Adventure Rally and Camp Returns to Stagecoach Trails Resort, November 7-10 Early Bird Registration runs through May 31 April 9, 2019, Irvine, CA — The Motorcycle Adventure Rally & Camp returns to Southern California for the second straight year at Stagecoach Trails Resort in Julian, Calif., November 7-10. The format continues to expand and evolve from past Adventure Rally Sierra and Rockies Editions, creating even more opportunities to discover diverse riding, in a location just waiting to be discovered on adventure motorcycles. Early bird registration is currently underway through May 31, with participants able to save money. To register online, visit www.advrally.com. The Adventure Rally features over 100+ points of interest to find in an over 200-mile radius from base camp, spread across a vast terrain of mountains, valleys, deserts, and more! A variety of new exciting points of interest will be part of the event this year. Participants can ride one, two, or all three days of the event. Top point collectors will be honored each day as well as the team that collects the most points overall for all three days. A variety of camping options will be offered again this year. >From tents to RVs to on-site cabins, all are available at the Stagecoach Trails Base Camp (stagecoachtrails.com). For those not wanting to camp, just 12 miles up the road in Julian, Calif., plenty of lodging choices are available. Expanded food offerings are in place—including a 4-day food option with a unique menu offered each of the four days. Also, food can be purchased from Daddy’s Famous Food Truck. The option for participants to bring their own food is also available again this year. In addition, an increased vendor area will be on-site. These combinations lead to more riding and overnight choices and opportunities, more exciting happenings at base camp, and additional adventure. Riders of all skill levels are welcome. All off-road-capable, street-legal motorcycles are welcome. For more information on the Motorcycle Adventure Rally & Camp and to register, visit www.advrally.com. The Adventure Rally is made possible by GEICO Motorcycle and Statecoach Trails. About Adventure Rally The Adventure Rally is a multi-day challenge for any skill-level rider and their machine. By day, self-navigated scenic trails are completed in search of elusive checkpoints. At night, competitors spend time together, along with staff from Cycle World, Motorcyclist, and Dirt Rider and other industry guests. Each team will participate on the trails as well as in special tests. The special tests are conducted at the Stagecoach Trails Base Camp and are designed to improve the adventure skills of participants.

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“I read the weekend round up the part about us dying.. Seems I think about it from time to time. I guess when I read Arlen had passed it kinda hit me. The past 20 years have flown by. my Dad would always tell me you only live once so live and I guess that is what I try do. Great article!”
– Mike Pulin

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“Received my Bikernet Goodies thanks. Really enjoy reading and looking at all of your site.Very interesting for a guy who grew up in and went to all 12 grades in Shoshoni,Wyoming! Your logo with the 5 Ball reminds me of the ol Lucky 5 Lounge in beautiful downtown Shoshoni. Take care!”
– John Hoffman

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Cheers – Keith Ball has ridden through Shoshoni several times on the way to Sturgis. – Wayfarer@bikernet.com

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Death, Breakdowns, Salt Efforts and old Indians
By Bandit and Micah McCloskey

I don’t know where to start. Last week we Micah and I peeled into Long Beach in my ’72 Ford F250, which was recently checked out by my mechanic, Mr. Patino.

Ever since I stumbled into this cool truck, I’ve made improvements, but I still wanted to have a professional take a look. I solved lots of issues, but I wanted fresh eyes to look it over.

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Sons Of Anarchy TV show was celebrated as a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. The main reason it connected with 21^st century audiences included the MC presented as a family. The MC was not just a club but had a brotherhood thick as blood.

Mayans MC is a spinoff from the epic Sons of Anarchy and tries to capitalize on One Percenter Motorcycle Club curiosity.

READ THE REVIEW at Bikernet Cantina – Click here

Harley Davidson was not able to sell even a single unit of their popular entry-level model in India during the month of February 2019 Harley Davidson’s Street 750 posted its worst sales number ever in the month of February 2019. The renowned American cruiser manufacturer was not able to sell 0 units of their entry level-offering Street 750 in the month of February 2019 and saw a 100 per cent drop in the YOY sales report.

Not only that, the HD Street Rod also did not get a single buyer during the same month. The Royal Enfield 650 twins’ popularity could be one of the main reasons for their decline in sales number. The Royal Enfield 650 twins are the cheapest twin cylinder motorcycle available in the market today and they offer the same amount of power and torque at almost half the price.

The price of the Harley Davidson Street 750 starts at around Rs 5.57 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the vivid black colour. The owners will have to spend an additional Rs 10,000 if they want to get their hands on any other single tone colour. On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Interceptor price starts at Rs 2.50 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the base variant and Rs 2.58 Lakhs for the dual tone and Rs 2.70 lakhs for the chrome shade.

The most expensive model which is the Continental GT 650 Chrome will cost you only Rs. 2.85 lakhs (ex-showroom). Just like the Street 750, the higher price is also the reason why the Street Rod too saw a massive drop in its sales number.

The Harley Davidson Street Rod is also priced at around Rs. 6.55 Lakhs (ex-showroom) while the buyers will have to spend Rs 6.81 Lakhs (ex-showroom) for the dual tone shade. If we compare their powertrains, both the Street 750 and the Street Rod 750 are powered by the same 749cc, High Output Revolution X V-Twin engine that produces around 47 bhp of peak power and 62 Nm of peak torque output at 4,000 rpm.

The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The 650 twins, on the other hand, is powered by a 648cc, twin cylinder motor that produces around 47 bhp of peak power and 52 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox as well with slip assist clutch as standard.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (April 7, 2019) – Round 14 of Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship hosted its inaugural race in Nashville, Tennessee at Nissan Stadium. Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Martin Davalos both captured wins in their respective classes earning Kawasaki a clean sweep on the night.

It was a roller coaster day for the No. 3 machine of Tomac aboard his KX™450 as he pulled off his own version of the “Music City Miracle” in Nashville. Tomac started out the day struggling to find his rhythm during practice and would qualify in sixth position heading into the night program. In the first 450SX heat race, Tomac quickly passed into the lead in the opening laps and began to check out, however due to unfortunate circumstances Tomac was unable to finish the race, sending him to the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). Being put into unfamiliar territory by racing in the 450SX LCQ was not going to stop Tomac as he made quick work of the competition and won the LCQ. Regardless of a poor gate position as the result of qualifying through the LCQ, Tomac put himself in a strong position off the start of the Main Event. He quickly began to capitalize on his competitors’ mistakes and worked his way into the lead with 12 minutes to go. From there he rode a consistent race, building more than 11-second lead to cross the checkered flag as the first-ever 450SX Main Event winner in Nashville, Tennessee.

Joey Savatgy began the day qualifying in fourth position. In the 450SX Heat Race 1, Savatgy found himself near the front and he was able to make a clean pass for the lead and go on to win his second career 450 class heat race. In the 450SX Main Event, Savatgy found himself in similar territory, sitting in second place looking to make another move into first, but he landed off a triple right into a slick spot where he tucked the front in and augured into the ground and ending his night.

The King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath made a special guest appearance at the inaugural race in Nashville, Tennessee where he joined fellow Kawasaki riders Tomac and Savatgy for opening ceremonies. McGrath even put on a show for the crowd by throwing a signature Nac-Nac during the opening ceremonies parade lap aboard his KX450.

In the 250SX class, it was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider, Davalos who found some magic in the music city as he won his first 250SX heat race and first 250SX main event of the 2019 season. This win marked Davalos’ fifth 250SX career win as he became the first ever 250SX winner in Nashville and extends Kawasaki’s win streak in the 250 SX East Region.

Davalos started the day out strong with a second place in qualifying, placing him in the first race of the night in the 250SX Heat Race 1. Davalos nabbed the holeshot and never looked back as he went on to win the race. In the 250SX Main Event, Davalos once again was off to a strong start in third place and by the end of Lap 1, he would capitalize on a mistake from the two competitors in front of him, where he would take the lead never looking back and ride a clean and consistent race, to the finish.

It was a tough day for the current 250SX Eastern Region points leader, Austin Forkner, as he suffered an injury from a crash in practice that ultimately sidelined him for the night program. Forkner and the team elected to sit out for the night so that he could be fully prepared for the final two rounds of the championship hunt. Forkner retains the points lead and the red plate going into New Jersey.

By 2021, New York City will begin charging drivers who enter Manhattan below Central Park under the guise of congestion pricing. No one is surprised. City and state officials have been trying to make this happen for years. The rare alignment of views between the governor, the mayor, and the state legislature─each likely motivated by the prospect of monetizing driving─made it happen. But at what cost?

In a study last year, a proposed flat rate of $11.50 for cars and $25.00 for trucks was suggested but the budget that passed on April Fool’s Day did not specify any fees. The decision of who will pay what will belong to the governor, the mayor, and a yet-to-be-named six-member panel. The budget goal is to raise $15 billion to fix the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s subway, train, bus, bridge, and tunnel system. This grand scheme has nothing to do with reducing traffic and everything to do with finding more cash to bail out mainly the city’s beleaguered subway system.

Not only will all sorts of vehicle-related services such as taxis, rideshare and delivery surge in price, but the goods and services provided to New Yorkers will almost certainly go up too.

“Not a nickel goes to roads in a state where 69 percent are considered in bad or mediocre condition,” said AAA Northeast spokesman Robert Sinclair to Bloomberg. Not only that, the wrangling for exemptions has already begun. Suburban motorists say they already pay various tolls to drive into the city so why should they pay another fee for the privilege of driving in the city. Commercial truckers also want an exemption as do taxi drivers, and the disabled. Exemptions to the congestion pricing have already been made for motorists on FDR Drive and the West Side Highway north-and-southbound express routes.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also asked in a letter to NY Governor Andrew Cuomo that credits or an exemption should apply to drivers heading to Manhattan via the Lincoln and Holland tunnels with tolls already as high as $15. He added that the congestion pricing plan would pack NJ trains and buses, noting that some of the congestion-pricing revenue should go to his state to offset the increase of services.

Trucking Association of New York President Kendra Hems said that the lack of detail is “concerning.” She added, “We feel strongly that commercial vehicles should be exempt—they provide a critical service to New York City.”

Ironically, since November, the ridesharing company Uber has spent $1 million (out of $2 million total for the campaign) to help push congestion pricing over the edge. Uber’s stated goal is to get motorists to give up their cars completely so they might become Uber customers (cars, bikes or scooters). Company officials have also said they are committed to spending $10 million in support of congestion pricing nationwide.

The flood gates are opening around the country.

Oregon’s DOT Assistant Transportation Director Travis Brouwer recently stated in a New York Times article, “New York’s use of congestion pricing could be a game-changer.” He added, “If New York City can prove that congestion pricing can work and gain public acceptance, it could give cities like Portland a boost as we look to introduce pricing.”

Massachusetts lawmakers are sponsoring a bill to require traffic studies and possibly congestion pricing along Boston’s airport route. The city of Boston was recently given the dubious title of most congested city in America by the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard.

This week, TheNewspaper.com reported that the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) issued a federally funded report in late March that explored the feasibility of tolling drivers who enter downtown Los Angeles. The fees raised would be used for transit and bicycle lanes. Called the Mobility Go Zone Program, the potential congestion pricing plan would be put in place not just for downtown but in neighborhoods (Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica, and the Westside) where gridlock could best be exploited to raise funds. The SCAG researchers claimed in the report that the tax would increase bicycle riding by nine percent and walking by seven percent. Automated license plate readers would track vehicles which lack a FasTrak toll transponder. The introductory charge to enter those congestion zones would be $4.00 per vehicle.

In late February, the Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors also agreed to move forward on a congestion pricing study. The study will look into several methods of charging motorists. One will be a tax on the number of miles traveled, and the other would look at a traditional congestion pricing model of charging motorists to enter certain neighborhoods. Any congestion taxes would be used to help fund infrastructure in the “28 by 28” initiative. City officials aim to complete 28 road, transit, and bicycle/pedestrian projects before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

A great deal of speculation has been surrounding San Francisco and possible congestion pricing. Marin County officials are concerned that all the fees paid would go to the city and not to the counties who would need to ramp up suburb-to-city transit, which also includes ferry service.

Many other high-density areas are now considering congestion pricing. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan wants to have driver taxation in place by the end of her first term in 2021. CMAP, Chicago’s regional planning organization released a report in early March concerning transportation funding options which include congestion pricing. Other cities plotting to add toll zones are Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, San Diego and even Salt Lake City, Utah.

For some reason, all these city officials see dollar signs on the backs of motorists at a time when many motorists live in the suburbs or further out because it is too expensive to live in the inner city. Many motorists will have to pay even though they will receive little benefit in the long run since little of the funding will go toward street infrastructure improvements. And the jury is still very much out as to whether congestion pricing can actually ease traffic woes.

Larson Electronics Releases Tractor LED Light Kit for John Deere 8400, (4) LEDEQ-3X3-CPR, (4) LEDEQ-3X2-CPR

KEMP, Texas, April 7, 2019 (Newswire.com) – Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting sector, announced the release of an LED light kit for John Deere 8400 tractors. This kit features four LEDEQ-3X2-CPR work LEDs producing 2,100 lumens each and four LEDEQ-3X3-CPR work LEDs providing 2,975 lumens each with some providing a spot beam configuration.

The LLP-JD-TR-8400-V5 LED light kit for John Deere 8400 features four LEDEQ-3X2-CPR work LEDs with two providing a spot beam configuration for use on the front grill with the other two in a flood beam configuration for grill flood light use. These 30-watt lights produce a total of 8,400 lumens of light output and feature 9-64V DC input voltages with an electrical current of 2.8A. The color temperature of these lights is 6000K and can withstand rough treatment and immersion up to 3.3 feet.

The LEDEQ-3X3-CPR work LEDs feature two lights in a spot beam configuration for use on the rear fender and two lights in a flood beam configuration for use as the rear cab flood lights. These lights produce a total of 11,900 lumens of light output. These 45-watt LEDs feature 9V-64V DC input voltages and an electrical current of 2.8A. The temperature rating of these lights is 6000K to 6500K and are capable of withstanding rough treatment and immersion up to 3.3 feet.

Larson Electronics’ light kit for John Deere 8400 tractors feature LEDs that have a 50,000-hour lifespan and 9V to 42V compatibility. These lights can be mounted using a U-bracket style trunnion mount on John Deere 8400 model tractors. The housing materials are made of aluminum and the lamp lenses are polycarbonate.

About Larson Electronics LLC: Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.

• Siddhartha Lal has appointed Vinod Dasari as Royal Enfield CEO and will support him only on product and brand-related areas
• The move has striking similarities to his father Vikram Lal’s decision to step away from Eicher Motors more than two decades ago

 

Washington — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler defended the Trump administration’s decision to pull out of talks with California about new rules for gas mileage.

Speaking to reporters Thursday at the Washington Auto Show, Wheeler said he is confident the Trump administration’s proposal to roll back stringent rules that would require automakers to produce fleets that average more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 will hold up in court if it is successfully finalized later this year.

“Our goal from the beginning was a 50-state solution,” he said. “I met with (the California Air Resources Board) three times since taking the helm of EPA last July. But despite our best efforts, we could not reach a solution and decided to end the discussions. We embrace federalism and the role of states, but federalism does not mean that one state can dictate the standards for the entire nation.”

Asked what would happen if California proceeds with a lawsuit that has already been filed over the proposal to rule back mileage rules, Wheeler said: “We’ll go to court if they do that. I believe we’re on firm legal footing and I believe that our standards will be upheld by the courts.”

The Trump administration announced last year its intention to ease stringent gas-mileage rules that would have required fleets averaging more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025. The administration proposed a freeze in the mandate after 2020, when their lineups must average 39 mpg.

Automakers cheered the decision to reopen the so-called midterm review they were promised when the Obama-era gas mileage rules were agreed to in 2011. But they hoped the Trump administration would quickly reach an agreement with California on a new set of rules to prevent a lengthy legal battle that would leave the mpg requirements for the next half-decade in limbo.

The Trump administration has floated the idea of moving to revoke a longstanding waiver allowing California and other states to set their own stricter auto emissions standards. Thirteen states and Washington, D.C., have adopted California’s mileage rules, meaning automakers could be left with one set of rules for a quarter of the country and another set for the remaining states.

Revoking California’s waiver, which is ensconced in the Clean Air Act, would require an act of Congress that is unlikely with the U.S. House under Democratic control.

Wheeler said the Trump administration is focused on making sure new cars are affordable enough for consumers to purchase new models that are more fuel-efficient.

“Our overarching goal is to get more Americans into newer, safer, cleaner vehicles,” he said, noting that the average age of a car on U.S. roadways is more than 12 years.

Wheeler touted the EPA’s enforcement actions against automakers that have been investigated for emissions violations. The agency reached an $800 million settlement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles this year to resolve allegations from federal regulators that the company used software on about 104,000 diesel-powered pickups and SUVs that is similar to “defeat devices” used by Volkswagen AG to cheat U.S. emissions-testing.

“We’re committed to vigorously enforcing the nation’s environmental laws,” Wheeler said Thursday. “EPA has stopped the sale of over 1 million after-market defeat devices…In this year alone, we’ve stopped roughly 2,220 illegal vehicles and engines at the border and held the importers and the manufacturers accountable for many more illegal foreign products.”