Hey,
A brother asked me about annual snowfall in Deadwood the other day. I googled it, 135 inches. He was sorta startled. He went to college in Minneapolis and was moved by 45 inches of annual snowfall. Keep in mind we are both native Californians and don’t know shit about snow.
Okay, so the average snowfall for the USA is about 38 inches, but wait, the average snowfall for Mt. Rainer in Washington State is over 400 inches. Then Don asked me how often it snows. That was startling. It snows in Deadwood from January to June, but that’s not all. Then it keeps experiencing the dusting of white crystals from September to December.
Don’t bring me down. The Redhead flew in on Tuesday and I shoveled snow for her arrival. She digs the place and that’s all that counts. Let’s hit the news:
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 Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
DEADWOOD BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for January 30, 2020
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/DEADWOOD_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_January_30_2020.aspx
I have known both Michelle and Lenny Holcom for many years and have rode with them many times, including to Sturgis in 2015. I hope enough people nominate them to the MRF hall of fame, they are well deserving of it.
–Rigger
Riggerandrider@yahoo.com
Brandywine
I hope you sent in a nomination. Is this the MRF Hall of Fame or the Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame?–Bandit
SPORTSTER DEAL OF THE WEEK– Got my Sportster ready to sell. Now if it would just quit raining. It runs great. A ‘98 1200 with 25K miles.
It is In Nashville Tn.
I am asking $4,200 for it. The flame job is pretty rough up close, but with some pinstriping and clear it will be fine.
–BILL May
Ioobill
MRF Meeting of the Minds Registration is Open
“There’s always plenty of time…”
That’s what everyone says when the deadline is four, five, six months away. Riding season is rapidly approaching. You have a garden to plant. The garage needs cleaning. There’s always plenty of time…
The MRF’s Bikers inside the Beltway is a knocking hard on three months. The 2020 Meeting of the Minds is just a little over seven months away and time is going to blaze by; “There’s always time…” Yeah right.
If you’ve been following what the MRF is lining up for the 2020 Meeting of the Minds, you know that this year is going to be a lot different than the past 35. We’re lining up topical workshops that take you back to the days when your head would spin from the shared information. Workshops were standing room only, and you spent long hours after the workshops picking the brains of people who were willing to share even more information with you.
Seven months will go by in a flash; and I promise you, there’s going to be more demand for the 36th Annual Meeting of the Minds Conference than there has been for anything the MRF has ever presented.
On top of nine workshops, a handful of presentations and a weekend to remember, the MRF is offering for the first time an all-inclusive registration pack package. That’s right, workshops, presentations and all meals for only $145.00 per person! There’s never been an MRF conference that offered this before. Once more… That’s the Meeting of the Minds Conference registration and nine meals for $145.00 per person. That’s less than $7.00 a meal!
Plus, the MRF has contracted with “Chef Bill” from ABATE of Indiana and he specializes in keeping ABATE of Indiana members well-fed and happy. Special meal requirements? Got it covered. Selection variety? Got it covered. Long lines waiting for your order at a fast food restaurant? It ain’t gonna happen!
Why is it that there’s always time to do it over but never time to do it right the first time? Here it is a three-step plan to move forward on attending the 36th Annual Meeting of the Minds.
Make your travel arrangements
Make your hotel arrangements: Waterfront Hotel & conference Center 317-299-8400 (mention MRF for the $84.00 nightly rate); cut-off date Sept.1, 2020
Register for the Meeting of the Minds
You have until September 1, 2020, to take advantage of the MOTM pre-registration price of $145.00 for MRF members. Use this link to register: Meeting of the Minds 2020.
Yeah, you still have a little time before the pre-registration deadline ends for the 36th Annual Meeting of the Minds Conference!!! However, this time there won’t be time to do it over when you don’t make the deadline.
Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you in September at the Waterfront Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 36th Annual Meeting of the Minds Conference!!!
Yours in Freedom,
–Fredric Harrell
Director, Conferences & Events
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
PS. A 2020 Meeting of the Minds t-shirt on your list? They go fast at the conference; to guarantee you’ll get your size, go to Meeting of the Minds 2020 and reserve your shirt now.
LATEST FROM MONTE– Monte’s NEWEST CREATION – LOCO HERO, will be releasing via Kickstarter during the first part of this year, and the artwork is flowing in!
Check out the sneak peek above of a portion of one of the completed variant covers by DC/Marvel/Coffin/Dynamite superstar artist Marat Mychaels!
Find out more about Marat, and all his other work here. We have a whole bunch of great artists lined up for variant covers, and there will be a fair amount of great swag for stretch goals.
The story is gripping, the characters are engaging, and the hook is like nothing you have ever seen before! Loco Hero is going to be HUGE! If you like action, if you like great character development and a great story-line, you are going to fall in love with Monte’s new super-heroine, LOCO HERO. Stay tooned for Moore as we get closer to the release of this groundbreaking title – This is EPIC!
Expect MOORE from Monte Moore.
THE BIKER BUILD-OFF CHOPPER IS NOW IN THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM—Haul Bikes picked up Hugh King’s Chopper, about 3 years ago from the Bikernet Headquarters in Wilmington, California.
Finally, after several transition points in Europe and Asia, it arrived at its appropriate destination in the Sturgis Museum in SD. The King, the Director of ten years of Biker Build-offs was exceedingly pleased with the arrival.
The stretched, custom-built scooter was built by all the masters of Build-Off fame including Matt Hotch, Arlen Ness, Billy Lane and the rest of the gang.
Built for the King in the desert outside of Laughlin, it was a tribute to the director and to the 10th anniversary episode. Now owned by my lovely self, I was only too happy to make this historic piece available to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
–Bandit
TEXAS WEATHER REPORT–So, I’ve scheduled my left knee replacement for the 20th. Redhead is gonna take me and then head to the grandson’s first birthday the next day, for 2 weeks. Gotta Love Em!
Hate missing the little dudes 1st, though, but will get a jump on recovery for this Spring/Summer concert series. I did get approval for Celine, one song, but her fans are for sure a dedicated, interesting group.
So, I did put the proper mirrors back on the Dyna, still waiting on the T-Sport fairing from Villian 2. I did roll her for 80 twisty miles yesterday, and pretty much have everything to convert her back to mid-controls, replace the belt and inner primary bearing since I’m there.
But will have to wait a bit, along with replacing the fuel pump in the Bronco with its full tank of fuel of course! Unless y’all want to come do them for me? I got plenty of tools! Dyna needs some black rocker boxes and black wheels too!
I did however order Tim Remus’ FXR Bible from Thursday’s News so I’ll have something to read.
–RFR
Keep us posted on your recovery.—Bandit
BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN EARLY–I was unaware of this phenomenon…
Reasonable questions
1. If poison expires, is it more poisonous or is it no longer poisonous?
2. Which letter is silent in the word “Scent,” the S or the C?
3. Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?
4. Why is the letter W, in English, called double U? Shouldn’t it be
called double V?
5. Maybe oxygen is slowly killing you and It just takes 75-100 years
to fully work.
6. Every time you clean something, you just make something else dirty.
7. The word “swims” upside-down is still “swims”
8. 100 years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars.
Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses.
–from Professor El Waggs
Bikernet Research Team
PRICE DROPPED ON TERRY THE TRAMP—We just dropped the price on Terry the Tramp, the Life and Times of a 1%er. It is now available for about $15 for a soft cover version.
It’s one of the highest selling 1%er books ever.
–Bandit
LATEST FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT–Climate Doomsayers Keep Putting Sell-By Dates On Their Credibility.
For these doomsday cultists there’s literally no cost to getting it wrong. The panjandrums of the mainstream media forgive them for spinning these yarns because they know they’re doing it ‘for the right reasons’.
For these doomsday cultists there’s literally no cost to getting it wrong. The panjandrums of the mainstream media forgive them for spinning these yarns because they know they’re doing it ‘for the right reasons’.
I was slightly surprised when Greta Thunberg announced at Davos that we had eight years left to save the planet. As long as that? Admittedly, that’s four years less than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who put it at 12, although, come to think of it, that was last January, so presumably she now thinks we’ve got 11 years left. But some doomsayers have been much less optimistic. According to Peter Wadhams, a Cambridge professor interviewed in the Guardian in 2013, Arctic ice would disappear by 2015 if we didn’t mend our ways, while Gordon Brown announced in 2009 that we had just 50 days to save the Earth. Then again, playing the long game can also catch up with you. In 2004, Observer readers were told Britain would have a ‘Siberian’ climate in 16 years’ time. We’re supposed to be in the midst of that now.
On the face of it, we should be grateful that these gloomsters make such oddly precise predictions. It’s like putting a sell-by date on their credibility. After all, when the soothsayer in question is proved wrong, they just shuffle off with their tail between their legs, never to be heard from again, right? In eight years’ time, when the planet hasn’t disappeared in a cloud of toxic gas, presumably Greta will throw up her arms and say: ‘Sorry guys. Looked like I was wrong about you ruining my childhood. I’m now going to become a flight attendant.’
But, weirdly, that never happens. No matter how often these ‘experts’ are shown to be no better at forecasting than Paul the Octopus — worse, actually — they just carry on as if nothing has happened. Take Paul Ehrlich, author of the 1968 bestseller The Population Bomb. ‘We must realise that unless we are extremely lucky, everybody will disappear in a cloud of blue steam in 20 years,’ he told the New York Times in 1969. Ehrlich also predicted America would be subject to water rationing by 1974 and food rationing by 1980. Ehrlich’s ‘bomb’ failed to explode, but his career didn’t. On the contrary, he’s now the Bing Professor of Population Studies at Stanford and the president of Stanford’s Center for Conservation Biology. All I can say is, it’s lucky he didn’t become a bookmaker.
The fact that Ehrlich is still an eminent environmentalist — and Prince Charles can pose alongside Greta Thunberg in Davos in spite of claiming we had eight years left to save the planet 11 years ago — helps explain why these Mystic Megs have no hesitation about making these forecasts. It’s a great way of drawing attention to their cause and there’s literally no cost to getting it wrong. The panjandrums of the mainstream media forgive them for spinning these yarns because they know they’re doing it ‘for the right reasons’. They’re not peddling alarmist nonsense — no, they’re just exaggerating the risk. In any case, they might be right and doesn’t the ‘precautionary principle’ dictate that we should change our behaviour just in case? Oddly, these same secular humanists don’t apply the logic of Pascal’s Wager to believing in God. That would be unscientific.
But is there also something else going on? I’m generous enough to think that these activists are not cynics trying to grab headlines, but are sincere in their prophecies of doom. For instance, when George Monbiot predicted a ‘structural global famine’ in as little as ten years’ time if we didn’t start eating less meat — this was in 2002 — he genuinely believed it. And when that famine failed to materialize, he didn’t abandon his apocalyptic environmentalism, but doubled-down, as readers of his Guardian column can testify.
The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF) –by bennypeiser
FORD IS STILL IN THE GAME WITH H-D–HARLEY-DAVIDSON BRANDED F-250 EDITION TRUCK INTRODUCED
Harley-Davidson and Tuscany Motor Co. Collaborate on the Latest Edition of Fat Boy-Inspired Ford F-250
Milwaukee – Feb. 13, 2020 –Harley-Davidson Motor Company (NYSE:HOG) and Tuscany Motor Co. are proud to introduce the latest in a growing lineup of Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® motorcycle-inspired trucks manufactured through Tuscany Motor Co. and based on Ford and GMC truck models.
“The Harley-Davidson™ F-250 edition fulfills customer requests for additional towing capacity and celebrates their passion for Harley-Davidson® motorcycles,” said Jeff Burttschell, Vice President, Tuscany Motor Co. “Working closely with Brad Richards, Vice President of Styling and Design at Harley Davidson, we created another fantastic truck worthy of the Harley-Davidson name and coincides with the debut of the Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® 30th Anniversary motorcycle.”
The new truck includes over 65 edition-specific components that make the 2020 model truck distinctly Harley-Davidson. The styling was inspired by the famous Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® model.
The Tuscany team begins with a Ford F-250 truck and then integrates many motorcycle-inspired components. These include Harley-Davidson branded 22” milled aluminum wheels styled and inspired by the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy model, Harley-Davidson exclusive solid billet aluminum tips, distinctive Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield™ badging, stainless steel Harley-Davidson gauges, billet pedals, two tone diamond stitched and perforated custom leather seating surfaces, and official numbered Harley Davidson center console badge.
Additional edition-specific components that add to the aggressive look of the truck include, custom tuned BDS suspension lift with upgraded Fox shocks, BFG 37” KM3 tires, lighted power deploying running boards with unique integrated rocker trim, custom fender flares, functional fender vents, front bumper redesign with integrated LED light bar, custom design Harley-Davidson grille with Bar & Shield insert, replacement functional Harley-Davidson designed induction style hood, rear bumper redesign, Harley Davidson tailgate appliqué, color-matched Harley-Davidson inspired tonneau cover with debossed Harley-Davidson bar and shield logo, carpeted bed mat with Harley Davidson logo, Harley-Davidson floor mats, Harley-Davidson door entry sills, custom accent color door, dash and steering wheel trim.
Under the arrangement, Tuscany will provide the Ford F-250 and manufacture the interior and exterior components under Harley-Davidson’s direction. The 2020 Harley-Davidson F-250 will be available for purchase to the retail public at select authorized Ford dealers beginning April 2020. Ford dealers and the retail public can also reserve their vehicle by visiting HarleyTruck.com/F-250 or calling (1.800.837.8624).
–Joseph Gustafson
Marketing – Public Relations Lead
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY
3700 West Juneau Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53207
Mobile (847) 668-9886
Office (414) 343-7476
ZEN TEACHINGS
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead.
Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow.
Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow.
In fact, just piss off and leave me alone.
2. Sex is like air. It’s not that important unless you aren’t getting any.
3. No one is listening, until you pass wind.
4. Always remember you’re unique. Just like everyone else.
5. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
6. If you think nobody cares whether you’re alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.
7. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them,
you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.
8. If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
9. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will
sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
10. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.
–from El Waggs
Bikernet Monk
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY LESSON–blench
[ blench ]
verb (used without object)
to shrink; flinch; quail: an unsteady eye that blenched under another’s gaze.
QUOTES
HOW IS BLENCH USED?
But art historians should not blench at the sight of dreadful paintings, any more than doctors should blench at the sight of blood.
JOHN RUSSELL, “ART: SYMBOLISTS IN AMERICA AT GREY,” NEW YORK TIMES, NOVEMBER 30, 1979
… the actor blenches as he reads the instruction ….
SUSANNAH CLAPP, “THE WEEK IN THEATRE: WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENTLY TORTURED EACH OTHER AND MORE—REVIEW,” THE GUARDIAN, JANUARY 27, 2019
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF BLENCH?
The history of the verb blench is complicated. The uncommon Old English verb blencan “to cheat, deceive” is the direct source of Middle English blenchen, blenken, blinchen, blinken “to move suddenly, dodge, avoid, mislead, deceive.” The various Middle English forms yield both English blench “to shrink, flinch” and blink “to wink the eyes, be startled.”
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST– Motorcycle magazine titles continue to close, as the market consolidates and print titles struggle to adapt to a rapidly changing media landscape.
The latter was the bigger issue for Motorcycle Consumer News, which closed its doors officially at the start of this month.
Motorcycle Consumer News was in business for 50 years in the motorcycle industry, and distinguished itself as being 100% subscriber supported and advertisement-free.
Motorcycle Consumer News, as we know it, came to be in 1991, but the publication goes all the way back to 1969, when it was started by Roger Hull under the name Road Rider.
Perhaps the closest thing to Consumer Reports in the motorcycling realm, Motorcycle Consumer News had stricter guidelines than most other publications for reviewing motorcycles and other moto products.
Unfortunately, the publication had a rough transition to digital form, and the subscription-based model wasn’t effective online, especially as the paywall shielded the title from organic discovery, like Google searches and social media.
This meant a dwindling of revenues for the publication, and for other titles in the publisher’s house, which leads us to this current and unfortunate news.
In a world where traditional media publishing titles are passing off press releases as stories, trying to sell you two-wheeled wares, and even planning press launches for motorcycle brands, now is more important than ever to have independent voices in motorcycle journalism.
Source: Motorcycle Consumer News
[page break]
LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2014 Harley-Davidson FLHX – Street Glide for $14,995.00
See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=8057876
2014 Harley Davidson Street Glide Touring FLHX
The Harley-Davidson Street Glide has the classic style fuel tank, Bat Wing Fairing, GTX hard side saddlebags that open from the top, a custom rear end and a large 18 inch front wheel. The Harley-Davidson has a Twin Cam 103 engine that puts out 1690cc’s, has a 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission with integrated Isolated Drive System (IDS) and is also equipped with the Brembo four piston brakes for reliable braking when you need it.
It has a six gallon fuel tank for long rides. The Street Glide is a bagger with street-wise soul, such as stripped down trim and chrome, low suspension, and cropped wind deflector. Inspired by the street and made for long distance comfort, the Street Glide is ready to roar with attitude. Adding the LED stop/turn/tail lights with chrome bracket that doubles as a visor over the low-mounted license plate and LED fender tri-line.
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT…
Blue Sunglo paint and raised tank logos is like new and beautiful color. Chrome strap with black accented ‘Street Glide’ logo. One touch gas cover and device door with USB. Chrome bars, Arlen Ness grips, chrome mirrors, blinkers and tinted windshield. Sweet LED headlamp with paint matching LED bezel lights.
Chrome fork sleeve, polished lowers on Black 5-Twin Spoke Cast Aluminum with polished rim. Chrome rocker cover, push-rod tubes, tappet blocks, oval black accented 103 air cover, trans cover, cam with H-D logo, horn cover, primary and derby. Sweet sounding chrome exhaust with black tips. 2-up seat with streamliner rider floorboards, passenger pegs and brake pedal. Rider heat shields and 4 pt. docking hardware.
Red lense stop / turn / tail lights and LED license plate and fender tri-light. This one is waiting for your personal touch as it is mostly stock, but it is great start as is!!!
This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 100 point safety and mechanical inspection. Whether your looking to commute to work, ride the coast or take that dream vacation, this bike is ready to go!!!
EZ FINANCING-SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!
Open 7 days a week!!!
Fill out an online application and ride today!!!
Only $14,995 at Lifestyle Cycles (714) 490-0155
NMA ALERT–Big Bike and Common
When did traffic safety become the purview of Big Bike and Vision Zero? In my experience, many motorists are hybrids: motorist/pedestrian, motorist/bicyclist, etc. The collective “We” are absolutely concerned about traffic safety. But why does it then feel like it is an “Us vs. Them” mentality?
Vision Zero seems to have clogged up the idea of personal responsibility. The goal of not ever having a traffic death is laudable, no doubt. To accuse anyone driving a car as the instigator of the “crash” is not. Common sense dictates that everyone has a responsibility for traffic safety—their own and others who use the road.
Just like everything else in this county, it seems the polarization surrounding the issue of who is most responsible for road safety is not helping anyone. In the past six months, at least 10 Vision Zero cities have reported that more pedestrian/bicyclist deaths have occurred than the year previous.
Nearly every day, Big Bike and VZ proponents call for an immediate arrest of any driver involved in a traffic accident even though the police are obligated to investigate before determining responsibility. Of course, every death is a tragedy but why has the rhetoric been pushed to such heights? No one should ever trade on a family’s tragedy to score ideological or political points.
The Toronto Sun recently ran an editorial called: Vision Zero has turned into another City Hall industry. I have to agree. Twelve city staffers currently work on the city’s VZ plan while other transportation units help support the effort and add to taxpayer cost.
In the past three years, Toronto spent $109.6 million on the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities. The city implemented road diets by adding bike and bus lanes. It also dotted the streets with traffic calming measures. The largest Canadian city, with nearly three million residents, subcontracts much of its traffic enforcement to for-profit red-light and speed camera companies that feast on speed limits that have been lowered on 237 kilometers (or 147.3 miles) of roads.
The writer of the Sun article, Sue-Ann Levy, says it seems many lanes have been reduced to turtle speed. Traffic congestion is rampant, and frustrated drivers are struggling to get anywhere in the city by car.
Does this fallout, born of blind devotion to Vision Zero, seem like common sense to anyone?
–By Shelia Dunn, NMA Communications Director, and writer of the Keep the US Moving Blog.
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND WITH “CHALLENGER CHALLENGE” – A HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON OF THE NEW INDIAN CHALLENGER DARK HORSE & HARLEY-DAVIDSON® ROAD GLIDE® SPECIAL
National Demo Tour, Local Dealer Demos, Advertising and Episodic Video Series Serve Up Bold Demonstrations of the Indian Challenger’s Superiority Over the Harley Davidson® Road Glide® Special
Minneapolis (February 12, 2020) – “May the best V-twin win.” That’s the rally cry for the newest marketing campaign for Indian Motorcycle’s all-new Indian Challenger – a fully-loaded premium bagger designed as a superior alternative to the category leader, the Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® Special. This morning, Indian announced the “Challenger Challenge,” a campaign that invites motorcyclists to test ride the Challenger and Road Glide® Special back-to-back for the ultimate head-to-head comparison.
Launching at Daytona Bike Week on Friday, March 6, the Challenger Challenge product demo tour will visit Indian Motorcycle dealers around the country, as well as select motorcycle rallies and events, including the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. In addition to the national tour, select Indian Motorcycle dealers will have a Road Glide® on hand to ensure that any customer who visits their dealership can take the Challenger Challenge.
Indian Motorcycle will support the Challenger Challenge with a digital media campaign, highlighted by an episodic video series where action sports icon Carey Hart and his loyal sidekick, Bryan “Big B” Mahoney, pit the new Indian Challenger head-to-head against the Road Glide® Special in a series of tests that showcase power, torque, braking and handling. In addition to the digital media campaign, the content series can be found on IndianMotorcycle.com, Indian’s social media and YouTube channels.
“The Challenger’s combination of power and dexterity is at another level,” said Hart. “The first time I rode it, I knew that they had something special. But riding the Challenger back-to-back against the Road Glide, it’s not even fair. The Challenger absolutely crushes it.”
“Over the years, the Road Glide has firmly entrenched itself as the category leader and has become the default choice, but our bike is simply better and our confidence in this product is what this campaign is all about,” said Mike Dougherty, President, Indian Motorcycle. “The difference when riding these two bikes back-to-back is undeniable, and we’re excited for riders to experience it for themselves with the Challenger Challenge.”
At the heart of the Challenger is the PowerPlus engine, Indian’s first liquid-cooled large displacement motor (108 cubic-inch, 60-degree V-twin) that packs a best-in-class 122 horsepower and 128 ft-lbs. of torque. The Challenger’s modern and aggressively styled chassis-mounted fairing sits over an inverted front suspension, while the Challenger Limited and Dark Horse variants are equipped with Indian Motorcycle’s intuitive Smart Lean Technology™, keeping riders confidently grounded by utilizing a Bosch® IMU to add cornering control to the dynamic traction control and ABS, as well as Drag Torque Control.
A host of amenities add style, convenience and keep the rider comfortable, including electronic cruise control, full LED lighting, a long-haul seat, ABS, keyless ignition, weatherproof saddlebags with over 18 gallons of storage space, and an adjustable windscreen with nearly three inches of travel.
For more information on the Challenger Challenge, visit IndianMotorcycle.com/en-us/Challenger-Challenge. Join the conversation by tagging photos on social media using #ChallengerChallenge. At select events, riders who take the Challenger Challenge will receive an exclusive Challenger t-shirt.
For more information, or to find the nearest dealer, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
FIRE DAMAGE–Apex Customs Suffers from Fire Last Week at Iconic Downtown Phoenix Location
PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Positioned on the corner of East Jefferson Street and South 20th Street between Black Theatre Troupe and Miller Surveying Inc., the automotive scene is impacted by a shocking scene. The infamous colorful gate of Apex Customs is now closed until further notice.
Early last week, there was a disastrous electrical fire that could not be contained in time to save the ever-evolving automotive customization center.
Apex Customs President, Tyler Copenhaver-Heath, announced that the shop will be closed for at least a year. Despite this obstacle, the team continues to thrive.
This is not the first time this team has had to overcome unforeseen challenges throughout their journey. Apex Customs has built their success from the ground up, starting from a 250 square ft bay in the back of the shop into multiple locations totaling 45,000 square feet.
“As sad as it is to see our Iconic downtown Phoenix building burn to the ground, we are looking at this unfortunate incident as an opportunity to rebuild an even bigger and better operation from the ground up,” said Elliot Hutchens, Apex Customs Vice President.
No big investors. No business loans. No shortcuts. This group of automotive customization specialists are built to withstand anything under the sun.
The innovative and headstrong Apex Customs team handles business as usual while their Phoenix shop is being rebuilt. They will continue to deliver best-in-class service at their Tempe location located off the I-10 and Elliot Rd. Offering Engine Performance, Custom Paint, Car Audio, Upholstery, Lighting, Wheels & Tires, and so much more. They are diverse in their expertise and serve clients that desire classic and new cars to date.
Everything from full restorations to basic installs. Their team also offers a Tesla Customization service which is harnessing the acceleration of the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Apex Customs is ahead of the game with their forward-thinking services. After all, electrical issues are only the beginning for anyone behind the wheel.
When asked to make a comment on the fire Copenhaver-Heath said “as sad as it is to see some of our legacy burn, we are thankful no one was hurt. A special thanks to the Phoenix fire department who did an amazing job of keeping the entire block from catching on fire. We have always been an underdog in this industry, will be back better than ever.”
For questions or concerns regarding the incident or any further inquiries with Apex Customs, please contact Tyler Copenhaver-Heath.
Tel: (480) 331-3924
234168@email4pr.com
www.apexcustoms.com
SOURCE Apex Customs
J&P CYCLES ULTIMATE BUILDER CUSTOM BIKE
CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED
Jordan Dickinson’s 1947 Harley Knucklehead wins the National Championship at the Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows® J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. Celebrating its 10th year, the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show is the world’s largest motorcycle builder competition, featuring hundreds of motorcycles and thousands in cash and prizes across the IMS Tour.
BEHIND THE BUILD WITH JORDAN DICKINSON
Jordan’s 1947 Harley Knucklehead is near immaculate in its craft and presentation. Virtually every piece of this motorcycle was fabricated and reworked. In this video from Minneapolis, Jordan walks us through his bike and what went into making it the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show Champion.
BIKERNET MEDIA NEWS–Our newest article on keeping up with your favorite shows while away from home would be a great fit to link to as well (or instead): https://cablecompare.com/how-to-keep-up-with-your-favorite-shows-when-youre-away-from-home/
It should add some additional interest to your readers and hopefully help you get even more engagement with your post.
All the Best,
–Dave
MICHAEL LICHTER PHOTO OF THE WEEK— Go Takamine on the banked track for Billy Lane’s board track inspired Sons of Speed vintage motorcycle race at New Smyrna Speedway during Daytona Bike Week. New Smyrna, FL. USA. Saturday March 17, 2018. ?
If you want a terrific frameable photo of your favorite event head over to Michael’s site. You’ll find exactly what you want.–Bandit
Photography ©2018 Michael Lichter
PARTY RECIPE OF THE WEEK–
https://www.facebook.com/CookistWow/videos/409572229914352/
Cookist Wow – Burger xxl: an easy and delicious party idea!
Soybeans bread: fluffy and moist like you’ve never had before!
www.facebook.com
THE LASTEST CLASSIC FROM HAL ROBINSON–I just thought this was a good drawing for something. Maybe a decal/sticker or something better on paper.
Perhaps stationary on buff or white. Perhaps postcards. Congratulations on your new place. It looks super and has a nice balcony.
–Ann Robinson
See what we have available with classic old Hal Robinson art.—Bandit
A Breakdown of Trump’s Most Triumphant Week Yet–
“Whether one is a Donald Trump supporter or not, it’s impossible to deny this has been one of the best weeks for the Trump presidency ever.” Those successes include record-high approval ratings, a well-received State of the Union address, an expectations-shattering jobs report, and the end of Democrats’ impeachment stunt,” Tristan Justice writes.
-The Federalist
QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!-–
SNOWY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for February 6, 2020
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/SNOWY_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_February_6_2020.aspx
In regards, to the Easyriders product swap for the subscriptions already paid for, it took about three months for me to receive what I ordered but it did eventually arrive. I was glad to see they kept their word, but I would rather have the magazine!!
In addition, Rep Baroody’s comments on the proposed helmet bill in NH, “Let’s not take away anyone’s freedom here today”! Inspiring words!! I wish everyone in government thought that way.
–Ken Burnett
Inman, SC
BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT--FBI Data: Violent Crime Continues to Fall– While Legislatures Move to Ban ‘Assault Weapons’
Crime continued to decline in the first half of 2019, according to new preliminary data published by the FBI. Violent crimes dropped by 3.1 percent compared to January-June 2018 and property crime fell by 5.6 percent. Looking at violent crimes, the decline was seen in every region and follows decreases in 2018 and 2017.
As states across the country begin their legislative sessions, gun control advocates are once again fighting to ban modern sporting rifles and generally restrict the Second Amendment rights of Americans. While these advocates will use emotional pleas to argue for their irrational policies that would do nothing to help prevent the criminal misuse of firearms, we would point to the facts.
Through 2016, there have been over 17.7 million modern sporting rifles in the hands of law-abiding citizens. Meanwhile, violent crime is declining. The message is clear. Tragic criminal actions must be addressed. Banning certain types of firearms is not the answer.
Real SolutionsSM
The firearms and ammunition industry share the goal of finding the root causes of criminal violence and has created programs over the years to help address safety practices and problems of unauthorized access. The firearms and ammunition industry prides itself on high rates of compliance and on our voluntary programs, often in partnership with local, state and federal government agencies, to help curtail the actual problems of guns illegally getting into the wrong hands.
We work to make sure states are submitting all prohibiting records to NICS. We provide millions of free gun locks and educational materials in all states. We train our members to spot straw purchasers, to comply with all laws, and to use discretion when making transactions and keeping their inventory secure. We work with the Defense Department, Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to help address the crisis of suicides in our country. In short, it is time for Real Solutions. Safer Communities.SM to help continue the trend of declining violence in our country.
–By Elizabeth McGuigan
BY TTAG CONTRIBUTOR
Elizabeth McGuigan is Director of Legislative and Policy Research at the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
NOTES FROM THE PAST—Bandit was
credited with boosting the Sturgis Rally by hiring Michael Lichter to cover it in 1981? It was covered in Easyriders Magazine and the attendance doubled the next year. It kept doubling for years to come.
After the Biker Build-off series was kicked off and successful for a couple of years, one of the cameramen approached Bandit at an event. He credited him with inspiring the highly successful Discovery Channel TV series Biker Build-Offs through a discovery channel interview in Columbus, Ohio, Easyriders National Bike Show.
Of course, Tom Beers, the producer never even offered to buy Bandit a drink. Bandit didn’t care, it was amazingly good for the industry.
–Wrench
SADDLEMEN SEAT OF THE WEEK—1958-1984 FX-FL Profiler™ Tattoo Seat with Stitched Flame
Brand Fitment: Harley-Davidson
Model Fitment: FX-FL
Year Fitment: 1958-1984
Heat up your ride with our one-piece Profiler Tattoo seat design for Harley-Davidson.
Profiler Tattoo is the ultimate low-profile, slammed seat for two with our custom Tattoo flame and 3-D effect stitch pattern.
The Profiler incorporates our Integrated Design Philosophy (IDP™), which takes styling cues from each motorcycle and incorporates them into the contours and patterns of each seat. What you get is a seat that looks and fits perfectly on your bike – no generic, “one size fits all” styling.
The Profiler Tattoo offer a great looking seat which is a more comfortable ride that is noticeable from the moment you get on. Why?
Almost two decades ago, Saddlemen
was the innovator of SaddleGel for motorcycle seats, bringing over a gel technology widely used in medical applications. Now widely copied, but not duplicated, SaddleGel provides undisputable comfort.
Adding to the comfort is our unique SaddleHyde covering, a glove-soft that has the right amount of stretch built in to make better use of the SaddleGel underneath.
Saddlemen has engineered the perfect and only matched motorcycle seating foam that works in conjunction with SaddleGel™ and SaddleHyde™ for maximum riding distance and pleasure. Saddlemen’s® proprietary Profoam™ with its high resilient properties maximizes your motorcycles suspension package by collapsing just enough to conform to the rider’s body shape.
In turn it helps to equalize the pressure to allow good blood flow. Combined with our precisely engineered molding cavities, our 3-part system is carefully molded with a skin that resists penetration by rain or perspiration. All completed in house under the careful supervision of train technicians to guarantee a perfectly contoured seat with every pour.
Gel vs. Foam
Technical Overview (HD)
$330.00
Drag Specialties Part #: 0805-0024
Saddlemen Part #: 858-08-0512
INTERMOT 2020–Modern concept sets new standards in the international market for motorcycle trade fairs
More reach, more target groups, more networking
INTERMOT is setting new standards in the international market for motorcycle trade fairs: with a fresh new concept completely tailored to the needs of its target groups, the forthcoming event from 6 to 11 October 2020 will complete the necessary transformation from a simple exhibition to a theme-based and trend-led trade fair event.
“Trade fairs like INTERMOT have to do considerably more today than merely presenting supply and demand in the conventional style and enriching this with a supporting programme. In particular where events are open to the general public, they now have to wow their audience by delivering the show factor.
They must reflect trends like digitalization on all channels and thereby convince their target groups: exhibitors, visitors and last not least the media,” explains Christoph Werner, Vice President Trade Fair Management and member of the Koelnmesse management board. “The concept’s key pillars are more reach, more target groups, more networking.
Together with the German Motorcycle Industry Association (IVM e.V.), which acts as INTERMOT’s conceptual sponsor, and the market leaders represented here, we have developed a strong concept for the necessary redesign of INTERMOT and one that will set new standards in the international market for motorcycle trade fairs.”
More reach: Stage X – the event platform for major appearances
The central event platform at INTERMOT 2020 will be Stage X. Conceived as a large arena, it meets all the technical requirements of the current state of the art and is equipped for live media broadcast. Stage X is dominated by an extra-large LED wall for screening live images or additional trailers at the end of the arena, and vehicles can drive on the stage.
Combined with the linked catwalk with an integrated turntable, the stage is perfectly designed for presenting motorcycles. Spectators can follow the action – bikes and people – from up close and in depth on the central LED screen. One of the highlights at INTERMOT 2020 is set to be the multi-brand Press Conference Show, which will showcase the key global new launches, technical innovations, new mobility concepts and accessories.
From among the ranks of the leading manufacturers, BMW, Triumph and Honda have already confirmed that they will be appearing in the Press Conference Show. Hosted by a celebrity with high media relevance, the show will also feature interviews with company brand managers, who will discuss the unique features of their products.
Besides this, Stage X will host a large number of shows on each day of the fair, ranging from individual company presentations of new mobility concepts, for instance, to influencer appearances, fashion shows and business talks. Pictures of the press conference and a first visual impression of Stage X can be found at: https://bit.ly/2SvX1ki . You will find the presentation for the “new INTERMOT” on the INTERMOT website in the press releases section.
BIKERNET HOSPITAL HEALTH ALERT–
What Should Be Done About Coronavirus?
Since the outbreak of coronavirus in China’s Hubei Province in December, more than 17,000 people have been infected and more than 300 have died.
Now, the virus has begun to spread globally. In a new report, Peter Brookes, a senior research fellow in Heritage’s Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, writes that while the prospect of an epidemic is frightening, it is important to view the outbreak within the context of historical outbreaks.
He noted that coronavirus has affected far fewer people than the flu does each year in the United States. Brookes also notes that both China and the U.S. have more steps to take to ensure that this outbreak does not reach levels of epidemic.
“The Trump administration is moving in the right direction by creating a task force on the virus—but must push for a more effective ‘whole of government’ approach,’” writes Brookes. Read the new report on what steps both countries can take to combat coronavirus.
–Heritage Foundation
AVON TYRE Recall–Some Avon Cobra Chrome Tires May Unexpectedly Fail
If you have these, they’re dangerous and need replacement.
Tires are definitely near the top of the list of things on your bike that you don’t want to spontaneously fail. Avon Tires is issuing a voluntary recall on certain Cobra Chrome motorcycle tires because there’s an increased potential for complete tire failure, which could rapidly cause riders using affected tires to lose control and/or crash.
Avon’s parent company, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Limited, is recalling a very specific range of Avon Cobra Chrome tires in size 240/50R16, with DOT Tire Identification Code AT 6D 28 1418—2119. All affected tires were manufactured between the dates of April 8, 2018, and June 1, 2019.
To determine if your Avon Cobra Chrome tires are affected, you’ll need to examine the sidewalls of your tires to find the DOT Tire Identification Code. If your tires read “AT 6D 28” and then any four-digit code in the numeric range between 1418 and 2119, your tires are affected, per Avon.
These tires may wear unsatisfactorily and give you a less than stellar ride, and your steering and feel for motorcycle control may be affected. However, the most serious part of the defect that Avon lists is this: “If undetected, affected tires may develop an in-service inner-liner degradation, ultimately resulting in an increased potential of tire failure that could lead to the rapid loss of inflation pressure, motorcycle control, and increase the risk of a crash.”
Avon requests that you use the information above to check your tires. If you believe any tires you have are affected, you should contact the dealer from which you purchased the tires. You can also contact Cooper Tire directly for matters pertaining to this recall. Either way, you should arrange for inspection and replacement, free of charge, under the terms of this recall.
Above all, if you believe your tires are affected, you should avoid riding at high speeds on these tires until they have been inspected and replaced. Also, if you had one or more tires that were affected but have already replaced them out of your own pocket, you may be eligible for reimbursement. Contact Cooper for more details.
Source: Avon Tyres
How about at Bonneville for a World Land Speed Record?–Bandit
Adventure-Sized EXFIL-60–
Not too big, not too small – this new Exfil-60 bag is just the right size for any moto adventure. It’s expandable, easy to lean back on, can be accessed without removing it, has a couple useful pockets and fits any bike with a sissy bar.
–BILTWELL Team
THE EASYRIDERS MAGAZING INVESTIGATION CONTINUES-– Wonders never cease. I received my Easyriders swag today. Now, I can just hope that someday the magazine returns to the previous 40-year format. Doubt I’ll be on the planet when that happens.
Thanks.
–Anonymous
NEWS FROM THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE--Don’t Miss Out!
The 14th International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-14) will take place Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Once again, Heartland’s latest climate and energy conference will be THE EVENT to attend for those who want to meet the best scientists and experts from around the world who are brave enough to publicly tell the truth about the CLIMATE DELUSION, and what this means for all of us.
For decades, so-called academic elites — with help from the mainstream media — have made a living peddling the delusion that human activity is causing an impending global catastrophe. As the years pass, the “climate crisis” keeps being pushed into the future. Why? Because the forces of collectivism and big, controlling government are using it as a means to gain more control over us.
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY AT THE EARLY BIRD RATE OF $199.
The program is still coming together, but speakers at Heartland’s ICCC-14 will summarize the best available data on climate science and energy, while recommending policy changes that will place America at the forefront of a post-alarmist world in terms of climate realism.
Confirmed speakers
ICCC-14 will also feature timely, in-depth, and expert discussions about the benefits of a gently warming and slightly wetter world. By nearly all measures, the world is better off than 30 years ago.
To register, click here or call 312/377-4000.
Watch presentations from all of Heartland’s previous conferences here, and learn more about what’s really going on with our climate at Heartland’s Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy.
WEEKLY BRIEFING FROM OPERATION GRATITUDE--I am pleased to share our first ever “Weekly Briefing.” As one of our dedicated volunteers and supporters, you will receive it every Tuesday from Operation Gratitude.
I hope you agree that they aren’t like a lot of other newsletters that clutter your inbox. Our Weekly Briefings are focused on actions, and what we are DOING each day to make a difference in the lives of thousands of our nation’s heroes and their families.
Every week we will report the actions we are taking to say “thank you” to all who serve and bridge the civilian-service divide, just like we did in Fort Bragg on February 1st. I will never forget that day when our team and 40 volunteers were honored to deliver 900 Battalion Buddies to the children of the brave Paratroopers in 82nd Airborne Division who were among the first to re-deploy to the Middle East.
As people everywhere were sending their best wishes, prayers, and love or commenting on social media, Operation Gratitude took action to support the families of those Soldiers. When we presented their children with Battalion Buddies, not only did we provide those young military kids with a comfort item, but we reminded their parents here at home and those in harm’s way that they are cared for by hundreds of thousands of grateful Americans, like you.
The fact is we need your help now more than ever. As our nation’s longest war continues, Operation Gratitude is expanding its operations nationwide to grow our support of Military, Veterans, and First Responders. To meet the increased demand for our Care Packages, we have moved to a new Headquarters in Los Angeles and will host 20 large scale Assembly Days in other cities across the country. Stay tuned for more information about Operation Gratitude coming to a city near you!
Thank you for your continuing support and demonstrating every day with Operation Gratitude that actions speak louder than words.
With Gratitude & Semper Fidelis,
WEEKLY REPORTS FROM THE NMA--Self-Driving-Car Research Has Cost $16 Billion. What Do We Have to Show for It?
Imagine how many actual cars you could buy with $16 billion that you could actually drive. We did.
Image by Roberto Baldwin, Car and Driver
Autonomous-vehicle research is costing billions, and so far there has been very little short-term reward for it, says tech-news website The Information, relying on data supplied from people involved.
Waymo has spent the most, with an estimated $3.5 billion used to finance its R&D.
The first self-driving cars will likely be robo-taxis, which are unlikely to create a financial windfall.
Driving is terrific. Commuting is horrible. The self-driving-car scenario I think we can all get behind is to have a vehicle that takes you to work while you catch up on your emails, nap, or watch the latest episode of Fastest Car on Netflix. Then, when you’re not trapped in gridlock, you take the wheel.
Making that relaxing ride a reality is a huge technological hurdle that’s saddled with an astronomical price tag. According to a recent report by tech website The Information, the combined outlay of cash by OEMs, startups, and established companies is $16 billion.
To put that monstrous number into perspective, 16 billion seconds is more than five years. If you had a baby and started counting on the day it was born, it would be hassling you for finger-painting supplies and juice boxes before you finished.
Cashwise, we wondered what interesting things we could have purchased instead with that money that was invested in in robots.
If we decided to use all that money to buy a bunch of Ford F-150s (starting at $30,090), we would walk away with 531,738 trucks. That’s over half of Ford’s total 2019 F-series sales of 896,526. Plus, we would have the best contractor fleet in the country.
That new mid-engine Corvette that’s supposed to start at $60,000? The Car and Driver staff and a few hundred thousand of our best friends would have their pick of 266,666 new Vettes. We would corner the market without dipping into our 401(k) or kid’s college fund.
If you got the money, you might as well flaunt it with a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ roadster. The version we drove late last year, with all the carbon bits and a $6400 gas-guzzler charge, was priced at $667,661. For that $16 billion, we would take home 23,964 of these beauties. Sure, Lamborghini said they were only making 800, but I’m sure they’d make an exception for us and our self-driving-car cash and maybe throw in a few cases of Axe body spray.
Finally, we could rescue 627,327 dogs if we used that money to buy up all the Subaru Foresters (starting at $25,505)—although we might stop at 500,000 Subies and use the rest of the money to buy a town for all those puppers to frolic and live in.
The point is that it’s very expensive to make self-driving a reality, and when it does happen, these companies are going to spend years trying to pay off the research and development that’s needed for a robot to chauffeur you around town. If you look at Uber and Lyft right now, their ride-share business plans don’t actually produce a profit.
Robo-taxis could reduce the cost of each ride in the future. But that’s a ways off, and it’s going to be quite a while before a car picks you up and drives you to your destination without any human involvement, whether in the car waiting for something to go wrong or controlling the vehicle remotely.
Waymo, the self-driving moonshot from Alphabet (a.k.a. Google’s parent company), has spent about $3.5 billion testing self-driving Chrysler Pacificas in Silicon Valley and Phoenix. It has a “self-driving” ride-hailing service. No one is at the wheel, but it’s monitored remotely, and there’s a chase vehicle in case the van gets confused and a human has to leave the chase car and get in the van to take over.
Waymo does about 1500 rides a month in Arizona charging pretty much what Uber does. So it’s not exactly raking in the dough.
Right now, autonomous research is like going to a really expensive college with a master’s program and knowing that you’ll be getting a minimum-wage job to pay off your debt for the first decade out of school. Companies need deep pockets and realistic expectations to make this happen.
But someday, maybe, we’ll be able to ride to work without dealing with traffic in an autonomous vehicle. That’s almost worth the price tag of nearly 24,000 Lamborghinis. Almost.
–from the National Motorist Association
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE INTRODUCES 2020 ROADMASTER ELITE WITH NEW
CUSTOM-INSPIRED, TWO-TONE PAINT SCHEME
With Only 225 Being Produced, The Ultimate Touring Machine offers
Classic Styling, Premium Amenities & Industry-Leading Technology
Minneapolis (February 4, 2020) – Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today announced the return of the Roadmaster Elite with a limited production of 225 motorcycles. As Indian Motorcycle’s premier touring machine, the 2020 Roadmaster Elite takes craftsmanship to a whole new level and delivers a truly one-of-a-kind touring experience. Powered by the Thunder Stroke 116 engine, the 2020 model pairs modern touring amenities with iconic Indian Motorcycle styling.
Each and every Roadmaster Elite undergoes a meticulous paint process that takes more than 30 hours to complete and is finished by hand. The new Thunder Black Vivid Crystal over Gunmetal Flake paint with off-set red pinstripes and exclusive red elite badging with matching push-rod tubes delivers a new, meaner and sportier look. The 19-inch precision machined wheel under the valanced front fender adds to this look, while still maintaining a classic aesthetic.
While a custom-inspired paint scheme means riders will be seen, an upgraded 600-watt PowerBand Audio Plus system means riders will be heard.
The PowerBand Audio Plus system delivers exceptional sound and clarity from high-output fairing, trunk, and saddlebag speakers that are 50 percent louder when compared to the stock audio system. The PowerBand Audio Plus system features an enhanced nine-band dynamic equalizer that auto-adjusts specific frequencies to the optimal level at different vehicle speeds to compensate for road, wind, and engine noise to deliver crystal clear sound quality in every riding condition.
“The Roadmaster itself delivers the ultimate touring experience, but the Roadmaster Elite takes that experience to an even higher level, designed specifically for riders who pay attention to each and every detail,” said Reid Wilson, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle. “Whether riding around town or across the country, the Roadmaster Elite is a statement maker – packed with all the modern touring amenities riders would ever need or want, with an aesthetic that is captivating.”
As Indian Motorcycle’s most powerful air-cooled engine, the Thunder Stroke 116 features a new high-flow cylinder head that delivers class-leading performance with 126 ft-lbs of torque. Additionally, three selectable ride modes, including Tour, Standard and Sport, allow riders to adjust the bike’s throttle response to fit their riding preferences. The throttle map for each ride mode was designed with a specific application in mind, resulting in one motorcycle with three distinct personalities.
Further enhancing the ride is the Indian Motorcycle Ride Command system – the largest, fastest, most customizable infotainment system on two wheels. The seven-inch, glove-compatible touchscreen features turn-by-turn navigation, customizable rider information screens, Bluetooth® compatibility, and pairs with the Indian Motorcycle Ride Command mobile app for remote accessibility to key vehicle information. New 2020 connected features include traffic and weather overlays, so riders can plan their ride to avoid traffic and poor weather conditions. Riders can also plan a ride route with up to 100 points on the Ride Command website and wirelessly transfer it to the bike via Bluetooth.
As standard equipment, the 2020 Roadmaster Elite packs premium touring amenities riders have come to expect from an Indian Roadmaster, including a tank-mounted analog fuel and volt meters, rear cylinder deactivation and full Pathfinder LED lighting with driving lights. With a genuine leather two-up touring seat with individual heating for both the rider and passenger, passenger armrests, heated handgrips, backlit switch cubes, and a power-adjustable flare windscreen, the Roadmaster Elite delivers unmatched comfort and an unparalleled riding experience. Standard amenities include, ABS, keyless ignition, weatherproof and remote-locking saddlebags, a spacious trunk that fits two full face helmets, and over 37 gallons of storage space.
Pricing for the ultra-premium Roadmaster Elite starts at $38,999 in the U.S. and $46,999 in Canada. Available at Indian Motorcycle dealers today.
For more information on the 2020 Roadmaster Elite, or to find the nearest dealer, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
AUSTRALIAN CLUB NEWS–
Report released on club involvement with violent & organized crime.
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
A new study by the Australian Institute of Criminology examines the criminal histories of more than 5600 ‘known’ outlaw motorcycle club members from 39 identified groups across Australia.
The Institute says the study provides a national picture of recorded offending by Australian club members. Future studies will examine the mobility of members across borders, the changing profile of members, and individual and group-level factors associated with serious and organized crime.
Of the 39 clubs examined, it identified 475 chapters, while three quarters of all clubs were linked to recent organized crime offending.
By matching two national data sets from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACCI), the study found one in four members had been apprehended for a recent violence and intimidation offence while more than 50 per cent had a recorded history of violent offending.
The institute found 85 per cent of male club members born in 1984 were apprehended for at least one offence by the time they turned 33. A separate unrelated study of non-member males in the community, also born in 1984, found the figure was just 33 per cent. The likelyhood of increased police scrutiny of club members is acknowledged .
The average age of Australian club members ranged from 33 years to 58 years, with younger members most prevalent in larger clubs of more than 100 members. One in three clubs reflected this size.
More than half of all clubs in Australia have a chapter established in more than one state or territory.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) describes motorcycle clubs as “one of the most high-profile manifestations of organised crime, with an active presence in all Australian states and territories.”
The Institute of Criminology report highlighted that the data was in contrast to recent Australian studies, including a 2018 analysis on the Finks motorcycle club, which said “there was limited evidence of radical or profit motivated criminal activity.”
Rather, the AIC’s findings were evidence “that OMCG membership has an enhancement effect, meaning that joining a gang increases members’ propensity to commit crime,” the report authors said.
“It is evident that OMCGs attract members with a propensity for committing violent and organised crime, and facilitate further offending among their members.”
Despite a concentration of offending within OMCGs, the study found a small proportion of members and chapters “accounted for a disproportionate amount of all crime committed” over a five-year period.”
In particular around 23 chapters, or five percent of all chapters, accounted for 33 percent of all offences and almost half of all drug supply offences.
Five percent of club members accounted for around 70 percent of crime-related harm—equivalent to fewer than 300 individuals.
–Anonymous Australian Bikernet Correspondent
So, let me get this straight. Out of 5,600 club riders, four have been arrested for violence recently. Doesn’t seem to bad to me.—Bandit
THERE YOUR HAVE IT—I now have a new morning workout. I shovel and sweep snow for an hour to clear the historic sidewalk in front of our house on Jackson Street. I discovered yesterday that Jason, who owned Deadwood Custom Cycles lives on Taylor, less than a block away.
I met with a contractor yesterday, Paul. He said this region is all cowboys and bikers. Sounds good to me. We need to watch out.
Have you been to Daytona recently? The city was a dump until racing, spring break and bikers came. Now it’s a thriving city and the straight want bikers to be restricted out. That won’t happen around Deadwood for a while, but maybe bikers should rule. You never know.
Don’t forget Valentines Day! And shortly I’ll have another report on the Salt Torpedo and the paint job.
In the meantime ride free, forever!
–Bandit
