Hey,
As usual life is nuts. I took a drive around the port with Dr. Hamster yesterday, and the port is tearing the shit outta Wilmington to enhance port operations, and they don’t have an approved plans. We have a plan for the Wilmington Waterfront approved in 2009 and nothing has been completed—no money they said.
How about this from The Week Magazine: …most of us know little about caffeine. Even the most basic coffee distinction—between the robusta beans that become cheap diner coffee and the Arabica beans that supply chic coffe houses—is poorly understood.
It’s the lowly robusta that packs twice as much caffeine. Among the gourmet brews, people commonly perceive that a dark roast, with its strong flavor, has more caffeine than a mild-tasting, light roast. But that, too, is wrong. Because some of the caffeine has been burned off in the longer roasting, darker coffees have less caffeine than light roasts, bean for bean.—Folgers is stronger than Starbucks.
And finally, Ray Wheeler, our esteemed Performance Editor has been bugging me to order my racing leathers for Bonneville. I mentioned it to Dr. Hamster and he investigated. I brought up the place in Sunland. It supplied our fire suits for the La Carrera race. Then the good doctor questioned, “Maybe you don’t needed leathers,” he said. “You’re enclosed.”
Let’s hit the news and you’ll find out.
ATK MOTORCYCLE GROUP PROGRESS– Our investment group Twin Financial has two large historical bonds which have been authenticated which are about to sell. There have been multiple issues with HSB Swiss Bank in Zurich and the buyer (China) is now having Twin Financials group deal with their HSB Bank (Chines Bank) in Luxemburg as of yesterday which is great. Hopefully tomorrow I will have some concrete news on the closing and payout schedule.
ATK Hybrid Electric Bicycle
We are considering (after funding) entering the Hybrid Electric Bicycle Market with much less emphasis on an Electric Motorcycle Niche for a variety of reasons like: We don’t have to wait years for the all electric motorcycle market to develop, how many people ride bicycles and would buy one of these today…..
One of my close associate for years, Karl Kramer the Editor of Electric Bike Action Magazine, the only publication in E-Bikes has linked me up with a small innovative bicycle developer in Southern California (BME Bikes www.bmebikes.com ) who wants to work with us and convert his leading edge technology over to ATK so we could enter this market almost immediately.
–Frank White
BIKERNET GARAGE DOOR COVERS JUST IN–Just to make it interesting and impress your neighbors and passersby..
This is really cool – especially if you have a homeowners association!!
Are you fed up with looking daily at your boring garage door?
Just stick a new decal on your door….and wait for the neighborhood reaction!
The German company “Style your Garage” makes posters for your garage door.
Prices vary from $199 to $399 for a double door! Everything
included!
INDIAN IS BACK IN TOWN–The Sturgis Motorcycle rally, arguably the largest and most popular motorcycle mecca in the world was found by Pappy and pearl Hoel more than 75 year ago. Now, 75 year later, the Indian motorcycle company back in town.
Residing at 2106 Lazelle St. (the old Competition Distribution facility) and isnow open for business as of May 1, said Pat Kurtenbach, president of the Sturgis Economic Development Corp. The-is most recent addition to the Indian dealership network will be open year-round, offering both sales, and service as well as retail sales of motorcycles , accessories and Indian ridng apparel.
It will employ eight people, Kurtenbach said. Indian Motorcycle Company is owned by Minnesota-based Polaris Industries with motorcycle being manufactured and assembled in Wisconsin and Iowa. The Indian brand lay dormant for the past two years until the unveiling of the new Indian motorcycle models in August of 2013. At that event, Polaris released the newest Indian Classic, Vintage and Chieftain motorcycles to the public.
–BY Buck Lovell
Senior Editor Bikernetbaggers.com
Lovell Photography & Design
Senior Editorial Contributor: American Iron Magazine, Easyriders Magazine, Hot Bike Magazine, Hot Bike Baggers Magazine, Motorcycle Baggers Magazine, Road Iron Magazine, and Street Chopper Magazine.
B.L.A.B.B. (Buck Lovell’s American Biker Blog)
www.lovellphoto.com / bucklovell@gmail.com / bucklovellsblog@gmail.com
P.O. Box 276
Sturgis, SD 57785
(605) 347 6009
(605) 490 2991
PODCAST OF THE WEEKEND—Ken Conte interviews Michael Lichter.
http://4ever2wheels.com/2014/01/lichterpodcast/
6th Annual Michael Boz Kerr Bikers Inside the Beltway Success– This year was another highly successful Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) event in our Nation’s Capital. We were blessed with perfect weather and a robust number of citizen motorcycle lobbyists on the most important day of the year for motorcyclists.
Motorcyclists from Connecticut, Maryland, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, South Carolina, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, and Minnesota were in attendance.
This year’s event resulted in nearly 250 individual meetings with Senate and House offices to advance the MRF agenda in Washington D.C. The event also coincided with the introduction of a portion of the highway legislation that expires at the end the fiscal year, September 30th. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee introduced their portion of the highway bill, which does not affect us. What this does show, is that Congress has begun in earnest to work on the much needed highway bill.
This year’s attendees lobbied their members of Congress to advance the following bills;
H.R. 1861 – to prohibit the Federal funding of motorcycle only roadside checkpoints
S 2078 – to prohibit the Federal funding of motorcycle only roadside checkpoints
H.R. 875 – to require the EPA to halt the sale of E15 gasoline and conduct an independent study on the effect of the blend of internal combustion engines.
H.R. 2414 – to enact black Box privacy legislation
Another topic at the event was a push back on President Obama’s transportation proposal, GROW AMERICA which is calling for mandatory helmet laws. The Obama proposal is not very popular with Congress according to members of Congress and the staff.
This year’s Congressional program was held on the Senate side of Capitol Hill. The attendees heard from Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of S. 2078, the Senate bill to end the funding of motorcycle only roadside checkpoints. Senator Shaheen told the group how happy she was to help end this unnecessary discrimination of motorcyclists. The group of motorcycle lobbyists also heard from Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) the lead republican on S. 2078, who gave an impassioned speech about how important it is to fight for freedom and reminded the group that they are part of a small group of Americans who actually fight for their freedoms.
This year’s Bikers Inside the Beltway was a tremendous success. The MRF thanks all of those who attended from near and far to defend liberty.
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!– 5-Ball Bagger Project Bike — The Infamous Harley Wobble — Part 2
http://www.bikernetbaggers.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=12847
My thoughts and personal actions are these: after going through my own rear steer event [not nearly as bad as yours, but still sucked] I installed a small company’s product it replaced the motor company swingarm shaft with a stronger and thicker through the center of the shaft and stiffeners for the rubber mounts. That company is GLIDE PRO and they have a whole different mind set on this problem. the motor company had already gone to spherical bearing in 2003 which is my model year.
I also added a third link made by PROGGRESSIVE SUSPENSION. I liked the ease of install and cost.
Your desire to build a chopper/bagger is understandable. I didn’t know your frame had been hurt. That being the case its all good to follow your own personal CHOPPER GOD to nirvana.
Peace out and I’ll stay tuned for more.
— Tom K
Ogden, UT
REPORT FROM BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL EDITOR IN VIETNAM–Saigon unofficial HOG chapter meeting.
These are most all of the original “HOG” group back about 5 years ago on my first visit.
Maybe 50+ members or so – broke off from the dealership because the dealer HOG chapter was too formalized and followed factory prescribed activities. These guys just want to come and go as able – being very busy businessmen.
At any rate they are most hospitable – make me feel very welcome and part of the group. If I want anything just ask.
That Boss Hoss is supercharged – I couldn’t get the specs before the guy left. I am sure there is well over $100,000 sitting there.
Not quite as hot here as Thailand.
Vietnamese coffee is too strong to drink straight.
Managed to make a new friend at the Apocalypse Now Social and Meeting Hall.
I am only here for one full day, Sunday, as this trip is about going somewhere else in Vietnam, as I have spent many days on the ground in the big city of Saigon. A friend from California lives in Vung Tau about two hours away and on the coast. I actually met him through the Fryed Brothers when they played Thailand the first year.
There is also a little tension in town regarding the recent protests about China and the oil rig offshore. Lots of military presence on the streets and also less traffic than usual.
The unfortunate irony is that the Chinese factories that were burned were Taiwanese. The local people didn’t know that Taiwan is not aligned with mainland China. They really destroyed the wrong stuff.
All for now – gotta change up for tonight.
ISOTUT
–Art
BONNEVILLE EFFORT RESEARCH FROM RODAY– it will have to have a cage that encloses the driver, but you can have as much of your body as you want sticking out above the body, as long as it has that cage. You’ll need a fire suit, full 2- bottle fire system, belts, etc. There is no class for a 3-wheeled vehicle in SCTA racing, other than motorcycle side car class. It can run for time only, tho, as long as it passes safety tech.
I just got back from El Mirage last night, our first meet of the year got blown out…too much wind to run. There are people in line today, just setting there waiting on the wind to drop off to below 15 knots, and the meet will probably be called? after the next 12 or 15 runs.
I’m busy, putting my blown fuel flathead Ford in a streamliner that I’ll be driving this year, it’s almost finished. I’m gathering parts to build a new motor for my roadster. A blown engine set in it for the last 10 years.
I built a ’29 roadster pickup a couple years ago, for the street, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. It’s my daily driver with a 400 hp roller cam small block Chevy in it. Too much fun!
–Tom
HOWARD KELLY, New Bikernet Reader Comment! I Guess I Left a Mark In the Motorcycle Industry
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=11708
I remember when Iron Horse was around when Snow, Ghengis and the other writer (something III) would write about the cool chopper scene, yet the bikes they were pictured with were pretty well stock bikes. Interesting. I stopped buying the Horse because after a while you get tired of the elitist, condescending same old, same old. No surprise. I wasn’t a huge fan of Hot Bike, and I’m still not, but if you’re product is a good one, you need not denigrate others’ efforts.
–One Eye
Windsor, ON, Canada
Yes, the blind often have an inward seeing eye and they can see things we cannot and their blindness is even a power to them to that other people fear them for it. This maid might be taught to soothsay or some such thing.
Sad that her sons did seek a foreign grave/ (For, Fate’s, or Fortune’s drifts none can soothsay , /Honour and misery have one face and way)
Soothsay is a back formation of the word soothsayer , which means “a person who can foretell future events.” The term sooth meaning “truth” has been in English since before 900
COMING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!–
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“We are proud to support this contest for the third consecutive year,” stated Sukoshi Fahey, Sales and Marketing Manager, Avon Tyres. “It’s always great to support a biker in need. Best of luck to all the contestants.”
One lucky winner will receive an incredible prize package that will include a set of Avon tires along with products from Harley-Davidson®, Spectro Performance Oils, Mustang® Seats, Hijinx Apparel, Wizards® Products, Hot Leathers® and more! The prize package will be shipped to the contest winner upon the completion of the contest.
This year’s contest is dedicated in memory of Jed Smith, son of 2009 Ultimate Biker Makeover winner, Kristen Buckley who lost his battle with childhood leukemia in January, 2010. For more information and complete rules, visit http://www.garage-girls.com.
Tracy L. Teuscher, APR, President
The Buzz Maker! Public Relations
Accredited. Experienced. Trusted.
THE WORLDS UNSOLD CAR STOCKPILE– Houston…We have a problem! Nobody is buying brand new cars anymore! Well they are, but not on the scale they once were. Millions of brand new unsold cars are just sitting redundant on runways and car parks around the world.
There, they stay, slowly deteriorating without being maintained.
WIDE TIRE TRIKE WORLD NEWS–Lexington, NC – C&S Custom announced today that they have delivered the world’s widest tire Can-Am Spyder and created a kit that allows enthusiasts to convert their Can-Am into a custom Spyder Hot Rod. The wide tire kit comes in two sizes of 500 and 360 rear tires.
The 500 kit features low profile tires on a 20×17 rear wheel and two 20×8 front wheels.
The 360 features a 18×14 rear and two 18×8 front. C&S Custom supplies radial street tires in the kit for increased longevity and dependability. C&S Custom offers a full line of custom wheels for Spyders.
The firm has a long and storied history of manufacturing motorcycle sub systems, swing arms and accessories for custom motorcycles and race bikes. They utilized the same manufacturing process and protocols to bring the wideTire Can-Am Spyder to market. This ensures that each component works consistently and the kit comes together flawlessly.
The kits include choice of wheels, three low profile tires, front and rear sprocket, chains and swingarm with finishes provided in chrome, custom paint, engraving or powder coating. Options include air suspension, nitrous bottle bracket, and voodoo exhaust.
“When we did our international reveal at Daytona Bike Week we were mobbed everywhere we went,” explained Charlie Michael, General Manager.
“Our kit turns the Can-Am from a mild trike into a statement-making attention grabber that is no longer overshadowed by customs on two wheels. The enhancements to the trike opens the door to the younger demographic and that is something the entire industry is interested in.”
The upgraded wheel package provides a greater contact patch with the tire and the tarmac. In addition, the rider sits slightly higher giving them a better position to be scene and to see other vehicles.
C&S Custom recommends a professional installation. Pro-consumers that have mechanical ability should budget a weekend for the conversion.
Visit the company online at www.candscustom.com/ as new and innovative products are continually profiled.
5-Ball Bagger Project Bike — The Infamous Harley Wobble — Part 2
http://www.bikernetbaggers.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=12847
I think, many times when looking at the science behind a bagger we forget some things. You have 800-plus pounds of bike, plus rider weight running down the road with a flexible hinge in the middle of the bike–the rubber mounts at the swingarm. So as you enter a corner lateral stress is applied to the frame, bending the bike in the middle while the wheels are trying to use horsepower drive and gyroscopic effect to track in a straight line.
Force is pushing the bike to the outside of a corner from speed (momentum) while the bike is basically folding in half. At that point and input–a road irregularity, rider gripping the bars too tightly, change in throttle opening, is going to unstabilize the chassis. It’s not a good recipe for handling and the reason stabilizer kits make so much sense.
The problem is the same as making a full-on sport bike suspension comfortable on the street, one side has to give. If you soften the sport bike up for day-to-day riding, it wallows in corners and at high speed, firm it up to its race-bike potential, running over a matchstick bounces you off the seat. Same idea with a rubber-mounted monstrosity, allow it to be soft and absorb plenty of vibration in the mounts, handling at higher speeds will suffer and flex all over. Firm it up and you have an 800-pound bike that feels like an Evo-Softail at idle.
Have not even discussed the whole front end rake and trail thing yet, and at no time can putting a 35 pound windshield on you handlebars adds to good handling, but that’s a topic for another day.
–Howard Kelly
Laguna niguel, CA
BIKERNET OFFICIAL PHILOSOPHER ON LETTING GO– Some people believe holding on is there sign of great strength. When the Truth is, it takes much more strength to let go and than to hold on. –yALE
Sometimes we are caught up in things and people that we are afraid of to Let Go, even if that thing or person is detrimental to destroy our Life. I am amazed we allow people, memories and things to monopolies our Lives when we should get rid of them so we can Live more Life.
Joseph Campbell said “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”
For many years I have watched myself and others stuck in a rut because they are comfortably uncomfortable. I believe the biggest reason we hold on is we lack Faith and Trust that we can Let Go and move on. We get consumed by the problem.
Yesterday I had a great Let Go experience. I allowed one of my mechanics to hold me hostage because there is such a shortage of staff in my town. I was consumed by the fear that if he left me I would be in big trouble. I finally had enough when he threatened to quit and I said great, pack up your stuff. Immediately I was filled with a sense of relief and joy.
I Paused and thought why did I allow this to go on, why did I accept the quality of work from him that I would have never before. That fear immediately turned into Faith and I instantly knew that I would find a solution and it felt so good. For the rest of the day you could not take the smile of my face.
Why do we allow things and people to remain in our Lives we should have Let Go a long time ago. We accept situations that we should not yet we are afraid to make the necessary changes and move on.
I believe that much of this comes from fear and lack of Trust and Faith in the Universe to provide for us with All we need. Today’s Spiritual exercise: Choose to make a list of people and things that we need to Let Go of and begin the process.
And So It Is
Namaste’
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. –Lao Tzu
–Yale
Yale Custom Cycles
403-453-1999
2003 11 ST SE
Calgary AB
T2G 3G6
This is interesting. I read a book called the Core Teaching of Buddhism. The first chapter is all about change. The first premise of Buddhism is that life and everything in it is changing constantly—get use to it, quick. Then you can relax, enjoy, and let go.–Bandit
LET’S CHANGE SOMETHING, ANYTHING, QUICK—High heats hit the southland like a hammer to a waiting nail. For a week we were slammed with mid 90s heat waves. It sorta kicked my ass, but this week we will turn the tide.
Content is flying at Bikernet and I’m behind in my homework assignments. The VA has grabbed whole days with appointment to study my ever- changing physical condition. Hell, I’m 66 and now they are paying attention.
?
Okay, so I have three or four features to write, and Peter Linney wants me to write a bike feature about a Power Plant bobber. I need to make a run across town to see about a fire suit. And we need to order a bunch of parts for our Bonneville trike from a drag racing store and ship them to Kent Weeks.
I now have my Ride Wright Wheel for our Headquarters art project, and I need to order the tubing for the wings, and I’m looking for metal chunks to make feathers from.
I need to get back on my book final edit. And Don Whalen called with a new set of antiques, plus Markus just shot a bike at McQuiston’s shop yesterday, and he’s working on a shop feature for Cycle Source Magazine.
I’m working with Matt Hotch and MetalSport on a couple of articles.
And Ray is working on our first Wheeler Work Station. We hope to haul it to a panel shop this week for various panels to be added. This puppy will be too cool. Pricing will be a bitch, but we will figure it out.
Now, go for a ride and search for the dragon lady.
Ride free, forever,
–Bandit
