Hey,
I’m in a fog. My engine still didn’t arrive. Rumor has it: it arrived in Dallas. The last couple of days have been California picture perfect. The weather was fine, no pressure at the front and good tacos.
Our Bonneville apparel is being printed locally. The patches are being made and we’re praying for stickers (need ’em for the truck). Sin Wu has been assigned to the Sponsorship Banner and Bonneville rooms. I need to have my truck serviced and today we’ll make our Salt Flat Struts for the 120-inch Panhead.
Let’s hit the news. Next week we’ll post Sturgis features from several sources. You’ll see the Badlands from the ride, the girls, on the streets and with a European perspective. You’ll get it all whether you like it or not.
QUICK, ENTER THE D&D PERFORMANCE EXHAUST BIKINI CONTEST– Join the D&D Performance Exhaust Bikini Contest. It is easy to enter. Just send in a picture of your bike with your favorite bikini honey. Each week we pull the best picture and award a D&D Performance Exhaust t-shirt. Then we pull them all together and the winner receives a set of D&D Performance Exhausts.
Send a picture of your motorcycle and bikini babe to dd@horsepowermarkeing.com.
Include in your email your Name, Motorcycle, Year, Model, Email and Telephone number. The contest runs from August 17th through September 28th.
MAN SEARCHES FOR MOTORCYCLE– I am looking for the owner of the bike in the enclosed picture, maybe you can help. I was talking to the owner of the bike on July 27, at the Korean war memorial in Worcester MA. One of the people pictured on the gas tank is his late father. Since talking to him I have found out there is a memorial dedicated to the three GIs pictured. They would like to get in touch so his fathers name can be included on the monument
I hope you can help.
–Jim Henderson
Information Officer
Korean War Veterans Association/ Korea Veterans of America.
jeremiah3@charter.net
THE DEVILS REPORT–I know you are running hard with the projects at hand but here are some things to think about when you can. Check out this dash in the CCI book #26166 , it is a little different than the one in the photo but I think it might look cool with a stretch on top of the twin tanks after they are reshaped and narrowed provided that you want to have a full size Speedo? Please let me know what you think about alternative instruments. We can also run a flush dash with out instruments?
–Kent
This is a cool dash with the old Cat Eye lenses and stock speedo. I think they make it out of fiberglass or plastic. Hope we can make it fit our narrowed tanks for Sin’s bobber.–Bandit
DEBBIE AND LANCE WIN THE PLAY HARDER BIKER JOB FROM HARDBIKES– Lance Rowe and Debbie Eckard Receive $2,000 a Week to Hardbikes Ride Custom Motorcycles.
Hermitage, PA – August 18, 2006 – Hardbikes is pleased to announce the two lucky winners for the ‘Play Harder Biker’ position. They both will experience riding a custom fit Hardbikes motorcycle at special events in 2006.
Imagine the joy of cruising on a brand new custom bike and getting paid at the rate of $2,000 a week. It was a daunting task with over 1,800 initial entries and a second round of 400 responses with photos and Hardbikes marketing strategies. After reviewing the 400 second round responses, Hardbikes ended up with 11 finalists.
“The decision was tough but in the end the two winners stood out,” said Bob Kay, Hardbikes’ VP Sales and Marketing. ?Both Debbie Eckard and Lance Rowe clearly understood the value of the patent pending ‘Build to Order’ custom fit process Hardbikes offers and each one will make outstanding ambassadors for the brand.”
Debbie Eckard is a bartender at the State Line Bar in Brookfield, Ohio. Debbie rides an ’81 FL lowered 2 inches to fit her petite 5′ 2″ frame. She joined Hardbikes during the 2006 edition Sturgis and assisted them in marketing bikes to the growing female marketplace.
Lance Rowe is self-employed, selling motorcycle jewelry, providing travel arrangements and occasional bodyguard for Chaka Khan. At 6′ 5″ tall weighing in at 250 pounds, Lance has been frustrated finding a motorcycle that would fit him. He currently rides a 2006 Street Glide, which has accumulated over 70,000 miles in its life so far.
We would like to thank everyone that participated in this great event and wish you all many happy miles in the wind.
Stay tuned for more details as we plot some upcoming adventures for Debbie and Lance.
INSPIRATION JOURNAL FOR WOMEN MOTORCYCLISTS– Diva Rider Wear, a company geared to serving the growing number of women in motorcycling, has published a Journal for women who are out there enjoying the open road.
Diva Rider Wear’s founder Kelly Patterson McGrath has created The Diva Rider Daily Journal, a unique product that addresses the need for practical recording of the daily ride but with an exciting difference.
The difference is that the Journal also provides the opportunity for personal development with fun, easy to learn tips and techniques for helping women manage stress and learn to create balance in their busy, demanding lives.
In addition there are thought provoking daily quotes, tips on riding and bike care, places to record favourite stops and shops, a calendar and a name and address directory.
“I want to give women the tools and techniques they need to let them discover their own passion, live out loud and be themselves,” says Patterson McGrath. The Journal provides a place to begin that awakening process while enjoying the passion for the open road.
Kelly Patterson McGrath started Diva Rider Wear after seeing an opportunity in the marketplace for something different. That difference is a Diva look and feel on the T-shirts, clothing and product line she has created. Exciting and innovative artists are found to design strong and sexy female images. Inspirational words are added to the images creating a unique and fun look.
Inspirational speaking, coaching and consulting services to organizations, associations and individuals are also provided. You can check them out at www.divariderwear.com
RIDE FOR ROTARY– Motorcycle Poker Run, Picnic & Clam Bake – Sat, September 16. The Flemington Rotary Club will hold its 3rd Annual Ride For Rotary Motorcycle Poker Run, Picnic & Clam Bake on Saturday, Sept 16th. The event will start and end at the Clinton Elks Lodge, located on Sidney Rd (CR 617) in Pittstown, NJ. All proceeds benefit the many projects of the Flemington Rotary Club.
The family oriented motorcycle ?Poker Run? is followed by a community picnic and clam bake. Riders and passengers check in at the Clinton Elks Lodge between 9 and 11 AM, before leaving on the motorcycle poker run through approximately 75 miles of scenic Hunterdon County & surrounding areas. The ride ends with a picnic and clam bake at the Clinton Elks Lodge. Rain or Shine. All makes of bikes welcome!
Everyone — non-riders, families, friends, kids, adults — is welcome to the family oriented picnic and clambake which runs from 12 noon to 3 PM. Everyone will have an awesome day!!! Eat some clams as you learn how nice motorcyclists are.
Food, beverages, prizes, motorcycle raffle, and music by Krazy Kat himself! Among other prizes, a cash prize of $150 will be awarded to the Best Poker Hand and $50 for the Second Best Hand. For more information about registration, to become a sponsor, or to be a vendor, details and forms are available at RFR@jarengineering.com or call him at (908) 284-9040.
US CHOPPERS TELEVISION REPORT– If your located in Virginia, Carolina, Tennessee, or Kentucky- specifically the Tri-Cities area, don’t forget to watch for U.S. Choppers on the WB!
Don’t miss your favorite TV program: STEEL DREAMS !
Airing next Saturday, August 26th.
A copy of the programming schedule and a link to the episode preview has been included for your convenience.
Thank you,
–Rick Krost
http://www.steeldreamstv.com/episode_guide.php?episode=13
CYCLE SALES ON RECORD PACE– Expanding popularity and fuel prices in the first half of 2006 have put motorcycle and scooter sales on track toward a 14th straight year of record growth. Compared to the first half of 2005, among the 15 leading brands, bike sales jumped 10.9 percent through the second quarter, according to Motorcycle Industry Council statistics. Sales of on-highway motorcycles (not including scooters) rose 11 percent in the first six months of the year, and scooter sales alone are up 19.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
“It’s exciting to see continued, growing interest in motorcycling across America, and that there are more and more reasons for the demand,” said MIC President Tim Buche. “There has been a lot of attention paid to motorcycle and scooter sales this year because of rising fuel prices. The reality is that a long-time trend of increasing motorcycle sales, now more than a dozen years strong, just continues revving along. Sales have gone up every year since 1993. That’s when the first ‘Jurassic Park’ was the summer blockbuster and you could buy gas for under a dollar-fifty.”
“Rising fuel prices are just another reason that millions more Americans have purchased a bike, or are seriously considering one,” Buche said. “With many motorcycles capable of 50 to 70 miles per gallon, and many scooters getting 60 to 80 mpg, dealerships and manufacturers are fielding a lot more inquiries about fuel economy,” he said.
“But during the past 14 years, motorcycling also has found its way into the fabric of American culture,” Buche continued, “with two-wheeling getting past old stereotypes and gaining acceptance and traction as a great form of transportation and recreation.”
“The motorcycling demographic is widening, from baby boomers who are coming back to bikes, to Generation Y Americans into adventure sports, entire families and growing numbers of women who ride,” Buche said. “Motorcycles, scooters, even gear and leather riding jackets are more fashionable than ever. We used to have to look hard to find positive motorcycle imagery in pop culture. Now you see bikes everywhere, spicing up advertisements for a wide range of major industries, in fashion layouts, in runway shows, in store windows, in art museums, in the form of toys at the local department store and with many celebrities, CEOs and folks from all walks of life.”
“Another factor with the soaring sales has to do with the bikes themselves,” said Ty van Hooydonk, director of product communications with Discover Today’s Motorcycling.
“Motorcycles and scooters are simply better than ever, in performance, style and variety, and still very affordable,” he said. “The latest Cycle World Buyer’s Guide lists more than 400 models. And it’s not just sportbikes and cruisers and touring bikes. There are emerging niches between these broad categories, appealing to a wider array of personal taste in bikes. There’s a fun little $3,000 sportbike that gets 74 miles per gallon. There are beautiful big cruisers that cost $12,000 or less. There are many desirable bikes at these prices and beyond that Americans aspire to own and enjoy.”
In 2005, motorcycle and scooter sales topped the one-million level for the third straight year, high marks last seen during the 1970s. The MIC lists 1973 as the zenith for annual motorcycle sales, when Americans bought more than 1.5 million bikes. Sales for 1979 topped the one-million mark, then cooled in the 1980s and early 1990s. Motorcycling began its 13 years of increasing success back in 1993, with sales growing every year since:
U.S. New Unit Motorcycle Sales
1992 – 278,000 1999 – 546,000
1993 – 293,000 2000 – 710,000
1994 – 306,000 2001 – 850,000
1995 – 309,000 2002 – 936,000
1996 – 330,000 2003 – 1,001,000
1997 – 356,000 2004 – 1,063,000
1998 – 432,000 2005 – 1,116,000
NEWS OF THE WEIRD– Man Breaks Moving Violation Record — An Italian scooterist in Turin has shattered the previous record for moving violations with a whopping 144 points in less than 15 minutes.
His crimes include: not wearing a helmet, riding without rear-view mirrors, speeding, running a red light, not stopping when police ordered, riding the wrong way down city-center streets, riding without lights, riding on pedestrian footpaths, riding without insurance, and worst of all, incorrectly attached license plates.
The previous Italian record had stood since April at 116 points in a single night.
Not to be outdone, an American woman recently racked up 70 speeding tickets in 5 months. As a mortgage broker in Phoenix, Arizona, Francesca Cisneros is used to working with big numbers, but it’s the double-digit speed limits she has trouble with.
Speeding cameras in Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix, snapped pictures of the 32-year-old woman as she tore through the sun-baked city in her Honda Civic between March 2 and July 31, and she has been issued 70 speeding tickets.
“She told arresting officers she was speeding because she seemed to be late for client meetings all the time,” Scottsdale Police Department spokesman Mark Clark told Reuters. “I guess she’s got some time management issues.”
Police said Cisneros said she threw her speeding tickets away because she thought nothing could happen to her if she didn’t pay them. Clark said Cisneros faces some $11,000 in fines and could have her license suspended.
WELD WHEELS FILES CHAPTER 11–Seems after 35 years in business they fucked up. But all is not lost. You’ll have to check the Kansas City Star for the full report, but American Racing is buying their assests and Platinum, who bought Boyds is buying American. Not sure I have all the facts straight, but something like that.
JUDGE RULES HELMET LAW IS UNCONSTITUTOINAL AND VAGUE– It looks like Richard Quigley’s legal home-schooling, not to mention the hundreds of hours of community service he’s spent at the Santa Cruz Law Library, have paid dividends. A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that at least a dozen citations leveled against Quigley for not wearing a motorcycle helmet are unconstitutional because the California Highway Patrol has failed to properly define what constitutes a safe motorcycle helmet.
In his seven-page ruling, Judge Michael Barton sided with Quigley, 61, of Aptos, whose argument in numerous court appearances over the years is that his soft leather baseball cap is just as much a helmet as the so-called standard hard-shelled helmets worn by most motorcycle riders.
The California Highway Patrol must define what a helmet is or any citations written by officers are unconstitutional, Barton ruled. The interpretation of what constitutes a helmet, the judge wrote, is unfairly left up to the CHP officer’s “subjective opinion,” and the set of guidelines and safety standards are “vague.”
Quigley, who’s been fighting the helmet law for 15 years, since it first went into effect, was elated at the judge’s detailed clarification of a ruling last month. “I finally feel a sense of victory,” said Quigley, who’s received dozens of citations for wearing a baseball cap as a helmet for more than a decade. “The point in all this is that the CHP doesn’t have any idea what a helmet is, and until they figure it out, they shouldn’t be issuing tickets.”
In July, Barton sided with Quigley and dismissed nine helmet citations against him on the premise the law was too vague. Wednesday, he dismissed the final two citations against Quigley, ruling that “The CHP is the only state agency authorized by the statutes to adopt reasonable regulations establishing specifications and standards for motorcycle safety helmets. The CHP’s failure to adopt such regulations, and make them available to the public, has rendered the helmet law statutes void for vagueness as applied.”
The judge’s order and its implications caught the California Highway Patrol off guard, and the agency’s general counsel was seeking legal advice late Wednesday, said Tom Marshall, a spokesman for the CHP. “We’re going to review the decision to determine what, if any actions, we will take,” said Marshall.
By Tom Ragan, santacruzsentinel
–from Rogue
STEALTH REPORT FROM NC– Last night Stealth Bike Works was the sponsor of Bike night at Kristophers Bar & Grill. We had a great time. One of the things I find interesting at Bike Nights is not only the bikes but the people. There are all types, Bikers, Rubs, Yuppies, and Newbies. I guess that is what makes it interesting. You also see some dangerous stuff there also, like the lady who pulls into the lot and cannot park her bike. Her riding partner must dismount his bike and park it for her. Scary to say the least!
The Bike Build Off’s are back! The one between Scott Long and Trevelene was great. Both bikes were killer! It is good to see a small shop like Trevelene’s get the exposure. His bike won and was my favorite by a nose. I had the pleasure to talk to him on the phone yesterday. He is a super guy to talk to. Congratulations!
Friday night is “Biker Night” here at STEALTH BIKE WORKS. We do this the 3rd Friday of every month and it has proven to be great time for us and our customers. It is our way of saying thanks to all of have supported SBW.
We came up with a pretty cool piece this week. The “Dicey” shifter rod. I think it is pretty cool. Right now at the shop we are concentrating on two builds. One, a new ground up and one, a ground up restoration. So we are still pounding!
I almost forgot, we have a BIG announcement. The Run For Breath “In Memory of Justin Pullin” will return in July of 07! The RFB is back by popular demand. We have received phone calls all summer concerning the run and after attending a bike show that to say the least was very disappointing we decided to bring the RFB back. We have BIG plans for the RFB and we have a new crew of volunteers and the excitement level is high. I really missed the RFB in a lot of ways and I am glad it is making a comeback. So stay tuned for more info.
That is it for this week. I would like to leave you with this: “Unless you are reaching for the sky, it isn’t living!”
Until next week, RIDE!
–STEALTHMAN
S&S POWERED BIKE SHATTERS LAND SPEED RECORD AT BONNEVILLE!– BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS, ID (August 17, 2006) S&S Cycle announces a new land speed record using Proven Performance? S&S components. Brian Perkins, S&S Race Department Engineer & 2006 Bonneville Project Lead, now holds the official land speed record of 169.309 mph in the A-PF (Altered Pushrod Fuel) Class. The previous record of 157.010 mph was run on a Yamaha motorcycle by Team Bozeman in September of 2003.
On Sunday, August, 13, 2006, Perkins made his first run and recorded a speed of 161.421 mph to break the previous record set in 2003. This first pass was done during the heat of the day, about 97? over 8000′ density altitude, with less than ideal salt conditions. Monday, August 14, 2006, following the standard “impound” of the bike to verify compliance, Perkins made his second run. This run was completed in the early morning hours with an air temperature of 63?. Perkins ran an impressive 177.198 mph, once again shattering the previous record. During record runs the machine ran on an alcohol, spec gas mix. As the rules dictate, an average of both runs was taken to mark the official record time of 169.309 mph in the books.
“Wow, what can I say the best way to describe a record run like this is, well, it’s like being at the top of a 3-mile high roller coaster!” said Perkins after his record runs. “There are so many dynamics involved with keeping the bike straight at these record speeds. Then there’s the shutdown – it’s very exciting – when you let off the throttle the bike’s suspension changes drastically and the bike tends to get very loose. This change in the suspension, along with being on the salt, makes it a real challenge to control the bike.”
“It’s exciting to see our new “T” engine perform so well at the salt flats,” said Michael Scaletta, Senior Manager of Engineering for S&S. “Bonneville, also known as the “great white dyno” is an extreme test on man and machine. It’s been ten years since we’ve been to Bonneville and it’s good to get our feet wet again and set some records.
The bike Perkins rode is a 2004 Harley-Davidson? Dyna? model, equipped with a modified S&S T-Series engine including S&S B2 heads, 675 cams, S&S Oil Pump, high performance S&S clutch, the new 6-speed S&S transmission, and S&S Variable Fuel Injection with the famous tear drop air cleaner/cover. The engine is an S&S T124 which has been de-stroked to 4.55 to meet the 2000 cc requirement; the compression ratio is 13:1 and the displacement is 122″. Minimal modifications to the frame were made, including lengthening the swing arm by 2″ and installing a different front end with stiffer, stronger components to handle the extreme speeds needed to set this new record.
QUOTABLE QUOTE– “Liberty and freedom and democracy are so very precious that you do not fight to win them once and then stop. You do not do that. Liberty and freedom and democracy are prizes that are awarded only to those people who fight to win them and then keep on fighting eternally to hold them.”
Sgt. Alvin York (1887-1964), WWI Medal of Honor recipient
SALT SHAKER GEARING–Ok, here we go. Street gear 42 rear. Bonneville 38. We gotta make sure we can pull these gears in the upper RPM range. I would try both of them at Da’ Salt. The engine that went out with yours is in CA, but they have not delivered it yet either.
–Berry Wardlaw
Accurate Engineering
MICHAEL HUPY MOTORCYCLE INVESTIGATOR QUESTIONED– For those of you who wonder how I spend my time off work, I do security for motorcycle rides. This is me and Shirley, my drug-sniffing dog, working in Madison. She’s one tough little pooch.
Tony Sanfelipo
INDIA RELAXES HELMET RULE– Many motorcycle riders look happy about relaxing the rule of wearing helmet for motorcycle passengers. For them, they say, it is an escape from carrying around an extra helmet and makes it easier for giving lifts.
Not wearing helmet by backseat rider is more risky than the joy it brings. Doctors, who have to attend those injured in accidents, look at it differently. Helmets were made compulsory even for pillion riders about three years ago, but traffic police have eased the rule for pillion riders despite pleas from the medical community that easing of the rule might make women become more vulnerable as most of them are passengers and also because of their seating position.
However, SSP at the Valley Traffic Police Office Bhisma Prasai said that the option was given because of public complaints. He said they have taken public opinion during one-month period before the decision was taken and most of the riders opined that it would be better if it was made optional rather than compulsory as we have limited road length and the traffic speed is also slow.
20TH ANNUAL TOY RUN COMING– We are having our 20th annual toy and poker run September 9th here in Ulysses, Kansas www.bikersofsouthwestkansas.org
CLOCKIN’ OUT–It’s time to head into the shop and make those struts, then gobble fish tacos and Coronas then relax. The Paul Cox, in Sturgis, shot above was taken by Michael Lichter for Easyriders years ago. He won’t mind that I use it, but nevertheless it was stolen.
We received stories recently of someone pilfering shots off Bikernet and we had to notify the recipient and shut it down. I receive a lot of shots from various connections and I always want to respect artists or photographers, but giving them appropriate credit. We want to do the right thing for all the talents who contribute to Bikernet, so let us know if we’re ever out of line.
While I’m at it, I would like to thank Bob Tronolone for all his hard work in conjunction with the Chop N Grind Bonneville team and our 5-Ball Racing effort. He has organized our tents, tools and raised the funds to cover the Chop N Grind team. We’re looking forward to hooking up with them in about 10 days on the salt. Hang on for more reports.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
