PARTY WEEKEND THURSDAY NEWS FOR 10/7

Yo,

Every news day is different. It’s fascinating. I actually look forward to Thursdays, although each one kicks my ass. By 8:00am we are all out of the sack and hitting the news. Usually it takes until about 8:00 in the evening to finish this bastard, and we barely take a breath in between. For a while, I attempted to get up from the computer and walk outside to feel the sunlight and ponder another beautiful day in our LA Harbor Paradise with thousands of semi-truck screaming past.

By the time the dogs barked and I was distracted by each Bikernet project bike in the shop, I barely made it into the sunlight before some aspect of the news pulled me back.

This week I’m attempting to replace the BDL starter ring gear on my BDL Salt Shaker clutch hub. I’ve never attempted this operation of pressing the old one off, heating the ring, and pressing the new one back into place. Since I virtually destroyed the first one, by over advancing the timing on the 120-inch Accurate Engineering Panhead, I had no excuse, just fix the mofo. I learned something about installing BDL systems that will help all of us in the future.

We tried to peel out to Spirfire this week and discuss the frame build for my Son’s Mudflap FXR, and shoot a couple of Spitfire bikes. The rain put a stop to our plans, but we’re lined up for next week. You’ll see the bikes on Bikernet and the complete build supporting Evo technology and the famous FXR format as we roll into 2011.

Just outside our building AT&T is wrestling with the widening of Harry Bridges Blvd. as the semi-truck traffic rumbles passed 24/fucking/7. Get this, city lighting guys, the Department of Water and Power and AT&T teams are slicing deep grooves in the street, running their lines under ground and slapping thick sheets of steel with asphalt caulking to taper the edges, over the gaps in the pavement. Imagine just outside your door, hundreds for thundering trucks rumbling over a half dozen sheets of awkwardly laid steel all night long. Our old 1925 whorehouse is rattling like a beercan full of gravel spinning in a LA freeway fast lane. It’s nerve racking. Let’s hit the news:

STROKERS DALLAS ANNIVERSARY–Don’t miss the three contests: Friday is the Bad Tattoo Contest hosted by Eric Marc at 7:00 pm. You will love his commentary and opinions on some of the horrible tattoos that show up! The worst one will win $100 towards a cover-up from Strokers Ink!

Saturday is the Wet T-Shirt contest at 4:00 pm. Do we really need to explain that one??

Sunday is our famous Bikini Contest at 5:00 pm. Come see some of the most beautiful women compete to be 2010 Miss Strokers Dallas. Will Rick make the girls hula hoop again this year, or has he come up with something else??? Come find out!

We’ll also have Bikini Bike Wash, beertub girls, live music, and tons of vendors all weekend! Some of the vendors lined up include: Speedster LED, Rodney with All About Bikers (patches and sewing), Clear Choice Eyewear, Other Side Customs, Big Dog Motorcycles, T-Rex Leather, S&S, CCI, Todd Bloom, Shoe Shine, Save Phace, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Sauseda’s Catering, Denim & Dazzle…
Basically, we’re going to be PACKED!

EUROPEANS ATTEMPT TO MANDATE CLEANER BIKES, ABS BRAKES AND DAYTIME HEADLIGHTS BY 2013– The European Commission wants European motorbikes to have ABS, cleaner engines and daytime headlights starting in 2013, according to a Reuters report.

The changes, proposed Monday, are part of an effort to reduce highway deaths and pollution. EU member countries must debate and approve the proposals before they could become law.

“We will considerably increase the safety of these vehicles and reduce their harmful emissions,” said EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani, who introduced the plan.

ACEM is calling for a slow phase-in for costly regulations because of slumping sales in the Western world.

“Competitiveness should have been more at the core of this document,” said ACEM president Stefan Pierer.

Posted by Holly Wagner
Published courtesy of DealerNews: www.dealernews.com

ALABAMA POLITICAL CONSPIRACY– Here is a interesting piece on Alabama legislators taking bribes to pass legislation.

By Shannon Delcambre

Complete details to conspiracy arrests in Alabama legislature

Eleven individuals, including four current Alabama state legislators, three lobbyists, two business owners and one of their employees, and an employee of the Alabama legislature have been charged for their roles in a conspiracy to offer to and to bribe legislators for their votes and influence on proposed legislation, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and Assistant Director Kevin Perkins of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.

The defendants are charged in an indictment returned by a grand jury on Oct. 1, 2010, in Montgomery, Ala., which was unsealed today. Various defendants are charged with a variety of criminal offenses, including conspiracy, federal program bribery, extortion, money laundering, honest services mail and wire fraud, obstruction of justice and making a false statement. They will make initial appearances today in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama before U.S. Magistrate Judge Terry F. Moorer.

“Today, charges were unsealed against 11 legislators, businessmen, lobbyists and associates who, together, are alleged to have formed a corrupt network whose aim was to buy and sell votes in the Alabama legislature in order to directly benefit the business interests of two defendants, Milton McGregor and Ronald Gilley,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. “The people of Alabama, like all our citizens, deserve to have representatives who act in the public’s interest, not for their own personal financial gain. Vote-buying, like the kind alleged in this indictment, corrodes the public’s faith in our democratic institutions and cannot go unpunished.”

“The allegations in today’s indictment underscore the commitment of the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation to continue to pursue those in public office who undermine the public’s trust and engage in unethical and corrupt practices,” said Assistant Director Kevin Perkins of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.

The defendants named in the indictment unsealed today were charged with the following crimes:

* Milton E. McGregor, 71, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, six counts of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
* Ronald E. Gilley, 45, of Enterprise, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, six counts of federal program bribery, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and four counts of money laundering;
* Jarrod D. Massey, 39, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, five counts of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
* Thomas E. Coker, 70, of Lowndesboro, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
* Robert B. Geddie Jr., 60, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice;
* Jarrell W. Walker Jr., 36, of Lanett, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
* Harri Anne H. Smith, 48, of Slocomb, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, one count of extortion, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and four counts of money laundering;
* Larry P. Means, 63, of Attalla, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, two counts of attempted extortion, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
* James E. Preuitt, 75, of Talladega, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, one count of attempted extortion, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and one count of making a false statement;
* Quinton T. Ross Jr., 41, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, two counts of attempted extortion, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud; and
* Joseph R. Crosby, 61, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The federal program bribery charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of extortion, honest services mail and wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The indictment also contains a notice of forfeiture as to defendants Smith and Gilley.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Chief Peter J. Ainsworth and Trial Attorneys Eric G. Olshan, Barak Cohen and E. Rae Woods of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section; Senior Litigation Counsel Brenda K. Morris of the Criminal Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis V. Franklin and Steve P. Feaga of the Middle District of Alabama. The case is being supervised by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and is being investigated by the FBI’s Montgomery Field Office.

We know this is common practice in politics and here is proof.
I suggest this is just a small portion of what really goes on.
Lobbyist offering and involved in paying bribes are as bad as the legislators accepting.
Yes it also applies to Bad Laws Against Motorcyclist!

–from Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com

FALCON MOTORCYCLES, A SLICE OF BRITISH HISTORY – MADE IN THE USA– ‘Throughout history, culture and myth, Falcons have symbolized, vision – elegance – speed and power. These fundamental qualities inspired Ian Barry of Falcon Motorcycles to pursue the creation of the ‘perfect motorcycle’…

A post-war British motorcycle fanatic (Vincent/ Norton /Triumph/ Rudge/ BSA etc.), Barry makes history as he embarks on the ‘Only Ten’ project – to build 10 Falcon motorcycles from the most revered, sought-after historic British marques. Each Falcon will be unique, using derelict frames and engines from the pre and post-war era (circa 1930-1960). Falcon ‘Only 10’ series will include: (Bullet – already made for actor Jason Lee), The Lanner (currently in process and will be the last Triumph), Rudge, Ariel, BSA, Norton, AJS, Velocette, Royal Enfield and Vincent.

The essence of these classic bikes will be distilled and filtered through the inimitable Falcon aesthetic as abandoned skeletons; derelict engines and far-thrown parts will be reconstructed and fully resurrected. Falcon motorcycles are built entirely from the ground up over a 900 hour fabrication process – nearly every part, every element of frame and engine component is remade, refurbished, customized and/or alte red to create a wholly new motorcycle. The original parts are sculpted and machined from raw blocks of reclaimed metal.

The first Falcon the ‘Bullet’ (a breed of falcon) was a board track racer-inspired Triumph motorcycle commissioned by and custom-made for actor, Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl, Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous). The unique balance of beauty and function both raised eyebrows and gained respect from esteemed motorcycle experts when it was named winner of the ‘Best Custom Motorcycle Award’ at The 2008 Legend Of The Motorcycle International Concours. The award was presented by Jesse James, and chosen from a field of motorcycles built by the custom motorcycle elite. The astonishing thing was that the motorcycle won despite being only on display at the event, and not actually entered into the competition.

Falcon Motorcycles was formed by Ian Barry and Amaryllis Knight to fulfill a mutual dream: to build motorcycles without compromise and form a company that will mean something a hundred years from now. Check out his web site. http://www.falconmotorcycles.com/

SPITFIRE RAFFLE BIKE–Buy a poster and get a shot at winning this bike. I need to do it before all the posters are gone. There’s a limited number.

https://www.spitfiremotorcycles.com/products-page/spitfire-motorcycle-parts/spitfire-poster/

MOTORCYCLES REPRESENT FREEDOM IN AMERICA–
A warm fall day, the colorful leaves softly falling to the ground only to be swept away by the wind we create as we rumble down quiet boulevards. As our riding season in the snow belt starts to wind down every nice day is a day to ride, squeezing in as many miles as we can before the snow flies.

Fall usually means the end of organized events. The poker runs are over and the last couple of toy runs have been finished. It is a rare time when our weekends are not already planned for us. It is this time that we roll on the miles that really count. If you’re like me, your friends are scattered across the countryside. Some you see every day; some you might only see once a month at a meeting. It is an opportunity to head out into the country to visit our most distant close friends. Sometimes it is a bar halfway; sometimes it is a backyard with a couple of cold Budweiser’s.

It is too early to be thinking of blowing snow and minus 40-degree weather, too early to be starting those winter projects, too early to be winterizing our bikes. It is time to ride. Time to chase the sun riding low in its own saddle. You can feel the cold in the air even though you quickly over heat when you stop moving. Days are short and the evenings cool but we ride on. Fallen leaves dance in our rear view mirrors obliterating any regrets we might have for leaving yard work behind. So this fall, as you watch the trees exchanged their green foliage to amber and red leaves take the time to live and laugh with the friends that you haven’t seen in a while.

–bad Uncle Monkey

MICHIGAN MAN PLANS 482KM ‘NO HANDS’ HARLEY RIDE–A man plans to ride his Harley Davidson “no hands” for 482 kilometres from Michigan to Ohio this month to raise money for Parkinson’s research.

Phil Comar, 61, will ride from the Mackinac Bridge nonstop to the Ohio border on October 10 without using his hands to steer.

He hopes to raise $4000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the Adrian Daily Telegram reported.

Mr Comar, whose father died from the disease said he has been practicing his hands-free skills for 20 years. He said the steering is done with his legs and by leaning to allow the front wheel.

An extra petrol tank has been added to the back of his bike that will allow him to make the trip without stopping.

ROSIE’S DINER BY MIKE CORBIN– Here’s Rosie’s diner. I have 415 hours in this. I created this from two different magazine photographs. Rosie’s diner had a different bike in front of it and this bike i did not like the background so i combined them, plus you got to love acdcs whole lotta rosie.

Thanks again, Mike

AVON GRIPS Available from Custom Chrome– Get great style and super comfort with these rubber and billet grips by Avon. Each grip features:

• Super Comfortable and Durable Rubber Compound

• Throttle Sleeve Included

• Fits all Single or Dual Cable Applications (except those with handlebar air reservoirs)

• Some Designs are Finished with Billet Collars and End Caps

• Matching Footpegs and Shift/Brake Pegs also Available

• Fits Throttle by Wire Applications Where Applicable

For fitment and detailed information, please see your local dealer or visit www.customchrome.com

KRYLON JOHN WEEKLY SOAP BOX– David Mann, Dave Perewitz, Dave Bell, and doll, did I tell you that I bought another truck?

Once upon a time while I was working as the editor of a custom classic truck magazine I was talking with the group’s editorial director about some of the neat behind the scene stories we knew concerning the people we published stories about. I think I might have suggested it would be cool if we could write about some of those things when he said that those stories were best shared amongst fellow editors and not published in the magazines.

I don’t think his point was because these were deep and dark secrets, but rather it was more about creating content that would strike a chord with the greatest number of readers. In the magazine business, especially in these times, it’s all about making the right moves and not taking dumb chances. Now the Internet on the other hand is an arena where people can gamble wildly, and who knows what effect it will have. That said, I’d like to share some bits and pieces of custom culture lore that might otherwise never be known to more than a handful of people, and when they die it would be gone forever.

The first thing that comes to mind was the time I was in KCMO, at David Mann’s house working on a cover story about Dave for Juxtapoz magazine. We were looking at a stack of T-shirts from his hall closet when he came to a bright yellow Hamster T-shirt commemorating Sturgis. I mentioned Gene Koch a Hamster, who was a mutual friend of ours. Gene had been going to Sturgis every year without skipping a beat since 1969. Gene was such a hardcore Sturgis attendee that he would quit his job if his employer wouldn’t let him take the two-weeks in August off.

David said he hadn’t paid his Hamster dues in some time, but he was still a member in good standing. He wondered out loud if maybe Dave Perewitz had been keeping his dues current for him. David asked me if I had ever met Perewitz. I said no, but I had run into him at Boyd Coddington’s with Gene Koch once, but I didn’t want to butt-in. Dave said Perewitz is a hell of a nice guy, and I should have stopped and introduced myself. Roughly seven years, or so later I was with a group of friends at the 1st Annual David Mann Chopperfest when a guy in front of me extended his arm to shake my hand and said hi, I’m Dave Perewitz.

Maybe Perewitz already knew this, but I told him David Mann, and I were friends, and got the chance to tell him David Mann had told me Perewitz was a hell of a nice guy. The Snap-on toolbox shown is the one I keep at my office in Irvine. The panel on the front of the top chest was painted for Snap-on by Dave Bell to commemorate Street Rods. Dave Bell is also the guy who designed the Hamsters’ logo. Next, week I’ll get into the significance of the ground up chrome foot peg I’m holding in front of it.

Last week I mentioned the ’64 Bug Super Flea minibike that I’m selling, but there wasn’t a picture of it. I’m sure even after seeing what the thing looks like most folks would still drop a turd down their pantleg over the $3,500 price tag. With a ’64 Hodaka Ace 80 powering it, it’s a real argument starter. Most people have only heard of a Hodaka Ace 90. My Bug minbike has the same VIN prefix that identifies it as a motor installed only in special models like the Rickman Hodaka and the Steen Hodaka. If it doesn’t sell I’m going to use it as a hood ornament for the ’77 Peterbilt I just picked up last weekend.

— Krylon John

DEALER SHOW OF THE YEAR, You Don’t Want to Miss This Opportunity–  “The Cincinnati show is the greatest show on earth. The vendors cover almost every aspect of parts and accessories.”

Don Batt – Batt’s Cycle
Boone, IA

“Attending the V-Twin dealer show in Cincinnati has become “a must” for me. My shop and customers benefit tremendously from the wide array of vendors with new stuff,…it’ll pay for itself in being ahead of the competition.”

Terry Ainsworth – Three Dogs Custom Cycles
Bakersfield, CA

Feb 5, 6, 7,
Cincinnati, Ohio

BIKERNET INSURANCE SAFETY TIP, The riding season is changing – Watch out for deer (and other 4-leggers)– This is a good time for deer, moose, and other rut-oriented mammals to hit the roadways. These big animals get real active as the mating season kicks into gear and the fall leaves change colors. Running into one of these 4-leggers is no fun for bikers or automobile drivers. Pay attention folks as deer-related vehicle crashes are up 21% according to one insurer.

182 deaths resulted from animal-related impacts in 2009
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 182 fatalities that resulted from animal-related collisions in 2009, down 13% from 2008. Institute spokesperson Russ Rader said those collisions don’t specify the type of animal, but past research indicates that most of those fatalities are deer-related.
Deer-related collisions cost the insurance industry $4.6 billion in 2009

Last year, the Insurance Information Institute placed the annual costs for deer-related collisions at $4.6 billion. That included $3.6 billion for vehicle-related damage and $1 billion for medical payments and out-of-pocket costs for vehicle owners. The average property damage cost of deer-related accidents was $3,103, up 1.7% from a year ago, according to one insurance company that specializes in automobile insurance.

Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp and State Farm Insurance Company have issued warnings to the public regarding deer-related collisions. FM InsuraCorp. for example, has noted that deer-related wrecks in Michigan increased 6% last year. The company said on average, a deer-car crash occurs every six minutes in the state. That’s the result of 60,000 annual incidents that cause $130 million in damage, 1,700 injuries and nine fatalities.

States with the most deer accidents by vehicle.
1. West Virginia – 1 in 42 chances of striking a deer within the next 12 months.
2. Iowa
3. Michigan
4. South Dakota
5. Montana
6. Pennsylvania – 1 in 84 chances of “mating” with a deer. Totals about 102,165 collisions over the next 12 months.

Source for this summary: A. M. Best Company Inc. via BestWire Services.

Ride safe out there. We care about you.

The Team at Bikernet Insurance

Call anytime: 888-467-8703

For fastest response email: clientservice@bikernet-insurance.com

Check us out online too. www.bikernet.com/insurance

BIKERNET BLACK MARKET BOOK DEAL OF THE WEEK, HARBOR TOWN SEDUCTION– HTS is positioned as the book of the week in The BIKERNET Shop. I edited one of the stellar reviews and used that for a description. price: $14.95, plus you get a Bikernet bandana and a sticker, an exceptional deal!

–Tim Remus

LATEST NEWS FROM AEROMACH USA

See the latest innovation in billet at Aeromachmfg.com.

BIKER PROS SELECTED– as Public Relations Agency of Record for the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show Competition–

Southlake, TX – October 7, 2010 – Biker Pros, a leading Powersports public relations firm, was recently named agency of record for the Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows®’ Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show competition. Biker Pros will manage and promote the participation of the nation’s best professional and amateur custom builders of bobbers, choppers, touring bikes, performance and sportbikes.

The winner of the Free Style and Modified Harley class at each show receives an automatic bid to the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building. The total purse for the twelve round series is $91,000.

Biker Pros was selected for its strategic approach to the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show’s public relations needs and because of the firm’s reputation for delivering bottom line results. Additionally, Biker Pros was chosen for its experience in working with Powersports clients on national and local levels.

“We are excited to work with Advanstar Communications and to further enhance the custom bike show’s visibility and brand recognition on a national level,” said Bob Kay Executive Vice President, Biker Pros.

The Ultimate Builder Competition runs concurrently with all Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows®. The series kicks off in Dallas, TX on Nov. 12-14, 2010 and moves to San Mateo, CA, Nov. 19-21, 2010; Seattle, WA, Dec. 10-12, 2010; Long Beach, CA, Dec. 17-19, 2010, Novi, MI, Jan. 7-9, 2011; Washington, DC, Jan. 14-16, 2011; New York, NY, Jan. 21-23, 2011; Cleveland, OH, Jan. 28-30, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, Feb. 4-6, 2011, Chicago, IL, Feb. 11-13, 2011; Greenville, SC, Feb. 25-27, 2011, Daytona, FL, Mar. 9-12, 2011.

Custom motorcycle, cruiser and custom sportbike builders will display in front of tens of thousands of attendees at each show by entering the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show.

THE COWBOY THE AND THE BMW DRIVER– A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, “If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?”

Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, “Sure, Why not?”

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg , Germany

Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, “You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves.”

“That’s right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves,” says Bud.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then the Bud says to the young man, “Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?”

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, “Okay, why not?”

“You’re a Congressman for the U.S. Government”, says Bud.

“Wow! That’s correct,” says the yuppie, “but how did you guess that?”

“No guessing required.” answered the cowboy. “You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don’t know a thing about cows…this is a herd of sheep”…

“Now give me back my dog.”

–from Robin Hartfiel

A MOTORCYCLE-FRIENDLY NEVADA?– The spirit of motorcycling is under attack across the country on many fronts. In California, SB 435 recently passed another obstacle to impose more restrictions on motorcycles. Checkpoints to stop only motorcycles are rising across the country. How did we let things get so out of hand?
It starts slowly, with a little tax here and a little rule there. Before you know it, that tiny nuisance has grown into a force to be reckoned with, like the child you should have disciplined that grows up to abuse the parents. The good news is that with November elections around the corner we have the opportunity to repair damage.

This article illustrates a point by taking a critical look at one seemingly benign – even benevolent – State program. The point is that, like other public bureaucracies, it is causing harm. That example is the Nevada Rider Motorcycle Safety Program. This Program was established in 1991. It’s primary purpose “is to conduct quality rider training throughout Nevada.” It is funded by a $6 fee that only motorcyclists have to pay when registering their vehicle and by federal grants.
The total revenue was over a million dollars in fiscal years 2008 and 2009, combined. I imagine that in 1991, a little extra fee on a motorcycle registration wasn’t a big deal. Who cares, if it’s for riding skills, right?

First off, why should motorcyclists be the ONLY vehicles in Nevada required to pay an EXTRA fee for safety? According to a 2007 NHTSA report, 57% of all motorcycle fatalities involved crashes with vehicles other than motorcycles. (It was a difficult stat to find and even more difficult is the number of accidents vs. fatalities caused by other motor vehicles.) So, if other vehicles are killing us, why should WE be the ones paying for ALL the safety? It’s illogical, but we are stuck with this program – for now.

In the meantime, let’s examine the Governor-appointed Advisory Board on Motorcycle Safety, which is responsible for the Program.

1. This year, $126,000 was taken from the Motorcycle Safety Program. I first heard of this stunning report by Larry Loyd, MSF Instructor for Henderson Harley-Davidson. This report was confirmed by Ken Kiphart, Board Administrator, who said, “a transfer of funds [was] legal after the 2010 legislative special session…” To Mr. Kiphart’s credit, the removal of those funds was out of his control, as legislators passed a special law granting them new authority to move money from a number of specialty funds to balance the State budget.

2. There appears to be no attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of this Program compared to private sector training options. Therefore, the question becomes, why exist?

Vic “Doc” Moss, owner of Cycle School Motorcycle Training has this to say: “The program was originally established when no private businesses were willing to provide training. But when private industry is willing and able, there is no reason for taxpayers to subsidize this type of education. The program should be phased out or shrink it to handle only the rural areas.” Mr. Nelson Ruehl, known as “Renegade,” a motorcycle rights activist with several organizations including the U.S. Defenders says, “I feel motorcyclists take the safety course to avoid the DMV test and get a discount on their insurance. But the same result is possible through the private sector, stimulating our economy while reducing tax payers’ burden.”

3. A representative of this Program testified against the repeal of the helmet law in the last legislative session. The justification to oppose the repeal was on the grounds that the Bill called for mandatory training of new riders and this mandate would have increased the waiting list for those wanting to take the course. With half a million dollars in the budget at that time, shouldn’t the program have found a means to recruit more educators and accommodate that predicted influx?

4. The Program is undermining motorcycle tourism in the State of Nevada. Public highway messages created by the Board and displayed during last year’s Street Vibrations in Reno, were a topic of discussion at a recent Board meeting. A Northern Nevada motorcyclist described the verbiage of the signs as, “tourist unfriendly.”
In response, a Board member said, “They’re not designed to be friendly, they’re supposed to make a point.” This type of arrogance is telling. Renegade states, “In retail, odds are that for every person that complains to a manager there are 10 that don’t. And those 10 spread the word to 10 more. Can we afford 100 hotel rooms to go empty in this economy?”

A reliable source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that Arizona motorcyclists are holding their own event in Arizona concurrently with Las Vegas BikeFest as a means to protest the unfriendly law enforcement climate toward motorcyclists in Nevada.

5. The program is an extra layer of bureaucracy to stonewall motorcyclists seeking justice for violations of citizens’ rights. In an effort to be law abiding and not be harassed by law enforcers for perceived helmet violations, B.O.L.T.’s David Stilwell, has for one year, consistently asked local law enforcement agencies, “What constitutes a legal helmet?”

Agency responses are, “Ask the Safety Board.” When he asks the Board, he is told to ask the law enforcement agencies, or the Attorney General, or the legislators. Mr. Stilwell responds, “It’s not the legislators or the Attorney General who pull us over. It’s the law enforcers, and they keep passing the buck.”

It appears that this motorcycle safety bureaucracy is another means of squandering our tax dollars. So what can motorcyclists do to garner a friendlier motorcycle State? Glad you asked. This is an election year and time to clean house! Visit the Nevada ABATE websites to see which candidates are on our side. Political party is irrelevant; what matters is whether a candidate will advocate for a motorcycle friendly state.

Quite possibly, the most important seat to the motorcycle community is the Attorney General. Travis Barrick is a staunch advocate for motorcyclists and we helped him win the Primaries. His track record as advocate for Veterans’ rights is indisputable. And he comes from a family with a long line of motorcycle riders. The motorcycling community in the State of Nevada would be well served as he would better advocate for our interests compared to the incumbent who has a limited understanding of our culture.

But financially, Mr. Barrick is the underdog. His friend William Lehman, also a motorcyclist said, “He will win, but it won’t be because he was able to pay for television commercials. He’ll win because motorcyclists got busy. One motorcyclist is one vote. But one motorcyclist that finds five others to network will help us win.” Businesses that rely on motorcycling should also support his candidacy with signs and banners. And every motorcyclist that loves to ride would be well served to visit his website at www.TravisBarrick.com and lend a hand.

The November election is absolutely crucial to our motorcycling freedoms! If we do our part to get the right representatives in our legislature it will set off a chain of events that can make Nevada among the friendliest motorcycle States in the country. And that will have a tremendously positive impact on our overall economy, particularly among the tourist and motorcycling industries. We owe it to the rest of the nation to improve conditions for all motorcyclists who visit us. Better conditions will encourage riders from states with limited riding seasons to enjoy the many beautiful riding destinations in Nevada.

–TigerLily
Southwest Ad Manager/Correspondent
QuickThrottle Magazine
www.quickthrottle.com
702-417-6260

HOW TO FIGURE THE NATIONAL DEPT–  When you read about our national debt, now about $13 trillion and growing rapidly, remember the following facts:
• A million seconds is 13 days.
• A billion seconds is 31 years.
• A trillion seconds is 31,688 years.
If you can believe it, a trillion seconds ago, modern humans were yet to exist, and Neanderthals stalked the plains of Europe (but some of them survived and are now in Congress.)

–from James Schnarr

BIKERNET READER SUPPORTS GUN CONTROL–  I felt a real need to forward this to you and ask you to do the same…. Please don’t misread our intentions. We are in NO way in agreement with any type of gun control, but after seeing this..we are, unfortunately, in agreement that something needs to change…

If you agree with this please send to the powers that be. Hope
we can stop it.

While we always agree that hunting is an ethical God given right,
we think that we would have to agree with the author on this one.
Fox hunting in Colorado should be banned!
Please help ban fox hunting in Colorado ~

THIS MADNESS MUST STOP!!

–BUSTER

MEET SS TRIKE @ THE TRIKE SHOP OF DAYTONA BEACH–SS Trike has eliminated the lack of excitement that most 2 wheel riders experience when switching from a 2 wheeled vehicle to a 3 wheeler with the big wheel-styled trike and will be showcasing it at the 2010 edition of Octoberfest.

BIKERNET ILLUSTRATOR ESCAPES TO THAILAND–
I have attached some of the stock pics and the website of the place. Its shortly to be re-named the ‘Chicken Ranch Inn.’ Language books not allowed!!! Prankhonchai, in Buriram Province, is a neat crossroads to every where else. View it as a non-Thai oasis. There is plenty of grounds for those slumming it with tents. There is a bit of additional building going on (like my bar pavillion next to the pool), I will unlimber the old 35mm and take a few shots. 🙂

–George
www.phanomrunghotel.com

LOOK OUT THERE’S A PARTY THIS WEEKEND–I hope so. Octoberfest is rocking the bars this weekend. Any excuse to pour another drink. Sin Wu brought home a bottle of Wild Turkey’s American Honey. Try that some cold night with her, next to a blazing fire.

I’m working on the 1%er book tomorrow, Randy’s bobbed bike feature, the Excelsior Build, repairing the Salt Shaker, trying to fix the factory racer, hammering on the Freedom Ride screen play and drinking whiskey. As you can imagine, there won’t be a lot of swillin’ whiskey.

We have one of the Bikernet stable of bikes for sale, the 1928 Shovelhead built by Rick Fairless’s mother, or Ma on TV. It’s all new and old. Just $13,000 and it’s yours. I’m kidding, one of his crew built the classic and Harold Ponteralli painted it.