Hey,
It’s Sunday and we’re making progress on the Assalt Weapan. Life is bananas at the shop. The girls went partying and Rick Krost came by with a bike he built to sell-cheap. The bike is very cool for the price.
So Rick popped over with the highbar Shovel in the back of his truck. We unloaded it and went to work. The Plan: To fix the brakes (they wouldn’t bleed), and go to work on the Bonneville bike. It was 8:00 p.m. and the Sun just slipped into the Pacific, outside the LA Harbor. So we bled the brakes. It was a jockey shift set-up with the rear brake connected to the front brake mastercylinder, made in Japan from Mid USA. Seemed simple enough. He used the front brake switch in the housing to flash the brake lights and no actual front brake.
When I grabbed the lever it fell directly against the throttle grip. Three or four pumps and it was up and locked, and it would hold for as long as I held it there. But if I let go for over 5 seconds it fell again to the grip.
Let’s get to the news, then I’ll tell you what happened. We didn’t discover the real pot hole in the formula until almost 10:30:
ACCIDENT SCENE MANAGEMENT MOVES MILWAUKEE OFFICE– The ASMI/SOS office is moving to a new location one mile away (see below) over the next week. Many discontinued and select overstock items are on sale for 50% off! Some of the items for sale are things like: reflective vests, blood pressure cuffs, batteryless flashlights, etc.
Office items for sale include folding chairs & pads, room dividers and more. Come visit us at 400 Travis Lane #30 before next Friday – First come — first serve. Call the number below before coming to be sure we are not at our new office as we move. If you get the answering machine, leave a message. We will be paged and will get right back to you.
Please make a note of our new address. Other contact info will not change.
–Vicki Roberts-Sanfelipo, RN/EMT
Director Accident Scene Management, Inc.
President of SOS & Conspicuity Inc.
We’re Moving June 1st!!! Please make a note of our new address:
W246 S3244 Industrial Ln. A
Waukesha, WI 53189
www.accidentscene.org
info@accidentscene.org
www.conspicuityinc.com
info@conspicuityinc.com
(877) 411-8551 – toll free
(262) 521-2880 – local
(262) 436-0286 – fax
AFRICAN COUNTRY BANS WOMEN FROM BIKES– The Nigerian state of Kano has banned women from riding commercial motorcycles, according to the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which warned that women who ride risk being arrested.
“The sharia police, otherwise known as Hisbah committee, have concluded arrangements to commence enforcement of some aspects of the state’s sharia law as passed by the state House of Assembly,” the NAN said. The law bans women from riding commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada in Nigeria, and also bars Muslim Okada operators from carrying women on their motorcycles.
Other aspects of the sharia law that would be implemented include the ban on alcohol consumption, hard drugs and prostitution, the commander said. Kano, one of 12 states in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north that adopted the strict Islamic law in 2000, is the first to introduce segregated public transport.
BERT BAKERS HAS THE SOLUTION TO SLUGGISH 6-SPEEDS– Bert’s having me spread a little news on a little thing that affects the new Harley’s in a sweeping way. This is such an elegant solution. It’s merely a transmission pulley that ‘gear’s down’ the transmission to a more usable range. Again, this is a response to the popular demand for adjustments to that new Cruise Drive.
As you know, ultimately when you gear down you get more torque and response in the lower gears where the criticism has shown to be the bikes are a little sluggish – although the motors are larger. Gearing down also makes it so you can reach 6th at a more usable cruising speed – instead of at illegal, cheek-jiggling velocities.
I just thought this may be newsworthy to the folks who have the new bikes and few options in the area. Attached is a press release, a spec sheet, and a hi-res JPEG. If you need something fancier, I’m your guy. Just tell me please.
–//Scout
Brand Vandal | Director of Marketing, Creative and PR
BAKER Drivetrain
Toll Free: 1-877-640-2004
Cell: 616-443-9774
Note: My New Address!
BAKER Drivetrain
c/o Scout
9804 E. Saginaw
Haslett, MI 48840
EPA QUESTION OF THE WEEK– Can you please explain to me the damn rules for DOT and or Compliant bikes. I have talked to like ten agency people for the DOT and DMV here in Florida and it seemed to me that none of them really knew them either. Example, I am building a bike for a guy, the chassis, motor, tranny, driveline, were bought from CCI dealer, the remaining parts I am making myself. The problem is this guy doesn’t want to use that “one time” hit when he goes to title it. Is there any way around that?besides me having to go through the headache of getting the papers for a certified motorcycle manufacturer. Any info on this matter would be greatly appreciated?thanks a lot Alex Jacksonville, FL
I take it, it’s a ground up. You don’t have a title? Most states are not enforcing any of this stuff. Just go through the motions as if it was last year. You don’t have to be certified. Just go start the registration process and see if they say anything. If they don’t, you’re golden. If they do, tell ’em it’s a show bike and register it to the shop. Then sell it to the customer as a show bike.
I’ll bet I won’t have to explain that either. There’s a number of options still available to rider/builders who need to register ground-up bike without existing titles. The key: Don’t panic and don’t ask too many questions. If we hammer our DMVs for answers, they go find ’em. That could lead to more headaches.
On the other-hand it’s good to know what the options are, before you walk into your DMV office. Here’s the current list:
1. The DMV is not up to speed and doesn’t require anything. This will be the situation in most cases. Just register your bike and go home.
2. Once in a lifetime custom build, or in California “Special Construction,” status. There’s no restrictions on the California bikes as far as numbers go, but there is a rumor that you can sell Special Construction bikes. I’ve never heard of this being enforced.
3. If you’re a shop, you can register up to 25 non-compliant bikes a year, as limited mileage show bikes.
4. You can always build a bike using an S&S EPA compliant engine.
5. In Montana, Senator Brueggeman just saw a bill through the legislature to allow old styled bikes to be registered as custom and the EPA requirements would be linked to the engine style year. This is a state by state issue. It will take sometime to spread around the country.
HIPAA Loophole Fix UPDATE– The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that legislation to close the loophole that allows insurance providers to discriminate against motorcyclists when it comes to fully funding benefits is beginning to gain some momentum. The House bill (HR 1076) has 45 co-sponsors, while the Senate bill (S 616) has 3 co-sponsors. As a rule, Senators don’t co-sponsor legislation as frequently as their House counterparts. However, that certainly does not mean we should not ask them at every opportunity.
“The impressive part of the list of House co-sponsors is that over half of them are Representatives from states that sent SMRO grassroots lobbyists to DC this year,” said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF). “A huge thanks goes out to all of our SMRO partners and dedicated individuals” he added.
Over the past few months MI, WA, WI, NM, NY, NJ, OH, PA, CO, IA, AK, MN, and IL have all sent representatives from their respective State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organizations to Washington DC to lobby for the advancement of this issue. Those visits resulted in over 200 individual, sit-down office meetings with Senators, House Members and staff.
US Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX), the bill sponsor, had this to say, “No one should be denied health insurance benefits because they prefer to drive a motorcycle. It is essential to provide health care benefits to those who have slipped through the loophole by protecting their access to substantive health care.”
The legislation would close a loophole in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that denies health care benefits for those who participate in legal transportation and recreational activities. In January 2001, a rule was issued that was intended to ensure non-discrimination in health coverage in the group market. That rule prohibits health plans and issuers from denying coverage to individuals who engage in certain types of recreational activities such as skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling or motorcycling. However, because of the way the rule was written, it has allowed insurers to deny health benefits for an otherwise covered injury that results from participation in these activities.
“Now is the time to take this ground swell of support to the next level,” said Jeff Hennie. He adds, “Phone calls, e-mails and personal visits with your members of the US House and Senate are needed to keep the push on Washington.”
You can find contact information for your US Senators and Members of the House of Representatives at the following websites: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov or by phoning the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
BIKERNET NOISE STUDY AND MYRTLE BEACH– Fellow Riders and Freedom Fighters, we need to spread the word that Loud Pipes Save Lives: The message that “May is Motorcycle Awareness Month” was apparently never delivered to motorists in and around Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where “Myrtle Beach Bike Week 2007” ends tomorrow. With one day remaining, the score now stands at CAGERS 4, BIKERS 0. That’s right… Negligent, inattentive, distracted and/or impaired motorists have MURDERED FOUR MOTORCYCLISTS in Myrtle Beach this week:
1. Motorcyclist James Bragg, 43, was killed when his bike was rear-ended by an automobile driver. And the cager’s penalty for this right-of-way violation? No ticket has been issued, and no arrest has been made.
2. Motorcyclist Donny Macklen, 51, was killed in a crash caused by an automobile driver violating his right-of-way and turning left in front of him. And the penalty? No mention of any charges.
3. Motorcyclist Michael Delamere, a US Marine, was also killed in a crash caused by an automobile driver violating his right-of-way and turning left in front of him. And the negligent cager’s penalty? A failure-to-yield ticket.
4. Motorcyclist Steve Sink, 54, was likewise killed in a crash caused by an automobile driver violating his right-of-way and turning left in front of him. And that driver’s penalty? No ticket has been issued, and no arrest has been made.
Kill a Biker … and go to jail? NOPE.
Kill a Biker … and lose your license? NOPE.
Kill a Biker … and pay a fine? PROBABLY NOT.
How long are we going to sit back and let the safetycrats spin statistics to convince the media and the masses that motorcyclists are the problem, and that helmet laws are the solution?
LIDS YES … BUT LID LAWS NO! HELMET LAWS COULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED ANY OF THESE FATAL CRASHES.
When are we going to stop kissing bureaucratic butts for a few measly Motorcycle Safety bucks, and start kicking ass with corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other independently-funded MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS campaigns?
–Bruce Arnold
Bruce@LdrLongDistanceRider.com
If you would like to share our noise study with your community, click here. Feel free to print it out and spread the word to save lives: Bikernet Independent Noise Study
BIKERNET GAY BAR STUDY–This just in from Johnny Humble in Houston, Texas. We didn’t know he was testing bar for gay levels, but here’s what he sent. We are trying to get the name of the bar, but Johnny won’t give it up.
We’ll report more when the sordid facts become known.
–Bandit
THE ULTIMATE BONNEVILLE WEB SITE– “If you want the next time you do an update on your 2007 b’ville progress you could maybe mention my site with a link at that point,” said Summer from purplesagetradingpost.com. “I don’t have a banner, but I might think about designing one now that you brought that up.”
His site has over 150 links to speed record info and bikes.
Hope to see you at Speed Week or BUB,
–Sum
contact10@purplesagetradingpost.com>
FLORIDA TAKES CARE OF THEIR OWN– NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — North Miami City Attorney Barry Kutun turned himself in to police Tuesday morning on charges related to an ongoing sex scandal investigation. Kutun is accused of having sex with a minor, and Miami Beach police have charged him with felonies in the case. “Two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a third minor,” said Lt. Robert Elmer, of the Miami Beach Police Department.
An affidavit made public in January included allegations of sex with prostitutes in years past and hush money payments that Kutun made once he was city attorney to cover it up.
The affidavit was signed by Roberta Orenbuch, a woman who claimed Kutun regularly paid for sex. In the affidavit, Orenbuch said she arranged for Kutun to have sex with a 16-year-old, telling Kutun the girl was 18. Kutun has protested that he was the victim of a thief who took the affidavit from his office and the victim of blackmail. He said he paid more than $2,000 to a friend of Orenbuch who had threatened to make the affidavit public.
Hollywood police arrested Orenbuch as an alleged madam last month. Police now say that Orenbuch and the teenage girl confirm that the teen and Kutun had sex two or three times in a Collins Avenue condominium. Kutun’s lawyer, Richard Sharpstein, said to consider the source.
“The women involved have denied that any sex took place to the Hollywood police several months ago. Of course, they’re both peddlers of the flesh, so they’re peddling their flesh to the state attorney’s office in exchange for a deal now,” Sharpstein said.
Sharpstein also cried foul that the arrest played out before TV cameras.
–from Rogue
ROT RALLY RIDE-IN BIKE SHOW– This one-of-a-kind contest will have 21 different classes, and onsite professionals will help you decide into which category your mean machine best fits. Classes range from Harley Custom Radical and European to Trike and Best of Show. New this year is the Professional Dealers/Builders class for those of you who may have just missed the cut for the Big Texas Chop Off. There will be 57 total trophies up for grabs, and you know if you win at ROT, you really are the “BEST IN TEXAS”!
Come by on Saturday afternoon to see all the great custom creations that people have been working hard on all year to get ready for this event. And since the show is only on Saturday, competing bikes won’t be grounded all weekend. So you can enjoy the rally, ride hard, party hard, and then compete to win on Saturday!
BIKERS PARTY-HABANA STYLE
Biker beer drinkers unite!! A trip to Austin just wouldn’t be complete without throwing back a few cold ones, and Habana Biker Bar & Icehouse is making sure those beers will be ICE COLD this year during ROT. Located at the gateway to 6th street right where IH-35 meets the famed 6th, this wild spot will be hosting a world champion ice sculptor for your entertainment pleasure. Not only will he be sculpting a life-size Ice Chopper that you can actually sit on, but he’ll be carving out Ice Mugs that you can use to gulp down cold beers all day long. Other festivities will include local live music, an arm wrestling contest, and biker accessory vendors.
Chainsaws will be blasting, ice chips will be flying, and bands will be cranking, and Habana is bringing this all to ROT attendees with NO cover!! Don’t miss this one! 708 6th St, 512-443-4242
PET BIKERNET RATTLESNAKE ESCAPED, THEN CAPTURED– Next time you’re out in the tall grass, remember this one. This snake was recently found at the J & L Tack located just south of Poplar Bluff on Highway 67 south of Town.
A reminder that these creatures are actually out there and no matter what you believe,
Sometimes they should get not only prescriptive rights to be there but the full right of way! 9 feet, 1 inch – 97 lbs.
BIKERNET RECIPE FOR SUNDAY, DEEP-FRIED RATTLESNAKE–
1 medium-sized rattlesnake (3-4 lbs.), cut into steaks
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup cracker crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
Mix dry ingredients. Whisk milk into beaten egg and use to dip snake steaks. Then coat them with dry ingredients. Fry, uncovered, in 400 degree oil until brown.
Yum,Yum! It sorta tastes like chicken.
LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK– That’s right! While they last, you can grab a brand new in-stock 2006 American IronHorse motorcycle and pay factory invoice (plus tax and all the other usual documentation)! This is your chance to save big, so come into LifeStyle Cycles and pick out your new motorcycle. These bikes are moving fast, and we only have a few 2006 models left. So stop reading this email and come into LifeStyle Cycles today and ride home on your new 2006 American IronHorse.
CALL LIFESTYLE CYCLES
(714) 490-0155
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY KIDS QUIZZED– One day a fourth-grade teacher asked the children what their fathers did for a living. All the typical answers came up — fireman, mechanic, businessman, salesman, doctor, lawyer, and so forth. However, little Johnny was being uncharacteristically quiet, so when the teacher prodded him about his father, he replied, “My father’s an exotic dancer in a gay cabaret and takes off all his clothes in front of other men and they put money in his underwear. Sometimes, if the offer is really good, he will go home with some guy and stay with him all night for money.”
The teacher, obviously shaken by this statement, hurriedly set the other children to work on some exercises and then took little Johnny aside to ask him, “Is that really true about your father?”
“No,” the boy said, “He works for the Democratic National Committee and is helping to get Hillary Clinton to be our next President, but I was too embarrassed to say that in front of the other kids.”
–from Rogue
THIS TIME THE GIG IS A RUN, BAKERSFIELD THUNDER RUN– This will be a fun gig for the band and I thought it only fitting to share this information with everyone that enjoys this type of environment.
It’s not too far to say “Let Put Out There”. As a matter of fact, I’m planning on riding my bike out too! A great way to celebrate a Father’s Day. Hope to see you there, leathers and all…
Ride Safe
Shane
Saturday, June 16Th, 2007
Gates Open at 10am
Our Performance Time is 2pm
The Kern County Fairgrounds
1) The First is from the Bakersfield Thunder Run.
BANDIT TO WRITE ABOUT HISTORY OF HOLLISTER FOR EVENT– I would like to get something historical from you for the Hollister program . You can push Bikernet in it of course and talk about the reason for the gathering . It can be a page or a half of page what ever you want . If you have any old photos that would be nice . The dead line is June first. Let me know if you need anything.
–Seth
Contact seth for event info, vender space, camping, etc.
–Bandit
Horse Power Promotions
ph 805.686.2007
fax 805.686.0890
NEW TALLYBOY HANDLEBAR FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON– MILWAUKEE (April 30, 2007) – The new Tallboy Handlebar (P/N 56964-07, $129.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories fits Electra Glide models and is shaped to provide a comfortable reach for a rider with longer arms. This 1-inch-diameter, chrome-plated handlebar is approximately 1.5-inches taller and locates the hand controls about 2 inches further from the rider than the original equipment Electra Glide handlebar.
The Tallboy Handlebar fits 1997-later Electra Glide models (except FLHX and models with fairing-mount mirrors). Installation requires separate purchase of model-specific clutch and throttle/idle cables and a brake line kit. See dealer for fitment details.
For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.
SAUDIS BAN BIKES– Earlier this year, Saudi Arabian officials increased security in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the annual Hajj by banning motorcycles. In an article titled “Reckless Bikers Risk Losing Rides”, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Saudi officials impounded 350 motorbikes during heightened security operations, telling Arabnews.com that the motorcycle ban was a response to problems related to hit-and-run accidents as well as thefts where criminals used motorcycles to navigate crowds and escape quickly.
Motorcycles have also been banned because riders in past years have used them as unsafe, unlicensed, one-passenger taxis. Transportation services are in high demand during the Hajj, causing a problem with taxis and buses. Noise and pollution caused by motorcycles and scooters was also cited as a concern.
THAT’S ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO PRINT–So here’s how the story went last night in the shop. We bled the brakes, no change. We changed the fitting on the hydraulic brake wheel cylinder, no change. We monkeyed with the fittings on the handlebar master cylinder, no change. We rebuilt the mastercylinder with new shit and put it back together wrong. We fixed that, but still no change. We decided that it must be the Japanese master cylinder, so we switched it for a brand new Taiwanese unit. It did the same thing. We were just about out of our minds and out of Dot 5 brake fluid when I stared at the rear drum brake and said, “Did you adjust the brakes?”
Rick looked at me sorta strange. Those old bastards had cams available to adjust the shoes closer to the drum. “No,” was his answer. I explained that if pads couldn’t reach the drum on the first stroke, it would run flat against the grip. We adjusted the brakes in five minutes, problem solved. I hate those old brakes.
It was 11:30 before we had his scoot loaded in the truck again, so we called it a night. Besides I had to rescue a Bikernet babe from a Party in Downtown Long Beach. I splash some more stench filled Dot 5 brake fluid in my face and under my arm pits, scrambled into a fresh sweatshirt and headed to town.
Next week is already heating up with a Rikki Battistini tech, a Dago Red feature bike, a World Run Chapter, barroom drama and I swear, with the help of Highwayman, the rare Crocker we’ve been promising for weeks. There’s more, a Girl of Bikernet from Hawaii and Kustom Fab. Hang on. I gotta get back in the shop.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
