General Posts

SoftBrakes’ new Reduced Reach Clutch lever for 2014-Up touring bikes with hydraulic clutch is certain to enhance the ride experience for many touring and sport riders alike. The unique lever reduces reach 1” less then stock, providing smoother, easier operation. A real convenience for riders with smaller hands. Reduced Reach Levers are available in polished $49.95, black $56.95 and chrome $64.95. All sales are on an exchange basis only. Call direct at 208-561-5031 or catch them on the Web at www.softbrake.com.

Tonight, the True American Heroes Benefit Auction will be held at Kenny Roberts’ legendary ranch in Modesto, California. The Auction is part of the Fifth Annual True American Heroes Weekend, a fundraising event sponsored by Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., which benefits “Welcome Home Heroes” and the Cpl. Michael D. Anderson Jr. Memorial Foundation. The True American Heroes Weekend is co-sponsored by Wells Fargo. The featured item at the Auction is a brand-new Bolt C-Spec motorcycle donated by Yamaha. The Bolt C-Spec has been expertly transformed into a one-of-a-kind, fully street-legal Kenny Roberts flat-tracker tribute bike by Team Roberts, Jeff Palhegyi Design, and Roland Sands Design, with additional assistance provided by Öhlins USA, Motion Pro, Vance & Hines, Saddlemen, Two Brothers Racing, Braap Shop Yamaha, and Cycle Gear. “The look and style of this custom ‘KR Replica’ Bolt C-Spec is a perfect tribute to the true heritage of Yamaha racing as defined by the great Kenny Roberts himself,” said Bob Starr, Corporate Communications Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., “We know that the monies raised from the auction of this special, one-of-a-kind motorcycle will go to a very worthy cause that Kenny and all of us at Yamaha are so passionate about!” The True American Heroes Benefit Auction will take place this Friday night following the True American Heroes Dinner. Justin Trick, Auctioneer, will conduct the live auction right at King Kenny’s ranch to benefit Welcome Home Heroes. Along with the brand-new “KR Replica” Bolt C-Spec up for bids, the Auction will also include Team Roberts memorabilia, other signed racing-related items, and lots of additional motorsports merchandise. Phone-in bids are also being accepted for the Auction. To place your bid via phone, call Michael Utt at 209-765-9317. Seating for the True American Heroes Dinner is very limited, and tickets are $600

New from Barnett’s is a clutch spring compression tool for 2001 & later Victory motorcycles. It’s designed to compress the diaphragm clutch spring making it easy to remove and re-install the retainer ring. This clutch tool makes working on the clutch much easier and efficient and is a “must have” for anybody working on Victory clutches. This tool is precision machined in the USA from billet aluminum, then hard anodized. To order contact your dealer or order online by hitting the banner below. Part #317-85-30016 MSRP: $113.71   Advertisement

Sons of Speed is now selling tickets for their inaugural race, set for October of this year. The SOS debut race features nine daredevil motorcycle racers and will run Saturday, October 15, 2016, during Biketoberfest at New Smyrna Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. “There has been so much enthusiasm from sponsors, fans and potential participants since we first announced the concept,” said Billy Lane, founder of Sons of Speed. “Now the date’s set, tickets are on sale, we have a full slate of riders and we can’t wait for October.”   Inspired by early twentieth-century board-track racers, the Sons of Speed race hearkens back to a stripped down, wide-open approach to motorcycle riding. Held at New Smyrna Speedway’s half-mile, banked racetrack, the inaugural race will feature 9 riders in several different heats, and winners of the heats will advance to a championship round. Each racer will sit astride identical hand-built racing chassis holding pre-1925 1,000cc American V-Twin engines, and most racers will customize their machines by fabricating handlebars, exhaust, fenders, foot pegs and fuel/oil tanks. More info here.

Hey, It’s never a dull moment around the headquarters. This seems to be a week of innovation and new product testing. The latest cool unit from Biker’s Choice. We are using it with Rivera Primo advance weights. Never give up should be everyone’s mantra in life. Never give up on your health, your relationships, your education and your motorcycle. I’ve been challenged by a particular motorcycle. It’s never run right. I loved building this bike. It was my first experience with big wheels. But it sputtered at about 25-30 mph and I couldn’t figure it out. With the help of Keith Ruxton, James Simonelli, at Biker’s Choice and Frank Aliano, I’m about to pull the plug the trigger on another test. You should see the results next week. I’ve faced a number of Never Give Up challenges this year and we’re knocking down the obstacles to success one by one. Hang on for more reports. The Bikernet Weekly News is proudly sponsored by the following good folks in our Industry, including: Cycle Source Magazine, Iron Trader News, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and Las Vegas BikeFest. – Read more on a Non-Stop from Harley, Victory, Love Jugs, the MRF, AMA, Ducati, Triumph, SmokeOut, Williams, Le Pera, Saddlemen, and brother Rogue.

We stumbled on a collection of very sad photos and a great story to boot. It all started when a motorcycle enthusiast spotted interesting pictures of derelicts motorcycles on Flickr. He soon set out on a mission to find the motorcycle graveyard depicted in the collection of photos. After some detective work online he was able to find the exact location of the rusty graveyard in Niagara County, New York. You can find out more at Vintage News.

Baja-style off-road race enthusiasts are in for a full weekend of exciting live racing action, camping under a starry sky and live music at the Stugis Buffalo Chip on June 10 and 11. The race, dubbed the “Buffalo Chip 100,” to be staged at the Buffalo Chip’s PowerSports Complex, is one of four in the Yellowstone’s “Wild West Off-Road Series.” The Schedule Friday, June 10 – Buffalo Chip Campground open for camping. Call the Buffalo Chip box office for cabin rentals, RV sites with hook ups and tent camping reservations before June 3 at 605-347-9000. Saturday, June 11 8:30 a.m. – Gates open at the PowerSports Complex 10:00 a.m. – Racing action begins: Ultra 4s, UTVs, and four classes of trucks 6:00 p.m. – Awards ceremony 7:00 p.m. – Concert by Funk Nasty and party at the Buffalo Chip’s Bikini Beach Stage and Swim Paradise Tickets and Entering the Races Tickets for the races and live concert are $10 each and may be purchased at Ray’s Auto Body and Kelly’s Sports Lounge, both in Rapid City. New racers are welcome. For more information on entering the race and class rules visit yorracing.com or contact Brian Williams at 605-415-5826. Advertisement

In keeping with the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s mission to Honor the Ride, a special “Freedom Fighter” award recognizing an individual who has fought to protect the rights of motorcyclists was instituted. For 2016, the Freedom Fighter is Gary Wetzel, a Vietnam Veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who has been active for decades in raising awareness of not only Veteran’s issues, but also protecting riders rights. “There truly is no one more deserving of the 2016 Freedom Fighter award than Gary Wetzel,” says Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall Of Fame Executive Director Myrick Robbins. “It is an honor and a privilege to salute Gary’s achievements during the induction of the Class of 2016.” Initiated in 2001, The Freedom Fighter award honors someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty for motorcyclists and expended efforts in the political arena. “That criteria is epitomized by Gary,” adds Robbins. “A longtime rider, he has ridden with Rolling Thunder since 1989 and has stepped up countless times as an advocate for the disabled. In fact, one of the first formal events of Harley-Davidson’s 110th Anniversary Celebration was “Military Day” and there was a motorcycle ride to the VA hospital to raise money. Leading the way that day was Gary Wetzel… and he continues to be a leader every day.” Wetzel received the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon Johnson for his service in Vietnam. “Every time I wear that blue ribbon, I wear it for everybody,” he insists. “I’m just a caretaker… Just a soldier doing a job.” When Wetzel’s helicopter was shot down, the survivors came under heavy enemy fire. “I was trying to save my buddy and my pilot when a grenade went off about four feet behind me and caught me pretty good,” he says. Wetzel lost his

Introduced today, the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse is a blacked-out hard bagger that will provide riders with a starting platform; a plain canvas mounted over around a massive V-twin powertrain with two wheels. Although this menacing bike could be used ‘straight out of the can’, riders might see it as an open invitation to get creative by accessorizing with factory parts or building a more radical sled. Continue reading

Bikernet found out this morning that Bonneville 200 MPH Club member Valerie Thompson is to ride a land speed racing streamliner for owner Denis Manning this season. Denis Manning who’s aiming at a 400 mph record said, “She will need to learn how to ride our rocket’. There’s no doubt that Manning’s purpose-built streamliner two-wheeler is no ordinary motorcycle, but Valerie is no stranger herself to wild machinery. Valerie is a multiple land speed record holder and has also competed in NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle racing. More details are to come soon and we will be sure to keep you up to date. In the meantime you can check out Valerie’s accomplishments with the Bikernet 5-Ball Racing Panhead a few years back.