Los Alamitos, CA (Feb 7, 2019) – Roland Sands Design (RSD) today announced the return of the Super Hooligan National Championship (SHNC) powered by Indian Motorcycle for 2019.

The SHNC, in its third full season, is the true north of the motorcycle culture, smashing the custom scene together with flat track racing on readily available and affordable street bikes of any make. Basic rules are 750cc and up production street bikes with flat track tires in stock frames.  The series roots are built on bringing racing to the people in previously unheard of locations, smack in the middle of the city or coast as well as key moto culture events across the country, promising a solid mix of current and new fans alike.

The 2019 SHNC kicks off this weekend, February 9^th at The One Pro Race at Salem Speedway (Salem, OR) as part of The One Show in Portland, Oregon. Watch the series opener livestreamed on www.fanschoice.tv at 9pm EST.

This year’s calendar is a true melting pot of motorcycle racing and culture, from dirt to asphalt, oval’s to TT’s, core bike rallies to Pro American Flat Track races and huge music festivals.  Super Hooligan races make their way mid-season to the Moto Classic Events starting in Tulsa, Oklahoma in June and the Moto Bay Classic in San Francisco in August.  Moto Beach Classic featuring Super Hooligan racing will once again be joining the Surf City Blitz with the addition of an East Coast version in November. Super Hooligan, it’s a party where a race breaks out!

2019 Schedule:

February 9, 2019: The One Pro: Salem Speedway, Salem, OR

March 14, 2019: AFT Daytona*: Daytona, FL

April 13, 2019: The Handbuilt Show: Austin, TX

May 11, 2019: AFT Perris*: Perris, CA

June 16, 2019: The Tulsa TT: Tulsa, OK

June 22, 2019: San Pedro Asphalt: San Pedro, CA

August 5-9, 2019: Sturgis: Sturgis, SD

August 2019: Moto Bay Classic: San Francisco, CA

September 21, 2019: Costa Mesa Speedway: Costa Mesa, CA

October 26-27, 2019: Moto Beach Classic/Surf City Blitz: Huntington Beach, CA

November 9-10, 2019: Moto Beach Classic/Surf City Blitz: Daytona Beach, FL

*AFT events will be Super Hooligan Class only, no Hooligan Amateur class

*All dates subject to change or cancellation

RSD recognizes that the SHNC would be nowhere without the efforts of the racers themselves, so for 2019 we have extended the contingency program to all racers that make the A Main Event, totaling $5,000 in payouts at every race.

The J&P Cycles Amateur Hooligan class makes its debut this year giving Rookie Hooligans and first timers the opportunity to send-it in front of the home town crowd, without the pressure of being on the track with more experienced riders. Points will be kept, the top 3 will win J&P Cycles Gift Cards at each race and a Champion will be crowned at the final round. Amateur Hooligan races will be run at all non-AFT events.

The SHNC series sponsors help make it all possible. Indian Motorcycle is the Official Motorcycle sponsor of Super Hooligan and will be awarding the Super Hooligan Series Champion an Indian motorcycle.  Dunlop, The Official Tire of Super Hooligan brings back the Dunlop Dash for Cash race. K&N Engineering continues its support of the Holeshot award.  Bell Helmets and Motul have returned to support the series along with J&P Cycles, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, Wiseco Performance Parts and Rekluse.

2019 Super Hooligan Contingency Program:

$5,000 in Contingency Payouts at each race distributed to racers of Super Hooligan A Main Events. Provided by: Dunlop, K & N Engineering, Motul, Russ Brown Motorcycle Lawyers and Bell Helmets.

Indian Motorcycle

• The 2019 Super Hooligan Series Champion will receive an Indian motorcycle
• Brand Contingency payouts for racers on Indian Motorcycles in Super Hooligan A Main Events – $1,000 (1^st place) / $750 (2^nd place) / $500 (3^rd place)

Dunlop Tires

$500 Winner-Takes-All Super Hooligan Dunlop Dash for Cash at each race

K&N Engineering

$250 Winner-Take-All Super Hooligan Holeshot Award at each race

MOTUL

Cleanest Bike Award

CortezStruggle To Explain Phase-Out Of Combustion Engine _ The Daily Caller

WASHINGTON, DC — The Green New Deal championed by Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez officially rolled out Thursday afternoon, but some proponents of the bill appeared unable to explain how commercial and private air travel will survive, should the legislation ever become successful. (RELATED: Does Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal Outlaw Every Building In The Country?)

Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal calls to:

“Totally overhaul transportation by massively expanding electric vehicle manufacturing, build charging stations everywhere, build out high-speed rail at a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary, create affordable public transit available to all, with goal to replace every combustion-engine vehicle.”

The Daily Caller spoke with Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, a major supporter of the package, about the lack of the combustion engine in the future, as well as how the airline industry would be affected by the plan.

It’s incredible, the amount of news flying at us each week. New runs, new shows, new laws, new fights, fewer magazines, new models, better deals, you name it.

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=14364&id=14364 

Check it out. Our new format calls for membership to read the news. I hope it’s not too much of an inconvenience. It’s like a subscription to your favorite magazine only better. Plus, we will send you a signed book and bling if you sign up for two years.

In the meantime, join your local motorcycle or national motorcycle rights group and keep up the fight for freedom.

–Bandit

Hey,

It’s all a scramble, but a blast in the process. You’ll see an article about Harley in the news. They didn’t do so well in three of four quarters last year. But one quarter they did just fine.

There’s talk about aging riders and millennials. All the articles pick on the company with profound comments about new tech and disconnected kids. Sure, there’s something to be said, but there are more events now than ever, more action, more racing opportunities and more shows. There are more world class builders who need to be recognized.

It’s easy. We need a good biker movie and another killer TV series and the biker world will be on fire again. Hang on.

In silence is the greatest power

Humans can act like bees or locusts

Electricity follows the easiest path

With stillness you can free your spirit

The signature of the spiral links the inner world and the outter world

The inner eye is the flower of life

Removing resistance allows energy to unfold

Happiness is found inside

Circumstances don’t matter, only the state of consciousness matters

You can’t change anything with force. You must build a new model and make the old one obsolete.

Let’s hit the news:

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

NEW GALLERY COMES TO BANDIT’S CANTINA–The World Famous Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show, Sturgis 2018 at the Buffalo Chip. Check out the amazing bikes, every spot was full, they couldn’t fit in another entry.

–JACK MCINTYRE
Amir of Bandit’s Cantina Galleries

SOMETHING NEW, A BOOT REVIEW–
On my 3rd pair of these boots and they have not ever let me down!

https://youtu.be/U7hsihX7D20

Each pair lasts me two seasons. Have ridden all over the Country wearing these boots, even did two full days in the rain riding back from Sturgis wearing them. They are the most comfortable and durable riding boots that I have found so far. Light but strong.

I also wear them everywhere, they are so comfortable. Price range is $198-$265, so do your research. The only downside is the initial break in for the first one -two weeks. They are pretty stiff. After that, they are perfect!

Subscribe to my You Tube Channel here, youtube.com/c/ABiker Dude

–BikerDude

ABATE OF WISCONSIN SUMMER HUMMER– I’m a regional Rep for ABATE of WI (region 2A). Well 2019 is ABATE’s 45th year! And we’re celebrating! ABATE of WI owns 40 acres of private land and every year we throw a party called the Summer Hummer.

This year it’s going to be special. Anyways, there is a t-shirt contest looking for the best logo. Well I was an Easyriders reader for many years. And there was so many cool illustrations. Maybe do you have a cool pic you’d be willing to borrow us? Sure would be cool. All copyrights would be honored.

Ride free bro
— Tom
Email Address: tas00064@gmail.com

We helped Tom out. Hope it works.–Bandit

George Thorogood & The Destroyers are Joining Keith Urban at the Buffalo Chip

VALENTINES PRESENT ALERT – Give a Gift You’ll Both Enjoy!

PRE-SALE Pricing for Aug. 3 Ends Soon!

PRE-SALE for All Other Single-Day Passes Starts Feb. 12

You already missed 4 opportunities to get multi-day passes for the lowest prices at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip.

Don’t miss another one. Get them now before special prices end… again!

GET PASSES!
FIND OUT MORE!

Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Styx, Zakk Sabbath, Skid Row, Collective Soul, George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Reverend Horton Heat and MUCH MORE!

Prices will never again be as low as they are right now.
DON’T WAIT!

10TH ANNUAL ONE MOTO SHOW–
With the 10th annual One Moto Show taking place this weekend, we wanted to share with you a cool piece of content highlighting One Show founder Thor Drake that launched today on Indian Motorcycle’s social channels.

As an innovator (even if he won’t admit it), Thor has created one of the most must-see motorcycle shows in the country, where Portland lifestyle blends with motorcycle art and culture.

“If everyone is out trying to do one thing, I’m trying to do the opposite. But the opposite is also what everyone does. So I’m trying to do the opposite of the opposite” – Thor

Below are links to the videos on Indian Motorcycle’s social channels. Let us know if you have interest in sharing with your audience online or via social.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtjEauiAHwo/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1pc6po8oj91b8

–Fiorella Bergandi

FROM TRIUMPH CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES–Bike of the Month
1962 Triumph T100SC
62 T100SC 3

Very Rare 1962 Triumph T100SC
Original California bike!
First year of the Tiger SC known as the “Triumph Enduro Trophy”
Has original mouth organ aka “Harmonica” style tank badges.
Chromed Parcel grid
Original Dunlop “Made in England” rims ( front and rear)
New Dunlop K70 tires (front and rear)
Has original license plate bracket
Birth Certificate from England showing Johnson Motors as the US Distributor
Excellent survivor that runs well

Lot #1515 $7,495
Triumph Classic Motorcycles
1281 Logan Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-0170
www.triclassic.com

NEW FROM TUCKER–Volume 001 of Tucker V-twin HardTales is live, and this issue features 48 pages of new and exciting products from Tucker Brands. Also included in this issue is a brief overview of our Project M8 Tucker V-twin catalog cover bike build. Give it a look and see what’s new from Tucker V-twin!

Direct Link to Volume 001 Flipbook: http://online.fliphtml5.com/lxnd/wlwa/.

Embed Code:

–Dale Spangler

TWO MORE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINES BIT THE DUST—Dave Withrows American Bagger and Urban Bagger shut down this week.

It’s too bad that the magazine market is taking such a hit. I know there’s a better way, but I also know change is inevitable. We gotta roll with it.

That’s why I like motorcycles so much. Wheels are everything.

–Bandit

RESEARCH & STATISTICS from the MIC–
MIC Owner Survey Shows Who Is Buying Bikes

We know that more motorcycle owners these days are women, and now we know increasing percentages of all owners are married and college graduates, and they’re generally older, according to the 2018 Motorcycle Industry Council Owner Survey.

“Demographics are changing for Americans across the country and it’s no different for motorcycle owners,” said MIC President and CEO Tim Buche. “For decades, the MIC Owner Survey has told us a lot about who we are, and we’re now learning how things have shifted since our last study was done in 2014. Some of the stats are encouraging, like the increasing number of women owners, while other data, such as the rising median age, show where we have more work to do.”

The owner survey also uncovered trends among the emerging group of millennial motorcyclists. More than half have taken a training course and use their bikes frequently for commuting. Sixty-nine percent say they are interested in electric motorcycles, citing fuel economy and the environment as top drivers.

“For the past several years, manufacturers have offered more great entry-level motorcycles at affordable prices,” said Buche, “while at the same time focusing on increasing the industry’s outreach to millennials.”

Gender, Age, Marital Status

Male Owners – 81 percent
Female Owners – 19 percent

Median Age
2018 – 50
2014 – 47
2012 – 45

Married
2018 – 68 percent
2014 – 61 percent
2012 – 63 percent

Education, Income and Work Status

College Graduate
2018 – 24 percent
2014 – 20 percent
2012 – 17 percent

Median Household Income
2018 – $62,500
2014 – $62,200
2012 – $64,100

Employed – 71 percent
Retired – 24 percent

–MIC

WILD BIKE OF THE WEEK–
The Italian nakedbike that features a 2-liter, 200-hp upside-down engine

By Loz Blain

An inverted engine puts the center of mass closer to the rider, which Nembo says makes…
An inverted engine puts the center of mass closer to the rider, which Nembo says makes for better handling.

(Credit: Nembo Motocyclette)

After some successful prototyping, an Italian company is gearing up to go into production of a bizarre and unique boutique motorcycle. The Nembo 32 is a naked sports machine featuring an upside-down, three-cylinder, 2-liter motor making 200 horsepower.

The Nembo 32 weighs as little as 160 kg dry, but packs in a monster 2-liter,…
That single shorty exhaust makes a heck of a racket.

The 32 is so named because it’s a 3-cylinder, 2-liter.

Why upside down? Well, if you ask the Nembo team, it’s inspired by early aircraft engines and done in service of mass centralization. Keeping the center of mass low, in Nembo’s estimation, is less important on a motorcycle than keeping it tight. With a rider on board, the best way to keep the bulk of the mass in the smallest possible circle is to flip the motor over and put the crank at the top, with the lighter cylinders below.

We suspect there’s an element of “we just want to be different” there too, but that’s hardly seen as a bad thing in the motorcycle world, where a goodly proportion of riders love having something that’s the center of attention wherever they park it up.

What’s written on the tank translates to “leap, comrades! Unless you want to reveal the eagle…

The motor in the two prototypes pictured is a 1,814cc version, but Nembo says all production bikes will feature a redesigned 2,000cc version. Power will be limited to 200 horsepower, torque will peak at an Earth-shaking 210 Nm (158 lb-ft) @ 5500 rpm. The total weight of the bike, depending on specification, can be as low as 160 kg (352 lb), so this thing will go like a bat out of hell. Helping keep the weight low is the fact that the crankcase forms a major part of the frame, augmented with a few trellis bits where required.

The bodywork tilts back from the end of the subframe to reveal a bolted-on tank and airbox above the motor. The swingarm is carbon fiber, as are the rims, the rear of which uses a fairly wide 200-section hoop to help get the power down. Forks are fully adjustable 50-mm Marzocchis, brakes are Brembo, and the eye-catching rear suspension is a Bellapadrona fully adjustable air shock.

The first Nembo prototype was running as far back as 2011, and the company’s website still states the production bike is due in 2014 – swing and a miss there, it seems. But creator Daniele Sabatini and his team are turning to crowdfunding in an effort to get their unique machine into production.

Reserving a bike will cost you a minimum of €5,000 (~US$5,700), and the final price won’t be known until Nembo knows how many it’ll be building.

It’s an all-or-nothing fundraising goal, though, requiring a massive €3.2 million (US$3.66 million) in sales before they receive any payments whatsoever. Given that all the expensive perks are one-offs totaling just €162,000 (US$185,200), and the cheaper ones have names like “Nembo special letter of thanks” and “Two Nembo perks” I think we can assume this might be a non-starter too.

We do hope Nembo figures the whole business side of things out, though, because we’d love to hear more of this thing’s unique sound, which you can enjoy as it lugs around a racetrack in the video below. Even at idle, it raises the hairs on my arms.

Sources: Nembo Indiegogo, Nembo

Harley-Davidson and the Millennial Dilemma
By Lowell Anderson

If you follow the motorcycle industry at all you know that Harley-Davidson is really struggling to find its next customer. Last year Harley experienced double digit declines in sales for 3 out of 4 quarters and many people are wondering where the bottom is for this iconic American brand.

To compound the sales problems, they had to recall thousands of bikes due to safety issues (brakes and clutches). This of course led to a shortage of parts. The shortage of parts led to an inability to ship new bikes, and so on…. You know the saying, “When it rains it pours!” and the executive group at Harley seem to be experiencing a torrential downpour.

Not Really Innovation

Harley has known for years it needed to figure out how to appeal to a new customer base. The old school marketing techniques that were so successful in the past have fallen short and they are simply struggling to fill the gap between a new generation and one that is dying off.

Recently Harley released a new electric bike called the LiveWire in an effort to reach out to a new demographic. The $30,000.00 price tag and the products inability to compete with current products on the market left people scratching their heads. What the hell are they doing?

If you are trying to sell to Millennials and you are offering an “innovative” product, that product needs to be a dramatic improvement over existing offerings or you are just making things much worse.

A Big Ego

One of the issues I think Harley is experiencing has to do with an inflated ego. They have survived for years by offering products that in some ways were far inferior to other brands. Actually, they didn’t just survive, they thrived!

The older portion of their customer base would defend Harley’s obvious shortcomings which enabled Harley to continue down a path of inferiority. To me one of the glaring shortcomings was always the brakes. When you produce one of the heaviest bikes on the market and you are still installing single and dual piston brakes, you obviously have become a little complacent.

I wrote an article some time ago named 10 Things I hate About My Harley where I spoke about some of the obvious shortcomings of the product. Surprisingly, the response was better than anticipated. When we published the article my colleagues and I cringed a bit in fear of the backlash that we would endure. Surprisingly, many of the comments were positive. Many of the customers agreed that the products were indeed inferior, but they were willing to overlook those shortcomings for love of the brand.

The Millennial Purchase Decision

The Millennials that Harley needs to reach are not going to have that same endearment. Many industries that have survived for so long are significantly being affected by the perceptions of the new generations. Popular restaurant chains are losing sales because Millennials prefer to order food in. Breakfast cereal sales are dropping because Millennials like the convenience of eating a breakfast bar. Retail stores are quickly becoming a thing of the past as ecommerce establishments are now able to provide better service with less risk and much more convenience.

The Millennial decision process is much more focused. They consider things like convenience, value, public perception, and control of the transaction process. The net they can cast when doing research on a potential purchase is vast and detailed. Public opinion and social perception are important considerations in their purchase decision process. Many Millennials are entering the workplace with years of college debt so the products they choose need to have a high public rating and present a certain value threshold in order to be appealing at all.

What is the Answer

Harley-Davidson is in a tough spot. The current core customer represents a lifestyle and set of values that the new customer doesn’t necessarily align with.

The task of meeting a new customer without alienating your current core customer is daunting to say the least and the current moves are not helping improve existing or new relationships at all. Harley needs to consider that the new customers are budget minded, convenience oriented, and have a completely different set of values than the customers of the past.

In order to bridge the gap between the old customer and the new, Harley-Davidson needs to take their existing products and pay close attention to the details. They need to improve on the obvious shortcomings and get back to producing a product that produces a high value for the cost. No more $30,000 bikes that come with inferior brakes and $5.00 hardware. If you want to survive you need to stop nickel and diming your customers for optimum profits.

For the new customer they need to look at producing products that are convenient, innovative, and meet the needs of the new generation. Produce products that are affordable, easy to maintain, and really easy to maneuver. Develop motorcycles that offer conveniences that are outside the scope of the traditional Harley customer.

The Millennial customer is much more likely to be interested in tooling around town instead of spending hours on the open road. There is a marketing saying that states you are supposed to, “sell the sizzle not the steak”, but with the amount of research the new customer can do, you better be sure there is some quality meat in that steak.

Harley needs to spend less money on high dollar marketing schemes and spend more time understanding the Millennial’s wants, values, and desires.

I agree and disagree. But it’s interesting to see the fervor over H-D sales. Too bad the Millennials have been brain-washed by the Doomsday Activists, and no one in the industry questioned the bullshit, until now. The kids will come back around. Everyone likes adventure.–Bandit

[page break]

Pirelli Introduces New DIABLO Superbike Slicks for Smaller Displacement Sportbikes

SC1 Compound Will be Available in 110/70-17 Front and 140/70-17 Rear Sizes

Pirelli Tire North America will introduce two new sizes of its DIABLO Superbike tire lineup, geared specifically toward entry-level sportbikes. The new tires will be available in 110/70-17 front and 140/70-17 rear sizes and reaffirms Pirelli’s commitment to racing and the growing popularity of smaller sportbike racing classes.

The new sizing options will be available in Pirelli’s SC1 compound. The front tire has been designed for improved handling and grip, while the rear will continue to have the same feel as the current race-proven DIABLO™ Supercorsa tires that have been winning races and setting records across the United States.

“Pirelli’s racing team has been working hard to develop sizing dedicated to smaller displacement sportbike racing”, said Oscar Solis, road racing manager, Pirelli. “Throughout the past several years the 300cc and 400cc sportbike popularity has continued to trend upwards, generating interest as an entry-level racing class and for younger riders that are looking to move up through the ranks. Our testing was extremely positive and we have designed a product to meet the needs and expectations of all skill levels on the racetrack.”

For 15 consecutive seasons Pirelli has served as the official tire supplier for all classes in the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship, including the World Supersport 300 division. The production-derived world championship is one of the key platforms used by Pirelli to perform an endless amount of research and development around the globe with DIABLO™ Superbike racing slicks. In 2018, Ana Carrasco became the first-ever female motorcycle racing world champion when she captured the World Supersport 300 title aboard her Pirelli-equipped DS Junior Team Kawasaki Ninja® 400.

Pirelli will be attending several upcoming events where technical support and trackside assistance will be present. The events will include the Florida Motorcycle Road Racing Association round at Palm Beach International Raceway on February 9 and the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association rounds at MSR Houston on February 16 and Chuckwalla Valley Raceway on February 23.

The new tires are available now through your local Pirelli trackside vendor.

To learn more about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit www.pirelli.com

JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK– Alternator Rotor Remover and Installer

Removing or installing the high output alternator rotor on the Milwaukee Eight® requires a unique tool, and trust us – those magnets don’t budge easily!

At JIMS® we understand that using pry bars or striking with a hammer can not only damage the rotorhousing, but the magnets as well.

For $204.50 this tool easily removes and installs the alternator rotor while protecting the rare earth magnets within it.

The JIMS® Alternator Rotor Remover and installer (Part No. 5812) can be purchased at your nearest JIMS® dealer. For more information please contact us at (805) 482-6913, email us at sales@jimsusa.com, or visit www.jimsusa.com.

–Greg Thiessen
Marketing Associate

MRF RIDING FREE FROM DC--Your Weekly Biker Bulletin from Inside the Beltway

Your Motorcycle Riders Foundation team in Washington, D.C. is pleased to provide our members with the latest information and updates on issues that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Count on your MRF to keep you informed about a range of matters that are critical to the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. Published weekly when the U.S. Congress is in session.

No Time for a Victory Lap
Despite the five-week government shutdown, your MRF representatives were on Capitol Hill kicking off our legislative agenda for 2019. As many of you are aware, we ended 2018 with an important victory for our anti-profiling resolution in the Senate. As far as I am concerned, the Senate has now spoken and unanimously passed a resolution “promoting awareness of motorcycle profiling and encouraging collaboration and communication with the motorcycle community and law enforcement officials to prevent instances of profiling.”

We are now focusing our efforts on the House side… Congressman Burgess of Texas has agreed to once again co-sponsor an anti-profiling resolution in the House of Representatives. The November election results have DRAMATICALLY changed the playing field in the House. Not only is Nancy Pelosi now Speaker of the House but there is a new Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Jerrod Nadler of New York.

Last year the House version of the resolution was trapped in the Judiciary Committee, held up by a Chairman who had concerns about how law enforcement organizations viewed the language. With a new Chairman, there is new hope that the House will follow the lead of the Senate and go on record acknowledging motorcycle profiling.

By early spring we should have an official resolution and will start pounding the pavement looking for co-sponsors and champions to stand with us on the issue.

Rebuilding the Motorcycle Caucus in 2019
The 2018 midterm elections not only took a toll on the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives it also took a toll on the Motorcycle Caucus. Whether through retirement, advancement to a new office or defeat, the ranks of the House Motorcycle Caucus were cut nearly in half after the November elections.

Early in 2019 part of the focus of our team in Washington will be to help replenish the ranks of the Motorcycle Caucus. The Caucus serves a few functions, first and most importantly it helps us know who our friends are. As we as an organization tackle the myriad of issues facing motorcyclists, the caucus gives us a great starting point for meeting with our champions on Capitol Hill and working together to address our priorities. In other words, we have to know who our friends are so we can ask them for help when we need it. Second, the caucus holds educational events on Capitol Hill and offers opportunities for staffers to come together and learn about motorcycles, riders and the industry as a whole.

Did you know the “Freshman Class” for the 116th Congress has 90 members? Meaning 21% of the House of Representatives are new to Capitol Hill.

Start thinking about your own personal Member of Congress…
Are they new to Washington? Have you met them before? Do they have any connection to motorcycles? If they don’t, should they?

In the coming weeks, we are going to ask you as MRF members to help us reach these new Members of Congress and rebuild the House Motorcycle Caucus.

As you all know, the Senators Joni Ernst (IA) and Gary Peters (MI) launched the first-ever Senate Motorcycle Caucus in 2017. Your MRF wants to help expand the membership to help better the advancement of our issues in the U.S. Senate. We were pleased to learn that MRF Legislative Champion Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin officially became a member of the Senate Motorcycle Caucus this week. We intend to target more Senators to help fill out the membership list this year.

Regulatory News – Heidi King Renominated to Lead NHTSA
On January 16th, President Donald Trump nominated Heidi King to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). King, who currently serves as the Deputy Administrator of NHTSA, was nominated last summer for the post but the Senate failed the Republican-led Senate Commerce Committee advanced her nomination to the floor by a vote of 14-13 — that nomination expired once the last Congress adjourned. The administrator post has been vacant for almost two years and has been effectively under the leadership of King during this time.

The New Guy:
With Megan Ekstrom’s departure, the MRF Board of Directors was looking to maintain their presence in Washington, DC and ensure that all the hard work of the past years was not lost in the waning weeks of 2018.

Based on the recommendation of Megan and conversations with your leadership, my lobbying firm Husch Blackwell Strategies was hired to represent the MRF in Washington. My firm came on board in December, and we will continue with you for the near future in 2019. Over the last two months, I have worked closely with Tiffany in your DC office, and I’m impressed with not only the passion of your membership but the willingness to invest time, money and effort to achieve the goals of the MRF.

As a little background, I previously worked on Capitol Hill for the House Transportation Committee and at another lobbying firm in DC. In fact, Megan and I worked together for five years, and she and her husband are good personal friends.

Since every good introduction needs a fun fact, I’ll leave you with this, between 2003 and 2016 I managed to visit all 50 State Capitols and have my picture taken. So, no matter where you live in the country there is a fairly good chance, I’ve been in your neighborhood.

–Rocky & Tiffany
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation

LATEST FROM LE PERA–The KickFlip is one of the latest in the lineup from LePera Motorcycle Seats.

It is designed to be a seat that offers big comfort as well as big opportunities for showing off. There are endless options for the covers the KickFlip, starting with Basket Weave, Diamond, Pleated and Pleated with Grip Tape. That last option is especially great for riders who need extra traction when the occasion calls for it.

LePera’s Marathon Foam provides maximum stability and comfort, too, to keep riders in the saddle for a long time without getting stiff and sore.

Underneath the Marathon Foam is LePera’s handcrafted steel seat base, a tradition that dates back to LePera’s founding in 1972. The powder coated steel base is covered on the bottom with carpet to provide a friction-free surface between the seat and the fender.

Altogether, the seat design, construction and materials add up to a snug fit against the motorcycle, a durable seat and a secure feeling while riding.

–Christine
LePera Enterprises
Phone: 1-818-767-7462

VETERANS RESOURCE OF THE WEEK–
If you are having trouble with any Veterans administration hospital in the United States this is the number you need to call.

This is the number of the White House office of veterans affairs.

Please use it to save your life or another veteran.

855-948-2311

–Sarge
Veteran

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–DOOMSDAY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for January 31, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/DOOMSDAY_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_January_31_2019.aspx

It has been awhile since I danced in the street.

Got to think about doing that again soon.

GOOD POST

–Rogue
Supreme Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™
Email: rogue@bikernet.com
Palm Bay, FL

NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT–Professor Guus Berkhout is setting up a new international climate institute in the Netherlands, where counter arguments are not tolerated.

Q: People didn’t hear a positive story anymore?

Indeed, the doomsday scenario became a kind of religion. When the scientific criticism from outside the climate movement became broader and more extensive, and cost calculations also showed that implementing the extremely expensive climate measures could seriously disrupt society economically, things really went wrong. As a counter-reaction, the climate movement called dissenters ‘deniers’, a very bad framing that refers to the holocaust deniers. ‘

–from Climate Depot

Happy Groundhog Day from WindVest!–
Let’s hope Phil doesn’t see his shadow…

Bring on the riding season!!

Start the riding season out with the best wind protection!!

We have a variety of sizes, colors and styles. See our fitment chart for the windshield for your bike.

WindVest Fitment Chart 2019

WindVest Motorcycle Products
16840 Joleen Way, Ste B2
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
www.windvest.com

OZARKS RALLY COMING–Mark your calendars for this year’s Ride the Ozarks Rally!
Guided Rides
Free Live Entertainment
Bike Show
Vendors

REAL NEWS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN’T WANT YOU TO MISS
Trump Policies Keep Economic Boom Going As Job Gains of 304,000 Surpass Expectations

-White House Council of Economic Advisers
“We added 304,000 jobs, which was a shocker to a lot of people. It wasn’t a shocker to me,” President Donald J. Trump said yesterday about the January jobs report. With this week’s news, America’s economy continues its historic streak of job gains. January 2019 marks the 16th month in a row with employment growth of at least 100,000 new jobs.

Watch: “We hate to say we told you so…”

U.S. Stocks Post Best January in 30 Years
-The Wall Street Journal

The strong U.S. economy fueled stocks to their best January performance in 30 years, Amrith Ramkumar reports. On top of that, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both closed with their biggest monthly gains of any month in more than 3 years, “lifted by renewed confidence that the U.S. economy will keep powering ahead.”

I’ve Fought Sex Trafficking as a DHS Special Agent – We Need To Build the Wall For The Children
-Fox News

“As a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) special agent on the southern border who fought sex trafficking for over a decade, I can say with certainty that the issue of the border wall should be not about power and partisan politics. It should be about the children – the tens of thousands of them who have been and are being trafficked into the U.S. and forced into the commercial sex trade,” writes Timothy Ballard, founder of the nonprofit Operation Underground Railroad.

Crisis at Our Southern Border Is Real and Growing Worse Without the Wall
-The Hill

Democrats “claim that a barrier or wall would do nothing to curb illegal immigration or drug smuggling, which is demonstrably untrue,” Buck Sexton writes. The crisis at our border is grave: “Human smugglers for the cartels use the surrender of family units as a diversionary tactic. Once Border Patrol is engaged in one area, the smugglers will use that opportunity to run drugs onto American soil.”

Life Is Under Attack
-National Review
Vice President Mike Pence writes about a shocking bill introduced by Democrats in the Virginia legislature that would affirm abortion up to the moment of birth. But Gov. Ralph Northam (D-VA) went even further. “The infant would be kept comfortable. [And] the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue,” the Governor said. “There’s another word for this: infanticide,” Vice President Pence writes.

Trump Administration Announces U.S. Withdrawal from INF Treaty
-The Washington Free Beacon
“The Trump administration announced on Friday that the United States would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty because Russia continues to be in violation of the agreement,” Andrew Kugle writes. President Trump addressed Russia’s violation in a statement: “For far too long, Russia has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to our allies and troops abroad.”

Worker Wage Gains Just Broke 3% for the First Time in More Than 10 Years
-CNBC
“Wages and salaries for American workers rose more than 3 percent over the past year, the first time that threshold has been broken in more than 10 years, according to a Labor Department report Thursday,” Jeff Cox reports. Average weekly earnings climbed 1.2 percent for the year in 2018.

In the headlines: The Trump Economy stays hot in the new year

Trump Hits Venezuela with New Sanctions as U.S. Steps Up Pressure On Maduro
-The Washington Times
“The Trump administration stepped up its pressure campaign on Venezuela’s socialist president Monday, hitting the country’s state-owned oil company with sanctions and calling on other nations to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president,” Dave Boyer reports. “The United States is holding accountable those responsible for Venezuela’s tragic decline,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

LATEST REPORT FROM THE NMA–
Are Cyclists Vision Zero Zealots?

Last week, we emailed and posted on our website a guest newsletter entitled Are Cyclists Vision Zero Zealots? written by Eric Berg, an NMA Board Member, an NMA Life Member, an avid sport bicyclist, and a staunch defender of motorists’ rights. Readers, including some of whom (like Eric) are bicyclists, responded with interesting perspectives which follow.

Eric Berg is certainly correct when he states that these issues are usually not black and white. I suspect that’s particularly true even within groups like the Washington Area Bicyclists’ Association, to which I belonged most of the years I lived in that city, and Mass Bike, to which I now belong.

I’m a leisure/commuter cyclist (and a long-ago veteran of a Seattle to Boston ride). I’m very much opposed to efforts to discourage driving, notably the 25 mph speed limits that have sprung up all over Boston and other metro areas. (I would note that Washington DC now has speed bumps in neighborhoods all over the city.) If these laws were enforced (so far as I can tell, they are not enforced in the Boston area, but I am uncertain about that) they would increase stop and go traffic, since reducing speeds means more cars will be on the road at any given time, and the increasing traffic density will cause traffic snarls.

As for Vision Zero, this idealistic campaign ignores the law of diminishing returns. A better way to reduce fatalities and maimings–both laudable goals–would be to ban use of electronics and infotainment in moving vehicles.

I don’t ride on streets nearly as much as I used to–I rode 3,600 miles annually during the 1980s and early ’90s-because I’m especially afraid of people texting. I am lucky to live very close to bicycle paths that take me close to places I want to go.

Try not to alienate urban commuting cyclists!
(But thanks, Eric Berg, for this valuable essay.)
David Holzman, a Massachusetts member

The weekend “greenie” bicyclists ride proudly down the street with a sneer on their face as they run the stop signs. Glad to hear that not all bicyclists are the “enemy” — that the professionals are realistic in their view of the traveling world. This is the first time I have ever heard of the “rail-to-trails” plan — sounds like a good idea where everyone wins.
a California member

Eric’s analysis is “right on the money” because the Vision Zero zealots usually push for programs that will take money from mostly safe drivers in fees and unjustified fines. Members whose blood pressure is under control can find some of their over-the-top advocacies on www.streetsblog.org.
James C. Walker, NMAF Executive Director and Michigan Member

Hey! I drive a modified Subaru WRX — don’t lump me in with Smart Car drivers! 😉

In all seriousness — I don’t know that we can categorize drivers based on the car(s) they drive. I’ve seen countless late model Corvettes being piloted by guys who appeared to be 60-80 years old, poking along in the right lane at the speed limit (or less). Same with many drivers of Vipers and Porsches, etc.

Conversely, many of the ‘high rollers’ drive cars like the Prius and Corolla S. In fact, drivers of pickup trucks and minivans often drive more aggressively than the owners of performance cars.

That said, I get your point and I’ll concede the “Smart Car” category. 😉

PS: If the NMA is not already doing so, perhaps we should follow Eric’s lead and promote “rails-to-trails” along with other dedicated bike trails. Auto and bike traffic should be separated as much as possible.
Sherman Johnson, a Maryland member

Militant cyclists who want the roads for themselves may have a good plan to ban cars from various roadways. When cars are banned, monies from motorists for road maintenance of roads which ban cars should also be banned. Let’s see how well the roads do with nobody to pay for them.

Cyclists must either share the roads with those who pay for them or do without the benefits of road maintenance.

The attitude that “you must pay, but you can’t use the roads” is stupid, selfish and just plain totalitarian. Yes, as a matter of fact, we motorists do own the roads, we pay for them!
Steve, a New York member

I’ve been an avid cyclist all my long life. When the “Pedal the Peaks” company was in business in Colorado I did every one of their 100-mile a day week-long rides. They usually had two in the summer months. The number of riders was small (300-400) by comparison with others like, “Ride the Rockies” which has 5,000 or more.

Aside from these group rides, I’ve logged several thousand miles on two lane highways in Colorado. No more. I’ve had a few close calls. Now I ride only on designated bike trails, of which Colorado has plenty. I’m 74 and would like very much to get even older, slowly.

One can ride a bike from Denver to Vail (100+ miles) almost exclusively on bike trails. One must go over Loveland pass on the road but can do most of the rest of it on the bike trail. Loveland pass is twisty enough to make drivers pay attention. I use a tail light that will get attention even at noon with full sun. From Vail you can continue on to Glenwood Springs mostly on a paved bike trail.

I can ride from Aurora, Colorado through downtown Denver and on to Ft. Collins with only a few miles off trail. It’s especially nice to get through Denver traffic without having to go through Denver traffic.

I’m really happy that Wyoming has begun to build an extensive system of bike trails. Colorado has lately become a politically radical and unfriendly place so most of the rest of my retirement will be spent in Wyoming.
Ken Willis, a Colorado member

[page break]

QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
I Guess I Left a Mark In the Motorcycle Industry

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

How does The Horse still give 100,000 as the number of issues distributed each month when they don’t do subscriptions anymore? I doubt they sell any more than 3,000 issues per month.

Ever since Janus’s African female came aboard, The Horse has been riding downhill every month since! Poor paper quality, poor cover quality, BAD photos, fonts so large that it takes only a paragraph to fill a page, and enough misspelled words to make yer eyes turn inside out.

His African hates more than she likes (she’s a socialist lesbian, what do ya expect?). Her written words read like they came from Ocasio-Cortez! Ms. Flowers online “profile” is fake. Look it up! Her agenda is to nothing but destroy The Horse.

Bought their issue #181 – what a mess! Go back a few issues before the socialist got involved and it was a decent magazine.

Now? This African female is stealing more money from The Horse, probably with Janus’s help. He’s no winner, either, probably another Liberal. Both are corrupt, both steal, both lie.

Motorcycling is being destroyed in the US while the UK & the EU are experiencing boom years!

I’ve subscribed to BSH, Classic Bike, Classic Bike Guide for YEARS. Professionally produced motorcycle magazines. And they don’t have FEMALES in charge.

Only US bike mag I subscribe to now is Cycle Source – and I still get angry, complaining, “it’s not fair” articles and editorials. Three years and CS will be gone, too. This mag will go female, too.

This country USED TO BE A GREAT COUNTRY.

Not any more.

— Gary and Daisy
Brooklyn, NY

Wow, interesting. Actually 100%Biker in England is run by Blu, a longtime terrific editor and a woman. Helluva magazine. One of my favorites.

–Bandit

AUSTRALIAN NEWS–SA bikers arrested for being in public ‘in a group’

Six members from the Rebels motorcycle club have been arrested in South Australia during the past week for being in public in groups of two or more since before Christmas.

SA cops arrested the men, aged 23 to 44, for allegedly being in a criminal organization and who were knowingly present in public places with two or more other persons.

They are accused of meeting on December 14 at the Adelaide Airport, at a Riverland licensed premises on December 31 and on January 19 in Glenelg, and will face court in February and March.

LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK—‘010 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic FLHTCUTG

The Tri Glide Ultra Classic is a full-feature, factory three-wheel motorcycle built to confidently chase the horizon with long-haul comfort and convenience.

The Tri Glide Ultra is everything you love about the Ultra Limited, only on three wheels. Get into the middle of nowhere on this bike and you won’t be coming back anytime soon.

How much motorcycle can you fit on three wheels? One look at the Tri Glide Ultra motorcycle and you’ll have your answer. The 2010 Tri Glide Ultra Classic Trike offers an authentic three-wheel touring alternative, built from the frame up to provide maximum comfort and handling that is truly Harley-Davidson.

Features include the Twin-Cooled High Output Twin Cam 96, designed to maintain performance and power in a broad range of conditions. The Tri Glide Ultra parking brake system is activated by a hand lever on the rider’s right side.

This Amazing Tri Glide Ultra has only “10,348” miles!!!

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDE:

This three-wheeler bike comes with tons of features to accommodate and comfort all your riding needs and give you a ride you’ll brag about to everyone. Moving from the two-wheel life to the upgraded chassis and suspension of the three-wheeler gives better control, smoother turns around bends and hill climbing.

You can customize the feel of your ride with air-adjustable rear shocks and with the 49mm telescopic front fork suspension and this bike rides and handles more smoothly with better control. Flame Blue Pearl/Brilliant Silver Pearl Two-Tone paint is a super combination. 80-watt, four-speaker Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System with CD/MP3 player and CB/Intercom.

Avon chrome gel grips and a Bat-wing, fork-mounted fairing with clear Lexan windshield and chrome windshield trim. Smoked Lexan adjustable fairing-mounted air deflectors. Fairing-mounted electronic speedometer and tachometer plus fuel, voltage, oil pressure and ambient air temperature gauges with chrome gauge and front speaker trim. ‘Live to Ride’ gas cap will be staring you in the face! Split, 7-Spoke Black-and-Machined Cast Aluminum wheels with almost new tires all around.

An engine guard, passenger handles and rider heat shields. Fishtail tipped exhaust pipes and with a 6 gal. fuel tank you are ready to cruise…

NOTE: Beautiful but does have a road chip.

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 100-point safety and mechanical inspection.

RARE HAL ROBINSON PRINTS AND T-SHIRT STILL AVAILABLE—Check them out. Limited edition archival prints and quality American made T-shirt printed with high-quality ink right here. Don’t miss them.

CHOW HALL OF THE WEEK– Check out Chuck’s Wood Fired Pizza!

https://youtu.be/yeE0YrevC74

He even does a 6 CHEESE pizza with BACON!! It is amazing! The dough is fermented for 96 hours!

Plank Road Tap Room has one of the best tap lists, not only in Illinois but in the Country! Every time I go there the beer is just outstanding!

Chuck and his wood fired pizza is there once a month, now through October. Get out here now for some awesome beer and insane pizza!

Subscribe to my You Tube Channel here, youtube.com/c/ABikerDude

–BikerDude

With Pitch for Unity, President Trump Urges Republicans and Democrats to ‘Choose Greatness’

“President Trump in his State of the Union address Tuesday night issued a call for unity and an end to the political divisiveness that has ensnared Washington,” Melissa Quinn reports for the Washington Examiner.

During the speech—with its theme of “choosing greatness”—President Trump laid out five priorities that should unite both parties in Washington: “American jobs and fair trade, rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, reducing the price of healthcare and prescription drugs, creating a safe and lawful immigration system, and pursuing a foreign policy agenda that ‘puts America’s interests first.’”

In The Hill, Tal Axelrod reports that roughly three-quarters of American voters approved of President Trump’s State of the Union address, according to CNN and CBS News polls. “Seventy six percent approved of the speech in the CBS poll, with 24 percent saying they disapproved,” Axelrod writes. But the telling stat: CBS found that “about 82 percent of independents in that survey who watched the speech liked what they heard.”

“The speech was big, not just in length — about 80 minutes — but also in concept. It had a structure. It had a message. It had passages to appeal to all Americans. It had passages to appeal to Trump’s conservative base. And it had passages to appeal to opposition Democrats,” Byron York writes in the Washington Examiner. “He delivered a big, broad, far-ranging statement of his approach to the presidency and to the country.”

“The president also took time to highlight a few of the many incredible achievements under his administration” in last night’s State of the Union, Kimberly Guilfoyle writes in The Daily Caller. “Record-low unemployment rates for African Americans, Hispanics, and women. Rising wages and tax cuts for working-class families. A historic bipartisan criminal justice reform bill to give non-violent offenders a second chance.”

“Members of Congress broke out into a spirited singing of ‘Happy Birthday’ for a guest of President Trump’s State of the Union who survived both the Holocaust and the anti-Semitic mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue,” Tamar Lapin reports in the New York Post. President Trump also honored three veterans who served in World War II: Private First Class Joseph Reilly, Staff Sergeant Irving Locker, and Sergeant Herman Zeitchik.

Whether you like him or not, it was Amazing.–Bandit

 VIKING BAGS COMES TO BIKERNET–I noticed your blog on a friend’s recommendation. and really loved your content. I’m reaching out because my company, Viking Bags, are offering Motorcycle Luggage & Bags and I think some of our products would be a great fit for your Audience and I would love to collaborate with you for VikingBags!

For reference, our website and social media links are below. Website https://www.vikingbags.com/

— Martin Lopez
Viking Bags

JUST IN FROM THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BOOT BARN–
I just stocked up on genuine, original braided & waxed Chippewa boot laces and laced up my Chippewa’s as well as Adelina‘s Red Wings.

But on top of that, I actually bought some beeswax bars and waxed those already waxed laces even more. Well I don’t know what to tell ya, but sometimes it’s the little things in life that make you happy.

There’s nothing like really nice, grippy, sticky laces that just bite and stay tied down ??

–Andreas
Midnight Express Motorcycle Company

MORE FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT and THE DOOMSDAY ACTIVISTS--Here we go again! Media hypes alleged ‘Hottest year’ declarations as 2018 cools, slips to 4th ‘warmest’ – Book excerpt – Media and scientists hyping temperature changes year-to-year so small as to be within the margin of error.

Book Excerpt – The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change:

Retired MIT climate scientist Richard Lindzen has ridiculed “hottest year” claims. “The uncertainty here is tenths of a degree. When someone points to this and says this is the warmest temperature on record, what are they talking about? It’s just nonsense. This is a very tiny change period,” Lindzen said.

“If you can adjust temperatures to 2/10ths of a degree, it means it wasn’t certain to 2/10ths of a degree.” Lindzen pointed out, “We’re talking about less than a tenth of degree with an uncertainty of about a quarter of a degree. Moreover, such small fluctuations—even if real—don’t change the fact that the trend for the past 20 years has been much less than models have predicted.”

http://www.climatedepot.com/2019/02/07/green-raw-deal-global-warming-is-merely-the-latest-environmental-scare-with-the-same-solutions-of-wealth-redistribution-and-central-planning/

Green Raw Deal: ‘Global warming’ is merely the latest environmental scare with the same solutions of wealth redistribution and central planning.
Global warming is merely the latest environmental scare with the same big government solution

‘Green New Deal’ – Same ‘solution’, different environmental scare – ‘It has very little to do with the environment or climate’

‘Bonkers’: Green New Deal promises: Free college or trade schools for every American.
Government will provide “healthy food” to every American

Government will provide, “safe, affordable, adequate housing”

Economic security” for all who are “unable or unwilling” to work.

Ban meat.

Will end all traditional forms of energy in the next ten years. The Green New Deal is “a 10-year plan to mobilize every aspect of American society at a scale not seen since World War 2 to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ “Green New Deal” is taking shape. See: OCASIO-CORTEZ: FIXING ‘GLOBAL WARMING’ REQUIRES ‘MASSIVE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION’ & Green New Deal” will bring “a massive transformation of our society.”

Ocasio-Cortez is echoing the former UN Climate chief rhetoric. See: Flashback: UN climate chief Christiana Figueres seeks ‘centralized transformation’ that is ‘going to make the life of everyone on the planet very different’ in order to fight ‘global warming’

But the “Green New Deal” is neither “green” or “new.” The environmental Left has been using green scares to push for the same solutions we see today — wealth redistribution, central planning, sovereignty limiting treaties — since the overpopulation scars of the 1960s and 1970s.

By: Marc Morano
Climate Depot

HOT New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
The Master Comes to Bikernet

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

I have a buddy of mine doing a full nut-n-bolt resto. Lenny is from 74 Cycles in Negly, Ohio. The guy is doing a great job on my 1980 FXB Sturgis.. Just like Huntzinger, he pays a lot of attention to detail and puts a lot into his craft.. These guys are a dying breed and are pioneers.. I’d like to say thanks to everyone out there, who are keeping old school and quality alive…

–James mcdole
jamesmcdole1@gmail.com
Salineville, OH

I HOPE THAT’S IT—We are scrambling on the Salt Torpedo. We will be working on it again tomorrow.

I ordered another batch of 5-Ball racing leathers including some new, light-leather speedway leather sleeveless shirts. A buddy called today and barked, “Goddammit Ball I want a 3X in brown.” Let it be written let it be done.

I need a jar of whiskey, so I’ll keep this short. Don’t forget to join a motorcycle rights organization or die trying.

Couple of kids stopped by to day to see if they could film their short comedy here in a couple of weeks. Should I hide the guns?

Ride Free Forever,

–Bandit

8-Time Land Speed Record Holder to make first appearance at Ireland’s biggest motorcycle promotional event

Scottsdale, AZ (Feb. 5, 2019) – America’s Queen of Speed, Valerie Thompson, will kick off one of Europe’s largest celebrations of two-wheel racing and cruising at the 2019 Carole Nash Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show on March 1 in Dublin.

Thompson is the only woman to attempt breaking the world’s fastest motorcycle record of 376 mph and the first female to exceed 300 mph in a two-wheeled streamliner. She set a new land speed record of 328.467 mph (528.616 km/h) at the DLRA Speed Week competition and survived a horrific 363 mph crash days later during the World Speed Trials in early 2018.

“This will be my first visit to the Emerald Isle, and I can’t wait to get there. I’m looking forward to opening the Carole Nash Irish Motorbike and Scooter Show, especially as Ruth Lemass, the event organizer, has convinced me this event is one of Ireland’s biggest and most fun motorcycle celebrations,” said Thompson. “I hope to test drive some of the new 2019 models and experience Ireland’s beautiful cruising roads,” added Thompson.

Thompson holds eight land speed records on a variety of bikes ranging from Harley-Davidsons to BMWs to Streamliners. She is a member of seven different land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs, one 300 MPH Club and is the only motorcycle racer ever featured in a Super Bowl commercial.

“Valerie’s many land speed accomplishments have always impressed me and I’m definitely one of her biggest fans,” stated Ruth Lemass.  “I’ve been following Valerie’s amazing career over the past three years and I’m so pleased she has agreed to attend our event as the World’s Fastest Female on a motorbike – a world class achievement,” added Lemass.

Valerie Thompson Background

Valerie is the first female rider over 300 mph, earning the title of “World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer.” She posted a new top speed record of 328 mph in 2018 at the DLRA Speed Week competition in Southern Australia piloting Denis Manning’s and John Jans Team “7” Racing streamliner. Valerie is an 8-time land speed record holder with membership in seven different 200 MPH Clubs, one 300 MPH Club and lifetime membership in the famed Bonneville 200 MPH Club. Thompson was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2018. Valerie’s quest to become the world’s fastest motorcycle racer is the subject of P-51 Pictures’ and MN8 Films’ upcoming feature documentary, Rockets and Titans. Her many racing accomplishments have earned Valerie the moniker of “America’s Queen of Speed.”

Carole Nash Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show Background 

The Carole Nash Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show is a 3-day celebration scheduled March 1-3, 2019 at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland. This event showcases Ireland’s first view of 2019 motorcycles, new after-market products, clothing fashions, touring holidays and road racing heroes attracting over 27,000 motorbike fans worldwide for a weekend of high-octane racing and entertainment.

Frank and Frankie loaded the wrecked bike and delivered it back to the Bikernet Headquarters, where we started to wait for the repaired Spitfire girder. Unfortunately, it never arrived, and Frankie’s mom and bike building boyfriend, Domenic, pushed him to replace it with a glide. I didn’t like the notion of a glide for this bike and wanted to give Paul a shot to straighten it out. But ultimately, we started to look around and discussed it with Tim at Custom Cycle Engineering.

SEE THE RESULTS HERE: When they are finished working on the sites. Upgrades happening now.

–Bandit

Frankie Jr., the Venice Tattoo artists flew through the night on the stretched FXR I built for his dad, Frank Ball, the Newport, CA tattoo artist, who is also working out of Jack Rudy’s historic shop, Tattooland. I built the bike sleek and slim, with a Spitfire Motorcycle stretched FXR pro-street frame and a super slim girder, for splitting Los Angeles congested lanes in the middle of the night.

The bike felt light and agile as he moved through distracted drivers and slippery painted flourscent stripes, from one happening joint, to the next tattoo gig in Hollywood. The nights were wild, and the girls hotter than ever before and dreaming of their next nether-region tattoo.

Neon lit the asphalt in a variety of wild hues as Frankie tore up the through the slimy streets of Hollywood looking for action. “I was on my way to TRUE TATTOO on Cauenga and Hollywood Blvd, to meet my dad and the knockout, Erika,” Frank said. “My Dad’s friend Greg Christian was in town from Ohio and was doing a small tattoo on Erika, my dad’s ol’lady. On my way over the chopped FXR was cool, but as I pulled onto Cauenga and was backing my bike into a parking spot the front end collapsed on the right side, and then from all the pressure the left bolt, that was holding the rocker to the tree on the left side snapped.”

Frankie stood quickly, braced himself and tried to right the bike. The stretched FXR settled on the concrete like a tired dog needing a break. We reached out to Paul Cavallo, the boss of Spitfire and he volunteered to make it right. He mentioned that the American manufacturer, who made the pins dried up and he was forced to go overseas. He since developed an alternative system.

Frank and Frankie loaded the bike and delivered it back to the Bikernet Headquarters, where we started to wait for the repaired girder. Unfortunately, it never arrived, and Frankie’s mom and bike building boyfriend pushed him to replace it with a glide. I didn’t like the notion of a glide for this bike and wanted to give Paul a shot to straighten it out. But ultimately, we started to look around and discussed it with Tim at Custom Cycle Engineering.

We started to collect internal components and order parts from Bartels H-D. We still had the dog bone Custom Cycle Engineering risers and the Spitfire custom Z-bar bars. We had a new set of grips from Jeremiah, and this was a good test for Frankie.

He had to organize the parts he needed and figure out how this damn thing was going to work. He also needed to find a set of lower legs. We discovered all sorts of issues with various 39mm years, types of axles and we needed to make sure we ended up with a ¾-inch axle for the MetalSport Nitrous mag or we would need new bearings. Plus, we needed a single sided brake system.

In most cases a bro buys a used front end, makes some changes and moves ahead. Or he just modifies his existing front end with CCE trees and Dew Manufacturing extended tubes. We were starting from scratch. We even needed new neck bearings. Plus, the CCE trees used a different fork stop system from the Spitfire job. We were starting from scratch.

A little CCE Background:

Randy Smith founded Custom Cycle Engineering in 1967. Randy was a unique pioneer in the Harley aftermarket industry developing some of the first custom aftermarket parts and building some of the industry’s most ground-breaking customs bikes.

One of the newer additions to the Custom Cycle Engineering family is Tim Wallingford. Tim followed Randy’s career through his motorcycle articles and through the workshop that Randy held at his shop in Westminster Ca. Tim is a renowned Harley mechanic and custom bike builder in SoCal. He has built many innovation Harleys and countless classics. One such restored classic is Randy Smith’s 45 Magnum that now sits in the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee Wi.

We decided to run with CCE Triple Trees and new golden tubes just to get a little crazy.

Custom Cycle Engineering started building custom triple trees back in the late 1960s. They developed one of the first narrow-glide and wide-glide billet steel triple trees on the custom market. They also introduced custom widths in those years with what they called 2-inch and 3-inch narrow 41mm triple trees.

The popularity of billet aluminum in the custom market turned our attention to this new medium. Now we offer the widest variety and fitment of aluminum triple trees on the market. Our line of trees covers all the standard Harley fork tube sizes and we have three different centerline widths: narrow-glide, mid-glide and wide-glide.

We decided on 39 mm for a narrow look.

FORK TUBES

For over 30 years they have been manufacturing extension fork tubes. They start with DOM 1026 steel tubing that is ordered specially from a tubing mill. They centerless grind the outside diameter to OEM specifications and also machine the rest of the tube to exact ID specs.

They maintain a large inventory and offer sizes from 4 under stock FL to 20 over stock FL. When ordering please specify model and year.

That was a challenge for Frankie as we didn’t have a model and year. We had to ask and get recommendations. We ended up ordering the 2-over 39mm Titanium Nitride –Gold. Tim had a set readily available in gold and we decided to go for it. Our length request was based on a measurement from the top of the Spitfire Triple Tree to the center of the axle, which was 40 inches. Tim recommended the 2-over version.

Their coatings are TNC an extremely hard ceramic material that reduces friction and is wear resistant.

Features
Model : T 1345TN
Shipping Weight: 13
Manufactured By: Custom Cycle Engineering

There are a bunch of little pieces when it comes to glide front ends. And sometimes the manuals don’t do them justice with photos and line drawings or even instructions. I asked Frankie to buy a Dyna Manual for his other bike and a parts manual. Often the parts manuals do a better job of showing you how components line up.

So, we had to remove the tab for the fork stops from the neck of the Spitfire frame. Then we removed the top race and installed the special Custom Cycle Engineering race incorporating the fork stop mount. We installed new Timken bearings and greased them thoroughly. Make sure the races slip in squarely. After we run the bike for a short period, they may settle, so we will check the adjustment again.

The CCE trees fit perfectly and the mounting system and fork stopping system was a breeze. I generally like a stem nut above and below the top tree. CCE addressed this with a fork stop plate under the tree and a stem clamping system holding the tree firmly in place. Plus, they designed in a stem bolt locking system to prevent the lock nut from backing out.

We put the entire front end together, trying to follow the manual and the parts book line drawings. I used a large chunk of PVC tubing to drive in the seals, but we ran into issues. The powder coater allowed black powder inside the lower leg to the bottom of the first seal area. We had to fight the seals into place. Some powder coatings are .050 thick enough to fuck with us. With the front end sorta together with the beautiful 2-over golden Dew Manufacturing tubes in place the frontend was nowhere near the length I asked for. We needed approximately 40-inches from the top of the triple tree to the center of the axle. This system came in at 33 inches. The bike was slammed.

It was one of those days, when you wonder just what the hell you’re doing? Everything seemed wrong. We reached out to Tim from CCE again and he had a set of 4-over tubes and we discussed the lower bottoming out spring and longer PVC spacers, which would add height and more tension against the spring for a more solid ride. We also reached out to a powder coater who recommended heavy duty paint stripper to remove the unwanted powder. We took a break for a week, ordered another set of seals, and I went to California Harley. We were able to get a set of springs and I told the trainee at least three times, “39 mm.” He slipped 41 mm springs into the bag, but we received the correct drain fasteners. Frankie cleaned out the lower legs with the gel paint stripped, swabbing them down and leaving them over night, and then hitting it again, using rubber gloves—nasty shit.

I bought another large 39 mm fork washer at the dealership to use as a tool under the PVC pipe seal installation tool. It worked like a champ to prevent any damage to the seal as you drive them into place. The PVC is cool, because it’s thick and won’t scratch chromed or golden tubes. This time we made sure the tapered end of the seal was facing down and we oiled the outside of the seal and the inside of the lower leg with Spectro fork oil. Regarding the wrong-sized lower springs we called Tim and he had two suggestion but the one that worked was to take the 41 mm springs to a belt sander and face off the necessary amount. They were only about .050 over the size needed. I shaved them down and we were good to go.

I will make one more comment regarding building a 39 mm front end from scratch, maybe two. Jeremiah recommends lots of WD-40 when sliding the tubes up through the trees to prevent scratching. We were able to build two entire legs with the top springs in place and with the PVC, 4-inch spacers and caps in place, then gingerly slipped the tubes through the trees with the clamping Allens loose. After we did this a couple of times it was necessary to use a small screwdriver to loosen the clamps to allow the tubes to slide easily through the trees. Keep in mind that if you spread the clamps too much, it defeats the purpose by making the space out of round.

Okay, the other topic includes the cap at the bottom of the damper rod. It seats on the bottom inside of the lower leg and seals it. There is no gasket like in the old wide glides. You need to clean this area thoroughly, so it can seal. I asked a pro about this and he recommended a use of a slight coating of silicone gasket sealer on the bottom of the cap. I did and it sealed, but I’m not sure about that notion. The next time we take the frontend apart, it will be a bastard to clean.

We made sure to install the correct lower leg in the left hole for the disc brake. Of course, we installed the front wheel in backwards the first time. “By the time we finish this,” I told Franke, “we will be 39 mm experts.”

With the 4-inch over tubes the front-end length was 36.5 inches. Frankie rode it around the block, and it wasn’t bad, but still on the low side, about 4 inches of ground clearance. I jacked up the bike and made the caps flush with the top tree for another half inch, so we are now riding at about 37 inches of length, better. I believe if we can install 5-inch PVC spacers we will toughen the ride with more rebound but add to the height. “Add just ¼-inch at a time,” Tim said, “and test it out.”

We used a medium weight Spectro oil in the tubes with about 10 ounces of lubricant in each tube. We had installed a Wire plus digital speedo, but it wasn’t working right and the company, unfortunately went out of business due to a divorce. Too bad. They made great products. Guys contact Bikernet constantly for Wire Plus info. I try to help, but I’m limited. Who else makes this kind of product line? How about Dakota Digital?

Yesterday, I removed the Wire Plus speedo. It contained the neutral light, the oil idiot light, turn signal indicators, speedo, etc. We wired up the rear turn-signals to be brake lights, which is bitchin’. I removed the oil sending switch and replaced it with an oil pressure gauge. I asked Frankie to find a high/low beam switch for the new Twin Power headlight. He had a terrible time finding shit, so I dug in my drawers and found an old on-on toggle switch, made a bracket and installed it.

The deal now is Patina. Stuff needs to look old and worn, even new stuff. It was time to paint the sheet metal, but the Hollywood girls loved the look of Frankie’s bare FXR. We modified the super-tough KlockWerks rear fender. It’s made of very stout material, so it was easy to reshape without damage or warping. Frankie had a dragon scales notion for the paint, so we reshaped the fender for a more chopper/dragon look. He took the tank and fender to Chris Morrison in Harbor City, next to Larry Settle’s Custom Motorcycles and Chris did his number. So, we painted some elements of the frame and others we left rusty.

The bike is now a mixture of black powder, rust, chrome and gold. It’s going to be major competition to his Dyna Glide. It’s lighter and more agile. His dyna has mid-controls and this has Spitfire forward controls. Maybe I should take the Spitfire girder off my FXR and replace it with a Paughco narrow springer and we should ride to Sturgis. That was the plan with my son about 2014.

CUSTOM CYCLE ENGINEERING

DEW Manufacturing
(click on CCE)

KlockWerks

MetalSport Wheels

Paughco

Spitfire Motorcycles

S&S Cycle