Looks like Harley is going to have some North American competition: At a press conference late Monday, the CEO of Johnson Marine, makers of Johnson outboard marine engines and other recreational equipment, unveiled a new line of heavyweight cruiser style motorcycles designed to compete head to head with industry leader Harley-Davidson. Peter Long, Johnson brands marketing manager said, “We have studied the market and determined that Harley, while highly successful, has narrowly missed the mark when targeting motorcycle buyers”. Long added, “We, at Johnson, are convinced our product hits the target dead center and promises to draw sales away from Harley-Davidson in a way no other motorcycle has been able to accomplish”. The new line of bikes, marketed under the name ‘Big Johnson Motorcycles’, will, according to Long, deliver what Harley has only promised. “Our research show that this, “Big Johnson” is what Harley buyers are really after”. At the unveiling of the new line Monday, several current Harley owners agreed. “When I bought my Harley, what I really needed was a Big Johnson”, said one Harley owner.” But I see now that riding a Harley is no replacement for having a Big Johnson.” Manager Long also said that his company would follow the lead of Harley-Davidson and cash in on a huge market for non motorcycle related products. “We realize that not every guy can have a Big Johnson”, said Long, “But image is very important to people. If they don’t have a Big Johnson, they at least want to project the image of having one.” Asked if he anticipated Big Johnsons showing up in the hands of Harley owners, Long said it was unlikely. “I just don’t see the need to have a Harley if you have a Big Johnson”, he said. “And I can’t imagine someone who spends all their resources to acquire a Harley having a Big Johnson. I think it boils down to this – You either have a Harley, or you have a Big Johnson, but you are not likely to have both. “Given the choice”, said Long. ” I think most guys will opt for the Big Johnson”. Another force driving sales for the company will come from women. A survey of the wives and girlfriends of nearly 1,000 potential motorcycle buyers indicates less than 5% would approve of their partner spending $15,000 on a Harley Davidson. But, when asked if they would be willing to pay the same amount of money to get their partner a Big Johnson, nearly 4 out 5 thought that would be money well spent. One female present at the product unveiling was quoted as saying, “There is no way I will let Lonnie drop 15 grand on another one of those Harleys, but 15 grand to get him a Big Johnson? Well, now that’s something we could both enjoy and it’s something he really needs.” –David Earl’s Garage

The 79th Annual Sturgis Rally is right around the corner Join us August 2nd – August 11th We will be located at Black Hills Harley Davidson Rapid City, SD Exit Deadwood Ave off of Hwy 90

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The San Diego City Council Monday tentatively approved an ordinance that would require gun owners to store guns in a locked container or disable them with a trigger lock when not in use or being worn on their person.

City Attorney Mara Elliott proposed the ordinance last month with the intention of reducing accidental shootings, children’s access to guns and suicides. According to Elliott, 46% of gun owners in the U.S. who have children do not secure their guns and 73% of youngsters aged 9 and under know where their parents keep their guns.

Since 2002, the state has mandated that all guns sold in California have an accompanying trigger lock approved by the state Department of Justice’s Bureau of Firearms. Elliott said the ordinance is a “common-sense approach” to building on current state requirements.

The proposal’s supporters and opponents gave public comment on the proposal for nearly two hours before the council’s 6-2 vote. The measure’s supporters included gun control advocacy groups like San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention and Never Again California as well as Assemblyman Todd Gloria, D-San Diego.

Wendy Wheatcroft, founder of San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention, framed the ordinance as a way to keep military veterans, first responders and law enforcement officers from committing suicide in addition to keeping guns away from children. As of June 19, 97 police officers and 46 firefighters have killed themselves in the U.S. since the beginning of this year, according to Wheatcroft.

“We need to attack this from all angles, not just locking up firearms but also making sure they have adequate mental health support,” Wheatcroft said. “But we also need to be reducing the means and the access to a firearm because in a moment of crisis, even having that gun locked up can be the difference between life and death.”

The proposal’s opponents said it infringes on their Second Amendment rights, particularly for gun owners who do not have children living with them. Under current state law, gun owners are required to keep firearms in a secure container or disabled with a device like a trigger lock only if they live with a person who cannot legally have a weapon under state or federal law.

Opponents also argued the proposal is unenforceable and that locking a gun in a safe would make it difficult to access and use in a moment of self- defense. Wendy Hauffen, executive administrator for the San Diego County Gun Owners political action committee, suggested breaking the law should be an infraction rather than a felony or misdemeanor.

“This will allow the storage conversation to be had, which is stated as one of the purposes for passing this regulation, while not filling jails full of violators,” Hauffen said. “Criminalizing normal activity has the potential to ruin a lot of innocent lives and this is especially a concern in a city like San Diego, where we have so many residents such as active-duty military, who come from so many other states where this kind of law doesn’t and would never exist.”

–from Technocracy News and Trends

In a sense guns should be treated like seatbelts. It should be mandatory to own one. You may never need it, but when you do, you better have one loaded and ready.–Bandit

No license, no registration, no insurance, no helmet: all you need to rent and ride an electric scooter is an app on your phone. FEMA’s Wim Taal looks into why this could be a threat to motorcyclists.

Especially in larger cities, a growing number of people are using personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs), to move on the streets, such as ‘e-scooters’ or ‘trottinettes’ and other devices such as Segways, monowheels and powered skateboards.

Most of these vehicles are not currently subject to any form of registration, or any other regulation such as type approval, driver training and licensing and third party insurance. It is not up to FEMA to lay out a set of rules for these vehicles, but we are concerned that these type of vehicles could be categorized as powered two-wheelers. That could mean that victims of road accidents with these vehicles end up in motorcycle accident statistics, possibly causing stricter (safety) rules for motorcyclists.

The fact that more and more cities are planning parking bans on sidewalks for personal light electric vehicles, can also mean stricter parking rules for motorcycles. Other than most bicycle rental schemes, the rental scooters do not need to be put in docking stations. Typically the vehicles are left all over sidewalks, left behind by the user that reached his destination.

‘If victims of accidents with e-scooters end up in motorcycle accident statistics, stricter (safety) rules for motorcyclists can follow. A parking ban on sidewalks for e-scooters can also mean stricter parking rules for motorcycles’.

A number of companies have flooded cities with electric scooters that can be rented using an app on your phone. In Paris for example, over 20,000 of these two-wheelers have been introduced. From an article in the Guardian: “Broken scooters end up in some of the city’s famed gardens or are even tossed over bridges into the Seine, and the city’s pavements have become something of a battleground between riders and pedestrians. Mayor Anne Hidalgo says electric scooters have fallen into a legal grey zone and after repeated complaints and a spate of injuries and near misses, the mayor and police want to limit speeds to 20km/h in most areas and 8km/h in areas with heavy foot traffic, and prohibit parking anywhere but designated spaces. Hidalgo also plans to limit the number of scooters. Paris already imposes €135 fines for riding on the pavement and €35 fines for blocking the pavement while parked.”

In Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, police are seeing growing numbers of riders of rental scooters that use them to get home after a night on the town, whilst intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. These users face fines of up to £240.

FEMA’s considerations

Collision and injury data relating to these vehicles must be collated separately from that relating to motorcycles, mopeds or bicycles. This is a major concern for us as we do not want to have the collision data for motorcycles skewed by the inclusion of two- or three-wheeled powered vehicles which are not subject to the same regulations.

We propose to create a separate category L0 (L-zero) for PLEVs to distinguish them from bicycles, electric assisted bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles and other L-category vehicles.

New album features classic country standards, plus a highly anticipated trio with sisters Loretta Lynn, and Peggy Sue Wright

Pre-sale & first single “Ribbon of Darkness” available Aug. 9

“She has had her share of success on the pop charts, but Crystal Gayle is, was and always has been a country-music artist. This new collection is a ringing declaration of her loyalty to the style and to the songs she was born to sing.” — Robert K. Oermann

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Grammy® award winning country music singer and Grand Ole Opry member Crystal Gayle is delighted to announce the release of her first new album in nearly 16 years, You Don’t Know Me. Available everywhere September 6, with a pre-sale beginning August 9, the new album is being released by Southpaw Musical Productions, and distributed by BFD in partnership with The Orchard. Co-produced, recorded and mixed by Crystal’s son Christos Gatzimos, You Don’t Know Me is a collection that finds the acclaimed stylist exploring the songs of such country legends as George Jones, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens and Eddy Arnold. The album might come as a surprise to those who associate Crystal with an uptown sound that made her a star on both country and adult-contemporary pop charts. But she has known this repertoire of hardcore country standards all her life. “This wasn’t a stretch at all,” says Crystal. “This project is a labor of love that my son, Christos, and I produced together. It is filled with country classics that I grew up singing. They are very much a part of my history and I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I feel very lucky to have known and worked with many of the artists who had the original hits.” Each of the selections was chosen because it played a role in her musical development. Two of them point to the importance that her family had in bringing her to fame. The album’s opening track is “Ribbon Of Darkness,” a song originally written by Gordon Lightfoot. Originally released in 1965 as a single by Marty Robbins, it became his eleventh #1 hit. The song holds a special place in Crystal’s heart because it was the first song she performed at her Grand Ole Opry debut. “This was the first song I ever sang on the Grand Ole Opry. I was 16,” said Gayle. “Loretta was sick. Mooney [Lynn] did something; I don’t know what. But they let me sing in her place. In my early years in Nashville, when I was on Decca, I opened for Marty Robbins. So I’ve heard him sing this many times. Connie Smith also had a hit with it. So the night I was inducted into the Opry cast in 2017, I asked Connie if it was okay with her that I sing “Ribbon of Darkness.” Another popular classic country hit on the album is “Crying Time,” a song originally written and recorded by Bakersfield sound pioneer Buck Owens. The song was also recorded by Ray Charles, who won two Grammy Awards in 1967 for his version. “I do a medley of Buck Owens songs in my shows,” says Crystal. “When I was a kid, he worked Buck Lake Ranch in Indiana. I would go whenever he was playing there, and he’d let me sing on his show. When I was 16, he wanted me to become a regular on his TV show. He asked me, but it didn’t work out.” The album’s closing track is “Put It Off Until Tomorrow” which brings Crystal together with her sisters Peggy Sue Wright, and legendary country music icon Loretta Lynn, for a highly anticipated first-ever recorded trio of them together. The song also just happens to be co-written by another country music legend, Dolly Parton. “Loretta and Peggy made this album very special by singing “Put It Off Until Tomorrow” with me. It is a song that we have performed together throughout the years. This is the one and only trio performance on record. We’ve done the Boston Pops together. We performed together in Lake Tahoe and Reno and a few things like that. But we’ve never actually made a record together. Peggy Sue still comes out on the road with me, singing backup harmonies. I recorded the track, then Patsy, Loretta’s daughter, asked her to sing on my album. Loretta is such an incredible singer. She got through the song right away and then went, “What’s next?” We should have recorded the whole album together! Loretta had her stroke not long after we recorded this.” Track Listing: 1. Ribbon Of Darkness (Gordon Lightfoot) 2. You Win Again (Hank Williams) 3. Please Help Me I’m Falling (Don Robertson, Hal Blair) 4. Am I That Easy To Forget (Carl Belew, W.S. Stevenson, Shelby Singleton) 5. Hello Walls (Willie Nelson) 6. You Never Were Mine (Jay Lee Webb) 7. Just One More (George Jones) 8. There Goes My Everything (Dallas Frazier) 9. That’s The Way Love Goes (Lefty Frizzell, Sanger D Shafer) 10. Cryin’ Time (Buck Owens) 11. I’ve Seen That Look On Me A Thousand Times (Harlan Howard, Shirl Milete) 12. Walkin’ After Midnight (Alan Block, Donn Hecht) 13. You Don’t Know Me (Eddie Arnold, Cindy Walker) 14. Put It Off Until Tomorrow featuring Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens)       BONUS TRACK: I Cried The Blue (Right Out of My Eyes) Album Name: You Don’t Know Me Release date: September 6, 2019 Pre-sale date: August 9, 2019 Label: Southpaw Musical Productions / BFD UPC: 8-19376-01872-0 DISC: BFD187 Produced by: Christos Gatzimos & Crystal Gayle

The hot item in the neighborhood here in LA and in Richmond, Virginia is the new 15-inch rotor kit for Dynas from Arlen Ness. Jeremiah installed one in about 15 minutes, and he torqued everything to specs. Departure Bike Works will install one on your Dyna in a hot flash. Suddenly, without any fuss you nearly have the capabilities of a dual disc front end at a fraction of the cost and effort.

To install a dual disc system on any single disc front end means a new additional lower leg, new brake lines, an additional caliper, and a new front wheel. This kit from Arlen Ness adds braking power because of the larger diameter rotor. It comes with a machined bracket to raise your caliper, and it bolts directly to your existing front wheel. Bada bing you have additional front braking power. Check it out, and if you’re in the Richmond area, go see Lee and Brenda at Departure Bike Works on Hull Street Road. They’ll take care of you.

804-339-8682

==Bandit

It has been a whirlwind week as we toured the West Coast from Vancouver to LA, conducting our first ever test rides on the Damon Halo with media, OEM executives and VC’s.

Our final destination? TechCrunch Sessions: Mobility – where CEO Jay Giraud presented both motorcycles on-stage for a live demo.

What an interesting week. We are scrambling with the Salt Torpedo. I trying to outfit the new Bikernet Salt Flats Van for the trip to Bonneville. I’ve been in touch with various Easyriders contributors and now ex-staff members regarding the future.

A few of us have been super-lucky to make a living in the motorcycle industry. Even tougher, I’ve been having a blast in the Chopper industry most of my life. It’s not about the money, obviously, it’s about sex.

What could be sexier than to bang around choppers, metalflake paint, sultry art and girls all your life. What could be better.

Otherwise, this week has been amazingly positive with cool resources surfacing for the Torpedo. We’ve about got the body handled. Jane came by and took shots of my ’72 Ford F250 and the Shovelhead in the back. She thinks she can move it and the Shovelhead. Not sure I can sell the 1928 Shovelhead.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWS IN THE CANTINA – SUBSCRIBE TODAY for $24

Hey,

What an interesting week. We are scrambling with the Salt Torpedo. I trying to outfit the new Bikernet Salt Flats Van for the trip to Bonneville. I’ve been in touch with various Easyriders contributors and now ex-staff members regarding the future.

A few of us have been super-lucky to make a living in the motorcycle industry. Even tougher, I’ve been having a blast in the Chopper industry most of my life. It’s not about the money, obviously, it’s about sex.

What could be sexier than to bang around choppers, metalflake paint, sultry art and girls all your life. What could be better.

Otherwise, this week has been amazingly positive with cool resources surfacing for the Torpedo. We’ve about got the body handled. Jane came by and took shots of my ’72 Ford F250 and the Shovelhead in the back. She thinks she can move it and the Shovelhead. Not sure I can sell the 1928 Shovelhead.

Workouts have been a struggle with guest arriving and George grinding, but I had a damn good one this week and my short one today. The VA called and I have some hope with my disability claim. Gotta work on anything I can to augment my no-retirement system.

George is headed over today; Brenda will be here. The Redhead is working around the shop and the lovely Laura will arrive to check the books. What could happen today to make the week even more perfect? Hang On!

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.

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–
2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide Touring 103 FLHX

In 2006, Harley-Davidson Motor Company capitalized on the motorcycle market’s need for a stripped-down touring bike sans the bulkiness of its Electra Glide counterpart. The Street Glide (FLHX) was born and was an immediate hit. Over the years it has become one of the best—if not the best—sellers to roll out of the York, Pennsylvania, factory.

With all-new style and long distance comfort, this stripped-down bike is made to eat miles. The Street Glide is a bagger with street-wise soul, such as stripped down trim and chrome, low suspension, and cropped wind deflector. Inspired by the street, the Street Glide is ready to roar with attitude. This one comes with a 103ci.

**Just 8,624 miles**

Ember Red Sunglo paint and raised tank logos is beautiful (Pictured is scratches on right fairing, right bag and latch, and a few chips in the front fender) Chrome 20″ apes, chrome strap with black accent ‘FLHX’ Tinted windshield, smoked lense blinkers, all chrome front fork, H-D ‘skull’ axle caps, on gorgeous fat spoke 27″ front chrome rim. Chrome slash up exhaust with a great sound.

ABS braking system and chrome brake rotor. Chrome motor covers including oval 103 air cover, cam with H-D logo, and a 103 derby cover. 2-up seat with streamliner floorboards and black contrast cut passenger pegs. 4 pt. docking hardware in place. Smoked lense stop / turn / tail light with LED fender tri-line.

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!!!

QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–
HOW TO CALL THE POLICE…
WHEN YOU’RE OLD, AND DON’T MOVE FAST ANYMORE.

George Phillips, an elderly man from Walled Lake, Michigan, was going up to bed,
when his wife told him that he’d left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window.

George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

He phoned the police, who asked “Is someone in your house?”

He said “No,” but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me.

Then the police dispatcher said “All patrols are busy, you should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available”

George said, “Okay.” He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he phoned the police again.

“Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don’t have to worry about them now because I just shot and killed them both; the dogs are eating them right now,” and he hung up.

Within five minutes, six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire Trucks, a Paramedic and an Ambulance showed up at the Phillips’ residence, and caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to George, “I thought you said that you’d shot them!”

George said, “I thought you said there was nobody available!”

(True Story)

–El Waggs

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
CALL TO ACTION Bikernet Weekly News for July 11, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/CALL_TO_ACTION_Bikernet_Weekly_News_for_July_11_2019.aspx

Seen some cool air cleaners on a roadster in Redondo, Friday eve. It reminded me of the piston/heart drawing above. Three deuces and the air filters were pistons, polished aluminum. Pretty cool, but don’t filter for anything though.

–Gearhead
Torrance, Calif.

MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION NEEDS SUPPORT, MEMBERS AND SPONSORS–My name is Fredric Harrell. I’m a founding member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. Like my fellow board members, I serve without compensation. I serve for one reason and one reason alone: I believe in the MRF’s mission to promote, protect and preserve motorcycling.

The Meeting of the Minds was the precursor and catalyst for the Motorcycle Riders
Foundation. Founded in 1989, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation recognized the need for full-time representation in Washington, D.C., and on a shoestring budget, established an office in Washington with a one-person staff and a full-time lobbyist.

In 30 years, the MRF has not strayed from the original commitments to motorcyclists’ rights. It has not been easy. In retrospect, the issues facing the motorcycling community today are equally as important as those of the early days.

In September 2018, the MRF outlined a list of legislative priorities, and accomplishable goals, for the upcoming session of Congress and beyond — 2019 Legislative & Regulatory Priorities – available online at www.MRF.org.

These legislative priorities touch every aspect of motorcycling from the Road to Zero
(a noble goal of zero highway fatalities that does not include motorcycles in the matrix of highway users); to autonomous vehicles with no motorcycle recognition algorithms, to the year-round sale of E15 and the adverse effect it has on motorcycle engines.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of MRF members, the contributions of motorcycle industry leaders and enthusiasts, and the training and motivation that motorcyclists’ rights advocates receive each year at the MRF’s annual Meeting of the Minds.

Do not hesitate to inquire deeper into what the MRF is doing to promote, protect and preserve motorcycling and motorcyclists rights.

With few exceptions, the attacks against motorcycling are subtle and they go a lot deeper than helmet laws, blacklists of sport bikes or banning motorcycles from HOV lanes. For 30 years, the presence of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is witnessed daily in the committee rooms, staff offices on Capitol Hill and in front of members of Congress. That presence exists and is successful because of the dedication and determination of MRF members standing behind that commitment to promote, protect and preserve the freedoms that we all enjoy, especially as motorcyclists.

As I stated at the start of this letter, I serve on the MRF’s board of directors because I believe in the work of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.
Thank you, and thank you in advance for your sponsorship of the Meeting of the Minds Conference.

Sincerely,
Fredric Harrell
Director of Conferences & Events
Motorcycle Riders Foundation

P.S. If you need more information or would like to discuss the MRF and the Meeting of the Minds Conference in greater detail, please let me know a convenient time to call you. Thank you very much.

P.P.S. If times are tough and sponsorship support of the Meeting of the Minds Conference is not possible, please consider
joining the MRF. Thank you.

THE EASYRIDERS REPORT FROM J.J. SOLARI–ER has apparently been sold to a Canadian clothing entity run by a pair of male twins who someone I know is referring to as “Terrance and Phillip,” the two fag twins on south park, which is funny.

I have seen no actual “news” on this. my jokester friend assumes that the rag will cease to exist, that they just “bought the name.” ?
Assuming this is all true – virtually every one left there has been fired, thus, I will be encouraged to write my own version of the impact of the rag on American society. I will very likely send my austere document to Bikernet.

Thank you. Go in peace.

____jayster.

We can’t wait… Bandit

USA ROAD TRIP— From the heat of Calico it is only a few minutes to the cool inside of Peggy Sue’s Diner for a late lunch.

After that was done it was into the town of Barstow to see if we could find the Route 66 Museum down by the railway line.

This building was once a sort of railway hotel in it ‘hey day’ but now it houses a great variety of railway artifacts inside and a good number of railway carriages outside.

By the time we got to the Route 66 museum we only got ten minutes, as it closes at four o’clock. It was nice to get back to the cool of our motel. Tomorrow we start out early to cross the Death Valley on our way to Beatty.

–Graeme Lowen
New Zealand Iron-Butt Rider

The Split-Speed Limit Effect: That “Oh Crap” Look on Drivers’ Faces

Split speed limits, where certain commercial vehicles such as large trucks are forced to travel at lower speeds than surrounding traffic, are anathema to truckers and car drivers alike. That is why the NMA and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have often joined forces to oppose the posting of split speeds and the use of governors on trucks to limit the top speed of travel. This joint national press release from the two organizations a few years ago is an example of our unified position rooted in safety concerns.

Uniform traffic flow avoids unnecessary vehicle interactions, whereas differential speeds create more braking, accelerating, and lane changing maneuvers. Those actions bring an increased risk of collision. So too does limiting a truck driver’s ability to avoid or prevent an accident by speeding up, as circumstances sometimes dictate.

And yet, as Arkansas Member and former truck driver Tom Beckett has pointed out, another national movement is afoot to create a national regulation to install speed-limiting devices on large trucks to limit their top speed to 65 mph. Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson and Delaware Senator Christopher Coons introduced Senate Bill 2033 to the U.S. Congress on June 27th to do just that. S2033 currently sits with the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

In a note to the NMA, Tom added observations from his experience as a truck driver to support his (and our) opposition to such legislation:

By creating a slower class of vehicles, it is necessary for the faster traffic to constantly make lane changes to pass the slower trucks. I have experienced with this from both the trucker and car driver angles. As a truck driver, I constantly had to be aware of other four-wheelers since they often made lane changes that were questionable from a safety standpoint. As a car driver, I found it daunting to have to cross through two lanes of plodding behemoths just to get into a place where I could run a reasonable speed or to get back off of the highway.

As it is, most of the big fleets govern their truck speed in the high 60s to low 70s. This is fast enough to keep them in, or reasonably close to, the flow of traffic. Some carriers govern their trucks in the mid-60s. On 70 and 75 mph roads where I do most of my driving, that’s slow enough to be a traffic hazard. The safest situation is where most traffic is going at approximately the same speed. It limits the need for lane changes resulting from traffic conflicts.

It still irks me that my former employer became part of the problem when, in June 1996, they decided to limit their trucks to 59 mph (!!) just as many states were going to 70 mph speed limits. After that, I spent more time looking in my rearview mirror than forward, and I can’t tell you how many times I saw a car coming up behind me at speed, only to see that, “Oh Crap!!” look on the driver’s face when he realized that I was going a lot slower than he was.

Is this really what we want on a nationwide basis? The forced 55 mph speed limit was an unmitigated failure. A 65 mph restriction on trucks in a 75 mph environment will only cause congestion and waste truckers’ time for no appreciable gain in safety. It may make our roadways less safe. This bill, S2033, needs to be dropped.

We are tracking Senate Bill 2033. It is not yet on the docket of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, but once it is we will notify NMA members so that you can voice your opposition to the bill. The best way to kill it is not to let it get out of committee.

–NMA

KEEP THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN— Female logic ……… (from an actual event) Bound to get some feedback from this one.

Wife: “pick up something for dinner tonight.”
Husband: “Ok, I’ll get a Pizza”
Wife: “No, I don’t want Pizza”

Husband: “OK, I’ll get some tacos”
Wife: “No I don’t want tacos”

Husband: “OK, I can stop by the Sub shop instead”
Wife: “No I don’t want a Sub”

Husband: “Well then what do you want?”
Wife: “I don’t know. You decide”

–El Waggs

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY LESSON–

ideogram

[id-ee-uh-gram, ahy-dee-]
noun
1.
a written symbol that represents an idea or object directly rather than a particular word or speech sound, as a Chinese character.

Ideograms are symbols that represent ideas or concepts rather than objects themselves—a circle with a line through it (??) to indicate prohibition, for example. Many emoji are hybrids of ideograms and pictograms.
— Ian Bogost, “Emoji Don’t Mean What They Used To,” The Atlantic, February 11, 2019

ORIGIN

An ideogram or ideograph is “a written symbol that represents an idea or object directly rather than a word or speech sound, as a Chinese character.” Ideogram and ideograph literally mean “a written idea,” from Greek idéa “idea” and the noun grámma or the Greek combining form -graphos, both meaning “something written,” which are derivatives of the verb gráphein “to write.” Because ideograms convey meaning, not words or sounds, 5 can be pronounced five, fünf, piec, pet, pénte, pémpe, or in several thousand other ways. Ideogram and ideograph both entered English in the first half of the 19th century.

SMOKEOUT COVERAGE COMING FROM THE HILLS–Hey Bandit! Hope you are well! We are trying to get a few pics for the article Mike is writing. Thought you might like these.

–Vicki Stealth
Assistant to the East Coast Feature Biker Editor in Charge
Bikernet.com™

Keep it up.—Bandit

THE BIKERNET WARRANTY REPORT–
just read the BMW riders sob story about not knowing what gear he or she was in. I may be forced to sue Harley. My Panhead does not indicate what gear I’m in. Maybe, if I got a day glow vest and a full brain bucket, could I be safe? I am pretty sure my cruise control is not working, agony and despair.

Have a great day and my sympathy that you are still in socialistland.

— Alex Jemery

FLORIDA MOTORCYCLE MUSIC EVENT--The Coral Head Concert Series is Fast Becoming the Biggest Music Festival Event in Florida.

This will be the first year for this event to take place in Pinellas Park and plans have already been set in motion to make this an annual event.

Even though this is the inaugural event in Pinellas Park, the Coral Head MusicFest is not new to production; The Coral Head
MusicFest is preparing for the 4th annual event in the Florida Keys and has been a huge success in raising over $100,000 for its supported charities since its inception and has featured artists such as Vince Neil,
Jackyl, Molly Hatchet, Great White, Slaughter, Rick Derringer,
Georgia Satellites, John Cafferty, Sweet, The Atlanta Rhythm Section,
and many more!

The Coral Head MusicFest stands out as a true charity event as over 80% of all profits from the show go directly to the charities it supports. The other 20% is used in the actual production of the event.

Charities benefiting from this event include Project: VetRelief, a registered charity of the
American Legion which assists U.S. Veterans in a variety of ways including support for our service men and women as they transition into civilian lives, emergency assistance, mentorship, employment, and this is just to name a few. Additionally, the Pinellas Park show will be donating to the Veterans Recreational Center at the Bay Pines VA Hospital.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, profits the Coral Head Concert Series assisted in the
rebuilding efforts with direct funding, supplies, and cleanup efforts. The American Legion continues to support our community with various assistance programs and with direct support.

Your support is appreciated as we strive to provide you with only the best entertainment
while assisting our American Legions in their efforts with local and US Veteran charities.

Please join us in helping our veterans and our community with your sponsorship of this great event.

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES START AS LOW AS $500
Face book: www.facebook.com/CoralHeadM usicFest Website: www.coralheadmusicfest.com
leqionriders154@qmail.com Rich Anderson 305-942-9862 Amanda Espinosa 305-490-5058

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5-BALL Racing Discovers New Artist—My Son, Frank sent me this artistic rendering of my lovely-self from my first Bike Feature in Easyriders in 1971.

I will try to reach out to him in the near future. It’s an impressive piece.

We just received a new order of leathers and more of the new softer Jak full-sleeve shirt with a button-down collar. Micah’s race suit might be in the order. Can’t wait.

–Bandit

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.

–Bill Bish
Editor
NCOM News Bytes

Read Bill’s entire column in Bikernet’s Rights Department.

All-out war brewing between Hells Angels, NYPD–Now there’s hell to pay.

There’s an all-out war brewing between the Hells Angels and city cops — who swarmed the notorious bikers’ clubhouse Tuesday as payback for refusing to help solve a shooting, police and witnesses said.

More than 30 cops stormed the East Village headquarters and slapped bikers with summonses for any minor infractions they could find, according to police.

“It was done just to f–k with them,” one police source said. “They’re not cooperating with the investigation. If they’re gonna give us a hard time, we’re gonna give them a hard time.”

The bikers — who have refused to answer cops’ questions about a shooting over a parking space in front of the clubhouse early Sunday — were slapped with at least three summonses, cops said.

They were ticketed for blocking the sidewalk with planters and failing to display license plates on motorcycles, which were covered with a protective sheet.

Hells Angels refusing to help cops with shooting investigation
Cops also used a saw to cut away a metal ramp in front of the clubhouse and ripped out an outdoor bench.

Police said they hassled the bikers to send them a message.

“We want them to feel our presence and to let them know we are here,” the source said. “They don’t own that block and they have no right to block parking spots for themselves. It’s a public street.”

The cop added, “They want to bring chaos and outrage into the community, [so] we are going to enforce the law and ensure they are following the rules.”

Meanwhile, the man shot in the gut, allegedly by one of the bikers, is terrified to work with police — possibly for fear of retribution from the motorcycle club, police said.

“All witnesses are afraid,” one police source said, adding they would likely still testify.

The victim, David Martinez, 25, was recovering from surgery Tuesday after a biker shot him for moving a parking cone — used to save a parking space outside the clubhouse — on East Third Street near First ­Avenue.

By Kevin Fasick, Daniel Prendergast and Jamie Schram

–NYPost
Additional reporting by Tina Moore

NEWS FROM LOWBROW--The Motorcycle Cannonball: Cross-country on a pre-1930 motorcycle.

We’re in! We are excited to announce that Lowbrow got a spot in the next Motorcycle Cannonball race, which takes place September 2020.

We are riding my 1926 Harley-Davidson JD (currently a pile of parts!). Check out our team intro video on our website.

The Cannonball is a cross-country race, this time from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to South Padre Island, Texas. The route is over 3,000 miles long, and the race is only for 1929 & earlier motorcycles.

Stay tuned for build videos and updates through the winter and springtime as we get some miles on the race bike!

–Tyler Malinky

THE BEST OF THE BEST FROM VINTAGE RIDES–It is with renewed enthusiasm that we’ve been taking our riders, for the last 12 years,
to discover the Indian subcontinent on Royal Enfield motorcycles. Pleasure of riding,
local encounters and itineraries off the beaten track are the pillars of our motorcycle tours in India. Discover some of the most beautiful pictures taken on our trips in 2019!

Photo credits: Johann Rousselot / François Combes / Ravi Nayak / Jean Eisenberg

–Vintage Rides
(By appointment only)
128 rue de la Boétie
75008 PARIS
hello@vintagerides.com
+442032898785

NEWS FROM THE BIKERNET ART GALLERY–Artist David Uhl

We have been busy preparing for two of our largest shows each year and have a beautiful new piece to share with you. We’ll be in Oshkosh, WI at the EAA fly-in Monday July 22 through Sunday July 28. Immediately following is Sturgis, where we’ll have the gallery at the Gold Dust Casino in Deadwood from Wednesday July 31 through Sunday August 11. If you’ll be at either (or both) of these events, please stop by and say hello!

David Uhl started his Nose Art/Pin Up collection 10 years ago at the Reno Air Races. While there, he painted “Miss Behaven.” Over the years, he has added “Baby Doll” and “Georgia Peach” to this series. We are excited to announce the worldwide release of his newest addition. We’re having a tough time selecting a name (either Altitude Adjustment or Strategic Manuevers).

In David’s words, “A difficult piece to compose, it features a fabulous P38 Lightning being decorated with one of the beloved ladies that kept them company on their missions. The theater is South Pacific, where a marauding comrade in a Corsair dives in for a sneak peak.

“The trike is a TA, direct drive Knucklehead , VERY rare (thank you Wheels Through Time Museum)…Of course the spooked model covers herself from the impending invasion on her ‘privacy.’ I am a hopeless romantic, so this series is always how I would have done the nose art. I’m sure it was a fantasy to have a live model, but makes for a fun piece.”

We are now taking orders for the exclusive canvas print edition available in three sizes (all hand-signed by David, numbered with Certificate of Authenticity). The prices below will remain in effect through the end of the Sturgis Rally (August 11) or until they reach “Rare” status.

*Image size 24×18, $895 framed. Edition of 80 plus 5 Artist Proofs and 5 Hors d’Commerce

*Image size 32×24, $1,450 framed. Edition of 80 plus 5 Artist Proofs and 5 Hors d’Commerce

*Image size 40×30, $2,250 framed. Edition of 40 plus 5 Artist Proofs and 5 Hors d’Commerce

Matching edition numbers are available for those collecting the entire series. If you missed out on the first three in the series, we still have a limited number of prints available. You can view them here:

Miss Behaven https://www.uhlstudios.com/artwork/collections/aviation-and-military/miss-behaven/

Baby Doll https://www.uhlstudios.com/artwork/collections/aviation-and-military/baby-doll/

Georgia Peach https://www.uhlstudios.com/artwork/collections/aviation-and-military/georgia-peach

Valerie Thompson to challenge FIA speed record and motorsports history as new driver of Target 550 Streamliner–World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer seeks writing new motorsports history on four-wheels with dual-engine Treit and Davenport Streamliner.

Valerie Thompson, the world’s fastest female motorcycle racer, will assume driving duties for the Treit & Davenport Target 550 Streamliner with the goal of breaking the 417.020 mph FIA class record for a four-wheel blown fuel streamliner.

The Target 550 Streamliner features a unique wind tunnel inspired design with the singular goal of breaking the current class record of 417.020 mph with two supercharged Dodge Hemi engines generating over 5,000 horsepower.

“It’s an honor to attempt my first four-wheel record with a Bonneville legend like Marlo Treit and his accomplished team. With 5,000 horsepower, I’m guaranteed the ride of a lifetime and hopefully, writing a new page in motorsports history,” said Thompson.

Piloting the BUB 7 motorcycle streamliner in 2018, Thompson set a new record speed of 328 mph. A member of the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, she holds eight land speed records on a variety of bikes and was recently included on Dealernews’ “Top 100 Leaders in Powersports” list.

With favorable weather and optimal track conditions, Thompson could add two new chapters racing history by becoming the first woman over 400 mph and first driver over 500 mph in a piston-powered engine vehicle. “I never assume anything, but if conditions are right, we are going for all the records and titles on the table. I want to show every sponsor and all our fans how much we appreciate their support,” said an optimistic Thompson.

Thompson and the Target 550 team plan their first record attempt during SCTA Speed Week at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats August 10 -16, weather permitting

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.”

–Bill Bish
NCOM

KEEP THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN FOR HAPPY HOUR–Two lawyers had been stranded on a deserted island for several months:…The only other thing on the island was a tall coconut tree, which provided their food…

And each day, one of the lawyers climbed to the top of the tree to see if he could see a rescue boat coming….. One day, the lawyer yelled down from the tree… “Wow! I can’t believe my eyes….. There is a girl out there floating in our direction”…

The lawyer on the ground was most skeptical and said….. “I think you’re hallucinating and you should come down right now.”

So, the lawyer reluctantly climbed down the tree and told his friend that he had just actually seen a naked brunette woman floating face up headed toward the island…..

The other lawyer started to laugh, thinking the other guy had surely lost his mind…. But within a few minutes, up to their beach floated a naked brunette woman, unconscious….

They went over to her and discovered she was alive…..One said to the other… “You know, we’ve been on this island for months now without a woman…. It’s been a long time. Do you think we should, you know, screw her?”…

The other lawyer glanced down at the totally naked woman and asked……. “Out of what?”

–Dangerous Dave

THE BIKERNET CLIMATE REPORT–Berkeley, CA Bans Natural Gas From New Buildings
When natural gas burns, it produces only C02 and water and is the cleanest of any hydrocarbon fuel. The city of Berkeley wrongly believes that C02 is a pollutant gas and therefore harms the environment. ? TN Editor
The Berkeley, CA City Council unanimously voted this week to ban natural gas infrastructure in new low-rise residential buildings, beginning Jan 1. 2020. The legislation also requires that all new buildings in Berkeley be “electric-ready,” with proper panels and wiring conduits to support electric infrastructure.

The natural gas ban does not apply to new industrial or commercial buildings, as the California Energy Commission (CEC) has not yet proven that it is cost-effective or plausible to make such buildings all-electric. “We’re doing this on a rolling basis as the CEC finds these things to be effective,” said Councilwoman Kate Harrison, who sponsored the bill. The law also does not apply to renovations.

The bill received unanimous public support during the city council meeting, particularly in comments from PG&E and Sierra Club, and members of the community. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) also praised the move in a statement, noting, “cities are leading the way to a clean energy future, providing hope and optimism in the face of increasingly dire climate disruption.”

During a city council presentation called, “Meeting the Climate Challenge in New Buildings,” Harrison outlined the impact green buildings have on local climate efforts. She noted natural gas is responsible for 27% of Berkeley’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 73% of the city’s building sector GHGs. The city is also under pressure from a statewide goal to reduce GHG emissions from building stock by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

“Every new building that we build in Berkeley locks in greenhouse gases for 100-plus years,” she said, noting methane leaks and other obstacles can increase the problem.

Harrison assured costs of electrification will be favorable for the city in the long-term. In a 2018 report, the Rocky Mountain Institute found, “electrification of space and water heating and air conditioning reduces the homeowner’s costs over the lifetime of the appliances when compared with performing the same functions with fossil fuels.” Harrison also said PG&E will have significant increases in gas prices by 2020, which will be offset to customers.

–Technocracy News

WOW, I AM CONSTANTLY BLOWN AWAY—George, The Wild Brush, is on his way over here. We need to finish up the parachute box. Then we need to hoist the frame and pull out the bottom to patch and trim, hopefully for the final time.

George and I need to create a pattern or template for the firewall, so I can start to cut aluminum pieces. I still need to replace the Barnett Clutch Cable. I installed the wrong one. We need to find a ¼-inch piece of rubber to space the lip in the bottom of the nose to allow flexibility. I hope to fulfill all these missions before Sunday.

Micah might return this weekend to get back to final assembly. I’m hoping to make some progress before he arrives. I found two companies that make fold up van seats. One is purely American Made, Freedman Co. and Suburban seats. I’m getting close.

Frankie called and wanted to come over and remove his front MetalSport wheel and take it to the MetalSport facility to have it checked for true. I’ll be curious what they say. He was experiencing a severe shimmy in his front end. We checked everything. It had to be the wheel.

It’s going to be another exciting weekend. Just received a shipment of 5-Ball Leathers, Micah’s race suit was included, plus new leather Bandit’s Bedrolls. Too cool. And I received a call, the windshield is done and we will pick it up tomorrow, fit it, and they will trim it on Monday.

Ride Fast and Free, Forever!

–Bandit

On a Run to a Surf Competition in Santa Cruz, California

We were hauling ass, and in one of the last turns, I caught some gravel and bike started to lose control. I laid it down as smoothly as I could to avoid flying off the cliff. Luckily, I had my Linby, thick-walled tubing, crash bar installed during our rebuild (from my last accident), which dug into the gravel and swung my bike left and not into the Pacific Ocean.

READ THE LINDBY REPORT IN THE CANTINA – CLICK HERE