BIKERNET PRE-STURGIS NEWS HEADLINES–WIND EM UP TIME

Topping off the flathead with Spectro 20-50.

Hey,The bros are fired up to hit the road, if they haven’t already. We’re receiving reports from Sturgis and still making trophies for the world’s finest Bikernet Brouhaha at Thunder Road on Friday, August 8th.

“My flight is Delta 3797, arriving 8:21 PM in Long Beach,” said Billy Lane. We picked him up and he fired-up his ’39 flathead.

After extensive reconfiguration an official Bandit’s Bedroll was the ticket.

Doc Robinson looked at it and shook his head. “It’ll never make it,” he said. Billy has already ridden the bike half way across the country. It’s not a looker, but runs.

“My all time favorite motorcycle,” Billy said packing it for the run to Sturgis, then to Florida, that’s across country on this bike.

Let’s hit the news, then I’ll show you the making of the World’s Best Bikernet Brouhaha Burn-Out Champion Trophy:

KENNY SAMSON BREAKS GROUND IN STURGIS, IS SAMSON MOVING?–He has another building out by the UPS. This will be an industrial building.

–Donna

BIKERNET WEEKLY PRODUCT RELEASES FROM RIVERA PRIMO / 7-31-08SEALED PRIMARY BEARING–When converting a stock primary drive to a dry clutch for belt drive use, the stockbearing can be replaced with Rivera Primo’s SEALED BEARING, which is pressedinto the inner primary cover.

Simply remove the OEM race from the transmission mainshaft(use our #34902-84tool from Jims) for this portion of the job. The new bearing is a slip-fit on the mainshaft.

Fits all Evo 5-speed models.

PP-216 Sealed Inner Primary Bearing $ 18.91

TAKE A BREAK FROM HARRIED LIVES TO FOCUS ON BIKERNET PHILOSOPHY–The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people toknow ‘why’ I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of theroads weren’t paved.

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think ofAlgebra.

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up, or leaks.One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such anice change from being young.Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.First you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pullup your zipper. It’s worse when you forget to pull it down.Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was calledwitchcraft. Today, it’s called golf..Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over mymouth…AMEN..!!

–from Buckshot

ROUTE SET FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON 105TH ANNIVERSARY PARADE IN MILWAUKEE–MDA Heroes to Lead the Weekend’s Traditional Highpoint Event

With a group of top fundraisers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) from around the U.S. leading the way, a parade of Harley-Davidson motorcycles will travel through the streets of Milwaukee on Saturday, August 30, 2008 to celebrate the Company’s 105th Anniversary.

The Parade will depart at 9 a.m. from Milwaukee’s Miller Park. Public viewing areas will begin at the corner of 35th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Riders will continue east on Wisconsin Avenue, turn south on Milwaukee Street, then turn east on Erie Street to the parking lots of the Henry Meier Festival Park.

The Harley-Davidson Parade of MDA Heroes will be led by riders who have raised at least $6,400 for MDA prior to August 1, 2008. The $6,400 covers the cost of sending eight kids to MDA Summer Camp. The parade will also include representatives from Harley-Davidson dealerships around the world, Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) members in the H.O.G. Chapter Parade of Flags, Harley-Davidson employees and thousands of Harley-Davidson customers. The majority of participants were chosen at random from those who purchased Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Celebration tickets. Participants must have an official parade credential to participate.

Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary parade

“The 105th Anniversary Parade is a unique chance for the family of Harley-Davidson customers, dealers, suppliers, employees and sponsors to celebrate the excitement of 105 years of Harley-Davidson and at the same time help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” said Harley-Davidson Manager of Community Relations, Tony Shields. “In addition, one of the highlights of our past parades has been the Milwaukee community embracing our visitors and making them feel welcome.”

Harley-Davidson has held motorcycle parades in Milwaukee for previous Anniversary celebrations in 2003, 1998 and 1993. On each occasion, the community enthusiastically welcomed the riders, making the parades both fun and memorable, with thousands turning out to see the spectacle.

Harley-Davidson’s 105th Anniversary weekend in Milwaukee includes non-stop activities planned throughout the city. The events will be centered around Milwaukee’s lakefront including music, food and entertainment at the Summerfest Grounds, the new Harley-Davidson Museum and a special Harley-Davidson exhibit at Discovery World. H.O.G. will also celebrate its 25th Anniversary in style with an event at Miller Park. Most events will be available to ticket holders only, but the Main Street Exposition at Veterans Park, an outdoor festival with music, food and entertainment will be open to everyone, creating a perfect meeting and gathering place. There will be a celebration kick-off at the corporate offices on Juneau Avenue and other events at area Harley-Davidson facilities.

Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Celebration ticket packages, as well as tickets for the August 29 Foo Fighters with special guest Three Days Grace and the August 30 Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band concert at the Roadhouse at the Lakefront, are currently available by visiting www.harley-davidson.com/105th.

In addition to the 105th parade, Harley-Davidson and its dealers and riders have a whole variety of exciting fundraising activities in store for enthusiasts. More information is available at www.mdarides.org.

THE FOLLOWING CALL-TO-ACTION IS FORWARDED TO YOU FROM–Lynn M. WesleyAssistant State Legislative Coordinator, ABATE of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania State Representative, Motorcycle Riders’ Foundation

Action Needed: Please read the below tofamiliarize yourself with the situation. There’s a proposed resolution that would deny publicly funded health care to motorcyclists

Our goal is to:A:) Fill the Public Safety Committee meeting with as many bodies that willfit. The hearingon the proposed Social Burden Resolution will be held @4:00 pmB) Jam the County’s communication system with emails, calls and faxes.(Drozd is the bad guy, Burn is the GOOD guy and most all of the other PublicSafety Committee members are with us, so please be nice to them.) If youremail is returned, that means we have done well. Please do keep resendinguntil the hearing is over.

C) Ultimately, the supreme goal is to convince Council that if they reallyare interested in saving lives, then work with us.

D.) Last, but not least, hit Drozd from all angles. His personal email isMdrozd@verizon.net

And his home office telephone number is 412.364.1600

On 13 June, a University of Pittsburgh press release announced theforthcoming publication of a new study claiming “Major Increase in HeadInjuries Noted after Repeal of Pennsylvania’s Motorcycle Helmet Law.” in theAugust issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The authors, Drs.Mertz and Weiss claimed, “Even after accounting for increases in motorcycleregistrations that occurred during this period, a 32 percent increase inhead injury deaths and a 42 percent increase in head injury-relatedhospitalizations, raising concerns about motorcyclists’ safety and theimpact of this trend on health care costs.” A full-blown public relationscircus accompanied the release, resulting in sensationalist media coveragethroughout the state and across the nation.

The curious timing of the release, two months before the study’spublication, was revealed on 22 June, with the release of The LegislativeBudget and Finance Committee’s report, “Motorcycle Injuries and Fatalitiessince the 2003 Repeal of the Mandatory Helmet Law.” The official governmentreport found that the fatality rate has remained IDENTICAL and major andmoderate injuries, along with the crash rate, have actually DECLINED! Thestate report also addressed the Pitt study, noting that “it did notdetermine incidences of helmet usage in motorcycle head injury deaths andhospitalizations,” even though that data is available.

Disregarding the findings of the state report, Allegheny County CouncilmanMatt Drozd (who, not coincidentally, requested the Pitt study) introduced aresolution calling on the state to re-enact a mandatory helmet law. Meetingvocal opposition from motorcyclists, Drozd amended his resolution tomaintain freedom of choice, but deny public health care funding to anymotorcyclist involved in a crash resulting in head trauma which could havebeen prevented by wearing an approved helmet. The Drozd resolution wasreferred to the Public Safety Committee, which will meet to discuss themeasure on 31 July.

Committee Chair Jim Burn (one of the good guys) has gone above and beyond toencourage bikers’ participation in the Committee’s deliberations, schedulingthe meeting to make sure it does not conflict with the Sturgis rally inAugust, and we plan to turn out in force. (Although these committee meetingsare generally not open to public comment, he invited “as many as we care tobring” to speak in support of our position.) In the meantime, Council–andespecially Councilman Drozd–needs to hear from the broadest possiblespectrum of motorcyclists. We request your assistance by letting Councilknow your thoughts on discriminatory government actions that penalizemotorcyclists in the name of public safety while completely ignoring thewidely recognized hazards which actually cause m otorcycle crashes and killbikers every day.

You can contact Councilman Drozd at mdrozd@alleghenycounty.us

In addition to Drozd, members of the Public Safety Committee include:

James Burn, Jr. (Chair)
jburnjr@alleghenycounty.us

John DeFazio
jdefazio@alleghenycounty.us

James Ellenbogen
jellenbogen@alleghenycounty.us

Vince Gastgeb
vgastgeb@alleghenycounty.us

Dr. Charles Martoni
cmartoni@alleghenycounty.us

William Russell Robinson
wrobinson@alleghenycounty.us

Thanks in advance for you help, and

Live to be Free!
–Lynn M. Wesley

COOLBETH BATTLES BACK AT HAGERSTOWN HALF-MILE–Coolbeth Rides Factory Harley-Davidson to Win and Regains Points Lead

HAGERSTOWN, MD (July 26, 2008) ? Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth overcame a poor start and fought his way through the field to win the AMA Grand National Twins race at Hagerstown Speedway. In notching his fourth Grand National Twins victory of the season, Coolbeth regained the season points lead he lost last week at Greenville, Ohio, to Latus Harley-Davidson/Screamin? Eagle rider Joe Kopp, who finished third at Hagerstown. With five races left on the 2008 season schedule, Coolbeth leads Kopp by just six points.

?The Factory Harley-Davidson team gave me a perfect set-up tonight,? said Coolbeth. ?I got behind at the start but had the motorcycle I needed to race back to the front. This is a big win to put us back on top in points.?

The 25-lap Grand National main started in a light mist, with Glassman/LZ Racing rider Sammy Halbert getting the hole shot and quickly pulled away from Kopp and American Suzuki rider Jake Johnson. Coolbeth started the race in fifth behind Blue Springs Harley-Davidson/Screamin’ Eagle rider Jared Mees. Skillfully guiding his Harley-Davidson XR-750 on the slick clay track, Coolbeth got by Mees on lap three, passed Johnson on lap six, and moved ahead of his championship rival, Kopp, on lap eight.

Halbert appeared to be on the way to his first career Grand National win, but Coolbeth would not be denied. Riding smoothly and consistently, the two-time Grand National champion closed the gap and passed Halbert to take the lead on lap 16. Halbert would not go quietly, however, and dogged Coolbeth for several laps. But Coolbeth?s steady performance and a few slight errors by the young Halbert allowed Coolbeth to edge ahead, and he crossed the finish line with a lead of 1.537 seconds. Kopp finished third, followed by Johnson, Mees and Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith aboard the Moroney’s Harley-Davidson/Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson XR-750.

After eight of 13 events on the 2008 AMA Grand National Twins schedule, Coolbeth leads the series with 149 points. Kopp is second with 143 points, followed by Smith with 129 points and Chris Carr with 100. Mees is ninth with 67 points.

The 2008 AMA Grand National Twins Championship will next race on August 31 and September 1 on the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill.

The Screamin’ Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by Matco Tools.

CHARLIE BRECHTEL AT BUFFALO CHIP OFFERS DVDS WITH HIS NEXT ALBUM ON CD– THESE ARE PICTURES FROM BEAUMONT TEXAS / SONNYKEETON & HIS SON WAYLON. THEY ARE PART OF MY CD PROJECT “IRON VOODOO” I AM GOING TO BE INCLUDING A DVD TO GO ALONG WITH MY CD. THE DVD IS GOING TO INCLUDE ALL THE STUFF THAT IT TOOK TO REBUILD MY BIKE AND A MAKING IN THE MUSIC.

IT’S A VOODOO STORY ON REVERSING THE CURSE ON MY BIKE GOING FROM A 86 HERITAGE SOFTAIL TO A SONNY KEETON EXTRVAGANZA. THE BIKE WILL LOOK NOWHERE NEAR THE ORIGINAL STYLE. WE ALSO TOOK OUR FILM CREW “WATER BUFFALO FILMS” AND SHOT IT LIVE ON LOCATION.

WATER BUFFALO FILMS IS CURRENTLY FINISHING UP THERE BIKER DOCUMENTARY CALLED “I RIDE”. WHICH ON SEPT. 25TH WILL BE THE WRAP PARTY WHICH WILL BE D?BUTING AT A NIGHT CLUB IN SAN FRANCISCO. FEATURING THE FRYED BROTHERS AND THE CHARLIE BRECHTEL BAND AS THE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND A HOST OF OTHER TALENTED BIKE BUILDERS AND PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY.

MORE INFORMATION CONTACT WATERBUFFALOFILMS.COM OR BIG7PRODUCTIONS.COM

–CHARLIE BRECHTEL

EXCELSIOR-HENDERSON ISN’T DEAD YET–I posted on the E-H Resource Board.. Try this..http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Excelsior-Henderson-Resource-Board/message/28946

–Jumper

JON TOWLE GET ACCOLADES FOR NIGHTSTER REPORT FROM A BLONDE MOM–Just wanted to thank you for the write up on the nightster. I couldn’t agree with you more. Though it may be a few months old, the article is great and made me smile, as I have a 2009 Nightster of my own.

My story? I’m a mom of two little ones (almost 3 and 1 1/2) I’ve always been a fast pace kind of girl but I think this beats all previous records. On Monday I decided I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. On Tuesday I had private lessons. On Wednesday I passed my permit test, wandered into a Doc’s Harley in St. Louis and put a down payment on the ONLY bike that made my heart skip a beat- the 1200 cc 2009 Nightster. On Thursday I got my license and on Friday my Nightster was delivered to my front door. Granted on Friday evening I was only reving the engine in my garage but by today (Sunday) I’ve already put 60 miles on my new baby.

Some things are just meant to be…..

—
Emilie Schmidt

BIKERNET STAFFER, NYLA OLSEN’S LUCKY DEVIL METAL WORKS PROJECT BOBBER REPORT–“Finished these two pieces over the week-end for you…I will ship today,” said Heather New, of New-Line Engraving. She’s amazing. The bike is currently in the Lucky Devil paint booth. Wait till you see the paint shots.

ROGUE BIKERNET CORRESPONDENT ROLLS TOWARDS THE BADLANDS– I have checked everything I can think of on the bike plus I have installed a Baker Plus 1 Oil Pan to keep the Spectro Platinum 20W50 Synthetic Engine Oil cool and working to protect my engine. The Continental Milestones have the correct air pressure so I get good mileage and handling out of them and also gas economy. A new Alloy Art Swingarm Stabilizer is being tried out as well. I even had Professional Design Upholstery add some padding to the seat and a new panel. That will help me put in the full days of riding in comfort.

Cameras have been cleaned and checked so that I will be ready to get some good shots including those at the Brouhahna event at Thunder Roads in Sturgis. I will also be at numerous other places looking for interesting shots for the magazines. Have me take your photo!

I have programmed my cell phone with ICE-Wife and ICE-Son. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency so that if any thing should happen on the ride responders will know who to contact.

Though I will be riding from Florida I realize that for a lot of reasons many will be trailering and I am requesting you keep a eye out for the motorcycles on the road and probably wouldn?t hurt if you had a extra can a gas LOL.

Those riding who pull over and Need Assistance Should Signal Others By Placing a Object A Reasonable Distance Behind the Motorcycle. Hey haulin’ ass in the left lane a person will need time to get over and stop. So many people stop on the side of the road for many reasons so If You Need Help SIGNAL.

–Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005

Continued On Page 2

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The Razors Edge

/ Free Departments, Political Interest / July 31, 2008

The author working in his shop.

“The razors edge”, a familiar expression, has returned to our sector once again in 2006. After experiencing robust growth for a period of five years fostered by new TV shows and other forms of media, the motorcycle industry, specifically the American V-twin market that we know and love, is starting to show signs of a “cooling off period”.

The American public has grown dependent on the hi-jinks of Billy Lane, OCC and the like, over the course of the last 5 years which has brought tremendous success to our celebrity brethren while also creating increased sales within the motorcycle community as new riders come forth to join the flock.

This renewed interest in our community has also brought with it the opportunity for others to enter the sector and perhaps pursue a lifelong dream, or for some, just try to earn a quick buck.

This mass flood into our tiny sector has brought with it both good and bad economic effects.

We all recognize the benefit of new talent entering the sector, bringing with them fresh ideas and designs. Economically it forces more competition to the marketplace which benefits the consumer as other players in the sector are forced to be more creative while also price effective in their approach to the new consumer market. Free market economies such as ours are the cornerstone for this action and it’s effect for the consumer.

However, today as manufacturers, we face a new and modern paradigm. New resources have emerged for the manufacturing sector (read: China labor force). These new resources have provided cheap labor allowing an American manufacturer to produce his items overseas while still attaining good margins domestically. As American consumers waiver in their discernment of “quality” versus price, the American businessman can take advantage of this new “margin spread”.

Fewer American consumers lend credibility and credence to the “Made in America” sticker.

While they complain about their salary or hourly wage, they will go out in the same breath and buy a product produced overseas simply on a “cost” basis. You see, we have been trained over the years by product obsolescence and “throw away” goods. We have found a way to produce products so efficiently and cheap using the overseas labor market, that when it’s functional or economic life diminishes, it is simply thrown away and the new “improved” version is bought, sometimes at even less cost than the original.

Folks, we are building our home on a very weak foundation. Although, some might argue that money supply measures are increased (an economic measurement of the velocity “speed” of one dollar handed from one hand to another defined as M1, M2, and M3 money supply), the value of that same dollar decreases as more money is printed to keep the velocity through the economy high. “Easy money” policy becomes a necessary component to keep the wheels turning, further undermining our economic future.

Compound this with the fact that our service sectors are now leaving to countries such as India.

Once upon a time, not too long ago, we had a nation which grew out of the Industrial Revolution as an economic powerhouse producing high quality durable goods which fostered a more mature economy. This in turn, spread into service sectors taking care of and “servicing” the needs of this expanding economy. This provided wide-spread job growth and prosperity in America for many economic “rolling periods”.

Now, we flash forward and notice a time where we are taking this successful formula and entitling other countries with it…… this is the “modern paradigm” shift mentioned earlier. No longer do we care about the production of the goods which trickles money all the way down the supply chain to you and I, but instead we focus the attention to the consumer alone and make him the object of our affection putting price over quality and selling our manufacturing and service sectors overseas to satisfy the consumers veracious appetite.

Rick riding the board track bike he built by hand. It’s featured on Bikernet.

Heck, in this day and age, we have been trained to buy things on credit. Plastic cards buy the consumer his goods without the pain of real money trading hands as we brainwash future generations to undermine their future economic well being in order to grab immediate gratification- “without pain”. Real ownership becomes a fleeting commodity as we are coerced to leverage any purchases through “creative financing” thanks to our benefactors and money lenders who care so much about us that they will lend us the money at a nominal fee, for just about as long as we desire (witness the push for home mortgages past 30 years!). Just don't forget to tell your children to get their credit cards early in life (you can also co-sign for them), so that they can start building their credit! After all, we all need good credit! You simply can’t buy a car or home with cash!

I think this is illegal…. can’t remember the law on this one.

Cash has become such an obsolete tool to barter with. Usually my good looks pay for most everything- I’m sure you’re just as lucky as I am.

Now you say, “What the heck does this have to do with motorcycles?” I know, wipe the sleep from your eyes and reheat that cup of coffee. Our small sector of the economy responds to economic factors in the same way as every other sector. We aren’t as special as we think. In fact, we are the fly on the ass of this economy–pardon my expression. However, I do feel that we share something that others don't. It’s our desire to share our feeling of expression and freedom through riding. Our bikes have been an artistic conduit for over 100 years, giving us a way to express our patriotic feelings, and the one thing that makes our country better than any other country in the world, OUR FREEDOM. Our children place their lives in harms way to help to cultivate, protect and share this wonderful way of life.

I hope that we don’t undermine their efforts and demean their risks by selling away the very thing that empowers us and our future.

We face arduous times. We have the most knowledgeable Fed in history and the most responsive monetary and fiscal policy in our short history working for our benefit. They are doing everything in their power right to fight the effects of this new paradigm and keep our economy moving forward. We are in a period of rising interest rates, increasing commodity prices (caused in part by China exhausting supply), and American debt levels that are unprecedented. Trust me when I tell you, it’s not going to get easier.

What can we do? Well, very simply: SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW AMERICAN!

A company with the name “U.S. Choppers” could not possibly offer products made in China- we would not do this to you. We spend our money using American made materials, American tools, and American workers to deliver you a 100% Red, White, and Blue products.

We simply love our country and our people too much to sell them away for the illusion of easy money.

Our freedom has been paid for in blood and there has been significant cost. We will not let those efforts slip away in vain. Is it worth it for us as a business to pay more for our materials, our tools and our workers? Let me tell you, friend, it’s worth every red cent. I wouldn't trade the quality of my goods or the people I work with for all of the tea in China! For these reasons we have very thin margins and make very little off of our product line, but when we sleep at night, we rest well knowing that no Chinaman can compare his product to ours and we do our best to support our people at home in every way. For these reasons and for you, our American brothers and sisters, we walk “the razors edge”.

-Rick Krost

Rick and Bandit during the filming of Steel Dreams TV show in the Los Angeles Harbor.

Rick carries a degree in Finance, with emphasis in economics and accounting. He has spent 7 years in the finance profession as an institutional bond trader, financial consultant, and high net worth manager for such firms as Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Salomon Smith Barney, and ultimately owning his own branch office of Raymond James Financial employing 5 other consultants in Newport Beach, CA. Rick’s efforts were concentrated on technical analysis combined with modern portfolio theory blending both fundamental and technical aspects. Ricks clients included a very highly regarded local CEO base. Rick sold the practice in 2004 to pursue a dream and passion– “U.S. Choppers”. Rick has been involved in the restoration community for over 17 years, starting with his first motorcycle business “Homies Cycle” circa 1989 in a little town named Pasadena, CA.

U.S. Choppers
2039 S. Lyon St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-546-4699
Appointments Only Please
http://www.uschopper.com

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Jul;y 31, 2008 Part 1

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