Hey,
Sturgis is behind us, but the report’s out front. You’ll see the Hamster ride article, the action, the girls, the deer, the adjustments and the wreck. It’s not Sturgis anymore, it’s the ride out. Don’t get me wrong. The industry rocks Sturgis and makes available every product, bike, show, band, and babe to the entire rider world every August. I enjoy the ride.
For instance: Bikernet.com was available in Downtown, on Lazelle street, with HardBikes, at the Thunder Road location, in the Thunderdome, at Billy Lane’s Builders Breakfast, with Blood Sweat and Gears at the Buffalo Chip and at the Kids and Chrome Banquet. We will feature photography from the Hamster ride from the West Coast, the Chief and his European gang of photographers, from Sam Dixon and Livia, and George Najar working with the Girls of Bikernet on Lazelle. If that was just the presence of little ol’ us, Imagine the locations with Big Dog, Harley or Victoy. Let’s hit the news:
BIKERNET INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE NOISE STUDY RESPONSE– Bill Bish published our noise study recently for the NCCOM, National Coalition of Motorcyclists readership and we received a tremendous response. Although most of it was positive I’m running this shot here and the rest with the report in Special Reports. Check ’em out. http://www.bikernet.com/news/PageViewer.asp?PageID=902
My name is Ken Glassman. I am the motorcycle columnist for the Daily Herald Newspaper, in Chicago. I am not a fan of loud aftermarket pipes, and favor law enforcement of current noise laws.
Most accidents occur by cars turning left in front of motorcycles they don’t see. Loud pipes don’t project their noise to the front, across intersections as your study confirms. And it does no good for a motorcycle to be heard a second or two before it goes blasting past a car on the road, frightening the driver.
While attitudes towards motorcycles and the people who ride them are changing for the better, the noise problem is still the number 1 thing that evokes negative reaction from drivers and the general population.
I’ve ridden virtually every kind of cruiser bike made, (and a great number of sportbikes) and find the stock noise emission to be more than enough sound to give the rider the excitement of a V-Twin motor, or any motor for that matter. Yes, being seen is a problem for motorcycle riders, but loud pipes isn’t the answer. I’d like to see more done with headlight modulation, passing lamps or other auxiliary lighting, reflectors, etc be a bigger part of the discussion. Also, I always comment upon the anemic horns that are fitted to most motorcycles, and the need to have better horns standard on motorcycles. I use my horn often when approaching intersections, and find that a short blast or two will do much more to get a drivers attention than anything else.
Also riders, especially cruiser riders, should take it upon themselves to become more enlightened to wearing brighter clothing. The ubiquitous black jeans, black leather jacket/patch vest/T-shirt uniform make it more difficult for drivers to notice motorcycles. Brightly colored helmets also go a long way to being more easily seen.
Can you imagine if the same percentage of automobiles as motorcycles fitted aftermarket pipes on their cars? Think of the noise factor if that ever happened. A person couldn’t get a decent nights sleep unless they lived on a farm in Iowa.
With more two wheeled vehicles getting on the road for commuting duties due to high fuel prices, and the resultant acceptance of sharing the road with motorcycles, now is not the time to fight for noise rights that will set back that acceptance. My worry is that the legislators will become emboldened by using this popular issue to gain support for other restrictions that truly affect riders in an adverse way. There will be no end to the stupid ideas like seat belts, air bags, roll cages, mandatory helmet and riding gear, that legislators will come up with, once they open the door with stricter noise laws. The motorcycle community should police itself on the loud pipes issue, to keep the idiots at bay.
Ken Glassman
Hey Ken,
Thank you for the sharp response. I agree and disagree. I find it interesting that you oppose exhaust sound, but have no problem honking your horn at intersections. How annoying is that? In some third world countries horns are used constantly, rather than obeying traffic regulations. Just honk and go.
You missed the point regarding autos. The point is that a motorcycle needs to make some noise since we don’t have air bags and double-walled doors. I’m not supporting loud cars.
On the other hand. I agree that more motorcycles may open the door for more restrictions and we need to be careful with our approach. I don’t agree that a moderately loud motorcycle is offensive. There’s an indication of strength and honor in sound. There’s something deeper to this issue. If we decide that safety is more important than freedom, we’re in for trouble. We’ll all sit at home surrounded by safety devices and stare at computers.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
Bravo!!!! (hands clapping crazy)
Bout time the Statistics came out! I know from experience that my pipes on my Suzuki Intruder (straight) have and will save me in most circumstances. I’d like to see if there are anymore studies using other bikes – Suzuki, Yamaha etc. Please don’t assume that all loud pipes ore on a Harley.
Way to go!
–Vicki Noel
CHOP AND GRIND BONNEVILLE TEAM REPORT– A lot has happened since the last Desert report……We have over 20 sponsors now, but we will not reveal the names until we all meet at the Salt Flats.
Frame came back from the powder coating Monday as well the cage for the BDL Belt Drive. 4 sets of pistons arrived today from ROSS Forged Pistons. We have a lot up our sleeve, but I am not going to let go of our secrets just yet.
I guess you just to ride to Bonneville in Sept. Or meet up with us at Denny’s at 4:00 am Friday Sept 1st. We have large group going and more is welcome.
As far as that new exhaust system goes we found a old master pipe builder here in the middle of the desert, he must be in his late 80`s, this is just the prototype, he has some old technology which we can not talk about. That’s it. We will have the “Sand Snortin Bastard ” running this weekend. Sunday night we will be blasting thru the desert at our secret location.
Over and Out
–Bob T
Chop N Grind Racing, So. Cal.
RALPH’S RIDE– Would you check out my bike for a spot on your web-site. I am not trying to get a free plug for my small shop, although if you can mention it, RIDE-ON !!! I just got real tired of the flagrant waste of the term Pro-street, on bikes with forward controls, handlebars from a Craftsman wheelbarrows, and what’s up with these frames you sit on the tranny? My scoot, its custom, it goes down the drag strip, and it turns too. I scrub my 300 tyre across the whole width, and nothing drags on the ground, NO SPARKS!!
Oh yea, I can let go of the bars and go for miles, straight as a arrow too. I am very proud of my custom, because its NOT a billet beauty queen. What blind monkey can’t bolt on a $3000 front end, my front end is Harley Davidson, polished by hand, the stops removed and hidden in the neck, as well as many other mods.
The rear fender- 13.5 inches wide, hidden struts, cut out by hand to look like a FXR, and then painstakingly installed a genuine Dyna taillight. I could talk for hours, buy I think it’s best to see if your even interested first. Oh yeah, it’s still primer puke green. That’s another reason I need to get it out there. Maybe you can help a brother get his name out there who is not building ANOTHER chopper.
Not knocking anyone, believe me, just know there are a bunch of us who RIDE, and RIDE Hard, and want to look just as COOOOOL as anyone else.
–Ralph – rfinizio04@yahoo.com
SUNDAY QUOTE– “One who values American prosperity and American standards of wages and living can have no sympathy with the proposal that easy entry and a flood of imports will cheapen our cost of living. It is more likely to destroy our capacity to buy.”
–President William Harding
–from Nick Roberts
MEMORIAL RUN & POKER RUN FOR RANDY CANTRELL– Sept 30, 2006, 12:00 Noon@ Easy Eddie’s. 50/50- FOOD-MUSIC, DOOR PRIZES, $10.00 per hand/ 2 for $15.00
1st stop-Johnny’s on Beatties Ford Road,
2nd stop-Lancaster’s BBQ-Long Creek
3rd stop- Jay’s at the Lake
Ends @ Easy Eddie’s
Contact: Judy Ellis 704-875-2501 or Sherry Cantrell 704-763-4287
ART FROM RATTLE SNAKE JAKE–Hey, Amigo! Check this out! Basic Bob makes ’em, and they’re really creative! You need to get ’em on Bikernet! I’m includin’ his e-mail address.
basic39@msn.com
About Ol’ Jake: This Arizona Cowboy is SO TUFF. That if he DOES Shave he uses a Broken Beer Bottle. He combs his hair with a Porcupine, Flosses his Teeth with Barbed Wire and ……. Uses CACTUS for TOILET PAPER.
Keep Smilin’ and Ride LUCKY,
–Basic
ACT NOW TO SECURE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FUNDING– Motorcyclists need to contact their state officials by August 18th to help secure vital motorcycle safety funding available under a new federal transportation bill.
Created and developed by state motorcyclist rights organizations and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and supported by the AMA, the Motorcyclist Safety Grant Program, part of the multi-year SAFETEA-LU transportation bill. The law provides approximately $100,000 per state, per year, over five years for the purpose of improving motorcyclist safety. The grants, administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), are available to any and all states that apply.
States seeking funding must meet at least one of the following conditions in 2007, two in 2008 and the remaining years of the program.
Have in place an effective motorcycle rider training course; Have an effective program to enhance motorcyclist awareness; Demonstrate a reduction in the number of motorcycle crashes and fatalities; Have in place a program to reduce impaired riding; Have a reduction in the number of crashes and fatalities involving impaired motorcycle operators; Ensure that all fees collected from motorcyclists for the purposes of funding motorcycle training and safety programs will be used for that sole purpose. Your help is needed to guarantee that the federal dollars earmarked for motorcyclist safety are spent. Please view the listing of Governors’ Highway Safety Offices (PDF) and contact officials in your state and urge them to apply for the Section 2010 Motorcyclist Safety Grant Program offered by NHTSA.
The deadline is August 18, 2006. With your help, we can capitalize on this important opportunity to provide additional resources to improve motorcyclist safety.
BREAKING NEWS– Not all of the evidence is in, but it appears that Secretary of State Rice may have slept with ex-President Bill Clinton. Will send details when they become available; all we have now is this photo.
–from Joe Lankau
S&S EXTENDS SUMMER DEALS– We have extended our Hot Summer Deals to give you special pricing on over 60 items — visit www.sscycle.com and click on the “Buy Apparel” icon to begin shopping for your S&S branded merchandise today. Quantities are limited.
While you’re online, browse the latest in Company News to see what’s happening at S&S Cycle. From the latest in the racing world to the details of the regulatory side of the industy,
See you online!
HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2007 MOTORCYCLES HONOR MILITARY SERVICE– Patriot Special Edition Models Available to U.S. Armed Forces Personnel.
MILWAUKEE (August 11, 2006) – American military personnel and veterans know well the extraordinary sacrifice required to serve their country and protect freedom around the world. It is a level of dedication and commitment that cannot be taken for granted and is greatly respected by Harley-Davidson.
Harley-Davidson will provide those who have served their country the chance to customize their motorcycle with details honoring their military service with the 2007 Patriot Special Edition program. These specially-decorated models will be sold only to active U.S. military service men and women, veterans and immediate family members of both those categories.
“Harley-Davidson is proud of the unique bond and heritage we have with the military going as far back as 1916,” said Jim McCaslin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “The Patriot Special Edition is simply a way to help honor those who have served. These are special motorcycles for very special members of the Harley-Davidson family.”
The Patriot Special Edition program will be available on 12 different 2007 Harley-Davidson models (see list below) that can be customized to one of these participating military branches: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy.
Patriot Special Edition Participating Motorcycles:
FLHTCU Ultra Classic Electra Glide
FLHRC Road King Classic
FLHX Street Glide
FXDC Dyna Super Glide Custom
FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide
FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic
FLSTF Fat Boy
FLSTC Softail Custom
XL1200C Sportster 1200 Custom
XL1200L Sportster 1200 Low
XL883C Sportster 883 Custom
VRSCAW V-Rod
Sidecar
These Vivid Black motorcycles will be accented with red and blue pin striping and the standard U.S. flag, consistent with all military uniform symbols, on the fender. The Patriot Special Edition motorcycles will feature a branch-specific fuel tank badge installed at the dealership. Customers will receive a personal letter of appreciation and special-edition Harley-Davidson Challenge Coin made by the Franklin Mint. Challenge Coins are a unique and time-honored tradition in the military.
Customers will need to provide proof of military service (Veterans1 will need their DD Form 214, active military discharge document) to qualify for purchase. Eligible military service includes active duty personnel (including National Guard and Reserves), veterans and immediate family members of both of those categories.
Harley-Davidson Military Highlights include:
– An estimated 20,000 motorcycles, most of them Harley-Davidsons, took part in World War I. Corporal Roy Holtz of Chippewa Falls, Wisc., was photographed as the first American riding into Germany after the signing of the Armistice in 1918.
– During World War II, Harley-Davidson produced approximately 90,000 WL military models used on virtually every front, and the Company received the Army-Navy “E” Awards for excellence in wartime production.
– Many Harley-Davidson customers and dealers are military veterans, and it is estimated that about 14 percent of Harley-Davidson U.S. employees are veterans. The Company has supported community events such as the Rolling Thunder Ride to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial and World War II Memorial.
Check out harley-davidson.com’s Patriot Special Edition page for additional imagery and details on this line-up of specially-decorated models.
1A veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval or air service and who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GASTOWN SHOW N’ SHINE – AUGUST 20th– We are looking for volunteers to help out with various things at the Gastown Motorcycle Show n’ Shine on Sunday, August 20th on Water Street in Vancouver, including help with parking, handouts, registration, security, etc.
We are also looking for volunteers for Friday, August 18th from 4pm-7pm to hand out flyers promoting the show n’ shine outside the Burrard, Granville and Waterfront Skytrain Stations.
If you are able to help out please contact us at office@bccom-bc.com or 1-877-580-0111 or (604) 580-0111. Thank you!!
Hardbikes Torture Tests the Their Motorcycles to Ensure Durability and Performance– Hermitage, PA – August 11, 2006, Hardbikes torture tests their production motorcycles with real world riding to ensure durability, performance and quality workmanship. Harry Bostard, infamous biker-at-large and Motor Drome rider, has just completed 15,000 miles on a production SC330 Chopper taken right off the production line in April of this year.
“Everyone talks about the quality and durability of their bikes but actually proving it to the riding public can be another matter all together,” said Bob Kay, Hardbikes’ VP Sales and Marketing. “Hardbikes has stated their commitment to quality and reliability from day one and we have developed a system to assure that every one of our custom motorcycles will be the best handling, most reliable custom bike on the road.”
Hardbikes employs a multi-phase quality program that begins with the motorcycle design. Bob Kay taps his 35 years of motorcycle experience and develops a motorcycle blueprint. Kay’s design is turned over to engineering to proof out every aspect from chassis design to component compatibility. The next phase requires 10,000 road miles, in real weather under all types of real world conditions. As issues come up in the evaluation program they are resolved and integrated back into the production cycle.
As Bostard pulled into the 2006 edition of Sturgis he said, “This is the best handling, most comfortable, long fork chopper I have ever ridden.” Not a bad comment after 15,000 miles.
Bostard received a lot of comments during his cross country test trip on the SC330 big-meat Chopper. The most common remark was how many enthusiasts were surprised to see a beautiful custom chopper actually being ridden long distance.
Hardbikes is very proud and stands tall next to every custom motorcycle created out of their Hermitage, PA facility. We encourage everyone to visit their local dealer and take a 330 for a test ride. We know you will be pleasantly surprised and the only challenge will be how fast we can build one for you.
For more information on dealer sales contact: Bob Kay, bobkay@hardbikes.com, Hardbikes 724-981-7000
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