Hey,
Another whacky day in paradise. Dave Zien rode one H-D a million miles and Laughlin, The Smoke Out and Big Bear’s Ride the Mountain is just around the corner.
Plus another publisher is jumping into the event game, with Chris Callen and his new Cycle Source Mountain Run back east. Hang on for all the reports and H-Ds quarterly statement:
NEW ON-LINE RETAILER MEETS BIKERNET–K and G Cycles is celebrating their new department at Bikernet.com. In honor of this celebration, we are running a special sale for all Bikernet readers. Between Thursday April 16th and midnight on Sunday April 20th, just enter coupon code bikernet0409 into the coupon space in your shopping cart and receive an EXTRA 5% OFF ON ANY ORDER GREATER THAN $125.00.
This offer is limited to one use per customer and it expires promptly at 12 midnight CST. Come check out K and G Cycles and get a discount on the already low prices. We want to celebrate and we want everyone to join in the fun.
We’re running a sale on Avon tires. You can get the info at the bottom of the front page. Just click on the sale and use whatever you need.
–George
Former Confederate designer launches new bike company–BRIAN Case, former designer with Confederate Motorcycles, has announced the formation of a brand new motorcycle manufacturing business ? Motus.
Case and his business partner Lee Conn have been working on the development of a proprietary V4 engine for use in an American sport touring bike. The design briefs they are working to aim to create “a comfortable, lightweight machine that blends American muscle performance with proven range-extending technology”.Case says of the project: “Our V4 engine and proprietary chassis designs are currently underway with highly respected, automotive engineering partners. The focal point for the Motus bike will be our engine. We believe the engine will be completely unexpected and completely different than anything currently available.”
–MOTUS
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Tel: 205 314 3410
Fax: 205 314 3414
Email: info@motusmotorcycles.com
www.motusmotorcycles.com
HARLEY-DAVIDSON OFFERS $50 BONUS FOR MICHELIN TIRE PURCHASE–Harley Chrome Cash Bonus Offer Ends May 31.
MILWAUKEE (April 10, 2009) ? Harley-Davidson will reward a $50 Harley Chrome Cash bonus check to customers who purchase a set of Michelin-branded and Harley-Davidson approved tires from a participating Harley-Davidson dealer before May 31, 2009. Michelin Commander front and rear and Michelin Macadam 50 rear tires have been tested and validated by Harley-Davidson for fitment on a wide range of Sportster , Dyna, Softail and Touring models.
These tires offer custom styling, precise handling and long mileage demanded by serious riders. To participate in this Harley-Davidson Ready to Ride promotion, customers must purchase a set of front and rear Michelin tires from a participating Harley-Davidson dealer, and have them installed by that dealer. The customer will then receive by mail a $50 Harley Chrome Cash bonus check from Harley-Davidson, redeemable for merchandise or services at participating, authorized Harley-Davidson dealerships. See a Harley-Davidson dealer for complete program rules and details.
For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.
BIKERNET POLITICAL QUOTE OF THE DAY–Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. -James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994
–from James Schnarr
Exile FATBAR Handlebars–Clean up your front end with a set of Exile ?Fatbar? handlebars. These beefy 1.25? bars are available in 4 different styles ranging from apes to dragbars. Each stainless steel bar blank is manufactured at Exile, and customized according to customer specs.
Options include weld-on or traditional risers, an internal throttle, twist clutch, sleek weld-on perches with aluminum levers, and traditional clamp-on clutch and brake controls. Exile also offers really clean ?hidden? switches. Following fabrication, each bar set may be polished, scotchbrited, or powdercoated in a variety of satin and gloss-finish colors.
Add to this a set of Exile billet knurled grips and you?re in business with a trick way to handle your bike.
Contact Exile for a full list of options and pricing.
www.exilecycles.com
PH: (818) 255-3330
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY STUDIES THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE– If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
from Dave Monson
SADDLEMAN SEATS GEL TECHNOLOGY–The deep, wide contours of the Explorer saddle makes this the perfect long distance saddle for both rider and passenger. The unique Split Cushion design reduces seating pressure for maximum long-range comfort. SaddleGel comes standard for both the driver and the passenger. SaddleGel reduces tail bone pressure and increases circulation…allowing you to ride longer. For your next trip of 10 or 10,000 miles, the Explorer is the comfort king by which all others must be judged!
It’s true that SaddleGel works wonders for seating comfort, but Saddlemen doesn’t stop there. Our integrated seat designs include a selection of materials that work together to make our seats as comfortable as possible, while still giving your bike show-quality style. The SaddleGel proprietary secret formula was developed in-house by our resident engineers. Needless to say, the formula is kept under lock and key.
What makes SaddleGel work so good?
?Superior to foam alone
?Floats rider on seat
?Eliminates road shock and vibration
?Dissipates weight evenly-no hot spots
?Maximizes time in saddle
?Exclusive composite construction. Each individual component work together as a system
?Available for a wide variety of metric and Harley Davidson Motorcycles, see our application guide.
Available at your local Parts Unlimited or Drag Specialties Dealer
17801 S. Susana Rd.
Rancho Dominguez, CA. 90221
800: 1-800-397-7709
Local: 1-310-638-1222
E-Mail Saddlemen Sales
www.saddlemen.com
Note the report card for 29 veterans and military charities, see below–Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.
Eight veterans charities, including some of the nation’s largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings showed.
Richard H. Esau Jr., executive director of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, based in Annandale, said the cost of fundraising limits how much his group can spend on charitable causes. ‘Do you have any idea how much money it costs to advertise? It’s unbelievable the amount of money it takes to advertise in the print and electronic media,’ he said. ‘I’m very proud of what we do, and we certainly do look after everybody. The point is we do the right thing by veterans.’
Borochoff said many veterans charities are ‘woefully inefficient,’ spending large sums on costly direct-mail advertising. ‘They oversolicit. They love to send out a lot of trinkets and stickers and greeting cards and flags and things that waste a lot of money that they get little return on,’ said Borochoff, who plans to testify before Congress today.
The philanthropy institute gave F’s to 12 of the 29 military charities reviewed and D’s to eight. Five were awarded A-pluses, including the Fisher House Foundation in Rockville, which the institute says directs more than 90 percent of its income to charitable causes. One group received an A, and one received an A-minus.
Jim Weiskopf, spokesman for Fisher House, said the charity does not use direct-mail advertising. ‘As soon as you do direct mail your fundraising expenses go up astronomically,’ he said. One egregious example, Borochoff said, is Help20Hospitalized Veterans, which was founded in 1971 by Roger Chapin, a veteran of the Army Finance Corps and a San Diego real estate developer. The charity, which provides therapeutic arts and crafts kits to hospitalized veterans, reported income of $71.3 million last year and spent about one-third of that money on charitable work, the philanthropy institute said.
In its tax filings, Help Hospitalized Veterans reported paying more than $4 million to direct-mail fundraising consultants. The group also has run television advertisements featuring actor Sam Waterston, game show host Pat Sajak and other celebrities. Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the Better Business Bureau, said the agency has 20 standards for reviewing charities, including that a charity’s fundraising and overhead costs not exceed 35 percent of total contributions.
The American Institute of Philanthropy, a leading charity watchdog, issued a report card this month for 29 veterans and military charities. Letter grades were based largely on the charities’ fundraising costs and the percentage of money raised that was spent on charitable activities.
?Air Force Aid Society (A+)
?American Ex-Prisoners of War Service Foundation (F)
American VeteransCoalition (F)
American Veterans Relief Foundation (F)
AMVETS National Service Foundation (F)
Armed Services YMCA of the USA (A-)
Army Emergency Relief (A+)
Blinded Veterans Association (D)
Disabled American Veterans (D)
Disabled Veterans Association (F)
Fisher House Foundation (A+)
Freedom Alliance (F)
Help Hospitalized Veterans/Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (F)
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (A+)
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (F)
National Military Family Association (A)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (A+)
National Veterans Services Fund (F)
National Vietnam Veterans Committee (D)
NCOA National Defense Foundation (F)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (F)
Soldiers’ Angels (D)
United Spinal Association’s Wounded Warrior Project (D)
USO (United Service Organization) (C+)
Veterans of Foreign Wars and Foundation (C-)
Veterans of the Vietnam War & the Veterans Coalition (D)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (D)
VietNow National Headquarters (F)
World War II Veterans Committee (D)
BIKERNET SPORTSTER FEATURE REVIEW–Was readin’ the bit on the XRTT Tribute Sportster. Jon did a great job! The builder also did a real clean job.
Mounting the 72 XRTT fairing from Air-Tech. will complete a nice lookin retro. of Don Tilley’s “Lucifer’s Hammer” race bike.
–Pablo
See this feature at: http://www.bikernet.com/sportsters/PageViewer.asp?PageID=2578
CALIFORNIA SMOG TESTING PASSES FIRST HURDLE– SB 435 Passes Senate Transportation and Housing Committee.
SB 435 (Pavley), the bill that adds motorcycles to the Smog Check program, passed the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee today with only one member voting in opposition. During the presentation of the bill by the author and the primary sponsor, it was stressed that motorcycles emit “14 times more pollution than cars per mile of operation” and that tampering with emission controls causes emissions to be further increased “up to 10 times”. The author stressed that surveys indicate catalysts are being removed from 38 to 87% of new motorcycles and that Smog Checks are needed to address this problem.
Under the procedures used by this Committee, only two people are allowed to testify in support or opposition. If more than two people wish to testify, they are directed to only state their name, the organization they represent, and whether their organization’s position is support or oppose. Opposition testimony was allowed only from the California Motorcycle Dealers Association and ABATE, and it was not effective. Neither witness made the point that a biennial inspection will be ineffective in reducing tampering. Instead, they argued that motorcycle emissions are not significant and that the cost of Smog Check would discourage the sales of new motorcycles. When I had the opportunity to speak, I bent the rules a bit and stated that MIC hoped to work with the bill’s sponsor on alternative language that would be much more effective.
After the hearing, I was able to spend 10-15 minutes talking with the bill’s sponsor, Bonnie Holmes-Gen from the American Lung Association, and one of Senator Pavley’s staff members. I briefly explained MIC’s concerns with the bill and received a commitment from them that they would meet me at my office at 11 a.m. tomorrow for a more thorough presentation of MIC’s position. It is notable that neither ARB nor the Bureau of Automotive Repair was represented at the hearing. This indicates that the Administration does not yet have a position on the bill.
The way the legislative process works in California, little can be accomplished in public hearings. Parties with specific concerns are denied the opportunity to speak to those concerns at a public hearing when more than two parties are in opposition. The only effective way to communicate MIC’s concerns with the bill will be through meetings with individual members or their staff.
This will be an uphill battle given the current make up of the Legislature, which is why it is probably important to have an attractive alternative that the author might be able to go along with. It might be useful to try to bring ARB and BAR into this. At the staff level, both ARB and BAR agree that the enforcement of a noise standard would be more effective in reducing catalyst removal. ARB could easily claim the same SIP credit for sound testing and remove Smog Check from the SIP.
— Tom Austin
Motorcycle Industry Council
UNCLE MONKEY’S FAT TIRE DISCUSSION–For almost twenty years now I have listened to my brother-in-law?s grand vision of his dream bike. The bike of his dreams, a low slung pro street custom that he will one day build. I?m still waiting. After twenty years he and his ranting have grown old. All things considered his idea of a dream bike has varied very little in the last twenty years other then the ever-expanding rear tire. He has become obsessed with building a fat tire bike.
Unfortunately every couple of years the tire manufacturers push the limit and his dream bike has had to change and mutate to include the fattest tire available 200, 250, and finally 300. I haven?t had to heart to tell him they make a 330 now.
Every year he laughs and scoffs at my Fat Boy, my Sportster, my chopper, my shovelhead with their puny rear tires. I should build a fat tire bike he tells me. And one day I might but in the mean time, unlike him, I?ve been riding. We all have been riding. We all have ideas of what our dream bike will look like one day.
Until that day comes we are usually more than happy scooting across the countryside on a ratty Sportster or Jap bike or whatever; riding what we can afford, what we can keep running. We make every bike our own. We spent hours polishing cases and rebuilding motors and trannies on bikes that are often far from what we dream of. But we do it. With every busted knuckle, every blood blister we are one-step closer to that dream bike. Few of us would every give that up with an all or nothing attitude. To us this is it all.
The market changes, evolves, and grows. Returning war vets stripped down baggers to be bobbers, and then chopped the frames to make choppers, before being replaced with chrome and billet softails. From there the market has de-evolve; moving back towards choppers, to bobbers, to once again baggers. Few people are building fat tire bikes especially 300 tire ones. Most builders have settled down to stock or 200 series tires to anchor their bikes at the back. A beautiful bike will always look good no matter when or how it was built or how wide its rear tire is. Will fat tire choppers be popular once again, the answer is when not if.
As for my brother-in-law he?s wasted the last twenty years of his life driving in his car dreaming about a bike that probably will only ever be just that; a dream bike.
–Wayne ?Uncle Monkey? Wuschke
Southern Independent Riders
www.stvictorboogie.com
BIKERNET’S FREEDOM FIGHTER HALL OF FAME INTRODUCTION–During Dave Zien’s landing party at Hal’s Harley-Davidson on 04 April 2009, Gary Wetzel was acknowledged and introduced to the audience. Gary is a long time friend of mine and active motorcyclist. He was our firm’s guest at Dave Zien’s retirement party and has also been our guest at several past functions. I wanted to share his story with you because it is important to recognize true heroes among us.
Some of us carry the title of Freedom Fighter, but our efforts pale in comparison to those who put their life on the line in defense of our country, our freedoms and our honor. It is truly a privilege to call Gary my friend. He has led the Ride to the Wall Rolling Thunder parade in Washington D.C. many times and is tireless in his efforts to work for veteran’s rights. He and Dave Zien are the true Freedom Fighters among us.
–Tony Pan
AGENT ZEBRA’S DAUGHTER REACHES OUT–Lua says to tell you she’d like you to put an ad in Bikernet that will help her explore her adoption opportunities. She says all she needs is a saddle bag to sleep in and a small folding knife.
–Z
MUSIC NO MISCHIEF BBQ–Hi this is just a quick message to inform you that on the 25th April 10.00am – 6.00pm there will be a BBQ with live music ( open air concert ) in aid of Music not Mischief, also huge discounts across the whole range of guitars so please come along and bring your friends and lets make this a day to remember for all the kids involved with this program and the Toronto Police.
www.musicnotmischief.com
http://www.dotonshaft.com/woodbridge.cfm
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