Indian Motorcycle has just released details on its new 2016 Indian Springfield. Named after the birthplace of Indian Motorcycle, the Springfield was designed to offer classic styling blended with modern technology. In short, it’s here to deliver a healthy mix of touring comfort and urban versatility.

The Indian Springfield can be quickly converted into a cruiser with the quick-release windshield and saddlebags removed, or transformed into a high-capacity touring model with Genuine Indian Motorcycle accessories. The Springfield hard bagger was developed with a trunk-compatible chassis for higher loading capacity and a premium touring experience without sacrificing handling prowess, says Indian Motorcycle. 

The Indian Springfield sports a quick-release windshield for rider and passenger comfort. Other comfort features such as remote locking hard bags and adjustable passenger floorboards come standard along with leather seating, anti-Lock Brakes, tire pressure monitoring, electronic cruise control, and a powerful headlight and dual driving lights. Standard front and rear highway bars allow mounting of accessories and offer valuable protection from tip-overs. Brightly chromed forks, headlight housing, fender trim, engine covers, exhaust and handlebars with internal wiring bring the shine along for the ride.

Powered by Indian’s road-proven Thunder Stroke 111 engine, the Indian Springfield delivers 119 ft./lbs. of torque. Its unique new chassis was designed to handle a wide load range, featuring cartridge forks and an air adjustable rear shock with 4.5 inches of travel for safely transporting up to 533 lbs. in style. Touring comfort can be further enhanced with a full line of accessories including a tall and low windshield, heated driver and passenger seats, soft lowers, a 17-gallon accessory trunk and heated grips to keep riders comfortable in cool temperatures. Yet in minutes its quick-release windscreen and saddlebags can be removed creating a classically styled, high performance cruiser. The split seat, featuring a unique stitch and stud pattern, can likewise be trimmed down to create a tight and low solo look, giving the Indian Springfield a truly customizable personality.

The 2016 Indian Springfield starts at $20,999 in Thunder Black and $21,549 for Indian Motorcycle Red. It comes with a two-year unlimited mileage factory warranty and, as with all new Indian Motorcycles, includes free membership in the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group for one year. For more information, visit www.IndianMotorcycle.com.

 

“We want to take a moment to honor the men and women that have dedicated their lives to riding Motorcycles.” said Barber. “We’re looking for the people that have made a positive impact on the South Carolina Biker Community and lived the biker lifestyle.”

 

Bill “The Southern Son” Furr from Orangeburg, SC, is a 16-time World Drag Racing Champion, and has also devoted part of his career to making tracks safer for his fellow rider.

Greg “Edge” Scheuer has made the Smoke Out rally a powerful tool for creating support for charities and the motorcycle community. He has nurtured so many budding motorcycle craftsmen through the event, it would make Kickstarter.com cry. Charities like wheelchair basketball teams and the Christian Bikers Association, have been able to keep their mission going with help from the Smoke Out fans. Edge has also created one of the only events where bike builders can race down a professional dragstrip against any friend they desire. Whether it be charity, volunteering, or just plain sales donations, Edge and the Smoke Out fans have focused the powerful lens of the community for some great things. The Smoke Out rally has also been studied as a model, for events such as Born Free, and has directly inspired Harley Davidson engineers to create a line of blacked-out models for production.

There are two sides to every story, and the members of SCBHOF are the waves crashing against the mass media’s misrepresentation of motorcycle culture. Bill Barber and the council are assembling a team. This team represents the characteristics of hospitality, charity, and fun that riders really understand themselves to have.

 

For information on the SC Biker Hall of Fame please visit their Facebook Page

The 2015 South Carolina Biker Hall of Fame awards will be held at Suck Bang Blow. All are welcome to the event this February 27th at 7pm at Murrels Inlet, SC.

3393 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, 29576

 

The following morning it was at house rented for three days that we met Mike’s crew. Although I’d expected a more Mickey Mouse outfit of possibly young dudes with cell phone video that did YouTube stuff, these guys were not like that at all. They’d rented the house in advance then flown in from New York and Mississippi with a butt-load of nice equipment. And although they do audio, a lot of footage and photos were also shot in a nearby park. It was fun few days of working with them.

Here are both links:
Scooter Tramp Scotty: eisradio.org/item/012/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From what I gathered, Joe had owned this business at one time and, although retired, still showed up almost daily to putter around the place. This was also Ralph’s place of employment and an establishment at which his friends (especially Evan) sometimes hung out. In fact, this was where Evan kept his, 26 horsepower, alcohol burning, wheelie bar equipped, mini bikes (I rode one. It was totally ridiculous—which is how Evan wants it), and a monster truck project too. Here the atmosphere was just as loose as at Evan’s and I felt right at home. For a personal ride, my bike waited outside. And although minus it’s tour pack and saddlebag, the thing still ran fine.

We talked a lot. Joe hales from a generation before my own and I’ve often found it interesting to learn from older men what the world was like before I got here. Joe cussed a lot. His attitude was brazen and often hard headed. A serious gear-head, he’d once been involved in drag racing, hydrofoil boats, etc. But old Joe was good to me and as our friendship tightened it became a pleasure. We went to lunch, and sometimes dinner, every day and not once did he allow me to pay.

 

As the job stretched toward a week I grew tired of confinement to this metal building. While Joe wanted these Harley parts perfect, my attitude became, Screw it Joe. That’s good enough. So we went back and forth. Him with pride in his work, and me to bring up the ragged condition of the bike on which these parts would hang anyway. In the end we met half way. Still, the job came out beautifully and, once mounted, I think everyone was pleased.

 

 

 

It was a happy day.

 

Mexico…

I’ve known Jim Waggaman of Air Stream Studios for maybe 30 years. He helped me with my ’92 Dyna custom with Mike Maldonado, and I rode it to Sturgis in ’94. Hell, I rode it 400 miles in the rain with Dr. Hamster to the Billet Bar in Phoenix, from Los Angeles, for a drink. By the time we arrived we needed two and a hot shower.

Jim helped us with a last minute fairing in 2007 for the World’s Fastest Panhead, which set a record in Bonneville with a top speed of 162 mph. The fairing was built around an Arlen Ness custom fairing with a beanie helmet stuffed into the headlight hole for high tech aerodynamics.

When he sent me the initial shots of taping the seat and asked about a seat tech, I was all over it. Fiberglass and composite material pans are a pain in the ass to build, but nothing fits like a fiberglass seat pan. Nothing contours your bike as tight and right as a fiberglass handled properly. It basically uses you’re your bike pieces as the mold. In most cases you don’t need any fasteners to hold your seat in place. It’s fits like a glove. Let’s get started with Jim’s notes:

Initial taping is designed to create the ‘mold’ of the actual final shape and fit of the seat and create any barrier between the glass and the bike components.

It is critical all of the elements that will be under, (battery, oil bag, wiring) or around the seat (oil caps, oil bags) must be in place before taping and creating the seat base form. Sometimes covering some of these things with additional tape or pieces of cardboard helps simplify the shape. Plus, if you want some clearance between the battery or wiring and the seat, start with some cardboard insulation/spacing.

Always remember, the seat must slip on and off easily. So avoid creating areas or forms that are too complicated or intricate. Any hooked area could make the final fit and removal difficult. You want to try and make the fit ‘lock’ into the bike firm but not squirrely.

After all the initial masking is done, it’s very important to continue to layer all the areas. I generally put a minimum of 4 to 5 (the more the better) layers of tape. If you are careful with your taping procedure, you will be able to pull it all off as one sheet, when it comes time to remove it.

When you finally have the area ready to lay-up the fiberglass, you may want to do a rough drawing of the shape of the seat you desire on the tape with a felt pen. If you’re ready to start laying-up the fiberglass now is the time to spray the area completely with ‘Pam.’ It acts as a ‘Mold Release’ and allows the ‘set up’ rough fiberglass seat pan to be easily removed.

Polyester Resin & MEKP Catalyst,
Mixing Cups, stir sticks and 1-inch utility brushes
PAM ‘no stick’ spray as a mold release material
Rubber gloves
Acetone for clean up
Medium weight Fiberglass Cloth and Matte

All of these materials can be purchased at most all of Large ‘Box’ construction materials stores, i.e. Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.

Cutting & Laying-up the Fiberglass:

After you have the area masked and prepped for laying-up the fiberglass you want to start cutting sections of the fiberglass cloth and matte.

Sizing the pieces is very important to the fit and makes the job go a lot easier. You’ll be cutting various different shapes; triangles, rectangles, squares of all different sizes. Look closely at the shape of your frame and try to cut shapes that will easily fit and wrap the areas you are trying to cover.

Once you’ve got the initial pieces cut and pre-fit ‘DRY’, cut several more of each one. Cut them in the quantity and in order you plan to lay them up. Remember you want to alternate the different cloths. First a layer of the cloth is applied, and then a layer of matte and so on and so on.

Remember the foam and the upholstery will hide the topside you are doing. The look of it does not matter. The bottom is the critical area. This area is the ‘fit & finish’ side.

The purpose for the matte is to add strength, thickness and rigidity to the seat pan. Depending on the weight of the matte you will probably need to ‘shred’ it (gently pulling it a part) slightly in order to get it to form to the contours of your frame more easily. I generally grip the piece in both hands and twist it and pull on it gently. You do not want to tear it apart. You just want to loosen the weave so it will be more manageable when laminating it.

It’s always best to try it before you actually start the project so you get the feeling of how to do it. You do not want to loosen the matte too much before you use it. You want to prep it, as you need it.

Now when you feel like you have all your materials in order and it’s time to start laying up the pan, you can start mixing your resin. I usually don’t mix more than approximately 4 ounces at a time, because you don’t want more than you can use and you want to work slowly.

The ratio of catalyst to resin varies. The ambient temperature in the area you’re working in will determine how much catalyst you will want to use in your resin. (Use the chart attached as a guide.) Generally you’ll want to use a little less catalyst than the recommended amount, so you have more time to work with it.

When applying the resin to the cloth use a 1-inch utility brush and a small body filler spreader. Do NOT put too much on at a time. You want only enough to saturate the cloth but not have it ‘sopping’ wet. Too wet doesn’t make it stronger. The strength comes from the cloth, NOT the resin. You do want the cloth to be completely saturated without any air pockets.

I usually start at one end of the project and work to the other slowly adding more resin, with the brush, as needed. Do not wrap the frame rails past the mid point of the tubing. If you do it could make it more difficult to remove the seat. When laying up the fiberglass always keep in mind how the seat will finally fit.

The first layer is the medium weight cloth. The next layer would be the Matte, then another layer of cloth and repeat with matte, clothe, matte, and two more layers of each. End up with a layer of cloth.

Remember the foam and the upholstery will hide the topside. The look of it does not matter. The bottom is the critical area. This area is the ‘fit & finish’ side.

Now once the glassing is done and has set-up (cured) and the pan is ready to be removed, you may want to, with your ‘Sharpie’ pen, draw the final shape you want onto the seat pan. This will act as a guide for the final trimming.

After removing the seat pan from the frame, do NOT remove the masking. In the event you need to patch some areas of the fiberglass.

Final Trimming:

When doing the final trimming, TAKE YOUR TIME. This stage is where you are creating the final shape of the seat. Pay attention to your proportions and symmetry. You want both sides to mirror each other.

To trim the hardened fiberglass use saws and or cut off wheels. You want to make smooth clean cuts. It’s best to fit and re-fit on to the bike while trimming. This helps to check the proportions, style, and the fit.

After the excess has been trimmed you’ll want to smooth the edges with sandpaper. I generally use 80-grit. Inspect the bottom for any rough spots and sharp edges.

Once the seat pan was trimmed and smoothed it was ready to be delivered to the masters at Saddlemen Seats for their seat structure process, which involved foam, gel, the Saddlemen spine slot, upholstery material and stitching. Hang on for that report.

Sources:

Air Stream Studios

Saddlemen Seats

Do you know brothers who bought rigid frames and engines ten years ago and they still collect dust in the back of garages? Hopefully this story will make a bunch of guys feel better, and empower them to get off the dime and peel down the road with a completed scooter.

The man behind this project entered the motorcycle industry in 1977. While going to school, Tom became a member and ultimately president of the oldest motorcycle club in the world and rode all over the East Coast and New England.

He worked for corporate America, Black and Decker, with an engineering degree, making strong coin and relaxed at night. He worked his way into management and marketing, expanding his business acumen. Then the Two-Wheeled Entrepreneurial Wizard touched his shoulder with a sparkling emerald gleam in his eyes and chrome twisted spokes in his hair and said, “Son, a man is only happy when he fulfills his motorcycle dreams and does what he loves,” and then he winked.

The next day, Tom went in search of a motorcycle-related company he could buy. He loved motorcycles and motorcycle racing. So, he bought Cycle Seats in ’77. He built and sold the company a decade later over a rough partnership deal, and then brought it back in ’87 under the name Travelcade. “We made road sofas for Goldwings,” Tom said. They also used the name Saddlemen for Harley-oriented custom seats. Saddlemen ultimately took over.

This is not intended to be a Tom Seymour resume. You’ll get the theme in a minute. Tom ran and built Saddlemen for, give-or-take, 37 years. He is now responsible for several lines of products, including some OEM brands. His crew includes almost 100 employees. He has sponsored every type of motorcycle racing. “Three-hundred flat track racers,” Tom added, including our own Bikernet.com 5-Ball Bonneville racing team. He’s had employees go south, parts needed fixing, marketing dilemmas, and wives who ran off. He also kept studying and was awarded with an MBA.

Then he bought a 1950 Merc, with a Carson top. from Mr. Merc, the wizard of custom Mecurys. And he decided to build a bike to match his car project, ‘cause he was in the motorcycle industry, natch. And because Mr. Merc had this Shovelhead for sale. Everything about this motorcycle was designed to match the Merc styling, including the lake pipes, the RC Components frame, the rear fender, inset taillight, and the ghost flames.

He ultimately shipped the bike back to Tom Todd, the younger brother of Skeeter Todd, for some detail work, stretched tanks and custom dash. Hot Rods-N-Hogs handled the rear fender construction. But there was an underlying force prevalent in all the elements of the car and motorcycle coming together.

Years passed and the car wasn’t making progress. Mr. Merc faced several issues, including financial issues, as we all did, and the blown hemi under the hood collected dust, but the bike made progress.

Tom’s years in business, his engineering degree, his vast resources, an MBA, and all his friends in the custom industry and the chopper world couldn’t make the car come together with the bike.

He finished the scooter, natch, and although it’s a fine classic chop, it just doesn’t fit the bill without the matching car. So, what’s the code? Is it stick with what you know, or don’t mix cars with bikes? At the end of the day, the chop was finished and fine. For us and brothers all over the world, that’s the important aspect; finish the bike and hit the road.

Tom never stopped or gave up and always looked for the best solution for the team. He ultimately sold the car back to Mr. Merc. They are still friends, and he hopes to one day see the car shine at the Grand National Roadster Show.

It the meantime, Tom returned to the Two-Wheeled Wizard’s mantra, and sticks with motorcycling. This bike is currently for sale to make way for the next Saddlemen project.  

General

Owner- Tom Seymour
Shop-Saddlemen
Shop Phone-310-638-1222
Website-www.saddlemen.com
Year/Make/Model- 1978 H-D Shovelhead
Fabrication- Mr. Merc

Year/Type/Size- 1978 Shovelhead
Builder-Mr. Merc, Marysville, CA
Cases-Delkron
Cylinders-S&S
Heads-S&S
Rocker Boxes-S&S
Cams-Andrews C-grind
Throttle Body- Super G
Air Cleaner-S&S
EFI Controller-none
Exhaust- Lake Pipes by the Goat

Year/Type- H-D 4-speed
Gears- Harley
Clutch- Rivera/Primo
Primary Drive- Rivera/Primo

Frame

Year/Type- 1980s RC Components Rigid
Rake/Stretch-33 Degrees, 2 inches up, 1-inch out

Suspension

Frontend-Stock H-D springer
Length- Stock
Triple Trees- Cast H-D
Swingarm- none
Rear Shocks- none

Wheels, Tires, and Brakes

Front

Builder/Size- PM
Tire/Size- 21 MH90 Avon
Calipers-PM
Rotors-PM

Rear

Builder/Size-
Tire/Size- 280-18
Caliper-PM
Rotor-PM
Sprocket- 51-tooth from Drag

Manufacturer-House of Kolor
Colors-Candy apple red
Paint/Graphics-Dave Davis
Plating/Polishing-who knows
Powdercoating-none

Front Fender-None
Rear Fender-Kenny Morris, Hot Rods-N-Hogs
Gas Tank-Tom Todd
Dash-Tom Todd, GT Customs
Gauges- Drag
Handlebars- 12-inch Apes
Grips-Drag
Mirrors-missing

Hand Controls-PM
Foot Controls-PM
Floorboards-PM pegs
Headlight-Drag
Taillight- Hot Rods and Hogs
Turn Signals- Nope
License Mount- Hot Rods-N-Hogs

Seat-Saddlemen hand-stitched
Stereo-Nope
Amplifier-Nope
Speakers-Forget it

Sources

Saddlemen Seats

S&S Cycle

Performance Machine

Rivera-Primo

Larry leaned over the steel bowl and picked up the picture of the two Colts, “You must be editing your thoughts. Maybe Hilts can explain why when he and Kate catch up?”

Larry then nodded at his Victory Vegas 8-Ball, “How’d she handle?”

Thoughts of my Wide Glide came back, “It reminded me of my Wide Glide but on steroids; it’s definitely not a Harley wannabe.”

Below us light coming from the building nearest the center of town appeared to be shining farther out into the street. Knowing it was because of the growing darkness did not lessen the effect. The other building’s light had gone out and no other lights had appeared. Whatever turned the lights on and off had chosen to remain hidden and it wouldn’t do any good to worry about what we couldn’t see. And as far as my failure to conjure weapons I could only guess I was subconsciously sabotaging myself or maybe the answer was much simpler…maybe conjuring objects into existence was a thing only Hilts could do?

Larry and I spent another half hour getting ready. We both knew we were stalling in hopes that Hilts and Kate would catch up to us before we had to go. Our hope was that with Hilts and Kate there’d be strength in numbers when we rode through town. The stalling paid off…Hilts and Kate arrived on my Raider just before Larry and I were about to leave.

“Can’t say;” said Hilts after he heard about my failure to conjure the Colts, “can’t really say what you’re doing wrong. Conjuring is an art; if ya ain’t got it, ya ain’t…”

Hilts then walked over to the M109, “Speaking of performance anxiety, Kate’s calculated we’re going to need something faster than the Raider. The Raider’s a great bike but since it’s virtually a straight run to where we have to go the M109’s higher top speed will give us a safer margin of time.”

“Speaking of time, do you have enough time,” asked Larry, “to conjure us some weapons?”

Hilts walked over to where the stainless steel bowl was next to Larry’s bike, “Hopefully you won’t have to use them, but just in case I’m going to error on the side of too much power…sort of what “Dirty Harry” would want. Whatever appears in the bowl is what you get. If we’re to get to the other portal before the discharge of the Sierra crystals; we don’t have time for a second try. I’m good for one conjuring a day.”

“Powerful but light, don’t forget lightweight,” I said. “We’ve got to carry them…oh, and don’t forget ammunition.”

“A Model 329PD Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum made partly of titanium and scandium and a Glock 10mm made partly of polymer;” said Hilts opening his eyes, “they’re as powerful and as lightweight as I could make them. I read about them in a magazine when I was at the dentist. Oh, and the two apples in the bowl are for me…conjuring makes me hungry.”

“They have dentists in the Borderlands?”

“Hey, what can I say; I’m sweet on chocolate and the dentist’s receptionist…and, and we usually have coffee after she gets off.”

“You can tell them all about how, I mean what you do after ‘she gets off’ when we have more time.” interrupted Kate. “We need to leave now to make it to the other portal.”

“I’ll lead,” said Larry. “Follow but not so close we slide into one another. The road’s really steep so no front brake.”

Climbing back aboard my Raider at first seemed foreign after riding Larry’s smaller Vegas 8-Ball. Hilts and Kate on the M109 brought up the rear. Larry wasn’t kidding about the road being ‘really’ steep. Once committed to riding our bikes down hill there was no turning back. My mantra became…I reeeleee don’t want to use my front brake…I reeeleee…

When we arrived on level ground Larry walked back to where Hilts and I had parked. He was already unscrewing the cap on one the Kate’s coffee bottles when he said, “Let’s all four stand as close together as we can when I pour. The more soaked, the more we’ll be protected. I’m not anticipating any trouble and I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to ride through and out of town without any confrontation…but just in case…”

“…we are confronted,” Kate finished Larry’s sentence by taking the top off one of her own bottles of coffee, “it doesn’t hurt to have extra protection.”

After the four of us had clustered together in what could best be described as a group hug for a “Say cheeeeese…” selfie; Larry and Kate raised their arms and poured the bottles of cold coffee over our heads.

Seconds after the soaking a gray mist began to rise from the ground. Ironically the mist, as creepy as it looked, brought back memories of how glad Larry and I had been to see Charon rise up and out of the mist of the river Styx to help us. Charon would’ve been a welcome sight right about now.

“Let’s do this,” said Larry starting his engine. “Whoever’s here most probably heard us arrive?”

“Let’s hope they’re hard of hearing,” said Kate.

 

Larry shouted back, “Is this Middleton or Oakley?”

“It depends on the time. We’re a bit like Brigadoon; but instead of coming to life every hundred years we come to life at night. Before the sun goes down we’re Middleton, after the sun goes down we’re called Oakley. I can tell you all need a cold drink in front of a warm fire. First one’s on me.”

“Thanks for the invite,” said Kate, “but we’re in a hurry…maybe next time.”

“Oh, I insist;” countered the horse, “everything’s ready…won’t take no for an answer.”

Larry motioned for me to stop but for Hilts and Kate to keep riding, “You two keep riding; you’ve no time to waste.”

“You’re right, we’ve no time to waste,” said Kate over her shoulder as she passed. “We’ll wait at the crossroads at the foot of the mountains.”

“It’s a horse;” I said after parking my Raider under the building’s balcony, “I can’t believe we’re talking to a horse?”

While Larry and I parked, Hilts, with Kate as a passenger and with no further prompting, continued to ride out of town then up the steep hill on the opposite side of town. When the two had finally crested the ridge and were hopefully on their way to whatever important task awaited them at the base of the mountains Larry and I turned back towards the saloon.

“I can’t believe,” I said again, “were talking to a horse.”

“Well we are,” said Larry just before he shouted back up to the balcony, “Who are you?”

“No need to shout;” answered the horse at the same time he turned to walk through the door behind him, “And I’m a bit offended your two friends chose not to accept my invitation. I’m coming down; we can talk face to face.”

“No need to come down,” I said, “we’re leaving too.”

“Get ready,” said Larry pulling the Glock 10mm from where he’d hidden it under his shirt. “We may be talking face to face but it won’t be to the face of a horse.”

“It’s a horse…I saw it, it’s just a horse?”

“It may have looked like a horse,” said Larry, “but to get through that door in back of the balcony and then down the saloon’s stairs it’ll have to change shape.”

And just when things were going so smoothly…so I pulled out the Smith and Wesson revolver. I’d agreed to take the revolver only after Larry said he wanted the 10mm Glock and Hilts had gone out of his way to reassure me that when I had to shoot the lightweight 44 Magnum I’d be able to handle its recoil. He said that when I had to shoot I’d be so pumped up on adrenalin I wouldn’t even feel the recoil…and just when things were going so smoothly.

“Can’t things,” I thought aloud, “ever go smoothly?”

“If by smoothly you mean,” said Larry, “remembering to shoot that 44 Magnum as a single action pistol.”

“What do you mean shoot it as a single action pistol?”

“I mean the 44 Magnum you’re carrying is our trump card; and if you ever have to use it you’re to take…your…time. Meaning, you’re to pull the hammer back…aim center of mass…and then smooooothly squeeze the trigger. Hopefully it won’t come to either one of us having to use our weapons smoothly or otherwise. Hopefully the threat of using them will be enough get us out of here.”

Larry was right about us not talking face to face with a horse. What walked out the door smoking a cigar was not the horse we’d seen on the balcony; maybe a horse of a man but not a horse. He had to duck to clear the doorway.

Larry switched his 10mm to his left hand, got back on his bike, motioned for me to follow, and then started his engine. After we’d pulled out into the street and then pointed our bikes in the direction Hilts and Kate had ridden we stopped.

“We want no trouble,” said Larry at the same time he shifted into neutral and using both hands pointed his pistol at the larger-than-life town marshal. “We’re leaving as did our friends so please don’t try’n stop us.”

When the marshal, recently a horse, laughed then stepped towards us Larry fired two rounds into the street in front of him. The blasts from the 10mm were deafening. The two holes in the street were as big as saucers.

“What is it,” said Larry, “about not trying to stop us you don’t understand? Speaking of stopping, these 10mm rounds were designed to stop big game. Specifically they’re what the Canadians use to stop polar bears. You’re a shape changer and a big one…but not as big as a polar bear.”

“Not bigger but much faster and stronger.”

The marshal punctuated his boast by taking his hat on and off so fast the movements were a blur. I’d seen Charon move that fast as well as Hilts but no one else. That’s when I fired.

Already frightened of the recoil I flinched before pulling the trigger, which in turn pulled the 44 Magnum off target. I missed…well sort of. What I did hit and by accident was what looked like a long flesh colored fire hose running from behind the marshal back into the saloon. Moments later I realized the hose not only ran from in back of the marshal back into the saloon, it was in fact attached to the ‘back’ of the marshal.

Hydrostatic shock can best be described as the effect fluids, which can’t be compressed, have on material surrounding them. Simply put the shock of my 44 Magnum bullet hitting the fluids inside the marshal’s hose a.k.a. umbilical cord blew it apart. The two pieces thrashing around reminded me of when I ran our lawnmower over my mom’s garden hose.

“You _uckin’ little buckaroos, what’ve you done!”

“That should slow him down,” Larry yelled at the same time he put his Victory in gear and accelerated away from the saloon. “In the time it takes for him to reattach the two ends we’ll be long gone.”

Larry and I paused on the ridge over looking the town to look back at the saloon. The marshal had finally gotten hold of the two ends and had joined them back together. He seemed smaller. We watched him until he looked up at us.

“Well played my little buckaroos,” boomed the marshal’s voice.
“Gotta admit I didn’t see that move coming…next time…next time…”

Larry and I rode for another couple of miles until finally pulling off to the side of the road. The hills looked greener.

“As far as I’m concerned,” I said, “there won’t be a next time. We got lucky.”

“What do you mean;” said Larry, ‘that was pretty smart of you to shoot at the cord connecting him to his power?”

“I mean I was aiming for him…not the hose.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY THREE

COMING SOON

NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

NCOM CONVENTION HONORS FALLEN RIDERS; INVITES NAMES FOR TRIBUTE
With the 31st Annual NCOM Convention in Atlantic City just weeks away, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists is requesting that MROs, motorcycle clubs, and riding associations submit the names of those members and supporters who have died since May 2015, so that we may honor their memories during the traditional “Ringing of the Bell” tribute to fallen riders during the opening ceremonies. Dedications can be hand-delivered at the Convention to “Doc” Reichenbach, NCOM Chairman of the Board, or e-mailed in advance to Bill Bish at NCOMBish@aol.com.

The 31st annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 5-8, 2016 at Harrah’s Resort, located at 777 Harrah’s Blvd in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This annual gathering will draw bikers’ rights activists from across the country to discuss topics of concern to all riders, so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $109 by calling (888) 516-2215.

Registration fees for the NCOM Convention are $80 including the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $45 for the Convention only. All motorcyclists are welcome and encouraged to attend. Meetings, seminars and group discussions will focus on legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.

 

ANTI-PROFILING BILL HEARD IN MINNESOTA
A minority group claims its members are being unfairly profiled and stopped by police, and it’s demanding a bill to prevent it. That group is motorcyclists, and the legislation, put before Minnesota’s Senate Judiciary Committee by State Senator David Osmek (R-Mound), would require Minnesota’s Board of Peace Officer Standards & Training to develop a statewide policy to eliminate motorcyclist profiling, including methods to identify and avoid it. SF1509 in the Senate, and companion bill HF59 in the House, would also require every law enforcement agency in the state to have “a written anti-motorcycle profiling policy.”

Sen. Osmek admitted the bill is based largely on anecdotal evidence, but told the state’s Daily Globe newspaper that “I’m focusing on something that constituents brought to me that they had issue with,” and he urges motorcyclists to file complaints and collect data on their own in order to make a stronger case.

Meanwhile, a motorcycle profiling bill is gaining momentum in Maryland, having passed the state Senate unanimously 47-0 on March 3 and now moves to the House, positioning Maryland to become the second state in the country behind Washington to pass such anti-discrimination legislation.

FEWER AMERICANS GETTING A DRIVER’S LICENSE
It used to be a rite of passage into adulthood, but today fewer and fewer U.S. residents are lining up at their local DMV to get a driver’s license, and new data indicates that all age groups are affected.

Analyzing decades of data from the Federal Highway Administration, a team from the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute found that since 2011, the number of U.S. citizens with drivers licenses across all age groups, from 16 to 70, has decreased.

A recent University of Michigan report analyzed decades’ worth of Federal Highway Administration records to show how licensure across all age groups has declined in the period stretching from 1983 to 2014.

Last year, nearly 77% of 20- to 24-year-old drivers held a license; in 1983, nearly 92% in that age bracket had one. Four years ago, the number was about 80%. For 16- through 44-year-olds, there has been a continuous decline in the percentage of people with a driver’s license.

The news may not be surprising for younger generations, who are more likely to use public transit or a ride-sharing company, or telecommute, but researchers also found a decline in the number of older adults with a driver’s license.

WHITE HOUSE PUSHES DRIVERLESS CARS
The Obama administration aims to remove hurdles to making autonomous cars more widespread, and the President’s fiscal 2017 budget proposes spending $4 Billion over the next decade to accelerate the integration of driverless cars on U.S. roadways.

The administration’s multi-billion dollar proposal, which would require Congressional approval, calls on federal regulators to work with auto makers and others to craft policies and rules regarding autonomous vehicles and their development.

“We are going to do everything we can to advance safe, smart and sustainable transportation innovations,” announced Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx at the Detroit Auto Show, “We are bullish on automated vehicles.”

Now, NHTSA will seek input from automakers and others as the auto agency tries to wrap its arms around the deployment and operation of fully self-driving cars as the norm, not an anomaly.

In addition, the agency plans to team up with state partners and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators to develop a model driverless car policy states can implement, hopefully laying the groundwork for a consistent national policy.

CONGRESSIONAL RPM ACT WOULD PROTECT THE SPORT OF RACING
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is attempting to regulate racing by prohibiting the conversion of street motorcycles and automobiles into competition-only racing vehicles, but newly-introduced legislation in Congress would prevent the EPA from impacting the lives of tens of thousands of armature and professional racers, their support teams and millions of race fans across the country.

Members of both chambers of Congress have introduced bipartisan versions of a bill that would protect the sport of racing by blocking the EPA from over-regulating the industry and ensuring that it remains legal to convert street legal motor vehicles for racing purposes.

The RPM Act (Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016); “A bill to exclude vehicles used solely for competition from certain provisions of the Clean Air Act” H.R.4715, was introduced March 7, 2016 in the House by U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) with 13 bipartisan co-sponsors, while companion measure S.2659 “to reaffirm that the EPA cannot regulate vehicles used solely for competition” was offered in the Senate on March 9 by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and three original co-sponsors.

H.R.4715 states, in part: “at the time the Clean Air Act was written, and each time the Clean Air Act has been amended, the intent of Congress has been, and continues to be, that vehicles manufactured for, modified for, or utilized in organized motorized racing events would not be encompassed by the Clean Air Act’s definition of “motor vehicle”.

The EPA recently re-opened the proposed regulation for more public comment. The regulation is scheduled for final approval this summer, so the time to act is NOW.

WISCONSIN BILL WOULD RESTRICT ACCESS TO BLACK BOX DATA

The bill covers not only Event Data Recorders or EDR’s but any device that is recording any information or tracking user behavior. Anyone that took the information without consent faces potential fines ranging from $200 to $2000 per incident.

The bill says insurance companies would not be able to link the issuance or renewal of a liability policy to whether the vehicle has such a box, or whether the motorist allows the insurer to access or use data it collects.

Currently, the boxes record such data only in the seconds before, during and after a crash. But critics like ABATE, worry about how much more information the devices might collect as they become more sophisticated. ABATE says while the timing of the recordings may be limited now, safe guards need to be in place should that change.

 

EX-COP SUES OVER MOTORCYCLE NOISE
A former Texas police officer is suing Arkansas officials over motorcycle noise. Rick Holtsclaw, a 31-year veteran of the Houston police department who placed an emphasis on noise enforcement, has sued city officials in Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Arkansas for their failure to enforce federal, state, and local laws regarding motorcycle noise.

Holtsclaw’s lawsuit cites the Noise Control Act of 1972 that makes it illegal for motorcycle exhausts to be altered or removed for the purpose of making noise. In addition, the Arkansas muffler statute requires every motor vehicle to be equipped with the quiet factory-installed muffler or a muffler duplicating the specifications of the factory-installed muffler.

Holtsclaw stated that “the law enforcement community in Arkansas has failed to intercede on behalf of the noise-beleaguered citizenry,” particularly at rallies “where there are thousands of motorcyclists making illegally loud noise,” and is seeking $1,000,000 (one million) in damages from each municipality.

DRIVER WHO DELIBERATELY ASSAULTED MOTORCYCLISTS STILL IN JAIL
A viral video showing a Texas driver who without provocation intentionally crashed into a motorcyclist last October, causing serious injuries to the rider and his passenger, has been languishing in jail unable to post bail since the incident.

William “Bill” Sam Crum was indicted by a Hood County grand jury on two aggravated assault counts carrying punishment of up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 and is currently being held on $150,000 bail in Hood County Jail since his arrest October 20, 2015.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”
~ Mary Flannery O’Connor (1925-64) American writer and essayist 

The show was organized and judged by top employees from the Motor Company. The winners received handmade trophies by “BILLY LANE”

Here is the list of those who won Harley Trophies

 

 

  Harley also hosted the Editors Choice After Party for Industry and V.I.P Reception. When talking with representatives from Harley they indicated they were pleased with the event and that there was a very good chance that they would do another one in the future, possibly in Sturgis if they found a place to hold it.

It was a good event and I hope you were one of those who attended, if not I suggest you try to in the future.

In addition to the awards by Harley editors and or their representatives from sixteen motorcycle publications also chose a motorcycle to be published in their magazine. Look for the Bikernet choice shortly.

Jay Allen was the master of ceremonies during the presentation of awards and introducing guests who were present as well as those who won editors awards.

 

Live  Music with the FRYED BROS. and ZZ3.

I have always liked the Broken Spoke in Daytona and the relaxed atmosphere, plenty of places to sit and relax while you have a beverage, something to eat and listen to and watch the entertainment. A win win situation.

Thanks to all who worked to make this a success and an enjoyable day

 

 

 

The evening was again spent at Phillipa’s place, except this time with Laura and both boys present as well. As was her way, Laura found almost everything in life funny and her sense of humor was a constant pleasure to me. As for Laura’s mom Yolanda, she began mothering me like a long lost child. Yolanda also liked for everyone to hold hands and pray a lot. But I kinda liked it. This evening ritual would continue for the better part of a week.

Because the stove in their little block house did not work, Laura always cooked on the fire-pit outside. One day she walked out with a huge fish and plopped it, head, scales, guts, and all, right onto the fire-pit’s grill. I’d never seen that before. In a few minutes she flipped it over then soon moved it to the picnic table and began hacking at the thing with a knife and throwing fish-chunks into a pot. Next she added Crisco oil and other weird stuff while I began to think, This can’t be good. I’m just gonna have to suffer through this meal in the name of politeness. Next she set the pot back on the fire as I worked to keep my jaw from dropping at this obvious debacle. By the time the meal was finished Phillipa, Yolanda, and Arturo—the entire family—had shown up and the picnic table was filled with food and condiments.

Okay. As I began to fill a plate that pot of fish eventually came around so I made two tacos then grabbed a seat to enjoy my mutilated fish. To my real surprise the fish was absolutely fantastic and I ate more of it than anyone else. Later I told this story to Laura and she laughed her ass off.

 

Part of Phillipa’s motivation for becoming a minister was because he’s a man who needs the luxury of finer accommodations and this, he said, was a thing that came with the job. And it was true, for his home and van were quite nice. Still, I believed that the larger part of his interest in ministering was altruistic. In fact, at one point he asked if I’d help him talk with a young girl who’d recently attempted suicide; for although he knew I’m not religious, I had also told him that I walk through life with great faith in a god of sorts.

Just for the experience I began kicking around the idea of attending Phillipa’s Sunday school. I told Laura as much and also stated I figured it’d be boring. She assured me it would.

 

Although I’ve no idea how she got there, Yolanda sat beside me.

 

It’s been my experience that to many Mexicans us Americans are all movie stars. They see us on the TV and know we exist in the great rich country to the north. Although most will never go there, they are often very curious. Meeting me is the closest many will ever come to the U.S. and I’m often treated as somewhat of an event. So they’ll sometimes drag me around town to show the American off to friends, which is very cool because I get to visit various homes and meet lots of folks. And so it was today.

At one home I met a little girl of probably nine years who was instantly enamored with me. She insisted I tell her the English words for all the colors, although she already knew many of them.

 

Most of the families we visited that day lived in the back rooms of their little market, bakery, or whatever family business. Every one seemed to know my hosts well, greeted me with warm welcome, and invited me to stop back any time.

Although past experience has taught me never to openly spend much money on poor Mexicans when living with them because they may start looking at you like a paycheck rather than friend, at the bakery I insisted on buying all the pastries Yolanda tossed into a bag (cost about $2.25). After all, they’d been feeding me and offering use of their hot shower (Yolanda insisted) for days.

 

I had entered Mexico late in the winter season and would only have a couple of months to enjoy the time in this strange world before the springtime heat again signaled the need to move north. Besides, by now I’d grown bored with such small town life. So, on he sixth day of my stay with Laura’s family, I again packed the bike.