This is one of those days where the women are edgy, I’m outta Jack, and I’m holdin’ my breath for a hot night after I wrap up the news. Thursdays are a blast in some respects and a race to finish the news. Somedays I’m so buried in info it’s a struggle. Others I’m up to my ears in jokes and not much else. It always works out one way or the other.
The Red Ball Touring Chopper is on the road to Pro Paint in Baltimore via a Gold Rush Transport truck packed alongside a dozen new Indians, two Mercedes and a Porche. At least it’s in good company.
I’m still tinkering with my EL Panhead and talked to Mike Engle of Grease Lightening (soon to be at Joker Machine) about doing some timing. He asked me if it ever dies at a light or at slow idle inadvertantly. I admitted that the puppy did from time to time. He told me that the gear lash between the generator, the pinion shaft and the distributor gear can be so loose that timing will shift as much as 3 degrees. At an idle, it will kill it. I also mentioned that the oil light has been hanging on until my revs are higher. He told me that the critical pinion shaft assembly can wobble lose and shift the oil pump pressure and that it’s dangerous. I’ll check it quick.
I also discovered through the pages of “The Legend Begins”, a Harley-Davidson official book on models and numbers built (great source for antique collectors), that in 1948, 4,321 61-inch ELs were produced. Yeah so what you might say, well there were only 20 WR’s built, but get this, in 1955 only 63 FLH models rolled off the assembly line. If you have a ’55 FLH, it’s worth considerable coin.
Let’s get to the news, the women in this joint are going postal on me:
NEW VICTORY VEGAS–It?s all new, all style, and all attitude. The new 2003 Victory Vegas is a completely new motorcycle built on a new chassis and dressed in the most stylish sheet metal and chrome to roll on two wheels.It looks smooth and fast even when it?s parked. It draws a crowd at curbside, and turns heads as it passes. It is low, sleek, and loaded with cutting-edge technology and ground-shaking Freedom? V-twin power.
The Vegas is Victory?s dynamic entry into the custom cruiser segment of the motorcycle market. Buyers who have previously ponied up $25,000, $30,000, even $40,000 and more for custom cruisers will be able to buy a Vegas for considerably less. And they?ll enjoy benefits such as factory warranty protection, proven Freedom? V-twin performance, smooth and easy shifting, and a high new level of styling never before seen from a major manufacturer.
New Platform, New Everything?AlmostThe Vegas was designed and developed by Victory?s Industrial Design Group, an in-house team of artists who appreciate style, performance, comfort, and a dynamic image. They built the Vegas on a new chassis that?s lower and longer than any previous Victory. It?s made for cruising, yet it also delivers smooth, responsive handling that riders have come to expect from every Victory.It?s not quite all new? It shares a few parts with other Victorys, such as some fasteners, mirrors, and a right hand grip. But that?s about it. Virtually everything else is pure Vegas, which means it?s pure style.The Vegas has a 21? front wheel, forward-mounted foot controls, a stretched swing arm and increased fork rake. The wheelbase is one of the longest on the market and the frame uses larger-diameter tubing that provides greater torsional rigidity in the frame. This means you enjoy a smooth, comfortable ride on this long and low new custom cruiser.
The seat is low?lower than on any other Victory. Low and comfortable, making it a good fit for a wide range of rider body types and ideal for enjoyable cruising. The pulled-back cruiser handlebars put the rider in a comfortable position and their rubber mounting reduces vibration dramatically.
A Style All Its Own
As the Victory designers scrutinized their early Vegas prototypes, they invited some friends to take a look and share their opinions. Those ?friends? were Arlen Ness and Cory Ness, legendary master builders of some of the world?s most striking customs.Arlen and Cory served as consultants on the Vegas project, providing design insights and styling ideas as the sleek custom cruiser evolved in the design studio.The Vegas presents a smooth, flowing look from its front wheel to the tip of the rear fender. The fenders and fuel tank share a common design theme?a raised spine that runs the length of the bike, tying separate pieces together visually. The spine design is even found in the triple clamps and the stylized swing arm.The fuel tank is stretched and sculpted. It has scalloped sides where the Victory logo is displayed, and a split tail that flows into the peaked nose of the seat to integrate two disparate components, one metal, one leather.The red taillight lens is mounted flush with the surface of the rear fender, and it?s no ordinary bulb. Under the lens is a hidden LED unit that provides distinctive illumination and will never burn out like a traditional bulb.
An optional headlight is also extraordinary: A Vegas owner can purchase a high intensity discharge [HID] headlight system that is a motorcycle industry first. It produces clean white light, and is three times brighter than a standard bulb.
The Vegas is loaded with chrome and attention to detail. For instance, the handlebar mounting brackets are hidden under a chrome plate so the fasteners are hidden. This typifies the clean, finished Vegas look. The speedometer housing (separate from the headlight nacelle, unlike other Victory models) is chrome, as are the ignition and fuel injection system covers, the rear fender struts, and the belt guard.
The indicator light panel is mounted flush with the top of the triple clamp, complementing the bike?s clean look.The Vegas comes with 40-spoke laced aluminum wheels. Billet wheels with a unique three-spoke design (three split spokes creating six spokes) are available as an accessory.
Freedom to Cruise?in Style
The Vegas will attract attention because of its incredible styling, and riders will love its comfortable seat, ergonomics, and ride. It?s also a great value in the custom cruiser market segment. Yet there?s even more: Power.
The Vegas delivers outstanding performance with its Freedom? V-twin engine, a 92-cubic inch (1,507cc) 4-stroke 50? V-twin with single overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, self-adjusting cam chains, and hydraulic lifters. The Freedom? V-twin serves up instant throttle response and great ridability with its electronic fuel injection system feeding 44mm throttle bodies.The exhaust flows through beautiful dual Vegas pipes with staggered, slash-cut tips. Shifting gears is easier than ever on a Victory with the new-for-2003 shifting mechanism that requires just a light touch to change gears.The Vegas has 43mm telescopic forks that offer a low level of ?stiction? to deliver a smooth ride and easy handling. The front brake is a 300mm floating rotor with a Brembo? 4-piston caliper. The rear brake uses the same-sized rotor and has a 2-piston Brembo? caliper.
Cantina Drawing Winner–
Brett Moorhouse from McFarland, WY is the lucky bastard this week.
Wanted: anything to do with a classic triumph or just surprise me.
Brett gets a set of posters with cool motorcycles and half naked women.One poster in particular is of a Truimph, so he gets what he asked for!
Week after week I have to remind you people about the Cantina. If youwanna win, you gotta enter. If you’re not a member, you can’t enterso……… join the fucking Cantina! It’s so simple to do, please don’tmake me have to tell you again.
Usually we only pick one winner at time but now and then I like the waysomeone asks, or what they ask for so I’m gonna send this other guy a copyof Orwell, autographed of course.
Paul W Morris from Ventura, California
Wanted: Books Books and Books-Ralph Bargers newest or any of Bandits,autographed of course shooter [Hi Mike]
Come on people, you don’t have much time left to join for the reducedrate of $15.00 per year. Normally its $20.00 but Bandit, feeling generousafter too many glasses of Jack, told Digital to give you guys a break. Youshould take advantage while he’s still in a good mood.
See ya!
Lawless
BIKERNET STUDIES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN–as if we need more troubles.
NICKNAMES
If Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose.
If Mike, Charlie, Bob and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Charlie, Bob and John will each throw in $20, even though it’s only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn.
The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren’t looking, men kick cats.
MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change and she does.
DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows aboutdentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Any married man should forget his mistakes.
There’s no use in two people remembering the same thing.
The above is bullshit and most guys know it. I get tired of this crap, in fact, I’m no sure why I published it. Perhaps I should fire myself and get some woman to take my place. Oops, three are already vying for the position.
JOSEPH ANGELINE & JOSEPH ANGELINI JR. RIDE FOR THE HEROES–By Scott Maris.The Annual Joseph Angelini & Joseph Angelini Jr. Ride For The Heroes was held on Sunday September 1st on Long Island New York. The Angelini?s in case you don’t know, are the first father and son team lost in the line of duty in the history of the F.D.N.Y. They were lost at the World Trade Center on September 11th. The ride was designed to remember Firefighters Joseph Angelini, Joseph Angelini Jr. and all FDNY, NYPD and Civilians lost on 9/11.
The organizers of the run had a great day planned with vendors, Bluezin’ and Hot Tin Roof providing the tunes, a team of sky divers dropping-in on the party, $2,000 in merchandise to be raffled off, plenty of free Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and soda for all. Unfortunately Mother Nature did not cooperate. It rained Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The rain was heavy at times and really put a damper on the expected 1,500 rider turnout. The SkyDivers couldn’t even get off the ground.
The good news is that over 200 riders turned out to ride! They faced dangerous conditions in order to honor their Heroes. These guys were tough as nails and I salute them. The sign-in was at the L.I.E. (I495) exit 49 park & ride. The WBAB rock van was on hand giving out free tickets and T-shirts. WBAB’s Fingers rode in on his Dyna Wide Glide. Entenmanns provided free doughnuts and cakes for all. The pack rode out at 11:00am and headed for Brookhaven Fireman’s Field. The 30-mile ride held a steady 55MPH and had a full police/fire escort. It made getting on and off the L.I.E. much easier.
I caught up with Frank Falco, one of the event organizers, at Fireman’s Field and asked him how the ride started. “My friend Chris Lombardi and I were at Joe Jr’s funeral service, and we started talking about the idea of a Motorcycle ride to honor Joey. Joe was a rider so we knew he would approve of it. In fact the last time I saw Joe, was on a ride. The first year we started planning late, and by the time the funeral service was done it was October. We had that first ride on November 11th. It went pretty well and we had about 350 riders. It was a cold 40 degree day, but we had a good time.”
Frank continued on to say, “Instead of cold, this year it was rain. They say three is the charm, so next year the weather should be perfect. The weather definitely hurt us this year, however the Angelini Family and I consider the ride a success. A good time was had by all, the ride was safe despite the wet roads, and we raised about $2,500 for the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council’s Widows and Orphans Fund. Most importantly to me personally, thousands of people saw the Motorcycles, the coverage on TV, and read about it in the newspaper. To me it’s about remembering, and about freedom. These riders came out to remember.”
For more information on next year’s event, please check www.ridefortheheores.com
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