by Bill Roberson from https://www.forbes.com Harley-Davidson has resumed production of the LiveWire electric motorcycle after assembly was stopped earlier this week when a charging issue cropped up and was spotted during quality checks. A Harley-Davidson Motor Company representative told Forbes Friday morning that production was temporarily suspended “to confirm that the non-standard condition identified on one motorcycle was a singular occurrence. We take pride in our rigorous quality assurance measures and our drive to deliver the world’s best motorcycles.” They added that customers who already had the bikes could resume charging “through all methods,” including using the 120-volt (Level 1) on-board chargers that essentially let users plug the bikes into a wall outlet. Following the production halt, Harley had advised riders to only use the high-speed Level III Fast DC chargers at dealerships until the issue with the 120-volt charger was resolved. “Our quality assurances are working as they were designed, and we’ve reaffirmed the strength of the LiveWire product design, no product changes are needed and we’re moving forward,” the spokesperson told Forbes. The issue marked a hiccup in Harley-Davidson’s rollout of the LiveWire motorcycles, which are a radical departure from the Motor Company’s usual slate of iconic gas-powered V-Twin machines. Harley is betting that the future of transportation – including motorcycles – will include more electric vehicles and they are the first major legacy motorcycle maker to put an all-electric bike into serial production. The LiveWire features a 105-horsepower electric motor, 15.5kWh battery pack and can go zero to 60mph in three seconds. Harley has said more electric models – including possibly electric bicycles – are on the way following the rollout of the $29,700 LiveWire. Indeed, there are Harley electric balance bikes for kids on sale at this time.

The Industrial Revolution, when an unprecedented boom of technological innovation transformed agrarian America into the nation we know today, wasn’t just a time of economic change and scientific progress. It propelled humanity to the most prosperous time in our history.

Once a rare treasure, electricity now powers everything we touch. It provides the essentials like clean running water and warmth in the winter and the luxuries like Instagram and Amazon Prime. It powers the institutions we depend on: Our banks, law enforcement agencies, doctor’s offices, farms, plants, stores, and schools. Similarly, affordable and dependable cars allow us to travel freely, farther, and more often than our ancestors could have fathomed, giving us the ability to do business over long distances and travel for mere pleasure.

 

Not everyone in the world enjoys these benefits. Nearly a billion people still don’t have access to electricity or any of the benefits that come along with it. These are communities where medieval-sounding diseases like cholera and dysentery still reign — where life expectancies lag 20 to 30 years behind those of the developed West.

Lest we think this fate is reserved for the third world, Venezuela represents a cautionary tale on the consequences of losing the precious resource that is electricity. In March, a week-long blackout in Venezuela left more than 40 people dead because hospitals couldn’t provide basic medical care, including routine procedures like dialysis. Even now, electricity and critical healthcare infrastructure are spotty at Venezuelan hospitals, leading one doctor to turn pregnant patients away and send them instead to neighboring Colombia.

These are the dangers we should be worried about — real threats to human health and safety — not the overblown dangers of slightly warmer weather.

For all the environmentalist movement’s hand-wringing, you’d think our extinction was scheduled to commence tomorrow. But despite the wildly popular and equally wildly misinterpreted trope that all scientists agree the world is ending, there is no concrete evidence right now to suggest climate change will be anything but mild and manageable, or that we won’t be able to handle it.

Humans are becoming more resilient to mild changes in average temperature. Migration trends show Americans are readily moving to warmer states. Even more crucially, deaths due to climate-related natural disasters have declined by a providential 98.9%. That is thanks to our modern-day technology, which allows meteorologists to more accurately predict storm patterns and near-instant communication keeping the public better informed and prepared. It’s the reason the Great Galveston Storm of 1900 claimed more 8,000 lives, but a recent storm of similar magnitude on the Texas coast — Hurricane Harvey — killed just 68. We can and should work to improve disaster readiness, but we should do so without the fear-mongering.

Given how much society has transformed since the Industrial Revolution, the potential of future generations to spread the health and prosperity we enjoy around the world should be limitless.

Yet climate change hysteria is plaguing an entire generation with a crippling fear of the future. Not only is foisting this burden on today’s children and young adults unhealthy — it’s simply unfair to limit the younger generation’s potential to contribute to the innovations that will drive the future. Young leaders should be empowered to pursue their passions and encouraged to experiment with new solutions, just as the greatest innovators of the past have done.

We live in the healthiest, most prosperous, most resilient time in human history. It is unfortunate that climate alarmists can’t see how far we’ve come — or how bright humanity’s future can be.

 

Katie Tahuahua is Communications Manager for Life:Powered, a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to inform policymakers and the public about the value of abundant, reliable and affordable energy to the human condition.

MA State House, Public Hearing, S. 1399,

Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com/

The clues were there all along.

If you think of Harley-Davidson in 2019, it’s hard to think of anything else than cruisers and baggers. It is, after all, the segments the manufacturer has developed the most over the years and pretty much the only one it serves nowadays. That’s not to say that the company didn’t try its hand at different things over the past century. One of the company’s most notable attempts at breaking the mold happened in the 90s with the introduction of the VR1000 race bike. Now, a patent filing suggesting that the Motor Company could be working on a VR1000-inspired bubble-fairing sportbike piqued our interest.

Following Harley’s AMF Dark Age and painstaking restructuring, the company started getting back on track as the 80s rolled in. With the new cash flow, it was now allowed a few frivolities, including dreams of motorsport. As early as 1986, Harley started toying with the idea of producing a sportbike to enter in the AMA Superbike series. That’s when early ideas about the VR1000 emerged.

It took almost a decade for the bike to see the light of day and to roll off the production line. Ultimately, only 50 units of the VR1000 were ever produced—half of which were outfitted for the street.

Sadly, the company took too long to execute and finalize the project. By the time the VR1000 was put on the track in 1994, competitors were already lightyears ahead. The company and the factory team never truly managed to make up for the lost time, continuously plagued by never-ending issues and bad luck. Harley ultimately discontinued funding to the racing program in 2001.

And Today…

In the hopes of refreshing its image, Harley-Davidson released a five-year timeline that includes the introduction of a variety of what it hopes to be game-changing models. The list includes the Pan America ADV and the Streetfighter but those aren’t the only motorcycles Harley is banking on. Hiding in plain sight in one of the company’s promotional vehicle, the clay model of a bubble-fairing sportbike got a few seconds of screen time. Next to the model: a VR1000. Subliminal!

We didn’t give the clay model much thought since it wasn’t part of the conceptual designs the company released. Now, with the publication of a new Harley-Davidson patent that describes the design of a new bubble fairing (sporting a similar headlight to the Pan America’s), we think that Harley is getting ready to make a bold move. If you think the Streetfighter and the Pan America are daring, it looks like Harley isn’t done surprising us.

Also spotted in the video, in the shot showing the Streetfighter prototype, the idea board in the background includes the drawing of a model sporting a racing fairing, suggesting the faired sportbike could be a derivative of the Streetfighter. If the company doesn’t take too long to develop the suspected new model, it could still launch it in time to join the vintage fad. That’s as long as it doesn’t trip in its own feet like it did with the LiveWire (and incidentally, with the VR).

With the Pan America on track to be released in 2020 followed by the Streetfighter, there’s no say when the sportier model would be released. Hopefully it won’t take another five years…

By Adam Wallis from https://globalnews.ca

Katy Perry has released a new single called Harleys in Hawaii.

The three minute, 15 second track was released on Wednesday along with a scenic, colourful and saucy music video directed by Manson.

The bass-heavy pop tune, which is driven by a subtle acoustic guitar melody, serves as the 34-year-old’s fourth single in 2019 overall.

During an interview on the Zach Sang Show in July, Perry revealed that the inspiration for the song came from a trip to Hawaii with her fiancée, Orlando Bloom, where the couple rented and rode Harley Davidson motorcycles together in the tropical American state.

She said: “I can remember specifically where I was, the street corner I was at (in Oahu), and turning that corner and whispering to Orlando, going “I’m going to write a song called Harleys in Hawaii… and I did.”

Much like her last single, Small Talk — which dropped in early August — Harleys in Hawaii was produced by Charlie Puth and Johan Carlsson.

The pair co-wrote the song alongside Perry and Jacob Kasher, who is another frequent collaborator of the Teenage Dream singer.

Though Perry has released four singles this year, including Never Really Over and 365, it’s unclear if she’s working on a follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2017 album, Witness.

During her chat with host Zach Sang over the summer, the pop star said, “I haven’t really committed to calling anything an album or making an album.”

Perry didn’t rule out the possibility of a new album, however. “If there’s demand for a full body of work, then we’ll see,” she added.

Though she teased a potential album, the pop star admitted she was enjoying releasing singles as their own entities. “I’ve never been able to just put out songs one after the other,” she said.

The Roar singer continued: “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh people don’t put out full records anymore, they just put out songs, what a shame.’ I don’t know if it’s a shame actually, because every song gets it’s own little moment.”

“They get the spotlight, they get a visual,” she added. “Every song, at least to an artist, is somewhat important,” adding that she’s not upset at the people who disagree with her.

Harleys in Hawaii is now available through all major streaming platforms.

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

For decades, one of the heavyweights of the motorcycle industry has been Harley-Davidson. The behemoth established itself as one of the leaders in motorcycling manufacturing, and is now planning an expansion more ambitious than ever before. Over the years though, it tried its luck in other industries as well.

Established in 1903, the company fought to make a name for itself including in areas like commercial transportation and military hardware. Most of these attempts are now long-dead, but this week Harley decided its time for a brief history lesson into five of the products few still know it used to make.

In its second decade, from 1913 to 1915, Harley went for the commercial delivery sector with a vehicle called Forecar. Powered by a twin-cylinder chain drive motorcycle engine, the vehicle was a three-wheeler that featured a delivery box over two front wheels. It was capable of carrying a load weighing up to 600 pounds, mostly mail and groceries.

From 1929, people began mowing their lawns with Worthington machines powered by Harley engines. This collaboration went bust too soon after the Great Depression.

At the beginning of the 1960s, Harley bought Tomahawk Boats because it needed access to the company’s fiberglass manufacturing capability. For a short time, it also made boats, then decided to shut this side business down.

In 1969, a three-wheeled vehicle named Utilicar was introduced to act as support for manufacturing processes in factories. It was made with two powertrains, one electric and one running on gasoline, that were to be used inside and outside factory buildings, respectively.

By far the most exciting product made decades ago by Harley is a small rocket engine that was deployed by the U.S. Army on target drones. These drones were used to simulate incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles and were generally shot down by fighter jets in training exercises. The engines were made from 1969 to 1981.

New Technology, New Players and New Dreams for Motorcycling

This is crazy, I spent three days in Austin, Texas, I saw Jesse James new shop, his projects and guns. He’s keeping the chopper faith and even restoring some of his old West Coast long choppers. His guns are amazing and he starts by forging his own steel. The guy is talented beyond belief.

Folks are flying out of California by the droves and landing in the artsy Austin. I always say we need an infrastructure for a growing population. That means thinking out of the box for more folk, not just repairing the roads and bridges. Let’s hit the new. I’m still absorbing my trip, catching up and adjusting to PST.

READ THE WEEKLY NEWS – CLICK HERE – JOIN THE CANTINA

Hey,

 We hung out with my son at Old Saints Tattoo on 6th street and with his highly educated wife who works for a drug rehab center as a phycologist. Austin is sorta like New Orleans with freeways running everywhere. The guy who designed their road system was on acid. I’ve never seen anything like it and the city is the fastest growing city in the country.

Folks are flying out of California by the droves and landing in the artsy Austin. I always say we need an infrastructure for a growing population. That means thinking out of the box for more folk, not just repairing the roads and bridges. Let’s hit the new. I’m still absorbing my trip, catching up and adjusting to PST.

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.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS–
New Hampshire Becomes 16th State to Create Outdoor Recreation Office

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu recently signed legislation to create an office of outdoor recreation to help the state promote its growing outdoor recreation economy, a move applauded by the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association.

“Offices of outdoor recreation can create opportunities for the powersports industry to grow,” said Scott Schloegel, senior vice president, government relations for the MIC, SVIA, and ROHVA. “We are happy that New Hampshire, a state with many beautiful trails for motorized off-road vehicles, has taken a lead in supporting outdoor recreation. Our associations have joined with other members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to urge governors in all 50 states to create offices of outdoor recreation.”

New data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported for the first time that outdoor recreation contributes $2.7 billion in economic output in New Hampshire, and employs nearly 38,000 people in the Granite State.

“New Hampshire’s low-tax environment and booming economy are a beacon for business in the Northeast,” Sununu said in a statement. “This office will allow us to better leverage the tremendous outdoor recreation opportunities we have here in the Granite State not only to grow the industry but attract the workforce of the future.”

New Hampshire’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development will be housed in the state’s Department of Business and Economic Affairs. It joins Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming with an office of outdoor recreation or an outdoor recreation task force.

–MIC

LIVEWIRE ANNOUNCEMENT CANCELED–
Forgive us, we have to cancel the LiveWire unveiling this weekend due to circumstances beyond our control. We’ll let you know when and if we are able to reschedule.

We appreciate your interest in this event and apologize for any inconvenience this causes to your schedules. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

–Jodi Gilbert
California Harley-Davidson
jodi.gilbert@californiaharley.com
(310) 539-3366

NEW FROM LOWBROW—Painless Stainless from Lowbrow Customs
Here at Lowbrow we know just what you need when it comes to custom motorcycle handlebars:

-Perfect fit and finish
-All stainless steel construction
-100% TIG Welded
-Leave as-is or polish to a mirror shine
-Made in Cleveland, Ohio

Only $99.95 – $119.95, and ships free

Our stainless steel handlebars are 1″ diameter and are available with stock-style dimples for those using stock Harley-Davidson hand controls or smooth for use on any custom motorcycle.

It is also worth mentioning that the same handlebars are also available in BLACK! To scope out ALL the handlebars available at Lowbrow click here.

Regulators Want to Know if Cameras Should Replace Car Mirrors: Deadline for Comments—December 9, 2019

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeks public and industry input on whether future light and heavy vehicles should have camera monitoring systems to replace rear- and side-view mirrors.

In 2014, Tesla Inc. and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers petitioned the NHTSA to allow cameras in lieu of traditional mirrors. They cited that replacing the cameras would improve fuel economy through reduced aerodynamic drag and improve rear and side visibility inside the car.

The NHTSA has been studying this idea for 10 years already and found in 2017 tests that prototype cameras monitoring systems were generally usable in most situations. Officials stated that the cameras produced better quality images than mirrors at both dusk and dawn. The potential flaws found included:

Displays too bright at night
Distorted images from the camera lenses when obscured by raindrops
Please read this information from the Federal Register for more details and on how to submit a comment.

Here are some additional articles on the topic that might be of interest:

From Transport Topics: NHTSA Seeks Comments on Rear-Visibility Camera Systems

From Forbes: Replacing Rearview Mirrors with Cameras would benefit the Ears as Well as the Eyes

From Jalopnik: The U.S. Government Needs Your Help to decide if Cameras should be allowed to Replace Mirrors
From Landline: Camera monitor systems a substitute for rearview mirrors?

After you make a comment directly to the Federal Register, please consider sending a copy to us via email to the NMA National Office, nma@motorists.org. We are interested in the general sentiment among members on the mirror vs. camera issue.

Thank you for your support of motorists’ rights and your support of the NMA!

COMMENT FROM A BROTHER–I think of all the stuff you did personally that today’s riders have no idea what faced us years ago. Yes, I understand the m/c industry has had ebbs and flows but it doesn’t seem like the tide has gone out as far as it is and looking into the future…whoa.

So, as I continue to ride and enjoy the freedom from the help of people like you all I can say is keep doing what you’re doing. Some of us really appreciate it, I know I do!

–Dan

Thanks Dan. Today our challenges are not only financial. But I do believe freedom will reign once more, and the desire for motorcycles and open roads will rock the world. Hang on!

–Bandit

REVIVAL CYCLES SUPPORT OIL IN THE BLOOD–In celebration of the amazing film Oil in the Blood, Gareth Maxwell Roberts partnered up with Velomacchi, REV’IT!, Revival Cycles, Hedon, and TW Steel to give away $3,700 in prizes!
————————-
Please read the contest rules and sign up here by 11:59PM on October 21, 2019.

Oil in the Blood Giveaway Contest
In celebration of the film’s release, Gareth Maxwell Roberts partnered with Velomacchi, REV’IT!, Revival Cycles, Hedon, and TW Steel to give away $3700 in prizes. Please read the Official Contest Rules at the bottom of this page, or by clicking here, prior to completing the form and entering the contest. Submit the entry form by 11:59pm PST on October 21, 2019 for a chance to win one of the prizes.

Seven (7) winners will be randomly selected to win one (1) of the following prizes:

One (1) Velomacchi 50L Speedway Hybrid Duffle Travel Backpack
One (1) Velomacchi 35L Giro Backpack
One (1) Velomacchi Speedway Tool Roll
One (1) REV’IT! Brentwood Jeans
One (1) Revival Cycles Palo Duro Pannier Briefcase
One (1) Hedon Full Face Heroine Racer Helmet and Visor of Winner’s Choice
One (1) TW Steel TW999 Watch

BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN–Why did I get divorced?

Well, last week was my birthday. My wife didn’t wish me a happy birthday. My parents forgot and so did my kids. I went to work and even my colleagues didn’t wish me a happy birthday.

As I entered my office, my secretary said, “Happy birthday, boss!” I felt so special. She asked me out for lunch. After lunch, she invited me to her apartment. We went there and she said, “Do you mind if I go into the bedroom for a minute?”

“Okay,” I said. She came out 5 minutes later with a birthday cake, my wife, my parents, my kids, my friends, & my colleagues all yelling, “SURPRISE!!!” while I was waiting on the sofa… naked.

–from Micah

RALLY REPORT, Biketoberfest 2019 – the 27th annual edition of the fall motorcycle rally in the Daytona Beach area – begins October 17th (Thursday) and continues until October 20th (Sunday).

To ensure a safe environment where residents and visitors can move with a minimum of traffic issues, please make a special note of the following:

1.Those wishing to enter or leave beachside are encouraged to use the Seabreeze/Oakridge Boulevard or International Speedway Boulevard bridges.

2.Excessive noise from loud pipes is prohibited by Florida law and Daytona Beach city ordinance. Violations will be enforced!

3.Motorcycles must have mufflers by state law and city ordinance. Violations will be enforced!

4.A “Motorcycles Only” pattern will be in effect for Main Street. Other vehicles will be directed elsewhere or must receive special permission to access.

5.Motorcyclists arriving and leaving festival areas via residential streets should proceed with extra caution due to pedestrian traffic.

6.Police will enforce designated residential/decal parking restrictions in specific areas, especially on beachside. Check for signage before you park!

7.It may be necessary to restrict traffic on the Main Street Bridge during peak event times to facilitate movement of emergency vehicles.

We are anticipating around 125,000 visitors to the area during this year’s rally. Most of them will be in these areas, especially at night.

MAIN STREET
Side street traffic heading north/south between Auditorium Boulevard and Harvey Street may be restricted during events on Main Street. Affected roadways will include:

o Oleander Avenue
o Wild Olive Street
o Grandview Avenue
o Hollywood Avenue
In order to ensure traffic flow, special traffic patterns may go into effect for motorcycle riders who want to access Main Street. Those are as follows:

Atlantic Avenue/State Road A1A:

NORTHBOUND: Turn left (west) on International Speedway Boulevard and then right (north) on Peninsula Drive. Please avoid trying to turn left (west) onto Main Street from Atlantic Avenue.

SOUTHBOUND: Go to the right lane. Upon reaching Main Street, you may be able to turn right (west), depending on the amount of traffic. If not, continue south and turn right (west) on International Speedway Boulevard, then turn right (north) on Peninsula Drive.

Peninsula Drive:

NORTHBOUND: Remain on Peninsula Drive until you get to Main Street, then turn right (east).

SOUTHBOUND: Turn left (east) on Oakridge Boulevard to Atlantic Avenue, then turn right (south) and head to Main Street.

NORTH BEACH STREET

There will be motorcycle-only parking on selected areas of North Beach Street. These areas will be clearly marked by signage.

Expect heavy traffic around Indian Motorcycle Company (290 North Beach Street).

DR. MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE BOULEVARD (MMB)

Eventgoers can use any of the major roadways intersecting with MMB.

Public parking areas may be restricted to assist with pedestrian safety and vehicle movement during events.

Side streets near the 800 block of MMB will be restricted and/or closed to assist with spectator safety.

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

We are not anticipating any major traffic concerns in this area, but minor traffic patterns may be implemented to assist with inbound and outbound traffic.

Signage will be clearly posted directing spectators to all events on Speedway property.

–from Rogue

AMA NATIONAL NEWS– National

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act (S. 349) passed the U.S. Senate by voice vote on Sept. 9 and was signed by the president. The bill passed the House in February. The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to request nominations for, and make determinations regarding, roads to be designated under the national scenic byways program, which has been closed for six years. The AMA was part of the coalition that helped create this program in 1991 and is part of a coalition now intent on reviving the program. Many of the country’s favorite motorcycling roads are National Scenic Byways and benefit from the resources provided to preserve and enhance them. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, stretching 469 miles from North Carolina to Virginia, to the Beartooth Highway between Montana and Wyoming, to Hells Canyon in Oregon, there are 150 roads designated as National Scenic Byways. The program provides resources that help communities along these byways benefit from the tourism they generate, while preserving the characteristics of the roads that made them great destinations in the first place. Officials are prepared to seek National Scenic Byway designation for 44 roads in 24 states as soon as the program is restarted.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed an order in late August that allows electric bicycles on all trails on Department of Interior land where pedal bicycles are permitted. The new policy covers all of the national parks and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Despite the BLM and U.S. Forest Service still considering e-bikes motorized vehicles, the San Juan Nation Forest in Colorado has allowed some e-bikes on selected nonmotorized trails following an environmental assessment and public input in 2017. In a more controversial move, the Tahoe National Forest also recently allowed electric mountain bikes on some nonmotorized trails without undergoing reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act or seeking public comments. The AMA believes federal lands should be available for use by all Americans engaging in a wide range of recreational activities. However, the AMA believes the growing popularity of e-bikes has posed many questions and agencies should manage their use consistently, especially in terms of soliciting public comments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal highway bill introduced July 29 in the U.S. Senate contains a provision calling for a study of funding levels for the Recreational Trails Program, which the AMA believes has been underfunded for years. The program receives revenue from the sale of fuel for nonhighway use. That money helps pay for recreational trails for motorized and nonmotorized use. Typically, annual funding is about $84 million. But the Recreational Trails Coalition-which includes the AMA-believes the trail fund should receive more than $270 million a year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the government’s approval of the year-round sale of fuel containing as much as 15 percent ethanol, motorcyclists and ATV riders need to be even more vigilant when filling up their vehicle’s tanks. The Nebraska Corn Board is promoting increased availability of E15 fuel by offering $50,000 grants to service stations that upgrade to blender pumps that would supply the higher-ethanol blend. The blender pumps also would handle E30 and E85, which are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in flex-fuel vehicles only. As more retailers install E15 pumps and offer the product throughout the year as “Unleaded88,” the risk rises for motorcyclists to unintentionally pump E15 or higher blends into their tanks. None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in use in the United States is certified by the EPA to operate on fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must reconsider its 2018 renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard because the agency failed to consider how the policy would affect endangered species, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled. In a suit brought in 2018, the Sierra Club and the Gulf Restoration Network argued that habitats of whooping cranes and gulf sturgeon could be affected if corn production is increased to meet federal standards for ethanol in vehicle fuels. Claims made by refineries and energy companies that the RVOs were too low or too high were rejected by the court.

The EPA argued that it did make a determination when it responded to comments on the proposed standards by saying it could not attribute any damage to habitats or species to changes in the rule.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google parent Alphabet Inc., has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remove regulatory barriers for self-driving cars that do not have steering wheels or brake pedals, according to a Reuters report.

But Waymo still wants NHTSA to ensure the safety of those cars on the road. Automakers currently must meet nearly 75 auto safety standards for self-driving cars, many written under the assumption that a licensed driver is in command of the vehicle using traditional controls. NHTSA should first work on addressing those safety standards that assume a human is behind the wheel before revising rules to address alternative seating configurations, Waymo said in a letter to the agency.

That will “enable the timely deployment” of vehicles without manual controls. NHTSA is also grappling with how and where to test self-driving cars to assure they are safe, according to the Reuters report. The agency is considering whether to use simulations or external remote controls in testing. Many automakers plan remote controls to pilot autonomous vehicles through factories or onto trucks.

The AMA objects to the deployment of automated vehicles that do not properly detect and appropriately respond to motorcycles, other nearby vehicles or pedestrians.

Industry

MILWAUKEE – The Harley-Davidson Motor Company is offering two years of free charging for its LiveWire electric motorcycle at ChargePoint stations at participating Harley dealers. The company also is providing 500 kWh of charging service at Electrify America stations. The LiveWire is Harley’s first electric motorcycle, claiming a range of 140 miles of city driving per charge.

FROM THE GEARHEAD--I gotta have rotator cuff surgery on the left shoulder. Looks like I will have time to write those stories, I feel I owe you. It is way sad about Easyiders mag.

We all got so much in that bobber, a chopper, a custom, a stripped dresser and a race bike should look like and perform like over the years. I have been a reader since 1978, when I got my Low Rider FXS.

I am glad we have a venue like BIKERNET to follow for some of the same information.

Thanks and TKOB.

–Gearhead

[page break]

TECH DISCUSSION OF THE WEEK–Commander Ball,

You might remember that when I was doing the trans repair we spoke about various trans lubricants. JIMS said to break it in with conventional 80-90 and then go with synthetic.

I believe I told you about my one and only experience with synthetic motor oil. Over the course of years, I’ve rebuilt many manual auto transmissions.

Two of the beefyest trans built at that time were the Borg Warner Super T10 and the Muncie M22. They were for the big inch, big horse power muscle cars. The Muncie got the nick name “rock crusher” because it had stronger straight cut gears (like a rock crusher in a quarry) rather than the helical (quieter but also weaker) cut gears like the Borg Warner regular T10 and the regular M20 and M21 respectively.

Also, both the Super T10 and M22 transmissions were designed and built with the bigger and stronger 1″ diameter cluster gear counter shaft vs. the smaller 3/4″ shaft used in the other transmissions. They all also had caged bearing assemblies along with double rows of needle bearings supporting the cluster counter shafts and brass syncro blocker rings.

Where am I going with this? Those transmissions performed flawlessly for years using conventional gear lube. I’m still using the standard 80/90 weight gear oil in the bagger trans. ?
It shifts flawlessly there is no clunking going into any gear and it’s quiet. As far as I’m concerned, all the hype and expense associated with some synthetic lubricants, transmissions specifically, is a bunch of crap.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it……………….

–Steve Bauman

FROM THE HAL ROBINSON ARCHIVES—The latest find from the history of Hal Robinson and his art from Easyriders.

We have a few select pieces you can own. Check ‘em out.

–Bandit

NMA ALERT–A Policing-for-Profit Cautionary Tale–New Miami, Ohio

An hour away from Cincinnati, the known speed trap village of New Miami sits just north of Hamilton, the Butler County seat. Over six years ago, drivers in a class action sued this sleepy village of nearly 2,400 residents over its questionable speed camera practices.

Even though the village’s program was found unconstitutional in 2014, the court case continues. Last October, a Butler County judge ruled that New Miami would be allowed to take up to 10 years to refund the estimated $3.2 million (with interest) back to the drivers. Paying back all of the money at once might have bankrupted this village. Drivers, of course, still have not seen a dime.

But this is just one part of the story.

Due to the class action, New Miami stopped that speed camera program and started another. This time, officers used handheld speed cameras and issued automated tickets themselves. Since 2016, the village collected $1.76 million with its newest speed trap scheme.

This program, however, stopped on June 30th due to a new state requirement that took effect the following day. State legislators passed a law that limits the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras by stripping state funding to localities that use them. It also mandates that courts handle speed camera citations as civil proceedings that include both court fees and costs.

Five much larger Ohio municipalities have filed lawsuits challenging this new law. In August, New Miami also filed suit. Village Solicitor Dennis Adams asked a Butler County Judge for a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions against the state. He wrote, “Injunctive relief will allow New Miami to serve the public interest by continuing its Photo Enforcement Program that reduces costs, potential physical injury and disruption to the residents caused by motor vehicle accidents and promotes compliance with traffic laws.”

Adam’s primary argument was the state cannot violate home rule—this is the reason there is a years-long struggle between state lawmakers and cities over automated enforcement in the first place. Toledo already won a preliminary injunction on that basis, and New Miami would need one to resume operating its handheld speed camera program.

In early September, the Ohio Attorney General’s office responded by writing that the state controls its own spending and has jurisdiction over the lower courts. Senior Assistant Attorney General Halli Brownfield Watson illustrated this point in the state’s brief,

“The general assembly properly exercised its constitutional authority to regulate the jurisdictions of lower courts and provide for their financial maintenance when it enacted these provisions. The village has no home-rule right to continue ‘administrative’ processes the general assembly has determined belong in state courts.”

In a county court proceeding in late September, Adams told Judge Greg Howard if the law remains in place, the village will have to lay off its entire police department and cut the Chief of Police back to part-time.

Fiscal Officer Belinda Rickets testified that this new law would also cost the village an estimated $612,000 in court costs per year, while tickets only generate about $222,000. If paid, each ticket generates $95, with 64 percent going to the city and the rest to the camera company. Due to the new law, the cost of the civil court filing for each ticket is $85 plus any additional fees the village must pay to the court.

Another issue for the village: The county seat of Hamilton actually handles the tickets. Court Clerk Michelle Deaton testified that her office could not handle the influx of 600 cases per month. Her office already handles 22,000 cases per year, and an additional 7,200 cases would be a considerable burden.

County Court Judge Howard will give his ruling on a temporary restraining order against the state soon. Undoubtedly, this will not be the last related court case for New Miami. The village has already spent over $350,000 in legal costs to fight for the right to profit off the backs of motorists.

New Miami should serve as a cautionary tale for other Ohio municipalities because policing for profit rarely pays off in the end. When predatory enforcement is allowed to continue, the loss of public trust comes at a high price for the community.

Harley-Davidson: The Road Only Goes Downhill–Summary
Harley Davidson sales have been on a decline the past five years hurting the company’s bottom line. The company has introduced new initiatives to buck this trend.

Despite the new strategy Harley-Davidson will have a hard time attracting millennial customers and will face stiff competition in Asia.

Harley-Davidson is highly levered and not trading at a large enough discount to warrant an investment.

Harley-Davidson (HOG) has been having a rough last couple of years, with its current stock price nearly half of where it was in 2018 as it fell from around $50 per share to its current price of about $35 per share. The company is an American icon, with the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker being founded more than 100 years ago, and conjures up a certain type of imagery – that of big bikes, loud engines and groups of somewhat older riders riding together in large groups.

This level of brand loyalty and, dare I say, cult following has been a cornerstone of Harley Davidson’s strategy for years. However, Harley Davidson’s sales have begun to slump in recent years after reaching a high in 2014 with this trend set to continue in 2019. In Q2 2019, the company delivered nearly 69,000 bikes for the quarter, down 5% compared to the same period a year earlier and overall sales fell 6% to $1.4 billion.

The brand loyalty that Harley Davidson has cultivated has become its weakness as its core demographic of rider’s ages the company struggles to attract the new millennial rider and re-align its brand messaging to match what that segment is looking for.

UBS conducted a survey of more than 2,000 people between the age of 21 and 34 in an attempt to figure out why Harley-Davidson stock has fallen 32% in the past 12 months. While their findings are bad news for big expensive cruisers and touring bikes, they are actually good for other parts of the industry.

Unlike older buyers who considered a bike “as a hobby” or because “motorcycles are cool” Millennial responders want them for “ease of transportation.” Young buyers are interested in practical and affordable bikes, for now, partially because many of them don’t have a lot of money.

There is no telling if hooking Millennial customers now with affordable and practical might lead to selling them a big touring bike when they are older and have more time and money. Among the young target demographic, the second most common reason listed for buying a bike was “it goes with their self image” so the important thing might be to not try to sell them their dad’s motorcycle.

Source: Ride-Apart

Harley will have difficulty attracting the millennial audience
I struggle to see how 10 years from now a millennial who would have values such as being more frugal, more minimalistic and more environmentally conscious would not opt for a sleek, sporty high-tech Ducati and go for a big, loud, chrome-plated Harley Davidson.

Therefore, it makes sense that Harley- Davidson would try to shift its brand away from this older image and embrace something more modern. And the fact is, the company is well aware of that.

On July 30, 2018, the Company disclosed its “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” plan to accelerate the Company’s strategy to build the next generation of riders globally. Under the plan, the Company intends to introduce new products including electric motorcycles, a new middle-weight platform of motorcycles that includes adventure touring, custom and streetfighter models with engine displacements ranging from 500cc’s to 1250cc’s; and smaller displacement motorcycles for emerging markets.

The Company plans to introduce these new motorcycles between 2019 and 2022, starting with a new electric motorcycle, LiveWire, in the second half of 2019.

The brand loyalty that Harley Davidson has cultivated has become its weakness as its core demographic of rider’s ages the company struggles to attract the new millennial rider and re-align its brand messaging to match what that segment is looking for.

UBS conducted a survey of more than 2,000 people between the age of 21 and 34 in an attempt to figure out why Harley-Davidson stock has fallen 32% in the past 12 months. While their findings are bad news for big expensive cruisers and touring bikes, they are actually good for other parts of the industry.

Unlike older buyers who considered a bike “as a hobby” or because “motorcycles are cool” Millennial responders want them for “ease of transportation.” Young buyers are interested in practical and affordable bikes, for now, partially because many of them don’t have a lot of money. There is no telling if hooking Millennial customers now with affordable and practical might lead to selling them a big touring bike when they are older and have more time and money. Among the young target demographic, the second most common reason listed for buying a bike was “it goes with their self image” so the important thing might be to not try to sell them their dad’s motorcycle.

Source: Ride-Apart

The Company plans to introduce these new motorcycles between 2019 and 2022, starting with a new electric motorcycle, LiveWire, in the second half of 2019.

–from Seeking Alpha

Unfortunately, the LiveWire has been canceled. —Bandit

Canadian Motorcycle Manufacturer Havoc Motorcycles Announces New 140 HP Model 2020 Havoc 127 Voodoo With Special Pre-Order Pricing

CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, Havoc Motorcycles, the makers of Canada’s Performance Supercruisers, has announced details of its newest muscle bike to be released for the 2020 model year.

The Havoc 127 Voodoo sports a 2.081 Liter (127cc) V-Twin producing an astounding 140HP and 140FT-LBS of torque, with a power-to-weight ratio approaching superbike territory.

With 1960s styling, the 127 Voodoo is a retro-themed bike, including a hidden shock frame, springer front end, thick spoke wheels, sprung solo saddle, and high tracker pipe.

Despite the retro looks, there’s modern technology where it counts, like dual 4-piston front brake calipers on floating rotors, LED illumination, and full digital instrumentation made by Dakota Digital. It’s back-to-basics with modern technology – and tons of power.

The 140 horsepower gets to the ground via a double belt-drive dry clutch system driving a meaty 200/50R-18 Metzeler ME888. The front gets a 21 x 3.5 dual disc wheel with a 120/70-21 Metzeler. Single -fire ignition and a dedicated coil per cylinder announce that this bike is all business.

The pre-production model shown to the press sports a mix of gloss black accents over satin black powder-coat, applied to the frame, springer fork, wheels, exhaust, and handlebars. However, the bike will also be available with a “Show Chrome Package”, with all of these same components in chrome, at no additional charge.

“Our philosophy is that customers should be able to personalize their motorcycle at the time of order,” says Havoc’s Jarrod Wiener. “We also operate one of Canada’s largest online stores for customizing American V-Twin motorcycles, so our most popular performance enhancements are already designed right in to the bike. A customer can further personalize the metal finish options to their own preference at the time of order for no extra charge.”

Customers can also choose from a palette of 18 colors, in metallic, pearl, and candy coat finishes, all for the same price.

“We’re doing a limited production run of the 127 Voodoo for 2020, so the chances of seeing a motorcycle exactly like yours on the road is pretty slim,” said Wiener. “It’s a true production custom.”

The company is currently taking orders for Spring 2020 delivery, and it is offering a pre-order discount of CAD $3,000 off suggested retail price for a limited time. Pre-order pricing is USD $22,500 or CAD $29,995. A $5,000 deposit secures your bike, which will be shipped to a Havoc Motorcycles Dealer or Authorized Service Center across Canada and the US for delivery in the Spring.

Consider the gauntlet thrown. Havoc Motorcycles, of Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island, just launched what could be the baddest production muscle bike to hit the streets for 2020.

See more of it online at https://www.havoc-motorcycles.com/127-voodoo.html

TO PRE-ORDER:
Email: sales@havoc-motorcycles.com
Tel: 1-855-694-2862

NEWS FROM EASYRIDERS–I forgot to mention the voucher also goes on to say that ER will be published every quarter, and you can only buy it at Select newsstands and boutique venues around the world?

Please, someone explain what a boutique venue is?

–STEALTH

Ya got me? –Bandit

THIS IS HOW THE DAY STARTED AT AEROMACH MANUFACTURING—

-Paul Aiken
Supreme Leader
Aeromach

BAD COP FILES–Deputies ask man to quit calling about his stolen marijuana

DADE CITY – Authorities said a Florida man repeatedly called 911 to report that his roommate had stolen his marijuana.
A deputy for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office posted a Twitter response to the man’s calls Saturday night: Stop calling.
Deputy Neal Zalva said in the Twitter video that he called the man back to tell him to quit contacting the sheriff’s office about his stolen marijuana. Zalva recorded the video as part of the agency’s #TweetAlong program, which allows viewers to get a behind-the-scenes look at the police work by the deputies.

Recreational marijuana use remains illegal in
Florida.

A sheriff’s office spokesman said no charges were filed against the caller.

Sheriff’s office communications director Kevin Doll said Tuesday they just wanted the man to stop calling about the stolen weed.

–from Rogue
Senior Editor Supreme
Bikernet.com™

Stackin’ it deep & sellin’ it cheap.
The 2020 Biltwell Blowout is Coming Up!

WHAT:

After seven years of holding this shindig in our parking lot, we’ve definitely outgrown it. The new location at Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium has a ton more room so we can have way more vendors, a real stunt show, better food and more bike parking. Every year we have left over samples, scratch-and-dent helmets, returned merchandise and ever-growing piles of our own motorcycle parts and take-offs. The Blowout is like our pop-up outlet store where we discount deep to move the metal. We’ll also have some cool motorcycles and cars on display along with several food and coffee vendors.

WHEN & WHERE:

The Biltwell Blowout opens at 7:00AM and runs ’til 2:00PM on Saturday, January 4th 2020. Here’s a MAP to Elsinore Storm Stadium. If you want to get in line early to get the best deals right at 7:00AM, feel free to do so on the sidewalk outside the main entry, you won’t be alone. The Speed Kings Cycle Supply Stunt Show will go down at 10:00AM and noon. Any questions? Hit up otto@biltwellinc.com

WHO:

GENERAL ADMISSION: There is a fee to get into the Blowout of $5.00 per person. This helps cover the additional insurance and everything else required to make it a legitimate and safe event. The five bucks will be collected in cash at the entry point to the event. Active duty military with ID get in free. Kids under 12 are also free. There’s plenty of parking in the adjacent stadium parking lot and that’s free too. We will be accepting credit cards and cash at the Biltwell tent, but most of our other vendors will prefer cash.

VENDOR SPOTS: $100

Our friends and customers always like to get in on the vending action too and with the new location we can fit way more of you! If you’d like to reserve a 10×40’ space, please register HERE.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/biltwell-blowout-registration-70032506111?mc_eid=e2bb53cb8d&mc_cid=8859d032d4?

[page break]

BIG RIDE WITH VINTAGE RIDES–Third Sunday Ride.
This month, we’re heading south to…

Niko’s Pizzeria
399 W 6th St.
San Pedro, CA 90731

Vintage bikes encouraged but all years, makes, and models are welcome!

We would like to stress that this is a safe and fun ride.
Some guidelines for the ride:

– We leave at 11am sharp!
– Be gassed up and ready to go.
– Do not pass our Road Captains. They are there to lead and keep everyone together.
– No lane splitting in large rides.
– Keep your lines clean & eyes open!

Make sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram, or go to venicevintage.com for the latest updates an events calendar.

Cheers,
-VVMC

DATE:
Sunday, October 20th, 2019

TIME:
10:00am – Meet
11:00am – Kickstands up!

WHERE:
1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd,
Venice, CA, 90291

October 2019 Environment & Climate News: Federal Court, Trump Administration End Obama-Era WOTUS Rule

The October issue of Environment & Climate News reports that one of the most far-reaching regulatory initiatives ever undertaken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been struck down by a federal court in Georgia and withdrawn by the Trump administration. “Congress has delegated the important role of protecting the nation’s waters to the Agencies, but in fulfilling that role, the Agencies must comply within the law,” Judge Lisa Godbey Wood said in her ruling on the case.

Also in this issue:

A U.S. District Court judge in Oregon rejected a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against the federal government claiming policies allowing fossil fuel use violate plaintiffs’ constitutional “rights to wilderness.”

The Nebraska Supreme Court approved a revised a path for the Keystone XL pipeline through the state, ending the final legal challenge to the pipeline in Nebraska.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General released a report stating the agency greatly exceeded President Donald Trump’s goal of cutting two regulations for every new one enacted, having rescinded 26 regulations while developing four new ones, saving taxpayers more than $96 million.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee received 0 percent support in the Democratic presidential primaries while making climate change the central issue of his campaign.

H. Sterling Burnett, Managing Editor
–from the Heartland Institute

THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT–
Subject: Best friends

On a large farm lived a chicken and a horse, both of whom liked to play together.

One day the two were playing, when the horse fell into a bog and began to sink.

Scared for his life, the horse whinnied for the chicken to go get the farmer for help!

Off the chicken ran, back to the farm. Arriving at the farm, he searched and searched for the farmer, but to no avail, for he had gone to town with the only tractor.

Running around wildly, the chicken spied the farmer’s new Harley.

Finding the keys in the ignition, the chicken sped off with a length of rope hoping he still had time to save his friend’s life.

Back at the bog, the horse was surprised, but happy, to see the chicken arrive on the shiny Harley, and he managed to get a hold of the loop of rope the chicken tossed to him.

After tying the other end to the rear bumper of the farmer’s bike, the chicken then drove slowly forward and, with the aid of the powerful bike, rescued the horse!

Happy and proud, the chicken rode the Harley back to the farmhouse, and the farmer was none the wiser when he returned.

The friendship between the two animals was cemented: Best buddies, best pals.

A few weeks later, the chicken fell into a mud pit, and soon, he too, began to sink and cried out to the horse to save his life!

The horse thought a moment, walked over, and straddled the large puddle.

Looking underneath, he told the chicken to grab his hangy-down thingy and he would then lift him out of the pit.

The chicken got a good grip, and the horse pulled him up and out, saving his life.

The moral of the story?

‘When you’re hung like a horse, you don’t need a Harley to pick up chicks!

–Barry
–from Mil Blair

UPGRADE TO A 2018 Road Glide Special
Installed Factory 47 14″ Apes, 1st Stage Kit, J & M 630w 4 speaker system. Pretty much stayed with HD stuff like midframe cooler and Fan Assist Oil Cooler. Factory 107ci.

Took the bike to New Mexico through Beatty NV and through most of AZ visiting Tombstone then up through NM then through CO and UT then Northern NV and back to Marysville CA. The next trip I did another trip to NM then up through east side of the Rockies then up through WY and stopped at Little Bighorn MT and stayed in St. Marys MT almost into CAN then down through ID, WA, OR then back to Marysville, CA. What a ride hit some hail which hurt like the dickens!!! Loved visiting my daughter in St Mary’s and the bike ran flawlessly!

–Al Gallegos

IT’S NOT ALL BAD–Cycle Source Magazine Now Reaching A Half Million Monthly!
The World’s Favorite Motorcycle Publication Is Leading A Revolution… Again!

For the past decade Cycle Source has participated in developing a digital magazine following and had long ago decided not to limit the reach of the fantastic content they create in print. With that in mind, Cycle Source Magazine has decided that the missing link between print publications and digital content is that you shouldn’t try to sell digital media, people expect to consume it for free! Knowing that, they are now releasing their monthly digital edition at no charge to the reader.

This by no means is a sign that we are discontinuing print. Cycle Source knows that print is not dead and will be leaving their print business just as it is, still in the stores, still in your mailbox, and still plenty of free copies at the shows. However, once the print issue of the magazine comes off newsstands, they now send out, at no charge, a digital, to some 260,000 qualified consumers from the motorcycle segment. Additionally, Cycle Source Magazine makes that same digital issue available to their 300,000 FB followers to consume as well, not only giving this new distribution of their content unlimited shelf life but a reach of nearly half a million.

While our print readers will continue to have first access to each issue that we develop every thirty days, digital readers will now get it all in one shot, and it will look exactly like the magazine. The digital issue has some great features as well; readers can share it, save it, and if they feel that they might benefit from receiving a print copy a month earlier, then we will still have print subscriptions available. As a bonus to both print and digital readers, this digital free content contains expanded content such as photo galleries, additional coverage, and special offers from select advertisers.

A tremendous benefit for readers and advertisers alike is that the digital version comes complete with live hyperlinks that allow the reader to jump right over to the source to get more information on a part, an event, or a product, etc.

Cycle Source founder and Editor In Chief, Chris Callen states, “This is the only thing I can see that would make the digital platform work for publishers. People are used to getting information fast and in an unencumbered manner. By holding the reigns in an attempt to tie a revenue stream to it, we’ve slowed it down and have kept real performance numbers from reaching our advertisers. With nearly 70 some stringers creating Cycle Source media, it’s a shame to not get all this great content into the hands of people who are waiting for it as well.”

But don’t think you are losing anything if you are a current print magazine subscriber, your magazine will be in your mailbox every thirty days just like it has for the past 22 years. Cycle Source will always be a print magazine, but this new plan will supercharge that effort and be the perfect mix of print and digital media.

While this will be perceived as a bold move from the ranks of the publishing world, for Cycle Source, this is just the next step in being a modern motorcycle media outlet that began with a single print publication.

Check Out the October 2019 Digital Issue Of Cycle Source
If your company would like to be part of this game changing reachgame-changing please contact Heather at cyclesourcemain@comcast.net

–Heather Callen
Managing Editor
Cycle Source Magazine
118 Dellenbaugh Rd
Tarentum PA 15084
Office – 724-226-2867
www.cyclesource.com
Cycle Source on Facebook

NEWS FROM TEXAS STREETS–
So, I got to use my 5-Ball vest again, in a 2-day real world test. First at the Zwolle Tamale Festival, redhead and I did a one day turn around. Her sisters (yep there’s 3 of em) used to live in that area of Louisiana years back and they have been going or involved in the Festival for 20 years.

Got to use most of the pockets, my 45 year old road quite nicely, but I realize it’s a bit heavy for the pocket. Then yesterday putting the Thunderheader on, we got a small cold front for a few days, think it’s gone now.

Dyna is coming along quite nicely, the Villian 2 saddle bags should be here Wednesday? Then she’ll need bars, was thinking about the Whiskey bars from the Little Red Rigid on 12” risers, but don’t feel that what she wants? If you have a Le Para Kickflip Diamond or a Saddleman Step-Up Tuck & Roll seat for an ‘07 Dyna just laying around, can I borrow it? Bike, shocks, pipe and bags took most of my money!

We are working on something for you and digging through the seat bins.–Bandit

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Mean Gene, from Bartels’ H-D

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

Hey this is Gene! Thanks for the nice story. Just wanted to add a few Celebrities that are bartels customers.

And the list goes:

Bob Dylan

Peter Fonda

Anthony Keidas

Bruce Willis

James Cameron

Neil Diamond

Randy Jackson

Jermaine Jackson

Heart

Gary Busey

King of Malaysia

Cher

Arnold

Elvis

Mickey Rourke

Priscilla Presley

Mike Tyson

Kenny Norton

Atom Ant

Eric Clapton

Poison

Motley Crew

James Cann

Mel Gibson

Heather Lockhart

Nicholas Cage

White Snake

Stallone

Sonny Bono

Jay Leno

Jeff Hamiton

Chrome Hearts

Stevie Nicks

Bono

Leahpatra

Paul Mitchell

Chip + Pepper

Joe Walsh

Steve Tyler

Holk Hogan

Marvin Davie

Bruce Springsteen

Michael Bower

Billy Idol

Liz Taylor

Jerry Lewis

Harvey Burak

George Clooney

Dennis Rodman

Chad McQueen

Jerry Lewis

The Sultan of Brunel

Keannu Reeves

— Gene Thomason
genetgolf@gmail.com
Modesto, CA

Plus many more but I can’t remember them all. Sorry!

I’ve got the Stealth’s article about his impressions regarding the rise and fall of Easyriders. I also have another Life and Times article about an Outlaw who flew into Chicago to buy a new SuperGlide and the scene changed his life.

So, hang on for more reports from Texas.

In the meantime, ride fast and free, forever.

–Bandit

Harley-Davidson delays its first $30,000 electric motorcycle after unexpected findings during final quality checks

• The company delayed the motorcycle after ‘non-standard conditions’ were discvoered during final quality checks
• Dealers had begun selling pre-orders of the bike in January
• Harley-Davidson had forecast shipping 1,600 bikes

Harley-Davidson has delayed production on its first electric motorcycle, called LiveWire.

In an email sent to dealers last week, the company announced it had found a ‘non-standard condition’ in its final quality checks but didn’t elaborate further.

The LiveWire was officially announced for commercial release last fall with a planned price of $29,799.

‘We recently discovered a non-standard condition during a final quality check; stopped production and deliveries; and began additional testing and analysis, which is progressing well,’ the company said in a statement.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the decision came after a problem with the vehicle’s battery charging was discovered. The manufacturer did not say when they planned to resume production.

The company had already begun delivering models of LiveWire to dealers in September.

The company had expected to ship around 1,600 bikes, or an estimated 1 percent of the company’s total big shipments.

The LiveWire is said to go from 0-60 mph in three seconds and reach top speeds of 110 mph.

Harley-Davidson recommends users go to dealers to charge the vehicle rather than trying to use standard electrical outlets in their homes.

It is powered by a 15.5 kWh battery and has a 105 horsepower magnetic engine and a range of 146 miles city driving on a single charge.

Harley-Davidson had told potential customers to charge the bike only at registered dealers and not in their homes.

The bike was first shown in The Avengers: Age of Ultron as a sleek prototype ridden by Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character.

The LiveWire promised a slew of advanced technical features, including what PR Manager Paul James descried as ‘twist-and-go.’

‘Because it’s all-electric, it’s twist-and-go,’ Paul James, PR Manager at Harley-Davidson, told Dailymail.com at the Las Vegas Convention Center earlier this year.

The LiveWire’s battery is said to have a range of 146 miles of city driving.

‘There’s no transmission, there are no shifters, no clutch – it’s very easy to ride.’

LiveWire is equipped with a full suite of electronic lateral aids, with a slew of sensors and programmable touch controls.

It also has cellular connectivity, making it the first mass market motorcycle in North America with the capability.

This means it can alert the owner if the bike has been tampered with or moved. It also has built-in GPS for location tracking.

As for the sound, Harley says its electric powertrain will produce a ‘new signature Harley-Davidson sound,’ with minimal vibration, heat, and noise.

The ‘twist-and-go’ bike ditches the traditional shifters and chirps out a turbine-like whir in lieu of the characteristic rumble. The company is hoping this will usher in a ‘new signature Harley-Davidson sound,’ with minimal vibration, heat, and noise.

LiveWire will also launch in Canada and most of Europe later this year, Harley-Davidson says.

• Harley Davidson sales have been on a decline the past five years hurting the company’s bottom line. The company has introduced new initiatives to buck this trend.
• Despite the new strategy Harley Davidson will have a hard time attracting millennial customers and will face stiff competition in Asia.
• Harley Davidson is highly levered and not trading at a large enough discount to warrant an investment.

Harley Davidson (HOG) has been having a rough last couple of years, with its current stock price nearly half of where it was in 2018 as it fell from around $50 per share to its current price of about $35 per share. The company is an American icon, with the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker being founded more than 100 years ago, and conjures up a certain type of imagery – that of big bikes, loud engines and groups of somewhat older riders riding together in large groups.

This level of brand loyalty and, dare I say, cult following has been a cornerstone of Harley Davidson’s strategy for years. However, Harley Davidson’s sales have begun to slump in recent years after reaching a high in 2014 with this trend set to continue in 2019. In Q2 2019, the company delivered nearly 69,000 bikes for the quarter, down 5% compared to the same period a year earlier and overall sales fell 6% to $1.4 billion.

The brand loyalty that Harley Davidson has cultivated has become its weakness as its core demographic of rider’s ages the company struggles to attract the new millennial rider and re-align its brand messaging to match what that segment is looking for.

UBS conducted a survey of more than 2,000 people between the age of 21 and 34 in an attempt to figure out why Harley-Davidson stock has fallen 32% in the past 12 months. While their findings are bad news for big expensive cruisers and touring bikes, they are actually good for other parts of the industry. Unlike older buyers who considered a bike “as a hobby” or because “motorcycles are cool” Millennial responders want them for “ease of transportation.” Young buyers are interested in practical and affordable bikes, for now, partially because many of them don’t have a lot of money. There is no telling if hooking Millennial customers now with affordable and practical might lead to selling them a big touring bike when they are older and have more time and money. Among the young target demographic, the second most common reason listed for buying a bike was “it goes with their self image” so the important thing might be to not try to sell them their dad’s motorcycle.

Harley will have difficulty attracting the millennial audience

I struggle to see how 10 years from now a millennial who would have values such as being more frugal, more minimalistic and more environmentally conscious would not opt for a sleek, sporty high-tech Ducati and go for a big, loud, chrome-plated Harley Davidson. Therefore, it makes sense that Harley Davidson would try to shift its brand away from this older image and embrace something more modern. And the fact is, the company is well aware of that. On July 30, 2018, the Company disclosed its “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” plan to accelerate the Company’s strategy to build the next generation of riders globally. Under the plan, the Company intends to introduce new products including electric motorcycles, a new middle-weight platform of motorcycles that includes adventure touring, custom and streetfighter models with engine displacements ranging from 500cc’s to 1250cc’s; and smaller displacement motorcycles for emerging markets. The Company plans to introduce these new motorcycles between 2019 and 2022, starting with a new electric motorcycle, LiveWire, in the second half of 2019.

These plans are hitting a bit of a snag, as the company is seeing soft demand for its Livewire electric vehicles. These electric motorcycles, which are aimed at millennial customers and billed as a way to attract a new generation of riders, come with a sticker price of $30,000 nearly as much as a Tesla model 3. It’s as if the company ignored the main necessary selling points (i.e. “practical” and “affordable”) for this demographic. Harley Davidson does make some decent, affordable bikes in their Street lineup. But they still have that stigma, of being expensive toys. In the sub-$10,000 motorcycle market, Harley can’t compete in terms of bang-for-the-buck with the likes of Triumph, Ducati, and the Japanese big four that’s been cashing in on cheap Harley alternatives since the 1980s.

Harley to face stiff competition in the emerging markets

Harley Davidson’s other area for potential growth is through expanding in emerging markets, particularly China and India. The company announced a collaboration with Qianjiang Motorcycle Company Limited (“Qianjiang”) to launch a smaller, more accessible Harley-Davidson motorcycle for sale in Harley-Davidson dealerships in China by the end of 2020. Motorcycles have been a presence in Asia for years with brands like Honda and Yamaha, along with local country-specific brands, dominating the sale of smaller vehicles.

There is a difference in motorcycle riding philosophy between the US and Asia. In many Asian countries, a motorcycle is considered a legitimate transportation option. A motorcycle is easier to park in the densely packed cities, can squeeze right through traffic, and is far more affordable than a car. Fuel in many Asian countries is also more expensive, and the taxes and permit fees for motorcycles are much lower too.

Given these considerations, in my view for Asian customers the main selling point of these motorcycles would be affordability and reliability as the next “tier” in terms of status symbols would be purchasing a car. The way I see it, Harley Davidson’s Asian motorcycles will slot in a premium category as is typical with other Harley products. The question then becomes for the Asian customer who may not be as familiar with the Harley brand and who do not view motorcycle riding as a “hobby” is that will they be willing to pay for that premium.

Harley Davidson is highly leveraged

Looking over at the financials, the company is trading at a low forward GAAP P/E of about 13. This is justified though as the company’s revenue has declined by 8.21% from 2014 to 2018 and its Net income has declined at an even faster rate of 37% in the same timeframe. The company is not trading at a cheap valuation.

Even more worryingly, the company is highly leveraged at 82 percent of total liabilities to total assets and with a debt to equity ratio of 4.62. Furthermore, a large portion of the company’s assets (nearly 70%) are finance receivables i.e. amounts owed by customers who have bought Harley Davidson motorcycles on finance. As we have seen in the experience of Kraft Heinz (KHC), a large amount of leverage would limit the flexibility of the company to make the necessary changes to its strategy. Given the headwinds the company faces due to declining sales and the need to change its strategy, I am quite bearish on Harley Davidson. The company is not trading at a large enough discount to warrant an investment.

NEWS SOURCE:
https://seekingalpha.com
https://www.dailymail.co.uk
https://www.wheels24.co.za

Munich — With the shipping date fast approaching, BMW Motorrad is busy finalizing the preparations on 140 BMW F 850 GS motorcycles that will be shipped to New Zealand for the Int. GS Trophy Oceania in February 2020.

Such has been the growth in interest from riders around the world, the event now requires 140 motorcycles to be readied – a significant increase on the 114 BMW R 1200 GS Rallye machines that were prepared for the Central Asia 2018 edition.

And these are no ordinary BMW F 850 GSs, for the 2020 edition BMW Motorrad has elected to build a bespoke edition with a unique combination of specification and colours unlike any to be found in the showrooms.

The choice of the F 850 GS is a return to BMW Motorrad�s middle class GS offering, following in the tyre tracks of the F 800 GS that proved itself indestructible over three Int. GS Trophies in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

The BMW F 850 GS.

Launched at the Milan Show EICMA for the 2018 model year, the F 850 GS is an all-new design, replacing the long-running and highly successful F 800 GS.

A new parallel twin cylinder engine with a 90-degree crank offset with a 270/450-degree firing order; a new monocoque bridge-design frame; all new chassis design, with the fuel tank now over the engine; a lower seat height and bodywork that provides the rider greater protection while allowing maximum movement for off-road riding. Potent at 70kW (95hp), the new GS middle class is built for off-road agility given its 21/17-inch wheel combination, off-road specification suspension and off-road oriented ergonomic design.

While powerful and clearly dynamic, the F 850 GS offers the latest electronic rider aids. Enduro Pro mode, Dynamic Traction Control DTC, Dynamic ESA, ABS Pro, even a quickshifter makes rider operation confidence inspiring and safer. All this new technology is made easier to access and operate through a new 6.5 inch TFT screen that comes with BMW Motorrad Connectivity so the rider can also make phone calls, listen to music or navigate while riding.

Now the time has come for the F 850 GS to prove itself in the toughest challenge any GS can face – the Int. GS Trophy.

The BMW F 850 GS Int. GS Trophy 2020.

Aesthetically the BMW F 850 GS Int. GS Trophy special model has its own one-off colour scheme and detailing on components. Most striking will be the unique black and yellow colour scheme with Int. GS Trophy graphics. Contrasting with the black/yellow will be gold anodizing on the upside down forks and cross-spoked tubeless-spec wheel rims.

BMW Motorrad always offers customers a vast range of options and accessories to individualize their GS motorcycles, and from this long list the following has been selected for the Int. GS Trophy machines.

BMW Motorrad Optional Equipment.

Dynamic ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment)

Dynamic Traction Control DTC

Gear Shift Assistant Pro

Riding Modes Pro (Dynamic/Enduro/Enduro Pro)

6.5″ TFT screen with BMW Motorrad Connectivity

LED daytime running lights

LED turn indicators

Preparation for navigation

Heated grips

Off-road tyres

Luggage rack with case holders

HP Sports silencer

Original BMW Motorrad Accessories.

High handlebars.

The high handlebars are 14 mm higher than the standard handlebars. This not only enables an upright and comfortable sitting position, but also makes riding while standing particularly comfortable. Secure handling of the motorcycle is noticeably easier (particularly in the standing position) – an indispensable advantage for Enduro riders.

Enduro footrests plus adjustable foot brake lever and gear lever.

These accessories enhance control when standing, providing a comfortable and secure purchase for the rider’s boots. The set, consisting of Enduro footrests, a height-adjustable foot brake lever and a gear lever with adjustable kick lever, can be adapted to individual needs. When suitably adjusted, the foot levers can be optimally operated or regulated and allow even better vehicle control especially when riding off-road in a standing position.

Hand protectors.

The hand protector, made of impact-resistant and UV-resistant plastic, also protects the operating elements against branches and stone chips while riding off-road, and is aerodynamically tailored to the vehicle. On the road, the wind and weather protection offered by the protectors is also impressive: hands and fingers stay longer dry and warm even at low temperatures.

Engine protection bar.

Electropolished stainless steel for lightness and longevity, this bar protects the engine without compromising cornering lean angles.

Enduro engine guard.

The sturdy Enduro aluminium engine guard was specially constructed for off-road use and provides optimal protection for the lower section of the engine.

Rallye seat.

In off-road the rider stands as much as sits, and so the requirement of the saddle is very different to that for a standard road machine. The Rallye seat is narrower in section, so allowing better movement around the bike, while being taller to allow easier transitions from seated to standing, while also offering the degree of padding required for comfort when riding over rough terrain.

Bag for pillion seat.

Mounted on the pillion seat, this water-resistant bag expands from 2.5 to 8 litres and is ideal for storing the small items (like camera batteries, sun glasses, energy snacks) that the Int. GS Trophy riders will likely call upon during a typical riding day.

LED auxiliary headlights.

The powerful LED additional headlights in a compact aluminium housing ensure better vision and visibility even in fog, rain or snowfall. At the same time, their white, daylight-like light colour ensures differentiated illumination of the road. LED technology ensures virtually wear-free operation.

Headlight protection.

There will be many GSs riding together, kicking up the odd stone no doubt, so headlight protection for off-road is a must.

Touring windshield with adjustment.

North Island, South Island?! Eight days non-stop action – yes, the riders might like the protection of this windshield from time to time. There’s the adjustability too, so they can lower it for better vision when riding off-road.

And so, to New Zealand!

In the coming days the 140 BMW F 850 GS motorcycles will be crated, placed in containers and sent on the long sea voyage to New Zealand.

For more information on the Int. GS Trophy please go to www.gstrophy.com.