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BIKERNET METRIC ATTENDS IMS SHOW IN SAN MATEO– Well the holidays are here and I am trying to remain eggnog soaked??it is going well. I hope all of you have seen the piece on Ransom Motorsports. I encourage everyone to look him up at his stoppin? grounds in Daytona. Great guy and awesome aluminum work!
I will be attending the San Mateo IMS Show (see the daily blog for a sneak peak) this weekend. I will be putting together many stories and shorts on what is announced for consumers. Speaking of Shortts, I am almost ready to post on Rocky Mountain Customs? Chuck Shortt. You will remember that he was the winner of the Bikernet Brouhaha?s best paint award. I got some great stuff on him from bikes to business.
I am also going to be doing a personal interview with Cruiser Customizing?s head man, Uwe Druckenmueller. Uwe gave up the Hi Tech lifestyle for his love of the two-wheeled lifestyle and gambled with the Metric accessory market when it was new. His gambling has paid off and he is on top of the accessory game!
So there is tons of content to come. As my good friend at AFT Customs says, ?do you have the stones to ride Metric?? Let?s see if you do?..send me your pics and have a great, gin-soaked Holiday. And remember, quoting Donkey from Shrek, ?it ain?t Christmas until someone?s cryin??
–Wack Job
BIKER?S CHOICE WINTER GEAR– More leather wear from Biker?s Choice, this time, in a women?s jacket. Our Savannah Jacket combines premium weight leather, adjustable, side waist tabs with snap closures, zippered sleeve cuffs with snap closures and two exterior zippered front chest pockets with good looks and classic fitting.
If your looking for no frills, good looking and functional biker wear, look no further than this jacket. For more information, visit our website www.bikerschoice.com or contact your local Biker?s Choice Dealer.
Happy and safe riding!!
–Carmen
Biker?s Choice
HELP US PUT A SMILE ON A KID’S FACE AT CHRISTMAS– This year, more than ever before, we are asking your help! For the last 5 years we have collected toys for different organizations each Holiday Season.
We give free T-Shirts for toy donations at our store, we supply a new motorcycle for the Fort Worth Children’s Charities Auction each year generating thousands of donation dollars, and have sponsored dozens of Child Charity events and have enjoyed every minute and every smile we helped create!
This year, donations are dramatically down for everyone.No one blames underprivileged children for our economic problems, political corruption or future uncertainties, even though they seem to be one of the first to feel the cut-backs.
In times like these, all charities see dramatic reductions in donations, especially ones considered to be -discretionary-, like Christmas toys. But when it comes to underprivileged children, I think we all have similar sympathies. No one really wants to imagine a child without a smile on Christmas day.
I encourage everyone that can to give a little more this year because many will not be able to.We are still offering a FREE Biker T-Shirt to anyone that drops off a toy at our store this week. And now through Christmas, we want to add to that incentive.
Get a 2 for 1 from your donation!
Between now and December 22nd, anyone who brings a new toy to our store for the Toy Drive, we will match it with a toy donation of our own.
The smile you normally create with your donation can create two!
On December 23rd, we will be going on a giant shopping spree and buying matching toys of similar value for all the donated toys we receive, up to 1000 toys!
All toys and donations go to local Children’s Charities.
Congratulations to the high bidder,Gerald Alford at this years Margarita Ball Bike Auction! Your purchase generated the largest single donation at the Ball!!!
This Saturday and every Saturday through December we will be serving free burgers and holiday drinks from 11am – 5pm!
Check out our December Specials At Renegade Motorcycles!
Oil, lube Filter change $89.95!
Pick up Delivery for all service work, $39.95!
Battery Tender quick connect harness, $69.95!
Same Day Detail $89.95!
Dyno Tune-Up HP Read-Out, $299!
20% Off all installed parts!
20% off all leather apparel.
20% off; Helmets, eyewear, boots gloves.
$5 $10 Biker T-Shirts.
GIANT Bike Clearance!
— Visit RenegadeCycles.com
Regulatory Update – MRF Advocates for Motorcyclists–Recently the Federal government requested comment from the general publicon two important motorcycle related issues. The Motorcycle RidersFoundation submitted comment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)and to the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
The EPA comments were requested to address the Supreme Court rulingMassachusetts v. EPA. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that theClean Air Act (CAA) authorizes the regulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs)because they meet the definition of an air pollutant under the CAA. TheEPA notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is a lengthy document thatattempts to address every segment of the polluting population affected bythe Court’s decision including ships, aircraft and off-road vehicles suchas farm and construction equipment, stationary sources and motorcycles.
The NPRM does address the fact that motorcycles occupy a very smallsegment of the polluting population. However it then goes on to state thatit is the EPA’s belief that most motorcycle engines are tuned forperformance and not efficiency. Therefore, it is the opinion of the EPA,motorcycle engines can be adjusted to pollute less. The MRF commentssuggest that is categorically not true.
Options laid out in the NPRM are to lead manufacturers to increase the useof electronic fuel injection (replacing carburetors); reducing permeationfrom fuel lines and fuel tanks; and eliminating the use of two-strokeengines in the small scooter category.
The NPRM goes on to encourage manufacturers to incorporate more precisefeedback fuel controls; controlling enrichment on cold starts and underload by electronically controlling choke operation. Also allowing loweridle speeds when the opportunity exists; optimizing spark for fuel andoperating conditions through use of a knock sensor; and, like light-dutyvehicles, reducing the engine size and incorporating a turbo-charger.
The MRF believes that the employment of any of these options, especiallyturbos, will result in added expense and therefore discourage Americansfrom choosing motorcycles as transportation and therefore reducingmotorcycles fuel-saving benefit to the country. The MRF asked thatmotorcycles be removed from the EPA plan to limit GHGs.
Read the MRF comments and the NPRM at www.regualtions.gov Docket IDEPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0318.
The MRF will keep you updated on the final results.
NEW YORK COUNCIL PULLS MOTORCYCLE NOISE BILL–That was the headline reported by the MRF?s Jeff Hennie this morning, and biker?s in New York, at least for some time, can breathe a collective sigh of relief. It?s not a time to celebrate yet, because the council could come back very soon and consider this bill again.
Basically, anyone parking a bike on the street in New York City would be subject to a $1,000 fine if there was no EPA sticker on the exhaust pipe. This stems from the Clean Air Act of 1979, a little known and unenforced, until now, rule from the federal government. The growing problem of excessively loud pipes has been popping up all over the country. One of the more watched and reported upon cases last year was the city of Del Ray Beach, Florida. There, the city wanted to exclude motorcycle access to a beach front area because of complaints of loud pipes. The bikers, motorcycle clubs and several rights? organizations were able to change the council?s mind because of preemption and federal law that prohibits the denial of use of public roads that were wholly or partly funded by federal monies.
In Kenosha, Wisconsin, the sheriff indicated that his deputies would be out in force ticketing loud bikes during the Harley-Davidson 105th celebration. Hupy and Abraham, S.C. participated in meetings with the sheriff, along with local ABATE representatives, and the issue was resolved and we don?t know of any citations for loud pipes during the anniversary.
New York?s situation is unique in that the council there isn?t relying on a noise level, such as the required 80 decibel limit. Rather, the city is insisting that an EPS sticker must be affixed to the exhaust system and in plain view. That means a motorcycle doesn?t even have to be running to be cited for a violation. Besides the stiff penalty, confiscation of the bike is also part of the new rule for consideration.
Motorcycle groups, such as the AMA and MRF, find this both excessive and discriminatory in nature. We hope Speaker Christine Quinn will consider the many problems this bill will create and prevent it from moving forward. Meanwhile, the motorcycle community will search for ways to convince bikers to manage their throttles better, or we will see more restrictive laws coming in 2009. The impact of such legislation is unknown at this time, but it will certainly adversely affect the riders who own vintage motorcycles and the large cottage industry of after market exhaust systems.
BIG BEAR CHOPPER SNOWED IN–Member of the Big Bear staff can’t get home for Christmas, so they’re still building Choppers. That’s the Code of the West, right? If you can ride, build.
–andy meadors
B I G B E A R C H O P P E R S
909.878.4340 x120 phone
909.878.4341 fax
PO BOX 1741
41922 Fox Farm Road
Big Bear Lake, Calif 92315
http://www.bigbearchoppers.com
andy@bigbearchoppers.com
love, peace and BBC grease
SPECTRO OIL BREAK IN RECOMMENDATIONS–For break in on a Twin Cam I would recommend a straight petroleum like SpectroHD20/50 for the first 500 to 750 miles, then switch to Spectro platinum20/50 full synthetic. The straight petroleum will help the rings seatfaster, and our high zinc formula will reduce piston scuffing during thecritical break in period.
–Rollin Karoll
Vice President of Sales
Spectro Oils
993 Federal Rd
Brookfield, CT 06804
800-243-8645
J.D. POWERS MOTORCYCLE SURVEY FOR 2008–People may be paying more for their motorcycles, but they like their motorcycles more. The moto ownership experience has improved for straight years to a record level, according to J.D. Power & Associates. The firm’s latest on the business–the “2008 Motorcycle Competitive Information Study,” which measures owner satisfaction on a 1,000 point scale–says satisfaction with owning a bike has improved by 5 points this year versus last.
Satisfaction with the cost of owning has improved by 11 points versus last year, with 18% of owners saying the cost of owning their motorcycles is “outstanding,” versus 10% in 2005.
Thirty percent of motorcycle owners termed the value for the price paid for their bike “outstanding” compared with 21% in 2005. The study measures owner satisfaction with new motorcycles based on the product performance and quality, cost of ownership, sales, and service.
Owners also feel that the quality of their bikes is strong because of fewer problems, with 42% of owners saying they had no problems with their bike–an improvement of 3% versus last year.
“Despite the fact that owners report paying 14% more for their motorcycles this year, they are also more satisfied with the value received for the money spent,” said Tim Fox, research manager of the powersports practice at J.D. Power & Associates.
The 11th annual study is based on survey responses from 7,334 owners who purchased motorcycles between September 2007 and May 2008. Owners were surveyed in September and October 2008.
Other improvements: among motorcycle owners who visit a dealer for repair work, 79% said that the work was performed right the first time–a 4% improvement from 2007.
The firm says that over the past seven years, satisfaction with engines and transmission has increased more than any other product-related elements.
If there’s a problem, it’s that buyers are getting older because the industry is not getting enough younger consumers into riding. J.D. Power says that since 2001, the average age of motorcycle owners has increased from 40 to 47 years.
“This indicates that the current population of motorcycle buyers is aging, and a large proportion of these owners are likely to soon exit the market,” says Fox. The firm says first-time buyers constitute about 22% of all new-motorcycle purchases, and that number has not changed since 2001.
“It is critical for manufacturers to focus on attracting first-time and younger buyers–primarily those in the Gen X and Y demographics–in order to ensure continued growth in this market.”
–from Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com
BIKERNET ANNUAL ROLE MODEL STUDY–Here is an amazing calculation you can do to determine who is your most likely Role Model. Do this without looking at the answers
1) Pick your Favorite Number from 1-9.
2) Then multiply that number by 3.
3) Then add 3.
4) Then multiply by 3 again.
5) You should get a 2 or 3 digit number.6) Add the digits together.
Scroll down …………..
Now, with the number you got above, check the list below to see who your Role Model is:
1. Albert Einstein
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Alfred E. Neuman
4. Tom Cruise
5. Bill Gates
6. Gandhi
7. Brad Pitt
8. Adolph Hitler
9. Buckshot
10. Barack Obama
I know…. I just have that effect on people…. One day you, too, can be just like me!
PS: Stop picking different numbers. You know I will always be your favorite Role Model.
NEW ROTARY ENGINE MOTORCYCLE COMING–We are on the tail end of heat and stress FEA on the Cyclops Rotary Engine.We shall begin the unveiling by releasing a see-thru 3D fly-thru videowith enough detail so that anyone looking at the presentationwill be completely able to understand the construction and process.
It will show all the parts and mechanical movements in actionIt will also show the fuel-air mixture flowing, combusting and expellingThere are 8 combustions per revolution,thus it is fluid cooled via a radiator jacket around the engine.It is by far the smoothest and simplest engine ever designed.The engine has only 8 very easy to make geometric partsmade up of only of circles, ovals and arcs,so anyone with basic machining skills can make one.
It promises to be extremely inexpensive to makeand has the best power-to-weight ratio of any piston or rotary alternative.The engine is also destined as an option in the motorcycle we just released.http://www.erikbrinkman.com/rbike
OPERATION GRATITUDE YARD SALE–Saturday December 20th, 2008,6am to 4pm.All proceeds to benefit Operation Gratitude.1000’s of Items for $1.00; Great Holiday Gifts17330 Victory Boulevard; Corner of LouiseLot adjacent to California National Guard ArmoryDonations of Items Welcome on Friday December 19th from 9-4(Operation Gratitude will set all sale prices)
I am still hunting for a builder who wants to donate a scooter for OPGrat’s 500,000th CARE package for our troops which will be sent before Christmas in 2009. The Military Channel agreed to cover it when the 500,000th package is opened by the lucky soldier. If you would be interested or know of a builder(s) who would like to do this, please let me know. I would also like the bike to have an OPGrat paint job.
As soon as it is ready (hopefully in the next few months), it would immediately go on tour to major motorcycle events (including the Shasta Salute to America Motorcycle Rally) to promote OPGrat. I can handle the PR & the related publicity for the builder / painter would be off the hook!
–Jeff
STURGIS 2009 COMING–Hey, Hope all is well this Christmas season with you and yours. I need Sturgis info, I looked in your site and googled Sturgis but could not find the info I was looking for. I’m looking specifically for areas that the crowds don’t frequent, where an outlaw can go and not be hassled by the law dogs.
I need info on back roads to avoid the crowds and good watering holes for a thirsty biker. Would you recommend staying at a campsite, hotel or cabin or renting someone’s home out for the week.
I’ll be riding my Sportster the whole way with a chase vehicle. I’m rolling out of West Virginia and it will be my first time to Sturgis. My lady will be with me and maybe a bro or two, though right now no one has committed.
For me, it’s a done deal. I’m saving my money and plan on having a blast, I just don’t want to have a blast in jail. Any info would be much obliged.
Don’t be too pissed at me for not renewing my Cantina subscription but all my funds are being saved for the Badlands.
Thanx, and Merry Christmas….oh yeah the site is tops, I will order a raisin pie for you….and if our paths cross in Sturgis I’ll buy the first round and you can buy the second!
–IVAN M.
CYCLE SOURCE YEAR IN REVIEW ABOUT TO HIT THE STANDS–The new issue of Cycle Source Magazine “The Year In Review” is on newsstands today and we wanted to thank everyone who voted in our “Best Of” awards. Over 5,000 votes were counted to name the best of this year from the motorcycle industry and the top ten feature bikes from our pages this year. Also in this issue is a look back at one hell of a year. 2008 may go down as the year “IT” happened in many regards and we did our best to cover the good, the bad and the ugly.
PLUS: Great tech from Brew Dude and Big PaulKiller features from Builders at Steel City Choppers, Slim’s sick trike, two stoke three cylinder, vintage racing, the regular columns from known associates and all the news that fits, well, all the news we can print anyway.
We are stoked that the third year of this annual issue has shown so much support. After working to hard to pound out the details to make this a regular gig it’s great to see so many people participate in it.
–Thanks again, see ya’ on the road.
–Chris Callen
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation attends Fifth Federal HighwayAdministration Motorcycle Advisory Council Meeting–Last week the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) held the fifth meetingof the Motorcycle Advisory Council. The Council convenes twice a year todiscuss infrastructure issues of concern to motorcyclists. The MotorcycleRiders Foundation Vice President of Government Relations, Jeff Hennie, isone of the nine seated council members.
“This council meeting was significant because it was the first meetingsince the charter was extended past its initial two year trial run” saidJeff Hennie. He added, “The likelihood of keeping this council intact wellpast the congressionally mandated 2 years is very good and gets betterwith each accomplishments of the council”.
This meeting began with a review of the results of the online motorcyclistroad conditions survey that was opened for comment this summer. The surveywas designed to get a national snap shot of what motorcyclists think aboutthe state of the roads they ride. Some areas that the 10,000 respondentsoverwhelmingly agreed needs improvement are construction zones, slipperypavement markings, stuck at red lights and harsh road edge drop-offs. Theareas that received positive marks were ample signage and plenty oflighting of the road. A follow-up survey is in the works for spring 2009.The MRF will let you know when that is available.
The next agenda item was a presentation by the leading expert ofintersection design at Federal Highway Association (FHWA). Intersectionsare notoriously the most dangerous part of any traffic pattern. Thestandard four way cross intersection may very well be a thing of the past,not in any hurry though. Traffic control experts are working feverishly atmaking intersections safer. Some designs have been shown to significantlyreduce crashes. For instance, adopting traffic circles or roundabouts hasbeen shown to effectively reduce crash occurrences. It doesn’t stop therethough; the experts are designing and implementing even more involvedintersections that essentially eliminate a left hand turn through theintersection. It’s a complicated system of lanes and stoplights that intheory will be safer. Few exist today, but Pennsylvania, North Carolina,Louisiana, Michigan, Virginia, New York and Missouri are experimentingwith some of the European concepts. Bigger, more complicated intersectionsmay be safer but they will also need more and more slippery striping thatremains a concern to motorcyclists.
The council then had a lengthy discussion on Public Private Partnerships(PPPs). Essentially a PPP is any venture that involves the leasing oftraditionally public services to a private entity to run, build ormaintain. Historically PPPs have been found in services such as wastewater treatment, garbage removal and disposal, even law enforcement. Nowwe are seeing an influx of PPP’s in the transportation world.Municipalities are leasing off sections of toll road to private, sometimesforeign, companies. This poses a lot of questions. Take the Chicago Skywayfor example, this heavily traveled elevated toll road provides a way inand out of the windy city for millions each day. The 7.8 mile highway wasrecently leased to a Spanish company for 99 years to the tune of 1.8billion.
The Spaniards are responsible for maintenance of the road but getto keep any and all tolls. Can the new owners invoke a helmet law fortheir road despite the fact that Illinois doesn’t require a helmet? Canthey raise tolls as high as they want? The answers to those questions varyagreement to agreement, but it’s also difficult to overlook the issuesinvolved with putting a foreign company in charge of our infrastructure. Notonly does it send profits overseas – it reeks of an anti-American ethos.
The 1.8 billion that Mayor Daley got his hands on was spent on back debtthe City of Chicago was carrying. It also constitutes another 1.8 billionremoved from the transportation world. What happens to the next generationof Americans when they need to get out of debt and there is nothing leftto lease? PPPs are here to stay but they need to be carefully regulatedand observed.
The Council drifted off its charter of focusing on infrastructure for abit when the topic of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) came up. For years theMRF has been asking for a better VMT and recently the feds startedlistening. They admit the motorcycle VMT numbers are highly suspect atbest.
They held a three day meeting in DC last year on the very issue ofimproving motorcycle VMT accuracy. They had a test day for vendors oftraffic counting devices at a Department of Transportation (DOT) researchfacility this past spring. They know the numbers are extremely inaccurateyet they continue to use them to exacerbate the number of fatal motorcyclecrashes. After a slightly heated exchange the Federal government refusedto give a timeline for a better VMT number, they did agree that at thevery least, a strong footnote indicating the frailty and grossinaccuracies of the number should be present when using the motorcycle VMTnumber. While that’s not good enough, it’s a good start.
The meeting concluded with a brief presentation on what the State of Texasis doing to reduce pavement slab spreading which leaves a gap betweenlanes in the pavement large enough to capture a motorcycle’s front tire.The presenter informed the council on how the State of Texas can identifya potential road hazard like this and have it repaired that day or with inthe next few days. A lesson that many municipalities should note.
This meeting was the last for the Council’s Designated Federal Official,Mike Halladay of FHWA. Halladay is fully retiring from Federal service.Mike has done a great job keeping the sometimes cantankerous group on timeand topic over the past two and half years. We here at the MRF wish himthe best and encourage Mr. Halladay to go buy a bike and ride out hisretirement.
For those of you who aren’t aware this council was created by themotorcyclists of this country who lobbied Congress along with the MRF toinclude the authorizing language in the last highway bill, SAFETEA-LUwhich was passed in 2005. Congress is expected to begin the draftingprocess for the new highway bill in 2009 and the MRF will need the help ofthe motorcyclists of America once again to engage their federal electedofficials on the importance of motorcycle safety. You’ve been warned.
For more info on the Council visit http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/mac/
MERRY MERRY, I GUESS–I get a vibe from the news weekly, like you do from a lengthly conversation. At times it’s all positive, but for a Holiday spirit week, I felt this News was laden with serious shit. Usually I attempt to keep it light, but it is what it is, goddamnit.
I told you it was snowing. This is a shot outside Bob T’s house. He lives in the desert where it never snows. The Chop N Grind Racing Crew will did him out.
I’ll try like hell to end this on a up note, but wait. Did you know that the Albuquerque Police are running classified ads for snitches. Yep, they’re offering 50 bucks for a drug-crime and up to $700 to snitch on a murder. In Florida a 12-year-old got busted for farting, and a kid in South Carolina was suspended from school for possession of a broken pencil-sharpener. The kid was sharpening his pencil, but the school has a “Zero Tolerance” weapons rule, and he was busted. In Brooklyn, New York two bike paths were removed from a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood, because of the outfits the female cyclists wear. We’re turning into a rule-laden society. Quick, pass a law against it.
Tomorrow we’ll launch the first of three wild road test articles by the famous artist Jon Towle. We recently discovered his hidden talents. He not only illustrates, but he loves to ride, write and take shots. He’s having a blast, but I’m after him to draw illustrations of each bike he investigates. I would like him to characterize each machine through his illustrations. We’re getting there. Tomorrow we will publish his 2008 Fatboy run.
We will also bring you a fine piece on this historic Merkel, but right now I need a margarita.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
