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Mar 23
0

Due to Covid-19 Scare the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Closed

By | General Posts

Hold on, all is not lost.

The Museum will reopen on the 1st of April. If you’re escaping any city to find your nirvana in the Badlands, don’t miss the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. It’s cool and growing everyday.

And don’t miss the Hall of Fame Breakfast during the rally at the Deadwood Lodge.

–Bandit

Mar 22
0

THUNDER BEACH® MOTORCYCLE RALLY news & updates

By | General Posts
Spring Rally Postponed
During an emergency meeting of the Panama City Beach City Council on Tuesday, a decision was made that follows directives from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and the Centers for Disease Control, pertaining to limiting large-scale events in Florida.

Read more

 
Same Great Bands, Different Dates
We are excited to announce that 38 Special, Foghat and Colt Ford were all able to reschedule their performances from the Spring Rally to our 20thAnnual Autumn Rally, October 21-25, 2020!

ALL LODGING SPONSORS OFFERING FULL REFUNDS FOR POSTPONED SPRING RALLY

 

All of the Lodging Sponsors of Thunder Beach are making us feel all warm and fuzzy over the way they are treating the bikers. Anyone with a reservation for the 2020 Spring Rally can either keep their original reservation, reschedule for another time, or get a full refund! They just ask that you make any changes to reservations in the next 30-35 days. This is one of the reasons why we encourage you to patronize our lodging sponsors. THEY TAKE CARE OF YOU!

 

Unfortunately, we have recently learned of numerous lodging businesses in PCB that are not allowing any changes to existing reservations, even after the postponement. Has this happened to you? We would love to hear from you – the good and bad experiences. We probably won’t be able to change anyone’s refund policy but we would like to know if anyone is being taken advantage of.

 

See All Lodging Sponsors here
Mar 22
0

THE CHOPPER DILEMMA

By | General Posts

We’re nuts. We want to build the most minimalist scooters on the planet. Hell, we can build a magneto powered bobber with one wire for the lights, done. But as soon as we start to ride it, we are confronted with the need to carry shit, like tools, a lock, chapstick, night glasses, a scarf, a rain suit, you name it. It’s the cool chopper dilemma and I’ve worked on it for years.

I made pockets inside jackets to carry tools. I designed a media pocket inside all 5-Ball leathers to allow you to carry the latest issue of Cycle Source or your divorce papers while riding your super cool chopper to your new girlfriend’s pad. One of my best solutions was Bandit’s Dayroll. I just strapped one on the Funky Panhead, and it works like a champ. It carries all the tools and mechanical supplies I need, including a roll of baling wire.

I recently made them out of leather and the end pockets are perfect for chapstick, a padlock, a lighter, extra keys, you name it. We shrunk it slightly to make it more cool, but it still holds a cheap rain suit, a warm scarf and a long sleeve t-shirt for cold nights. My manufacturer came up with some cool velcro straps to make it easy and convenient to mount to the bars and risers. Can’t beat it. Let me know what you think.

–Bandit

Click here for more info: https://shop.bikernet.com/product/bandits-dayroll/

Mar 22
0

BEAT THE QUARANTINE WITH THESE MOTORCYCLE DIY PROJECTS

By | General Posts

If there’s a silver lining to this social isolation, self-quarantine mess, since you’ve got to hunker down at home for a couple of weeks, why not wrench on your motorcycle? It’s a prime opportunity to get out in the garage and throw on that new exhaust or intake you’ve been eye-balling. If you need help along the way, J&P Cycles YouTube channel is loaded with great install videos full of tips and the tools you’ll need to get the job done in the sanctity of your own home. Now go work on those motorcycles!

S&S Cycle Stealth Intake / Mini Teardrop Installation: Milwaukee-Eight Install

Doesn’t get much more classic than an S&S Teardrop intake. Here’s step-by-step instructions on how to install an S&S Cycle Stealth Intake on a Milwaukee 8 Softail.

Custom Dynamics Pro Beam Tail Light Installation: Weekend Wrenching

In our continued efforts to clean up our Road King rear fender we installed a Custom Dynamics Pro beam LED taillight. Not only does the taillight clean up the look of the bike but it’s much brighter.

FTR1200 S&S Cycle Grand National Slip On Exhaust Install: Weekend Wrenching

S&S Cycle has become the premier exhaust brand on and off the track. The same level of performance, fit and sound that rules the podium in American Flat Track is now available for the Indian FTR1200. The Grand National Slip-On is a stainless body, aluminum tip and is wrapped in a carbon fiber shield. Reduced weight, cleaner shape and adjustable sound via their removable dB reducer are just some of the highlights in this well-engineered exhaust. Emissions legal in all 50 states, the Grand National slip-on is the perfect fit for your Indian FTR1200.

Biltwell Alumicore Grips Install: 2020 Low Rider S

The folks at Biltwell are always coming through with rad parts that not only look good but are built for the road. The Alumicore grips are their top-of-the-line grip set available in chrome and black for cable and throttle-by-wire bikes. We walk you through the step-by-step install on our Low Rider S Milwaukee 8 powered Softail.

–See more at J&P Cycles.com

Mar 22
0

“Check Twice,” . . . Motorcyclists Coming Out of Winter’s Hibernation

By | General Posts
The Commonwealth’s 2020 “Motorcycle Awareness Period” Proclamation has been issued by Governor Baker, proclaiming March 23rd through April 30th as the period urging all citizens to take cognizance of the more than 162,000 motorcycles soon to be coming back onto its roads, and to “Check Twice – Save a Life, Motorcycles are EVERYWHERE !!!!
Enacted as Chapter 128 of the Acts of 2002, signed by acting Governor Jane Swift on June 4, 2002, the Proclamation is now Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 6, Section 15NNNN.
 
“The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the period beginning the last week of March to the last week of April, inclusive, as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Time, to promote motorcycle safety, education and awareness, and recommending that this time be observed in an appropriate manner by various agencies, associations, groups, clubs and businesses.”
 
Last season, the Registry reported 46 motorcyclist fatalities, down from the 49 in 2018.
 
Several events planned by motorcyclists to “kick-start” the season have been postponed to later in April and May.
 
Most other States’ governments proclaim “May” as their Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period, and “MAY” being an acronym for “Motorcycles And You,” coined by the national American Motorcyclists Association.
 
Massachusetts citizen-biker activist originally filed the Proclamation Bill for “May” but a study done in 2001 showed more than 26% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in March, April and May. They amended their Bill for the period to begin the last week of March, with its acronym being “Motorcycle Awareness Really Can Help . . . save lives.”
–Paul Cote
Stats on graph provided by the Registry of Motor Vehicles  / Motorcycle Rider Education Program Coordinator Eugene Carabine.
 
“Check Twice” motto since 1982, created by Bob Dorion, adopted as the RMV / Commonwealth’s Motorcycle Awareness message by then Registrar Dan Grabauskas in 2001; Bob transferred rights to Paul W. Cote in 2008.  Servicemark registered in 2010 with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.  Bob passed in 2016.
Mar 22
0

BIKERNET LIVES TO RIDE ON DURING THE CORONAVIRUS

By | General Posts

5-BALL Board of Directors Didn’t Fire Anyone

We will continue to do our best to keep our readers up on what’s happening worldwide and specifically in the motorcycle world. We will keep the freedom bell ringing, the projects rolling and reports coming.

Just this week the media blamed the Coronavirus on President Trump and The Week magazine reported that Prostitution is still strong in Nevada. “The Pandemic has been good for business. Roxane Price, 25, theorized that coronavirus fear is reminding people that, ‘Life is short,’ and causing those with ‘sexual goals to visit sex workers like me sooner rather than later.'”

They also reported that an Oregon police department is asking the public not to dial 911 just because they’ve run out of toilet paper.

Hang on for reports today on Dr. Hamster’s Pandemic project, a 1950 Panhead, the Salt Torpedo, and I need to fix my exit convex mirror I use to back out of the of the headquarters onto the massive truck traffic Harry Bridges street.

I just posted a tech on mounting my new front wheel, laced by Black Bike Wheels, on my Funky Panhead project. Let me know if I did anything wrong. It’s happens on a regular basis. And don’t forget to keep us going by joining the Cantina:

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

Or buy an anti-Coronavirus Bikernet Bandana. I’ll be back later today. I’m not going anywhere…

–Bandit

Mar 21
0

From eardrum bursting motorcycle roar to soft music

By | General Posts

by Fadhli Ishak from https://www.nst.com.my/

KUALA LUMPUR: MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli, who is used to scorching speeds around the world’s racing tracks, including Sepang, has slowed down to a stop — following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Morbidelli, a member of the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (SRT), has yet to twist a throttle this season.

The 2018 MotoGP rookie of the Year is now spending his time at home, under lockdown in Italy.

Instead of listening to the eardrum bursting roar of motorcycles’ engines, Morbidelli now tunes into soft music.

He is keeping himself occupied with a new hobby, playing musical instruments, while doing his best to remain physically fit.

“I am trying to stay in shape but without leaving my house. I can go running if I stay within the land boundaries of my household. I am doing that but not much more,” said Morbidelli.

“I have some musical instruments and I am trying to learn to play them. It’s not easy, I need to practise a lot. Maybe by the end of this thing (lockdown) I will be able to play the harmonica and cajon.”

Cajon is a box-shaped, percussive instrument which originated in Peru.

“We should try to enjoy the time that we now have at home and get the maximum from it. We can do things at home that we usually don’t have time to do.”

The MotoGP second, third and fourth rounds in Thailand, Argentina and the United States have been postponed to later this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mar 21
0

Corona Virus Recommendations from the Heartland

By | General Posts

DON’TS AND DOS ON CORONAVIRUS

MARCH 17, 2020
By Jane M. Orient, M.D.

How do you plan on surviving the Coronavirus? We have the ultimate list to help you make it through this pandemic!

Some of the views expressed here are controversial. So, do ask your doctor. I hope you have one—not just the HMO or retail clinic “provider.”
Don’t panic. That is always good advice. If you, like the world’s economy, operate on just-in-time inventories, and did not take advice to stock up 3 weeks ago, do not join a mob at a big-box store. Somebody there is no doubt infected. Plus, there’s the risk of getting trampled or injured in a fist fight over the last roll of toilet paper. Most of the world survives without that luxury good. If you have no rice or beans or pasta in the pantry, that is more serious, but you should still avoid mobs if at all possible. Take-out and drive-through places are booming.
Don’t treat fever without a doctor’s advice. Fever is not a disease. It is an important defense mechanism. Very high fevers (say 105 degrees) can cause brain damage, and children can have seizures. But don’t pop Tylenol or ibuprofen at the first sign of fever. Many of the casualties in the 1918 pandemic might have been caused by heavy use of aspirin. Like aspirin, popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such ibuprofen also have detrimental effects on blood clotting. Try lukewarm sponge baths for comfort.
Don’t rush out and get a flu shot. I know, a lot of doctors and public health authorities urge everybody to do this. Influenza can kill you, and the flu shot decreases that risk by 30% to 60%—but there is evidence that it can make COVID-19 worse, both from the earlier SARS epidemic and lab research. Like with so many things in medicine, we have to play the odds.
Don’t go to the emergency room or urgent care unless you are severely ill. There will be sick people there, and you might catch something. You also might end up with a big bill, say for a CT scan you didn’t really need. And if you have the flu or a cold or COVID-19, and don’t need IV fluids or oxygen, they can’t do anything for you. Telephone advice lines could help greatly.
Don’t go to events that are crowded, especially indoors in poorly ventilated rooms. Staying home is good.
Don’t demand to be tested and rely on the results. The tests are still in short supply and not very accurate. If you are at low risk, a positive test is likely to be a false positive. And if you are infected, the test may be negative at first. We need much more testing—mainly for public health monitoring.
Don’t waste. Expired medications are probably still good. Most drugs or essential ingredients are made in China, and supplies are running out. Masks (also mostly made in China) are meant to be disposable, but likely can’t be replaced (see below).
Don’t touch your face or your eyes. That is very hard—preventing that is one function of a mask and eye protection.
Don’t fall for internet scams, or malware. Hucksters will always be around to try to profit from panics. A new type of malicious virus is embedded malware in sites that come up on a search for information. (If you want to find the Johns Hopkins University dashboard of cases and deaths, go to the university’s website, don’t Google “coronavirus map.”)
Now for some dos:
Do prepare to take care of yourself and your family. Be sure you have a fever thermometer, disposable gloves, plastic garbage bags, and cleaning supplies. A pulse oximeter, available in many places for around $40, is good to have to check oxygen levels.
Do clean and disinfect surfaces such as doorknobs, telephones, computer keyboards, toilets, and countertops often. Virus can persist there for days.
Do remember that sunlight is the best disinfectant. If you don’t have a pocket ultraviolet lamp (they are or were available on amazon), try putting things like masks or paper currency out in the sun. The idea should be rigorously tested, but in times of need, you may have to guess.
Do wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer. With SARS-CoV-2, most disinfectants work, including 70-percent-alcohol-based sanitizers.
Do put a mask on sick people if you can. For protecting yourself you need a minimum of an N95 mask and eye protection.
Do take your vitamins. Most people may be vitamin D deficient. Your need for vitamin C escalates with infection. Some 50 tons of vitamin C was shipped to Wuhan, and studies of effectiveness are underway.
Do get your essential prescriptions refilled for 90 days—the supply chain depends on China. If your managed-care plan won’t pay, consider paying cash. You may be able to get a good price with a coupon from goodrx.com.
Do protect your immune system, with adequate sleep, exercise, fresh air, and diet, especially avoiding sugar if you feel ill.
Do help your neighbors, and be responsible about protecting others as well as yourself from contagion.
–from the Heartland Institute
Mar 21
0

SCOTT JACOBS OFFERS TO HELP

By | General Posts

Hey

These times will determine the fate of many small businesses around the world.  The only thing we can do as a Mom & Pop Shop is adapt and ride the wave.

We are offering Monthly Specials on our most iconic images as a way of thanking you for your patronage.  You have allowed Scott to make a hobby into a career and that business is currently giving almost 20 people jobs!

We are so blessed to be in a field where we inspire creativity and move people emotionally with our artwork.

Thank you for everything,
Scott, Sharon, Olivia, Alexa, Todd, Traci, Kayla, Jaci, Ron, Jake, Melissa, Doug, and Jason

www.scottjacobsgalleryshop.com

Mar 20
0

1949 Harley-Davidson Police Servi-Car Let Officers Ride and Shoot

By | General Posts

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Ever since before the start of the second world war, at a time when the world was fighting for its survival during what became known as the Great Depression, and well into the 1970s, the American motorcycle landscape was dominated by a three-wheeled contraption called the Servi-Car.

Produced by Harley-Davidson from 1932 to 1974, the Servi-Car is the forefather of the current Tri Glide Ultra and the Freewheeler trikes, but despite being made in great numbers, they’re not so easy to come by in current times.

From time to time, such machines do pop up on auction sites and elsewhere, but generally they come in the form of custom builds that kind of ruin the initial purpose of the trike. Not the same can be said about the example we have here.

This 1949 Servi-Car was, like many others of its kind, used by a police department. In this case we’re talking about the one in Oakland, California. Despite having underwent a rebuild, needed because of its age, it remains fitted with pretty much all the hardware it had back when it was in the force.

Aside for the mandatory red lights and a siren, it also features a 750 cc side-valve engine with large cooling fins to avoid overheating when on patrol, a left-hand throttle that allowed police officers to draw their weapons with the right hand, and a lockable box at the rear to store items needed for police work.

Just as it was back during its glory days, the trike has the rear wheels spaced apart just enough to be able to ride in the tracks made in the snow by a car.

Given the way it was rebuilt, and the fact that it is an original police Servi-Car, this particular one managed to fetch an impressive amount at a recent RM Sotheby’s auction: $54,000.