Incredible,
I have a boatload to tell you, but first an apology. The Redhead of Redheads has convinced me to stay connected, while on the road. So in the future I will contact my computer Guru, longshoreman, Chuck about an I-pad or something, so I can stay in touch and work with Lisa on the News and Post while I’m on the road. Plus we will design a pocket into all 5-Ball leathers, so you can carry your small laptop or the latest issue of the HORSE or American Iron.
Next week, I will start on my Sturgis report and a review of our ride cross-country on my new 2014 Chief, stripped down Classic. What a ride. At 80 I could place my hand on the tank, no vibration, none. Amazing.
This will be a quick post as I try to scramble through a week of missing emails. Hang on.
THE LOST CABIN UNDERHANDED STURGIS RUN— I’ll be all over this report next week. Four outlaws fly up a six-mile gravel road to hide out during the first Sturgis Underhanded run two weeks before the rally.
What the hell could be the meaning of such a run and the hideout in the hills behind Spearfish? We did confirm a briefcase and a missing 2014 Indian from a Charleston, SC dealership. Hang on.
–Bandit
QUICK, OPEN THE BAD JOKE LIBRARY– A man was riding a bus, minding his own business, when the gorgeous woman next to him started to breast-feed her baby. The baby wouldn’t take it, so she said, “Come on sweetie, eat it all up or I’ll have to give it to this nice man next to us.
“Five minutes later, the baby was still not feeding, so she said, “Come on, honey. Take it or I’ll give it to this nice man here.”
A few minutes later, the anxious man blurted out, “Come on kid. Make up your mind! I was supposed to get off four stops ago!
–from Rogue and Jerry
BIKERNET INVESTIGATES 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANTIDATES—Another quote from Hillary Clinton.
“Stay the fuck back, stay the fuck back away from me! Don’t come within ten yards of me, or else! Just fucking do as I say, Okay!!?”
From the book “Unlimited Access” by Clinton’s FBI Agent-in-Charge, Gary Aldridge, p. 139; Hillary is screaming at her Secret Service detail.
–from Rogue
SUNDAY BOOK MENTION— Dr. Terry Nuttboy sent me a clipping from the LA Times about a new books. Here’s what Patrick Cooke wrote, “Men like Eddie, rootless vagabonds that the post-World War II era produced in small but significant enough numbers to frighten a placid public, are the focus of Randy McBee’s ‘Born to be Wild,” a comprehensive work of cultural history told from the American road.
The story begins with untruths and goes straight downhill from there. I wouldn’t recommend this book based on Cooke’s article, but if you do stumble into this tomb at a garage sale, let me know what you think.
–Bandit
FROM THE LIFE IS NUTS FILE– Last week’s newsletter on whether pedestrians should take responsibility for their own safety garnered many thoughtful member responses. We thought we would share a few with you.
From Dick Goodwin, New Hampshire:
Excellent article! And so true. Most pedestrians seem to have at least a small interest in self-preservation, but all too many apparently think their survival is someone else’s responsibility.
I have had a number of close calls in spite of exercising the greatest care, especially in shopping center parking lots, where there often are no crosswalks, and people just randomly stroll wherever they want without regard to whether there are cars moving around them or not.
My favorite is the woman who leaves the grocery store and heads for her car, while talking on her cellphone, pushing a shopping cart full of groceries and three little kids, one of which is running ahead of her, another trailing behind, and none of them paying any attention to cars.
I have some advice for pedestrians. These things all seem so common sense, but apparently they are anything but:
If you want to cross a street, in a crosswalk or not, wait for drivers to show that they have seen you and are going to stop for you, before you step off the curb.
If you are in a shopping center parking lot, and you are walking down a long line of cars all parked head in to their spaces, and one of them is in motion backing out of its space—STOP. Don’t just walk in back of it! You have no guarantee that the driver will see you and stop.
If you are walking across the parking lot from the store to your car, or vice versa, walk straight across, don’t take some long diagonal stroll down the driving lanes while slowly working your way across the lot. What are drivers even supposed to do with that?
Don’t ever assume that your legal right-of-way confers on you some kind of super power. It does not. The law that gives you that right-of-way is merely a man-made law, and man-made laws are always trumped by the laws of physics.
Boating laws always seem to reflect a more practical approach to right-of-way issues. There are clear rules for boaters to determine who has the right-of-way, such as a 15′ sailboat has the right-of-way over a 400′ oil tanker. But they always note that there is one law that trumps the right-of-way law, and that is the law of gross tonnage. Sometimes you need to cede your right-of-way to the other guy.
Your survival is your responsibility, nobody else’s, and no law can ever change that.
From Tom Beckett, Arkansas:
I am always amazed at how pedestrians think that because they are in a crosswalk, they are invincible. I have seen too many of them just walk out into traffic, whether it is on a street, or in a Wal-Mart parking lot, without so much as a glance at the roadway. I’m guessing the thought process (if any) is, “I’m in the crosswalk, I have right of way.” That may well be, but it shows a stunning ignorance of the laws of physics, as well as human frailty. My wife will give me a funny look when I check for cars as we step into the Wal-Mart parking lot. I take nothing for granted. As my dad used to say, “Yes, you may be right. But you’re still dead.”
I drove a transit bus in the Binghamton New York area for a little over five years. One of the things I saw constantly was pedestrian inattention. There is a State University of New York campus in Binghamton, hence a lot of college kids. The ones who really got me were the ones who were either listening to some kind of device, both ears plugged into headphones, or the ones who were head down looking at their phones. Both types were prone to just launching off into the street without even looking up.
Finally, New York City. Ironic that the police commissioner wants to go after jaywalkers. I grew up in New York; jaywalking is kind of a birthright there. Of course, one of the first things I learned is that when crossing, look both ways—even on one-way streets. My guess is the NYPD will be after both the motorists and the jaywalkers, both potential sources of revenue because in New York, it’s all about the money.
–National Motorist Association
THE LATEST FROM CHOPPERTOWN–
Hope you enjoyed 6-over last weekend! We love the series so much we decided to put 6over-Slight Return on sale for $5 this weekend too. It’s all new footage not seen in the first movie, so if you liked the first one you will definitely enjoy it. If you haven’t tried either film yet, we extended the 6over+6over Slight Return combo so you can get both films for just $9.99 for a few more days. (The DVDs are only $10 each too.)
As you know, we’re coming out with the newest issue of Dice Digital in a couple weeks and it’s got a ton of video clips and links in it to take you down the rabbit hole of chopper life. To add to the insanity, we’re busy at work digitizing all the back issues for you – heading backwards all the way to Issue #1.
Remember every purchase on our site helps support the films and culture you love. You guys keep us going and we count our blessings every day. Thanks guys, have a great Sunday!
“Great flick, well shot and funny. The breakdown in the middle with them just riding around with the boom-chicka-boom-boom music was ace. Well done!”
~Steve D verified buyer
HEALTH SCARE OF THE WEEK— From the Week Magazine. I’m trying to catch up with my Week magazines and found this interesting. The FDA is warning about increased heart attacks and stroke through the use of common painkillers. In fact, I took a few on my 1,600 mile way west from Sturgis.
According to this report Advil, Motrin, and Celebrex were studied for a decade and they determined nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, not including aspirin, increased the chance of heart attack and stroke by 10 percent, while prescription pain killers raise risks 20 to 50 percent.
So, what the hell would be the effect if no pain killers existed? Probably like 70 percent chances of increased attacks and strokes due to the stress. Or better yet, we all would wish we were dead because of the constant pain.
Statins to control cholesterol levels are also controversial, and I quit taking them. The doctors keep lowering cholesterol levels to keep you on potentially harmful drugs. Just be careful. As we reported recently, cholesterol may not be a problem at all, but obesity caused by bad medical recommendations is kicking our butts. Just be careful.
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY STILL OPEN–
Bert, at 85 years old, always wanted a pair of soft spike golf shoes like Freddie Couples, so seeing some on sale after his round, he bought them and he was so delighted with his purchase, decided to wear them home to show the misses.
Walking proudly into the house, he sauntered into the kitchen and said to his wife, “Notice anything different about me? Margaret, at age 83, looked him over and replied, “Nope.”
Frustrated as all get out, Bert stormed off into the bathroom, undressed and walked back into the kitchen completely naked except for the new golf shoes. Again he asked Margaret, a little louder this time, “Notice anything different NOW???”
Margaret looked up and said in her best deadpan response, “Bert, what’s different? It’s hanging down today, it was hanging down yesterday, and it’ll be hanging down again tomorrow!”
Furious, Bert yells out, “AND DO YOU KNOW WHY IT’S HANGING DOWN, MARGARET?”
“Nope. Not a clue”, she replied. “IT’S HANGING DOWN, BECAUSE IT’S LOOKING AT MY NEW GOLF SHOES!!!!”, screamed Bert.
Without missing a beat old Margaret replies, “Shoulda bought a new golf hat, Bert.
–from Rogue and Jerry
BIKERNET BAGGERS IMPROVES— I’m working with Rogue, who I’ve worked with for 40 years, on our Baggers site content. Watch out as Rogue makes it shine.
“Friday night had issues with cell phone working on it now,” said Rogue Bikernet Baggers Senior Editor, “I Covered Klock Werks party and will have a good Bagger article on Oklahoma City. I will hit the Lichter art exhibit event tonight,
Biker Bells and Legends ride Plus whatever else I can.
“I’m studying Bagger trends and we will have excellent coverage.”
CYCLE SOURCE Hits The Black Hills With Some Killer FREE Events!– With all that’s going on in the Black Hills over the coming week we know that there are some tough choices to make when planning your days out, and unlike a lot of the killer events out there Cycle Source doesn’t want your money to participate…we just want you to have a great time and go home with a smile and some cool stories.
9th Annual Cycle Source Run To The Line!!!
GEICO Insurance Presents Cycle Source Magazine’s 9th Annual “Run To The Line” & Rodeo Games – Winner Takes Home $500 Cash & Custom Championship Belt – Leaving The Legendary Buffalo Chip CrossRoads on Tuesday, August 4th
This year marks nearly a decade of the Annual Cycle Source Sturgis ride and the staff is making their plans to head out from the Buffalo Chip Crossroads on Tuesday, August 4th at high noon.
The ride will head out to the Spur Creek Ranch where this year Cycle Source will provide ride participants with a picnic style lunch and then challenge them to rodeo games.
Of course there will be horseback riding and everything that goes along with a lazy day on a working ranch but in favor of their typical “Shovel Drags” the rodeo is on. This year there is championship leather belt from Curt Green at Barebones Leather and $500 cash up for grabs to the man or woman who can score the highest in the rodeo games.
Challenges will include Barrel Roll, the Slow Race, Barrel Racing and the Plank Walk. Score in the top percent of the other riders in all four events and take home the belt, the $500 and a years worth of bragging rights. Once a Rodeo Champion is declared we’ll head back to the Broken Spoke to see what Billy Lane is offering up to the motorcycle gods during his vintage bike show.
It promises to be a Sturgis that will go down in history, but then again… They always do. Space is limited to 200 so register now by emailing cyclesourcemain@comcast.net Look for more info on the Cycle Source Facebook and web page as the rally draws near. www.cyclesource.com
PLEASE SIGN UP EARLY If You Are Coming – by emailing cyclesourcemain@comcast.net and include Run To The Line in The Subject
AUTO INDUSTRY CONTROVERSY OF THE WEEK– Chryslers can be hacked over the Internet–A flaw in several Chrysler models lets hackers remotely control them over the Internet, posing an unprecedented danger for American drivers.
Hackers can cut the brakes, shut down the engine, drive it off the road, or make all the electronics go haywire.
Jeep Cherokees, Chrysler 200s, Dodge Rams, and several other vehicles are vulnerable to such attacks, according to research revealed Tuesday.
The core problem? A flaw in the wireless service Uconnect connecting these cars to the Sprint cellphone network.
The researchers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, first demonstrated the hack to Wired Magazine by remotely hijacking a Jeep Cherokee driven by a news reporter.
“Right now I could do that to every [Chrysler] car in the United States on the Sprint network,” Miller told CNNMoney on Tuesday.
The researchers have concluded that the vulnerable Chrysler models are those from late 2013, all of 2014 and early 2015 that are loaded with Uconnect and the full navigation displays.
But Miller said there could be other vehicles with this weakness that he isn’t aware of. The researchers did not test any cars made by Ford, General Motors or others — but only because they’re a tiny team that lacks the funding to keep buying cars and the time to break into them.
Chrysler acknowledged the problem to CNNMoney on Tuesday. Chrysler said it left an unused computer communication channel open that unknowingly granted outside access to car controls. It is now offering a software upgrade that it says customers should install “at their earliest convenience.”
But Chrysler didn’t refer to this as a recall — or say drivers are at risk.
“Similar to a smartphone or tablet, vehicle software can require updates for improved security protection,” the company said.
Miller and Valasek said they presented their research to Chrysler last October, allowing the company develop a fix. Miller said the company had been “very kind and responsive.”
–by CNN Money
–from Kirk Williard
MRF
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THE FIRST RAT BIKE— A buddy of mine is trying to sell me this 1912 Harley rat bike with a 1913 Engine. What the hell. He offered to let me ride it around the neighborhood for a week.
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“If you get pulled over,” Don said, “You bought it!”
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I’m still reeling from my Badlands ride, so I’m not sure I’m thinking straight. Better kick back and see what happens next.
–Bandit
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WHY NOT GET TO SCHOOL THIS FALL IN STYLE WITH A GENUINE SCOOTER?– Back to school special: extended three year warranty, 1.9% financing and discount on first service – now cheaper to own than monthly transit pass in Chicago, Los Angeles or New York
Genuine Scooters, the largest US based scooter company and third largest seller of scooters in the US, today announced their back to school offer: extending scooter warranties from an industry leading two years to three years, offering 1.9% financing over 36 months and discounted first checkup service.
The new low financing rate means the opportunity to own a Genuine Buddy 50 scooter for less than the cost of a monthly transit pass in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.*
Not limited to students, all promotion buyers will also receive a $100 credit toward their required 500 mile checkup service within six months of purchase.
The Buddy 50 and Roughhouse 50 engine size makes it drivable in most states with only a standard auto license. The more powerful Buddy 125, Buddy 170i and Hooligan 170i give you the freedom to hit the open road.
In addition to saving money, you’ll also be saving the planet: the average car gets 28 mile per gallon compared to close to 100 miles per gallon for a scooter; a car emits 0.93 pounds of carbon dioxide per mile, compared with 0.31 pounds for a scooter; a car produces 21/2 times as much greenhouse gas as a scooter.
The back to school offer covers Genuine Buddy, Roughhouse, Hooligan or Blur scooters and is in effect from August 1, 2015 until September 15, 2015.
For more information, go to Genuine Scooters at www.genuinescooters.com or find one of the 240 Genuine Scooter dealers across the US at http://genuinescooters.com/dealers.html.
SUNDAY JIMS TOOL SPECIAL– No. 94555-55A Pinion Nut Socket.
For early Evo, Shovelhead, and late Panheads, JIMS No 94555-55A Pinion Nut Socket is necessary to remove the pinion nut to access the pinion gear, spacer, and oil pump drive gear. The odd shape and size of the left hand thread nut makes this tool indispensable for any Harley mechanic.
This tool features a ½” drive and is used on 1954-1992 pinion nuts No. 24023-54, No. 24022-90, and current S&S Evo flywheels with pinion shaft conversion kit. JIMS makes many other gearcase and specialty tools as well, all with our lifetime tool warranty and Made in the USA. JIMS No. 94555-55A has a retail price of $48.70.
For more info, contact sales@jimsusa.com, visit www.jimsusa.com, or call (805) 482-6913.
STURGIS REPORTS–1 Fatal Accident, 25 DUI Arrests Reported At Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
SD Highway Patrol releases updated statistics.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol has released updated statistics from the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in western South Dakota.
As of 6:00 a.m. Aug. 1, there was one fatal crash in Sturgis, and 27 injury accidents in the Rapid City District.
There were also 25 DUI arrests in the district, 17 felony drug arrests, and nearly $6,000 in cash seized.
The highway patrol has issued a total of 289 citations, and 765 warnings.
The rally officially begins Monday, Aug. 3 and runs through Aug. 9.
–KDLT News
FAMOUS FLOATING RESTAURANT NEARLY SINKS— I was waiting for the notorious Sin Wu to deliver some fresh Bananas yesterday. She’s not exactly reliable, but this excuse was classic.
Later, I confirmed patrons running for the dock with plates of food. Okay, so what’s her excuse today? The Chowder Barge is the only floating, or almost floating restaurant in the Los Angeles basin. We need to keep her floating…
–Bandit
NEXT WEEK RAMPS UP— It’s going to be nuts. Then I need to fly to Portland, Oregon to rescue the Redhead of Redheads.
While I work on my road trip story, we will wrap up a Baker tech for Bikernet Baggers, and a cool Bagger feature wrapped around installing a new set of Samson exhausts. Rumor has it, all of the Samson properties in Sturgis and Spearfish are for sale. The boss has a new wife and she wants to live in Vegas… Could there be a story there?
I need to check my notes from Sturgis, and there’s a new product from the Smoke Out. Mr. Bling asked me to cover it, and I have another source for intake manifold seals from Jeff Cochran. Maybe I can grab some shots for the News this week.
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More techs are coming from BDL, Bennett’s Performance, Wire Plus, and Custom Cycle Engineering.
But my sexy Wyoming healing oils connection showed up just in time. This week is going to be nuts.
Try to relax and ride,
–Bandit
