BANDIT IS F.I.C.K.L.E. BIKERNET NEWS for December 7 2017

BIKERNET IS JUST SAYING…–

I think you can have some fun with this on Thursdays Post.

A little strange for me But I wonder about some others.

 

 

BIKERNET GUN NUT ALERT: WEST COAST EDITION– California: Sign Up for Upcoming NRA and CRPA Webinars Regarding California “Assault Weapon” Laws

On Tuesday, December 19, and on Thursday, December 21, NRA and CRPA will be host a two-part webinar regarding California’s recently enacted “assault weapon” restrictions. Specifically, the webinars will address options other than registration which are available to California gun owners who are now in possession of a firearm classified as an “assault weapon” under Senate Bill 880 and Assembly Bill 1135.

The first webinar, which will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 12:00 noon PST, will provide California gun owners with information on how to legally assemble what is commonly referred to as a California “compliant” firearm. As part of this webinar, several potential “fixed” magazine modifications currently available on the market, as well as other related products, will be discussed.

The second webinar, which will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017, at 12:00 noon PST, will provide California gun owners with information on how to legally assemble what is commonly referred to as a California “featureless” firearm. As part of this webinar, several available aftermarket modifications designed to make either a rifle or pistol “featureless” will be discussed.

To register for Part One, which will provide gun owners with information on how to lawfully build a California “compliant” rifle, click here.

To register for Part Two, which will provide gun owners with information on how to lawfully build a California “featureless” rifle, click here.

As is the case with previous NRA and CRPA webinars, don’t worry if you are unable to attend. Both webinars will be recorded and made freely available on both NRA and CRPA websites. Additional webinars regarding other changes to California gun laws, including the recently adopted “assault weapon” regulations and the processes for registering newly classified “assault weapons,” can also be found there.

Continue to check your inbox and the California Stand and Fight webpage for updates on issues impacting your Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in California.

ANOTHER BIKERNET READER COMMENT!–

TACO TUESDAY NOW ON SUNDAY, SUNDAY POST for December 3, 2017

 We need term limits and prosecution of these so called public servants and enough with the benefits for life they give themselves. if seats are empty maybe we could find a few honest people. perhaps it would be a good idea to cut off california, new york, let them be here own little kingdoms without our tax monies. well I have to get off the soap box,0500 time for coffee. 

AJ

aj846@lycos.com

deland, FL

Source: WalletHub

Then again, your motivations may not be of the financial nature. Still it would hurt us more than them. It’s a bummer but I think we’re just going to have to do this the hard way. Figure shit out as we go so we can fix all that has been broken by poor leadership.

 

BIKERNET’S LOVE FOR TEARS– Newest addition to the iconic S&S® Teardrop Air Cleaner line

Created in 1975, the S&S Teardrop Air Cleaner has long been the iconic shape of v-twin performance.  Adding to that legacy, the new Mini Teardrop is a compact version designed around the S&S  Stealth high flow air cleaner system for a simple install and, in most applications, emissions compliant as well.  A natural for the HD® Sportster® and Street®, but looks and performs great on Dyna®, Softail®, and touring models as well. Available in chrome or gloss black as a full air cleaner kit or a retrofit cover for existing Stealth air cleaners. Available direct from S&S or through your favorite distributor.

Click here for more information!.  http://sscycle.com/mini-teardrop

Been a while since the classic teardrop line got some love. Excited about this one as we’ve taken our contemporary high flow Stealth air cleaner platform and wrapped it in a newly designed mini Teardrop. Classic looks and modern performance, that’s a pretty good format, right?

 Talk soon.

 DZ

 

OLDEST TECH TAKES OUT NEWEST TECH IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE– French military using winged warriors to hunt down rogue drones.

This is amazing.

A golden eagle grabs a flying drone during a military training exercise at Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base, Southwestern France.

Following incidents of drones flying over the presidential palace and restricted military sites – along with the deadly 2015 Paris terror attacks – the French Air Force has trained four golden eagles to intercept and destroy the rogue aircraft.

Aptly named d’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis – an homage to Alexandre Dumas’ “The Three Musketeers” – the four birds of prey have been honing their attack skills at the Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France since mid-2016.

“A drone means food for these birds,” Gerald Machoukow, the military base’s falconer, told FRANCE 24. “Now they automatically go after them.”

The use of hunting birds – normally falcons and northern goshawks – by militaries around the globe is common practice in the fight to scare other critters away from runways and so cut the risk of accidents during takeoff or landing. But it wasn’t until 2015 when the Dutch started using bald eagles to intercept drones that other militaries started to see the benefit of these winged warriors.

The French bred the four golden eagles – three males and one female — using artificial insemination since eagles are a protected species and harvesting wild eggs is strictly forbidden. They chose the golden eagle because of the birds hooked beak and sharp eyesight.

Also weighing in around 11 pounds, the birds are in a similar weight class as the drones they’re sent to destroy and clocking in at a top air speed of 50 miles per hour, with the capability of spotting its target from over a mile away, the eagles are deft hunters.

To protect the eagles from drone blades and any explosive device that might be attached to them, the French military designed mittens of leather and Kevlar (an anti-blast material), to protect the bird’s talons.

A golden eagle carries a flying drone (2017). “I love these birds,” Machoukow told Agence France-Presse.  “I don’t want to send them to their death.” The birds are first taught to attack in a straight line before graduating to diving from heights. Soon they’ll be patrolling the skies over the Pyrenees Mountains in southern France and could possibly be deployed at airports and special events, such as political summits and soccer tournaments.

The French air force already expects four more eagles to join the fleet.

 –Sam Burns

 

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY WORD OF THE DAY–

Logomachy [loh-gom-uh-kee]

noun

2. an argument or debate marked by the reckless or incorrect use of words; meaningless battle of words.

QUOTES

And suppose he tackled me again with this logomachy, which might vainly have been set before ancient Oedipus.

— Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth, translated by Frederick Amadeus Malleson, 1877

ORIGIN

English logomachy comes straight from the Greek noun logomachía “battle of words.” The Greek noun is very rare and also very late, first used in the First Epistle to Timothy, traditionally attributed to St. Paul (c5-67 a.d.). Logomachy entered English at the end of the 16th century.

Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom

This is a fine hotrod ! While it doesn’t seem like 2 up riding would work well , for a street racer or bar hopper , it can not be much better !

 Tom Amann

 Andes, NY

 

BIKERNET HERE’S YOUR SIGN —

 

BIKERNET PULSE FOR GOOD REPORT– OPERATION GRATITUDE ASSEMBLES TWO MILLIONTH CARE PACKAGE

Who:     Operation Gratitude

What:    Thousands of Volunteers to Assemble 10,000 Care Kits and to celebrate the Two Millionth Operation Gratitude Care Package.

Where: 21100 Lassen Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311

When:  Saturday, December 9 from 10am to Noon

Why:     Operation Gratitude’s mission is twofold:  To lift morale in the Military and First Responder communities; and to provide volunteer opportunities for Americans to express appreciation to all who serve our nation.

Key Messages:

Operation Gratitude is assembling and delivering their 2 Millionth and 2,000,001st Care Packages to members of the Military.                                    

Founder Carolyn Blashek will assemble Operation Gratitude’s 2 Millionth Care Package. The organization’s new CEO, retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel will assemble the 2,000,001st Care Package.                                         

More than 350,000 volunteers donated 25 million hours of volunteer service over the past 14 years to bring this milestone moment to fruition.                              

With thousands of volunteers participating on December 9th, this celebration is not only an acknowledgement of what Operation Gratitude has achieved since its inception, but a symbol of what it intends to replicate in other communities across America.

Operation Gratitude sends 250,000+ individually addressed care packages annually to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen deployed overseas, to their children left behind, and to First Responders, New Recruits, Veterans, Wounded Heroes, and their Care Givers. Each package contains snacks, hygiene products, entertainment, and handmade items, as well as personal letters of support.

After 9-11, founder Carolyn Blashek started volunteering at the military lounge at Los Angeles airport. In March 2003, a soldier came into the office and broke down at her desk. He was on leave from a war zone for his mother’s funeral, his wife had left him, and his only child had died as an infant-he had no one else in his life.  “I’m going back over there; I know I won’t make it back this time, but it really doesn’t matter because no one would even care,” he told her. Right then, Blashek realized that when bullets are flying, troops must believe that someone at home cares about them as an individual. That’s when Operation Gratitude was born.

Yamaha And Graves Motorsports Announce Supersport Team And YZF-R3 Support Program For 2018 MotoAmerica Road Racing Championship

Cypress, CA – December 6, 2017 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), and Graves Motorsports are proud to announce that 2015 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion JD Beach will continue as a Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service (Y.E.S.)/Graves/Yamaha Supersport team rider competing in the 2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. In addition, Yamaha and Graves are introducing a brand-new Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Support Program for riders who wish to compete aboard specially prepared Yamaha R3 motorcycles in MotoAmerica’s new 2018 Junior Cup Championship.

Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha
Anxious to put the #1 plate back on his Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport machine is returning team rider JD Beach, who finished a close second to his former teammate Garrett Gerloff in the 2017 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.

 

BIKERNET KEEPS AN EYE ON REPRESENTATION– Motorcycle Riders Foundation Delivers Petition at First Meeting of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council, Asking to ‘Let Riders Speak’

WASHINGTON, DC – A petition containing over 5,000 signatures was delivered to the first meeting of the Federal Highway Administration’s Motorcyclist Advisory Council on Tuesday. The document was presented by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and demanded that the Council designate additional seats to represent the motorcycle rider community. Currently, the Council has 10 available seats; only one of which is filled by a motorcycle rider association representative.

Reauthorized in the latest highway bill in 2016, the Motorcyclist Advisory Council or ‘MAC’ was created to coordinate with and counsel the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on infrastructure and other issues that affect motorcyclists. It was originally conceptualized in 2005, and designed to allow the motorcycle community a dialogue with government officials; the only one of its kind. Previous iterations of the group also held 10 seats, however unlike the current parameters, 4 of the 10 council members included representatives from the motorcycling community from various state and federal motorcycle associations. When the MAC was reauthorized, the Federal Highway Administration eliminated all but one of these, only calling for 1 representative from the motorcycling community with the other 9 positions to be filled by experts in roadway data, design and engineering.

“We continue to be concerned that [the MAC], the ONLY group of its kind on a national scale, fails to include adequate representation of the nearly 8.5 million motorcycle riders on our nation’s roadways,” said Megan Ekstrom, Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation in prepared comments delivered at the meeting. “Only ONE out of TEN of these individuals can speak for the rider community at large and has the authority to do so and is here to serve that specific purpose. The MAC should have more of these,” Ekstrom went on to say.

Members of Congress also weighed in. The Senate issued a letter, led by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) asking for additional seats for motorcycle riders association. The letter, sent in February, included Senator John Thune (R-SD), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation which has jurisdiction over transportation-related matters.

The U.S. House of Representatives issued its own letter to Secretary Chao, outlining their own concerns and asking the Secretary of Transportation to allow the motorcycle community a strong voice on the Council. The letter stated, “It is critical to allow motorcyclists to have a strong voice on this Council. These are the individuals who have experience and can provide a motorcyclist’s insights on the challenges and benefits of our roadways. Depending on where they live, riders have unique experiences and are differently impacted by roadway and barrier design, and construction, among others.”

Seated in the audience of Tuesday’s meeting was Andy Kelly. Kelly, a rider for most of his life and a member of ABATE of Pennsylvania, which stands for “Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education” made the trip to Washington, DC to attend the meeting after signing the petition. A handful of other motorcycle riders representing various state and local rider associations were also in the audience, allowed to listen, but not officially weigh in on issues that affect them as riders.

“This is an example of government at its worst,” said Ekstrom. “The purpose of this group is to advise on issues important to motorcyclists, how can the MAC identify and prioritize these issues, without adequate rider representation?”

A copy of the petition and Ekstrom’s remarks are below.

P E T I T I O N

We Call on the Department of Transportation to Add Seats to the Motorcyclist Advisory Council for Motorcycle Riders’ Associations

In 2015, Congress re-established the Motorcyclist Advisory Council in the Highway Bill to advise the Federal Highway Administration on “issues of concern to motorcyclists.” This important group would serve as the ONLY official forum on a national scale for motorcyclists to have an open dialogue with the Government to discuss concerns like road and barrier design, the emergence of autonomous vehicles and other areas of the nation’s highways and infrastructure which impact motorcyclists in a unique way.

In 2017, an announcement was made naming 10 individuals to serve as appointees to the Council. Regrettably, all but one individual selected was represent the technical aspects of the Council, including engineering, construction and traffic safety systems as well as roadway data. Only one seat out of ten was designated for a national motorcycle riders’ association and speak for the 8.5 million motorcyclists in the U.S. And though 8 of the 10 appointees have their motorcycle endorsements, their intended purpose for participation on the Council is to represent the infrastructure and technical side of the conversation, not to advocate for riders. Nor do they have the authority to speak on behalf of riders at large, as would other motorcycle riders’ associations at the national and regional levels.

We, the below signed, call on the Secretary of Transportation to add 3 additional seats to the MAC; another seat for a national motorcycle rider’s association dedicated to on-street riders as well as at least two other seats for regional motorcycle riders’ associations.

Adding these three seats will ensure a balanced and fair composition to the Council and will adequately represent the voice and concerns of street motorcyclists across the nation.

 #LetRidersSpeak

Prepared Remarks By Megan Ekstrom, Vice-President of Government Affairs

Motorcycle Riders Foundation
On 5th of December 2017
At the Motorcyclist Advisory Council Meeting

My name is Megan Ekstrom and I am the Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation or MRF provides leadership for states’ and regional motorcycle riders associations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. Through our state partners and affiliates, we have a network of over 250,000 motorcycle riders representing all 50 states.

I’d like to start by thanking the Federal Highway Administration for allowing me to speak. As many in this room already know, the MRF has been critical of the parameters and the process for participation in the Motorcyclist Advisory Council – particularly with regard to the lack of representation for state and national motorcycle riders’ associations.

First, I want to be very clear that our grievances are in no way intended to be an attack or criticism of the 10 current appointees to the MAC. Each one of these individuals (several of which I know personally) bring important areas of expertise to the table. Whether that’s engineering or construction, safety or roadway data, each of their voices is critical to ensuring a successful MAC. I also recognize that the majority of the appointees are motorcycle riders themselves and can speak to their own individual riding experience.

While we recognize and appreciate this effort to be inclusive, we continue to be concerned that this important group, the ONLY one of its kind on a national scale, fails to include adequate representation of the nearly 8.5 million motorcycle riders on our nation’s roadways.

While the majority of MAC appointees have their motorcycle endorsement, only ONE out of TEN of these individuals can speak for the rider community at large and has the authority to do so and is here to serve that specific purpose

We believe the MAC should have more of these.

Associations have the ability to speak on behalf of a larger group of individuals, identifying common ground, areas of interest and prioritization of issues. They can point out different concerns in various parts of the country, geographically identifying where needs are most urgent based on feedback from their extensive member networks.

While the AMA can certainly help to fulfill that role, we are concerned that only one voice to speak on behalf of 8.5 million is enough.

I am not alone in voicing this concern – this year almost 40 members of congress from both the House and Senate, both Republican and Democrat, sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Chao laying out the concerns I have reiterated. Each of these letters stated that in order to facilitate a successful MAC, the Federal Highway Administration should allow more seats for designated motorcycle riders associations in order to ensure a productive dialogue.

I will submit these letters again for the record as well as a petition that I am bringing forth:

This petition signed by over 5,000 motorcycle riders in the U.S. calls on the Secretary to add 3 additional seats to the MAC: another seat for a national motorcycle rider’s association dedicated to on-street riders as well as at least two other seats for regional or state motorcycle riders’ associations.  If these 3 seats are added, which is permitted under the discretion of the Secretary, it will result in a more robust conversation, ensuring that the purpose of the MAC, as written under the statute, is fulfilled as it was intended by Congress

Thank you for listening to our concerns – like everyone in this room, the MRF simply wants to ensure that the unique needs, experiences, and requirements of motorcyclists from across the U.S. are being considered and heard.

BIKERNET STAFF COMMENT —

 GREAT SUNDAY POST

–ROGUE
rogue@bikernet.com
Palm Bay, FL

 

Thanks Rogue. Bandit is out of town so I was solo, editing content provided by all our wonderful staffers. All OUR readers should grab a membership and check out the benefits of a Cantina Membership. Exclusive videos, photos and specially crafted content.

BIKERNET’S THREESOME REPORT– www.BikernetTrikes.com

Trikes Site is finally making some noise and its music to my Editorial ears.

TOM AMANN from Andes, New York says:

tamann@catskill.net

I am 61 been riding since I was 12,I like the ural ,the retro design at popular prices . do not see any dealers around though . I ride Harley Davidson.I would consider a 2nd bike the Ural w/sidehack , might be a lot of fun . I do not have money enough to start a franchise though it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Wayfarer@Bikernet.com answers:

It is a pretty retro ride. I can’t imagine a cool sidecar apart from one on a Ural or a Enfield.

See Dealers in USA at:

https://www.imz-ural.com/dealer-locator/

URAL Dealership is present in almost every State of USA if not all 50.

Tell them Bikernet.com sent ya. Ride with a friend today.

Trikes For Disabled Riders

Dominic Pasqualini from Ellijay, GA says:

dominic950@outlook.com

Hello there my name is Dominic and I have been in a chair since 03. I need to become more independent as I live by myself now and would really enjoy a wheelchair accessible trike. I am not sure if I need to build one from scratch or purchase a used one. I don’t know where to even start looking any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Dominic

Wayfarer@Bikernet.com replies:

Check with these two companies:

http://www.paughco.com/

and

http://luckydevilmetalworks.com/wordpress/

Tell them Bikernet.com sent you.

Sam says: rotorkat@yahoo.com:

Very good to see a post in Trikes again.  Good article.

Wayfarer@Bikernet.com giggles:

Thank You Sir, glad to have your support.

Check out the new Vanderhall Edison2 Electric Three-Wheeler Feature on www.BikernetTrikes.com

David Anthony from Plant City, Florida says:

dmanthony2002@yahoo.com

My wife and I bought the first RF1-GT “Black Line edition” to the USA at Trike Traders in Lake Alfred IN 2016. We were going to put a trike kit on our 2012 Road Glide but after test riding the Rewaco we sold the Road Glide and purchased the Rewaco. We have been to the Dragon Tail and points in between Florida and North Carolina. All I can say is WOW! IF YOU DON’T OWN ONE YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND. Truly an incredible machine.

Wayfarer@Bikernet.com cheers:

Glad to find a Rewaco fan

Cheers

IF YOU WONDERFUL FOLKS HAVE ANY THREESOME ADVENTURE WITH A TRIKE OR SIDECAR, LET ME KNOW. Write to me at wayfarer@bikernet.com and I will force Keith Ball to send you some Bikernet Bling.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM CHOPPERFEST The Chopperfest family regrets to inform you that we must announce the postponement of The 14th Annual David Mann Chopperfest scheduled to take place at the Ventura Fairgrounds on Sunday, December 10th. The City of Ventura is devastated by the Thomas Fire that has wreaked havoc in our beloved city. In order to keep staff, residents, patrons, fire crews and first responders safe we have made this tough decision. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we look forward to greeting all of you when we resume the event on Sunday, February 4th, 2018. We would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” for your continued support for this local family owned and operated event. A portion of proceeds from the rescheduled 14th Annual David Mann Chopperfest will benefit the victims of this unfortunate natural disaster. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected. We will honor advance tickets purchased, bike show entries, and vendor fees. If you’re unable to join us on February 4, please contact me for reimbursement. Please share this announcement, as we do not want to inconvenience anyone who is planning on attending this Sunday.   Visit the Chopperfest Website

30th Annual L.A. Toy Run This Sunday, December 10th! Presented by Harley-Davidson of Glendale and ABATE local #1 and supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Los Angeles. Registration, Tickets and Additional Information

Morongo’s Sleigh Ride Toy Run  Saturday & Sunday,  Dec 9th & 10th Helping Children & Spreading Joy this Holiday Season. Presented by Morongo Casino and benefitting the JJ Johnson Foundation. Tickets and Additional Information

BIKERNET HOLIDAY CHEER —

-Jim Waggaman

 

Get a cool sticker– For the next 8 hours only…

…we are giving away the ‘Grumpy Old Bikers Club’ Decal to everyone on our list.

Grab your FREE Grumpy Old Bikers Club Decal HERE

Super Fast shipping from the USA!
Ride safe,
James
P.S. We are on a mission to give away 10,00 stickers.

The latest member of the DIABLO™ family applies brand technology developed in the FIM Superbike World Championship with multiple compounds, three on the rear and two on the front, to provide the best combination of performance and versatility with grip that sets a new benchmark on both dry and wet surfaces

Using its 15 years as Official Tire Supplier to the FIM Superbike World Championship, Pirelli now merges its best technologies from racetrack and road to produce the DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II. 

Since the launch of the original DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA in 2010, motorcycle torque and horsepower outputs have increased significantly and the introduction of sophisticated traction control systems and cornering ABS have enabled these performance gains to be applied by more riders at greater lean angles.

It is for this reason that Pirelli designed the new DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II, increasing front grip during turn-in and braking in lean and rear grip at full lean angles from mid-corner to exit. The result is a tire that provides a confident “feel” in all conditions with outstanding performance and increased mileage.

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II is the first Pirelli multi-compound tire that uses two compounds applied in three zones on the front tire and three compounds applied in five zones on the rear to create the ideal combination for modern motorcycles. Innovative profiles, a new structure derived from racing and a new tread design make this tire the best balance for riders wanting an excellent street tire that is even suitable for the racetrack.

As exclusive FIM Superbike World Championship tire supplier since 2004, one of Pirelli’s most important strategies in the series has been to develop winning tire technologies that work for all manufacturers’ motorcycles. Using these technologies for road solutions created Pirelli’s claim: “We sell what we race, we race what we sell”. The new DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II underlines the truth behind this mantra.

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II is intended for riders of mid-high performance motorcycles who enjoy a sports riding style on the street and not just on the racetrack. They desire a tire with fast warm-up, sports agility, excellent grip and consistent performance ready to compete against the challenges of everyday use. Pirelli have now transformed racetrack performance into street versatility, because it considers “Every day is a race day”.

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II will be available worldwide from January 2018.

BIKERNET POEM OF REFLECTION ON THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY OF PEARL HARBOR– A NEW CHRISTMAS POEM

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN’T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

 

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
“SANTA DON’T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.”

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.

I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA,
IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.”

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”

This poem was written by a Marine. The

following is his request. I think it is reasonable…..

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many

people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is

due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate

these festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of

what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and

dead! , who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part

to plant this small seed.

May God Bless You and Have A Great Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS! ~~~ Joe Teresi

ANOTHER READER COMMENT!–

Factory 6-Speed Tapered Roller Bearing Kit is now available!–

Heal your Achilles heel with the BAKER Factory 6-Speed Tapered Roller Bearing Kit for 2007-up Big Twins!

The Factory 6-Speed Tapered Roller Bearing Kit is your fix for failing factory main drive gear bearings.

We developed the Double Tapered Main Drive Gear Roller Bearing for the new GrudgeBox. When word of this got out, we were hounded incessantly by those who were having issues with their problematic stock main drive gear bearing.

High performance engine builders and BAKER engineers have known for years that the tapered roller “Timkens” on the left side of the engine are indestructible. This fact inspired us to develop the double tapered roller bearing system for our new GrudgeBox and is available now for Stock Cruise Drive 6-speeds.

 

Stock up on the stuff your customers will need to survive the onslaught!–

SAVE UP TO 12% – ORDER NOW

Famed Donnie Smith Show® Brings Thrills and Spills War of the Twins Indoor Flat Track Racing to Twin Cities–

Indoor Flat Track making a bold return to Minneapolis at Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum in March.

SAINT PAUL, MN (December 5, 2017) – The largest custom bike and car show in the Midwest, the Donnie Smith Show – Midwest Extravaganza, Bike, Car & Tattoo Expo, is bringing authentic Indoor Flat Track motorcycle racing back to the Twin Cities, where the roots of the sport were born. For 13 seasons, from 1968 to 1980, the revered Minneapolis Armory hosted “The Indoors,” indoor flat track racing that filled otherwise dreary winter months with handle-bar-to-handle bar, down-and-dirty, bar-banging action. Over those years, hundreds of privateer racers found a home in which to compete. As one of the largest, most successful and longest-running flat track events, The Indoors put the sport on the map. Now the Twin Cities will welcome the heart-pounding thunder of flat track racing once again on March 23, 2018 at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 

“Flat track plays into that American spirit of independence, competitiveness and the need for speed,” said Neil Ryan, promoter of the Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show. “We have a rich heritage going back into the ‘60s. The Donnie Smith Show’s always had a swap meet component, along with the biggest custom show in the region. Adding racing back to the mix brings it full circle and completes the package.”

The stars of the show come from diverse rider backgrounds ranging from crusty championship legends and pro flat trackers to battle-hungry amateurs. When these guys thunder off the line it’ll be no-holds-barred as they battle it out around the track. 

The historic return of Indoor Flat Track racing to the Twin Cities promises to tap into the high-energy fan enthusiasm sparked by the recent explosion of races across the country being coupled with bike shows, concerts and pro championship events. 

The Schedule, the Purse and the Particulars
Races begin at 3 p.m. with semi-finals taking the starting line at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2018. 

Classes include Pro Twin, Pro Single, Hooligan, Vintage, Amateur and Mad Dog with a $15,000 cash and trophies. Racers may enter at IndoorFlatTrack.com. 

Tickets are $15 in advance on the above website. The first 500 children 12 and under in the door accompanied by a parent will receive free entry. 

Sponsoring the Indoor Flat Track races are GEICO Motorcycle, Russ Brown, Sturgis Buffalo Chip and Dennis Kirk. 

Donnie Smith Show 
The Donnie Smith Show will take place at the St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25, 2018. In addition to motorcycles and cars, the 225,000-square-foot indoor event showcases a Tattoo Expo and a popular swap meet billed as “The Largest Parts Extravaganza on the Planet.” 

Tickets for the Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show are on sale at the RiverCentre Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or online atwww.ticketmaster.com. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free. 

Find high resolution photos of historic Minneapolis flat track races and the Donnie Smith Show at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1f……

About the Donnie Smith Bike and Car Show

BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY KICKS OF IT’S HOLIDAY SEASON– First Christmas joke for 2017 season. Happy Holidays

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates.

‘In honor of this holy season’ Saint Peter said, ‘You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven.’

The Englishman fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. ‘It’s a candle’, he said ‘You may pass through the pearly gates’ Saint Peter said.

The Scotsman reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, ‘They’re bells. Saint Peter said ‘You may pass through the pearly gates’.

The Irishman started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women’s panties. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, ‘And just what do those symbolize? The Irishman replied, ‘These are Carols.

And So The Christmas Season Begins……

— Sarge

A Close Call With Death

The bigger problem is the industry itself. Self doubt, self inflicted wounds, self destruction from within is more of a threat then those coming from outside. Harley Davidson, the mantle head of the industry through a series of miss steps seems like it is on a collision course that could threaten to take down the whole industry. The allure of Harley’s has been the customization of them, the image of the guy working in the garage crafting his bike into an extension of himself. It spawned a lucrative aftermarket that grew into a behemoth to the point that it was possible to build a complete motorcycle from catalogs. Catalog bikes were dipping into total Harley sales so over the last decade or so Harley has pushed back hard on the aftermarket. Used bikes that were often the foundations of builds mysteriously disappeared from the market. Dealers refusal to service and work on customized bikes leveraged people to buy new bikes and only factory approved parts. What they failed to realize was for every sale that was loss to the aftermarket they were gaining several new sales. People inspired by a radical chopper coming out of West Coast Choppers, Paul Yaffe and others were buying Heritage Softails and Fatboys and those sales spurred sales of Yamaha, Hondas and others. A robust Harley aftermarket allowed those companies to dip their toes into parts and accessories for Japanese, British and other manufactures of bikes. By clipping the aftermarket, Harley handicapped themselves going forward.

That is not to say that the aftermarket hasn’t had their own series of miss steps and miss cues. Major catalogs that were the bread and butter of small independent shops slowly stopped carrying the very items listed in their catalogs. Each year more and more items became back ordered or simply not available. 80% of my last major supplier’s catalog simply was not available with some things already back ordered several years worth. Many of the offerings were extremely dated with no updates or upgrades – would it really have killed them to make a billet toolbox or update the design. Familiarity inbred, creativity stagnated. Toss in the current drive of billionaire quarter profits pushed small companies to the side, and risks mitigated to “sure” things. Just do a search for an air cleaner. Beside subtle changes they are all the same open element design. Companies that were “only” making a couple million dollars profit a year just can’t compete against the market saturation the big guys could offer.

-bad uncle Monkey

 

ADIOS MUCHACHOS– Bandit will be back next week, so the Thursday news will go back to normal. Thanks for humoring me and listening. I hope it was entertaining. I know it was for me, albeit exhausting. Entertaining none the less. Have a great weekend.

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What’s your opinion? Leave me a comment below.

 

Ride Free Forever,

LaLa