I’m hungover. Christmas partying on a swaying sailboat while a parade of glittering yachts circled us. We didn’t notice. We were drinking, fondling women and stuffing our faces. What’s this got to do with bikes? I hauled along the editorial staff from Hard Core Choppers in Japan to Bob Bitchin’s 65-foot barge that he’s sailed around the world a couple of times.
The chopper guys had just wrapped up a whirlwind run to the Oakland HA club house, Sinners cycles, then to Phoenix to see Jesse Rooke, Borget, Yaffe, Sonny Barger, and Pat Kennedy. They’ll fly back to Japan just in time for Christmas Day.
Yesterday was crazy, with Phil Ross from Super Max for breakfast, George the wild brush pinstriped the 1928 Shovelhead and sneaking onto Bob’s boat before sundown. Let’s hit the pre-Christmas Post:
Contact The Governor And Attorney General Of South Dakota–Ask Them To Stop This!
Janklow files motion for acquittal and new trial. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow has filed a motion asking that he be acquitted of second-degree manslaughter.
The motion, filed in Moody County Circuit Court in Flandreau, said prosecutors didn’t present enough evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty of the charge.
On Dec. 8, a Moody County jury found Janklow, R-S.D., guilty of second-degree manslaughter and three driving-related misdemeanors stemming from an Aug. 16 crash that killed motorcyclist Randy Scott, 55, of Hardwick, Minn.
Janklow’s motion also said if the acquittal isn’t granted, he wants a new trial.
“That’s the usual form for such motions,” said Wally Eklund, who was Gregory County state’s attorney for eight years and has done criminal defense work as well. Such a motion is not unusual, said Eklund, who practices law in Gregory.
Janklow’s motion said evidence of alleged prior acts was improperly admitted.
During the trial, former Highway Patrol Trooper Lyle Tolsma testified that he had stopped Janklow in April 2002 doing 84 mph in a 40-mph construction zone. He said he did not write a ticket to Janklow, then South Dakota’s governor.
Also, prosecutors tried to question Janklow’s credibility by introducing into evidence two other accidents 10 years ago in which he claimed vehicles that no one else saw were to blame. After the Aug. 16 collision, Janklow had told officers he gunned through the Moody County intersection to avoid hitting “a little white car” coming at him.
Janklow’s motion also said he should get a new trial because his request for a mistrial based on alleged prosecutorial misconduct during the closing argument was denied.
On Friday, the official judgment of Janklow’s conviction was entered into the court record. He is to be sentenced Jan. 22, two days after his resignation from the U.S. House takes effect.
Janklow’s original sentencing date was set for Jan. 20, but a scheduling conflict has delayed his sentencing.
–DENNIS GALE, Associated Press
–from Rogue
Texas Women
The owner of a golf course in Texas was confused about paying an invoice minus his early payment discount, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, “You graduated from the University of Texas and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?
The secretary thought a moment, then replied, “Everything but my earrings.”
You gotta love Texas women.
–from RFR
Bikernet Part Time Employment
The state of the economy has caused me to consider a part time job. I felt is was prudent for me to look for some part time employment, just for a backup if necessary, and I think that job satisfaction is almost as important the financial implications at this point in my life.
I also feel a need to get out more and get involved in the community, and have decided to apply for a part-time job as a Domino’s Pizza deliveryman.
My decision was made after seeing this heartwarming picture of a Domino’s deliveryman bringing happiness and sustenance to poor unfortunate shut-ins.
–from Chris T.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
For all those men who say, “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free”. Here’s an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize its not worth buying an entire Pig, just to get a little sausage.
–from Sifu
Jon Towle Alive And Well
Here’s a ‘toon he just sent to the ice cream man from hell. He was fuckin’ with the Roth style of ‘toons one day and thought it was kinda cool. He met him at the smoke out last year, funny guy, had him laughin his ass off. He loved this style of rod ‘toons since he was a kid. anyway.
G-Dawg at the shop here is an aspiring male model. (see comparison pic of Dunlop 130, standard on the HDs) Any openings for a guy with his qualifications at the Bikernet studio?
AVON HITS 300! Today the big brown UPS truck dropped off our first demo Avon 300 tire for our new Steed 300 Monoglide bikes today. This should end the big tire race, until there’s a demand for Big Twin paddle tire Dune Bikes. This Avon is almost a full inch wider than the 270 Metezeler 280 and it’s taller too.
Check out the photos attached. We’ll be debuting this new bike with the new 130 HP Powerhouse 114-inch motor at the NAMM show in January. I’ll keep you posted with the progress as we finish this one.
–John Covington
Letters From Santa
Small boy wrote to Santa Claus: “Send me a brother!!”
Santa wrote back: “Send me your mother”
–from Dr. Hamster
Los Angeles Dyno Services
My name is Matt and i would like to offer dyno services to members of your web-site. My shop is Cycle Products west located in West Los Angeles, California, at 11900 Pico Blvd. We will offer special rates to your members. If you have any questions please e-mail me.
www.cycleproductswest.com
Florida Toy Run shots from Rogue.
Shifting the Blame
Janklow wastes time chasing ghosts while he should be voting in House
Despite our congressman’s legal misfortunes, I am happy to report this morning, Bill Janklow is busily going about the public’s business. New evidence of this surfaced last week in Janklow’s weekly conference call with reporters. Resisting the temptation to talk about the multitude of thorny issues confronting our nation – the economy, health care, war in Iraq – Janklow instead disclosed details of an elaborate conspiracy against him, a conspiracy led by – yep, you guessed it – the Argus Leader.
First, a disclosure of my own: The former governor has long regarded the state’s largest newspaper as the enemy.
In Janklow’s world, you’re either for or against him. And you definitely know which camp you’re in if you happen to be an independent, vigilant press.
(Memo to future politicians: Whining about the vast and sinister media conspiracy is almost always a crowd pleaser, plus it gives you a chance to shift the responsibility for your own actions. For a primer on this strategy, you’ll want to study the former governor’s handling of the Plankinton debacle.)
Asked last week about a poll commissioned by the Argus Leader and KELO TV – a poll showing him with a 29 percent favorable rating among South Dakotans – the congressman went, logically, balistic.
“The leadership at the Argus Leader – and they’ve very bright, very sophisticated people – have set themselves on a course to try to make sure I don’t get a fair trial,” Janklow told reporters. The newspaper, he said, “has been trying to tamper with public opinion.”
The truth, of course, is that Janklow himself may have played a teensy-weensy role in tilting public opinion when, as the Moody County prosecutor alleges, he ran through a stop sign Aug. 16 at more than 70 mph. His car collided with a motorcycle ridden by Randy Scott, who was killed.
Perhaps you will join me in proposing that Janklow spend less time pursuing ghosts and more time doing his job.
Through the first eight months of his term, according to Congressional Observer, a non-partisan organization that tracks voting records, Janklow missed a higher percentage of House votes than any another other member except Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri.
I wonder whose fault that was.
–Randell Beck is executive editor of the Argus Leader. Contact him at mailto:rabeck@argusleader.com
–from Rogue
Kicker Tech Coming From Bob T.– I almost forgot one more item for the text for the WWI TRENCH KNIFE KICK PEDAL.
You should put a caution sticker on it……Warning- do not attempt to kick this fucker over with wet boots!
BT
Janklow’s Law License Suspended
PIERRE – The South Dakota Supreme Court suspended Rep. Bill Janklow’s license to practice law Tuesday, setting in motion a disciplinary investigation following the former governor’s felony manslaughter conviction.
The review of the Janklow criminal case and recommendations for any possible discipline will be the responsibility of the State Bar Disciplinary Board, said Tom Barnett, secretary-treasurer of the State Bar of South Dakota.
“Whenever a lawyer is convicted of a felony, it’s an automatic suspension with referral to the board for investigation,” Barnett said.
The seven-member disciplinary board meets quarterly, and the Janklow matter probably would be on the board’s April agenda. Barnett said that likely would mean a recommendation could be filed with the Supreme Court by May 1.
“There’s no formal or specific timeline for these cases,” he said.
— Terry Woster
–from Rogue
Panel Jam Coming
Ok so what an the hell is a “panel jam”? A panel jam is a get- together of painters, stripers, sign painters, etc. It’s a yearly thing held all over, (mainly) U.S. where the above mentioned come to one spot (town) and trade secrets, teach, and display talent.
This is a collection of some of the “finest” out there, if you have ever seen a ride that had a paint job that knocked your socks off most likely the basics had been done at a jam some where prior.
If any of your readers are of the above and would like to join in, here is the info: nukedlines@mindspring.com
–Terry G. mailto:tgoode@earthlink.net
Flea Market Score
I went to the local Flea Market this morning. Some Bonehead was selling a bunch of H-D parts cause he gambled away his Christmas money for his kids, if you can believe that. Not bad for $40 bucks. I’ll take and cut the handlebars 3-inches off each of the grips, powder coat them black and throw them on the Shovel.Those are original Flanders risers. All I can say is Parts is Parts.
–BT
Road Rage Incident
Two cars were waiting at a stoplight. The light turned green, but the man didn’t notice it. A woman in the car behind him is watching traffic pass around them. The woman begins pounding on her steering wheel and yelling at the man to move. The man doesn’t move. The woman is going ballistic inside her car, ranting and raving at the man, pounding on her steering wheel and dash. The light turns yellow and the woman begins to blow the car horn, flips him off, and screams profanity and curses at the man.
The man, looks up, sees the yellow light and accelerates through the intersection just as the light turns red. The woman is beside herself, screaming in frustration as she misses her chance to get through the intersection. As she is still in mid-rant she hears a tap on her window and looks up into the barrel of a gun held by a very serious looking policeman.
The policeman tells her to shut off her car while keeping both hands in sight. She complies, speechless at what is happening. After she shuts off the engine, the policeman orders her to exit her car with her hands up. She gets out of the car and he orders her to turn and place her hands on her car then handcuffs her and takes her to the police station where she is fingerprinted, photographed, searched, booked, and placed in a cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman approaches the cell and opens the door for her. She is escorted back to the booking desk where the original officer is waiting with her personal effects and says, “I’m really sorry for this mistake. But you see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping the guy off in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the “Choose Life” license plate holder, the “What Would Jesus Do” bumper sticker, the “Follow Me to Sunday School” bumper sticker, and the chrome plated Christian Fish emblem on the trunk.
Naturally I assumed you had stolen the car.”
–Rogue
Santa Investigation
Long ago and far away, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip…but there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves didn’t produce the toys as fast as the regular ones, so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.
Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out…heaven knows where. More Stress! Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys.
Totally frustrated, Santa went into the house for cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he found the elves had hid the liquor and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he dropped the coffee pot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from.
Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said: “Where would you like me to put this tree fat man?” And this my friend, is how the little angel came to be on top of the Christmas tree.
–from Rev CarlR
Bikernet Historic Tidbit
I spoke to Gary Bang, who’s been in the biz for 40 years. He told me the following story:
“One nice summer day I was in Fort Smith, Arkansas calling on Leroy Winters Honda dealership. I saw something that completely set me back. There cruising up and down the main drag in town, was a guy on a Harley-Davidson with the longest front end that I had ever seen.
“He seemed to have nothing to do that day as he made about four passes up and down the street. I finally could not stand it any longer and walked out and flagged him down. I ask him what had he done to his front end?
“He said that he had welded two stock front ends together. That would make it 22 inches over stock. At the time I had no idea of how long a stock 74 front end was. That was in 1966 or 1967, but I learned real fast. At one time I sold more extended front ends than any one in the business.” Gary Bang
Gary now owns H-D of Atascadero, California. Watch for the article on Gary’s history to pop up in American Rider in the near future.
Where’s The Aspirin? I’m outta here. There’s Santa biz to handle, coffee to drink, women to chase and more parties. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, avoids most of the stress, and trys to hold back from kicking someone’s ass in the heat of the moment. I know how you feel.
We’ve a pastel of articles headed toward the site. Hang on for some cool old school tech articles. Plus, the Shrunken FXR will soon fly together on Bikernet.
Merry Merry,
–Bandit
