Hey,
I mean it. I want everyone to have a splendid New Year full of prosperity, fun, love and adventures. Sure, there might be a stumbling block here or there, but nothing you can’t overcome quickly and move on to your next success, accomplishment or new bike. Just remember, don’t stop and never give up.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.
NEW YORK CLUB HOUSE NEWS–Deliveryman beaten after parking in front of Hells Angels clubhouse
A deliveryman was beaten early Monday when he parked his car in front of motorcycles outside the Hells Angels’ East Village clubhouse, police sources said.
The 22-year-old was dropping off food to a different location on East Third Street between First and Second avenues around 2 a.m. when he stopped his car in front of the motorcycle club, police said.
A stranger in his 60s approached the driver and told him he couldn’t park in front of the hogs, but the deliveryman continued with the drop-off, law enforcement sources said.
When he returned to his car, two other men approached. One held him by the neck while the other sucker-punched him in the face, the sources added.
The victim suffered minor facial injuries but did not need to be taken to the hospital.
The Hells Angels have zealously protected the parking spaces outside their clubhouse.
In December 2016, a prospective Hells Angels member shot a man in the gut after he moved an orange traffic cone that was holding a parking spot outside the clubhouse.
The assault case against Anthony Iovenitti, 52, was dismissed after he died of an aneurysm while on a motorcycle trip in September 2017.
By Tina Moore and Stephanie Pagones
–New York Post
VINTAGE RIDE TOURS FOR 2019
Check their site for your next two-wheeled adventure.
https://www.vintagerides.travel/motorcycle-tour/
Vintage Rides
(By appointment only)
Grand Tour Coworking
30 rue des Trois Bornes
75011 PARIS
contact@vintagerides.com
RACING TRIKE OF THE WEEK—
–from Paul Davis
NEW GALLERY IN THE CANTINA–Billy Lane brought his Son’s of Speed show to Sturgis once again in 2018. Using a hand carved dirt tract at the Full Throttle, he and his fellow racers defied death, literally, running these classic motorcycles on a very rough, hardened, dirt track. If they had fallen they would clearly get ripped to shreds.
Enjoy the pics.
–Jack McIntrye
Supreme Gallery Editor
Bandit’s Cantina
WANA-RYDE WHEELS DEALS– Don’t wait for your refund check to get your wheels started being made. Order your wheels now and get 100 days No Interest on your wheels. No Credit Check is needed.
For more Info Email sales@WanaRyd.com Or Call 888-926-2793
NEW BIKERNET AND BANDIT’S CANTINA PROGRAMS FOR 2019
To keep Bikernet moving forward in the New Year, we’ve shuffled things around a bit. We have decided to shut down all major advertising sales and will move all of Bikernet’s impressive library and 24 years of archived editorial content into Bandit’s Cantina, Bikernet’s subscription-supported section.
We will however keep the Bikernet Blog active daily and accessible for free. All major content will be expanded into the Cantina.
So, from a business side here’s how it will work for the New Year. We will continue to build great content featuring the Weekly News, a variety of features and tech articles.
Our readers can stay abreast of all the action on Bikernet by joining the Cantina for as little as $24 yearly or $39 for two years. They will also receive a special package containing an assortment of Bikernet goodies and bling.
Industry members, if you’d like us to keep supporting your company and promote your products, events or services with editorials, we will do so for a mere $98 a year. Keep sending your press releases and we will take care of them.
For the company that wants to reach all 50,000 Bikernet readers and Bandit’s Cantina subscribers 24/7 (plus a 2 million social media reach) your ad will be placed on our Blog page and your banner will accompany any and all of your company’s content. Just $165 a month. This also means all of your company content is archived on Bikernet for the duration working 24/7 and supported with your banner ad.
All the best for 2019
Keith R. Ball
1-310-830-0630
KRB@Bikernet.com
QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–
There is nothing more dangerous than a perverted tradesman/electrician with a sense of humor and a pen, or an old guy with too much time on his hands……..
I will never again look at power outlet the same way…
–Sam Burns
LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK—
PRICED BELOW OUR COST!
2015 Harley-Davidson FLTRXS – Road Glide Special
ONLY $16,995.00!
This 2015 Harley-Davidson FLTRXS Road Glide Special is the perfect bike to start off the New Year with! Did we mention that we’re letting it go below our cost???
This low mileage bike features a 103 Cubic Inch twin cam motor with integrated oil-cooler and sequential port fuel Injection. It’s got a 6-speed cruise drive transmission, air-adjustable rear shocks, double disc, 4-piston front brakes, Enforcer cast aluminum wheels, and a fuel capacity of 6-gallons.
It has a split-stream fairing vent, and also features a Boom! Box 4.3 audio system with Bluetooth, and USB connection. Seat height is 27.4″, and overall length is 95.7″.
Come in and see it today for only $16,995.00 … if it’s still here, that is. Trust us, it won’t last long at this price!
–Cooki
Lifestyle Cycles
NEWS FROM THE TOWN OF BUFFALO CHIP–A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM TONI
“Biker Belles represents many positive elements of the motorcycle community – encouragement, empowerment, mentorship and charity. When we created the event in 2009, we’d hoped it would change people’s lives for the better, and it’s amazing to see nearly a decade later how much it truly has.
“Each year the passion, diversity and spirit of this group has inspired amazing and unexpected connections and growth among participants and the community as a whole. I can’t wait to see where the Biker Belles takes us in the years to come, and I hope you will join us on the journey.”
– Toni Woodruff, Biker Belles Program Manager
DIRECT FROM OUR AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION– To clear up any misunderstandings that have already arisen: what I have written is not to be meant in any party-political sense.
They are all drinking from the same “cool aid”. Just some are taking it full strength and undiluted whereas others have watered it down and some others have added there own particular ideological poison to give it a boost. Their differences are reflected in the differing attitudes they take to addressing the “ problem”. My attitude is that this is not the problem needing to be addressed.
The issue is simple. Allowing that there is global warming (I accept there is), and if the CO2 molecule does not and cannot do what is claimed for it, then what is the cause? Is it possible to make significant, cost effective and timely changes to counter it? Are we better to expend our finite resources on amelioration and preparation?
King Canute couldn’t hold back the tide and I don’t believe we can stop gradual, cyclical climate change. We can though be prepared to live with it.
I’m asked if I accept that there is a greenhouse affect and does it contribute to warming? Answer yes. Of the three main greenhouse gases, water, methane and carbon dioxide, CO2 is the least and virtually insignificant.
The challenge I put to all who hold a belief in the “science” of anthropogenic CO2 causing global warming is this: Show me your peer reviewed hard scientific evidence that simply relates to the properties and physics of the CO2 molecule.
Political statements, emotion and computer models don’t qualify as scientific.
Bold, often alarming statements not backed by evidence don’t qualify as scientific proof.
Consensus is not science, and historically the majority can be, and often are, just plain wrong.
Einstein, Copernicus and Galileo held to opinions that were considered heretical in their day.
You don’t need to be a scientist yourself to notice and comment on the lack of scientific papers presented by the proponents of anthropogenic global warming, particularly supporting the case for the part CO2 plays in creating warming. There is none I can find in the public domain.
Because they won’t and can’t proves the whole international climate change movement is a sham built on a lie, and we, the people, need to force the perpetrators to answer for it.
A grass roots insurrection is essential, peaceful, reasoned, objective, decent, orderly and nonjudgmental – based on facts not emotion.
Time is running out. Much damage has already been done. Now is the time to “Wake Up Australia.”
–Ray Russell
Senior Advisor
LONE STAR RALLY FROM QUICK THROTTLE—The 2018 Lone Star Rally
The Lone Star Rally is by far one of the largest rallies in the United States! Estimates hit 400,000 people, and 300,000 motorcycles. It is definitely Texas’ answer to Sturgis. Southern hospitality at its absolute finest.
quickthrottle.com/the-lone-star-rally/
–Michael Cupp
Grand Marshall Editor
Quick Throttle Magazine
NEWS FROM SCOTT JACOB’S STUDIO IN DEADWOOD–Alexa’s New Release, “Bite Me”
In November 2017, Alexa started her second five-foot by five-foot original painting which has now become my favorite!
Her choice in colors and subject matter are only a fraction of why I love this piece. Its story and her year-long struggle to create it are what had me fall in love with it.
How It Began
As you may remember, Alexa was commissioned to do her own version of Marilyn Monroe in an Andy Warhol style. The owner of the original wanted it to be 5′ x 5′ and the canvas that Alexa purchased for it came in a pack of two.
So here she was with an extra blank canvas the size of half her house.
She knew she needed to use it before a sharp object found it, but what? What could she paint as such a large scale?
2018 SAW A GLOBAL REVOLT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES–Cheers! 2018 Saw A Global Revolt Against ‘Climate Change Policies’
2018 saw a global revolt against policies aimed at fighting global warming. Australia, Canada, France and the U.S. have all seen push back against global warming policies.
That included weeks of riots in France against planned carbon tax increases
Despite increasingly apocalyptic warnings from U.N. officials, 2018 has seen a number of high-profile defeats for policies aimed at fighting global warming. Politicians and voters pushed back at attempts to raise energy prices as part of the climate crusade.
It started in June with election of Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Ontario residents overwhelmingly voted Ford’s conservative coalition into power on a platform that included axing the Canadian province’s cap-and-trade program.
Ford said his first priority upon taking office would be to “cancel the Liberal cap-and-trade carbon tax.” Ford then joined a legal challenge led by Saskatchewan against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s policy of a central government-imposed carbon tax on provinces that don’t have their own.
Carbon tax opponents called Trudeau’s plan an attempt to “use the new tax to further redistribute income, which will increase the costs of this tax to the economy.”
Roughly ten thousand miles away in Australia another revolt was brewing. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saw his power base crumble within days of failing to pass a bill aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
By Michael Bastasch
Energy Editor
Climate Depot
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to the press following the First Ministers’ Meeting in Montreal
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to the press following the First Ministers’ Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, December 7,
Turnbull’s so-called National Energy Guarantee to reduce energy sector emissions was opposed by a group of conservative members of Parliament led by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Turnbull tried to delay the vote on his climate bill in response to the opposition but was too late. Turnbull stepped down in late August and has since been replaced by Scott Morrison.
Back in the U.S., $45 million was being pumped into the battle over a Washington state carbon tax ballot measure. Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, who has 2020 presidential ambitions, supported the measure though refiners, but other opponents outspent carbon tax supporters.
The Inslee-backed measure called for taxing carbon dioxide emissions at $15 a ton in 2020, which would increase at $2 a year above the rate of inflation until the state meets its emissions goals. (RELATED: Greenpeace’s Iconic ‘Rainbow Warrior’ Ship Chopped Up On A Third-World Beach, Sold For Scrap)
However, Washington voters rejected the carbon tax measure in the November election despite Inslee’s support. It was the second time in two years that Washington voters rejected a carbon tax ballot initiative.
by REUTERS/Christinne Muschi.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee speaks during a rally at the beginning of the March For Science in Seattle, Washington, U.S.
The November elections also saw the defeat of a group of Republican lawmakers in the House Climate Solutions Caucus. Among those defeated was caucus co-chair Florida GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who introduced carbon tax legislation in July.
Curbelo’s legislation called for a $23 per ton carbon tax that would primarily fund the Highway Trust Fund. Despite this, environmentalists funneled money to his Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
Shortly after the U.S. elections, it became clear trouble was brewing across the Atlantic in France. French President Emmanuel Macron’s economic reforms, which included planned fuel tax increases, were not winning over much of the population.
Macron spent years styling himself as a staunch supporter of efforts to tackle global warming, including the Paris agreement. Indeed, raising taxes on diesel and gasoline was part of Macron’s plan to meet France’s Paris accord pledge.
It backfired. Angered over the new carbon taxes on fuel, tens of thousands of protesters, called “yellow vests” for the vests drivers are required to have in their cars, took to the streets calling for an end to the taxes and for Macron to resign.
by REUTERS/David Ryder.
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a joint news conference with President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
Macron initially resisted, arguing France needed to do more to address global warming, but the French government capitulated in December and scrapped the planned tax increases. Macron also said he’d increase the minimum wage and begged companies to raise salaries, if possible.
Macron’s backpedaling on climate policy couldn’t have come at a worse time for the climate-conscious president. The U.N. annual climate summit was being held in Poland as Macron conceded to the “yellow vests.”
France’s carbon tax revolts sent a clear message to Democratic lawmakers across the Atlantic Ocean. Democrats will take control of the House in 2019 and want to make global warming a central part of their agenda.
Democrats and even environmentalists distanced themselves from carbon taxes in the wake of French riots. However, far-left Democrats are pushing “Green New Deal” legislation, which could become the largest expansion of government in decades.
REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Pool.
New BANDIT’S CANTINA Reader Comment!–THE LAST SUNDAY POST–SORTA
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/THE_LAST_SUNDAY_POSTSORTA.aspx
The Orwell book would translate well to an on screen tale.
— Rhys
Daytona Beach, FL
Thanks, it needs to be made into a movie.–Bandit
[page break]
5-BALL RACING SALT TORPEDO ACTION–
We’re scrambling and with the help of Twin Power we have a charging system coming. We built tools and re-fabed junk Harbor Freight tools do more than our tubing bender was capable of.
I’m working with S&S on an intake manifold and our fiberglass team will arrive tomorrow. Denis Manning sent me a famous old military parachute to work with. Another report will fly at Bikernet in the next couple of weeks. Hang On!
–Bandit
TECH OF THE WEEK–Rod Authority’s “Best Of 2018” – 10 Tricks To Remove That Stuck Bolt.
One of the biggest frustrations when disassembling a vehicle for restoration, or even repair, is the dreaded seized or stripped bolt. Stuck hardware occurs when a bolt or nut gets corrosion between the threads and they won’t budge.
From: www.rodauthority.com
https://www.rodauthority.com/news/rod-authoritys-best-of-2018-10-tricks-to-remove-that-stuck-bolt/
Check it out. We are going to publish it on Bikernet with a few additions. –Bandit
BIKERNET MUSIC NEWS–big news!!
I’m hitting the road with my great friend DOROTHY this Jan/Feb for a mega tour that crosses all of North America. Dates below, if you wanna come to a show get your tickets before they are gone. On sale now: dorothytheband.com
1.14 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
1.15 – House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
1.17 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
1.18 – Cargo – Reno, NV
1.19 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA
1.22 – The Rialto – Bozeman, MT
1.23 – Top Hat Lounge – Missoula, MT
1.25 – Hawthorn Theatre – Portland, OR
1.26 – Neptune – Seattle, WA
1.27 – The Venue – Vancouver, BC
1.29 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT
1.30 – Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
2.01 – Varsity Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
2.02 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
2.05 – The Record Bar – Kansas City, MO
2.06 – Delmar Hall – St Louis, MO
2.08 – Deluxe – Indianapolis, IN
2.09 – St Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI
2.10 – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH
2.12 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
2.14 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY
2.15 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
2.16 – TLA – Philadelphia, PA
2.19 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
2.20 – Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN
2.22 – Trees – Dallas, TX
2.23 – Scoot Inn – Austin, TX
2.25 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
2.26 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
3.01 – Regent Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
See you there!
–Nick
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE NEWS–
Following the launch of the FTR 1200, Indian Motorcycle received overwhelmingly positive feedback for the Akrapovic low-mount accessory exhaust. Based on this feedback, Indian Motorcycle has decided to offer this exhaust system as a stock element for the FTR 1200 S with Race Replica paint, as it’s the most premium model within the FTR 1200 lineup.
New pricing for the FTR 1200 S with Race Replica paint starts at $16,999. The $1,000 price increase delivers an added value when compared to the $1,499.99 stand-alone price of the Akrapovic low-mount exhaust as an accessory.
–Brandon Goodreau
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
HANG ON 2019 IS COMING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/HANG_ON_2019_IS_COMING_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS.aspx
I got one for the 5-BALL Racing Salt Effort. Put the old Bikernet Pan with that old ‘72 vintage Ford truck. Take a photo with the Pan in the back of the truck. Advertise it as a $25,000 package and see what pans out.
It might be worth the trouble. Somebody from the South Bay area might bite on that hook. Throw some signatures on everything and tell all that it’s for the Great Salt Flat race program .
–Gearhead
Torrance, CA
Terrific notion! I like it! They both are for sale.
–Bandit
Bandit@bikernet.com
ALL VETERANS SHOULD JOIN THE DAV–
Your DAV membership may seem like a simple act. But to fellow comrades, it’s a life-saving chance to improve their quality of life. You are making an extraordinary difference in the lives of veterans by being apart of the DAV community.
Thank you for an amazing year and we look forward to making incredible change for veterans with you in 2019.
–J. Marc Burgess
DAV National Adjutant/CEO
CHOW HALL OF THE WEEK– Underground Butcher in Madison, WI. makes a sandwich so simple, but so amazing that it is in my top 5 list of all time!!
It is called The French Exit. All of the ingredients from the bread to the award winning cheese are hand made. Make sure if you are in Madison that you stop here and get this sandwich!
Subscribe to my You Tube Channel, youtube.com/c/ABikerDude 
–BikerDude
BIKERNET AND AMD INVESTOR NEWS–
Polaris Industries Inc. declared a regular quarterly $0.60 per share cash dividend payable on December 17, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2018.
Eric Cagle left Tucker after two years as President, being temporarily replaced by interim MAG CEO Mike Buettner. “The change in direction represents a shift in philosophy with a focus on better serving Tucker dealers and vendors.” Cagle’s departure came in September, some weeks before Greg Blackwell’s appointment to Tucker as Snr Sales & Marketing VP and Hugh Charvat as the new MAG CEO.
EU motorcycle registrations by month for 2018 Q3 were 108,874 units in July (100,029 in 2017), 77,488 units in August (68,086 in 2017) and 82,897 units in September (76,611 in 2017).
Harley dealers don’t like the factory selling apparel on Amazon. The factory is working on a program to force buyers to pick up their purchase at a local dealer. We will report in on this program.
–AMD and Bikernet
NEWS FROM THE CLIMATE DEPARTMENT AT THE BIKERNET UNIVERSITY–PEOPLE
Judith Curry retires, citing ‘craziness’ of climate science
Judith Curry of the Georgia Institute of Technology speaks during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on “Data or Dogma” in 2015.
Photo by Ken Cendeno, courtesy of Greenpeace.
Judith Curry, one of climate science’s most vocal critics, is leaving academe because of what she calls the poisonous nature of the scientific discussion around human-caused global warming.
Curry, 63, is retiring from her tenured position as a professor at the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She’s instead going to focus on growing her private business, Climate Forecast Applications Network, which provides insights into climate and weather risks for agriculture and energy companies.
The climatologist, who distinguished herself in the field decades ago with research into the Arctic and the causes of the climate feedback that have shaped the region, writes a blog called Climate Etc. It is by turns academic and inflammatory.
There she occasionally mocks what she calls “climate alarmists” who say time is almost out unless humanity weans itself off fossil fuels. In her blog and on Twitter, she has also criticized some of the scientists, including Pennsylvania State University climatologist Michael Mann and Harvard University climate historian Naomi Oreskes, who have become leading voices for climate action.
She has testified in front of Congress, boosted by politicians who use her work to argue that environmental regulations and a scaling down of fossil fuel use will be ineffective. Her work is frequently invoked by climate skeptics and denialists. Congressional Democrats, displeased with her conclusions, have investigated the source of her funding.
Curry actually believes, along with the vast majority of climate scientists, that humans are warming the planet, and was even an outspoken advocate of the issue during the George W. Bush years. She was among the first to connect global warming to hurricanes, for example, publishing an influential study in Science in 2006. But where she breaks with the majority opinion is over just how much humans are actually causing global temperatures to rise.
Where many scientists say that humans are the primary cause of warming, Curry believes natural forces play a larger role. She also believes that uncertainty around climate models means we don’t have to act so quickly and that current plans would do little to mitigate warming. She also questions the assertion made by a majority of climate scientists who believe humans have significantly contributed to climate change. In the Obama years, she has become a contrarian of sorts, often criticizing those who rely on climate models to prove that humans are warming the planet at an unprecedented rate.
In announcing her retirement, Curry wrote about what she called her “growing disenchantment with universities, the academic field of climate science and scientists.” She said a deciding factor for leaving the ivory tower was that “I no longer know what to say to students and postdocs regarding how to navigate the CRAZINESS in the field of climate science,” adding that research and funding for it are highly politicized.
In an interview with E&E News, Curry said she would like to see a greater focus on the uncertainties of climate science and a better exploration of them through scientific debate free of politics.
“Once you understand the scientific uncertainties, the present policy path that we’re on doesn’t make a lot of sense,” she said. “We need to open up policy dialogue to a bigger solution space. So I’m just looking to open up the dialogue and to provoke people into thinking…”
–Scott Waldman, E&E News reporter
THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN–
A priest was driving along and saw nun on the side of the road. He stopped and offered her a lift, which she accepted. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing the habit to open and reveal a leg. The priest looks and nearly has an accident, and after changing gear lets his hand slide up her leg.
She immediately says, “Father, remember Psalm 129”.
The priest says sorry and removes his hand but is unable to remove his eyes from her leg. Further on when he changes gear and has ogled at her leg for the zillionth time he lets the hand slide up the leg again.
The Nun once again says, “Father remember Psalm 129”.
Arriving at the convent the nun gets out and the priest goes on his way. Once he arrives at his church he rushes to the bible and looks up Psalm 129 and it said, “GO FORTH AND SEEK, FURTHER UP YOU WILL FIND GLORY”
Moral of the Story: In your job should always be well informed or you may miss a great opportunity.
–from Rogue
BROKEN SPOKE ACTION IN DAYTONA– B.O.N. MEET AND GREET
Friday March 16th 4pm
Come dressed in your best St. Patty’s day outfit
Best Male & Female Contest
Be at the front of the stage at 6:30 to enter – Winner announced at 7pm
CUSTOM DAYTONA BIKE SHOW
March 14, 2018
Registration 11-3pm
Judging Begins at 3pm
Awards at 4pm
INDIAN PERFORMANCE NEWS—from Indian Motorcycle of Libertyville
IPS “Breakthrough Performance Package” for the Thunder Stroke 111
Based some 50 miles north of downtown Chicago, Indian Motorcycle of Libertyville, Illinois, is an authorized Indian Motorcycle dealership with a story to tell.
It all started with trying to eke out that illusive extra few horsepower from the respected, reliable, but perhaps limited Indian Thunder Stroke 111” V-twin as used in stock Big Twins.
Managing Partner/Owner Don O’Shea explains: “Don’t get me wrong, it is a great engine for what it is, but there is more performance hidden away in there, and we set about trying to find it.
“We tried all the conventional approaches, as have most other Indian dealers – we got into tuning and explored all the low hanging fruit such as slip-ons, intakes/air cleaners, and the new cams when Indian released them, but we still weren’t seeing the kind of improvements we were sure we could get – the kind of improvements that would excite and motivate customers.”
Don’s business partner, Todd Gaines, has two and four-wheel experience and takes up the story. “It’s interesting, it seems that with the Scout engine Indian had options it could exploit from the word get-go, and that is a good performance engine that can be massaged.
The newly cast cylinder head has a redesigned chamber and intake port for larger springs and valves
“The 111” Thunder Stroke isn’t a bad engine, not at all, it just appears not to be performance- optimized. It is as if the primary concern was emissions compliance – that and wanting to be as faithful as possible to the iconic 1946/48 era engine’s looks. The way the exhaust has to come out of the cylinder heads for example constrains the design of the head.
“So, our next step was to start working on the heads, but we quickly found that it was going to take more than just porting and larger valves, and any of the other things you would normally look to do to a head. It required some reconstruction.”
The result has been the establishment of a new company called IPS (Indian Performance Solutions) and the complete re-design of an entirely new, repeatable, newly cast cylinder head for the Thunder Stroke 111.
“We redesigned the combustion chamber as well as the intake port with some really good results, but doing so is so labor-intensive and time-consuming that we decided to make the investment and get our design cast, so we would have a repeatable product that we could pull off the shelf and bolt on.
“In every way, shape and form it resembles Indian’s stock 111 head, except for the two key factors of combustion chamber and intake port redesign. We’ve also upgraded the valve springs and are using a cam of our own design.
“Overall, we are reliably getting around a 40 hp increase, with a little bit of variation. The stock 111 is 73 hp/103 ft lbs of torque at the rear wheel, so we are getting around 112 hp and around 125 ft lbs torque, which rolls in at the bottom end with peak torque at around 3,800 rpm.
The contour of the back side of the exhaust valve is different to the one the factory uses
“People fixate on horsepower, but torque is where it’s at; the cam selection puts us in the middle with good numbers on the top without giving up too much on the bottom.”
The upgraded springs and valves come with the heads and are very similar to Chevrolet LS valve springs. The heads are cast on the west coast and machined in Reno. Through Indian Performance Solutions (IPS), which is headquartered near its dealership at Libertyville, Illinois, Don and Todd have relationships with the key suppliers needed for the production and tuning of its new cylinder heads and did the prototype, pilot testing and durability testing there, and worked closely with its suppliers to get the drawings and manufacturing specs drawn up on a supply side management basis, with IPS owning the intellectual property on the designs.
Don continues: “When we redesigned the combustion chamber, the objective was to raise the compression ratio – from 9.5-1 stock to 10.5-1 for our heads with the existing pistons and rings. We also upgraded the exhaust valve – the contour of the back side of the valve is different to the one the factory uses.”
Don says that the plan is, ultimately, to make the package available as a retail kit, with a tuner and map for bolt-on and re-flash install. Initially Don says IPS will focus on sales to other authorized Indian Motorcycle dealerships.
“As a cylinder head package rather than complete top-end kit, it will have a price advantage over some of the other Thunder Stroke 111 performance solutions that are being talked about, but with largely similar horsepower and torque gain results.”
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF LIBERTYVILLE
www.indianmotorcycleoflibertyville.com
This came from the AMD News and we have asked Liberty Indian if we can reprint it.–Bandit
KEEPING THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN–THE REWARD
Bill Clinton and his driver were cruising along a country road one night when all of a sudden they hit a pig, killing it instantly.
Bill told his driver to go up to the farm house and explain to the owners what happened. About one hour later Bill sees his driver staggering back to the car with a bottle of wine in one hand, a cigar in the other and his clothes all ripped and torn.
“What happened to you?” asked Bill.
“Well, the Farmer gave me the wine, his wife gave me the cigar and his 19-year-old daughter made mad passionate love to me.”
“My God, what did you tell them?” asks Clinton.
The driver replies, “I’m Bill Clinton’s driver, and I just killed the pig.”
–from Rogue
WHAT THE HELL DO I DO KNOW—I’ve experienced some wild shit recently. I quit watching commercial television a while back. I’m too busy to watch commercials, the same ones, every five minutes.
I started to watch Amazon and Netflix documentaries and came across Great Courses and some wild shit. Recently I tired of violent movies and bullshit films and just watched more documentaries. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not giving up on movies, but I’ve watched some amazing documentaries recently. Here are a handful of quotes out of “Outter World, Inner World.” I want my Son and grandson to watch this for the amazing photography and the connection between the universe and even the shell of a tortoise.
Here are a handful of quotes from this film:
Humans can act like Bees or Locusts.
In silence is the greatest power.
Circumstances don’t matter, only my state of conscience matter.
You can’t change anything that exists by fighting. You must build a new model and make the old one obsolete.
Electricity follows the easiest path. With stillness (meditation) you can free your spirit.
The signature of the spiral is the link between the inner world and the outter world.
Removing resistance allows the energy to flow and unfold.
Thinks about it, then make goals and plans for this year. We’re burnin’ daylight.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
