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Bikernet Weekly News for 01 August 2019 Sturgis is starting tomorrow and news is coming in from the road out. The cute little Easyriders French editor is coming to see me next week. Frankie went to MetalSport about his FXR front wheel yesterday and is coming to see me around his Dyna front wheel today. Hell, James and Jeremiah rolled James’ Dyna in the shop yesterday while George “The Wild Brush and I worked on the canopy latch. They replaced his stock clutch with an extra plate Barnett clutch. We will bring you a report next week. Works like a champ, if you have upgraded your performance package. I’m also working on three bike features for Bikernet Readers. Let’s hit the news: CLICK HERE TO READ THE WEEKLY NEWS IN THE CANTINA Motorcycle Museums Worth Making a Pit Stop For Every bike has a story and taking a look back at how motorcycles have evolved over the years can bring out the warm fuzzies of even the toughest rider. Lucky for us history buffs, there are a ton of museums around the United States that will gladly transport you back in time and show you just how far we’ve come in the motorcycle industry. Check out our list of the top five motorcycle museums you need to visit below. CLICK HERE TO READ THE TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS IN THE CANTINA
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SNAPPY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for August 1, 2019

Hey,

This is one of those mornings. I’m not sure which way to turn. It doesn’t really matter, any direction I go is damn exciting.

I’m in the process of wiring the Salt Torpedo. I need to add three Daca vents to the liner, but the body is almost done for now. I will also need to drill safety wiring holes, mount the new tach, you name it. We are very close and very close to not making it to Bonneville this year.

Sturgis is starting tomorrow and news is coming in from the road out. The cute little Easyriders French editor is coming to see me next week. Frankie went to MetalSport about his FXR front wheel yesterday and is coming to see me around his Dyna front wheel today.

You’ll read some important Climate Depot reports in the news and on Bikernet. The whole manmade Climate Change argument is falling apart, like every other historic doomsday scenario.
 
 

See, I told you shit was happening fast.

Hell, James and Jeremiah rolled James’ Dyna in the shop yesterday while George “The Wild Brush and I worked on the canopy latch. They replaced his stock clutch with an extra plate Barnett clutch. We will bring you a report next week. Works like a champ, if you have upgraded your performance package.

I’m also working on three bike features for Bikernet Readers. 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.

 

 TRAILBLAZERS REPORT–
Congratulations to all of the new Trailblazers honorees who will be honored at the 76th annual banquet in April 4, 2020.

The Board of Directors has approved the final list of motorcycling luminaries to be honored as part of the Class of 2020.

Dealernews’ own Advocacy+ columnist Scot Harden was joined by Baja legend Johnny Campbell, Kawasaki tuner of champions Steve Johnson, Speedway champ Bruce Penhall, America’s first MXGP champ Brad Lackey and flat track favorite Bubba Shobert. The Dick Hammer Award, Trailblazers highest honor goes to Eddie Mulder and in the category of “Unsung Heroes” our pal Larry Langley will receive the Earl & Lucile Flanders Lifetime Achievement Award.

The event is always a sell-out, so start watching for details at:

www.trailblazersmc.com

AUSTRALIAN CLUB NEWS–Well know Brisbane tattoo shop to close after firebombing.

A well-known and long standing Brisbane tattoo parlor that was firebombed earlier this year — sparking fears in the local media of an all-out biker war — has announced it will not reopen.

Koolsville Studios at Brendale, owned by high profile senior Rebels motorcycle club member ‘Little Mick’ Kosenko was smashed and set ablaze in early March amid (according to media) rising tensions between the Rebels and the Bandidos motorcycle club.

The firebombing followed the shooting and assault of Rebels member and former MMA fighter Gokhan ‘Pitbull’ Turkyilmaz at his Upper Coomera home.

That incident was seen by media as a revenge attack for the assault and shooting of a Bandidos associate at the Logan Hyperdome in February, allegedly at the hands of Rebels members, eight of whom were later arrested.

The tattoo studio was badly damaged in the firebombing. A fundraiser concert that was to be held in April was eventually vetoed by police.

Now, the studio has announced it will be closing permanently.

“It is with broken hearts that we write this post today,” Mr Kosenko’s partner Tracey posted last week on Facebook.

“After every possible attempt to save Koolsville Studios we have exhausted all options and today we have been forced to make the decision to close down. We have been given the timelines now and it is just unrealistic to try to rebuild.

“We are currently discussing our future options of opening a new store etc. Mick wants to continue tattooing, we just have to work on the how.”

Mr Kosenko, who had been continuing to tattoo beneath the damaged studio, will do his last ink work at the site on August 10.

The Kosenkos have also announced a fire sale of the entire contents of the studio and shop, including antique cash registers and even the stairs.

“It could be quite a few months before we know what the future holds,” Mrs Kosenko posted.

“Once again, we would like to thank all our dear friends that we have made over the years and thank you for the incredible ongoing support over the last few trying years.”

Rockford Fosgate Announces Partnership with Polaris— to Deliver Factory Installed Audio in 2020 Polaris General 1000 Deluxe

First factory-integrated premium sound system offered in the side-by-side (SxS) industry

Side-by-side (SxS) enthusiasts can now drive their new Polaris General off the show room floor while jamming to their favorite soundtrack playing through the Rockford Fosgate audio system purpose built for the off road.

Rockford Fosgate (www.rockfordfosgate.com), the industry leader in high-performance audio systems, is proud to announce that it has partnered with Polaris to deliver the first factory installed sound system specifically designed and tuned for off-road performance. It is the first of its kind offered by any manufacturer in the industry.

The Rockford Fosgate equipped 2020 General Deluxe models were unveiled to Polaris Dealers at their event on July 28th and will begin shipping to dealerships this August.

“Our team of designers here at Rockford are proud to be leading the way for the next generation of audio in off-road vehicles,” explained Jake Braaten, Rockford Vice President of New Product Development and Engineering. “It was a challenge to figure out the best solution to integrate premium sound into these models, but after optimizing the speakers and their locations, we knew that we could deliver an amazing sound experience in the General.”

The 2020 General will feature high efficiency Rockford Fosgate speakers designed for volume and clarity in the open-air environment. With Bluetooth streaming, Pandora control, and AM/FM, capabilities, drivers may choose any soundtrack for their adventure.

Additionally, Element Ready™ speakers housed in rugged, yet lightweight, enclosures acoustically enhance the passengers listening experience regardless of their seating position.

“In working with the team at Polaris we see that they are as passionate about off-road as we are about our music,” said Bill Jackson, Rockford CEO and President. “We both strive to deliver class leading products to enthusiasts of our brands, and I believe that the fact that Polaris recognized this opportunity to give their owners features they demand in vehicles fully equipped from the factory reinforces their position as a market leader.”

For more information, please visit rockfordfosgate.com

WILD FEATURE BIKE COMING FROM TERRY LOVERING–I finally finish up.
If I wasn’t such a perfectionist, I could get things done a lot sooner.

I mailed you a USB with 2 formats not knowing which one will keep the pictures a their best, one in a word program and the other in a PDF.

You said it didn’t matter how long or how many pictures. So, I did the creation of the bike from ground up.

I explained the themed bike & game “Dead Mobsters From The Fifties.”

Then I did an interview as if a third person was telling my story.

From the first Harley at 16 in 1968 and 16 bikes later the Consigliere.

I found pictures of 13 of those bikes I owned and tore apart and created something personal. I talked about hitting the streets at 15 after my single Mother died.

I talk about Biker Squad, “Bikers For Motion Pictures.” I talked about the three loves I have:
Harleys
Martial Arts
Working Out

And of course I talk about coming to L.A. and getting to spend time with you and Dave Mann.

There is a lot there. It really goes with the Gravestone Picture you published.
That was cool.

Well, you will get it in the next few days and you could do what you want it, run it chop it or just read it.

whatever you do, I thank you very much, you have always been good to me.

I don’t think I am the only person you treat this good, I think you treat everybody like this. You are just a Class Act and you made Easyriders what it was because of who you are.

–Terry Lovering
 
Thanks Terry. It’s too bad about the direction and the stumbles with the Easyriders brand. Let’s see what happens next.–Bandit 

Nordschleife barbecue seasoning–Even more zest at the world’s most demanding racetrack

What is an indispensable part of a day spent racing on the world’s most demanding racetrack? A tasty barbecue on the charcoal grill with a “racing sausage” and a nice piece of meat!
 
 

 The proper zest is added not only by the action on the track, but by the delicious Nordschleife barbecue seasoning, which goes well with all types of meat and is available exclusively online at www.nordschleife.us.

The Nordschleife barbecue seasoning comes in a resealable airtight bag. It holds 300 grams of seasoning to ensure that an exciting day at the track can be garnished with many yummy pieces of meat.

One pack of Nordschleife barbecue seasoning costs just 14.90 euros. The seasoning can be ordered from the Nordschleife online shop at www.nordschleife.us, where you’ll also find the perfect apparel for the excursion to the Eifel Mountains.

MAVARTS NEWSLETTER–Well the 50th Anniversary of the San Diego Comic-Con has passed and this was my 27th appearance!

It was wonderful to, once again, exhibit my art alongside so many other innovative creatives in the industry where I have worked most of my career.

I’ve seen many changes in the last few decades and Comic-Con has gone from a ’nerds only’ event that was almost exclusively for the comic book collector to the largest pop-culture event in the U.S., made even more mainstream by Hollywood’s influence.

Superheroes, cosplay (dressing as your favorite character), blockbuster movies and all the products that go with it are now in every major store and cinema in the world and I for one am happy about it!

I grew up a ’Star Wars’ kid and I played Dungeons and Dragons (which made me a nerd) but now it is no longer Nerd Culture…it’s kind of what the Cool Kids are into… which is pretty awesome!

Of course the convention scene is now bustling with shows and filled with commercialism and lots of vendors just trying to get a piece of the pie for themselves, which I’m not so keen on, but that is just part of the world we live in and that makes for lots of well attended shows where I get the opportunity to show my art.

The level of art being created is high and the amount of fans coming to shows is even higher, so I guess I’ll keep doing my thing and head off to Gen Con this week which is America’s largest tabletop gaming show and hopefully meet more great fans and make Moore great memories! BAM!

PS – Thank you to all the new recipients of the newsletter many of which are friends, fans, fellow artists, publishers, industry shot callers and those that help freelancers like myself keep on keeping on!

— Monte – #ExpectMoore


PLEASE OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–
A psychiatrist was conducting a group therapy session with four young Mothers and their small children.

“You all have obsessions,” he observed.

To the first mother, Mary, he said, “You are obsessed with eating.
You’ve even named your daughter Candy.”

He turned to the second Mom, Ann: “Your obsession is with money.
Again, it manifests itself in your child’s name, Penny.”

He turned to the third Mom, Joyce: “Your obsession is alcohol. This too shows itself in your child’s name, Brandy.”

At this point, the fourth mother, Kathy, quietly got up, took her little boy by the hand and whispered, “Come on, Dick, this guy has no idea what he’s talking about. Let’s go pick up Peter and Willy from school and go get dinner.”

–EL WAGGS

BRAND NEW COMMENT FROM A BIKERNET READER–The FAST BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for July 25, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/The_FAST_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_July_25_2019.aspx

Just a thought regarding high visibility clothing. I drove 18-wheelers for many years. I was rear ended twice by women who did not see my trailer with 6 taillights and 12 marker lights and the turn signals blinking. I am pretty sure they would not see a motorcycle.

–Alex Jemery
aj846@lycos.com
Deland, FL


DRAG RACING HISTORY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS—This is John Stein’s too cool photo-history book of motorcycle drag racing.

We have a few copies in the 5-Ball Garage.


FUEL CLEVELAND REPORT– Bandit,

Fuel Cleveland a good time. Lot of choppers & old bikes. Many folks rode their pans, knuckles, & flatheads. Couldn’t decide whether to ride my ’51 FL or my sportster chopper. Opted for the FL. Can’t go wrong with a Panhead. Anyhow, keep letting us know what’s going on. Your work is appreciated.

–Andy


ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MINDS– MOTM 2019 SPONSORSHIP SOLICITATION & MOTM PANEL DISCUSSION

35th Annual Meeting of the Minds, Crowne Plaza Aire Hotel, Bloomington, Minn. (Minneapolis/St. Paul). We would like to create and industry panel discussion. If you would like to step up and discuss industry concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. It’s in September.

FRED HARRELL
Director, Purchasing & Facilities
RED ROCK HARLEY-DAVIDSON
2260 South Rainbow Blvd.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89146
PHONE: 702-876-2884 X2149


TATTOO OF THE WEEK FROM THE BALL DYNASTY—Frankie is due to roll over here to the vast Bikernet Headquarters to monkey with his 2005 Dyna front wheel. He experienced a flat recently and was saved by Fix-A-Flat.

Immediately, he was concerned and couldn’t give it up. The tire is still leaking slightly, so he will come over, jack up the bike and remove the front wheel, so it can be torn down and inspected.

–Bandit


LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK– 2010 Harley-Davidson FLSTN Softail Deluxe
$12,995

https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=5692603

The Softail Deluxe combines nostalgic styling cues like a tombstone tail light, deep-skirted seat and wide white wall tires, with ergonomics that make this an old-school cruiser that’s easy to handle. The Softail rear suspension mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame but offers the comfort of a modern suspension that is hidden under the chassis. The rigid powertrain allows tight packaging of the engine and frame and creates a solid connection between the rider and the power that moves the motorcycle.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDED:

Scarlet Red and Vivid Black paint is in very good condition, with only minor scuffs and chip. Gold pinstripes. H-D wings tank emblems. Chrome forks and shrouds. Chrome wheels with 40 chrome spokes. Wide whitewall tires. Chrome front rotor and caliper. Chrome headlight and auxiliary lights. Front and rear turn signals are bullet style, with amber lenses up front and red lenses out back.

Stainless steel braided lines and cables. Chrome square mirrors have ‘live to ride, ride to live’ emblems on the back. 5 inch risers with chrome beach bars. Chrome front brake master cylinder. Chrome slotted hand levers. Chrome engine guard with rubber toppers.

Long floorboards with chrome slotted heel/toe shifter and chrome brake pedal. Chrome ‘live to ride, ride to live’ air cleaner. Chrome cam cover with R2L,L2R emblem. Vance&Hines 2-into-2 short shots exhaust system. ?
Black wrinkle finish engine with polished fins, chrome rocker covers and push-rod tubes. Chrome frame and swing-arm accents. Hard leather saddlebags. Tombstone taillight. Chrome top and bottom belt guards. Chrome horn, coil and primary covers. Derby cover has the ‘ride to live, live to ride’ emblem.

Chrome shifter linkage. Chrome and rubber H-D hand grips. Luggage rack. Solo seat with chrome grab rail. Pillion pad with passenger pegs. Black dash console. Quick release tinted and vented windshield. Quick release sissy bar with pad.

This Deluxe has only 9,588 miles!!!

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!!!

NEW FROM 5-BALL RACING LEATHER—I’m about to relaunch the famous Bandit’s Bedroll and Day Roll. This time, we are offering them in wonderful leather and we may offer the original cordura version at a reduced price.

All of these will come in at less than previous prices by as much as 25 percent. My leather connection is doing a helluva job on these and we discovered that our last supplier was ripping us off. Live and learn.

–Bandit

Check out all of our leathers and books by clicking on the banner below.

[page break]

PEOPLE’S CHAMP FROM BILTWELL–People’s Champ, First Time’s a Charm

Mike at Old-Stf in Yuba City, CA is well-known in the custom bike building world as a humble, talented and hard-working guy that puts out clever bikes and parts from his home shop on a regular basis.

Like a lot of men, beside him is an intelligent, ass-kicking woman who isn’t afraid to do things on her own. When his wife Suzy decided to throw her hat in the ring and enter the People’s Champ competition, her and Mike both knew what she was in for. She’s obviously been around bikes and the shop of course, but before starting this project had never TIG-welded, used a mill or built a complete bike.

SALT TORPEDO WIRING–
We are scrambling to make it run, then we’ll see about Bonneville. I’m
starting the wiring. I have an 41804 coil and needed to get a factory connector.

Hey Bandit,
Best to use a 3-terminal coil, i.e. 31655-99

In your package was a ground strap and 8 metal sleeves. Are they designed to
go over the wires before they are crimped into your connector?

Bandit,

Yes, the wire-end ferrules, only 6 are needed. They are put over the wire
end and crimped with a suitable pliers. After that they are inserted into
the connector and screwed down.

–Charles
ALTMANN MICRO MACHINES
http://www.amm.haan.de
Dipl.-Ing. Charles Altmann
Erlenstrasse 15
42697 Solingen
Germany

phone: +49-212-233-7039

KEEP THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN–
An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.

As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son.

“Yes, Dad, what is it?”

“Don’t be nervous, son; do your best, and just remember, if it doesn’t go well, if something happens to me,
your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife….”

AL GORE WAS PAID A BUNDLE TO SPEAK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN AUSTRALIA–I didn’t even know he was here! However, a quick look on line showed he didn’t go over well.
It was expected a labour (Socialist) govt would be in power by the time he came but they lost. Badly.

Here’s one article on him.

Poor timing for Al Gore’s climate panic poppycock

In politics, timing is crucial. And thus, it was with the unfortunately timed participation of former US vice-president Al Gore in the Queensland government-sponsored Climate Week earlier this month.

According to the blurb, “Climate Week QLD 2019 will showcase how the state is transitioning to a low-carbon, clean-growth economy and building a community of action to address climate change.”

Occurring as it did after the unexpected victory of the Morrison government, Gore’s pronouncements during the week about the perils of climate change — let’s face it, he easily wins the gold medal in the boy-who-cried-wolf category when it comes to climate-induced apocalypses — were particularly jarring.

As for that photographed pose of Gore and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad cuddling up to each other, it’s probably best not to comment.

It would have been fun to be a fly on the wall when the planning for this gala week occurred. The expectation would have been that Labor would win the federal election, with the clear message that the public was demanding “real action on climate change” — so the motto goes. Reference would have been made to Bill Shorten’s plans to reduce emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and for 50 per cent of electricity to be generated by renewable energy sources.

The Queensland government would endorse these targets while arguing for more ambitious ones. Reference would be made to the Palaszczuk government’s pledge for the state to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Without doubt, Big Al would be supportive.

Of course, the Great Barrier Reef would need to be a central part of the story. And the potential for the final rejection of the Adani coa; mine project would complete a very satisfactory week of positive, vote-winning news items for the Queensland government.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why anyone would give Gore the time of day. After all, he is not a trained scientist; he appears to make a living from concocting scary climate stories.

While he was in Queensland, he was offering up some more whoppers. Maybe he thought the appearance fee he received — estimated to be $320,000, paid for by Queensland taxpayers — necessitated the delivery of some sensational unsubstantiated claims.

To tell an audience that the choice is between Adani and the Great Barrier Reef is puerile and misinformed. To suggest that India is now sourcing 60 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources is just plain wrong — out by a factor of four to five. And these statements come on top of the many falsehoods Gore has peddled in the past. These include:

• In 2006, he claimed that the planet would reach a “point of no return” in 10 years.

• In the same year, he predicted that sea levels would rise by 20 feet (just over 6m) “in the near future”.

• In 2008, he claimed that the north polar cap would be completely ice-free within five years.

• In 2011, he claimed that polar bears would soon become close to extinction (their number has been ­rising).

Presumably, these faulty predictions were known to the organizing committee as well as to the key politicians — Annastacia Palaszczuk, Trad and Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch — who supported the shindig. But Gore is a name and his discredited propaganda doesn’t prevent him from being a regular invitee to the annual conferences of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Recall that the last one was held in Poland during a particularly cold weather snap.

So now that Gore has left town on his private jet — no doubt some sort of carbon offsets were arranged — state governments and the renewable energy industry, in particular, are in the process of reconsidering their approach to climate change and their inter­action with the federal Coalition government.

There is no doubt that most of the renewable energy players were devastated by the May 18 election result. Their hopes, in descending order, were: Labor victory; defeat of Energy Minister Angus Taylor in his seat of Hume in NSW; and the appointment of anyone but Taylor as the next energy minister.

These hopes have been completely dashed.

–from Doc Robinson
On his way to Sturgis


The Lowbrow Getdown was as wild as ever–11 years in and it is NOT calming down, lol. The Getdown was almost a month ago, and we finally recovered enough to put together the Lowbrow Getdown 2019 Photo Extravaganza.

Check it out and see why over 1,000 motorcycle enthusiasts make their way to Nelson’s Ledges Quarry Park every year to party with us. No vendor booths, no awards, just an old fashioned party in the woods. Till next year!

Tucker Releases HardTales Volume 004 / Fall 2019–Tucker Powersports has released Volume 004 of its HardTales V-twin Magazine.

As usual, the latest issue includes an abundance of new and informative product information from Tucker brands; as well as event coverage from this year’s Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire and the Born Free Show in Southern California.

The featured cover bike in this issue, “Durty Knuckle,” comes to Tucker courtesy of Motion Pro American V-Twin Brand Manager, Joe Fratis. You can read Joe’s build story on page 28.

See you out on the open road!

Direct Link to Digital Flipbook Version: http://online.fliphtml5.com/lxnd/adkg/

Thank you!

–Tucker Powersports


THIS JUST IN FROM CLIMATE DEPOTGreen New Doomsday Deal Would Cost At Least $250K Per Household In First Five Years– The Green New Deal is economic insanity except that it would fulfill the United Nation’s long-held goal of completely destroying Capitalism and Free Enterprise. Out of the ashes, Technocracy will rise triumphant. — TN Editor

According to a new study, the Green New Deal’s implementation would cost the average American family a quarter of a million dollars during the first five years. The costs are even higher for Americans living in Alaska.

The study did not even take into account significant parts of the Green New Deal, since they are impossible to calculate. After all, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) hasn’t even introduced an actual bill, but only a resolution calling for future bills. It’s less a concrete plan and more a worldview statement justifying hundreds of future laws.

The study, jointly co-authored by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and Power the Future (PTF), analyzed the additional electricity demanded for various projects like decarbonizing the economy; the costs associated with shipping and logistics; the costs of new carbon-free vehicles; and the costs to retrofit every building in America. Just these four types of costs would add up to more than $250,000 per household in the first five years, a conservative estimate.

“The Green New Deal is a radical blueprint to de-carbonize the American economy by refashioning how we grow food, move people and goods, source and distribute electricity, and build the structures where we live, work, and play. Our analysis shows that, if implemented, the Green New Deal would cost for American households at least tens of thousands of dollars annually on a permanent basis,” CEI President and CEO Kent Lassman said in a statement.

“Perhaps that’s why exactly zero Senate Democrats, including the resolution’s 12 co-sponsors, voted for the Green New Deal when they had the chance,” he quipped.

“Economists and experts have been warning us for months about the devastating effects of the Green New Deal, and now we have the numbers to prove it,” PTF Executive Director Daniel Turner said in a statement. “This study only calculates a fraction of the cost of Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez’s radical plan, which amounts to a socialist free-for-all with no regard for the American taxpayer.”

“No family should be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in the first year alone to fund AOC’s ideological wishlist. Thankfully, Americans see through the Green New Deal and are beginning to fight back,” he added.

CEI and PTF analyzed the estimated costs for households in five states — Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. In every state except Alaska, the Green New Deal would cost a typical household more than $70,000 in the first year of implementation, approximately $45,000 for each of the next four years (adding up to $250,000 for the first five years), and more than $37,000 each year after that. In Alaska, the average family would pay more than $100,000 in the first year, $73,000 for the next four years, and more than $67,000 each year afterward.

“Most provisions of the GND are so broad and open-ended that the list of potential programs necessary to implement the program is limited by the capacity of legislators to imagine a new government program,” the study notes. “Therefore, it is impossible to calculate the whole or maximum cost of the GND. However, other parts of the GND are more precise, sufficiently so that an approximate minimum cost estimate is available.”

–Technocracy News

MOTORCYCLE Attorney Michael Hupy Receives Award at Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2019 Diversity in Business Ceremony— The personal injury law firm of Hupy and Abraham, S.C. is proud to announce that firm president, Attorney Michael Hupy, was honored at the 2019 Wisconsin Law Journal’s “Diversity in Business” Awards, which took place on July 25, 2019, at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There were twelve other honorees at this year’s event.

For the past three years, the Wisconsin Law Journal has honored local business owners and companies for their dedication to diversity and inclusion across the state. For decades, Attorney Hupy has been a consistent promoter and participant of equal opportunities for his employees and the community.

Through several avenues, Attorney Hupy has demonstrated his commitment to diversity, both professionally and personally. For his law firm, he strives to ensure that it is a safe space for employees to feel comfortable and respected in the workplace, regardless of color, creed, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other minority group. He also emphasizes the importance of the roots of the law firm, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019. Hupy and Abraham traces its roots to the 1960s with Attorney Lloyd Barbee, who was an influential lawyer and activist known for starting the Milwaukee Public Schools Integration Lawsuit.

The 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner was Justice Louis Butler, the first black man to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Justice Butler’s remarks focused on passion and reminding how vital inclusion and representation are for future generations. As one of the evening’s honorees, Attorney Hupy was lauded for using his business successes and passion for others to help however he can.

Hupy and Abraham has provided over $100,000 in scholarship funds to the NAACP of Milwaukee. The NAACP has awarded the firm with Milwaukee’s “Martin Luther King Jr. Award” for its commitment to civil rights. Attorney Hupy has received several community awards acknowledging his service, from the Milwaukee Community Journal and the Salvation Army Chaplaincy Program. In 2015, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Milwaukee Bar Association.

As a modern activist, Attorney Hupy has fought for all citizens, through safety campaigns and programs to keep Milwaukee streets safe, such as the “Gun Buy Back Program.” Attorney Hupy is a principal benefactor for the Milwaukee Justice Center, which helps the disadvantaged with legal services they otherwise could not afford. Since its beginning, he has been an integral part of the organization’s development and operations. Other legal nonprofits he supports include the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, Legal Aid Society and Centro Legal.

Attorney Hupy has always been a champion for the marginalized. He has consistently shown how he has and continues to make a difference in the community. Hupy and Abraham would like to congratulate Attorney Hupy on this new accolade.

Former Award-Winning NOAA scientist Dr. Rex Fleming declares his climate dissent – Converted from warmist to skeptic – Reveals suppression: ‘I had to go to Europe to publish a paper’

Former NOAA Award-Winning Atmospheric Scientist Dr. Rex Fleming joins many former UN IPCC and U.S. government scientists publicly dissenting on man-made climate change. Fleming declares that “CO2 has no impact on climate change.”

“Past climates have been warm and cold and warm and cold with no changes in carbon dioxide. How can that be a cause when there’s no correlation.”

Fleming 8:10 on AMS, AGU, AAAS: “all 3 of those organizations will not support a “denier”..I could not get published in any of those organizations..as a denier..I had to go to Europe to publish a paper..it was peer-reviewed in Europe, it got thru, & it has been very successful”

Fleming’s work here: The Rise and Fall of the Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climate Change (2019)

COLLECTION OF COLORS MAGAZINE FOR SALE— Honestly think that it’s worth $1000 + $20 for shipping and insurance is not out of line.

loves ya!

–Apache Jil
Apachejil@aol.com

WHAT THE HELL—Where to turn next. Hell, the fold-up buddy seat arrived for the new Bikernet van. I need to install it and a rack for 5-Ball leathers.

I also received my required mudguards for the Salt Torpedo front wheels. Tomorrow I need to make a run to Phillips Steels for bracket metal. I also need to blast over to Performance Tire to pick up my new speed-rated Mickey Thompson front tires. I’m wondering if they can mount them?

I’m trying to get to the wiring and my grandson is bringing over the battery strap and the new coil and connector.

Markus Cuff is going to shoot this Paul Wheeler built Panhead bobber. I ran into Paul who was on the cover of the 3rd issue of Easyriders and now he might be featured in the 3rd issue of the new Choppers Magazine.

Life can be amazing!
 
Ride Fast and Free, Forever!
 
–Bandit
 

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A Democratic professor explains what his party gets wrong about climate

As the Republican-called witness at a recent hearing, I was denounced by the Democrats for denying a fossil-fueled “climate crisis” that, as their witnesses testified, results in violence against women, asthma and obesity in children, and deadly storms. But few actually questioned me. After all, “the debate is over.”

So instead, the latest belle of my party’s ball, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, left the dais to urge protestors outside to drown me out. She’d previously written Google and Facebook, asking them to block me and the CO2 Coalition of 50 unalarmed scientists I direct from speaking at conferences they sponsor.
 

At the hearing, I presented data from the United Nations contradicting the accepted wisdom that extreme weather is destroying the planet and is traceable directly to a man-made climate crisis. There are no such trends in rates of sea-level rise, hurricanes, floods, or droughts. One Democrat who stuck around to actually question me simply asserted that our coalition is funded by energy companies. I wish! Another wanted to know, “Do you believe in climate change or not?” When I asked him to define it, he cut me off with: “That answers it all…That gives us a hint where you’re coming from.”

Indeed it does. Where I’m coming from is academia, where defining the scientific terms we discuss is elemental. 
 
The whole affair shows just how much has changed. A decade ago I’d been the one pummeling a Republican-called witness, a little-known pollster named Kellyanne Conway, in my role as counsel to a Democratic committee chairman. And the last time I’d been a witness, as director of a foreign policy group in 1994, I’d been called in by Democrats who were backing our “no arms to dictators” bill. But now I am a heretic for using scientific facts to dispute exaggerated talking points.
 
The reformed slave’s hymn “Amazing Grace” talks about the hour he first believed. My downfall came from the hour I first didn’t believe. It was in 2003, when I was teaching at American University and a student had written a term paper accepting these claims from a 2001 U.N. report: the recent four-tenths of a degree increase in global temperature was caused by carbon dioxide emissions; this rate and level of warming were unprecedented for 1,000 years; and carbon dioxide emissions would drive temperatures up six degrees by the year 2100.
 
As a good Democrat who knew nothing about global warming except that Vice President Al Gore said it was dangerous and driven by the use of fossil fuels, I was predisposed to believe all this. But rather than assess the quality of the report’s evidence for its claims, my student had simply accepted the claims because of the credibility of U.N. scientists. “That settles it,” she wrote. I scrawled a big red “F” across her paper and wrote, “No, that begins it.” The first rule, indeed the purpose, of statistics is not to “appeal to authority” but to force any authority to prove claims like everybody else. I began to read the report, so I could grade her paper when she resubmitted it.
 
In the U.N.’s summary, I found a temperature chart from 1860 to 2000 based on thermometer readings, mostly from developed countries. Since so little of the earth’s land and virtually none of its oceans had been comparably measured, the data were woefully incomplete, making it difficult to draw large-scale conclusions. Only since 1980 was there a reliable estimate, based on radiation readings from satellites. When the differences across time are smaller than the uncertainties and errors, as in this case, there is no justification for claiming “trends.”
 
I could see the recent increase, from 1980 to 2000, but there was also a slightly larger increase from 1910 to 1945, with flat periods before and after. Another chart showed carbon dioxide’s share of the atmosphere slowly increasing from 1860 to 1945 and then surging at four times that rate.
 
The U.N. report said that the first warming was mostly natural but the second was mostly from CO2. The picture was now pretty complicated. During periods of low carbon dioxide, we saw both strong temperature growth and no temperature growth. The same was true for periods of high CO2. This is, of course, not proof of a low correlation or a lack of causation. Life is not bivariate. Other variables and feedback can affect temperature as well. My students had learned to remove the effect of other variables statistically, using a computer modeling technique called multiple regression, so the true level of correlation can surface. If it’s strong and the hypothesized cause precedes the effect in time, and you can’t think of any other causal variables that should be removed, then you have a case for causation.
 
It turned out that computer models were indeed the basis for the U.N. claims about recent “detection” of a change in temperature, and “attribution” of the cause being CO2 emissions. But they weren’t testable statistical models; they were mathematical exercises in curve-fitting — essentially, finding a model that fits your data. The modelers themselves called them projections rather than predictions.
 
These Global Climate Models randomly use thousands of input guesses until their output roughly tracks the chart of average temperatures. Then those final guesses are used to run the model forward to estimate how much warming industrial CO2 will cause in 100 years. But one of the input guesses is the warming effect of CO2, so the modelers control the final answer from the start!
 
The “proof” cited by the U.N. study was that the fit improved when CO2 emissions are included in the model along with a few well-known natural events, such as solar changes and volcanoes. I laughed out loud when I saw that. I could create a great fit with temperature for any series, from batting averages to the stock market, if I too could fiddle with thousands of parameters. The father of these models was Cold War military theorist John von Neumann, who wanted to see if we could cause drought in the Soviet Union. He failed, thank goodness. Von Neumann joked, “with four parameters I can draw an elephant, and with five I can make him wiggle his trunk.”
 
MIT atmospheric physicist Richard Lindzen, a member of our coalition who was a U.S.-appointed representative on the U.N. panel but left when it became a propaganda tool, has called the U.N. logic “proof by lassitude.” By this he means that just because you can’t identify the combination of interactions and feedback that drives temperature doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Lindzen has pointed out that the modelers themselves build in feedback when it suits them. A full two-thirds of the modeled warming comes from a hypothesized response by the atmosphere to an initial warming from CO2.
 
The claim of a thousand-year high came from a temperature chart called “the hockey stick,” generated by a backward-looking model that took a “new statistical approach” to the records of the widths of the rings of old trees. This one was pretty much all art and no science. The data conveniently wiped out a previous consensus that there had been a natural “medieval warming period” that exceeded today’s temperature. The resulting graph was flat until the carbon dioxide era and then shot up by grafting on different data (though not the raw tree ring proxies, which actually went down).
 
On its face it was silly, and on careful reading it became even sillier. But what the U.N. and my student hadn’t recognized was that even if true, the chart was irrelevant to whether our recent warming is mostly human or natural. Every 100,000 years, oscillations in the earth’s orbit drive temperatures up and then down far more than the recent fluctuation. The processes and feedback are poorly understood. A brief stable period within this massive, complex system that ends in correlation with a change in a single variable, carbon dioxide, is no more proof of causation that a strongly oscillating period ending with the same correlation.
 
When I asked my coalition’s physicists, agronomists, geologists, and meteorologists to write about the hour they first didn’t believe, it turned out they didn’t have one. They always knew that CO2 was a minor warming gas, and never found the models’ focus on it compelling. The last 30 years have not been kind to the models. The exaggerated media claims about their projections of warming and its catastrophic effects keep getting extended rather than realized. Someday the climate science narrative will return to a place of reason.
 
When it does, I’ll be waiting there for my Democratic Party. 
 

CO2 Coalition executive director Caleb S. Rossiter is the author of The Weathermen on Trial: A Bombshell Novel About Bringing the War Home.

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GOING TO STURGIS? DON’T MISS THIS:

 “What’s the Skinny” Michael Lichter Exhibit Opens Sunday at the Buffalo Chip
At the Buffalo Chip Motorcycles as Art Gallery
—————
“What’s the Skinny? Motorcycles Without the Fat” Exhibition curated by photographer Michael Lichter.
The “What’s the Skinny” exhibition will exist for just 7-days. The exhibit is located in the 6,000 sq ft. “Motorcycles as Art” gallery, in the Buffalo Chip Events Center next to the EAST gate of the Buffalo Chip. The gallery will be open daily from 2 pm – 10 pm August 2-9, 2019 and is Free to the public.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Michael
Andrea Radaelli – 70’s helmet, Italy, one of the featured builders, with his custom Sportster
Artwork from Emilio Cabañas and Darren McKeag will be on display, as well as art from various other artists.
Hawke Lawshe’s custom Shovelhead Chopper will also be part of the exhibition.
Full list of participants below:
Builders
Andrea Radaelli, Radikal Chopper – Fabrizio Caoduro, 70s Helmets, ITALY
Arlen Ness, Arlen Ness Enterprises – Dublin, CA
Ben Zales, Burbank, CA
Billy Lane, Choppers Inc – Daytona Beach, FL
Brian Buttera, Buttera’s Metal Werx – Lakeland, FL
Chris Callen, Flat Broke Chops & Rods – Tarentum PA
Chris Tope, Utopeia Moto Company – Richardson, TX
Cole Rogers, 138 Cycle Fabrication – Springboro, OH
Cristian Sosa, Sosa Metalworks – Las Vegas, NV
Dakota Toomey – Southampton, NJ
Dalton Walker – Split Image Kustoms – Hanford, CA
Dan Rognsvoog, Cabana Dan’s Creations – Franksville, WI
Dave Perewitz, Perewitz Cycle Fab – Halifax, MA
Freddie Arnold, Hickory Flat Hot Rods – Canton, GA
Hawke Lawshe, Vintage Technologies – Columbia Falls, MT
Jack Deagazio – East Syracuse, NY
Jesse Srpan, Raw Iron Choppers – Chardon, OH
Jordan Dickinson, Union Speed And Style – Monticello, MN
Josh Sheehan – Minden, NV
Justin McNeely, Hooked on Speed – Jackson, MO
Ken Nagai – Ken’s Factory – Nagoya, JAPAN
Kevin “Teach” Baas – Prior Lake, MN
Kyle Brewer, Paughco – Carson City, NV
Mike Lange, Big Bend, WI
Mike Rabideau, Majik Mike Customs, Las Vegas, NV
National Motorcycle Museum – Anamosa, IA
Nick Pensebene – Edgewater, FL
Oliver Jones, the Cut-rate, Long Beach, CA.
Paul Brodie, Flashback Fab – Langley, BC, CANADA
Paul Yaffe, Paul Yaffe Originals – Phoenix, AZ
Samuele Reali, Abnormal Cycles – Milan, ITALY
Takatoshi Suzuki, Seven Motorcycles – Sendai, Japan
Artists
Butch Brinza
Darren McKeag
Emilio Cabañas (Switzerland)
Isaac Stenegard (Sweden)
Jeremy Lacy
Jim Brando
Makoto Endo
Ray Drea
Sylvester Adhikrama (Indonesia)
Ted Turner
Vince Balistreri
Helmet Painters
Alexa Jacobs
Beth Kearney
Brian Kite
Dane Schwegman
Darren McKeag
Jody Perewitz
Kayla Koeune
Mr.Oz
Scott Takes
Stephen Gibson
Ted Turner
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys
and all of our industry sponsors including:
Baker Drivetrain
Bell Helmets
BMW Motorrad
Daily Direct/Haul Bikes
GEICO Motorcycle
Harley-Davidson
Hot Leathers
J&P Cycles
JM Logistics
Kuryakyn
Legend Suspensions
Motor Bike Expo
Performance Machine
Roland Sands Designs
S&S Cycle
Sailor Jerry
The Rokker Company, LTD
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LAS VEGAS BIKEFEST EARLY BIRD SPECIALS

Grab your passes at the super early bird price today!
Prices go up this Friday, August 2!
To register for your pass, CLICK HERE.
Get the Vegas VIP Experience!
Vegas BikeFest VIP Passes will sell out and you don’t want to miss out!
In addition to everything that is included with the Ultimate Pass, VIP’s will receive:
  • VIP only access to dedicated viewing areas of the main stage for all three nights of entertainment
  • Two additional entries for the $5,000 Shopping Spree Giveaway – 20 lucky winners will receive $250 each in BikeFest Bucks to spend with rally vendors
  • Two additional entries for the custom motorcycle drawing
  • Complimentary entry into Hooligan Dirt Dash Racing on both Thursday and Friday Night*
  • An extra drink each night at the Rally Central Party
  • Limited Edition VIP Gift
  • Rally Patch
  • VIP All Access Pass and VIP Check-in at Rally Registration
  • Discount coupon for the Rally Souvenir Stand as well as hotels and area attractions
To register for your pass, CLICK HERE.
*Note: all seating is GA
Win Your Share of $5,000 in Shopping Sprees
Register for a Party, Ultimate, or VIP Pass & you will be eligible to win one of twenty $250 BikeFest Bucks Shopping Sprees!
BikeFest Bucks are good at vendor booths at Rally Central excluding all food and beverage vendors.
Sunday Poker Run
Take part in the 6th Annual Pawn Stars Poker Run organized by the Epilepsy Foundation of Nevada.
Best Hand wins $2,000
Worst Hand wins $1,000
Register for the run to help out a great cause! Be sure to stop by their booth and meet Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars.
Book Your Room Today!
Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino returns as the Headquarter Hotel for the 2019 Vegas BikeFest.
Book your room today at the Golden Nugget or participating hotels!
Don’t want to haul your bike to Las Vegas?
EagleRider has you covered with the best rates on rentals
Click here to rent a bike today!
Tips for Downtown Newbies
New to Downtown Las Vegas?
Our friends at Fremont Street have useful tips to make the most out of your visit!
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Benelli teases Harley-Davidson Street 750 rival Leoncino 500

Internationally, Benelli retails the Leoncino 500 in two variants – a road version and a more off-road friendly one – but the manufacturer is likely to launch only the road-going version in India.

Benelli Leoncino 500 has been on the upcoming motorcycles list for the Indian market for a long time but now the launch may have just been drawn closer. Benelli India recently teased the launching of a new motorcycle in India and reports suggest the new Leoncino 500 is set to launch in the country in the coming months. Internationally, Benelli retails the Leoncino 500 in two variants – a road version and a more off-road friendly one – but the manufacturer is likely to launch only the road-going version in India.

Benelli Leoncino 500 is a mid-capacity neo-retro motorcycle powered by a 499.6cc liquid-cooled fuel-injected parallel-twin engine that develops 47.6 hp at 8,500 rpm and 45 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. Expect the Leoncino 500 to launch at about Rs 4.5-5 lakh (ex-showroom). It doesn’t have a direct rival in India but in terms of price, it will rival Harley-Davidson Street 750 which retails at Rs 5.33 lakh (ex-showroom) and Kawasaki Ninja 400 which is priced at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Benelli Leoncino 500 is a naked street motorcycle with a projector headlamp and a distinctive design feature involving metal ornament in the shape of a lion on the front fender (Leoncino’s literal translation from Italian is lion cub). It’ll come with an all-digital instrument cluster and the tail section has a very minimalistic design.

Other cycle parts include 320 mm twin discs up front and a 260mm single disc at the rear with ABS (Anti-lock Braking system). For suspension, the bike gets 50 mm USD (upside down forks) upfront and an adjustable monoshock at the rear.

The motorcycle manufacturer from Italy went through some financial hiccups after it parted ways with its erstwhile partner DSK Motowheels. Now the company has collaborated with Adishwar Auto Ride India for its future expansion projects in the country.

Benelli hopes to come up with a number of new dealerships across India and grow its current market share which is not in its finest state as of now. But to turn the tables in its favour, Benelli is adopting an aggressive approach which is not just limited to the new bike or showroom launches, but also improving the ownership experience.

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American Flat Track Ready to Rock at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 31, 2019) – Following a short layoff to rest and reload, American Flat Track is set to kick off an intense six-week, eight-event run starting with this weekend’sBuffalo Chip TT presented by Indian Motorcycle in Sturgis, S.D., on Sunday, August 4. 

A relatively recent addition to the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the Buffalo Chip TT has already established itself as a highlight of the massively popular 10-day event. Originally conceived as ‘a race that broke out at a rock concert,’ the TT has proven to be exactly that, as the heroes of AFT will set the stage for Godsmack this year in its third annual running.

Some 10,000 raucous fans are again expected to line the fences of the purpose-built TT circuit that winds its way around the legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip Campgrounds. Those fans will be expecting plenty of drama and excitement and the race has historically delivered and then some.

The Buffalo Chip TT has a tendency to spice things up with a bit of podium variety, including last year’s AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines victory on the part of Jake Johnson (No. 5 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), and the ‘17 triumph of Briar Bauman (No. 14 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) — coming at a time when that sort of success was a bit less the norm for the AFT Twins championship leader.

Henry Wiles (No. 17 Bandit Industries/DPC Racing/Wilco Racing Indian FTR750) has also demonstrated race-winning speed at the venue, as has two-time race runner-up Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750).

Two riders who may be poised to deliver an upset are Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Team XG750R Rev X) and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750); both men have shown to be strong at the Buffalo Chip event in years past.

Meanwhile, the Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys class has been even more unpredictable, with both previous Main Event victories going to riders who ultimately finished the season outside the championship top 15. The race’s maiden win was taken by full-time roadracer Hayden Gillim, while last season’s went to all-around two-wheeled ace Ryan Sipes (No. 264 Red Bull/Leatt/KTM 450 SX-F).

Last year’s podium also featured Jacob Lehmann (No. 14 Vince & Denise Holt Honda CRF450R) and his teammate Cole Frederickson. While Frederickson is on the long road to recovery following a serious training accident, both Sipes and Lehmann will be back to give the Roof Systems AFT Singles’ regular fits again in 2019.

That said, the likes of Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 D&D Cycles/Gobert Smash Husqvarna FC450), Mikey Rush (No. 15 RMR Honda/Red Riders Rewards Honda CRF450R), Dan Bromley (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), and Jesse Janisch (No. 132 Roof Systems Dallas TX/Öhlins Yamaha YZ450F) all expect to be up front and contending for the race win come Sunday evening.

Directly following the AFT Twins podium ceremony, Godsmack  the iconic metal band with multiple Grammy nominations and a Billboard Rock Artist of the Year Award to its name — will unleash its particular brand of musical aggression to cap off the evening.

The Buffalo Chip TT and Godsmack performance are just two of a huge number of attractions at the Buffalo Chip during this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The venue will also host the likes of Skid Row, Keith Urban, STYX, Snoop Dogg, Toby Keith, Zakk Sabbath and legions of other diverse and popular musical acts, along with nine bike shows, ongoing stunt performances, BMW demo rides and much more.

Buffalo Chip TT tickets are on sale now at www.rallytickets.com. Race-day campground admission tickets are $72 and include free access to Buffalo Chip entertainment and activities unless otherwise noted as a separately ticketed event.

For fans watching remotely, FansChoice.tv will offer live coverage of the Buffalo Chip TT presented by Indian Motorcycle when the gates open at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT. Opening Ceremonies are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m PT. The Open Paddock/Rider Autograph Session will take place at 9:05 p.m. ET/6:05 p.m. PT, followed by the Main Event program, which is slated to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT

Be sure to catch the feature broadcast of the Buffalo Chip TT presented by Indian Motorcycleas part of a two-hour block on NBCSN that will also include flag-to-flag coverage of the Black Hills Half-Mile presented by Law Tigers. The back-to-back broadcasts will debut on Saturday, August 10, at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT and re-air on Wednesday, August 14, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT.

For more information on American Flat Track visit www.americanflattrack.com.

To get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise visit www.americanflattracker.com.

How to Watch:

NBCSN and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. For the 2019 season, NBCSN’s coverage of AFT moves to highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. FansChoice.tv remains a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event on AFT’s live page while previous events and exclusive features are available on AFT’s VOD page.

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NCOM Biker Newsbytes July 17

 
CONGRESSMAN TIM WALBERG ACCEPTS NCOM SILVER SPOKE AWARD 

Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) was selected as this year’s recipient of the NCOM Silver Spoke Award for Government.  Unfortunately, he was not able to attend the 34th Annual NCOM Convention in Orlando, Florida to receive the award in May, so it was brought to Washington, D.C. recently and presented there by several members of the NCOM Board of Directors. 

NCOM Confederation of Clubs Liaison “Boar”, Region IV Co-Director Ed Schetter and Region VII Co-Director John Bilotta were in the nation’s capital taking part in the Motorcycle Riders Foundation “Bikers Inside the Beltway” and meeting with their legislators and staff members.  During the visit to the Capitol, they met with Congressman Walberg and personally presented the award on behalf of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) in recognition of his work in Congress for the benefit of all of America’s motorcycle riders.

Representative Walberg introduced the recently-passed House Resolution that addresses profiling of motorcyclists and he and Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX) head up the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR VETOES REPEAL OF MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW

Missouri Governor Mike Parson vetoed Senate Bill 147 on Friday, July 12, a bill that would have allowed most adult motorcycle riders to ride without helmets.  Despite voting in favor of such legislation in the past as a state legislator, the Republican governor blocked the omnibus transportation measure which, among other things, would have repealed Missouri’s helmet requirement for motorcyclists 18 and older who carry medical insurance.

Gov. Parson didn’t express opposition to relaxing helmet requirements for motorcyclists, but in a letter to lawmakers he wrote that he vetoed the bill because of a section that dealt with suspending driver’s licenses over unpaid fines related to traffic violations, which his office deemed to be unconstitutional.

Bikers rights activists and state lawmakers have been trying decades to repeal the helmet requirement, passing bills to do so in 1999 that was vetoed by then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, and again in 2009 that was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon, both Democrats.

“The Governor was looking forward to signing this bill and still supports freedom of choice,” wrote Jay Widmer, Legislative Coordinator for Freedom of Road Riders (FORR-MO) on their Facebook page.  “We are working toward a meeting with the Governor and his staff to work with them towards a remedy.”

NORTH CAROLINA LEGALIZES MOTORCYCLISTS WEARING FACE MASKS

Like many states, North Carolina law generally “prohibits a person from wearing a mask, hood, or other device, to conceal the identity of the wearer,” with limited exceptions which now includes; “a person may wear a mask for the purpose of protecting the person’s head, face, or head and face, when operating a motorcycle.”

House Bill 257/Senate Bill 321 “An Act to permit the use of a face mask while operating a motorcycle,” was signed into law by Governor Ray Cooper (D) on July 11, 2019 and goes into effect December 1st.

Amidst nationwide furor over political groups like Antifa wearing masks while engaging in civil unrest, HB 257 passed the House on March 27 by a vote of 111-1 and companion bill SB 321 passed the Senate unanimously on June 27, 48-0.

Law enforcement officers in some states had begun stopping and citing motorcycle riders, particularly patch holders, for violating local anti-mask laws.

The new law will “require the person to remove the mask during traffic stops, checkpoints, roadblocks, or when approached by a law enforcement officer.”

NEW WASHINGTON LAW REQUIRES LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR MOTORCYCLES

Washington motorcycle owners must make sure their rides are insured once a new law goes into effect on July 28, 2019, requiring motorcycle operators to obtain and carry proof of liability insurance coverage when cruising on Washington’s roadways.

The new rules stem from House Bill 1014, which was signed into law in April by Governor Jay Inslee (D).  Unlike other motor vehicle drivers, in virtually every other state, motorcycle riders in Washington have previously been exempt from obtaining and carrying proof of insurance.

According to an April 23 statement from the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bill Jenkin (R-Prosser), the law will require those operating a motorcycle to meet the insurance requirements, or equivalent, for registered motor vehicles under current law; 25/50/10 – Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and Property Damage Liability Coverage: $10,000.

OREGON TO INCLUDE MOTORCYCLISTS UNDER “VULNERABLE ROADWAY USER”

Back in 2007, the Oregon legislature passed House Bill 3314, creating an enhanced penalty for careless driving if it contributes to serious physical injury or death to a “vulnerable user of a public way”, providing legal protections for non-motorized roadway users such as bicyclists and pedestrians.

The concept of “vulnerable roadway user” had previously been widely used by planners and safety organizations in Europe to categorize and describe non-motorized roadway users, incorporating the inherent vulnerability of humans who use the roads without the benefit of being encased in a 4-wheeled protective steel cage

On June 11, 2019, Governor Kate Brown (D) signed Senate Bill 810 into law, modifying the definition of “vulnerable user of a public way” in Oregon to now include persons operating or riding on a moped or motorcycle.

THOUSANDS RIDE TO HONOR SEVEN BIKERS KILLED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE CRASH

More than 3,000 motorcyclists rode across New Hampshire on Saturday, July 6 on the “Ride for the Fallen 7” to honor seven bikers killed and three injured in a collision with an oncoming pickup truck in June, as state police escorted the group along the 90 mile route to the site of the deadly crash.

The victims were Marine veterans and their spouses, members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, who were traveling west on Route 2 on their way to a charity event, when a pickup truck and trailer crossed into their lane from the opposite direction, plowing through the pack, according to a criminal complaint.

Commercial trucker, 23-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy of West Springfield, Mass., an immigrant from the Ukraine with a documented history of multiple drug and alcohol arrests and convictions in numerous states, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of negligent homicide. 

In the days following the fatal accident, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation revealed Zhukovskyy had received an intoxicated driving charge in Connecticut in May, which should have led to the termination of his Massachusetts commercial drivers license.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) has announced changes to the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles, which include running all 5.2 million licenses through the National Driver Register to keep suspension information up to date and creating a new position to oversee safety and set requirements for commercial drivers in the state.

On July 13, as thousands more gathered at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., for a memorial service organized by the Jarheads MC, New England Patriots NFL team owner Robert Kraft made a surprise appearance to present a $100,000 donation to the crash victims’ GoFundMe campaign.

PRANK LANDS MAN IN JAIL FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF MOTORCYCLIST

Late one night, on the morning after Christmas, a 45-year-old motorcyclist in Japan got a rope tangled around his neck causing him to dump his bike, severely injuring his back and hip.  Luckily, the man who strung the rope across the road was caught on security camera footage, and Japanese police quickly tracked him down and charged him with attempted murder.

Japan Today reports that police arrested Koichi Deki, 41, who claims the rope strung across the road was nothing more than a “stress relieving prank.”  There is no indication whether Deki knew a motorcyclist was coming down the road when he tied a rope to a sign and a pole on the other side of the street, and he is quoted as saying he did it to relieve his stress and didn’t think his “rope prank” could kill anyone.

The motorcyclist hit the rope roughly 15 seconds after the rope was stretched across the road, according to the time code on the surveillance footage, and now the prankster faces a prison sentence of several years.

IRELAND MAY BAN ALL NEW GAS-POWERED VEHICLE SALES AFTER 2030

The Irish Government has reaffirmed its plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, as part of a new strategy aimed at protecting the environment.

In 2015, the United Nations agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and Ireland’s recently released Climate Action Plan details how that nation intends to achieve them.  The greatest potential impact on Irish motorcyclists, according to Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN) involves halting the sale of all new non-electric vehicles by the year 2030, adding “It’s worth noting that nowhere in this plan is any mention made of motorcycles or other two-wheeled vehicles as having any considerations separate from those of all other vehicles.”

There is an ambitious plan to refine and develop an EV (electric vehicle) charging infrastructure throughout the country that can sustain 800,000 EVs by the 2030 deadline included, as well as possible consideration of an ICE (internal combustion engine) car scrappage program to be implemented as soon as 2020.

This is, according to MCN, partially in response to the UK potentially moving its 2040 ICE ban forward to 2032.  At this point, nine countries around the world have plans in place to begin phasing out ICE vehicles in the very near future.

Norway’s approach of incentivizing its citizens to adopt EVs over ICE vehicles resulted in an impressive 52% of cars sold in 2017 being EVs, according to Reuters.

The city of Amsterdam has also come forward to state it’ll be banning non-electric vehicles by 2030.

ETHIOPIA BANS MOTORCYCLES IN CAPITAL CITY TO CONTROL CRIMES

Officials in Ethiopia’s capital city Addis Ababa said a ban on motorcycle use will be implemented in the city starting from July 7, in a bid to curb rising criminality.

The capital city of an estimated 5 million plus population is generally considered a safe city, but rising incidences of violent crimes using motorcycles has alarmed residents and officials.

Mayor Takele Uma said criminals have in recent months been using motorcycles to engage in assaults and robberies, and that the motorcycle use ban was implemented in the city after a one-week long study revealed many criminal activities are done using motorcycles

GERMAN COURT RULES SIKHS MUST WEAR HELMETS, NO EXCEPTION

One of Germany’s top five federal courts has ruled that Sikh individuals are not exempt from country-wide motorcycle helmet laws.  The ruling was in response to an appeal by a Sikh man, who had argued that he could not successfully fit a helmet over his dastaar, the traditional turban that Sikh men (and some women) wear within their faith.

Federal Administrative Court of Leipzig presiding judge Renate Philipp said, in his ruling, “People wearing a turban on religious grounds are not for that reason alone exempt from the obligation to wear a helmet,” according to Deutsche Welle newspaper.

One argument the court made against the man’s claim is that wearing a helmet doesn’t only protect the rider — it also helps drivers avoid trauma if they cause injury to a rider without a helmet, and that any riders wearing helmets would more readily be able to assist others in an accident.

Several countries have exemptions from existing helmet laws for Sikh motorcyclists, including the UK, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba.  Around the world, in places including Australia and India, exemptions and even proposals for exceptions draw a range of opinions from both Sikh and non-Sikh motorcyclists alike.

QUOTABLE QUOTE:  “I am certain that nothing has done so much to destroy the juridical safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice.”

~ Friedrich August von Hayek (1899 – 1992), Austrian-born British economist & philosopher

–Vintage Photos from the  Bob T. Collection–

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Too Close to Bonneville – the Salt Torpedo

As you know, there’s an excuse for everything. We are scrambling very close to the Bonneville dates and still haven’t fired this puppy up. We’re still messing with the canopy and the body. I needed to take a step back and reassess how we were doing.

READ THE SALT TORPEDO UPDATE IN THE CANTINA – CLICK HERE

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Harley-Davidson Revs Up at Sturgis; Builds New Headquarters

Harley-Davidson is revving up its involvement at the 79th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a new headquarters, exciting activities, and workshops that are sure to inspire riders just as much as the beautiful roads around them. Most notably, Harley-Davidson is going all-in on creating experiences across the rally that keep riders engaged including:

New this year, Harley-Davidson will call the Full Throttle Saloon’s Pappy Hoel Campground in Vale Township, S.D. home to its official headquarters for the 79th, 80th and 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rallies. As the main Harley-Davidson destination, the grounds will now host Harley Owners Group® (H.O.G.) H.O.G. member check-in as well as demos of the brand’s first electric motorcycle, LiveWire™.

Complimentary pinstriping by Skratch, tattoos by Mike Davenport, and fabrication demonstrations by 7 Metal West taking place at Full Throttle Saloon’s Pappy Hoel Campground.

The campground will also host special exhibits including P&A customization demonstrations on 2019 bikes and a showcase of Harley-Davidson’s Battle of the Kings U.S. competition winning bikes in the chop, race, and dirt categories. Riders won’t want to miss a daily display of six builds from the 2019 Born Free show that are sure to inspire what’s possible in customization along with open Q&A on August 3rd and 4th with two of the build teams from San Diego Customs and Suicide Machine Company.

Harley-Davidson is also offering more ways for attendees to unlock all that Sturgis has to offer through its H-D Black Card.

Additional details can be found in the release below and at H-D.com/Sturgis.

MILWAUKEE (July 30, 2019) – As the official motorcycle sponsor of the 79th Annual Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™, Harley-Davidson Motor Company welcomes all motorcycle riders and fans to the beautiful Black Hills region of South Dakota for the largest motorcycle rally in the United States. Harley-Davidson will host activities starting August 3rd through August 10th at multiple venues throughout the region.

New this year, Harley-Davidson will call the Full Throttle Saloon’s Pappy Hoel Campground in Vale Township, S.D. home to its official headquarters for the 79th, 80th and 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rallies. As the main Harley-Davidson destination, the grounds will now host Harley Owners Group® (H.O.G.) H.O.G. member check-in as well as demos of the brand’s first electric motorcycle, LiveWire™.

“We are excited to be based at an all-new facility at Pappy Hoel,” said Ann Janikowsky, Harley-Davidson Director of Marketing, Community and Experiential. “The all-new H-D Garage will house a stage for demonstrations, a great new-bike demo area, custom bike displays, special events, the H.O.G. venue and more. While we’ve turned Pappy Hoel into Harley Headquarters, there will also be outposts at the Harley-Davidson Rally Point and Sturgis Community Center, and tour destinations in Deadwood and Hill City.”

Additional notable activities taking place at Full Throttle Saloon’s Pappy Hoel Campground include complimentary pinstriping by the legendary artist, Skratch, tattoos by Mike Davenport, and fabrication demonstrations by 7 Metal West. The campground will also host special exhibits including P&A customization demonstrations on 2019 bikes and a showcase of Harley-Davidson’s Battle of the Kings U.S. competition winning bikes in the chop, race, and dirt categories. Riders won’t want to miss a daily display of six builds from the 2019 Born Free show that are sure to inspire what’s possible in customization along with open Q&A on August 3rd and 4th with two of the build teams from San Diego Customs and Suicide Machine Company.

Harley-Davidson is also offering more ways for attendees to unlock all that Sturgis has to offer through its H-D Black Card. Visitors are encouraged to register for a Black Card at any primary Harley-Davidson location and use the card at all Harley-Davidson activities to receive access to exclusive programming throughout the rally and be automatically entered to win prizes, including gift cards, merchandise and concert tickets.

Racing fans can catch Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Team racers Sammy Halbert and Jarod Vanderkooi in action at two exciting American Flat Track series events during the Sturgis Rally. The team will race on August 4th at the Buffalo Chip TT in Sturgis, and on August 6th at the Black Hills Half-Mile Presented by Law Tigers at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D. For race schedules and ticket information visit Americanflattrack.com. Fans can also visit the Full Throttle Saloon’s Pappy Hoel Campground on August 5th at 3 p.m. for an autograph session with the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines drag racing team riders Andrew Hines and Eddie Kraweic, and at 5 p.m. with the American Flat Track team.

For Sturgis Rally details and a complete schedule of events at all Harley-Davidson venues go to H-D.com/Sturgis, or pick up a copy of the H-D Official Schedule and Map at H-D sites and other locations in the region.

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