Hey,
This coming year is going to be awesome. I feel good about it, about some of our directions, not just at Bikernet, but in my funky community in Wilmington, California at trying to get a chunk of Waterfront back. But I also feel sorta good about the direction of our government, and I hope if they can see the light they will follow it, and not just their own political purpose.
It’s interesting to let your mind reach out to the future, while holding tight to human nature. No matter what anyone throws at us, no matter the wars, the earthquakes, tornados, floods. We just keep pushing ahead. So, let’s roll the dice on another year with all the confidence in the world, knowing full well everything is changing, so hang on for the next news.
All the best for 2015. The dice are hot! Our Weekly News is sponsored in part by Cycle Source and Iron Trader News.
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
NCOM Coast To Coast Biker News for December 2014
Who’s the “that girl’ with the black hair I’ve been seeing lately. You mentioned her name in another article. “She’s an Awesome beauty” a natural resource, a weapon of mass seduction.
–Jeff Craig
Myrtle, SC
Yes, you’re right! She Imogen, from the Great Frog jewelry Co. in London and now on Melrose in Hollywood. She’s also a Tattoo magazine feature girl and our official 5-Ball Racing model. She was fantastic to work with. Enjoy her while you can.–Bandit
THE LAME LEGISLATION OF THE WEEK–
This is an example of How Some People Can Be So Stupid When it Comes To Motorcycling
SC bill aims to require child safety seats for motorcycles.
By SARITA CHOUREYMORRIS NEWS SERVICE
COLUMBIA | A bill that would require babies and small children to be secured to a motorcycle with seat belts is meeting fierce resistance with South Carolina lawmakers.
South Carolina state Rep. Joseph Daning recently filed legislation that would require a standard, rear-facing child safety seat to be used for motorcycle passengers from birth up to 1 year of age.
For riders younger than 7 weighing 40-80 pounds, Daning’s proposal calls for a belt-positioning booster seat with both lap and shoulder belts. The bill, Daning said, was prompted by constituents asking for it.
“They were concerned about an ex-spouse taking their children on motorcycles. I got to looking into it and I said, ‘You know, it makes a lot of sense,’” said the lawmaker.
“We take care of our children (in cars), but they’re so unprotected on the back of motorcycles.”
This week, Rep. Bill Taylor, called Daning’s proposal “government overreach” and said motorcyclists are a safety-conscious community. “The question is why do we need a law?” said Taylor. “Who in their right mind would take a 1- or 2-year-old on a motorcycle and risk the safety of that child?”
He said he’s been riding for decades and has never seen an infant placed on a motorcycle.
Taylor said that when the issue was first raised, he suggested the constituent concerns would be better handled by a family court judge instead of through legislation.
However, child-safety advocates support Daning’s efforts.
Jeff Allen, who is on the board of directors of the Children’s Trust of South Carolina, said his agency “wholeheartedly” supports the bill.
“There should be a law in the state that sets a minimum age for riding on a motorcycle, mopeds as well,” said Allen.
In South Carolina, 25 children required emergency medical attention due to motorcycle injuries, according to state data from 2007 through 2009, which does not indicate whether any of the children died.
–from Rogue
We should start a campaign to elect legislators who will review and repeal bad legislation, not write any new laws.--Bandit
Chopper Prom (Numero Duo)
Well, we checked our list and we know who has been naughty and nice. However, we are going to give you a great present anyway.
We did a two part video on the Chopper Prom and we present to you the second and final submission. I am extremely happy with the job that Aaron Regan (Absolution Media) and his assistant Tyler Ludlow did on this project. I think I have watched it at least ten times. It’s fun and it moves fast.
It still stars Rosa Vomacka, Jillian Rossi and Rich Worley. Now with full coverage including choppers, dancers and featuring the singer and song writer Skye Paige. Check it out
Nicole Baker did an incredible job on the prom. As y’all know the Prom was a ONE TIME thing. Don’t complain to us. It was epic and if you missed it, well, you shouldn’t have. If you were there I think you understand it would be almost impossible to repeat. Just epic.
Oh and before I forget, I have to mention we have discounted tickets, blah, blah, blah.
We are now busy scheming craziness that should not be missed next year. This is who we are. WE HAVE BIG 2015 PLANS.
Mostly, have a Merry Christmas!
Edge
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PLAY ON WORDS CONTINUES–
15. The midget (err should I say “Little person) fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
16. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
17. A backward poet writes inverse.
18. In a democracy it’s your vote that counts. In feudalism it’s your count that votes.
19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you’d be in Seine.
21. A vulture carrying two dead raccoons boards an airplane. The stewardess looks at him and says, ‘I’m sorry sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.’
22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says, ‘Dam!’
23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can’t have your kayak and heat it too.
24. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, ‘I’ve lost my electron.’ The other says, ‘Are you sure?’ The first replies, ‘Yes, I’m positive.’
25. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root-canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.
26. A geologist exploring an earthquake fell to his death through no fault of his own.
27. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.
–from El Wags
NO MORE NEW JERSEY REDLIGHT CAMERAS– Score a Big One for the Good Guys!–It’s official. New Jersey’s red-light cameras went dark last Tuesday after state lawmakers chose not to take up legislation to extend their operation. The five-year pilot program generated controversy from the start. Outspoken critics such as NMA ally and state Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon were quick to point out that photo ticketing was more about generating revenue for cash-strapped municipalities than improving public safety.
The demise of the program is notable for several reasons. First, while well-resourced camera companies and their lackeys made every attempt to salvage the program, they couldn’t gain enough traction with New Jersey lawmakers. (Translation: legislators knew how unpopular and misguided the program was and weren’t going to risk going against the will of the voters.) Second, with cameras spread across 25 cities as part of the pilot program, New Jersey is the first state to abolish cameras statewide. Third, the NMA played a key role in dismantling the program by proving serious flaws in how it was administered and operated.
Things started to unravel in November 2011 when Janice Bollmann received a red-light camera ticket from Edison Township. Angered by the $140 ticket, Bollmann decided to fight. Through a public records request she discovered that Edison had not complied with the state’s certification requirements for proper operation of its cameras.
Bollmann joined the NMA in early 2012 and contacted Steve Carrellas, the NMA’s New Jersey Director of Government and Public Affairs. Bollmann, with the NMA’s assistance, won her case in April that year. But that’s just the beginning of the story.
Realizing that noncompliance with certification requirements could potentially bring down the cameras, Carrellas partnered with O’Scanlon to challenge the legality of the program. In June, public concern over improperly set yellow-light times compelled the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to suspend ticketing at 63 of the 85 camera locations.
NJDOT subsequently required each municipality to recertify the proper operation of each suspect camera. Amazingly, some did so within one day and all 63 cameras were recertified before the end of June, even though traffic surveys were required for each intersection. NJDOT admitted it did not verify any of the data provided to recertify the cameras.
Many, including the NMA, saw the “recertification” as a farce that would not end camera abuses or make the public any safer. There simply was no independent verification that the yellow-light timing had been set to correspond to prevailing vehicle approach speeds, as required by New Jersey law.
The NMA responded on two fronts. Working with O’Scanlon’s office, we filed a public records request requiring NJDOT to disclose information pertaining to the camera recertification. Next, we dispatched an experienced traffic survey team to New Jersey to find out what was really going on. The team crisscrossed the state for several days measuring the 85th percentile approach speed and yellow-light intervals at several of the questionable intersections.
Not surprisingly, the NMA’s analysis revealed a variety of post-certification improprieties—enough to push for an overhaul of the system. O’Scanlon introduced legislation that would substantially lengthen yellow-light times and make other reforms. The bill died in the committee, but the tide was already turning.
A class action settlement at the end of 2012 forced camera vendor American Traffic Solutions to refund $4.2 million in fines due to improperly certified yellow-light times. Public and media backlash against red-light cameras continued throughout 2013. In early 2014, the mayor of Brick Township created headlines when he pulled the plug on the city’s red-light camera program citing safety and fairness concerns.
As the December 16 camera program expiration date approached, the New Jersey Legislature sent clear signals it was not interested in renewing the program. The chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee said his committee would not even consider legislation to extend the program. Gov. Christie likewise voiced his concerns over the how the program was administered and said his “gut feel” was not to renew it.
The net result is that red-light cameras are history in New Jersey, thanks to the efforts of many concerned citizens, advocates and lawmakers. At least for now. NJDOT still has to make a recommendation to continue the program or not, and policymakers would have to pass legislation to bring it back. We don’t think they will.
Red-light camera programs continue to fail across the country, and the recent indictments and guilty verdicts in the Redflex/Chicago bribery scandal have given the industry a huge black eye. More and more policymakers are figuring out what the anti-camera side knew long ago. Here’s how O’Scanlon recently put it:
If cameras actually increased safety no one would have to bribe anyone for business—we’d all be lining up! How any public entity can continue to do business with Redflex in particular, but really any of these companies pitching these ineffective, thieving cameras is beyond me. Is the lure of fast cash so strong we have decided that morality doesn’t matter?
Finally, for a bit of fun check out this video clip of O’Scanlon and other anti-camera activists, including the NMA’s Steve Carrellas, celebrating the end of New Jersey’s red-light camera program.
–National Motorcyclist Association
BILLY LANE, New Bikernet Reader Comment!
Mung Madness Bikernet Weekly News for December 18, 2014
“Getting my 500cc OHV Peashooter together,” said Billy
I wonder who he’ll run over with it…no, I don’t forgive. He killed one of us!
–Rebel
I always forgive, for I am not perfect and pray that somewhere, someone will forgive me.—Bandit
LOWBROW PRODUCT OF THE WEEK–Heavy-Duty Engine Stands That Look At Home In Any Shop.
Lowbrow Customs is continuing to add to their line of motorcycle parts and accessories, and is introducing a line of heavy-duty motorcycle engine stands that will please the professional shop or home-builder alike.
Their 3/16-inch thick steel construction ensures a stable work platform and holds up to the rigorous demands of a working shop. An engraved aluminum machine tag on each stand and durable black powder coat finish off these high-quality tools.
Currently available for H-D Big Twin ’36-’84 ($69.95, SKU 003445), H-D XL Sportster ’57-’03 and Buell ’87-’02 ($79.95, SKU 003673), and Yamaha XS650 ($69.95, SKU 003831). Made in Ohio, USA.
Available world-wide, 24/7 via www.lowbrowcustoms.com or call toll free 1-855-4LOWBROW.
QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
PRE-XMAS SUNDAY POST for December 21, 2014
Man, this Week’s is a real fender bender. Nice.
Thank you and your crew for another great year. Here’s hoping you get well soon.
–Sam
TX
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH/HISTORY DEPARTMENT GREEN FLASH WORD OF THE DAY–VIRIDESCENT
vir-i-DES-uhnt
adjective
1. slightly green; greenish.
Quotes
The wrack broke behind them as she watched, for a moment they stood out motionless and black, in a glade of limpid viridescent sky.
— Samuel Beckett, Murphy, 1938
Origin
Viridescent entered English in the mid-1800s from the Late Latin viridescere meaning “to become green.”
FRIEND’S TRAILER STOLEN—Yes, just a couple of days before Xmas, Don’s all-white, 14-foot trailer was taken from his yard near Pasadena, California. The License number is 4DVL872. Let’s get it back for him. Call me or Don at 626-840-3326 if you can help.
–Bandit
LATEST ISSUE OF CYCLE SOURCE ON THE STANDS NOW—The Feb, 2015 issue features the Best of Show bike from Hawgs and Heffers competition in Vegas, and the best of the news from, you guessed it, Bikernet.com. Plus, one of my favorite builders is on the cover.
Hell, I’ve got another Cycle Source deadline coming right up.
Here’s how it works. I go through last month’s four news column and pick the best of the best, then turn them over to the almighty Cycle Source Editorial Board. They decide what’s fit to print, and you see it in the next issue of Cycle Source.
–Bandit
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE DUMP TRUCK AT 5-BALL RACING
New INDIAN Bikernet Reader Comment!–
2014 Indian Classic for 5-Ball Racing, Part 1
Since you mentioned it, I may just ride with ya to the Black Hills and see if you can keep up!
–Anson
Bayou Country, LA
BIKERNET TECH COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU—Not Really, but Jeremiah called the other day with a CV carb problem. I told him to fret not. Between CV performance parts and Biker’s Choice (or Cycle Pro) we can rebuild any CV carb.
Jeremiah brought me the bad carb and we will roll through it, with the help of the above companies and make it shine once more.
–Wrench
Presentation of the Victory Vegas 8-Ball Motorcycle to the recipient of Operation Gratitude’s 600,000th Care Package—
Non-profit organization seeks to lift morale of U.S. troops deployed overseas by sending care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation.
For more information, go to: www.OperationGratitude.com
— Richard Kranzler
Bikernet Baggers Editor
BLONDE JOKE OF THE YEAR–Three girls worked in the same office for the same female boss. Each day, they noticed the boss left work early.The girls decided that the next day, when the boss left, they would leave right behind her.
After all, she never called or came back to work, so how would she know they went home early?
The brunette was thrilled to be home early. She did a little gardening, spent playtime with her son, and went to bed early. The redhead was elated to be able to get in a quick workout before going on a dinner date.
The blonde was happy to get home early and surprise her husband, but when
she got to her bedroom, she heard a muffled noise from inside.
Slowly and quietly, she cracked open the door and was mortified to see her husband in bed with her boss! Gently, she closed the door and crept out of her house.
The next day, at their coffee break, the brunette and redhead planned to leave early again, and they asked the blonde if she was going to go with them.
“No way,” the blonde exclaimed. “I almost got caught yesterday!”
–Rik Savenko
TO EVERYBODY— A healthy and relaxed Christmas without stress – and a great new start into a successful 2015! I hope to see you again!
An alle ein
gesundes und entspanntes Weihnachten ohne Stress – und einen guten Start in ein erfolgreiches 2015! Ich hoffe, wir sehen uns!
THE SLINGSHOT GREETING–Happy Holidays from everyone at Slingshot! The team has been working overtime to deliver as many vehicles as possible.
Call your local dealer today to see if yours has come in!
BIKER’S CHOICE TO OFFER INDIAN AFTERMARKET MOTORCYCLE PARTS—Hang on for all of their new catalogs. They will be including all the MAG group product line-up.
[page break]
SPEAKING OF INDIAN, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–2014 Indian Classic for 5-Ball Racing, Part 1
I can just hear it now…oh, all he did was change handlebars…big deal right? Lot involved in customizing. Good luck and get well soon.
–Sam
TX
V-TWIN EXPO COMING IN FEBRUARY—
AMD V-Twin Expo edition–Next up in AMD’s special three edition V-Twin Expo package is February (edition 187) which is the SHOW EDITION. This is the one that will go live online 48 hours before the show and although the printed editions will have been mailed the first copies will be seen and distributed at the show on Saturday 7th February.
For many vendors, the December deadlines for the preview edition came too soon in terms of new product photography and information availability – so this show edition is the ideal opportunity to maximise on your expo investment.
The deadline for new advertising artwork and editorial material submission is Monday January 19th.
By then, the long awaited 2015/16 AMD International Aftermarket Directory update edition will have gone to press for launch at the show.
The third AMD edition in the V-Twin Expo package will be March (edition 188) which will be the show REVIEW, that is slated to go to press in mid-February, as soon as possible after the show.
CLEAR DERBY COVERS AVAILABLE FROM BARNETT—Barnett Scorpion Series clear derby covers. BARNETT’S new Scorpion Series clear derby covers have been designed to fit ‘98-‘15 Harley-Davidson Big Twin OEM primary covers.
The Scorpion covers feature a 1/4in thick, clear polycarbonate window to show the clutch. The window is scratch and discoloration resistant and is sealed with an O-ring gasket. The outer cover area is CNC machined from billet aluminum and finished in a choice of chrome or black anodizing. The derby cover gasket is also included.
EBR HERO HIT THE TRACK WITH THEIR NEW LINE-UP–Team EBR Hero made good use of the superb weather in southern USA recently to try out their new rider line-up of American Larry Pegram and Italian Niccolo Canepa in preparation for the 2015 season. The team tested at Louisiana’s NOLA circuit and also at Jennings racetrack in Florida, using Pegram’s AMA bikes, with WSBK suspension and Pirelli tires.
Larry Pegram is both team manager and rider for the team’s second year in the World Superbike Championship and thought Niccolo would benefit from a test of the EBR Hero 1190RX before the next year’s January tests in Portugal and Spain.
Larry Pegram
First of all, I would like to say how positively the tests went and also how well Niccolo adapted to the bike. After just a few laps he was smiling and happy and that made the whole team feel good.
NOLA and Jennings are two very different types of tracks and it was good to see how the bikes behaved at each one. Jennings is a fairly small track, with lots of different types of corners and a short lap time. NOLA is bigger and has faster straights and harder braking so, between the two circuits, we were able to gather a lot of information. I think Niccolo was surprised about how well the EBR Hero 1190RX performed and, once he had turned a few laps, he was already pushing it and finding out what it could do. I was surprised how comfortable he was on the bike so quickly. He was fast right from the get-go and ending up by breaking the Jennings lap record by 7/10ths of a second!
We were using my bikes from this year, with full World Superbike spec suspension, Pirelli tires and ‘fly-by-wire’ electronics. Over the tests, we swapped bikes from time to time and that was very interesting because Niccolo and I had virtually the same comments and feedback.
I think it’s going to be very exciting next year – Niccolo has experience of the tracks and that’s going to be a big help, as he will know his way around from the first lap. He is great to work with and his feedback is very good. I know the bike very well, so I really feel that we can move this amazing project along.
Of course, there’s a lot of work to do before next season starts, but these tests have been extremely encouraging and now we’re all looking forward to our next time on the track.
Niccolo Canepa
It was good to leave Europe’s weather behind and ride a bike in Louisiana and Florida in perfect conditions. Not only the weather was good, but so was the EBR Hero 1190RX! I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. It didn’t take me long to feel comfortable and start pushing and trying to find its limits. The bike is a lovely package. It handles and steers really well and I enjoyed myself a lot during the tests.
It was very interesting to try the bike on two different types of racetrack and that gave us a superb opportunity to try lots of different thing and get very used to it. Larry and I swapped bikes several times and we both had similar comments, so we know we’re heading in the right direction. At Jennings I broke the lap record, which made us all very happy. There’s more to come from this bike for sure. My first taste of it has been very good and positive and now I cannot wait to ride it again and see how far we can progress.
CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY REPORT–Good news on health care in 2014, but we’re still spending too much.
By Wendell Potter
The end of the year is always a good time to reflect on what went right and what didn’t and to speculate about what might happen in the coming 12 months.
So let’s take a look at how the U.S. health care system changed in 2014—the first year of close-to-full implementation of Obamacare—and take note of what we need to address sooner rather than later as we get ready to ring in the new year.
There is plenty of reason to celebrate and, as you can imagine, the White House wants us to believe that we can thank the Affordable Care Act for all the good things that happened. While I’m willing to give the law its due, the reality is that, as written, it will never get us to universal coverage or do nearly enough to control health care costs.
But first, some of the good news:
As the number of newly insured Americans reached an estimated 9.7 million this year, the percentage of Americans without coverage fell to the lowest level it’s been in years. That’s according to the National Center for Health Statistics, which released data last Thursday showing that the percentage of uninsured Americans dropped from 14.4 percent in 2013 to 11.3 percent in the second quarter of 2014.
The White House Council of Economic Advisors says that’s the largest drop in at least four decades. The last time so many people gained coverage in a single year was when the Medicare and Medicaid programs began enrolling folks in 1966. The current gains were made possible by provisions of the Affordable Care Act that make it illegal for insurers to turn down applicants because of pre-existing conditions, as well as the availability of federal subsidies that help millions of Americans with their premiums and out-of-pocket spending.
Health care inflation has been tamed—at least for the foreseeable future. The big accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said earlier this year that health care inflation was expected to slow to 6.5 percent in 2014, a full point less than the 7.5 percent inflation rate for 2013. PwC attributes at least part of that decline to the Affordable Care Act and suggests the trend likely will continue throughout 2015 and probably longer. “Total spending will rise with the cost of caring for the newly insured,” the report said, “but the rate of growth, which is based on unit costs, should remain at some of the lowest levels since the government began measuring national health expenditures in 1960.”
The health care disparity gap is finally narrowing. Research reported recently by the New England Journal of Medicine found that racial disparities were reduced in every one of 17 quality measures for heart attacks, heart failures and pneumonia between 2005 and 2010. Another study, by researchers at the Urban Institute, found that the health insurance disparity gap is also narrowing as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The Institute predicts the Hispanic uninsured rate will drop from 31 percent to 19 percent by 2016 while the uninsured rate for blacks will drop from 20 percent to 11 percent.
Those are all good reasons to cheer. But other studies indicate just how much more there is to do.
Even with the slowing of health care inflation, the U.S. continues to spend far more per person than any other developed country. In fact, the U.S. spends two-and-a-half times more than the average of the 34 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. No other country comes close to spending almost 18 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on health care, as we do. And numerous studies continue to show that America lags most of the other OECD countries in health care outcomes and metrics such as longevity and infant mortality.
Even with the expansion of coverage, many Americans continue to face hurdles in accessing mental health services and dental care —despite the fact that Congress passed a mental health parity law six years ago. And while the ACA improves access to dental care for children, it does little for adults.
Millions of Americans are still filing for bankruptcy because of medical debt, even though they have insurance. In 2015, families could be on the hook for $13,200 in out-of-pocket expenses before their coverage kicks in. That’s far more than many household budgets will allow.
It’s not likely the ACA will ever get us to universal coverage. The government estimates that more than 30 million of us will still be uninsured even when the law is fully implemented.
In the coming year, I’ll be looking at what some states and the private sector are hoping to do to at least partially resolve some of these problems. So stay tuned. And happy holidays.
Wendell Potter is the author of Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans and Obamacare: What’s in It for Me? What Everyone Needs to Know About the Affordable Care Act.
–from the Center for Public Integrity
ANOTHER INDIAN New Bikernet Reader Comment!—
2014 Indian Classic for 5-Ball Racing, Part 1
Hey, Since I have known ya for a century, I am pretty sure you will need to move those floorboards about 4 inches forward. That way none of us Height challenged minions will be able to steal your Indian Ride when we visit headquarters.
–Krash
Somewhere in the Pacific NortWest, WA
KLAMFOTH’S HOME DESTROYED BY FIRE—
Three time Daytona 200 winner, Dick Klamfoth and his wife Bev, lost their home in Thornville, Ohio (near Columbus). It was destroyed by fire while they slept early Saturday morning. They lost everything. They both escaped the flames, but Bev ran back in to find their dogs. All eight dogs died in the fire and Bev was hospitalized for a day due to smoke inhalation.
There is an account set up for donations to get them back on their feet.
Please pass the information along to friends and contacts.
Bev is also concerned because all the files for the Daytona 200 Monument were lost. If you have placed an order for a brick this year, or have any issues, please contact her at (614) 579-5512 or go to the website at: http://daytona200monument.com.
You can also find information on the Trailblazers website: www.trailblazersmc.com
We send them or prayers and best wishes.
–from Trail Blazers New Letter
LOWBROW CUTS SOME SLACK–So many new parts have been added to the shelves and website the last few day that we needed to send out another newsletter to show off all the good stuff! Also, a reminder for those gift-buying procrastinators out there, snag a Lowbrow Gift Certificate, they are delivered by e-mail! Or just forward this email to your Mom or ol’ lady and she can get her last-minute shopping done.
Take advantage of a special promotion currently going on thanks to Biltwell and Sideburn Magazine.. Buy $99 or more of Biltwell products and get a free special copy of Sideburn #17, not for sale, only available through this promotion. While supplies last, and there are less than 500 copies!
Curious as to new parts unleashed upon the motorcycling world? Check out the new products section and be sure to viddy the Specials, Discounts & Close-Outs section, lots of good stuff with plenty of savings to be had! When it’s gone, it’s gone…
STEVE MCQUEEN CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW–Friends of Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle show will be held on June 5th and 6th. It will benefit the Boys Republic in Chino Hills, California where McQueen once lived.
This year they are celebrating the film “On Any Sunday”. There will be an On Any Sunday Dinner on Friday and the car and motorcycle show on Saturday. For more information and on-line registration: stevemcqueencarshow.com
(909) 628-1217 info@stevemcqueencarshow.com.
BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL EDITOR’S RESEARCH PROJECT—
The 20 cars with the most violations:
1. Subaru WRX33.60%
2. Pontiac GTO32.70%
3. Scion FR-S32.60%
4. Toyota Supra30.80%
5. Subaru Tribeca29.70%
6. Volkswagen Rabbit29.60%
7. Mercury Topaz28.80%
8. Scion tC28.80%
9. Toyota FJ Cruiser28.40%
10. Mazda228.10%
11. Hyundai Veloster28.10%
12. Volkswagen GTI28.10%
13. Suzuki Reno28.10%
14. Scion xA27.80%
15. Pontiac G827.70%
16. MINI Cooper S Countryman27.50%
17. Mitsubishi 3000 GT27.40%
18. Saturn Aura27.10%
19. Infiniti QX56/QX8027.10%
20. Toyota Prius C27.00%
Source: Insurance.com
Maybe more interesting is the cars NOT on the list
— Art Hall
Bikernet Supreme International Editor
A SHOT OF WHISKEY—
In the old west a .45 cartridge for a six-gun cost 12 cents, so did a glass of whiskey. If a cowhand was low on cash he would often give the bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink. This became known as a “shot” of whiskey.
PASSING THE BUCK / THE BUCK STOPS HERE
Most men in the early west carried a jack knife made by the Buck knife company. When playing poker it as common to place one of these Buck knives in front of the dealer so that everyone knew who he was. When it was time for a new dealer the deck of cards and the knife were given to the new dealer. If this person didn’t want to deal he would “pass the buck” to the next player. If that player accepted then “the buck stopped there.”
COBWEB
The Old English word for “spider” was “cob”.
SHIP STATE ROOMS
Traveling by steamboat was considered the height of comfort. Passenger cabins on the boats were not numbered. Instead they were named after states. To this day cabins on ships are called staterooms.
BARGE IN
Heavy freight was moved along the Mississippi in large barges pushed by steamboats. These were hard to control and would sometimes swing into piers or other boats. People would say they “barged in.”
HOGWASH
Steamboats carried both people and animals. Since pigs smelled so bad they would be washed before being put on board. The mud and other filth that was washed off was considered useless “hog wash.”
CURFEW
The word “curfew” comes from the French phrase “couvre-feu”, which means “cover the fire.” It was used to describe the time of blowing out all lamps and candles. It was later adopted into Middle English as “curfeu”, which later became the modern “curfew.”
In the early American colonies homes had no real fireplaces so a fire was built in the center of the room. In order to make sure a fire did not get out of control during the night it was required that, by an agreed upon time, all fires would be covered with a clay pot called-a “curfew.”
BARRELS OF OIL
When the first oil wells were drilled they had made no provision for storing the liquid so they used water barrels. That is why, to this day, we speak of barrels of oil rather than gallons.
–from Sam Burns
THE AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION–Three Aussie Bandidos charged for extorting ex-member.
Three alleged Bandidos motorcycle club members have been charged after allegedly extorting one of their fellow Queensland members.
Queensland cops say the trio, all senior members and current or former office bearers, targeted a 49-year-old man who had attempted to resign from the Sunshine Coast chapter of the club.
They allegedly demanded he surrender his new Harley-Davidson motorcycle, valued at $24,000.
The victim handed over the bike when Bandidos arrived at his home.
Two members from the Sunshine Coast have been charged with extortion and stealing. The third man, from the Toowoomba chapter of the club, faces additional charges of receiving and fraud.
They have had initial court appearances in the Maroochydore and Toowoomba magistrates courts and will remain in custody until their next appearance on January 19.
XMAS PUP ATTEMPS TO MEET SANTA—
My Pup Zeus with Santas helpers at the local H-D Dealer…
He missed seeing Santa but he made out like a Bandit!
–Barry Green
POLARIS SLINGSHOT BANNED–Polaris Slingshot now banned in Connecticut, too. You can add one more state to the places where you can’t register the three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot for the road. Connecticut had already decided that the trike didn’t fit its definition of a motorcycle, but the company tried again anyway by taking one directly to the DMV headquarters there. The government officials took a look and came away with the same ruling on the vehicle – it’s just not a cycle by their criteria.
The local Republican-American newspaper published a portion of a letter from the DMV’s senior attorney to Polaris explaining the problem. “It is the consensus of the DMV that this vehicle closely resembles an automobile in appearance, and is equipped (brake, clutch, accelerator, steering wheel, four-cylinder engine, seat belt, gear shifter, etc.) and handles like an automobile rather than a motorcycle,” it said. Furthermore, Connecticut’s definition of a bike prevents the partially enclosed driver’s seat featured in the Slingshot.
The company’s next option is to work with the state legislature to carve out a designation for the Slingshot and, according to the DMV attorney’s letter, also for “similar vehicles that are also attempting to enter the market in Connecticut.” That might include other enclosed trikes like the Morgan Three-Wheeler…
–Chris Bruce
autoblog.com
See the whole story on Bikernet Trikes.
MERRY CHRISTMAS—I wish everyone the very best for Xmas and all of 2015. It bothers me that someone stole from a brother, and a motorcycling family lost their home in a fire.
It’s so strange. In Buddhism it calls for constant change in life, and sort of a: get use to it attitude. So, it’s a drag when we are faced with obstacles, but it also presents us with new opportunities. My brother will someday soon own a new/better trailer, and those folks will build a new and better home.
It’s all in how you look at any obstacle, as Uncle Monkey would say.
So, merry Xmas. It’s going to be a magnificent year ahead.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
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