The Woman Who Changed the Racing Game Jessi Combs had shown a strong inclination for cars, machines and racing from a tender age. She also had a knack for playing around with metal pieces and creating new stuffs with them. She showed special interest in creating things with metal pieces, photography, and leather craft. Jessi Combs first love was fast cars. Jessi was a trained racer as well and excelled in performance racing, stunt driving, evasive driving, and drifting. As a professional driver, Jessi raced in a wide range of events and enjoyed many successes. READ THE FEATURE ARTICLE TRIBUTE TO JESSI IN THE CANTINA JOIN THE CANTINA TODAY

by Robin-Leigh Chetty from https://www.htxt.co.za/

While Harley-Davidson is not the first name that springs to mind when it comes to electric vehicles, every time we’ve written about the company, it’s had to do with one of its EVs.

This time around is no different, as the company offered up the first looks at its new trio of pedal-assisted electric bikes at 2019 EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan earlier this week.

Electrek was on hand to take a closer look at the bikes, and you can check out a full gallery of images on its site.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/motorcycles/future-vehicles/e-bicycles.html

With the trio of electric bikes yet to have official names, we’re more interested in what Harley-Davidson’s plans are moving forward, and luckily the firm has offered up some insight in that regard.

An unnamed spokesperson has noted that Harley-Davidson will be gauging the interest and demand for pedal-assisted electric bikes in coming months, with a view to launch them some time in 2020.

Based on the concept models shown in Milan, it looks the company is targeting a more premium customer, with The Verge believing that a price tag around the $1000 mark is not out of the question. This makes sense considering the electric LiveWire motorbike goes for a cool $30 000 on pre-order.

These bikes are not the only EVs that Harley-Davidson is working on, with the company also revealing an interesting looking e-bike concept last year, but sadly no word on whether that will go into production.

It’s also unclear which regions outside of the US the firm plans to launch these upcoming electric bikes, or indeed its LiveWire. With a number of dealerships locally, there is certainly a demand for the brand, and perhaps some of its future EVs too.

Dozens of signatories including Mickey Mouse and Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore from Hogwarts have been ­removed from an Alliance of World Scientists declaration of a “climate emergency”.

Access to the 11,000 name-petition that accompanied a statement of concern published in BioScience on Tuesday was blocked on Thursday.

A statement issued by ­Oregon State University said “an administrative error unfortunately saw the inclusion of a small number of invalid names”.

“We have to date removed 34 names from the original list, most of which were duplicates.”

Concern about the petition, which was heavily promoted internationally as a call for action on climate change, was sparked by questions about some of its celebrity signatories.

Mickey Mouse from the Mickey Mouse School of the Blind, Namibia made it through onto an official list published along with the BioScience article.

After the statement had been submitted to the journal, claiming the support of 11,000 world scientists, Mickey was joined on the list by Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.

The first signature on the online list was Araminta Aadvark, professor of Zoology at Univer­sity of Neasden, UK.

Neasden University is believed to be a fictitious university promoted by the British satirical magazine Private Eye that was printed in Neasden.

The climate emergency statement included authors from University of Sydney and ­Oregon State University.

Sydney University said on Thursday the petition was being managed by Oregon State.

An online link to the petition on Thursday said “access ­denied” and “you are not allowed access to this page”.

The page was later changed to “Viewing signatures is currently unavailable. We are working on the issue.”

 

–Climate Depot and The Global Warming Policy Forum

I’m going to be glad when this year is toast

By Bandit, Wayfarer, Rogue, Jim Houck, Laura, the Redhead, Sam, RFR, Bob T. and the rest of the gang

Okay, just relax. That’s the name of my accountant’s business. Shit is happening fast on most fronts and I’m going to Deadwood to relax and slip in the snow.

There’s a side of me that wants to find a place in the Midwest, where I can chill and breathe in the home of the old west and the center of the Chopper World. Motorcycles have always been my home. I like the sound of Bandit in the Badlands.

Let’s hit the news.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWS IN THE CANTINA

Join the Cantina today

Yoshimoto Matsuda, Senior Manager, Innovation Department division at Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and his team have been working on the electric motorcycles since the 2000s.

Japanese premium motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki is working on an electric motorcycle that is likely to come with the Ninja badge upon launch, reveals a media report.

Yoshimoto Matsuda, Senior Manager, Innovation Department division at Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and his team have been working on the electric motorcycles since the 2000s.

The motorcycle maker has teased a test mule in a video that looks like the upcoming electric Ninja. As Kawasaki hints, the electric motorcycle will be fun to control, exciting and it will reflect the passion of the brand.

The video hinted that Kawasaki is testing the electric powertrain on a 2017 Ninja 650. However, the details about this powertrain are not clear yet.

The media report quoted, Yoshimoto, who said, “We have been thoroughly studying and patenting features ranging from packaging and chassis geometry to transmissions and thumb brake activated energy recovery systems.”

The test mule hs a range of 100 km but the production model is likely to come with improved range. Speaking about the launch date of the electric Kawasaki Ninja, the motorcycle is likely to come sometime in early next decade.

On Tuesday, Kawasaki confirmed that the brand is joining the EV (electric vehicle) revolution by officially announcing that an electric motorcycle is on the way.

Following in the footsteps of Harley Davidson, Kawaski announced that an electric motorcycle — albeit it being a concept model — is currently in development.

In a video demonstrating the speed of the bike, the company’s Innovation Senior Manager Yoshimoto Matsuda stated that the motorcycle is equipped with a next-generation power unit which has been in the works since the turn of the century.

Like their engine powered bikes, the electric iteration has been designed in accordance with the company’s Rideology philosophy which means that it will be fun to ride.

Of the few specs revealed by the company, it has been confirmed that the motorcycle will have a manual transmission, “performance on par with a mid-size displacement model,” and a 100km range.

Matsuda stated that Kawasaki has been busy patenting technologies for electric bikes over the years like a thumb brake-activated energy recovery system, but he did not confirm whether such components will be present on the concept or not.

In any case, this concept basically functions as a preliminary version of upcoming production models which will doubtlessly incorporate some of these elements.

After years and years of development, Kawasaki only revealed that their electric motorcycle will be unveiled in the near future.

Hey,

Okay, just relax. That’s the name of my accountant’s business. Shit is happening fast on most fronts and I’m going to Deadwood to relax and slip in the snow.

There’s a side of me that wants to find a place in the Midwest, where I can chill and breathe in the home of the old west and the center of the Chopper World. Motorcycles have always been my home. I like the sound of Bandit in the Badlands.

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 the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

Global Cities Put Brakes On E-Scooters—
E-scooters were promoted as a holy grail for sustainable living in cities, cutting down on carbon-guzzling cars and providing recreation for all. Now, pedestrians just about everywhere loathe E-Scooters and want them dumped. ? TN Editor

Singapore became the latest city to target electronic scooters on Tuesday, when a ban on riding the devices loved by commuters but loathed by pedestrians took effect.

E-scooters have become a common sight on city streets from Berlin to Paris, but they have been blamed for accidents including the death of an elderly lady in Singapore this year.

Anyone riding an e-scooter on the city’s sidewalks now faces up to three months in jail or a fine.

Here are five other countries that have restricted or banned e-scooters.

1. France
Paris has banned e-scooters from sidewalks, with offenders facing a fine of 135 euros ($150).

A speed limit of 20km (12 miles) an hour has been imposed on the motorized vehicles across the capital, where scores of people have been injured and a man in his 80s was killed in April.

2. Germany
German lawmakers voted in May to legalize e-scooters on roads and cycling paths but ban them from sidewalks. Riders must be aged 14 and above, and comply with a 20 km per hour speed limit.

3. Spain
Last year Madrid banned e-scooters from pedestrian areas and from roads with speed limits of 50 km an hour or more.

4. Britain
It is illegal to ride e-scooters on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements and offenders can face a fine of £300 ($387), although there have been recent calls for the ban to be lifted.

5. United States
Some cities have imposed restrictions on e-scooters and a study in September found they were involved in a rising number of injuries, often involving young men who are drunk or stoned.

–BEH LIH YI VIA REUTERS
Technocracy News

NEW FROM LOWBROW–
New Illustrated Sportster How-To Guide
Some simple tasks, such as changing your motorcycle’s oil, can be a bit daunting if you haven’t done them before.

In this illustrated guide, Cycle Monster condenses the process of changing the oil in a Harley-Davidson Sportster into two easy to follow pages.

Chock full of great information and entertaining at the same time. Enjoy!

SURVEY FROM THE MOTORCYCLE PROFILING PROJECT–National Survey
Please take the time to take the survey. Note: NO PERSONAL DATA IS REQUIRED! YOUR PRIVACY AND ANONYMITY ARE IMPORTANT AND RESPECTED. By asking for no more than your zip code and email, which is completely voluntary, there is no personal information to maintain or protect.

Participation is critical and will have long lasting, positive impacts on the community. Remember. Silence is consent.

To begin the survey please scroll down in the box below. Thank you.

HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SURVEY?

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

https://www.motorcycleprofilingproject.com

A WINNING HAND Winning Hand From METZELER: Four New Tires For 2020

SPORTEC M9 RR, ROADTEC 01 SE, RACETEC TD Slick and ROADTEC Scooter Are The New Products To Join The Brand’s Range In Their Relative Segments

METZELER, always at the forefront of research and technological innovation, announces that, in 2020, it will broaden its range with four new tire models.

SPORTEC™ M9 RR is the successor of the multiple award-winning SPORTEC™ M7 RR, which is still considered a benchmark in the Supersport segment. ROADTEC™ 01 SE represents the evolution of ROADTEC™ 01, available in radial sizes for owners of naked, supersport and sport-touring bikes who are looking for improved handling and sportier performance. RACETEC™ TD Slick is a new slick tire for track-day lovers and club racers. Finally, ROADTEC™ Scooter, the chosen heir of the FEELFREE™ family, is designed for urban mobility, commuting and sport-touring use typical of the ROADTEC™ product family.

SPORTEC™ M9 RR perfectly combines the typical versatility of day-to-day use with the brand’s competitive experience in road racing, building on the important legacy of the SPORTEC™ M7 RR, a tire that boasts an impressive list of awards and recognitions. This is completed with the most recent technological advances from the German brand’s research and development pursuits.

One of the most pervasive innovations in motorcycle technology from the introduction of the SPORTEC™ M7 RR has been the development of electronic rider-assist technology, supported by sophisticated sensors that offer riders greater security, regardless of the type of motorcycle. In this context, tires play a fundamental role in allowing the electronics to interpret the true behavior of the vehicle and calibrate it to offer the best riding experience and optimum performance. The biggest challenge for the METZELER Research and Development Center was to adapt the dynamic performance of the SPORTEC™ M9 RR to a wide range of motorcycles, allowing electronic rider assistance systems to function properly.

SPORTEC™ M9 RR has been designed for motorcyclists, primarily owners of supersport and naked bikes, with a sporty riding style and who use their bikes almost every day in conditions from the urban jungle to the winding weekend roads. These riders are looking for improved performance and want a great riding experience with sporty performance even in wet conditions, but also with the option to take their bike on the track as well. These riders need a sports tire that provides precise and reliable feedback while they enjoy their bike’s performance.

The full SPORTEC™ M9 RR range includes 3 front and 9 rear tires sizes.

Following the success of the multiple award-winning ROADTEC™ 01 that debuted in 2015 for the sport-touring tire segment, METZELER has decided to introduce the new ROADTEC™ 01 SE.

The ROADTEC™ 01 SE radial range completes METZELER’s catalog, consolidating the strengths of the ROADTEC™ 01 – with its exceptional performance in wet conditions and high mileage – and enhancing the sporty characteristics in terms of the grip and agility needed by supersport, naked and sport-touring riders.

Marked-The Unforgiven’, a series inspired by the American biker club Hells Angels, will shoot part of the first season in Almeria from November 21 until the end of February. This work of fiction is an adaptation of ‘Marked’, the novel with autobiographical ties to George Christie, former president of the Hells Angels of Ventura (California).

Specifically, Almeria will serve to recreate the environment and the headquarters of the Ximénez cartel, enemies of ‘Marked The Unforgiven Motorcycle Club’. The natural scenarios will be in the areas of Cabo de Gata and Tabernas , where shooting sets are being built.

The first phase of filming the project will take place in the province of Almeria and the rest of the season will be filmed later in locations in the United Kingdom and Canada.

According to the executive of Wanda-Halcyon Television, María José Morales, “the dramatic backdrop of rugged landscapes , extensive virgin sand beaches, impressive fortresses and sun all year round make Almería the dream of any director and an ideal setting to improve the general aesthetics and experience of the viewer of productions like ‘Marked The Unforgiven “.

Morales recalls that internationally “Almeria is known as the Hollywood of Spain for the iconic classic films starring Clint Eastwood and more recent productions such as ‘Game of Thrones’ have made it one of the favorite places in the industry for filming” .

For his part, Pat Andrew, producer of the series, reports that George Christie himself, “former president of the Hells Angels of Ventura and Renaissance man, will play Big John, one of the main characters, an exciting new television series.”

On the starting argument of the series, “the pilot episode tells the return of Jack Crest a former Navy reconnaissance sniper in Afghanistan and protected from Big John, a sniper of the Vietnam era,” explains the supervisor and producer from the script, Sutish Sharma from New Street Pictures.

ABATE OF INDIANA TO HOST MRF SEMINARS–Just wanted to share this with you. ABATE of Indiana will host our Fall Seminar this weekend. This is the same facility we expect to use for MOTM 2020.

We intend to use this weekend as sort of a “trial run” looking at everything from a perspective of, “how will this work for MOTM?”

Anyone who wishes is welcome to attend. Paulette and I toured the facility last week and she plans to come to the Fall Seminar as well.

Thanks, Jay
Jay@MRF.org

THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY REOPENED–What’s the difference between a pickpocket and a peeping tom? One snatches your watch. The other watches your snatch.

Did you hear about the constipated accountant? He couldn’t budget, so he had to work it out with a paper and pencil.

What do you call an IT teacher who touches his students? A PDF file!

–from Rogue
Superior Senior Editor
Bikernet.com ™

Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson Takes Battle of the Kings Glory— Following an intense global competition, including national and international heats, Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson has today been crowned Global Custom Kings and overall winners of the 2019 Battle of the Kings.

Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson’s winning entry, the stunning “FXGTS Coast Glide” is based on a Harley-Davidson Sport Glide model and has been extensively customized to create a truly unique ride.

The bike is a throwback to FXRT styling with a Southern California twist, paying tribute to the Pacific Coast Highway and the Southern California influence on modern performance cruisers. As a concept, it covers a lot of ground. As a design, it’s far more than the sum of its parts. The team wanted full functionality but with a strong California flair.

Battle of the Kings is the world’s largest dealer custom build-off competition. The competition showcases the very best in customization capability and the creativity of the Custom Kings who can be found at every Harley-Davidson dealership globally. In 2018, the Custom King crown was taken by debut-entrants Harley-Davidson Bangkok with their Street Bob-based build “The Prince”.

For 2019 any model in the Harley-Davidson range could be selected as a base for the build (excluding Trike and CVO models) meaning dealers had more choice than ever before in order to create a title challenger. To further inspire the competition dealers had to choose from three style categories – Dirt, Chop and Race – for their build. The rules for the build were simple – 50 percent of the parts used must be genuine Harley-Davidson accessories and the customization budget was a maximum of 50 percent of the donor bike retail price.

The United States dealers added an extra dimension to their competition, inspiring the next generation of custom builders by teaming each build with a trade school, with students working alongside the dealership team to create and build their machine.

Grand final runners-up were Warr’s Harley-Davidson, The Crook (United Kingdom), Thunderbike Harley-Davidson, Roar (Germany), Calgary Harley-Davidson, Moonshine (Canada) and Harley-Davidson Queretaro, Joe Tracker (Mexico) – whose machines were all on display at EICMA for the tense final voting.

“Once again the global Harley-Davidson dealership community has excelled at demonstrating their custom leadership. This expertise is accessible at any Harley-Davidson dealership, allowing riders around the world to truly make their ride unique. Huge congratulations to all of our over 300 entries, the regional winners and finalists – and especially to our 2019 champions Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson. A truly stunning build–– and a worthy champion,” said Steve Lambert, International Marketing Director, Harley-Davidson.

For information on the Battle of the Kings contest visit: www.h-d.com/customkings

BAD CITY FILE OPENED— Ohio Speed Trap Town Retaliates Against Cop
Police lieutenant sues Independence, Ohio after he is accused of exposing an illegal traffic ticket quota.

A notorious Ohio speed trap town forced a police lieutenant out of his job for blowing the whistle on its ticket quota practices. The problem for the city of Independence is that Lieutenant Leonard Mazzola, a 23 year veteran on the force, may have had nothing to do with leaks to the media.

“Though Lieutenant Mazzola did not actually tip the press to the quotas, doing so was constitutionally protected conduct,” Mazzola’s attorney, Ashlie Case Sletvold, wrote in a legal brief filed Monday. “Defendants had no right to target him or strip him of his distinguished career in public service in retaliation for their embarrassment at someone having a light shined on the effort to raise revenue in Independence by targeting motorists.”

Mazzola is now suing Mayor Anthony Togliatti, Police Chief Michael Kilbane, and Law Director Gregory O’Brien in federal court for violating his constitutional rights. His suit includes new evidence that the mayor pressured the police chief after seeing ticket revenue plunge at the beginning of last year. According to the suit, the chief ordered Lieutenant Mazzola to “get this turned around” by imposing a ticket quota in August 2018. The order from above had the effect of increasing citations by 27 percent, but this was not enough to satisfy the chief who wanted to see the numbers reach 3000 tickets annually — ten per month per officer.

“To reiterate, this is not a quota, it is a performance standard fundamental to effective policing,” Chief Kilbane wrote in a September 2018 memo.

Mazzola said he was ordered to discipline an officer who failed to issue the requisite number of citations. He followed through under duress, and the reprimanded officer filed a grievance. Three days later, WJW news broke the story about the the ticket quota. The story included copies of internal documents and other direct evidence.

“Defendant Kilbane was interviewed,” Sletvold wrote. “He looked silly adamantly insisting that officers do not face quotas despite the fact that his own internal emails and orders show that they do.”

In a February 27, 2019 email to the chief, Lieutenant Mazzola objected to the quotas, saying what was being required was illegal. Minutes after the message was sent, the chief hired an outside investigation of Mazzola as the potential media leaker, the lawsuit alleges.

“A public employee cannot be disciplined for sharing a public record with the public,” Sletvold wrote. “A public employee cannot be disciplined for revealing a public policy (like a traffic-ticket quota) to the public. Whoever tipped the press about the traffic-ticket quota was engaging in constitutionally protected conduct.”

The chief allegedly told Lieutenant Mazzola he could either retire or be demoted to patrolman. He chose to retire in April.

–Newspaper.com

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
WEEKEND ROUND-UP for October 30, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/WEEKEND_ROUNDUP_for_October_30_2019.aspx

Since you are doing some writing for a new book maybe Sutter can reflect to you on it. He is out of a job and you can teach him how real bikers are and not those SOA posers .

–Gearhead
Torrance, CA

Ya just never know what could happen next.–Bandit

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY LESSON–thither
adverb [thith-er, thith?-]
to or toward that place or point; there.

thither
adverb [thith-er, thith?-]
to or toward that place or point; there.

What is the origin of thither?

The adverb thither “to or toward that place or point; there” is an old one in English. Its original form in Old English was thæder, altered to thider (among other forms) due to hider. This adverb hider evolved into a word thither frequently appears together with: hither, as in hither and thither “here and there.”

Thither was largely replaced by there (as hither was by here). If you go back far enough in time, you’ll find that thither and there share a common root, as do many humble English function words beginning with th-, including that, this, and the.

How is thither used?

We told them that we were travelling, that we had been transported thither, and that they had nothing to fear from us.

He was a thorough-going old Tory … who seldom himself went near the metropolis, unless called thither by some occasion of cattle-showing.

–from Dictionary.com

NEW JUMPSTART– Portable Vehicle Jump Starter/Flashlight/Power Bank with 37000 mWh

JUMP STARTER The JumpSmart can jump start up to an 8-cylinder, 5.0L engine with ease (up to 2.0L Diesel). Its powerful 37000 mWh high-grade Lithium-Polymer battery is compatible to jump start with most cars, trucks, SUV’s, boats, motorcycles, lawn mowers, ATV’s, and more! Re-charge up to 1000 times.

FLASHLIGHT Beyond its jump start features, this 8W, 330 Lumen LED Flashlight has 4-Modes (High Beam, Low Beam, SOS & Strobe), and a 495ft reach is the perfect tool for daily use, traveling, outdoor activities, and in emergency situations. POWER BANK Use the patented SmartSpeed Technology to charge (1) USB device fast at 2.4 amps when you run out of power. Charge up virtually any device, such as mobile phones, tablets, cameras, navigations units, and more!

ERGONOMICAL ALUMINUM DESIGN

Aside from the other plastic and rubber jump starters on the market, this durable, anodized, and CNC-machined aluminum extruded casing with knurled casing can withstand collision that comes with everyday use.

AWARD-WINNING The JumpSmart has been a recipient of multiple awards, including: Editor’s Choice, Best of CES by Inno & Tech Today Top 50 Most Innovative Products by Inno & Tech Today Twice Picks Awards Winner by Twice/ VIP Award by Twice Best in Technology Product Showcase Winner by ASI

MSRP: $119.99
Available at www.limitlessinnovations.com

–Julia Wilson

[page break]

Harley-Davidson’s teenage (and 20-something) dream has come true

Harley-Davidson is finally reaching the younger audiences that all legacy brands strive for. The secret?

It got lucky: Katy Perry recorded a hit song with its name in the title. Her song “Harleys in Hawaii” is rising up the charts, and Harley-Davidson is getting a much-needed kick-start.

But it wasn’t an endorsement…
According to The New York Times, Harley-Davidson did nothing to woo Perry. She wrote the song after a Hawaii trip with fiancé Orlando Bloom. The company just provided motorcycles for the pop star’s music video.

Although artists team with brands to pitch nearly everything — yes, you, Travis Scott and Reese’s Puffs — they rarely go all-in on a brand organically. In the mid-’80s, Run D.M.C. released “My Adidas” and then scored an endorsement deal with the brand.

Many times, brands hate being mentioned in popular culture without their input. Polo freaked out at Trick Daddy in the late ’90s for constantly rapping about wearing its jeans. Jaguar worried when a character on Mad Men attempted to kill himself in one of its cars.

But Harley will let this one ride
Besides, what’s there to complain about? “Harleys in Hawaii” has been viewed and streamed more than 30m times since its release last month.

The popularity amounts to the best kind of free advertising — from an influencer. The famed macho motorcycle maker is now reaching women and younger consumers.

Harley can use the lift. Profits have slid, and it closed a major plant this year.

But after a dose of Perry, perhaps this ol’ “Dark Horse” brand will “Roar” again…

–from Paul Aiken
Aeromach

Aeromach is a great little manufacturing company, and it’s for sale in North Carolina.–Bandit

NEW FROM REVIVAL CYCLES– In our constant quest for great products, we’ve come across some of the best motorcycle lighting that is on the market now. We love these PIAA lighting kits and are so excited to share them with you!

It’s no secret that PIAA produces premium lighting and if you’re looking to add functionality and a sharp light set up, this is what you need.
———-

www.revivalcycles.com

BIKERNET HOUSEHOLD TIPS OF THE WEEK–
It’s time to trash some of those housecleaning remedies that have been passed down for generations—yet produce iffy results or, worse, create more work. Consumer Reports asked some cleaning-industry experts about the effectiveness of 10 timeworn tips, and here’s what they said.

Myth: Newspaper works the best for cleaning glass.
Fact: Wet newspaper tears easily, and the ink can transfer to window trim, leaving more to clean. “We use microfiber cloths to clean glass,” says Debra Johnson, home cleaning expert for Merry Maids, a national franchise. “They’re the best at cleaning without streaking.”

Myth: Vinegar cleans everything.
Fact: “Vinegar is an acid, so it can cut through dirt and can kill bacteria, but only if you use it at full or nearly full strength,” says Derek Christian, owner of My Maid Service, a home-cleaning service in Ohio and Texas. “Most people put a capful in a bucket of water, and that doesn’t do much.” The acids in vinegar can damage natural stone and wood surfaces.

Myth: Feather dusters are more effective than microfiber cloths at dusting.
Fact: Genuine ostrich-feather dusters do attract dust, but they’re expensive and are generally not as effective as lambswool or microfiber options. “Most feather dusters just spread the dust around,” says Debrah Vanchura, cleaning pro and owner of Helping Hands in Portland, Ore. Also, they tend to drop feathers—leaving you more to pick up.

Take the Pain out of Window Cleaning
The Best Cleaning Supplies for the Job
A Cleaning Schedule You Can Stick To
Offbeat Cleaning Tools That Really Work
Best Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide

Myth: String mops are best for removing dirt and bacteria.
Fact: Industrial-style string mops may look impressive, but studies have shown that microfiber mops are about 20 percent more effective at removing dirt and bacteria, Christian says. “String mops are very absorbent, so they’re great at cleaning up big spills,” he says, “but if you want to make sure you’re not leaving anything behind on the floor, use a microfiber mop.”

Myth: Coca-Cola can tidy up toilets.
Fact: Coke sure isn’t “it” when it comes to cleaning your toilet bowl: “Coke is acidic, so it could be effective at removing hard-water stains,” Johnson says. “But even the Coca-Cola website recommends using other options.” Christian prefers traditional cleansers as well. “The soda could actually darken stains, and the sugar could encourage bacteria,” Christian says.

Myth: Bleach cleans everything.
Fact: “Bleach actually doesn’t ‘clean’ anything—because it doesn’t remove soil,” Christian says. “It can lighten stains, making things look cleaner, and it kills bacteria, so it’s better as a sanitizer than as a cleaner.”

Myth: Handwashing dishes is better than using a dishwasher.
Fact: If your dishwasher is a decade old, this may be true, but today’s models beat handwashing by a mile. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star website, using a dishwasher that bears the Energy Star label can save some 5,000 gallons of water, more than $40 dollars in energy costs, and 230 hours in personal time over the course of a year vs. handwashing. And because dishwashers heat the water to 140° F, they’ll sanitize the dishes, too.

Myth: Coffee freshens garbage disposers.
Fact: “Coffee grounds may act as a mild abrasive, removing gunk from disposer blades,” Christian says. “But baking soda is a better choice. It’s also mildly abrasive, and because it’s a base, it will counteract all the smelly acids that we put down the drain.”

Myth: Hair spray removes ballpoint-pen ink.

Fact: This may have been true years ago, when hair sprays were formulated with more alcohol (which does remove ink) than they are today, but not anymore. “Today’s hair sprays are full of stiffeners and hardeners that will just make the stain worse,” Christian says. “Just use rubbing alcohol. It’s far less expensive than hairspray and doesn’t include any extra ingredients.”

Editor’s Note: This article is adapted from Consumer Reports’ “How to Clean (Practically) Anything.”

THE SEARCH FOR DYNA MID CONTROLS–
You got any Dyna mid controls laying around? I’m going to check with Greg at MC as well. Hopefully getting ready to make the last parts push, bars, seat, fairing and controls! I should have looked longer for something a bit closer to what I wanted, as the bike cost is now pushing 8g with all these new parts!

And this is a daily routine for me I’m getting about 1 round trip 130 miles per tank. Of course a heavy hand plays into that too, but still about 32 miles per gallon.

–RFR

I put all my Dyna stash into Frankie’s bike and he destroyed it. Look at Craig’s list or Offer-Up. A friend said you can place a search and it will alert you whenever your parts become available.–Bandit

THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY NEW HOURS OF OPERATION—

Why did the sperm cross the road? Because I put on the wrong sock this morning.

A guy is sitting at the doctor’s office. The doctor walks in and says, “I have some bad news. I’m afraid you’re going to have to stop masturbating.”

“I don’t understand, doc,” the patient says. “Why?”

“Because,” the doctor says. “I’m trying to examine you.”

What do a nearsighted gynecologist and a puppy have in common? A wet nose.

–Rogue

5-BALL Racing Garage Revamp—It’s been in the process of a rebuild for a while. I say that, but we keep adding new products. Now, with the holidays fast approaching, we needed to pull the trigger on the changes.

Hopefully, they will be up and screaming next week. Also, in most cases we’ve reduced our prices for the holidays.

Enjoy the Ride,

–Bandit

INDIAN ALERT–
Dear Indian Motorcycle customer,

Our records indicate that you are the owner of a unit affected by Safety Recall I-19-03 announced on November 5, 2019.

The reason for this recall:

Indian Motorcycle has determined the gear position switch used on 2014-2019 (111 c.i.) motorcycles may provide an inaccurate signal, which can lead to an incorrect gear being displayed. Oxidation on the contacts of the gear position switch may cause a change in resistance values resulting in the rider display indicating an incorrect gear. Incorrect gear indication during start-up can increase the risk of a crash.

What Indian Motorcycle and your dealer will do:

Indian Motorcycle is currently evaluating a permanent solution for this concern, which is targeted to be available in the Spring of 2020. Once the final repair plan is available at dealers, Indian Motorcycle will send another letter with additional instructions. This repair will be completed free of charge.

What you should do:

When starting your motorcycle you should exercise the following steps as outlined in the Owner’s Manual:

Straddle the motorcycle and bring it to the fully upright position. Retract the sidestand.
Move the engine stop/run switch to the RUN position
Shift the transmission to neutral
Apply the front brakes
Disengage the clutch (pull the clutch lever fully toward the handlebar)
Start the engine

If you have witnessed an inaccurate gear position, or if you have any concerns starting or riding your motorcycle, contact your authorized Indian Motorcycle dealer and schedule an appointment to have your gear position switch cleaned and inspected.

While your dealer is in the best position to answer your questions, you can also call our Customer Service Department at 1-877-204-3697 to speak with a representative.

–The Customer Service Team

Remembering Texas Customizing Icon–Gary Howard

This Sunday, November 10th, the hot rod and custom car community will congregate at the Albert Ice House & Dance Hall in Stonewall, Texas, to celebrate the life of Gary Howard. It’ll be a day filled with live music, custom cars and a whole lot more to honor the man responsible for some of the most tasteful customs ever to hit the streets of the Lone Star State.

Hosted by the Kontinetals car club, the schedule is packed. In addition to a showcase of Gary’s work and music by Jimmie Vaughan, there will be a live auction featuring original artwork by Ed Tillrock, Jeff Norwell, Dennis McPhail, Keith Weesner, Von Franco and others. Also up for auction are some of Gary’s paint guns, an autographed Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Stratocaster, a custom neon sign by Roadhouse Relics, a complete SureFit A/C system from Vintage Air and a Lifetime Subscription to The Rodder’s Journal.

f that weren’t enough, there’s also a raffle for a running, driving 1941 Mercury sedan. Slated to be one of Gary’s upcoming projects, the Kontinetals are giving you a one in 200 shot of parking the perfectly patina’d Fordor in your garage. Tickets are $100 and you need not be present to win. (Up to $1,000 will be paid in shipping within the continental U.S.)

All proceeds from the daylong celebration will go directly to Gary’s family to help them in this time of need. To learn more about the event, click here.

We certainly aren’t alone in saying that we’ll miss Gary. The custom car world simply isn’t the same without him.

www.roddersjournal.com

Coral Head MusicFest rocked Tampa Bay! One hell of a show! Thank you again

–Jen Ragland

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2018 Harley-Davidson FLHRXS – Road King Special for $19,995.00

see it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=7906108

2018 FLHRXS Road King Special Miwaukee 8 107 cu in

**Just 10,180 miles**

The introduction of the original Road King in 1994 was a game changer for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. One might even successfully argue that it set the stage for the bagger craze that rages until this day. And while the powerplant for this model has seen a broad spectrum of engine designs and displacements during the last two decades (Evo 80?, Twin Cam 80?, 88?, 96? and 103?), the most exciting development has to be the new Milwaukee-Eight 107?, the first completely new Big Twin engine by Harley since the release of the 1999 Twin Cam. The 2017 Harley-Davidson Road King Special, a darker, more sinister take on the classic, 1950s-inspired standard Road King.

The stretched saddlebags do lend a longer and lower look, but to further accentuate the lowness, the Road King Special is actually lowered slightly, by use of the same “low-profile? rear suspension used on Street and Road Glide Special.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

Road Kings ride so nice and this one is blacked out beautifully with low mileage! Industrial Gray Denim paint and raised tank logos is pristine and like new. Vivid Black tank strap with carbon fiber accent face. Vivid black mini apes, black/rubber grips with wrist saver, black mirrors levers and a quick detachable windshield.

Vivid Black Nacelle LED headlamp, blinkers, and vivid Black forks. 19″ Turbine black wheel with 18″ rear. Vivid Black engine guard with hardware but freeway pegs missing. Black ‘skull’ gas cap and fuel gauge. Vivid Black contrast cut Rinehart circular stage 1 air filter. ivid Black engine covers and black exhaust. 2-up seat with streamliner floors, brake pedal and contrast cut toe shifter. Black LED stop / turn / tail lighting with the fender LED tri-line. A beautiful bike with the latest in 107 Milwaukee 8 muscle!

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!!!

EZ FINANCING-SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!

NMA ALERT–Transportation Engineers Debate Vision Zero, Part 2–
Last week in Part 1, we shared some posts made on the Institute of Transportation Engineers Member Forum that started a debate about the efficacy of the Vision Zero goals. The discussion in that thread — “A ‘War on Cars’? Let there be Peace!” — was too varied and interesting to fit into the contents of one newsletter.

So here, picking up after Post #4 of Part 1, in which the writer argued that, “those who think they can legislate, mandate, or design away all the inherent danger from any activity we do on a day-to-day basis . . . are fooling themselves,” are additional responses in the forum to the premise that there is no war on cars, but cars are the problem.

Post #5
Our attempts to embrace and put into practice the tools and design that have proven to reduce roadway fatalities, injuries, and property damage is completely undone by the misleading sloganism of “Vision Zero.” That is the TRUTH about Vision Zero. It misguides the public and officials into thinking that ‘zero’ is attainable when it clearly is not.

Post #6
The problem with universal statement is that they rarely apply universally. Maybe the issue is distinguishing between multi-modal planning vs. multi-modal retrofits that put the car before the horse.

I’ll use New York City as one example of a city that penalizes drivers:
Congestion pricing (regressive because if you have to drive in rush hour, you can’t reroute or reschedule to avoid the fine).
Bridge tolls up to $19.
Restrictive parking practices such as “alternate side of the street” regulations in place two midday hours a week for street cleaning that happens less often.
Vehicle travel lanes removed and repurposed for bicycle storage, with no thought to replace the lost parking supply.
Resistance to assigning blame to bicyclists and pedestrians who were inattentive or failed to yield the right of way.

Post #7
There is indeed a “war on cars,” and has been for decades. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of people, when given the option, will choose the freedom, safety, and convenience of the personal auto over mass transit, bicycles, or walking.

Talking about traffic deaths is a straw man argument. How many people get assaulted walking? How many bikes get stolen? How many women feel uncomfortable being leered at on a public bus? Start throwing in crimes or deaths that could have been prevented if the victim had been in a personal auto, and then we can talk about the safety side. Until the anti-auto people are willing to admit that people prefer the private auto, and that personal safety is a big reason, then the discussion is nothing more than a Cold War style propaganda war about the evils of the auto.

Post #8
I think most transportation professionals agree we should invest more in alternative modes and improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. I think most agree that we should encourage multi-modal infrastructure, density, mixed uses and shared parking, and not sprawl/chicken pox development. Where the concern about the war on cars…and parking…comes from is the hyperboles, like providing parking at restaurants causes drunk driving, that those who choose auto transportation are bad people because they (not the poor planning policies of the past) are imposing a burden on those who don’t use autos (aka the “huge” subsidy), and they are causing accidents and deaths simply by choosing to use cars.

Post #9
So, when did we decide that the role of the transportation engineer is to social engineer? A person will not walk from Chicago to Waukegan nor bike from Chicago to Milwaukee, and to assume the equivalence of these different modes for all trip purposes and length is fallacy. Until the non-auto advocates acknowledge these differences, that each mode is important and fulfills a genuine purpose, and that we are engineers and have no business being social advocates, people will perceive this advocacy as a “War on Cars” and an attack on capitalism and culture.

Post #10
We all know that this whole Vision Zero movement is a myth because it is, like perfection, unattainable. I personally also think the Complete Streets movement has transmogrified into a passion play between those self-righteous egalitarian planners favoring sharing street space for many users vs. hardcore traffic engineering traditionalists who eschew the emerging bike/scooter/motor-skateboard mode so cars and trucks and buses can remain the focus of moving people and goods. New York City is such a battleground…..bicyclists accuse drivers of killing them, while drivers say two-wheelers never respect traffic lights and other traffic control measures. The mayor wants miles of new bike lanes while adjacent residents and shopkeepers sue to stop him.

As in many cases, both sides are a little right. We engineers are called on to gather new data and issue findings…that’s it! We don’t dictate or write policy, guide funding, opine (as academics do) to influence, or declare war on a topic.

~~~

It is gratifying to watch a robust debate being waged in the transportation engineering community about Vision Zero, its goals, and the movement to get people out of their cars, or pay hefty tolls and fees for the “privilege.” The battle, however, must be waged with policymakers and legislators. On that front, we received good news recently from California where Governor Newsom vetoed SB 127, a Complete Streets bill passed by both the state Assembly and Senate to prioritize pedestrian, bicyclist, and public transit facilities in the asset management plan for new transportation infrastructure and capital improvement projects.

While such favorable decisions by California are influential, we still have much work to in other states and at the federal level, where Senate Bill 3663, Complete Streets Act of 2019, has our full attention. We hope it has yours too.

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WORDS FROM THE DALAI LAMA–A Smart Person Knows what to say. A wise person knows whether to say it or not.

Very wise indeed.

–Bandit

THERE YOU HAVE IT!—I’m working on the next Cantina Episode and a story about a real brother, who wants to remain anonymous. This is just one of his many stories.

I’m going to work with Larry Settles on a couple of projects I don’t like. I’m fortunate to know several experts, so when I stumble I can run to someone who knows. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out.

My 1928 Shovelhead is not slamming the pinion starter gear into the ring gear and turning this puppy over. I called Wayne Electric and asked if I could hook two of his batteries up in parallel for more amperage to the starter and the solenoid. They said, “Perfect, go for it.” I’m going to give it a shot. If that doesn’t work, I’m going to take it to Larry Settles for a dose of truth serum.

I have one more item that needs review. I rebuilt my glide front end for my ’69 Panhead, but I don’t like it at all. It doesn’t handle properly and isn’t happy when I apply the front brake. I’m going to take the tubes off and ask Larry to inspect them. I would bet I need some new bushings.

There’s only so much this old bastard can do in his home shop, I suppose.

Ride Fast and Free Forever!

–Bandit

by Express Drives Desk from https://www.financialexpress.com

The new Kawasaki Z900 now is more feature-packed and should be able to take on the Triumph Street Triple as well as Suzuki GSX-S750 in a better fashion.

Kawasaki’s second showcase at EICMA 2019 was the updated Z900. The naked litre-class motorcycle gets a full complement of LED headlights, flanked by parking lights (LED) and a redesigned cowl. The Z900 also looks inspired from the Ninja H2 and if you take a closer look, it has got flanks as well. Kawasaki has redesigned the tank extensions and there is the exposed steel trellis frame. One more part that is now LED are the blinkers. Kawasaki hasn’t tinkered with the tail light that is still shaped in the Z pattern. The instrument console too now gets a TFT display with Kawasaki Rideology app connect through Bluetooth.

Riding aids was something that was missing in the Z900. It is surprising that a Rs 8 lakh motorcycle didn’t have any other electronics apart from dual channel ABS. The new Kawasaki Z900 gets two power modes – Low and Full. This is the same from other Kawasaki models and cut off power when in low mode. There is also traction control on offer now. Kawasaki has also added riding modes – Rider, Rain, Sport and Road. The names are self explanatory and in the Rider mode, one can configure it according to their requirements.

Shorter riders earlier preferred the Z900 for its lower (comparatively) 795mm seat height. However, for the 2020 model, Kawasaki has raised the seat height to 820mm. The motorcycle too has grown in length and is taller too. The good part is that the ground clearance is now up from the earlier lowly 130mm to 145mm. Kawasaki has also increased the wheelbase slightly. There though is no weight gain from all this exercise.

Kawasaki has updated the 998c engine to meet Euro-V standards. There is no change in power or torque numbers from before (125hp/99Nm). The gearbox is a 6-speed unit that also gets slipper clutch assistance. Kawasaki has also reworked the exhaust plumbing. There are no changes to the suspension – USD forks in the front and monoshock at the back. Braking duties are carried out by discs at both ends and linked by dual channel ABS.

Limited Edition with more power, less weight

Triumph Bobber TFC is powered by an updated version of the liquid-cooled 1200cc parallel twin which now makes 87 hp at 6,250 rpm and 110 Nm of torque, which is a 13 percent increase in power compared to the standard Bobber.

by Express Drives Desk from https://www.financialexpress.com

Triumph Motorcycles custom bike wing called Triumph Factory Customs has rolled out yet another gorgeous-looking TFC edition after the Thruxton TFC and Rocket 3 TFC earlier this year. Unveiled at the ongoing 2019 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, Triumph Bobber TFC boasts of more power, is lighter than the standard bike and will be limited to 750 units across the world.

Triumph Bobber TFC is powered by an updated version of the liquid-cooled 1200cc parallel twin which now makes 87 hp at 6,250 rpm and 110 Nm of torque. The TFC has received a 13 percent increase in power compared to the standard Bobber and Bobber Black which produce about 77 hp. The exhaust system has also been updated with Arrow titanium pipes and carbon fibre end caps.

The second most notable change is the styling of the Triumph Bobber TFC. While the design is largely the same, it gets a new paint scheme, carbon fibre bodywork, and a short mudguard. Frame and swingarm have been black powder-coated, it gets black anodised wheels, knurled handlebar grips and billet-machined aluminium oil filler cap. The black theme continues to the Öhlins RSU spring, Öhlins forks and engine covers.

The use of lighter components has led to a weight saving of about 5 kg on the 2020 Bobber TFC. It features fully adjustable Ohlins upside-down forks and rear suspension. Braking components include twin floating discs up front with Brembo four-piston M50 radial monobloc callipers. The Bobber TFC features three ride modes – Raid, Road and Sport.

The Bobber TFC is Euro V compliant and is priced at GBP 15,500 in the UK.

A Documentary about people with passion

‘Oil in the Blood’ is a documentary feature film on the contemporary custom motorcycle culture. The film is directed by biker biker Gareth Maxwell Roberts and produced by Lucy Selwood.

This is not a film about motorcycles, it’s a film about motorcycle people.

“Oil In The Blood” has it’s worldwide release on October 14th for sale and rental on Amazon, iTunes, and google. DVD/ Blu-ray available now on Amazon.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE DETAILED REVIEW IN THE CANTINA

JOIN THE CANTINA TODAY