Trask Bro Bar 2’s
By Bandit | | General Posts
You will set yourself apart with these handle bars. Made of .120 wall tubing, these tig welded bars are dimpled and pre drilled for internal wiring also setup for FBW (Fly By Wire). Trask Bro Bar 2’s come in 14”, 16” & 18” heights (18” custom ordered only) at a 1.25” diameter. The Bro Bar 2’s have been designed to clear the inner fairing on the street glides so the rider can roll the bar forward if desired. Choose from chrome or powder coat black.
(Fits FLHX, FLHT, WITH BATWING FAIRING)
When ordering specify the model & year of the bike, also the height and finish
14” Black $449.95 p/n TM-2032
14” Chrome $449.95 p/n TM-2033
14” Raw $399.95 p/n TM-2034
16” Black $449.95 p/n TM-2035
16” Chrome $449.95 p/n TM-2036
16” Raw $399.95 p/n TM-2037
18” Black &449.95 p/n TM-2038
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(Fits FLHX, FLHT, WITH BATWING FAIRING)
When ordering specify the model & year of the bike, also the height and finish
14” Black $449.95 p/n TM-2032
14” Chrome $449.95 p/n TM-2033
14” Raw $399.95 p/n TM-2034
16” Black $449.95 p/n TM-2035
16” Chrome $449.95 p/n TM-2036
16” Raw $399.95 p/n TM-2037
18” Black &449.95 p/n TM-2038
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Klock Werks Invades Canada!
By Bandit | | General Posts
Brian and Makel just returned from Canada where they attended a Parts Canada event. They spoke with many sales reps and dealers in the area, sharing the news about all of our new products for 2014, answering questions, and educating on the advantages of choosing Klock Werks. Klock Werks Brand Parts are available to our friends north of the border through Parts Canada – so be sure to contact your dealer and find out more!
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KICK START By Ralph “Teach” Elrod- A Book Review
By Bandit | | General Posts
Memoirs of an Outlaw Biker
This book is about the memories of an Outlaw Biker by the name of “Teach” a member of the BARONS MC a well-known motorcycle club which started in 1966. He became a member on July 20, 1969 after hanging around with them for about a month.
In the Foreword he states: “The adventures I lived and the things I saw were no different than the lives of every other club patch holder. That history needs to be preserved for future generations. The 70s can’t be judged by today’s values, it was just too different! Times were tougher it seems and we patch holders had few civil rights as far as the citizens and cops were concerned.”
Review written by Rogue
KICK START By Ralph “Teach” Elrod- A Book Review
By Bikernet Contributor Rogue | | General Posts
I was recently sent a book named KICK START and asked to read it and comment on it.
It is about the memories of an Outlaw Biker by the name of “Teach” a member of the BARONS MC a well-known motorcycle club which started in 1966. He became a member on July 20, 1969 after hanging around with them for about a month.
In the Foreword he states: “The adventures I lived and the things I saw were no different than the lives of every other club patch holder. That history needs to be preserved for future generations. The 70s can’t be judged by today’s values, it was just too different! Times were tougher it seems and we patch holders had few civil rights as far as the citizens and cops were concerned.”
I agree that a true history of that time needs to be preserved. Being a member of that generation and a member of the HUNS MC mother chapter in Bridgeport Connecticut and eventually becoming President in 1972 it gave me direct information about many of the things he mentions in this book. To my knowledge they are true and correct. I even checked with some other club members whose club is also mentioned and they confirmed.
The thing is that the TRUTH Has to Be Preserved and Not What Someone Thinks Happened During That Time! For those interested this book does that.
KICK START is available through Friesen Press, Suite 300-852 Front Street, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 1HD, under ISBN – 978-1-4602-2186-0 for the hard cover, 978-1-4602-2187-7 for the paperback and 978-1-4602-2188-4 for the e-book.
Rogue
Note: The Huns mentioned in the book have No Affiliation to the HUNS MC I was a member of.
Former Hells Angels Leader Weighs In On New York Beating
By Bandit | | General Posts
From Fox News
A former Hells Angels leader who watched the helmet-cam video of a high-speed chase in New York that resulted in a father taking a beating in front of his wife and 2-year-old child said nothing justifies the attack.
“These types of incidents unfairly give us a bad name,” George Christie, who led the Ventura, Calif., chapter of the Hells Angels for 35 years, said. “They are not an example of what we stand for.”
Riding the 66 in New Mexico and Promoting the Chile Pepper Rally
By Bandit | | General Posts
Heading West To New Mexico To Get The Gears Turning On The 2014 IronWorks Magazine Chile Pepper Rally.
I got on the horn with Marilyn Stemp, Editor of IronWorks Magazine, and explained that I couldn’t make Indian Larry’s Block Party in Brooklyn, New York, because I was heading West to New Mexico to get the gears turning on the 2014 IronWorks Magazine Chile Pepper Rally to be held in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Marilyn, being the multitasker that she is, put the arm on me to cover the Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally in Ruidoso, New Mexico, too. So I added that to the list of duties.
I also told Edge, Promoter of the Chile Pepper, that I was heading to the Land of Enchantment, and he decided to hop a flight and meet me out there to assist in the ground campaign.
Editors Note: This is a Bikernet Sponsored Event
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Texas Stuntman Sends Nearly $1 Million To Idaho Schools
By Bandit | | General Posts
Idaho schools will get $943,000 from a Texas stuntman, in return, the stuntman has purchased the right to jump the Snake River Canyon.
The bid made by “Big” Ed Beckley in a public auction last week is due to the state of Idaho Friday afternoon. He’ll wire the money to the state.
Beckley is a 63-year-old who’s been jumping motorcycles since the mid 1970s. At 285 lbs. he bills himself as the world’s largest motorcycle jumper.
After bidding started at $10,000, Beckley secured the rights to use state owned land as a landing spot for an attempted jump over the Snake River Canyon next September in Twin Falls County. Beckley wants to recreate a similar jump Evel Knievel attempted in 1974.
Killing Machine Choppers – The Good Ol Days
By Bandit | | General Posts
The “Who” in this story is, Algie Pirrello, Aficionado of the ol school way of motorcycle building. Using the materials and tools at hand, he is creative as hell when it comes to using bicycle, car parts. He even used an oxygen tank for the oil bag on the infamous “Duke”, his pride and joy 1945 Knucklehead. “ALL 60’s style is how we roll”, “We’re not Old School, we’re Pre Skool, when there were no RULES” is not just his favorite sayings, but a true code of honor and description of the lifestyle he picked up on the streets in Rockford IL, and continues to live today in the northwest.
Like many other builders, Algie started Killing Machine Choppers in a shed on the back of his property in Lake Elsinore, California at the foot of the beautiful Ortega Mountains in Riverside County, California. Not only was he revitalizing “The Duke”, he was spending quality time with his young son Breeze and the other boys that would gather around to help. Algie was giving back to these kids, the same way his mentors did when he was living on the streets of Rockford. Trying to keep them on the straight and narrow and interested in learning a trade and completing a project.
KILLING MACHINE CHOPPERS – The Good Ol Days
By Bandit | | General Posts
Do I start with “In the Beginning”, “Long, Long Ago”, or “Once Upon A Time”? However you look at it, there’s always going to be a back story, bits and pieces coming out over a Jack and Coke or a brew, at the shop, local pub or even the Warehouse in Port Costa. My guess is telling the story through the 5 W’s….Who, What, When, Where and Why and letting it roll on two wheels from there.
The “Who” in this story is, Algie Pirrello, Aficionado of the ol school way of motorcycle building. Using the materials and tools at hand, he is creative as hell when it comes to using bicycle, car parts. He even used an oxygen tank for the oil bag on the infamous “Duke”, his pride and joy 1945 Knucklehead. “ALL 60’s style is how we roll”, “We’re not Old School, we’re Pre Skool, when there were no RULES” is not just his favorite sayings, but a true code of honor and description of the lifestyle he picked up on the streets in Rockford IL, and continues to live today in the northwest.
Like many other builders, Algie started Killing Machine Choppers in a shed on the back of his property in Lake Elsinore, California at the foot of the beautiful Ortega Mountains in Riverside County, California. Not only was he revitalizing “The Duke”, he was spending quality time with his young son Breeze and the other boys that would gather around to help. Algie was giving back to these kids, the same way his mentors did when he was living on the streets of Rockford. Trying to keep them on the straight and narrow and interested in learning a trade and completing a project.
If you’re wondering where the name Killing Machine Choppers came from, it was Algie and Breeze kickin’ around the idea of a name and Breeze throwin’ out that their first build was a bad ass “Killing Machine”. Hence, the shop became “Killing Machine Choppers”. The “logo” of a blind folded skull and flames is a reflection of “Outta control is how we roll… and we didn’t see nothin’”.
Eventually, Algie and Breeze’s projects outgrew the shed and the first “Killing Machine Choppers” was born, at the back of an industrial park with roll-up doors. Scrimping and saving, investing in shop tools and parts the shop began building its first “spec” bikes. He hired a talented Harley mechanic, and Paulie, a gifted metal artist. Along with the employees came disillusioned teenage boys, some of them from broken homes, homeless, or just out of Juvi. We fed and clothed them, gave them a safe place to sleep and some pocket money for their weekends. Algie used their energy to keep the shop clean, organized and teaching them respect for themselves and others and how to use the tools of the trade with the building of his creations. Actually one of these young men is now a “Club member”. Of course with a handful of teenage boys come young ladies, always willing to help out, washing bikes for the customers that rolled in, answering phones, and of course flirting.
I met Algie while telemarketing for a start up charitable organization called Motorcycle Charity Associates. Billy Gordon, lead singer, of the Blue Rockers (a well known motorcycle rally/event band), and myself had a vision of giving back to the families of “downed” riders, major non-profits, along with returning veterans organizations through events at Hugh Hefner’s “Playboy Mansion”.
While scrolling through the yellow pages, I saw the name “Killing Machine Choppers” and something told me to make that call. A young woman named Starr answered the phone and thinking on my feet, I asked for “Killer”. She hollered out “Algie”, but of course I couldn’t make out the name. Algie took my call, I gave him my 2 minute “schpeel” and he said he wasn’t feeling well, could I call back the following day.
Of course I called the next day and while we were chatting he tells me his ol lady hit him in the jaw and he had a headache, could I call again “the next day”. Not easily dissuaded, I made the call on the third day, his son Breeze answers the phone that day and asked me to hold on, his dad was lying down. Algie takes the call and says “Give me a minute, I need a Rolaids, I’m having heartburn”.
Seriously, the old EMT and fire days of Yosemite kicked in, I asked if his wife had really hit him the day before, and his answer was “NO”. I knew Algie was having symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.
Unbelievably, I’m 500 miles away, telemarketing and saving a man named Algie’s life while on the phone. Breeze was a 15-year-old hero that day taking everything I said seriously, and driving his dad to the hospital. Algie spent a week in the hospital and several weeks later I drove south to meet this man and his crew.
With barely two pennies to rub together, these guys were producing beautiful work. I listened to his story, and remembered something Maudess Killings had said to our class.
“When you save someone’s life, you’re responsible for their life.”
How profound, the most important woman in my life was named “Killings”. Call it what you will, but I knew that investing in this shop was going to be beneficial to all of us, and lifelong friendships were forged.
In less than a year, we moved from the back of the industrial park, to the street side of “curb appeal”. As some of the young kids around the shop moved on, so did the young ladies who worked up front. We hired three college students to work the front desk; Tuesday through Saturday. They coordinated their schedules to see that the hours were covered. We had $400 a week for them to share, they figured it out. They became our “Rumble Dolls”, just as pretty as the first group of young woman. They modeled for a local biker rally apparel company, washed bikes and doing everything else that needed to get done.
During that first year, we began getting orders and calls from people in Australia. Algie and I thought “What the Hell give it a shot.” I loaded up about 1,000 lbs. of parts, rally apparel, and leather, hopping a flight with my 11-year-old son and heading “down unda”. First stop, Sydney, where Customs Agents conveniently escorted my son and me off the flight. Of course I’m thinking to myself, it’s the damned booze. I had rolled several bottles of Fina Estampa tequila in towels and hid them in two sets of rims. NOPE, that wasn’t it. Next thought that crossed my mind was the HA and Killing Machine Apparel. Nope, intrigued and asking for one of each and a dew-rag, which of course I gave to the agents. What GOT them were the 36 sets of chromed spokes. They had unrolled two of the sets and wanted to know what they were. I’m sure they looked like some type of weapon. I graciously asked them not to pull them from the packages, because if any of them got bent or damaged, the set would be worthless. I learned an invaluable lesson that day. It pays to carry unusual merchandise; we were first off the plane, first through customs and didn’t have to wait for our turn in a long line for a cabby.
Traveling up the entire eastern coast of Australia, taking orders, selling rally apparel and giving away Killing Machine Chopper shirts, tanks and dew-rags everywhere I went. I spent a couple of days in the business licensing offices and Immigration of Queensland and securing a business license with an American friend Willsy Goodwin and his wife Maggie. We set up business with our good friends Craig Morgan and Perry Mallet. Craig secured me a bodyguard for my calls on the clubs, and shops in Sunshine Coast. His name, Hex Hextall, lots of fun, interesting sales and shop stories were made with Ranga, the “Loser Yank”. “Ranga” is a nickname for a redhead, and “Loser Yank” well that’s a story all in of itself, involving the infamous Fina Estampa Tequila hidden in the rims. Makin’ memories is what it’s all about.
Eventually, with the many complications of international laws and ownership, Algie and I decided to cut our losses and ship directly out of Lake Elsinore.
Hex has become one of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life and a good friend to Killing Machine Choppers. I was honored to officiate at his and his lovely wife Sue’s marriage in Port Costa last summer. I know, I know, you’re all wondering, “Where the Hell is Port Costa”? Get out your google maps and find us. We’re a beautiful little hamlet on the Carquinez Straits, in California with less than 200 residents and a biker’s haven at The Warehouse on the weekends. There are many stories to share here, including Algie’s first encounter with ghosts (the real deal), parties, fishing and riding.
While all of this was going on Algie meets the “hardtail harlot” of the northwest, “Hun”. Since the shop was heading to the Redwood Run, I decided to buy an extra ticket and fly Hun down to surprise Algie for his birthday weekend at the Redwoods. (Future stories will unfold about this wild weekend!) Algie and Hun’s breakdown adventure on “The Nazi, 1955 Pan/Shov conversion”. Their grand entrance after midnight led to BLINDERS, Algie needed BLINDERS all weekend (another story). And of course, my first experience seeing someone walkin’ their topless women, that’s right, not a typo, WOMEN as in plural on dog leashes.
Were there parties? HELL YES! DRAMA’S of course. Some of them funny as shit, while others involved the cops. A few I’d love to share, but would need Algie’s permission, not sure how much he wants to relive through print. It’s what the Killing Machine Choppers world is all about.
Watch for further installments – more to come.
Sharki…. Aka “Ranga, the Loser Yank”
Riding the 66 in New Mexico and Promoting the Chile Pepper Rally
By Bikernet Contributor Layla | | General Posts
Editor Note: The 2014 IronWorks Magazine Chile Pepper Rally is Sponsored by Bikernet
I got on the horn with Marilyn Stemp, Editor of IronWorks Magazine, and explained that I couldn’t make Indian Larry’s Block Party in Brooklyn, New York, because I was heading West to New Mexico to get the gears turning on the 2014 IronWorks Magazine Chile Pepper Rally to be held in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Marilyn, being the multitasker that she is, put the arm on me to cover the Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally in Ruidoso, New Mexico, too. So I added that to the list of duties.
I also told Edge, Promoter of the Chile Pepper, that I was heading to the Land of Enchantment, and he decided to hop a flight and meet me out there to assist in the ground campaign.
I landed at Albuquerque International Sunport at noon on Tuesday and hustled up to Santa Fe Harley-Davidson®. I met with Tina Reeves, the shop’s Marketing Manager and a Marine, and received the update on the Harley community in the state. In quick secession, I met with Albuquerque Harley-Davidson and then met up with Edge, loaded his gear and set off for Santa Rosa.
But before we put the hammer down, we needed to fuel up. We found a Hooters-style restaurant and secured a table where the waitress was “working” the local military guys… she designated each guy at the table as an animal and would only talk with them if they barked like a seal, barked like a dog or roared like a lion. Those types of restaurants are normally loud, but this one was a zoo.
After our tanks were topped off, we hit the road to Santa Rosa. It’s a city where the 1950’s are still alive and well. Situated on old Route 66, the architecture, neon and friendly people harken back to a much simpler time.
While in Santa Rosa, we met with the Albert Campos, Mayor; Raymond Mondragon, City Planner; Angelo Romo, Chief of Police; M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Publisher of The Communicator; Jose Campos, Joseph’s Bar & Grill Owner; local hot rod builder “Bozo”; Robert Chavez at Angry Wife Brewery, and our city liaison, Richard Delgado. It takes a village to put on a rally.
During our time in Santa Rosa, we found out that the 2014 State HOG Rally is in Clovis, New Mexico, and is scheduled for the same date as the Chile Pepper in 2014. Once Edge learned that, he gave me one of those hairy eyeball looks. With him being a Green Beret Special Forces guy, you could almost see the steam pump out of his ears. So, selecting a new date became Job 1.
In between appointments we had thirty minutes to kill, and I wanted to see the bullet holes left by Billy the Kid in a house about 10 miles out of town. We found a church and a few dilapidated houses but no bullet holes. We didn’t have enough time for a thorough search, so we left it for another adventure.
The next day we met up with Dan Stoddard, a Clovis City Commissioner, and talked about events, music and timing. Dan hooked us up with the local High Plains Harley-Davidson® Dealership General Manager, Joe Borem, and their sister dealership in Roswell, New Mexico, as well, giving us as a personal tour of the Buddy Holly museum.
After we concluded business in Clovis, we headed towards the Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally. It’s enjoying its 44th consecutive year, and motorcyclists from all over the Southwest and Mexico rumble into the quiet mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Ruidoso is tucked in among the mountains of the Sierra Blanca range and is gorgeous.
Over 35,000 bikers make their way to the mountains, but it’s hard to tell because the biggest activity is riding. Golden Aspen conducts tours and poker runs, and the guys and gals are always in the saddle and making tracks. And if they aren’t riding, they are trying their luck in the casinos. As you can imagine, touring bikes of all ilk are present and accounted for, with about 60% of them being Harley-Davidsons.
HQ for the rally is The Inn of the Mountain Gods, Resort & Casino. It’s situated high in the picturesque mountains of Mescalero, New Mexico, and sits next to a lake. It’s an Indian gaming casino owned by the Mescalero Apache tribe. The usual amenities are provided, with an addition of big game hunting with some of the finest elk, bear and turkey in North America.
“When I attend rallies, I don’t often stay at 5 star casinos,” said Edge, “but when I do, I choose The Inn of the Mountain Gods, Resort & Casino; this Casino is just that good!”
Paintings and sculptures were on display throughout the facility. Edge and I were riveted by a painting of a warrior on a Mustang with a Winchester in his hand.
As we discussed the picture and the rifle, Celeste, a woman of Apache descent, stopped and inquired about the Winchester market as she was considering selling a few guns. Since the firm had gone under, she believed that her 3 bolt action and 1 lever action rifles would be increasing in value. The law of supply and demand would support that supposition, except that Winchester had made nearly 5 million copies, according to Edge. So the prices aren’t as high as you would expect.
Ruidoso, New Mexico, is the perfect location for motorcyclists to enjoy beautiful weather and breathtaking scenery. In addition, this is an American Motorcycle Association (AMA) National Road Riding Convention, though it’s not clear what this means as the AMA was not represented at the rally. The rally also boasts an 84,000 square-foot trade-show facility.
Besides gambling, one of the highlights of the rally for enthusiasts is participating in the parade. Bikers and non-bikers alike lined the parade route to see and be seen. Who knew that not one, but two Batman’s, along with an Uncle Sam, would be riding proud and happy. Riders also enjoyed bike games, bike shows and a new bike giveaway from our friends at Barnett’s Harley-Davidson.
Back to Job 1. We stopped and talked to vendors to find out what dates would work for them for the Chile Pepper Rally. After much research and discussion, we now have an official date for the rally: September 12-13, 2014 .
For six days we ate every meal on the road, and it felt like we were eating our way through Eastern New Mexico. To keep it lively, we set as our objective to have the waitresses raise their right hand and swear… One swore that the Chile Relleno was the best the meal the restaurant offered, another swore that she had instructed the cook to make the shake thin enough to sip through a straw (even though you couldn’t) and still others, well, they just swore at us.
Before I knew it, it was noon on Saturday, and my compadre was itching to get to our room in Albuquerque to see the Auburn Tigers/LSU game. And as soon as he got into the car it was SEC this and SEC that and how the conferences stack up and how the Auburn Tigers are going to get spanked… but on any Saturday, any SEC team can win if they are on. Oh, my god, he wouldn’t shut up. So I’m trying to distract myself, can’t find a radio station because we are nowhere, and I end up counting cows. Angus cows get two points and Herefords get one. I’m in the middle of my first 100 mile tabulation when he sez, “I’ll bet you $20 the Tigers will win.” I’m thinking that he needs a bet just to keep him interested in the game, because it is going to be a blow-out. I’m also thinking that I’m never going to let “him” live this down, ever. So I said sure. He sticks his hand out, and I give it a hardy hand shake.
Then he gives me the look… My first thought is he has gas, but nooooo. Turns out that both teams are named Tigers and the only way I can win is if they tie. Do you know the odds that that will happen? I’m more likely to die of an infected toe nail. He spent 2 hours to set me up. Son of a gun!
The climate of New Mexico is generally semi-arid to arid and is mostly covered by mountains, high plains and desert. New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics in any state, and they range from descendants of Spanish colonists to recent immigrants from Latin America. It also has the second-highest percentage of Native Americans after Alaska. The tribes in the state consist of mostly Navajo and Pueblo peoples. As a result, the demographics and culture of the state are unique for their strong Hispanic and Native-American influences.
In these wide open spaces it takes hours to get from city to city. After 3 hours of driving, I decided to get off the highway for some tea and to stretch my legs. And when I got back on the Interstate, I accidentally took the frontage road. At the next intersection, I made the mistake again. After riding about 7 miles and 50 feet from the Interstate, Edge turns to me with a straight face and says, “You really can see more off the main drag.” I couldn’t stop laughing. After my 20 minute / 14 mile detour, we were once again ripping down the highway.
In the end, our trip was successful. We made friends, secured firm dates and municipality support for the 2014 Chile Pepper Rally, and experienced some of the most unique and dramatic land that our United States has to offer. Put September 12-13, 2014 on your calendar so you can do the same when you come out for the Chile Pepper Rally.
