Hey, It’s the day after Christmas. Life is truly amazing. It’s too bad someone doesn’t put it properly into written words, share it with the world and teach it in classes. It’s simple and magnificent. If only we could take a pill and eliminate hate, power, and ego to be replaced with freedom and love. All could be fantastic. CLICK HERE TO READ THE WEEKLY NEWS ON BIKERNET. Join the Cantina Today https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

by Azlan Ramli from https://www.thesundaily.my

During the Tokyo Motor Show 2019, Honda Motor Co Ltd announced the establishment of “Honda e:Technology”, a new collective name which represents Honda’s original high-efficiency electrification technologies including electrified two-and four-wheeled mobility products as well as Honda’s energy management technologies.

Company president, representative director and CEO Takahiro Hachigo stated that Honda e:Technology embodies “value creation for mobility and people’s daily lives”, which is a direction Honda will take to fulfill its 2030 Vision.

Under the umbrella of Honda e:Technology, Honda technologies and products related to electrification in the area of automobiles, Honda established “e:HEV” as a communication name for its two-motor hybrid system, which is positioned as Honda’s core electrification technology and a hybrid system for this new era, for vehicles driven mostly with electric motor.

Even better with Sport Hybrid i-MMD

To demonstrate the initiative and where it is at now, we were taken to the Twin Ring Motegi, a motorsport complex about two hours’ drive away from Tokyo, located at Motegi in the Tochigi Prefecture.

Outside of racing, of which the Honda-built complex is most well-known for, the facility has the Honda Collection Hall, which features historic Honda racing and production cars and motorcycles; Honda Fan Fun Lab, which features Honda’s next generation technologies such as robotics, fuel-cell vehicles and aviation, and also Honda’s technology demonstration and education centres.

Its South Course was where we and journalists from two other South East Asian countries were given the opportunity to sample two of Honda’s current technologies, namely the latest version of the Sport Hybrid i-MMD and Honda Sensing.

Those two are part of the 2030 vision, the year where Honda wants to achieve two-thirds of all its vehicles sold are powered by electricity.

Towards that end, six of its car models are now available in hybrid variants – the Fit (known as City in Malaysia), Insight, CR-V, Accord, StepWGN and Odyssey, where all six are using the company’s latest hybrid technology, Sport Hybrid i-MMD (intelligent Multi-Mode Drive), which is replacing the Sport Hybrid i-DCD (intelligent Dual Clutch Drive).

Those vehicles offer three driving modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive, where their respective systems automatically choose to achieve the most energy-efficient drive.

A Honda car with Sport Hybrid i-MMD – currently powering Honda’s 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre engines – is akin to an electric car that has two hybrid system motors, which is a traction motor and generator motor.

At take-off and also slow city driving, it uses the hybrid system, followed by the engine supplemented by generator power when the speed increases. At high speeds, all will combine to move the vehicle, as hybrid vehicle owners are familiar with, by now, except the transmission is now the E-CVT, a step up from the well-known CVT.

The Sport Hybrid i-MMD cars we were given to try were the current Insight (not available in Malaysia) and CR-V. The rainy and windy day made things even more interesting for us, as we were told to drive in a convoy (meaning no overtaking, let alone racing!), and the speed limit was 80km/h.

Wet and windy – good to have Honda Sensing

After all that fun in the wet, we were taken to the Japan Automotive Research Institute (JARI), also in the same Tochigi prefecture, to try the latest Honda Sensing; in Honda cars equipped with the collection of safety features which uses cameras positioned around the vehicle and a radar system to help give the driver a complete view of the road.

Also, Honda Sensing will alert the driver when they are at risk of a collision, and correct steering and braking in dangerous driving conditions. The key systems of Honda Sensing are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

Each of us drove the vehicles – the Insight and N-Box, the latter a very popular Honda kei car produced for the local market – in even heavier rain and stronger winds, but accompanied by technicians in the front passenger seat, who instructed us to start driving and immediately activate the car’s ACC.

As expected, the vehicle moved by itself, with the LKAS ensuring the vehicle will not stray out of the lines on the tarmac – with the LDW vibrating the steering wheel to let stay on the path, slowing down when there is a vehicle in front (leaving a pre-programmed gap in-between) and even braked to a complete stop if the vehicle in front stops too. It was a bit hard to fight your natural instinct to reach for the brake pedal, in such a situation.

While Honda Sensing needs no further “selling”, as it is already in some Honda cars currently available in Malaysia, it’s good to be convinced every now and then; and even even better, in a controlled environment provided by Honda itself.

It’s the new Sport Hybrid i-MMD technology session held earlier that got most of our attention, and we wish such innovation will come to Malaysia soon, in future Honda models, of course.

Hey,

It’s the day after Christmas. Life is truly amazing. It’s too bad someone doesn’t put it properly into written words, share it with the world and teach it in classes. It’s simple and magnificent.

If only we could take a pill and eliminate hate, power, and ego to be replaced with freedom and love. All could be fantastic.

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 the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

HOLIDAY POEM FROM A BROTHER—A WINTER TASK

As the winters full moon lights up the night
I gaze upon the snow-covered trees in sheer delight

Have I stepped into the enchanted forest in some fairytale?
I must not fail, to save a world so full of anger and hate.

This sees a very daunting task
So, I must put on my Santa Mask

And spread love, kindness and holiday cheer,
And maybe the madness will disappear.

–Wayne Cobb
12/19

NEWS FROM THE TWISTED ROAD–What’s so special about this Tiger? Hey everyone, it’s Austin, and I just noticed something interesting that I thought you’d like to know.

At Twisted Road, we have 2,100 bikes to rent, in 50 states. Yet this bike is one of our most rented motos. Why is this bike getting all the love?

Simple. It’s the only Tiger in Denver.

See, here’s the thing. People go to Denver. They want to ride the Rockies. They find a bike they like. They rent it. Although we have plenty of bikes in Denver, this bike is what people want.

So? Why should I care?

There is something great about being different. About being the only bike of its kind in a market. The only Panigale. The only Triumph Bobber. The only Scout. The only Sportster. Or the only Ninja.

So, when you look at our bikes, and you’re considering whether you should list, think about this Tiger that is getting so much love.

Happy riding, and please contact us at info@twistedroad.com if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Austin
Founder and CEO
Twisted Road

HANG ON NEWS Y’all, Honda has produced 400 million motorcycles since 1949—
Let’s take a minute to think about how insane that number is.

A lot of people tend to think of Honda as a car company that also builds motorcycles (among other things), but the truth is that Honda’s motorcycle operations — like BMW’s — predate its cars by a pretty sizable chunk of time.

In that time, Honda introduced a ton of iconic two-wheeled vehicles like the original Super Cub (aka the best-selling vehicle in all of human history), the Fireblade and the Goldwing. All of these massive successes around the globe have led Honda to where it is now: parading around in a bathrobe like Alfred Molina in Boogie Nights and celebrating the fact that it’s produced 400 million motorcycles since 1949.

Just think about that number. That’s enough so that every American would have 1.22 Honda motorcycles. That’s like, a Super Cub and a spare motor for every single American. For another fun comparison, Volkswagen’s Beetle — a car that was in production for 65 years, mind you — only managed around 21.5 million units built. If you took 400 million Honda Groms and lined them up end to end, you could circle the globe 17.56 times.

Here’s a number that might even be crazier: 20 million. That (as of 2018) is the annual total of motorcycles produced globally for Honda. For comparison, in 2016, Ford produced 6.429 million vehicles globally. While cars are obviously more complicated to build than motorcycles, that’s still a pretty dramatic disparity.

So, the next time you see a motorcyclist puttering around on a Monkey or even an Africa Twin in the pouring rain, remember that statistically speaking, you’re the weirdo for not being down with a two-wheeled lifestyle.

–Kyle Hyatt
Road Show

XMAS WEATHER REPORT FROM TEXAS–Was an Understatement the helmet image was the last two blocks and that was a joy! Leaving the house there was 40-50’ visibility.

What Magoo decided to ride in at 4:00 a.m. today??? Absolutely no visibility into Willis, not much more ALL THE WAY into Beltway 8!

Doubt I could have seen anything on Hwy 99 but didn’t even see the exit unit I was passing the ramp. Got behind some taillights and prayed they could see for 65 miles. As much moisture on the inside of my helmet shield and glasses as outside! Had to ride squinting most of the way, too much moisture in the air. It did not burn off as I predicted. Why I’m not a weatherman, I guess? You can see the moisture level on the vest.

Gotta love it!

–RFR
Certified Reporter
Bikernet™ Weather Bureau

YEAR END CLEARANCE FROM LOWBROW–
You need to get over to Lowbrow right now
Why? Because the End of Year Blowout just started!

Get an additional 40% off all sale and clearance items. That means 50% to over 80% off of over 180+ different motorcycle parts, helmets, clothing, fabricator parts and more…

The best stuff goes first, so click here to check out the sale and grab the parts you need before they’re gone. No discount code necessary.

Happy New Year and see you on the road!

PS – Select Biltwell Gringo & Gringo S helmets are 50% off, while they last…

NOT SO FUNNY AD FOR H-D IN TURKEY—

–Paul Aiken
Owner
Aeromach USA, LLC
Charlotte, NC 28269
800-990-9392 orders
704-599-1333 office
www.aeromach.net
www.highwayhawk.us
www.linkedin.com/in/paulaiken

Highway Hawk is a product of Motolux

MAN WHO SAVED THE TITAN–Also. I’m part of a Bonneville team. He is a SCTA multiple record holder. I have crewed two years.

This is a 1400 Kawasaki. It is knocking on 250 MPH. I went 2013 and 2017. He won’t do BUB, is a SCTA guy.

–Wayne Richmond

See his Titan story on Bikernet.—Bandit
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=14569&id=14569

TOOL OF THE WEEK– 1062-0003 CLUTCH HUB PULLER

THIS HEAVY DUTY CLUTCH HUB PULLER IS FOR USE WITH CHAIN & BELT DRIVE APM COMP MASTER & RIVERA PRO CLUTCH ON TAPERED TRANSMISSION MAIN/SHAFTS FOUND ON 1937 – 1989 HARLEY DAVIDSON BIG TWINS.

This professional tool will pull either an APM Comp Master Clutch or Rivera Pro Clutch off of the tapered transmission main/shaft found on 1937-1989 Harley Big Twins.

The tool includes a thick puller plate and heavy duty screw as well as two different size end caps (one for the shorter threads on 1937-84 & one for the longer threads on 1985-89) to guard the main/shaft threads from damage. Retail: $83.99

LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK–
2016 Harley-Davidson FLHXS Street Glide Touring for $17,995.00

See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=7266389

When it comes to stripped-down bagger style, highway comfort, modern technology and an unruly attitude, this is a state of the art motorcycle. The 2016 Street Glide Special takes the hot-rod bagger formula a little further, Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS, the Boom!™ Box 6.5 GT infotainment system and CVO model style hand-adjustable lowered rear suspension as standard equipment.

Featuring a Batwing fairing with Splitstream vent to reduce rider head buffeting, the Street Glide Special is a truly loaded bagger. All the goodies you expect are there, including the High Output Twin Cam 103 motor and hydraulic clutch, the Project Rushmore forks and triple clamps.

A Jukebox media compartment has a One-Touch door plus USB connection (in addition to the Bluetooth compatibility of the Boom! Box). Leading the way, of course, is an impressive 19-inch rim with Enforcer cast aluminum wheels. The Street Glide Special allows you to maintain control easier with the 64 inch wheelbase and short 27.4 inch seat height while it holds six gallons of fuel for longer uninterrupted runs.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

Satin Black with red pin-striping is simply gorgeous. Raised tank logos and a chrome strap with black accent ‘Street Glide’ logo. Black inner fairing and a tinted windshield. Chrome blinkers, LED headlamp and black cast 5 twin spoke rims. Chrome engine guard. Black 2:2 exhaust with a very nice throaty sound. Chrome rocker covers, push-rod tubes, tappet blocks, air cleaner / trans / horn covers, cam with black accent ‘Twin Cam’ logo, primary and derby cover. 2-up seat and streamliner floors, passenger pegs, and a pigtail. LED rear and fender lights and more…

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 100 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!!!

HANOI JANE IS NOW DOOMSDAY JANE–Jane Fonda Calls for Prosecution of Climate Deniers – Urges skeptics ‘should be put on trial’ to fight ‘climate emergency’

Jane Fonda: “Now, because of the fossil fuel industry, it’s too late for moderation,” she bellowed. “And given the emergency, it’s those who believe in moderation, in pre-Trump business as usual, who are truly delusional. And those who lie and continue to lie about what they’re doing to the environment should be put on trial, not awarded tax cuts and made secretaries of state.”

–Climate Depot

FROM THE EASYRIDERS INVESTIGATIONS--Mr. Ball, I got my Christmas refund from E-Z riders. They sent me a hat, t-shirt & hoody. There really is a Santa.

They owed me $120.00 or so. I filled out the order form back in Oct. mailed it in. It took till yesterday to arrive.

I had just read Stealth’s comment Monday on your news and said, “Shit I ain’t got nothing yet, but there it was the next day.” I can’t tell ya how much money I’ve lost on subs that were canceled and not refunded. This was the first one ever refunded. There wasn’t any note.
–Dave

Big Dave Methuen Ma.

Maybe they are beginning to understand the Easyriders Code, or are afraid of being sued. I hope it’s the code.–Bandit

[page break]

GUN NUT REPORT–
Watching from afar as the radical wing of Virginia’s Democrat party tries to put the screws to gun owners, I can’t help but compare Virginia with Illinois. And if what we’ve learned here in Illinois remains even partially valid for the Old Dominion, all hope is not lost for gun owners there.

Yes, radicals in Virginia think they have a huge mandate to pass gun and magazine bans, and potentially even confiscate America’s favorite rifle (the AR-15) and others like it.

These same political hacks have legislation pending to terminate any cops who won’t enforce their new gun control schemes. Just as concerning, they’re proposing increased spending on prisons to handle today’s law-abiding gun owners who refuse to bend a knee to ill-considered, unconstitutional gun bans.

We have radicals in Illinois who want to sing from the same gun control hymnal. Gun bans, magazine bans, gun rationing, bans on private transfers, gun registration and crazy high fees on gun owner registration schemes all have been seriously beaten back here in the Land of Lincoln.

Generally speaking, gun grabbers tend to belong to the Democrat party here. At least after the last election when gun rights organizations (including Guns Save Life where I serve as the executive director) worked hand-in-hand with the NRA-ILA to remove a Republican who campaigned as pro-gun and voted with Michael Bloomberg on guns.

We don’t know why Peter Breen switched to the dark side on gun rights (in a very public manner at that), but we made sure we took him out in the 2018 election as a very clear warning to other Republican squishes.

Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day. Illinois gun owners and supporters participate in an Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day rally at the Illinois State Capitol. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

What’s more, Democrats hold super-majorities in the Illinois House and Senate since 2018’s election. And we have a new governor who campaigned (unsuccessfully) for Congress twenty years ago campaigning for a complete ban on handgun ownership for all Americans.

Just looking at it by party numbers, if Dems all hated guns, one might reasonably think gun rights might face extinction in Abe Lincoln’s home state.

Democrats don’t all hate guns, though.

Looking back for decades in Illinois, the divide on guns has not happened along party lines. Instead, among most Dems, it happens more along geographic lines. Big city Dems generally believe the myth that more gun control will make their big city, high-crime cesspools of violence safer for residents.

Meanwhile, other Democrats vigorously support gun rights – proudly and publicly. They generally hail from rural parts of the state and recognize that their political lives would soon end if they voted or sounded like Chuck Schumer on guns.

We have several more who generally support gun rights privately and often vote for gun rights when the extremists over-reach in their desire for ever more gun control measures.

It may come as a surprise, but sometimes the planets align just right and even members of the Illinois Black Caucus have voted with us against gun control legislation as well.

If fact, if it weren’t for these downstate Dems and others voting with gun rights supporters on occasion, Illinois gun owners would have long ago lost America’s favorite rifle, and possibly semi-autos in general, among other gun control schemes.

Just as important as pro-gun Demcrats, keeping the Republican caucus together will require the effort of true conservatives galvanizing the “squishes” to vote the way they campaigned.

Looking eastward, Virginia no doubt has rural Democrats in their state legislature. If the Illinois template holds any relevance at all in Richmond, rural Dems will hold the key to either passing radical gun control or stopping it there. Assuming, of course, Republicans hold steady to doubtlessly unrelenting pressure from demanding moms, the fake news media, and other pressure from Big Gun Control.

Obviously, gun owners have galvanized against gun control in Virginia. Between gun owners lobbying, and the work of the Virginia Citizens Defense League and NRA-ILA, gun bans and other gun control schemes are not a sure thing in Richmond. Thankfully.

That doesn’t mean the radicals won’t try really hard, though.

Hey, I always point out to gun haters that the NRA is trying to protect freedoms for all Americans. They are not the bad guys.–Bandit

20th Anniversary of Gettysburg Bike to Feature Live Performances by Jasmine Cain, The Atomic Punks, Vixen, Small Town Titans and Hinder–This July, Gettysburg Bike Week will celebrate two decades of being one of the premiere motorcycle rallies in the country. This anniversary rally goes down at the Allstar Events Complex in Gettysburg, PA, and festivities kick off Thursday, July 9, 2020, and run through Sunday, July 12. To help GBW commemorate this auspicious occasion, event organizers have brought in some heavy-hitting musical acts.

“We’re really excited about our musical guests for this milestone,” says GBW event coordinator Kelly Shue. “Hard to believe it’s been 20 years—this year’s rally will be the biggest and best one yet, and I feel like we’re just getting started.”

This year’s storied group of live-music entertainers features Jasmine Cain, back by popular demand for her second year in a row. A Sturgis, South Dakota, native, Ms. Cain moved to Nashville in 2003 and began what can only be described as a stellar career in the music business. Some of her more than 30 awards won include JPF Female Artist of the Year and 4-time Female Rock Vocalist of the year. With seven studio albums under her belt, her shows are stadium quality and high energy, keeping audiences riveted from downbeat to encore.

Thursday night’s headliner is The Atomic Punks, the premiere Van Halen tribute band in the country. Focusing on early David Lee Roth–era VH, TAP were voted Best Tribute Band three years in a row by LA’s Rock City News; David Lee Roth himself has lauded them and borrowed their guitar players for solo tours; and original VH bassist Michael Anthony has played live with the Punks on multiple occasions. This is the closest you’ll get to 1980s Van Halen in the new millennium.

Joining Jasmine Cain as Friday night co-headliner, classic Los Angeles glam rockers Vixen will take to the stage, playing their unique brand of 80s hair metal. Perennial staples in the Billboard Hot 100 in the late 80s, Vixen has been described as “the female Bon Jovi.”

And rounding out the headliners on Saturday, Oklahoma’s Hinder will bring their furious blend of hard rock, post-grunge and glam metal to the GBW faithful. Joining Hinder on Saturday will be York, PA locals The Small Town Titans. They are a rock n’ roll power trio who love to play live. In a world where music fans crave new content constantly, the Small Town Titans aim to deliver their brand of art all of the time, drawing inspiration from a newer wave of rock bands such as Highly Suspect and Royal Blood, and rock legends such as the Foo Fighters, Audioslave, and Deep Purple.

Legendary emcee Jack Schitt once again performs master of ceremonies duties throughout the week on the Budweiser Stage, Gin Gypsies will sling drinks and rally goers can expect performances by the International Bikini Team, plus heavy competition in the Cycle Source Ride-In Bike Show, Mini-Bike races, Bike Games and Rodeo; and the Parade of Chrome. One, two and four-day passes are available online, at Battlefield Harley Davidson (21 Calvary Field Road, Gettysburg) and at the gates during the event.

And, of course, no rally would be complete without great riding, and Gettysburg has some of the best. Whether riders want to see historic battlegrounds or just hit the road for a great cruise, hundreds of miles of the best riding in the East surrounds Gettysburg. In addition to fantastic solo riding, GBW also features awesome group rides and the Pink Journey of Lights and Stars of Hope Charity Rides.

Pricing for Gettysburg Bike Week is as follows:

$40 per-person 3-day passes, available online and at the gates. $31 through December 31st

$25 per-person 2-day passes, available online and at the gates. $23 through December 31st

$15 per-person 1-day passes, available online and at the gates. $14 through December 31st

Children 12 and under receive free admission.

New and returning riders can find updates, the schedule of events, lodging information and anything they ever needed to know about Gettysburg Bike Week by visiting http://www.gettysburgbikeweek.com.

For more information on the Rally, including scheduling, lodging options, and more, visit www.gettysburgbikeweek.com. Follow them on Twitter: @GburgBikeWk. To contact Gettysburg Bike Week, e-mail gbwvendor@yahoo.com.

–Ken Conte

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Metalflake Joy Bikernet Weekly News for December 19th, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Metalflake_Joy_Bikernet_Weekly_News_for_December_19th_2019.aspx

In regards to the Easyrider product offer, I ordered a t shirt on October 23 and have not heard a word from them as well.

— Ken Burnett
Inman, SC

The Damon Motorcycles Team

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE DAMON FAMILY–2019 has been a big year for us at Damon Motorcycles. We officially came out into the public eye after a couple of years quietly developing and testing safer, smarter two-wheeled mobility. We are grateful to all Damon shareholders, friends and supporters who believed and invested in our vision.

As riders ourselves, we know too well that the standard for motorcycling has stagnated for too long. The lack of options in the market is what fueled us to build our vision of the perfect bike, and we couldn’t have done it without you fellow riders who shared your thoughts, answered our surveys, tested our tech and more.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook to watch our live feed unveil of the Damon Hypersport at CES 2020!

BILL MAY REPORT COMING—A comment from the Author.

Wow Deadwood, my old friend Dave Ruth lived there. I was there hanging with him at Sturgis 2010. He passed away in 2012, but his son is still there working at a casino. His name is Dave also.

They have a ‘76 Electra Glide with a 96-inch S&S motor. It’s great in the summer if you can stay in SoCal in the winter. Temps 20 below ain’t fun. Been riding my new old Dyna. It is almost perfect, but I lost the right hand lid of the old style saddlebags yesterday.

It got ran over and crushed. They are from VTwin. Guess I’m going to have to break down and buy a good set from BB reproductions. Check out our shop on Facebook it is linked to mine. Independent Cycle in Nashville.

He has some of my old bikes on there. Are you going to retire or move Bikernet up there? I put bagger air shocks on the Dyna. Because of the different leverage they ride like a caddy with about 80psi in them and the lowered it about 2 inches.

Lots of those available because people are always putting something else in their baggers. Merry Christmas to you and all the crew. I would come see you when it is not bike week.

–Ride on, Bill

WISHING YOU A RODDER’S JOURNAL HOLIDAYS–We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. We hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday with family and friends.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays,
Your Friends at The Rodder’s Journal.

Special-edition Holiday Graphic created by Cailey Awad.

Thanks, Cailey!

NEW FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT, Shock Epic Fails–The decade that blew up energy predictions – USA energy boom, CO2 emissions drop defied predictions! See the charts!

These five charts show U.S. Energy Information Administration projections from a decade ago, with current EIA data to show what actually happened.

America’s energy sources, like booming oil and crumbling coal, have defied projections and historical precedents over the last decade, Axios’ Amy Harder and Andrew Witherspoon write for her year-end “Harder Line” column.

Why it matters: Change can happen rapidly and unexpectedly, even in an industry known to move gradually and predictably.

With a new decade upon us, let’s look back at the last one’s biggest, most surprising energy changes.

These five charts show U.S. Energy Information Administration projections from a decade ago, with current EIA data to show what actually happened.

Deregulatory accomplishments spotlighted by the president included:

—Withdrawing the United States from the “fraudulent, ineffective and one-sided Paris climate accord.”

—Ending the Obama war on energy, especially policies designed to kill coal miner jobs including the Clean Power Plan, stream (over)-protection rule.

—Opening up federally owned lands and offshore areas to energy exploration and production, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which Republicans have been trying to open up since at least President Reagan’s administration.

—Greenlighting vital pipeline projects such as the Keystone XL and Dakota Access.

https://www.axios.com/energy-predictions-reality-check-524b9be9-2c0c-407e-86cb-37b11aa72ed2.html

–Marc Morano
Climate Depot

QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Funky Panhead Part 4, New Frontend Installed

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Funky_Panhead_Part_4_New_Frontend_Installed.aspx

Though oleum can mean fuming sulfuric acid, in this case it is the Latin word for “oil”. Captain Jack discovered that spilled fish oil on his deck was inhibiting rust. Point is, you spelled it right. The product is usually spelled Rust-Oleum. Got the rust part right away, but wondered if there was such a word as oleum. So, from one old salt to another he gave you your paint.

No lads, the world is not flat. On my place the land that looks flat is not flat…anyway like the globe(s). Once into Baffin Bay it is smooth sailing indeed.

–Sam
Somewhere in Texas

NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

MOTORCYCLING GOOD FOR MIND AND BODY
In a fresh take on a previous UCLA study we reported on earlier this year, visordown.com reports that “A study conducted by the Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior (INHB) has concluded that motorcyclists are less stressed and more fulfilled than their four-wheeled counterparts,” adding that “The study originally set about trying to find out if bikers were constantly riding in fear of being involved in an accident, but inadvertently proved the opposite! The results center around a certain hormone called cortisol that is released in the brain when we become anxious. Scientists found that bikers would produce 28% less cortisol during testing than drivers on the same course.”

The study was conducted by the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California, Los Angeles, in a controlled manner, with 50 motorcyclists and 50 car drivers making their way around a closed course for 20-minutes. During this time, the team measured the user’s heart rate, cortisol, and adrenaline levels, as well as the user’s brain activity, and it’s here where the most interesting results came from:

“The results found that when riding, the subjects experienced increased sensory focus and resilience to distraction. Riding also produced an increase in adrenaline levels and heart rate, and a decrease in cortisol levels — the kind of results you often get after a light exercise session, which also is a stress reducer.”

Concluding that motorcycles are better for you physically, as well as mentally, visordown.com claims; “The news regarding the mental well-being of motorcyclists goes hand-in-hand with a study that found that riding a motorcycle can burn anywhere between 170-600 calories an hour. As much as some people can burn in an hour at the gym.”

–Bill Bish

Read Bill’s entire monthly report on Bikernet—Bandit

ANOTHER INTERESTING New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Metalflake Joy Bikernet Weekly News for December 19th, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Metalflake_Joy_Bikernet_Weekly_News_for_December_19th_2019.aspx

Yes sir, being a biker is like Christmas every day, when you stop and think about it Always something to look forward to.

It feels like Christmas morning every time I throw my leg over my bike!

Merry Christmas!

— Mike Pullin
mikethestealth@hotmail.com
Charlotte, NC

5-BALL RACING LEATHERS REPORT–
Amigo, The Dayroll came in the mail yesterday. I really like it!!

The quality is unbelieveable!

It is perfect for stashing a pair of gloves, maybe a sweatshirt, glasses, maybe spare sunglasses and camera. It will definitely replace the bigger bag I have on my bike for the stuff I carry around everyday!!

Thanks for getting it here so quickly too!! All the best!!

–Ken

THE NEW YEAR, NEW DECADE APPROACHING—I can’t wait. Unlike the Week magazine editor, I believe this will be a banner year for truth, justice and Freedom.

Our President might be a nut, but he’s getting a lot done in the name of the people, and I hope he can keep up the forward movement. I’m pushing for infrastructure action for a growing population, which means expanded roads and transportation.

I would like to see some action on the TSA to make flying fun again. We could save billions if we could slice up that agency some. And as you know our government is run by Attorneys, except our President. They gobble up tons of money and strangle businesses with the sue crazy industry. Any type of Tort reform could save our society trillions and continue to boost the economy.

I need to spend a solid day working on the Salt Torpedo and then we could make a speed run in January. We gotta get it done. Then we can go to paint and prepare for Bonneville.

So, hang on for a banner year in 2020 and for more folks to know and appreciate freedom again.

Ride fast and free forever,

–Bandit

Happy holidays from all of us at Lowbrow!

We hope you are having a great time this holiday season and spending time with people you love. Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all along the roads
Not a creature was stirring, not even a toad;

My Panhead was parked in the garage with care,
The car left in the driveway in the open night air;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of candy bars danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled in bed for a long winter’s ‘nap’,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the shade
To see exactly why my ‘nap’ was delayed.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But the Lowbrow Weirdo pulling in in first gear.

His 80 inch Flathead came to a stop,
And he left a little gift on the door to my shop.

He kicked over his flatty and roared out to the street,
Oh how I felt lucky to receive such a treat!

New bikes from Royal Enfield are likely to be the most affordable ones.

Royal Enfield is slimming down to conquer. It plans to make far lighter bikes, offering lower and more comfortable seating positions, to draw youngsters and women to a brand that has hitherto been associated with men who had truly arrived. And these will likely be the most affordable bikes as well from the maker of the iconic Bullet.

These bikes will weigh significantly less than the Bullet and be seated lower, styled after the roadster. Due for launch in the first quarter of 2020, these are internally codenamed J1C, and may sell under the Explorer brand.

The model has been developed after taking critical feedback from women and youngsters to offer them a bike with comfortable ingress/egress and steer away from the traditional perception of Royal Enfield ‘bulk’, said several industry executives aware of the plans.

“While we cannot comment about future product line-ups, we can confirm that at Royal Enfield, we assign huge focus on keeping our motorcycles accessible and approachable to all, in an endeavour to bring more people to experience pure leisure motorcycling,” a spokesperson told ET.

The company declined to discuss its product pipeline, features and pricing strategies.

Royal Enfield was losing a significant chunk of upgraders to competition as rivals launched several sports bikes. The Explorer is an attempt to wrest back the initiative, industry experts believe.

The launch of J1C is part of a new product onslaught, and the plan envisages launching at least one new product every quarter from 2020. After J1C, the company will be launching the new generation Thunderbird, which may be re-christened as Meteor, before the BS-VI versions of Classic and Bullet hit the road in 2020.

Royal Enfield has upgraded the existing UCE or Unit Construction Engine for BS VI emission norms to ensure adequate availability.

Struggling to arrest volume declines, Royal Enfield has undertaken a series of accessibility measures that include product enhancements, geographic expansions, and establishment of small-format retail stores.

To be sure, the total number of driving licences issued in India is 161.1 million, of which about a tenth is issued to women drivers. Women buyers account for about 7-8% of the existing Royal Enfield volumes. Although the numbers are still small, more women are buying bikes such as the Himalayan or Thunderbird X.

The new platform for women motorbike enthusiasts would open a vast opportunity for the company, which has seen untapped potential in Goa, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka.

Goa has the highest proportion of women drivers, with 23% of the total number of licences issued to women. For Chandigarh and Maharashtra, the comparable figures are 18.47% and 18.28%, according to the Road Transport Year book of 2016.

In the second quarter of FY20, sales volumes from Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka accounted for a quarter of the total at Royal Enfield.

The monthly run-rate of Royal Enfield dropped 15% to 60,334 in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. The Street expects sales volume of 7.25-7.30 lakh units in the current fiscal year, which implies a decline of about 12%, the first in at least a decade.

by Margaret Naczek from https://www.bizjournals.com/

Last spring, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offered its first Harley-Davidson one-credit ridership class through the College of Health Sciences. Four students enrolled the first semester followed by an additional 16 students in the fall of 2019.

As students begin enrolling in classes for spring 2020, the director of the College of Health Sciences Ron Wiza said there are only four remaining slots available.

As the program grows, so do the amount of motorcycle riders, coinciding with Harley-Davidson’s “More Roads Lead to Harley-Davidson” strategic plan. Part of Harley-Davidson’s plan is the Broader Access goal to “create new pathways to Harley-Davidson, expanding access and appeal to more people around the world.”

The Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer detailed that it hopes to create high-engagement customer experiences across all retail channels. The company’s “Amplify Brand” goal also encourages “enhancing the Harley-Davidson experience to inspire interest in riding, fostering Moto-culture and build an even bigger, more passionate community of Harley-Davidson riders.”

The program began as a partnership between Harley-Davidson and UW-Milwaukee. The company connected Wiza with Milwaukee Harley-Davidson dealership at 11310 W. Silver Spring Road.

“The other reason that we chose the Milwaukee Harley-Davidson location is because even though UW-Milwaukee is a commuter college where a lot of people don’t live on campus, there are still several thousand students that live in the surrounding community around UWM,” Wiza said, noting that it was important to pick a dealership that was either close to the campus or accessible on the transit line.

“Here at UWM, we’re kind of an urban campus. One of our selling points is we are always encouraging students who attend our university to experience the vast array of things that Milwaukee has to offer,” Wiza said. “With that in mind, we strive to create partnerships and develop opportunities with local well-known businesses and attractions in the Milwaukee area.”

Twenty-year-old Grace Oddis, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering at UWM, took the course in its inaugural semester.

“I knew the class was really expensive. I saw that UWM offered it as a credit. I thought that would be a great opportunity to take it and also get a credit, just for the goal of being able to ride on the road and feel comfortable,” Oddis said.

As a one-credit class, the students are required to commit about 48 hours of learning to that course. For the Harley-Davidson ridership class, students complete a pre-course and post-course assignment along with two evening sessions. The rest of the time is dedicated to a weekend at the dealership doing the physical motorcycle driving lessons.

“We learned a lot about motorcycle safety. That was the biggest thing — how to prevent things from happening, being able to go around different obstacles and keeping the bike straight on the safety course,” Oddis said.

Now the sophomore has her motorcycle license and is looking at buying a bike, something that would have taken longer if she had not participated in the course.

“I thought it was a great experience. You felt comfortable. You felt safe. I think it’s great to get more women involved in motorcycles and teaching them. This was a great way for a college student to be able to do that no matter what you’re going to school for,” she said.

Harley-Davidson did not respond to a Milwaukee Business Journal request for comments on the UWM program.

by Justin Hughes from https://www.rideapart.com

It’s wild speculation time.

Retro bikes are all the rage these days. As a GenXer whose first several bikes were UJMs from the early 1980s, I appreciate it. I am the market these bikes are trying to tap into. While the Suzuki Katana is one of the first to apply the retro formula to a true sportbike, I suspect that there may be another one potentially on the horizon: a remade Kawasaki GPz900R.

The original GPz900R became famous in the original Top Gun as Tom Cruise raced an F-14 Tomcat down the runway. The trailer for Top Gun: Maverick shows him riding the same bike (albeit without a helmet, which is not only a bad idea but something the Navy would never allow him to do in the real world). We also know that he’ll be riding an H2R in the movie, so clearly Maverick isn’t against upgrading his ride while staying loyal to the Kawasaki brand.

Kawasaki has also found success with the Z900RS retro naked bike. It has classic 1980s styling, yet packs all the performance and safety features you want in a modern motorcycle. I absolutely loved the Z900RS I rode last summer at a demo day. So did Kate, who would opt for the Z900RS Cafe. The standard Z900 is also a great bike, but the retro version is what speaks to me.

With Suzuki throwing down the gauntlet with the Katana, there may be room out there for a competing retro sportbike. The Katana has a larger 999 cc engine, and Kawasaki would have to choose between competing against it with a Ninja 1000-based literbike or remaining true to the original GPz900R’s displacement. Either choice could be a winning proposition, particularly with Top Gun: Maverick providing a perfect opportunity to promote it.

On top of all that, there’s this GPz900R video that Kawasaki just released on YouTube. It’s a great retrospective of all of the bike’s versions throughout the years, including many that weren’t available in the US. Why post this now? It could have to do with renewed interest in Maverick’s motorcycle. Many of today’s riders weren’t even born back when the original Top Gun came out and aren’t familiar with it. It could be nothing more than this. Or it could be a look back at the model line in preparation for introducing a new model based on it.

Once again, this is all wild speculation on my part. Kawasaki has said nothing about bringing the GPz back in any form. Like the idea of an Indian adventure bike, though, all of the pieces are in place that would make now the right time to do it, while retro bikes are becoming more and more popular and with a major movie coming out that would help promote it. Kawasaki already has the platforms and powerplants it would need to do it with just a little bit of modern/retro styling to make it unique. It worked well for the Z900, and it could work for a GPz.

They say that every company has a magic number.

“Seven friends in ten days.” – It was Facebook’s sole focus in its growth from zero to one billion users.

With Twitter, their explosive growth happened when users followed thirty people.

Even though we are making motorcycles, we have identified our own magic number. And we think this number will turn the incumbent motorcycle industry on its head.

Our magic number is 200.

Can you guess what this means?

CLICK HERE to join the conversation

WAIT, what about specs and price?
And when can I get one?

We know you’re all very excited and can’t wait to get specs and pricing. We’ll be live-streaming our first ever public unveil live from the show floor in Las Vegas at CES 2020. So get in on the action via our social media channels and stay tuned for more information via email.

Pre-ordering begins January 7th

About Damon Motors Inc.
Damon is unleashing the full potential of personal mobility for the world’s commuters. With its proprietary electric drivetrain, the company has developed the world’s safest, smartest, fully connected electric motorcycle employing sensor fusion, robotics and AI. Designed as a platform for worldwide line extension, Damon motorcycles will ship direct to consumer on subscription plans to drive scale.

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Damon is a Techstars Mobility company founded by serial entrepreneurs Jay Giraud and Dom Kwong. Damon’s investors include Round 13 Capital, Techstars, Fontinalis, Extreme Venture Partners and Pallasite Ventures.

A Brother Brings the Giant Back to Life and Youth to His…

I had the wants for another custom bike but have turned into a cheap old fucker since getting SS at 62.

I’m still a chopper guy and decided a Big Dog or Texas Chopper was it. Limited funds had me loosing auctions on EBay. Up pops a ‘98 Titan with no reserve only 300 miles away.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FEATURE ARTICLE