Officer Frank

Drawn by Hal Robinson in early ’70s. Done with pencil. This was not published by Easyriders Magazine; from Hal’s own home museum. He was just beginning to do freelance work for Easyriders. The magazine wanted him as a regular employee to work as a nine to fiver and be put on the payroll with insurance, etc. Hal couldn’t work that way and be at his creative best. He worked at home and mailed his drawings to the office. They were always taken without any changes. He was a true renaissance artist.

Our 5-Ball shop is proud to carry a few limited edition prints from the Hal/ER collection and T-shirts. Check them out.

http://shop.bikernet.com/product-category/t-shirt/

–Bandit

Technocracy News & Trends for Friday, July 12, 2019

A team of scientists have concluded that man is NOT causing climate change. AOC, Justice Democrats, New Green Deal zealots and Technocrats everywhere will grind their teeth over this new research. The scientists concluded, “anthropogenic climate change does not exist in practice.”

A new scientific study could bust wide open deeply flawed fundamental assumptions underlying controversial climate legislation and initiatives such as the Green New Deal, namely, the degree to which ‘climate change’ is driven by natural phenomena vs. man-made issues measured as carbon footprint. Scientists in Finland found “practically no anthropogenic [man-made]climate change” after a series of studies.

“During the last hundred years the temperature increased about 0.1°C because of carbon dioxide. The human contribution was about 0.01°C”, the Finnish researchers bluntly state in one among a series of papers.

This has been collaborated by a team at Kobe University in Japan, which has furthered the Finnish researchers’ theory: “New evidence suggests that high-energy particles from space known as galactic cosmic rays affect the Earth’s climate by increasing cloud cover, causing an ‘umbrella effect’,” the just published study has found, a summary of which has been released in the journal Science Daily. The findings are hugely significant given this ‘umbrella effect’ — an entirely natural occurrence — could be the prime driver of climate warming, and not man-made factors.

The scientists involved in the study are most concerned with the fact that current climate models driving the political side of debate, most notably the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) climate sensitivity scale, fail to incorporate this crucial and potentially central variable of increased cloud cover.

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has discussed the impact of cloud cover on climate in their evaluations, but this phenomenon has never been considered in climate predictions due to the insufficient physical understanding of it,” comments Professor Hyodo in Science Daily. “This study provides an opportunity to rethink the impact of clouds on climate. When galactic cosmic rays increase, so do low clouds, and when cosmic rays decrease clouds do as well, so climate warming may be caused by an opposite-umbrella effect.”

In their related paper, aptly titled, “No experimental evidence for the significant anthropogenic [man-made] climate change”, the Finnish scientists find that low cloud cover “practically” controls global temperatures but that “only a small part” of the increased carbon dioxide concentration is anthropogenic, or caused by human activity.

The following is a key bombshell section in one of the studies conducted by Finland’s Turku University team:

We have proven that the GCM-models used in IPCC report AR5 cannot compute correctly the natural component included in the observed global temperature. The reason is that the models fail to derive the influences of low cloud cover fraction on the global temperature. A too small natural component results in a too large portion for the contribution of the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. That is why 6 J. KAUPPINEN AND P. MALMI IPCC represents the climate sensitivity more than one order of magnitude larger than our sensitivity 0.24°C. Because the anthropogenic portion in the increased CO2 is less than 10 %, we have practically no anthropogenic climate change. The low clouds control mainly the global temperature.

This raises urgent questions and central contradictions regarding current models which politicians and environmental groups across the globe are using to push radical economic changes on their countries’ populations.

Conclusions from both the Japanese and Finnish studies strongly suggest, for example, that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “drastic measures to cut carbon emissions” which would ultimately require radical legislation changes to “remake the U.S. economy” would not only potentially bankrupt everyone but simply wouldn’t even work, at least according to the new Finnish research team findings.

To put AOC’s “drastic measures” in perspective — based entirely on the fundamental assumption of the monumental and disastrous impact of human activity on the climate — consider the following conclusions from the Finnish studies:

“During the last hundred years the temperature increased about 0.1°C because of carbon dioxide. The human contribution was about 0.01°C.”

This 2004 Bourget Low Blow Chopper with only 6,027 miles has been detailed and put through NH state inspection. It runs, rides, and hauls ass. Powered by a 113 cubic inch v-twin engine with a 6-speed transmission, the Low Blow produces 103 hp and 115 foot-pounds of torque. It has a seat height of 21″ and a dry weight of 550 lbs. It has been upgraded with a Primo open primary, an aftermarket exhaust, and a JIMS 6-speed transmission, and comes equipped with an S&S Super G carburetor and a 200mm rear wheel. This vehicle does not pass NH state inspection due to front brakes that are contaminated with fluid, an exhaust that is above NH decibel limits, and an excess of rake in the front end.

We encourage you to see and hear this bike in person. Nobody here is on commission and we are happy to take as much time with you as you need. We do not charge any dealer fees either! If you cannot see it in person, we will be happy to do a live inspection via Skype or Facetime. Please call 603-410-4120 for more info.

At National Powersports, we buy a lot of bikes! While many are fully serviced and sold with a warranty, some will not go through the process due to a variety of reasons, including special purchases, overstock of the same model, high mileage, running or cosmetic condition, or a simple lack of shop availability. We sell these vehicles “as-is” from our Outlet location in Merrimack, NH, as well as in our Pembroke, NH location. We call them Opportunity Vehicles, as they are sold at a substantial discount.

If you are not comfortable buying a vehicle as-is, we have hundreds of bikes in stock at our Pembroke location that are fully serviced and come with a warranty. Click HERE to view our Premium Inventory.

PRICE: $8995
MILES: 6027 (Actual Mileage)
VIN: 1B9BLY8A54A393464
COLOR: BLUE W/FLAMES
ITEM ID: 45956
CATEGORY: CHOPPER

Choppers will never die!–Bandit

Call to Action! This is your chance to help Freedom and Choice Ring

It’s amazing, in a world gone nuts with regulation, one state is considering freedom. Check it out, in the news. Missouri has an adult helmet repeal in front of their Governor. Did you know about half of our states have adult freedom and in most cases free states have a better accident record than states with helmet laws.

READ THE NEWS EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CANTINA – Click Here

Elizabeth DiNardo, Esq. | Associate Counsel

On July 5, 2019, BMW of North America LLC was met with proposed class claims in New Jersey federal court alleging that the company placed their customers in harm’s way by selling motorcycles with defective gear indicators; which, in turn heightened the risk of accidents, as well as opening the door to other safety issues. Named plaintiff Daniel Casey argued that the gear indicators in the motorcycle intermittently displayed the wrong gear or no gear at all. This phenomenon has been a point of a complaint by numerous customers, according to Casey.

In the complaint BMW, who has headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, is accused of breaching express and implied warranties and claims for unjust enrichment. The plaintiff alleges that he relied on the representations BMW put forth in promotional material saying, “that he was receiving a safe and usable product.” This, however, was not the case and in May 2017 the plaintiff’s bike gear indicators started to malfunction.

This improper reading, or sometimes no reading at all, impedes the rider from properly judging accelerating power, places the bike into the wrong gear on cruise control, can cause excessive strain on the motor etc. If these design defects were made readily apparent, Casey explains in the complaint, he would not have purchased the motorcycle. Casey looks to represent a nationwide class of people wronged by BMW in the case of defective gear indicators.

The case is: Casey v. BMW North America LLC, Case No. 2:19-cv-14761, in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

–from Michael Hupy

www.HupyAbraham.com

Hey,

It’s amazing, in a world gone nuts with regulation, one state is considering freedom. Check it out, in the news. Missouri has an adult helmet repeal in front of their Governor. Did you know about half of our states have adult freedom and in most cases free states have a better accident record than states with helmet laws.

Check it out.

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.

Gettysburg Bike Week 2019-– Entertainment Is Top Notch and the Crew is Ready to Rock

With just a few days until Gettysburg Bike Week 2019, they are gearing up for the best bike week yet! Back for its 18th rally, the Allstar Events Complex will once again host the best bike event Gettysburg has ever seen.

The kick off party starts on Wednesday July 9th at Battlefield Harley-Davidson and continues through the weekend at the Allstar Event Complex.

This year’s musical acts include Thursday’s headliner Kashmir: The Live Led Zeppelin Show, with motorcycle rally favorite Jasmine Cain starting the four day party off right. Friday will feature bands ALL DAY from the Resurrection Tour including Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Saving Abel, Tantric and Shallow Side. Saturday will be a full day of rock and roll starting at 10 am with Sound of Silence featuring 13 year old drumming sensation Avery Molek, followed by Redemption Road, Rebel Soul (kid Rock Tribute), Brickyaard Road (Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribuet band) and headliner Queensryche followed by a fireworks show like you have never seen before!

Notorious emcee Jack Schit will once again perform master of ceremonies duties throughout the week on the Budweiser Stage, Gin Gypsies will be serving up the drinks and this year’s rally will feature a cornhole tournament and Cycle Source mini-bike racing. Expect heavy competition in the Cycle Source Ride-In Bike Show, Bike Games and Rodeo and the Parade of Chrome. Josh Owens from Moonshiners will be on property all weekend long as well!

New this year are Harley-Davidson demo rides leaving from the Allstar Event Complex from Thursday –Sunday. They will have a variety of models to choose from.

Demo hours are:

Thursday, July 11, 2019, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday July 12, 2019 10 a.m – 6 p.m.
Saturday July 13, 2019 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday July 14, 2019 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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

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

Red Cross LA to Dedicate New HQ on July 17--Days After Ridgecrest Earthquakes

State-of-the-Art Tech Will Improves Disaster Response Capacity

LOS ANGELES July 10, 2019 — Following Southern California’s largest earthquake in 20 years, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region is coordinating its disaster response from its brand-new headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles. The building will be unveiled to the public during an official ribbon-cutting ceremony next Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

WHAT: Red Cross Los Angeles Regional Headquarters Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

WHEN: Wednesday July 17, 2019
12:30 – 2:00 PM

WHO: Jarrett Barrios – CEO, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region
Tony Briggs – CEO, American Red Cross Central California Region
Miguel Santiago – Assemblymember, District 53

Seated in the heart of Los Angeles, the new Red Cross headquarters is highly centralized – a major asset in such a sprawling region – and has already proven to be a capable disaster response hub in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 and 6.4 earthquakes that struck the Ridgecrest area last week.

Working out of the building’s cutting-edge Emergency Operations Center, Red Crossers were able to monitor the seismic events in real-time and mobilize volunteer responders to staff an emergency shelter and deliver food, water and clean-up kits to affected residents.

To date, the Red Cross emergency shelter at Kerr McGee Community Center has provided more than 455 overnight stays.

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE UNLEASHES V-TWIN-POWERED FINE ART WITH ITS FTR 1200 ARTIST SERIES TANK COVERS–

FTR 1200 Artist Series: RISK – Indian Motorcycle

https://youtu.be/iUxwMUQuc34

Five Limited-Edition Designs From Five Renowned Artists To Be Unveiled June 13 At Wheels & Waves

In a dynamic, creative display of artisanship, Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, today announced its FTR 1200 Artist Series, a collaboration with five renowned artists on a limited-edition line of tank covers for its all-new FTR 1200. Only 100 tank covers of each design will be produced, with the five unique designs to be unveiled on June 13 at Wheels & Waves in Biarritz, France. Sets will be available from select Indian Motorcycle dealers for $699.

Indian Motorcycle curated a lineup of artists with extremely distinct styles from street graffiti to modern abstract, in order to appeal to a wider range of consumer preferences. The artistic tank covers will allow FTR 1200 owners to instantly transform their bike into a piece of mobile fine art, while also increasing their personal connection to the FTR 1200.

The five artists include:
•Steve Caballero: A legendary skateboarding icon and original member of the famed “Bones Brigade,” Cab has forged his legacy by turning pools and half pipes into canvases for his skate artistry. Over the years, he has become well-known for his extraordinary “low-brow,” hot-rod-culture-inspired original art work. His designs are now highly sought after by brands and collectors across the skate and art industries.

•D*Face: D*Face (a.k.a. Dean Stockton) is a leading figure in Urban Contemporary Art, inaugurating his career on the streets more than 15 years ago. He originally entered the scene by hand-drawing stickers and posters, adhering them all over London and beyond for the unsuspecting public to discover. His work has since evolved, from fine art gallery shows to full-scale outdoor mural installations that transform urban landscapes and high-rise buildings into massive works of art.

•Adam Turman: A home-grown visionary from Indian Motorcycle’s very own backyard of Minneapolis, Turman is known best for large-scale, vivid and dynamic wall-mural installations throughout the Midwest. He began his art career by creating gig posters for local bands, taking inspiration from the bold, graphic style of 1980s comics and heavy metal art. Turman’s keen ability to marry his bold, vivid artistic visions with strategic-marketing objectives has made him one of the Midwest region’s most sought-after commercial artists.

•ThankYouX: ThankYouX (a.k.a. Ryan Wilson) began his artistic journey on the streets of Los Angeles in 2009 spray painting stencils in homage to Andy Warhol. While these signature stencils were his initial calling card, they were only scratching the surface of his multi-faceted artistic identity. As his level of notoriety expanded, the nature of his expression evolved to modern abstract designs that stand in contrast to the more conventional graffiti-inspired street-art paradigm. His unique brand of street art has captured attention and earned acclaim around the world.
-MORE-

•RISK: A true “O.G.” in the world of graffiti, RISK began his career as a founding member of the WCA (West Coast Artists) graffiti crew. RISK was one of the first graffiti writers in Southern California to paint freight trains and pioneered the use of billboards and freeway overpasses as artistic canvases. Over several decades his career has transitioned from the streets to museums, galleries and clothing lines. Risk is an innovative contemporary artist who now incorporates everything from advanced: “color theory” to “neon” in his body of work.

The FTR 1200 stands as Indian Motorcycle’s most-customizable platform to date, featuring four distinct accessory collections, designed to modify the bike’s overall look and feel based on the unique tastes and styles of different riders. With its fuel tank located beneath the seat, the FTR 1200 airbox sits directly over the motor where fuel tanks more commonly reside. This allows for tank covers that are easy to remove and interchange, making the process of customization and personalization even more efficient for riders.

An episodic content series, scheduled to debut shortly after Wheels & Waves, will showcase each of the five artists, their design process, and their unique airbox cover designs. To learn more about Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Weekend Round-up for JuLY 9, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Weekend_Roundup_for_JuLY_9_2019.aspx

Maybe a steering damper for the FXR?

–Pauly D.
pdispensa@plrb.org
Warrenville, IL

That might help, but would only mask the issue. We may have discovered a problem with the front wheel. It seems out of true. We are going to have the MetalSport team check it out. Then Frankie will have the tire remounted and balanced at Bartels’ H-D.

QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY— NUDE BEACH ……. !!!

A mother and father take their 6-year old son to a family nude beach…

As the boy walks along the sand, he notices that many of the women have boobs bigger

than his mother’s, so he goes back to ask her why.

She tells her son, ‘The bigger they are, the sillier the lady is.’

The boy, pleased with the answer, goes to play in the ocean but returns to tell his mother that many of the men have larger things than his dad does.

She replies, ‘The bigger they are, the dumber the man is.’

Again satisfied with her answer, the boy goes back to the ocean to play.

Shortly thereafter, the boy returns and promptly tells his mother:

‘Daddy is talking to the
silliest lady on the beach, and the longer he talks, the dumber he gets.

–from Barry Green

LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK— 2015 Harley-Davidson XL883N – Sportster Iron 883

Now $5,995.00

See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=7119673

2015 Harley-Davidson XL883 Iron

The Iron was one of the early Dark Custom motorcycles. A pioneer of raw, blacked-out, stripped-down custom aggression.

The Iron 883 is for those who want their first taste of that ride-hard-and-put- up-wet lifestyle. It’s for those who want to tear up asphalt and backroads instead of polishing paint and chrome.

Welcome to the state of the Dark Custom motorcycle art. The 2015 Harley-Davidson is easy to own and fun to ride. Improved suspension from previous years. Balanced and responsive handling help rider and machine glide through corners with smooth confidence.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

Flat black paint with graphic logos is in fantastic condition. (exception of a right front tank dent “pictured”) Black bars with console mounted. Black mirrorslevers, headlamp with polished rim and black hood.

Chrome upper fork, rubber boot and vivid black legs. 13-spoke black contrast cut rims. Black rocker covers with polished band, chrome push-rod tubes and polished tappet blocks.

Black Vance & Hines shorty exhaust providing the Harley rumble. Black circular air cleaner and primary with polished derby cover. LED headlamp, blinkers, and running lights on front frame near regulator.Mini side bags, swing arm mounted on both sides. 2-up seat and black sissy bar with pad. Side mounted license plate and passenger pegs. Chrome capped, black spring adjustable shocks.

With only 2,978 miles and great tires, this bike is ready for some miles.

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 101 point safety and mechanical inspection. Whether your looking to commute to work, ride the coast or take that dream vacation, this bike is ready to go!!!

EZ FINANCING-SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY LESSON–
caducity

[kuh-doo-si-tee, -dyoo-]
noun
1.
frailty; transitoriness: the caducity of life.

QUOTES

What remains, the point of the passion, is a fascination with caducity and the relationship of photography to it.
— Leslie Epstein, “Stories and Something Else,” New York Times, February 14, 1982

ORIGIN

Caducity is an uncommon noun meaning “frailty, weakness of old age.” It comes from French caducité “obsolescence, cancellation,” a derivation of the adjective caduc “obsolete, deciduous,” from the Latin adjective caducus “fallen, falling, liable to fall, frail, fleeting.” Caducity entered English in the 17th century.

BIKERNET HOUSING CONSTRUCTION SEMINAR–My Building Permit

Some have asked what I’ve been doing in retirement.
Well, I applied for a building permit for a new house.

It was going to be 100 ft tall and 400 ft wide, with12 gun turrets at various heights, and windows all over the place and a loud outside entertainment sound system.

It would have parking for 200 cars, and I was going to paint it snot green with pink trim. The City Council told me;
“Forget it … IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!”

So, I sent in the application again, but this time I called it a “Mosque.”

Work starts on Monday, and here is the best part, it’s going to be tax exempt!

I love this country.
It’s the government that scares me.

–Harley Mil

ROAD TRIP USA—Day 17, San Francisco

It is the trip back to the hotel that gets exciting. I get back onto the
freeway ok only to notice that the GPS seems to have lost the street map
for some reason?

However, I do notice that it appears to have got itself together by the time we get off the bridge. All goes well in the dark
untill we get to Franklin Street that is a one way street and we are going to be going the wrong way.

So Cindy uses her local knowledge and
we over come this issue untill we feel that the GPS is going the correct
way. Up a few more hill starts and cussing slow take off drivers of
Automatic cars, we are at the apex of a a steep set of traffic lights
and I have to turn right and run a orange light to do so, but I cannot
see the down hill side untill I am on it!!!

Hell it is steep!!Like
really steep and not a street that I would have picked but we both had
to have a chuckle of bravado as I applied the brakes to slow down to the
next intersection that I think was red but there were no cars around so
I went through it and on down hill still with the bravado laughter going
on.

I had to stop at the next set of lights as I had to turn left onto a one-way street, but coming along the street is a fire engine in a hurry.
So I wisely wait untill he has gone through and the lights turn in my favor and away i go again.

Then the GPS takes us to the hotel but we
have to go around the block on the down hill side and to the bottom entry of the car parking building. We have survived this exhilarating part of our ride back to the hotel in the dark.

–Graeme Lowin
New Zealand

NEWS FROM LOWBROW–We are hard at work on our next magazine
Weirdo volume 8 will be out in a few months, and we need photos of customer bikes to showcase. For your chance to have your motorcycle in the next Weirdo, email photos to submissions@lowbrowcustoms.com.

Quality photos with good composition are a plus! And of course a super rad motorcycle, too…

We are interested in any and all makes and models of motorcycles. If you think your bike is really special and could be a contender, send photos our way!

BIKERNET COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT—What’s happening with the Weekend Round-up. It’s consistently late now.

Weekend Roundup means exactly that, on the weekend not middle of the week or the following week. If there’s too much to do, do away with something or concentrate on getting it done on time!

–William Parker

I’ve been in trouble before, but never this much trouble. It’s going to be tough to be on time until after Bonneville. What can I say. I’m trying to build the worlds fastest trike with a few friends. We can’t stop!

–Bandit

Long Beach BMW Motorcycles to Host July 20 Training Event with Five Motorcycle Training Organizations

Long Beach BMW Motorcycles is all set to host their “Training with the Pros” event 10am-2pm on Saturday, July 20th. The Long Beach, CA dealership is bringing together five different motorcycle training organizations for a single educational event to help riders in their community learn more about the rider training options available to them.

Long Beach BMW Motorcycles has enjoyed long-running relationships with each of the training organizations that are participating in the event:

Advanced Rider Training
California Superbike School
MotoVentures
RawHyde Adventures
Westside Motorcycle Academy

“The beauty of this event is that no matter what kind of bike you ride, or where you are at in the development of your skillset as a rider, one or more of these schools will have a program that is perfect for you,” explained Co-Owner and Sales Manager David Lindahl. “This is also the perfect event for that friend or family member that might be thinking about getting into riding, but is hesitant or maybe does not know where to begin.”

Each participating training organization will have the opportunity to give several short presentations and Q&A sessions. This will allow attendees the ability to attend talks by multiple companies throughout the event. Lunch will be provided. Tickets for this event are free and are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/training-with-the-pros-tickets-61202390999

Learn more about www.longbeachbmwmotorcycles.com

[page break]

WORLD PREMIER– New 2020 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars
The FastDates.com PinUp Calendars featuring Iron & Lace Custom Motorcycles and Garage Girls Hard at Work produced by Gianatsis Design and photographed by Jim Gianatsis make their return for the 2020 Calendar year commemorating 30 years of publication!

And for fans of the long running Fast Dates Racebike Calendar which ended publication last year, you’ll be excited to learn the new 2020 Iron & Lace and Garage Girls Calendars now have the beautiful Calendar Kittens photographed with many of the world’s top Cafe Racer Bikes, Sportbikes, Bobbers, Metric and American Customs. You will want to get both Calendars, one for the house and one for the garage.

What better way to enjoy each month but with great photography of the world’s best motorcycles and beautiful girls.

This is your exclusive 16-month pit pass to some of the world’s sexiest models in revealing swimwear and lingerie. FastDates.com Calendars are highest quality full color 15 x 15″ wire spiral bound printed on heavy art stock revealing 16 months beginning with September. $22.95 each. Order online at www.FastDates.com

FastDates.com Calendars are also available at Amazon.com, Calendars.com / 1-800-366-3645, and in Europe at Zodiac Motorcycle Parts / Zodiac.nl and WW Cycles / WWag.com

FIRSTRIDE EXPERIENCE BUILDING RIDERSHIP–Motorcycles.org Develops FirstRide Experience.

We all want to build ridership, and that starts by helping put someone behind the handlebar for their first time.

Motorcycles.org staff have been developing the Motorcycles.org FirstRide experience, a fun, three-hour session designed to give beginners their initial, brief, feet-on-the-pegs ride from point A to point B on a closed range.

“Guests can walk away from FirstRide and say, ‘I rode a motorcycle!’ It shows them that it’s something they can actually do,” said Andria Yu, director of Motorcycles.org, the industry’s media outreach program based at the MIC. “Even a brief ride is a huge accomplishment. Many people are intimidated by bikes, by the clutch, the friction zone, all the controls confronting them, while having to balance on two wheels. FirstRide is designed to ease them into motorcycling, take away their fears and give them the confidence to take the next step, whether a Basic RiderCourse or a DirtBike School class by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.”

So far, Motorcycles.org staffers and MSF RiderCoaches Andria Yu and Ty van Hooydonk have led FirstRide sessions, along with Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoaches Andrea Jonaitis and William Chin. A step-by-step manual is being created so others can serve as FirstRide Guides, and can provide the same experience. FirstRide is under development using best principles and practices utilized in other, longstanding training programs.

For those uncomfortable with a clutch or not interested in learning how to use one, an automatic scooter is available to FirstRide guests.

FirstRide is not a complete riding course and does not provide guests with a license waiver or a safety course certificate. That actually takes away much of the pressure that’s part of a normal training course. Guests do not need to take a skills test, and they progress as far as they can or want to during the three hours.

Mostly, they spend the time getting comfortable with being on a motorized two-wheeler while a well-versed motorcyclist is with them the entire time, helping them along the way.

BIKERNET BAD COP DEPARTMENT— A Florida cop planted meth on random drivers, police say. One lost custody of his daughter.

By Meagan Flynn, Washington Post

The meth seemed to appear out of thin air.

Benjamin Bowling couldn’t figure it out. He had been clean ever since his release from prison on a DUI conviction, but now a Jackson County, Fla., sheriff’s deputy was accusing him of possessing a minuscule amount of methamphetamine.

It was October 2017 and Bowling was on his way to the store to pick up diapers with his friend Shelly Smith when they saw the flashing lights swirl in the rearview mirror. He had been out of prison for less than a year, doing everything he could to get his life back on track. He passed all his drug tests. He had recently been awarded custody of his daughter. But deputy Zachary Wester was escalating a traffic stop for swerving over a white line into a search for illicit drugs.

Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today’s most popular stories on The Washington Post

Bowling and Smith, confident they had nothing to hide, told Wester to go ahead and search the car after he claimed to smell marijuana, assuring him he wouldn’t find any.

He emerged with meth.

Now, nearly two years after Bowling lost custody of the daughter he had just gotten back, after he was convicted of felony meth possession, he knows exactly how it got there. Wester, state investigators now say, planted it himself — and Bowling was far from the only victim.

Wester, who was fired last September, was arrested Wednesday and charged with 52 counts of racketeering, false imprisonment, official misconduct, fabricating evidence and possession of controlled substances, among other charges. He’s accused of indiscriminately targeting innocent drivers and hauling them off to jail after planting meth or marijuana in their vehicles while feigning a “search.”

“There is no question that Wester’s crimes were deliberate and that his actions put innocent people in jail,” Chris Williams, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s assistant special agent in charge, said in a news release.

Bowling, who has since been cleared, is just one of 11 known victims named in the affidavit, although the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wednesday that there may be more victims who have not yet been identified, and the case remains under investigation. At least 119 cases involving Wester have been dropped, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. In addition to the dropped charges, Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson ordered at least eight inmates released from correctional facilities last fall, as 263 cases remained under review.

Investigators said at a news conference Wednesday that there did not appear to be any rhyme or reason to the drivers Wester, 26, singled out for false arrests on drug possession. Some were parents with a diaper bag in the back seat. Others were young men and women, some crying as they insisted they had never touched drugs, let alone meth, in their lives.

Asked by reporters why Wester would do this, State Attorney William “Bill” Eddins of Florida’s 1st Judicial Circuit said that was a good question. Investigators were still trying to figure it out themselves, he said.

“You’re never certain of what lies in the heart of man,” he said.

Eddins said he does not plan to offer a plea bargain, and that Wester faces up to 30 years in prison. Wester’s defense attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Wester, who joined the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in 2016, fell under suspicion last year after a prosecutor noticed inconsistencies in what Wester wrote in his reports and what was captured on his body camera — if he turned it on. The problem was he seemed to leave the device off most of the time, conveniently only recording after drugs were already “found” in a vehicle. In most cases, as in Bowling’s, he typically pulled someone over for a minor traffic infraction before asking if he smelled marijuana.

Yet, even after reporting on affidavits that he smelled or even thought he saw marijuana, he typically emerged finding meth. According to the affidavit, meth, marijuana and 42 pieces of drug paraphernalia were found in Wester’s trunk.

One case, that of Teresa Odom, was illuminating — appearing to capture Wester holding an unknown object in his left hand shortly before “discovering” meth in her truck, in the rare case his body camera was left on.

“Hi, how are you?” Wester asked her in a friendly voice as he rolled up to her window, according to footage released to the news media. “The reason for is, um, your brake lights: They work one minute, and then the next minute they don’t work.”

He took her license, left momentarily, and returned to ask if he could search her vehicle. She said it was no problem with a shrug, as long as she could take her phone with her. “Hang tight, Ms. Odom,” He grabbed a pair of gloves from his cruiser — then appears to be holding a tiny plastic baggie inside his left hand, according to the video and affidavit.

The affidavit describes it like a magician’s sleight of hand: “Without putting on the glove, Deputy Wester’s left hand dropped out of view, down toward the front of the driver’s seat, and after a brief pause, reappeared empty.”

Shortly thereafter, Wester pulls a tiny plastic bag out of Odom’s purse: “Oh, Ms. Odom, how about this?” Wester asked, confronting Odom with the drugs.

“That is not mine,” she said. “No, sir. No, sir. What is it?” As another deputy who arrived for backup teased her that she was about to go to jail, she responded tersely: “It damn sure ain’t mine.”

It wasn’t. The Democrat reported that Odom wept at the news conference Wednesday announcing, saying she felt “overwhelmed.”

In a few cases, some drivers were already suspected of other crimes, such as driving with a suspended license or having an outstanding warrant, or even admitting to having marijuana in the car — and yet Wester still planted meth on them, according to the affidavit.

But mostly the drivers were guilty of nothing. Erika Helms — whose brother, Lance Sellers, has sued the sheriff’s department alleging false arrest — told the Democrat that Wester “ruined lives.” Sellers, she said, had to spend a year in residential rehab after his arrest for possession of meth. The charges were later dropped. In addition to Sellers, more than a dozen people have filed notices of intent to sue, the Democrat reported.

“People are losing their lives, their freedom, their children, their marriages — all because of this one man,” Helms told the Democrat. “It’s not just innocent men. It’s innocent children. It goes a lot deeper than everyone realizes.”

It’s unclear if Bowling regained custody of his daughter since his arrest, or whether other parents faced the same fate.

At least one innocent mother feared she would, according to the affidavit.

Kimberly Hazelwood and her husband, Jeremy, were pulled over in June 2018 with their small children in the back seat, as Wester alleged that the Hazelwoods’ car insurance had lapsed. Wester zeroed in on a bottle of Excedrin he saw in her possession. He told the couple that he was calling in the K-9 unit to search the vehicle.

Soon enough, Wester claimed the Excedrin pill bottle contained methamphetamine, pulling Jeremy aside to tell him that he was going to arrest his wife for possession. “Jeremy appeared shocked and said Kimberly had never done drugs a day in her life,” the affidavit says.

Wester told the distraught father that he could tell Kimberly used meth “by the way her face was sunk and her teeth .?.?. Jeremy stated his wife has always been like that.”

On the way to jail, Kimberly cried in the back of Wester’s cruiser, asking whether she was going to lose custody of her children.

It’s unclear whether she did. According to the affidavit, months later, Wester pulled over Jeremy again, asking where Kimberly was this time. “This upset Jeremy,” the affidavit says, “and he told Deputy Wester that it was none of his business.”

Wester let him go.

–from Rogue
Senior Investigator
Bikernet Crime Bureau

MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION ALERT— You need to email the Governor TODAY by visiting https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us

Please help Missouri reclaim some of our Freedom; we need help from people inside and outside of Missouri. Please ask Governor Parson to let this bill pass, either by signature or by pocket pass and not to Veto SB 147, which would allow freedom of choice for the riders in Missouri.

If you ever wanted the freedom to choose, now is the time to call or email Governor Parson to sign or let SB 147, the bill that contains helmet modification, go into law. We heard today that the Governor is going to veto this legislation on Friday because of an amendment that is not related to the helmet modification language. We need everyone who supports the freedom of choice to call or email him NOW!

His number is 573-751-3222, or you can email directly by visiting https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us

Please be courteous in your remarks.

Thank you,

–Mark A Capps
AKA Sparky
Freedom Of Road Riders
State Chairman
Missouri

COMMENT FROM A BIKERNET READER–Hey, whatever happed to the dice bike. Man, I’d love to see it.

Thanks,
–FXRQ

Hey Q, it’s still in the headquarters looking fine. –Bandit

KEEP THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY DURING LUNCH—Guy walks out of the restroom. A beautiful girl approaches and says, “Sir, your garage door is open.

The guy responds, “Did you see my Harley?”

The girl smiles and says, “No, I saw a mini bike with two flat tires.”

–Sam Burns

QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
4TH OF JULY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for the 4th

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/4TH_OF_JULY_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_the_4th.aspx

I watched the Presidents celebration of our armed forces. I am still proud of my service and that I volunteered. I don’t know what happened to the country, while I was away other than the fucking hippies and draft dodgers should have been ejected from the country.

I, my brothers, my father, uncles and even my grandfather served in WW1. I would like too return to the country I grew up in for my daughter.

Mr. Trump made me proud.

–Alex Jemery
Deland, FL

NASA Persists In False Claim That 97% Of Climate Scientists Agree On Global Warming—

TN Editor’s Note: Scientific corruption at NASA is blatant, producing propaganda designed to further its own Technocrat existence. NASA has persistently refused to remove false assertions about climate studies. ? TN Editor

On Tuesday, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) sent NASA a formal complaint, asking the agency to withdraw the false claim that 97 percent of climate scientists agree that humans are the primary cause of global warming and climate change. The 2013 study purporting to demonstrate that number was fatally flawed and proved no such thing.

“The claim that 97% of climate scientists believe humans are the primary cause of global warming is simply false,” CEI attorney Devin Watkins said in a statement. “That figure was created only by ignoring many climate scientists’ views, including those of undecided scientists. It is time that NASA correct the record and present unbiased figures to the public.”

According to the CEI complaint, NASA’s decision to repeat the false claim violated the Information Quality Act (IQA). Specifically, NASA claimed that “[n]inety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities.” The claim appears on the NASA website on the page “Climate Change: How Do We Know?”

The claim traces back to a study led by John Cook entitled “Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature” and published in the journal Environmental Research Letters in 2013.

The study is fundamentally dishonest, as the CEI complaint explains. The study analyzed all published peer-reviewed academic research papers from 1991 to 2011 that use the terms “global warming” or “global climate change.” The study placed the papers into seven categories: explicit endorsement with quantification, saying humans are responsible for 50+ percent of climate change; explicit endorsement without quantification; implicit endorsement; no position or uncertain; implicit rejection; explicit rejection with qualification; and explicit rejection without qualification.

The study found: 64 papers had explicitly endorsed anthropogenic global warming (AGW) with quantification (attributing at least half of climate change to humans); 922 papers had explicitly endorsed AGW without quantifying how much humans contribute; 2,910 papers had implicitly endorsed AGW; 7,930 papers did not state a position and 40 papers were uncertain; 54 papers implicitly rejected AGW by affirming the possibility that natural causes explain climate change; 15 papers explicitly rejected AGW without qualification; and 9 papers explicitly rejected AGW with quantification, saying human contributions to global warming are negligible.

So, how did Cook and his team come up with the 97 percent number? They added up the first three categories (3,896 papers), compared them to the last three categories (78 papers) and the papers expressing uncertainty (40 papers), and completely ignored the nearly 8,000 papers that did not state a position.

Of the papers Cook’s team characterized as stating a position, 97 percent (3,896 of the 4,014 papers) favored the idea of man-made global warming.

See the problem? The study completely discounted the majority of the papers it analyzed (66.4 percent — 7,930 of the 11,944 papers analyzed). With those papers included, only 32.6 percent of the papers explicitly or implicitly endorsed AGW (3,896 of 11,944 papers).

–By Tyler O’Neil
Read the full story at Technocracy.News.com.
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YO—George, “the Wild Brush” is on his way over here to finish some work on the body. We need to attach the modified parachute box then get to work on the canopy.

At least the body will be reasonably straight by the end of the day—hopefully. I want to thank everyone for their support, help, patience and advice. I’ve been scrambling and distracted, but we couldn’t get this far without everyone’s help. It’s been an amazing experience and lead me down lots of roads I never rolled down before from tube bending to fiberglass work and everything in between.

We won’t have the windshield until the 22nd of this month and we need to attach it and run. This weekend I will be working on the fender mounting. I need to go to Phillips Steel tomorrow and pick up the base strap steel, maybe in three sizes and start fabricating.

The firewall still haunts me, but I will head in that direction by next week. I also need to have fold up seats added to the race van and insulation.

I was just thinking, that if we were unhappy with the top of the body, we could remove it and run in the partially streamlined category. I don’t think so, but what the hell.

Ride Fast and Free, Forever,

–Bandit