Hey,
It’s Laughlin Sunday. Hungover, the masses venture out into the desert to return home. It’s a grizzly ride across the vast Mojave sands into traffic strewn Los Angeles, 15 Freeway system. It’s best to stay one extra day, lay by the pool, soak in the rays and bleed booze. Then tomorrow at noon meander onto the flatlands and cut a dusty trail in peace. Ride safe. Let’s hit the news. I’ve tried to work on the Assalt Weapan all weekend, but a brother obsconded with his Plasma cutter, leaving me in the lurch. I’m for a deal, quick.
You’ll see a full report on my progress this week.
NEW LIFE AND TIMES COMING TO THE CANTINA– I’m writing the lowdown regarding ” Little Mick,” a 27 year member for Australia’s Rebels MC and the Von Dutch/Ed Roth of this era.
His NEW shop is Koolsville Studio
Shop 11/ 193 South Pine Road,
Brendale. Brisbane.
The shop will be a Tattoo Shop plus an art shop with bike displays, he’s having a grand opening in a couple of weeks.
His OLD shop used to be called “High Energy Tattoo” and has or had been in business for 20 years. All air brushing and bike building etc has been done in his private studio and will carry on the same. Hang of for the grizzly story of high-creativity and club wars.
BIKER BUILD-OFFS IN JEOPARDY–The learning channel needs motorcycle industry support. If the Industry would step up the Bike Build-Offs would continue. A conglomerate of Industry support could make it happen.
I met with the Chopper King, Hugh, Friday and he has some notions that would make it fly, like hiring Bandit to be the host. Let’s keep Build-offs alive.
THE NEW BAKER FUNCTION-FORMED PRIMARY– HASLETT, MI BAKER Drivetrain wants to deck out your stock Softail for 2007 with the first aftermarket WET primary drive system! BAKER is announcing the release of the Function-FormedTM Primary and note that it fits stock applications…including the clutch! Following BAKER’s reputation for premium innovations; this wet primary has a durable billet design, and can be customized in finishes such as black anodized, raw, or polished. It has a sleek design, featuring a “glory hole” on the side, giving the primary a unique belt drive look, yet retaining all the advantages of a wet primary. BAKER expects creative bike builders to take advantage of this opening for mid-control schemes. Adjustment of the chain tension is easy with external access to the tensioner.
The FPP can grow with you. Upgrade to the FFPS (Supported) option of using a stock clutch or BAKER’s new King Kong Klutch (KKKTM), with twenty massive automotive clutch plates ready to take on your larger motor. The KKK, without the outboard bearing support, also fits a stock pre-2007 Softail. See www.bakerdrivetrain.com for more information on the KKK clutch. All this is ready to fit your stock Softail!
Additional features of the Baker FF Primary:
Strong Billet Forged 6061 Aluminum
Stainless steel fasteners
External primary chain adjustment
Once piece starter jack shaft
A variety of finishes
The option of stock or Baker’s new King Kong Klutch for the outboard bearing support and the highest torque capacity available!
For additional information, call BAKER Drivetrain at the number above and ask the sales department anything!
PRIMEDIA MAGAZINES ON THE AUCTION BLOCK–Over the next week or so, Henry Kravis, head of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., will finally find out if busting up Primedia was a good idea after all. Final bids for the Primedia Enthusiast Group – which includes Motor Trend, Automobile, automotive.com, Horse & Rider, Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly – are due May 4.
Kravis and KKR, which controls the majority of the publicly traded stock in Primedia, is hoping the auction fetches north of $1 billion. With new players entering the competition, that number seems possible.
Among the newcomers jumping into the fray are Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Partners, which lost out in its bid for the Tribune Co. and now has apparently emerged as one of the finalists.
Another surprise contender is embattled American Media Inc. For weeks Media Ink has been hearing that CEO David Pecker has secured new financing and a source says the company is ready to spring at the $1 billion deal.
Others still believed to be in the hunt include New York magazine owner “Bid em Up” Bruce Wasserstein; Elevation Partners, which includes U2 frontman Bono, and “Wild” Bill Curtis, head of Curtco Media, potentially teaming up with Steve Schwarzman’s Blackstone Group.
Quadrangle Group and Veronis Suhler Stevenson, which were both in the second round, are rapidly losing interest as the bidding heats up. With earnings of just over $100 million and revenues of just over $500 million, the big question is what kind of a premium will a new buyer have to pay for the potential of Web sites that are still in development.
Complicating the picture is Hachette Filipacchi Media’s recent acquisition of Jumpstart Media, an automotive Web site for which Hachette paid $84 million in cash. It is now coupled with Hachette’s Road & Track, Car and Driver and Cycle World.
“Your arch-rival will now have the same as you have,” said one knowledgeable source. “If you are going to run these [Primedia] titles for any length of time, you are going to have to invest in them.”
–By Keith Kelly, New York Post
DID YOU KNOW–SPYKE purchased Compu-Fire recently. We know of a couple of other companies making a bid, but Bill McCahill came away with the goods.
MOTORCYLE CLASSICS TOPS– Auction and market reports, Classic bike club gatherings and events, Motorcycle Classics contests and news exclusives, and AHRMA racing news and updates.
Online photo sharing is a visually educational and stimulating trend that is bringing together like-minded communities, from small town events to enthusiast groups around the world. With our goal to unite classic motorcycle fans near and far, we are proud to introduce You CU – share pictures of your bike(s) or club gatherings and rides We CU – galleries of Motorcycle Classics pictures not featured in the magazine Pictures from Motorcycle Classics sponsored events Classic bike photo contests High-resolution photos and image imprints from the Motorcycle Classics staff for purchase Visit MotorcycleClassics.com Cheers, VINTAGE BIKE SHOW AT HOLLISTER THIS YEAR?– I think it is great Horse Power, with your help, is putting on the Hollister rally this year. While it has been a fun event in the past, is has sorely needed help. My name is John Chianelli, I live in Tres Pinos, CA. I own a 1947 Indian Chief that is in wonderfully restored condition. What better way to tie this years 60th anniversary to that historic day in 1947 when Hollister was invaded with all that pony iron, than to have a vintage/classic bike show at this years event. You are doing a custom show. Why not a vintage show? There is big interest in these old bikes. This is huge Americana at its best and what better time than 4th of July in Hollister, Ca to do it? I think you could add some real uniqueness to this show. Maybe get local historians and the American Antique Motorcycle Club of America involved. Shoot, call Life Magazine! The famous cover shoot and article in 1947 made this event historic (and they are shutting down this year). This event, for the last ten years, has celebrated that famous day in 1947, but there has never been any accounting for it in rallys past (except for the cardboard Marlon Brando in front of Johnny’s). Put the history and mystique into this event and make it unique unto itself since no other motorcycle event (that I know of) has such a profound piece if history to hang its helmet on. This could be a big draw facet to this event. From the very cool down to earth demographic of folks who own and ride these old bikes, to the general public wanting to know where it all came from and what it looked like. The post war years is when this whole “Biker” thing really got started, making this event in 1947, while exaggerated by Life, the birth of this culture. Why do the same’ol, same’ol when you can make your homecomining in Hollister the single event that changed this rally forever. Not everyone is interested in the bling of custom. While custom may be part of the future, it can never celebrate the past. I have checked out the Sims display in years past and it has always been woefully thin with interest. I am not knocking custom, we have just been inundated with it in recent years. Biker build-offs? What big event does not do one? I urge you to consider adding some sort of Vintage motorcycle participation at this years event. Maybe it is just basic this year. At least get is started. I would be willing to pitch-in on this if you want to make a go of it. Thanks for taking the time to read this and consider it for part of this years event. Let me know if I may be of any further assistance in this matter. –John Chianellli MY DEEPEST APOLOGY, BIKERNET STEPS UP TO ENDORSE THE POLITICALLY CORRECT– Over the past few weeks I have received many funny images/jokes and have emailed them to friends who I thought shared the same sense of humor. Unfortunately, I seemed to have upset a few people and received criticism for being sexist and shallow So, from now on I am only emailing pictures of old monuments, nature and other cultural sights which are educational for your mind. Here is a picture of the Pont Neuf Bridge in Toulouse, France. BIKERNET 5-BALL RACING TEAM MAJOR SPONSOR SPEAKS UP ON MYRTLE BEACH– Just returned from a 10 day tour of the Confederacy,… Louisville, Ky to New Orleans then back across the CSA to Jacksonville, NC then back up to Louisville 3100 miles in 10 days and perfect weather. Stuck to the US highways and saw some great sights, met some great folks and ate some of the best chow on the planet. I want to let your readers know that there are some real stick up their ass pricks in Myrtle Beach who discriminate against bikers. The Embassy Suites Hotel in Myrtle Beach is located in a residential neighborhood that bans motorcycles. I had just ridden from Greenville, South Carolina to Myrtle Beach, it was 9:00 pm and all I wanted was to park my Glide and get some shuteye. I had a reservation but when I arrived at the entrance I was told by the security guard that I would have to park my bike “over there” a half mile from the hotel. The rent-a-cop then told me they would call for a shuttle to take me to the hotel, fuck that… I’m not leaving my bike out by the highway for the next bike thief who comes along. I called the hotel the next day to let them know why I didn’t show up and to get the charge for missing my reservation returned. To his credit the hotel manager, Joe, is trying to get the homeowner’s association to stop this bullshit but hasn’t had any luck. Joe was very courteous to me and made sure that my money was refunded because I was listed on the hotel register as a no-show. He said that this will be a great concern of his when the Myrtle Beach Rally kicks off next month but his hands are tied. I am telling you about this so that you can get the word out to the bikers who ride their bikes to the rally. I guess the trailer queens will be OK since they can park their trailers “over there” and get their butt jewelry bikes when they need them. Glide to Live, Live to Glide DESIGNER JOHN REED DEMANDS PUBLICITY– I looked in the news, and couldn’t find a picture of the bike, did you post it? I just found another one, just for interest, this one is the builder, me and Genny, he loves the bike, and shows it. I was even smiling in this shot–amazing, and that shows that if you’re a biker it doesn’t matter your age, your nationality, who or what you are and what bikes you are interested in, were all pretty much the same. — john No one is the same as you, John. We published this rendition of the CC V-Bike designed by John Reed in the news and with the World Champion European Winners. Our Salt Shaker rendition of this bike is about to be featured in HOT BIKE and in Back Street Heroes from the UK. What more could he ask for?–Bandit ANOTHER EUROPEAN FEATURE COMING FROM ELA– Check this out … I’ll work on it next week. I’ll send the pics, technical schedule & text Ciao THE P&P GIRDER REBUILD SEARCH– I really liked the way the bike looked with it, and I also liked the weight differential, but I ride a lot and just didn’t like the way it felt. I think it may have been the rake. My frame, (a model-140 Paughco) has a 35 degree rake, but in the front holes on the girder it made the legs 40 degrees. The other holes made it 50 degrees (tried that at first, WRONG, lol). The trail seemed ok, but for whatever reason, the fork was just “squirrely.” Seriously, if you closed yer left eye, you would turn left, and the other day on the way home from work, we had some wind gusts, and that was a whole new exciting way to tighten up everything you own. I attached a pic of the scoot with the girder, and with the wideglide…girder sure is a lot cleaner…RATS…lol Thanks again for your help, God bless, –Preacher, a.k.a. Rev. Charlie Morgan BIKERNET USO IRAQ TOUR UPDATE–I wanted to touch base with everyone and let you all know I’m still waiting to hear from the military about our proposal. They told me it usually takes a few weeks to decide and let the USO know if we’re approved. I hope to hear something in the next couple of weeks as to whether or not we’ve been approved. I’ll keep everyone posted as soon as I get an answer. –Joe Cree PAUGHCO TO BUILD BOARDTRACK FRAMES FOR U.S. CHOPPERS– Just off the horn w/ Ron Paugh. We are a go… all green lights. Ron hopped on this baby immediately – I can’t say how impressed I am with him. No waiting, no screw around – straight up and straight forward attack – I love this guy already. We made a couple minor revisions to streamline production and he is starting Monday. Talk about a no nonsense company. I think this will be a great long term relationship, and you?re the guy who made it happen. –Rick RETROVISIONS BIKE AND ROD ART– RetroVisions Bike/Hot Rod Art by Larry Grossman “ain’t like no Bike or Hot Rod Art you’ve ever seen before!” One look at these amazingly detailed, vibrantly colored works of art and it is very apparent the creator is much more than a casual observer of the street rod and custom motorcycle lifestyles. Sold at galleries and museums worldwide, including the NHRA Museum, and the famed Petersen Automotive Museum, Larry’s masterpieces capture the very sole of their subject. Larry creates authentic scenes of “old school” rods, kustoms, bikes, babes and bad-ass dudes, all in the glow of his amazing blazing skies! Larry got his start in the hot rod world airbrushing T-shirts at car shows in the 60’s for the legendary George Barris and recently created a picture for his old pal Barris featuring his most famous Kustoms. In early 2006 he was commissioned by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s widow to produce a picture depicting Ed with his wildest cars. But that’s not the best of it. Now you to can have your own personalized Grossman print featuring whatever scene and vehicles you wish including images of yourself, your girl and friends. Heck he can even grease back your hair and give you some tattoos! Need a one-of-a-kind logo? No problem. On his cool website you’ll find that in addition to cars and bikes, he’s created pictures of everything from vintage Movie Theatres and Diners, to scenes depicting Airplanes, Trains, and …well, go see for yourself. There is an awesome collection of standard prints available immediately or as mentioned you can contact Larry for a quote on a personalized creation. Catch an exciting look into Grossman’s world at PRO-ONE PERFORMANCE BRAKING– No matter if you’re building a ground up chopper or just want to personalize and your factory ride, PRO-ONE has a unique brake set up to meet your needs. From custom engineered assemblies designed specifically for right side drive machines to an awesome collection of billet front and rear calipers and hangers these components offer the latest in high performance brake technology and sanitary clean appearance. PRO-ONE also manufactures one of the largest selections of custom rotors. No matter what look you’re after they have a rotor that is sure to be “just right”. Check out these examples and give them a call at 800-84-4173 for complete details. Be sure to catch their current line of accessories and turn key custom motorcycles at GUN FREEDOMS AT RISK–Zero tolerance, huh? Gun-free zones, huh? Evil is as evil does, and laws disarming guaranteed victims make evil people very, very happy. Shame on us. Already spineless gun control advocates are squawking like chickens with their tiny-brained heads chopped off, making political hay over this most recent, devastating Virginia Tech massacre, when in fact it is their own forced gun-free zone policy that enabled the unchallenged methodical murder of 32 people. Thirty-two people dead on a U.S. college campus pursuing their American Dream, mowed-down over an extended period of time by a lone, non-American gunman in illegal possession of a firearm on campus in defiance of a zero-tolerance gun law. Feel better yet? Didn’t think so. Who doesn’t get this? Who has the audacity to demand unarmed helplessness? Who likes dead good guys? I’ll tell you who. People who tramp on the Second Amendment, that’s who. People who refuse to accept the self-evident truth that free people have the God-given right to keep and bear arms, to defend themselves and their loved ones. People who are so desperate in their drive to control others, so mindless in their denial that they pretend access to gas causes arson, Ryder trucks and fertilizer cause terrorism, water causes drowning, forks and spoons cause obesity, dialing 911 will somehow save your life, and that their greedy clamoring to “feel good” is more important than admitting that armed citizens are much better equipped to stop evil than unarmed, helpless ones. Pray for the families of victims everywhere, America. Study the methodology of evil. It has a profile, a system, a preferred environment where victims cannot fight back. Embrace the facts, demand upgrade and be certain that your children’s school has a better plan than Virginia Tech or Columbine. Eliminate the insanity of gun-free zones, which will never, ever be gun-free zones. They will only be good guy gun-free zones, and that is a recipe for disaster written in blood on the altar of denial. I, for one, refuse to genuflect there. –Ted Nugent BUELL 2007 HOMECOMING EVENTS TO CELEBRATE RACING HERITAGE– EAST TROY, Wis. (April 23, 2007) – Buell Motorcycle Company has announced details of the 2007 Buell Homecoming activities in Wisconsin this summer. The events will take place July 6-8 at various locations, including the Buell Motorcycle Company facilities in East Troy, Wis. and at Road America, the legendary four-mile track in Elkhart Lake, Wis. “It’s always exciting to see the enthusiasm and passion of Buell owners at our events,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer. “Buell Homecoming is a truly special opportunity for Buell owners, our employees and the public to celebrate our accomplishments, enjoy some riding and have fun in our own backyard here in Wisconsin.” Exclusive Buell owner Homecoming events include the following: Public events currently scheduled for Buell Homecoming 2007 include the following: See the owners section of TWO BRAND SPANKING NEW 5-BALL RACING SPONSORS, CUSTOM CHROME AND S&S– We’re proud to announce our news sponsors for our Bonneville World’s Fastest Panhead attempt this summer. You’ll start to see a number of Custom Chrome Components in our next report including all the sheet metal. And S&S has volunteered to assist in a secret way. I’ll let you know in a week. THE SUN IS BREAKING OUT– Soon I’ll hear from Laughlin Survivors and reports on the feast along the Colorado River. Laughlin always houses the best looking babes, imported from Vegas. I almost rode the King out with the PM gang who were going to bolt up new Progressive components for the run. But the Assalt Weapan came first. We have some surprises looming for next week. I’ve mounted the Assalt Weapan gas tanks. Saturday I sliced and diced the rear fender and spoke, at length, with the Devil in Houston on mounting it. We’re trying to decide whether to weld the fender to the frame or bolt it up. I think I’ve decided to bolt it up, so if we decide to alter it down the road we can remove if for more cutting and grinding. This next report will bring many bizaare design elements to life. I stumbled around the shop in a daze, wishing I had a seasoned builder at my side and a goddamn plasma cutter. I don’t build bikes daily, so at times I feel the need for back-up. Ah, but what the hell. I’ve got a great team of readers who will point out all my mistakes, immediately. Next week we’ll also post a feature on the new S&S XWedge engine. You’ll be the first to see it from the inside out. Just dawned on me, we have another Life And Times from Joann Bortels, aka. Crazy Horse, from the early days. I’m asked Chris Kallas to illustrate it. Also another Big Twin sport bike feature from the Avon group will be published. Ah, and a D&D exhaust install on a King will fly onto the Bikernet. In the meantime, the lovely Layla and I are on a diet. We’re road-testing a Nutri-System food program. It really comes down to portions. We eat way too much. If you stay away from junk food and just eat half of what you’re eating now, you’ll slim down. We stuff ourselves. So cut me some slack, if I cop an attitude. I’m fuckin’ starving. I could eat the leather off my solo seat. No margaritas today. This is torture. Ride Forever, –Bandit
–Andrew Perkins
General Manager
Motorcycle Classics 
–Nick 
–Ela 
prchr@usadatanet.net 
California Customs
2609 Charleston Rd.
Mtn. View, CA 94043
650-254-0963
888-707-CUSTOM
www.calcustom.com
We support our troops! 
U.S. Choppers
2039 S. Lyon St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-546-4699
Appointments Only Please 
– Buell owners gather Friday, July 6 in East Troy from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for free breakfast, self-guided factory tours, lunch with Erik Buell and Buell employees, technical seminars, autographs with Erik and Bubba Blackwell, and vintage Buell display.
– Buell hospitality for owners at the ASRA Pro/CCS and MOTO-ST motorcycle races at Road America Saturday and Sunday, July 7-8, including hospitality tent, free parking, track and street demo rides, racer autographs, Buell on-track parade lap and Saturday Buell Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m. with free food, beverages and live music.
– Discounted Lake Express high-speed ferry rates for Buell owners.
– East Troy free activities from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. include factory tours, autographs with Erik and vintage Buell display.
– Team Extreme stunt riders at Hal’s Harley-Davidson/Buell in New Berlin, Wis., on Thursday, July 5, followed by a ride to Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wis. for the Midwest Shootout with free admission and Buell track time.
– Uke’s Harley-Davidson/Buell ride from East Troy to Kenosha, Wis. on Friday, July 6, including Bubba Blackwell performance at Uke’s with cookout and museum tour.
– CCS Festival of Speed at Road America on July 7-8 with 3-day tickets $40, Friday $10 and Saturday/Sunday $20 per day. 
