Hey,
Get this from The Week Magazine: Last week was a good week for asking Google anything, after new research revealed that users conduct 1,000 monthly searches for “how to hide a dead body,” 1,900 searches for “how to get away with murder,” and 40,500 for “why did I get married?” Are these searches connected.
Then get this: bots can now write news stories before we get a cup of coffee. In a recent paper, “The Future of Employment,” Carl Frey and Michael Osborne of Oxford University estimate that 47 percent of U.S. jobs could be automated in the next 20 years. Waiters, kitchen staff, cashiers, loan officers, accountants, taxi and truck drivers, pilots, retail salespeople, real estate agents, and even soldiers might all be replaced by intelligent robots or sophisticated software.
If you don’t think it’s possible, supercomputers now routinely whip the best grandmasters at chess. Hang on.
What the hell does it mean?
KURYAKYN SADDLEBAG LATCH ACCENTS FROM BIKER’S CHOICE–Give your bags some killer accents! Available in 2 versions, grooved and flamed with interchangeable maltese, zombie and widow emblems, and sold in pairs. Fits 93-13 H-D Touring models with hard saddlebags, stock lock mechanisms are re-used.
For more information on this product visit www.BikersChoice.com
1. softly murmuring; whispering.
This was our beginning, when the insistent squaw of seagulls crashing after urchins, susurrant grasses, and groggy frogs, the thin pitch, high pierce of insects was our music on any clear morning.
She had one of those honeyed susurrant voices that soothed like the pressure of hands or wind or warmth.
Origin: Susurrant entered English in the late 1700s from the Latin meaning “to whisper.”
BIKERNET STAFFER FILES, THE KRANZLER INVESTIGATION—Hang on for further developments.
–Lt. Ball
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN ON THE WEEKENDS–The Bacon Tree
Two Mexicans are stuck in the desert,wandering aimlessly and close to death.
They are close to just lying down and waiting for the inevitable, when all of a sudden…….
“Hey Pepe, do you smell what I smell?
Ees bacon I ahm sure of eet.”
“Si, Luis eet smells like bacon to meee”.
So, with renewed strength, they struggle up the next sand dune, and there, in the distance, is a tree loaded with bacon.
There’s raw bacon, dripping with moisture ..
There’s fried bacon, back bacon, double smoked bacon…every imaginable kind of cured pig meat.
“Pepe, Pepe, we ees saved! Eet EES a bacon tree!”
“Luis, are you sure ees not a meerage?;
We ees in the Desert don’t forget.”
“Pepe when deed you ever hear of a meerage that smeell like bacon…ees no meerage, ees a bacon tree”.
And with that …Luis races toward the tree.
He gets to within 5 meters, with Pepe following closely behind, when all of a sudden a machine gun opens up and Luis is cut down in his tracks.
It is clear he is mortally wounded but, true friend that he is, he manages to warn Pepe with his dying breath.
“Pepe…go back man,you was right…ees not a bacon tree.”
“Luis Luis, mi amigo…what ees it?
“Pepe…ees not a bacon tree…
Ees……….
Ees…
Ees………
Ees….
… Eees a Ham Bush
–from Chris T.
ROGUE’S BAD COP INVESTIGATION CONTINUES– Ya Got To Be Shittin Me!!!!!
–By Matt Savoy, freethoughtproject.com
Cops frequently exempt themselves from laws that us commoners are forced to obey, like speeding, DUI, window tint, etc.. However they are now going for The Full Monty; cops want to make it legal for them to have sex with prostitutes. Seriously.
Of course this license for sex will be solely reserved for “investigative purposes,” and the pleasure experienced by these cops will only be had to “protect your freedom.”
After all, how else are they going to be able to catch prostitutes if they don’t sleep with them first?
According to KITV, Honolulu police officers have urged lawmakers to keep an exemption in state law that allows undercover officers to have sex with prostitutes during investigations, touching off a heated debate over the provision.
Authorities say they need the legal protection to catch lawbreakers. Critics, including human trafficking experts and other police, say it’s unnecessary and can further victimize sex workers, many of whom have been forced into the trade.
It’s not immediately clear how often – or even if – Honolulu police have sex with prostitutes, and authorities assure legislators that internal policies and procedures are in place to prevent that scenario.
Those opposed to the bill say that it leaves the door open for abuse. That’s the understatement of the year. Requesting an exemption to ANY law is an act of abuse in the first place!
“We need to have sex with prostitutes to save ‘murica!”
This type of blatant hypocrisy is typical of corrupt governments. We should expect nothing less as the federal government is a bastion of Pharisaism. The prime example of this is the waging of war to “spread peace worldwide.” After all, peace is not attained unless we drone bomb minivans full of women and children, right?
The hilarity of this legislation is that these dolts think that participating in prostitution will prevent prostitution. Huh?
These cops want to bust men and women for victimless and consentual interactions that they deem illegal, while at the same time doing the exact same thing but passing the bill to the tax payers!
Mad yet? You should be!
–from Rogue
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment! — DAYTONA WRAP-UP THURSDAY NEWS FOR March 20, 2014
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=11597
A locking oil filler cap….wtf? I would like to see some statistics on how many Harleys have been reported damaged because of someone slipping material into someone else’s oil bag. Frankly, in the crowd I generally run with, those stats won’t exist because the cops aren’t called. (So no stats about what other “incidents” occured because someone tried a stunt with an oil bag).
More yuppie rub crap, creating a problem that probably doesn’t occur much in the biker world, but I suspect this isn’t marketed to bikers….unless your SOA, eh?
–Lee
Salem, OR
BRASS BALLS TRYING TO GIVE YOU A FREE TOOL BOX–Yes, FREE registration. All you have to do is click the picture or the link to be directed to sign up.
Trust me when I tell you we use Rousseau tool storage boxes in our shop and they are the best and incorporate 400 pound capacity drawers, bearing rollers, etc.
Enter to Win Now!
As always, a portion of sales proceeds help us in our philanthropy efforts for our troops. To see more about that click here to see what we do. Thank you for your support.
Brass Balls Cycles
UNCOMPROMISING AMERICAN MOTORCYCLES
GRAND PRIZE
A GT Workcenter 60 ” wide, 30 ” deep and 76 ” high, with stainless steel base and top.
Comes with a 48” wide, 27” deep and 45, 5” high multi-drawer mobile cabinet with 6” wheels with casters and side handle.
Some of the drawers are equipped with partitions, plastic bins and PVC liners.
Worth $7500 !
Color to be determined by the winner
All Rousseau’s products are designed and fabricated in North America!
http://www.rousseaumetal.com/en/contest/#.Uyz8E15w3u5
1. insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.
The infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile , / Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived / The mother of mankind…
Untrained human nature was not frank and innocent; it was full of the twists and defences of an instinctive guile .
Origin: Though the origins of guile are unknown, it is thought to have come to Middle English from a Germanic source, by way of Old French.
QUICK TECH QUESTION, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–Difference Between a Radial, Bias, and Bias Belted Tire
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=6757
My bike came stock with bias ply tires and been replacing them quite
often. Can I put a bias belted tire in the rear and a bias ply in the
front or is that not recommended?
–Jameson Simonelli
Hingham, MA
We reached out to Sukoshi at Avon Tyres:
It would be helpful to know what bike he is on. In general yes you can run the following combinations:
Front Rear
Radial Radial (if it is an approved fitment by the Mfr or a custom bike)
Bias Radial (most often this is a custom fitment, a few OE bikes like BMW F650 have this combo)
Bias Bias
Bias Bias Belted (you should never run belted front and bias rear)
Also on some bikes that came with bias ply tires front and rear it is possible to upgrade to the radial fitment for the set. Bike needs rigid enough frame and wide enough wheels.
A bias belted tire is generally used on heavier touring bikes or bikes that need to have a belted construction. The belt helps prevent the tire from growing at speed thus maintaining a better contact patch. Bigger contact means the load is spread over a wider area which helps give a better mileage in turn. See slide 15 and 16.
Hope this helps.
–Sukoshi
THE TIRE CODE OF THE WEST–
Tires are a very important part of your vehicle. This is what gives you your suspension, handling, load carrying capacity, lets vehicle roll smoothly. Think of how many revolutions a tire undergoes in its lifetime. E.g. 522 rev/km 835 rev/mile on a rear GL1800 x 12K = 6,264,000 revs for km or 10,022,400 revs for miles in a lifetime. No wonder they are tired!
AUSTRALIAN CLUB UPDATE–Aussie Clubs lodge High Court challenge
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Motorcycle clubs in Queensland acting through the United Motorcycle Council are fighting back against the state’s controversial anti-biker laws, lodging an application to challenge the laws in the High Court.
The campaign is being led by barrister Wayne Baffsky, who successfully overturned similar laws in New South Wales in 2011.
Documents were submitted to the Commonwealth Law Courts building in Brisbane just hours after the shock resignation of the architect of the laws, Queensland’s Solicitor-General Walter Sofronoff QC.
Mr Baffsky says his team will argue that more than a dozen sections of the new laws, said to be designed to disrupt the activities of 26 outlaw motorcycle clubs, are unconstitutional.
“The laws personally offend me,” he told media.
“I think they’re unnecessary, I think they’re unfair and, frankly, I think they’re counterproductive.”
“There’s been a considerable amount of injustice done to people who aren’t criminals and who engage in no criminal behaviour,”
“Now we are trying to bring that to an end.”
Hells Angels member Stefan Kuczborski is the public face of the High Court challenge, having volunteered to be the test case.
The 44-year-old tattoo artist, originally from Poland, has a minor criminal history and will likely lose his job when a strict new licensing system for Queensland tattoo parlours comes into effect on July 1.
“I want to live in a democracy. I want to live in a free country,” he said.
“I’ve seen what totalitarianism does. I lived through it when I was young in Communist Poland. I just don’t want to live in a society like that.
“That’s why I think it’s important to fight back. We should fight back against these laws, which prevent someone like me from making a living.”
The reforms were introduced by the Newman led state Government following a altercation at a Gold Coast restaurant in September last year, involving dozens of bikers wearing club colours.
The state’s Parliament has subsequently introduced mandatory jail terms of between 15 and 25 years for anyone found guilty of club-related crimes, with the punishment to be imposed on top of the usual sentence.
It is now an offence for three or more members of a declared criminal organisation to knowingly meet in public or to work in certain industries such as tattooing.
Government says laws are working
Queensland’s Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie says statistics show the anti-biker laws are having the desired effect of lowering crime, particularly on the Gold Coast.
“At the Gold Coast, we’ve had a 45 per cent reduction in armed robberies and a 25 per cent reduction in assaults on individuals,” he said.
“That’s because these gangs are too scared to go on the streets and, in their own words, they said they owned the streets.”
Mr Bleijie says he is not surprised motorcycle clubs have funded a High Court Challenge.
“I would fully expect criminal gang members to challenge these laws because we’re breaking their enterprise, we’re cutting off their income stream,” he said.
“As we cut the income stream off to criminal gangs, that means fewer young Queenslanders are going to be taking drugs and using drugs.”
Mr Kuczborski says only a small percentage of motorcycle club members are involved in criminal behaviour.
“I wouldn’t want to trivialise what some people have done, however there is crime everywhere and there is a criminal justice system to deal with it,” he said.
“I haven’t committed those crimes. I shouldn’t be punished for them.”
Legal team will argue laws breach separation of powers
Mr Baffsky and his team will argue the tough new mandatory jail terms imposed on bikers under the laws amount to a breach of the doctrine of the separation of powers.
He says the Queensland Government is attempting to control the judiciary.
“When a person gets convicted of a particular offence under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) Act, that person might only get a bond or a fine,” he said.
“However, it is now imposed upon a judge that he or she must add 15 or 25 years to that offence.
“That is a very serious thing for a judge to do in circumstances where he or she is told they must do it.”
Constitutional law expert Professor Anthony Gray from the University of Southern Queensland says the High Court is unlikely to overturn the mandatory sentences.
Professor Gray says just last year, the High Court cleared the way for the federal government to revive mandatory sentences for people smugglers.
“I guess the only argument might be that these are so much more serious than the people smuggling laws,” he said.
“We’re talking about 15 to 25-year minimum mandatory sentences. That is way beyond what the Ccstoms legislation found.”
Expert says association laws could be struck down
The barristers representing the bikers are also hoping to overturn the anti-association laws which prevent bikies from meeting in large groups.
It follows the arrests last year of five men with alleged links to the Rebels motorcycle club who met to have a beer at a pub in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Professor Gray believes lawyers have a better chance of convincing the High Court to strike down those reforms.
“The High Court hasn’t really developed so far the law on constitutional rights to association,” he said.
“This might be an opportunity to explore in a bit more detail the extent to which people have or should have the right to associate.”
The Queensland Government has promised a review of the laws in three years time, but for now Mr Bleijie remains committed.
“If the laws are challenged and elements are held invalid, then the Government will of course go back to the drawing board,” he said.
“However, we’re not going to give up on behalf of Queenslanders to make sure that we provide the safest streets we can.”
Mr Kuczborski’s livelihood is at stake so he is refusing to contemplate defeat.
“You don’t go into a fight expecting to lose. We’re playing to win,” he said.
BIKENET OPENS THE BIG-WHEEL FILE–This the latest Big Wheel bike from “Stony Beach” near Dago!
Looks like something from the “Bagger Nation” in Phoenix.
–PSD
GOVERNMENT GONE INSANE–It may have already happened.
YOU could be flagged as a potential terrorist by the NSA.
https://www.patriotprivacy.com/videois/
All it takes is using these very simple and very common words in an email and then – BOOM – you’re on the blacklist. By the time you’ve read this email, you’ll have seen all 13 words.
That’s not even the scariest part.
No, what’s worse is that these words aren’t codes or threatening in the least (in fact you’ve already seen 3 of them).
These spying thugs don’t care what you’re talking about or whom you’re talking to, if you raise the flag, then you get put under the microscope. Our founding fathers must be spinning in their graves watching these jack-booted thugs use our Constitution as a dishrag. (Hint: I’ve used 9 of them now)
Luckily, our friend and patriot ‘folk hero’ has found a loophole in their system. With this simple little trick, you can avoid those spying thugs and take control of your privacy FOR GOOD.
And you can talk to, or about, anyone you like without fear of retribution from Obama’s minions.
CLICK NOW TO SEE THE LOOPHOLE, BEFORE THEY CLOSE IT FOREVER….
https://www.patriotprivacy.com/videois/
BIKERNET STAFFER MOVES TO FLORIDA, RISK STUDY–Slowly but surely getting my ducks in a row. The only downside so far is auto and MC insurance are a lot higher in Florida. Upsides more than make up.
For example:
My moving expenses are covered up to $5k – more than enough.
The new job includes a modest pay raise.
Florida has no state income tax and no personal property tax. That puts about another $5K-$6K in my take-home pay.
No more fucking ice and snow.
I’ve got a nice 1100-square foot pad with an attached garage that’s three miles from the job.
I can leave my place in the morning and be in Marathon or Key West in time for lunch.
No mandatory lid law.
–Bruce
Officially Certified
Bikernet
Copy Editor
[page break]
POLITICAL QUESTION FOR SUNDAY– I have a question for everyone. How much power do the committee chairs in your state hold? In Maryland they have more power than the Governor.
Our MOC (Motorcycle Only Checkpoint) bill just went down in flames because the house committee vice chair decided not to allow it to come to a vote.
We had 24 co-sponsors, including several committee members. It looked like it was going to sail through both chambers. Until this happened last week. This has been happening to our bills in the Senate for years. The worst part is, this Delegate has been a friend of our (or al least we thought so) for years.
I feel that EVERY bill that is presented to the General Assembly should get a vote. If it gets voted down then so be it. But, it should get a vote!!
I think it is absolutely ridiculous that ONE person should have that much power. I am presently studying the Maryland Constitution to see what I have to do to bring this issue to referendum. Because, no legislator would dare try to get this changed. It would be the end of their career. No matter which party they belong to.
So, I was just curious if other states had this same issue.
–Lenny Holcomb
MRF State Rep
ABATE of Maryland
In Nebraska, the Committee chairs do wield a lot of power. We are unique in that we have a single body legislature, the Unicameral. This means that we have only one Transportation Committee.
If we can get voted out of it, we go to the general file and then the Speaker decides what will be heard when. We have had good luck with getting bills out of Committee and heard on the floor.
Our downfall has been the filibuster. We have had the votes to pass the bill, but not the 2/3 needed to call it to an up and down vote.
–Bob Ailor
ABATE of NE
IRWINDALE EVENT CENTER ANNOUNCEMENT– Lease Extension Though 2015 Season
Irwindale, Calif — Irwindale Event Center’s President/CEO, Jim Cohan, this evening announced that the facility’s landlord has indicated that the center’s operating lease would be extended through the 2015 season.
His below statement was made just prior to the start of the NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Irwindale Speedway before the second round in the 2014 K&N Pro Series West.
“We have some very good news to add to the festivities tonight. Yesterday afternoon we were assured by our landlords that our present lease on this facility will be extended to include the 2015 season.
We’re looking forward to a great 2014 season and beyond into 2015. We know that all of our great fans, competitors, and loyal sponsors will be very pleased to hear this news.
As the operator of a facility that means so much to so many, we want to take this opportunity to thank the management of Lindom Company and indicate how terrific they are to be working with” – Jim Cohan
Irwindale Event Center is a multi-purpose, multi-use facility that features a NASCAR half-mile oval (Irwindale Speedway), an NHRA eighth-mile drag strip (Irwindale Dragstrip), along with acres of parking and other areas that are used for a multitude of outdoor events including Formula Drift, the MoonEyes holiday events, HotVWs BUG-INs, Car Shows, Swap Meets, and Truck-Ins. In 2013, four full days of ESPN’s Los Angeles X Games were played at IEC.
The Speedway and Dragstrip both have been the site of numerous TV commercials, shows, and feature film shoots. The Speedway is home to the LA Racing Experience, one of the most successful stock car driving schools in the country. In addition, many local and regional police, fire, and safety organizations use the facility’s parking lots for various types of driver/operator training.
For more information on Irwindale Event Center
please visit:www.irwindaleeventcenter.com
–Doug Stokes (626) 358-1100 x 203
WEEKEND GUN NUT REPORT–Feinstein Wants Obama to Pull a Clinton on Firearm Importation– U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), sponsor of the federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” of 1994-2004, is asking President Barack Obama to direct the BATFE to reinterpret a provision of the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit the importation of various semi-automatic firearms and their parts.
In a letter to Obama, the text of which was included in an article published by the Daily Caller on Thursday, Feinstein said that, “at a minimum,” the BATFE should:
prohibit importation of all semiautomatic rifles that can accept, or be readily converted to accept, a large capacity ammunition magazine of more than 10 rounds . . . . prohibit semiautomatic rifles with fixed magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, prohibit the importation of the frame or receiver of any prohibited rifle . . . . prohibit the practice of importing assault rifles in parts …. prohibit the use of a “thumbhole” stock . . . . and prohibit the importation of assault pistols.
Though Feinstein failed to gain approval of legislation she introduced in Congress last year, which would have imposed the biggest gun ban in American history, she has reason to believe that she could achieve some of her ends through the president’s use of his executive authority. In the 1990s, Feinstein urged then-President Bill Clinton to direct the then-BATF to restrict the importation of semi-automatic rifles, and Clinton agreed. With the White House saying “we’re taking the law and bending it as far as we can to capture a whole new class of guns,” the BATF prohibited the importation of semi-automatic rifles capable of using standard magazines holding over 10 rounds.
In its report on its 1998 action, the BATF attempted to justify its decision on the grounds that Feinstein’s 1994 law had banned the importation of magazines that held more than 10 rounds.
There were many flaws with that argument, including:
The 1994 law didn’t define a rifle as an “assault weapon” on the basis of the size of its magazine. Rather, it did so on the basis of its action (semi-automatic), its ability to use a detachable magazine (regardless of the magazine’s size), and its attachments, such as a pistol-type grip, and a folding or telescoping stock.
The 10-round magazine limit applied to magazines for all types of firearms–rifles, pistols and shotguns. The BATF’s decision applied only to rifles.
The 1994 law didn’t ban the importation of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds made before the law took effect. It banned only the domestic manufacture and importation of such magazines made after the law took effect.
Contrary to the BATF’s claim that semi-automatic, detachable-magazine rifles “may be used for organized competitive target shooting, [but] their suitability for these competitions is limited,” American-made rifles of that type are the most commonly used rifles for organized marksmanship competitions.
Feinstein’s 1994 ban expired in 2004, but the BATFE has not rescinded its 1998 ban.
In her letter to Obama, Feinstein incorrectly stated that the relevant provision of the Gun Control Act, 18 USC 925(d)(3), “prohibits the importation of firearms that are not generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.'” (Emphasis added.) Instead, it requires the Attorney General to approve the importation of firearms meeting either standard. While an important point, however, it may ultimately become moot, as the entire provision has become constitutionally suspect. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects the individual right to keep and bear arms for defensive purposes, not merely for sports.
One might think it doesn’t make sense for Feinstein to agitate for gun control in an election year, especially one in which a number of anti-gun senators are going to be facing the voters. However, she is religiously committed to gun control and has been for a long time.
In 1982, then-San Francisco mayor Feinstein said she was “deeply committed” to her proposal to ban the private possession of handguns in the city, even as she carried a handgun for her own protection. In 1993, she described semi-automatic firearms as “weapons of mass destruction,” even as she admitted that the guns she wanted to ban were rarely used in crime.
The same year, Feinstein implied support for banning magazines holding four or more rounds, saying on the Senate floor “I intend to add an amendment that would exempt semiautomatic bolt action (sic) shotguns and bona fide hunting rifles whose clips don’t exceed three rounds.”
In 1995, Feinstein admitted “there is no question that I would have preferred to see an outright ban on the possession of semiautomatic assault weapons in America, including the 1.5 million to two million currently in circulation. But, simply stated, the votes were not there.” Later, she said “If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them, Mr. and Mrs. America turn them all in, I would have done it. I could not do that. The votes weren’t there.”
In 1995, six months after Feinstein’s 1994 ban took effect, CBS 60 Minutes’ Leslie Stahl, in a segment titled “What Assault Weapons Ban?” reported that “Assault weapons are still . . . . sold by the thousands.” Calling 1994 “the best year for the sales of assault weapons ever,” she dismissed as “a good applause line” President Clinton’s claim that the ban reduced the number of “assault weapons.” The Christian Science Monitor similarly noted, “gun manufacturers only had to make minor changes to weapons in order to comply with the ban,” such as omitting a flash suppressor.
Violent crime had been decreasing and continued to decrease, as Feinstein’s “ban” remained in effect. Nevertheless, in 1997, after the Los Angeles Times joined the chorus of news entities reporting the weakness of her ban, Feinstein said she wanted it tightened.
In 1998, Feinstein began introducing bills to expand her 1994 ban’s ammunition magazine restriction. In 2004, knowing she didn’t have enough votes to expand the ban, she introduced bills to extend it another 10 years, none of which passed.
With her plea for greater restriction on the importation of firearms, Feinstein continues to badger America for gun control in abject denial of relevant statistics. The nation’s murder rate is now at nearly an all-time low, even as Americans have been buying hundreds of thousands of AR-15s annually, including over 800,000 in 2012 alone.
TROCK MOTORS BEING BUILT NATIONWIDE–Talked to Trock tonight. He told me he has a Panster, a Shovester, & a Knuckle motors being built. The shops mostly midwest to east
coast.
I will be able to go to Ron’s shop soon. He is 30 miles due west of me. We talked & I will be
welding for him when needed partime. Mainly
welding up cases for big bore Shovesters.
Like 3 5/8 bore!! This requires adding aluminum plates to the sides, front & back of cases.
Hang on for tech shots.
Ron is special just like his dad but different. He is extremely smart & gifted be needs direction & organization.
–Pablo
Bikernet Tech Head
LS2 CONVERT MODULAR HELMET REVIEW–LS2 FF 393 CONVERT–
I was excited to try the LS2 FF 393 CONVERT. This is a Modular helmet with 180° rotation technology in the chin guard allowing it to function full face or ¾ while riding. The benefits of such a design is obvious, there are times I’m on the freeway and want more air and times I don’t so having a convertible helmet fits the bill.
FEULING HYDRAULIC CAM CHAIN TENSIONER UPGRADE TECH ON BIKERNET BAGGERS — Go Fast ….Go Feuling!
If your Harley-Davidson Twin Cam motorcycle was manufactured before 2007 (2006 for Dyna-Glide models) it probably has the stock “spring” activated cam chain tensioner equipment still in place.
That spring activated cam chain tensioner design requires as much as five horsepower to spin the cams that open and close the valves.
I met up with the Garwood Custom Cycles (GCC) team at the Washington DC edition of the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show when they rolled in 7 motorcycles to showcase their capability, creativity and innovative design.
Richard Kranzler
SAFE AT HOME GUN NUT REPORT– Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Right to Bear Arms for Tenants of Public Housing– Thanks to a successful NRA-backed lawsuit, Delaware public housing tenants will be safer in their homes. In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court of Delaware held on March 18 that policies adopted by the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA), which prevented residents, their families and their guests from exercising the right to self-defense in certain areas of the housing authority’s property, were unconstitutional.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, persons receiving housing assistance are estimated to be over twice as likely to suffer victimization (including firearm-related crime) as other members of the population.
Despite that, WHA’s policies, incorporated into each resident’s lease agreement, prohibited a resident, members of his or her household, and any guests from carrying a firearm (or other weapon) in any “common area” (spaces like a laundry room, corridor, “community room” or parking area), unless the firearm or weapon was being transported to or from the resident’s unit, or was being used in self-defense. A violation of this policy was grounds for immediate termination of the lease and eviction.
Another policy required the resident, household member, or guest to have available for inspection any permit, license, or other document required by law for the ownership, possession, or transport of any firearm (including a license to carry a concealed weapon) when there was reasonable cause to believe that the law or policies had been violated. The WHA claimed these policies were a “carefully crafted and balanced” approach that reconciled firearm rights with minimizing the risk of accidental or intentional shootings and “the alarm caused by having weapons displayed” in common areas, which (according to the WHA) were really not part of the resident’s “home.”
Two residents disagreed and filed suit, alleging these restrictions violated their right to bear arms. In 2012, a federal district court upheld the policies as valid under the Second Amendment. Although public housing was, fundamentally, a home, “not every square foot of public housing was any individual’s …home.'” Assessing the validity of the policies, the court purported to reject the use of a deferential “reasonable regulation test.” Its notably superficial analysis, however, found that by limiting guns in common areas, the WHA limited “potential violence,” and that “safety [was] best promoted by prohibiting possession of firearms in common areas.” All that was needed was “a reasonable fit” between the policy and the WHA’s interest in protecting the safety of those on the premises.
The residents appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, arguing the relevant consideration was the Delaware Constitution, not the U.S. Constitution. The Third Circuit agreed, sending the case to the Delaware Supreme Court for a ruling under Article I, Section 20 of the Delaware Constitution (“A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use”). The National Rifle Association of America filed an amicus brief in support of the residents, arguing strongly that the WHA policy “flatly contradicts Article I, Section 20 of the Delaware Constitution.”
In Tuesday’s ruling, Doe v. Wilmington Housing Auth., No. 403, 2013, 2014 WL 1032699 (Del. Mar. 18, 2014), the Supreme Court of Delaware agreed. It confirmed that the right to bear arms under Delaware law was not limited to the “home” (however defined), and that the core of the right consisted of a purpose, lawful defense of self, family, and home, not a place.
The court further ruled that the Delaware right to keep and bear arms was intentionally broader than the district court’s reading of the Second Amendment and protected the right to bear arms outside the home. The “distinctive language” of Delaware’s Constitution and its legislative history demonstrated an intent to provide a right to keep and bear arms independent of the federal right.
This right was deemed a “fundamental right.” While government actions affecting fundamental rights are almost invariably evaluated using the highest judicial test (“strict scrutiny”), the court in this case determined, unfortunately, that a lessened level of review was justified because the right was “not absolute.” In applying intermediate scrutiny (where the governmental action must serve important governmental objectives and must be substantially related to the achievement of those objectives), the court nonetheless found that the common areas policy overreached its stated purpose. Given the objective (preventing the unsafe discharge of firearms), the policy did more than prohibit unsafe use; it banned almost all possession.
Moreover, WHA residents do have a possessory interest in the common areas, not just their units. Under the policy, “reasonable, law-abiding adults” were liable to “become disarmed and unable to repel an intruder by force in any common living areas when the intervention of society on their behalf may be too late to prevent an injury.” Clearly, the policy “severely burden[ed] the right [to bear arms] by functionally disallowing armed self-defense in areas that Residents, their families, and guests may occupy as part of their living space. Section 20 of the Delaware Constitution precludes the WHA from adopting such a policy.” The documentation policy that enforced the unconstitutional common areas policy was held to be unconstitutional as well.
The court pointed out specifically that the policies were not sustainable simply because the WHA claimed to be acting as a landlord and not as a government or sovereign authority. There was a critical distinction between government property used for housing, and government property used for providing “services typically provided to the public on government property,” and residents of government property didn’t waive their firearm rights simply by virtue of their occupancy. “The individual’s need for defense of self, family, and home in an apartment building is the same whether the property is owned privately or by the government.”
Thanks to the court’s ruling, residents of the WHA will no longer be treated as second class citizens with respect to their Second Amendment rights.
DAYTONA BIKE WEEK DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT– A cover band played current hits and revelers balanced cold beverages in one hand, using the other to toss bean bags at cornhole boards.
It wasn’t a college party, but the scene at HT’s Pub 44 in New Smyrna Beach recently seemed like an open invitation to 20- and 30-somethings. Go to most of the favorite local watering holes during Bike Week, though, and you’ll find the crowd is filled with gray hair and beards.
That was the case at HT’s Pub 44, too. Middle-aged and older riders have long been the backbone of the 73-yearold event, and the average age may be slowly ticking upward, tourism officials say. Middle-aged bikers comprise the event’s biggest demographic, and the average age of that group is 57. “I’ve got to say they do seem to be aging,” said Evelyn Fine, president of Mid-Florida Marketing & Research Inc., a Daytona Beach firm that conducts monthly occupancy and room rental rate surveys for local hotels. “In fact, I think the bikers in general, nationally, are aging.”
Bike Week markets itself to riders of all ages, said Janet Kersey, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce. But the event will evolve with participants’ tastes. For example, she said, older bikers like to stick pins in a map to mark their hometowns, while younger adults tend to prefer taking selfies.
“I think it’s like anything — you’ve got to make new friends but keep the old,” Kersey said.
And that’s part of the reason why business owners and tourism officials say they’re trying to reach riders of all ages. HT’s Pub 44 boasted a Bike Week entertainment schedule that was heavy on classic rock bands. But the venue also tries to offer music that will resonate with other generations.
“The majority (of Bike Week customers) are over 40 — but not all — and we’d be foolish to ignore that,” said Judy Alfonso, office manager at HT’s Pub 44. But even with an appearance by Chris Fillmore, a 26-year-old professional motorcycle racer, and a showcase of sport bikes from Volusia Motorsports, the baby boomers far outnumbered the millennials one recent night.
Munching on a sandwich in the bar’s dining room, 26-year-old Tim Shiar said he’d spent his first Bike Week cruising between hot spots like The Iron Horse in Ormond Beach and Hidden Treasure in Ponce Inlet. Many of the Marion, Ind., resident’s peers aren’t so lucky, though. Bikes are pricey toys, he said, with Harley-Davidson models starting at $8,000 or more.
“When you go back home, people are like, ‘If I could have a bike, I would, but I can’t afford it,’ ” said Shiar, a Harley rider.
Up the coast a few miles at Daytona International Speedway, families with young children mingled with young adults at the amateur motocross competition. Several riders said they’d driven over to Main Street — their bikes aren’t street legal — and it wasn’t their scene. “They’re more into drinking and partying,” said Dylan Propst, 19. “They all wear those leather jackets, beards and tattoos,” added 22-year-old Hunter Poe.The Mississippi State University classmates, along with friend 19-yearold Mitch Phillip, spent their Spring Break camping in the infield at the Speedway. Propst and Poe compete in motocross events but they didn’t sign up for the Daytona races.
“We didn’t have enough money to get our bikes down here,” Poe explained, saying he once spent $1,000 to participate in a race in Gainesville. “We wanted to scope it out and see what it was all about. We’d never been down here before.”
The three say they’ll be back with their bikes next year, however. But will young adults graduate from Spring Break to Bike Week? The business owners hope so.
The under-30 set accounts for less than 1 percent of bike sales during Bike Week at Bruce Rossmeyer Daytona Harley-Davidson, general manager Shelly Rossmeyer Pepe estimated. But she adds that she saw a mix of ages at this month’s events, and many people start riding closer to middle age.
“We all have to depend on these younger kids to be our future customers,” Rossmeyer Pepe said.
–By Annie Martin
Daytona Beach News-Journal
–Rogue
NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM VINTAGE RALLY–Dirt Track Heroes, Bike Show and Expanded Indian Exhibit Take Center Stage at Vintage Rally 2014.
National Motorcycle Museum Celebrates its 25th Anniversary Now is the time to start planning summer rides to motorcycle events. A great one to attend is right in the middle of America, Vintage Rally at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa June 7 and 8. There’s a great all-brand bike show featuring dirt track race bikes and Indian motorcycles, 1988 and older.
The swap meet is always good fun. And typically some racers and other Hall of Fame inductees attend ready to tell their stories, give you their autograph. Then you cap it all off with a Sunday morning ride through some of hilly eastern Iowa, artist Grant Wood country.
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the National Motorcycle Museum is a really great place to visit, filled with things that will stimulate your motorcycling memory, even serve as a research tool. This is an expansive museum with over 400 motorcycles and tons of memorabilia on display, so plan to take it all in while you are at the Vintage Rally.
Especially good news is that the Museum staff will be expanding the Indian exhibition area, adding bikes, bringing in more stories of the history of this famous marque. And, if you haven’t seen the Allstate Motorcycle Dirt Track Heroes presented by J&P Cycles, this is a perfect time. Chat with expected guests, dirt track racers Bill Tuman, Dick Klamfoth, Mike Wilson, and Bobbie Hill plus local Iowa champ John Tibben, all Hall of Famers.
All this is waiting for you at the National Motorcycle Museum June 7 and 8 during Vintage Rally 2014. Take note, Allstate Motorcycle Dirt Track Heroes, contains almost 30 race winning Harleys, Triumphs, Yamahas, BSA’s, Indians, OSSAs, Hondas, Kawasakis and even a Matchless. Plus leathers, helmets, even a special exhibit featuring Ken Maely and his steel shoe making mastery. Author Greg Pearson curated this exhibit and wrote the bios on all 25 Grand National Champions, so while you have a good time looking over all the great bikes and leathers, you can learn about the champion riders, too.
Also recently added to the Museum displays is a scooter exhibit. Scooters from around the world are featured in the new exhibit entitled, SCOOTERS! Check out about 15 scooters, mini-bikes, too, reflecting designs from America, Italy, Germany, Japan and more. You’ll also be able to check out new additions to the National Motorcycle Museum’s international collection of motorcycles which is always changing and expanding.
All Vintage Rally 2014 details and registration forms for the Bike Show and Swap Meet are at www.nationalmcmuseum.org
Here are a few event details: Saturday Bike Show judging will result in nearly 40 awards for owners of the best machines, including best original unrestored bikes for the Hagerty Motorcycle Insurance Preservation Award. Enter your vintage bike, street, competition, custom, even mini, 1988 or earlier in the bike show; Dirt Track Racers and Indian motorcycles will be featured in the Bike Show. Bike show awards are sponsored by Motorcycle Classics magazine. Got a nice cafe racer? The Ace Cafe, London will sponsor the special ACE Cafe Racer Award during the bike show.
Mark your calendar and plan to attend Vintage Rally, June 7 & 8, 2014. Watch the National Motorcycle Museum website, www.nationalmcmuseum.org for entry forms, further event details, the activities schedule and lodging information as they are finalized. If you need more information, call the National Motorcycle Museum at 319 462 3925.
LET’S RIDE—I’ve been trying like hell to have some Sunday time for a ride, or to chase a redhead, or work around the shop. I need to hit King’s Hawaiian, and incredible restaurant and bakery for a loaf of Jalapeno bread. Shit is amazing!
We have plenty of features headed your way, plus Daytona reports, the Rogue Tropic Tattoo Bike Show, and I’m working with Avon on a tyre refresher course inspired by the reader above.
On Monday I will start editing Toby’s 650 ATK review. He’s the Bikernet Certified Welder and is currently scrambling around oil rigs for 12-hour days of stick welding. He’s a sharp guy who was once an independent road racing champion. He has a knack for writing, but struggles with it. He’s getting there and loving it. It’s opened new creative worlds to him. Hang on for his report.
We have another story, just in, from Scooter tramp Scotty. I’m working with the LePera family on a story about their new line of racing stripe seats. And we are try to bring you a Trock and TR Reiser engine build story. TR is the Branch Flowmetrics of the East coast.
Then I need to find a getaway where I can drink whiskey and just work through the second Chance Hogan book. Oh, speaking of books, Bill Hayes, the lovely Jennifer Thomas, and I am setting up a motorcycle book display at the LA Book fair next month as a test. It’s sponsored by Motorbooks and we will be on hand to sign our books. I’ll have plenty of Terry the Tramp copies. Or you can buy one right here and I’ll sign it.
Have a helluva Sunday, and ride free forever,
–Bandit
