General Posts

From Dar Holdsworth of Brass Ball Cycles: Two years ago when we built a free bike for a guy who lost his home and his bike in the Moore, OK. tornado, several good companies donated parts to the bike. One of them was 8Fifty Speed Shop. This week I learned of some sad news from the owner of 8Fifty and they need help. Late Sunday evening 8Fifty Speed Shop’s head mechanic Mike Smith, was involved in a serious motorcycle accident where he lost control of his bike and ended up in the woods alone. He went over the bars and the ignition switch turned off, hiding him in the bushes. Nobody saw the crash so he was stranded. He shattered his T4 vertebrae, fractured sternum & ribs, tore his aorta, broken collar bone and other contusions/scrapes. By Monday afternoon they had contacted local authorities but nothing could be done until he was “missing” for 24 hours. They were able to hack his apple ID and used the iphone locator app to find him in the woods around 5pm on Monday laying beside the bike. He is currently in ICU struggling for his life and paralyzed from the chest down. They fused his T3-T5 in the first operation but his spinal cord is damaged and the doctors say it is beyond repair. They have told him he will never walk again. Mike Smith, 47, is a US Navy Chief, retired. He was a salvage diver with significant ties to the dive community to this day. Mike is a social guy with a passion for motorcycles & music. After retiring from the Navy, he attended MMI in Orlando and has worked for 8Fifty Speed Shop the last few years. One of his fellow divers has started a gofundme account that can be […]

This week, the news are filled with new products you may like, motorcycle projects, legislations, reports, bad governments, bad jokes and cute girls Read more.

A proposal to allow Tennessee motorcyclists to ride between slow-moving cars has been withdrawn by the Senate sponsor. Senate Transportation Chairman Jim Tracy of Shelbyville said the measure was withdrawn Wednesday by fellow Republican Sen. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald. California is the only state that allows motorcycles to travel between traffic lanes. A recent study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, on behalf of the California Highway Patrol and the state’s Office of Traffic Safety found the practice generally poses no more danger than riding a motorcycle unless the motorcyclist is riding 10 mph faster than surrounding traffic. It also found that while lane splitters are less likely to be rear-ended by car drivers, they are more likely to rear-end other vehicles.

Barnett has introduced a new clutch cable for the 2014 Indian Chief, Chieftain and Scout. This cable features their High Efficiency inner wire which Barnett was the first to introduce to the motorcycle industry. The “HE” wire is nylon coated and lubed with a super slick silicone lube and combined with the Teflon inner-lining, provides longer life, ultra smooth cable action and reduced lever effort. As for the outside of the cable, all fittings are chrome plated and three casing types are available- Traditional Black Vinyl, Classic Stainless Braid w/clear coat and Platinum Series bright silver plated braid w/clear coat. As with all Barnett cables, the clear coat is guaranteed not to discolor from sun exposure. Available in stock and custom lengths, this clutch cable is made in the USA and available now. MSRP: $85-$124 depending on casing type Barnett Clutches & Cables 2238 Palma Dr. Ventura, CA 93003 Ph: 805-642-9435 www.barnettcables.com Advertisement

Valerie Thompson, seven-time land speed record holder and one of the world’s fastest BMW racers, will return to Beeville Texas for the Texas Mile, March 27-29. She will attempt to break her personal best top speed of 217 mph (350.53 KM/H) set during the October 2014 event on her record-setting BMW S 1000 RR. The Texas Mile is a premier bi-annual motorsports festival of speed and land speed racing venue that draws motorsports competitors from all corners of North America in much the same way the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats draws the world’s fastest vehicles and drivers. Thompson will kick off her 2015 land speed racing campaign with two BMW Motorrad dealership appearances to promote the Texas Mile and increase foot traffic for these valued dealers. Thompson, her record setting Quicksilver Powersports Lubricants BMW S 1000 RR and new pit display will be available for photos. Dealership appearances include: Sandia BMW Motorcycles – Albuquerque, NM (March 21, 2015) BMW Motorcycles of El Paso – El Paso, TX (March 25, 2015) “I love racing at the Texas Mile and I’m anxious to kick off another record breaking season of racing with our new sponsor, Quicksilver Powersports Lubricants and returning sponsor CTEK. I set a new personal best top speed at the last event here in October with an awesome tune-up by Kerry Alter. With all the improvements we made in the off-season to our BMW, I’m optimistic about our performance this year,” said Thompson. The VTR team will provide free battery charging services, compliments of CTEK Battery Chargers, and Knockout Energy Drinks for competitors and race attendees during the three-day speed event. The Texas Mile is held at Chase Field Industrial Complex
at 2745 Byrd Street in Beeville, Texas. For ticket prices and event schedule, visit http://www.texasmile.net.

Here’s a good one for your hump day. Enjoy and share the knowledge!

Many rally goers took advantage of free installs for any S&S Power Tune Performance Exhaust during Daytona Bike Week last week. “The response really blew us away,” said S&S Events Manager Dean Young. “You figure, if you’re offering something great for FREE, that people will respond, but the level of enthusiasm folks displayed was awesome; they were really fired up about getting the best American-made performance exhaust system installed for free on their bikes. It felt great to be a part of it.” The S&S Cycle semi-truck set up at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona, and lots of customers signed up daily for free installs of exhaust systems and air cleaners. The S&S techs even found time to retune a few carburetors, too. Riders had a great time during S&S night at the Broken Spoke Saloon, highlighted by a salute to the troops. S&S also sponsored the Cycle Source Bike Show at the Broken Spoke. Indeed, every bike show at Daytona Bike Week 2015 featured motorcycles with S&S parts. Throughout the event, riders prized the S&S swag giveaways–free lanyards and bandanas–and enjoyed their first opportunity to view the entire line of S&S Power Tune Performance Exhaust and accessories. This included the 4 brand-new billet CNC-machined tip designs for the 4″ Race/Tour muffler and the new header systems for Harley-Davidson Dyna and Softail models. “Rally goers really responded to our giveaways, and, of course, to the free Power Tune Performance Exhaust installs,” said VP of sales Paul Devine. “They showed great interest in seeing all the products in person and got a kick out of taking pictures in front of our 10-foot-tall T143 engine.” Next stop on the S&S Cycle tour is Arizona Bike Week, where customers can once again have free installs of S&S Power Tune Performance Exhaust, just look for the S&S

Bikernet was the only on-line magazine represented at the Editor’s Choice Award sponsored by the Broken Spoke Saloon in the sandy forest of beer cans, pine needles, and Jack Daniels’ shot glasses. See what bike rode away with the prize. Read more.

Rich Worley recently contacted me from American Biker, the Indian dealer in Charleston, SC about lowering the beast. “We can lower it about an inch and a half,” Rich said. I grew up around lowered cars and have always lowered bikes. Plus, I think a lowered look will enhance our mods to the rear fender. “Hell yes,” I said. “Go for it.” Read more.

Engineered for ’09-’15 Harley-Davidson FL Touring models, Mustang’s new Lowdown solo seats are designed to give riders a lower seat height without compromising on comfort. “Touring riders asked, Mustang listened,” says Mustang’s Director of Business Development, Marilyn Simmons. “Now riders can be lower on their FLs without compromising long-distance comfort.” The Solo’s 13″ wide bucket is shaped and angled for optimal touring posture on the go, according to Simmons. “But the real bonus is the fact that the LowDown™ really does drop the rider down closer to the ground. The Solo seat is also cut narrow at the front so you can plant your feet firmly on the ground at a stop.” Available with or without studs, riders can opt for chrome studs or really bring on the bling with black pearl-centered chrome studs! Pair it with a Mustang passenger seat if you want company, or run it solo to go it alone, suggests Simmons. The LowDown seats also come with slotted mounting nuts and Mustang’s mini bib for a complete custom look. “For even more long-distance comfort, add Mustang’s fully adjustable, easily removable driver backrest,” says Simmons. “Bottom line for the LowDown: it puts your butt closer to the ground, without being a pain in the posterior… or your wallet!” Advertisement