THINK FREEDOM BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for January 7, 2016

Hey,

It’s another strange day in paradise. It’s raining and California needs it. Hopefully it will blow over before next weekend and the Easyriders show hits Long Beach. This weekend ER is hosting the Sacramento show.

I’ve been thinking lately, which is a troubling notion. I wonder why I encounter anxiety from time to time? It dawned on me. It’s based on recent encounters with the man and unrelenting news reports. Think about it. If I make a repair to my building a government agent can kick me out of my home, because he doesn’t like it, or my neighbor snitched me off. Due to terrorist threats and anti-gun factions a government agent could show up at my door and demand my guns.

Due to new CARB regs in California, soon the performance Harley market could be troubled and they could take our motorcycles away. And with Obamacare, we will be monitored constantly from a medical cost prospective and regulated—can’t take risks or eat too much sugar. And if you smoke, you may be sent far, far, away. The list goes on and on. I always ask, “Where’s the Freedom?”

The Bikernet Weekly news is sponsored in part by Cycle Source, Iron Trader, and ChopperTown. Let’s hit it:

JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK– JIMS No. 906 Rear Axle Nut Torque Adapter.

JIMS No. 906 Rear Axle Nut Torque Adapter is a thin wrench with a 12 point hex drive for the rear axle nut on baggers and V-Rods. It features a ½-inch drive receiver on the opposite end for a torque wrench, allowing access from an offset position.

This allows technicians to torque the axle nut without removing saddlebags or mufflers on touring bikes. Save time when adjusting drive belt tension or aligning the rear wheel on 2002-present FL models and 2005 to present V-Rods.

JIMS No. 906 has a suggested retail price of $37.00, is made in the USA, and includes JIMS lifetime tool warranty.

For more info contact sales@jimsusa.com, visit www.jimsusa.com, or call (805) 482-6913.

TRAILBLAZERS MC BANQUET– The Trailblazers, with the ticket order form opening on Monday, we are now in a window where we will be posting occasional updates on our website about the banquet. The first one was posted Friday, with info on the ticket ordering, and one of our honorees, Wayne Rainey.

Thanks for your interest in the Trailblazers. Some of what we do makes it look like the Trailblazers is just about racing, but this years a lot of historic guys now of interest to the V-Twin world came to the banquet every year. Old Boozefighters like Wino Willie and John Cameron, and lots of 13 Rebels members (including my dad and mom).

It’s all motorcycling to us.

–Don Emde

Tickets go on sale on the website at 9:00 a.m. PT Monday.

Judy Whitson: mctrailblazers01@gmail.com

LE PERA SEAT OF THE WEEK— Bare Bones // Diamond Seating // Cross.

Overview

Give your Dyna that extreme, slammed look with the lowest, most narrow production seat in existence.

Diamond Stitch seating area.

Matching pillion available – LK001PDM
Specs

Driver Seating:
9.75″ Wide
Passenger Seating:
N/A

MSRP:
$299.00

Part Number:
LK-001DMMCRED [’06-’16] Dyna

Every adverse circumstance a test,
Every good deed a creation.

–The Venerable Master Hsing Yun Taiwan

I’m thinking of putting this same system on my ‘15 Street Bob. How is the sound?

— Greg Halbert
greg@halbertrugs.com
St. Louis, MO

According to Jeremiah, “Killer.” Eric Bennett, of Bennett’s Performance said, “They are the most complete systems and easiest to install on the market.”

WATCH OUT ALERT– Researchers Expose Police Field Drug Test Kits – They Test Positive to Just About Everything.

According to the national litigation and public policy organization, the Innocence Project, at any given time there are an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 innocent people currently locked in a cage in U.S. prisons.

Couple this staggering number with the number of people locked up for non-violent drug possession and the United States looks more like the Gulag of the 1930s than the Land of the Free.

But how can so many innocent people be locked up, how does the state present evidence, that it doesn’t have, to get a conviction? Well, the folks at the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the U.S., Marijuana Policy Project, made a short video that explains just how easy it is for police to turn an entirely innocent person into a criminal.

During the short video, the researchers demonstrate how easy it is for police to generate a false positive during a field test for drugs.

The group tests over the counter Tylenol PM in a police test kit for cocaine — the test kit says the Tylenol is cocaine.

The group also tests the most popular chocolate in the world, Hershey’s chocolate, for marijuana, it also tests positive.

Perhaps the most disturbing test was when the group put absolutely nothing into the field test kit, and they received a positive result.

The implications associated with wrongfully accusing and then claiming to have evidence of an individual in possession of an illegal substance are formidable — to say the least. Most people are simply unaware of the fact that police test kits are a crapshoot.

According to Forensic Resources:

The director of a lab recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for forensic science excellence has called field drug testing kits “totally useless” due to the possibility of false positives. In laboratory experiments, at least two brands of field testing kits have been shown to produce false positives in tests of Mucinex, chocolate, aspirin, chocolate, and oregano.

In spite of these recommendations and multiple examples of innocent people being incarcerated for their error, police departments across the country continue to employ the use of these “totally useless” kits.

In October, college student John Harrington was thrown in prison after police, with one of these field drug test kits, tested sugar, and came up with a false positive for cocaine.

“Really, I’m really in jail right now for powdered sugar, ” John Harrington thought after it happened.

We’ve also seen the case in which police mistook Jolly Ranchers for meth and jailed an innocent man. Love Olatunijojo, 25, and an unidentified friend purchased Jolly Ranchers at the It’ Sugar candy emporium in Coney Island in June of 2013. Several blocks away, cops stopped and searched the friends and mistook the candies for crystal meth. Olatunijojo was then thrown in jail.

In August, we reported on the story of a man who was held in prison for over four months because police falsely identified salt as crystal meth.

And the list goes on…

What does it say about police departments across the country who knowingly use test kits that will implicate innocent people in a crime that they did not commit that will land them in jail?

It is bad enough that the state will kidnap, cage and kill people when they possess a substance deemed illegal by the state. But, when they kidnap, cage and kill people because of their own negligence involved in testing someone’s personal items — they stoop to an entirely new low.

–By Matt Agorist

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/marijuana-advocacy/#fRrrZRC17ykxPBVA.99

–from Rogue

The Pediatric Brain Tumer foundation does good work, but they are also supporters of mandatory helmet laws.

We have had to face some of their lobbyists in the Maryland legislature. Please put the word out that some of the organizations that bikers support are also the ones we have to fight.

The best thing to do is to tell them that they need to drop their efforts for mandatory helmet laws.

–Rigger
Brandywine, MD

AMA National News– WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress passed a five-year, $305 billion highway bill that includes some big wins for AMA members and motorcyclists everywhere. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act includes:

Continued funding for the Recreational Trails Program, which provides funding to states for maintaining, improving and expanding off-highway recreational opportunities;

A prohibition against using federal funds for discriminatory motorcycle-only checkpoints;

Reestablishing a Motorcyclist Advisory Council to coordinate with and counsel the U.S. Department of Transportation administrator on specific infrastructure concerns to motorcyclists;

Funding of highway safety grants that include programs to reduce distracted driving, including language that make it easier for states to successfully qualify for and receive the money; and

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Obama administration opposes the off-road plans in two proposals before Congress that affect off-highway vehicle access to public lands in California. The bills – the Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act (H.R. 1838) and the California Minerals, Off-Road Recreation, and Conservation Act (H.R. 3668) – were discussed during a December hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

H.R. 1838, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), would allow OHVs to return to the 75,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area southeast of Hollister, Calif., and establish the 21,000-acre Joaquin Rocks Wilderness area, a compromise proposal that has bipartisan support among California’s congressional delegation. Clear Creek was closed in 2008 after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raised health concerns over naturally occurring asbestos.

H.R. 3668, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.), would designate 965,000 acres of the Mojave Trails area in the Mojave Desert as a special management area that would be closed to renewable energy development. The bill also would designate 1,200 miles of roads and trails for OHV use and include a “no net loss” provisions for trails and roads to prevent closures.

The bill also would designate six National Off-Highway-Vehicle Recreation Areas at Spangler Hills, El Mirage, Stoddard Valley, Rasor, Dumont Dunes and Johnson Valley. El Mirage, Spangler Hills and Johnson Valley would be expanded. H.R. 3668 also would transfer 4,600 acres to the city of Apple Valley for creation of an OHV park. The bill would prohibit the president from designating any national monuments on land that is part of an OHV area or special management area.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal land and water management agencies have announced their fee-free days for 2016. The National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will have no entrance fees on a combined 36 days, offering Americans the opportunity to enjoy healthy, active outdoor fun on their public lands and waters. Most of the fee-free days are linked to holidays and special events, and there are often special offers from agency partners. The 2016 fee-free days are:

National Park Service: Jan. 18, April 16-24, Aug. 25-28, Sept. 24, Nov. 11
Bureau of Land Management: Jan. 18, Feb. 13-15, Sept. 24, Nov. 11
U.S. Forest Service: Jan. 18, Feb. 15, June 11, Sept. 24, Nov. 11

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has extended its public comment period until Jan. 15 on a proposal to withdraw lands determined to be crucial to the survival of the greater sage-grouse from location and entry under the 1872 Mining Law, subject to valid existing rights. The extension is to allow the Secretary of the Interior to collect additional information relevant to the decision on whether to withdraw these areas from the location of new mining claims for up to 20 years.

Comments may be submitted via email to blm_nv_ccdowebmail@blm.gov, by fax to (775) 885-6147, or by mail to BLM Carson City District, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701, Attn: Colleen Sievers, Project Manager.

QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– Earl and Bubba are quietly sitting in a boat fishing chewing tobacco, when suddenly Bubba says, “Think I’m gonna divorce the wife – she ain’t spoke to me in over 2 months.”

Earl spits overboard takes a long, slow draw and says, “Better think it over……women like that are hard to find.”

–from Jerry and Rogue

LOVE RIDE WINNER RECEIVE 5-BALL RACING GEAR— Troy Letwak is the 2014 Love Ride winner of a large Special Ops vest for the Sportster class.

Deandra Baldi is the 2014 Love Ride winner of a Ladies Large Bonnie Jacket.

EASYRIDERS EVENTS ANNOUNCES 2016 BIKE SHOW TOUR DATES–
Easyriders Events announces dates for its 2016 Bike Show Tour; presented by Geico Motorcycle. The tour will travel from Sacramento, Calif. Jan. 9-10 to Long Beach, Calif. Jan. 16, Charlotte, North Carolina Jan. 23, Nashville, TN Feb. 6 and finally Columbus, Ohio for the Invitational Bike Show Feb. 20-21.

All ages are welcome to these family-friendly tour destinations showcasing the wildest, most eye-popping creations in the custom motorcycle industry mixed with antique and old school builds.

The tour is the most anticipated custom motorcycle show circuit of its kind in the country, uniquely offering local “backyard” builders a forum to compete and show their works of artistry in iron side-by-side with some of the biggest names in the custom motorcycle world.

Basic bike show competition entry is free of charge and all bikes are voted on by the attending public as well as judged by Editors from Easyriders, V-Twin and Road Iron magazines, who will be scouting for bikes and builders to feature.

ILLINOIS HARLEY-DAVIDSON ON ROUTE 66– 100% OF ALL CREDIT APPS STRONGLY CONSIDERED!
NO DOWN PAYMENT, NO MORE EXCUSES IN 2016!

ILLUSION PARTY COMING– Just got a call from Rusty at Illusions (Quinn from Sons of Anarchy) informing me So Cal is having a Valentines Day party at Eight Ball Rods and Choppers in Anaheim CA on Feb 13.

This is gonna be a cool one so be sure to check it out.
Additionally they have 10×10 vendor space available for just $100! Wow.

Can’t beat that.

THE STATE OF THE BIKERNET TRIKES UNION SPEECH–
Its 2016, Bikernet is 20 years old, and I remember when Kennedy was shot. A lot of shit has gone down, and it seems to be getting thicker and thicker. As the editor of BikernetTrikes this Triking Viking has ridden a lot of three wheelers since the inception of Bikernet Trikes, the last Trike-devoted publication standing. 

In retrospect, Bikernet Trikes has really been on the forefront of all things three wheels for some time now. I was inspired by this simple shot, probably the late ‘60s of a young girl kickin’ back on a trike tire and was struck by how three wheels were always cool. 

Chicks dig ‘em. They are safe and comfortable and dudes can ride the hell out of a three wheels—more so today than ever. I am talking rain, mud, ice and snow–three wheels go. We will bring you more Trike road tests this year, and more reports on Trike technology. Plus, we will follow the 5-Ball Racing Team as they build the first Bonneville, Belle Tank, 3-wheeled streamliner. 

I would love to see any cool old photos anyone can dig up of vintage trikes. In fact, if anyone has any stories about their old trikes and photos, I will post them on BikernetTrikes. 

I will start the New Year looking back to the past. In fact, I think I am going to talk Bandit into building me the coolest retro 5-Ball rat trike in So Cal. Might be hard to be Rocky Lows real deal but I’m thinkin’ the past is a good place to start.

Thanks for hangin’ with BikernetTrikes and send me your photos, ideas, and let’s make this year great!

–Triking Viking

BEST MOTORCYCLE ATTORNEYS IN WISCONSIN– Happy New Year from Hupy and Abraham!

Hupy and Abraham has grown a lot over the years. It’s hard to believe that we only had 50 employees not too long ago. Fast-forward to now, and we added nearly 50 employees in 2015 alone! We also had to move our Madison, Des Moines and Wausau locations into new office spaces because we outgrew the old ones!

In the community, we had another busy year as we participated in more than 500 different events. During the holiday season alone, we fed more than 30,000 people. We also gave away more than 50 prizes to people who entered our online contests!

Year after year, Hupy and Abraham is voted best and rated best in consumer polls. 2015 was another successful year as Hupy and Abraham served thousands of injury victims and continued to make an impact in our communities.

Attorney Hupy Accepts Major Role With Four Non-Profit Organizations

In 2016, Attorney Michael Hupy will be will be handling major roles at four local non-profit organizations, while continuing to support countless other causes.

Attorney Hupy is the new Board of Ambassadors Chair for the Midwest Division of the American Cancer Society, and will lead another fundraising campaign as the Lawyers Division Chair for the United Performing Arts Fund.

He will continue to serve on the Board of Directors for Children’s Outing Association, an organization that has served underprivileged teens and families for the past 110 years. Attorney Hupy is also kick-starting Stellar Collegiate Charter School, a Milwaukee K-5 charter school set to open in 2016. The school will place every student on the path to college.

2015 MOTHERWELL Indian Scout Luggage Rack Coming Soon–
Motherwell Products USA, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the new MWL-610 made specifically for the 2015 Indian Scout.

The MWL-610 attaches to the front mounting point underneath the rear of the seat and hugs the curves of the fender to the rear mounting point on the fender.

The rack is hand bent and welded in the US. The carrying surface is 7” wide and 14” long.

MWL-610 is available in chrome, matte black, or gloss black finishes.

BIKERNET QUOTE OF THE DAY–
“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

-John Wooden

–from Jerry and Rogue

MAVTV & LucasOilRacing TV Launch 2016– ‘LIVE’ Broadcasts with 3 – Hour Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Finals

SATURDAY NIGHT, JAN 16 AT 8:30 – 11:30 PM ET.

MAVTV and the new LucasOilRacing.TV will broadcast the 30thrunning of the world famous Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire. Through the channel and app, nationally and internationally, viewers can watch the three-hour finals Saturday night, January 16 starting at 8:30pm ET from the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, OK.

With the number of entries already topping 335, including 24 U.S. States plus Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the world’s largest indoor race is on course to set driver and team records.

2015 Chili Bowl Champion Rico Abreu
Known as the Super Bowl of Midget racing, the 2016 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is attracting the cream of American racing, including stars from Midgets, Late Model Dirt, Super Modified, World of Outlaws, NASCAR and USAC.

The 2015 champion is rising young hot shoe Rico Abreu (#97). He faces the daunting task of defeating five-time Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell (#1), Bryan Clausen (#63), Kyle Larson (#71K), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#17R), two-time Chili Bowl champion Cory Kruseman (#21K), Kasey Kahne (#67Z), and Jerry Coons Jr. (#5). Coons has the longest active A-Main streak with 16 appearances.

As of this date, the entry field includes eight previous champions and 52 main event qualifiers. The side-by-side action promises to be fast and furious with broadcast legend Dave Despain returning to call the TV action.

According to Bob Patison, President of MAVTV, “No one understands ‘grass roots’ racing like MAVTV. Each year the Chili Bowl airing has produced the highest rated shows on the network and we expect even better results in 2016 especially with the addition of the newly launched LucasOilRacing.TV app.”

With programming such as the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl, Lucas Oil Drag Boats, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing, Late Model Dirt, Lucas Oil Modified, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, the FIA World Rally Championship and Pirelli World Challenge, MAVTV has become the go-to place for motorsports fans. In addition to DirecTV, MAVTV is currently available on Comcast, Google Fiber, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and Charter, along with many others.

Lucas Oil Racing TV launched through its website www.LucasOilRacing.TV on January 1st, 2016. The Chili Bowl broadcast will be available ‘live’ to racing fans worldwide with and roll out on devices as app development completes.Currently apps are indevelopment for AmazonFireTV, Amazon Kindle Fire tablets, Android TV, Android Tablets, Apple iPads, and Roku.

www.mavtv.com

–Stuart Rowlands

AEROMACH RELEASES Additional “Cruisin’ Peg” Styles for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles– Aeromach USA, LLC, a motorcycle parts manufacturer located in Charlotte, N.C., is now shipping its patented “Cruisin’ Pegs” for stock Harley-Davidson motorcycles using the Half-Moon and Tapered footboards.

They are designed to mount to the bottom of stock footboards for riders who either don’t want to use highway bar mounted foot pegs, don’t have highway bars or cannot comfortably reach the highway bars.

“Aeromach has been manufacturing billet motorcycle accessories in the US since 1999 and the demand from Harley riders has convinced us that we needed to release these additional models of “Cruisin’ Pegs,” says Paul Aiken, Owner of Aeromach.

The “Cruisin’ Pegs” are machined from T6-6061 aircraft quality billet aluminum. The arms are adjustable in three positions for optimal rider comfort and are available in either Flame, Smooth or Ball Milled designs.

All the required hardware is supplied in stainless steel.
Retail price is $299.95 and they can be ordered at many local dealers, online at www.aeromachmfg.com, or by calling 800-990-9392.

Aeromach USA LLC is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and is a manufacturer of billet aluminum motorcycle accessories including mirrors, handlebar risers, grips and other accessories. Aeromach is also the North American representative for Highway Hawk motorcycle accessories from Motolux, BV based in Barneveld, The Netherlands.

Aeromach USA LLC
Paul E. Aiken, 800-990-9392
paul@aeromach.net
www.aeromach.net

—
Paul Aiken
Owner
Aeromach USA, LLC
10015 Metromont Ind. Blvd, Ste F
Charlotte, NC 28269
800-990-9392 orders
704-599-1333 office
www.aeromach.net
 www.highwayhawk.us
www.linkedin.com/in/paulaiken

Highway Hawk is a product of Motolux

SONS OF SPEED INAUGRAL RACE POSTPONED– Sons Of Speed Looking to do Things Right for Debut Contest

Sons of Speed has announced they are postponing their inaugural race. The contest had been set to take place at New Smyrna Speedway during the 75th Anniversary of Daytona Bike Week in March 2016. The debut race date is to be determined.

“Well, obviously, we hate to postpone,” said Billy Lane, renowned bike builder and founder of Sons of Speed. “But we have really high standards, and we worried about meeting them under the time constraints we faced. There has been so much enthusiasm from potential sponsors, fans and participants–we have to get it right.”

Inspired by early twentieth-century board-track racers, the Sons of Speed race hearkens back to a stripped down, wide-open approach to motorcycle riding. Set to be held at New Smyrna Speedway’s half-mile, paved, banked racetrack, the inaugural race will feature up to 9 riders in several different heats, and winners of the heats will advance to a championship round.

Each racer will sit astride identical hand-built racing chassis holding pre-1925 1000cc American V-Twin engines, and most racers will customize their machines by fabricating handlebars, exhaust, fenders, foot pegs and fuel/oil tanks.

Anticipation and curiosity has run rampant since news of the event first broke, and the reception Lane received when demoing bikes at the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was overwhelming. Lane rode on of his board-track racers at the Broken Spoke Campground to great fanfare, and big crowds graced every Sons of Speed information session and photo opportunity.

You can keep up on all thing related to Choppers Inc. and Sons of Speed on Facebook.

–Ken Conte

UNCLE MONKEY ON THE PERFECT BREAKFAST– Every once in awhile every falls together so well that it takes you by surprise. You fry the perfect eggs for breakfast, the yokes just right the salt and pepper to perfection.

Maybe it is catching the big fish on the first cast. The rest of the day spent cruising the lake drinking beers, more fish coming before it gets boring, before you get distracted. Cooking them up on the shore as the sun is setting.

Maybe it is working in the garage where every bolt comes out cleanly; everything lines up right the first time. What usually takes an hour is done in twenty minutes.

Whatever it is it puts some swagger in your step. Reminds you of why you spend your free time, your free money pursuing this love. It makes you happier then you’ve been in a while. It is the stark contrasts to those bad days when everything is two steps back, one step sideways.

But today’s perfection encourages you on, maybe it puts you on the couch content that nothing could be any better then what you just experienced. You want to call out from the roof tops. You will tell all your friends about this moment. And why not?

This is that step above the best, the leap beyond the regular. We all get these tiny moments. It is time to lift the kickstand, time to seek out the next perfect moment.

-bad Uncle Monkey

Whoa! Geeeez, I thought that might have been the the ‘Ol Bandit’ in the hospital bed photo. Go slow, get stronger, feel better. And no kick starts for a while……

–Pauly D.
Chicago, IL

Getting better daily. Thanks. –Bandit

MARK YOUR CALENDAR– to join us at the 38th Annual Colorado Motorcycle Expo, January 30 & 31, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.

Stop by the Las Vegas BikeFest Booth and ENTER TO WIN Party and Ultimate Packages to the 2016 Las Vegas BikeFest!

Brass Balls 2014 Brawler GT

Can this bike be priced competitively to sport bikes. Just a lower middle class working stiff. EVERYTHING I make goes to my wife and kids.

A lot of guys here in CA in the same boat as me. I commute 145 miles a day and work at one of the largest glass manufactures of a world. I would Love to tell everyone my bike came from Brass Balls Cycles!!!

–Eric Hodges

FAMOUS MICAH MCCLOSKEY ROAD GLIDE— To be featured in Bikernet Baggers. I’ve known Micah about 40 years. He rode a 1940 Indian Chief for a couple of decades before he was introduced to an FXR. Suddenly, he was 16 again.

Watch for the whole story on Bikernet Baggers.

–Bandit

MMA CTA: Joint Committee on Transportation to hear multiple bills of interest to motorcyclists

On the morning of January 4, 2016, the Joint Committee on Transportation announced public hearings scheduled on Wednesday January 6, 2016 at 10:00AM in Hearing Room A-2. 41 Bills are scheduled to be heard and once again the MMA will have representatives attending these hearings.

The MMA notes that S.2003, the Bill authored by the MMA to completely eliminate the language that requires the motorcycle operator or passenger be required to wear a helmet is on the list of Bills to be heard.

This is truly “Freedom of Choice” for motorcycle riders within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since the Bill includes no age restrictions, insurance requirements, or training requirements associated with this bill. Passage of S.2003 would make Massachusetts the 32nd State to allow this freedom.

Also scheduled is S.1890, which is the Senate version of the Right of Way (ROW) Violations Bill directly affecting motorcyclists who are injured when another road user violates their right of way.

H.3056, the House version, with identical language, was previously heard on July 23, 2015 at which a favorable ought to pass recommendation was requested of the committee by the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.

There are also two Bills being heard (H.3073) and (S.1816) that identify motorcyclists as “vulnerable road users”. The MMA does not wish to see this classification applied to motorcyclists due to potential restrictions, legislation, and/or rulings that could adversely affect motorcycle operation on the roads here in the Commonwealth.

Due to the extremely short notice from the Transportation Committee, the MMA is asking all concerned riders to contact the committee members (contact information follows) by telephone and request a “favorable, ought to pass” recommendation for both S.2003 and S.1890. At a minimum, both Chairmen Senator McGee and Representative Straus should be called. Additionally, if your Senator or Representative is a committee member you are strongly urged to call them with this same request.

Of course if you are available on Wednesday you are more than welcome to attend the hearing, and let your voice be heard in person. If not, please immediately contact the Joint Committee on Transportation:

Senator Thomas McGee (Senate Chairman) – (617) 722-1350
Senator John Keenan (Senate Vice Chairman) – (617) 722-1494
Senator Eileen Donoghue – (617) 722-1630
Senator Linda Dorcena Forry – (617) 722-1150
Senator Eric Lesser – (617) 722-1291
Senator Michael Rush – (617) 722-1348
Representative William Straus (Chairman) – (617) 722-2400
Representative Michael Finn (House Vice Chairman) – (617) 722-2400
Representative Timothy Madden – (617) 722-2810
Representative Chris Walsh – (617) 722-2013
Representative Kenneth Gordon – (617) 722-2013
Representative Daniel Donahue – (617) 722-2006
Representative Daniel Ryan – (617) 722-2575
Representative RoseLee Vincent – (617) 722-2210
Representative Evandro Carvalho – (617) 722-2460
Representative Josepg McGonagle – (617) 722-2400
Representative Steven Howitt – (617) 722-2305
Representative David Muradian – (617) 722-2240
Representative Hannah Kane – (617) 722-2430

Please contact LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org or visit www.MassMotorcycle.org with any questions.

[page break]


DAVID MANN CHOPPERFEST POST REPORT– We’d like to thank all of our amazing sponsors for supporting us in our mission to bring like minded motorcycle enthusiasts together to pay tribute to the past history, and ultimately inspire one another through the art of creation, and influence future generations of artists and builders to push the limits of motorcycle art.

Please support our sponsors, their links are on our website.
www.chopperfestival.com

We’d also like to thank Jacquie Mann and family for flying out to be a part of this celebration, as well as the artists, builders and bike show participants who came from as far as Kentucky, South Dakota, and Washington. It is an honor and privilege to work with you all on this event, and it is the artists and builders who make the event so spectacular. We can’t wait to see what you create in 2016! The spirit of David Mann lives on! – ChopperFest Family

“If You Build It They Will Come” Bike Show Results

Bobber
1st Stacy McCleary 66′ Shovelhead
2nd Jim Frankel 42′ Knucklehead
3rd Brent Rogers 46′ Knucklehead

Old Skool Skooter
1st Jay Schapiro 66′ FLH Shovelhead Chopper
2nd Jack Watanaratkul 78′ Shovelhead Chopper
3rd Martin McLaughlin 74′ Sporty Digger

Antique
1st Norm Neumann 40′ “Stanley Special” Bonneville Scout
2nd Roger Herbison 47′ Indian Chief
3rd Michelle Hynds 62′ FLH Panhead

Modern Chopper
1st John “Spike” Salton 15′ Sweedish Copper
2nd Hugo Luis 09′ Big Bear Choppers
3rd Josh Soto 15′ General Lee

Rat Bike
1st Grant Thompson 15′ FXRDB
2nd Burke 66′ Shovelhead Rat
3rd Norman Neumann 34′ Speedway

Metric Chopper
1st Jeff Wolf 78′ Yamaha XS650
2nd Pete Evens 73′ BMW Chopper
3rd Slim 73′ Kawasaki S-Z Triple

Koolest Paint
1st Andrew Ursich paint by Danny D 15′ Custom Knucklehead
2nd Brent Rogers paint by Wild Bill 46′ Knucklehead
3rd Andrew Ursich 80′ HD Sportster

Radical Design
1st Jason Clifford 15′ ChopRocket
2nd Jason Clifford 12′ ChopRocket
3rd Casey Johnson 72′ Shovelhead

Bagger
1st Jim Tietz “My Garage” 05′ HD
2nd J.J. HD Panhead
3rd Jim Tietz “My Garage” 15′ Roadglide

Big Twin
1st Josh Soto 15′ General Lee
2nd John “Spike” Salton Sweedish Chopper
3rd Rich Jones Custom FXR

Sportster
1st Chuck “Chog” Greninger 74′ Ironhead Chopper
2nd Andrew Ursich 80′ Sportster
3rd Martin McLaughlin 74′ Sporty Digger

British
1st Joey Yeaman 58′ BSA A 10
2nd Kristine Peach 53′ Triumph T-110
3rd Anthony Robinson 61′ Triumph T-100

Best Shovelhead Mick Evangelista 56′ Shovelhead

Best Knucklehead Brent Rogers 46′ Knucklehead

Best Panhead Dalton Walker 64′ Panhead Digger

Best of Show Andrew Ursich 15′ Custom Knucklehead

David Mann Memorial Award Vincent Rivero 83′ Shovelhead

Las Vegas Bike Fest “Artistry in Iron” Invited Builder Award – Andrew Ursich 15′ Custom Knucklehead

Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation Chopperfest Show Pick – Aaron Elliott 78′ Sportster

Pistol Magazine Show Pick – Joey Yeaman 58′ BSA

Ross Kiwi Tomas Award – Norm Nuemann 40′ Stanley Special Bonneville Scout

Easyriders Bike Show Tour 2016
We hope to see you all next month at the Long Beach and Sacramento shows. Register your bike in the show for a chance to win cash and prizes and have your bike featured in Easyriders, V-Twin or Road Iron magazines. For more info checkout the flyers below or go to : www.easyridersevents.com

AMA INDUSTRY NEWS– EAST TROY, Wis. – The fate of the remaining assets of Erik Buell Racing are the subject of a Jan. 14 hearing before Walworth County (Wis.) Circuit Judge Phillip Koss, who declined to approved a sale of the assets to lone bidder Liquid Asset Partners LLC in December.

Court-appointed receiver Michael Polsky had sought approval of the $1.6 million sale after no other bids were received by the auction deadline. But the judge postponed a decision to give opponents of the sale time to object.

EBR closed in April 2015 and filed for receivership under Wisconsin state law. At a summer auction, India’s Hero MotoCorp bought Buell’s motorcycle design consulting business for $2.8 million.

The company’s machinery, tooling, and parts inventory, as well as accounts receivable and intangibles were sold to Bruce Belfer, a New Jersey businessman who vowed to resume manufacturing with Erik Buell at the helm of the company. Belfer failed to arrange sufficient financing to close the $2.25 million sale.

Belfer and Louisiana resident Demetri Melekos objected to the sale. They have until Jan. 4 to file motions.

Great article. I am honored to call Bob and Sara friends. I have many examples of his art, and I cherish each of his peices. Thanks for doing this…

— Robert O’Malley
Newton falls , OH

WACO UPDATE FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS– SAN ANTONIO — National leaders of the Bandidos biker gang were arrested Wednesday on charges accusing them of racketeering and waging a deadly “war” on the rival Cossacks gang, federal authorities said.
An indictment announced by the US Attorney’s Office in San Antonio accuses three Bandidos leaders of sanctioning a three-year fight that included violent clashes with rival gangs and distribution of methamphetamine.

The accusations focus on a rivalry that came under renewed attention in May, when a meeting of biker groups at a Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco, Texas, ended in gunfire that left nine people dead.

Authorities believe that confrontation began when members of the Cossacks crashed a meeting of a confederation of biker clubs that included the Bandidos. A dispute in the Twin Peaks restaurant ended in gunfire between the bikers and police standing nearby.

Portillo, national president Jeffrey Pike and national sergeant-at-arms Justin Cole Forster are charged with racketeering, drug distribution and other crimes.

An attorney who works with the Bandidos could not immediately be reached for comment by The Associated Press.

The indictment outlines several other clashes between the Bandidos and rival clubs, including a December 2014 shooting at a bar in Fort Worth, Texas, where a biker from a different club was killed. The indictment accuses Bandidos bikers of harassing and attacking bikers across Texas, as part of the “war” that Portillo had declared.

–Associated Press

HIGHWAY TO BIG BEAR COLLAPSES– Via KTLA: Highway 330 en route to Big Bear collapsed last Sunday evening as a result of the torrential rains, leaving an impassable hole in the road.

KTLA reports that travelers are advised to take Highway 38 if they want to reach Big Bear. There were no injuries as a result of the collapse.

–Huff Post Los Angeles

–from PSD

BRAND NEW BIKER’S CHOICE CATALOG– Headed Your Way!

Our New 2016 Biker’s Choice Catalog
We’ve added 160 extra pages with 3,600 new items, making it our biggest – and best – book ever!
• 1,984 total pages
• 30,245 V-Twin parts and accessories
• Printed and shipping soon
Can’t wait to see it?

You can preview it online right Now!

BUCKLEGUY.COM now stocks a 5/8-inch B6226 Roller Buckle!–

Nothing crazy this week! Just a new size on our existing line of B6226 Roller Buckles for those of you that have smaller straps.

More coming soon!

–The Buckleguy Team

I am looking for a baker N1 6-speed shifter drum. My transmission is a 1996 case with a new 6-speed ultima gear set and how much for it?

–Daniel Froid
Viper1951@gmail.com
Kelso, WA

I’ve reached out to Lisa Baker. She will have all the answers.–Bandit

BikeSheath Product Update–
Tour Pak Backrest Cover For Harley-Davidson Touring Model.

The Tour Pak Backrest Cover is designed specifically for the Harley-Davidson stock Electra Glide King Size Tour Pak. This wraps around the back portion of the seat and arms to hold it in place. It drapes down below the back of the passenger seat so it completely protects the backrest from the elements.

Helps keep elements such as pollen, dust and grime off of your seat.

The proprietary material is completely waterproof

Compact and ultra light, saving valuable space in your saddlebags

Easily and quickly put on by one person in less than 15 seconds.

Includes storage bag

Comes in a variety of colors

Proudly made in the USA using materials made in the USA

From the very beginning we have implemented the highest level of Quality standards and Continuous Improvement methodologies. All Research and Design functions revolved around input from motorcyclists with many years and miles of riding.

We are constantly seeking new ways to improve our product to ensure the best possible experience for our customers. We are fans of the statement, “Genius of the AND”. That is why we are relentless in the pursuit of form, fit, AND function.

The beauty of BikeSheath modular covers is, you can take them with you, and are as user friendly as any product could ever be.

Is there any good motor builders in Portland, Oregon for a ‘71 Harley motor.

–Tracy
tracyterryconst@gmail.com
Portland, OR
(503) 358-7726

Hopefully, a Bikernet reader can make a Portland recommendation. –Bandit

HALL OF FAME Sturgis Museum Nominations– Please e-mail or send a support letter for Vicki Sanfelipo and/or Gary Wetzel by this Friday, January 9, 2015 to the Sturgis Museum.

Feel free to mention anything good. A variety of constructive feedback and perspective will help cement their nominations. All of us can share in their candidacy.

The induction ceremony breakfast is Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at Deadwood, South Dakota. Perhaps you can go?

Feel free to send me a courtesy copy – which unless you object, can also be used for Vicki and Gary to receive special honors at the:
–American Motorcycle Association, Pickerington, Ohio.
–Wheels Through Time, Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
–National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa, Iowa.
A clearinghouse packet will be gathered, shared with these museums. And Gary and Vicki. (That threshold is February 1, 2015). Your help would be greatly appreciated and may help make the difference!

–Dave Zien
davezien@gmail.com
January 5, 2016
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum
& Freedom Fighter Hall of Fame
999 Main Street
Sturgis, SD 57785
Info@sturgismuseum.com

FUNNY: White Oregon Terrorists–

Maybe the U.S. Army recruiters could visit and sign ’em up for service in the real desert against people who are really taking public and private property and who will really fire at them if they pitch a tent on the wrong piece of it.

See how gung ho they are then. Or, let these guys take over a Trump property and see how it falls out. Why have the feds not sent in a team of Ferguson cops to clean up the mess?

SOMEBODY is benefiting from this hysterical drama and it’s probably the press, but to sum up: they are “rancher libertarians” – completely dependent upon federal lands to graze their herds, but without wanting to compensate the federal government one red nickel in grazing fees, yet fully convinced of their own independence.

Then, to boot, they want the land “returned to them” for free, bypassing the natives from whom the land was seized in the first place. Interesting times.

–from the Midnight Express Motorcycle Company

Too Kool Cycles has created the ?TRT? a tilting reverse trike.

Where can I find the kit or dealer near me.

–Jim Baker

SLAMTAIL Introduces a Spring Pre-Load Adjuster Kit– Victoria, Australia – When Ken Rutherford sat down to design the world’s first hydraulically actuated lowering system for Twin Cam powered Softail models, his concept was straight forward: Create a high quality, over engineered, easy to install lowering kit that allows riders to adjust the stance of their Softail without losing the stock ride quality of the bike.

Slamtail is unique because it attaches to the stock OEM shocks and uses a key fob to operate hydraulic rams that adjust the ride height of the bike while retaining the stock ride quality at any height. To go one step further, buyers now can also purchase the additional Spring Pre-Load Adjuster Kit so they can firm up the ride for better handling by eliminating “spring sag” with the included pre-load adjuster wrench.

This accessory kit must be installed at the same time the Slamtail is going in while the shocks are apart and is a highly recommend addition if you regularly carry a passenger.

Once activated the self-contained on-board Electro-Hydraulic Power generates over 1000psi fluid pressure that moves fluid through high quality aerospace spec stainless-steel braided Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hydraulic hoses which are swaged (not crimped) at both ends.

This fluid pressure lengthens and shortens two hydraulic rams that are attached to your Harley spring/shock assemblies with a retracting force of over one ton per ram. This is closed looped system which means it will not leak and loose pressure like most air ride systems on the market even after long rides, or extended periods of storage.

To see the Slamtail in action and check out the smooth linear operation of this kit installed visit www.Slamtail.com and click on the remote fob on the home page.

To contact Slamtail, email Ken Rutherford at Ken@Slamtail.com or check them out at www.Slamtail.com
DEALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!

THE BIKERNET BAD COP FILES– Narcotics Cop Who Ruined Countless Lives for Weed Possession, Busted with $2 Million in Marijuana.

York County, PA — A California police officer was recently busted after driving 247 pounds of marijuana all the way across the country. Yuba County Deputy Christopher M. Heath was caught in York, Pennsylvania with a shipment of marijuana that was worth over $2 million. Heath was reportedly on vacation from his job at the Yuba County Police Department at the time of his arrest.

The York County Police Department has been cautiously silent about the investigation, and they have refused to comment on the details of the arrest, and how they became aware of the shipment.

York County District Attorney Tom Kearney admitted at a recent press conference that this arrest was a part of a large investigation that included various different police departments. Penn Township Police, West Manheim Township Police, Hanover Police, Northern York County Regional Police, York Area Regional Police, Springettsbury Township Police and the York barracks of Pennsylvania State Police were all involved in the arrest and present at the press conference.

“One has to be both saddened and angry that a law-enforcement officer was allegedly involved,” Kearney said, adding that “This was a very sophisticated operation, and obviously a large one.”

Investigators also had no idea that Heath was a cop until after the bust.

“I will tell you prior to the stop we were unaware that this individual was law enforcement,” Kearney said. “We did not become aware of that until we made the stop.”

Heath, along with two other men, Tyler N. Long, and Ryan J. Falsone traveled across the country in two pickup trucks where the marijuana was stashed in vacuum sealed bags.

Chief deputy prosecutor David Sunday that while marijuana is not the department’s main focus, they are still targeting marijuana dealers in their investigations.

“We spend a majority of our time focusing on heroin and cocaine (dealers),” Sunday said. However, he defended the arrest by saying that the men were caught with “a startling amount of marijuana.”

Undersheriff Jerry Read.of Yuba County said that Heath was an “adequate” officer.

“He was assigned to a narcotics task force … (for) almost three years. Conditions are very good in Yuba County for the growing of marijuana. We take down high-poundage dealers with some frequency, and take down growing operations sometimes with as many as a thousand plants,” Read said

This case is especially interesting because Heath was an officer on a narcotics task force, meaning that he was responsible for putting nonviolent people in prison for using and selling drugs. Meanwhile, he himself was selling drugs and taking part in the same actions that he was locking people up for.

Of course, it is the view of the Free Thought Project that anyone should be able to possess marijuana, as it is an incredibly beneficial plant. While those who would lock up morally innocent people for possessing a plant are bad enough, it takes a uniquely vile individual to ruin the lives of countless individuals while at the same time committing equivalent acts.

This hypocrite is currently on paid vacation from the department in Yuba despite admitting to transporting the marijuana from California to Pennsylvania. Heath is free on a 1$ million bond.

–By John Vibes

—www.freethought.com

–from Rogue



NEVER GIVE IN— I’m going to duck out, but the content is flying at us hot and heavy.

Have a blast this weekend, or duct the weather and hide out.

Ride Free Forever,

–Bandit