Happy Thanksgiving!
Interesting times we’re living through, with the economy and such. It’s just another one of life’s adventures. We still have a tremendous amount to be thankful for. I want to thank everyone who works around Bikernet for all their hard work and constant efforts to keep us cranking. I want to thank all our sponsors for supporting Bikernet over ten years. I want to thank all the brothers and sisters in this industry for making this a non-stop fun lifestyle. I get a rush constantly from a new part I see, a bike I’m building, a custom creation that blows my mind or a story about another wild adventure ride. I
Ialso want to say thanks to all the riders out their who devote their lives to keeping us free. I hope that this year we can enhance their recognition through a group of aftermarket leaders and hopefully with the help of SEMA and the MIC. It will be my job to let you know what’s going on with legislation and the freedom fighters who struggle for us daily. Got the word today from Senator John Brueggeman, of Montana, who works for SEMA, that someone in New York is trying to pass a ban on straight pipes. Hell, they’ve never been legal.
Let’s hit the news. It’s going to be a monster:
LIVE BROADCAST AT CYCLE VISIONS IN SAN DIEGO–Don?t Miss the Live Broadcast at Randy?s Cycle this Sunday Sept 28th?Lots of giveaways, raffles and free food & drink along with great savings and Victory Demo rides!
IRS AUDITS BIKERNET’S GRANDPA–The IRS decides to audit Grandpa, and summons him to the IRS office
The IRS auditor was not surprised when Grandpa showed up with his attorney.
The auditor said, ‘Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. I’m not sure the IRS finds that believable.’
I’m a great gambler, and I can prove it,’ says Grandpa. ‘How about a demonstration?’
The auditor thinks for a moment and said, ‘Okay. Go ahead..’
Grandpa says, ‘I’ll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye.’
The auditor thinks a moment and says, ‘It’s a bet.’
Grandpa removes his glass eye and bites it.
The auditor’s jaw drops.
Grandpa says, ‘Now, I’ll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye.’
Now the auditor can tell Grandpa isn’t blind, so he takes the bet.
Grandpa removes his dentures and bites his good eye.
The stunned auditor now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand, with Grandpa’s attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous.
‘Want to go double or nothing?’ Grandpa asks.
‘I’ll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk, and pee into that wastebasket on the other side, and never get a dropanywhere in between.’
The auditor, now twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there’s no way this old guy could possibly manage that stunt,so he agrees again.
Grandpa stands beside the desk and unzips his pants, but although he strains mightily, he can’t make the stream reach the wastebasket onthe other side, so he pretty much urinates all over the auditor’s desk.
The auditor leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win.
But Grandpa’s attorney moans and puts his head in his hands.
‘Are you okay?’ the auditor asks.
‘Not really,’ says the attorney.
‘This morning, when Grandpa told me he’d been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty-five thousand dollars that he could come in here andpee all over your desk, and that you’d be happy about it.’
–from Art Friedman
BUELL REACHES MILESTONE WITH PRODUCTION OF 125,000th MOTORCYCLE–On Wednesday, Nov.12, 2008, at 8 a.m. central time, Buell Motorcycle Company produced its 125,000th motorcycle. It was a 2009 white 1125R. Chad Cox, a Buell assembler, was the operator who pushed the motorcycle off the line. Buell’s 125,000th motorcycle is bound for Australia.
For more information on the 1125R and other Buell motorcycles, visit www.buell.com.
BIKERNET ECONOMIC LESSON–A man owned a small contracting business in Salem, Oregon.The Oregon Wage &Hours Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him.
‘I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,’ demanded the agent.
‘Well,’ replied the owner, ‘there’s my framer who’s been with me for 3 years. I pay him $600 a week plus free room and board. The sider has been here for 18 months, and I pay him $550 per week plus free room and board.
Then there’s the half-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally.’
‘That’s the guy I want to talk to…the half-wit,’ says the agent.
‘That would be me,’ replied the owner.
–from Jim Waggaman
NEW SUPER SHIELD MOTORCYCLE COVER FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–A Premium Cover Made of Two-Layer Fabric.
MILWAUKEE (September 30, 2008) ? The new Super Shield Motorcycle Cover ($179.95 to $189.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories is a premium, heavy-duty motorcycle cover constructed of a resilient 2-layer fabric. The outer layer is durable, fade resistant, urethane-coated polyester that resists water, dirt and stains. The inner layer is a sturdy-yet-soft tricot material, that provides a paint-friendly surface. Double-stitched and heat-sealed, the taped seams provide strength and superior water resistance.
A venting system allows helps the cover ?breath? during longer-term storage. Additional features include heat-resistant exhaust panels, elastic edges, a securing strap and grommets, and a storage bag. The covers are accented with a silver Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield logo. Touring version comes with hook-and-loop secured openings to accommodate dual antennas.
Available to fit Touring, Softail, Dyna Wide Glide, and VRSC models. See dealer for fitment details.
For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.
HARDBALL TATTOO COMES TO BIKERNET–Okay, I have something else to be thankful for: My son and his family. Son Frank has been a Tattoo artist for about 17 years and now owns a cool Tattoo establishment called HardBall Tattoo in Orange County, California. His number is on the banner below, for some sharp tattoo workmanship. He’s also the president of a Christian Bike Club called the Saints. A very cool and spiritual group of riders.
Frank is the artist behind this tattoo on Nyla’s daughter’s back. We’ll bring you more on his work and his brothers in the near future.
NEW HOPE IN THE FIGHT TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING–Highlighting a gigantic shift in United States policy, President-elect Barack Obama spoke to the Bi-Partisan Governors Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, California via video on November 18th, 2008, reiterating his commitment to marking a new chapter in America’s leadership on global warming.
A few excerpts from his remarks: “Few challenges facing America – and the world – are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear. Sea levels are rising. Coastlines are shrinking. We’ve seen record drought, spreading famine, and storms that are growing stronger with each passing hurricane season. Climate change and our dependence on foreign oil, if left unaddressed, will continue to weaken our economy and threaten our national security…. My presidency will mark a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process.”
D&D EXHAUST EXPANDS DEALER NETWORK WEEKLY–If you don’t see a dealer listed here near you, check the D&D web site for the complete dealer list.
Here are the new dealers from last week
1) 41 Cycle Shop 6209 Hwy 41 S Bldg # B Macon, GA 31210 478-992-9090
2) Axiom Cycles 610 S Grand Ave # 104 Santa Ana, CA 92705 714-648-0900
3) Midnight Riders Cycle Inc 38575 Dupont Blvd Selbyville, DE 19966 302-436-7433
4) Motorcycle Addiction 6420 NW 78 PL Parkland, FL 33067 954-695-6384
5) C & W Motorcycle Service 2330 S Green St Henderson, KY 42420 270-827-0533
6) Freedom Cycle 6611 Governor Printz Blvd Wilmington, DE 19809 302-798-6900
7) Sound Motor Sports 264C Fairchild Ave Fairfield Ct 06825 203-368-9411
8) California Xtreme Cycles 5300 Live Oak Ave # A Oakley, CA 94561-4164
9) Bad Dad Custom Motorcycle Finishes 630 High St Ft Wayne, In 46808 260-407-2000
–Jennifer
4 CORNERS RALLY ILLEGALLY CLOSED–It?s Jeff Kraus. I was invited to your shop to be interviewed for Sturgis Rider Live for the film I directed about the 4 Corners Rally in the Rockies being illegally closed in 2006 ? ?Showdown in Durango.? Hupy & Abraham, a law firm that sponsors Charlie?s, show ordered 100 copies of the film after being retained to represent the promoters for the debacle in Greyslake, Illinois in May. After 17 years & as a show of protest, Buzz Walneck withdrew his event from the same venue as a result of the discriminatory actions that shut this event down. The political climate for bikers in southern Colorado has not improved either; it?s much worse.
We have had our own experiences, too. In March our rally was derailed by the Chief of Police in Yreka, CA. After 14 months of careful planning, four days of national act entertainment booked & written endorsements from the County Sheriff, Executive Director of the Yreka Chamber of Commerce, the Yreka fairground?s CEO (6 yr lease), the Chief of Police, Brian Bowles, refused to grant our liquor permit unless I ?ponied up with six figures (extortion)!
When I told him it was too late to cancel the rally, he asked me if I was threatening him (which was not my intent) & told me he would call in 250 additional officers, aerial surveillance & write the bikers citations.
?Citations? For what?? I asked. He hung up on me. Subsequently, we cancelled the event & gave everyone their money back (patrons, vendors & sponsors ? I also cancelled the outdoor display of the Traveling Wall & an appearance from Arlen Ness? road crew & custom bike display. I have never quit anything in my life. Subsequently the Shasta Salute to America Motorcycle Rally was moved an hour away to a town with a beautiful fairground.
The Shasta Salute to America Motorcycle Rally did take place ? see pg 66 November Thunder Press. The theme of our event was to pay tribute to our troops & celebrate our freedom to ride (anywhere we want) thanks to our soldiers. We have been invited to return to Tulelake to produce our Rally for ?09 / Labor Day weekend & have written endorsements from their City Council, Mayor and Chief of Police & the Fair Board
South Bay Biker Productions, is corporate sponsors of a Reseda, CA based military charity, Operation Gratitude. ?OPGrat? has sent over 375K CARE packages to our troops in Iraq & Afghanistan. Their founder, who ran a booth & spoke at our event, asked me to help OPGrat pursue getting a motorcycle donated for their 500Kth package recipient for Christmas 2009. Arlen Ness has offered to come to our event next year & I have approached them to donate a bike. This is short video of a soldier receiving the keys to a Jeep Liberty that were in the 300kth CARE package that was donated to OPGrat by Chrysler – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KsPzmyYe6Q
The Redwood Run & the Shasta Salute Rally are the only true motorcycle rallies left in California – the state with the largest biker population in the country
–Jeff Kraus
http://www.shastasalutetoamerica.com/>
Jeffrey B. Kraus, aka “EzJ”
President, South Bay Biker Productions Inc.
1922 E Gladwick St
Compton CA 90220 6201
Toll Free: 877-688-4229 (87-SOUTHBAY)
FAX: 310.631 0665
www.shastasalutetoamerica.com www.operationgratitude.com
NEW MAIL ORDER CONNECTION COMES TO BIKERNET AND CARRIES BIKERNET PRODUCTS–We’ve done a lousy job of mail order products and sales, so when Dar Holdsworth, the boss of Brass Balls, said he was going to launch a mail order motorcycle products site, we were interested. We’re hoping that he will deliver the deals and the products you need on time, every time, any time. We will keep you posted and let us know if you would like him to carry anything in particular. Just click on the banner to check out his product line-up.
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