Hey,
This is like a dreary day inside the Blues Caf?, listening to BB King talk about his 82-year-old struggle with the blues. I listened to Dan Akroyd interview him recently. I?ve got the blues since my late model I-Mac crashed for the second time. It sputtered and died while Benoit Lambouef, recently laid-off from Easyriders, explained the benefits of the new I-Mac over my model. It?s as if the computer heard the conversation and committed suicide in front of us, just to spite us. So about the time I?m gearing up for a shot at the down-and-dirty blues with a bottle of whiskey in a dark saloon, I run into a beautiful day, a gorgeous woman, or a story like BB King?s. He?s 82, a member of every music Hall of Fame on the planet, won every imaginable award, and was recently listed as the third top guitarists in Rolling Stones list of top 100 players in history. He?s amazing, and still highly active, vibrant, and articulate.
So, goddamnit, computer or not, we?ll get it fixed and I?ll write like a mad dog again, and for hopefully a long time to come. Let?s hit the news:
NEW SPRINGER FOR 2004 AND LATER SPORTSTER AND DYNA MODELS–You?ve been waiting for it and here it is, an all new Paughco Springer designed specifically for 2004 and later Sportster and Dyna models. The new Wide Springers are a direct bolt-on install for any competent wrench and come in stock lengths for Sportsters that came lowered from the factory and 3? over for standard height models.
Top clamps can be ordered with ears for use with Dog Bone risers or without for Glide style risers. Each springer features Paughco?s oval rear legs and can be ordered with or without integrated shock absorber. Base price for the new springer in chrome is $1870.95 and for slightly more you can have your?s custom finished in high luster brass, black powdercoated or a mixture of chrome, black and brass.
For complete details call 775-246-5738, email to info@paughco.com or visit them on the Web at www.paughco.com
The ThunderMax crew from Zipper’s Performance Products will be located at Harley-Davidson? of Ocean City during Delmarva Bike Week, September 17th-20th 2009 in Ocean City, MD.–As you are cruising the coastal highway, stop by and talk to our ThunderMax technical staff about your fuel injected Harley?. Learn more about what makes your Harley? tic and how to improve your ride with the ThunderMax EFI System. Our team will be on-hand to amp you up with the latest gear for your fuel injected H-D?.If you own a ThunderMax equipped motorcycle, stop by and tell us about your riding experience with ThunderMax.See You at The Beach!
CHRIS CALLEN’S 2009 BONNEVILLE REPORT–
Chris Callen, Bikernet Field Reporter & Editor of Cycle Source Magazine, sent in this report on the 2009 Bonneville meet. Chris talks speed with Valerie Thompson, Chris Carr and others.
Click on Bikernet Studio for all of the Good Stuff.
BIKERNET WEEKLY PHOTO ART EXHIBIT–Ride while you still can – they might try to take that away from us too! Of course if it comes to that they will have to pry the gun from one hand and the throttle from another.
–Whiplash Biker Photog
soffordphotos@comcast.net
Brembo equips with its brakes the innovative Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter– The Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter is the first electric vehicle on two wheels with high performances who offers all the benefits of the traditional gasoline scooters but without noise, pollution and expensive maintenance.
Brembo contributes to its success by equipping the vehicle with front and rear pumps, calipers and discs.
The Electric Maxi-Scooter innovative planning involves numerous advantages among which:
– high performances, optimal handling and comfort;
– minimal maintenance, reduced assurance and operating costs;
– facility in driving and in the parking maneuvers thanks to the innovative energetic recovery DAaRT;
– environment respect, as it does not produce exhaust gases, and it is far less noisy than traditional scooters.
HOTEL ROOM NEWS FOR LAS VEGAS BIKE FEST–The great people at the Hard Rock Hotel have decided to extend the deadline for the special Las Vegas BikeFest room rate to this Friday, September 18th.
Make your reservations today so you can get the special rate of $139 single/double occupancy.
1-800-473-7625
The lovely crew at the Stratosphere has joined the party and is offering patrons of the Las Vegas Bikefest a sweet room package. The deal goes from Oct 1st and checking out on the 5th.
CALIFORNIA BIKE WEEK ALL THINGS BIKER–
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2008
CLASSIC BIKE SHOW . HARLEY VILLAGE . STUNT SHOWS . WALL OF DEATH . THE WORLD?S BEST BIKER VENDOR VILLAGE
ALL THINGS BIKER
Gates Open 10:00AM (Entrance Will Be Through Fairplex Gate 17)
Breakfast & Auction @ The Petersen Automotive Museum 9:00AM – 12:00PM
H-D Ride In Custom Bike Show 9:00AM-6:00PM (Through Gate F)
Demo Rides 10:00AM-5:00PM
Vendor Village 10:00AM-8:00PM
Tattoo Parlor 10:00AM-11:00PM
Stunt Shows 11:00AM-4:30PM
Harley-Davidson Road Tour 10:00AM-10:30PM
Wall of Death 10:00AM-8:00PM
Access To The NHRA Museum 10:00AM-5:00PM
Concessions 10:00AM-11:00PM
Music Stage 11:30AM-5:00PM
Blue Baron Band 11:30AM-12:30PM
Dennis Jones 1:00-2:00PM
The Charlie Brechtel Band 2:30-3:30PM
The Answer 4:00-5:00PM
Flat Track Practice 4:00-6:00PM
Flat Track Racing 6:30-10:00PM
Gates Close 11:00PM
JUST OUT OF THE TRIUMPH OVEN ? 2010 SCRAMBLER, BONNY & THRUXTON– 2006~2010 Triumph Scrambler, Bonneville and Thruxton stainless steel full system pipes, which are manufactured with a stepped header design sporting megaphone mufflers and billet tips.
The pipes are available in polished megaphone muffler or faux-ti (titanium-texture) megaphone muffler finish. Comes complete with O2 sensors for injected models and jet kit for 08 and earlier.
More details at D&D Performance Enterprises.
HEY YOU, THAT’S RIGHT, YOU– For just 2 or 3 fill ups on your motorcycle TRIsTA will greet you and your scoot when you roll home.
TRIsTA is the kind of girl you want around. She doesn’t complain and always has a smile on her face. And best of all, she’ll meet you at the door with just a wisp of nylon on. She will even keep your important dates so you will never be late.
You see TRIsTA is one of the select few “Girls of Bikernet” and is featured in their Girls of Bikernet Calendar.
So get up and get personal and click here for details.
Buell Announces American Adventure Grant Contest Winner–Grand Prize Includes a new 2009 Buell XB12X Ulysses Motorcycle.
East Troy, Wis. (Sept. 15, 2009) Buell Motorcycle Company announced today that Carter Sisney of Bozeman, Mont., has been selected as the grand prize winner of its American Adventure Grant program for 2009. For his winning essay describing his vision of the ultimate American riding adventure, Sisney has been awarded a new 2009 Buell Ulysses XB12X motorcycle, $2,500 in credit for Buell Parts & Accessories, and a check for $2,500 to complete his dream trip, a tour of Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding Beartooth mountains.
?After reading through the thousands of American Adventure Grant entries, the panel of judges settled on Carter Sisney?s essay. He had a clear vision for his ride and the right blend of riding experience and sense of adventure to ensure a memorable trip,? said Chad Hockerman, Buell Market Outreach Project Manager.
In their online essays, contest applicants were asked to describe their ultimate American on- or off-road riding adventure, including destinations, the planned route, their reasons for wanting to complete the trip, and a description of previous riding experience. The following is the text of Sisney?s winning essay:
4am Bozeman, USA- East into Paradise Valley & South into YNP via Yankee Jim Canyon. I aim to be the only one with enough gusto to get up this early and be soaking in the pre-dawn beauty of The Boiling River?s thermal spring, when it legally opens at 5am. Next, into Cooke City with my mind set on adventure and lunch, before airing down tires for the 4.5 miles North on 4wd trails for 2 nights @ Round Lake Forest Service Cabin (rented from Uncle Sam). Day 3, fresh trout & a hike to Grasshopper Glacier for panoramic views of Montana?s highest peaks. Then with tires full, East along the sinuous Beartooth Hwy, known as, “The Most Beautiful Drive in America,” with a stay in Red Lodge for rafting, local cuisine, and nightlife. Final 2 days spent circumnavigating The Beartooths, with eager anticipation of finding The Unknown?
?To me, the XB12X embodies an unbounded potential to creatively move through life, one mile at a time. The ?Ultimate American Adventure? is not to be found in just a plan, but rather, in an experience unfolding before you. Of my many reasons for this trip, none is more important than this,? Sisney said. ?What my 15 years of dual sport riding has taught me is that adventure is a state of mind. Its essence is always available.?
Sisney expects to take delivery of his new Ulysses this month from Beartooth Harley-Davidson / Buell in Billings, Mont, and to complete his trip this Fall. Updates will be posted on buell.com.
To learn more about Buell motorcycles, or to locate the dealer nearest you, log onto www.buell.com.
CARB FINES TWO CALIFORNIA SHOPS $180,000–The California Air Resources Board (CARB) last month fined two San Diego-area motorcycle dealers $180,000 for illegal sales after the dealerships allegedly sold several dozen off-road motorcycles to customers who thought they were purchasing on-road models.
In 2006, CARB enforcement officers got an anonymous tip that San Diego-based GP Motorcycles and Moto Forza of Escondido, Calif., were allegedly selling Husqvarna off-road motorcycles illegally as on-road models. CARB says investigators have confirmed the allegations and last month took action.
According to CARB, many of the bikes were outfitted with so-called “street-legal” kits and licensed for on-road use. CARB revoked all the on-road licenses and registrations for the illegal bikes sold by GP Motorcycles and Moto Forza, and the motorcycle owners were permitted to return their license plates to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles for the appropriate off-road riding stickers and plates.
Off-highway vehicles do not meet the same CARB emission standards required of on-road motorcycles. ?There are no street-legal kits or conversions that make an off-road motorcycle legal for on-road use or registration,? CARB says. ?A motorcycle is either certified by ARB for on-road use or off-road use.?
“Companies that deliberately flout the law are often assessed higher penalties,” said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “Playing by the rules from the start is the most cost-effective, smart business plan any company can follow.”
California’s air pollution control efforts include regulating emissions from cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles. CARB is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency and aims to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy.
?Submitted by Guido Ebert
–DealerNews
COOL NEW BARS FROM PAUGHCO–Expanding on their popular line of custom and replacement handlebars, Paughco recently added 3 new styles that provide even more options for custom builders and those just looking to individualize their bikes. Shown here are the ?Mini-Z? Drags Bar, 1 ?? ?HT?, and ?Boardtract? Springer Bars. The Mini-Z is a traditional style 1? ?Z? bar, but with just 1 ?? rise, 2? pullback, 10? center section with 4? drop and 29 ?? overall width. Mini-Z?s go for just $118.95. ?HT? bars are fresh off the drawing board and feature 1 ?? diameter tubing swedged down to 1?.
The design integrates .675? diameter hollow mounting studs that exit below the tree and allow you to route your bike?s wiring through the mounting studs. Supplied with extra large I.D. polymere bushings and washers. Available in 8? and 11? rises with 7? pullback and 31 ?? width. Retail for the ?HT? bars is $229.95. Finally Paughco has just reintroduced the very retro ?Boardtrack? springer bars. These nostalgic bars are identical, in looks, to low slung handlebars found on early factory boardtrack race machines. Paughco?s version is 1? diameter with heavy and mounting applications to both Paughco and early OEM in-line springers.
These bars are HOT and go for just $255.95. For additional details call direct to 775-246-5738, email info@paughco or catch them on the Web at www.paughco.com.
LUCKY WINNER RECEIVES SUCKER PUNCH SALLY’S CUSTOM MOTORCYCLEIN CAO CIGAR LA TRAVIATA DEBUT GIVEAWAY–Scottsdale, ARIZ (September 17, 2009) The CAO La Traviata custom bike, fashioned by renowned bike builder, Sucker Punch Sally’s in conjunction with CAO Cigars, was awarded to one lucky cigar distributor at the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers’ Association Convention and International Trade Show held August 8-12 in New Orleans, LA.
CAO Cigars, one of the foremost premium cigar companies in the world partnered with old-school custom bike builder, Sucker Punch Sally’s to create and give away a one-of-a-kind CAO custom bike to commemorate the unveiling of their new La Traviata brand of cigars.
In order to qualify for the giveaway, retailers had to order a certain amount of cigars from CAO. A little over 100 CAO Retailers were in the final drawing held at the 77th Annual IPCPR Trade Show heralded as the most important event of the year for tobacconists. The winner was selected and the bike was recently awarded to Denis Reed, owner of Pars and Cigars of Des Moines, IA.
“I’m amazed and thrilled that I won!” exclaimed Reed after winning the custom bike. “It’s such an honor. Thank you so much to CAO and Sucker Punch Sally’s for making this possible. I can’t wait to get out there and ride it now!”
“The bike that we constructed for the La Traviata brand unveiling was shockingly good,” says Sucker Punch Sally’s owner, Christian Clatyon. “We had a lot of fun building the bike and working with CAO It turned out great.”
Created to commemorate the debut of CAO’s La Traviata brand of cigars, the bike giveaway was only available to cigar retailers. CAO La Traviata is a full-bodied, full-flavored cigar that combines an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a Cameroon binder and incorporates two different ligero filler tobaccos from the Pueblo Nuevo farm in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
“The modernized old school aesthetic of the Sucker Punch style is a perfect match for our approach toward making cigars,” commented CAO Senior Vice President of Marketing Mike Conder.
“We really wanted to reward our retailers with a fully custom motorcycle. CAO is very fortunate to work with such a number of prestigious retailers throughout the country. This is our way of saying thank you.” Explains CAO Director is Lifestyle Marketing, Jon Huber.
Founded in 2002, Sucker Punch Sally’s continues to stay true to their traditional biker values by providing the best stripped-down bobbers and choppers at the most reasonable prices. The old school no-nonsense style of bikes that started Sucker Punch Sally’s are the bikes they still build today, only now with the convenience of modern manufacturing practices. The Traditional and the 66 Bobber both received industry awards in 2007 and are the two models that the company was founded on. They have the capacity to build 100 bikes a month at their manufacturing facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., including the widely anticipated Swinger. Their model line has been built up to six different models, with the additions of the stealthy Slim and the retro-styled Hot Rod. Sucker Punch Sally’s continuously growing dealer network throughout the U.S. showcases the wide variety of bikes they have available, all of which exude SPS style.
You can find out more about Sucker Punch Sally’s at www.suckerpunchsallys.com or www.facebook.com/OldSchoolChoppersor www.myspace.com/suckerpunchsallyschoppers.
CAN I BREAK OUT THE WHISKEY–We?re actually headed to a Mac store right now to get my ass back on line and cranking. While Sons of Anarchy was being shot around the corner from the Bikernet Headquarters we scrambled to make a connection from one computer to another, while waiting for word from Big Chuck, our longshoreman computer guru.
I?m scrambling to keep up with content constantly, then suddenly I?m cut off and wandering around the shop like a lost dog. Frustration hit me first, then a relaxing cloud drifted over me and I started to tinker with my 5-Ball Factory Racer. It?s almost there. We escaped the headquarters, looking for a computer solution at Staples and the purchase of a new router. That didn?t do the trick, but while we wandered the streets, We stumbled into a Chinese take-out factory. While pacing back and forth in front of the counter, like a nervous hold-up artist, I noticed a woman step up to a large brass Buddha. She dropped a coin into the surrounding tray, said a prayer and rubbed its polished belly.
Could there be a light at the end of the tunnel, a Zen master chant? Fuck it, fuck stress. Let?s party and ride. I?ll be back on line, and smokin? with content including a feature on this Power House bike next week. It was just featured in Cycle Source. Check the latest issue.
I?ll try to find out the latest on the Chopper Challenge, when I wrap up the report on this TV build. In the meantime, take it easy, and relax. I?m trying.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
