Hey,
Life is so interesting. Always remember two masterful quotes from folks on a much higher pay grade level than my humble self:
Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end.
Think your absolute worst thought. Then take a breath and ponder the fact: It was just a thought.
We are headed into the stressful Holidays. More and more they seem to fly past, like in a blink of the eye. Try to take some time to relax and enjoy family.
My son is in town from Austin and we will hang out tomorrow. I will work on my Grandson’s FXRP on Saturday, then he’ll ride to the David Mann Chopperfest in Ventura.
My granddaughter Maxine is in Thailand getting a traditional indigenous tattoo. My other granddaughter is studying acting in an Oakland College.
My mission this weekend is to complete the salt torpedo for a speed run before Xmas in the desert. I need to complete the firewall details, the engine compartment fire suppression system, a couple of minor safety inspection fixes, and the approved foam padding just arrived for the helmet compartment. It needs to be installed. I’ll handle it this weekend.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.
AMERICAN TEAMS TAKE THREE TITLES IN SIX DAYS–As impressive as the Club Team title was, Team USA enjoyed a near sweep as three U.S. ISDE teams took top honors in their respective classes at the 94th FIM International Six Days Enduro. After heading the field going into the final day, American teams successfully defended their leads in the World Trophy, Women’s World Trophy and Club team divisions. The U.S. Junior World Trophy team finished second place in class.
Leading Australia by just over two minutes, the four American World Trophy riders (Steward Baylor, Taylor Robert, Kailub Russell and Ryan Sipes) simply had to ride conservatively in Day 6’s motocross-style competition. The Aussies tried their best and actually beat the American team for the day by 17.18 seconds. But Robert winning the last E2 moto gave the U.S. squad a final advantage of 1:45.34 seconds over Australia in the World Trophy standings.
“All four of us were really consistent, especially the three scores that counted every day, we were really tight,” said Robert after the win. “I think we got three guys in the top seven overall every day which is unheard of for us. So, that felt really good.”
By Mark Kariya for AMA
See Mark Kariya’s full coverage of the 2019 ISDE at the AMA site:
https://americanmotorcyclist.com/american-teams-win-three-titles-at-2019-isde/
–Dealernews
All-new colors, improved shields and all-new hinge hardware make this run of Gringo S and Lane Splitter the best ones yet. Both models meet DOT and ECE requirements and look killer doing it.
LATEST RAFFLE BIKE FROM THE WHEELS THROUGH TIME MUSEUM–
Our 2020 Wheels Through Time Raffle Bike is this beautiful 1939 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead hand-built by the team in the Wheels Through Time restoration shop.
This year’s masterpiece is powered by an all original 1939 61c.i. OHV Knucklehead engine mated to a genuine H-D 4-speed transmission, making it one of smoothest running motorcycles ever built by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
Finished in classic black with ivory panels, the bike has been accurately restored to showroom condition and is ready for the road.
Questions? Contact us today 828-926-6266
HANG ON FOR THE GADGETS OF THE CENTURY—Just in time for Xmas.
You don’t want to miss this line-up.
I can’t even begin to explain. It wouldn’t do any of them justice. Check ‘em out.
–Alan Landsburg
New Tech Editor
Bikernet.com™
JIMS Forceflow for Milwaukee-Eight Softails–The new Milwaukee-Eight® Softail® motorcycles utilize the center motor mount location to mount the coil.
In order to install a JIMS® Forceflow on these motorcycles, it was necessary to re-locate the coil. JIMS® has developed a turnkey coil relocation system to move the coil to the front of the motorcycle inconspicuously tucked underneath the neck of the bike, in-between the frame tubes.
This new mounting system allows the JIMS® Forceflow to be installed on all Milwaukee-Eight® Softail® motorcycles. The JIMS® Forceflow has a smooth, streamlined design that will keep your engine running cooler on those hot summer days, or in stop and go traffic. This proven cooling system drops your cylinder headtemperature by as much as 100 degrees.
The cooling fan can be controlled manually or it can be regulated by a thermostat that monitors head temperature and activates the fan when the engine temperature rises. This kit is highlyrecommended for performance engines to help extend engine life.
This complete bolt in kit includes the high powered fan, housing with incorporated horn, thermostat, coil relocation kit with plug wires, all necessary hardware, wiring, and detailed instructions. This kit comes in Hog Black (Part No.5470) with an MSRP of $565, as well as Chrome (Part No.5471) for an MSRP of $595.
For more information please contact us at (805) 482-6913, email us at sales@jimsusa.com, or visit www.jimsusa.com.
If you have any questions, please call me directly at (805) 482-6913. Your time in reviewing these current, past, or future pressreleases is greatly appreciated. You have been Bcc’d to protect email privacy.
–Greg Thiessen
Marketing Associate
JIMS®
555 Dawson Drive,
Camarillo, CA 93012
Ph: 805-482-6913
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY LESSON—spoonerism
[ spoo-nuh-riz-uhm ]
noun
the transposition of initial or other sounds of words, usually by accident, as in a blushing crow for a crushing blow.
HOW IS SPOONERISM USED?
Spoonerisms are the comfortable shoes of slips of the tongue: when it comes time to illustrate the universality speech errors, they’re so familiar and broken in, they always get a laugh.
MICHAEL ERARD, UM … : SLIPS, STUMBLES, AND VERBAL BLUNDERS, AND WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN, 2007
Other words the BFG coins are from errors. For example, in spoonerisms snapperwhipper, dory-hunky and catasterous disastrophe, the initial syllables have been swapped.
SIMON HOROBIN, “THE BFG REMINDS US THAT WORDPLAY IS PART OF LEARNING AND MASTERING LANGUAGE,” THE CONVERSATION, JULY 22, 2016
NEWS FROM THE EASYRIDERS STAFF FILES– Pulsating Paula has passed away, thought you might want to know.
Photographer for Easyriders at one time
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Iconic biker photographer Pulsating Paula passes
New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
(December 4, 2019) — Born in Jersey City, New Jersey on October 17 in 1954, Paula Rearden moved to New Brunswick when she was just 8 years old . Known in the Biker world as Pulsating Paula, her photographs of New Jersey bikers in the 1980’s and 1990’s seeped with authenticity and fun. Paula once said, “Got married to my first lay in 1973. 10 years later he bought me a camera, a Canon AE1. I still have it.”
Read the whole story at: https://www.americanmotorcyclism.com/2019/12/iconic-biker-photographer-pulsating.html
–from Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™
MORE NEWS FROM ASCOT— Femme Motale is a new hangout spot designed for women by women! Teaming up with @landersliquorbar we’re bringing a fresh new moto scene for you to make a pitstop for cocktails, food, and music! •
This Sunday, December 8th, from 11am-4pm Bring your friends and family and come check visit our Ascot booth!
Address: 2101 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa CA 92627
MORE FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT–
Watch: Fmr. Trump Science Adviser Dr. Happer in Madrid At UN Summit: Rips ‘non-existent climate emergency’ & ‘Phoniness of this bizarre environmental cult’
Princeton Physicist Dr. Will Happer & Former Trump Science Advisor: “We are here under false pretenses, wasting our time talking about a non-existent climate emergency.” … “Phoniness of this bizarre environmental cult.” …It’s hard to understand how much further the shrillness can go as this started out as global warming then it was climate change or global weirding climate crisis climate emergency what next but stick around it will happen. I hope sooner or later enough people recognize the holiness of this bizarre environmental cult and bring it to an end.”
By: Marc Morano – Climate Depot – December 4, 2019
NEW FROM THE BUCKLEGUY–
Buckleguy.com is now stocking traditional belt loops!
Solid brass belts loops are a classic addition to the hardware line at Buckleguy. Simple design to be used on dressy or casual belts. Also great for bag straps.
Sizes:
1 1/4″ & 1 1/2″
Finishes:
Natural Brass, Antique Brass, Nickel Plate, Nickel Matte
Thank you everyone!
The Buckleguy Team
BIG NEWS: Veterans need Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) to access bases for commissary/BX/MWR privileges–The Defense Department has announced expanded Commissary, Military Service Exchange and MWR access for Veterans on Jan. 1 and established a standard for physical access to military installations.
NEW FROM THE DAMON–
On January 7th, we will unveil our flagship electric motorcycle, the Damon Hypersport™ along with performance specs and pricing at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.
As you know by now, the Damon Hypersport is an entirely new kind of electric superbike. With it, we are addressing age old problems in motorcycling that have long been ignored by the industry, namely rider safety and comfort. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be furiously fast! For that we’ve enlisted Derek Dorresteyn from Alta Motors.
Electric Powertrain Veteran Derek Dorresteyn Joins Damon
Derek was largely responsible for the technology behind electric motorcycle company Alta Motors that led to its high-performance podium finishes across the U.S from 2008 – 2018.
“For electric motorcycles to go mainstream, they have to outperform their ICE counterparts. By marrying all-electric high performance with Damon’s rider aids like CoPilot™ and our adjustable ergonomics we call Shift™, Damon will redefine the motorcycling experience,” said Derek Dorresteyn.
Derek rounds out the team with his extensive knowledge and experience in lithium ion battery design, high voltage systems and inverters, power dense motors and high performance chassis systems. We’re thrilled to have him on the team and you can expect some exciting numbers when we reveal the Hypersport’s performance on January 7th.
BIKEWEEK GIVEAWAY–
Get your motor runnin’ and get in on the history — the 79th anniversary of the World’s Largest Motorcycle Event® is right around the corner.
Sunny skies, scenic rides and epic races await you in Daytona Beach this March, so start planning now to kick your spring off with a roar.
ENTER TO WIN
THE 2020 OFFICIAL BIKE WEEK MOTORCYCLE GIVEAWAY!
During Bike Week, we’re giving away a one-of-a-kind motorcycle to one lucky winner! The base bike will be a Harley-Davidson® Dyna Glide, with custom build style and features by father-daughter builder duo Dave and Jody Perewitz. Don’t miss your shot
to win — enter now!
ENTER TO WIN
www.Officialbikeweek.com
–RiderMagazine
NMA ALERT–White House asks court to toss Calif. emissions suit
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration asked a federal judge to throw out California’s lawsuit seeking to preserve its power to regulate tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions, saying Washington has the last word in setting fuel economy standards.
In court papers dated Oct. 15 but made public Tuesday, Justice Department lawyers told U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in Washington that California’s regulation contravened NHTSA’s power to set uniform fuel economy standard for the nation.
“A standard that regulates tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions is not just ‘related to’ fuel economy standards. It is a fuel economy standard,” the department lawyers said.
California set its own, stricter emissions standards for decades before the Republican administration challenged the state’s authority to do so in September. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, both Democrats, sued in response and were joined by 22 others states, as well as the District of Columbia and the cities of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In their September lawsuit, the states argued the administration exceeded the authority granted to it by Congress when it moved to preempt California’s emission standards.
The Justice Department also argued any state challenge to federal authority should have been filed at the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, and not at Jackson’s trial-level court. If the judge does not throw out the case, she should transfer it to the higher court, the department said.
In a response dated Nov. 14 but also made public Tuesday, the states said their lawsuit belongs in trial court because Congress made no provision for direct appellate review of challenges to the fuel economy regulation.
The fight over emission standards is one of several clashes between Trump and the nation’s largest state. Among the other California-Trump clashes: A lawsuit over the administration’s rescission of a rule allowing the state to require electric vehicle sales and another over an EPA decision to deregulate almost 1,400 acres of San Francisco Bay salt ponds.
–By ANDREW HARRIS, Automotive News
QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–
What are the three shortest words in the English language? Is it in?
What’s the difference between an oral and a rectal thermometer? The taste!
What’s long, green, and smells like bacon? Kermit The Frog’s fingers!
Why is diarrhea hereditary? It runs in your genes!
–from Rogue
Official Bandit’s Cantina Librarian
[page break]
AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2019– A champion of motorcyclists’ rights. A trials pioneer. A motocross legend. A tireless ambassador of motorcycling heritage. And a beloved off-road racer who transcended his sport.These are the members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
They will join other greats of motorcycling at the induction ceremony on Dec. 6 in Columbus Ohio. They represent the highest levels of achievement in competition, advocacy and fulfilling the AMA mission to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. Here are their stories.
Ron Lechien will always be regarded as one of the fastest, most stylish and naturally talented motocross/supercross racers of all time. Lechien quickly rose to stardom in the 1980s, arguably the most competitive era of the sport, and was almost immediately successful in every discipline he entered, both on the AMA circuit and the international stage.
All told, Lechien would win 26 AMA Supercross/Pro Motocross races, as well as the 1985 AMA 125cc National Motocross Championship. He also helped guide the U.S. team to a pair of wins at the annual FIM Motocross des Nations.
As efficient and disciplined as Lechien (nicknamed “Dogger”) was on the racetrack, away from it he was quite different. The challenges and temptations that came with success at such a young age would ultimately cost him in the long run, and his mercurial professional racing career ended nearly as quickly as it began.
Lechien was born in El Cajon, Calif., a suburb of San Diego, in a neighborhood that has produced an astonishing amount of motocross talent. Lechien is the fifth AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer to come from El Cajon, joining Marty Smith (Class of 2000), Marty Tripes (2001) and his former rivals and teammates Rick Johnson (1999) and Broc Glover (2001) with this distinction.
After Ron showed early promise on minicycles, his father, Dick Lechien, founder of Maxima Lubricants, started taking his son to major youth and amateur events. It was at the 1981 Mammoth Mountain Classic that the youngster served notice to the motocross world that he was going to be a force in racing by winning the highly-competitive 125 Pro class at just 14 years of age.
One year later, Lechien became the first superstar graduate of the new AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., winning the 125 Expert and 125 Schoolboy titles. He was rewarded with a Yamaha factory contract to turn pro in 1983, as soon as he turned 16.
Success came quickly. Three months after entering his first AMA Supercross, he won the Orlando Supercross, in the premier 250 class. Eight days later, Lechien won the AMA 125 National at Lake Whitney, Texas.
Before his next season as a pro started, Lechien made a big change, leaving Yamaha to ride for the juggernaut that was Team Honda in 1984. The team included three AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers—Bob Hannah (1999), David Bailey (1999) and Johnny O’Mara (2000). Lechien moved up to the 250 class, despite his relatively young age, and, while he won a few races, his lack of experience showed. But there were also flashes of brilliance. In his first U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross, at Unadilla in New York, Lechien became the youngest-ever 250cc Grand Prix winner.
In 1985, Team Honda returned Lechien to the 125 class in Pro Motocross, and he responded by absolutely dominating that summer’s AMA 125 National Motocross Championship. When the season ended, he joined his teammate Bailey and Jeff Ward of Team Kawasaki in representing the United States in winning the Motocross des Nations in Gaildorf, West Germany.
Unfortunately Lechien’s time with Honda was short-lived, as a brush with the law on a visit to Japan resulted in the termination of his contract. He was quickly picked up by Kawasaki, where he would spend the next four seasons, winning multiple AMA Supercross races and outdoor nationals. But Lechien never notched another championship title, as his inconsistency proved costly.
Lechien raced his last AMA Supercross in 1994 in his San Diego hometown as a veteran privateer and finished 13th.
“I am extremely honored to be going into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame,” Lechien said. “I’ve waited and been hoping for a long time that I would get in, and now that it’s finally happening, it’s just unreal.” —Davey Coombs
Kurt Caselli
Few off-road racers have been as respected and well-regarded as the late Kurt Caselli—and perhaps no other has achieved such admiration in a career cut so tragically short.
Kurt Caselli was born into an off-road riding family. Kurt’s father, Rich Caselli, was an active member of the Prospectors Motorcycle Club of AMA District 37.
Caselli started riding young, and started racing soon after. The wins came quickly. One of his first amateur titles was the local series’ Mini Enduro class championship at age 14. In 1998, at age 15, he won the desert championship in his class. In 2000, Caselli won an amateur championship in three disciplines: enduro, desert and grand prix.
In 2002, Caselli notched a notable victory at the Vikings MC Hare Scrambles, winning the overall on a KTM 125. Other important individual event wins included the 1999 Dirt Diggers Hare Scrambles, the 2000 Rovers Hare Scrambles and the 2001 Hilltoppers Desert Scrambles.
Soon, however, Caselli’s focus shifted to the world stage. His representation of the United States in international events elevated his stature among American fans.
He set his sights on the FIM International Six Days Enduro, competing in the ISDE for 12 years. Eight times, he was the top-finishing American rider, and he won his class twice. He was on the winning U.S. Junior Trophy Team in 2006, and the U.S. World Trophy Team in 2013, when the team finished second.
This experience earned Caselli a ride on the factory-backed KTM team, and he committed full time to the AMA National Hare and Hound Championship Series in 2011. That year, Caselli defeated the defending champion for the AMA No. 1 plate. In 2012, he successfully defended his title before repeating that performance in 2013. At this point, Caselli and KTM decided his future would be in international rally racing. Those hopes were bolstered by his strong showing in the 2013 Dakar, as well as his win at the Desafio Ruta 40 that year. Caselli’s final race before making the full leap to rally racing would be the Baja 1000 finale in Mexico with Ivan Ramirez, Mike Brown and Kendall Norman.
Caselli died competing in that race after colliding with a large animal. He was survived by his mother Nancy, sister Carolyn, fiancée Sarah, other family members, and countless friends and fans.
Kurt Caselli is remembered for his incredible skill and talent on an off-road motorcycle, but perhaps his greatest, and most lasting, impact was his role, inspired by his father Rich, to foster a deep sense of team, dedication and patriotism among U.S. riders competing at the ISDE. Although Caselli didn’t live to see the fruits of his work, those efforts paid off in 2016 when the U.S. World Trophy Team won the World Trophy, an achievement that had eluded American riders since the event began in 1913.—James Holter
Kurt Caselli’s Accomplishments
Special Recognition
2007 AMA Sportsman of the Year.
National Championship Event Wins
Won Jan. 24, 2010, Desert MC National;
Feb. 13, 2011, Four Aces National;
April 23, 2011, Vikings National; Jan. 22, 2012,
Desert MC National; Feb. 12, 2012, Four Aces National;
April 22, 2012, Vikings National;
Oct. 14, 2012, So Cal MC National;
Oct. 28, 2012, 100’s MC National;
April 14, 2013, So Cal MC National;
April 28, 2013, Vikings MC National;
Aug. 24, 2013, Silver State Trailblazers National.
National Championships
Won the 2011, 2012 and 2013 AMA National Hare and Hound Championships.
International Event WINS
Won the 2012 Baja San Felipe 250, a race on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula organized by SCORE.
World Championship Event Wins
Won the 2013 Desafio Ruta 40 Rally in Argentina, a round of the FIM Cross-Country Rally World Championship Series.
World Championship Titles
Caselli was a member of the 2006 ISDE U.S. Junior Trophy Team that won its category at the FIM International Six Days Enduro in Taupo, New Zealand. His teammates included Ricky Dietrich, David Pearson and Russell Bobbitt. The four-rider squad beat some of the best woods riders in the world on a course that traversed hundreds of miles of trails over six days of competition.
Caselli led the team all week and finished second in his final moto test behind Belgium’s Joel Smets.
Mark Buckner
Mark Buckner was well into his motorcycling life when he took up advocacy in the 1980s.
“I had ridden for many years, and I saw how the actions of the legislators affected motorcyclists,” he said. “Back in the early days, it was the helmet law and the inability to modify your bike.”
Buckner got involved with ABATE of Colorado in the 1980s, because he wanted to be a part of the effort to eliminate what he considered unfair treatment of motorcyclists.
“I’ve always supported helmets,” he said. “I am not anti-helmet. But I have never been in favor of requiring someone to wear one. I’ve always said that if somebody introduced a law saying you couldn’t wear a helmet, we’d fight that just as strongly.”
The motorcycling community at the time included a fair number of riders Buckner described as having “a hangover from the ’60s and ’70s.”
“People didn’t want the government telling them what to do,” he said. “I call it the ‘Western mentality.’ A lot of people lived out West because they valued their independence.”
In the late 1980s, Buckner moved into a leadership role in motorcyclists’ rights advocacy, becoming the state coordinator for ABATE of Colorado.
He immediately realized that the organization was underfunded and a little disorganized, resulting in a weak presence in state politics.
Buckner looked to ABATE of Indiana for guidance on how to create a powerful state motorcycle rights organization. And he forged strong bonds with the AMA and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.
Under his leadership, ABATE of Colorado grew from 200 members to 2,000, established a firm financial base, built strong relationships with members of the state legislature and started the state’s rider education program.
“There was a handful of us at the time I started who wanted to make ABATE a strong and respected organization,” he said. “With a lot of help from a lot of people, we were able to turn things around.”
In 1992, Buckner joined the Motorcycle Riders Foundation board of directors, becoming MRF president and chairman two years later. During his tenure, the MRF implemented strategic planning processes which led to the organization’s financial stability and significant growth.
“In 1995, the AMA, the MRF and the SMROs all pulled together for the national helmet law repeal,” Buckner said. “It was really wonderful. We all carried the same message to Congress and pressed the message out to our members. That effort had the support of everybody.”
Buckner credits his success as an advocate and a leader to his passion and drive.
“I have never been short on either of those,” he said. “You just step up and volunteer. I learned on the fly, figuring out what motivates people, what works with the legislature.”
Buckner continues to have a profound influence in the motorcyclists’ rights community.
During the past 25 years, he has delivered more than 100 presentations around the country at state, regional, and national rights conferences.
Buckner also has been a leader in promoting global harmonization of motorcyclists’ rights organizations in the United States and has fostered working relationships within the European motorcyclists’ rights community.
In 2018, Buckner was inducted into the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame.—Jim Witters
Dale Walksler
At a relatively early age, Dale Walksler demonstrated a flair for business and a passion for motorcycles.
“My first motorcycle ride started as a bunch of 15-year-old kids hanging around a garage, looking at an old Panhead,” Walksler said. “I decided to buy the old bike and drive it home.”
That “old bike” was a Harley Servi-Car. He made the deal, and his motorcycling adventure began.
Throughout his high school years in Glen Ellyn, Ill., Walksler bought and sold Harley-Davidson parts. Then in 1970, at the ripe old age of 18, he opened his own store, called Dale’s Hogs.
Just four years, later, Walksler became one of the youngest Harley-Davidson dealers in the country. He was 22 when he opened his dealership in Mount Vernon, Ill.
As his business grew, he moved his motorcycle collection to the dealership to attract customers. In 1999, Walksler sold the dealership and relocated his motorcycle collection to Maggie Valley, N.C. The new museum opened in 2002.
“Noticing that people enjoy old motorcycles is nothing new to me,” he said. “And from the very start, I realized that people will travel long and far to see a collection of rare old motorcycles. And I created Wheels Through Time just for that reason.”
Dale’s Wheels through Time Museum sets itself apart from most other museums by featuring motorcycles in running condition.
“The dropping jaws, the never-ending compliments on the collection. The most satisfying aspect of Wheels Through Time is the reaction of the people who visit,” Walksler said. “They are always aghast when they see the vast collection of rare motorcycles. And when they see them run, it takes it one step to the next note.”
Walksler’s museum features more than 350 bikes that trace the evolution of motorcycling from its earliest days into the 1960s. Walksler said he chose the location because Maggie Valley already was a tourist town.
“To build a museum there is something that would be a plus for the tourism industry,” he said. “And it would be a no-brainer to build the vast collection known as Wheels Through Time.”
He said the biggest challenge was staffing the museum with “people who understand my vision.”
“Finding those people is not an easy thing to do, but I have managed for 17 years now to do that,” Walksler said. “It’s a task I look forward to every day. Inspiring our visitors, inspiring our guests and inspiring our staff is something that’s hugely important to the overall impact.
“Our staff of museum docents is second to none,” he said. “We keep three to five people on the floor every day, sharing the stories of American history, starting bikes and sharing that story. It’s something you’ll see at no other museum in the world, as far as I know. And Wheels Through Time specializes in having a great customer experience.”
That customer experience is what drove the success of Walksler’s motorcycle dealership, as well.
“There’s not a huge difference between running a museum and running a motorcycle dealership,” he said. “It’s all about customer satisfaction and making sure each and every customer is pleased with the result of the experience that they’ve had. We entertain hundreds of people every day, and it is our goal to have their experience equal or exceed the visitor prior to them, one after another.”
Although the museum is open to the public only six months each year, more than 100,000 visitors pass through its exhibits annually. From December through April, the staff restores bikes and arranges new exhibits.
The museum’s popularity earned Walksler appearances on several television programs about vintage car and motorcycle restoration, including “American Restoration,” “Chasing Classic Cars,” “American Pickers” and his own show “What’s in the Barn?”
Those shows helped popularize vintage motorcycling, as well as put forward a positive image of the motorcycling lifestyle.
Wiltz Wagner
Since the 1960s, Wiltz Wagner has been deeply involved in the sport of observed trials, first as a fierce competitor and, later, as an unwavering advocate who helped gather scattered groups of enthusiasts and clubs into a cohesive national organization.
Living in Denver, Wagner was first attracted to motorcycles as a way to explore the mountain trails. But competitive riding was not his first choice as an outlet for his sporting desires.
He tried target pistols, martial arts and fencing, but each of those disciplines disappointed him in one way or another.
“I was looking for something to compete with, something sporting,” he said. Then he saw an observed trials.
“It looked like something I could do,” Wagner said. “I said, ‘Give me a bike. I think I can ride better than that guy.’”
He started with a 175cc Kawasaki Bushwacker, “which was quite a challenge to ride in trials.” Then Wagner bought a Montesa Cota.
“I loved the people, and I thought the sport was fascinating,” Wagner said. “That became it for me. I never did any of the other things [competitive sports] again.”
At 28, Wagner was starting in trials at an age when many top competitors retire.
“I had a lot of catching up to do,” he said. “The riders who started out as kids were wired differently. They could watch someone do something on the course, then use it right away. It took me weeks to do that.”
So, Wagner dedicated himself to the task. He trained four hours a day after work and spent weekends on his bike. He got up for 5 a.m. workouts.
“The competition became a measuring stick for how well the practice was going,” he said.
Eventually, Wagner and a few of his fellow Colorado riders began traveling to California and other states to compete in trials events. And they began to see the potential for more organization on a state—and even national—scale.
Wagner formed Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Trials Association, one of the oldest AMA-chartered trials clubs in America. The club is run by a steering committee that talks things through to reach a decision. There are no officers and no elections, Wagner said.
When Wagner left Colorado in 1985, after 25 years in the state, the RMTA had more than 225 members and put on 30 to 40 events a year.
Outside of Colorado, the trials community supported large events in Southern California, Texas and Michigan.
In 1973, Dick Debolt and the Michigan-Ontario Trials Association staged a two-day North American Trials Championship. Wagner was there.
“We saw that people were ready to travel to compete,” Wagner said. “Debolt showed that it could work.”
So, Wagner started putting together a list of all the trials clubs in the country and collected their membership rosters.
“That was the key,” he said. “Once you had the lists, you could reach out to the members.”
That outreach was the genesis of the North American Trials Council.
In 1974, the NATC put on nine events.In 1975, The Rhode Island Trials Club worked with Wagner and the NATC to host the first World Trials Championship in New England.
For the past 46 years, the NATC series, sanctioned by the AMA, has crowned the sport’s national champion.
Wagner was inducted into the NATC Hall of Fame in 2005 for his contributions to trials.
But he has competed and won in other disciplines, including drag racing, ice racing and land-speed racing where he, his late wife and his daughter hold more than 50 records.
Wagner said his selection for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame was somewhat of a surprise, because “trials is not a front-and-center sport.”
“It’s a hall of fame, and you don’t get a lot of fame if you are hiding in the woods with a bunch of your friends riding motorcycles,” he said. “But I am over the moon. This honor shines a spotlight on this sport.”—Jim Witters
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NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM HISTORY LESSON–1934 BMW R11
In the years leading up to 1921, a couple of years before BMW began to make motorcycles in 1923, they were supplying “boxer” twin engines to airplane as well as other motorcycle manufacturers.
Max Friz was the Chief Design Engineer starting with the company, Bavarian Motor Works at its inception in 1916. Friz’s focus was designing aircraft engines. But then he helped engineer the new model R32 motorcycle shown at the 1932 Paris Motor Show. The R32 had its opposed twin engine mounted with its crankshaft in line and used a three-speed transmission through an open drive-shaft. The engine featured sealed lubrication, was not “total loss” like most manufacturers were still using. Over time five versions of the R11 were made with this machine, a 1934 model, being the final.
A little early BMW chassis history: Continued development had brought the introduction of the interesting pressed steel frame in 1929. In 1935 the telescopic fork replaced the leading link fork for the new R12 and R17, but just for awhile. In 1936 came the tubular frame and in 1938 the telescopic, or “plunger” rear suspension. In 1955 the traditional swing-arm design frame became standard for all production street bikes. This was about six years after Norton began experimenting with it on the Manx road racer. And so many, but not all BMW design elements were set for decades to come.
The origins of BMW are now almost 100 years old. While their motorcycles seem similar over time; black paint/white pinstripes, shaft drive, many “boxer” engine designs, plunger rear suspensions with leading link forks, we might think, there are interesting innovations along the way. And while they now seem incredibly successful, two European wars, a national depression and a period when their machines were outdated and slow sellers in America, BMW surmounted these problems. Their sophisticated design work even includes “making” niches, such as “adventure touring,” and one could argue BMW offered one of the original “sport touring” bikes. And borrowing from others in the industry they developed across the frame four and six-cylinder machines in the last 15 years or so.
The National Motorcycle Museum has many fine European motorcycles including classics like this fine 1934 BMW R11 from the Jill and John Parham Collection. The R11 is truly a machine to kneel beside to take in its unique details, imagining it on the drawing board over 80 years ago.
Specifications:
Engine: Four Stroke Opposed Twin
Induction: Side-valve Heads
Bore & Stroke: 78mm x 78mm
Displacement: 745cc’s
Carburetion: Amal 6/406SP
Lubrication: Pressurized / Wet Sump
Compression Ratio: 5.5:1
Horsepower: 20HP
Clutch: Dual Plate, Dry
Transmission: 3-Speed / Tank Shift
Ignition: Battery / Optional Magneto
Electrics: Bosch Generator
Starting: Kick
Frame: Pressed Steel / Double Loop
Suspension: Leaf Spring Fork / Sprung Seat
Wheels/Tires: 3.50 x 26 / 3.50 x 26
Front Brake: 200 mm Drum
Rear Brake: 55 mm Band on Drive Shaft
Wheelbase: 54.5 Inches
Weight: 356 Pounds
Top Speed: 69 MPH
STILL OPEN, THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–What does the sign on an out-of-business brothel say? Beat it. We’re closed.
A family was driving behind a garbage truck when a dildo flies out and thumped against the windshield. Embarrassed, and to spare her young son’s innocence, the mother turns around and says, “Don’t worry, dear. That was just an insect.”
“Wow,” the boy replies. “I’m surprised it could get off the ground with a cock like that!”
A man goes to a $10 sex worker and contracts crabs. When he goes back to complain, the sex worker laughs and says, “What do you expect for ten dollars? Lobster?”
–from Rogue
Senior Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina™
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SPEAKING OF STRESS—I won’t get into the impeachment proceedings, but to say here’s a guy who is seriously under attack, every day. Yet, he gets up every morning and goes to work for the country.
The average guy would have a real problem flying all over the world trying to make the best deals for the United States, while constantly under attack. He always speaks to the press, even when he knows they will try to twist his words.
Yet, tomorrow he’ll get up, like the rest of us, but he’ll get up and go to work for us, trying to tackle serious problems and make the right decisions about our future.
I want to say Merry Christmas Mr. President, and to your family I hope you can have a comfortable Holiday.
–Bandit
AMA LEGISLATIVE NEWS– Arizona
Out-of-state residents who want to legally ride their off-highway vehicles in Arizona must buy an OHV decal.
The new decal was approved during the 2019 legislative session and was signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey.
Money raised through decal sales is to be used for OHV trail maintenance, education and law enforcement efforts.
Both resident and nonresident OHV decals cost $25 (plus a processing fee) and are good for one year from the purchase date.
Those caught riding without a decal may be fined.
Georgia
The Department of Driver Services’ Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program received a $83,464 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help reduce motorcycle fatalities, increase driver awareness of motorcycles and educate motorcycle riders about safety initiatives.
The grant allows the safety program to continue promoting state and national safety initiatives. The GMSP promotes driver awareness of motorcycles on the highways, rider education at 40 locations across the state and motorcycle safety initiatives.
The GMSP operates motorcycle training for new and experienced riders. Classes focus on riding a motorcycle legally and safely.
“We want to ensure everyone has access to proper rider education,” said Holly Hegyesi, GSMP Program Manager. “Motorcycle safety classes are essential for new and experienced riders, alike. Almost one third of motorcycle fatalities involve a rider without a valid license.”
Maine
A battle is brewing in Maine over the use of dirt bikes on trails.
Some members of an ATV task force formed by Gov. Janet Mills want to prohibit motorcycles on trails used by ATVs, UTVs and side-by-sides.
If the task force declines that proposal, a group of Maine residents plans to seek a change in the state law that would remove motorcycles from the legal definition of an ATV. Such a change going into place would effectively prohibit dirt bike use on ATV trails.
The AMA is working with Maine riders and task force members to retain the rights of motorcycle riders in Maine.
The governor’s task force is scheduled to report to the Legislature in January.
Minnesota
A new ATV trail connects the cities of Virginia, Eveleth and Gilbert via the Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge on state Highway 53.
The 550-foot connector provides a link to the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area in Gilbert.
The state Department of Natural Resources plans to double the size of the OHV park in 2020, and officials expect the number of riders to increase dramatically.
Beth Pierce, Iron Range Tourism director, said ATV riders are “enthusiastic trail explorers who are able and willing to spend money in communities.”
There are an estimated 268,000 registered ATVs in Minnesota.
Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a Regional Trails grant which helped pay for construction, signage and a culvert for the new connector. Other project partners included Minnesota DNR, the city of Virginia, Iron Range Tourism Bureau and Quad Cities ATV Club.
Missouri
Motorcyclists in Missouri will be required to wear helmets while riding, at least for another year, after the state legislature declined to overrule Gov. Mike Parson’s veto of a bill that would have repealed the current motorcycle helmet law.
Parson cited safety concerns raised by the state Department of Transportation in issuing the veto.
Freedom of the Road Riders supported the bill, which would have provided riders and passengers 18 or older the option of going without a helmet, if they carried health insurance.
Ohio
Four miles of All-Purpose Vehicle trails have been opened at Pike State Forest, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry.
The new trails are on a 144-acre property acquired in 2015 with State Recreational Vehicle funds.
The 4 miles of new trail bring the Pike APV State Forest trail system to nearly 20 miles of trail. The new area includes a designated highway crossing, a two-acre novice riding area, a shelter house with a roof and a kiosk with a trail map.
The SRV fund is made up of APV registration money and is used to support the expansion, development and maintenance of state APV trails. APVs include four-wheelers, dirt bikes, side by sides and dual-sport motorcycles.
Oregon
The Klamath County Board of Commissioners is considering allowing all-terrain vehicles to be driven on county roads.
Officials said people ride ATVs from Klamath County to Idaho. By allowing ATVs on all county roads, more of those people will contribute to the county’s tourism economy. The commissioners planned to devise safety restrictions before approving the proposal.
Washington
The Snohomish County Council voted 4-0 to expand the network of roads where people can legally ride ATVs.
The change affects roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or slower.
Under state law, an ATV rider must wear a motorcycle helmet, unless the ATV has seat belts and roll bars or an enclosed compartment for the operator and passengers.
The state requires safety features such as headlights and turn signals. Operators must be licensed, and their ATVs must be registered.
Several cities in the county allow ATVs on their streets.
CLIMATE DEPOT ALERT–GRETA SNAPS: ‘Change Everything,’ ‘Climate Crisis’ About ‘Colonial, Racist, And Patriarchal Systems Of Oppression,’ Fossil You Name it!
Far-left climate extremist Greta Thunberg unloaded on the world in an op-ed published on Friday, claiming that fossil fuels “are literally” killing mankind, and that they are a threat to “our very existence” as she said that her “climate crisis” agenda is not just about the environment, but about fighting the “colonial, racist, and patriarchal systems of oppression.”
In an op-ed published in Project Syndicate, Thunberg and two other far-left climate activists attacked world leaders over their pro-capitalist policies, writing that “the politicians let the profiteers continue to exploit our planet’s resources and destroy its ecosystems in a quest for quick cash that threatens our very existence.”
Although she did not explicitly say it, Thunberg admitted that the Paris Climate Accord – which would have cost the United States trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs – has been an abject failure.
Thunberg wrote: “…recent research shows that we are on track to produce 120% more fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with the 1.5°C limit. The concentration of climate-heating greenhouse gases in our atmosphere has reached a record high, with no sign of a slowdown. Even if countries fulfill their current emissions-reduction pledges, we are headed for a 3.2°C increase.”
The American Prospect reports:
In 2015, the Paris climate accord gave every country in the world the ability to set its own goals to combat the climate crisis. World leaders agreed to do their part toward stopping planet temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius—later updated to 1.5 degrees—above pre-industrial levels.
Even the left-leaning New York Times admitted that the Paris Climate Accord has been a failure, reporting that “even if every country did manage to fulfil its individual pledge, the world would still be on pace to heat up well in excess of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over preindustrial levels, the threshold that world leaders vowed to stay ‘well below’ in Paris because they deemed it unacceptably risky.”
Thunberg said that her far-left activism has been about “changing perceptions” and “shifting” “public opinion” on climate change and getting “schoolchildren” to lead “the way in raising awareness.”
“Fossil fuels are literally choking the life from us,” Thunberg continued. “That action must be powerful and wide-ranging. After all, the climate crisis is not just about the environment. It is a crisis of human rights, of justice, and of political will. Colonial, racist, and patriarchal systems of oppression have created and fueled it. We need to dismantle them all. Our political leaders can no longer shirk their responsibilities.”
Thunberg said that her goal in her “climate resistance movement” is “to change everything.”
Unfortunately, she’s wrong and science will prove it. I’m wondering if she isn’t related to Stalin or Hitler. –Bandit
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS—I tell all my relatives not to buy me any gifts. I don’t need anything. I mean it. Life is cool and I’ve got all I need. I’m very lucky. That’s my contribution to the planet, avoiding plastic shit. They can always give the Redhead some flowers, that cool, but she doesn’t need sweets.
That being said, something strange happened. I’m still tinkering with the Panhead I built last year. It rides rough and I don’t like how the front end acts. Then I found out about the new Paughco springer, built to look like early Harley Springers, real early.
I took off my glide and I’m trading it for one of these new Paughco Springers. Another reason for this move included folks knocking off the traditional Paughco flat sided springers. The bastards couldn’t design their own, so they stole the classic Paughco design. Whatever, Ron and Steve came up with a new, cool version to shake up the market, and I’m going to try one.
Hang on for the install, and Edge just sent me a Harley Trike Suspension tech. Plus the Tileman’s Vegas report will go live tomorrow.
Never a dull moment around here. But goddammit, make time for the holidays.
Ride fast and free forever!
–Bandit
