Hey,
Hang on, Choppers are back! I get such a kick out of this industry and folks who attempt to make a mountain out of a mole hill, especially today. Today shit changes in the blink of an eye. You virtually can’t say anything for certain. Of course, that makes it damn tough on marketing folks, maybe, just maybe, ultimately the main business model will be like the chopper world.
Take companies like Paughco and BDl. These companies made cool parts for us, for over 40 years. Ron and his dad started off building much needed Panhead and Knucklehead tin primaries. They are still making them today. I would imagine sales have grown and dipped over the years, but whether they sell 10 or 100 annually, they keep some in stock.
BDL makes belt drives for everything, and they don’t stop. Now they make GMA brakes, and even blowers. If a new employee came to Steve Yetzke five years ago and said, “Choppers are dead, quit making shit for them.” Steve probably pondered the thought then just kept making them. It’s not about trying to find one part and sell a million. It’s about making a company build parts for the market, small numbers or large.
At least that seems to be survival nature of the custom motorcycle market. Who know what might happen tomorrow. Let’s hit the news.
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– Einstein offered this remarkable formula; Energy = Mass x Speed of Light squared……a brilliant genius as we all know.
Another lesser known of Einstein’s formulas determined; If you were to strip naked and run around in a circle at the speed of 298 KM/sec (the speed of light) it could be possible for you to sodomize (screw) yourself…..!!
–from Rogue and Jerry
THE AUSTRALIAN CLUB REPORT– Aussie cops declare club chapter ‘dismantled’
Stepping up the PR war against bikies, police in the Australian state of Queensland, in particular the police’s anti-biker Taskforce Maxima, have declared another motorcycle club chapter ‘dismantled’ after eight men were arrested on Thursday.
The police media release related to eight separate arrests in May including ex-members of the Comancheros who had been planning to set up a chapter of the Rebels MC in Brisbane’s western suburbs.
Those charged on Thursday include a 22-year-old man extradited from Canberra to Queensland, charged with two counts of arson and grievous bodily harm.
The other men range in age from 21 to 40, and face charges relating to drug trafficking, arson of a home, arson of a vehicle, extortion, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, threatening persons with firearm and recruiting persons to join a criminal organisation.
All have been charged with retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (under VLAD laws).
Detective Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said the alleged club members had used violence against those who stood up to them, including members of their own group.
“We will be alleging they have used hammers to commit serious assaults on persons and set fire to a vehicle and a residence which could have proved fatal. Intimidation is their business model and the community has had enough,” he said.
“Make no mistake this group of men were a vicious crime gang, who wanted to use the power and networks of OMCGs to extend their criminality. They are now totally dismantled.”
Further arrests are said to be expected
–from our secret, unseeable Bikernet, Down Under, Correspondent
NEW ON BIKERNET BAGGERS– Who Are These New Riders?
We see young motorcyclists on our highways and byways every day. The “Born Free Rider” mounting everything from chopped Honda 750s to vintage Knuckleheads. Then there’s British American Motorcyclists. Young riders who prefer modern Triumphs because they actually ride 800 miles a day, yet love to work on the classic Bonneville’s.
A female rider flashing by on a sport bike is another growing contingent of these new young riders. And there’s James, my stepson. Yeah, the kid who has seen the latest shiny new motorcycle parked in our driveway for the last 12 years.
He really never showed a passion for riding, although I did teach him how to pilot a motorcycle on one of my trikes. Out of the blue he decided he was going to buy a motorcycle. Decked out in Ducati red leathers is not his style. Nor is donning a flannel shirt, sneakers and metal flaked open faced helmet. Assless chaps? …completely out of the question!
So what’s he going to be and what is he going to buy? Therein lies the rub and the only way to find out is to test ride multiple bike. But first things first, a motorcycle safety course and his motorcycle license.
See the whole story on Bikernet Baggers.
–The Amazing Triking Viking
CANTINA DEALS OF THE WEEK— We are working on a series of Cantina use bike sales every week, and perhaps an exclusive deal for only Cantina Members once in a while, like this one from Mc Quistons customs in Long Beach, California.
This is a brand new chopper, yet a classic, and we are on the hunt for a magazine to feature it. It’s a very sharp example of the new Chopper headed back on the scene for just $12,500.
“Did I mention it runs and rides like a rocket,” said Ryan McQuiston, the builder. “lil’ weird to turn but straight has tons of power.”
562-277-7219
–Jack McIntyre
RED-LIGHT CAMERAS IN RICHMOND, OR MAYBE JUST ONE– “Red-light cameras have helped cut wrecks by 83% in Richmond,” cheers a recent headline from The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Wow! That sounds almost too good to be true. Let’s read on.
A little further into the story we learn that the 83 percent reduction was for a single intersection, not citywide, as the headline implies. And while the 83 percent drop in accidents sounds impressive, can we attribute the reduction to the presence of the red-light camera? Likely not, since, in addition to the camera, police had been conducting stepped-up enforcement around that intersection as well.
Nonetheless, a police spokesperson believes “the camera played a helpful role in reducing those numbers.” But who knows? Neither the reporter nor the police provide any analysis to determine if the drop was actually statistically significant (more on this later), or if it was just random chance.
And speaking of crash data, where did the numbers come from in the first place? The police? The red-light camera vendor, or someone else with a financial stake in making the cameras appear as successful as possible? Again, who knows? The reporter didn’t bother to ask, apparently. Camera vendors often “help” police prepare their red-light camera accident reports, so it’s a valid question.
This story template endlessly repeats itself throughout the media, as reporters fail to think critically about what they’re reporting. This serves nobody, except the camera companies and public officials who benefit from the rigged red-light camera game. There are notable exceptions like the outstanding work of WTSP reporter Noah Pransky in Tampa, who exposed the many willful deficiencies in Florida’s red-light camera program.
If media outlets and public policy types would dig into the numbers and analyze the true impact of red-light cameras, the template would look much different.
A great example of this comes from our California colleague Jay Beeber, executive director of Safer Streets L.A. Beeber recently released this in-depth report on the safety impact of red-light cameras in Los Alamitos and Garden Grove, California. In both cities, Beeber found no meaningful reduction in accidents at intersections where cameras were installed. This comes as no surprise, but the rigor of the methodology and analysis makes the results much more compelling than those touted by any police department or local politician.
First off, Beeber used the most authoritative and complete source available for traffic accident data in California, the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System database. Second, he rightly focused on changes in accidents caused by red-light running—the accidents red-light cameras are supposed to prevent. Sounds like common sense, but many pro-camera accident reports give the cameras credit for reducing accidents at locations well away from the intersection.
Beeber also analyzed the results for statistical significance, which indicated whether or not the changes were simply random or could be correlated with the use of red-light cameras. This is critical given the few data points available in many cases. An intersection may experience two accidents before cameras and one accident after, for a 50 percent reduction. That sounds impressive, but given the small numbers involved, it means nothing. (A quick look at the low accident totals for each intersection prior to camera installation makes you wonder why the cameras were installed in the first place.)
Few, if any, news stories about red-light cameras bother to mention this. Of the 10 intersections studied in both cities, only one intersection showed a statistically significant reduction in accidents, and even then it can’t be known whether or not the camera caused the drop.
Beeber’s analysis also factors in the fact that rear-end accidents tend to increase at intersections after the cameras go up. Camera supporters often ignore this well-documented phenomenon or downplay the severity of these accidents. For Garden Grove Beeber calculated a Collision Severity Index which determined “whether the total severity of injuries increased or decreased in the presence of the cameras where red light running collisions decreased and rear end collisions increased.”
In the final analysis Garden Grove experienced a non-statistically significant 37 percent decrease in red-light related collisions but also a 61 percent increase in rear-end collisions. Based on the Collision Severity Index, Beeber concluded that this tradeoff “likely represents an overall decrease in safety on the city’s roadways.”
Will a red-light camera company or a police department ever produce a report like this? Not by choice. But reporters and policymakers should demand such rigorous analyses before passing judgment on the safety merits of any red-light camera program.
HARBORTOWN BOBBER DEAL OF THE WEEK FROM CHOPPERTOWN– For this week’s special, we’re proud to offer our third film, the award-winning Harbortown Bobber.
It follows the ground-up build of Scotty’s dream bike as we roadtrip and visit some of our garage heroes like Irish Rich, Dennis Goodson, and Earl Kane. We have the poster, the Dickies workshirt and of course the CD and movie download on special this weekend, so go crazy and enjoy!
Also, see below for some awesome Dice Digital and 6over movie bundles so you can start building your entire Dice Digital library too. Thanks guys, you keep us going every day!
“If you like bikes and are a builder yourself or just like bikes period you will love this movie.” ~ Donald M.
verified buyer
–Zack
adjective
1. pregnant; with child.
Quotes
They are places where women who are enceinte are given meals free and no questions are asked.
— George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London, 1933
Origin
Enceinte is of uncertain origin. It entered English via Middle French, but it ultimately derives from the Late Latin term incincta meaning “ungirded.”
BODY PAINT FROM ROGUE— The new Supreme Editor of Bikernet Baggers gets around.
–Bandit
RARE MOTORCYCLE NEGATIVES DISCOVERED ON A LARGE ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC– Interesting historical photograph – A police officer on a Harley-Davidson transports a prisoner in a holding cell (1921).
–Bob Clark with credit to Chris Tronolone
SUNDAY CANTINA BREAKFAST SPECIAL— Skull Eggs and Crossed Bacon.
They seem to taste better like this too
–Jim Waggaman
Choppers Inc. Forever, Forever Choppers Inc.
Your rear wheels are simply GENIALE!
–Fabio
hpleddieim@libero.it
Divignano (NO), Italy
QUICK, BACK TO THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– The Navy intercepted a boatload of people off the Texas coast today. This placed the Navy in an awkward position as the boat was not heading to the USA, but towards Mexico and Central America. Another surprise finding was the people were white American retirement age seniors.
Their claim was that they were trying to get to Central America or Southern Mexico as they wanted to return to the US as illegal immigrants. Then they would be entitled to far more benefits than they were receiving as legitimate American retirees.
It is believed the Navy gave them food, water and fuel and assisted them on their journey. We are booking on the next boat out. Let me know if you want to join us.
–from Rogue and Jerry
JUST DISCOVERED— The 1944 Honolulu Police Department, who are still on the hunt for Ray C. Wheeler who was stationed in Pearl Harbor and terrorized the neighborhood on his hot rod Sportster.
–Bob Clark with archival assistance by Chris Tronolone
REPORT FROM BIKERNET BAGGERS SUPREME EDITOR– I have sent friends and contacts a Press Release informing them of my new position at Bikernet Baggers and asked them to check out the site.
For those who did not receive the notice I ask you to go check the site and contact me about what you would like to see on it.
I am looking forward to making this a site you will want to visit on a regular basis.
I will continue to post technical articles in hope that it helps those interested in the product.
YES, I am interested in hearing for companies in the motorcycling business about your products. My reporting on them will help your sales.
To All, Do Us Both A Favor And Check Us Out!
–Rogue
A NEW WEEK IS UNDERWAY— I know I’m behind on a couple of heavy techs. But first I will knock out the BDL forward controls tech with Terry the Tramp.
I also need, or I’m beginning to itch to write another Cantina Episode. We have several features headed your way including the bikes of Chuck Palumbo who is kicking off a new television series, and was once a wrestler, but he just wants to build bikes.
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I need to edit the Triking Viking pieces on Bikernet Baggers. And Rogue is already doing a helluva job.
I’m waiting on Custom Cycle Engineering’s new Dyna rubbermounts, and then our full Dyna alignment tech is coming.
Dr. Feng is almost done with a cool Burly shock installation and test. Hang on for that one.
And hang on for the next Girl of Bikernet.
–Bandit
