Hey,

It’s already the 16th of January. We’re half way into the first month of 2020. Have you done anything different? I’m not talking about ditching your ol’ lady for the bombshell down the block.



Although that’s been my MO for most of my life. Anytime I changed something substantial about my life or moved, I found a girl for the new adventure. I remember my Wyoming love. She recently past of cancer. When she was a kid, she worked in the fields during crop dusting sessions.

Okay, no negative waves. I often tell kids that for overall wealth and stability, you need to stay put, but for some, like myself, staying put was torture. I wanted to go in different directions, although now I have regrets. There’s another topic. Brothers often say, “I have no regrets.” Bullshit, that’s because they blame any stumbles on someone else.

I’ve been married five times and lived with several other women. Yet, I cringe when someone says, “I wasn’t happy in that marriage, so I split.” What happened to the vows? Does it say there in the fine print, “Till death do you part, unless you’re unhappy.”

I’m all over the place today. Keep the search for freedom and adventure alive.

Let’s hit the news:



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







AN UPDATE FROM THE MASTER–Artist David Uhl

** Quick update from Scottsdale, Arizona! We have the gallery here at the Russo and Steele car auction. Hours are 9 am to 9 pm daily through Sunday. If you’re coming, please stop in and say hello.

** From here, we will be headed to Las Vegas next week for the Mecum motorcycle auction. And so it begins again in a new year!

** David has two exciting new pieces on the easel! These will be the first in 2 new series — more info in the next couple of weeks. He’ll be working on one of them here in Arizona this week.

As we get into 2020, we would like to thank all of David’s supporters. We look forward to seeing you on the road this year!

Thanks for your time!


–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director

Uhl Studios
15801 W. Colfax Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
303-913-4840





BIKERNET AND BANDIT’S CANTINA PROGRAMS FOR 2020

The Bikernet family keeps changing to keep pace with shifting technologies. We moved all of Bikernet’s impressive library and 24 years of archived editorial content into Bandit’s Cantina, Bikernet’s subscription-supported section. We focused on the Bikernet Blog as the Free active section and made sure the Bikernet Weekly News is still available for Free.

We are one of the few sites on the planet to afford readers comfortable content without being surrounded by multitudes of ads and pop-ups.



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


On the business side, we continue to build great content featuring the Weekly News, plus a variety of features, tech articles, while keeping a constant eye on legislative matters.



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

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

Don’t hesitate to reach out—
Keith R. (Bandit) Ball
Bandit@bikernet.com
(310) 830-0630










NEWS FROM THE TWISTED ROAD–Meet Danielle



When Danielle listed her bike on Twisted Road she never thought it would bring her this close to the moto community and earn her money.

She took the time to tell us about her scrambler, her youtube fame, and robotics.



Hey Danielle – let’s start with an easy one. Where do you live?
In West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

How long have you been riding?
I grew up with dirt bikes, bicycles, etc., and started riding motorcycles in 2015. Traffic in LA is really bad and a few friends said, “You should get a bike, and come ride with us.” I’m a design geek — my job is to put big, automated robots into factories all over the United States — so when I heard that Ducati was releasing a revamp of the scrambler, I fell in love with it on Instagram. It’s known as sort of a millenial bike, totally targeted to me and I fell for it. I signed up to take a safety course and after the first day, I went to the dealership and got that Ducati before I even had my license. Passed the test the next day, and have been riding ever since.

Ride of choice?

Ducati Scrambler. It’s a ‘70s throwback cafe racer style.

Are you an Owner and/or Renter on Twisted Road?

I’ve been on both sides. I’ve rented out my bike probably 25 times now, but I’ve only rented once so far — and it was a local rental. A female artist visiting LA rented my bike for a week and it happened to fall during the Pride Parade. I live in West Hollywood and I always lead a group of friends riding in the parade and suddenly realized, “Oh snap, I don’t have my bike!” So I rented a big, loud Harley. And now I totally get why they’re great bikes for cruising and parades. It was interesting to ride a different bike.

Favorite thing so far about the Twisted Road experience?

There’s a few. First of all, everyone is so fun. It really feels like you’re lending your bike to a friend. Motorcyclists are kind of like a friendly group to begin with. One rental was to a young guy in his 20’s from Burbank. His whole family rides and his mom and dad flew in from the Midwest and his two parents rented bikes; his mom rented mine. The three of them went down the central coast for 3-4 days — it was just so nice and adorable to see them ride off together. That was an aww moment.

Another guy runs a YouTube channel called Ducati Spacers and he made a video of his rental experience and interviewed me while he was getting the bike. That was cool (even though it was early and I had literally just woken up). Another time, the Instagrammers the Scrambler Brothers rented my bike and they are both photographers and they took a ton of gorgeous pics of my bike in really beautiful places.

There are also more and more female renters. I met an awesome mom who is a Trader Joe’s manager, and she rented for a week; she has the exact same bike but not in LA, and we are still friends. Another woman came for friend’s concert in San Francisco and came back early so I had her hop on the back of the bike and showed her around LA. I am thrilled that other girls ride bikes. There’s a huge women’s moto community in LA.



Local riding tip?

The ride I like to tell people to do starts at my house. Go down the famous Sunset Blvd with its hotels and big billboards. It dumps into Bev HIlls goes all the way to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). There’s a little hidden lake on the way. It’s called the Lake Shrine. It’s a buddhist temple that’s also a lake and it’s free (including parking if you’re on a motorcycle). Take a moment to take it all in. It’s one of my favorite places — a beautiful spot nestled in the hills of LA that most people wouldn’t even know is there. It’s fun to take in this little hidden gem then get right back into the chaos of LA again.


We want you to be our next Twisted Road success story. It’s as easy as:

1. List Your motorcycle
Listing your motorcycle is easy: price your moto where you feel comfortable, upload your photos, and write a brief description.

2. Review Rental Requests & Approve Who You Want
With Twisted Road you get to choose who rents your bike, and you remain in full control of your schedule.

3. Rent Your Motorcycle
Rest assured that your guest is covered by 24/7 roadside assistance and Twisted Road will help you through every step, from making sure the renter is properly insured up to the pre-trip checklist.

4. Earn Money & Repeat!
Twisted Road pays funds directly to you. Don’t let your motorcycle cost you any more money.


We love your enthusiasm and interest, and we will always do what we can to help connect riders through providing access to bikes.

Let’s ride the world together.

Austin Rothbard
Founder and CEO
www.twistedroad.com






POLARIS TAKES SLINGSHOT TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH DYNAMIC REDESIGN, ALL-NEW POWERTRAIN & AUTODRIVE TRANSMISSION

It’s Automatic – New AutoDrive Transmission Allows More Drivers to Join the Slingshot Community



•New Polaris ProStar 2.0L DOHC Four-Cylinder Engine Delivers up to 203 Horsepower at 8250 RPM
•Available with the New AutoDrive Transmission or Manual, each with 2 Drive Modes for a Customizable Drive
•Fully Redesigned Interior and Upgraded Finishes Brings Refinement and Style Into the Cockpit
•Revised Chassis and Suspension Improves Handling and Vehicle Dynamics



With style and attitude unlike anything else on the road, Polaris Slingshot introduces its all-new 2020 lineup. Most significantly, Slingshot is now available with the all-new AutoDrive transmission, making it more accessible and opening the door for legions of drivers to be able to experience the totally unique sensation that only comes from behind the wheel of a Slingshot. Powered by Polaris’ first-ever four-cylinder engine and featuring 70 percent new vehicle content, the 2020 Slingshot SL and Slingshot R take the Slingshot experience to a whole new level.



Taking center stage of the 2020 lineup is Slingshot’s AutoDrive, a hydraulically actuated automated manual five-speed synchromesh transmission. With no clutch pedal or manual shifting necessary, drivers can operate the 2020 Slingshot lineup as easily as any other vehicle with a standard automatic transmission.


At the heart of the 2020 Slingshot is Polaris Industries’ first four-cylinder engine, the ProStar 2.0L. Tuned to perfection and put through an exhaustive track and on-road testing program, the ProStar 2.0L was designed to deliver a range of performance capabilities and to enhance an already incredible on-road experience. The SL packs 178 horsepower at an incredible 8500 RPM, while the new R model redlines at 8500 RPM and puts out a jaw-dropping 203 peak horsepower at 8250 RPM – an increase of 30 horsepower when compared to the previous powertrain. With an all-new tuned exhaust, the ProStar engine roars down the road, ensuring everyone within ear-shot will take notice.





The Coral Head MusicFest in Marathon is coming up quick. Be sure to get your discount advance tickets, reserve your vendor space, and take advantage of our great raffles

MERCHANDISE VENDOR SPACES
AS LOW AS $100

ADVANCE GA TICKETS – $27 (LIMITED VIP AVAILABLE)

1965 H.D. PAN HEAD RAFFLE TICKETS


VENDOR REGISTRATION:
https://www.coralheadmusicfest.com/country-vendor

TICKET SALES
https://www.coralheadmusicfest.com/tickets

1965 HARLEY DAVIDSON PAN HEAD RAFFLE:
https://www.coralheadmusicfest.com/contests




AUSTRALIAN FIRE NEWS–The fires are nowhere near where I live so not a problem.

But bad elsewhere in many places.
Heavy Greenie lobbying has restricted how much farmers can clear their land of dead branches/leaves/fallen trees etc. so the fuel load had built up incredibly.

Many species of Aussie trees can only reproduce after there has been a bush fire, that’s how they evolved over millions of years.

We’ve always had bush fires, mainly induced by lightning, but the increased fuel load and a dry winter have combined into these beauties.

–Doc
Heavy Duty Magazine
Australia






BANDIT’S INDIAN IS FIVE YEARS OLD– Happy New Year from American Biker!

After going through our sales records, it occurs to us that it has been about 5 years since you purchased your Indian Motorcycle.

Indian has made some exciting improvements and introduced some new models since then that we’d love to show you. There are trade-in incentives of $1000 on 2019 Chief, Chief Vintage, and Springfield. There’s $1500 trade-in incentives on 2019 Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, and Chieftain Darkhorse. As well as $2000 trade-in incentive on 2019 Chieftain Limited, Roadmaster, and Roadmaster Elite.



Wouldn’t you like to come in and see if we can update your ride for the New Year? Give us a call at the shop at 843-641-0258/Rob cell# 917-623-3578 or just come on in. Ask for Rob… you all know him, right? Come in and rediscover why we’re the coolest motorcycle shop in the lowcountry!

–AMERICAN BIKER
Charlotte, NC





QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
The Gearhead’s Belle Gets Featured.



https://www.bikernet.com/pages/The_Gearheads_Belle_Gets_Featured.aspx


Whoa, you are the bomb Bandit. The article is better than I or the old girl deserve. I can’t thank you enough for the presentation of my bike.

I am one of those guys who always wanted an article of a bike or car in a magazine, but I just did not qualify because they weren’t custom enough.

With the death of EASYRIDER I just gave up trying. All things come full circle sometimes. Thanks to you and the Bikernet staff.

TKOB




— Gearhead
Torrance, CA










WINTER RIDING TIPS FROM CYCLE TRADER–Winter is in full swing but there’s no need to pack up your bike for the season if you don’t want to. One of the best parts about riding is that you have the freedom to make your own rules – that means if you like riding in the cold, you should. Check out a few of our quick tips for winter riding that will help keep you warm and safe wherever you ride.

It’s All About the Layers – Gear is so important when riding in cold weather. Wearing layers while riding in the winter is ideal because you can easily control the amount of heat you need. Start with a solid base layer that not only keeps your body warm, but is made of a breathable material to keep any sweat you may produce from developing into cooled body moisture. Top your base layer with a fleece jacket with an insulated neck collar or a wind-stopping jacket depending on the temperature outside. Check out more details on specific gear and a few of our top recommendations in our “Cold Weather Riding Gear” post.



Add Winter Accessories – Use windscreens and handguards to your advantage to keep winter rides as enjoyable as possible and not something you end up dreading. The wind is part of what we love about riding, but the screen protects both you and the bike, and handguards will ensure you maintain a steady grip throughout the duration of the ride. If you really want to take hand comfort to the next level, consider installing heated handle grips to your bike during the colder months of the year.




Check Your Tires – You should be checking your bike with the T-CLOCS method before each ride, but this is especially crucial when riding in colder weather. Make sure to check your tire pressure every couple of rides – not just before long rides, but as well as rides in new areas, and before storage because the cold weather can have an impact, even if you just filled them up. In fact, a motorcycle tire loses about 1 PSI for every 10° drop in outside temperatures. You’ll also want to examine the treads of your motorcycle before each ride to make sure there’s optimal traction during winter riding conditions.

Take Extra Stops – If you’re freezing cold, your mind isn’t going to be completely focused on the road ahead. It’s more than fine to take extra stops along your route to warm up – in fact, we encourage it. During your stops, make sure to hydrate and maybe even grab a snack to get your metabolism and blood flow going.

Have a Towing Service on Hand – In case the worst should happen, you’ll want to make sure you have a towing service saved in your phone that has some kind of motorcycle experience – you never know when a problem will strike, and you want to be prepared with a company you know will not only know how to properly tow your bike, but also treat it well in the process.

Be EXTRA Cautious – If you live in an area with snow or ice, you’ll need to slow down and increase your distance from other riders and cars during this time of year. This may seem obvious, but black ice comes out of nowhere, even for experienced riders – so if the road looks at all icy, it’s best to take another route or switch lanes. Also, be on the lookout for salt remnants from plows that can not only tarnish your bike but decrease overall traction. Speaking of plows, they can often create cracks in roads, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for any obstructions as you ride – especially ones that are newly formed, which might be hiding among snow and other winter debris.




Check the Forecast – We hope you do this before every ride, but checking the weather forecast before you hit the road is increasingly important during the winter months. If snow is in the forecast for the day you plan on riding, we recommend sitting that ride out. While riding in snow might seem exciting, it can cause decreased visibility and ice that you’ll want to avoid. We know forecasts aren’t always correct, so if you are out riding when snow begins to fall, we recommend getting home or finding shelter ASAP. If the snow has you sitting around, you can always check out our most recent articles so you can still get your motorcycle fix in the meantime.



Not all of us take riding breaks during the winter months, so we hope these tips help you stay safe and warm while riding the colder months of the year. Do you have any winter weather riding tips you’d like to share? Drop us a line in the comments below.

Check out a few bikes on Cycle Trader with heated grips that will have you ready to ride this winter:

— Cycle Trader Blog





[page break]



BIKERNET CONTRIBUTOR COMMENT– Been reading Bandit’s Cantina. Catching up. I haven’t read it in years. Cool that you are still writing it. Kurt Sutter could get some inspiration there. Maybe he did lol.

I read a lot and think a little bit about why we do the things we do. There are all kinds of people that make up this crazy world. We are afflicted with the hero syndrome. We grew up on westerns and cop shows and books where there is always a hero that defends the weak and innocent and women in trouble.

We built these wild machines and for the main purpose of attracting the opposite sex. It worked too. In my case I was too small to be a jock, so I had a cool car and played guitar. That worked pretty well too.

Now here we are in our seventies and still doing the same stuff for mostly the same reasons. Meanwhile, I watched a special on I think Fox about what is really going on in Mexico and the border problems. I had hopes the Mexican government would crack down on the cartels but there is just too much money involved.

Phoenix is now the drug hub of the US. The Mexican government is on the run. Tourism is down. The fiction you write about is close to the truth. Trump can’t fix it. A wall won’t fix it. Most of the people wanting to come here from Mexico are honest poor people that want to get away from the crime. It’s crazy.

No wonder you want to move to Deadwood. Just letting off a little steam. Hope I didn’t bore you.

–Bill May



Hey Bill,

You write very well. I love your comments. There are stories I don’t tell. I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last year

Motorcycling and choppers represented freedom and escapism. I just wanted to build and ride and be left alone to write. I don’t want to hang out or run with the cool guys. I just like to build and write.

This Deadwood adventure has been scary and challenging. You know, most of what we do is influenced by people around us. My biggest challenge is sorting the bullshit from the good-shit.

I’ve built a super-cool motorcycle nirvana here, but I’m ready for something new. I’ll miss it, but I know I would love a similar building in Deadwood. I just got to get past the naysayers and go for it.


–Bandit





TANYA TUCKER THRILLS SOLD OUT RYMAN AUDITORIUM AUDIENCE– GUEST PERFORMANCES INCLUDE BILLY RAY CYRUS, LEE ANN WOMACK, DENNIS QUAID, MARGO PRICE, JAMEY JOHNSON, BILLY JOE SHAVER, JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ, WALKER COUNTY, ERIN ENDERLIN AND HAILEY WHITTERS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For more than two hours, country icon and original female outlaw, Tanya Tucker, thrilled a SOLD OUT crowd at the historic Ryman Auditorium with nonstop hits, her unmistakable wit and an ‘only in Nashville’ slate of guest appearances by Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Ann Womack, Dennis Quaid, Margo Price, Jamey Johnson, Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Rodriguez, Walker County, Erin Enderlin and Hailey Whitters.

The audience fell in love with Tanya during a set list that spanned five decades, including new material from Tanya’s While I’m Livin’, which landed four 2020 GRAMMY nominations.

“There is no place in this world that I would rather perform than right here at the Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music. What a beautiful, beautiful view I have. The greatest award in the world is right here,” Tanya shared with the audience.

Tanya leads all country GRAMMY nominees with four nods, including in the all genre Song Of The Year category for “Bring My Flowers Now,” as well as Best Country Album: While I’m Livin’, Best Country Solo Performance: “Bring My Flowers Now,” and Best Country Song: “Bring My Flowers Now.” Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, While I’m Livin’, Tanya’s first new album in 17 years was released in August.


Next month, Tanya will kick off the “CMT Next Women of Country: Bring My Flowers Now Tour” on February 5. The CMT tour will make stops in such major cities as Boston, Dallas, Houston, New York, Ontario, Vancouver and more. Limited tickets are still available in some markets at TanyaTucker.com.




LIFESTYLECYCLE DEAL OF THE WEEK–
2016 Harley-Davidson® FLSS – Softail Slim® S for $15,995.00

see it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=8179038

2016 Harley Davidson FLSS Softail Slim 110ci


The good old days are right now: The Softail Slim is a study in contrasts. The perfect blend of classic, raw bobber style. A modern ride with unmistakable old-iron attitude.The Hollywood bars, slim rear wheel, cat eye console and floor boards recall the early days of custom motorcycle enthusiasm.

Yet, you also get thoroughly modern features like a High Output Twin Cam 110B engine, hidden suspension and great brakes to bring it all into the here and now. Notice the way bright chrome meets blacked-out metal. Laced wheels with stamped black rims. There’s never been a better time to be a rider.

This FLSS Softail Slim has only 4,258 miles!!!



ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

This is a sweet and very fast ride with minimal mileage, it’s almost new! Olive Green paint with tank graphic US Army star is like new. Vivid Black console with leather strap. Vivid Black bars, black mirrors, levers, and blinkers. Vivid black nacelle, headlamp, polished complete vivid black fork on wide laced vivid black rims.

Black 2:2 exhaust and ABS anti-lock braking system. This Slim is nicely blacked out. Vivid black rocker covers, chrome push-rod tubes, polished tappet blocks, vivid black cam with H-D logo, trans cover, air cleaner, oil bag, primary and derby cover. Black powder ‘POW – MIA’ horn cover. Solo seat with floorboards and chrome kickstand. Vivid black fender supports, rear axle caps, chain guard, swing arm and black drive sprocket with polished rim. Vivid black LED stop / turn / tail with a LED lit side mounted license plate.



The paint is super clean!!! No scratches, No dings, No chips, No scuffs, this bike is EXCELLENT!!!

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 100-point safety and mechanical inspection and comes with Lifestyles 90 day / 1,000-mile limited warranty. Whether you’re 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!!!

Only $15,995 at Lifestyle Cycles (714) 490-0155







Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Smith helps raise money for AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame–AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Smith has teamed up with the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation to help raise funds for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Donations of any amount are welcome.

Those making generous donations to the Hall of Fame–$5,000 or more–receive a restored Husqvarna gas tank autographed by Smith.

All donors receive a support pin, and additional incentives are available at other levels of support. Make a donation today.







The Birth of Dirty Dixie Performance– Both Sam and Denton work at a tire plant, which is where they met. “I’d been riding my bike every day, and Denton saw it,” Sam mentioned. Denton added, “We met one day in the smoking area, the local hangout for heathens and riff raff.” The two started talking about bikes, and they still haven’t stopped.

“When I was younger,” noted Denton, “I had a cool resume of jobs in the high-performance auto world focused on racing. But when I had my daughter I had to choose between that and a serious stable living, which is how I ended up at my day job. Sam and I would both ride to work and bullshit about motorcycles. One day, Sam said something about me doing something on his bike. Next thing I knew I was at his house working on his bike.”

“We kept talking about what we could do if we had the money. This was I could do it. The café racer crowd had been doing it for years, but it hadn’t really been done in the Harley world. We kept getting into more expensive personal motorcycles and modifications, getting in deeper and deeper, and one day Sam said, ‘Why do you work at the plant instead of doing this for a living?’ So I told him about my background.”

“I told him, ‘Are you kidding me right now?’” Sam interrupted. “Denton’s not a braggadocios person. He has a lot of skill and I felt there were places we could go with this.”

“So, we kicked around the idea of a business for a year, but it was more of a joke at the time,” Denton continued. “Sam would bring his bike over, I’d post stuff on Facebook about it. Finally, in August 2018, we officially launched Dirty Dixie Performance on IG, and from then on out, it just started growing.”

“Sometimes it’s tough to push enough income to the side to invest in our business – we’ve done this with no investment capital because we don’t want to owe anyone – so we started signing up for overtime, working 65 to 80 hours a week. All that overtime we invest in our business.”

–from Thunder Press




AMA FLORIDA NEWS–DAYTONA – The American Motorcyclist Association will once again kick off the AMA National Gypsy Tour Series during Daytona Bike Week. Visit us March 6th-14th at Daytona International Speedway.

TAMPA – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation will offer Keeping a New Generation of Motorcyclists Safe, a session presented as part of the Lifesavers National Conference, the largest gathering of highway safety professionals in the United States, March 15-17.

National

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of United States Trade Representative has again proposed tariffs on motorcycles with an engine size between 500cc and 700cc, along with parts and accessories, imported from countries in the European Union, as part of a dispute over aircraft subsidies. This proposal comes after the USTR announced in October that these motorcycles would not be subject to tariffs originally proposed in April.

This continued targeting of the motorcycle community and industry only brings uncertainty and harm to American motorcyclists and the small businesses that support them. The AMA is joining others in the motorcycling community to oppose the USTR’s ill-conceived proposal. Motorcyclists should not be penalized with exorbitant tariffs because of an unrelated trade dispute.

Any trade sanctions imposed as a result of this dispute should come from more closely related industries or products. You can make your voice heard on this issue by following this link: https://tinyurl.com/qspkcrc.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Motorcyclists rode a little less in 2018 than in the year before, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Riders traveled 20.1 billion miles in 2018, down about 1 percent from 2017.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released highway crash fatality data for 2018, showing a 2.4 percent decline in overall fatalities, the second consecutive year of reduced crash fatalities.

Motorcyclist fatalities declined 4.7 percent. The report shows that 4,985 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2018, down 244 from the 5,229 fatalities in 2017.

AMA News

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Get your tickets and make your plans to be at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, July 10-12 for 2020 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. AMA members can purchase discounted tickets now at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com/tickets.

AMA members save an additional $5 off the already discounted early bird pricing. AMA members can also call (614) 856-1900 to order their tickets. A fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days showcases classic motorcycles of all makes and styles, and honors the riders who made them famous.

Activities at the event include the AMA Vintage Grand Championship, which features road racing, motocross, hare scrambles, trials and flat-track racing. In addition, North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet is packed with parts, bikes and memorabilia from all eras. Bike shows feature some of history’s most beloved motorcycles. Attendees will be entertained by stunt shows, demo rides of current production bikes and live music, while seminars on numerous topics by noted motorcycling experts keep them informed.

Non-AMA members and those reserving RV spaces must purchase tickets through Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. These tickets are available online at midohio.com or by calling (419) 884-4000. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a family-friendly event. Admission is free for children under 12 accompanied by a ticketed adult. Free parking is also available on site.



Join these AMA-chartered organizers for the following sanctioned competition events:

FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS
Type: Off Road
Date: 1/25-1/26/2020
Phone: 352-538-6291
Location: Okeechobee
Recreation_596052.jpg
Join the following chartered organizers for these AMA-sanctioned recreational events:

DIXIE DUAL SPORT
Event: Devil’s Creek Dual Sport
Type: Dual Sport
Date: 2/28-3/1/2020
Phone: 727-919-8299
Location: Brooksville





DIRECT FROM THE VA– Join Vet Tix and enjoy free tickets to sporting events, concerts and more.

More than 6.7 million tickets have been distributed to Vet Tix members

Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) understands that our military members carry heavy burdens of stress and sacrifice. Many also spend time away from their families. It can take months or years for service members and Veterans to reintegrate.

Veterans who experience challenges related to PTSD and other service-related disabilities could potentially be impacted for the rest of their lives. Thousands of families will forever grieve for their loved ones who have perished in service to our great nation.




Veterans were given the VIP treatment through Vet Tix, spending time with NASCAR driver Kurt Busch.

Rest and leisure are of undeniable importance to a person’s health and welfare. Our Founding Fathers declared the pursuit of happiness to be an inalienable human right.

To enrich our Veterans’ quality of life and thank them for their service, Vet Tix provides free event tickets to currently-serving members of the military, Veterans (of all eras of service) and their families, as well as immediate family of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving. These tickets are donated by organizations that include sports teams, concert promoters, entertainment venues and individual donors.

Veterans can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, rekindle relationships and reconnect with their community by attending entertainment events, shared interests and community activities. Vet Tix members do this by choosing available events in their local area that interest them and their family via daily email event notifications from Vet Tix.

We want to honor and support those that served and sacrificed so much in service to our nation. Sacrifices of serving, both mental and physical can stay with our Veterans the rest of their lives. Recognizing our Veterans and supporting their transition back into their communities and with their families is a gift of gratitude in which we all can take part in.



Some military kids are on their way to the Brandywine Ballet, courtesy of Vet Tix.

Vet Tix has grown to over 1.2 million members and continues to add new members every month. Over 6.7 million tickets have been distributed to our members and we are projected to distribute over 2.5 million tickets in 2019. Live Nation Entertainment, which is the largest donor and partner of Vet Tix, has donated over one million tickets to Vet Tix and continues to support our mission.

Importantly, Vet Tix has received more than 400,000 testimonials from Veterans, service members and their families describing the positive experience and impact on their family resilience and community integration as a result of attending events in their area through Vet Tix.

We have received over 700 testimonials from individuals identifying themselves as experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress. They have shared their stories of success in addressing these challenges through attending events provided by Vet Tix.

Vet Tix is committed to helping put Veterans and service members (including Reserve and Guard) in empty seats at various games and so many other events across the nation. We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that channels more than 95% of its revenues directly into programs. 100% of every dollar donated to Vet Tix goes to purchase additional event tickets.

To become a Vet Tix member, simply head to https://www.vettix.org and create an account for free. Once your service/status is verified, you will receive notifications and can submit requests for available event tickets to upcoming events in your local area. VetTixers request tickets to events that interest them, if randomly selected, pay a small delivery fee and receive their free tickets.

Steven Weintraub is Chief Strategy Officer of the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) and a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.




BIKERNET BOOK OF THE WEEK CLUB–Wire Your Brain For Joy To Overcome Stress Overload And Experience All The Rewards Of A Purposeful Life

The Stress Overload Solution: A Proven, Neuroscience Method for Optimal Well-being
Release Date: April 2019
Publisher: EBT Books
ISBN-10: 0578512815
ISBN-13: 978-0578512815
Available from Amazon.com


Stress is blocking our joy! It encodes faulty brain circuits that get us hooked on negative moods, unwanted habits, work obsessions and relationship problems. The Stress Overload Solution tells us to stop focusing on problems and set our sights on wiring our brain for joy.

One by one those faulty wires that trigger problems fall away as they can’t compete with joy! Laurel Mellin, Ph.D., a New York Times bestselling author, UCSF professor, and the founder of Emotional Brain Training (EBT), maps out a 30-day program to turn problems into solutions and stress into joy.

Dr. Mellin’s techniques are stunningly simple: Start your day by saying, “I am creating joy in my life.” Then whenever you are not in joy, celebrate that moment. It’s caused by a faulty wire and when that wire is activating stress, its neurons are unlocked and by using simple techniques, you can return to joy in a couple of minutes and savor the fact that you are rewiring that faulty circuit.

Dr. Mellin shows us that stress can be good for us, as a moment of stress is a moment of rewiring to reach our goal ? to become wired for joy.

The magic of the method is that stress-fueled drives (moods, relationships, work issues, and habits) are caused by “crossed wires” in the brain. It encodes a false association with a basic need like safety or love with something that does not give us either.

Once that wire is encoded, we have strong drives to repeat that behavior or engage in that mood. The drive doesn’t stop until we rewire that circuit. Once discovered, the reader locks in a new circuit that drives them to meet their true need in a healthier way, and be motivated to follow through for a higher purpose; such as authenticity, vibrancy, intimacy, spirituality, or freedom.

In this 30-day program, Dr. Mellin expertly explains how to wire your brain for joy. Using the Emotional Brain Training (EBT) method, her book is a complete how-to manual to train your own brain to create joy in your life. Once learned, you’ll use these tools for a lifetime and pass them on to everyone because you appreciate that the world we create for ourselves is either stress overload or limitless joy – and you choose JOY.


For more information, please visit ebt.org; read Dr. Mellin’s blog at brainbasedhealth.org;
or connect with her on Instagram at instagram.com/drlaurelmellin/ or on Facebook at facebook.com/ebtgroups.





[page break]


BIKERNET ROARING ‘20S SECURITY WARNING—The Redhead received this from her stock market consultant in the alley behind the marina.

He pointed out to her, while staring at her voluptuous tits, that when you sign anything this year you need to use a 4-digit year. Don’t sign 1/16/20. It’s too easy for someone to add 19 to the end of 20, for 2019 and change the date on that check or document.

Something to think about.

–Bandit




THE BILTWELL ADVENTURE–Operation Numbnuts

We’re gonna ride to the Arctic Circle
It might be obvious that our favorite thing about motorcycles here at Biltwell is riding and camping with friends. If those motorcycles are at least mildly inappropriate, it makes things more difficult and therefore way more interesting.

With that in mind, the concept of Operation Numbnuts was born: Let’s ride bikes to the Arctic Circle, swim in freezing cold water for 30 seconds and then ride home. Of course, we aren’t the first idiots to do it, but we might have the most fun along the way. Check out our first blog and video on the subject as we start the build process on a surplus military LMTV support vehicle…?







BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY LESSON–sidesplitter
[ sahyd-split-er ]
noun

something that is uproariously funny, as a joke or a situation.

WORDS RELATED TO SIDESPLITTER
uproar, panic, hoot, laugh, howl, show, sensation, revelry, carousal, wow, splash, lark, frolic, extravaganza, festivity, merrymaking, confusion, excess, flourish, smash

ORIGIN OF SIDESPLITTER
1875–80; from the idiom to split one’s sides (laughing); see -er1





NEWS FROM THE ACE CAFÉ–Did you know?!

On September 4th, 1994, an event was held to mark the closure of Ace Cafe London 25 years earlier, in September of 1969.

Little did anyone realize that it would turn into one of the LARGEST motorcycle and rock n’ roll events anyone had seen! An estimated 7,000 bikes and 12,000 people attended!

This reunion is responsible for the reopening of the iconic Ace Cafe London! This event also prompted the opening of many other worldwide locations, such as Ace Cafe Orlando!





BUFFALO MOTORAMA NEWS–The Largest Indoor Custom Car and Bike Show this side of New York
April 9-11, 2020 – Buffalo Convention Center

Just 3 months until the 2020 Buffalo Motorama – Easter Weekend – April 9-11, 2020

On April 9-11, 2020 the Buffalo Convention Center in Buffalo New York will host the BIGGEST and BEST indoor custom car and bike show this side of New York.
This year Marks our 10th Anniversary showcasing some of the best vehicles from across the country, vendors, and something for the entire family to enjoy.

For up-to-date information on the show, sponsor/vendor information, features, and more, visit our website www.BuffaloMotorama.com

Like our Facebook page to be eligible for prizes and contests
www.facebook.com/buffalomotorama

Contact Joe at show@buffalomotorama.com or 716-222-2590 for more information





THE AUSTRALIAN PROJECT– I will visit you in deadwood. Such a nice place when the rally is not on.

Not a lot of creativity going on at the moment. Head down, ass up.
But here’s a little sumthin’ we been building.

–Nicole Brosing
Australia




INDIAN MOTORCYCLE WRECKING CREW RETURNS TO AMERICAN FLAT TRACK IN 2020 WITH SIGHTS SET ON A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

With the Bauman Brothers Intent on Building on the Success of 2019, “the Jammer” Looks to Expand His Legacy & Reclaim the Number One Plate

Indian Motorcycle Racing today confirmed its return for the 2020 American Flat Track (AFT) season in the series’ newly developed Super Twins class. For the second consecutive season, the Indian Wrecking Crew will feature 2019 Grand National Champion Briar Bauman, brother Bronson Bauman, who finished third overall in 2019, and six-time Grand National Champion Jared “the Jammer” Mees, who finished second overall in 2019.

In addition, AFT legend and fan favorite Brad “the Bullet” Baker returns as Technical Advisor and Rider Coach for the Bauman brothers. After capturing the top three spots in the 2019 standings, Indian Motorcycle Racing enters the 2020 series with its sights set on capturing its fourth consecutive Grand National Championship and Manufacturer’s Championship.


The Bauman brothers will again be backed by the operational and technical expertise of Paul Langley and S&S. The ongoing support from S&S since Indian’s return to the series in 2017 has been instrumental to the capabilities of the Indian FTR750, now a fixture throughout the AFT paddock, and the performance of Indian Motorcycle Racing and its riders.

In addition, Dave Zanotti will continue as Crew Chief, with Dustin Say and Clayton Gatewood handling mechanic duties for Briar and Bronson Bauman respectively. Once again, Jared Mees’ operation will be supported by long-time Crew Chief Kenny Tolbert, and mechanics Bubba Bentley and Jimmy Wood. S&S’s Dean Young continues his ongoing role as the Wrecking Crew Team Manager.



2019 saw the Bauman brothers stake their claim as the sport’s most dynamic duo, under the guidance of Crew Chief Dave Zanotti. Briar Bauman asserted his dominance immediately, winning the Daytona TT season opener, and never relenting the rest of the season on the way to his first Grand National Championship. The elder Bauman was a picture of consistency, capturing five victories and earning podium finishes in 17 of 20 events.

Meanwhile, 2019 was a season of extremes for Mees, capturing a series-best eight victories, only to come up a mere seven points short of his seventh Grand National Championship. For the younger Bauman, 2019 was a year to establish himself as one of the series’ most intense and exciting competitors, capturing five podiums, including his first career AFT Twins victory at Laconia.

In 2020, in addition to S&S, Indian will benefit significantly from the support of its valued sponsors, including presenting sponsor Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, Parts Ulimited, Drag Specialities, Indian Motorcycle Oil, Alpinestars, J&P Cycles and Bell Helmets.


For 2020, AFT is introducing new regulations to continue its ongoing effort to create more competitive balance, and once again, these regulations challenge Indian and the FTR750 specifically. The case in point is AFT’s mandate that the Indian FTR750 will have a limit on flywheel mass which can effect power delivery and stability.







CLIMATE NEWS FROM THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE–Lake Tahoe Reaches Maximum Limit Again, Defying Alarmist Climate Claims

By Tiffany Taylor

The beach may indeed be “different,” but it certainly isn’t a crisis of minimal precipitation and low water levels, as climate activists recently claimed.

Lake Tahoe is enjoying a third consecutive year reaching its maximum allowable water level, forcing climate activists to backtrack on alarmist water level claims.

When relatively low water levels were registered in 2015–16, climate activists claimed global warming was causing a “new normal” of persistent drought and low water levels. Yet abundant precipitation and high-water levels show climate activists cried “crisis” too soon.

Lake Tahoe’s high-water levels are merely one beneficiary of abundant precipitation and water availability. The January 2 issue of the [JH1] reported California’s water reservoirs are at record levels, with the most stored water in California history. The picture “could hardly be any rosier,” reported the Register. For example, water in Shasta Lake, which is the largest reservoir in California, is currently 117 percent of normal.

The chart below, published by the U.S. Geological Survey, shows Lake Tahoe water levels reaching their maximum limit three years in a row.





Lake Tahoe has reached 9.0 feet above gage level for three years in a row.

Climate activists are facing major embarrassment after claiming the 2015-16 drought represented the dawn of a “new normal” of low water levels caused by global warming.

The news is particularly embarrassing for climate activists like Pacific Institute president emeritus Peter Gleick, who was extensively quoted in a 2018 Reno Gazette Journal article claiming global warming may be causing a “new normal” of drought and low lake levels.

“Gleick said that due to climate change, winter conditions once considered warmer and less snowy than average for the 20th century have become the norm for the 21st,” the Gazette Journal reported.

Gleick warned that water managers were not keeping up with climate change and less water availability.

“With a few exceptions, the warnings that climate change was going to change California’s water have been ignored,” Gleick told the Gazette Journal.

When the Lake Tahoe water level reaches its maximum allowable limit of 9 feet above gage height, or 6,229.1 feet above sea level, water managers must release additional water into the Truckee River to keep the lake from rising too high. The prospect of Truckee River releases is becoming a yearly conversation. The big complaint now is narrower Lake Tahoe beaches caused by high water levels.

“There were big beaches at lower water levels,” said Lake Tahoe Deputy Water Master Dave Wathen, according to the San Fransicsco news site, SFist. “Sand Harbor Beach near Incline Village is a very big beach. A lot of people could fit on it. Now, it’s tighter. It’s drastically different.”

The beach may indeed be “different,” but it certainly isn’t a crisis of minimal precipitation and low water levels, as climate activists recently claimed.

Tiffany Taylor (TTaylor@heartland.org) is a policy analyst at The Heartland Institute.





FREEDOM ALERT–New WV bill would allow you to drive or ride a motorcycle without a helmet

By Tyler Barker
WEST VIRGINIA (WOAY)

A bill introduced in a committee in both the House and Senate would allow someone to operate a motorcycle without a helmet.

HB 2070 and SB 153 would allow persons who are 21 years of age or older to operate or be a passenger on a motorcycle without a helmet if they have held a motorcycle license for a minimum of two years.

–WOAY TV




MEMO FROM THE BIKERNET LAW OFFICES–Justices turn away appeal for women who went topless at beach.

WASHINGTON, The Supreme Court is leaving in place the public nudity convictions of three women who removed their bathing suit tops on a New Hampshire beach as part of a campaign advocating for the rights of women to go topless.

The justices declined Monday to review a state court decision that found no violation of the women’s constitutional rights. Heidi Lilley, Kia Sinclair and Ginger Pierro are part of the Free the Nipple campaign. They were arrested in 2016 after removing their tops at a beach in Laconia and refusing to put them on

Oh, to back in the days of Easyriders when a good portion of event photos were topless– LOL



–Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™





BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Building the H-D Juneau Plant



https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Building_the_HD_Juneau_Plant.aspx



One of the best things I have ever done was this past summer– I went to the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.



Words cannot describe it. I loved the history, all the old paperwork, the pristine antique bikes One of my favorite displays was a wall with a multiple-tank display I remembered a lot of those tanks.

I went 3 days in a row! Hope to go again someday soon.


–Mike Pullin
mikethestealth@hotmail.com
Charlotte, nc








HIGH TIMES NEWS–messing up the edgy sub-culture they really don’t get or understand.

Cannabis Magazine ‘High Times’ to Get a Digital Update, Says New CEO

By Chloe Aiello and Lauren Sonnenberg

Jan 14, 2020 High Times Magazine, the prominent but struggling pot publication, is looking to shift away from its stoner reputation and focus on covering the broader culture as marijuana shifts to the mainstream, says CEO Stormy Simon, who just took the helm last week.

Simon takes over as the 45-year-old company looks to monetize its business, expand its digital footprint, and make a mark in retail stores as it pivots toward a “physical and virtual” cannabis

Read in Cheddar: https://apple.news/A2fwZFTysSPS2QNJvCtb6CQ



–from Geno





PERFORMANCE UPGRADES FROM THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY–The polymer platform that broke the mold is now built around the all new META™ trigger for the ultimate performance in a striker-fired firearm.



Further enhanced with removable magwell, increased capacity of 22+1 (20+1 with short magwell models) and improved slide serrations, the new XD-M® Elite represents the pinnacle of full-size, polymer-framed pistol design.










Happy New Year Bikernet Janitor and Underlings!—So, I took the Shovelhead out yesterday evening and then again this morning. I always try and ride on New Year’s Day to start the year off right, leave early. Actually got them both out, Shovelhead is finally down, trans seal. But she really wants more gears I’m sure.

Then I found a box of pictures, and cannot recall why they are so intermingled and I put them all in the box. Everything from my grandparent’s images and negatives, to my dad in the Army and in Germany. I was stationed same base 20 years later, 2 buildings down, and the redhead. Haven’t a clue why they are all mixed together?

I found an early abstract from 77-79(?) during my Germany faze. I was also very interested in fashion photography. I guess I didn’t look “professional” enough.

And why didn’t I shoot music & motorcycles in the ‘80s?

–RFR





A Six-Time Drag Racing Champion Spills The Secret To Going Fast On Two Wheels—Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson FXDR rider Andrew Hines had a truly bizarre NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle season this year, which wrapped up last weekend in California with his sixth championship. Having won seven races from the first 10 Pro Stock race outings this season, he went into the series’ playoff segment, dubbed the “Countdown to the Championship” as the easy favorite. Then the stumbles started to pile up.

Hines only managed to win one additional trophy from the six countdown race events between September and mid-November. Then, the unthinkable. Hines red-lighted his first-round matchup of the finale round in Southern California last weekend against rookie Jianna Salinas.

Salinas went on to take her first championship win after defeating the other title contenders, Matt Smith and Jerry Savoie, as they both suffered mechanical issues. In the end, it was Salinas’ good fortune that paved the way for another Hines title. If either Smith or Savoie had won the Auto Club season-ender, they’d have clinched the title…

By Bradley Brownell, Jalopnik

Read the full story at Jalopnik: https://jalopnik.com/




IT’S A WRAP, BUT IT’S NOT OVER—It’s never, ever dull around her. I’m picking up a trailer on Saturday. Sunday, we might load the Salt Torpedo inside for test runs in the desert next week. That’s about exciting as it gets.



Keep your fingers crossed. It if all goes as planned, I will take the body apart in February for paint. Then, this puppy will look too cool, with Atomic Bob’s inspiration.





 In the meantime, let’s take a hard look at this year, the opportunities, the action and the fun.

Ride fast and free forever!

–Bandit

There’s Still Time Join Us! We’ve started the countdown to next week’s activities but registration is still open and we’d love to have you join for the 2020 Tucker Show! We listened to you, our dealers, and for 2020 the Tucker Show is all-new—and we want you to be a part of it! The theme of the 2020 Tucker Show is education, and as a result you’ll have the opportunity to experience more vendor presentations and dealer workshops than ever before. 2020 Tucker Show Dates: Tuesday, January 21st Wednesday, January 22nd Thursday, January 23rd NEW for 2020: All three days of the show are now dealers days More accessible and valuable time for our dealers All-new scheduling process with an easy-to-use mobile app to schedule one-on-one appointments with more than 100 top brands New “store-within-a-store” show booth setups with emphasis on merchandising Activities, such as workshops, dining, and happy hour all taking place within the show hall Over 90 vendor and dealer workshop presentation opportunities Showtimes: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily Happy Hour from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm daily Reasons to Attend: Network with other dealers, brand representatives, and Tucker sales and executive teams in beautiful downtown Fort Worth, Texas Discover new products and get first-hand information from the brands in attendance—in one location Take advantage of some of the best buying opportunities of the year with pricing and programs that are only available to Tucker Show attendees Attend dealer seminars on subjects such as social media, merchandising and display, and marketing to your customers REGISTER TO ATTEND

Voting Starts This Friday!
Vote for the Final Six Pack

Not a Show Bike by a Long Hauler Now

by Gearhead

Where to start? I named the bike Gypsy Belle. She was my gypsy and the adventures we had are too numerous to mention. I’ve had her for 40 plus years now and she’s been solid to me.

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE

by Pradeep Shah from https://www.financialexpress.com/
by Benjamin Gracias from https://www.zigwheels.com/
by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com

Majority of the sales for Royal Enfield comes from the 350 range of motorcycles and the 500cc bikes have been consistently seeing low sales figures. Even the 650 twins have been doing a decent job for the brand right since their launch in November 2018.

Royal Enfield has discontinued the Bullet 500 and Thunderbird 500 models from the Indian market. The Chennai-based manufacturer has removed the Bullet 500, Thunderbird 500 and the Thunderbird 500X from the booking section of its official website for India, hinting towards the demise of these bikes. However, in case you have been planning to buy the aforementioned motorcycles, worry not as you can still do that. How? Well, selected dealers still have the stocks left and the couple of dealers we spoke to in Delhi-NCR say they have the stocks of the said models for another few weeks. Now, coming to the reason as to why Royal Enfield has discontinued these motorcycles from India!

Well, the majority of the sales for the company come from the 350 range of motorcycles and the 500cc bikes have been consistently seeing low sales figures. Even the 650 twins have been doing a decent job for the brand right since their launch in November 2018. That said, continuing with the 500cc models would be a tough task for the company. Also, keeping in mind the upcoming BS6 transition and the investment it would require, retiring the said bikes must have been the right step by Royal Enfield.

In other news, Royal Enfield has recently launched the new BS6 Classic 350 in India at a price of Rs 1.65 lakh (ex-showroom). The new model gets significant visual updates along with an updated BS6 compliant engine. Bookings for the bike have already begun at the company’s dealerships across India. Royal Enfield is now prepping up for the launch of the new BS6 Himalayan in the country. The company has already teased the motorcycle through a video a few days back.

• Most Royal Enfield dealers across India have stopped accepting bookings for the Bullet 500 and Thunderbird 500.
• Royal Enfield hasn’t updated its 500cc models to comply with BS6 norms yet.
• The 500cc RE motorcycles could be discontinued to focus on the 350cc and 650cc range.

It appears that Royal Enfield is looking to pull the plug on its 500cc range. The first casualties of this decision could be the Classic 500, Thunderbird 500 and Bullet 500. Royal Enfield dealerships across India have stopped accepting bookings for these motorcycles. They have no information on when the BS6 iterations of the Classic 500, Thunderbird 500 and Bullet 500 might be launched. This leads us to believe that the two motorcycles could be discontinued before the BS6 emission norms take effect in April.

Royal Enfield has updated its Classic 350 to meet the new norms and the BS6 Himalayan will be launched soon. In addition, the company is working on an all-new Classic which could have a larger engine, possibly a 400cc unit. It is expected to be more powerful than the current 350cc motorcycle and is likely to match up to the performance of the 500cc motor that makes 27.5PS and 41.3Nm.

There is reason to believe that Royal Enfield is also working on a more affordable 650cc motorcycle called the Meteor, making it difficult for the company to justify the positioning of its 500cc models. On top of this, sales of these motorcycles have been pretty low for a while. Even more so after the launch of the Interceptor 650 whose pricing is just Rs 49,000 more than that of the Thunderbird 500.

When you factor in all of this, we believe that instead of spending time and money to update its 500cc motor to comply with BS6 norms, it would make more sense for Royal Enfield to simply phase out its 500cc motorcycles. Do you think Royal Enfield will discontinue the 500cc range? Let us know in the comments section below.

Royal Enfield Officially Discontinues Bullet And Thunderbird 500

In November 2019, a rumor that Royal Enfield would discontinue its 500 models surfaced. If you’re a fan of the Bullet or the Classic 500, you might want to stock up sooner rather than later. We now learn that the rumor was true and several Indian sources confirm that the 500s are being pulled for 2020.

According to the local media, without any bells and whistles, Royal Enfield removed the Bullet, Thunderbird, and Thunderbird X 500 from its Indian online listings with the Classic 500 expected to follow. The 500 segment was apparently a slow one for Royal Enfield, stuck between its two, more popular siblings. In fact, the 350s have been driving the brand’s local sales while the Continental GT and Interceptor 650 have been leading sales abroad since their introduction in 2018.

The problem with the 500 models is that they had the same look as the 350s—minus the reduced price and taxes of the smaller displacement—and they didn’t quite stack up to the 650 Twins quality-wise. Besides, the 350s are getting thoroughly updated for 2020 with more features and “more refined performance”, making the aging 500s obsolete. Talk about a winning formula.

According to DriveSpark, the company felt that, at this point, it wasn’t worth updating the middleweight engine to make it compliant with the new Indian emission standards. The manufacturer will focus on the 350 and the 650 Twins moving forward.

A dealer commented that the discontinued models will remain available until March 31 or until all the units are sold—whichever term comes first. As for the popular Himalayan with its 400 engine, it was updated for 2020 which means it is likely safe from elimination, at least for now.

The dramatic measures are expected to impact the markets worldwide, which means that Royal Enfield’s U.S. lineup could be narrowed down to only three models.

by Abhinand Venugopal from https://www.rushlane.com

Soham Mohanty has created a device that can tell if the petrol being filled in your vehicle’s fuel tank is adulterated or not.

One could argue that Lexus sells some of the best-looking luxury vehicles in the global automotive market. The Japanese automaker, under the wings of Toyota, not only believes in good automotive aesthetics and design, but is also determined in finding out the right talent in this field.

As part of this, the brand’s Indian division recently concluded Lexus Design Award India (LDAI) 2020 and selected the creative design project by Soham Mohanty in the ‘Conceptual Category – Student’ stream, to be showcased at the prestigious Milan Design Week scheduled for April 2020.

Soham’s project, dubbed as Accufill, aims to bring absolute peace of mind to motorcycle riders in the world of rising fuel thefts at fraudulent petrol stations. Accufill is a piece of sensor-based equipment that employs ultrasonics to determine fuel density and quality, while also ensuring that the user gets the right amount of fuel for the price he/she pays. As we know, fuel isn’t cheap at all and prices are only seeing a climb.

In Soham Mohanty’s words, Accufill helps bring transparency between riders and the staff at various petrol stations. Basically, it is a user-friendly device to check petrol quality. By ensuring only the right content goes into the fuel tank, Accufill indirectly aids in improving engine life and reliability of related components such as the fuel-injection (FI) system.

To make a better understanding as to why a device such as Accufill is an important need, millions of litres of fuel are adultered each year; petrol with naphtha and diesel with kerosene. This information was shared by none other than the Indian Ministry of Transport.

According to SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), around 20 million two-wheelers (and counting) are sold in the country every year. For the same reason, if at least half of the new products are equipped with Accufill, there will be a significant drop in fuel-station-oriented frauds. To completely eradicate this in due course, all two-wheelers should come equipped with Accufill or a similar device, right from the factory or dealership. An advanced form of the device could be developed for four-wheelers and larger commercial vehicles as well.

Accufill is not the only design project/idea that will make its way to the Lexus Design Event at the venue of the Milan Design Week. Binayak Mondal’s ‘Able’ — an engineering solution that helps a person who cannot walk, easily transfer his/her body from bed to a wheelchair (in sitting position), without any external aid — also won LDAI 2020 in the Conceptual Work – Open Category stream.

The Lexus Design Award India 2020 panel awarded 12 design entries on social impact. A total of 885 entries were made from across the stretches of India.

from http://www.contactmusic.net/

Pink and Carey Hart celebrated 14 years of marriage with a motorcycle ride in Ojai, California.

Pink and Carey Hart marked their 14th anniversary with a motorcycle ride.

The loved up couple – who married on January 7, 2006 – wanted a low-key celebration to mark the occasion, and they decided to hit the road in California earlier this month to enjoy a trip together.

She told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: We went on a motorcycle ride. We went to Ojai and stayed in an Airstream and it was really fun.”

The pair – who share daughter Willow, eight, and son Jameson, three, together – are grateful for each other and the family they’re raising.

Pink added: ”I mean, it’s fun to have a family and to be able to say, ‘Do you remember?’ or I’ll say something like, ‘I can’t believe my dad said that.’

”And Carey will be like, ‘He said that 10 years ago.’ And I’m like, ‘He did?’ So, it’s good that he reminds me of what happens in my life.”

The two lovebirds both shared romantic posts on Instagram last week to mark their anniversary, with Pink admitting their relationship ”isn’t perfect” but still showering her man with praise.

She wrote: ”We’ve been at this thing a long time, babe. It isn’t perfect, but I’m grateful it’s ours.

”I love our family. Thank you for walking in front of me, beside me, and right behind me at times.”

And Carey described his wife as his ”best friend”, while admitting she doesn’t like it when he says that.

He said: ”14 years married to this amazing woman. I’m so proud of the life that we have built together.

”Both of us came from broken homes, yet we made the choice to work hard at our relationship. And look at us now!

”Two misfits when we met, we have grown together and now have an amazing family. Thank you for being my best friend (I know you don’t like that), and amazing mother to our wild kids. I love you so much.”

BIGBEN AND KT RACING PARTNER WITH THE BEST IN TT ISLE OF MAN – RIDE ON THE EDGE 2

Lesquin, France, January 14, 2020 – As a new year begins, KT Racing returns with the sequel to the widely acclaimed TT Isle of Man. To provide players with the most realistic simulation possible, the studio turned to one of the best up-and-coming riders, Davey Todd, and the fastest French rider on the Isle of Man circuit, Julien Toniutti.

Davey Todd is a young English rider who specialises in road racing and already has an impressive trophy haul at only 23 years old. In 2018, while preparing for his first Isle of Man TT, Davey decided to practise on his brother’s console for two months so he could perfect his knowledge of the iconic 60km circuit. As a result, he was ranked 2nd in the game’s worldwide leaderboards and became the second fastest newcomer of all time in the real race. In 2019 he proved his riding talents in his second appearance at the TT by finishing in the top 8 in all categories and achieving 6th place in the Senior Race.

2020 represents a new year full of ambition for Davey, who is also the TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 2 ambassador and the face of the game.

Like Davey Todd, Julien Toniutti collaborated on the game’s production by sharing his experience and impressions with the developers to help them create a strikingly realistic simulation and optimise all aspects of the riding physics.

“Competing in the TT is the ultimate dream of any rider. In TT Isle Of Man – Ride on The Edge 2, the aim is to reproduce the sensation of speed and adrenalin, as well as the concentration and control required for any Tourist Trophy rider, while the player sits comfortably in their chair, risk free,” said Julien.

Julien Toniutti is an experienced rider who has taken part in the TT three times. In 2018 he beat the all-time fastest lap record for a French rider on the Isle of Man circuit and subsequently received the “Fastest French Road Racing Rider” award at the Paris Motorcycle Show.

In the next few weeks, you can experience the fruit of these collaborations and the resulting improvements by picking up a controller.

Created in 1907, the TT is the world’s most famous motorcycle race. The 61km course with 260 bends is the most iconic circuit for road-racing riders. With officially licensed riders, bikes and tracks, TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 2 boasts new physics and a new career mode for players to improve their riding skills.

TT Isle of Man 2 will be available in March 2020 on consoles and PC

Find all the information on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

About Bigben
Bigben, a leading publisher of video games on PC and consoles, is known for its creativity and innovation. After its acquisition of four development studios (Cyanide, Eko, KT Racing and Spiders), which are all internationally recognised for their expertise in different genres, Bigben is strengthening its position as a developer and publisher of premium games and is aiming to become the world’s leading AA publisher. www.bigben.fr

About Kylotonn
Created in 2006, Kylotonn is one the most important French video game development studios, also known under KT Racing label. Specialized in motorsports and official developer of the WRC FIA World Rally Championship series and Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, the company is internationally recognized for its know-how and for the passion of its teams. With more than 100 employees as of today in Paris and Lyon, Kylotonn has developed more than 25 titles distributed by major publishers. Kylotonn has forged itself a strong technological expertise thanks to the real-time 3D engine KT Engine that the company owns. At the forefront of the video game industry, this technology is also used within R&D partnerships on autonomous vehicle projects in the automotive industry. Since 2018, Bigben Interactive, one of Europe’s leading video game publishers, holds a 100% stake in the company. Kylotonn is member of the French National Developers Federation (Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo) and Capital Games. The company is supported by BPI, IFCIC and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
For more information, visit Kylotonn’s website: www.kylotonn.com and follow the news on social networks Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and Youtube.

To the editor: Sadly, the speed kills myth is alive and well in Pennsylvania. A real 25-state analysis was done on NHTSA data, which showed that 1.6% of crashes are caused by excessive speed. Barely above zero, then.

Nowhere does anyone ever put into a bill that speed limits must be posted at the 85th percentile free-flowing traffic speed. This is so that the ticket industry can thrive. Set the limits too low, ticket barely above them, get municipal radar and speed cameras, then watch the money flow in. Since this is still not enough, the state now wants more LIDAR and moving radar. You can expect more crashes, safe drivers cited, and lots of erroneous tickets with poor policies.

The mentioned devices [in Tim Hennessey’s re-election announcement] flopped elsewhere and will here. The state wants money, whether from red-light cameras, speed cameras, stop-arm cameras, or municipal radar. Multiple media outlets stated that after red-light cameras were installed in Philadelphia, crashes went up, yet people still say they went down. Be careful who you listen to with traffic issues.

Maximum safety on roads occurs when we have speed limits posted to the 85th percentile free-flowing traffic speed, yellow traffic lights set to actual approach speeds with realistic perception and reaction times, and stop signs only where needed.

In the meantime, we ignore issues like distracted drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Please contact your state representative, state senator, and the governor to oppose the above in Pennsylvania and demand best-practice engineering. Tickets should also be only points, no fines or surcharges.

James Sikorski Jr., Wapwallopen, PA
PA Advocate National Motorists Association

Published by Mychesco.com

–by Laura Sky Brown, Car and Driver