Happy Easter damnit,
It’s that day and I’m not much for organized religion, but on the other hand the basic rules give many of us something positive to hang onto. Yesterday we rolled over to the Johnny Chop memorial at Roland Sand’s Design shop. It was cool to hang out and see so many builders and local riders paying their respects.
It was our first shot using a new/used Nikon digital camera we might buy from the famous Markus Cuff. He moved up Nikon as the Nikon digital line expanded; so he’s now willing to let his first digital equipment go. Karley, at 17, has some inclination to become a photographer, we turned it over to her.
Here’s an Easter celebration. Agent Zebra’s wife Sonya had a little girl in a Miami hospital. Even though it’s a girl, they named her Bandit. It’s sort of a first born deal we had.
Let’s hit the news as the Mimosa drink slips into my veins and relaxes my thinking for a startling ending.
MORE EPA NOTIONS– I keep hearing everyone agonizing over the new EPA regs on customs & kits. But everybody keeps ignoring the fact that this is a MORE PERMISSIVE rule than what we used to have. Before this rule, EPA regs allowed NO customs or kits. Nothing. Zip. Squat. Nada. You think anybody broke that rule? How about the one about non-compliant exhaust systems?
How could they do so which such impunity? No enforcement. As somebody in the industry once told me, “The EPA made a bunch of rules and then got out of the enforcement business.” Actually they never enforced anything to do with motorcycles until they were forced by the Sierra Club.
So until the EPA or the states start enforcing these regs, they aren’t going to mean much, for better or worse.
Art the Blunt Dart
Unfortunately, we are on the radar screen now and must conform, deal with them or fight back. There is progress being made by the MRF and MIC V-Twin counsel.–Bandit
HAWAIIAN CHOPPER FEATURE HELD UP DUE TO WEATHER– Hope all is well…it looks like the weather is going to give us a break this weekend. And we should be able to hook-up with Jim Russi (photographer) this Saturday.
I was hoping you could get this out into the News. We have a website that has just got online. It is still under some construction, but it’s up and running.
Thanks,
–Darren
http://www.kustomfabchoppers.net/custom/
BANDIT BACK IN THE HORSE–Hey Bandit, I’m 47 years old and have been riding for a long time. A faithful “Horse” reader. Always dug your tales of riders or what went on with you in California in the old days. Glad to see you back and keep up the good work.
— Keith
TRAVEL CHANNEL’S MADE IN AMERICA? SERIES TO FEATURE AMERICAN IRONHORSE MOTORCYCLE CO.– Custom motorcycle manufacturer American IronHorse? will step into the limelight of the Travel Channel?s Made in America show airing on Tuesday, April 18 at 9 p.m. (EST).
Hosted by the former Cheers television actor John Ratzenberger, the show will take viewers behind the scenes at American IronHorse?s 224,000-sq.-ft. factory in Fort Worth. The American IronHorse special is helping to kick off season three of the show?s ongoing adventure to celebrate the people, places and products that are uniquely American.
“American IronHorse is honored to have the opportunity to appear on this ground breaking national television show,” said Wil Garland, CEO of American IronHorse. “We’re grateful to John Ratzenberger for selecting American IronHorse and we salute his work of showcasing our country’s finest manufacturing sites.”
The Made in America production staff spent time in January shooting at the factory and conducting interviews with key executives and other employees. The upcoming feature on American IronHorse will highlight the company?s journey from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the hottest bike manufacturers in the nation.
AMSOIL DEAL OF THE WEEK– Here’s a great deal I’m offering all Bikernet.com and Cantina members.
This is a complete package to change the oil in your TC-88 touring bike. No need to run to the dealer for gaskets and an oil filter it’s all here in one package. You get 5 quarts of Amsoil 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil, Genuine Harley-Davidson Chrome Super Premium Oil Filter, Genuine H-D Derby gasket, Genuine H-D drain plug O ring, and a Genuine H-D Inspection cover gasket, plus 3 handy paper funnels for $67.95 + $14.99 for shipping = Total $82.94.
I accept Paypal so it’s easy to purchase and pay for. To order just drop me a line at nrobert1@mac.com Ask for the Bikernet.com Cantina Offer and I’ll ship as soon as payment is received.
Additional Amsoil is available at $8.80 per quart.
Complete Oil Change Package includes: Genuine Harley-Davidson Gaskets, O Ring and Chrome Oil Filter as well as 5 Quarts Amsoil 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil and 3 paper funnels.
For All Your High Performance Lubrication Supplies.
Nick’s Performance Accessories
Independent Amsoil Dealer ZO# 1124190
9608 Tiverton Way
Louisville, Kentucky,40242
Phone: 502-548-3023 Fax: 509-691-4313
nrobert1@mac.com
TRUE-TRACK TESTIMONIAL– I installed a True-Track on my 03 Road Glide while I had it apart for it’s annual physical and riding season checkup last week. I ride around 10,000 to 15,000 miles each summer and most of that riding is on the old US Highway system west of the Mississippi River. These old roads take you through some of the most scenic routes you can find and away from the idiots in their cages on the super slab.
I’m usually gone for 2 or 3 weeks at a time and carry a lot of gear including my laptop, cameras, clothes and foul weather gear because I never know what I’ll encounter along the way. The roads can be in pretty sad shape or they can be ribbons of glass smooth asphalt so I like to have my bike in top condition since a breakdown on a road with no traffic can be a real pain in the ass.
While I consider my Glide to be a super machine for both long distance travel as well as canyon carving it has always been a little erratic over washboard roads and in turns when I rolled the throttle on a little too hard. After installing the True-Track I can honestly say I’ve never experienced a greater improvement in the way my bike handles.
In a turn it stays on the line I set. Before installing the True-Track any deviation in the road surface or throttle lead to a minor correction in my line through the turn… No More! Now when I set my line the bike stays true to it and goes around the turn like it’s on a rail! On rain grooves it doesn’t hunt for a line but soaks them up with just a slight wiggle from time to time a far cry from before when it would switch from one grove to another the entire time it was on them
I’m sold on the True-Track and will be recommending it to all my friends and customers. The installation is so easy and the improvement it makes is so dramatic that I think every rider on a Harley Touring bike should have it installed. The True-Track is a device that you don’t realize how good it is until you experience it for yourself on your own bike. One reason I tried the True-Track was the article on Bikernet which was clear and concise and well photographed to show how easy it is to install.
Glide to Live, Live to Glide
–TwoDawgzz
True-Track, Inc.
11490 Burbank Blvd. #6E
North Hollywood, CA 91601
http://WWW.true- track.com
HAPPY EASTER..HAVE A GREAT DAY..BIG MIKE AND FAMILY–Big Mike keeps threatening to work with us on a feature, but then he bought a new rig, started a new hot rod project and built a new building. Just about the time we started to write the story his wife had a kid. Hang on.
ILLUSION CYCLES ON A ROLL– What a story about Rusty, glad he is out and kickin some serious ass. I read about him a year ago on the net. My life dream of crossing AMERICA and visiting you and your Bikernet crew will have to wait for next year. I have some business to take of first, and it can’t wait!
Hope to see ya some time next year . Thanks and enjoy Sturgis.
Big Al Lion – ISRAEL
DANNI’S EASTER SERVICES–Hey Bandit, Haven’t you heard?
All the hot babes at Danni.com are taking new pics and shooting amazing videos everyday! http://info.danni.com/directors/mailers?mid=45123&url=01 Next week we’ll have some great new photosets from: Adrianna Nicole, Sinnamon Love, Mysti May, Justine Joli, Zoe Britton, Leola Rossi.
In Bed at Danni’s Kellemarie and Monica Mayhem Be sure to watch for April s DanniGirl of the Month KelleMarie. Model of the Day: Carli Banks: One of Carli Banks’ fantasies is getting it on in a cop car.
Virtual Striptease: Our girls come right to your home! Kick back and enjoy the show! The sexiest girls will any and everything they can to satisfy you.
With over 1,300 models Danni.com will keep you coming back again and again!
xoxo,
–Kat.
CHOP AND GRIND BASTARDS TRYING TO KEEP UP–The Bonneville action is hot and heavy all over the industry. More teams are popping up. This is another Bikernet Team out of 13 Palms, California, with Bikernet contributor, Bob T., giving the rest of us a run for our money. Chris Kallas is dialing in their logo and they’re working on their 100 hp Evo.
Alt=”chopfront end”> This shot got me thinking about a small fairing on the 45 flathead. Does that make this bike partially streamlined? I need to learn the rules, so I know which ones to break.
This is their bike with a new Chop N Grind team member. You’ll see a full report next week.
HOT EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHERS SCHEDULED TO COVER STURGIS FOR BIKERNET– Things are starting to roll. Some galleries in Florida want to sell our bike art, one of the biggest custom chopper builders is interested in future business together, We’ve even been contacted by people in Australia. You helped put us on the map, and I want to thank you again.
–Patrick, aka The Chief
THE BAPTIST & THE COWBOY– A Baptist Preacher was seated next to a cowboy on a flight to Texas. After the plane took off, the cowboy asked for a whiskey and soda, which was brought and placed before him.
The flight attendant then asked the preacher if he would like a drink. Appalled, the preacher replied, “I’d rather be tied up and taken advantage of by women of ill-repute, than let liquor touch my lips.” The cowboy then handed his drink back to the attendant and said, “Me too, I didn’t know we had a choice..”
–from Joe Lankau
MISSOURI HELMET MOD MOVES TO SENATE– Most adults would no longer have to wear helmets when they hop onto a motorcycle under a bill receiving final approval in the House. The bill would lift the requirement that Missourians 21-years-old and older wear motorcycle helmets. Those under 21 would still be required to wear them. Opponents predict fatalities and severe injuries will increase if the repeal becomes law. Supporters dismiss such dire forecasts and argue that the government has no right to tell an adult he has to wear a helmet. The bill now moves to the Senate.
–by Brent Martin
PARTY DOWN ON THE FARM BAMA BIKE FEST– People were just getting over Florida Bike Week when I headed out to the Bama Bike Fest. It is a completely different kind of event and runs 3 times a year.
It is held at the Ackers farm in a small town named Forkland, in upper Alabama You need to be 18 to get in and unlike Daytona that arrests women for showing body parts it is promoted here.
The party starts at 5:00 PM on Friday but they do not care if you get there early and set up your camping area. When you are ready you can visit the Hog Wild Saloon which is a full liquor bar with good drinks at cheap prices. Yea Haw!
Start things off with some drinking games and a little music and roll into the women’s pickle sucking contest, followed by the ass shakin’ and the nipple sizing.
Get the idea do ya!
Well that continues on until? and even mixes with some of the parties going on around the campsites. Saturday more of the same and add bike games, tattoo contest and bike show.
Free Titty Painting For The Ladies
Best Chaps Contest oops No Chaps Contest, Wet T Shirt Contest oops No T Shirt Contest. The women liked showing what they got and the crowd loved it. Of course my self and some other publication people were doing our best to record it But you really owe it to yourself to attend one of these events if this is the kind of party you like.
Oh Me Hell YEA! I love parties like this. I had a Great Time and met some really good people. I am sure as more people find out about this event it is going to get Very Big. No Problem there is plenty of land. Frank and Connie said Ya All Are Welcome! And special Thanks to my new friend Brian Wheeler who got me to attend.
For more information on this event and the ones coming up visit www.bamabikefest.com/main.html
–ROGUE
MAN SUING H-D OVER WOBBLE– For years, Tom Hawkinson loved nothing more than to hit the open road on his Harley-Davidson. But as the Oak Lawn man cruised down Archer Avenue near Lemont in 2004, the front end of his motorcycle began to wobble.
Seconds later, the 44-year-old was thrown from his bike and left with life-changing brain injuries. Wednesday, Hawkinson filed suit against Harley-Davidson, claiming the company knew years earlier that there was a defect in the bike.
Before the crash, he was a vice-president at his family’s Hawkinson Ford in Oak Lawn, but today “he can’t work and is unable to maintain the life he had before,” said his attorney, Max Maccoby.
“He was a successful businessman,” he said. “Now he’s incapacitated and has gone through a number of brain surgeries.”
The suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, seeks unspecified damages, but claims that users have filed multiple complaints with federal safety agencies and multiple negligence lawsuits because of defects on the Dyna Wide Glide and other bikes in the company’s FLH series. One suit filed in Chicago in 2004 made claims similar to Hawkinson’s. Said to begin at 50 mph
A Harley-Davidson spokesman declined comment.
Maccoby said the wobble when the motorcycle exceeds 50 mph is so widely known that repair shops advertise repairs specific to the problem on these models. Those “design or manufacturing defects,” the lawsuit says, caused the crash and Hawkinson’s injury. “A driver coming toward him saw his front light wobble back and forth for about 10 seconds before he was thrown,” Maccoby said. “Now, he suffers from disorientation, he fatigues easily, and he can’t multitask. He tried going back to work, but he couldn’t.”
Earlier suits filed against Harley-Davidson claim the shaking and instability come from the front end of the motorcycle, as if it is off-balance from the rear tires.
–from Rogue
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
Severe wobbles can be cause by several factors, but the True-Track mentioned above eliminate several of them for any rubbermounted H-D. –Bandit
ARE YOU A VETERAN RIDER IN OKLAHOMA?– This url http://tax.ok.gov/mvforms/708-E.pdf will bring up the proper form to fill out and take to any tag agent along with a copy of a DD214 and the $35 fee. This will constitute an application. If the state get at least 100 by MAY 1, they will start production. I assume the fees would be refunded if they don’t get enough apps.
–Charlie Williams
–from Kirk Willard
EASTER WEATHER REPORT– When you see this on the way out your door…. You might as well turn around, go back in and have another cup of coffee. It is probably not going to be a good day!
–Vern H.
D&D PERFORMANCE EXHAUST BREAKS COVER WITH POLICE INTERCEPTOR MUFFLER– D&D Police Interceptor Muffler Out Performs Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Pipe. D&D Performance Exhaust introduces the new Police Interceptor Slip-on muffler for Harley-Davidson Police bikes. The Interceptor features increased performance throughout the rpm range as well as reduced noise. These police-spec mufflers are available for police agencies, dealers and the general public with special pricing for police agencies.
The Police Interceptor muffler is designed with a special noise-reducing baffle that does not rob horsepower. Each muffler is made from heavy duty, .065 wall, durable 304 stainless steel that is buffed to a high-luster. If the muffler should get scratched, stained or dirty, a simple hand polish will bring it back to its original glossy state.
“We built these pipes cop-tough,” explained Dave Rash, Owner, D&D Performance Exhaust. “They are made from stainless steel to take more punishment than a chrome pipe, our special baffle system reduces noise and pumps out the power. They are designed without an overhang to enhance high-performance riding. These pipes are designed for cops but the Harley citizenry can enjoy the benefit of this design too. They are available through authorized D&D Performance Exhaust and Custom Chrome dealers.”
The mufflers bolt onto the present hardware brackets and require 15 minutes or less to install. They are available on Harley-Davidson FLH/FLT motorbikes including the Road King and Electra Glide.
THUNDERBIKE, GERMANY, WIN THE 2006 OFFICIAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP OF CUSTOM BIKE BUILDING — GERMAN cruiser specialist Thunderbike of Hamminkeln in Germany was the clear winner of this year’s Official European Championship of Custom Bike Building, presented by Custom Chrome Europe at their 2006 Dealer Show at Mainz in Germany.
Called ‘Spectacula’, the swoopy lines and belt-free direct-drive 300mm fat rear-end lowrider was the clear choice for top prize among the twenty industry experts chosen to act as the jury panel at AMD’s acclaimed fifth annual European Championship.
Altogether 127 custom bikes (up from 71 in 2005) were entered by 98 builders (up from 63 in 2005) representing nineteen different countries (up from fourteen in 2005). The competition took place at the Phoenixhalle, Mainz, on Saturday March 25th and Sunday March 26th. The top ten featured three builders from Sweden, two each from Germany and Belgium, and one each from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic.
See a complete report, with all the winner next week on Bikernet.
–Robin Bradley
WHERE’S DA WABBIT?–Let’s quit this working and go have a barbeque. The sun is out but it’s a brisk wind slithering across the Port of Los Angeles. I’m pumped about the progress on the Panhead V bike designed by John Reed and scheduled to run at Bub’s Bonneville event this summer. You’re invited to ride out with us in late August.
With Japanese Jay’s help we fired up a plasma cutter in the headquarters and cut stainless like never before. I’ll show you in a tech next week.
Next week we have a ton of material floating around in various stages, but I’ve got a major story hanging over my head. Last year Dr. Hamster and I drove 6,000 miles in a ’54 Lincoln across Mexico. I need to finish that story first and cull through over 300 images. I’ll follow it with a bike feature from California customs, a Bonneville Tech. We’ve launched our Bonneville Department and will post all of our articles there and in the garage. I have another story from UD about riding in Bombay, then we have a story coming on Billy Lane’s BSGS tour and DVD. Another Aeromach tech story is holding by Johnny White. It’s going to be a busy week, so let’s party.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
