Hey,
We’ve run across a problem with our web site upgrade. The new guys didn’t transfer all over our material over, and that was a critical element in our decision to move the site. We couldn’t lose one misspelled word. They now have an intern on the case. They are going to run through each department, one massive department at a time and finish transferring all the articles into the new format.
I’ve had this discussion with them a couple of times, but then I’m constantly scrambling to keep up with new content that’s flying at Bikernet 24/7. When I started to write the story of our 15 year history, I started to confirm facts from old bike builds and Bikernet adventures. Bingo, I couldn’t find the links. Terrified we lost material, I investigated. As it turns out, over the years articles were installed using various formats, as the internet changed and developed. Of course the new guys were put off by the antiquated code, but in the beginning they assured me that nothing would be lost, and they had plenty of time to investigate the content on the site.
The bottom line is they are working on it. I explained that it’s as if I dropped off a book manuscript and the publisher lost half the chapters. Dem’s fightin’ words. I’ll keep you posted. I would like some of these elements handled shortly, since I will be talking about the builds, runs to Sturgis, smacking the deer in Wyoming, and traveling around the world, in the 15-year history. We need to link some of this stuff and grab images.
That’s 15 year, can you believe it. Let’s hit the news:
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TICKETS ON SALE for Hall of Fame Breakfast and Induction Ceremony–
If you are going to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year and would like to live and feel the history of this great sport, then don’t miss this event.
The Hall of Fame Breakfast will be held on Wednesday August 10, 2011 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. Among many great names in the motorcycle industry inducted this year will include Evel Knievil and Don Emde to name a couple of the industry dignitaries. The cost is $35 per person or a table of 8 for $300.
Purchased tables are reserved, but individual seating is first come, first serve, so get there early to get up close and personal as history is made.
Further details on the event can be found at
CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE AND THE LIMPNICKIE LOT PRESENT THE THIRD ANNUAL BIG MOUNTAIN RUN– This year the Big Mountain Run is scheduled for May 18th through the 22rd, 2011 and the line up is outrageous. To give everyone that wanted to do this last year and couldn’t make it, we are keeping the gypsy run almost exactly the same.
Tuesday night there will be a pre-run party at Wicked Willy’s Choppers in Taylorsville, NC, the same place we will meet in the morning to leave by noon. From there we will take a two day Gypsy Tour through the Smokey Mountains stopping the first night at the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley. These cats roll out the red carpet for us with a complete tour of the best motorcycle museum in the world. Camping is right on site that night and the next morning we take on the Dragon. US 129, the most notorious motorcycle road known to man. Then we cross the Cherahola Sky way and wind down through the hills to Reliance Tennessee for a three night party at Hiawassee Outfitters campground right on the river.
For BMR veterans we have a few alternate routes planned out with other folks that have mapped out some killer roads as well. You can see information on these at www.thebigmountainrun.com
At the campgrounds there will be live music all weekend featuring fat tramp Food Stamp, Sixes, Reliance Bluegrass Band, Final Drive, Rocket 350 and Big House Pete just to name a few. There will be food vendors, The Cycle Source Chopper Show, mini bike racing and some of the best riding in the entire country. All this is included in your camping pass, just $30. You can save five bucks on a single or ten on a couples pass by getting your tickets early on line. For information on being a vendor or for general info on the run go to www.bigmountainrun.com .
TCM CLASSIC CRUISE December 8 – 12, 2011– Miami, Florida to Key West & Cozumel, Mexico–Don’t miss your chance to set sail with Turner Classic Movies for a one-of-a-kind cruise of cinematic proportions. Join TCM Hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz, legendary film stars and fellow fans on the premiere TCM Classic Cruise, onboard the luxurious Celebrity Millennium. For four days and four nights, December 8 – 12, enjoy many films on the big screen, rub elbows with TCM staff, be a part of unique events with attending celebrities and many other exciting programs. Stay tuned to our website, www.TCMcruise.com, for up-to-date information and announcements.
In addition to the two beautiful pools, three dining rooms, world-class spa and full-service casino the Millennium has to offer, there will be daily TCM themed events, nightly parties and tons of activities for every movie passion while on the way to visit two beautiful islands in the middle of winter!
TCM has partnered with cruise experts, Sixthman, to produce this exciting one of a kind vacation experience.
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LAS VEGAS BIKE FEST STORMS INTO 2011– Just a quick update on LVBF 11! Vendor space is selling briskly both indoors and outside since Bikernet became a major sponsor. We have added DynoJet, Jim Nasi Customs and KuryAkyn most recently. Check out the vendor list for a full rundown.
http://www.expocad.com/host/fx/convexx/lvbf11/default.html
Looks like the economy, our new features and our marketing efforts are paying off on the attendee side as well, we are way up on pre-reg and hotel reg for peak night. Please get the word out if you can, this is great news for all of us in the m/c event business!
Below is a summary of where we currently are for BikeFest with registration and hotel reservations on peak night.
2011 Registration VS 2010 Difference: +35%
2011 Hotel Peak Night VS 2010 Difference: +101%
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ROADMAX TRANNY PROBLEM SOLVED– You are a Goddamn genius Mr.Ball… I just spent about half an hour catching up with Bill Mc Cahill, of Spyke, on the phone and he knows exactly what the issue is with my transmission and has the parts…. so I’ll be getting my fingers greasy tomorrow digging into my transmission to confirm his diagnosis and hopefully have the fix in hand this week!
Thanks for thinking of him…. I hadn’t talked to Bill since he had his bad wreck and broke his neck…he was pretty messed up back then. He sounds great now on the phone and as always is a wealth of technical information.
–John Covington
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TATTOO SKETCH Book DEAL IN THE BIKERNET BLACK MARKET–
As tattoos continue to grow in popularity, both tattoo artists and their clients spend more and more time searching for that perfect design. Thus the “tattoo artist sketchbook” has become a valuable resource for great tattoo ideas. Although Jim Watson’s tattoo style is normally recognized for being bright and colorful, the sketches in this new book show the reader the drawing technique and sketching process of a journeyman tattoo artist.
The pages contain valuable reference sketches, a great source for easy-to-copy, and easy-to-perform tattoo designs. For anyone who needs to tattoo a “Mom” across a traditional heart, or “Harley-Davidson” down someone’s arm, Jim provides a variety or simple and elaborate “fonts” so you’re sure to have the correct type style for a given situation. Produced on heavy paper with a heavy cover, Jim’s personal sketches are bound so the book lays flat on a table, all the better to fully study and utilize the numerous images.
This collection will help everyone from new artists to journeymen; as well as their clients, to select and – if needed – modify the art to create the tattoo that they want and need. Published by Wolfgang Publications, Tattoo Sketchbook, normally $32.95 is available this week to Bikernet fans for only $22.95. As always, shipping to continental US addresses is free to boot. So if you’re uncertain as to the shape that next tattoo should take, grab one of these sketchbooks, it’s sure to stimulate your creative juices.
LIL JOE’S LEGENDARY LEATHERS RETURN AND EXCHANGE POLICY–Here’s the deal if you buy leathers from the gods of Sons of Anarchy show leathers.
Our Return & Xchange Policy:
1)Email Us At LilJoesLeather@yahoo.com For Return and XChange Authorization.
2) Packages sent without Return Authorzation # will be Charged a 20% Restocking Fee.
3) There is No charge for Stock Item X-Changes except for Size Charge and Postage
4) There is NO Exchanges on Special Order.
5) There is a 25% Restocking Fee for all Refunds.
Michael and Lori Mills
Lil Joes Legendary Leathers
www.LilJoesLeather.com
800-643-3321
“Made in The USA” and “Guaranteed 4 Life”
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BUY AMERICAN FIRST FROM MAY 1ST TO JUNE 1ST OR FOREVER–
Did you see that Diane Sawyer has a special report coming up this week? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family’s home that were not made in the USA .
There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they are going to show truckloads of items – USA made – being brought in to replace everything and will be talking about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..
It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs!
WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID ‘FROM CHINA’
FOR EXAMPLE THE “OUR FAMILY” BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN ‘FROM CHINA ‘
I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT’S FROM CALIF.
Are we Americans as dumb as we appear — or — is it that we just do not think while the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets?
70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.
Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA!!
Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says ‘Made in China ‘ or ‘PRC’ (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.
Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.
THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that’s a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor…fast!!
Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on May 1st and continue it until June 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and
lawlessness were worth it.
Remember, MAY 1 TO JUNE 1st !!!!!!
START NOW.
–from Donnie Cannon
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RIGID FRAME RICHARD SLIPS INTO THE LUCKY DEVIL LARE–We discovered Bikernet represented on his new bike built with an inline industrial engine.
–RFR
NEW JIMS TOOLS FOR 2011–
JIMS has been busy finishing up some new products this month that were recently launched at the 2011 V-Twin Expo. We would like to offer the Bikernet tech heads the chance to review some of these JIMS products just now coming into stock.
The ability to hold and examine our parts and tools will allow you to experience JIMS quality first hand and make it a bit easier to review and write about.
Dual Gauge Leakdown Tester 782
Dipstick Socket
-Paul Platts
Director of Product & Business Development
www.jimsusa.com
We are going to check out the Dipstick Socket and the new push rod clip tool. I always struggle with those.–Bandit
BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM UPDATE–Eating for the Wrong Reasons? When stressed out or anxious, some people turn to food as a way to comfort themselves. However, what may be soothing at the time can make you feel worse – and weigh more – in the end. If you tend to turn to food as a way to cope with a stressful situation, consider the following six tips:
1. Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol (and don’t smoke) when stressed. These can heighten or prolong your anxiety and worsen its side effects.
2. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. This can help quell the pangs of an empty stomach and promote a healthy digestive system.
3. Keep your blood sugar levels stable by eating several small, nutritious meals rather than three large ones.
4. Make sure your meals or snacks incorporate omega-3 fatty acids. Include walnuts, Alaskan salmon and freshly ground flaxseed in your diet.
5. Incorporate foods rich in magnesium, which helps relax muscles, into your diet. Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts and seeds are good sources.
6. Above all, be aware of your eating habits. If you find yourself eating to combat stress, limit yourself to small portions, enough so you can savor the taste or texture. Then go for a walk or practice meditating: both are proven, healthier ways to address stress.
–see DrWeil.com if you have questions
LARRY “DRUMS” BRANCCACIO’S BAMMER/STARLIGHT TATTOO NITRO HARLEY– Nutley, NJ: The Bammer/Starlight Tattoo Nitro Harley Drag Race Team featuring Larry “Drums” Brancaccio recently competed at Rockingham NC with the All Harley Drag Race Association. For the second event of the season, Nutley’s favorite son made the quick eight in the Screamin’ Eagle Nitro class but one thin wire plagued his race weekend.
Brancaccio qualified with one pass on Saturday while thrashing in the pit area trying to resolve a mysterious electrical problem. The Bammer/Starlight Tattoo team had battery problems at the first event and replaced the battery pack for the Rockingham event. A thin wire connecting the ignition module was no match for the power and torque that Brancaccio’s team was able to squeeze out of his 175 CID nitromethane powered VTwin motor. After making the first round in the finals on Sunday, Brancaccio and team packed it up for the long ride back to New Jersey, knowing that many hours of research and development were needed before the next event to fix what they had found during the last Rockingham round.
Brancaccio said, “we were so dissappointed, but the bike is making BIG power and we will have this issue repaired. This time of the season, you have to be experimental, everyone is bringing out new techniques and parts. I’m going to tear down the entire motor so make sure we didnt’ hurt it. But we will be ready for ADHRA’s next event. Then we have to get serious about defending our AMRA National Top Fuel title.”
Brancaccio is proudly sponsored by: Starlight Tattoo, Capone Landscaping, Keith’s Custom Seats, World Wide Bearings, Vanson Leathers, Central Metal Fabricators & special thanks to: Barnett Clutches & AutoLite.
www.Bammerracing.com
Drums: 862 703 0847
Drumsonnitro@aol.com
THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO. ARCHIVE COLLECTION BY RANDY LEFFINGWELL– has been released in an affordable paperback package. At 408 pages and containing over 600 photos, this $30.00 book is truly a MUST HAVE for any motorcycle enthusiast… and at an unbelievable price!
When the book was released in hardcover, it was met with rave reviews!! Here are just a few!
• “Gift worth buying a coffee table for…” – The New York Times
• “Motorbooks and Harley-Davidson hit a home run with this book; it’s a must-have for all enthusiasts.” – Born to Ride
• “This lavish coffee-table book might be ‘the gift’ for Christmas 2008.” – Thunder Pres
• “From the first known Harley to the latest Rocker, this comprehensive book will not disappoint any Harley enthusiast.” – Motorcycle.com
–Nichole Schiele
www.qbookshop.com .
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BIKERNET MR LUCKY XS650 LOW BUCK BOBBER BUILD–It’s happening. Our lift is painted, the Mr. Lucky frame is in hand with the battery box, neck bearing cups, and motormount plates. We are about ready to rock on tearing the 1981 XS down.
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NEW CYCLE SOUNDS PRODUCTS FROM BIKER’S CHOICE–Cycle Sounds now offers mounts for your *First Gen iPhone, *iPod Touch®, *iPhone 3G and Blackberry Bold and Storm®. With these holders there is no need for Velcro as it holds your iPhone, iPod Touch, (first and second generation models), and iPhone 3G in place while riding. Slide your iTouch into the holder and bring your iTunes® along for the ride.
The Blackberry Bold and Storm Custom Holder has quick release design allows for easy removal. This bracket attaches to amps holes pattern on the universal mp3 mount that comes in all our kits. Hardware and slide lock adaptor included.
*If you don’t currently have a Cycle Sounds Audio System on your bike, you will need the bracket, part number 21-8770, to mount this holder to the switch housing which bolts onto the bike to secure the holder. The bracket is included with all Cycle Sounds Audio Kits.
For more information, visit www.bikerschoice.com or visit your local
Biker’s Choice Dealer.
Cycle Sounds 3” Premium Sound Systems
Cycle Sounds offers a 10 watts per speaker, low profile mounted, 3” motorcycle speaker system for your bike. The Kevlar composite, 1” voice coil is specially designed to handle a high vibration environment and the butyl rubber surround is UV resistant. Simply connect MP3, iPod, satellite
radio, etc, to the 3.5mm jack on the amplifier. There is no need for P-Clamps; this system will fit 7/8” to 1-1/4” bars. With its extended bass response and increased dynamic range, this is the system to have. Good looking too with black grills.
For more information, visit www.bikerschoice.com or visit your local Biker’s Choice Dealer.
Happy Riding!
–Carmen
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WHAT’S NEW FROM SCOTT JACOBS–Finally it’s not a wine bottle.
For the Harley enthusiast a unique hand-colored etching; ’23 F-Head Twin crafted in Germany by Scott Jacobs. Old style and beyond belief; see how they’re made by watching on Scott’s site.
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BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PREPARING FOR MID TERM EXAMS–
Zeitgeist TSYT-guyst; ZYT-guyst, noun:
[Often capitalized] The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.
The best writers of that predawn era were originals who had the zeitgeist by the tail.
— Gary Giddins, Visions of Jazz: The First Century
As most critics and all professors of cultural theory note, Madonna is nothing if not a skilled reader of the zeitgeist.
— “Techno ‘rave’ just the same old Madonna”, Chicago Sun-Times, March 3, 1998
Besides, the zeitgeist seems to be working against any hope of Hormel officials to limit…the usage of [the word] ‘spam’ on the Web.
— “Gracious Concession on Internet ‘Spam'”, New York Times, August 17, 1998
Like other figures who seem, in retrospect, to have been precociously representative of their times, Kerouac was not simply responding to the Zeitgeist, but to the peculiarly twisted facts of his own upbringing.
— “Jack Kerouac: The Beat Goes On”, New York Times, December 30, 1979
Zeitgeist is from the German: Zeit, “time” + Geist, “spirit.”
BIKERNET INSURANCE MEMO FOR THIS WEEK–Easy Payments for Bikernet’s Easy Riders
Choosing the right insurance for your motorcycle is not easy given that there are so many insurance policies to chose from, and they all cost money. But, we have good news today.
Our best insurance companies offer a “cash-flow” friendly payment option that we really like for our biker community. It’s called “EFT” or Electronic Funds Transfer. EFT is totally hassle-free and simply allows your policy premium payments to be taken right from your bank account via electronic withdrawals.
Here’s what we like about “EFT” and why we recommend it.
1. Most affordable option for most riders.
You can start a motorcycle policy with a very low down payment which are then followed by low monthly payments for the rest of the policy term. EFT creates low payments by spreading out your premium over twelve months.
2. Flexible Payment Dates
The EFT option allows you to set up your own payment dates. Dates that suit your own bill paying schedule. You choose when during the month you want the insurance company to get paid.
3. Automatic Withdrawals
You select the bank account, checking or savings. The insurance company then withdraws your monthly payment electronically from your selected bank account.
4. Convenient
We set up your premium payment plan with you when you bind your motorcycle insurance policy. Once set up, you have a monthly payment automatically taken from your checking or savings account.
5. Saves Time
No checks to write, no credit card numbers to call in, no paper bills to get lost in the mail. Save time by by having payments automatically deducted from your bank account. Oh, you”mailto:bammerracing@aol.com>
NATIONAL CYCLES’S NEWEST WINDSHIELD– Manufactured from darkly tinted Lexan polycarbonate, and FMR hardcoated for scratch resistance, the screen can easily be removed with National Cycle’s quick release mount kit.
The screen’s brackets are made from polished stainless steel and the quick release mounts are the same as those used on the company’s SwitchBlade and Spartan windshields, meaning different screens can be used on the same bike.
Versions of the Stinger are available to fit Road Kings, FL Softails, XL and FXD models.
NATIONAL CYCLE
Maywood, Illinois, USA
Tel: +1 708 343 0400
E-mail: info@nationalcycle.com
www.nationalcycle.com
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DOC FROM HEAVY-DUTY IN AUSTRALIA WANTS TO KNOW– Sta-Bo produced Delrin bushings to replace Cleve Blocks in FXR/FLT swing arms. They did a great job at a great price. The attached pic shows a set about to be fitted to wife Jane’s FXR a few years back.
I suspect they might have gone out of business.
Cheers
Doc Robinson
Associate/Technical Editor
HEAVY DUTY Magazine
www.heavyduty.com.au
However, I don’t believe CCE carries Delrin bushings as a replacement for the Cleve blocks.
At least I couldn’t find them on the site. Though I am getting older and more brain dead ….
I’ve pasted below a reader question and my answer to run in a Tech Torq Special Issue we are putting together.
Cheers
Doc
CLEVE BLOCKS
Doc my local shop reckons the Cleve blocks on my FXR have worn out and reckons they need replacing. I didn’t want to sound dumb so I just said I’d get back to them. What are Cleve blocks anyway and why do they need changing? – Roger
Hi Roger Cleve blocks are the swingarm bushings fitted to many model Harley-Davidsons. I would suggest that you upgrade to Custom Cycle Engineering’s swing arm conversion kit that replaces the stock Cleve block style swing arm bushings with spherical bearings. Incidentally for other readers’ interest, the conversion covers all the FLT and FXR models from 1980 to 2001. The swing arm conversion kit coincides with Harley-Davidson’s change from the Cleve block bushing to a spherical bearing in all the 2002 and up FLT models. The conversion over to spherical bearings in the early models dramatically changes the handling and tracking of all the FLTs and FXRs. The stiction – the force required to cause one body in contact with another to begin to move – at the swing arm pivot is greatly reduced with the new spherical bearings. This allows for the swing arm to react quicker to any harsh road conditions keeping the wheel in contact with the road. The use of spherical bearings also helps negate any lateral and torsional movement in the swing arm by the shear dynamics of a spherical bearing that greatly reduces high speed weaving and wobbling.
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LEATHER WORKER MOVING TO TEXAS–Bandit/hi a while back last yr. I e-mailed you and sent you some pictures of my leather work. I lived in Iowa, I still do but in several months will be moving to Lubbock, Texas.
If you have any connections in that area let them know ’bout my leather work, and can contact me at this e-mail or lawlessleather@aol.com. That would be cool.
Decided to move, our home burned down and since we need to start over and rebuild our lives we want a warmer climate. We were poor folks before the fire and are still poor just with less. thanks and take care
–wallie&mary
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MARK BLACKWELL JOINS ZERO MOTORCYCLES– AMA Hall of Famer and longtime industry exec Mark Blackwell is joining Zero Motorcycles’ board of directors.
Blackwell started racing while in his teens and was one of the very first American Motocross superstars. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000. After his racing career, Mark has held positions of increasing responsibilities in the motorcycle industry, initially at Suzuki, then at Husqvarna, at Suzuki again and finally at Victory Motorcycles where he was VP and general manager through a critical growth period for the brand.
In addition to his new responsibilities with Zero, Mark remains an executive of Polaris Industries.
“I am delighted to join the board of Zero Motorcycles. I have tracked the progress of the company from afar and been impressed with its growing product line and its increasingly well-established brand, channel, and supply chain,” Blackwell said. “I look forward to helping the company grow in the coming years and advising its team of talented, industry-experienced executives.”
Aflalo Guimaraes, managing director of the Invus Group, LLC and a Zero board member, says he and his colleagues have know Blackwell for a while and greatly value his industry insight, motorcycle knowledge and years of management experience.
–posted by Dennis Johnson
Published courtesy of DealerNews: www.dealernews.com.
WOMAN’S PERFECT BREAKFAST–
She’s sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.
–from Vickie Kelly
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ACE CAFÉ MARGATE MELTDOWN– The 4th annual Margate Meltdown is the most recently established of Ace Cafe London’s free to attend major ride-outs.
The ride-out from the cafe to this popular seaside resort in Kent is held each year on occasion of the annual Spring Bank Holiday. Margate’s seafront and harbour is given over to motorcycles, diverse club and trade stands, a stage and live entertainment from Noon with rockin’ band “The Sunsetters” and DJ Bill Guntrip.
Margate’s famous amusement park, Dreamland will be open and back by popular demand, is the return of Carter’s Steam Fair with their paramount Chair-O-Planes having received a complete restoration in recent months. These are the second large ride the Carter family took on the road back in the early days of being showmen and believed to have originated from Europe during the early 1920’s!
Dreamland is open from 11am and is free to enter.
Working closely with our chosen charity for this event, the Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLRB), the town and Thanet District Council, Margate not only has everything that a great ride-out requires, it has a great beach and plenty of heritage to include a legacy from the 1960’s that is of world renown relating to motorbikes, scooters and the Mods & Rockers that rode them!
www.dreamlandmargate.com
www.rblr.co.uk
www.carterssteamfair.co.uk
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HOT LEATHERS HEADING TO MYRTLE BEACH– and Wildwood Spring Rally
MANCHESTER, CONN (May 11, 2011) – This week Hot Leathers is headed To Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Wildwood, N.J. where they intend to share their newest t-shirt designs for 2011 and the widest variety of motorcycle accessories.
One rally destination that you won’t want to miss, Myrtle Beach Bike Week is also referred to as the Grand Strand Spring Rally, Grand Strand Rally, or Cruisin’ the Coast Spring Rally. Whatever you call it, it’s sure to be a great time for bikers.
Hot Leathers will be rolling in and making their presence known at this year’s celebration from May 13th through the 22nd . They will have a presence at Mr. Fireworks, Callie Bakers and Barefoot Landing making them easy to find and get stocked up for Spring riding season. The Wildwood Spring Rally, which promises to be an action-packed weekend of motorcycle-centric festivities, also provides the perfect opportunity for Hot Leathers to showcase a number of their superior products.
Rally-goers will have the chance to browse amongst a significant selection of Hot Leather’s premier merchandise including t-shirts, hats and other products for men, women and children.
Hot Leathers has been serving the motorcycle community for over 25 years. As a result, the company’s growing wholesale and printing facilities have earned it a place as one of America’s top 50 volume screen printers. Keep an eye out this summer for the Hot Leathers logo. It’s a brand you can trust with prices you can easily afford.
Follow Hot Leathers as they comb the nation, outfitting motorcycle enthusiasts with the quality merchandise that they desire and deserve. Check out www.hotleathers.com to see their full 2011 rally schedule and to peruse their diverse and original merchandise.
–Ken Conte
Rise Above Consulting
970.227.3588
Here is THE DEAL OF THE WEEK FROM THE BIKERET CLASSIFIEDS– A 1998 SOFTAIL with only 15 k on the clock, very clean, very nice looking bike! A GREAT everyday rider! Reliable 80″ EVO ENGINE, GREAT PRICE, it will go fast ! Check out THE BIKER NET CLASSIFIEDS, WHERE THE ADVENTURE IS JUST WAITING TO BEGIN!
This ad expires in 3 days.
$8,500.00
http://bikernet.sprocketlist.com/category/1660/FXST_Softail/post/2201814/ONE-BAD-HARLEY-SOFTAIL-CUSTOM.html
–MIKE the STEALTH
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THE UNCLE STUDIES THE STATE OF THE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY–My brother in law came to visit this last weekend. As we knocked back a couple of cool ones he asked me about motorcycles stating that no one talks about them anymore. While I do admit the industry has taken a hit in recent years the TV chopper bubble has burst. It seems ever week we are reading about another manufacture filing bankruptcy, closing factories or being sold.
As the dust settles around us what do we really have left? From my perspective, things really haven’t changed much from before the WCC/OCC days. Harley’s continue to sell well along with Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Victory Indian is reforming and Ducatti and Triumph are still respected.
There doesn’t seem to be a real shortage of new bikes around. There are a handful of master builders still managing to pay their bills selling parts designed for stockers.
Motorcycles have been a non-necessity for a long time. In North America places where one can only own a motorcycle are pretty limited. For most of us a motorcycle is parked beside our trusty truck or car or, like my friend Bandit, a hearse. We ride as much as we can, when we can. Our money is budgeted to keep our bikes and a vehicle on the road.
For those who don’t ride, they don’t seem to understand that we can always find money for new pipes, new bars, and money to ride hundreds of miles for no particular reason. In talking with friends who own dealerships they say that the free for all of the early ’00s are gone and sales are back to where they were. The ones who have been around long enough socked away money for when the bubble might burst. They say the motorcycle enthusiasts are still buying new bikes they way they use to, the ones with deep pockets still have deep pockets for status symbols. No, the ones that have disappeared are the meme’s who only bought a motorcycle because it was cool, because it was the “in” thing to do at the time. They bought into the whole chopper image and were just as quick to sell out. For them a motorcycle was just the next iPhone, something to accessorize with. They have moved onto the next thing because the media guides them.
As our older riders are taking their last long ride into the sunset we have a new generation of riders just beginning to embrace motorcycles, freedom, and the Code. Tactics of the media about the dangers of motorcycles does not scare them. They believe a motorcycle should be simple, uncluttered and dependable; not unlike generations before that bobbed their bikes to the bare minimum.
So now that the dust is clearing, some of us are selling our choppers for the convenience of baggers, someone is chopping his bike and a young rider is taking in his first rally. We are still here, still riding.
-bad Uncle Monkey
BIKERNET ASIAN CORRESPONDENT RETURNS–This is the city where the JAKARTA bike show was held.
Kingdom of Yogyakarta, Island of Java,
Country of Indonesia
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SADDLEMEN GOES THE EXTRA MILE(S) TO SUPPORT ITS DEALERS–Rancho Dominguez, CA, 5/11/11- Saddlemen the maker of rider comfort accessories such as seats and luggage has been on the road every weekend for many years in support of motorcycle dealers. They even have a dedicated product manager that travels to events. He is known in the industry as “Road Guy Gary.”
“It is part of what Saddlemen does”, says Ron Benfield, Saddlemen’s Director of Sales and Marketing, “we are on the road nearly every weekend attending dealer open houses, showing both dealers and consumers the features and benefits of Saddlemen products.” Saddlemen’s displays are in partnership with Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited to support the industry and bring top notch products to the market.
Check out “Road Guy Gary” and the Saddlemen product line at these upcoming events:
May 14-15 McDaniel’s Harley Davidson – South Bend, IN
May 28-29 Cox’s Harley Davidson – Asheboro, NC
–Ron
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THE FAMOUS CUSTOM CYCLE ENGINEERING FORK TRUSS–
Custom Cycle Engineering started building products back in 1967 and is known for their Legendary Quality, and Legendary Strength. The CCE Fork Truss is the embodiment of quality and strength. The engineered design and sleek styling are obvious characteristics of this part.
The compound arc, which sweeps upward and rearward simultaneously imparts greater resistance to deflection, twisting and bending of the fork tube. The upward arch also provides additional fender clearance. It is carefully machined from aircraft aluminum with calculated spaced hole for lighter weight to keep the unstrung weigh to a minimum.
Installation is very simple and the disassembly of the front-end is not necessary. These Fork trusses are designed to bolt securely to the lower sliders.
Available for 39mm, 41mm and 49mm fork tubes in Mid, Wide Glide and Rocker applications. Finished in either a Chrome or a Polished finish.
Custom Cycle Engineering
www.customcycleengineering.com
WEEKEND PLANS–This is nuts, as usual. At least once a month there’s a major swapmeet at the Veteran’s Stadium in Long Beach, about six miles away. I rarely make it, ’cause that’s Sunday Post day. 
This weekend there’s a major motorcycle auction at the Quail Lodge in Monterey about four hours north of Los Angeles, and I’m going. I’m clamoring out of bed at o-dark 4:30 and hustling my ass to Pasadena to hook up with the Antique motorcycle master broker Don Whalen. At 6:00 a.m. we will cut a dusty trail north, arrive around noon. I’m looking at a 1969 XLCH and some Steve McQueen trophies. Don will study the high dollar antiques. Then as the clock strikes 5:00 in the afternoon, we will jump back in his massive SUV and head home, so I’ll be in place to tackle the Sunday post and bring you a report.
Danny is anxious to bring you a progress report on his bobber build, and my Mudflap girl engine report has been postponed until Wednesday of next week at Bennett’s performance. We have several features headed your way, and a Hamster is about to retire from his job and start to review new motorcycle products for Bikernet. We may see his first effort next week. Plus Prince Najar has offered to work with Harley-Davidson to fire up producing road tests on new models. He lives on the east coast so we’ll see bikes if different settings and perhaps run on the Maxton Mile.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us, if you would like to see additional coverage on any topic. We are about to start a new level of Cantina membership. It will contain a flurry of additional benefits, that’s why it will be called the Bandit’s Cantina Back Stage Pass. Dairyland has offered us a 10 percent discount on insurance. We will offer monthly deals and perks, plus we are planning some Bikernet gatherings for Back Stage members, like lunch at the Bikernet Headquarters, a special tour, and lunch with Lorenzo Lamas. Let us know what would rock your boat.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
