July 19, 2007 Part 5


BIKERNET NEWS TOPS STORIES– TOP 50 RALLY IS THE PLACE TO BE, OUTLAW DELIVER MESSAGE TO CITY, HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2ND QUARTER RESULTS, SOUTH DAKOTA RULES OF THE ROAD AND BOUNTY HUNTER POKER RUN.

Continued From Page 4

nicks perf. acc. banner

BOUNTY HUNTER POKER RUNIMAGINE THIS. You and your loved one are on your motorcycle leaving a Veterans Benefit; some drunk comes along and changes your life forever! Now he is on the run sipping Margarita’s in another country! We need to raise $$$ so a Bounty Hunter can make sure he sips out of a tin cup behind bars!!!

Brian Willis and his friend Beverly Bender (Veterans) were on their way home from the Veterans Benefit on November 11, 2001 when they were hit from behind and ran over multiple times. Unfortunately Brian passed away at the age of 48 from his injures after suffering for 5 weeks. Beverly lost one leg, partial of her foot on the other and her right arm severely injured, she will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

The person who destroyed their lives forever is on the run. We are all getting together to raise money for a bounty hunter to go get this individual and bring him to justice.

PLEASE JOIN US!!!
SCOOTER HAVEN
19350 S.E. Butler Rd.
Inglis, Fl 34449
Saturday Aug. 4, 2007

For those not going on the Run, Scooter Haven will be open all day!!!

POKER RUN DETAILS11:00 First StopMikes Friendly Pub-5465 S. Oakridge Drive, Homosassa Springs
Thunder Inn-5210 N. Florida Avenue, Hernando
The Loft-10131 Citrus Avenue, Crystal River
Harbour Lights-48 Hwy 19 N., Inglis
Scooter Haven-19350 S.E. Butler Road, Inglis

Live Music, 50/50, Auctions, Food, Camping, Ship of Memories and much more!!!Blessing of the Bikes by CMA, Ride in Bike Show.Please contact Turbo Tim for donations and details: (352) 476-3420

girls
Click here to enter Bikernet free contest area and receive Bikernet Updates.

WHERE IS BIKERNET IN 2007 STURGIS?–hey, where u guys settin up at this year at Sturgis?…

–todd

Hey, we’ll located at Carrie Repp’s Seminole Hard Rock Road House tent with major builders, then at the Top 50 Rally headquarters and sometimes at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and the Kids And Chrome banquet. Oh, I almost forgot. We’re also working with the notorious Charlie Brechtel at the Buffalo Chip, with Billy Lane at the Builder’s Breakfast and sometimes you can find us in the shade behind 2Wheelers downtown on Main having another beer. –Bandit

Sturgis_map

SOUTH DAKOTA RULES OF THE ROAD– Every motorcycle must be equipped with at least one but no more than two headlamps.

The handlebars of a motorcycle must be no higher than the shoulder height of the person operating the motorcycle.

All persons under the age of 18 must wear motorcycle safety helmets that are approved by the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

A person riding in an enclosed cab attached to a motorcycle does not have to wear a safety helmet.

A motorcycle operator must wear an eye protective device unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen of sufficient height and design that protects the motorcycle operator. When headlights are required to be on, a motorcycle operator cannot wear protective eye devices that are tinted or shaded to reduce the light transmission of the device below 35 percent.

Motorcycles must have at least one tail lamp, which when lighted emits a red light visible for a distance of 500 feet.

Noise Limits: Every motorcycle must at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise.Source: AAA Motor Law Digest, 68th (2002) Edition.

–from Rogue

Oldgirl

MEMO FROM THE BIKERNET LAW OFFICES OF WILBURN, RENEGADE AND WRENCH–ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something youforgot?

–from Jester

H-Dad

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES 2007 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS–Harley-Davidson today announced its results for the second quarter ended July 1, 2007. Revenue for the quarter was $1.62 billion compared to $1.38 billion in the year ago quarter, a 17.7 percent increase. Net income for the quarter was $290.5 million compared to $243.4 million, an increase of 19.3 percent over the second quarter of 2006. Second quarter diluted earnings per share were $1.14, a 25.3 percent increase compared to last year’s $0.91. During the second quarter the Company repurchased $429.9 million of its common stock.

“During the second quarter, we shipped 95,117 Harley-Davidson motorcycles to our dealers around the world, driving strong financial results,” said Jim Ziemer, Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson. “On the retail side of the business, our dealers’ sales were down 1.2 percent worldwide during the quarter, with US dealers’ sales down 5.5 percent and international retail sales growing at double digit rates. Retail sales in every major country in Europe were up during the quarter, resulting in 13.7 percent growth in total European sales. Japan, Canada, and all other international markets grew at a combined rate of 13.4 percent,” Ziemer said.

Revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $1.25 billion, an increase of $226.4 million or 22.0 percent versus the same period last year. Shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles totaled 95,117 units, an increase of 15,321 units or 19.2 percent compared to last year’s second quarter.

Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $263.4 million, an increase of $11.7 million or 4.6 percent over the year-ago quarter. Revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes apparel and collectibles, totaled $72.7 million, an increase of $5.6 million or 8.4 percent over the year-ago quarter.

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 37.4 percent of revenue compared to 37.5 percent for the second quarter last year. Second quarter operating margin increased to 23.8 percent from 23.6 percent in the second quarter of 2006.

During the second quarter, worldwide retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles decreased 1.2 percent compared to the prior year second quarter. In the US, retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles decreased 5.5 percent for the quarter.Retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew 13.6 percent in international markets during the second quarter of 2007 compared to the second quarter of 2006. Second quarter retail sales increased 13.7 percent in Europe; Canada was up 9.9 percent; and Japan was up 5.2 percent. All other international markets combined were up 27.4 percent.

http://www.harley-davidson.com>www.harley-davidson.com

PROOF THAT BIKERNET ISN’T PERFECT–Bandit, I hope you’re finding time for fun with all the projects you have going on. I subscribed to Bikernet a while ago and I love the site. I especially enjoy the news and the Sunday Post. When I sent in my subscription, I paid an extra $10.00 for one of your books. So far, the book has never arrived. I don’t know if it got lost on your end or in the post office, but I thought you should know.

Thanks for all of your hard work keeping the site current and well worth reading. I hope your noise study creates some awareness out there. We really have a fight going on here in Denver with the new noise law. We also got hit with a new helmet law this year after some underhanded dealing in the legislative committees. The nannies are after us and we seem to be afraid to hurt their feelings.

I just don’t get it!Thanks again for keeping up the fight.

–Mike Gage

Terribly sorry about the book delay, but we shipped 60 “Sam’s” yesterday. Thanks for your patience.–Bandit

Indian news

MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOP OWNER CHARGED WITH THEFT–The owner of a motorcycle shop in Frankford was arrested Tuesday after failing to provide services that his customers had paid for, Delaware State Police said today.

William T. Rementer, 36, of the 8000 block of Littleton Road, Willards, Md., was charged with two counts of felony theft.

Department spokesman Cpl. John Barnett Jr. said a 54-year-old Atlantic, Va., man brought his 1981 Harley-Davidson FLT motorcycle to Rementer’s repair shop, East Coast Choppers, in August 2006.

He paid Rementer $1,300 to restore the bike, but as of June 15, Rementer had failed to return the bike or the money, Barnett said. On July 2, the victim recovered the motorcycle from the shop but found it to be running out of order and missing numerous parts.

During the investigation, Barnett said, a 43-year-old Millsboro man reported he had paid Rementer $2,500 for a new rear wheel and chrome disc brakes in February, but again, Rementer failed to provide the services or produce a refund.

Rementer was released on $3,000 unsecured bond, Barnett said.

Delaware State Police asking anyone who believes they were a victim of theft by East Coast Choppers to call the Financial Crimes unit at 856-5850.

–By REBEKAH ALLEN, The News Journal

–from Rogue

trophy

BANDIT DELIVERS RUN FOR BREATH BEST OF SHOW AWARD–I just got the RFB Best of Show Award. As usual it is too cool! Whoever wins it, I am sure will be very proud to own it. People always talk about the past years awards you have done. I know I don’t have to say it, but I appreciate it very much.

–STEALTH

OUTLAWS DELIVER MESSAGE TO CITY–Monday night’s meeting of the Hudson City Council had more drama than usual when members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club paid a visit to City Hall. The Outlaws are upset with rules aimed at keeping them away from Hudson that have been imposed on Dibbo’s nightclub. Dibbo’s had to agree to the rules as a condition for keeping its liquor license.

Shortly before the City Council meeting was set to begin at 6:45 p.m., members of the motorcycle club reportedly showed up at Dibbo’s wearing their “colors” and asked to be served drinks. Their presence violated one of the conditions of an agreement Dibbo’s management signed with the city in order to keep its liquor license – that anyone wearing gang colors won’t be allowed on the premises.

After being refused service, the group of around 15 Outlaws gathered in the City Hall parking lot and then filed into the crowded council chamber after the meeting had begun. There was already a larger-than-usual audience on hand.

Residents of Aldrich Avenue were there to express their opinions about a planned storm sewer and street project in their neighborhood. Landowners, professionals and businesspeople with an interest in a petition for the city to annex 54 acres from the town of Hudson also were on hand.

Members of the St. Croix Valley Riders, a local motorcyclists’ rights organization, also unhappy with the Dibbo’s rules, were in attendance, too. The Outlaws’ leader walked in at the start of a public hearing on the Aldrich Avenue project and took a seat next to the podium from which members of the audience and city staffer address the City Council. The tall, burly man wore a beret, sunglasses and a vest with a patch on it showing a hand raised in a one-finger salute. The Outlaw sat patiently while residents expressed opinions – pro and con – about the Aldrich Avenue project. He appeared to nod his head in agreement with a speaker at one point.

After the public hearings on the Aldrich Avenue project and several amendments to the zoning code related to the downtown, Mayor Jack Breault invited anyone in the audience with a comment or suggestion for the council to speak.

Hudson resident Dave Anderson, a member of the St. Croix Valley Riders, was the first to come to the podium. He said the rules that were aimed at the Outlaws also had affected his organization, which could no longer hold its meetings at Dibbo’s. “We feel this discriminates against all motorcycle riders,” he said. Anderson was followed by Kim Heinemann, president of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce, who gave a rundown of coming Chamber events, including a Girls Night Out bike ride event planned for Sept. 7-8. Heinemann, apparently addressing the motorcyclists ringing the back walls of the council chamber, somewhat nervously added that it was a bicycle ride, and said, “Sorry.” The clarification brought a ripple of laughter from the audience.

Then the Outlaw leader stood to address the council. “Jimmy,” he replied in a gravelly voice when Mayor Breault asked him to identify himself. Jimmy said he had been at Dibbo’s on the night of April 14 when, according to Police Chief Andrew Smith, 30 to 40 members of the Outlaws took control of the nightclub. “Nobody got hit. Nobody got hurt,” Jimmy said. “?We didn’t come into town to hurt anybody. We came into town to have some fun.” The Outlaws leader said the rules the city has forced Dibbo’s to enforce are unconstitutional and that the motorcycle club would challenge them. “We will go there. And we will get arrested. And we will challenge you in court and win,” he said, claiming that a court has ruled that similar regulations imposed on Milwaukee establishments are illegal.

The Outlaws leader lectured council members that they took an oath of office to uphold the constitution. Instead, they ordered a local business to violate it, he said. Motorcycle engines were heard rumbling past City Hall after Jimmy had his say, and the Outlaws left the meeting.

–By Randy Hanson; Hudson Star-Observer

–Rogue

TOP 50 BANNER3

TOP 50 RALLY, THE PLACE TO BE FOR STURGIS 2007– News is we’re trying to make sure everything is ready and willrun smoothly. It’s coming up quick. I’ll get you more as soon as we writemore.

–Tyna

ml kb jd
Photo by Mike Lichter.

THAT’S A NEWS, DAMNIT–Life is so strange. We struggle from time to time, like many of the shops out there. Guys working hard, and when folks don’t pay, it strangles them.

We experienced the blues last week, waiting for checks and parts. Then the stars aligned and we jumped back on track. I gotta say that most folks who drifted behind in Bikernet payments in the past, ultimately caught up and another company did it again this week. It makes ya feel good when men honor their words and make it up to you somehow.

ner a car

So what’s coming up on Bikernet. More girls in the Cantina and a feature about a rare 1923 Ner-a-car recently discovered in bicycle collection auction by Rick Krost, of U.S. Choppers. He snapped it up and we have the images and history to prove it.

I have a Chica bike feature that will drive you wild. He promised me lunch if I ride to Huntington Beach to interview him. We have two new pieces of fiction and I need to get to work on them. I need to write another soap opera for the Cantina and post another World Run book chapter. Several techs are hanging out there including a Matt Hotch disappearing tank cross-over line and flush mounted gas cap. We’ve been waiting on a clutch install from Kirk Taylor and I need to hunt it down.

Johnny seat

Here’s the seat Glen Priddle built for the Bikernet/Hot Bike Iraqi Vet Build bike, being built by Bikernet Staffer Johnny Humble in Texas for his brother. Many of the components came from Sucker Punch Sallys and J&P. He was going to turn it over in Sturgis, but his brother’s return was delayed. That scheduling change gave Johnny more time to work with Kent, from Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston, to fix all of Johnny’s fuck-ups.

Johnny seat2

Bikernet is going to donate a front end to give this puppy class. It will ship out next week. The bike will be turned over to Johnny’s brother in Biketoberfest in October.That’s not all, but I misplaced my notes, so that’s all you get until tomorrow.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit

5-Ball Girl Linked
Click here to check our Bonneville progress reports.

Please follow and like us:
Pin Share

Meet Long Rider, Senator Dave Zien

Zien2

It gives me great pleasure to write this story. I had a problem with the title, because Dave accomplished so many things, but first he’s a rider who has logged over two million miles on a Harley-Davidson. That’s right, and over 900,000 on his current 1991 FXRP.

But hang on for just a couple more of his accolades. He was a Wisconsin Senator for 18 years, beginning in 1988, until just recently. He’s been inducted into every Motorcycle Hall of Fame in this country. Dave is a Purple Heart Vietnam veteran, a motorcycle freedom fighter until he dies and a genius. He’s one of the most passionate men I’ve ever met, and his fervor is directly centered on the following: Motorcycling, America, Veterans, God, family and Guns.

He’s a historian and an Iron Butt competitor who holds a record for 11 days and 11,000 miles at around 20 mph over the speed limit. He’s ridden 31,111 miles in 31 days, a record, and in 2003, logged 113,800 miles. I met Dave about 18 years ago when he started to run for office in Wisconsin. He’s stocky and wide. He looks to be of German descent and is built with three extra, high-voltage batteries. He was too energetic for me, bouncing off walls and he didn’t fit in suits (he wore engineer boots constantly). At the time, I couldn’t imagine a successful political career in his future, but his constituency recognized what was housed beneath the rugged exterior.

Dave is a man of pure integrity and a representative of what we all grasp for when it comes to describing the American spirit. Dave encompasses that which we all aspire to and pray for in our elected representatives. After 18 years in office, he doesn’t have a dime to his name and lives in a log cabin. He didn’t walk away with a myriad of high-dollar business connections, although he is a Republican. He didn’t slip out of office owning 40 apartment houses, 10 exotic cars and a yacht. He has a gun collection, his motorcycles, and his engine has faced the rebuild bench four times.

Zien3

Here’s a guy who stretches and works out daily. He never stops for gas until he’s on reserve and gives himself a 10- minute window to refuel, check fasteners, note his mileage, and engage in sporadic or spontaneous thoughts. He takes a leak in a bottle and hits the road again. While riding he salutes veterans, EMTs and fireman. He’s hit four deer and was once pronounced dead by a Catholic priest. He makes eye contact while passing motorists, waves and gives kids the thumbs-up.

As a politician, against stern recommendations, he rode everywhere, to the Capitol, to the state senate, to meetings and fundraisers. Against the will of his party, he flew and still flies flags behind his motorcycle for Veterans, plus always an American flag. He eats while riding, loves our heritage, nostalgia, mystique and studies state of mind while carving through miles.

He doesn’t use synthetic oils but makes sure to change his lubricants every 2000-4000 miles. He’s not mechanical, but keeps a close watch over his tire pressure, exhaust pipe readings for fuel mixture, and axle nuts and bolts.

“I can’t be without a motorcycle for a day,” Dave said. He keeps a backup ’91 for repair and rebuild times. If you call Dave for lunch, he’ll ride, even if you are located two states away and it’s raining.

“I rode 1170 miles yesterday from Houston to Tucson,” he told me.

He wanders briskly around his bike at every gas stop, checking for loose fasteners or problems with the luggage straps.

Zien4

He generally runs 40 mpg, sometimes as low as 35-38 into headwinds, and he’s usually cranking along at 100 mph. He loves the road, loves to clock those miles while in a therapeutic and meditative state of mind.

He runs his stock gas tank and has a spare 6-gallon unit on the back for 300-400 mile jams between gas stops. “I drink a lot of water and try to keep my body temp low,” Dave said. “I experienced heat strokes 12 times.”

While rolling he does crunches, puts his feet on the saddlebags to stretch, rides cross-handed and lets his armpits breathe. At gas stops he’ll do push-ups, squats and stretches.

Says Dave,“I jump on the bike totally refreshed.”

Zien

He’s a stout zealot and non-stop individual who doesn’t take a breath that’s not blessed with a myriad of passions for life. The last time I saw Dave, he was attending a National Coalition of Motorcyclist legislative conference. Two days earlier, he was strapped with a heart monitor at 57 years of age. He ripped it off, rode from Wisconsin to North Carolina, gave several speeches, pumped iron in the mornings and then rode to another event.

That’s an American Rider.

Darhomegilr
The Bikernet Public Service Award given to Senator Dave and sponsored by Brass Balls Bobbers.

Brass Balls Banner3

Please follow and like us:
Pin Share