Hey,
Wait until you see the flicks of old gas stations from the ’20s. Smacks of simpler times. Is there a way to turn the clock back, to simplify our lives? Remember when we had one motorcycle and two girlfriends, no mortgage, no car payments, no computers, no cell phones, no My Space, no Facebook, no credit cards, no cable television, no security cameras. Wait, this list could take all day.
At the end of this year the Bikernet crew is going to hide out in the Cantina with a pitcher of Quervo Gold Margaritas and ponder 2011 with that mantra in mind. We’re going to slow down, and the code will switch to Quality over Quantity. Believe me, I don’t know the answers, but at least we can make a serious stab at injecting more kicked-back time into our lives. Hang on for more reports as we near the end of the year. In the meantime let’s party, I mean check the news:
SUICIDE BOMBERS GO ON STRIKE–Muslim suicide bombers in Britain are set to begin a three-day strike on Monday in a dispute over the number of virgins they are entitled to in the afterlife. Emergency talks with Al Qaeda have so far failed to produce an agreement. The unrest began last Thursday when Al Qaeda announced that the number of virgins a suicide bomber would receive after his death will be cut by 25% this December, from 72 to only 60. The rationale for the cut was the increase in recent years of the number of suicide bombings and a subsequent shortage of virgins in the afterlife.
The suicide bomber’s union, the British Organization of Occupational Martyrs (BOOM) responded with a statement that this was unacceptable to its members and immediately balloted for strike action. General Secretary Abdullah Amir told the press, “Our members are literally working themselves to death in the cause of Jihad. We don’t ask for much in return, and to be treated like this is like a kick in the teeth.”
Speaking from his shed in Tipton in the West Midlands, in which he currently resides, Al Qaeda chief executive Osama bin Laden explained, “We sympathize with our workers concerns, but Al Qaeda is simply not in a position to meet their demands. They are simply not accepting the realities of modern-day Jihad in a competitive marketplace. Thanks to Western depravity there is now a chronic shortage of virgins in the afterlife. It’s a straight choice between reducing expenditure and laying people off. I don’t like cutting wages but I’d hate to have to tell 3,000 of my staff that they won’t be able to blow themselves up.”
Spokespersons for the Union in the northeast of England, Ireland, Wales, and the entire Australian continent stated that the strike would not affect their operations, as “there are no virgins in their areas anyway.”
Apparently the drop in the number of suicide bombings has been put down to the emergence of Scottish singing star Susan Boyle – now that Muslims know what an actual virgin looks like they are not so keen on going to paradise.
–from Don Wills
BAD ASS FLAT BOTTOM SPORTY TANKS– These Flat Bottom Sportster style gas tanks from Paughco are the very sole for any hardcore chopper. Shown here are both the Standard and King styles now being manufactured and sold exclusively through Paughco and their dealers worldwide. Both tanks are modified with for universal mounting with horseshoe front mount and tab rear.
Tanks are fit with bungs for late stock style screw in filler and vent and accept 22mm petcocks. The 866 King tank ($163.95) holds 2.9 gallons while the 867 Standard ($155.95) has a 2.2 gallon capacity. Centerline hole to hole mounting measurement is 16 5/8” for both styles.
For complete details call Paughco direct at 775-246-5738 and be sure to visit them on line at www.paughco.com .
FEDS PUSH HELMET LAWS AND MOTORCYCLE-ONLY ROADBLOCKS– The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking applications from law enforcement agencies across the country to conduct federally-funded motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints.
Now mirrored in other states, “Motorcycle-Only Safety Checkpoints” were initiated in New York last year and are set up during large motorcycle rallies or near large biker gathering spots to check not only license, registration and insurance, but also for DOT-compliant helmets and legal exhaust systems. ABATE of New York is working with NY A.I.M. (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) attorney Mitch Proner on legal actions to halt these discriminatory roadblocks in the Empire State.
But police forces across the country may soon receive public funds to target motorcyclists, though U.S. Reps F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) and Tom Petri (R-WI) along with several colleagues in Congress have written to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to suspend funding of the federal grants for the NHTSA checkpoint program.
In addition, after learning that NHTSA recently testified to the Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation that “The most important step we could take would be to assure that all riders wear a DOT-compliant helmet,” according to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, who added “NHTSA will actively work with Congress to promote helmet use,” Congressman Sensenbrenner and fellow Congressional lawmakers have also introduced H. Res. 1498 which “supports efforts to retain the ban on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ability to lobby state legislatures using federal tax dollars and urges NHTSA to focus on crash prevention and rider education.”
The US Defenders have joined with other state and national motorcycle groups in urging riders to contact their Congress members to support H. Res. 1498, and to write DOT & NHTSA to oppose federally-funded motorcycle-only safety checks. “This is one more piece of evidence of the constant profiling attempts targeting our community at large,” said Escondido Paul, National Lt. Commander of the US Defenders, in issuing a nationwide Call To Action through all Confederations of Clubs and coalitions in every state. For further information, consult www.USDefenders.org .
BANDIT POSTERS SPOTTED– Didn’t Remember Thanking You For The Posters, So Here’s A Thank You And a Picture of Them….
–OPI
WEEKEND RUMOR CONTROL– Guess you heard West Coast Choppers is done? I’m not surprised. James liked to capitalize on his namesake (supposedly a distant relation), and I think he believed his own press clippings, developing a weird arrogance that ran through WCC. My personal impression of them ran along the line of “what a bunch of self-important bozos.”
–J.
THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– I asked God for a bike, but God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked God for forgiveness,
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more that standing in a garage makes you a mechanic.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on the list.
— BAJerry
ANOTHER COMPLETED PROJECT FROM ANSON ALEXANDER, BIKERNET CORRESPONDENT– I refurbished a Leslie speaker used with the Hammond B3 organ (same keyboard combo as used by Santana and Allman Brothers).
A guy can’t have too many irons in the fire
BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INTO DRUGS USED BY THE MING DYNASTY– Throughout our lives, our immune systems are under assault from environmental toxins. Living in crowded cities, traveling frequently in airplanes, and spending time in day care centers and schools all expose us to many more germs than people had to deal with in the past. We can help protect our normal immunity by eating right, getting enough exercise and rest, practicing stress reduction, and cultivating healthy emotional states.
There are also several herbs, such as astragalus, that are used traditionally to support immune health. Obtained from the root of Astragalus membranaceous in the pea family, astragalus has a long history in Chinese medicine in keeping people healthy under times of stress. It is safe, widely available and inexpensive.
–for more info check with: www.USDefenders.org
http://www.roadwheeler.com/monthly_issue/myfiles/templates/liquid-green/index.html
And don’t miss the Kentucky Motorcycle Association, Central District 02, Pot luck membership Drive.
When: Saturday Oct 23, 2010 4:00 PM – ?
Where: Indian Bill’s Motorcycle shop
313 East Mail St, Mt Sterling, KY
Why: meet and greet join us for a real good time!!!
Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served!
Bring a Dish or dessert if you wish.
For more info: Craig 859-333-2410 or Indian Bill’s Motorcycle shop 859-498-1575
–Jay Huber
KMA/KBA State President
CANTINA EXCLUSIVE, FIRST BLAST CHOPPER– How about this Blast chopper? As I said Dan is part of the Next Generation.
The Sheriff
http://www.myspace.com/sheriffmediagroup
http://picasaweb.google.com/SHERIFFMEDIAGROUP
http://www.facebook.com/SHERIFFMEDIAGROUP
SHERIFF MEDIA GROUP
S-36030 LAMMHULT
SWEDEN
A VOTING REMINDER FROM THE NRA-ILA –18 Days Until Election Day-What (More!) Can You Do?
In 18 days we will go to the polls to vote in the critical mid-term elections. Other than voting on Election Day, what more should gun owners do? The answer is very simple–volunteer to work on pro-gun candidates’ campaigns to turn out supportive voters on Election Day, November 2nd.
While we know NRA members and gun owners are reliable voters, the same can’t be said for others. Our pro-gun candidates are going to have to rely on gun owners’ activism to ensure that voters who support them are contacted and actually vote on November 2nd. But turning out supportive voters won’t happen by accident. Here are some activities that can spell the difference between victory and defeat on Election Day:
LITERATURE DROPS: Literature drops are an extremely effective way for pro-freedom candidates to get their message to voters. Again, take advantage of the “natural resources” of the pro-gun community. Gun shows are the best venue to conduct a literature drop. Check with the show promoter to set up a literature table or share one with a fellow NRA member or pro-gun supporter. Or, better yet; hand out pro-gun candidates’ literature to all attendees as they enter the show. If distributing literature in neighborhoods, never put materials in a mailbox. Remember, the goal of this activity isn’t to debate with anti-gun voters, but rather, to distribute as much material to as many potential voters as possible.
BUMPER STICKERS: Make sure every vehicle you own has a pro-gun candidate’s (and/or NRA) bumper sticker on it. Then, work to ensure the vehicles of your friends and fellow firearm owners are proudly displaying stickers as well.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Please submit at least one letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of a pro-gun candidate between now and Election Day. Consult your paper’s deadlines, as some papers stop accepting political letters to the editor on a certain date prior to the election. You can find media contact information by visiting our homepage—www.NRAILA.org — and clicking the “Take Action” icon, and then the “Write The Media” link. Your goal in writing should be to ensure that pro-gun candidates are receiving positive media in these final days leading up to November 2nd.
GET OUT THE VOTE & ELECTION DAY ACTIVITIES: With slightly more than two weeks left in the campaign season, candidates are focusing their efforts on Get Out The Vote (GOTV) projects and laying the final groundwork for a barrage of Election Day activities. This requires assistance contacting voters by phone, walking precincts, volunteering to drive pro-gun voters to the polls, and putting up signs and handing out literature at polling locations on Election Day.
VOTE FOR PRO-GUN CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE ON NOVEMBER 2nd!: The ultimate act of volunteerism, of course, is casting your ballot on Election Day. Please be sure you vote on Tuesday, November 2nd, and urge your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. With this many tight races, we cannot take even a single pro-gun vote for granted! For candidate information, to assist you when voting, refer to your November NRA magazine, which contains NRA-PVF’s Candidate Endorsements, or visit www.NRAPVF.org.
CONTACT YOUR EVC: Another way to get involved with these, and other, similar activities in your area is to contact your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC), who is a local NRA member spearheading our pro-gun volunteer campaign efforts. To locate your EVC, please visit NRA’s websites (www.NRAILA.org or www.NRAPVF.org) or contact the ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
CONTACT YOUR CFR: Yet another way to get involved in election activities is to contact your NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representatives (CFRs). Our CFRs have been working for months to ensure that gun owners are registered to vote and actively working to elect pro-gun candidates on November 2nd. Additionally, our CFRs have been loaded up with FREE bumper stickers promoting our endorsed candidates. To see if your district has a CFR, and to obtain free bumper stickers for your vehicles and those of your family and friends, please visit http://www.nraila.org/ActionCenter/GrassRootsActivism.aspx?ID=114.
CONTACT PRO-GUN CAMPAIGNS: Finally, you can contact pro-gun candidates’ local campaign offices directly. By visiting the “Candidate Grades and Endorsements” section of www.NRAPVF.org and clicking on your state, you’ll find that many of the endorsed pro-gun candidates have a “Contact” link to their websites.
With only 18 short days left until Election Day, if you can spare just a few hours of your time with these efforts, it can and will make a difference! If protecting our Second Amendment rights for our children and grandchildren isn’t worth a few hours of your time, what is?
ART EXHIBIT FROM MIKE CORBIN–just thought i would send you these. I know its not bike related but thought you might enjoy them
–Mike Corbin
DIAMOND GUSSET JEANS MADE IN AMERICA FOR BIKERS–They are actually make in Georgia. We’ve been working with Diamond Gusset Jean for several years, and they are growing like crazy. More and more brothers are commenting on the black Kevlar lined denims. Check ’em out.
BIKERNET READER RUNS INTO A TECH PROBLEM WITH A CUSH-DRIVE REAR WHEEL– I’m running late model touring 28-spoke wheels in a Daytec 200 series Softail frame.
Now the problem. The cush drive pulley does not bolt on the wheel taking up more space than usual. I can almost (read just barely) make this work but now when I try to put a stock H-D softail rear caliper on it’s impossible.
Any leads on narrow, low profile (read tiny) rear softail brake calipers?
I can’t afford a trans brake or a sprocket brake setup or I migh consider eliminating the pulley, capping the cush side and flipping the wheel and putting a sprocket/brake on the current rotor side and running a chain like you suggested. The last shot is just a quick mockup so you see the look i’m going for. Those components are all stock Harley late model touring rear wheel. Most of this bike has been donated including those super nice wheels.
I REALLY do not want to break those matching wheels up but it’s not looking good unless I find something that will slither in.
–Joel Mercado
LONDON CUSTOM SHOW ENTERS SECOND YEAR WITH AMD–ALEXANDRA Palace in London will once again play host to a custom bike show affiliated to the World Championship of Custom Bike Building in 2011.
Now known as the London International Custom Show, it will take place over the weekend of February 26-27 at the iconic North London venue.
For its second year at the ‘Ally Pally’, the event, operated by Andrew Greenwood’s Classic Shows, will now be sponsored by UK custom motorcycle magazine Back Street Heroes (BSH).
“BSH is very pleased to be involved with the 2011 London International Custom Show at Alexandra Palace. The magazine was impressed by the enthusiasm with which the show was received in February 2010, and the quality of the competing bikes in the AMD World Championship custom bike competition,” said Blue Miller of Back Street Heroes.
“Having attended and judged at several of the European shows affiliated to the World Championship, I’m delighted that the UK is now part of that World Series and that BSH will be organizing the home round.”
The top prize at the event will be £5,000 bike freight and related expenses to travel to Sturgis to take part in the World Championship itself.
Last year saw a custom v-twin ‘Sturgis’ prize taken by SPS of the Netherlands, one of a number of bikes entered into the Freestyle class from mainland Europe.
Harley-Davidson sponsored a Modified Harley ‘Sturgis’ prize, won by UK dealer Shaw Harley-Davidson, who went on to take the Modified Harley World Championship at Sturgis this summer.
Exhibitor enquiries:
Andrew Greenwood, Classic Shows
E-mail: info@classicshows.org
Bike show entries:
Blue Miller, Back Street Heroes magazine
SPRAY ON CHROME COVERED IN JAY LENO’S GARAGE–Very KOOL process, I just wonder how much the set-up costs…. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/segment/restoration-blog/spray-on-chrome
–from Jim Waggaman
INDIANA DEALER PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD– The co-owner of an Indiana powersports dealership has pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and an additional count of false information surrounding the store.
Kristi Arnett-Higgins, co-owner and operator of Higgins Sport and Lawn and Higgins Powersports in Syracuse with her husband, Patrick, is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 16 in U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana South Bend Division.
Charges against her include two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and a count of bank fraud, She also pleaded guilty to a sixth charge of providing false information to investigators.
Prosecutors say she got loans of $340,000 from Countrywide Financial Corp. in 2007 and $318,700,from Zions Bank in 2008 using falsified income documentation, according to the guilty plea document quoted at eTruth.
Arnett-Higgins also admitted to defrauding several people regarding ATV and watercraft equipment by writing unfunded checks to private sellers and Poway, Calif.-based National Powersports Auction.
Arnett-Higgins is being held on a $10,000 bond.
Posted by Holly Wagner
BAD BLONDE JOKE FILES: CAR TROUBLE– A blonde pushes her BMW into a gas station. She tells the mechanic it died. After he works on it for a few minutes, it is idling smoothly.
She says, What’s the story?’
He replies, ‘Just crap in the carburetor’
She asks, ‘How often do I have to do that?’
HELP A SISTER OUT– Jessi “SunDancer” Sills, a long-time Thunder Press columnist/contributor and founder/president of the Chrome Angels of Central Florida, was in a devastating motorcycle accident this past September. The Chrome Angels are holding a benefit to help out with her expenses. Here’s the flyer, also attached:
—Marjorie Kleiman
LEHMAN TRIKE REVEALS “CONCEPT TRIKE” AT KAWASAKI DEALER MEETING– Lehman Trikes unveiled their latest trike concept at the Kawasaki Dealer Meeting October 5-6 in Las Vegas, NV. The new trike conversion, based upon the Kawasaki Vulcan 900, was on display for dealers to view and share their comments with Kawasaki and Lehman Trikes.
”We are thrilled to have this opportunity to solicit feedback from Kawasaki’s dealer network,” stated Ken Hines, President and CEO of Lehman Trikes. “The Vulcan 900 has proven itself as an outstanding motorcycle in the below 1000 cc cruiser category and serves as an excellent foundation for a trike that would raise the bar in its class for performance and value.”
The new trike is being explored as Lehman’s next entry-level product for the rapidly expanding three-wheel segment of the motorcycle market.
For more information on Lehman Trikes or to become a Lehman Trikes dealer, call 1-888-3WHEELS or visit their website at www.lehmantrikes.com.
–Art
WILD FENDER DEAL OF THE WEEK– I want to take my bike back to stock, so we could do a parts trade.
–Jeff
STRANGE NEWS OF THE WEEK, FROM OBION COUNTY, TENNESSEE–Seems local firefighters were called when a doublewide trailer caught fire. Unfortunately the residents failed to pay their $75 out of town Fire Department fee. The firemen arrived in ample time, but let the residence burn to the ground.
“It’s a service we offer–either they accept it or they don’t,” said Mayor David Crocker of South Fulton.
STRANGEST RIDE DESTINATION OF THE WEEK– While cruising the delta back roads yesterday I discovered the tiny town of Thornton and stumbled into an annual Portuguese Festival. The streets were blocked off and folks shopped vendors selling everything from saddles to soaps. Lots of local produce and food vendors. The killer part was the bull fighting, which I had to check out. Fun stuff.
It turns out that actually killing the bull is illegal, except in other countries. They glue velcro patches to the bulls and “stab” them with velcro sticks that adhere and represent the old ways of slashing the animal. No blood, at least not for the animals.
What found interesting and a lot of fun was the “death squad”, which makes me seriously question the sanity of these men. Keep in mind that I was the only anglo person there..with the exception of the drunk blonde broad who was hauled off by cops as the entire audience cheered/jeered… so I can only guess at what was going on since all announcements over the intercom were made in Portuguese. But…this team of men with knit hats has one “leader” who offers his hat as a salute to an audience member and announces to the crowd what wonderful things the member has done in the community and offers himself as sacrifice as a way to honor the person. Then the team goes out in to the middle of the arena and begins to have the head guy shout at the bull while sort of wagging his crotch at the beast.
What I saw was a line of guys, one behind the other, stand in the middle of the arena and the head guy “addresses” the already pissed off bull and cajoles him into goring the guy! The bull puts head down and plows into the leader, while all the back up guys pounce on impaled man and beast and try to pry the man off the bull’s head while not similarly getting gored. Interesting. First guy was splattered on the ground while everyone acted surprised and concerned for him. REALLY? Like I was the only one who saw it coming?? Weird. Anyway, this went on 5 times!! Each subsequent time no one was really hurt and the guys came back at the end of each round with the other matadors and took bows and received flowers. Entertaining to say the least.. felt the bulls got their revenge.. in an odd way.
You just never know what you’ll find when you cruise the delta area. For me, a fun filled afternoon of cultural expansion with a mass of friendly folk and great riding.
–River Rat
THAT’S IT– Never a dull moment at the Bikernet Interplanetary Galactic Headquarters. I spoke to a community leader last week about a grant to refurbish our old 1925 brothel/hotel/fish market, and now it looks like my son is going to kick off a Tattoo Parlor in what once was the Harbor or Porthole Café. So, in the next couple of months Hardball Tattoo will be apart of the 5-Ball complex at the gateway to downtown Wilmington. We have also offered to paint a Wilmington mural on the Harry Bridges side of the building.
Holy shit, but it’s all apart of a new adventure in 2011. I swear, I will feature Randy’s bike next week and start to work on the Zipper’s/PM/Bub pipe tech, plus I’m working on a tech with Trish at Bakers, and on an American Chopper/Paul Teutul tech series with Bikers Choice, about his show bike build. Hang one for more reports. And don’t forget to vote.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
