed acres, it offers eight stages of entertainment, a swimming hole, bars, mouth-watering food, showers, cabins, RVs, camping and more to visitors traveling from all corners of the world. The Chip’s concerts and races are free with camping. The 2018 Motorcycles as Art exhibit curated by Michael Lichter, numerous bike and stunt shows and all shopping, live music and events at the CrossRoads are free and open to the public. More details are available at www.BuffaloChip.com.
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We all have hobbies; some just cost more than others. It is a fact of life. Sooner or later you’ll strike upon something that interests you and next thing you know you are left scratching your head as to where you’re going to put it all and your significant other asking just how much money you’re spending. For my banker it is soap stone carvings. He received one as an award. A friend noticed in his office and bought him another one. Then someone bought him another one. Boss gave him some; the company head office gave him some more because it must have been his thing because he had so many in his office. He never really meant too, never really wanted too but he started learning about the different artists, the different means. He knows them inside and out now personal adding to the collection here and there. Maybe you’re the same. Someone spotted your grand fathers old pipe that you keep on the mantle and got you one. Then you spot one at a swap meet. Next thing you know your palms are sweating as you hope you win the one at the silent auction.
Our hobbies are as varied as we are. Whether you collect vintage race bikes, match books, motel keys or salt & pepper shakers you get to know each piece, get to know the manufactures, maker’s stamps. It brings happiness to your life, something out of the ordinary grind that is life, and that is the important part.
-bad Uncle Monkey
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BIKERNET VETERAN CHECK UP — Veterans Court success hinges on mentors
You hear the cliches in just about every war movie ever made about this special band of brothers or no man left behind.
You may never hear “never stop serving” on the big screen but its sentiment is just as important to the health and well-being of those who have served our country as evidenced in Brevard County’s Veterans Treatment Court.
Just ask someone like Melbourne native and former Marine Theodore Doukas, who returned from a couple of tours in Iraq with a back injury that led to a painkiller addiction. Paired up with veteran mentor Harry “Skip” Taylor, Doukas is getting the help he needs and will soon graduate from the program.
“He’s shown me the path,” Doukas said about Taylor. “He’s really stayed on me about going to the V.A. Some things in this program have really changed my life.”
Brevard County Court Judge Judy Atkin honored Taylor and all the other volunteer veteran mentors who “never stop serving” at a brief ceremony recently at the Moore Justice Center in Viera.
For Taylor, being a volunteer mentor is simply an extension of his military service.
“Combat is sheer boredom interspersed by moments of sheer panic. It’s a tough situation,” said Taylor, who spent 31 years in the Army and knows what being in combat situations can do to someone. “Being a career officer we have a saying never stop serving. I’m still taking care of the troops. We just keep right on doing what we did in the armed forces.”
Started locally by former Judge John Murphy, the court heard its first cases in Brevard County in January 2012 at a time when veterans courts were becoming a trend nationwide as a growing number of young troops were returning home from war.
It’s designed for veterans arrested on misdemeanors, certain third-degree felonies or criminal traffic offenses other than DUI and who may be eligible for evaluation, treatment or placement in a program for behavioral health issues. It’s an alternative to being processed through the regular court system. Some of the veterans must complete treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder, receive counseling, stay out of trouble and comply with other conditions imposed by the court for a certain period of time before their cases are cleared.
Taylor said they enjoy a 60 percent success rate and it looks like Doukas will be adding to that number.
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MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Reuters) – To Harley-Davidson Inc’s (HOG.N) investors, its chief executive has a simple message – be patient with his strategy to turn around the slump in demand for its iconic motorcycles.
In an interview with Reuters, Matt Levatich said the company is not exploring a merger with a rival or a private equity buyout, as some investors have speculated.
Instead, Harley is spending millions of dollars on product development and marketing efforts, including promoting its learn-to-ride academies at showrooms, where Harley-Davidson certified coaches provide riding and safety lessons.
“Mindset shifts are not something that happen overnight,” he said in the interview in his office at the company’s headquarter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “But that’s very much core to the 10-year strategy for the company.”
However, nearly three years into Levatich’s tenure as Harley CEO, investors are getting restless. Harley’s stock has fallen over 23 percent since mid-March last year.
Since Levatich came to the helm, the shares are down 14 percent, and Harley is losing share in a declining market for motorcycles in the United States.
Harley investors and executives have worried for years about what would happen in the future when the company’s devoted Baby Boomer got too old to ride.
Now, Harley has reached that demographic cliff. The company last month projected shipments to dealers could plunge to their lowest level in eight years in 2018 after sales fell in every region last year.
GO IT ALONE
Falling sales have made Wall Street speculate whether the company, which symbolized the counterculture movement of the 1960s, would seek refuge in a buyout or turn private to rework its product lines and branding without the pressure from shareholders to shield its profit margins.
Levatich, however, sees no alternative to the current ownership structure.
“The moment, however, we feel that the ownership structure of the company…is starting to dictate our strategy, that’s the moment to consider whether that ownership model is the right model,” he said. “So, it is not the case. We are very clear in our strategy.”
In 2017, the ridership program added 32,000 new riders in the United States. Levatich sees it as a “positive” trend and wants to build on it.
More riders, however, do not necessarily mean higher sales.
Bill Koester, a general manager at a Harley dealership in Illinois, says only 35 percent to 40 percent of the riders trained at his dealership last year bought a new or pre-owned bike.
To woo the next generation of riders, last month Levatich unveiled his big bet on the small but growing market for electric bikes.
Yet, the new technology is still very expensive and not as profitable as automakers may have to sacrifice margins to succeed in selling battery vehicles.
“There are some practical problems with EV that still most auto companies are also struggling with,” said Levatich. “It is very expensive.”
HEADWINDS
Harley is still the dominant player in the heavyweight motorcycle market in the United States, but its market share has steadily fallen to 50.8 percent from 58 percent in 2013.
In the last quarter alone, its market share shrunk by 2.6 percentage points, forcing it to announce the closure of one of its four U.S. factories and 800 job cuts.
Harley’s challenges are in part related to demographic shifts bigger than its strategy or products. Overall, new motorcycles retail sales in the United States have more than halved since 2006 as younger people shun big motorcycles, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Harley has also stuck to a strategy of protecting profit margins and limiting discount offers, even as rivals such as Polaris Industries Inc (PII.N) are undercutting Harley prices to move bikes out of their showrooms.
Polaris enjoyed a 30 percent on year jump in North American retail sales in the last quarter, whereas Harley’s sales dived 10 percent.
Levatich attributed the divergent performance to “math.”
“Growth percentages of a small base are easy to achieve. When you have a high base like ours, a little bit of decline shows up very quickly,” he said. “We are not going to discount to increase our market share.”
Analysts at RBC Capital Markets said Harley’s weak performances in the past have dented its credibility.
“We won’t sugar-coat it. HOG has a tough road ahead of them,” RBC Capital Markets said.
–Rogue
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BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY – OPEN ALL HOURS –
Went down to Wellfare Service Office the other day to sign my Dog up so he could draw his government benefits…………………….
The woman at the desk explained to me in a very pointed voice that, “Dogs are not eligible to draw benefits”.
I explained to her that my Dog is not a Christian, he is black, unemployed, idle, can’t speak English and has no clue who his dad is.
He gets his first check on Friday. What a great country this is – thanks USA
As I lay naked on my side on the table, the gorgeous nurse began my procedure…
“Don’t worry, at this stage of the procedure it’s quite normal to get an erection,” the nurse told me..
“I don’t have an erection,” I replied.
“I do.” replied the nurse.
Never get a colonoscopy in San Francisco.
The Cardinal replied, “No. I don’t really like the woman, and there are issues of conflict with the CatholicChurch over some of Pelosi’s views.”
Pelosi’s aide then said, “Look, I’ll write a check here and now for a donation of $100,000 to you if you’ll just tell the congregation you see Pelosi as a saint.”
The Cardinal thought about it and said, “Well, the Church can use the money, so I’ll work your request into tomorrow’s sermon.” As Pelosi’s aide promised, Nancy Pelosi appeared for the Sunday worship and seated herself prominently at the forward left side of the center aisle. As promised, at the start of his sermon, the Cardinal pointed out that Ms. Pelosi was present.
The Cardinal went on to explain to the congregation, “While Ms. Pelosi’s presence is probably an honor tosome, the woman is not numbered among my personal favorite personages. Some of her most egregious views are contrary to tenets of the Church, and she tends to flip-flop on many other issues. Nancy Pelosi is a petty, self-absorbed hypocrite, a thumb sucker, and a nit-wit. Nancy Pelosi is also a serial liar, a cheat, and a thief. I must say, Nancy Pelosi is the worst example of a Catholic I have ever personally witnessed. She married for money and is using her wealth to lie to the American people. She also has a reputation for shirking her Representative obligations both in Washington and in California. The woman is simply not to be trusted.”
–Sidehack Jerry
WHAT ABOUT US? —
Why the Bikers of America Cannot Continue to be Ignored or Forgotten
I’ve held the position of Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation for roughly 18 months. And during those months I’ve sat in countless meetings, congressional hearings, public information sessions, symposiums, conferences and breakout sessions which have covered a gamut of issues that affect riders. Anything and everything from ethanol to self-driving cars to road design and infrastructure, I’ve sat, listened and taken detailed notes. However, during the last couple of months I’ve started to uncover
a deeper (and darker) underlying message in my meetings. I’m not one for conspiracy theories so I won’t suggest that my theory is the product of some sort of anti-motorcycle secret society, but what I am beginning to believe is that the future of riders – our future – is questionable.
I say this because as I’ve sat through these meetings and conference calls, my takeaway increasingly becomes that the U.S. population at large, just doesn’t give a shit about motorcycles. We’re ignored or perhaps forgotten. We’re relegated to the category of recreation. And dangerous recreation at that. We’re swept into the same column as shark cage diving, or bull running or cliff base jumping. And though I have no problem with any of those recreational activities, riding motorcycles is not the same. It’s not even CLOSE to the same! Though many of us ride for the fun and the thrill of it, our bikes also get us from place to place. Unlike swimming with the sharks or running with the bulls, riding a motorcycle is a form of transportation. Motorcycles get us to work, to the post office, to the dentist. So why, in America of all places, are we forced to say again and again and again, what about us?
There is surprisingly little research done about the benefits of riding motorcycles. And I am not talking about benefits to the rider. You ask any one of our MRF members and they’ll tell you that riding is cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist. So lets put that aside for a minute and talk about the benefits to society. In Europe several years ago, there was a study done to test mobility – that is moving from point A to point B. They looked at commuting routes from outside major cities and within major cities as well as rural areas over varying distances and compared the mobility of a motorcycle to that of a car. And out of the fourteen tests they conducted to measure mobility, the motorcycle won 85% of the time. So in other words, a motorcycle is more likely to get you to your destination faster (and not just because you’re speeding).
The impacts go on from there. Another study (also in Europe where motorcycles are better viewed and accepted as a legitimate form of transportation) showed the impact of what might happen if just 10% of cars were replaced by motorcycles. Time loss for all vehicles would decrease by 40%. That means a quicker commute for everyone whether they are on a motorcycle or not. And with less cars on the road and less sitting in traffic, that means an impact on emissions. Though I have not uncovered a comprehensive study on the specific issue of reduced emissions and motorcycle usage, a case study by Transport & Mobility Leuven (yep, Europe again) stated that, “New motorcycles emit fewer pollutants compared to average privat
e cars (less NOX, NO2, PM2.5 and EC, but more VOC). They also emit less CO2. Total external emission costs of new motorcycles are more than 20% lower than average private cars. On the section of motorway between Leuven and Brussels, total emission costs can be reduced by 6% if 10% of private cars are replaced by motorcycles.”
There are other benefits too. Things like fuel efficiency; most bikes get as many miles per gallon as a car if not much more. What about infrastructure? Right now, the Trump Administration is currently figuring out how to raise $200 billion to upgrade our nation’s infrastructure which is in dire shape in some parts of the country. What
may have helped our nations’ crumbing infrastructure? A motorcycle’s lighter touch could mean less wear and tear on a bridge or a road than a heavier, wider-set vehicle.
Given all the aforementioned benefits, you’d think I’d hear some praise from non-riders. Instead, I hear a lot about noise pollution. And that’s when they even talk about motorcycles. In many cases, they aren’t. Take the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); when they put out their initial guidance on autonomous vehicles and potential policies and safety factors, motorcycles weren’t even mentioned. They revised the document a year later, and though they did mention motorcycles, it was in the context of what vehicles NHTSA has jurisdiction over. Where it was blindingly not was in the section that has to do with the ability of this technology to identify and respond to objects on the road. Interestingly, the guidance names cars, trucks, pedestrians, bicyclists and animals. But not motorcycles.
It is estimated that there are more than 300 million powered two-wheelers in the world. These are substantial numbers, so when it comes being viewed as a legitimate form of transportation, why are riders having to fight for a seat at the table? And an even bigger question is how we can change this dynamic? I don’t have the answers, but I bet if enough of us put our heads together we can start to chip away at the problem targeting not just society as a whole, but the different segments that contribute to this pervasive problem. From policymakers to media to public interest groups and everyone in between, we need to make sure that riders everywhere, regardless of what patch you hold or bike you ride, deliver the message that motorcycles have a place in the future.
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY WOLF PACK MC–
www.Bikernet.com University looked into why Bandit Keith Ball always gets the shit end of the stick. The simple reason is, he is a true leader and therefore suffers the most.
A little food for thought… A group of wolves: The three in front are old & sick, they walk in front to set the pace of the running group lest they get left behind. The next five are the strongest & best, they are tasked to protect the front side if there is an attack. The pack in the middle are always protected from any attack. The five behind them are also among the strongest & best; they are tasked to protect the back side if there is an attack. The last one is the LEADER. He ensures that no one is left behind. He keeps the pack unified and on the same path. He is always ready to run in any direction to protect & serves as the ‘bodyguard’ to the entire group. Just in case anyone wanted to know what it really means to be a leader. It’s not about being out front. It means taking care of the team.
THE FIDDLE-FOOTED SUNDAY POST for February 11, 2018
Does this report seem to indicate to you why anybody would want to share the road with a robot?
What is the criminal charge for death by robot?
Why has the industry and government enabled the “I didn’t see ‘em” defense?
Mike
GOVERNMENT BEHAVING BAADLY– CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYWOMAN CRISTINA GARCIA, WHO IS A HIGH PROFILE “ME TOO” ADVOCATE WHO GRACED THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE’S COVER IN ANNOUNCING THE “SILENCE BREAKERS” AS PERSONS OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY HARASSING A MALE STAFFER.
How ironic is that?
Not only is she alleged to have harassed the man but he also said that she grabbed his ass and then tried to grab his crotch. Daniel Fierro of Cerritos told POLITICO that in 2014 when he was a staffer for Assemblyman Ian Calderon that Garcia groped him.
Garcia is a powerful politician who chairs the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Natural Resources Committee.
Fierro said that after an assembly softball game, Garcia cornered him. He said that Garcia seemed to be drunk as she started rubbing his back and squeezed his butt then tried to grab his crotch. He pulled away and retreated from her.
From Politico
Fierro said he never reported the incident, which occurred years before the current #MeToo movement and new whistleblower legislation to protect legislative staffers. But after he mentioned the issue last January to Calderon, his former boss, the matter was then referred to the Assembly Rules Committee, which launched an investigation.
Fierro is not the only one claiming improper advances by Garcia. A prominent Sacramento lobbyist says she also accosted him in May 2017, when she cornered him, made a graphic sexual proposal, and tried to grab his crotch at a political fundraiser. He spoke to POLITICO on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals.
The lobbyist, who represents a major industry association, said that Garcia appeared to have been drinking heavily at a fundraiser hosted by Governor Jerry Brown for state Senator Josh Newman at the de Veres bar in Sacramento. He said he was heading out the door in part to avoid the assemblywoman — who had been increasingly “flirtatious” and had called him on a few occasions before for late night drinks which he repeatedly declined.
The lobbyist described Garcia’s actions:
“She came back and was whispering real close and I could smell the booze and see she was pretty far gone. She looked at me for a second and said, “I’ve set a goal for myself to fuck you.”
“At that point, Garcia “stepped in front of me and reaches out and is grabbing for my crotch. I was four inches from her, eyeball to eyeball — and I said, ‘That ain’t gonna happen.’”
“No one should have to wait for an investigative article to know the truth about the kind of environment they work in. I’m working with @SEIU1000 on a bill to create a centralized mechanism to track sexual harassment complaints in state government. https://t.co/6Ltyt8NcQP”
“I didn’t know I was part of the story. That I was pictured and added to a timeline of this reckoning. It’s an awkwardly humbling experience, but I am proud of this work and the company I am in. I hope you’ll pick up a copy of @TIME &read about the bravery.#MeToo #WeSaidEnough pic.twitter.com/P1bfCDPKCf”
Fierro was able to substantiate his claims because he had immediately notified several people about the experience but decided not to report it because he was afraid she would go after his fledgling business. Other staffers in the assembly said that Garcia was known to talk explicitly about sex to young staffers.
Her actions are bound to damage the “MeToo” movement she has been associated with.
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Tuesday, 13 February 2018
They were once heaving party joints, filled to the brim with cheap grog and bad manners.
But the once thriving biker clubhouses that were scattered by the dozens across the state’s suburbs and towns have become an endangered species, so writes Dan Proudman from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Their unrelenting predator is a group of no-frills cops using a 75-year-old piece of legislation brought in during World War II to stop spies from learning the nation’s secrets via Sydney’s brothels and sly grog shops.
Then justice minister Robert “Reg” Downing, the man whose name now adorns the city’s Downing Centre court precinct, told NSW Parliament in 1943 that authorities needed extra powers to shut down the dens of debauchery in the interests of national security.
“The defence authorities were confirmed in their opinion that these types of places were the most likely hunting grounds for enemy agents desiring information, they are a danger to the mental and physical health of the forces, and that their closing was more than justified on moral grounds,” he told Parliament.
“That was demanded in the interests of national security, if tremendous and irreparable injury to the war effort and military operations was to be avoided.”
But he would never have envisaged the Restricted Premises Act (1943) would be used to cull the party culture of outlaw bikie gangs more than 70 years later.
With some helpful refining by lawmakers, and the cunning eye of one resourceful officer who rediscovered the legislation, it has allowed police to storm the bikies’ headquarters en masse and destroy their culture.
Just last Tuesday, the anti-bikie squad Strike Force Raptor made history again, gaining the first NSW Supreme Court order to shut down the Nomads clubhouse in inner Newcastle, a fickle building that had stood for decades on a suburban street as a sign of anti-authority for the one percenters.
It had been a place where former bikie enforcer Sam Ibrahim was once accused of being involved in the kneecapping of two wayward members – he was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
And, in 2001, it was the scene of one of the then biggest drug investigations in the nation’s history, with Strike Force Sibret smashing an amphetamine racket worth hundreds of millions of dollars and sending several bikers to jail for more than 30 years.
But no more.
With a drill bit and a piece of plastic-covered paper, police adorned the outside of the fortified building with the court order.
In simple terms, it now means that Nomads face charges and jail time by hanging out together. Police can now turn up without a search warrant, giving new meaning to the term fun police.
It is understood the bikers are consulting lawyers.
And, although this time it was the strike of a pen that shut down the clubhouse, police have used the legislation with brute force since discovering their new tool nearly a decade ago.
More than 50 clubhouses have been ripped apart by law enforcement since, with some estimates suggesting less than five biker chapter headquarters remain across NSW.
And sometimes, the police have been brutal.
The legislation suggests authorities can confiscate anything to do with illegal liquor sales. But it didn’t stop at the alcohol. Glasses, fridges, bars and even beer mats have been taken during the raids.
Even stages and stripper poles have been dismantled. Sledgehammers have been taken to bars.
As Criminal Groups Squad commander Detective Superintendent Deb Wallace said: “When we looked closely at how we were going to tackle the outlaw motorcycle gangs, we quickly identified [that] we needed to disrupt their ethos.
“Using this legislation has allowed us to take the attractiveness out of being in an outlaw motorcycle gang.
“Some of these clubs were better than RSL clubs.
“It has been successful because it is no longer fun for them. They have attempted to survive and thrive because of a misguided reputation of being against authority.
“We have taken the power off them.”
But the demise of the big clubhouses has also seen the emergence of new meeting places – almost men’s shed for bikers.
Garages and backyard sheds have been turned into biker caves to allow the leather-clad lads to continue to meet and greet.
“They are more like cubby houses than the traditional large clubhouses. That can’t be good for anyone’s reputation,” Superintendent Wallace said.
The aura has changed.
DON’T MISS THE END OF AN EPIC TRADITION
August 6, 2018
At the Sturgis Buffalo Chip
New 3-day packages give you more options to see Skynyrd and the rest of the lineup than ever before!
Foreigner, The Marshall Tucker Band, American Flat Track, & More TBA
Eric Church, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aaron Lewis, & More TBA
Kid Rock, John Kay & Steppenwolf, & More TBA
Prices will never again be as low as they are right now.
Don’t wait!
All Eyes on Forkner and Davalos as Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Heads East–
Corona, Calif. (February 14, 2018) – Joey Savatgy and Adam Cianciarulo will both be getting a few weeks off as the Monster Energy Supercross series makes its way east to Arlington, Texas, for Round 1 of the Eastern Regional 250SX championship. The wait is over for Austin Forkner and Martin Davalos to showcase their speed, getting the first of nine rounds underway inside AT&T Stadium this Saturday.
The road to Round 1 was longer than expected for Forkner, who has bounced back from an arm injury he sustained while preparing for the season. In true Forkner style, he’s put in the work and is back better than ever. In his sophomore supercross season, Forkner is eager to prove he’s championship material.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting for Round 1 to happen for some time now,” said Forkner. “When you have to wait to heal up and then wait even longer for the east coast, it’s a great feeling when it finally arrives. Training has been going well so I’m looking forward to extending the team’s podium streak in Texas.”
Davalos is looking to enjoy the same success he had during his 2017 supercross campaign where he consistently finished inside the top five. Known as a fast starter, Davalos collected two holeshots last season. If anything, Davalos is out to prove he belongs on the team he has enjoyed so much success with in the past.
“It’s time to put my head down and deliver results for the team,” said Davalos. “I had a good 2017 and want to prove that I can run up front and contend for the championship. It will be nice to head back to the east coast. I had two wins last time I raced this side of the country. I’m really looking forward to a good season.”
Prior to Saturday’s race, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders will be signing autographs on Friday, February 16 from 6 – 7 p.m. at Freedom PowerSports in Fort Worth.
Saturday’s race from AT&T Stadium will be broadcast live on FS1 or the FOX Sports GO app starting at 8 p.m. ET.
To find out more about Pro Circuit products, visit www.procircuit.com. Don’t forget to follow the Pro Circuit race team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @pcraceteam and subscribe to the Pro Circuit “Inside the Shop” email newsletter here.
About Pro Circuit
Based in Corona, Calif., Pro Circuit Products, Inc. is a leader in off-road motorcycle and ATV exhausts and aftermarket performance parts. Started in 1978, Pro Circuit is the go to shop for recreational riders and professionals for everything from suspension work to complete engine packages and everything in between.
Created by former desert racer Mitch Payton, Pro Circuit proves its products and services week-in and week-out through its tagline “We Race.” Every product that dons the Pro Circuit stamp stems from the legendary Pro Circuit race team. A staple in the professional paddock, Pro Circuit Racing has earned 30 AMA championships and more than 250 race wins in more than 30 years of competition.
Greetings from Cambodia–
Sugar cane processing
Same wiring company as Thai ????
Market busy.
Unique cooling system for moto. Water drips onto engine. A water cooled air cooled motor. 😉
Clever way to carry many boxes
Elder citizen departs tuk tuk
More fruit section of market
Busy corner typical traffic
More sugar cane. Squeezed for drinking juice.
–Art Hall
SOMERSET, WIS, FEB 13 — The new Finned collection from Kuryakyn® echoes the classic era of custom culture where simplicity and minimalism held sway on the streets. The complete line of covers and accents delivers a clean, old school aesthetic to areas of the engine, outer primary, and transmission, among others.
Available for a wide variety of Harley-Davidson® Twin Cam® and Milwaukee-Eight® models, the Finned collection is designed to easily alter stock styling in a matter of minutes. The lineup includes groups of
components that give end users the freedom of targeting one or more specific areas to customize.
Focus areas include the outer primary where Finned Derby Covers can be combined with assorted model-specific primary accents to completely transform the stock appearance. Other components include Finned Timing Covers, Spark Plug Covers, Transmission and Starter Accents, as well as Passenger Floorboard Covers.
All Finned components are cast from quality A380 aluminum with raised horizontal lines that mimic the traditional cylinder fins for a uniform look throughout. Finish options include polished chrome, or satin black with machined fins for a contrasting raw metal appearance.
For more information and to view the complete collection, visit www.kuryakyn.com/classification/505/finned.
Aesopian [ee-soh-pee-uh n, ee-sop-ee-]
adjective
1. conveying meaning by hint, euphemism, innuendo, or the like: In the candidate’s Aesopian language, “soft on Communism” was to be interpreted as “Communist sympathizer.”
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Aesop or his fables: a story that points an Aesopian moral.
QUOTES
Gauss taught that past political thinkers wrote in a kind of code–an Aesopian language of double or multiple meanings–in order to avoid persecution in their own day and to communicate with contemporaries and successors who knew how to read between the lines, as it were.
— Terence Ball, Rousseau’s Ghost, 1998
ORIGIN
The English adjective Aesopian has multiple origins. The Latin adjective has the forms Aesopius and Aesopeus, from Greek Ais?peios, derivative adjective of the proper name Aísopos (Aesop). Aesop was a Greek slave who supposedly lived c620 b.c.–c560b.c. on the island of Samos and told animal fables that teach a lesson, e.g., “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Aesopian entered English in the late 17th century.
American Law Enforcement Agencies Provided Access to New Performance Benchmark
Cypress, CA – February 14, 2018 – Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., today announced the FJR1300P, a new police version of its iconic FJR1300 Sport Touring motorcycle, will be available for use by law enforcement and municipal organizations in the USA.
The FJR1300P blends the performance, handling, and incredible reliability of the standard FJR1300A with the capability of adding an arsenal of equipment designed exclusively for police use. Thanks to development feedback obtained directly from police departments and municipal organizations in various European countries, the FJR1300P sets a new benchmark for performance and reliability, critical for the demands of police departments across the United States.
The FJR1300P makes a great candidate for serving law enforcement agencies thanks to a host of standard base-model FJR1300A performance features, including:
– A compact and lightweight, 1298cc, DOHC, 16 valve, liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine
– A versatile six-speed transmission
– Yamaha’s exclusive Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) ride-by-wire system
– Traction control
– Cruise control
– D-Mode adjustable engine mapping
– All-LED headlight and position lights
– LED tail light
– Adjustable rider seat height and handlebar positions
– Push-button control for an electronically adjustable windscreen
– Detachable side cases
– Shaft drive
– 6.6 gallon fuel tank
In order to assist with the rigorous demands of police operations, the FJR1300P also comes prepared to support equipment that is exclusive to law enforcement use. Special features include:
– Pre-wired electrical connectors for easy installation of front and rear flashing lights
– Pre-wired electrical connectors for easy installation of a siren and speaker
– A pre-wired handlebar control switch
– A compartment with pre-wired electrical connectors for an auxiliary battery
– A windscreen that is taller than the standard model
– Knuckle visors (integrated into the rearview mirrors)
– Wind deflectors for the rider’s feet
– Engine guards
– A rear-mounted radio box
When put to the test by European law enforcement agencies, the FJR1300P received praise for its ride comfort and ease of handling. US agencies will now have access to the same level of performance thanks to special ordering opportunities through authorized Yamaha dealers.
To find out more about the FJR1300P, visit https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/fjr1300p-police-bike.
More information related to all Yamaha products can be found at https://www.yamahamotorsports.com.
Follow Yamaha Motor Corp., USA at www.facebook.com/yamahamotorusa, www.twitter.com/yamahamotorusa and www.instagram.com/yamahamotorusa
#Yamaha #YamahaMotor #YamahaMotorUSA
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS)
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the powersports industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATVs and Side-By-Side Vehicles, Snowmobiles, Outboard Motors, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outdoor Power Equipment, Golf Cars, Race Kart Engines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of dealers in the United States.
Headquartered in California since 1960, YMUS also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information about Yamaha, visit www.YamahaMotorsports.com.
God visited a woman and told her she must give up smoking, drinking and sex if she wants to get into heaven.
The woman said she would try her best.
God visited the woman a week later to see how she was getting on.
“Not bad” said the woman, “I’ve given up smoking and drinking but then I bent over to get some stuff out of the freezer and my boyfriend caught sight of my long slender legs, he pulled up my skirt, pulled my knickers to one side and made love to me right then and there.”
“They don’t like that in heaven” said God.
The woman replied “They’re not too happy about it at Costco either!”
THE FREEDOM FIGHTER BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for February 22, 2018
By Bandit |
Hey,
Life is amazing and changing constantly. Motorcycling is struggling but it won’t struggle for long. There are new TV shows, internet shows and movies in the wing. Just what we need.
You’ll see in this report how the climate debate is changing. But there’s something we need to get a handle on, regulation.
MILWAUKEE ARTIST MATHEW HINTZ DIES–
Mathew Hintz, the Official Artist of Daytona Bike Week, died unexpectedly at the age of 41 on December 24, 2017, leaving a wife and four children ages 6 – 13. His 2018 Daytona Bike Week painting was the last piece of artwork he completed before his death.
Friends of his family are asking the motorcycle community to share messages of hope and consider donating to a fund that will help with child care, meals and future college expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/Mathewhintz.
Charles Plueddeman
Rush Lake, Wis.
(920) 203-1631
“A Good Man to Have Along”
HALF MOON BAY CALIFORNIA’S FESTIVAL OF MAGNIFICENT MACHINES MARKS 28TH YEAR
Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show Returns Sunday, April 29, 2018 to Half Moon Bay Airport
A Benefit for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center
There are car shows, air shows, motorcycle shows, tractor shows, maker fairs, music festivals, food festivals, and living history festivals galore. Mix them all together in one venue on one day and you’ve got Half Moon Bay California’s remarkable, one and only Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show –– marking its 28th year in 2018 with a massive celebration of mechanical ingenuity, power and style.
It’s quite simply the “Coolest Show on Earth”. This year’s spectacular 28th annual show will be held on Sunday, April 29, a one-day mega-show, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport, located in the picturesque seaside town of Half Moon Bay, CA about 20 miles south of San Francisco.
It’s a whimsical, fascinating, amusing, curious and absolutely unique show and tell spectacle featuring 2,000 magnificent driving, flying and working machines from the 20th and 21st centuries. The world’s coolest cars of every era and style, model-T fire engines, vintage busses, custom motorcycles, tricked out trucks, sleek streamliners, one-of-a-kind antique engines and tractors and historic military aircraft will be among the mesmerizing displays.
Headline attractions scheduled to appear include:
•The west coast’s biggest, baddest gathering of the world’s coolest cars, trucks, motorcycles and aircraft.
•Bob Senz’ Big Cacklefest – a mass synchronized firing-up of the engines (10am,12pm, 2pm).
•Spectacular skydiving performances from the C-47 Skytrain with military style jumps by the experts at Precision Skydiving.
•Three (3) 20-minute electrifying, high-flying 4-rider freestyle motocross stunt shows (11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm).
•Inspiring flyovers by some of our nation’s most storied military aircraft in memory of Eddie Andreini Sr., world-renown aerobatics pilot, founding Dream Machines contributor and pillar in the Half Moon Bay community.
•Magnificent military aircraft including B-25 Bomber, C-47 Skytrain, P-51 Mustangs, YAK Russian fighters and an impressive array of L-39, T-6 and T-28 military fighters and trainers.
•Super sleek speed machines and streamliners in “World Record Wonderland” including legendary builder Jack Costella’s Nebulous Theorem streamliners that have set more than 100 land speed records.
•A special display and parade of vintage police cars.
•An array of nostalgia dragsters to honor the former Half Moon Bay Drag Strip.
•“Mustang Madness”, a spectacular display of America’s Premier World War II Fighter.
•Ultra thrilling rides in helicopters and bi-planes and heart-pounding monster truck rides.
•Refurbished fly-wheel engines from the Early Days Gas Engine & Tractor Association and meticulously restored logging equipment and artifacts from Willits CA-based Roots of Motive Power.
•Thrilling zip-line, bungee jump, waterballerz, climbing wall, remote-controlled NASCAR racing, and tons of awesome amusements in the Super Duper Kidz Funzone.
•Uniquely wild and crazy, side-by-side, single-wheel unimotorcycle drag racing.
•Fabulous food and drink with Half Moon Bay Brewing Company’s Classic Motor Head Ale plus Bloody Mary’s and Coastal Cosmos from Half Moon Bay Distillery and varietals from Barterra Winery.
•Stellar live music all day by the Michael Ahern Band, Extra Large, and East Bay Mudd featuring Fred Ross.
•Half Moon Bay Pilots Association Saturday Hangar Dinner at the Andreini Family Hangar (April 28, 5:30 pm) at Half Moon Bay Airport. Tickets are $30 per person, available at the door.
DREAM MACHINE OF THE YEAR AWARD
The “DRIVE Magazine Dream Machine of the Year” returns with expert judges on hand to select a winner from the thousands of magnificent machines on display. A special trophy will be awarded at a recognition ceremony during the show (3pm at the music stage).
REGISTER YOUR MACHINE
To show a car, truck, motorcycle, aircraft or other machine, the registration fee is $40 ($50 for entries postmarked after April 15) and includes a dash plaque and admission for two people. Register online here.
SPECTATOR ADMISSION
Spectator admission is $25 in advance ($30 at the gate) for adults (age 18-64), $15 in advance ($20 at the gate) for ages 11-17 and 65+, Free for kids age 10 and under (with paying adult). Purchase tickets here.
PARKING
Parking at the event is included in the admission price. There is a designated area for bicycle parking at the south end of the airport/Mezza Luna gate. Click here for the event map.
NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY-EIGHT SPECIAL AND IRON 1200 SPORTSTERS FUSE THROW-BACK DESIGN WITH MODERN PERFORMANCE–
High Handlebars, Cool Graphics, and Garage-Built Attitude
Harley-Davidson adds to the long legacy of its Sportster motorcycle line with the introduction of the Iron 1200 and Forty-Eight Special models. The latest in a line of 100 high-impact motorcycles the company plans to introduce by 2027, these new high-bar Sportsters combine throw-back styling trends from the custom-bike scene with the solid foundation of the Sportster platform and the punchy performance of the Evolution 1200 V-Twin engine.
Since its introduction in 1957, Sportster motorcycles have been repeatedly reimagined, in the hands of both the Motor Company and bike owners: The Sportster as a bobber, a chopper, a scrambler and a café racer; as a hero on flat tracks and drag strips and road-race courses; as an accessible entry-point for first-time riders, and as a custom-of-one cruiser.
“Since its inception, the Sportster has offered the perfect combination of size, power and character that makes it appealing to so many different riders,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson V.P. of Styling & Design. “A Sportster is a relatively easy bike to strip down and reinvent. What we’ve done to create the new Iron 1200 and Forty-Eight Special is what Sportster owners have been doing with their own bikes for generations.”
New fuel tank graphics distinguish both the Iron 1200 and the Forty-Eight Special, and combine bold color stripes with a formal typeface, color and graphic elements originally popular in the 1970s.
“The art on these two fuel tanks reflect contemporary trends we are seeing on custom bikes and in design in general, a move away from more complex and intricate art to a look that’s very simple and clean,” said Richards. “It’s also important to note that these graphics respect the shape of the fuel tank and in the case of the Sportster, that tank shape is a classic design element in its own right.”
Iron 1200
The Iron 1200 recipe starts with power. A 1202cc Evolution® 1200 V-Twin engine delivers 36 percent more torque (73.0 ft. lbs. vs. 53.8 ft. lb.) than the 883 Evolution engine that powers the Iron 883, the original urban brawler in the Sportster family. The Iron 1200 brings more punch to the street fight – more power to blast away from green lights and more mid-range to muscle through traffic. More power means more rowdy fun.
The satin-black Mini Ape handle bar is an essential element of the garage-built chopper look that adds instant attitude. This 1.0-inch diameter handlebar offers an 8.75-inch rise, 32-inch spread and 6.5-inch pull back, that opens the rider triangle with a fist-in-the-wind posture.
The gloss black speed screen framing the headlamp is a West Coast styling influence that amplifies the attitude of the tall bars, is intended to offer some wind deflection at speed and provides a space for easy personalization. The fast-back Café Solo Seat flows to the rear fender and is shaped to help hold the rider in position when the torque of the Evolution 1200 kicks in.
A classic 3.3-gallon Sportster fuel tank features multi-colored striped graphics that wrap around the tank profile. The dark engine finish helps draw the eyes to the bright tank graphics. Fuel tank paint color options include Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry and Billiard White, always contrasting with the Vivid Black speed screen.
The entire powertrain has been styled with a popular color: black upper and lower rocker boxes, black exhaust and muffler shields, and black timer, primary and derby covers. Chrome pushrod tubes and tappet covers are the only brightwork and highlight the V-Twin engine shape. The Iron 1200 is finished with all-black 9-Spoke wheels (19-inch front and 16-inch rear diameter) and a solid black belt guard and rear sprocket.
The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System and anti-lock braking system (ABS) are factory-installed options for the Iron 1200 model.
Forty-Eight Special
The burly front end of the Forty-Eight Special – a 130mm front tire framed by 49mm forks secured in massive forged aluminum triple clamps – looks especially menacing when topped with a gloss-black, 7.25-inch high Tallboy handlebar.
“We specifically selected the Tallboy bar for its shape,” said Richards. “It offers less pull-back than the Mini-Ape, a look that really works with the steamroller front end and the smaller fuel tank on the Forty-Eight Special model.”
That 2.2-gallon “peanut” Sportster fuel tank features rows of bold, horizontal stripes framing a simple Harley-Davidson text logo. The fuel tank is available in three color options: Vivid Black, Wicked Red, and Billiard White.
The Evolution 1200 engine features a black top end and an expanse of brilliant chrome below, including chrome primary, inspection and derby covers, and solid chrome muffler and exhaust shields. Chrome lower rocker boxes, pushrod tubes and tappet covers contrast with the black cylinders to highlight the V-Twin engine shape. High-performance Michelin Scorcher 31 tires front and rear are mounted on Black Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminum wheels (16-inch diameter front and rear).
The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System and anti-lock braking system (ABS) are factory-installed options for the Forty-Eight Special model.
PANHEAD FROM THE HUGH HEFNER COLLECTION— Soon to be featured in American Iron. The ’55 w/ side car, beautifully restored and a current member of the Paughco collection. It is for sale.
–Markus Cuff
Bikernet Certified Feature Photographer
Also shoots for Cycle Source and Easyriders
AUSTRALIAN NEWS– Man’s jewellery draws attention of anti-bikie taskforce
A MACKAY man has drawn the attention of Queensland’s anti-bikie taskforce by wearing “cool” rings linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Alec Vincent Coulahan avoided the maximum penalty for wearing the prohibited jewelry adorned with the ‘1%’ insignia when he faced Mackay Magistrates Court.
Under Queensland’s Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act (VLAD), Coulahan could have been hit with a $5000 fine.
The 20-year-old appeared in the court on Monday, pleading guilty to public nuisance on October 17, 2017 at Mackay and to wearing prohibited items in public on October 21, 2017 at Ooralea.
Prosecutor Nathaniel Gillis said Coulahan (right) had been arrested over “other matters” and police found the rings, which were “silver in color, with markings in the form of ’13’ and ‘1%'”.
“Police have conducted investigations into these items and liaised with officers from Taskforce Maxima,” Mr Gillis said.
The prosecutor said the markings ’13’ and ‘1%’ “signify an outlaw status” and were linked to “outlaw criminal motorcycle gangs”.
Mr Gillis said the Mackay Tactical Crime Squad searched Coulahan’s home on January 23, after suspicions were raised.
Coulahan was not at home, but his mother told police “she knew he was associating with a male who she believed was a member of the Outlaws criminal motorcycle gang”.
Police searched a gym bag in the back of a car and found the two rings belonging to Coulahan, who initially said he “found the rings and kept them”.
Coulahan admitted to police he knew what the rings’ insignia referred to and he received a warning for “consorting”.
Mr Gillis said the public nuisance offence involved Coulahan instigating a fight with a man during a night out in Mackay city centre.
In defence of Coulahan, defence barrister Phillip Moore said his client, who had no relevant criminal history, spotted the rings online and bought them as he “thought it was cool”.
Mr. Moore had played some part in the public nuisance offence and he said Coulahan “generally keeps out of trouble”.
In his sentencing remarks, Mr Dwyer said Coulahan entered an early plea, but it was the second time he had been “violent near licensed premises” in recent times.
Coulahan was fined $1500 and banned from entering Mackay Safe Night Precinct until June 18. No convictions were recorded.
–by Luke Mortimer
Daily Mecury
THE CHOPPER CHANNEL LIVES–One World Digital Launches 24/7 Choppertown Channel on Twitch for Bikers
New 24/7 channel to feature live and recorded programming for gearheads, such as Choppertown: the Sinners and Jesse James: Austin Speed Shop to real-time coverage of rallies, races, and more
One World Digital, LLC today announced the official launch of its 24/7 Choppertown channel on social video service Twitch. The channel (twitch.tv/choppertown) features motorcycle, hot rod, racing and other gearhead content curated from over a decade of library acquisitions and original award-winning productions.
The channel will also include live programming from motorcycle rallies around the world, visits to underground shops, and live coverage of motorcycle racing events, such as Harley-Davidson’s Hooligans and others.
“Twitch has built an incredible service based on community and conversation,” said One World Digital CEO, Zack Coffman. “We have spent the past twelve years engaging and building a massive global community around our films and it’s incredible to finally have an interactive linear channel dedicated to our audience and easily available to our fans on a global scale.”
“The Twitch community has a wide range of interests with Choppertown representing the latest in compelling new programming,” said Jane Weedon, Director of Business Development, Twitch. “By letting the Twitch community interact in real-time with Choppertown’s impressive library of gearhead TV shows and films, as well as live content from races and rallies, it marks a cool milestone for 24/7 content on our service.”
One World Digital’s launch of a linear channel on Twitch builds on its rapidly growing distribution network that includes Facebook Watch, Amazon Prime, Vimeo, and its owned and operated content hub Choppertown.com.
Coffman continued, “The interactivity is what makes Twitch so exciting. Our fans love to discuss their passions and this gives them a chance to get together in a great environment whether in front of a TV, via desktop or mobile.”
WEATHER REPORT FROM NEW ZEALAND– I hope you had a safe journey home and you left in good time. We have a cyclone Gita tracking through the south island and central north island. Maxine (my granddaughter) will be in Christchurch where it is heading. A lot of precautions are being taken to keep people and property safe.
It is unusual for cyclones to come down this way – they usually stay in the
Pacific islands above us, however it is coming this time. I think
the worst will be on Wednesday.
It is wonderful to know that Alma’s ashes (my mother) are in her beautiful place
at Eden Garden and you ensured that her wishes were carried out. Alison and I could not help but notice how like Alma you are in your outlook. She lives on in you, gloriously.
Here is the photo I mentioned of her next to the ancient Buddhist monument which as I remember was near where Siddhartha walked in the forest in India.
Very best wishes and love to you and Alison and it was such a pleasure and most interesting to have you visit down here.
–Lisa
Lisa grew up in New Zealand and Long Beach California. She was friends with my mom for 56 years.
NEW LAS VEGAS BIKEFEST LOGO FOR 2018—The party begins. Here is the new 2018 Las Vegas BikeFest Logo.
Contact us for any informantion regarding this year’s event.
Candice Cooley
Marketing Manager
Las Vegas BikeFest
D: 702-216-5845
P: 702-450-7662 x121
F:702-450-7732
NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT–
Peer-reviewed study finds that three key global temperature data sets are “not a valid representation of reality.”
By: Rob Bushway – Climate Depot
Source: Climate4You
A research report by James Wallace lll, Joseph D’Aleo and Craig Idso
On the Validity of NOAA, NASA and Hadley CRU Global Average Surface Temperature Data & The Validity of EPA’s CO2 Endangerment
The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that Global Average Surface Temperature (GAST) data, produced by NOAA, NASA, and HADLEY, are sufficiently credible estimates of global average temperatures such that they can be relied upon for climate modeling and policy analysis purposes.
The relevance of this research is that the validity of all three of the so-called Lines of Evidence in EPA’s GHG/CO2 Endangerment Finding require GAST data to be a valid representation of reality.
The conclusive findings of this research are that the three GAST data sets are not a valid representation of reality. In fact, the magnitude of their historical data adjustments, that removed their cyclical temperature patterns, are totally inconsistent with published and credible U.S. and other temperature data.
Thus, it is impossible to conclude from the three published GAST data sets that recent years have been the warmest ever –despite current claims of record setting warming. Finally, since GAST data set validity is a necessary condition for EPA’s GHG/CO2 Endangerment Finding, it too is invalidated by these research findings.
Finally, since GAST data set validity is a necessary condition for EPA’s GHG/CO2 Endangerment Finding, it too is invalidated by these research findings.
This paper was peer-reviewed and approved by Drs. Alan Carlin, Harold H. Doiron, Theodore R. Eck, Richard A. Keen, Anthony R. Lupo, Thomas P. Sheahan, and George T. WolffAfter the review, Dr Alan Carlin wrote:‘CAGW Is a Failed Hypothesis since It Does Not Satisfy the Scientific Method’Climate alarmism is nothing more than an attempt to scare people with unrealistic hypothetical climate outcomes based on computer models with no predictive power.
— gReader Pro
Climate Depot
LAW TIGERS STEP UP
Six Figure Donation To Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall Of Fame Building Fund
Sturgis, South Dakota, February 20, 2018 – Construction on the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame renovation roared into the new year courtesy of the Law Tigers motorcycle lawyers. Set to expand to two campuses by the 100th Anniversary in 2020, the Main Street location gets a major revitalization for 2018, courtesy of generous donations from supporters such as the Law Tigers.
“We are proud to be involved with such an amazing organization,” says Ari Levenbaum, VP of Marketing for The Law Tigers, a professional association of motorcycle injury lawyers who help riders every day. “Law Tigers is excited to provide some of the finances needed to build the new Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. It is important to recognize and honor those individuals who have done their part to support the different aspects of the motorcycle industry.”
The entire organization is passionate about motorcycling and has some pretty impressive bikes in their corporate collection. “The Museum represents achievements and important milestones within the motorcycle industry, and Law Tigers motorcycle lawyers are happy to do their small part to ensure a lasting legacy.”
“It’s been an exciting Spring,” says Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Executive Director Myrick Robbins. “The Law Tigers jump-starting the building fund has taken our very aggressive expansion effort from the planning stage on paper to the reality of construction. It has been an amazing journey so far, but the best is yet to come!”
“Our support and the support of others will allow future generations to have somewhere to visit that showcases the history of motorcycles and the history of the motorcycle industry, as well as the pioneers who made lasting contributions,” adds Levenbaum. “Since the age of eight, I grew up first on dirtbikes and later riding street legal motorcycles, but I never really knew the history of motorcycles as a youth. Riding motorcycles has enriched my life in so many ways. I feel it is important to pay it forward and acknowledge those individuals who have had an impact on the industry.”
The Law Tigers motorcycle lawyers are fully committed to showcasing the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum through a host of resources, including taking some of its motorcycles on the road to other events like the Mecum Auctions, promoting the museum online and providing financial support for many years to come. “One of the reasons we decided to make a substantial donation to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum was to show other businesses and organizations just how important this institution is for future generations,” explains Levenbaum. “It is my hope that our contribution will help motivate other individuals and businesses to make equal or greater contributions to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.”
Join the Law Tigers by becoming a Sturgis FUNdRider by contributing here: www.sturgismuseum.com/contribute
NEW FROM COBRA–Start 2018 Off With A Bang!
At Cobra, we realize that the most important time of the year is riding season! Get your bike ready to roll with the best exhausts and accessories in the industry. Below you will find what we have been cooking up over the winter.
2018 Softail Mufflers
We have been on the gas, trying to produce the best slip-on’s for Milwaukee Eight® Softails – and we succeeded! Starting with our new Neighbor Hater 3-inch slip-ons, featuring a 2-inch baffle, high density e-glass packing, and a sound that is unmatched. Available in Chrome and Black.
2018 Softail Mufflers
We know you want options, so we didn’t just make one style of muffler for the new Softails. Introducing the RPT 3-inch slip-on mufflers. These mufflers are constructed with the same internals as the Neighbor Haters, but with a different core design. This was done to create a slightly quieter sound, if that is what you’re looking for.
Detachable Backrests
Detachable Backrests are also available for the new Milwaukee Eight Softails, as well as most older Sportsters®, Dynas®, and Softails®. These kits come with everything you need to install on your bike. Backrest, mounting hardware, and pad are in the box and ready to install! Best of all, there is no need to relocate the turn signals! Click the image to see our new low price!
Neighbor Hater Series
Our Neighbor Hater mufflers have quickly become one of the most popular mufflers in the industry. So we decided to expand the line to include multiple designs, but using the same baffle design. All the same Neighbor Hater bark, but with a whole new look. Below you will find the new Dual Cut tip, Neighbor Hater mufflers, followed by the 909 Uppercut’s. Click the images to learn more about each new product.
2018 Cobra Catalog
We are excited to announce the new 2018 Cobra Catalog! If you would like one mailed to your house, free of charge, click the image below!
[page break]
NEW FROM THE DICTIONARY DIVISION OF THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY–Some of these fit so well they should be in a dictionary!
BEAUTY PARLOR
A place where women curl up and dye.
CHICKENS
The only animal you eat before they are born and after they are dead.
COMMITTEE
A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.
DUST
Mud with the juice squeezed out.
EGOTIST
Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.
HANDKERCHIEF
Cold Storage.
INFLATION
Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.
MOSQUITO
An insect that makes you like flies better.
RAISIN
A grape with a sunburn.
SECRET
A story you tell to one person at a time.
SKELETON
A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.
TOOTHACHE
The pain that drives you to extraction.
TOMORROW
One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.
YAWN
An honest opinion openly expressed.
WRINKLES
Something other people have….similar to my character lines.
In youth, the days are short and the years are long.
In old age, the years are short and days long.
–from Buckshot
VETERAN NEWS–Vet groups ask Trump to keep Shulkin as VA head
Flap over European trip clouds secretary’s role
Three veterans organizations urged President Trump to keep Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin in place despite his misuse of taxpayer dollars during a European trip last year.
The American Legion ticked off a list of his accomplishments at the department, including modernization of the appeals process for VA benefits, improved patient satisfaction, decreased wait times and increased access to mental health care.
“We have been encouraged by the great progress Secretary Shulkin has made and believe that he remains the best person to lead this important federal public institution on the behalf of the American people,” the group’s national commander, Denise Rohan, said in a statement Monday. One of the oldest organizations representing veterans, AmVets, praised the secretary.
“Please allow VA Secretary Shulkin the space necessary to do his job and continue your focus on fixing the VA,” Joe Chenelly, executive director of AmVets, said in a statement directed at the president.
Vietnam Veterans of America echoed those thoughts and expressed support for VA Deputy Secretary Tom Bowman, who has been on the job since August.
“Keep both David Shulkin and Tom Bowman, and see where we are in a year,” said Rick Weidman, co-founder of the organization. “It hasn’t been long enough.”
Veterans groups had been largely silent since the VA inspector general released a report last Wednesday concluding Shulkin improperly accepted tickets to Wimbledon and airfare for his wife during a 10-day trip to Denmark and London last July.
Shulkin said the findings were unfair and inaccurate, then expressed regret for the errors he and his staff made and reimbursed the government.
Days of turmoil followed. Friday, his chief of staff, Vivieca Wright Simpson, announced she was retiring after 32 years at the agency. Investigators de-termined she misled ethics officials by doctoring an email to get clearance for Shulkin’s wife to travel with him at taxpayers’ expense.
Within hours, the White House installed a new chief of staff, Peter O’Rourke, who was a member of Trump’s transition team and created the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the VA.
The fate of Shulkin remained unclear over the weekend. Friday, he told USA TODAY he remained committed to staying on and fulfilling Trump’s agenda.
Other veterans groups took a wait and- see approach. Garry Augustine, executive director of Disabled American Veterans, said he is generally supportive of Shulkin but is waiting to learn more about what transpired at the agency.
Chenelly, the AmVets director, said the future of the agency is at stake.
“Now, the question, after over a full year of progress and tremendous strides in accountability, opening access to care, improving access to benefits, tackling mental health, and strengthening relations with stakeholders, is whether the President is ready to turn the keys to the VA over to ideologues who have designs on having VA go the way of railroads, airports, energy companies, postal services, and other businesses that have been privatized — and have also proven profitable for a few,” he said in the statement.
“VA Secretary Shulkin is learning a tough lesson in politics: If you want to make enemies, try to change something. But he will not be the only one who pays if the President allows the VA to be treated, once again, like a political football that keeps getting punted each time a new VA Secretary is deposed,” Chenelly said.
The VA has had three secretaries in the past four years.
A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment late Sunday. Trump remained at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, over the
–Donovan Slack
USA TODAY
–from Rogue
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WORD OF THE DAY AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS CLUELESS–
thewless
[thyoo-lis]
adjective
1.
lacking in mental or moral vigor; weak, spiritless, or timid.
QUOTES
For indeed they were but thewless creatures, pallid with the damp caves of the moors, and so starved that they seemed to have eaten grass like Nebuchadnezzar.
ORIGIN
First recorded in 1300-50, thewless is from the Middle English word theweles.
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BIKERNET PAUGHCO READER COMMENT-– Ken Helton from INDIANAPOLIS, IN writes about
2013 Paughco Sportster Trike Conversion Kits
I have a 2001 Dyna with a Frankenstein axel. Will this Paughco trunk fit my trike?
–Ken Helton
khelton25@yahoo.com
I highly recommend contacting Steve Massicotte at Paugcho.
Phone
Toll Free 800-423-2621
Local (775) 246-5738
Fax
Toll Free 800-538-7916
Local (775) 246-0372
Office Hours
7:00AM – 3:30PM Pacific Time
Monday thru Friday
Mailing Address
Paughco, Inc.
P.O. Box 21390
Carson City, NV 89721-1390
E-Mail Address
info@paughco.com
info@yankeeengineuity.com
–Ujjwal Dey
Most Magnificent Editor
Bikernet Trikes
www.BikernetTrikes.com
wayfarer@bikernet.com
Phone and Whatsapp: +91 9322005050
Ken from Boulder City , NV writes about
LEHMAN CROSSBOW VICTORY VISION
I have been in contact with Lehman and they no longer provide kits for the Victory Brand. They currently only support Harley, Honda, and Kawasaki. You may want to update your page, because everything has changed in the last 4 years.
Good Luck
–Ken
bikerman123@gmail.com
Thank You for the update Ken.
–Ujjwal Dey
Most Magnificent Editor
Bikernet Trikes
www.BikernetTrikes.com
wayfarer@bikernet.com
Phone and Whatsapp: +91 9322005050
Platinum Air Suspension is proud to announce the newest addition to our cutting-edge product line–
The Bleed Feed Mono Shock Kit for 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Models. The kit is complete and includes all components necessary to convert the vehicle to a luxury ride, top flight handling, and with the ability to fully adjust ride height. Minimum retracted shock length is 10 7/8″, maximum extended shock length is 12 7/8″ resulting in a wide range of actual ride heights from “slammed” to “full handling” mode with a full 4″ height range.
For California Softail owners, simply remove the EPA canister from the transmission, install the canister to the Platinum Air Suspension Compressor / Valve Box, and install the entire assembly to that back of the transmission to enjoy the ride.
This kit covers the full range of 2018 Softail models and is backed by a one-year limited warranty on all material and manufacturing defects.
We stand behind the brand as “It’s all about the ride” and satisfaction of our customers.
Platinum’s Bleed Feed System
The flagship of the company is the ‘Bleed Feed’ system, which controls both ride height and rebound. The system is controlled by positive pressure at all times and can easily be adjusted at the “flip of a switch” for complete comfort based on rider weight, road conditions, and operators riding style. The Bleed Feed system includes air cylinders machined from 6061 T-6 billet aluminum, air-control valve, DOT- approved 1/4 “line and fittings, switch / electrical harness, air compressor, hardware, and line cutter.
Platinum also offers the simple, lower cost system, which features the same high-level of quality components as the Bleed Feed, but does not include rebound control. The system controls ride height through pump and release pressure.
All Platinum Air Suspension shocks are available in a wide variety of finishes. Options include chrome, polished, powder coated, or satin finishes. Special order powder coating in the specific colors is also available.
www.PlatimumAirSuspension.com
Mike Ferris – President
714-871-2424
WE SAW DEUS MACHINA IN NEW ZEALAND— They have a shop in Auckland.
THIS JUST IN FROM THE VA—
–from Rogue
ACE EDITOR
Bikernet Baggers
LOWBROW HEADED TO MAMA TRIED–
Hey! Are you headed to Milwaukee this weekend for Flat Out Friday and the Mama Tried Show? So are Mikey and I. We won’t have a Lowbrow booth because we will be enjoying Flat Out Friday & Mama Tried with thousands of other motorcycle enthusiasts.
If you see a 6-1/2 foot tall guy with a bunch of tattoos hanging out with a guy with glasses and a giant beard, that may be us, so please say hi! – Tyler
EPA WHISTLEBLOWER: Repealing the Climate Endangerment Finding Is Crucial to Restoring EPA’s Integrity
By: Rob Bushway – Climate Depot
By Alan Carlin
USEPA is currently reviewing a number of Obama-era regulations with the apparent intention of repealing or revising some of them. They appear to have a plan as to how to do this, with what they view as the most egregious regulations to be revised or eliminated first and with an early deadline for completing the overall review process.
They are already having difficulty satisfying the liberal DC Circuit Court of Appeals that they are implementing the Obama-era climate Endangerment Finding (EF). The EF is the scientific and legal justification for all EPA climate regulations and has been shown to be scientifically invalid by two separate innovative research reports over the past two years.
The Court is normally the first stop for review of legal disputes concerning Federal regulations. The Court has emphasized the necessity for the Agency to observe the EF. As long as it is in effect, EPA will have to satisfy the Court that new or revised regulations meet the EF. Failure is likely to result in adverse decisions by the Court concerning the regulations under dispute.
The Court has already told EPA that the 2009 EF means the EPA has an “affirmative statutory obligation to regulate greenhouse gases.” The Clean Power Plan The Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), which limits carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector in each state using a very broad interpretation of the Clean Air Act, appears to be the most important of the climate regulations involved.
The Trump EPA has proposed to repeal the CPP and has asked the public in an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) for comments on what if anything should replace it. There are presumably only three things the Agency could reasonably do given their proposal to repeal the CPP: (1) Propose a replacement for the CPP in response with the EF, such as restricting the CPP to cover only changes inside power plant fences as provided under the Clean Air Act, (2) reconsider and (hopefully) repeal the EF, or (3) propose that there be no replacement for the CPP.
The problem with (1) is that the Agency would end up reaffirming the current EF, which would make later reconsideration of the EF more difficult, end up being very expensive, and have no real benefits. Option (3) is likely to run afoul of the DC Circuit and perhaps even the Supreme Court.
The best alternative appears to be option (2). Presumably EPA will have to decide which of these actions to take after the CPP is repealed and comments are received on the ANPRM. You can submit your comments to USEPA on the repeal of the CPP until April 26 and on the ANPRM until February 26. It is only by repealing the scientifically invalid EF that scientific objectivity can come to future EPA actions concerning climate change.
And nothing else will make it harder for possible future climate alarmist-inclined administrations to easily reimpose the CPP and even more damaging regulations.
— gReader Pro
Climate Depot
ULTIMATE BUILDER NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Update from Chicago, IL
KING OF THE BUILDER – FREESTYLE WINNER
Last weekend the Motorcycle Missions entry took 1st place in the National Championship. The bike features a 1974 Shovel mil in a custom boardtrack frame. The little bike boasts a custom front end, exhaust and fenders.
Motorcycle Missions, founded by Krystal Hess, is a non-profit corporation helping veterans and first responders who deal with PTSD and suicidal ideation find hope and healing through motorcycles. Eight veterans of Motorcycle Missions built the winning motorcycle as part of Motorcycle Missions build mentorship program.
1 – #2025 Motorcycle Missions Veterans named Porterfield – 1974 Shovel in a board track frame
2 – # 1700 Chris Moos named DYNOT – 2018 Harley-Davidson Dyna
The new “Kings” are Sgt. Adria Garcia (Army), Spc. 1st Class Ron Harding (Army), Spc. Shayne Madison (Army), Lt. Col. Alba Melgar-C’De Baca (Army), Sgt. Andrew Pike (Army), Staff Sgt. Shawn Stover (Army), Sgt. Erik Sherman (Marines), and Staff Sgt. Cassaundra Melgar-C’De Baca (Air Force). Sgt. Garcia is a Purple Heart recipient.
“Since its inception, the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show (UBCBS) has become a spark of creativity for some the best motorcycle artists, designers and craftsmen in North America,” said Jeff Najar, Biker Pros Producer. “I’m so proud that they served our country and they’ve teamed up to create championship-winning motorcycle.”
The motorcycle, nicknamed “Porterfield,” is a 1974 Harley-Davidson donated by a veteran injured while serving in the military. The team was inspired by the style of a board track racer, a popular type of racing in the early 20th century. It features a long slim frame, a solo saddle and low, racing-style handlebars.
First and second position in each class split the $70,000 National Championship prize package in Chicago. Click here to see who won what.
Next Up
Washington, DC
February 23-25, 2018
Click here to enter
ENTER YOUR BIKE TODAY
QUESTIONS – Call me direct – 919-450-5060
– Jeff Najar, Biker Pros Partner
WHY ULTIMATE BUILDER
Benefits:
A large enthusiast crowd
Outstanding social media push
Great sponsors & prizes
Builder Interviews
Meet the media
Great Networking opportunities
We have four paying classes including:
FreeStyle
MOD Harley
MOD Retro
MOD Custom
Join the competition – Enter today We are looking forward to seeing you!
WHEN YOU ENTER YOU RECEIVE
2 Passes for the weekend
Your bike positioned on the Red Carpet
IMS Platter for your Literature and Business Cards
Meet Chris Callen of Cycle Source Magazine
COME OUT & HAVE SOME FUN!
FROM THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY–
A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled to see an intruder there. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: ‘Stop! Acts 2:38!’ (Repent and beBaptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.)
The burglar stopped in his tracks! The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, “Why did you just stand there? All the old lady
did was yell a scripture to you.”
“Scripture?” replied the burglar. “She said she had an Axe and Two 38s.
Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing. -Phyllis Diller
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
TWO Events…Friday night Kickstart Party
and Saturday day Show–
On Friday evening March 2nd, from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm, the unique Kickstart Party offers the opportunity to experience the 100 motorcycles of The Modern Classics with a distinctly different vibe.
Enjoy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Skippack’s Italian Market. Beer, wine and other refreshments will be offered as well. Enjoy classic rock while you browse the incredible collection and watch master artist Makoto Endo create a new masterpiece.
All this is available for one low price of $15 per guest (which is good for both days of the show!). Tickets are now available, through online purchase only, to just the first 250 guests. Bring a date!
Get Tickets for the Friday Night Kickstart Party Here!
the most talked about motorcycle event in the region,
The Modern Classics is still held on
Saturday, March 3rd from 9 AM until 5 PM
This year, in addition to the always magnificent collection of bikes from the 1960s through the 1990s, we’ll have on display a sampling of machines from the first half of the 20th century. Representatives of each decade from the 1900s onward will help to tell the story of motorcycling and of the relentless march of performance, technology, art and style that has made motorcycling what it is today.
admission is just $10 at the door.
BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL EDITOR ON THE ROAD– To the left is naga 1. The old cas.
Lobby to front desk
Front desk
Lunch $17 in cheap food court
$95 special. Right now $160
Add a main lobster only $15.
View from casino
Ride back traffic.
–Art Hall
BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL EDITOR
In the Philippines
Top Scientist Resigns Admitting Global Warming Is A Big Scam– Top US scientist Hal Lewis resigned from his post at the University of California after admitting that global warming was a big scam, in a shocking resignation letter.
From the Telegraph
The following is a letter to the American Physical Society released to the public by Professor Emeritus of physics Hal Lewis of the University of California at Santa Barbara
Sent: Friday, 08 October 2010 17:19 Hal Lewis
From: Hal Lewis, University of California, Santa Barbara
To: Curtis G. Callan, Jr., Princeton University, President of the American Physical Society
6 October 2010
Dear Curt:
When I first joined the American Physical Society sixty-seven years ago it was much smaller, much gentler, and as yet uncorrupted by the money flood (a threat against which Dwight Eisenhower warned a half-century ago).
Indeed, the choice of physics as a profession was then a guarantor of a life of poverty and abstinence – it was World War II that changed all that. The prospect of worldly gain drove few physicists.
As recently as thirty-five years ago, when I chaired the first APS study of a contentious social/scientific issue, The Reactor Safety Study, though there were zealots aplenty on the outside there was no hint of inordinate pressure on us as physicists. We were therefore able to produce what I believe was and is an honest appraisal of the situation at that time.
We were further enabled by the presence of an oversight committee consisting of Pief Panofsky, Vicki Weisskopf, and Hans Bethe, all towering physicists beyond reproach. I was proud of what we did in a charged atmosphere. In the end the oversight committee, in its report to the APS President, noted the complete independence in which we did the job, and predicted that the report would be attacked from both sides. What greater tribute could there be?
How different it is now. The giants no longer walk the earth, and the money flood has become the raison d’être of much physics research, the vital sustenance of much more, and it provides the support for untold numbers of professional jobs.
For reasons that will soon become clear my former pride at being an APS Fellow all these years has been turned into shame, and I am forced, with no pleasure at all, to offer you my resignation from the Society.
It is of course, the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS before it like a rogue wave. It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist.
Anyone who has the faintest doubt that this is so should force himself to read the ClimateGate documents, which lay it bare. (Montford’s book organizes the facts very well.) I don’t believe that any real physicist, nay scientist, can read that stuff without revulsion. I would almost make that revulsion a definition of the word scientist.
So what has the APS, as an organization, done in the face of this challenge? It has accepted the corruption as the norm, and gone along with it…
I do feel the need to add one note, and this is conjecture, since it is always risky to discuss other people’s motives. This scheming at APS HQ is so bizarre that there cannot be a simple explanation for it. Some have held that the physicists of today are not as smart as they used to be, but I don’t think that is an issue.
I think it is the money, exactly what Eisenhower warned about a half-century ago. There are indeed trillions of dollars involved, to say nothing of the fame and glory (and frequent trips to exotic islands) that go with being a member of the club.
–Sean Adl Tabatabi
YourNewsWire.com
SEEKING HELP, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–Girls of the Billet Bar–Arizona Bike Week 2006
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=917
Looking for a girl name Yasmin. She’s from Puerto Rico. I met her at Sturgis 2004 she was working there as a bartender at broken spoke and you just posted her picture on your website. That’s the brunet under the picture of girl with white shirt with words Show me your…
It’s very important to me to find her. If you can somehow to help me to get her this message that I’m looking for her including my email.
Thank very much if you can help
–Jan Cervencik
Zednar32@yahoo.com
Gresham , OR
Unfortunately the Billet Bar was closed about a decade ago and we published the article before that. Maybe someone can help. Good luck.
–Bandit
UNCLE MONKEY ON RECENT US SHOOTING–With the dust settling around the latest US shooting in Parkland, Florida, people are left asking why this keeps happening in the US, why something isn’t done to stop it?
As the rest of the civilized world looks at the US the answer seems simple – more (or at least some kind) of gun control.
After all when we look at the statistics the US owns about 320,000,000 million guns or about one gun for every man, woman, and child of the US population of 320,000,000. The remaining world population of 7.3 billion people has access to 340,000,000 guns or one gun for every 21-1/2 people.
The truth is the US will not do anything about guns. Every child lying dead in a school hallway is the reason why the US needs so many guns. Those kids are dying to ensure American’s Second Amendment rights will not be trampled on.
Since guns are completely off the table for discussion the possible solutions put forward include locking down schools similar to a prison where the students individually have to pass through several locked and barred doors before getting into the actual school.
Maybe they will equip all the students with ankle bracelets that will taser the students as well. Other common sense solutions put forward by American politicians is that each and every teacher should be armed with an AR-15 and trained the exact same way as the military is to enter, sweep, and neutralize a target. Those are the only two solutions the US can offer – prison-ize the school system or militarize it.
I’m not going to beat my head against the wall trying to tell the US guns are a problem because as the NRA points out – guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Many countries have guns but don’t have the shooting the US has. But do you know what else those countries have – free universal healthcare.
You see in the rest of the civilized world we have free healthcare so when someone has mental health issues they can get the help and care that they need. If you want to decrease the number of shooting in the US without infringing on the Second Amendment then provide free universal healthcare. The choice is yours America – give up guns or accept universal healthcare.
-bad Uncle Monkey
Canada
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–Custom Chrome Goliath Kit
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=6920
Hi, I am wondering if you still have the paperwork that came with this bike. The parts list and instructions. I have the same Bike and am needing to replace some of the parts. problem is I don’t know who the original parts were made by. any Info would be great.
–Patrick Thom
Patrickthom25@hotmail.com
Pemberton, MN
Have you checked with Custom Chrome. They commissioned this project years ago. I will look around. I may still have the instructions. The frame was built by Daytec, but they are no longer in business.–Bandit
RIDERS FOR AUTISM Inc. on our Route 66 Charity Ride.
We are Riders for Autism, Inc., a non profit (501 c(3)), organized in California, founded by myself, Mac Brey, my wife Coral Brey, and members of the biker community. We founded Riders for Autism after our autistic nephew, Liam age 9, moved in our home. Liam is non-verbal and likes to flip on and off switches and turn dials, which translates to the water heater getting turned off only to be discovered early in the morning.
Ultimately we want to raise funds for autism research and treatment. The Route 66 Charity Ride gives the biker community the opportunity to be part of a positive event. We have a presence in social media www.facebook.com/autismrelayride/ and setting up our website www.ridersforautism.com to support our efforts.
Riders for Autism and volunteers are riding historic Route 66 starting in Chicago, IL and ending in Los Angeles, CA to raise funds for autism research and treatment. We are doing this in support of Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital and Autism Speaks.
During our ride we will have nine separate events which will be hosted by Harley-Davidson dealers along the route (see schedule). We are getting the word out on social media and also working with local media outlets to spread the word. Our Schedule: DAYDATETIMELOCATIONEVENTFriday4/204pm 8pm Chicago, ILRide Kick Off â•„ Hosted by Illinois HD Saturday 4/21
Please let me know directly if you have any questions. Sincerely, Mac Brey Director Riders for Autism, Inc. 591 E Valley Blvd Colton, CA 92324 o 714-852-2525 c 949-220-3456
Meet the Law Tigers NEW Female Influencer!–
Please welcome Law Tigers new Female Influencer Ronda Brown! Ronda is a retired schoolteacher and has ridden her bike all over the United States.
Stop by, view her video and give her a like on her Facebook page and stay tuned! Congratulations Ronda, we look forward to working with you! Facebook link for Ronda!
–Darwyn
KEEP THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN–MARINE CORPS EXERCISE REGIMEN FOR PEOPLE OVER 70
For those of us over 70 – this is a great exercise regimen – for you young’uns out there (under 70), just keep it in mind until you reach that magic 70 number!
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room on each side. With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides. Hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.
Each day you’ll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. Then try 50-lb potato bags, and then eventually, try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.(I’m currently at this level.)
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.
–from Sidehack Jerry
BANQUET REMINDER
APRIL 7, 2018
It is wonderful that the event has become so popular, but as you know, seating is now a problem. The good news is that we are working on solutions. Be patient and we will all cross our fingers that everyone that wants to attend is there. For those on the waiting list; AFTER Mr. Bill contacts you to say he has seats, contact Cassie at MIC with your credit card information. If you are not on the waiting list, you probably have no chance of getting in, so contact Judy at (951) 780 1978 or (909) 226 6038 or mctrailblazers01@gmail.com. Out of town quests have asked about air service. LAX is about 14 miles north of Carson and the Long Beach airport is about 12 miles south of Carson, both on the 405 freeway. Use the Carson exit. Both airports have cabs, Uber and rental cars. A reminder to arrive early for the reception and bike show which start at 3pm. Once we go into the banquet room visiting is limited.
JOHNNY GIBSON R.I.P.
Johnny “Crashwall” Gibson passed away at 87 on January 30th. He was in the AMA Hall of Fame and winner of the 1956 Daytona 200, plus more than 100 dirt-track, road races and TT’s. After a crash at Ascot in 1962, he retired from racing, but was instrumental in reviving Speedway racing is Southern California in the 70’s and 80’s. He built the track at Irwindale. He is survived by his wife, Betty, son Mike, and daughter Sandra. Our condolences go to his family and friends. God Speed to you Johnny. You touched many lives and will be missed by all
Read the 2 page story by Larry Lawrence in Issue #6 in Cycle News.
DUD PERKINS AWARD TO TOM WHITE
The prestigious Dud Perkins Life-Time Achievement award has been given posthumously to Tom White. An accolade well deserved.
RANDY MAMOLA IS MOTOGP LEGEND
Randy Mamola will be inducted into the MotoGP World Championship Hall of Fame at the ceremony in April at the Red Bull Grand Prix of Americas in Austin. He may be the first to receive the award without winning a Championship. Randy, an outstanding rider, was 4 time Runner-up in the 500cc/MotoGP World Championship in the 1980s. He has been a great ambassador and supporter of the sport and one hell of a racer. Congrats Randy.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FLAT TRACK ASSOCIATION
Saturday, March 10th will be round 2 SCFTA Championship Series. Gates open 12:30pm;, Practice at 2pm and racing to follow. www.southerncaliforniaflattrack.com Steve Evans (310) 30j9 9418, Vince Graves (951) 443 7622 Perris
SPEEDWAY RACING AT PERRIS
Saturday, March 24th. Gates open at 2pm and racing at 5pm.
1205 Burton Road, Perris, CA Ellis Road & # 74
AMATEURS AT NURBURGRING TRACK
Mostly cars, but you can relate. Why can’t we have “fun” like this in the U.S.? Oops, insurance might be a problem
Once a year amateurs can drive their personal cars on the Nurburgring race track. This is the result.
DAYTONA BIKE WEEK MARCH 9 TO MARCH 18
Time to get your tickets for the 2018 Daytona races
Saturday and Sunday, March 10th and 11th SuperCross
Tuesday, March 13 ATV SuperCross
Thursday, March 15th is the 1st AFT race of 2018, the Daytona TT. Trackside seating available, a fun filled Fan Zone, Autographs and a Harley Davidson Stunt Extravaganza.
Saturday, March 17 77th Daytona 200
Visit http://daytonainternationalspeedway.com or 1-800-PITSHOP or www.americanflattrack.com
At the Chamber of Commerce site you can finds lots of bike shows, parties, fun events and even a “Ride forever” wedding ceremony. www.officialbikeweek.com
OLD SCHOOL TT SCRAMBLES POSTPONED
DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND ON MARCH 24 – 25
Round 1 was postponed because of forecast of high winds so Round 1 and 2 will be March 24th and 25th. All February 10-11 gate fees, armbands and camping passes will be honored and roll over to 3/24 & 3/25. SO KEEP YOUR ARMBANDS. If you haven’t pre-registered, you can do so online at www.oldschoolscramblesracing.com KID’S RIDE FREE in the Kid’s Mini Support Class, compliments of Rod Lake Racing.
RENT A VINTAGE BIKE
Don’t let the absence of a ride keep you off the starting line. If you need a vintage bike, why not rent one. (760) 403 3634.
ARIZONA MILE SATURDAY, MAY 12
Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson presents the 1st mile of 2018 AFT season. It will be held at the Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Loyalty tickets on sale now at www.arizonamile.com or (602) 730 0778
DAVE DESPAIN RETIRES
Dave hosted his last radio show on MavTV on Saturday, January 13th in Tulsa at the Chile Bowl. At 71, and after 40 odd years, Despain is giving up the daily grind, although it has been a thrilling ride. We have enjoyed him on TV Motor Week, Thursday Night Thunder, Speed Week, Wind Tunnel, his own show on MavTV and more. His voice is so familiar and we thank him for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm. We also thank him for volunteering to do the audio’s on the Trailblazers Hall of Fame videos. Hope you use your retirement to enjoy other opportunities, but don’t forget us.
THANK YOU FROM THE DAN GURNEY FAMILY
Evi Gurney, the Gurney family and AAR teammates sent the following message.
Thousands of heartfelt messages have arrived from many corners of the world addressed to “the hero of my youth.”
We are profoundly touched by your expressions of affection and support and we thank you for your cards, emails, letters, tributes, television and magazine stories, flowers and donations honoring Dan’s life and career. “”Thanks for the memory, how lovely it was”
BIKE WEEK RADIO SHOW
Tune in to the Bike Week Radio Show on Sunday mornings at 9am. It is hosted by Broc Glover, Paul Carruthers, Bobby Wooldridge and Scott Cox. www.bikeweekradioshow.com. The show covers everything on 2 wheels with a motor. You can also get into their archives. Call the program at (858) 457 1090 San Diego or (877) 792 1090 Toll Free. Their call sign is 1090. It is available every Sunday, not just during Bike Week.
GOOD READING IN CYCLE NEWS
Check out the 5th issue for another good article by Larry Lawrence “The 1st One Brand National”. This race took place on August 17, 1975 in Terre Haute, Indiana. The first flat track race in history with all one brand, Harley, in the National. In Issue #7 read “Pomeroy’s unexpected & strange GP Victory. Jim’s GP debut was at the 1973 Spanish FIM 250cc World Motocross Champion. Jim won it but someone else was handed the trophy
The stories and photos in Cycle News are excellent. And it is free! www.cyclenews.com
GRACE MCKEAN ON THE MEND
Grace, 83, was on her way to an Antique MC group ride a few weeks ago. She rode her Drifter from her home in Arrowbear to Fallbrook. As she exiting the freeway she couldn’t pull in the clutch and quickly figured out she had a stroke and couldn’t stop, so she rode thru the stop, wiggled down the road trying to slow enough to bail. She hit a car coming towards her, but didn’t fall off. A nurse in the car behind her recognized the problem. The nurse and others took care of her, the motorcycle, called her group and got her to emergency. She is home now and doing therapy. She is working hard to be ready for the annual ride to Borrego. Grace usually brings one or both of her bikes, an Indian Chief and a 45 Harley, to the Trailblazers Bike Show. Hope she can attend year. We wish her well and a speedy recovery.
BRUCE ENDERLE R.I.P.
On Friday, January 26ith, Bruce Enderle, a long time Yamaha employee, long time SAE motorcycle committee member, former racer and creator of a number of over-the-top specials, passed away. He was going into the hospital for a routine stent procedure, but before he left the house, emergency services were called and he was transported. He never woke up. Thanks to John Lenkeit for letting us know.
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT
CALIFORNIA ONLY HAS TWO AFT ANA RACES THIS YEAR
Sent by Pattie Frost Prestidge
The only California AFT AMA races this year will be during the month of May.
Saturday, May 5th is the “Thunder in the Vinyards” Calistoga Half Mile. The AFT series will host the running of the Grand National “Singles and Twin Cylinder Competition Motorcycles” on the Dirt Cushion Half Mile Race Track in Napa Valley.
Next up will be the return to the California historic Mile at Cal-Expo, Sacramento Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 19th. Tickets for both events at www.SDI-Racing.com
BIKE NIGHT AT COOKS CORNER
Thursday, March 15th is Bike Night from 6 – 9 at Cooks Corner to support “Pug Nation Rescue”. 100% of donations go to charity. 19152 Santiago Canyon Road. Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679 949-858-0266
ENDURO RIDERS REUNION
Come to Randsburg on Saturday, March 24 for a great reunion and a lot of fun. All enthusiasts and their guests are invited. Jack Penton and Debbie Evans Leavitt are looking forward to seeing you there. Sign in noon to 4pm at GOAT’s Sky Ranch Hotel on Butte Ave. After 4pm, sign in at the Opera House. There will be a BBQ dinner at 6pm at the Opera House and pancake breakfast on Sunday morning at the Sky Ranch Hotel 8 – 9:30 (tentative). GPS tracks available for trips to Husky Monument and Burro Schmidt Tunnel. Dinner, hall and T-shirt $30.00. T-Shirt only $5.00. Contact Larry Langley at larry.mediaguy@gmail.com (559 877 4514. Lots of free camping in nearby desert. Goats Sky Ranch Hotel (760) 374 2285. Or www.airbnb.com/s/Randsburg–CA/ or www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g32947-Randsburg_California-Hotels.html lodging in Randsburg and Ridgecrest (25 miles away)
1960’S SCRAMBLING
Sent by Bob Bryson
In case you missed this. The good old days of short travel. I think this guy misspoke saying that this is the first purpose built scrambler. I (Bob) have a 59 wildcat Parilla scrambler. And I think Bob Moore Junior can confirm that Zundapp made some scrambler kit parts in 59’ or 60’. The wall art at #3.28 is interesting.
50 YEARS AGO IN CYCLE NEWS
Gary Bailey was on cover. TT at Ascot on next cover, with big winners Keith Mashburn, Skip Van Leeuwen, Bob Bailey and Alex Chinowski. Gary Nixon was on cover after winning the very first Houston Astrodome Indoor National (1968). The Gripsters Motorcycle Club hosted the first Elsinore Grand Prix, sort of a replacement for the Catalina Grand Prix. It was won by Steve Scott. Larry Lawson won the Pacific Coast MotoCross Championship in Washington State. Wayne Hosaka won the High Boots M.C. TT Scrambles in El Cajon.
40 YEARS AGO
Steve Eklund was on cover for being first rider ever to win both nights of racing at the Houston GNC doubleheader,TT Friday & Short Track Saturday. San Diego Supercross canceled and replaced by round 2 of the MTEG Super Crown of Stadium MX. The SX promoters’ war was heating up. Feature about dirt bike riding and land closure. Roger DeCoster had serious internal injuries whole racing in Belgium. Mexicali 300 was won by Brent Wallingsford and Scot Harden. Rex Staten won the CMC/Suzuki Golden State MX round at Dunlap Cycle Park. Jimmy Ellis won the 1st round of the Toyota Supercross Series at the Kingdome in Seattle. Rex Staten won the 250 and 500 Championships at the final round of the CMC Golden State MX Series at Helvetia Park in Sacramento.
30 YEARS AGO
Jeff Ward was on the cover after winning the Houston Supercross, opening round of the AMA/Coors Supercross Series. It was Jeff’s 4th consecutive win at the Astrodome. Indoor Pro Ice Race final in Michigan was won by Chuck Springsteen. Bryan Hardin won the championship. Dan Smith won the Parker 400. Rick Johnson and Ron Lechien won the Seattle Supercross doubleheader. Jeff Ward and Ron Lechien were trying out a one way radio system at the Seattle Supercross. The mechanic talked and the rider listened.
SAGA OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S JAPANESE STEPCHILD
Stranger –than-fiction. Click on each pic to progress to another page of the story along with a different pic.
In the last newsletter was a request from a Chinese magazine looking for correspondent’s. A Trailblazer member asked someone with contacts in China to check it out. He couldn’t find much information. The website is simple and new. The magazines on it are dated from September 2017 and there are no author names. He said it definitely was not famous in China. As was said before, it could or could not be legitimate. I would probably ask to be paid in U.S. cash.
RIDE FOR THE CURE RIDE FOR KIDS
The 26th Dual Sport and Adventure ride supporting Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation will begin at Glen Helen on Saturday, April 14, 2018. The route will take you into the San Bernardino National Forest to Lake Arrowhead & back. Put it on your calendar. www.curethekids.org/events/ride-for-kids
EDDIE AND JODY MULDER’S LAKE CACHUMA BRITISH BIKE RALLY
Coming June 1st to 4th.Camp out with fellow classic British bike enthusiasts for a fun filled weekend. In remembrance of Bruce Brown. Vintage bikes, rides, prizes, food, field events and more.(661) 944 1184 or www.eddiemulderswcvdts.com enjmulder@gmail.com
FLAT TRACK REUNION AT DIXIE SPEEDWAY IN ATLANTA
For several years, T.C. Chambers and friends have held a reunion at the GNC Nationals in Georgia. Ray Little and Dave Aldana and T.C. are co hosting this year. Be there on April 7 to join the fun. There will be vintage bikes on display, an autograph session, a special meeting place and reunion in front of grandstands. For more information, contact T.C. Chambers at (770) 3964648 tcchambers68@comcast.net
NEW BOOKS
SONNY NUTTER “Dare to be Nutter” is now available.it is a hard cover, coffee table book with lots of stories and pictures. The Special Limited Edition is $75.,00, including shipping and handling, within US. Please PRINT the name Sonny should use for the inscription. You can purchase on pay pal. Send $75.00 to: bykridy@sbcglobal.net or send a check or money order made out to Sonny Nutter SEND TO: D. Edwards Unlimited, 12358 Moorpark St. #1E, Studio City, CA 91604. For more info: slidensonnynutter.com
BURT HARKINS “My Crazy Speedway World” This just came out and every word was written by Burt, so it should be very entertaining. Burt raced all over the world including a season in Southern California. You can find it online at www.llpshop.co.uk For 14 pounds (whatever that translates to
JEFF SMITH “Trials Master/ Motocross Maestro” can be purchased at www.motorsportX.com for $75.00 Hard cover.
AJ HERRERA MEMORIAL RACE JULY 21ST
This race isn’t until July, but it takes planning and two of the important things are SPONSORS and VENDORS. Without their assistance, the event would not get off the ground. They are reaching out to all their Sponsors from ast year, and other, to make this a very special day of racing in honor of AJ Contact Gail Wall (805) 698 1490 or gailwaller27@gmail.com
BSAOCSC RIDES
Sunday, February 25 “Cinder Cone” Dual Sport ride starts in Lucerne Valley at Highway 247 Restaurant, Junction 247 & 18. Meet at 9, ride at 10. For vintage British motorcycles only, with street registration and spark arrestors. (760) 365 9191 (310) 292 8997
Sunday, March 4 “Ortega Highway Street Ride” to Lake Elsinore & more. Meet at Capistrano Business Center Courtyard parking lot, 9am (27124 Paseo Esplada, Bld 800, San Juan Capistrano. Ride leaves 10am. Lunch at Ann’s Café in Lake Elsinore. (951) 440 3521
Sunday, March 18 “Al Baker Dual Sport” Meet 9am at the Al Baker Ranch, 16400 Wild Road, Helendale, CA. Starts at 10am and is approximately 90-100 miles. Vintage British motorcycles only, street registration & spark arrestors. (310) 292 8997 (760) 365 9191
SOCAL NORTON RIDES
Sunday, February 25 “Ojai Pilgrimage” Enjoy the cool weather on the back roads out of Moorpark to Ojai. Meet at Cactus Patch Café’ located at 197 E. High Street in Moorpark. Ride departs at 10am.
March 24 – 26th “Death Valley” For hard-core rider. Three days of amazing scenery & cool air. Meet Saturday at Crazy Otto’s, located at 1228 W. Avenue I in Lancaster. Ride departs at 9am. Furnace Creek Campground will be headquarters for Saturday and Sunday night, but you can stay wherever you wish.
MOTOGP AND MOTOAMERICA AT CIRCUIT OF AMERICAS, AUSTIN
There is going to be some great racing going on in Austin, Texas. The Horse Power Rodeo Red Bull Grand Prix includes MotoAmerica, which will run on April 20-22, and MotoGP’s only stop in the U.S.A. will be on April 22.
ISLE OF MAN TT
Buy your tickets and pack your bags for two weeks of excitement. May 26th until June 8th.
GLEN HELEN
Saturday, Feb. 24 REM MX/ MX Practice
Sunday, Feb. 25 OTHG/ ARX
Saturday, March 3 Prairie Dog Grand Prix Day 1
Sunday, March 4 Prairie Dog Grand Prix Day 2
Saturday, March 10th REM MX / MX Practice
Sunday, March 11 John Burr Cycles 6 hour Enduro
Saturday, March 17 Lucas Off Road Series
Sunday, March 18 SRA GP
OTHER RACES, EVENTS AND RIDES
February 23 Round 2 WORCS at Peoria, AZ
February 25 SoCal Old Timers MX Glen Helen with SRA socalotmx.org
March 3-4 Round 3 D37 Big 6 Grand Prix Devore, CA
March 10 Round 2 SCFTA Championship Series Perris (310) www.scftaracing.com
March 17 Round 3 AMA National Hare & Hound in Gorman
March 17 Round 1 D36 Big Time Speedway
March 23 Round 3 WORCS at Lake Havasu, AZ
March 24 Enduro Riders Reunion (559) 877 4514 (559) 760 1003 cell
March 24 Round 2 D36 Big Time Speedway
March 24 Speedway at Perris (951) 443 7622
March 24-25 TT Scrambles Round 1 & 2 Glen Helen www.oldschoolscramblesracing.com
April 6-7 Best in the Desert Laughlin, NV
April 7 Round 4 D36 Lodi Short Track
April 7 Round 3 SCFTA Championship Series Perris
April 21 Zaden Florez Tribute Race 1/2m ill TT. Salinas
May 5 TT race for 150cc and lower bikes Perris www.scftaracing.com
May 5 AFT Calistoga
May 19 Hangtown Motocross Classic (Season opener) Rancho Cordova, CA
May 19 AFT Sacramento
April 13 Boise Indoor Short Track
April 14 Ride for Kids Glen Helen www.curethekids.org
April 14 San Jose Indoor Short Track
June 24 Summer British Coastal Ride TCM (714) 556 0170
June 30 Santa Rosa Short Track
July 14 Humboldt Half Mile
July 21 AF Herrera Memorial Flat Track www.venturaraceway.com
PRINCIPLE GALLERY IN ALEXANDRIA–Bodies of Work
Invitational Group Exhibition
On Display Now!
We have assembled twelve tremendously talented figurative artists
for your viewing pleasure. Please come see the show in person!
Featuring: Ben Barker, Mark Demsteader, Stephen Early, Andy Espinoza, Louise Fenne, Geoffrey Johnson, David Lipson, Joseph Lorusso, Nadezda,
Mark R. Pugh, Kyle Stuckey, and Anna Wypych!
Click HERE to view all of the pieces in the exhibition.
(above) Louise Fenne Possessor No. 6 27.5×23.5, oil on canvas
[
MY HEAD IS SPINNING SORTA—I need to make more travel plans. I would rather stick around, but I need to haul ass to Paughco to pick up my Salt Torpedo and get to work. We need to be in Bonneville this year.
Then it’s off to Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Show in Daytona and to Deadwood for small cabin hunting. I need to escape the city and write another book.
That reminds me: I’m going to wrap up a screenplay in the next month. I think Billy Lane will dig it.
Then I can go back to work on another Chance book outline based around Tombstone, Arizona.
Never a dull moment around the Bikernet factory. We always have time for readers. Let us know if we can help with anything motorcycle.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
THRILLING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for March 1, 2018
By Bandit |
Hey,
Exciting times at Bikernet. Daytona Bike Week is just around the corner. It’s the 40th Anniversary of the Hamsters, now with about 300 members worldwide, some 60 critters are headed to Daytona where it all started.
We started an Instagram campaign this week with my Son Frank, and Grandson Frankie and went from 100 viewers to about 1,500 in a few days. Of course my son wants to turn it over to me on Monday, like I need another project. “They want to hear from you, Dad.”
Our Bikernet numbers climbed 14 percent in the short month of February. Not bad. Just goes to show. If you do anything, even if it’s wrong your numbers may respond.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum. And the Smoke Out.
SONS OF SPEED IN DAYTONA–Sons of Speed is a motorcycle race inspired by early 20th-century board-track racing. Featuring stripped-down bikes with pre-1925 American V-Twin engines and a steeply banked racetrack, Sons of Speed hearkens back to a wide-open, full-throttle, thrilling style of motorcycle racing.
Founded by veteran motorcycle builder Billy Lane of Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off and Monster Garage, the Sons of Speed race will feature some of the sport’s most accomplished riders, builders, and enthusiasts. The Sons of Speed race will take place during Daytona Bike Week at New Smyrna Speedway’s half-mile, paved, banked racetrack, with nine riders in several different heats. Winners of the heats will advance to a championship round. Each racer will sit astride identical hand-built racing chassis holding pre-1925 1000cc American V-Twin engines, and most racers will customize their machines by fabricating handlebars, exhaust, fenders, foot pegs and fuel/oil tanks.
This year, general admission tickets to the Sons of Speed race at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday, March 17, will be AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE DOOR. Gates open at 11 am and races are at 1 pm. Tickets are $20; there’s a $5 military discount with a military ID (limit one per military ID).
This year, we have two advance-purchase-only ticket types:
HOT PASS: $200
* breakfast with Billy at Choppers Inc on Thursday, March 15, at 9 am (location to be revealed to ticket buyers)
* one-of-a-kind signed lanyard that grants admission and pit access to the races on Saturday
* Billy Lane’s books Chop Fiction and How to Build a Chopper
NOTE: There are only 50 HOT PASS tickets available.
VIP: $50
* one-of-a-kind signed lanyard that grants admission and pit access to the races on Saturday
NOTE: There are 200 VIP tickets available.
I bought three VIP tickets. See you there.
–Bandit
BIKERNET BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB–The Book has arrived! Morano’s ‘The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change’ now available!
By: Marc Morano – Climate Depot
Climate Depot’s Marc Morano’s book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change by Regnery Books is already climbing to Number 1 in a key category on the Amazon rankings! It has reached #1 Best Seller in Environmental Science books as of February 28, 2018.
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change, By Marc Morano
The book has been endorsed by Nobel Prize Winning scientist Dr. Ivar Giaever. (see below) The new book also comes out just in time to greet the upcoming UN IPCC climate report already making the media rounds: See: Leaked UN IPCC Draft Report calls for ‘a radical transformation of society’ – Predicts 1.5°C Warming By 2043
This book is the ultimate reference guide to climate change and no parent should be without a copy as their kids under climate education at school from elementary through college!
(The new book is also available at: Amazon UK ; EBAY;
BUY NOW: https://www.amazon.com/Deplorables-Guide-Global-Warming-Guides/dp/1621576760
Limbaugh praised Climate Depot’s Morano in 2009: “Morano’s probably single-handedly, in a civilian sense, the guy (other than me, of course) doing a better job of ringing the bells alarming people of what’s going on here.” – November 20, 2009
Limbaugh on Morano in February 2018:
Rush Limbaugh Touts Climate Depot: Run by Morano who ‘used to be — when I had the TV show — Our Man in Washington – Warmist ‘arguments blown to smithereens’ on Climate Depot
Read the book’s forward by Weather Channel Founder John Coleman & read critical praise of Morano’s new book here: https://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/02/25/a-must-read-the-politically-incorrect-guide-to-climate-change/
A sampling of praise and reviews for Marc Morano’s new book:
“With his book “Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change”, Marc Morano vies to be the Thomas Paine of the movement to save the world from the tyranny of climate catastrophists. He exposes the seemingly infinite number of absurd claims, and the almost unbounded hypocrisy and venality of the proponents of this clearly inhuman and scientifically implausible attempt to control mankind by controlling and, more importantly, restricting access to energy. This book is an unrelenting polemic of the best kind.”
— Emeritus MIT climate scientist Dr. Richard Lindzen
***
“I have never met Marc Morano, the author of this very interesting book, but I know him well from his excellent blog Climate Depot, which I read regularly. In the book he exposes the climate myths that even scientific organizations like the Physical Society and American Association for the Advancement of Science push. The Earth has existed for maybe 4.5 billion years, and now the alarmists will have us believe that because of the small rise in temperature for roughly 150 years (which, by the way, I believe you cannot really measure) we are doomed unless we stop using fossil fuels.
We are now forced to use corn-based ethanol in our gas, subsidized windmills, and solar cells for energy; meanwhile, maybe a billion people worldwide starve and have no access to electricity. You and I breathe out at least thirty tons of CO2 in a normal life span, but nevertheless the Environmental Protection Agency decided to classify rising carbon-dioxide emissions as a hazard to human health.
—Dr. IVAR GIAEVER, Nobel Laureate in physics
Strange and wonderful things are coming to the Petersen Automotive Museum.
The Miracle Mile facility, devoted to the art and science of four-wheeled vehicles, will host its first-ever exhibit dedicated to the art of custom motorcycles.
The “Custom Revolution” show will begin a one-year run on April 14. It will include about 25 motorcycles, from 25 different bike builders, representing the best of what’s known as alt custom design.
The show will be guest-curated by motorcycle historian Paul D’Orleans, founder of the Vintagent website and respected author of multiple books on motorcycle design and culture.
The exhibit will feature motorcycles that have never been seen together. Many have never been exhibited in a museum space.
The collection will include such iconic machines as Ian Barry’s Black Falcon, Mark Atkinson and Mehmet Doruk’s BMW Alpha, El Solitario’s Petardro, Kingston Custom’s White Phantom, Revival Cycle’s J63 Ducati, Shinya Kimura’s Needle, Roland Sands’ 2 Stroke Attack and Medaza Cycles’ Rondine.
D’Orleans, who is also a columnist for Cycle World magazine, said he hoped the show would demonstrate the degree to which “outsider” motorcycle design is actually leading the motorcycle industry.
“Every motorcycle history ever written has been driven by factory histories, but in fact it has been the creativity of custom designers and racers that has always been the leading edge,” D’Orleans said. “Factories follow, not the other way around.”
The Petersen has included some motorcycles in its permanent exhibit since the late 2015 remodel and reopening. Many key Petersen board members, in fact, are keen motorcyclists — including Bruce Meyer and Richard Varner.
Petersen personnel hope attendees drawn by the motorcycle exhibit will be exposed to automotive arts, and that car fans might have their consciousness raised about motorcycles.
“People may forget that the first motorized vehicles were actually motorcycles,” said Varner, who is also the Petersen treasurer and chief operating officer of MotoAmerica. “Everything that you love about the automobile probably started as technology on a motorcycle.”
Bryan Stevens, the museum’s creative and exhibitions director, said that while motorcycles may seem a departure for the Petersen, this exhibit is in keeping with its overall credo.
“In all our exhibits we try to look for cultural crossover, and this is a phenomenon that melds motorcycles and art and even fine art, as well as engineering and fabrication,” Stevens said. “Many of these motorcycles are meant not to be driven but to be contemplated, like an art piece.”
Stevens said the seeds of the exhibit were planted in the early 2000s, when he was living in downtown Los Angeles not far from the garage where Ian Barry was building his now-famous Falcon motorcycles.
Stevens’ interest in alt custom bikes was further fueled by the website Bikeexif.com, the online bible of motorcycle art, and by a series of books called “The Ride,” to which D’Orleans has contributed.
Besides, Stevens said, the art of the alt custom motorcycle is also a homegrown Los Angeles product.
“It’s a global phenomenon now, but it has a definite L.A. component,” he said. “Some of the most significant bike builders are from here.”
D’Orleans, who as author of the book “The Chopper: The Real Story” is considered an authority on that kind of custom motorcycle, said there will be no bikes of that sort at the Petersen show.
“That’s not part of the vision for this exhibit,” D’Orleans said. “So there won’t be anything from Arlen Ness or Jesse James.”
Entrance to the exhibit is included with a general admission ticket — $16 for adults, $13 for seniors and students, $8 for children — which can be purchased online or at the museum.
–Charles Fleming, LA Times
Google News
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY–While riding my Harley, I swerved to avoid hitting a deer, lost control and landed in a ditch, severely banging my head. Dazed and confused I crawled out of the ditch to the edge of the road when a shinny new convertible pulled up with a very beautiful women who asked, “Are you okay?”
As I looked up, I noticed she was wearing a low cut blouse with cleavage to die for…”I’m okay I think,” I replied as I pulled myself up to the side of the car to get a closer look.
She said, “Get in and I’ll take you home so I can clean and bandage that nasty scrape on your head.”
“That’s nice of you,” I answered, but I don’t think my wife will like me doing that!”
“Oh, come now, I’m a nurse,” she insisted. “I need to see if you have any more scrapes and then treat them properly.”
Well, she was really pretty and very persuasive. Being sort of shaken and weak, I agreed, but repeated, “I’m sure my wife won’t like this.”
We arrived at her place which was just few miles away and, after a couple of cold beers and the bandaging, I thanked her and said, “I feel a lot better but I know my wife is going to be really upset so I’d better go now.”
“Don’t be silly!” she said with a smile, while unbuttoning her blouse exposing the most beautiful set of boobs I’ve ever seen. “Stay for a while. She won’t know anything. By the way, where is she?”
“Still in the ditch with my Harley, I guess.”
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
HARLEY-DAVIDSON INVESTS IN ALTA MOTORS; COMPANIES WILL COLLABORATE ON FUTURE ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT–
Collaboration Will Advance Application of EV Motorcycle Technology and Expand Electric Motorcycle Marketplace Combining Instant Torque and Quick Acceleration with Intuitive and Dynamic Motorcycle Design
– Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) announced today that it has made an equity investment in Alta Motors, a leader and innovator in lightweight electric vehicles, and that the two companies will collaborate on electric motorcycle technology and new product development.
“Earlier this year, as part of our 10-year strategy, we reiterated our commitment to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders, in part, by aggressively investing in electric vehicle (EV) technology,” said Harley-Davidson President and CEO Matt Levatich. “Alta has demonstrated innovation and expertise in EV and their objectives align closely with ours. We each have strengths and capabilities that will be mutually beneficial as we work together to develop cutting-edge electric motorcycles.”
Harley-Davidson has already announced the planned launch of its first electric motorcycle, informed by Project LiveWire. That motorcycle is on track for release in 2019.
Since its inception, Alta Motors has designed and commercialized the world’s most advanced electric motorcycles, enabling everyone from pro riders to new riders to experience “the future of fast.”
EDITORIAL FROM THE EAST–I keep reading where younger people are not interested in riding motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidson. I can tell you this is nothing but bullshit! Go talk to some of them, I do.
They will tell me they love Harleys and want to own one but they can not afford one, and why is that? Well, let me enlighten all you about these young kids, JOBS PAY NOTHING! Wages are in my opinion 35 -40 years behind the cost of living.
Jobs here in the Charlotte, NC pay these kids and grown ups to about $9–$10 an hour? Now lets look at what that buys them, if they are real lucky lets say they land that BIG 40/hr job, that is $400/week.
How many apartments do you think they can rent? Here apartments start at about $1000–$1200 month for a one bedroom, include the utilities you pay, their food and transportation fee and there is nothing left, if they even meet those obligations?
The Harley dealers here are just as much at fault, they hire these kids for $9/hr, stick them behind the parts counter where they know nothing about Harleys or parts, not their fault they are trying. A dealer could not care less these about what knowledge their staff has or in this case does not have!
Same for the techs they hire, these guys have paid to go to school to learn their craft, walk in dealer and offer them maybe $10/hr? Sure these guys have went to school but they are still learning and have a long ways to go, again not their fault just part of the process.
Do you want a guy who is making just $10/hr working on your bike? He has your life in his hands and he is and your life is only worth $10/hr? It is a sad statement when the men and women who work at these dealers can not afford the product they sell?
It is not only the Harley dealers here it is every business here, greed has taken over. I was fortunate enough to work in the Harley segment of the industry when you could make a decent living.
I left a year ago and the last 6–7 years there was no money to be made, but you watched the owners pull up in their corvettes and any other luxury vehicle they chose but when you ask about making more money the answer was always the same.
As for me I work a job nowadays just for insurance which is a sad statement in itself. I will be retiring in less than 2 years so I will stick it out until then if I am blessed with those days? AS for these young kids it is going to be tough to get those Harleys with the current job and wage situation. I guess I was lucky to have grown up when I did. Ask me if I am going to miss having to go to work—HELL NO! I have had enough and seen enough!
–Stealth!
QUOTE OF THE DAY–The only time I ever enjoyed ironing was the day I accidentally got gin in the steam iron.–Phyllis Diller
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
BANDIT TO ATTEND MOVIE PRODUCTION MEETING—Rumors abound about the future of Easyriders Magazine. I’m attending a movie production meeting with Mike Wolf from American Pickers, Beatnik from Easyriders, Cary Brobeck of Wrench magazine and Kim Peterson of In the Wind Fame. Hang on for more reports.
–Bandit
GOTH GIRL GONE– Sad to hear that we have lost our friend Goth Girl ~ aka Karen Jessica Evans ~ 1955-2018. She made “Motorcycle Women” and the Magnificent Six an adventure of a lifetime that we all remember fondly and feel honored to have been a part of.
She was unique beyond belief, and always heard her own music and lived life on her own terms, in her own way. She was a beautiful piano player, a fearless motorcycle rider, and a funny, funny girl. She will be thought of and missed.
–Geno
CLUB TREASURER WEARS 5-BALL CUT– Fuckin Saweet! Thanks bro!
–Ryan Suda
Hawaii
He’s wearing the light 5-Ball Pit Crew Vest. It’s made with ballistic nylon, so it breathes for hot or humid climates. Plus, it had two gun pockets, perfect for cell phones or glasses. –Bandit
JIMS MACHINE TECH COMING—How to fix a busted, late-model big twin transmission, using a JIMS 6-speed tranny fix kit.
Try this
On another note. I drilled and tapped my stripped out clutch hum puller to 5/8-20 (the same thread as the screw jacks on my other pullers) and welded on a grade 8 bolt just to bolster it.
Propane wasn’t getting the job done so I used mapp gas and got it. I’d like to beat the shit out of who ever installed this clutch because he didn’t just use a little red Loctite, he coated the whole splined part of the shaft; it was a bitch cleaning that shit off the shaft and the splines inside the hub.
I thought I was out of the woods until it came to removing the main shaft bearing sleeve. Never had to remove one before so I didn’t know it took another “special’ tool.
I was going to make one but by the time I got a length of hardened threaded rod and cut and shaped the rest of the parts for a puller it seemed more expedient to buy one.
Just out of curiosity I googled trouble with Harley 6-speed transmissions and was surprised to read so many posts about the failures like the one I experienced. Seems just like the early twin cam camshaft bearing failures because of cheap bearings (and the failures of the spring loaded cam chain tensioners). Harley used cheap bearings in the transmissions. The consensus seems to be failure at between 20,000 to 30,000 miles; I’m at 26,000 miles.
–Steve Bauman
The whole tamale tech is coming soon on Bikernet.
–Bandit
BIKERS FOR TRUMP REPORT–Thought you might be interested in this.
Photo of my friend Chris Cox with President Trump.
Motorcycle people now have a VP who rides and also other friends in Washington.
As you know I have been working with him and others about motorcycle and veterans issues.
Would like to get Chris Cox, Motorcycle Riders Foundation and Motorcycle Media (Bikernet) working closer together and I am working on that.
Bikers For Trump will have a booth at Tropical Tattoo Bike Show March 15, 2018
Here is a link to a You tube video you may like as well.
–Rogue
Supreme Commander Editor
Bikernet Baggers
THE TEXAS SHOP REPORT–That’s where she should be sitting, not on the air table. Wish I could have gone to Mama Tried, getting time off is weird this year.
–RFR
The new owner of Easyriders Magazine attended Mama Tried, that is, if the deal goes through. He was impressed.–Bandit
ICE ROAD RACING —direct from Sweden
–Sheriff
MORE NEWS FROM DAYTONA– The 29th Annual Boardwalk Classic Bike Show will be held on Friday
March 16, not March 18 as stated. Please call 727-935-4875 for more info.
The 29th Annual Boardwalk Classic Bike Show will be held on
Friday, March 18 on the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, just south of
the Main Street Pier. This event is FREE to the public.
Fifty-seven trophies in twenty classes will be awarded at 4 pm,
as well as $500.00 cash to the Best of Show winner. Registration
costs $25.00 and begins at 8 am and ends at 11 am.
This family-friendly event is sponsored by Full Throttle Magazine, the Fran Haasch law group, and the Daytona Beach Boardwalk
Merchants. For more information, please call 727-935-4875.
New SPECTRO OILS Bikernet Reader Comment!–MAINTAINING BRAKE FLUIDS
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=13582
I do use their brake fluid and many of their other products and have always very pleased.
I suggest others try them as I like to share information on what I consider good products.
–Rogue
Senior Supreme Editor
Bikernet Baggers
rogue@bikernet.com
Palm Bay, FL
VIETNAM VETERAN LAPEL PIN
“A Lasting Memento of the Nation’s Thanks!”
The Commemoration is providing Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins to Commemorative Partners for dignified public presentations to living U.S. military veterans who served during the Vietnam War period as a lasting memento of the nation’s thanks.
Living United States veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to receive one lapel pin.
In order to receive a lapel pin, please follow the steps below:
Locate upcoming commemorative events by visiting http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/events/. Enter your zip code to locate the nearest events.
The blue pins represent future events. Click on a pin for event details, including contact information. If there are no blue pins in your area, check back frequently, as new events are added every week!
Another option to receive a lapel pin is visiting the Commemorative Partner Map at http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/partners/partner_map/. Please contact a partner in your area to find out when the next event will be or if they have lapel pins on hand to present to you.
Veterans who still need help finding a commemorative event can email whs.vnwar50th_CPP_EVENTS@mail.mil. Please include the city and state of where you are located.
–Andy
THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN–Jane and Arlene are outside their nursing home, having a drink and a smoke, when it starts to rain. Jane pulls out a condom, cuts off the end, puts it over her cigarette, and continues smoking.
Arlene: What in the hell is that?
Jane: A condom. This way my cigarette doesn’t get wet.
Arlene: Where did you get it?
Jane: You can get them at any pharmacy.
The next day, Arlene hobbles herself into the local pharmacy and announces to the pharmacist that she wants a box of condoms.
The pharmacist, obviously embarrassed, looks at her kind of strangely (she is, after all, over 80 years of age), but very delicately asks what size, texture, brand of condom she prefers.
‘Doesn’t matter Sonny, as long as it fits on a Camel.’
The pharmacist fainted.
–from Sam Burns
THE LATEST FROM NASH–
I have a lot of people ask me why we sale Kidney Belts? Why do you need one for riding a motorcycle?
Truth is kidney belts have been around for a long time! Even gladiators and soldiers wore them back in Roman times. Everyone back in the day used them with the old bikes but they do the same trick even if you’re on a bagger.
If you’ve never used one give it a try. You will be more comfortable riding and have less fatigue on the other end.
Unless your a bad ass like @kevinteachbaas you really can’t talk down on them. Designed after the ones they used in the ‘40s-‘70s. We make all our belts in house!
–Mr. Nash
TRAILBLAZERS CORRECTION– PATRICK “TUMBLEWEED” WALTON
The Celebration of Life for Patrick will be on Wednesday, March 3 at 10am. It will be at:
The Crosslight Family Ministries
9720 Wilson Ave.
Alta Loma, CA 91737
A reception will follow at:
Goldy S. Lewis Community Center
11200 Baseline Road
Rancho Cucamongo
The family requests that you dress casually and comfortably. Even shorts and flip flops in true Patrick fashion.
JOHN PENNER
The service for John Penner will be held on Saturday, March 10th at 10am.
High Desert Church
14545 Hook Blvd.
Victorville
(760) 662 6617
The Spirit of ’59
Triumph Motorcycles and D*Face
A unique creative custom bike collaboration celebrating the
spirit of individuality and freedom that was born in 1959.
•A unique partnership between Triumph Motorcycles and renowned British
artist Dean Stockton, AKA D*Face.
•A collaboration that taps into the timeless spirit of individuality born in 1959.
•D*Face has customized three bikes from Triumph’s Modern Classics range in his
own unique and distinctive style.
•Anyone who books a test ride via http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/spirit-of-59/testride
on a Triumph Modern Classic between 7th February 2018 and 30th April 2018 will be entered into a prize draw to win one of these bikes.
1959 marked the beginning of a cultural explosion and the birth of a new attitude to live life to the full – an attitude that inspired a revolution in music, art and culture – from rock ’n’ roll to Andy Warhol. This hard-won freedom of expression created the world we live in today and still shapes the culture that surrounds us.
The original iconic ’59 Triumph Bonneville encapsulated this spirit and passion for life, inspiring legions of riders from movie stars to teenage café racers and a whole motorcycle movement.
This spirit lives on today in every Triumph Modern Classic, each loaded with original character, iconic style and modern capability.
To celebrate this, Triumph has joined forces with the British contemporary artist D*Face to create three art-inspired custom Modern Classics, under the banner of ‘The Spirit of ’59’.
A long-standing Triumph fan and owner, D*Face fuses Street Art, Pop Art and Punk in a guerilla creative style, selling his art the world over. Working closely with the Triumph team at their factory headquarters in Hinckley, he has customized three unique bikes inspired by the Spirit of ’59, each one a model from Triumph’s Modern Classics range.
Anyone who takes a Triumph Modern Classic for a test ride between the 7th February 2018 and 30th April 2018 will have the chance to win one of these unique bikes. Full terms and conditions are available on http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/spirit-of-59
Long live the Spirit of ’59
From the moment pop culture exploded in the late 1950s, a wave of creative individualism saw the motorcycle become synonymous with personal freedom and Triumph Motorcycles quickly cemented their place as the bike of choice on both sides of the Atlantic. For the music and movie stars of the 60’s, from Steve McQueen to Bob Dylan, the Triumph Bonneville helped define their style and represented their shared attitude to life. Today, for a new generation of famous motorcycle fans from Tom Cruise to David Beckham and Tom Hardy, Triumph’s Modern Classics continue to encapsulate all of the spirit of individuality and freedom born in ’59.
The Bonneville T120
The original iconic Bonneville T120 was famously named to celebrate Triumph’s 1956 land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. First launched in 1958, the Bonneville T120 is commonly regarded as a game changer in terms of performance, style and attitude.
A race winner straight out of the crate, it went on to define the benchmark for design, engineering and handling, and heralded a new era of accessible performance in motorcycling. Chosen both by famous bikers and a new generation of teenage café racers for its thrilling British twin engine, legendary handling, style and character, it encapsulated all the passion and attitude of the era to live life to the full.
Nowadays, it’s these elements married to class that are leading modern rider-focused technology, making the new Bonneville family the authentic Modern Classic choice.
Three unique works of art
D*Face has personally customised three unique Modern Classic bikes as part of this unique art collaboration: a Bonneville Thruxton, a Bonneville Bobber Black and a Bonneville T120 – painting the fuel tanks by hand and configuring each bike individually using custom Triumph accessories. The hand-painted designs are unique and celebrate the Spirit of ’59 through D*Face’s distinctive and original style. The result of collaboration between two British icons, each bike can be considered an instant collector’s item and a true work of art – three unique motorcycles in the world.
A true individual
As one of the UK’s most prolific street artists, D*Face has been at the forefront of his practice since his initial breakthrough in 2005. With countless murals and exhibitions across the globe, from Japan to the USA, his vibrant pop style and punk aesthetic have become synonymous with British Street Art. His work sells regularly to international buyers at auction houses including Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Bonhams. As both a partner in Rebels Alliance Motorcycle Company in East London and a Triumph rider for many years, the Spirit of ‘59 represents the sense of individuality that drives his work and combines his two greatest loves: art and bikes.
D*Face said: “Riding a custom bike is about standing for what you believe in. It’s about expressing that part of yourself that separates you from the rest of the crowd. Triumph has undoubtedly been a fundamental part of that culture for 59 years and I am delighted to be able to play a part in their story and British motorcycle history.”
Paul Stroud, Chief Commercial Officer at Triumph Motorcycles, adds: “Triumph Motorcycles have always been linked with the era of freedom that exploded in ’59 with the iconic Bonneville T120 and what it represented. First launched in ’58, the original Bonnie changed the face of motorcycling across the world and created a legend. The collaboration with D*Face, a genuine creative trailblazer, celebrates the attitude of individuality we feel lives on today in the culture that surrounds us and of course in every Triumph.”
[page break]
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WORD OF THE DAY–
ufology
[yoo-fol-uh-jee]
noun
1.
the study of unidentified flying objects.
The First International Congress on the U.F.O. Phenomenon, which ended here yesterday, brought the two groups uncomfortably together, and, after a week of heated debate, a single theory of ufology seemed further away tha[n] ever.
— Alan Riding, “Scientists and Laymen in Conflict At World Conference on U.F.O.’s,” New York Times, April 25, 1977
ORIGIN
Ufology was first recorded in 1955-60.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES 115TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION PLANS–
Ride into Milwaukee on Labor Day Weekend for the Motorcycle Party of the Year
Milwaukee will be the center of the motorcycle universe over Labor Day weekend when Harley-Davidson riders and fans gather for the culmination of a year-long celebration of 115 years of riding freedom and the city’s most-iconic brand.
Plans for the Harley-Davidson 115th Anniversary Milwaukee Celebration, set for August 29 – September 2, include new venues, first-ever motorcycle racing and an unmatched taste of moto-culture.
“Harley-Davidson is gearing up to celebrate 115 years of the world’s best motorcycles here in Milwaukee,” said Bill Davidson, Vice President, Harley-Davidson Museum. “We’re welcoming everyone, motorcycle riders and non-riders alike from around the world, to the birthplace of Harley-Davidson to join in the celebration.”
New for the 115th anniversary in Milwaukee will be motorcycle events throughout the city. Harley-Davidson will host – for the first time ever – beach motorcycle racing on Bradford Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as sponsoring “Run What You Brung” drag racing, Flat Out Friday flat-track racing and more.
With acres of free outdoor activities all weekend long, the Harley-Davidson Museum will be the epicenter of 115th Anniversary activities in Milwaukee. The Museum will host motorcycle field games, a custom bike show, tattoo artists, live music, local food and more.
“This is an anniversary like no other we have thrown before,” said Heather Malenshek, Vice President, Marketing, Harley-Davidson. “It’s one you can’t miss, so don’t wait. Come this year and experience the excitement and thrill of motorcycle culture up close in all of its roaring, revved-up glory.”
The Milwaukee 115th anniversary celebration will start thousands of miles away on Tuesday, August 21 with Harley-Davidson Rides Home. Led by Motor Company executives, the Harley-Davidson Rides Home will convoy to Milwaukee, stopping at dealerships and adding more riders along the way.
“The rumble of our Milwaukee 115th Anniversary Celebration will truly be heard across the United States as Harley-Davidson Rides Home launch from the four corners of the country with rides rolling into Milwaukee from Seattle, San Diego, Ft. Lauderdale and Portland, Maine,” added Malenshek.
Fans can begin celebrating the 115th Anniversary today on social media using #HD115. Harley-Davidson is launching a global movement to celebrate freedom by collecting stories from fans around the world. The authors of the best 115 stories will receive a commemorative stainless-steel rivet displayed in a place of honor on the grounds of the Harley-Davidson Museum.
Additionally, one Monday in every month leading up to the anniversary in Milwaukee, Harley-Davidson will hand over the reins of its social media channels to a H-D fan. They’ll share their stories and lead the conversation at #MotorcycleMonday to help extend weekends for all freedom-loving individuals who are part of our community today and for those yet to join. Visit Harley-Davidson on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to tap into motorcycle culture, read stories from riders and share your own.
A complete list of 115th Anniversary events and activities – including rides home details, Rally-Pack specifics and their exclusive benefits, motorcycle rentals, organized local rides, tour routes, street parties, as well as lodging and camping – is available at H-D.com/115.
Harley-Davidson 115th Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee highlights include:
Harley-Davidson Museum: Central Rally Point 400 W Canal St., Milwaukee
8/29-9/1, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; 9/2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Harley-Davidson history and culture come to life at the Museum site, with free outdoor activities scheduled for the entire weekend including entertainment on two stages plus food and beverage vendors, photo opportunities and a display of the latest Harley-Davidson motorcycle models.
· H-D Museum Archives and Tours: (Admission required) Motorcycles and artifacts tell the story of the Motor Company’s rich history. All H.O.G. members enjoy complimentary admission with a valid H.O.G. membership card and Photo ID. General Admission Museum tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. CDT March 9 at H-D Museum.
· Custom Culture Artisans: See artists working in leather and steel, painting and drawing, and creating designer apparel.
· MotoPhotoShow: Experience the moto-centric photography gallery featuring top artists and photographers.
· Pinstriping: Customize your ride with pinstriping applied by professional artists.
· Live Tattoos: Get the ultimate 115th Anniversary souvenir by professional tattoo artists.
· Stunt Shows: Be amazed at the skills of top motorcycle stunt performers.
· Museum H.O.G. Pin: H.O.G. Members can pick up a 2018 Museum H.O.G. Pin.
· Sailor Jerry Cocktail Bar & Flash Art
Gallery: Learn the story of Norman Collins (aka Sailor Jerry) as you share a cocktail and witness the emerging American counterculture who chose to live outside the lines.
· 115th Anniversary Living the Legend™ Rivets: Celebrate your H-D journey or honor the legacy of a loved one with a customized Living the Legend Rivet permanently displayed on the Harley-Davidson Museum grounds. Order by June 15, 2018 for installation by the 115th Anniversary Celebration. H-D Museum
· Motorcycle Field Games (Saturday 9/1) Help support the BUILD program and take part in vintage motorcycle games including Slow Races, Plank Ride, T-ball, Barrel Roll, Ball on Cone and Weenie Bite and. On-line registration will be live on the H-D Museum website in June.
· 10th Annual Harley-Davidson Museum Custom Bike Show (Sunday, 9/2) On-line registration for 12 show classes will be live on the H-D Museum website in June.
Harley-Davidson 115th and HOG 35th Anniversary Moto-Carnival
Veterans Park, 1010 N Lincoln Memorial Dr. Milwaukee
8/29, noon-11 p.m.; 8/30-9/1, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; 9/2, noon-6 p.m.
This free party – to celebrate the 115th and 35 years of the Harley Owners Group – kicks off Wednesday as riders roll into Veterans Park. All weekend long the Full Throttle Saloon will serve up high-wire motorcycle thrill shows, Wall of Death and more. Come meet up with friends, grab a refreshing beverage, listen to some music and visit with locals at this carnival filled with riding and revelry.
Motorcycle Racing Action
· Flat Out Friday Powered by Harley-Davidson
Panther Arena, 400 W Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee; 8/31 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
See the best of indoor, flat track motorcycle racing as riders from both traditional and special classes compete on a soft-drink-syrup-covered track, creating the best of tight, bar-to-bar racing action. Tickets go on-sale later this summer.
· Run What You Brung Powered by Harley-Davidson
Great Lakes Dragaway, 18411 1st St., Union Grove, Wis. 8/31, Noon-10:30 p.m.
Drag race side-by-side and keep getting back in line to show them what you got. Three performances by the Twin Stunts All-Harley Show. Tickets on sale at noon CDT March 9, 2018. Visit www.greatlakesdragaway.com for more information on practice sessions and to purchase racing and admission tickets.
· Harley-Davidson Beach Racing at Bradford Beach 2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee, 8/31 Times TBD, 9/1 3-8 p.m.
In a Harley-Davidson anniversary first, bikes will tear through the sand on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Free and open to the public, this beach-focused event will provide gritty fun for all ages. On Friday, racers will be wrenching and kicking up sand as they practice for the competition. Racers on vintage and new bikes will meet up Saturday and battle it out on an oval track created in the sand right on Bradford Beach.
Juneau Avenue Global Headquarters
3700 W. Juneau Ave., Milwaukee
8/29-9/1 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Visit the historic site of the first Harley-Davidson factory with free photo opportunities. Experience a 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the indoor Harley-Davidson JUMPSTART™ Rider Experience.
Factory Tour: Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations
8/29-8/31 Times vary
W156N9000 Pilgrim Rd, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Get up close and personal with the Milwaukee-Eight and Sportster powertrain assembly line.
HOG 35th Civilian Skills Competition & Police Skills Competition
Preliminary rounds at Miller Park 8/30 – 8/31 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Finals at Veterans Park, 9/1 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
This is serious competition, with trained motor officers and civilian HOG members showcasing their riding skills through challenging patterns.
Motorcycle Parade
9/2 at 1 p.m.
Riders from around the world will wave their hometown flags as fans line the route to see the beauty and the brawn of customized motorcycles and unique show bikes. The parade kicks off at 45th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, continues east through downtown Milwaukee and lands at the Harley-Davidson 115th Anniversary and HOG 35th Moto-Carnival at Veterans Park.
Visit Local Harley-Davidson Dealerships
8/29-9/2
Visit seven local Harley-Davidson dealerships to check out new 2019 motorcycles. Take demo rides, get on-site service and accessory installations, talk with financing and gear specialists and shop for exclusive 115th merchandise and accessories. Go to h-d.com/115 for local dealer locations and information.
For more information, visit www.h-d.com.
GET READY TO RIDE, AND GET $500
IN ROYAL ENFIELD GEAR ON US
Riding season is here. Right now, Royal Enfield will toss in $500 in RE gear and accessories with the purchase of any 2017 Royal Enfield motorcycle.
Return to Pure Motorcycling and get all geared up on us. Included in each package is the following gear:
2017 Continental GT: Two-up seat, motorcycle cover, textile jacket, coffee mug and hat
2017 Bullet and Classic: Saddlebags, motorcycle cover, textile jacket, coffee mug and hat
WHERE’VE YOU BEEN?
WHERE’RE YOU GOING?
Share your Royal adventures on the Royal Enfield Digital Magazine. Who knows, maybe make some new friends for the next trip. Send your stories to kvance@royalenfield.com.
KEEP THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY FOR LUNCH--He had it all…….one man’s short, life changing story. Into every life a little rain must fall. I talked to a homeless man this morning and asked him how he ended up this way.
He said, “Up until last month, I still had it all. I had plenty to eat, my clothes were washed and pressed, I had a roof over my head, I had TV and Internet, and I went to the gym, the pool, and the library. I was working on my MBA on-line. I had no bills and no debt. I even had full medical coverage.”
I felt sorry for him, so I asked, “What happened? Drugs? Alcohol? Divorce?”
“Oh no, nothing like that,” he said,…… “I was paroled.”
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
LE PERA SEAT OF THE WEEK—For Sportsters, the Bare Bones, Red Metal Flake, Pleated seat.
If you are considering a new Sportster, don’t forget a Le Pera seat. Nothing enhances the lines of a Sportster than a low slung Le Pera seat.
Overview
One of the lowest production seats available, the pure and aggressive styling is tapered to the extreme to get your feet on the ground.
Perfect for optional graphics.
10″ wide.
Specs
Driver Seating:
10″ Wide
Passenger Seating:
N/A
MSRP:
$334.00
Options:
Biker Gel: MSRP + $ 87.00
Part Number:
LK-006REDMFPT [’10-’18] 3.3 Gal Tank
LK-006REDMFPT [’10-’18] 4.5 Gal Tank
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION NEWS–Bikers Inside the Beltway is Coming…Will You Join Us?
Tired of just sitting around listening to others complain about Congress? Bikers inside the Beltway isn’t about complaining – it’s DOING by directly lobbying your elected officials and telling them what is important to you as a rider. Don’t be a say-er, be a do-er and register today for the TENTH annual Bikers Inside the Beltway!
Read below to get more information or register directly by visiting us at http://mrf.org/events/
Hotel/Accommodations
The previously advertised block of rooms at the Governor’s House Inn has been filled, however rooms are still available at the host hotel at the non-negotiated room price of $110. We are offering an additional room block at the hotel across the street, The Best Western. Contact Info below:
BEST WESTERN (703) 532-9000
Governor’s House Inn (703) 532-8900
Schedule of Events
Plan to arrive to the hotel by late afternoon on Monday, May 14. The MRF will host a prep session that evening to go over expectations and provide a deep dive of the issues. Kickstands up early Tuesday morning for the ride into Washington, DC followed by a full day of meetings with legislators and staff. This year we will also be hosting a debrief meeting and reception at the American Legion on Capitol Hill from 4pm-6pm. We’ll have some special guests so don’t miss it!
Attendance
You must register to attend this event! Contact mrfoffice@mrf.org or register directly at http://mrf.org/events/ or call 202-546-0983. Though there is not a cost to attend, you will be expected to make appointments with your lawmakers, attend the prep session and report back on your meetings. Please register by May 1 to ensure space for you or your group.
IMPORTANT: Please MAKE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS with your elected officials. The MRF can supply you with their office contact information to facilitate this. You can start requesting appointments 4 weeks out from the event. NO DROP BYs this year! It’s not an effective use of your time!
More questions? You know how to reach me….
Megan J. Ekstrom
Vice-President, Government Affairs & Public Relations
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
QUOTE OF THE WEEK–
The reason women don’t play football is because 11 of them would never wear the same outfit in public.–Phyllis Diller
THE NASHVILLE REPORT– Kiefer Sutherland, whose “unexpected, unvarnished authenticity as a singer/songwriter” (Associated Press) and “edgy vocals blended with passion” (Rolling Stone), is joining The Fitzgerald Hartley Co. roster, in association with longtime manager and producer Jude Cole, for music management, and Adkins Publicity for music PR/Publicity representation. APA’s Steve Martin will continue overseeing North America and international live music booking.
Sutherland’s career as a touring and recording artist has catapulted him globally as a bonafide guitarist and vocalist. After the release of his “refreshingly honest country-rock album Down In A Hole, with the same lyrical well of lovelorn desperation as Waylon and Willie’s most soulful Outlaws moments” (Guitar Aficionado), Sutherland embarked on a SOLD-OUT North American and European tour. He played more than 120 shows, including performances on the Grand Ole Opry, Stagecoach and Glastonbury Festival.
Reviewers across the globe continue to be impressed:
“He’s grizzled and passionate; a low rumble, as gravelly as it was authentic.”
-James Hall, The Telegraph
“The action star’s whiskey-sodden country music set is genuinely poignant. He puts other Hollywood hobby acts to shame.”
-Mark Beaumont, The Guardian
“All of the originals conveyed conviction and character. There wasn’t a single dud or awkward lyric in the bunch. He didn’t appear to be acting when he said he had been waiting a lifetime to play for a crowd like this one. Maybe being a country singer is the role Sutherland was born to play after all.”
-Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
As a singer/songwriter, Sutherland has performed on “The Talk,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The View” and graced the covers of Guitar Aficionado, Goldmine Magazine and Collectible Guitar issues. Sutherland’s cinematic “Shirley Jean” video, which tells the story of a man’s last night on death row, taking the form of a goodbye letter to a woman he once loved, continues to captivate fans on music channels CMT and GAC.
Keep up with Sutherland on the road by visiting kiefersutherlandmusic.com or connect with Sutherland by following him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
NEW FEATURE COMING TO BIKERNET—Here’s another hot rod Twin Cam Dyna with a Nick Trask turbo charger and upgraded suspension. We will feature this in the very near future.
It was built by Larry Settle of Settle’s Custom Motorcycles in Harbor City, California. He’s old school to the bone and a very sharp guy.
Hang on.
–Bandit
UNCLE MONKEY ON THE BIG PICTURE– One of the biggest mistakes people and companies make not looking at the bigger picture. For them they can’t really see beyond an arm’s reach.
Jim, Bob and Wanda were some of their first customers, there from the beginning growing every step of the way. The problem is they base their business model on that early success and never really grow beyond that point.
Eventually they are shocked to find that they and their company are no longer relevant, no longer the big dog in the park. People grow older, their goals, wants and needs change.
Sure when you were 25 you, Jim, Bob and Wanda were more than happy to pin a tarp to the handle bars and pass out under the stars. Now thirty or forty years later you have a tricked out RV but are still expected Jim, Bob, and Wanda to be sleeping under a tarp. Jim, Bob, and Wanda will stop coming.
Customers age out and stop or simply can longer do the same thing. Too often companies center their strategies around these old customers and just assume that younger generations will just follow along.
They over look who the customer is suppose to be, who they are suppose to be targeting. The successful ones see the opportunities to grow their companies by adapting to the changing needs of existing customers, retaining them, and expanding and offering what the younger generations want.
It is question of risking losing two or three of the old customers to add twenty or thirty new customers. For bike rallies that means realizing your target audience is 21-35 year old. So while you and your buddies love the Doobie Brothers, your target audience idea of classic rock is Blink 182, Limp Bizkit. Those are the oldest bands they want to see.
The successful organizers slot the Doobie Brothers early because they know that by 10 pm most of that crowd just wants to head back to the campsite and put their feet up, recover from the day, rest for tomorrow. The hot new bands close out the night because the 21-35 year olds drive the party, buying the beer, buying deep fried gizzards at midnight.
Harley-Davidson is finding themselves where they have aged themselves out. Banking on those that they started with instead of keeping a focus on who the target audience is has seen the company profits and market share slide while other companies are growing, gobbling up Harley’s losses. The time for change was over ten years ago, exactly when they doubled down on the baby boomer generation. Now they are hoping they can play catch up in the next ten years.
-bad Uncle Monkey
OUTLAW BOOK OF THE WEEK–It Will Get Tough
by Ralph “Teach” Elrod
Viewed through the eyes of one of those affected “It Will Get Tough” takes an inside look at the daily grind encountered by select groups within the biker community, the 1% population.
In some areas they face baseless traffic stops and fraudulent citations to physical harassment and even assertions of rape and intimidation that take place on a daily basis.
These and many more forms of harassment reportedly happen on a daily basis. And through it all these riders maintain their close-knit often-rebellious lifestyle.
This book takes you on an historic wild ride. You will learn, be entertained and gain respect for patch holders everywhere.
Available on Amazon for $21.95
[page break]
NEWS FROM THE PAUGHCO FACTORY– SOLID BRASS DRAG PIPE TIPS
Check out these EZ to fit, solid brass exhaust tips. Manufactured by Paughco for as precision fit into 1 ¾” and 2” straight cut drag pipes, the tips are easily installed in minutes. Simply slip the tip into your pipe, drill a hole for the retaining screw and secure in place. That’s it!
With two styles to choose from, the tips give a classy Old School look to any drag pipe equipped scooter. Models for 1 ¾” pipes are P/N 640 Short Curve, 640A Long Curve and 640B Tapered.
For 2” pipes you have P/N 641 Short Curve, 641A Long Curve and 641B Tapered. All of the tips are sold in pairs and retail for just $89.95.
Contact Paughco direct at 775-246-5738 or catch them on the Web at www.paughco.com
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE INTRODUCES 2018 LIMITED-EDITION
CHIEFTAIN ELITE WITH ONE-OF-A-KIND BLACK HILLS SILVER PAINT
Ultra-Premium Bagger Pairs Stunning Paint Completed Entirely by Hand
with Top-of-the-Line Amenities
Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company founded in 1901, today announced its new ultra-premium bagger, the 2018 Chieftain Elite. This limited-edition bagger pairs custom-inspired paint that’s completed by hand with top-of-the-line amenities for the rider who demands the best of the best.
Indian Motorcycle meticulously thought through the design to ensure every line, texture and material complemented the contours of this aggressive platform. The focal point of this bagger is the stunning, specialty paint featuring high-flake Black Hills Silver. As the name suggests, this paint was inspired by the silver mines in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which is near Indian Motorcycle’s custom paint facility in Spearfish, SD.
A team of Indian Motorcycle experts mask the bodywork, lay the graphics, and hand-spray each Chieftain Elite. Each bike takes nearly 25 hours due to the time-intensive, painstaking processes that are completed by hand. Incredibly, no two bikes will look the same due to the level of human touch involved. There’s no question that this bold, one-of-a-kind bike will stand out in any crowd.
“Whether cruising around the city or touring the country backroads, the 2018 Chieftain Elite delivers on its promise of being the best bagger that money can buy,” said Reid Wilson, Senior Director – Marketing and Product Planning for Indian Motorcycle. “This bike was born to turn heads and provide an unmatched riding experience with all of the premium amenities included.”
The 2018 Chieftain Elite has a commanding stance that’s punctuated by its 19-inch, 10-spoke, contrast-cut front wheel and marbled graphics package. It’s equipped with premium features, including a 200-Watt premium audio system, Pathfinder LED headlight and driving lights, a push-button power flare windshield, billet aluminum Select Driver and Passenger Floorboards, and genuine leather seats. New for this year’s Chieftain Elite are pinnacle mirrors and updated, smaller hand controls for improved ergonomics.
A host of other features come standard, including Ride Command® – the largest, fastest, most customizable infotainment system on two wheels. The seven-inch, glove-compatible touchscreen features turn-by-turn navigation, customizable rider information screens and Bluetooth® compatibility. The Chieftain Elite also features ABS, cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, remote-locking saddlebags and keyless ignition.
At the soul of this bike is the Thunderstroke 111 engine, an award-winning American V-Twin that delivers a monstrous 119 ft-lbs of torque and power to spare in every gear.
A large number of accessories are also available for riders looking to add power or further customize the Chieftain Elite. The Thunder Stroke® 116 ci Stage 3 Big Bore Kit adds 20 percent more horsepower and 15 percent more torque for those looking to take performance to the next level. Color-matched accessories are also available for riders who want extra protection, style and storage, including a Quick Release Trunk, Hard Lower Fairings and a Valanced Front Fender.
The Chieftain Elite is a strong addition to Indian Motorcycle’s iconic lineup. Only a limited number of these motorcycles will be built. Pricing starts at $31,499 in the U.S. and $37,999 in Canada. Available at Indian Motorcycle dealers starting March 1.
Learn more about Indian Motorcycle and the 2018 Chieftain Elite by visiting IndianMotorcycle.com and following along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
FLORIDA’S voter restoration process unconstitutional–
In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker has found Florida’s scheme for restoring the voting rights of felons unconstitutional.
Walker, in a 43-page order issued today, found that Florida “automatically disenfranchises” any individual who has been convicted of a felony and wishes to vote.
“Florida strips the right to vote from every man and woman who commits a felony,” Walker wrote. “To vote again, disenfranchised citizens must kowtow before a panel of high-level government officials over which Florida’s governor has absolute veto authority. No standards guide the panel. Its members alone must be satisfied that these citizens deserve restoration.”
Florida and Felon Voting Rights:
Felons’ rights proposal goes on November ballot
Florida strips felons of their right to vote at a higher rate than any other state
Opinion: Thousands of military veterans barred from voting. You can help
Cotterell: Restoration of rights faces long political odds
The ruling came as part of a lawsuit brought by James Michael Hand and eight other felons who completed their sentences, including probation, but were not deemed eligible to vote.
“In Florida, elected, partisan officials have extraordinary authority to grant or withhold the right to vote from hundreds of thousands of people without any constraints, guidelines or standards,” Walker continued. “The question now is whether such a system passes constitutional muster. It does not.”
Walker, who sits on the bench in the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee, took aim at Gov. Rick Scott, whom the nine plaintiffs sued along with Florida’s Executive Clemency Board. The board consists of the governor, the attorney general, the chief financial officer and the agriculture commissioner.
“ ‘We can do whatever we want,’ the governor said at one clemency hearing,” Walker wrote. “One need not search long to find alarming illustrations of this scheme in action.”
Walker highlighted a 2010 case, in which Steven Warner, a white man, cast an illegal ballot. Three years later, he sought the restoration of his voting rights before the state’s Clemency Board. Gov. Scott asked him at the time about his illegal voting. When the man said he voted for Scott, the governor laughed. A few seconds later, Scott granted the man his voting rights.
“The question is whether the Clemency Board’s limitless power over plaintiffs’ vote restoration violates their First Amendment rights to free association and free expression. It does,” Walker wrote. “This should not be a close question.”
The Governor’s Office responded to the order by noting that the Clemency Board has been in place for decades and overseen by multiple governors.
“The process is outlined in Florida’s Constitution, and today’s ruling departs from precedent set by the United States Supreme Court,” said John Tupps, a spokesman for Scott. “The Governor believes that convicted felons should show that they can lead a life free of crime and be accountable to their victims and our communities. While we are reviewing today’s ruling, we will continue to defend this process in the court.”
The Fair Elections Legal Network and Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll, which has offices in Florida, filed the lawsuit in March on behalf of a proposed class of nearly 1.5 million felons, according to a news release from the voting rights group and the law firm.
“Today a federal court said what so many Floridians have known for so long — that the state’s arbitrary restoration process, which forces former felons to beg for their right to vote, violates the oldest and most basic principles of our democracy,” said Jon Sherman, senior counsel for the Fair Elections Legal Network.
Tallahassee attorney Reggie Garcia, who represents felons who seek restoration of their rights, said any federal court ruling that interprets Florida’s constitution and the application of clemency power and rules will increase awareness of the state’s felons.
“This is very timely with last week’s decision by the Division of Elections to put Amendment 4, granting automatic voting rights to most felons, on the November 2018 ballot,” he said.
Walker noted several instances “of former felons who professed political views amenable to the board’s members, who then received voting rights, while those who expressed contrary political views to the board were denied those same rights.”
He went on to say that “viewpoint discrimination is deeply antithetical to the Constitution and our nation’s longstanding values.”
Hand, a resident of Cutler Bay in South Florida, was convicted of a felony in state court and released from prison in 1986, according to court records. He completed his sentence in 2002 and later applied to get his voting rights back.
During a Clemency Board hearing in 2011, his application was denied. Gov. Scott cited his record of traffic tickets and said, “Congratulations on turning your life around. Congratulations on your business. In light of the significant issue — you know, traffic violations — and your inability to comply with the law in that manner, I’m going to deny you restoration of civil rights at this time,” court records stated.
Walker also found the lack of time limits in processing and deciding vote restoration unconstitutional. He noted the Clemency Board “may defer restoration of rights for years or forever.”
“Indefinite can-kicking is not some Floridian fairy tale like a line-less Space Mountain,” he wrote. “The board regularly invokes some unknown future date as the appropriate time to revisit a restoration denial.”
He cited one case in which Gov. Scott told a 54-year-old man he would have to wait 50 years before he could reapply for his voting rights to be restored. The judge also detailed the case of Virginia Kay Atkins. Ten years after her release from prison, Scott informed her he did not feel “comfortable” restoring her rights.
Walker’s order notes that 154,000 citizens had their voting rights restored during the last four years of former Gov. Charlie Crist’s administration. He said that number plummeted to fewer than 3,000 people since Scott took office in 2011.
“The context of these numbers is not lost on the court,” Walker wrote. “More than one-tenth of Florida’s voting population — nearly 1.7 million as of 2016 — cannot vote because they have been decimated from the body politic. More than one in five of Florida’s African American voting-age population cannot vote.”
Walker did not offer a remedy but set a Feb. 12 deadline for both sides to provide additional briefs on how to fix the unconstitutional “voter-restoration scheme.”
Check back with Tallahassee.com for more on this story.
–Jeff Burlew, Democrat senior writer
(Photo: Democrat files)
–from Rogue
BIKERS FOR TRUMP MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT—It’s not everyday a brother walks into the oval office.
I hope this is working for all bikers. Rogue would like to see Bikers for Trump founder and the MRF meet with the President.
–Dmac
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN AFTER HOURS– After a delicious dinner and a few drinks the wife leads husband into the bedroom. With a very seductive voice the woman asked her husband, “Have you ever seen Twenty Dollars all crumpled up?”
“No,” said her husband.
She gave him a sexy little smile, unbuttoned the top 3 or 4 buttons of her blouse and slowly reached down into the cleavage created by a soft, silky push-up bra and pulled out a crumpled Twenty Dollar bill.
He took the crumpled Twenty Dollar bill from her and smiled approvingly. She then asked him, “Have you ever seen Fifty Dollars all crumpled up?”
“Uh… no, I haven’t,” he said, with an anxious tone in his voice. She gave him another sexy little smile, pulled up her skirt, and seductively reached into her tight, sheer panties… and pulled out a crumpled Fifty Dollar bill.
He took the crumpled Fifty Dollar bill and started breathing a little quicker with anticipation “Now,” she said, “have you ever seen $50,000 Dollars all crumpled up?”
“No way!” he said, while obviously becoming even more aroused and excited, to which she replied, “Go look in the garage.”
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
ULTIMATE BUILDER DC WINNERS LISTS–
Professional and amateur builders from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina competed at their local Washington, DC Ultimate Builder Show for cash, prizes and recognition. This year builders that won and placed in all four competition classes from the DC show receive an automatic bid to the National Championship in 2019 to compete for cash and prizes in excess of $70,000.
The J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder is the world’s largest motorcycle builder competition, featuring more than 350 motorcycles and $100,000 in cash and prizes across the IMS Tour. The final Ultimate Builder competition was held in Washington, DC.
FreeStyle – 2018 DC Ultimate Builder Results
Some bikes you can stop and stare and the more time that you take, the more that gets revealed to you. And that is the way with the Iron Customs‘ bike named Rookie.
The Harley-Davidson engine is used as a stress member of the custom frame. The bike features oil in the frame, radial calipers, front and rear radial calipers, scratch built exhaust and hand built bars. Paint by Iron Customs and Karns Kustoms.
1st – #100 Rob Bochanski and Troy Layron, Iron Customs – Named Rookie, 1991 Sportster
2nd -#175 – Hank Thibodeau, Widowmaker Custom Design and Re pair – named Lowlife Lucy
MOD Harley – 2018 DC Ultimate Builder Results
Harley-Davidson of Washington DC entered two bikes and came out on top with their custom 2016 XL883L board track-inspired Harley-Davidson racer. The bike features a bobbed rear frame rails with custom 26” fenders, drop seat, custom swing arm, and lammed 10”shocks. All electrics are located in the gas tank. Paint by Richard Samuals Motorports.
1st – #1475 – Alan Day – Harley-Davidson of Washington DC – 2016 H-D XL883
2nd – #1825 – Mike Hill, Legacy Baggers – 2006 Softail Deluxe
MOD Retro – 2018 DC Ultimate Builder Results
Jason Wharton is an artist utilizing the classic technique of pinstriping. In an world where most everything is machine made, he offers the unique service of delicately hand painted signs and designs on every thing from your Classic car to your toilet seat.
Jason is the go-to-guy for Adam Karns of Karns Kustoms and since he had been working with Karns for a number of years, he decided to put a bike in the show. His 1st custom bike and his 1st custom bike win.
The 1974 CB550 Four was in pieces just a week before the show. It’s features a Gulf road racing blue inspired paint job, extended swing arm and a molded and detailed frame.
1st – 375 – Jason Wharton – 1974 CB550 Four
2nd – 1100 – Clint McFee, Hillbilly Mafia Motorcycle Services – 1981 H-D FLH Shovelhead
Custom Street – 2018 DC Ultimate Builder Results
Coleman Powersports rolled in a fan favorite, a 2016 Ducati Scrambler Nicky Hayden tribute bike. Andrew Swenson Designs provided the crowd-stopping paint scheme. The bike featured Termignoni exhaust and tine, Ducati LED signals and performance upgrades.
1st – #125 – Coleman Powersports – named Nicky Hayden: Flat Track Pro, 2016 Ducati Scrambler
2nd – #1225 – Rhino + Justin Emmons, Whirled of Color Customs – 2006 Honda CBR 600RR
Additional Awards
People’s Choice: 1825 – Mike Hill, Legacy Baggers – 2006 Softail Deluxe
Best Bagger – #250 – Maurice Benson, Red Money Garage – 2007 Harley-Davidson Road King
Best Chopper- Matt Reel, MTW Customs – named Brother Love – 2015MTW Custom
Best FXR – #650 Roy Chamberlin, C&C Cycle – named 89 FXRSP – 1989 H-D FXRSSP
Cycle Source Editor’s Choice – #1900 – Kevin Wiseman – 1962 Custom Chopper
HOT BIKE Editor’s Choice – #550 Adam Karns, Karns Kustoms – named Misfit, 1974 H-D XLCH
Jeff Holt’s Tortilla Awards
Best Paint – #1050 – Jim Fowler, Sick Sleds – 2016 HD Fat Boy
Most Innovative – #1475 – Alan Day – Harley-Davidson of Washington DC – 2016 H-D XL883
Kooky – #725 – Ben Davis, Legion Cycle Works
“The J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show is one of the most competitive events in the custom motorcycle building industry, and at each show we are amazed at the craftsmanship, time and hard work that goes into the customs,” explained Jeff Najar, producer, J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show.
K&N Performer Award
K&N provides the Performer Award as well as awarding the winners in the MOD Retro and MOD Harley classes. The J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder competition brings out some of the most innovative custom builds in the motorcycle industry with builders seeking the bragging rights for the K&N prize.
K&N Performer Award – #1925 Bill Dixon, Savage Cycles – named Resident Evil, 2010 Resident Evil Chopper
About Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (www.motorcycleshows.com)
GUN NUT REPORT–Dick’s Raises Age for Gun Buyers, Will Stop Selling Assault Weapons
Dick’s Sporting Goods said it would no longer sell guns to those under 21 years of age and would advocate for more stringent gun laws, in the latest corporate response after a gunman killed 17 people at a Parkland, Fla., high school two weeks ago.
The Pittsburgh-based company, which operates about 800 stores, also said it would stop selling assault-style rifles at all its stores.
–WSJ
IF GUNS KILL PEOPLE, THEN CARS MAKE PEOPLE DRIVE DRUNK, PENCILS MAKE PEOPLE SPELL WORDS WRONG, SPOONS MAKE PEOPLE FAT, MATCHES MAKE PEOPLE PYROS. ????????
–Sidehack Jerry
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THE TERRY LOVERING FILE OPENED–You probably wondered “what ever happened to Terry Lovering and his project?”
It was a long drawn out one…..
Not to mention, everything I had custom work handled on the CNC machine. It took two years for one part.
My painter took a few.
Ego Tripp Wheels ran me wheels with Spinners on both sides, but had to wait over a year.
D&M ran me off a spun air cleaner cover opposite then normal, took a year.
I have great ideas but I’ve got to wait it out for people to change there routine to run a one off.
If I wanted my buddy to run a one off for me, I had to wait for a free machine.
And I did a lot on CNC Custom parts.
Waiting for my Copyrights for the game took 6 years of pay, pay and pay!
Then (his wife) had some medical problems. We had to look after and that set me back a few years.
But all is well and Heather is fine.
I finished this Goddam bike and it is being unveiled at the Portland Roadster Show on March 16,17 & 18 then Back to Vancouver for an unveil at the Vancouver International Auto Show March.
If you got time to look at the Promo I did of our display for the Shows.
To look at the bike it just looks like another chopper but I had it Appraised by ChromeDreams and he said he never seen so much custom detail in any bike he has Appraised over the years.
Ron Szocczei from ChromeDreams also asked me how much personal time I put in the bike, and I said, don’t even go there, I don’t want to know.
I did find something out though, I am a great designer but I am not a bike builder per say…. I build a bike, there is a huge difference.
Of course I put my finished product together but Jellybean Autocrafters did all my wiring all the tweaking, etc, so I am putting them as a sponsor at the Shows.
Here is a picture of my Hero Wall in my garage/gym and a signed painting I bought off Dave when he was staying at the Easyriders Ranch.
–Terry & Heather
We will feature Terry’s new creation soon. He proved wild chopper are not dead!–Bandit
PRISON MOVIE BY DANNY TREJO–Danny Trejo on Gun Control and Our ‘Broken’ U.S. Prison System
‘Automatic weapons are for killing people. That’s all they’re for,’ says the actor and producer of ‘Survivor’s Guide to Prison,’ a film about the injustices of the prison system.
“Welcome to the United States of America,” says Danny Trejo at the beginning of the documentary Survivor’s Guide to Prison. “We call this the land of the free, but this country is home to the largest prison population in the world.” The documentary, which hits select theaters this weekend, addresses the failures of the American prison system in part through focusing on two specific cases. Bruce Lisker and Reggie Cole were both accused of and imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. Lisker served 26 years, and Cole served 16.
For Trejo, the decision to get involved with the documentary was personal. He’s been to prison, even faced the death penalty, and has continued to stay involved with efforts to bring awareness to the criminal justice system and to reach out to those mired in the system. Of course, he’s also one of the most prolific movie stars of all time, having been in more than a hundred movies after a chance encounter on the set of Runaway Train (1985) got him his first job as an extra.
The Daily Beast spoke to Trejo by phone about the film, as well as his own experiences. Over the last three decades, the actor has built a reputation for playing tough guys (just look at Machete), but in conversation, he’s unfailingly open and sincere, particularly when it comes to discussing the justice system, as well as immigration and gun control.
You’ve spoken very openly with your experience with the prison system and it’s obviously very important to you; would you mind speaking a little bit about that?
“Prison was a lot different when I was there. Right now, we have close to 5,000 jails in the United States. That’s more jails than we have colleges or universities. So, in a ‘free country,’ that’s kind of backwards. You’re more apt to go to prison in the United States of America than in any other country in the world. That’s including China.
When you hear that, you go, ‘What are you talking about?’ But that’s the truth. That’s a fact. If you look at our prison system, it’s predominantly people of color. Then, predominantly poor. And it’s not just of color, it’s poor everybody, because poor’s got no color. Our system is broken, and people don’t wanna admit it. Our system is broken, our system is run by money.”
“Don’t worry, if those are the cops, you’ve been with me all day.”
–Karen Han
ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE CLUB NEW ISSUE–If you’re a New Member or a member who’s membership expired before February 1st, your first (next) printed issue will be the following issue but please enjoy this digital issue this month.
For those in the U.S. you will receive your copy within days. Members in Canada and Mexico in a week or so and overseas in several weeks. That’s the main reason for this email. Regardless of your postal worker’s speed, everyone gets this version at the same time.
The digital edition is an invaluable tool for members who want to find a story from an old magazine. As new magazines are posted, we are building up an archive of past issues you can refer to anytime, without fumbling through that stack of printed magazines in the corner of your shop.
All you’ll need to take advantage of this new benefit is your AMCA number and your last name. Just fill in that information on the login page and start reading.
In the March/April 2018 issue of the Antique Motorcycle, you’ll get:
A behind-the-scenes look at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.
A glimpse of the roots of the AMCA and the American motorcycle industry at the annual Yankee Chapter National Meet.
The story of the AMCA’s first meet Down Under in Australia.
And much more!
So go ahead, click here (or on the magazine cover above), and experience The Antique Motorcycle Digital Companion Edition.
Want more information about the AMCA? Visit our website for more Chapter information or check out the Forum to see the latest discussions on topics that are pinpointed to your interest.
NAACP sues Myrtle Beach for ‘racially discriminatory practices during Black Bike Week’–The NAACP has filed suit against Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach police citing discrimination against African American tourists during Black Bike Week.
The complaint was filed by the National NAACP, the Myrtle Beach Branch of the NAACP and three individuals in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, according to a news release.
The organization has also filed a motion for preliminary injunction to stop the city from enforcing its plans for the 2018 event this coming May.
According to a news release, the complaint says there are “stark differences in the treatment of African-American bikers during Black Bike Week compared to the treatment of majority-White bikers during Harley Week.”
“White bikers do not have to go through that, so why should we?” said individual plaintiff Simuel Jones, a Black Bike Week attendee and former U.S. Marine.
Officials with the NAACP have said in the past that the city’s plans for the motorcycle rally over Memorial Day weekend, including a 23-mile traffic loop, are discriminatory against the black attendees coming for the event also known as Bikefest.
NAACP leaders cite the traffic loop as part of their complaint.
“The City of Myrtle Beach and its police department impose no formal traffic plan during Harley Week. However, during Black Bike Week they restrict the main two-way thoroughfare, Ocean Boulevard, to a single lane of southbound traffic. All vehicles entering Ocean Boulevard at night are forced to travel through a 23-mile loop with just one exit. On Saturday night of Black Bike Week, it could take over six hours to complete the loop,” according to the news release.
The complaint also cites the City of Myrtle Beach deploying more officers during Black Bike Week than Harley Week. They also cite that “police officers utilize overly aggressive policing tactics against African Americans.”
With those two complaints, the NAACP says “the City seeks to make Black Bike Week sufficiently unpleasant for the mostly African-American motorcyclists, hoping that they stop attending the event and that it ceases to exist.”
Anson Asaka, the NAACP National Office Associate General Counsel, was in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday for the organization’s news conference announcing the suit. He said the goal is to have Black Bike Week treated “like every other event in the city.”
“After assessing the situation on the ground…after gathering the evidence we decided to file the suit now,” says NAACP National Office Associate General Counsel Anson Asaka.
An injunction has been filed to stop the city from implementing the plan this year.
–by WPDE
–from Rogue
IT’S NEVER DULL AROUND HERE—I received a crazy Burma Shave story from a brother. We will slip it into the Cantina tomorrow.
I received a call from the Paughco headquarters in Carson City, Nevada. They are working on our steering system this month, then I will pick up the Salt Torpedo and we will prepare for Bonneville. The front end is dragster type so we could turn like a go cart, but that might not work at 200 mph. The other option is a steering box like most cars. We are waiting for Ron’s dragster expert to give us some guidance.
I need to call Sugar Bear about his Sturgis Chopper Museum. We are going to ship the Discovery Build-Off Chopper to his museum, when he is ready. Not my new/old Panhead above.
Hang on for more reports. And Ride Free Forever, goddammit.
CHANGING TIMES BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for March 8, 2018
By Bandit |
Hey,
We are facing interesting times. There’s more motorcycle fun on the horizon than ever before, more events and more racing, Hell it’s even cleaner, and more family oriented.
On the other hand we are constantly challenged. Magazines and newspapers are struggling. Now web sites are struggling with increased competition and social media. Shit, I can’t add photos to my new instagram effort from my desk computer. What the hell?
I was challenged this week by a staff member to drop writing about Global Warming or lose readers. I thought about it long and hard and then I explained the basics to him. First, he could test his theory on his site. If it worked, we could share in the vast awards. Second, we are not here for the money. We do this because we love it and follow the Code of the West.
I use to joke to guys about the industry. “If we were in business for the money, we would make toasters or turbo-charged vacuum cleaners, not custom motorcycles. We love custom bikes for several reasons, and each one of us has a different mantra. But for some it’s the freedom to ride what we love into the sunset. It’s the freedom to build whatever we want and risk our fleeting lives flying free.
That’s why I fight back for our freedoms and against the Global Warming scam. Someone has to do it.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum. And the Smoke Out.
NEW FROM S&S – Sidewinder 2-into-1 for M8 Touring Models
S&S Cycle has created the next level in high performance bagger exhaust! Merging a full flow stainless header into a highly engineered collector and culminating in a 4.5-inch muffler, the new Sidewinder represents the perfect combination of style and power.
S&S also includes their removable dB reducer baffle allowing riders to tune the system for sound and backpressure. Available in 49-state EPA compliant and race versions in both chrome and black ceramic. Starting at $849, the Sidewinder is available for 2017-18 HD touring models.
CARB compliant version coming soon.
Click Here For More Information https://www.sscycle.com/sidewinder-for-m8
1.a woman of great wisdom.
2.the ancient Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts, identified with the Greek goddess Athena.
QUOTES
God, it seems like I’ll always have a Minerva by my side being a better person than I am.
— Julia Alvarez, In the Time of the Butterflies, 1994
ORIGIN
The Roman goddess Minerva is so completely identified with the Greek goddess Athena that it is difficult to discern what is “native” to Minerva. Minerva (earlier Latin spelling Menerva) was a native Italian goddess of handicrafts (hence easily identified with Athena in that respect). The name Minerva (Menerva) may be of Indo-European origin, from the root men- “to think, bear in mind,” source of English mind, Latin memini “I remember,” and Greek Méntor, a proper name meaning “adviser.” The original Latin name will have been Meneswa “intelligent, wise (woman),” related to Sanskrit manasvin “wise” and Manasvini, the name of the mother of the moon.
Alternatively, Meneswa may mean “woman who measures (the phases of the moon),” from the Proto-Indo-European root me- “to measure,” source of English meal (a Germanic word), as in piecemeal, measure (from Latin), and Greek metron “measure,” the source of the English suffix -meter, among other words. Minerva as the name of the goddess entered English in the Old English period; the sense “wise woman” dates from the late 18th century.
NMA REPORT– Commuters vs. Neighborhoods—Congestion at its Root
We all pay for public roads so shouldn’t we be able to travel on them when we want? A number of New Jersey towns and villages are saying NO. If you don’t live here, you don’t have the right to take a neighborhood street to beat congestion during rush hour.
Part of the reason commuters are finding alternative routes is due to the saturation of Google Maps, Apple Maps and WAZE—all GPS guidance apps that can be downloaded to your smart phone. Congestion is never fun and don’t we all love it when we beat the crowd by taking an alternative route? This is just one of the many pleasures of driving.
What’s not so much fun is for those who want to leave their driveways during rush hour and can’t because there is so much traffic on their little neighborhood street.
Leonia and Weehawken, New Jersey have recently passed ordinances that make it illegal for non-locals to drive on residential streets during rush hour. These towns actually have police officers at these pressure points handing out fines to non-compliers. Some of these non-compliers have been taking these neighborhood shortcuts for years and are quite angry about this new direction. In fact, one commuter has already filed a lawsuit challenging the city of Leonia on this new ordinance.
Leonia officials say they were forced to pass a non-locals ordinance because many residents were complaining about the congestion on their streets. Under the new law, 60 Leonia neighborhood streets are closed to non-locals during morning and evening rush hour, 6:00 to 10:00 AM and 4:00 to 9:00 PM respectively. Locals must outfit their vehicles with a yellow tag and without one you have to justify why you are in the neighborhood during the prescribed times or face a $200 fine.
Leonia is two miles short of the George Washington Bridge going into Manhattan and is home to 9,200 residents. On a normal day 4,000 non-locals pass through on their way to Manhattan. On peak days, the volume can easily rise to 12,000. Leonia only has 18 police officers and it claims that this influx, particularly when residential streets become significant traffic corridors, is too much to handle for public safety. Non-locals can still drive on three major thoroughfares through town.
A long term commuter through Leonia, Mike Helmsley said the travel restriction causes him to add 35 extra minutes to his morning commute.
Mayor Judah Ziegler says the new ordinance is legal. He cites a 1977 Supreme Court decision that ruled non-residents could not park in a local Arlington County, Virginia neighborhood. He added, “The decision gives municipalities the right to legislate access to streets under its control as long as the laws don’t allow some residents and not others, and as long as the law serves a public purpose (in this case, public safety).”
But parking in a neighborhood and driving through a neighborhood are two entirely different things. In 1954, the New York State Appeals Court ruled that the Town of North Hempstead on Long Island could not prohibit “through or transient vehicle traffic” on neighborhood streets. The town wanted to limit workers driving through neighborhoods on their way to work at a local factory. The court ruled that North Hempstead’s traffic measures were “designed merely to reserve the streets in the area for the use of the local residents to the exclusion of the public at large. To do so would be an unreasonable exercise of power to regulate traffic.”
East Brunswick, NJ lawyer Theodore Silwinski said that the new laws will certainly be challenged. He added, “Leonia is illegally trying to expand their municipal jurisdiction, and they are attempting to legislate on matters that are normally in the purview of the state of New Jersey.”
Public roads should be open for all users of the road and cities cannot penalize drivers for finding a short cut on their own or from a smart phone app. Creating local ordinances like this takes the onus off of local, state and federal officials who should work together to tackle the real infrastructure and transportation issues this country currently faces.
Use this link to share this NMA E-Newsletter with others:
https://www.motorists.org/alerts/commuters-vs-neighborhoods-congestion-root-nma-weekly-e-newsletter-477/
NEW BIKE DEALS, GREAT BIG SMILES ARE AHEAD WITH AN AWESOME NEW INDIAN CHIEF OR INDIAN SCOUT MOTORCYCLE–
Swing A Leg Over One Of These Spectacular New Machines & Cruise Into A Jaw-Dropping Life-Changing Experience!
MAKE INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CHARLOTTE YOUR FIRST STOP ON THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS
Thanks To Knowledgeable Riders Like You, America’s First Indian® Motorcycle Dealer Continues To Lead the Way
MARCH 2018 – Finally! After weird winter weather we’d just as soon forget, Spring is about to burst on the scene bringing all the joy of riding back to a daily routine.
Like every other motorcycle dealer we know, it’s been a pretty quiet two months, but as the calendar turns, we’re totally amped up and looking forward to the weeks and months ahead with the absolute best Indian Motorcycles we’ve ever seen! Stop in soon and prepare have your jaw drop. (Honest.)
March is when Daytona Beach Bike Week kicks off “the season”. This year, the 10-day celebration runs from March 9 to the 18th. We’re looking forward to seeing many old friends there and Indian Motorcycle Company will have some exciting new products to unveil at Indian’s opening night party on Friday March 9.
(On Saturday night, get your clock to “spring ahead” into Daylight Savings. If you’re having fun like us, you won’t miss that extra hour of shuteye.)
We have the entire fantastic collection of 2018 Indian motorcycles on our showroom floor, plus hundreds of performance parts and accessories to build exactly the ride you want.
The factory incentives for March include great financing options on our five remaining 2017 Thunder Stroke 111 machines. 2.99% for 60 months or 4.99% for 84 months. Or get a $1,500 Trade In Bonus. Our two 2017 Chief Classics also include $750 in accessories or apparel. Sweet!
2018 Indian Scout, Scout-Sixty and Scout Bobber financing makes it easier than ever to ride. 2.99% for 60 months or 4.99% for 84 months. With nothing down, your new ride is closer than you think. Stop in and let’s discuss how to make your dream a reality.
New to riding? Welcome home. As experienced, friendly motorcycle people, we welcome all new riders. Stop in and let’s talk. We want you to get comfortable with the sheer joy of riding.
The wonderful new Indian Scout-Sixty®
was designed for you—easy to handle and well-balanced with plenty of power. We’ll walk you through every step as you come to know how we became the world’s most-awarded Indian dealer on the planet.
Flashback: Indian Motorcycle Charlotte opened in October 2008 here in Lowell, when Indians were manufactured at Kings Mountain, just a few miles down the road. In some ways it’s hard to believe it’s been ten years, but the enormous progress in Indian
design, engineering and technology we’ve witnessed could not have happened overnight.
Polaris ownership has made all the difference in the world, and as passionate Indian zealots, we are eternally grateful. Excellence has a way of persevering and enduring to overcome all of life’s challenges.
Ride safely and we look forward to seeing you soon.
–Mark Moses – Owner & General Manager
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CHARLOTTE • 110 Indian Walk • I-85 Exit 22 • Lowell, North Carolina 28098 • 704-879-4560
www.IndianMotorcycleCharlotte.com
EXECUTIVE & REGULATORY UPDATES: No Deal on Ethanol…Yet? Plus Your MRF at the Summit on Autonomous Vehicles
This week was a big one for corn farmers and oil refiners (and riders) and their champions in the Senate, as Sens. Pat Toomey, Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley held a meeting with President Donald Trump and his top advisers to see if there was some kind of deal to be struck in the Renewable Fuel Standard (psst: that’s the law that determines how much ethanol needs to be in the nation’s gasoline supply). On the table for negotiation?
An offer of a package of changes that would include creating biofuel credits for exported ethanol, a cap on credit prices, and a waiver for 15 percent ethanol gasoline blends to be sold year-round.
All of the proposals would be executed administratively, rather than legislatively saving a congressional fight. It would likely have the effect of weakening the amount of ethanol circulated in the nation’s gasoline supply but as a tradeoff, would give corn state champions their objective of being able to sell 15% blends year-round.
Despite the interest in striking a deal and meeting, farm state lawmakers still held firm against proposals aimed at easing costs borne by oil refineries and in the end, a grand bargain wasn’t struck. Its not over yet though… Trump appeared to agree to meet with workers from both the ethanol and oil refining industries showing that future meetings and negotiations were still a possibility.
I spent the bulk of my Thursday at the Department of Transportation (DoT) attending a summit on self-diving cars. It was a who’s who at DoT with every major Agency head present including Secretary Elaine Chao.
They discussed plans for the next iteration of self-driving car guidance – which is being referred to as 3.0 and is expected to be released this summer. Attendees got an overview of what to expect – the Secretary outlined the 6 principles that would govern the guidance.
These included the usual suspects like safety and flexibility but what perked my ears up was the commitment that under this Administration, there would NEVER be an instance where non automated vehicles (and yes that includes motorcycles) would be outlawed or jeopardized. The quote used was, “there will never be universal implementation of highly autonomous vehicles.” Deep sigh of relief? For now….
STATE NEWS – Movement on Priority Legislation in Virginia
Riders in Virginia are on the verge of a big win – an auxiliary light bill that was introduced at the request of the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM) passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee this week. The bill amends state code to allow motorcyclists to take advantage of LED type accent lighting in order to improve visibility to other motorists. The amendment added language mandating that any lighting used on the motorcycle must be of a type designed for use on a motor vehicle. You can read more about the bill at the following link:
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=181&typ=bil&val=hb1464&submit=GO
The next step would be for the bill the pass the full Senate then go back to the House to approve any changes. At this point, they expect it to go to the Governor’s desk for his signature and become law by July 1 this year. Great work Virginia and keep us posted when it officially becomes law! We’ll toast to you!
MRF NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS –
I got a chance to hang out with ABATE of Iowa this week. They were in D.C. doing a round of meetings with their delegation and were gracious enough to let me tag along to a meet and greet with Senator Joni Ernst. We posted about the event on Facebook.
There is nothing more I love than seeing our community on a first-name and hugging basis with an influential lawmaker – especially Joni Ernst who has signed onto our profiling resolution AND is co-chairing the Senate Motorcycle Caucus.
Of course, that relationship didn’t happen overnight. ABATE of Iowa put WORK into it. They keep in close contact with her staff locally and in D.C. They attend Bikers Inside the Beltway as well as do their own set of meetings every year and will often send volunteers to help with reelection campaigns.
The result is that they have a network of powerful and influential lawmakers who call on them, voice their issues on the Senate floor and always keep an ear to the ground on their behalf. ABATE of Iowa (and many of our SMRO connections) are an example of how to get it done. It’s an honor to work alongside them.
Until next time, enjoy your weekends, ride free and get registered for BITB!
RIDE FREE-
–Megan Ekstrom
Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation
SHOP VIDEO OF THE WEEK FROM LAW TIGERS– The guys who run the shop are named Jackson and Ty. It’s a full, self-service, do it yourself kinda shop in the heart of Downtown LA.
There is a coffee shop next door that serves Flat Track Coffee (a motorcycle coffee company of course) and they host some awesome events.
Here is their address as well…
255 N Mission Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90033
–Darwyn Yager
Law Tigers
Los Angeles Marketing Manger
(323) 496-1155
NEWS FROM THE OLD SCHOOL—This brother worked on the Jammer streamliner back in the day. FucK Cancer..Lost another Pal Today. RIP Paul….
–Bob T.
STRANGE NEWS OF THE WEEK–Federal court rules World War I memorial cross must be torn down–Back in 1925, the American Legion erected a memorial in Bladensburg, Md., to honor the memory of 49 men who perished during World War I.
The 40-foot tall memorial became known as the “Peace Cross.”
In 2014, the American Humanist Association — a group that believes in “being good without a god” — filed a lawsuit alleging the cross-shaped memorial is unconstitutional and demanding it be demolished, altered, or removed.
They alleged the cross carries “an inherently religious message and creates the unmistakable appearance of honoring only Christian servicemen.”
“Today’s decision sets dangerous precedent by completely ignoring history, and it threatens removal and destruction of veterans memorials across America.”
On Wednesday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and ruled the historic memorial must be torn down — all because the Bladensburg Memorial is in the shape of a cross.
The Fourth Circuit said the memorial excessively entangles the government in religion because the cross is the “core symbol of Christianity” and “breaches” the wall separating church and state.
Writing separately, Chief Judge Gregory wrote, “This Memorial stands in witness to the VALOR, ENDURANCE, COURAGE, and DEVOTION of the forty-nine residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland ‘who lost their lives in the Great War for the liberty of the world.’ I cannot agree that a monument so conceived and dedicated and that bears such witness violates the letter or spirit of the very Constitution these heroes died to defend.”
The American Legion could appeal directly to the Supreme Court.
“Today’s decision sets dangerous precedent by completely ignoring history, and it threatens removal and destruction of veterans memorials across America,” First Liberty Institute attorney Hiram Sasser said.
First Liberty Institute and the Jones Day law firm are representing the American Legion in their fight.
“This memorial has stood in honor of local veterans for almost 100 years and is lawful under the First Amendment,” Jones Day attorney Michael Carvin said. “To remove it would be a tremendous dishonor to the local men who gave their lives during The Great War.”
I warned Americans in my new book, “The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again,” that the war against religious liberty and traditional American values is far from over.
A militant group of atheists, agnostics and free-thinkers want to eradicate Christianity in the public marketplace. The only way to stop this evil scourge is for people of faith to stand together and fight back in the courts.
Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary. His latest book is “The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again.” Follow him on Twitter @ToddStarnes and find him on Facebook.
–by Todd Starnes, Fox News
WINTER WARNING— Never let your kids make snow angels in a dog park.
–Andy
NEWS FROM THE STURGIS MUSEUM– Strider Bikes Returning as Presenting Sponsor
Strider Bikes, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of children’s balance bikes, was the presenting sponsor for the 2017 Sturgis Museum Hall of Fame induction ceremony and will be the returning as the presenting sponsor of the 2018 event!
Strider Bikes has a commitment to teaching kids to ride and inspiring new motorcyclists. Ryan McFarland, founder and CEO gave this filmed introduction to open the 2017 Induction breakfast and explains the important connection.
Strider Bikes are now distributed in more than 75 countries worldwide. In 2017,Strider formed the Strider Education Foundation. To learn more, visit www.StriderBikes.com or www.StriderEducationFoundation.org, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Instagram.
Learn More about Strider Bikes!
Law Tigers Generous Support Includes Breakfast
As part of Law Tigers generous support of the Sturgis Museum & Hall of Fame, they will be returning as the Breakfast sponsor for the 2018 Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast.
“We are proud to be involved with such an amazing organization,” says Ari Levenbaum, VP of Marketing for The Law Tigers, a professional association of motorcycle injury lawyers who help riders every day. “Law Tigers is excited to provide some of the finances needed to build the new Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. It is important to recognize and honor those individuals who have done their part to support the different aspects of the motorcycle industry.”
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame and Strider Bikes present the
Hall of Fame Class of 2018
Jeff Decker
Jeff Decker is a sculptor and historian who is known for his bronze sculptures, the most notable of which is titled “By the Horns” (also known as The Hill Climber), a 16-foot-tall, 5,000-pound bronze located on the grounds of the Harley-Davidson Museum. His bronze-cast sculptures depicting the synergy of man and modern machines, particularly historic motorcycles, is known in both the motorcycling community and the world of fine art.
Working full-time at a bronze casting foundry, Decker’s first idea was to capture Man’s quest for speed in all vehicles. He and his work exemplify the spirit and passion of motorcycling.
Jack Hoel
Jack Hoel has been a major influence in the development of the Rally, while also having a distinguished career in the world of motorcycling.
Hoel raced around the world and 1964, won the 250cc Sportsman class at the AMA Daytona Speedweek on a Yamaha.
As manager of the Yamaha Race Team in the 1970s, Hoel had also been instrumental in the development of the cutting-edge XS 650 cc. With the first big bore, four-stroke motor produced by Yamaha, a true competitor was now on the field.
Today, Jack Hoel is passionate about the Rally, it’s roots in racing and a prominent member of the Sturgis community.
Armondo “Mondo” Porras
Armondo “Mondo” Porras has been building custom motorcycles and promoting the sport for over 50 years through television, books, magazines and producing vintage chopper shows and his peers have deemed him the “Godfather of Choppers.”
Mondo Porras is the owner of Denver’s Choppers and started building custom bikes with his partner, Denver Mullins in 1967.
With Denver Mullins, Mondo
created some of the first aftermarket parts for the burgeoning chopper industry with their globally influential extended springer front ends and custom frames, was influential in the “long-bike” phenomenon and has earned many awards in the custom bike world.
Marilyn Stemp
With late husband, Dennis Stemp, Marilyn Stemp started IronWorks Magazine in 1989. It combined his artistic creativity and passion for motorcycles with her experience as a journalist, organizational skills and attraction to mechanical pursuits.
Following the last issue of IronWorks in March of 2014, they launched a new title, Iron Trader News. Iron Trader News is collaborative and inclusive, a trusted source that entertains and informs on a framework of fairness and integrity.
Marilyn continues the work that she and Dennis began and strives “to elevate and expand well beyond its pages and digital efforts, bringing partners along to our combined prosperity.”
Valerie Thompson
Valerie Thompson is known as “America’s Queen of Speed,” a 7-time land speed record holder on the Bonneville Salt Flats, she has exceeded speeds above the 200 mph mark. Thompson’s drag racing career spans a decade with a desire to go faster and break more records. Her first two land speed records were aboard 5-Ball Racing Bonneville bikes, the Salt Shaker and the Assalt Weapan.
Off the racetrack, Valerie works as a vehicle presenter at Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, LLC and Metro Auto Auctions in Arizona. Between her work, racing commitments and many special appearances each year, Valerie donates time supporting and inspiring children overcoming person challenges with charitable organizations. Because of this work and her racing accomplishments, she was awarded the “American Women Riders Community Hero Award” in 2011.
Hamsters USA Motorcycle Club
The famed Hamsters Motorcycle Club, has many individual members that have been inducted to the Sturgis Hall of Fame. They are a group of riders that gives annually to the Black Hills community and contributes greatly to the motorcycle industry and lifestyle.
The Club has chapters and members all over the world and they make their annual trek to Sturgis during the Rally to gather for fun and hold a club dinner and auction. This event and other Hamsters fundraisers have raised over 2 Million dollars for LifeScape Children’s Services.
Special Awards to be Announced Soon!
Along with those being inducted into the Hall of Fame, for 2018 we will also be announcing our special Board of Director’s awards; the Freedom Fighter and Lifetime Achievement Award. These special honors will be announced in the coming weeks.
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKENET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– A cat died and went to Heaven. God met her at the gates and said, “You have been a good cat all these years. Anything you want is yours for the asking.”
The cat thought for a minute and then said, “All my life I lived on a farm and slept on hard wooden floors. I would like a real fluffy pillow to sleep on.” God said, “Say no more.”
Instantly, the cat had a huge fluffy pillow. A few days later, six mice were killed in an accident and they all went to Heaven together. God met the mice at the gates with the same offer that He made to the cat.
The mice said, “Well, we have had to run all of our lives. From cats, dogs and even people with brooms! If we could just have some little roller skates, we would not have to run again.”
God answered, “It is done.” All the mice had beautiful little roller skates. About a week later, God decided to check on the cat.
He found her sound asleep on her fluffy pillow. God gently awakened the cat and asked, “Is everything okay? How have you been doing? Are you happy”?
The cat replied, “Oh, it is wonderful. I have never been so happy in my life. The pillow is so fluffy and those little “Meals on Wheels” you have been sending over are delicious!”
–from Sidehack Jerry and Rogue
NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT–
Polar bears keep thriving even as global warming alarmists keep pretending they’re dying.
Polar bears are flourishing, making them phony icons, and false idols, for global warming alarmists
One powerful polar bear fact is slowly rising above the message of looming catastrophe repeated endlessly by the media: More than 15,000 polar bears have not disappeared since 2005.
Although the extent of the summer sea ice after 2006 dropped abruptly to levels not expected until 2050, the predicted 67-per-cent decline in polar bear numbers simply didn’t happen. Rather, global polar bear numbers have been stable or slightly improved. The polar bear’s resilience should have meant the end of its use as a cherished icon of global warming doom, but it didn’t. The alarmism is not going away without a struggle.
Part of this struggle involves a scientific clash about transparency in polar bear science. My close examination of recent research has revealed that serious inconsistencies exist within the polar bear literature and between that literature and public statements made by some researchers.
For example, Canadian polar bear biologist Ian Stirling learned in the 1970s that spring sea ice in the southern Beaufort Sea periodically gets so thick that seals depart, depriving local polar bears of their prey and causing their numbers to plummet.
But that fact, documented in more than a dozen scientific papers, is not discussed today as part of polar bear ecology. In these days of politicized science, neither Stirling nor his colleagues mention in public the devastating effects of thick spring ice in the Beaufort Sea; instead, they imply in recent papers that the starving bears they witnessed are victims of reduced summer sea ice, which they argued depleted the bears’ prey.
There are also strong indications that thick spring-ice conditions happened again in 2014–16, with the impacts on polar bears being similarly portrayed as effects of global warming.
The polar bear’s resilience should have meant the end of its use as an icon of global warming doom
One reason that the 2007 predictions of future polar bear survival were so far off base is that the model developed by American biologist Steven Amstrup (now at Polar Bears International, an NGO) assumed any polar bear population decline would be caused by less summer ice, despite the Beaufort Sea experience. Moreover, Amstrup and fellow modelers were overly confident in their claim that summer ice was critical for the polar bear’s survival and they had little data on which to base their assumption that less summer ice would devastate the polar bears’ prey.
Consequently, many scientists were surprised when other researchers subsequently found that ringed and bearded seals (the primary prey of polar bears) north of the Bering Strait especially thrived with a longer open-water season, which is particularly conducive to fishing: These seals do most of their feeding in summer. More food for seals in summer means more fat seal pups for polar bears to eat the following spring, a result that’s probably true throughout the Arctic.
As long as polar bears have lots of baby seals to eat in spring, they get fat enough to survive even a longer-than-usual summer fast. And while it’s true that studies in some regions show polar bears are lighter in weight than they were in the 1980s, there is no evidence that more individuals are starving to death or becoming too thin to reproduce because of less summer ice.
Not all bears get enough to eat in the spring, of course. Starvation has always been the leading natural cause of death for polar bears, due to a number of factors including competition, injury, tooth decay and illness. Some cancers induce a muscle-wasting syndrome that leads to faster-than-usual weight loss. This is likely what happened to the emaciated Baffin Island bear captured on video in July 2017 and promoted by National Geographic late last year. The videographers claimed it showed what starvation due to sea-ice loss looked like — an implausible conclusion given the time of year, the isolated nature of the incident, and the fact that sea ice that year was no more reduced than previously.
That starving-bear video may have convinced a few more gullible people that only hundreds of polar bears are left in the world. But it also motivated others to locate the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List report for 2015 that estimated global polar bear numbers at somewhere between 22,000-31,000, or about 26,000, up slightly from 20,000-25,000, or about 22,500, in 2005. Newer counts not included in the 2015 assessment potentially add another 2,500 or so to the total. This increase may not be statistically significant, but it is decidedly not the 67-per-cent decline that was predicted given the ice conditions that prevailed.
The failure of the 2007 polar bear survival model is a simple fact that explodes the myth that polar bears are on their way to extinction. Although starving-bear videos and scientifically insignificant research papers still make the news, they don’t alter the facts: Polar bears are thriving, making them phony icons, and false idols, for global warming alarmists.
–Susan Crockford
www.ClimateDepot.com
Financial Post
Susan Crockford, a zoologist and adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, is author of State of the Polar Bear Report 2017, released Tuesday. She will present her findings at Grounds for Thought in Toronto. www.susancrockford.com
MORE FROM THE BIKERNET BOOK CLUB– Colette Coleman has been riding bikes for 25 years over four continents and considers it the best form of transport on which to explore the globe. Her new book, Magnificent Motorcycle Trips of the World: 40 Guided Tours from 6 Continents, includes spectacular routes from the snowy passes of Patagonia to Australia’s Red Centre.
Snapshots of Magnificent Motorcycle Trips of the World:
40 awe-inspiring routes taking in the best of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia,
New Zealand and the Americas.
Stunning photography and route maps with points of interest on the way.
Each journey is accessible for everyone regardless of level of expertise on the bike.
My very best,
–Elizabeth Martins emartins@foxchapelpublishing.com
NOW RETURNING TO THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– A couple made a deal that whoever died first would come back and inform the other if there is sex after death. But their biggest fear was that there was no afterlife at all.
After a long life together, the husband was the first to die. True to his word, he made contact with his wife.
“Marion, Marion?”
“Is that you, Bob? What’s it like?”
“Well, I get up in the morning, I have sex. I have breakfast and then it’s off to the golf course.
I have sex again, bathe in the warm sun and then have sex a couple of more times. Then I have lunch (you’d be proud — lots of greens). Another romp around the golf course, then pretty much have sex the rest of the afternoon. After supper, it’s back to the golf course. Then it’s more sex until late at night…I catch some much needed sleep and then the next day it starts all over again.”
“Oh, Bob! Are you in Heaven?”
“No, … I’m a rabbit somewhere in Arizona.” Wink
–from Joe Teresi
Supreme Leader
Paisano Publications
NEW BIG DOG STARTER MOTOR FROM TERRY COMPONENTS–
For 2005-2011 applications
Terry Components now offers a NEW and improved BIG DOG motorcycle 2.0 kw, show Chromed starter motor, along with an offering of a rebuild kit for existing Big Dog starters needing repair.
Terry Components has developed and implemented a triple-shield double-lipped bearing with proprietary seal which prevents fluid from passing along the starter shaft and on to the starter motor clutch.
Dealer and retail inquiries welcomed. For all further information please contact Terry Components.
–Terry Components
2916 E. 4th Ave
Spearfish, SD 57783
605-642-5300
GUN NUT REPORT– You must watch the video the gun control lobby fears.
And you need to watch it before the gun grabbers try to ban it from the Internet.
In just a matter of days, over 8 million patriots have watched Virginia House of Delegates member, Nick Freitas, drop a truth bomb — exposing the gun control lobby and their radical agenda — from the floor in Virginia’s General Assembly.
As a Green Beret, Nick Freitas fought to defend Freedom for Americans, and is seeking to defeat Hillary’s hand-picked former running-mate, Senator Tim Kaine.
After watching the video, you’ll see why pro-Liberty champions like Sen. Mike Lee and myself have endorsed Nick Freitas.
A video like this has the potential to change the national narrative on the gun control debate.
In Liberty,
Rand Paul, MD
United States Senator (R-KY)
NEWS FROM THE CITY OF BUFFALO CHIP– Yelawolf Leading John Kay & Steppenwolf onto Buffalo Chip’s Wolfman Jack Stage
The original biker band meets up with today’s for an all-out howling at “The Best Party Anywhere”
One of today’s most heavy-hitting motorcycle musicians will be meeting up with the original biker band when Yelawolf and John Kay & Steppenwolf share the same stage at “The Best Party Anywhere!”
Although the bands may differ stylistically, the pairing brings together two acts with deep roots in biker culture. Country, rock and blues-inspired hip-hop star Yelawolf will open for classic rockers John Kay & Steppenwolf on the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s Wolfman Jack Stage Friday, Aug. 10, 2018.
“We’ve got new school meeting old school at the Chip on Friday,” said Rod Woodruff, Sturgis Buffalo Chip President. “Yelawolf has amassed a cult following within the motorcycle community over the last 10 years, and John Kay & Steppenwolf were the originals that helped ‘Easy Rider’ the movie jump start a cultural revolution.”
Yelawolf has collaborated with and featured Kid Rock and blink-182’s Travis Barker on a pair of his latest singles. His independent attitude, unique style and strong motorcycle influence connects deeply with bikers. His music has been featured on “Sons of Anarchy,” and he rides and owns custom and antique motorcycles.
The 2018 Growing Lineup of Entertainment Announced So Far Includes:
Friday, Aug. 3 The Marshall Tucker Band
Saturday, Aug. 4 Foreigner
Sunday, Aug. 5 American Flat Track Race
Monday, Aug. 6 Lynyrd Skynyrd
Tuesday, Aug. 7 Aaron Lewis
Wednesday, Aug. 8 Eric Church
RSD Super Hooligan Racing
Crazy John’s Invitational Street Drags
Thursday, Aug. 9 Kid Rock
Lita Ford
Friday, Aug. 10 John Kay & Steppenwolf
Yelawolf
Saturday, Aug. 11 TBA
Festival passes can be purchased for a limited time for as little as $27 per day. More information is available at BuffaloChip.com.
AUSTRALIAN CLUB NEWS– Finally got approval to release this secret Video. NSW Task force Raptor reveal their mandate to the public. They are green lit to destroy small business, strip search the public, steal charity funds, and general social engineering. WARNING: this will shock!!!
–DINO
UNCLE MONKEY ON STEEL AND ALUMINUM TARIFFS–
Bikers are holding their breath to see if President Trump will follow through with his suggested tariffs on steel and aluminum. Consumers can expect increase costs pretty much across the board. The move however threatens to put an already shaky Harley- Davidson in peril.
The US can only produce 10% of the aluminum it uses so anything that has aluminum now has to buy it at a higher cost. Ford pickup trucks are built with aluminum bumpers, fenders, hood, cab, box, tailgate, wheels, rad, engine, transmissions. The tariffs increase costs $1608 more in raw material which in profit mark ups means they sell that truck to dealer for $2680 more which he marks up and passes on to you the customer. So that $30,000 Ford F150 now costs $34,466. Unless of course Ford moves truck manufacturing to Canada or Mexico bypassing the tariff all together which only affects the 7000 US workers in Kansas that will lose their jobs.
Harley’s which are steel and aluminum instead of plastic like the Japanese bikes, like Ford trucks will cost more to build, which means they will cost more to buy.
The European Union has said the tariffs are unfair (because China doesn’t even crack the top ten of exporters of Aluminum to the US) so they are placing tariffs on Harley Davidson, Levis, and bourbon (Jack Daniels, Jim Bean, Wild Turkey etc). Harley has already seen slipping sales in the US and has been relying on foreign sales and expansion to keep the company afloat. In the US the bikes will now cost 25% more equates to even fewer sales compared to Japanese bikes who are unaffected by this tariff and a nearly 40% increase in cost in foreign markets. It means a $25,000 Harley (which now cost $28,750 because of Trump tariff) will now cost $35,940 outside of the US.
Ford, GM, Miller, Budweiser and others will pass the increases onto you the customer. The Bourbon market and Levis can weather moderate decreases in foreign sales. Harley Davidson however is left out in the cold with their ten year plan to increase sales and riders hanging in the balance. Trump`s plan to Make America Great Again just might have to sacrifice Harley Davidson to come true but that is why you elected him.
-bad Uncle Monkey
The other side:
President Trump has finally done it. After nearly a year of threatening to upend global trade, he has announced sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum.
What this means is steel made in another country and shipped to the United States will be subject to a 25 percent tax. And imported aluminum will be hit with a 10 percent tax at the U.S. border. These are hefty fees because Trump’s goal is to incentivize U.S. companies to buy steel and aluminum from U.S. producers so the domestic metal industry gets stronger.
Trump argues that he needs to do this to save jobs and protect national security. His Commerce Department put out two lengthy reports recently arguing that the United States needs larger steel and aluminum industries to have enough metal for F-18 and F-35 fighter jets and armored military vehicles.
Politically, this should make Trump even more popular with some members of his blue-collar base. Many of the jobs that might come back in steel and aluminum factories would be union jobs that pay more than $20 an hour. (For other blue-collar workers, including those who help move foreign metal into the United States or work for manufacturers who will now be spending more on steel and aluminum, it’s less of a boon.)
It’s interesting the spins we read. Over the last two years folks in Los Angeles have been hit with numerous tax hikes from the homeless tax, to new mandated trash delivery and price hikes and marijuana taxes. I don’t see hordes of folks leaving.–Bandit
Handbuilt Show is Near!
Are you ready?
Got your tickets?
Handbuilt Show 3 Day Admission – Pre-Order
$25.00 – $30.00
TRANS HIMALAYAN SKY ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TOUR
Tour Highlights:
Ø Discovering the routes on the Highest Motorable road.
Ø Enjoy Motorbike Riding on Twisting Mountain roads
Ø Explore the Buddhist Culture.
Ø The beautiful Monasteries in Ladakh.
Ø Riding through breathtaking landscapes and scenery of Ladakh
Day 1: ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive at Delhi’s airport; our representative will personally meet you outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal, holding a placard of your name to welcome you with garland & a bottle of mineral water. He will escort you till your hotel to make your hotel check-in smooth & fast. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 2: DELHI-CHANDIGARH BY FLIGHT & CHANDIGARH-MANALI by Drive (290 Kms / 8 Hrs)
Early morning transfer to Delhi Airport to board flight for Chandigarh (ETD: 07:10 Hrs – ETA: 08:05 Hrs). On arrival at Chandigarh Airport, you will be received by our representative & drive to Manali. Manali is located near the northern end of Kullu Valley & on the banks of River Beas. Manali – an important hill station & breathtaking natural beauty is the hallmark of this valley. Enroute enjoy your Lunch. Later drives continue to Manali. On arrival, check in hotel & relax. Overnight stay in Manali.
Day 3: MANALI-JISPA (About 145 Kms / 5 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, you will be introduced to your Royal Enfield 500cc Motorcycle and the road captain shares all the rules of driving in India with all the gearing system of Royal Enfield bike & how to handle Royal Enfield 500cc Motorcycle on mountainous road of Indian Himalaya. Later we start our first day ride of Himalayan Motorcycle Tour toward Jispa (3200 meter or 10,500 ft) over Rohtang la pass (3980 meter). Crossing Rohatang pass is a very challenging & exciting with a mix road of paved & unpaved. Adventure rider gets lots of fun on this route toward Jispa. Jispa is a very beautiful village situated on the bank of Bhaga River & the surrounding peaks covered with mist and clouds creating an awesome view. On arrival in Jispa, check into the hotel and relax. Later explore the area by walk. On arrival check in Hotel & relax.
Day 4: JISPA-TSOKAR LAKE (About 210 Kms / 7 Hrs Ride)
Morning after breakfast enjoy leisurely ride on Royal Enfield over the scenic Bara Lacha La Pass at a height of 4890 Meter from MSL that is called Switzerland of India. Later ride continue toward Tsokar & enjoy by riding up ‘Gata Loops’ – 21 hairpin turns that snake up the mountainside. On arrival, check in camp & relax.
Day 5: TSOKAR LAKE – LEH (About 150 Kms / 5 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast start ride to Leh via Mahe Bridge. Enjoy the motorbike ride with the view of panoramic villages alongside of the splendid Indus River to the ancient city of Leh. On arrival in Leh & check-into the hotel & relax. Overnight in Hotel at Leh.
Day 6: EXPLORE INDUS VALLEY
Morning after leisurely breakfast at hotel, proceed for a full day excursion to the Indus valley, visiting Shey Palace – a ruined Castle, Thikse monastery, It is a glorious Buddhist monastery & a marvelous Buddha statue in the seated position is adorning the main prayer hall. In the last visit the Hemis monastery- the richest monastery in Ladakh. Later back to Hotel & relax. Overnight in Leh.
DAY 7: LEH- KHARDUNG-LA PASS – NUBRA VALLEY (125 Kms / 5 Hrs Ride)
Hold your breath, as today will be the day that takes you to the top of the world. We will ride over the world’s highest motorable pass (Khardung-La Pass-5,606m / 18380 ft), with breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges.
On reaching at the Top, enjoy the celebration with photography session & a cup of Tea/Coffee from Highest Cafeteria in the World. Later ride continue (86 Kms/3 Hrs) more to Nubra Valley Known as Ldumra (the valley of flowers).
On arrival, check into the camp & relax. Later enjoy ride on Double Humped Bactrian Camel in Sand Dunes of Nubra Valley. A unique feature of the sand dunes in Nubra Valley is that they are grey in colour, unlike the brown sand dunes seen in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. Evening enjoy Dinner with Bon-Fire. Overnight in Nubra Valley.
DAY 8: NUBRA VALLEY-KHARDUNG-LA PASS-LEH
Morning is free for leisure. Later we start ride to visit Deskit Monastery – a 14th century monastery, which is believed to be the largest and oldest monastery in Nubra valley. Later ride continue back to Leh via Khardungla Pass. From here we ride continue to visit Shanti Stupa & after that ride back to Hotel & relax. In evening take a walk in colorful market of Leh. Overnight stay in Hotel at Leh.
Day 9: LEH-SARCHU (250 Kms / 7 Hrs Ride)
Morning after breakfast, start ride for Sarchu via Taglang La Pass (5330m) – the world’s second highest motorable road & later enjoy ride through more plains. On arrival in Sarchu, check into the camp & relax. Overnight in Camp at Sarchu.
Day 10: SARCHU-MANALI (210 Kms / 7 Hrs Ride)
Today is the last day of Ladakh Motorcycle Tour & once again we ride Motorcycle over the Rohtang la pass to reach Manali. On arrival in Manali, check into the hotel & relax. In the late evening get ready for farewell Gala Dinner party with unlimited beer, dance & music with Bon-fire & share your Experience of Motorcycle Tour of Ladakh with us. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 11: MANALI-DELHI BY OVERNIGHT VOLVO
Morning free for leisure & your room is yours until 12:00 PM. Later take a walk in colorful market of Manali. Later you will be transferred to Manali Volvo Bus Station at 16:30 Hrs to board Air-conditioned volvo bus for a comfortable overnight journey to Delhi. Overnight in Volvo Bus.
Day 12: DELHI
Morning on arrival in Delhi, you will be received by our representative & transfer to Hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure or at personal activities. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 13: DEPART FROM DELHI
Your hotel room is yours until 12:00 PM. Later you will be transferred to the Delhi airport, as per your return flight schedule to board your return flight to home.
In our Fixed departure we take maximum 12 Riders. (USD 150 Off on Per Person in August Month Fixed Departure)
Fixed Departure Date: 2nd Aug’2018 to 14th Aug’2018
Price- US $ 2650 Per Rider
US $ 4750 Price for Rider + Pillion
US $ 2290 Price for Car Passenger
US $ 395 Single Room Supplement
–Bharat Singh….
Mobile:+91-9871483018
Skype: legendarymotorides
This is one of those bucket list things for me. I would love to ride a Royal Enfield to the base camp.—Bandit
[page break]
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SPOTLIGHTS UNKNOWN BUILDERS– WITH “THE WRENCH: SCOUT BOBBER BUILD OFF” COMPETITION
Bike Build Off to Supply Three Non-Professional Customizers with 2018 Scout Bobber & $10,000 Build Budget –
Submissions Open from March 15-30 at IndianMotorcycle.com
There was a time when building custom motorcycles came with zero promise of fame or fortune. Instead, it was purely about the love of chopping, welding and grinding on sheet metal. Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company founded in 1901, today announced The Wrench: Scout Bobber Build Off competition. A custom motorcycle competition unlike any other, The Wrench celebrates those who find their sense of identity, purpose and glory, spending painstaking hours wrenching on garage builds.
Indian Motorcycle, along with Hot Bike magazine and a panel of expert judges, featuring Roland Sands, Satya Kraus, Jason Paul Michaels and Hot Bike Editor-in-Chief Jordan Mastagni are seeking three of the most-talented motorcycle craftsmen in the country with the vision and talent to transform stock Indian Scout Bobbers into one-off works of custom motorcycle art.
The competition is not open to professional builders and contestants cannot make a living customizing motorcycles. Instead, Indian Motorcycle is looking for everyday wrenchers, home builders and amateur customizers who tinker in the garage for the passion, not the pay. Motorcycle industry professionals, such as a mechanic or salesperson, are welcomed to submit.
From March 15-30, amateur builders can submit to be one of three chosen participates. From April 3-13, the top submissions will be showcased online and available for fan voting.
“We wanted to create a program that would celebrate the unsung heroes who spend countless hours wrenching on their bikes. The men and women who don’t do it for recognition or notoriety, but solely for self-expression and the pure art of customizing a motorcycle,” said Reid Wilson, Senior Director – Marketing and Product Planning for Indian Motorcycle. “Last year we saw what professionals could do with the Scout Bobber platform when Kraus Motor, Keino Cycles and RSD unveiled incredible designs at the Brooklyn Invitational. This year, we’re turning the spotlight away from the pros, and shining it on everyday wrenchers.”
Indian Motorcycle will arm each amateur builder with a new 2018 stock Indian Scout Bobber and provide a build budget of $10,000. Participants will design and create their own take on the stripped-down, 100 horsepower cruiser. The three custom Scout Bobbers will be unveiled in July, followed by a fan vote. The winner will be announced at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and will receive a $10,000 grand prize along with a feature spread in Hot Bike magazine.
To enter, wrenchers can visit IndianMotorcycle.com and submit 500 words explaining their build plans and why they’re deserving to be one of three participants. Submissions should include a sketch or digital design rendering of their customized Scout Bobber concept, along with descriptions and imagery of previous builds. Those submitting are asked to include any references who can reinforce their talent and justify their skills. Video submissions are also welcomed.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Follow along or join the conversation by using #TheWrenchIMC.
To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
–Jeff Millard
Office: 763-542-1397
Mobile: 714-333-7150
2100 Highway 55
Medina, MN 55340
thebrandamp.com
H-D started using DOT 4 brake fluid in 2004 on Police bikes only. Then, in 2005, all touring models went to DOT 4. The change to DOT 4 was due to use of ABS on brakes. Harley was using DOT 5 before 2004 – all Buells used DOT 4 brake fluid.
— William McCarter
mccarterw@bellsouth.net
Kennesaw, GA
Greetings from Southern Biker Magazine!–
March is here! Spring is starting to emerge as the grass and trees start to turn a beautiful green inviting us to get out and enjoy the outdoors with our motorcycle. We are very excited about the 2018 bike season and getting ready for Bike Week in beautiful Daytona Beach FL! This will be the 77th Bike Week. Make plans to attend now and make your own special memories!
Welcome Lori Strohmaier as our graphic artist staff grows along with Southern Biker Magazine and Sword & Shield Magazine.
You will also find lots of information / ads / articles about upcoming motorcycle rallies and events that you won’t want to miss. If you have an event you would like to see printed in our magazine, feel free to submit that to www.SouthernBikerMagazine.com and we will add it.
Did you know you can click on any website address inside and visit the website directly to find out more information? We hope you like this feature.
Enjoy this issue and please share it with your friends and family!
THE RIDE– is set for June 3rd. We will be departing from COSMOS INDIAN MOTORCYCLES, they are throwing a huge breakfast for everyone, then we are doing a ride through Philly, then the end point is to be determined (probably a huge venue on the river in Philly).
We sent out “save the date” ads so far & soon FOX TV will have us on live to discuss the morning as well the local radio stations.
–Jack McIntyre
Unreal Co-Editor
Bandit’s Cantina
BREAKING MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY NEWS– Harley Davidson closing a plant due to declining sales. Apparently, the Baby-Boomers all have motorcycles, Generation X is only buying a few, and the next generation isn’t buying any at all. They would build their own but no one teaches trades anymore. The MIC and the EPA add more regulations and the giants don’t want you to tamper with their motorcycles. A recent study was done to find out why. Here are the reasons why Millennials don’t ride motorcycles:
1. Pants won’t pull up far enough for them to straddle the seat.
2. Can’t get their phone to their ear with a helmet on.
3. Can’t use 2 hands to eat while driving.
4. They don’t get a trophy and a recognition plaque just for buying one.
5. Don’t have enough muscle to hold the bike up when stopped.
6. Might have a bug hit them in the face and then they would need emergency care.
7. Motorcycles don’t have air conditioning.
8. They can’t afford one because they spent 12 years in college trying to get educated in gender studies .
9. They are allergic to fresh air.
10. Their pajamas get caught on the exhaust pipes.
11. They might get their hands dirty checking the oil.
12. The handlebars have buttons and levers and cannot be controlled by touch-screen.
13. You have to shift manually and use something called a clutch.
14. It’s too hard to take selfies while riding.
15. They don’t come with training wheels like their bicycles did.
16. Motorcycles don’t have power steering or power brakes.
17. Their nose ring interferes with the face shield.
18. They would have to use leg muscle to back up.
19. When they stop, a light breeze might blow exhaust in their face.
20. They would need to upgrade before the in-transit expired.
21. It could rain on them and expose them to non-soft water.
22. It might scare their therapy dog, and then the dog would need therapy.
–from Sidehack Jerry
BIKERNET BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCED BOOK OF THE WEEK REVIEW–Triumph the Art of the Motorcycle ISBN 978-1-78472-371-2
The story of the Triumph motorcycle is one of great history, fortitude, mistakes, and successes. Triumph the Art of the Motorcycle does an excellent job of taking one from inception through today. Covering all the production and racing models you get a clear view of what Triumph is and has been about. The great engineers and different design companies that have weighed in on making Triumph stand apart from the rest is all covered. For instance, did you know that Lotus (British car manufacturer) provide input on the design of the Daytona T595 engine.
Read the whole report from David Campbell on Bikernet
Custom Motorcycles Hit the Road as J&P Cycles’ 2018 Mobile Tour Rolls into Daytona Beach–
Then Hit the Motorcycling Hot Spots
The motorcycle customization experience will make stops at the Iowa Rally and Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary celebration.
J&P Cycles, the world’s largest retailer of motorcycle parts and accessories, announced its biggest mobile retail tour ever, including Daytona Bike Week, Sturgis and Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary. J&P Cycles anticipates more than 1 million attendees during the nine-stop tour.
The tour is an immersion into motorcycle customization where hundreds of new products will be on display and the top motorcycle design consultants will be on-site to help DIY builders. Attendees can touch, test and buy products from top motorcycle brands like Kuryakyn, Dunlop Tire, Vance & Hines, Mustang Seats, S&S Cycle, and Arlen Ness.
“Used motorcycle sales in the United States are strong, and we help those owners transform their bikes into personal statements and rolling artwork,” said Sean Laughlin, vice-president of sales and marketing for J&P Cycles. “DIY customization can be intimidating, so our experts are sharing their knowledge with riders and bringing them the latest products.”
A key stop on the tour is the Iowa Rally, one of the largest annual motorcycle rallies in the Midwest. This year’s rally will expand to include the National Motorcycle Museum’s vintage bike show and swap meet and the only Iowa appearance of the XDL Street Cowboys stunt team. More information about the rally is at www.jpcycles.com/events.
The 2018 coast-to-coast tour includes:
· Daytona Bike Week, Florida (March 8-18)
· Laughlin River Run, Nevada (April 25-28)
· Myrtle Beach Bike Week, South Carolina (May 11-19)
· Iowa Rally, Iowa (June 23-24)
· Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, South Dakota (Aug. 1-12)
· Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary, Wisconsin (Aug. 29-Sept. 2)
· Delmarva Bike Week, Maryland (Sept. 13-16)
· Biketoberfest, Florida (Oct. 17-21)
· Lone Star Rally Texas (Nov. 1-4)
JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK– Cylinder Head Holder
Different spark plug threads in the Milwaukee Eight heads call for a different head holder, and we have it.
The proven system for anchoring the head in a vice is now available from JIMS for this new engine series with an MSRP of $63.00.
Our new tool (Part No. 5828) is two sided, one side threaded for Twin Cam Heads, and the other threaded for the new Milwaukee Eight. For more information please call us at (805) 482-6913, email us at sales@jimsusa.com, or visit www.jimsusa.com.
If you have any questions, please call me directly at (805) 482-6913.
–Greg Thiessen
Marketing Representative
JIMS
555 Dawson Drive,
Camarillo, CA 93012
Ph: 805-482-6913
www.jimsusa.com
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE NEWS–
For the third consecutive year, Jack Daniel’s and Indian Motorcycle have joined forces with Klock Werks Kustom Cycles to deliver an ultra-premium, limited edition motorcycle.
This bike was designed as a tribute to the members of the Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade and first responders everywhere. Only 177 will be built.
Inspired by the impressive gold and black firetrucks of the Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade, this Scout Bobber retains its blacked-out, stripped-down attitude but boasts several custom features.
Each bike comes with an authentic fireman’s axe that is custom-engraved with the owner’s name, motorcycle number, and unique VIN.
Contact your Indian Motorcycle dealer today about pre-ordering this one-of-a-kind bike.
Starting at $16,999 US MSRP.
THE ARIZONA REPORT– Tomorrow morning at 9:00AM, the Senate Committee on Judiciary will be hearing HB2007 (personal disguises; crime; evasion). This bill, in its essence, is not a bad idea. However, it can be used to further profile motorcyclists.
During the Committee meeting in the House, Rep. Eddie Farnsworth told me that I would just have to trust law enforcement. I can’t blindly trust anyone.
So, unless an amendment is placed in this bill to exclude motorcyclists wearing a helmet, or a face covering while riding, I am opposed to it and need all motorcyclists to get on the RTS system and post your opinion. If you’d like to speak in committee in the morning, let me know. I can help get you scheduled.
You can voice your opinion on HB 2007 by using these simple steps.
First, log into your RTS account and keep your browser open.
Then, click on this link to go directly to HB 2007 in the RTS system:
https://apps.azleg.gov/RequestToSpeak/New/101698 .
Click on the “Against” (thumbs down) button. Unless you plan on attending and testifying at the hearing, always answer “No” to the “Do you wish to speak?” question.
After voting, click on the blue “Submit” button.
Thanks for taking the time to make a difference!
Note: This is time critical. Your RTS “vote” must be entered before the hearing.
SHENANDOAH TO APPEAR ON AOL BUILD, GOOD DAY NEW YORK, OPRY CITY STAGE, FOX BUSINESS VARNEY & CO., FOX NEWS RADIO, CELEBRITY PAGE, LIFEMINUTE, DO YOU REMEMBER AND MORE!–
Shenandoah Also Featured in Parade, Washington Post, Cowboys and Indians Magazine, The Tennessean, Today’s Christian Living, Sports and Entertainment Nashville, The Boot, Billboard, PopCulture.Country, Jesus Calling, Rock and Review, Country Gold with Terri Clark, Racing Classic Country and MORE!
It’s been more than 20 years since Shenandoah released new music to country radio and, for the first time, they’re heading to New York to promote their new album, RELOADED! They’ll appear on AOL Build, Good Day New York, Fox Business’ Varney & Co., Fox News Radio, Celebrity Page, Lifeminute, Do You Remember and make a special appearance at Opry City Stage, which will be their first performance ever in New York City!
Shenandoah’s frontman Marty Raybon and founding member Mike McGuire are RELOADED on their new record released by BMG, which includes nine of their iconic hits recorded LIVE last year on tour, along with three brand new songs produced by Jay DeMarcus.
Monday, March 12
Varney & Co.
11:00 a.m. EST
Click here for listings
Do You Remember
2:00 p.m. EST
Facebook LIVE
Opry City Stage
8:00 p.m. EST
Tuesday, March 13
Good Day New York
7-10:00 a.m. EST
AOL Build
5:00 p.m. EST
Shenandoah will celebrate RELOADED, along with several surprise guest performances, during an album release party March 20 at City Winery in Nashville.
RELOADED TRACK LISTING:
1. Next To You, Next To Me (LIVE)
2. If Bubba Can Dance, I Can Too (LIVE)
3. The Moon Over Georgia (LIVE)
4. Mama Knows (LIVE)
5. Sunday In The South (LIVE)
6. I Want To Be Loved Like That (LIVE)
7. Ghost In The House (LIVE)
8. Two Dozen Roses (LIVE)
9. The Church On Cumberland Road (LIVE)
10. Noise
11. That’s Where I Grew Up
12. Little Bit of Livin
For more information, visit ShenandoahBand.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
BAKER MOTORSPORTS HAS A DIFFERENT SLANT– As easy as 1..2..3
Call us to talk about what you have to sell.
Email us pictures and bike information
Get a CASH offer
INSPIRATION FROM THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN— We were born with two eyes and two ears, so we should listen more. We were born with only one mouth, so we should talk less.
–Venerable Master
Hsing Yun
DON’T MENTION IT— On the other hand, if you see something about Bikernet you don’t like, complain, make a suggestion or call the Redhead. We are all ears around here. And do us a big favor and share the news all over the planet.
I’m working on my New Zealand story. Graeme Lowen and his wife Maree hosted us. That’s him in the Burt Munro Indian in the Hayes Hardware store in Invercargill, New Zealand. Coolest Hardware store on the planet.
Daytona starts tomorrow. Bikernet is a sponsor of Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Show. I need to show up and see the sights.
Lots of shows rock everyday. And I believe Paul Yaffe is involved. Plus, there’s Dave Perewitz Paint show. I’ll try to make it. But for sure I’ll be hanging out in the pits at the Billy Lane vintage flat track races. It’s the Hamster 40th anniversary and the Party starts tomorrow in Daytona.
I’m around several film and TV efforts. It’s so bizarre. To the production folks it’s just another moneymaking effort. To the folks involved it’s everything, exciting, celebrities, and fame. But all these efforts could be damn good for our industry. That’s what makes it exciting for me.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
COLD SEASON BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for March 22, 2018
By Bandit |
Hey,
On the flight back I caught a cold. I thought I had it under control until Tuesday night. It kicked my ass… I couldn’t sleep. Wednesday was supposed to be devoted to writing the Indian Roadmaster review and Daytona Bike Week, but I was down for the count.
Small bursts of energy were used with the dogs and handling business. Fortunately all the books and leathers were shipped before my meltdown.
Life is so interesting now, as you will see in the news. We live on this tiny planet in a universe so large we are nothing but a spec. Yet, countries are still fighting over nothing or bullshit from the past. Evil still persist, no matter how much we know, someone is always trying to pull some bullshit, control us, or take our shit.
I’m just glad I’m a biker, one of the last bastions of freedom in this country, and that we have Bikers Rights groups all around us trying to keep us free.
Let’s hit the news:
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum. And the Smoke Out.
JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK–Milwaukee Eight Left Main Bearing Installer
With a retail price of $86.00 the JIMS left main bearing oil seal installer (Part no. 5810) not only assists with perfect installation but it has the added advantage of allowing the alternator stator to remain in place during the operation.
For more information please call us at (805) 482-6913, email us at sales@jimsusa.com, or visit www.jimsusa.com.
TIME MAGAZINE TROUBLES–Meredith to Lay Off 1,200 Employees as Part of Time Inc. Integration–Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and Money are all up for sale as part of a plan to reduce costs by up to $500 million.
Meredith Corp. announced Wednesday that it plans to lay off 1,200 employees and sell Time and Sports Illustrated, among other assets, as part of an aggressive series of cost-cutting measures following its $2.8 billion acquisition of Time Inc. in January.
About 200 employees were let go this week, the company said, with another 1,000 to be laid off over the next 10 months. Those cuts are on top of the previously announced elimination of 600 positions at Time Inc.’s former subscription fulfillment operation, Time Customer Service.
The downsizing is aimed at lowering Meredith’s annual costs by between $400 and $500 million, the company said. Other actions will include bringing “advertising and circulation performance of the Time Inc. properties to industry norms,” and to raise profit margins on Time Inc.’s digital business to “Meredith’s levels.”
Additionally, Meredith CEO Tom Harty said, the company plans to sell Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and Money, confirming earlier reports.
“These are attractive properties with strong consumer reach,” Harty said in a statement. “However, they have different target audiences and advertising bases, and we believe each brand is better suited for success with a new owner. We are pleased with the inbound interest we have received.”
Earlier Wednesday, Folio: reported that Bloomberg was not one of the suitors interested in purchasing Fortune, contrary to rumors.
This is a developing story.
–By Greg Dool
Folio
If all the major titles with the very best minds are in trouble, I don’t feel too bad about the state of Bikernet after 22 years.–Bandit
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– Paddy & Mick find three grenades, so they decide to take them to a police station.
Mick: “What if one explodes before we get there?”
Paddy: “We’ll lie and say we only found two.”
–from Joe Smith
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!– Crazy-Fast Cracker in Los Angeles
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=234
I have been into custom bikes my whole life, and I believe when you see something special it pulls you in like a dream. Well this bike did that to me.
I haven’t seen a bike like this in along time… WOW!!!!! This bike is in my top five favorite bikes in my whole life an I’m 38 year’s old…. Great bike Tom…..
— Dyna matt
57panheadmatt@gmail.com
Pawcatuck, CT
You just made Tom’s Day. –Bandit
HARLEY REVIEWS FROM DAYTONA BIKE WEEK–I rode three different bikes from H–D’s new Softail line in Daytona. I’ve been curious about them since the big announcement. I also tried the Goldwing Tour with DCT 7-speed trans and a Hyabusa (for the fun of it). I did my 202 mph run at the Mojave Magnum on a turbo Hyabusa in 2016.
I’ve got to say that the offerings from Harley left me wanting more. I’ve heard a lot about the power of the new 107 Milwaukee 8 engine but I cannot say they did it for me. Full confession, my daily rides are now Indians. I have a Chief Classic and a Scout, I also have a ’74 Ironhead Sportster and a ’05 Road King. At Aeromach we manufacture aftermarket parts for Indians as well as Harley-Davidsons and many metric bikes.
The bikes I rode were:
1. Sport Glide – It took a little getting used to the display on the tank, single brake disc on the front for a nearly 700 lb bike is a knock I’ve read and I agree. Nice features with “quick” release bags and mini batwing fairing.
2. Lowrider – This is the one that on paper I wanted to like but liked the least. The rear brake pedal was a little like my Sporty but a whole lot less effective. I had to push extremely hard with my heel to get any response. The guy at the check in told me that was because the bike had a lot of test rides on it! The bike only had 800 miles on the clock. Wrong answer buddy.
3. Softail Slim – This one I liked the best. Good ergonomics for my riding style. Nice handling, nice traditional looks (is that OK with you Mr ManBun millennial?), good looking “hollywood handlebars” and the least space age looking headlight. Strangely the “N” light doesn’t light up on the gauge face for neutral but instead, it’s a green “N” on the dash. Side mount Sportster style plate mount, not my style.
The common thread among the three bikes is they felt very weak to me when getting on the throttle. The exhaust is so choked up they sound like Subarus to me. I know that’s the heavy thumb of the government on manufacturers. Good news for the plethora of exhaust aftermarket guys.
Another interesting fact, three of the H-D employees staffing the display only got their motorcycle endorsement in the past 6 months! Harley made great hay with training an entire town how to ride and their employees are not even all licensed.
For what it’s worth that is my $.02 on my Daytona test ride experiences. I’m not a professional test rider and had just a few minutes on each model. I will stick to kicking my old ’74 and cruising on my Road King for now thanks H-D.
As for the Hyabusa, yes please!
–Paul Aiken
Janitor
Aeromach manufacturing
NEWS FROM LAS VEGAS–
All you guys need to see what Tom Ingram has been doing
at Viva Las Vegas for 20 years for some east coast inspiration.
He had about 1000 traditional period correct hot rods and bikes last year
and about 30,000 rodder/greasers/pinups from around the world.
The casino hotel sells out in 40 minutes. That’s 19 floors. We have been a sponsor for many years.
–Geno Dipol
The BAIL REFORM Movement is a Thing–
In case you haven’t heard, the bail reform movement is definitely picking up steam.
A federal lawsuit in Florida alleges that the state’s bail system is unconstitutional and seeks to force judges there to consider the defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail in misdemeanor cases. A bail reform task force in Ohio has developed a set of recommendations to prevent defendants from being kept in jail before trial simply because they cannot afford to post a bond.
Mr. Liberal Moneybags Tom Steyer is funding efforts to change the bail system in California.
Delaware has joined other jurisdictions in reducing reliance on cash bail, including Arizona, New Mexico, Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. In all, more than 40 states are considering changes to their bail and pretrial detention procedures. Among the alternatives being considered are ankle monitors and evidence-based risk assessment tools to gauge flight risk.
A class action suit in Houston, Texas alleges that Harris County’s system of setting bail for indigent misdemeanor defendants violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
In a preliminary ruling in February, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that the complainant class would likely succeed on the merits of its due process and equal protection claims. The case has been returned to the trial court for further proceedings. [Southern District of Texas #: 4:16-cv-01414]
The 14th Amendment states: “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Bail in Texas involves posting a 10 percent bond, usually through a bail bond agency, or being released on personal recognizance but becoming liable for the full amount if the defendant fails to appear for the court date. Under the Texas Criminal Code, a hearing officer or judge is supposed to review the defendant’s financial circumstances, flight risk, and other factors in setting bail. But personal recognizance is denied and upfront payments are required 90 percent of the time in Harris County, which strikes me, based on my experience as a criminal defense attorney in D.C., as inordinately high for misdemeanor cases.
In Harris County, bail amounts are supposed to be reviewed by a different judge within 24 hours, but defendants routinely wait days, then come under tremendous pressure to accept time-served plea deals before they are even appointed a lawyer.
In D.C., by contrast, indigent defendants are appointed lawyers up front before the first hearing. Harris County deems failure to own a car as a strike against personal recognizance, so there is a circular loop where indigence itself increases the likelihood that an indigent defendant will have to post cash bond. That’s weird.
The trial court reviewed the data and found that the imposition of a financial bond does not make defendants any more likely to appear than personal recognizance does. The trial court also found that defendants who were detained because they couldn’t post a financial bond had worse outcomes than those who could.
They pled guilty more often, got jail sentences more often, the jail sentences were longer, and these defendants were more likely to lose their job. The whole exercise appears to be counter-productive because these defendants were also more likely to commit other crimes in the future.
Harris County’s bail system treats similar flight risks differently based merely on financial circumstances. Under case law, imprisonment solely because of indigent status is considered invidious discrimination that offends both due process and equal protection. In this case, the 5th Circuit gave the bail reform movement a lot of what it wanted. Defendants must be given a meaningful opportunity to show what they can or cannot pay, the court ruled.
For you equal protection geeks out there, the 5th Circuit applied a heightened but intermediate level of scrutiny because inability to pay was resulting in deprivation of a basic liberty interest – freedom from incarceration.
Maybe I’m just a mushy-headed defense attorney, but Harris County’s bail system strikes me as unjust. However, the problem may not be the imposition of cash bonds per se, but the customary infrequency with which personal recognizance is granted in Harris County and other places around the country. I was talking about this with someone a few months ago. They said cash bond was a big problem in Philadelphia.
I said it wasn’t a big problem in D.C. when I was doing criminal cases there. The difference may be that personal recognizance is pretty routine in D.C. for misdemeanor cases. Most misdemeanor defendants are released on personal recognizance and almost all show up for their court dates.
Maybe the answer is as simple as setting the presumption in favor of personal recognizance in misdemeanor cases, while retaining cash bond for demonstrable flight risks. This would reconcile the competing interests at stake and afford adequate due process as well as equal protection of the law to indigent defendants. But regardless of how it’s done, we should all be able to agree that poor people should not be kept in jail or pressured to plead guilty simply because they don’t have any money.
New BANDIT’S CANTINA Reader Comment!–DAYTONA ACTION SUNDAY POST for March 19, 2018
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=13599
It’s odd about brakes on the Harley test rides. Myself and friends rode several up to a stage 3. Hot roomy wife and daughter both trIed a lot of the different Harleys, no problems.
My wife rides a 113 Ultima Softball. She is not a beginner. One of my friends left his phone on a bagger. The Harley people went out of their way to track him down. It was a very good day.
— AJ
Deland, FL
DAYTONA NEWS–Making Riverfront Park vendor-free is a good first step.
While the community awaits the recommendations from the Beachside Redevelopment Committee on how to invigorate State Road A1A, Main Street and other areas of Volusia County’s main tourism corridor, change already is happening on the other side of the Halifax River.
The 77th Bike Week, which concludes today, will be the last in which itinerant vendors can set up on Daytona Beach’s Riverfront Park to promote their wares. The City Commission in January voted to terminate a contract with the company that hosts the vendors at the park during Bike Week and Biketoberfest. City Manager Jim Chisholm informed the company that the city is “modifying elements of motorcycling events.”
That’s an ominously vague notification. It will be interesting to see just how far those “modifications” will go. But making Riverfront Park vendor-free is a good first step.
Naturally, the city’s move elicited howls of despair about it marking the end of Bike Week, that Daytona Beach is signaling it doesn’t want motorcycles around here anymore, that’s it’s throwing away millions of dollars, etc. Anything that upsets the status quo, especially something as entrenched as bike events, is going to be perceived by some as an apocalyptic rip in the space time continuum.
However, just because the riverfront has hosted motorcycle vendors for years doesn’t mean that’s always been or will be the best use of that prime property, or that it’s most beneficial for the surrounding commercial district. It may be lucrative for one segment of the business community for roughly two weeks out of the year. But what if it hampers the growth of several others?
The city in 2010 created a Riverfront Master Plan aimed at enhancing the 14-block park that stretches from Main Street to Orange Avenue. It envisions the northern end of the park, where the vendors traditionally have set up, as a “nature” area. In addition, the riverfront received an enormous catalyst when insurance giant Brown & Brown Inc. last year announced plans to build a 10-story headquarters on Beach Street across from Riverfront Park. That’s expected to bring hundreds of new jobs, creating a lot of foot traffic for Beach Street businesses, as well as opportunities for residential development.
That vision may not reach its potential if that area has motorcycles and vendors taking over for two or three weeks every year. It’s the same challenge Main Street faces. It’s the historic home of Bike Week and Biketoberfest, ground zero to many biker events. When the roar of the cycles is in town, Main Street is hopping with crowded bars and wall-to-wall vendors.
The other 340 or so days of the year, though, Main Street struggles to remain relevant. When the itinerant vendors depart, they leave behind vacant lots and storefronts that stand as stark reminders of what that corridor could be year-round.
The community is split on whether bike festivals are an obstacle to redeveloping Main Street. Some business owners and residents believe the noise and crowds discourage year-round investment. Others believe the bikes are a vital part of that area’s culture, and several bars and retailers there depend heavily on the festival traffic to survive.
The riverfront, though, is not Main Street. Over the last decade, Beach Street has improved significantly from a facelift and the addition of several restaurants and shops. But it needs more fuel to thrive. If itinerant vendors and motorcycles are an obstacle to achieving that, then they should be moved to a more suitable location. That’s not a thumbs down to bikers, but a thumbs up to Beach Street.
–Daytona Beach New Journal
I don’t know how you guys will respond, but we’ve seen this scenario over and over. Bikers bring business and money, so a community starts to upgrade and suddenly they don’t want bikers around. –Bandit
[page break]
UNCLE MONKEY ON OPEN ROAD THERAPY– The open road stretching out to the distant horizon. It draws us out of our 9-5 lives back to where our soul belongs. We use the highway as therapy to cleanse our souls, to work out the problems that need to be dealt with. We scream at the top of our lungs cursing the woman who did us wrong; lament the friendships that went sideways.
Hours on the road pondering where the country is going and belief that in the end we’re on the right side of good. The injection of fresh oxygen straight into our system lets us think more clearly and sometimes we don’t like the answer we hear blowing in the wind. We’ve wronged people for our own greed that never came to fruition and now must figure a way out.
Sometimes the road tells us where we are suppose to be. It tells us when it is time to put a ring on a finger, when it is time to start a family. We listen to the rumble of tar snakes under foot painting a map of the years to come, optimistic that we are making the right choices at the right time.
Maybe it is pulling up stakes and getting out of town, maybe it is hammering those stakes in deeper to claim your own portion of the pie. As the miles roll by we realize the importance of those by our side.
We use the road to clear our minds, to let them wander in their own thought so those impossible problems can find their own answers in the clutter. We find the solution as to why something doesn’t fit, why it is not going the way that it is suppose to.
We find inspiration in the passing trees, in the swaying grass. An open palette to paint new dreams and hopes in a world that once was grey.
It is all these reasons why we throw our leg over our machine and point towards the open road. To find ourselves, to find our souls.
-bad Uncle Monkey
New S&S Bikernet Reader Comment!–Twin Cam Gear Drive Set Installed
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=1800
Really good job, but did u show that only .030 thousandths is allowed on the pinion shaft run out? I installed as gear drive & cams.510 & p/rods several years ago. Dial indicator needed to check the run/out. I added a new cpu(commander) & dyno tuned it. I also put a larger (capacity) oil pump! Along w/ stealth coils, eliminating the stock coil & plug wires.
Allegedly achieving a better spark, fuel burn. As adj. pushrods & yes red line oil. Hadn’t worked on a big bike in 20 years. Also rear wheel H.P. 80. Oh, bike is a 2006 FXSTBI nightrain. I retired from the Railroad. Got lots of bikes in Mobile. Good Luck & thanks again bro.
One more thing? The twin cam tensioner chains & shoes are the “Achilles Heel” for Harley chain drives per Peterson. Out
— David Hopkins
dearl950@att.net
Mobile, AL
MRF SEEKS SPONSORS FOR NEXT MEETING OF THE MINDS CONVENTION–
Motorcycling and freedom are under assault. The Road to Zero is a Department of Transportation public relations effort to bring highway fatalities to zero in the next 20 years. Great goal!! However, in the DOT’s infinite wisdom, motorcycles have not been included in the plan. And, there are over 8.4 million registered motorcycles in the U.S.!
Add that omission to the fact that the MRF must repeatedly insist that the manufactures of driverless vehicles include motorcycle recognition algorithms as standard equipment as part of these vehicle’s guidance system– before they are made available to the public!
And if that isn’t enough, law enforcement agencies across the country are bending the laws and using profiling to surreptitiously attack motorcycle clubs, club events, and people associated with motorcycle clubs.
The threats against motorcycling and the freedoms that motorcyclists enjoy are under attack.
The bureaucrats and politicians attacking motorcycling are not as obvious about it as they were 30 years ago. There are no blatant attempts by legislators to write laws that would outlaw sport bikes, or brand motorcycle clubs as criminal gangs, or blacklist certain motorcycles from insurance coverage. No, this new bunch is a lot more sophisticated than the bunch we had to deal in the ’70s and ‘80s. They’re putting motorcyclists on ignore and forgetting us.
Ten years ago, one motorcyclist was responsible for organizing the first Bikers inside the Beltway. That direct lobbying effort was started so that motorcyclists could remind members of Congress in their offices that we will no longer be ignored and forgotten.
On May 15, the legacy of Boz Kerr will continue when your MRF leads Bikers inside the Beltway to the Capitol steps and over 100 motorcyclists meet with their members of Congress. We would like you to join us on that ride as we take our message directly to our friends and our adversaries.
With events like Bikers inside the Beltway, The MRF is making the voice of motorcyclists heard so that the Road to Zero will not be built on the frames of outlawed motorcycles or the spirits of freedom loving motorcyclists.
Again, the MRF would very much like for you to join us in bringing our message to Congress. I understand if you may not be able to fit this ride into your schedule. However, your support of Bikers inside the Beltway is just as important.
The ancillary costs for printing, permits, and related expenses are over $4,000. Since January, with the contributions from freedom loving motorcyclists, we have raised nearly $2,000 toward the goal of supporting Bikers inside the Beltway without tapping into the MRF treasury.
I believe that you value your motorcycle and your freedom as much as I value mine. Your contribution of $10, $20, $50, or $100 will help your MRF bring the voice of motorcyclists to members of Congress. With the leave-behind handouts that your contribution helps purchase, members of Congress and their staff will be reminded that the MRF is not going to be ignored, forgotten, or go away!
I greatly appreciate your support and the support you generously give to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. The efforts to promote and protect the rights of motorcyclists could not be done without members such as yourself.
Yours in Freedom,
–Fred Harrell
MRF Director, Conferences & Events
P.S. Rooms at the Best Western and Governor’s House Inn are still available. However, this year’s Bikers inside the Beltway may be better attended than last year’s record setting attendance. The event is free, but you must make reservations now.
P.P.S. Still too busy to make the trip? Go to www.mrf.com and support our efforts to raise $4,000 with your $10, $20, $50, or $100 contribution to offset the printing and administrative costs of sponsoring Bikers inside the Beltway. Thank you and I hope to see you in Washington!
The Road to Zero seems like a neat notion until you think about it. It’s against the code of the West. So what is the bottom line freedom or safety. Think about it.—Bandit
VETERANS NEWS–The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System will observe National Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day throughout the week of March 26 – 30, 2018 as part of the Nation’s continued commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day is formally recognized on March 29 of each year.
Throughout the week, Vietnam Veterans will have the opportunity to receive a special commemorative lapel pin at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, the Lee County Healthcare Center, and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bradenton, Naples, Palm Harbor, Port Charlotte, Saint Petersburg, Sarasota and Sebring. Supplies are limited.
Living U.S. Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location are eligible to receive one pin. Proof of service is not required. Former service members can simply identify as a Vietnam Veteran to receive a pin.
Specific information about the date, time, and location of pin distributions is provided below.
March 26 – 30, 2018 (All Week) | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pins will be available for pickup at the primary check-in desks at all CBOCs and at the main volunteer/welcome desk located on the first floor of the Lee County Healthcare Center.
Address information is available at www.baypines.va.gov.
Monday, March 26, 2018 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. VA and MyVA Community Engagement Board leaders will distribute pins at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center’s Lakeside Clinic (building 102), Veterans Canteen (building 1), primary entrances of the hospital building (building 100), and mental health center (building 111). Click here to view driving directions and a campus map.
Thursday, March 26, 2018 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pins will be distributed at the Bay Pines Fisher House open house event. The house is located on the campus of the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.
The week of Vietnam Veteran recognition activities is a continuation of several events conducted by the Bay Pines VAHCS as an official an official commemorative partner of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration authorized by Public Law 110-181 and by Presidential Proclamation.
Since becoming an official partner in 2016, the healthcare system has distributed more than 9,000 commemorative lapel pins to Veterans of the Vietnam War.
For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 727-398-6661, extension 17935, or email vhabaypublicaffairs@va.gov.
NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT—I’m reading the new easy-to-read book by the boss of the Climate Depot, Marc Morano, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change.
I’ll throw some tidbits at you each week: “Pacific islands are growing not shrinking.”
A 2013 study in the journal Global and Planetary Change found that global sea level rise decelerated 44 percent since 2004 to a rate of only 7inches per century. It will take 3,500 years to make Al Gore’s predictions.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has estimated that the polar bear population was as low as 5,000 to 10,000 bears in the 1950s and 1960s. A 2002 U.S. Geological Survey of wildlife in the Artic Refuge coastal Plain noted that the polar bear populations “may now be at historic highs.” And in 2016, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimated the current polar bear population at between 22,000 and 31,000, which according to Crockford is “the highest in 50 years.”
So my question is why? Did Al make all this shit up to make money, control the earth or because he wasn’t elected President? I don’t get it?–Bandit
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN FOR LUNCH–Mick goes to the vet with his goldfish. “I think it’s got epilepsy”, he tells the vet.
Vet takes a look and says, “It seems calm enough to me”.
Mick says, “I haven’t taken it out of the bowl yet”.
***
Paddy was driving home, drunk as a skunk, suddenly he has to swerve to avoid a tree, then another, then another.
A cop car pulls him over as he veers about all over the road. Paddy tells the cop about all the trees in the road.
Cop says “For God’s sake Paddy, that’s your air freshener swinging about!”
–from Joe Smith
USA PAVILION – Early bird ends March 31
Be a unique highlight at INTERMOT and save on your USA Pavilion booth! Contact us now before the early bird deadline ends:
Koelnmesse – we energize your business since 1924
EXHIBIT CHOICES: USA Pavilion, custom services or your own booth construction. Let us guide you through the many options & cost scenarios.
The best access to the global motorcycle industry & key markets
On target to repeat the success of INTERMOT 2016: 40 premieres by motorcycle manufacturers; 1,133 exhibitors from 32 countries (+17%); 220,000 attendees from 95 countries; including an amazing 26% trade visitors. That’s 59,000 buyers! The exhibition area will again span over 750,000 sq.ft. of space.
NEW: E-MOTION will be in Hall 10.2 (upper level), right above CUSTOMIZED on level 1.
–Rita Dommermuth
Sales & Project Manager
Koelnmesse Inc. – Chicago
773-326-9929
r.dommermuth@koelnmessenafta.com
LAST DAY TO BUY PRESALE HANDBUILT SHOW TICKETS–
As a thank you for subscribing to the email list and being part of the Revival and Handbuilt family we want to give you a heads up that Handbuilt ticket prices will go up tomorrow, Thursday day, March 22nd!
Snag tickets at a discounted price while you can. We look forward to seeing you at the 5th Handbuilt Motorcycle Show.
Handbuilt Show Supporter Badge – Pre-Order
$150.00
Thursday Pre-party perks:
-(from 7pm-10pm) Access to the “Supporter areas” at the pre-party down at the South Congress Hotel with free drinks, fancy gourmet hors d’oeuvres (while they last) and a preview of some of the Moto wonders you’ll get to spend more quality time with down at the main show later.
Friday April 20th -Sunday April 22nd Main Show perks:
-3 day skip-the-line access to the main event taking place at Fair Market at 1100 East 5th st. (VIP entrance)
-3 day skip-the-line access to as many Wall-of-Death shows you can squeeze into 3 days
-25% discount on all merch at the Revival merch booth
-3 day access to “Supporter Bars” that offer shorter lines and prime spots for socializing
-3 free drink tokens
– Free parking (subject to availability)
SMOKE OUT ACTION–OK Chopper Jockeys, Final Days For Maximum Discounts–You can save enough on your ticket price for a year’s supply of Beard Pomade
The Smokeout Rally enters its 19th installment this year.
SO19 is the destination for custom choppers and builders, the event has mutated over the years to become not just a bike show, but an opportunity for many to collectively let their hair down.
The Smokeout is essentially North Carolina’s largest private party where the beer is cold, the bikes are hot and the action rarely stops.
Go ahead and order your ticket today, you know you want to, Plus we’ll discount it $10 bucks a ticket. We won’t be discounting this price much longer, so you need to hurry – click here.
Rebel Son Concert on Friday Night
Of course we will have the Smoke Out stacked with bands throughout the weekend. Rebel Son is our Friday night headliner, don’t miss that!
Smoke Out 19 is two days to look at fine chops, listen to good music, relax, catch up with old friends or make new friends, eat good food, take a couple nice puts in the countryside, drink some beer, shop the vendors wares… and on and on…
We need your help to promote SO19. Here is a link to the SO19 poster, would you post it to your social media pages? We would appreciate it. Here is the link to the poster.
– Edge
ANOTHER ISSUE THE MRF FACES EVERYDAY–
With the increasing popularity of three-wheeled vehicles (HERE from LA Times), Mississippi has joined the growing list of states to now classify vehicles such as the Polaris Slingshot as an “Autocycle.” Despite being federally classified as a motorcycle, 43 U.S. states do not require a motorcycle endorsement for drivers. Drivers do follow the state’s motorcycle helmet laws.
Slingshot received support from Mississippi State Senator Walter Michel, who understands the value reclassifying driving requirements to not only allow more people to enjoy the fun inside a vehicle like Slingshot, but also help small businesses who sell three-wheeled “Autocycles” to expand and create more jobs. (quote within release)
Attached is the official release announcing Mississippi’s reclassification for three-wheeled vehicles.
Please let me know if you’re able to help spread the word.
–Nikole
Polaris Industries
[page break]
JUST IN FROM LOWBROW–
Hey y’all, if you want your chance at this 1946 Knuckle chopper built by Matt Jackson, you best get on it.
You do not have to be present to win! Online purchases end at midnight tomorrow, Thursday, March 22nd. This is the last chance, aside from at the show at the River Road Ice House in New Braunfels, Texas (Saturday, March 31st).
WALMART ALERT–After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women – loves to browse & leaves me with endless time to fulfill. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Wal-Mart:
Dear Mrs. Knox:
Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion, in our store.
We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store.
Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Knox, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras:
* 1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people’s carts when they weren’t looking.
* 2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
* 3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women’s restroom.
* 4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, ‘Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away’. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time; and costing the company money. We don’t have a Code 3.
* 5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.
* 6. August 14: Moved a, ‘CAUTION – WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.
* 7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he’d invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
* 8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, ‘Why can’t you people just leave me alone? EMTs were called.
* 9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
* 10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
–from Rogue
FRIDAY MARCH 23 – SUNDAY 25
Ace Cafe at 29th Spring Daytona Turkey Run
Daytona International Speedway
Stop by and see us this weekend at the 29th Annual Spring Daytona Turkey Run, Friday – Sunday.
Ace will be located on the northeast side of the car corral, S2A — we’ll have a raffle + $10 gift certificates available at our booth (first-come, first-serve)!
Three days of classic cars & family friendly fun.
More information visit: http://www.turkeyrun.com/
BIKERNET TRIKES AND THE BUFFALO CHIP WORKING ON A STURGIS THREE-WHEELED ONLY SHOW–
Here is the other trike company we talked about. They look cool as hell.
We are discussing a Trike and Sidecar only show to focus on the growing trike sector and the massive advancements in Trike technology plus the custom jobs.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or setting up at the Buffalo Chip drop me a line at: Bandit@Bikernet.com
QUOTE OF THE DAY–
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
–Sidehack Jerry
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN–One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweatshirt.
Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, ‘What setting do I use on the washing machine?”
“It depends,” I replied. “What does it say on your shirt?”
He yelled back, “OHIO STATE !”
And they say blondes are dumb….
–from Sidehack Jerry
Introducing new TEXA Diagnostic Package– designed specifically for North American brands of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, snowmobiles and PWC!
The package includes TEXA universal scan tool! NAVIGATOR TXB Evolution wireless hardware interface that works with a PC or a Windows tablet (neither PC nor tablet included) and the powerful IDC5 BIKE BASIC software (included). You’ll be able to run full diagnostics and perform adjustments on North American motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, side-by-sides, snowmobiles and even PWC, including:
ARCTIC CAT
BRP / CAN-AM / LYNX / ROTAX / SEA-DOO / SKI-DOO
HARLEY-DAVIDSON / BUELL
POLARIS / INDIAN / VICTORY
TRIUMPH
QUADIX
NAVIGATOR TXB EVOLUTION WITH IDC5 BIKE BASIC SOFTWARE FOR NORTH AMERICAN BRANDS
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OEM CONNECTOR CABLES
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TEXA Powersports Diagnostics Software – Global Search Example
Have questions about the scan tool or would like to see a product demo? Just email us at customerservice@svd.tools. We’ll be happy to help!
BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT– California: Another Bill Gutted, This Time Prohibiting Firearm Raffles by Charitable Organizations
On Tuesday, March 20, Assembly Bill 3199, sponsored by Assembly Member Chris Holden (D-41) was gutted and amended from legislation pertaining to California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) to legislation that prohibits firearms as raffle prizes by charitable organizations.
This legislation will directly impact many charitable organizations that work hard for the benefit of California communities and beyond. The charitable organizations that will be impacted include Friends of the NRA, CRPA, various sportsman, community and veterans groups, all who may offer a firearm as a prize as part of their fundraising efforts.
In 2017 alone, Friends of the NRA Programs in California gave more than a million dollars in grant money to benefit youth firearm safety and education, range improvements, and Second Amendment education programs.
Firearms that are used as raffle prizes must be transferred through a licensed firearms dealer where the prospective recipient is subject to all California and Federal laws, including a background check, proof of a firearms safety certificate or alternative, a safe handling demonstration and a 10 day waiting period.
AB 3199 has been referred to Assembly Governmental Organization Committee where it awaits a hearing date. The legislature will be off next week for Spring Recess and not returning until April 2.
Continue to check your inbox and the California Stand and Fight web page for updates on issues impacting your Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in California.
I read a story in the Week Magazine about the history of the NRA. It’s worth checking out, or google the NRA History.–Bandit
Bloomberg Is Not Interested in Acquiring Fortune, Per Source–
Fortune is one of four former Time Inc. titles reportedly on the block at Meredith Corp.
Contrary to speculation that it had emerged as a suitor to acquire Fortune from Meredith Corp., a source with knowledge of the situation tells Folio: that Bloomberg is not interested in making an offer for the 88 year-old business magazine, and no such deal is imminent.
Fortune is one of four magazines being shopped around by Meredith following the completion of its $2.8 billion takeover of Time Inc. at the end of January (Time, Sports Illustrated, and Money are the other three).
Reps for both Bloomberg and Meredith declined to comment on this story.
Meredith—the Des Moines, Iowa-based publisher of titles like Better Homes & Gardens and Martha Stewart Living—announced that it had completed a sale of Time Inc.’s former UK division on Monday, and is on Wednesday announced plans to lay off 1,200 employees over the next 10 months in an effort to reduce annual costs by $400 to $500 million.
Bloomberg Businessweek, which Bloomberg acquired from McGraw-Hill in 2009, is a competitor to Fortune, along with Forbes and Mansueto Ventures’ Fast Company.
–By Greg Dool
Folio
BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT RETURNS TO THE HEADQUARTERS–
Leaving Bangkok today the 21st. Almost 24 hours door to door.
A real ice cream sandwich. Bread with ice cream.
Didn’t try one. Not sure if color has flavor.
Motorbike rental shop
My new business venture. Not!!
This building has long story of many violations bought with tea money. Too tall. Encroachment on public land. Elevators wrong. Stairs wrong. Construction stopped when military took over three years ago
–Art Hall
Bikernet International Correspondent
REBEL ON THE HIGHWAY GOES BLUE–On Blu-ray
The movie stars Good Time Charlie over at Bikers Inner Circle Radio as well as members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club and streams of Independents. This isn’t one of those BS movies that typecast bikers as Drug Running, Gun Dealing murdering POS like the BS Sons of Anarchy. This is actually a movie you can sit and chill with your son and watch.
Bikers are always getting a bad rap, especially those with 1%er motorcycle clubs. This is a whole different truthful look at the biker lifestyle. So I encourage everyone to head over to Rebel on the Highways websiteand help out some of our own. There is a good article below talking about how the movie was shot.
Regular price $24.99
Title BLU-RAY ONLY
398 IN STOCK
CLASSIC MOVIE DEAL OF THE WEEK–Due to the recent reductions in tax rates for corporations and individuals, and other benevolent events, we are reducing the price of our 4,400 Title Classic Film Library by 45%!
Do you need a large number of Classic Movies and TV Series to service your clients? We can offer a large Library of 4,400 Titles with wonderful classic movies.
This week we’re featuring a number of great classic RACE CARS and MOTORCYCLE movies with recognizable stars.
INCREDIBLE—Hell, I don’t know where to start. I’m hanging for a call from Paughco or some progress photos of our Salt Torpedo frame. Then I will arrange a trip with Rick Krost from U.S. Choppers to pick up the rig and get to work.
I need to make a quick weekend blast to Deadwood to look at some properties. We may retire to the Badlands. I like the thought of that, but the dice need to roll my way to make it happen.
I’m working on a couple of techs and the Bikernet Bagger team has an article ready for posting. Hang on for that tomorrow.
In the meantime feel better so we can ride free forever.
—Bandit
PRE-EASTER BIKENET WEEKLY NEWS for March 29, 2018
By Bandit |
Hey,
If you get a chance, read my Daytona Report. It basically says our industry is alive and well. It actually goes beyond that. Our industry is bigger and better than ever, it’s just expanding like crazy and we need to adjust.
Daytona was an eye-opener for me and the numbers were reportedly slightly down, but they vary from one major anniversary to another. Speaking of events, there are more motorcycle events than ever before. Think about it for a second. The wild west lasted about 20 years, then trains, cars and more people came and the West was toast, so what happened? The West became an icon. It became the source of entertainment and it still is.
As I’ve said before, motorcycling represents freedom and it won’t go away.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum. The Smoke Out is now on board and Law Tigers.
SAMSON EXHAUST IS BACK IN THE SADDLE–Samson Exhaust is making a big-time comeback. New management, new location and all new customer service.
Traditional Samson quality is now back on track with the best chrome in the USA.
Samson Longtails are the icing on the cake for any Chollo style motorcycle. Customers can expect on-time shipping, lower retail prices, and warranty enforced “no questions asked return policy.”
Dealer incentives are available for qualified dealerships. For all further information please contact Samson direct:
Samson Exhaust
200 Progress Ave P.O. Box 697
Avilla, Indiana
888-572-6766
www.samsonuse.com
–Buck Lovell
THE HIMALAYAN IS HERE FROM ROYAL ENFIELD–The Himalayan motorcycle is officially stateside. Royal Enfield North America launched the highly anticipated motorcycle through a week’s worth of events at TexPlex Park in Midlothian, Texas. Enthusiasts, journalists, dealers and more gathered to learn about the journey of bringing the Himalayan to North America and to test its capabilities in both on-road and off-road environments.
An incredible adventure motorcycle at $4,499
The rugged, go-anywhere, rider-friendly Himalayan has launched in the U.S. and will soon be rolling out at dealerships across North America.
WORLD OF SOUL MOTORCYCLE COMMUNITY– World of Soul Motorcycle Community Bike Blessing: A Call to Conscience
Have a cup of coffee on us.
SAVE THE DATE | Saturday May 12, 2018
BIKE BLESSING – Chicago Far Southside Location TBA Presented by World of Soul Premium Coffee.
Visit A Call to Conscience at:
https://worldofsoulmc.com/
LE PERA SEAT LINE-UP OF THE WEEK—The Le Pera Solo Seat Collection.
No one builds classic solo seats like Le Pera. Check out their solos in each category. It doesn’t matter what your ride, they have a solo for Dyna, touring, Sporties, or FXRs.
QUOTE FROM THE SIDEHACK–Life…………………Just throw a leg over and ride it for all that it’s worth.
………….a free people are not equal, and an equal people are not free…………………..
–Sidehack Jerry
WHAT ABOUT ULTIMA PRODUCTS?–
You know anything about or have an opinion about Ultima products? Years ago I installed one of their 4-INCH belt drive kits on a buddy’s custom Softail and it seemed to be a quality product.
The gears are straight cut, like the Jims. The Bakers are helical cut. The price is great compared to others that are all over $1000, but I don’t want a piece of shit either. The Ebay auction shows they’ve sold 18 of them. I looked at their feedback and no one has said they’re junk.
LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK– California’s pre-owned Harley Mega-Store with over 200 Pre-Owned Harley-Davidsons in stock!!! We carry Street Glides, Road Glides, Road Kings, Ultras, Sportsters, Softails, Dynas, and much more!!!
Choose from over 200 bikes in our inventory. To view our current inventory, please visit www.LifestyleCycles.com or call us at (714)-490-0155. EZ FINANCING and EXTENDED WARRANTIES available!!! **Open 7 days a week**
ABOUT THIS BIKE…..
2017 Harley-Davidson FXDB – Street Bob
The mile-eating performance of our Dyna chassis wrapped in no-nonsense, stripped-down, hardcore bobber style. The Street Bob motorcycle oozes cool with tough looks that go straight back to the roots of the bobber scene.
The model leaves everything exposed and is as “naked? as the law allows. There’s not a part on it that isn’t absolutely necessary, yet it’s also premium in every way. The time-honored art of getting rid of everything that doesn’t matter. The original bobber fanatics invented the style, and they had one rule, if it’s not essential, get rid of it. That’s the Street Bob with 103 cubic inches of Harley-Davidson V-Twin power.
Solo seat. Chopped rear fender. Mini-apes. Blacked out fork lowers and triple clamps, blacked out engine finish with highlighted fins. Time to cut and run. Dyna models built with the rawest styling of all of the Harley Big Twin motorcycles, Dyna models are an affordable platform from which to build the ultimate personalised motorcycle.
This Street Bob is in Pristine condition with no scratches no scuffs and only 2,468 miles!!!
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDE:
Vivid gloss black paint with H-D nostalgic tank emblems and black powder-coated 40-spoke wheels. Black powder-coated fork lowers,black triple trees, black headlight bucket and a black LED Daymaker headlight. Chrome 12-inch handlebars, black rubber hand grips and black teardrop mirrors. Front and rear black powder-coated turn signal indicators with smoked lens’s and LED bulbs.
Black Vance & Hines slash-cut exhaust system. A solo seat, mid-mounted controls and chrome rear suspension. A custom Punisher emblem on the side of the black battery box cover. Side-mounted license with a chrome chain-drive style license plate cover. Chrome horn cover re-located to the front of the frame. Belt-guard removed for the flat-track style for the bike. New rear Michelin tire.
This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 101 point safety and mechanical inspection. Whether your looking to commute to work, ride the coast or take that dream vacation, this bike is ready to go!!!
EZ FINANCING-SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!
Fill out an online application and ride today!!!
**Open 7 days a week**
Only $16,995 at Lifestyle Cycles (714) 490-0155
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– A young Chinese couple gets married. She’s a virgin. Truth be told, he’s a virgin too, but she doesn’t know that. On their wedding night, she cowers naked under the sheets as her husband undresses in the darkness.
He climbs into bed next to her and tries to be reassuring. “My darring,” he whispers, “I know dis you firss time and you berry flighten. I promise you, I give you anyting you want. I do anyting, juss anyting you want. You juss ask. Whatchu want?” he says, trying to sound experienced and worldly, which he hopes will impress her.
A thoughtful silence follows and he waits patiently and eagerly for her request. She eventually shyly whispers back, “I want to try something I have hear about from odda girls, Numbaa 69.”
More thoughtful silence follows, this time from him. Eventually, in a puzzled tone he asks her, “You want garlic chicken wif snow peas?”
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
FLORIDA ORDERED TO MAKE VOTING RIGHTS CHANGES–
Florida voters this fall will get to decide whether felons who’ve served their time and paid restitution should automatically have voting rights restored.
But in the meantime, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet have a month to revamp what U.S. District Judge Mark Walker called the state’s “fatally flawed” current rights-restoration process.
Walker issued an order late Tuesday that was the latest salvo in the battle over voting rights in Florida, one of just a handful of states that don’t have some sort of automatic restoration of the right to vote for felons.
Thirty-eight states automatically restore voting rights for most felons, and two states — Maine and Vermont — even allow prisoners to vote from behind bars.
Automatically restoring the right to vote for felons in Florida could add between 600,000 and 1.6 million voters to the state’s voting rolls, according to national voting-rights experts.
Nationwide, about 3 million people living in communities have had their voting rights stripped, and more than one-third of those former felons live in the Sunshine State, according to Sean Morales-Doyle, a lawyer who works for the Brennan Center for Justice’s Democracy Program.
Florida is an outlier because of its restrictive voting-restoration process and because of the “sheer volume” of people who are affected, Morales-Doyle told The News Service of Florida.
Under the current system, felons must wait five years before applying to have their civil rights, including the right to vote, restored. Felons who have been convicted of certain violent crimes or sexual offenses must wait at least seven years before seeking a hearing to have their rights restored.
Once an application is made, the process can take years — and big bucks — to complete, and involves extensive documentation, such as certified copies of charges, judgments and other court documents.
Because Scott and the clemency board had “unfettered discretion” — according to their own rules — in making decisions about who should have their rights restored, it was impossible to know whether those decisions were based on “viewpoint discrimination,” Morales-Doyle said.
“The thing government can never do in any circumstance is discriminate on the basis of viewpoint,” he said.
–Dara Kam News Service of Florida
–from Rogue
GUN NUT REPORT–Some teens still cherish their guns. Polls show mixed views among high schoolers.
They’re young, fierce and — at least for the moment — the most prominent voices in America’s debate over guns.
But not all members of “Generation Columbine” cling to the rhetoric making household names out of some of their peers, those students calling for tighter gun control after the deadly Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Many American high schoolers do not blame school shootings on guns and don’t argue the answer is tighter restrictions on firearms. It’s a view at odds with many of their classmates, yet born from the same safety concerns.
“There’s many things that go into a solution for this, and it’s not guns,” said Melanie Clark, an 18-year-old high school senior from Tallahassee. “We’re definitely in the minority for believing that it’s not guns.”
As gun-control advocates their age gain popularity and others cast their generation as anti-firearm, pro-gun students feel at times overlooked. But polling suggests young people aren’t overwhelmingly for gun control.
A USA TODAY/Ipsos poll taken after the Parkland shooting found less than half of students 13 to 17 think tightening gun laws and background checks would prevent mass shootings. The Pew Research Center, in an April 2017 poll, found 39% of people 18-29 said protecting gun rights is of chief importance, versus 58% who favor gun control.
Pro-gun high school students told USA TODAY the school shooting problem is complex, but they maintain guns aren’t the problem. They say more can be done on school security, mental health and background checks. Some argue that those calling for gun control are uninformed about and unfamiliar with firearms.
Marjory Stoneman junior Kyle Kashuv, a firm Second Amendment supporter, opposes banning assault weapons. School shootings, he said, are driven by “faulty communication and reporting of prior convictions,” along with mental health issues.
School administrators, mental health counselors and others received numerous warnings of the mental state and violent tendencies of gunman Nikolas Cruz in the months leading up to the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas, where 17 people were killed.
Similar to his classmates, Kashuv has been given airtime on national media to express his alternative take. He met with President Trump, Vice President Pence and members of Congress in the wake of the shooting. He also voices support for two congressional measures that, among other intentions, provide grants for improved school safety training and improve how government agencies update records for gun background checks.
“Many, many dislike me, however I don’t pay attention to criticism,” Kashuv said in an email. “Parkland will be remembered as the beginning of the end of shootings.”
Among the defining moments for the Parkland students was one week after the shooting, when hundreds of high schoolers marched on Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee to call on lawmakers to pass gun legislation. Clark and her boyfriend, Hunter Ventry, 17, also were there, holding a two-person counterprotest on the Capitol lawn. Their sign read, “Gun control. Because criminals follow laws, right?”
“The whole situation is horrible, and I think that something should be done,” Ventry said, “but I don’t think that what the majority is saying
is what needs to be done. I think there are other actions that need to be taken before anything happens with guns.”
The defense of the Second Amendment comes not without fear of another school shooting. In Pennsylvania, 15- year-old sophomore Kaitlyn Helms said the Parkland shooting “definitely” affected her and her classmates. She referred to an “unspoken fear” among students, especially after someone made recent threats to her school.
“There’s no real way to avoid having a school shooting,” Helms said. “People are going to find some type of way to do what they want, whether it’s with guns or without them.”
Helms, who participates in theater and is on her school’s track and field team, lists the AR-15, the gun used in the Parkland shooting, among her favorites.
“It’s not the gun’s fault,” she said. “The gun’s not going to go off without someone’s finger on the trigger.”
Many of the students who spoke with USA TODAY oppose banning the AR-15, and most said teachers should be able to be armed if they choose, as long as they pass a background check.
“I’m not a huge fan of arming teachers,” said Tallahassee senior Justin Johnson, 18. But “if teachers want to be armed, I think they should have the right to be armed.”
Meredith Gibson, 14, an eighth-grader from Iowa, said schools would be safer with armed teachers. Helms argued that an armed teacher could step in before law enforcement arrives.
Their arguments can sometimes mimic the talking points of older generations: “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people,” Helms said. But some progun students take a sympathetic view of their classmates calling for gun control.
“While I do not necessarily agree with them, I do hear what they’re saying, and I think that’s just so amazing to see,” Helms said. When asked why he didn’t counter-protest the rally at the Florida Capitol, Johnson said, “The rally was for people who suffered. I’m passionate about the subject, but I don’t want to hurt anybody because they’re going through a lot.”
Kashuv said the debate over guns has brought him closer to at least one of his classmates, Cameron Kasky, a leader of the #NeverAgain movement.
“Despite our political differences, Cameron Kasky and I have become friends from our discourse, not enemies like one may have thought,” he tweeted.
–Sean Rossman
USA TODAY
BIKERNET OPENS PET SUPPLY STORY–Little Sally was digging a hole in her backyard when her neighbor asked what she was doing.
“I’m burying my pet bird”, Sally said.
Her neighbor asked: “Isn’t that an awfully big hole, for such a little bird?”
Sally replied: “Yeah, except he’s inside your fucking cat.”
–from Joe Smith
https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/traffic_engineering_(transportation).htm
LOOK UP THIS–Laboratory for Adaptive Traffic Operations & Management (LATOM) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University have received a $100,000 grant.
INSPIRATION FROM THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN—When parking a car, leave some space, so you can get out or turn around.
When dealing with people leave a hairsbreath between so that you can happily meet again.
–Venerable Master Hsing Yun
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AFRAID OF CLUBS–Australian cops seek to severely restrict movement of club members and associates.
Police in the Australian state of New South Wales are fighting to use laws that severely restrict the movements of motorcycle club members and associates in a bid to end what they claim is a violent turf war plaguing the Hunter region.
In a state first, the cops are seeking to impose serious crime prevention orders on five high-ranking Nomads members — including national president Dylan Britliffe.
If the orders sought are granted by the courts, the five men will not be allowed to associate with any member of any nominated club, enter any licensed premises in NSW or travel in vehicles at night for the next 12 months.
They will also not be allowed to use any encrypted communication, such as Snapchat, WhatsApp, Wickr and Hushmail, and will have to surrender their phones and passwords to police whenever requested.
Last week a judge said the orders were “draconian” but top barrister Mark Tedeschi QC, acting on behalf of the cops, told a court there was a “severe risk of danger to the public.”
The orders are similar to those police can make against suspected terrorists and they can be imposed on anyone deemed to be “involved in serious criminal activity,” even if they have not been found guilty of any crime.
The cops say the actions have been spurred by a spate of public shootings in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle region this year.
More than half a dozen of the attacks have been carried out since January 4 as part of what police claim is an ongoing feud between the Nomads and Finks motorcycle clubs.
Members have allegedly firebombed and shot up the homes of rivals, with one biker shot in the leg inside his home near Maitland on March 4.
Yesterday Nomads national president Dylan Britliffe and Newcastle City chapter president Bradley Bowtell appeared in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney to oppose the order, represented by barrister Robert Cavanah.
But the hearing was adjourned because the three other men fighting the police action — Blake Kevin Martin, James Kenneth Quinnell and Kane Benjamin Tamplin — failed to show up.
Mr Tedeschi, acting in his first case since retiring as the state’s senior crown prosecutor, opposed the adjournment. “It is a matter of great urgency — there is a severe risk of danger to the public,” he said.
TOBACCO SMOKE ENEMA KIT FOUND (1750s – 1810s).
The tobacco enema was used to infuse tobacco smoke into a patient’s rectum for various medical purposes, but primarily the resuscitation of drowning victims.
A rectal tube inserted into the anus was connected to a fumigator and bellows that forced the smoke into the rectum. The warmth of the smoke was thought to promote respiration.
Doubts about the credibility of tobacco enemas led to the popular phrase “blowing smoke up your ass.”
As you are most likely aware, this odd tool is still heavily used by all levels of government.
JUST SAYIN……!
–from Rik Savenko
TRADITIONAL SISSY BARS FROM THE CHOPPER GODFATHER PAUGHCO–Paughco SISSY BARS have been a fixture in the chopper community since the late ‘60s and with current “back to basic” trends they are just what builder are looking for.
From the always popular Capt. America style to your basic short and tall with 40-inch bend, Paughco offers a Sissy Bar style that’s just right for your Rat Bike or Retro Scooter.
Bars shown here are available for a variety of applications including rigid, swing, belt, chain, with or without seat bracket to fit Flat or Fat Bob fenders.
Prices for Paughco Sissy Bars start at just $137.95 and can be ordered by calling 775-246-5738 or catch the full line up at www.paughco.com
[page break]
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
SUNSHINE CAME SOFTLY SUNDAY POST for March 25, 2018
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=13605
Are we going to be on the hook with increasing electric rates, so that our tree huggers can drive electric vehicles, and how are they going to pay their share of road use taxes?
–AJ
Deland, FL
TRAILBLAZERS NEWS– MARSHALL “DIGGER” HELM R.I.P.
Digger Helm passed away from cancer on March 19,, at 79. Digger was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2004 and also the AMA Hall of Fame.
He was a very generous man with a love of racing. He raced Flat Track professionally, earning National number 57, from 1957-64. His motorcycle racing was cut short after a serious accident Road Racing at Daytona.
He continued to race in various auto classes and drove Open Stock cars from 1977 to 1983. Digger promoted Speedway races in Bakersfield from 1969 to 1977.
He was the force behind the Bakersfield Bandits who won the team championship. The Bandits consisted of Jeff Sexton, Dubb Ferrel, Steve Nutter, Bert Harkins, Brian Short and Dan Toomey. Digger was a hands-on promoter who also took his turn at the microphone.
He sponsored the “Night before the National” race at Lodi and Eddie Mulders Flat Track Series among many other events. Racers, such as Joe Kopp, Sammy Halbert, Jaret Mees, Branden Bergin and a host of others, were recipients of his generosity. He was eager to help local riders, especially kids.
Digger was the second generations to own the Greenlawn Mortuary and Cemetery. He is survived by his son, Michael Helm, daughters, Sandy Moffett, Kristi Lovelace and Jayme Helm. Our condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.
Digger left his mark and will be remembered for his love and support of racing and racers. Services will be on Wednesday, April 4th at 1pm at GREENLAWN Southwest. 2739 Panama Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93313.
ENDURO MEMORBILIA TO THE AMA MUSEUM
Jerry Counts is trying to finish a history on Enduro Timekeeping to go along with his collection of Enduro stuff that is going to be donated to the AMA Museum. He is up to the computer devices in the mid ‘80s.
Do any of you know the features (differences) between the Check Mate Pro and the Super Pro ll? He also would like to know if the ICO made a programmable Pacer packaged in their standard Odo case? Were there any others? Jerry.counts@sbcglobal.net If you would like to see a draft of the history that will be donated, contact Jerry.
If you are going to the Enduro Reunion and would like to donate any items, please bring them.
TODD MILLAR REMEMBERED
Todd Millar, 79, passed away last November as a result of Alzheimers Disease, but his good friend, Jody Nicholas, sent some more information. Todd was one of California’s premier motorcycle restorers.
He was probably best known for his meticulous restoration of a 1953 Gilera 500 Saturno Corsa and a ca. 1964 Parilla 250 Grand Sport. He enjoyed sport bike riding and his trips to the desert through old towns on Route 66. He loved playing classical and flamenco guitar. He wrote poetry and love to sing folk songs around the campfire. He leaves his wife, Carolyn, and three daughters, Kathy, Vimy, and Wendy, along with 10 grandchildren. Godspeed Todd. And thank you Jody.
PETER STARR’S COMING BOOK
Peter Starr, the Producer, Director and Creator of the epic motorcycle movie “Take it to the Limit” is in Thailand, having a great time exploring the country on two wheels while gathering information, memories and photos for his book, Motorcycle Traveler, scheduled to be released around September of this year. Thailand is one of twelve countries explored in six years.
NEED A VINTAGE BIKE? RENT ONE
If not owning a vintage bike is keeping you home, rent one for the TT Scrambles and other events. Contact TMC Co for information of what they offer. You can get the whole package which includes bike, fuel, support, pit area, photos, personalized number, riding jersey, lunch and drinks. (760) 403 3634
GOOD OLD DAYS
Sent by Ernie Aragon
Video from the BBC Archives on Clews Competition Machines (1977). This is fantastic vintage motocross footage. https://www.facebook.com/motoparadiso/videos/1909358689329447/
ONLY TWO AFT RACES IN CALIFORNIA IN 2018
CALISTOGA: The first one is Saturday, May 5 in Calistoga. It is Round 4 of the AMA AFT series. There are several reasons not to miss this one. It is the only AFT half mile in California in 2018, great racing, beautiful Napa Valley and David Aldan is the Grand Marshall. Come help him celebrate Cinco De Mayo. Get your reservations now..
SACRAMENTO: The Sacramento Mile will be on Saturday, May 19th. This legendary track may not be here next year. It is located within the city limits and there have been talks of moving the Fairgrounds out of town. If you have never been to the Sacto Mile, go this year. It is legendary.
Tickets are now available online for both races at http://www.americanflattrack.com. You can visit them at Facebook too.
THE PHOENIX MILE MAY 12TH
Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson has been named presenting sponsor of the 5th round of the AFT Mile on Saturday, May 12th at Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Buddy will do a few commemorative laps around the Mile during pre-race ceremonies. This year it will be on a race-winning 1972 H-D XR750. One of his prized possessions of his 132 motorcycle collection. Tickets are on sale at www.americanflattrack.com.
BUDDY STUBBS NOMINATED FOR INDUCTION INTO AMA HALL OF FAME
Buddy, a Trailblazer Hall of Famer, deserves you vote. You are eligible to vote if you are already in the Hall of Fame and if you are a Charter or paid Life Member for at least 25 consecutive years of membership. They haven’t sent the ballots out, but we wanted to congratulate Buddy on his nomination.
CYCLE NEWS 50 YEARS AGO
Daytona 200 on cover. Cal Rayborn won on a Harley, followed by Yvon DuHamel and Art Baumann on Yamaha’s. Rayborn lapped the 89 rider field at 102 mph.
40 YEARS AGO
Carter Alsop on cover for being the first woman to enter an AMA professional road race. Round 4 of Toyota Supercross at the Astrodome. Bob Hannah won the doubleheaders. Bernie Schreiber was the first American to win an FIM World Championship Trials, held in France. Martin Lampkin was second.
30 YEARS AGO
There were rumors of Freddie Spencer’s retirement. Bobby Schwartz was on the cover after winning the California Spring Speedway series. Gordon Ward won on a Cagiva at the 20th Annual Viewfinders Grand Prix at Riverside International Raceway in California. Chris Haines led an off-road riding tour of Bajal
WHAT ELSE IS IN CYCLE NEWS ISSUE 11
There are lots of great race reports, excellent photos, bike tests, industry news and an article by Larry Lawrence. This time it is titled Xtreme Cliff Hangar. You can access it FREE at www.cyclenews.com
BSAOCSC “PAUL ELMORE MEMORIAL INLAND EMPIRE
This street ride starts at the South Temecula area Walmart, 32225 Temecula Pkwy. Turn east off the I-15, (Hwy 79 south) to Walmart parking lot near Apis Road and Hwy 79 south. Meet at 9am to ride at 10am. (951) 440 3521 for more info.
FLAT TRACK SAFETY GROUP TO HOLD A TRAINING CLASS ON THE MILE AT SACRAMENTO
The Flat Track Safety group is pro-active for safety. The American Mile Training Class will be held Saturday, May 20th from 10am to 1pm. Mandatory attendance is required to race on Sunday if the rider has ridden less than two Mile events. Other are also welcome. Learn secrets of the Mile
Instructors: Brad Baker, Vince Hold, Brian Bartlow
$150.00 (waived for all Sunday CFTA competitors courtesy of SDI Racing. Check in at 9-9:45 near Gate 10 at Ethan Way Cal-Expo Fairgrounds. Info: Randy Kremlacisk (415 ) 320 7889
TRAIL STEWARDSHIP GRANTS AVAILABLE
$400,000 in grand money is available to be used for National Forest trails. You can find out more at grassroots@amacycle.org. Forms are available at www.wildernessalliance.org and can be submitted at trailgrants@wildernessalliance.org.
–Judy Whitson
AIDAN HAS A POSSE —Sunday June 3rd is going to be yet another great day in Philly! This is the 3rd annual AIDAN HAS A POSSE ride to help support and create awareness for the Aidan Jack Seeger foundation.
ALL FUNDS RAISED go directly to the foundation. Everyone is meeting at Johnny Mac’s Chopper House, then a great Philly scenic ride through the city, on to CAV’s River Deck for food & drink. Please join us. Email bikerprojack@gmail.com for any questions on attending or becoming a sponsor.
We aren’t asking for much money to sponsor, the idea is to get about 20 sponsors at $200 each, and the bills for the day will be covered.
Come meet the crew from INDIAN LARRY MOTORCYCLES & see their iconic motorcycles.
–JACK MCINTYRE
PHOTOGRAPHER
IRON TRADER NEWS
BIKERNET CANTINA CO-EDITOR
BIKERNET.COM
jackmcintyrephoto.com
MARKUS CUFF HIT’S THE BIG TIME– Last night at Pop Obscure, DTLA.
Billy Kent, Max & Joan Hushahn [Thunder Road] & Heidi.
Hooligans descending on my show.
–Markus Cuff
Officially Certified Bikernet Feature Photographer
Also for American Iron
Cycle Source
Easyriders
Harley Vs. Indian Closing–
March 31, 2018, Richard Varner Family Gallery
Don’t miss your last chance to see our Harley vs. Indian exhibition before it closes this upcoming Saturday, March 31.
The exhibition explores both the founding of Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles in the early 1900s and their subsequent five-decade rivalry to become the premier motorcycle manufacturer.
Over a century after producing their first motorcycles, owners and enthusiasts continue to debate the merits of each manufacturer. Harley vs. Indian is a rare opportunity to see the achievements of each brand through the juxtaposition of the period specific bikes that epitomize the innovative design of each company.
This exhibit is included with your general admission.
New BANDIT’S CANTINA Reader Comment! — SUNSHINE CAME SOFTLY SUNDAY POST for March 25, 2018
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=13605
Well, just let me say this about that. You’ve got me dreaming of Jeannie again. You have also reinforced the notion that if you’ve seen one that you certainly have not seen them all.
I know Denis, Valerie and crew must be heart broken. Mr. Manning’s design really proved it’s mettle and Valerie her professionalism. Next time.
–Sam
TX
NEW FROM SCOTT JACOBS STUDIO–
“I painted this to welcome my son, Deacon to the world. My wife wanted a vintage-style painting hanging in his nursery. I only made 18 in the edition to celebrate the year he was born. 2/22/2018”
-Todd Jacobs
First Flight (Unframed) 22 X 14 inches
$495.00
Giclee on Canvas
Image Size: 22 X 14 inches
Edition Size: 18
KEEP THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN–A Love Story
I will seek and find you.
I shall take you to bed, and have my way with you.
I will make you ache, shake & sweat until you moan & groan.
I will make you beg for mercy, beg for me to stop.
I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I’m finished with you.
And, when I am finished, you will be weak for days.
All my love,
–The Flu
STURGIS MUSEUM 2018 FREEDOM FIGHTER AWARD–Kirk “Hardtail” Willard: Kirk “Hardtail” Willard has ridden thousands of miles to support ABATE of Wisconsin and Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) events.
He annually attends countless meetings to plan and promote the preservation of motorcycle riders’ freedom and lifestyle. As an active member of ABATE of Wisconsin, he has been instrumental in securing ABATE Acres, a property for the group to have events, conferences and meetings.
During the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Hardtail organizes the Whitewood Picnic, a get together for all motorcycle rights activists and ABATE members. Kirk Willard has served on the Board of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation for more than a decade and is currently serving as a multi-term president of the MRF.
He works tirelessly to promote and protect the sport of motorcycling, but more importantly, he continuously promotes the lifestyle of motorcyclists.
The 78th Sturgis Rally is set for August 3-12, 2018 and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony presented by Strider will be held August 8th at the Lodge at Deadwood in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Breakfast tickets are available for a $40 donation, tables of eight for $400. Tickets are available online at https://www.sturgismuseum.com/Hall-of-Fame-Banquet-Tickets or by calling the Museum at 605.347.2001.
Americans are making million trips across structurally deficient bridges each day.
NEARLY 9 PERCENT OF THE nation’s bridges were considered “structurally deficient” last year.
That’s according to a recent report from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association that found 54,259 out of 612,677 U.S. bridges are in need of repair. Placed end to end, the faulty bridges would stretch 1,216 miles, almost the distance from New York City to Miami.
And Americans are familiar with the deteriorating structures. After all, they reportedly cross such bridges some 174 million times each day – 60 million trips of which are made across more than 1,800 structurally deficient interstate bridges in major cities.
The trade association reviewed the Transportation Department’s 2017 National Bridge Inventory database to complete the study. Its report notes that federal inspectors rate bridge decks and support structures on a scale from zero to nine, with nine marking “excellent” condition. A bridge is classified as “structurally deficient” and in need of repair if the rating on a key structural element is four or below. And while deficient bridges aren’t necessarily falling down, they are in need of fixing.
Iowa led the country in structurally deficient bridges last year with more than 5,000 that were in need of repair, according to the findings. The state reported a 2 percent change in the number of deficient bridges from 2016.
By comparison, the District of Columbia (8), Nevada (31), Delaware (39), Hawaii (66) and Utah (87) have the least.
The nation’s aging infrastructure has been a recent talking point for congressional leaders. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., released dueling op-eds on the topic ahead of President Donald Trump’s Tuesday State of the Union address.
The president on Tuesday turned to rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges, airports and buildings in his speech.
“America is a nation of builders. We built the Empire State building in just one year. Isn’t it a disgrace that it can now take 10 years just to get a permit approved for a simple road?” Trump asked. “I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, reliable and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve.”
By Megan Trimble, Associate Editor,
U.S. NEWS
America’s “QUEEN OF SPEED” sets new 328 mph speed record and survives 343 mph crash in Australia–Eight-time land speed record holder Valerie Thompson earns new land speed record and “Fast Lady on the Lake” award at Australia’s Lake Gairdner DRLA Speed Week
Valerie Thompson survived a horrific crash in the Team “7” Racing Streamliner while attempting to capture the world’s fastest motorcycle title during the 28th Annual Speed Week and World Speed Trials competition at the Lake Gairdner dry lake bed in South Australia. While falling short of the ultimate goal to become the world’s fastest motorcycle, the team collected a new speed record and proved the superiority of leading edge streamliner design by team engineers Denis Manning and John Jans.
Hosted by the Dry Lakes Racers Australia (DLRA), the 28th Annual Speed Week competition was open to cars, motorcycles and trucks. The World Speed Trials, a first time event for motorcycles only, was held March 17-19. Thompson set a new streamliner record of 328.467 mph (528.616 km/h) during the Speed Week competition on March 15, earning her membership in the Dry Lake Racers Australia 200 and 300 MPH Clubs. She is only the second competitor to gain membership in the DRLA 300 MPH Club and was honored with the “Fast Lady on the Lake” award.
Thompson’s attempt to break the world’s overall fastest motorcycle record of 376.36 mph (605.69 km/h) on the last day of the World Speed Trials went horribly wrong with a horrific crash. According to Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) reports and team video, Thompson had just passed the four-mile marker on a twelve-mile course when the rear of her streamliner rose off the racing surface, sending the vehicle airborne at 343.7 mph. Parachutes slowed the vehicle as it flipped and rolled multiple times, scattering wreckage for more than a mile across the Lake Gairdner salt flats. Thompson walked away with only minor bruises and lacerations
“We had a singular goal of running 377+ mph to capture the record during the World Speed Trials. We used Speed Week to test and tune the bike and I’m happy we set a new record and received the ‘Fast Lady on the Lake Award.’ The wreck during the World Speed Trials was unfortunate, but we are not giving up on our quest for the new record,” said Thompson. “Most importantly, we proved the superiority of the moncoque carbon fiber design and safety features utilized by Denis Manning and John Jans. Without their dedication to high speed safety engineering, I would not be talking with you now,” said Thompson. “Nobody has ever walked away from a 340+ mph crash on a motorcycle. I’d also like to thank the DLRA and all their race course workers who helped ensure my safety,” added a grateful Thompson.
“We’ve not determined what caused the problem, but we’ll know more once we analyze the onboard data collection systems and review films in more detail,” said bike designer and AMA Hall of Fame member Denis Manning. “Valerie did an incredible riding job, doing everything she was supposed to and more. All of us at Team “7” Racing are relieved Valerie did not sustain any life threatening injuries,” added Manning. A video by team member Lou Fischer is available at https://youtu.be/Yl8NDTyeHqg.
Thompson is an eight-time land speed record holder on a variety of bikes ranging from Harley-Davidsons to BMWs and streamliners. She is a member of seven-land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, one 300 MPH Club and the first female to exceed 300 mph in Australia.
2WEELERS FXR FOR SALE IN COLORADO– $8500.00 for the 1990, low mileage FXR. It’s still in Daytona, but call the shop in Denver.
Love to take that price for Daytona building on Main ($850,000). Would throw in FXR, inventory and employees but not Donna.
–Denver Arlin
2Wheelers
Denver, Sturgis, Daytona
I got the price jacked up.–Bandit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiQlPOI0lYQ
SURVELLIENCE GOOGLE HANG ON—We’ve been trying to tell folks that “BIG BROTHER” is watching…….
–Tony C.
Once a Marine… …Always a Marine OOORAHHH !!!!!
–from Sarge
OPERATION GRATITUDE SAYING THANKS–This Wednesday March 28th is the “Day of Giving” at Jersey Mike’s Subs. At 170 Southern California locations, 100% OF ALL SALES will be donated to Operation Gratitude!
Find a Jersey Mike’s Subs location near you. Most locations are open from 10am to 9pm.
Here are some of the ways that you can support Operation Gratitude this Week:
Eat at Jersey Mike’s for a great lunch, snack or dinner! Every penny you spend will be donated to Operation Gratitude.
Take the office to lunch!
Organize your coworkers to eat at Jersey Mike’s for lunch. You can even order ahead and bring in to the office for everyone.
Pick up dinner on the way home! No need to cook! Enjoy an easy, delicious dinner that makes a difference.
Be social! Let your friends know you visited Jersey Mike’s by using the hashtags #operationgratitude and #jerseymikesgives.
Jersey Mike’s Subs and their customers have helped us send 109,000 Operation Gratitude Care Packages over the last three years. Their goal this year is to raise enough money to send another 65,000 Care Packages to our heroes! With your help, we can achieve that goal.
Thank you for saying “Thank you” to all who serve!
— Chris Clark
Chief Development Officer
[page break]
PRISON NEWS–Florida cites contraband in cutting prison visitation days
Florida’s prison system cites staff shortages and drug smuggling for reducing visitation days following a contraband crackdown that led to visitors being strip searched.
The Florida Times-Union reported the prison system implemented ramped up enforcement last July due to what they described as a growing contraband issue. The policy weighed heavily on inmates’ wives, mothers and girlfriends, who face strip searches on visitation days.
The newspaper obtained records that revealed thousands of strip searches since the summer, even as the agency said it agrees with a grown consensus around the importance of in-person contact to prevent inmates from re-entering the criminal justice system upon their release.
–from Rogue
THE WAVE BEING TESTED—We are testing a heating and cooling wrist band system called Wristify, the Wave, and Embr.
I really have not tested it since we have not had any warm weather yet. I did wear it one night when it was cold and I was on tour with the band, but I’m not sure how I felt about it. I mean it was warm but I’m not sure it warmed my entire body.
I have gotten emails that they have made improvements and I need to download those. I’m more waiting for summer to see how it cools. But it has been a wintry spring here so far, so no chance to check it out? Have you tested yours out?
–Kathie L. Russell
SmokeOut Suit
We are also trying to test, without striking results. More testing to come.—The Redhead
FAKE NEWS UPDATE–Fake photo shows shooting survivor ripping up Constitution
WASHINGTON – A doctored animation and photo have surfaced online appearing to show one of the survivors of the Florida high school shooting tearing up the U.S. Constitution.
The image of Emma Gonzalez was doctored from a March 23 “Teen Vogue” story in which she ripped up a shooting range target. The publication’s editors pointed out the fake image on Twitter.
The doctored animation and news stories about it were shared nearly 70,000 times on social media.
— Associated Press
–from Rogue
NEW FROM THE HARDTAILS–See your hitting all the shows and I’m stuck in a shop with an asshole for a boss, that’s me. Can’t stop making new motorcycle parts.
Have these stainless steel 3 Bar kicker pedals for $175 plus $10 USA shipping. Have a Dice model but sold out in a week.
Have more going through the foundry now. For sales or questions, contact
–John Grant
john grant john@hardtailchoppers.com
John@hardtailchoppers.com
360-750-6780
Www.Hardtailchoppers.com
Out of dice but will have more soon.
” if your coastin , your goin down hill ”
JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK– Main Bearing Remover and Installer
The Milwaukee Eight engine uses a completely unique engine case main bearing. With this in mind, JIMS is proud to introduce a main bearing remover and installer (Part No.5813) designed just for the Milwaukee Eight.
High levels of precision and accuracy are necessary, so only the best in tools can be trusted. With a retail price of $190.05 our tool not only removes the left and right main bearing without damaging the case, it also provides correct alignment and depth during installation.
For more information please call us at (805) 482-6913, email us at sales@jimsusa.com, or visit www.jimsusa.com.
–Greg Thiessen
Marketing Representative
JIMS
555 Dawson Drive,
Camarillo, CA 93012
Ph: 805-482-6913
www.jimsusa.com
ANOTHER GUN NUT REPORT--Pro-Gun Student Stuns CNN On Panel — Left-Wing Politicians Won’t Stop ‘Until They Take Every Arm In America Away From The People’
CNN held a panel of students on Tuesday, and one pro-gun student defended Second Amendment rights with no reservations at all.
CNN’s Alisyn Camerota asked, “Jacob is there anything you’re willing to compromise on in terms of guns?”
“The issue here, is the politicians on the left are trying to take away the gun rights one by one,” 17-year-old Jacob Scott said.
“It will start with assault rifles and then it will continue until they take every arm in America away from the people.”
Camerota said, “I understand. So you’re pretty dug in on your side–you don’t see a common ground? You’re not going to be able to find common ground?”
“I don’t think it’s good to compromise your rights,” he answered.
This isn’t the first time CNN has been stumped on air by a pro-Second Amendment voice.
During a similar panel earlier this month, a woman named Carrie Lightfoot defended gun rights in America, saying, “You can’t start messing with our constitutionally protected rights.”
–Justin Caruso
The Daily Caller
TRAILBLAZERS VERY SHORT EXTRA–BANQUET ON FACEBOOK “LIVE”
If you are unable to attend the 2018 banquet, you can watch it “Live “ on Facebook.
Visit The Trailblazers Facebook page at 6:30pm on April 7th . Find and select the Facebook Live event. They say it is super easy.
“MAD” MIKE HUGHES LAUNCHED HIS ROCKET
You probably saw it on the news. “Mad” Mike successfully took off in his homemade rocket this weekend in Amboy. It went almost straight up to a height of 1875 feet and returned to earth via parachutes.
Mike, 61, appeared to be a little shaken and may have injured his back, but otherwise ok. Evidently he didn’t prove the earth was flat, but with bigger and better rockets he intends to do that.
He is looking for financial support, about $2 million, to go higher, faster and farther. He is a self- taught rocket scientist and Limo driver. Watching a homemade rocket, with a man on board no less, make a successful launch was impressive.
If you google him, you will find more detail and some videos. Forbes, Live Science, ABC , CBS, FOX News and other online magazines and TV stations covered the event.
Mike plans on setting a Land World Speed record in August, if he gets a sponsor. Watch for it!
OPEN HOUSE AT CODY’S ON SUNDAY, APRIL 22nd 11AM – 4PM
A couple reasons they are celebrating the 50 years since Speedway made a comeback, and in a big way. And, “Wild” Bill Cody, is passing the gauntlet to the next generation, his son Bobby. Bobby is taking over the business.
We doubt Bill will stay out of the shop though. We can’t imagine him retired. There will be t-shirts for sale and any proceeds goes to Tom White’s favorite Charity, High Hope Brain Injury program. More info to come : 13821 West St. Garden Grove, CA 92583 (714) 265 1576
50th ANNUAL HANFORD VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE RALLY
Sent by Marshall Baker
This is California’s oldest & longest running Show and Swap Meet. It is on May 19th, 2018 at the Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford California. Vendor set up is Friday, Show & Swap Meet on Saturday at 8am. All event information can be found at ClassicCycleEvents.com or call 909 629 7420.
While you are in the area, stop at Dan Rouitt’s Flat Track Museum in Clovis, 309 W. Rialto St.
THROWBACK PART AT ARIZONA MILE
A race AND party on May 12th at the Buddy Stubbs presented Arizona Mile. It will be held at Paradise Turf in Phoenix Arizona. There is going to be an 80’s band at the Throwback Pavilion on the east side of the grandstands. Dress in the era of the 70s and 80s and Boogie to live music. There will be prizes for costumes, plus the best vintage helmet contest. Vintage and unique bikes will be on display. Lots of fun. More about it later.
GUY MARTIN
Sent by Doug Towsley
Never heard of him? Neither had I but they know him in the UK
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/guy_martin
–Judy Whitson
CLIMATE PREDICTOR–You dirty rat: Phil’s endless winter angers sheriff
A sheriff’s office in eastern Pennsylvania is sick of winter’s endless snow and cold, and has issued an arrest warrant for America’s top weather predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.
In early February, Phil said we’d have six more weeks of winter.
Well, that deadline has passed, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has told the varmint that time’s up: Last week, the office announced that it’s “seeking the apprehension of Punxsutawney Phil for deception. On February 2, 2018, Phil promised that there would be 6 more weeks of winter. That promise expired on March 16th. We are now on the 2nd day of spring and we are in the middle of yet another snowstorm.”
The poster is on the wall of shame in the sheriff’s office, WBRE-TV reports.
“They stop, they look, they do the double take,” Cpl. Scott Martin said.
In 2015, a New Hampshire police department issued a similar warrant for the rodent.
— Doyle Rice
USA TODAY
THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY GREEN AISLE–One day an Irishman, who had been stranded on a deserted island for over 10 years, saw a speck on the horizon. He thought to himself, “It’s
certainly not a ship”
As the speck got closer and closer, he began to rule out even the possibilities of a small boat or a raft.
Suddenly there strode from the surf a figure clad in a black wetsuit. Putting aside the scuba tanks and mask and zipping down the top of the wet
suit stood a drop-dead gorgeous blonde!
She walked up to the stunned Irishman and said to him, “Tell me, how long has it been since you’ve had a good cigar?”
“Ten years,” replied the amazed Irishman.
With that, she reached over and unzipped a waterproof pocket on the left sleeve of her wet suit and pulled out a fresh package of cigars and a
lighter.
He took a cigar, slowly lit it, and took a long drag. “Faith and begorrah,” said the castaway, “that is so good! I’d almost forgotten how great a
smoke can be!”
“And how long has it been since you’ve had a drop of good Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey?” asked the blonde.
Trembling, the castaway replied, “Ten years.”
Hearing that, the blonde reached over to her right sleeve, unzipped a pocket there and removed a flask and handed it to him.
He opened the flask and took a long drink. ” ‘Tis nectar of the gods!” shouted the Irishman. ” ‘Tis truly fantastic!!!”
At this point, the gorgeous blonde started to slowly unzip the long front of her wet suit, right down the middle. She looked at the trembling man
and asked, “And how long has it been since you played around?”
With tears in his eyes, the Irishman fell to his knees and sobbed, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Don’t tell me that you’ve got golf clubs in there too!
— From: “Doc” Jeff, Sandra E. & Tony C
FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT—Former NASA Climatologist Roy Spencer explained in 2016, “Sea level rise, which was occurring long before humans could be blamed, has not accelerated and still amounts to only 1 inch every 10 years.
Other studies of the Pacific Islands have found similar results. A 2010 study found the “Pacific islands growing, not shrinking.”
Climatologist John Christy’s research on the United States has found that “about 75 percent of the states recorded their hottest temperature prior to 1955, and over 50 percent of the states experienced their record cold temperatures after 1940.” Data from the Environmental Protection Agency agrees with Christy: The EPA website features a 2016 chart labeled “the U.S. Heat Wave Index from 1895 to 2015,” and reveals that the worst U.S. heat waves by far happened in the 1930s.”
UNCLE MONKEY ON THE PERFECT CUSTOM–Every once and awhile we stumble across a bike that we don’t want to change.
For builders each bike is a blank canvas to be transformed into a vision only we can see. Clean it up, change this and that and paint, plate and polish to perfection. But for all the changes we sometimes come across a bike that we don’t want to change.
Maybe it was an old barn find, still left in the original patina that can only come from neglect. It is just enough to tug at the heart strings, remind us that not every bike needs to look like it rolled out of the factory to the showroom floor. They are a reminder that time wears on everything and everyone.
We see it when we look in the mirror. Laugh lines and wrinkles, hairs gray where they are left. A patina that only comes from miles of riding, nights around bonfires, driving rain, lost brothers to the life. New leathers just don’t hang right compared to the two sizes too small jacket we still wear long after our waist let go.
Here we stand in a crowded parking lot looking at our mechanical counterpart. We chat up the owner, asked what was needed to get it back on the road. Sometimes it is as simple as fresh fluids and a determined kicking. Others it was open heart surgery to get it back on the road.
As we listen we innocently scratch at the pacemaker scar that kept us on the road as well. Maybe we need a few more arm curls with something other than a can of Miller. Some bikes are put up in museums, some only make it out on sun filled Sundays, yet others still pound the asphalt tearing up the track – no longer the fastest, but still the meanest. Just like us.
-bad Uncle Monkey
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!--Finally Wheel Alignment For Harleys
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=6762
I want one of those. Please send information how to get one. Thanks.
–Mike Palmer
mike.palmer9@aol.com
Butler , OH
Hey, I put Mike in touch with Mil Blair, the inventor and mechanical master for D&D Distributors, Jammer Cycle and Pegasus Fuel Injection systems. They may no longer be in production, but someone may have one. Let us know. –Bandit
PETERSEN MUSEUM EXHIBIT NEWS–Custom Revolution Opening Reception
Guest curated by: Paul d’Orléans in the Richard Varner Family Gallery
Supported by: The Vintagent.com and the Motorcycle Arts Foundation
In celebration of the world’s first exhibit to highlight the world of alternative motorcycle customization, the Petersen Automotive Museum will host a private opening reception with live entertainment, food, and panel discussion on Friday, April 13, 2018.
Check-in at 6:15pm
Custom Revolution gathers the most avant-garde and influential custom motorcycles from independent builders around the world. These young mavericks push the creative edges of motorcycle design, using both new and old engines, new and old chassis ideas, and truly innovative styling. It’s a whole new scene, led by globally connected, internet savvy designer/builders, whose work has grown beyond the “show” circuit to dramatically influence the current generation of factory-built machines.
Members save 10% on tickets to the reception. Join Membership today!
Krautmotors “E-LisaBad” (2017) Photo courtesy of Krautmotors
Leading Texas-Based Distributor BIKER’S CHOICE Joins the Industry at Las Vegas Bikefest–The American International Motorcycle Expo presented by Nationwide (AIMExpo) has added another industry powerhouse to its showfloor with Tucker Rocky making its commitment to the 2018 show this October 11-14 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The sixth-annual event makes its West Coast debut where it will again serve as the rallying point for collectively moving the powersports industry forward. The Texas-based distributor will have a significant presence on the showfloor, as the company recognizes the importance of the show and its impact on the future of the industry.
Dealer Registration opens April 10th.
GALAXY MOTORCYCLE NIGHT–
For the month of April, we have the Motorcycle night with LA Galaxy (April 8th) Please help share and promote this ride to your social feeds. A link was given for the reserved motorcycle section and special discounted price of $12 a ticket. There is no bad seats in this arena and ours is designated to be at section 140
https://ticketing.axs.com/PickASection.aspx?t=AE9A3558D5949D106B9BBF&og=-1
–Darwyn Yager
Law Tigers
M-8 PERFORMANCE UPGRADE--Revolution Performance
M-8 124” Big Bore Kit
Plymouth, Wisconsin based Revolution Performance unveiled its long awaited 124-inch M-8 bolt-on Big Bore Kit.
The Revolution kit takes the stock 107-inch 2017-2018 M-8 (2018 Softails as well as ‘17/’18 Tourers) out to 124-inches of dependable performance. The company says, “The kit makes +25 percent more power and runs 30 to 40 degrees F cooler with no other modifications because the heat is dissipated much better than with the stock cast iron cylinders.”
“True bolt-on power and reliability,” says Revolution’s product specialist Andrew Dellenbach.
The kit comes complete with new 4.250-inch all aluminum plated bore cylinders, new 4.250-inch flat-top forged pistons and new Cometic head/base gasket kit (0.030” head, 0.020” base).
The kit fits 2017-2018 107-inch Road King and Street Glide Specials; Road Glide Special and Ultra; Electra Glide; Ultra Classic; Ultra Limited (Low); Freewheeler and Tri-Glide Ultra, plus the 2018 Street Bob, Low Rider, Softail Slim, Fat Bob, Deluxe, Fat Boy, Heritage Classic and Breakout.
REVOLUTION PERFORMANCE
www.revperf.com
Revolutionary Professional Light, Anthem One, Now On B&H Photo Website–Five years ago I took a risk and invested in Anthem One, a revolutionary industrial lighting platform, because I believed in Justin Evans.
Now it’s a reality, it’s twice as bright, half the weight and lasts 2000 times longer than its nearest competitor for one-fourth of the cost.
Filmmakers, photographers, firefighters, law enforcement, construction workers and so many more can use Anthem One including agricultural use.
Check out the Anthem One on the B&H website by clicking the link below. Forward if you wish. MFH
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Anthem%20One&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search
Attorney Michael F. Hupy
Hupy and Abraham, S.C.
111 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1100
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Main: (414) 223-4800 Fax: (414) 271-3374
New FICTION Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Further Adventures of the Borderland Biker -Chapter 26
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=13596
Interesting stuff. Keep it up.
–Bob Johnson
Long Beach, CA
You just made Derrell’s day.–Bandit
JUST IN FROM THE FRONT—I attended a community meeting last night to see a presentation regarding our Wilmington, waterfront effort.
Prior to Russell’s presentation we heard a Climate Change presentation. This group stood up and proudly proclaimed their efforts to save Los Angeles, including mandated roof coatings, which will cost home owners thousands. Of course you can get a rebate, if you jump through all the right hoops.
Check the Climate Depot quotes above. It’s all bullshit. The climate will change, whether you build another hot rod Panhead or not.
Ride Free Forever Goddammit!
–Bandit
SHOW ACTION BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 9, 2017
By Bandit |
Hey,
Just when you thought the action might slow down due to the weather shift, the show series starts. The action slips indoors with new builds, shows, parties and the fun never stops.
Hang on as the action heats up.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown and BorntoRide.com, Sturgis Museum.
GARAGE ITALIA CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF ITS HEADQUARTERS IN MILAN
Lapo Elkann opens the doors to Garage Italia in Piazzale Accursio, Milan. The new headquarters are in an iconic building, the former petrol station Agip Supercortemaggiore, restored by Michele De Lucchi’s aMDL studio. Passion, creativity, design and excellence meet in the creative hub of the Italian entrepreneur, including the bar and restaurant of Chef Carlo Cracco.
7th november – The story of Piazzale Accursio starts in the 1950s, during the Italian economic miracle. The fascinating building separates two streets leading the traveller of the day to magnificent destinations. This beautiful piece of architecture was later abandoned and left in decadence for years.
Now its doors open up again onto its new role thanks to Lapo Elkann and Garage Italia. A new location projects the journey towards creativity, now even more significant as a point of contact between one of the symbolic cities of contemporary Italy, Milan, and other capitals and cultures in Europe and worldwide.
“Milan has the responsibility and honour of representing the flag of Italian renaissance in the global panorama, interacting with other cultural and entrepreneurial centres in the world. This is why I wanted to make a space to share, create and taste the best of our country, putting Italian excellence from the sectors of creativity, design, motion and food under the same roof” – Lapo Elkann
Open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Garage Italia will welcome enthusiasts of style and beauty at any moment of the day, from breakfast to after dinner, bringing a breath of fresh air into the life of the Portello neighbourhood. Its 1,700 sqm are distributed on two floors with a basement for service and staff rooms.
When Lapo Elkann saw this place, it had been abandoned for many years. He realised its great value so opened it up to all those with thecuriosity and will to see beyond what already exists.” – Michele De Lucchi
“Working on this project has been wonderfully exciting. Garage Italia is a magic container where fun, creativity, good cooking, passion and dreams coexist. The cuisine we propose is in the name of Made In Italy, with simple and accessible dishes, absolute quality and research of primary products. Everything starts from the greatness of Italian regional recipes, presented to the public in a more innovative and creative way by Chef Gabriele Faggionato under my direct supervision. On the menu, the names of the dishes recall the world of cars and motors, to create a fil rouge with the surrounding environment and Garage Italia.” – Chef Carlo Cracco
CUSTOM BUILD SAVES LIVES ON BIKERNET TRIKES, READER COMMENT–
Trikes for Disabled Riders
Comment on our Trikes for the disabled:
“you are design this physically challenged vehicle its very nice
I also handicapped and I am want this. What is the prize of this vehicle”
Thanks & regards
Vinayaka M “
vvinu1975@rediffmail.com / Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Wayfarer answers:
Hi brother,
Stay strong. Major Trike manufacturers such as Polaris, Can-Am and Harley-Davidson are sure to tap India market soon enough.
These however are custom built trikes and too expensive as an import into India.
You may want to shop for Trike Kits and buy a trike kit from Paughco USA and have a local Indian mechanic put it together as a custom build trike for yourself. Of course as a fellow native I know there will be legal obstacles in registration for custom vehicles.
Stay tuned for more Trike News and brands coming into India and Asia right here on www.BikernetTrikes.com
–Ujjwal
Most Magnificent Editor
Bikernet Trikes
logrolling [lawg-roh-ling, log-]
noun
2. cronyism or mutual favoritism among writers, editors, or critics, as in the form of reciprocal flattering reviews; back scratching.
EXECUTIVE & REGULATORY UPDATES – Look for the MRF Logo in the Wall Street Journal, Plus, Submit Your Comments to NHTSA and MAC Stuff
This week, your MRF was asked to sign on to a letter that would highlight the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard or RFS. The letter will not only be sent to President Trump, but will also be run as full-page ads in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Times after the President returns from his upcoming trip to Asia. Publication of the ad will be timed for maximum impact in publications, which the President reads.
The Motorcyclist Advisory Council is going to be the best thing since sliced bread, said no one ever. But it is moving forward, like it or not. This week I received the results from my FOIA (that’s the Freedom of Information Act) request back in September. I requested all internal government documents that dealt with the formation and selection of MAC Appointees.
As suspected, there was no smoking gun, but there were some stones that will need some effort to upturn. I’ll be in touch on that.
The first meeting of the MAC was also announced – it’s been scheduled for Tuesday, December 5 in Arlington, VA. Yours truly will be there, and I have asked to speak. I’ll also be circulating a sign on letter that I will ask to be entered into the record. I’d like to get as many signatures as possible so PLEASE consider signing on (and asking your friends, cousins, and neighbors to sign on too).
Though I can confirm that 9 out of 10 appointees do ride motorcycles, there is only ONE seat dedicated to a motorcycle organization.
The other nine can certainly speak to their individual experience riding, but are there to provide technical input. We really wanted more seats for national and state riders’ associations to bring a different perspective to the table and speak for the masses. That’s more or less what the sign on letter will say. Be on the lookout for that next week….
Give the Department of Transportation a piece of your mind. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently unveiled a document titled, “Vision for Safety 2.0” These guidelines update policies issued last fall concerning automated vehicles and discuss safety and performance rules for these types of vehicles, as well as the recommended role for state and federal policymakers.
Once again, the 36-page document FAILS TO MENTION MOTORCYCLISTS in any sort of meaningful way! And what scares me? One section of the document that has to do with object detection (ya know, the part we are most concerned about) discusses some of the things autonomous vehicles need to be aware of…like pedestrians…bicyclists…animals…but apparently not riders.
Let’s tell the head of NHTSA that these guidelines must be inclusive of all road users; especially motorcyclists!
You can comment by clicking here to sign a pre-drafted letter. We took the hard work out of it, so what are you waiting for??????
http://cqrcengage.com/mrf/app/take-action?engagementId=412574
SAIGON JAVA WARS– Only a few of the many, many different coffee shops. Don’t think I’ve seen one tea house. Had my obligatory bowl of Pho. Just as good in Westminster, CA I think. With my first glass of cumquat juice or weet sour lemonade flavor
Weather still cloudy so no hot sun. I think there is a tornado in the area somewhere
–Art Hall
with our infused THC lemonade in Oregon and shortly after that, California. As many of you are aware, finding the right partner has
been one of our greatest challenges. And our perseverance over the last four years will shortly pay off with our Dark Hudson Cherry
Lemonade available in the recreational and medicinal forms.
These guys have a couple of limited opportunities for investment. Contact Jeff, below for more information.
–Jeff Najar
919-450-5060
MY MADONNA
There’s just something about this Beemer. I keep coming back to it, but what is the draw? I guess I just really like classic. Yeah, that must be it.
–Sam
Somewhere along the Texas border
QUOTE OF THE WEEK FROM A BLUES SONG— I love the life I live and I live the life I love.
–Bandit
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
Win a Guitar Signed by
GEORGE THOROGOOD
and a $200 Shopping Spree
from Hot Leathers
Sign up to win in the
THE PERFECT STORM–
We never do anything nice and easy. We only do things nice and rough! Tina Turner
ABATE of Wisconsin continues to demonstrate why it is successful in achieving many of its goals.
Since its inception in 1974, ABATE of Wisconsin has always taken a proactive stance on matters affecting its membership and other motorcyclists in the state. Whether fighting for the right to choose on matters concerning personal safety, or pursuing legislative relief from laws that were detrimental or inequitable, ABATE has always taken the high ground to achieve victory.
In the ‘70s, it was repeal of the mandatory helmet law. In the ‘80s, ABATE challenged motorcycle confiscation problems. In the ‘90s, it was successful in overturning a Supreme Court ruling that punished injured riders for not wearing a helmet, even though there was no mandate for adult riders over 21 with a valid M endorsement. Recently, right of way violations against motorcyclists were on the rise and ABATE sought a just remedy through a comprehensive motorcycle bill, Act 466, that included sanctions and an education element for motorists who violated a rider’s right of way.
Through a quirk in legislative drafting of bills, many right of way violations were defined as something else, even though in essence they were still right of way violations. That loop-hole allowed many violators to escape from the sanctions imposed by Act 466. ABATE has been working to rectify that problem since 2006, without success. Even though both houses of the state legislature supported what ABATE was proposing, the bills continued to stall legislative session after legislative session.
Tired of wasting time and political capital through several consecutive sessions, ABATE took a bold step forward, reminiscent of huge protest rallies that brought 50,000 bikers to Madison, Wisconsin in 1977.
On October 12, over 100 ABATE members rode to the state Capitol to remind legislators that they did not appreciate lip service without legislative action. The defiance seemed to awaken in lawmakers the knowledge that ABATE wielded considerable clout and had been effectively working with the state to reduce injuries, alcohol related crashes, and unlicensed riders.
Very soon after ABATE’s storm had ceased, the Assembly voted to pass the new legislation expanding the definition of a right of way violation. The Senate still has to take up a vote, but ABATE received word that it was going to do just that before the sessions ends. Click on the link to read a little more about the Perfect Storm!
— Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo
https://www.hupy.com/news/abate-of-wisconsin-storms-the-capitol.cfm
Reflection Foil black for BMW R 1200 RT, LC (2014-) & K 1600 GT/GTL —
This set of reflection foils (4 pieces) increases the signalling effect for the following traffic a lot. Your motorcycle is immediately much more visible which increases also your passive safety a lot. The black foils look unremarkably black during daylight, but reflect in a striking silver/white colour at night.
MEETING OF THE MINDS 2018–
My plans for the aftermarket – I’d like for them to have a presence at our Meeting of the Minds in 2018, which is being held in Denver.
We need to embrace the issues on the business side. To have a presence and even a speaking role to discuss what issues their regulatory staff are working against and how we as riders can help them.
Our MotM only has about 300-400 attendees but what isn’t widely known is that those few hundred people are the Executive Directors and Lobbyists for almost all of the major motorcycle rights organizations in the U.S.
It’s a good marketing opportunity to touch those who really matter and have a big voice. Plus I think there will continue to be issues (EPA, Emissions Regs, RPM Act) that we can and should be working together on.
Anyone can reach out to me at the MRF for more info.
-Megan
HARLEY DAY IN SAIGON– Sunday is the day the Harley guys meet up for coffee and camaraderie. First they gather at a coffee shop in the morning.
Next they enjoy reading the latest copies of quick throttle magazine.
Then they kick tired and check out their latest mods.
Then they move on to a group lunch that features lots of beer and good VN food.
I’ve known this group for about 8 years now. They have always been very hospitable and the best emissaries of their culture.
There is a typhoon in central Vietnam that has killed 27 people. It has only sent a little rain and cloudy days here. Now it moves on towards Thailand and I hope it doesn’t interfere with my flight back today Monday.
Condolences to the state of Texas. Damn world is going nuts.
–Art Hall
Supreme International Editor
Bikernet.com
ACTION ON THE SADDLEMEN FRONT–
Buster at Saddlemen checking in to remind folks we’re open 8am to 8pm EST for you seating and storage needs.
Also wanted to include some seats we did this week that were beyond exceptional. Thanks for all you do for the industry and to us guys on two wheels!
Buster Cates
P. 310.638.1222 x239
F. 310.761.1234
Nash Veterans Day Weekend Sale–
TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY 11/12/2017 Midnight
In honor of our Veterans and all that have served our beloved country. We extend a 20% discount to all Nash customers over this holiday weekend.
Use promo code : ” nashvets20 ” for 20% off all purchases on the Nash Motorcycles website. https://www.nashmotorcycle.com/
How Trump saved freedom and democracy from the Climate Industrial Complex– The U.S. was a problem for the green global governors because of that picky Constitution
Donald Trump as saviour not just of American democracy but global freedom? Although he doesn’t express it quite that strongly, this is one inevitable conclusion from Rupert Darwall’s tremendous new book, Green Tyranny: Exposing the Totalitarian Roots of the Climate Industrial Complex. That’s because Trump, by abandoning the Paris climate agreement, and reversing his predecessor’s attempts to bypass Congress on environmental matters, has heaved a mighty wrench into the European-based thrust to impose global bureaucratic “governance” under the pretext of saving the world from climate catastrophe.
Beyond all the blather about Trump’s presidency representing the triumph of redneck ignorance and deplorable racism — and whatever Trump’s personal shortcomings — Darwall notes that one of the main reasons for his victory was that the American left had abandoned working people in pursuit of identity politics and radical environmentalism. “From being the voice of working people,” writes Darwall, “the Democratic Party has become the political arm of the Climate Industrial Complex,” an unholy alliance of bureaucrats, NGOs, green corporate rent-seekers and Silicon Valley “oligarchs.” With additional funding (as they like to say on PBS) from a raft of mega-billion-dollar foundations built on capitalist success but seemingly dedicated to destroying capitalism.
Darwall wrote Green Tyranny as a sequel to his similarly incisive 2013 book, The Age of Global Warming, specifically to expand on the critical roots of environmental ideology and power-seeking in Europe — in particular Sweden and Germany. He also records how the issues of acid rain and “nuclear winter” were in many ways political trial runs for the great assault on freedom in the name of saving the world from climate change. In each case, a critical factor was the corruption of science by politicized scientists.
Soon, however, all the Eurolefties wound up on the same page. Their key strategy was, to paraphrase Leonard Cohen, first we take Berlin — and Bonn, and Stockholm, and Paris and London — then we’ll take Manhattan, and Sacramento, and Washington.
The U.S. was the overwhelming problem for the global governors because of its picky constitutional concerns about the separation of powers (significantly to counter potential tyranny) and the First Amendment (which is under attack in more areas than climate).
But then, in 2015, the U.S. electorate spoke up, refusing to kowtow to the social democratic Bourbons and their plans to deindustrialize America. That is one big reason why Donald Trump — the anti-tyrant! the voice of economic sanity! (at least in this case) — sits in the White House.
FROM SAM’S ARCHIVES–
Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1912, Dorothy Goulding aka ‘Dot Robinson’ is the daughter of famous sidecar manufacturer James Goulding.
In 1931 and now living in the U.S. she married Earl Robinson, a mechanic at the Goulding’s Harley Davidson dealership in Saginaw, Michigan. During this period they were both riding and winning in Endurance Run competitions and in 1935 they set two transcontinental records from New York to Los Angeles.
Dorothy ‘Dot’ Robinson also co-founded the Motor Maids of America in 1940, the first and oldest continuously operated women’s motorcycling organisation in North America, and served as it’s first President.
–Sam Burns
QUOTE FROM THE OPTIMIST GRAY MOUNTAIN— Promise yourself to forget the mistakes of the Past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
–Optimist Creed
SIGN THE PETITION, QUICK–
In 2015, Congress re-established the Motorcyclist Advisory Council in the Highway Bill to advise the Federal Highway Administration on “issues of concern to motorcyclists.” This important group would serve as the ONLY official forum on a national scale for motorcyclists to have an open dialogue with the Government. And yet, all but one individual selected was there to represent the technical aspects of the Council, including engineering, construction and traffic safety systems as well as roadway data.
Only one seat out of ten was designated for a national motorcycle riders’ association to alone speak to the riding experiences and concerns of more than 8.5 million motorcyclists in the U.S.
This is unacceptable, we must petition the government to add motorcyclists to the Council! By clicking and sharing the link below, you can sign a petition that will be submitted for the official record asking for 3 additional seats to be added to the Motorcyclist Advisory Council – 1 for a national motorcycle riders association for ON-STREET motorcycles and 2 for state/regional motorcycle riders associations.
Unlike 9 out of the 10 Council Members chosen, adding these 3 representatives who have the authority to speak on behalf of riders at large, will ensure this Council accomplishes what it sets out to do – be the voice of riders!
Together, let’s spread the word: #LetRidersSpeak
SIGN THE PETITION BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:
http://cqrcengage.com/mrf/app/sign-petition?4&engagementId=414594
–Megan J. Ekstrom
Vice-President, Government Affairs & Public Relations
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Phone: (202) 725-5471
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– VIRGINS…………..
A young Chinese couple gets married. She’s a virgin. Truth be told, he is a virgin too, but she doesn’t know that.
On their wedding night, she cowers naked under the sheets as her husband undresses in the darkness. He climbs into bed next to her and tries to be reassuring.
“My darring,” he whispers, “I know dis you firss time and you berry flighten. I promise you, I give you anyting you want, I do anyting – juss anyting you want. You juss ask. Whatchu want?” he says, trying to sound experienced and worldly, which he hopes will impress her.
A thoughtful silence follows and he waits patiently and eagerly for her request. She eventually shyly whispers back, “I want to try someting I have hear about from odda girls… Numbaa 69.”
More thoughtful silence, this time from him. Eventually, in a puzzled tone he asks her…. “You want…… Garlic Chicken wif snow peas?”
–from El Waggs
Motoauct.com: Ready, Set, Launch –The World’s First Online Vintage Motorcycle Auction is Now Live
Free Listings to Registered Users for 60 Days
Bakersfield, CA (November 8, 2017) – Motoauct.com is the premiere auction site dedicated to vintage motorcycles. Founded by two vintage motorcycle enthusiasts who understand both auction platforms and the vintage motorcycle world, Motoauct.com is the first site of its kind.
Register. Buy. Sell. Socialize. Motoauct.com.
–Ken Conte
THE BIKERIDERS— Danny Lyons’ masterwork published in 1968. Danny joined The Chicago Outlaw Motorcycle Club in 1965, which led to the book— and the exhibit which opens Nov. 9, in Los Angeles at Fahey/ Klein Gallery on La Brea.
A rare event. The publication includes interviews w/ racers & outlaw bikers. Looks like Fahey/ Klein will have a few new boffo large prints from the book. Danny was one of the top documentary photographers of the ‘60s, ‘70s— a show not to be missed!
–Markus Cuff
Renowned Bikernet Feature Photographer
And photographer for Cycle Source, American Iron, Tattoo Magazine and Easyriders.
UNCLE MONKEY ON REAL-WORLD BIKE BUILDING– While television would have you believe that a complete, competitive motorcycle can be whipped up in a couple of weeks, a month at most that just simply doesn’t happen in the real world.
Builds stretch into months, even years if you are living paycheck to paycheck like many of us are. There simply isn’t some wealthy benefactor throwing tens of thousands of dollars your way.
Suppliers don’t readily hand out parts or put their company on hold to stitch up a custom one off seat just for you.
No you are at the mercy of the bank balance and UPS drivers. Often parts are back ordered, some simply have to be manufactured and you are just one of thousands of customers. Painting, powder coating, chroming all takes time. Paint alone usually takes three to four weeks, chrome takes me months and at least here is extremely costly. (The last set of custom drag pipes I had estimated to be rechromed because they were damaged in shipping came in at $1500).
All of this adds up in time. Throw in kids, the old lady and days riding, and you can see why some projects seem to stall out on the lifts.
The time it takes to build a bike means that sometimes motors are rebuilt and sit years before we give them a first kick. In the mean time we lift the motor in and out dozens of times, each time hoping not to scratch or damage the chrome or break a cooling fin. Warranties come and go while you work to finish the bike.
Thousands of parts all assembled, often without instructions, with the hope of building a complete, functioning, running motorcycle. The enthusiastic firing up to just see if it runs that we see on television is replaced with apprehension, often replaced with triple checking everything to make sure it is right, to make sure that we have the oil lines run properly, to make sure we added the oil to the tank and cases, fuel to the carb.
It is only in that moment when we straddle the bike on the lift. Even in that moment we are running down check lists in our head. The music from the stereo fades away, your buddy’s calls to fire it up already fades away.
A deep breath. You make sure the gas is turned on, pull the choke on the S&S carb and give a couple twists to the throttle before you swing the kickstart pedal out. You rotate it down slowing building compression until it is ready.
The late nights, the blood knuckles, Ramen noodle suppers, future flashes of rides, trophies all flash through your mind as you rise in one fluid motion and force the kick start down. Your heart jumps into your throat as it fires to life, filling the garage with assembly lube smoke, hope, and dreams.
–bad Uncle Monkey
25 Best Motorcycle Movies Ever!
Have you seen 21 Days under the Sky?
— Mike
Philadelphia, Pa
I’ll check with the master. He didn’t include Born to Ride either…—Bandit
BUDDHA HILL– You want Buddhas? We got them on Big Buddha Hill in Bangkok, Thailand. Tall. Short. Big. Small. Skinny. Fat. Laying. Sitting. Standing. You name it.
–Art Hall
Bikernet International Editor on the Road
ROYAL ENFIELD FINALLY STEPS UP TO BUILD A TWIN–
Watch the recording of the Live Webtelecast from Milan, Italy. Launch of Parallel Twin Engine of Enfield motorcycle.
These two new Enfield bikes are made to the highest specifications applicable in USA, Europe and Asia Pacific. They meet all the safety and quality standards matching the best anywhere on Earth. They meet the strictest emission rules. And the twin engine is ready to rock the highways and give you classic stride on your daily commute in the city.
Royal Enfield Interceptor is a 650cc parallel twin engine redesigned from the original 1960s Interceptor brand of Enfield. It is THE California Cool of motorcycles. Bright colors add to the summer of 69 memories of freedom, pleasure, beauty and rebellion.
The Cafe Racer culture was revived by Enfield with the Continental GT and now with the 650cc dual tone Continental GT you have a cafe racer to tour all the cafes in your state and across borders.
Really remarkable bikes and a huge step or rather a gigantic leap forward by Enfield Motorcycles. A Company making motorcycles since before Indian Motorcycles or Harley-Davidson motorcycles ever hit the road.
The chassis and engine are the same for Interceptor 650 and Continental 650. They weigh within 200 KGs. Lot of accessories tested and available.
These bikes will launch first in Europe and then rollout globally. Expected date to hit the market is April 2018. The engine is oil and air cooled. Real fun bikes for everyday folks for everyday riding. Not huge bulky hogs and not speed demons. Just a motorcycle for the gentleman who takes pride in class and comfort.
–Ujjwal Dey
Most Magnificent Editor
Bikernet Trikes
wayfarer@bikernet.com
IMS SHOW CALENDARS FREE–
Get geared up and buy your tickets now! Save $3 with promo code EM5POST18. Discount valid through November 15, 2017 at 11:00am PST.
Visit the Redemption Counter inside the IMS entrance and show this email (printed or on your mobile phone) to receive your FREE 2017-18 IMS Souvenir Calendar*
*While Supplies Last
LE PERA SEAT OF THE WEEK— LiL’ Nugget: For years we wanted the lowest slimmest seat we could find. Times have changed, but for some guys this is still the ultimate way to go. Who needs padding, let’s ride.
Overview
Designed to expose everything on your bike
Gives a spring mounted look
Frame mounted
A minimalistic form
Fitment
06-UP DYNA
08-UP TOURING
The Coolest New Motorcycles From EICMA 2017, November 08, 2017– ICYMI, manufacturers have been going crazy unveiling new production bikes and concepts at the EICMA show in Milan all week. My twitter and IG feeds have been overflowing with some gorgeous new machines. So, to save you some time (and some FOMO anxiety) I have rounded up my top five favorites.
#5: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650
I realize the first entry here is actually TWO bikes, but they’re pretty much the same bike. These are the first parallel-twin engine bikes Royal Enfield has produced in modern history. The Interceptor is a simpler roadster style while the Continental is a full-blown cafe racer. Both share the same engine and chassis.
#4 Ducati Scrambler 1100
The Scrambler has been a crowd favorite since Ducati decided to start making them again in 2015. For 2018, they’ve beefed up the power with a Monster 1100 evo engine. It comes in three styles, base model, special, and sport. All three continue the retro styling trend, which I love, but also come packed with safety features like the Bosch cornering ABS and traction control system. Plus, that duel underseat exhaust is just cool as hell.
#3 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe
Can we see a trend developing here? This has to be the best nod to retro design I have seen to date. And you might think this is all style over substance, but underneath that beautiful teardrop tank and sumptuous fairing, lies a very good motorcycle. The Z900 was my favorite bike at the AIM Expo this year, so to see it get dressed in this gorgeous design really ticks all the boxes for me. I mean….just LOOK at it.
#2 KTM 790 Duke
Just when you thought it was going to be ALL cafe racers here comes the Duke. Burn outs should be no problem with the 799 cc parallel twin that churns out a heart-stopping 105 hp. And in true KTM fashion, this bike has all the electronic bells and whistles you could ask for.
#1 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
We were first teased about this beautiful concept in 2014. But with concept bikes, they rarely come to life with the same pizzaz or inspired look that makes them so exciting as concepts. Not in this case. The Vitpilen (translation: white arrow), stays so true to the original concept that we have to give it the number one spot. The Vitpilen will be powered by the same motor that runs the Husky Supermoto, which will give it 75 hp and it will be available in mid-2018.
Honorable Mention: Indian FTR1200 Concept
Indian took the race bike that dominated the American Flat Track circuit this year and slapped a headlight on it. The only reason this one doesn’t make the top five is because its still a concept. But my GOD I hope they put this thing in to production. It’s basically everything I wanted the Scout Bobber to be (and I love the Scout Bobber).
— By Michael C. Wilson
from Fusar.com
NON-STOP ACTION— But the question is how to handle constant activities. In my case, I might try to hide in Cuba.
But there’s always action on Bikernet. I’ll hit you with some special reports in the next couple of days and a report on my junk Panhead.
I’ll start on another Cantina Episode and Markus has another Girl of Bikernet to expose. James hit me up about another tech, replacing his Dyna drive belt with a Biker’s Choice chain.
Peter is working on another FXR feature. And I know I’m missing something, but we never give up.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
QUICK, BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 16, 2017
By Bandit |
Hey,
What a week? It’s been a scramble and it’s not over. The IMS Long Beach Show is this weekend. Lots of folks in town for the show and we’re having a builder’s party at the headquarters with Holt and the Hot Bike crew and Chris Callen, Heather and Cycle Source.
I’m not much of a bartender, but I’m doing my best to prep for the builder’s, industry and Hamsters. We will cover the show, offer you a report on the industry and tell you about any new models to hit the crowded streets from the Long Beach prospective.
It’s never dull.
LATEST FROM SADDLEMEN– Introducing the new Saddlemen Renegade LS.
Now Available for the 2013-2017 Softail Breakout from Harley Davidson
Saddlemen’s new Renegade LS for 2013 through 2017 Harley Davidson® Softails® was created for a single purpose: create a comfortable stylish minimalistic seat for your solo ride.
This Slammed Solo is built to streamline and compliment the Softail Breakout® while maintaining the comfort riders have come to expect from every Saddlemen seat.
Built with our exclusive GEL-Core Technology and featuring a beautiful lattice stitch pattern, our solo will keep you classy and comfortable for miles.
Gel-Core™ is engineered to dampen, divert, and deflect energy to create a smooth, therapeutic ride. When combined with the latest in co-molding technology reduces engine vibration by up to 50%, and direct impact forces by up to 92%.
Why does Saddlemen use this innovative material? Simple – to add hours and hours of comfortable riding time to every ride!
A quick look at the Renegade LS reveals that styling and good looks were not compromised for comfort.
The Renegade LS enhances and complements other accessories and upgrades, providing the finishing touch for the 2013-2017 Harley Softail Breakouts.
All Saddlemen seats are designed, tested, and built exclusively in the USA for the long ride. American made quality and craftsmanship is something we take very seriously since 1987 at the Saddlemen Long Beach, California manufacturing facility.
Every detail, every stitch, and every step of the process from raw materials to the final product has been carefully considered and inspected to insure that Saddlemen’s standards for quality, craftsmanship and comfort are continuously upheld. Experience the Quality, Craftsmanship, and Comfort built into every saddle
Saddlemen remains America’s first choice when upgrading a motorcycle seat; Saddlemen recognizes that every different body, and every bike, is built a little different and that sometimes even the best motorcycle seat may not meet everyone’s comfort expectations.
Unlike other seat companies, Saddlemen will help make it right. If for some reason a customer is not completely satisfied with their new set just call 800-397-7709 and a friendly Product Specialist will gladly assist.
Features Include
•The perfect seat choice for a minimalistic approach for a solo styling approach.
•The Renegade LS™ provides a new and improved modern look and comfortable feel unlike the OEM seat.
•SaddleGel™ is scientifically proven to increase the amount of time a rider can travel as its engineered to dampen, divert and deflect the energy from the road.
•The Renegade-LS comes standard with an interior combination of progressive density foam and SaddleGel™. The progressive density foam has a perfect balance between support and compliance for durability as well as comfort.
•Available with black or brown covers
•Sewn with a retro style lattice stitch to infuse old school looks with a modern day twist.
•Designed and made in the U.S.A.
•Show bike styling
Saddlemen seats are available at most local motorcycle shops served through Drag Specialties, a leading distributor of accessories and parts for Harley Davidson® motorcycles. Call 800-397-7709 or visit http://www.saddlemen.com/ . Prices: $250.00 in black or brown
Fitment: Harley-Davidson
Model: FXSB Softail Breakout
Year: 2013-2017
Seat: Renegade-LS
Part Number: 813-27-002LS Black Cover with Black Stitching
813-27-002BLS Brown Cover with Black Stitching
Saddlemen
17801 So Susana Rd
Compton, CA 90221
www.saddlemen.com
sales@saddlemen.com
800-397-7709
GREAT FROG IN LONG BEACH AT IMS–
Originators of the infamous skull ring. The Great Frog continues to deliver individually hand-crafted pieces from its Soho basement where it first opened its doors in 1972.
Imogen will man the booth and you don’t want to miss her.
–Bandit
NEW FROM BRASS BALLS– Derby Covers: Piston-Helmet Design
A cool and easy custom performance upgrade.
Replace the heavy stock derby cover with a light-weight, precision machined billet aluminum derby cover featuring our Piston-Helmet logo.
Brass Balls Cycles : Derby Covers, Piston-Helmet Design
• Precision machined from aircraft grade 6061 T6 billet aluminum
• Black anodized with contrast cut machined design
• Direct replacement for stock
• Multiple fitment options
• Light weight and strong
Brass Balls Cycles parts are available through Biker’s Choice Dealers or at BrassBallsCycles.com
Dealers can order at their convenience via the dealer portal at BrassBallsCycles.com
HOT NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT– Building a midsize fully electric vehicle results in 15% higher emissions than building a gasoline powered vehicle.
Study: Cars can’t match electrics on efficiency
Gas-run vehicles would need to average 55.4 mpg
From Staff Reports
USA TODAY
DETROIT – If you prefer gasoline power over a fully electric vehicle, you’ll have to buy a car that’s a lot more fuel miserly than the one you’re probably driving now if you want to try to match efficiency.
A new study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute finds that gas-powered vehicles need to average 55.4 miles per gallon in the U.S. in order to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a batteryelectric vehicle. That’s because even most electric cars aren’t oil or coal free. Their batteries are charged by electricity generated at power plants, which often are fired by oil or coal.
The disparity between electric vehicles and conventional gas-powered cars depends on what is used to make the electricity that charges a battery. In countries where coal or oil is king, generating electricity for a full charge creates more carbon dioxide emissions than in places where hydroelectric power, for example, is the main source.
Gas-powered cars sold in the U.S. have a long way to go to match electrics.
The mileage leaders among subcompact cars in the U.S. are the Ford Fiesta SFE and Toyota Yaris iA at 35 mpg in combined city and highway driving, the U.S. Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency say.
Hybrids, those vehicles with gas and electric power plants that work together, do better.
The study looked at only fully electric vehicles, which are known as battery electric vehicles — not plug-in electric hybrids — vs. gas-powered cars.
Sivak and Schoettle reviewed data for 143 countries, finding wide disparities in those values. Albania, which produces all of its electricity from hydroelectric power, was at the high end of what a gas vehicle’s mpg would need to be to beat a fully electric vehicle.
At the other extreme were Gibraltar and Botswana, where electricity is produced from either coal or oil. The study relied on data from the Union of Concerned Scientists and the International Energy Agency.
The study did not consider the impact of manufacturing the vehicles but did note that the Union of Concerned Scientists has found that building a midsize fully electric vehicle results in 15% higher emissions than building a mid-size gasoline-powered vehicle. Larger battery packs push that gap to 68% higher for full-size vehicles.
–from Rogue
Supreme Commander
Bikernet Baggers
TRAILBLAZERS NEWS
There was a lot going on this past weekend. Hope all of you Veterans know how much we appreciate your service to our country. We thank you for answering your call to duty that interrupted your lives at their prime.
Tom White was remembered with a memorial at Glen Helen. All fees were waived for the day. More than 100 riders were on the motocross track doing laps to honor Tom. His very good friend, Jody Weisel, spoke of their friendship and Tom’s last months. There was a video narrated by Larry Huffman, and one of Tom acknowledging and thanking family and friends. The day went just how he had planned. His family will be carrying on his legacy and he will never be forgotten.
74th ANNUAL TRAILBLAZERS BANQUET
APRIL 7, 2018
Reminder (one of many to come). The banquet will again be held at the Carson Center in Carson. The reception and bike show will start in the afternoon, followed by dinner and Hall of Fame presentation. Those being inducted this year are Scott Autrey, Kel Carruthers, Debbie Evans-Leavitt, Bruce Flanders, Dennis Kanagae and Chuck Miller. The late Skip Van Leeuwen will receive our annual wine toast and Tom White will be honored with the 2018 Dick Hammer Award, the Trailblazers’ highest honor.
Tickets go on sale online the first week in January. Watch the newsletters for an exact date. $75.00 each or you can buy a table of 10 for $750.00. If you are buying for a group, please give us their contact information so we can put them on the banquet roster, printed their names on the ticket and ticket envelope and add newsletter list . You have over a month to round up the information so no excuses.
$75.00 includes membership in the Trailblazers and newsletter (email only)
If you need a hotel room, the Doubletree shares the parking lot with Carson Center. We have a group rate of $145.00. Our group code is TMC. For reservations: www.carson.doubletree.com or (800) 222 8733
SPEAKING OF PRIME OF LIFE
We noticed that a good many of the Trailblazers email addresses contain their racing number. Once a racer, always a racer.
TAKE A LOOK AT JODY WEISEL’S MOTOCROSS ACTION MAGAZINE
There are several reasons to take a look, besides it being well written and great photos. Jody’s 60 best World Vet Championship Jokes or the nice spread on Tom White’s memorial ride are another couple reasons. https://motocrossactionmag.com/mag/jody-weisel, https://motocrossactionmag.com/tom-white-memorial-ride-day-photos.
MARY MCGEE HONORED AGAIN
Mary McGee, the first woman with an FIM license, received the 2017 Dirt Illustrated Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the sport of Motocross as a pioneer in women’s motocross.. Mary has received a pile of acknowledgments, and all well deserved. They have included the 2012 FIM Women Legend, for which she traveled to Monaco, 2005 Extreme Sports award, Trailblazers Hall of Fame and many more. Congrats Mary. You are the best.
LETTERS FROM A NEW ZEALAND LEGEND
Doug Towsley thought you might find these letters interesting. New Zealand legend, Burt Monroe corresponded with John Andrews in England for many years and the letters are now available on the Vintage Motorcycle Club of Johannesburg, South Africa newsletter.
www.vintagemotorcycleclub.co.za/KICK_START_2016 10_october.pdf
MITCH BOEHM ON THE AFT TEAM
Mitch Boehm is the new Communications Director for American Flat Track, starting immediately. Mitch has been involved in motorcycles many years as a motojournalist, racer and industry insider. He was with Motorcyclist 20 years, 14 years as Editor-in-Chief, 3 years with American Honda as an R&D expert and a year as Cycle World’s Managing Editor. The past nine years he has been an industry consultant. He also arranged and co-wrote Malcolm Smith’s 2015 autobiography. Congratulations Mitch
NEW EVENT MANAGER FOR AFT
Ashley Freas is joining the team as Event Manager. She was most recently Director of Marketing and Communications for New Jersey Motorsports Park. Her duties cover marketing, promotion, hospitality and VIP experiences. Welcome Ashley
TODD MILLAR R.I.P.
Todd was a great friend to many and a meticulous fabricator. He was a regular at the Trailblazer banquets. It was said that annually he would ride his little Bultaco Alpina out Route 66 to Death Valley, where he would camp out and stop for a beer at every watering hole along the way. Hi wife, Carolyn spread his ashes at Amboy Crater Grounds. A very nice man. Condolences to his wife and family.
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FOR OFF ROAD PARK IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Jim Berry, the man behind the effort to put an off road park on 283 acres in Gypsum Canyon is looking for help. He needs to meet with Third District Supervisor, Todd Spitzer before the plan can go any further. If you can arrange a meeting or live in Orange County and wish to send an email or letter to give Spitzer a nudge, here is the information.
Supervisor, Todd Spitzer 333 W. Santa Ana, Blvd, Santa Ana, CA, 92701 (714) 834 3330 or todd.spitzer@ocgov.com Jim Berry (949) 228 5651 jfberry@sbcglobal.net
RACER PARTY IN ST. LOUIS
It is that time again when we all meet in St. Louis. The 9th Annual Racer Party will be on Saturday, January 27, from 10am to 4pm at Donelson Cycles. The gang starts showing up on Friday where the party starts at the Embassy Suites (11237 Lone Eagle Dr.) (314) 739 8929 Group code is Donelson Cycles group. There is a shuttle from Lambert Airport to hotel and to party. Rate ends January 5, 2018. We continue the party Saturday night at the hotel. Info at Kim Keen (314) 427 1204 or (314) 369 8342.
ARCHIVES IN CYCE NEWS
Larry Lawrence has dug way into the past (Issue 43) to write about a Los Angeles board tracker, “Millionaire” Morty Graves. He earned that nickname because he won so many races and took the purse home.
Issue #44 tells of Piet Boonstra. Piet received the AMA’s outstanding road rider award in 2002. He rode for 67 years and covered over a million and a quarter miles until an accident in 2013.
Issue #45 has the story of David Baily winning Carlsbad USGP in 1985. Many of us can remember this one.
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50 YEARS AGO IN CYCLE NEWS
Manuel Burton won $10. For a photo of Dennis Brikman sliding his BSA at the Elsinore flat track. Gary Conrad won his 18th in a row at the Rams M.C. Pacific Southwest Championship H & H. “Little”David Aldana won the 100cc trophy dash on a Suzuki at Orange County Speedway. A road ride in Death Valley drew an estimated 10,000 riders. It might have been the beauty and bikini contests. Another road ride took place in Ensenada Mexico. Dan Haaby and Sammy Tanner dueled at Ascot. Walt Mahony photo of Shorty Seaborne on the cover. Shorty won the Ascot 20 lap State Championship. Some of the participants in the Hopetown GP were Torsten Hallman, Ake Johnsson, Joel Robert, Roger DeCoster and Dave Bickers.
40 YEARS AGO IN CYCLE NEWS
Sue Fish on the cover. Roger DeCoster and Bob Hannah dueled at the Trans-AMA MX Series in St. Peters, Missouri. DeCoster won. Jay Springsteen won the Camel Pro Race of Champions in Florida. Gary Bailey gave tips on making Bultaco perform better and last longer. Jimmy Weinert testing new plastic boots from Scott Goggle. DeCoster and Hannah at it again in Plano Texas. Roger won. Story of Bonneville. Dirt Diggers Grand Prix in Trabuco Canyon on cover. Larry Roeseler won the 500 Jr. Dick Mann won old timers master class. Goat Breker won the 250 pro class and Sue Fish the womens.
30 YEARS AGO IN CYCLE NEWS
Dick Mann’s 4th Annual Vintage Dirt Bike Rally at Sand Hill Ranch in Brentwood, CA. Participating, among other stars were, Gary Nixon, Mert Lawwill, Bart Markel and Joe Leonard. Dan Smith won Rabbit Creek H&H in Murphy, Idaho.
5TH ANNUAL KURT CASELLI RIDE DAY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2017
This event raises money for the Kurt Caselli Foundation. Have fun and be generous. It will be held at Glen Helen Motorcycle Park. Gates open at 8am, Tracks open from 9 to 4pm. Tracks available will be: Motocross – Kids—Off Road course—Team Race—ISDE Special Test Course
$20.00 Gate Fee, camping included. Camp Caselli to follow Ride Day. Pre register to receive a shirt.
https://www.clasy.org/events/-/e151225 For info: Lindsey@kurcaselli.com www.kurtcaselli.com/events
OLD SCHOOL TT SCRAMBLES TAKE II
DECEMBER 2nd practice- December 3rd racing AT GLEN HELEN’S TRUCK TRACK FACILITY. New to the mix is a Quad support class. Check it out.
Racing on a Gary Jones designed track. Pre entries must be post-marked by 11/18/17. Or on line by midnight 11/18/17. Get a FREE event T-Shirt for pre-registering. Gates open 3pm-9pm Friday, December 1 for early arrivals and over-night camping. $10. Per vehicle, per night. Saturday gates open 7am-8pm, practice 9-2. Sunday is TT Scrambles Racing. Practice at 9am Pre-entry on-line form: http://www.oldschoolscramblesracing.com/on-line-pre-entry-form.html
List of Classes: http://www.oldschoolscramblesracing.com/classes.html
Questions@oldschoolscramblesracing.com
SATURDAY NIGHT RACES ON GLEN HELEN’S STADIUMCROSS TRACK. Their 1st race of winter. Practice at 5pm, racing at 6:30pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/2227222090637226/
VINTAGE DIRTBIKE RENTAL
If a bike of your own is what is stopping you from participating in a great weekend at the Old School Scrambles, no worries. TMC Co. Vintage Dirtbike Rentals have 100cc, 125cc, 240cc and 400 cc. They are based in Hesperia, but will bring the bike to you. (760) 403 3634.
ENDUROCROSS FINALS AT ONTARIO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH
Always good racing. You can watch practice for FREE from 9am to 3pm on Saturday. Doors open again at 6 pm and races start at 7:30. Citizens Business Bank Arena. Friday , Destry Abbot, and friends, will conduct a 2 hour DA8 training session on the track. Open to all riders for $100.00 https:/secure.tracksideprereg.com/endure
77TH ANNUAL TURKEY NIGHT GRAN PRIX
This isn’t bikes, but still a good show. Agajanian presents a two night USAC Midgets and USAC Sprint Cars program at Ventura Raceway November 22 and 23.
AMA DUAL SPORT AND KTM AMA NATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDE
Los Angeles, Barstow to Vegas on November 24th – 25th. This is a District 37 ride and the 34th year. It is 400 mile plus. www.district37ama.org www.labarstowvegas.com
NORTON CLUB RIDE RUN FOR THE ROSES
Departing December 31 from Pasadena to Newcomb’s Ranch. For more information. www.socalnorton.com
BSAOCSC RIDES
“Elsinore Grand Putt” Dual Sport Ride is on Sunday, November 19th. Ride leaves from 133 S. Ralph Road, Lake Elsinore, CA. Arrive at 9 am for coffee and ride at 10 AM. VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES ONLY, with street registration and spark arrestors. Info: Steve Ortiz (951) 440 3521
“1st Annual Caboose Dual/Sport Ride. Starts at Bill Getty’s “Railroad Ranch” above Banning, 49125 Boarder Road, Banning, CA. Arrive 9am with full tank, ride leaves 10am. It is approximately 70 miles of easy to moderate dirt roads. Bill Getty (951) 940 5411 or Steve Ortiz (951) 440 3521
Ortizst11@hotmail.com
FUTURE EVENTS TO PUT ON YOU CALENDAR
Might need to make plane reservations
2018 Dakar January 6 – January 20 Peru/Bolivia/Argentina
Round 1 MotoAmerica April 13th – 15th Braselton, Georgia
Round 3 MotoGP April 22nd Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
Isle of Man TT May 26th to June 8th 2018
RIDES, RACES & SUCH
November 18 2-7 Flat Track practice at Perris Raceway
November 19th SoCal Old Time MX Adelanto/Sunrise
December 3rd SoCal Old Time MX Cahilla/Anza
December 9-10 D37 Big 6 Gran Prix Lake Havasu City
December 17th SoCal Old Time MX LACR/Palmdale
January 6 Round 1 SuperCross Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA
January 5-6 Best in the Desert Parker, Arizona (And back to the Desert Bar)
January 13 Round 2 SuperCross NRG Stadium Houston, Texas
January 20 Round 3 SuperCross Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA
May 19th Round 1 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Hangtown Rancho Cordova
May 26th Round 2 Glen Helen National Glen Helen Raceway
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This is absurd. Its like cops stopping a Mercedes car because the driver is a black man.
Sure, profiling has its merits in preventing crime and terrorism in post 911 world. But these are clearly bigoted motives and criminal abuse of legal authority. Being in a motorcycle club automatically making you out as target as an outlaw?
Maybe if the Senators and Congressmen were profiled similarly, USA would prosper again.
— Ujjwal Dey
Most Magnificent Bikernet Trike Editor
wayfarer@bikernet.com
Mumbai, India
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– Butch the Rooster
Sarah was in the fertilized egg business.
She had several hundred young pullets and ten roosters to fertilize the eggs.
She kept records and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was replaced.
This took a lot of time, so she bought some tiny bells and attached them to her roosters. Each bell had a different tone, so she could tell from a distance which rooster was performing. Now, she could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells.
Sarah’s favorite rooster, old Butch, was a very fine specimen but, this morning she noticed old Butch’s bell hadn’t rung at all! When she went to investigate, she saw the other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets hearing the roosters coming, would run for cover.
To Sarah’s amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn’t ring. He’d sneak up on a pullet, do his job, and walk on to the next one.
Sarah was so proud of old Butch, she entered him in a Show and he became an overnight sensation among the judges.
The result was the judges not only awarded old Butch the “No Bell Piece Prize” they also awarded him the “Pullet Surprise” as well.
Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making. Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the unsuspecting populace and screwing them when they weren’t paying attention?
Vote carefully in the next election. You can’t always hear the bells.
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
INTERNATIONAL EDITOR COVERS THE ACTION IN THAILAND–
Overcast sky makes it possible to eat outdoors. Cool even.
–Art Hall
Bikernet Supreme International Editor
I can not wrap my head around Bergdall getting a pass, we lost good men trying too rescue a traitor, maybe in my war he would be left for the scavengers.
— Alex Jemery
Deland, FL
I’ve noticed another political maneuver in the history books. For instance, in England authorities snatched poor kids from their mothers and shipped them to Australia where they were slaves of some church. The government drug out the case for 25 years until all the authorities could retire or escape. I’ve seen this tactic many times.
–Bandit
Trike Editor tries to learn and adapt to American customs and traditions.
www.BikernetTrikes.com
Suffragettes Centennial Motorcycle Ride Announced for August 2020– A ride celebrating the power, freedom and unity of American women on the centennial of the right to vote
Progress is measured in big and small ways every day. A formative step towards the equality of Women in America was the passage of the 19th amendment of the US constitution allowing American women equal vote in fair and free elections. Progress continues on to this day and will be celebrated in August of 2020 with the Suffragettes Centennial Motorcycle Ride. This cross-country ride is dedicated to all women who have fought for equality in the voting booth, in business and in life.
The Suffragettes Centennial Motorcycle Ride 2020 (SCMR2020) is a female-centric multi-route cross-country motorcycle ride. The primary routes depart from the West Coast and arrive in Washington, D.C. approximately three weeks later. Major cities across the country will be announced as starting points for rides that will join into a single large group as they roll towards Washington, D.C. The ride will benefit several charities that service female interests across the US, and will be broadly shared via social media and editorial coverage.
Riders will have the option of registering for a nearly all-inclusive three-week tour, with other options for shorter rides. Each ride will feature unique points of interest, historic locations and will wrap itself in the majestic scenery of the United States. SCMR2020 is being announced early to inspire women to brush up on riding skills, learn how to ride and to set a goal to join what will surely be an legendary group making a powerful statement.
The event is being managed by Alisa Clickenger of Women’s Motorcycle Tours in partnership with Robert Pandya of SpokesPeople LLC. “I have been hosting rides and events for women for many years after discovering the freedom and sisterhood of riding, and I am humbled and inspired by the Suffragettes,” says Clickenger. “Two summers ago I produced the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride to celebrate the bold American attitude and confidence of the legendary Van Buren Sisters ride in 1916. The Suffragettes Centennial Motorcycle Ride is intended to honor and increase the appreciation for how far women have come, and how far we will go.”
“I have been involved in women’s riding initiatives for my entire professional career,” says Pandya. “SCMR2020 is going to be a great and meaningful event, and will arrive in Washington, D.C. with the strength and power that only a women’s ride can deliver. I know that this ride will be transformational for every participant and I know it will inspire women for generations to come.”
Those wanting the latest information on SCMR2020 can sign up for a mailing list at www.centennialride.com . Updates will be sent regularly in the coming months. There will be limited entries into the three-week full ride tour program, with other shorter ride options as well. Registration will start in 2018.
SCMR2020 is open to sponsorships and activation opportunities, and we’ll be tailoring each ride to create the most compelling experience possible for the participants. Interested organizations and companies can connect with the SCMR2020 team at Info@CentennialRide.com and www.centennialride.com
The complete website inclusive of the general route, inspiring stories of female riders, resource listings such as riding schools, female-friendly motorcycle media, apparel guides and more is being developed and will launch in the coming months.
“This is an exciting and epic idea! It’s going to have a lot of moving pieces,” says Clickenger. “I know that our team will deliver a unique and historical ride that will ignite women across the country. I am so excited to once again ride with mothers, daughters and sisters who share the vision and who choose to live an inspired life!”
We wouldn’t believe it if we hadn’t read it with our own eyes, but Yamaha says it’s going to put a three-wheeled leaning motorcycle called the Niken into production. The oddball beast debuted at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, and while it’s not the first leaning three-wheeler we’ve ever seen – the Piaggio MP3 immediately comes to mind – it’s definitely the most surprising.
900cc Three Cylinder Engine
7 feet long 3 feet wide
Front two wheels are 15 inches
Driving the Classiest Three-Wheeled Autocycle – Vanderhall Venice
Vanderhall has recently been turning heads with their latest production vehicle, the Venice.
Dan Boyer on the Vanderhall Motor Works team says about the vehicle, Touting the vehicle’s near supercar-like specs and timeless design. Our man zipped through “The Snake,” one of the most classic roads in Southern California. He put the vehicle through its paces doing multiple laps while “hustling” through the canyons. At the end of the day, we were left with a smile and nothing but good things to say about the Venice.
Campagna: One Of The Craziest Things On Three Wheels Comes From This Canadian Factory
Canada’s attempts at building its own automobile have been somewhat feeble. We’ve seen it with the Seth Taylor Steam Buggy, or the Bricklin SV-1. Apart from putting together American cars, Canadians haven’t really hatched anything that has contributed to the automotive industry lately, have they? If you think so, that’s where you’re wrong, because the Campagna T-Rex may just be the true car of Canada.
Campagna was a Formula Ford driver in Québec from 1976 to 1979, and was a close friend to F1 legend Gilles Villeneuve. He was also part of his technical team during his short-lived Ferrari career. For Campagna, the idea of building his own F1-inspired street-legal vehicle had always been simmering in his mind’s eye. And it would most definitely have three wheels.
The name, T-Rex, according to Lafrance, refers to the fact that the vehicle is shaped like a T. The letter T, also refers to three points. In Latin, “Rex” stands for “King”.
A sports bike motor not only proved to be ideal for packaging reasons, but also allowed all mechanical components to remain as lightweight as possible. Bike engines also tend to produce a much higher specific output per liter than most automobile engines.
After a thorough analysis of the product, its history, and where it was heading into the future, BMW liked what they saw, and agreed to secure a partnership with the Québec-based car, err, trike-maker. The T-Rex finally had a real heart, and not just any heart. A German heart.
The engine in question would come from the BMW K1600. It’s a 1,649 cc, straight six with a hollow camshaft, and cylinders configured forward in a 55-degree angle. It’s also, according to BMW, the narrowest in-line six-cylinder engine ever produced. Campagna Motors and BMW engineers worked closely together to determine the ideal engine that would benefit the T-Rex by giving it the lowest possible center of gravity and weight distribution.
The current T-Rex 16S develops 160 horsepower, weighs in at only 1,157 pounds, and is capable of generating 1.3 Gs of lateral acceleration.
The company employs only 25 people. Their focus is on building a high-quality product on par with other competitive performance three-wheelers such as the Morgan Three-Wheeler, and most recently, the Polaris Slingshot.
Campagna’s plant is mindblowingly effective. There are no robots in there. Just humans, T-Rexes, and V13Rs sitting around everywhere. It’s calm and serene, and everyone seems happy to be part of this project. The entire manufacturing process complies with strict industry standards. Very much like at the Morgan Motor Company, each employee at Campagna Motors focuses on one specific component, yet, each employee is also capable of fully assembling a T-Rex on their own. They know the vehicle like the back of their hand.
Elio Motors’ latest prototype ready for HVAC testing in Seattle
Elio Motors’ plans to test a vehicle prototype’s air-conditioning and heating systems have us wondering how 110-degree temperatures are going to be simulated in the perpetually brisk Pacific Northwest. The three-wheeled vehicle startup is having Seattle-based RedDOT Corp. make its HVAC systems, and has shipped one of its E-Series testing and engineering vehicles to the Emerald City. The trike will be tested there for heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation.
Elio is running way behind schedule (it had initially earmarked 2014 for its debut), but continues to move forward and has built about two-dozen vehicles strictly for testing purposes. For instance, some vehicles are being tested in Michigan for their anti-lock braking systems. In Seattle, the vehicle in question will undergo temperatures ranging from 0 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
The automaker, which was founded in 2009, has most recently estimated that the vehicle will start sales some time next year. The three-wheeler gets up to 84 miles per gallon and will be priced at $7,300 for holders of non-refundable reservations (the price had previously been listed at about $6,800). About 56,000 people had lined up as of last month.
This summer, Elio received some good news when it was determined that 41 out of the 50 US states won’t require customers to obtain a motorcycle license to drive the trikes. Elio itself was able to get 30 of those states to change their stance and ease requirements for driving the vehicle, which has airbags, seat belts, and a steering wheel, in addition to those heating and air-conditioning systems. The company also completed its fourth and final design stage this spring. Elio’s higher-end E1C will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
So far this year, the company raised $17 million with a stock sale and started trading shares on the over-the-counter stock market. Elio has also tapped high-end auto engineer Roush to help out with the design process.
In fact, the company, which has taken more than 50,000 reservations for the trikes, said last month that it will sell 100 pre-production vehicles by the end of the year, though that means the lion’s share of deliveries have been pushed back to next year. Elio, which showed off versions of the trike both at last year’s New York and Los Angeles Auto shows
Elio Motors raised nearly $17 million in a Regulation A+ stock sale. Elio Motors stock began trading on the OTCQX market, making Elio Motors the first company to raise money through Regulation A+ and have its shares go public.
Can-Am Spyder F3 Turbo Concept is a 150 hp three-wheeler
Turbochargers equal performance these days. Can-Am’s Spyder F3 Turbo Concept shows that forced induction works just as well on three wheels as it does on four – or two for that matter. This trike packs a turbo version of the standard F3’s 1,330cc three-cylinder Rotax engine with 150 horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque. Those are useful upgrades over the stock machine’s 115 hp and 96 lb-ft. The added boost can get the three-wheeler to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and across the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds, Can-Am claims.
–Ujjwal Dey
Most Gracious and Humble Bikernet Trikes Editor
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Motorsport Aftermarket Group MAG GROUP RESTRUCTING– Motorsport Aftermarket Group (“Company” or “MAG”), a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of branded aftermarket products and online retailer for the powersports industry, today announced it is implementing a comprehensive, consensual recapitalization to eliminate approximately $300 million in debt through a debt for equity exchange supported by in excess of 90 percent of the principal amount of the Company’s prepetition first lien secured lenders, and its asset-backed lenders.
“Through this process, which we have been working very hard on with our key lenders to accomplish over the past month, we will de-lever our balance sheet allowing us to more effectively compete in today’s evolving powersports market. MAG’s businesses will continue to operate unaffected and the Company has sufficient liquidity to fund operations.
“Customer service and sales will continue, employees will receive wages and benefits as before, and vendors and suppliers will be paid in the ordinary course of business going forward,” said CEO Andrew Graves.
To implement the recapitalization, the Company and certain of its affiliates have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the District of Delaware. The Company expects to move through the process quickly, and emerge in the first quarter 2018 as a stronger, better capitalized and competitive company.
To support operations through this process, MAG has secured up to $135 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from certain of its current secured lenders.
“The U.S. Powersports market has been in persistent decline for the past few years. In response, MAG has been working diligently to adjust to the changing landscape and has implemented many initiatives to parallel today’s market. Unfortunately, the Company’s long-term debt continues to be an impediment to success,” added Graves.
“As such, we believe that by availing the Company to the chapter 11 process, MAG has chosen the most efficient and expeditious way to right-size our balance sheet for the long term so that we remain an industry leader for many years to come. We and our key creditors are committed to what will hopefully be a short bankruptcy case.”
Key Elements of the Recapitalization:
•Employee wages and benefits will be paid in full in the ordinary course without interruption.
•Customer orders will be fulfilled consistent with past practice without delay or disruption.
•Vendors and suppliers will be paid timely and in full going forward.
•Company will emerge with new owners and a new board of directors.
Monomoy Capital Partners, BlueMountain Capital and Contrarian Partners will lead the new owners group, and have deep experience in consumer products and lifestyle companies including distribution, retail and manufacturing. “We are encouraged to have access to the resources the new owners bring, by their passion for the powersports industry, and for their shared vision for MAG’s future. Looking forward, MAG will be able to more aggressively capitalize on market and growth opportunities given our strong balance sheet post recapitalization,” said Graves.
“Importantly, MAG is very appreciative of its employees who have remained committed and professional during what has been a challenging few years. Moreover, we are grateful to our valued vendors and suppliers who have remained our partner, and we thank our customers who continue to trust and rely on us. We look forward to continuing to work together for many years to come,” added Graves.
MAG CEO Andrew Graves – “Through this process … we will de-lever our balance sheet allowing us to more effectively compete in today’s evolving powersports market. MAG’s businesses will continue to operate unaffected and the Company has sufficient liquidity to fund operations.”
KEEP THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN– Question: What’s an Australian kiss? Answer: The same thing as a French kiss, only down under.
A couple just married were happy with the whole thing. He was happy with the Hole and she was happy with the Thing.
–from Rogue and Sidehack Jerry
Revolutionary CarLock Announces Latest Addition to Its Unique Vehicle Safety Offering– The latest product to launch from the innovative CarLock brand, the CarLock Tag, makes vehicle safety far more convenient for car owners while still allowing them to remain fully in control.
Complementing existing CarLock products and the ground-breaking app, the latest addition to the brand will automatically enable and disable motoring alerts depending on the location of the owner, boosting safety and reducing the risk of cars being stolen.
Using Bluetooth technology, the small but powerful device works seamlessly with the CarLock app. Drivers connect their CarLock Tag to their smartphone, ensuring they always have access to information on the safety of their vehicle. Initially working on iPhones, the team behind CarLock Tag are already working on transferring their technology to the Android market.
Drivers that use the CarLock Tag can take advantage of automatic arm and disarm monitoring alerts with the CarLock system, making the use of the beneficial suite of tools effortless. CarLock is the product that lets motor owners check and be notified of the security of their car in real time thanks to a whole range of useful functionalities and carefully selected technology.
To find out more visit blog.carlock.co/the-carlock-tag/.
Issued by: Dakota Digital
BAD COP FILES– This reminds me of the time a Connecticut State Trooper Tried To Plant Drugs On Me, I am assuming because I has accused him of stealing motorcycles.
I got lucky because a Danbury police office had searched me prior to it happening and did testify on my behalf.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/14/16649034/lapd-police-plant-evidence-ronald-shields
An LAPD officer accidentally filmed himself putting cocaine in a suspect’s wallet
It’s reportedly the first LAPD body camera video that the media and public have seen.
Police officers can’t seem to stop filming themselves potentially planting evidence.
The latest incident comes from Los Angeles, where an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) accidentally filmed himself placing cocaine in a suspect’s wallet, according to a new report by CBS Los Angeles.
The body camera video shows police picking up Ronald Shields, who was charged with felony hit-and-run, having a gun in the trunk of his car, and cocaine possession in April. The police report claimed cops had found the cocaine in Shields’s left pocket.
The footage tells a different story.
LAPD officer Gaxiola, as CBS Los Angeles identified him, picks up Shields’s wallet from the street and shows it to another officer who then points to Shields. Gaxiola then puts the wallet back down, picks up a small bag of white powder from the street (which later tested positive for cocaine), picks up the wallet, and puts the bag in the wallet.
The audio turns on, signaling that the officer had manually activated his camera to record. Then, the officer shows himself supposedly finding the wallet and the drugs inside of it, and repeatedly telling other officers about it. “Just to let you know, sir, inside his wallet, he has a little bag of narco,” Gaxiola said.
Shields’s lawyer claims that the officers outright planted the drugs to frame his client.
It’s possible, though, that the cops tried to reenact the act of finding the cocaine for the cameras. But that is still very deceptive — and when so clearly caught on video, it makes it hard to trust the police officers with just about everything else they’re doing. It makes a potentially credible case lose all credibility.
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Previously, Baltimore police officers were caught doing this — twice. That led the local prosecutor to drop dozens of cases involving the officers.
–from Rogue
Motorcycle Riders Foundation Announces Recipients — of ‘Legislator of the Year’ Awards- Congressman Tim Walberg (Michigan) and Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) will be awarded the 2017 Motorcycle Legislator of the Year Award, it was announced this month by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.
Since the organization’s inception in 1984, the Legislator of the Year Award annually recognizes lawmakers for their commitment to advancing policies that support motorcycle riders across the nation. The announcement came after careful consideration from the Board of Directors for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation at their annual conference.
Congressman Walberg, who represents Michigan’s 7th District, was one of the leading sponsors of a proposed resolution addressing the profiling of motorcyclists (H.Res.318) introduced in May. If passed, the legislation would increase public awareness on the issue, as well as encourage state law enforcement officials to include statements condemning motorcycle profiling in written policies and training materials.
Congressman Walberg was also supportive in other motorcycle-related legislation, supporting the RPM Act and leading the charge in addressing concerns over the lack of motorcycle representation on the reestablished Motorcycle Advisory Council. Walberg himself is an avid motorcyclist and co-chair of the House Motorcycle Caucus.
“Tim has always been a great friend to the motorcycle community, said Vince Consiglio, Executive Director of ABATE of Michigan and member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, “We know we can count on him to make sure our voice is heard in the halls of Congress.”
Also honored as Legislator of the Year in the Senate, is Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson. Senator Johnson was the lead Republican in sponsoring the Senate companion to the profiling resolution, working across the aisle with Senator Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire. He continues to support the riders in his state through working to ensure motorcyclists’ perspective on automated vehicles policies and EPA emissions issues related to racing.
“We continue to be impressed with Senator Johnson’s commitment to riders in his state and across America,” said Kirk ‘Hardtail’ Willard, Chairman of the Board for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation as well as an active leader for ABATE of Wisconsin. “We can think of no better recipient of this award than Senator Johnson,” he concluded. His efforts related to the anti-profiling measure help reinforce the First and Fourth Amendments as cornerstones of the Bill of Rights.”
With a network of more than 250,000 motorcycle riders and supporters nationwide, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the nation’s premier motorcycle rights organization. They provide leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders and are dedicated to serving as a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle.
Both Senator Johnson and Representative Walberg will be presented with a personalized leather riding vest with their names inscribed at an upcoming event in May.
BACK TO THE TEMPLE IN CHON BURI– Thursday and less than a week till I return on Thanksgiving Day 23 from Thailand.
Sun came out today, so it was a bit warmer out and about. One of the Harley shops has consolidated and moved as a lot of the regular H-D guys are gone.
The army now runs the government and is making the big show in February more difficult for the promoter. Things change as time moves on.
–Art Hall
International Editor and Emperor
Bikernet.com
–from Sam Burns
KURYAKYN INTRODUCES ALL-NEW MESH COLLECTION— New Kuryakyn Sculpted Dash Inserts and Ignition Switch Covers combine unique polished and textured sand-casted finishes for a distinct juxtaposed effect. All components are offered in chrome or contrasting chrome and black finishes for select Harley-Davidson® Touring and Trike models.
Sculpted Dash Inserts are a simple and effective way to create a custom tank console appearance at a fraction of the cost for a complete replacement. Applications for ’08-’18 Street Glide and Road Glide models without CB communications systems are constructed from durable, lightweight injection-molded ABS and replace the stock emblem. Sculpted Dash Inserts for ’08-’18 Limited, Ultra and Tri Glide models are cast from A380 aluminum with a removable ABS cover that conceals the integrated CB headset port when not in use.
•MSRP: $49.99 – $99.99
Sculpted Ignition Switch Covers are cast from A380 aluminum and install over the existing unit for a hassle-free install with no disassembly required. Styling perfectly complements the dash inserts, with a smooth polished raised center and sand-casted sloping edges for a distinctive sculpted look. Multiple fitments are available for most ’07-’18 Electra Glides, Street Glides and Trikes.
•MSRP: $49.99
THE SHERIFF HEADS TO JAPAN–
Two weeks to Mooneyes. I’ll cover all the action for Bikernet.
–CJ
SHERIFF MEDIA GROUP
S-36030 LAMMHULT
SWEDEN
RUN FOR YOUR LIVE— Life is nuts, and I’m studying meditation. You can change how you think about anything. It’s a challenge, but we can find pure peace in any situation.
Meditation is like working out for the brain and your heart. The more calm you become, the better your outlook and the easier you are on your body. But again bikers know the drill without picking up a book. Just ride the dragon tail or a curvy mountain road. That’s pure meditation.
So, turn off the TV and relax with a redhead. Take her out or go for a ride. Don’t let anyone bring you down.
You might read my book about Sam Chopper Orwell. We will ride free until we die and enjoy every minute of it. The bastards will never stop us.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit