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LIGHT & EASY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for December 1, 2022



Hey,

Have you noticed how annoying most major news sites are
? They are scattered with google video ads between every paragraph, pop-ups and ads screaming out from the right margins? Have you noticed how clean the Bikernet content is?

I would only allow Google to run ads at the bottom of the pages, but now rumor has it Google doesn’t like the girls on our site. I would rather our pages remained clean and unencumbered without annoying ads.



Speaking of rumors, there’s gossip going around Hollywood about a new Easy Rider movie, which would be a shot in the arm for the new Easyriders Magazine. I’m wondering if Hollywood won’t force the producers to include gay lovers. We will see won’t we?

Another quirky week in Paradise. Let’s hit the news.



The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.

 




LATEST FROM TMZ–Jay Leno released from the hospital

According to the TMZ website, comedian and car collector Jay Leno has been sent home from the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles where he was taken after being burned in a gasoline fire in his Burbank garage.

Leno was repairing a fuel line on his 1907 White steam car when gasoline, which is used to heat the car’s burner, splashed on his face and arm and then was ignited by a spark. A friend helped extinguish the flames, and Leno was taken to the hospital.

“The ex-late night host posed for a photo taken and posted by the Grossman Burn Center, where JL has been receiving treatment for the past nine days. In it, he seems to be in good spirits alongside the facility staff, but there’s noticeable scarring on his face and hands,” TMZ said. “In a statement, the burn center says Jay will receive follow-up care at their outpatient facility, this after receiving burns throughout his upper [body], including on his chest.”

–Steven Cole Smith
Hagerty Media





ROLAND SANDS DESIGN AND KRIEGA— Announce Product Collaboration Launch

Long Beach, California, USA / Deeside, UK:
Forging a path in the 2-wheel world is not a simple task. It takes commitment, creativity, relentless drive, a few great ideas and sometimes, a little luck. The crew at RSD & Kriega brands are no strangers to this process.

Through the years both brands have become global leaders in their respective fields; RSD with iconic custom motorcycles, premium parts & apparel; and Kriega with industry defining backpack and luggage products; RSD & Kriega are known for premium quality, craftsmanship and performance.

Meet the ROAM Collection, a collaboration by RSD X Kriega. Forged by countless miles on the highway, trails, and canyon roads this new collection of rider bags and accessory products perfectly blend classic and modern materials, technical construction, and functionality.

The ROAM Collection features materials unique to each brand, and together allow for truly amazing product. Including RSD’s proprietary heavy duty waxed cotton & Kriega’s QUADLOC-Lite™ harness system. The ROAM collection was created to offer bag and accessory solutions to riders that appreciate design aesthetic and branding that are subdued, clean and timeless.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Kriega on this collaboration,” said the prez Roland Sands. “Mixing our premium waxed cotton material with their proven technical products and a slight twist on design language really makes for a unique, and amazing product. The team at Kriega has been rad to work with, and I could see additional products being added to the mix in the future.”

ROAM 34 BACKPACK

The Roland Sands Design X Kriega Roam 34 Backpack is constructed from RSD’s propriety wax cotton together with 1000D Cordura and combined with Kriega’s groundbreaking Quadloc-Lite harness, to create a marriage of classic style and unrivalled functionality.

Comprised of 3 sections: a waterproof roll-top 15″ laptop pocket, a 4-litre fold-down zip compartment packed with organizer pockets and a spacious main compartment with heavy-duty YKK® zip access, expandable from 22 to 30-litres when needed. Ideal for carrying a full-face helmet around town or loading with the weekly groceries. Additional features include a fleece-lined goggle/eyewear zip pocket, an optional waist strap with storage pockets, and Sissy bar attachment strap/s.

Available in 2 colour options: Black or Ranger.

FEATURES

• Waterproof 15″ laptop compartment
• Expandable main body (22-litres to 30-litres)
• Adjustable QUADLOC-Lite™ Harness
• ‘Soft-feel’ back panel for rider comfort
• Goggle/eyewear zip pocket (fleece-lined)
• 4-litre front compartment with organizer pockets
• Reflective panels on harness
• Hydration compatible
• Optional waist-strap with storage pockets
• Sissy bar attachment strap
• Harness pocket compatible
• 10 YEAR GUARANTEE





LOUD PIPES AND HORNS SAVE LIVES
 
When I retired in 2004 my wife and I moved to the Fort Myers, Fla., area. I thought it
would be the cat’s meow because I could ride my beloved Ultra year round. While this is a great biking state it has very dangerous obstacles I never considered before moving here: Cotton Tops, the elderly automobile drivers who also live in Florida.

Although most are safe, sensible drivers there are a bunch who don’t see (or care
to see) motorcyclists. After too many close calls with Cotton Tops that turned in front of me, pulled out without looking either way and generally made a nuisance of themselves, I installed the loudest air horn on my Ultra.

On my first ride with the horn, a little old lady who could barely see over the dashboard pulled in front of me from a stop light. I hit the horn and the old gal slammed on
her brakes to let me pass. Best 60 bucks I ever spent.

P.S. The hurricanes chased us back to Wisconsin.

— Jack Mrozinski, Mosinee, Wis.





BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–Bandit’s Cantina Episode 100

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Bandits_Cantina_Episode_100.aspx

I liked reading this episode. I also thought the choices of panel jokes were great! Keep up the good work and keep bucking the system.

After checking the best investments right now, I see that nickel (the stuff that is used for batteries) is one of them. Well, how will the earth fare if we over exploit the nickel that comes out of our ground?

The only real solution, in my opinion, is to try and balance fossil fuels with the extra nickel use for more and more batteries, etc. if that is possible. Also, not to go to extremes. Cut down on both a little individually and use with intelligence. We haven’t found the perfect answer yet but hopefully we can come closer.

My big green thing is to keep our trees from burning down at too rapid a rate and replacing them as soon as possible. All of this requires work and a genius to come along with a better idea.

–Ann Robinson
Long Beach, CA







Indian Scout Rogue by Hardnine Choppers revealed at EICMA

Danny Schneider brings his hard riding, performance style to the Scout Rogue
Distinctive paint scheme inspired by King of the Baggers winning Indian Challenger



Danny Schneider, the man behind Hardnine Choppers, revealed his latest custom build at EICMA, Milan alongside the new 2023 models from Indian Motorcycle. With its distinctive paint scheme inspired by the factory’s King of the Baggers racers, stripped back front end and performance parts, Danny’s Scout Rogue was an eye-catching addition to the Indian Scout lineup on the booth, drawing in visitors to take photos and discover the finer details.

As a former FMX star and award-winning vintage custom builder, Danny Schneider has a reputation for exciting, performance orientated customs and is no stranger to working with Indian Motorcycle. In fact, the build he credits as his best ever was his 1931 Indian Scout, the bike that started his love of Indian Motorcycle, a love that was cemented with the launch of the FTR, “ever since then, I’ve been hooked,” says Danny.

“My idea when I first saw the Scout Rogue, I actually liked it a lot, was performance racing – this is where I’m coming from – I really wanted to craft it to suit my hard riding style and we’ve done everything we can with performance parts. We started out with the Öhlins front forks and Öhlins rear shock, suspension is the most important thing for me coming from a motocross background.”

Modifying the triple trees to accept the Öhlins front forks, the handlebar has been replaced with a 22mm higher ProTaper unit fitted with ProTaper soft grips and the Scout Rogue’s mini-fairing adapted to work with the new bar placement. The stripped back, racing feel is also enhanced by miniature turn signals and the removal of the front fender.

The racing look and spec continues with performance tracker wheels from Roland Sands Design allowing the use of twin OEM discs grabbed by dual Beringer calipers operated by a Beringer master cylinder/lever with Danny creating bespoke adapters and mounts for the wheels and the braking system. For performance gains during starts and gear changes, the clutch lever is also by Beringer with a Dynojet quickshifter ensuring the slickest of shifts and a one-off 2-into-1 exhaust by Jekill and Hyde ramping up the soundtrack.

“I’ve added some custom touches, by cutting down the primary cover to the minimum that’s still safe but making it lighter and giving it a more performance look and I’ve also added wider footpegs to suit my riding style. But, look closer and you’ll see the gold leaf applied to the iconic insignias on the engine and the gas cap, the gold stitching in the seat which all complement the awesome paint by Vince Customs.”

“I’ve been building bikes for about 10 or 12 years now. But I stopped for a while as I’d lost a bit of the passion. When it came to the Rogue, it just came back, the light just fired up again. Indian Motorcycle engineering is amazing, they think further than other brands. If you need to do something, it’s done super quick. This is what I love.”

“Now it’s just a case of setting up the bike, dialing in the suspension and going for a ride. Riding to me is everything. It’s absolute freedom.”







LIFE’S WORK WISDOM QUOTES:

“In life, hard-work keeps the mind pure and speaking truth keeps the heart pure.”

“Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn’t give you credit.” ~ Kamari aka Lyrikal

“Discouragement and dissatisfaction are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision” ~ Kamari aka Lyrikal

“The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” ~ Mother Teresa

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” ~ Earl Nightingale

“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” ~ Napoleon Hill

“Nothing will work unless you do.” ~ Maya Angelou

“Our passion is our life’s output, our life’s purpose; be it a day’s work or a lifelong effort.” ~ Wayfarer

–Wayfarer
Editor, Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page 





ELECTION UPDATE–2022 Mid-Term Elections

RPM Act The 2022 mid-term election has been an exciting and somewhat puzzling one for political prognosticators as votes are still being counted in many key U.S. House of Representatives races.

It is clear, however, that SEMA is well positioned for success during the next two years as a result of our support for lawmakers who have stood with the hobby. From grassroots advocacy through the SEMA Action Network to digital advertisements for our strongest allies to highlighting all the RPM Act cosponsors who were on the ballot this November, SEMA and automotive community did our part to help shape the 2022 elections.

Republicans have regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. At present, Republicans have won 218 seats in the House, while Democrats won 210 seats in the mid-term elections. Seven races are still too close to call. Republicans will control at least 49 Senate seats in the next Congress, and Democrats will control at least 50 Senate seats. Democrats will lead the Senate in 2023–2024 regardless of the outcome of the December 6 runoff election in Georgia, since the vice president is the tie breaker vote in the Senate.

There were 110 RPM Act House co-sponsors up for re-election, and 15 RPM Act sponsors either ran for re-election to the Senate or competed for a Senate seat this year. The results have been overwhelmingly positive for lawmakers who have supported the bill.

Thirteen RPM Act sponsors won their Senate races while the Alaska race is still being decided. More than 100 RPM Act co-sponsors in the House were re-elected, three lost and two RPM Act cosponsors are up in their races where votes are still being counted.

A closely divided Congress in 2023–2024 increases the chances that the final month and a half of the current legislative session will be productive, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have priorities that they will seek to have enacted before the end of the year.

Looking forward to next year, we are encouraged that the narrow margins in the House and Senate will prevent extreme policies that would be detrimental to the hobby (such as aggressive federal efforts to favor ZEVs over ICE vehicles, closing roads and trails for motorized recreation, etc.). One cautionary note regarding divided government is that it will encourage President Biden to rely on his executive powers to implement partisan policy changes, particularly from his environmental activist base. SEMA and the SEMA Action Network will be monitoring these efforts closely.

We are grateful to everyone who has supported SEMA’s advocacy efforts. We are making incredible strides to boost the industry’s political horsepower in Washington. To learn more and get involved, visit www.SEMASAN.com.

–SEMA







QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY

A Little 10-year-old girl was walking home, alone, from school one day, when a big man on a black motorcycle pulls up beside her.

After following along for a while, turns to her and asks, “Hey there little girl, do you want to go for a ride?”
 
“NO!” says the little girl as she keeps on walking.
 
The motorcyclist again pulls up beside her and asks, “Hey little girl, I will give you $10 if you hop on the back.”

“NO!” says the little girl again as she hurries down the street.

The motorcyclist pulls up beside the little girl again and says, “Okay kid, my last offer! I’ll give you 20 Bucks “and” a Big Bag of Candy if you will just hop on the back of my bike and we will go for a ride.”

Finally, the little girl stops and turns towards him and Screams Out… “Look Dad” “You’re the one who bought the Honda instead of the Harley… YOU RIDE IT!!”…….

–Steve Bauman
Register Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina Band Joke Library







NEWS FROM CHOPPERS MAG— You have to love the distinctive styles some artists are able to create. Styles that immediately make you go… oh yeah that’s that kat. This truly applies when talking about Matt Wilkins, aka @matt_sabbath.

Being an artist myself, I appreciate someone like this. He has honed his style and skill set to develop a style that is instantly recognizable. Matt has been creating art for bikers, bands and country western stars for a few years now. He is also a member of the artist collective known as the Mystical Freaks.

–The Chopper Mag Staff







DO YOU NEED A 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON CALENDAR–Harley-Davidson 2023 offers 16 months of iconic motorcycles from the world’s most iconic motorcycle manufacturer.

Created in cooperation with Harley-Davidson, this 17″ x 12″ latest edition of Motorbooks’ top-selling calendar includes bikes spanning Harley-Davidson’s history from classics to today’s top machines.



Harley-Davidson 2023 features stunning portraits commissioned specifically for this calendar and photographed by talented photographer David Blattel as well as historic images from the Harley-Davidson archives.



The calendar features a convenient page that shows the months of September, October, November, and December 2022 followed by individual pages for the months of 2023. Included with the calendar is a stunning 17″ × 12″ frame-ready print.

–Quarto Knows
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D
Beverly, MN 01915





NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT— Artist David Uhl – Days of Uhlness

Reminder that a minimum $500 purchase qualifies you to win a David Uhl original painting. Scroll down to for more information.

“Indigenous”
** 15 x 11.25 paper framed – normally $850 and Rare, this one is $500.

Please email me or call me at 303-913-4840 with any questions, or to place your order. Thanks for your time! Don’t go to the website for the best deals.

–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
Uhl Studios
303-913-4840







A LETTER FROM THE DIME BAG FOUNDER–I’ve appreciated your support throughout this year and wish you and yours a happy holiday.

Finished your Ride Free Forever timecover buckles that I braze soldered mild steel handmade in house.



Also, a long line of legendary chopper friends are putting their orders in for a DimeBag Leather Travelers Timecover.



This weeks Timed feature goes to Ray ILanes at Copper Top Garage in Ormond Beach Florida. Ray specializes in building custom choppers. Dimebag Leather is certified seat maker for all his custom choppers.

He is opening up a shop with storefront around the corner of a world famous tattoo shop in Ormond Beach FL.

All the best
–Adam Croft







NMA NEWSLETTER–Taking the Politics Out of Speed Limit Setting

All traffic is local, and nothing gets people riled up more than speed limits. The 85th percentile has been the standard for measuring speed limits for years. Due to pressure from groups such as Vision Zero and Complete Streets, this standard of measuring speed is losing ground in states such as California, Oregon, and Massachusetts, and even on a federal level. But it’s still the standard in many places around the country.

The 85th percentile is “the speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions past a monitored point.”

In the past, traffic engineers employed the 85th percentile by observing traffic on the ground using a radar gun on the part of the road that needed a survey. More recently, traffic engineers have used pneumatic road tubes stretched across a roadway, which according to the US Office of Highway Policy Information, can measure the following:

How many drivers use the road every day?

The direction the vehicle travels and during what time of day

What class of vehicle (car, tractor-trailer) uses the road

The speed at which drivers are traveling

The data collection process can be labor-intensive, expensive, and doesn’t always return the most accurate results. Using GPS solves this problem.

For the past ten years, TomTom, a consumer navigation company, has been mapping the world using GPS. We also recently learned that along with navigation, the company has been putting together speed profile calculations. Utilizing street data from a company like TomTom, traffic engineers can take the political rhetoric out of speed limit determinations.

What is GPS? First developed for the US military at the beginning of the space race, civilians have had access to GPS since 1989. Onboard vehicle navigation systems use 24 satellites that orbit the Earth twice daily to calculate routes, find local addresses, and monitor road conditions. This navigational technology offers users PNT (positioning, navigation, and timing) services.

The New Hampshire Union Leader recently interviewed state traffic engineer William Lambert to discuss a data system his department bought recently from TomTom. Within a month of purchase, Lambert already ran 30 traffic reports to determine the speeds vehicles traveled on targeted roads in the state.

In the past, the process would have taken much longer. Lambert says he can now analyze the TomTom speed profile calculations data on his computer to see how traffic behaves along a targeted route. He added, “I’m trying to use this data to make sure that speed limits are credible for the character and conditions of the roads across the state.”

For Lambert, reducing a speed limit due to a “wishful thinking value’ usually doesn’t work. He added, “We find that traffic is not going any slower because we want them to.”

Lambert says that target speed is the answer and the lowest crash rate occurs at the 85th percentile of measured traffic speed. He’s right when he said in the interview that ensuring speed limits on particular roadways are ‘credible’ will make all roads safer. Otherwise, drivers will ignore posted speed limits. “If some speed limits are credible and others aren’t, and people disrespect them in places where they’re not, then they can disrespect them in other places and go too fast.”

Using this kind of aggregated digital data will help traffic engineers do their job by setting safe speed limits at the 85th percentile and taking the arbitrariness of setting speeds out of the equation.

We all want safer roads, and this kind of technology can certainly help make that happen with real-time traffic data.







EnerSys Set to Launch ODYSSEY Battery Powersports Portfolio with Addition of Three Most Popular Sizes–
 
And Becoming the First Batteries in These Sizes to Feature Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) Technology

EnerSys (NYSE:ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications and the manufacturer of ODYSSEY batteries, will soon add three of the most popular sizes for powersports vehicles to the Company’s premium ODYSSEY battery portfolio. An official premiere of the new models is set to take place in ODYSSEY battery booth no. A1838 at the 2022 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) from November 1 – 3, 2022 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The three models, ODS-AGM14 (Group size BTX14), ODS-AGM20L (Group size BTX20L) and ODS-AGM30L (Group size BTX30L), are ideal solutions for a variety of popular vehicle models including Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and can also be used in other powersports vehicles, including snowmobiles and Personal Watercraft (PWC) applications.

Upon launch, all three models will feature a drop-in fit, so no accessories will be needed for proper installation, and will represent the first in these group sizes to be available with proprietary Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology.

“The models we use in our existing portfolio of ODYSSEY batteries are suitable for the powersports applications, but they require the installer to use additional hardware to secure the fit,” said Dave McMullen, Senior Director of Marketing, Transportation & Specialty at EnerSys. “With this upcoming launch, we will now have ODYSSEY Powersport battery drop-in fitments for the three most popular group sizes for powersports vehicles and the first to be available with our advanced TPPL technology.”

Proprietary TPPL technology in ODYSSEY batteries uses pure lead plates that can be made thinner than those in conventional flooded lead acid batteries, so more plates fit into the same size footprint to provide greater surface area.

This enables more electrochemical reactions with the electrolyte to produce more power than conventional batteries of comparable size. The results include engine cranking pulses that are significantly higher than that of equally sized conventional lead acid batteries.

ODYSSEY batteries also feature Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) construction, which packs the plates tightly in absorbent fiberglass separators that hold the electrolyte and make the batteries virtually maintenance-free.

The rugged AGM construction and non-spillable design of ODYSSEY batteries also protect against high-impact shock and mechanical vibration to help provide longer service life. Backed by an industry-leading warranty, they come with the required Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to fit the needs of each application.

For more information on EnerSys and its full line of products, systems, and support, visit www.enersys.com.

To follow the latest ODYSSEY battery news, visit our website at www.odysseybattery.com.





[page break]



WEEKLY LESSON FROM BIKERNET UNIVERSITY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

184: GREENHOUSE GAS…….Two words assembled together in such a way as to put it into your head via relentless repetition by infinite human parrots including suddenly-genius first-graders, that earth is a man-made greenhouse, not a 4-billion-year-old mammoth amalgam of the entire periodic table.

The earth is not a green house. Nor is it a Popsicle. The expression “greenhouse gas” has one function: to put the idea of rising earth temperature into your head and associate it with you using an air conditioner or hair spray because your personal conveniences are killing others less fortunate.

That’s right, it’s just more fucking Marxism. The expression “greenhouse gasses” has been selected solely for the bizarre imagery that the phrase conjures: that the earth is not a successfully-self-operating monster of life-out-of dirt, winding and wending its way through a galaxy of a billion stars and a trillion planets, no, it’s fucking a greenhouse: a big glass building with its already hot, wet, humid essence being further compromised by your car which is turning the earth into more of a place for lizards and spiders and plants that eat animals than it already is, and you are at fault because of your selfish need for “modern conveniences” while others die.

The expression “greenhouse gas” has also been selected via some random bureaucratic catastrophe-generator to be associated with the sudden newly-appearing mysterious version of meteorology called “climate science.” Meaning “the science you created and made necessary for us to investigate so that you don’t kill everybody.” Climate science. Greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gasses. Global warming.

Attribution science. Gray swan climate event, Hotter. And hotter. Wetter. Droughtier. It’s a fucking mess. Do you care??? No. You have electricity. So, YOU don’t care. (You’ll notice there is a worldwide sudden electricity problem in all the white countries.) You won’t stop stop using your air conditioner? We’ll shut off the power. You won’t stop driving your gas and diesel vehicles? We’ll outlaw oil. You’ll use our mandatory electricity vehicles. Which don’t work. We don’t care.

We need you dead before you realize you don’t actually need us. Eventually there will be something called “terrain science” that will explain why walking on the ground rather than just lying six feet beneath it is causing warts on the moon. Just like all the other things declared out of nowhere, claimed as fact and always suspiciously designed to handcuff human life, human happiness, human progress and discourage more cool stuff and to keep people glued to one spot.

Ya know, like Covid-19 successfully did.

–J.J. Solari
Senior Scientist
Bikernet University

 
 

ANOTHER QUOTE OF THE WEEK–Here is another quote from lyrics of a song.

“Takes more than combat gear to make a man… Takes more than a license for a gun… Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can… A gentleman will walk but never run” — Sting

(from the song ‘An Englishman in New York’)

–Wayfarer





5-BALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS—Our bedrolls and Day rolls are the shit. They are great gifts.
 
And we will throw in special gifts with each order.





–Bandit







TEXAS WEATHER REPORT
 
Glad to see Wimmer Coolers still around. I had two on the Little Red Rigid. They worked great and they’re actually hooked up correctly on mine!



Yes, they look cleaner the other way, but not how the manufacturer lists to use them. Take it from someone who traveled across Germany in the ‘70s, as post after post kept blowing up newly installed Cummins engines, even got a letter of Commendation somewhere. None of mine ever exploded, that was then. Man, I miss that bike!!



Then I came upon the Keiti throttle stop when I was doing 130 mile a day Willis shuffle! Worked sorta, but not the products fault. About the only thing I didn’t change on the previously used to carry golf clubs ‘07 Dyna were the Lowbrow Custom grips, which happen to be tapered at the ends. So, the Keiti would lose its grip.

Think I’m going to put regular old factory grips on the Dyna, so I can use it on my Willis runs. (I may have shared the stop before?)



Finally, this screwdriver, I got it for free many, many, many years ago.

–RFR

“That’s the Snap-On screwdriver I’ve been missing for a decade…” –Bandit





MORE FROM THE SEMA ACTION NETWORK— FTC Seeks Comments to Combat Fake Reviews and Other Deceptive Endorsements

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks public comment on the potential harms stemming from deceptive or unfair review and endorsement practices used by businesses.

“Companies should know by now that fake reviews are illegal, but this scourge persists,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “We’re exploring whether a rule that would trigger stiff civil penalties for violators would make the market fairer for consumers and honest businesses.”

The FTC is asking for comments regarding the pervasiveness and potential harms to consumers and competition cause by fake reviews, paid reviews, fake review websites and similar practices.

If you are aware of competitors engaging in these practices that harm your business, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org to be incorporated into SEMA’s comments.

–By Washington, D.C., Staff
SEMA







BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN

A man goes to a marriage counselor, worried about his wife’s temper.

The counselor asks, “What’s the problem?

The man says, “I don’t know what to do. Every day my wife loses her temper for no reason. It scares me.”

The Counselor says, “I have a cure for that. When it seems, your wife is getting angry, take a double shot of Jack Daniel’s bourbon and swish it in your mouth. Swish and swish, but don’t swallow it until she either leaves the room or calms down.”

Two weeks later, he goes back to the counselor, looking fresh and reborn. He tells the counselor, “That was a brilliant idea. Every time my wife started to get angry, I swished the Jack Daniels and she would start to calm down. It was amazing! What is it about Jack Daniels that makes it work like that?”

The counselor said, “The Jack Daniel’s does nothing. Keeping your mouth shut is the trick.”

–El Waggs
Certified Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina Bad Joke Library







QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 24, 2022

Click Here to read Spirit of Thanksgiving News Article

Just got back from a visit to Maine. Burrrr. Hey regarding that CO2 pic. That would make a cool sticker.

–Rhys
S. Daytona, FL

“I will check it out.” –Bandit





WHEELS THROUGH TIME FUND 2023 RAISING EFFORT-
 
The 2023 WTT Raffle Bike is the sleek 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Bobber, finished in HD custom Silver, striped in Black, and edged in Gold.

This 61c.i. Knucklehead powerhouse sports a 4-speed transmission, bobbed fenders, and Flanders accessory risers and bars, flaunting its authentic period-modified look and feel.

This custom machine was hand-built in the Wheels Through Time Restoration Shop for one purpose…
 
Going home with one lucky winner this 2023!
 

In case you missed it.

On November 19th, we gave away the 2022 Raffle Bike, the 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. The winner was Ed Shequen of Motley, Minnesota! Second prize of ten thousand dollars went to Randy Cooper of Quinton, Alabama, and third prize of five thousand dollars went to Randy Farabee of Gilbert, Arizona. We want to thank everyone who supported Dale’s Wheels Through Time through our 2022 Annual Raffle! Your support is what fuels “The Museum That Runs!”







HOLIDAYS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT

Artist David Uhl is running another daily promotion, but we can’t keep up. Give Greg a call if you’re interested.

Hoping that everyone in the States had a great Thanksgiving holiday!

From the Holiday Steampunk series, we have three pieces for sale.

“Holiday Alchemist” (above)
** Image size 16 x 20, this framed piece is $900

 
“Holiday Prodigy”
** Image size 16 x 20, this framed piece is $900



“Holiday Saboteur”
** Image size 16 x 20, this framed piece is priced at $900.

Please email me or call me at 303-913-4840 with any questions, or to place your order. Thanks for your time!

Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
303-913-4840







LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK
 
2013 Harley-Davidson FLTRXSE2 – CVO Road Glide Custom FOR ONLY $19,995.00

SEE IT HERE: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=13004442



2013 Roman gold Harley-Davidson SCREAMING EAGLE ROAD GLIDE FLTRXSE2 with only 24,865.00 miles!



This bike is a super clean fully custom CVO Road Glide and some of the features/Add-ons on this bike are:

* 110c.i. Screaming Eagle motor with a 6-Speed trans.
* 19 inch Black apes all Blacked out with hand guards
* Black braided cables
* Rockford fosgate radio
* Speaker lids and leg warmers with speakers
* P/M wheels
* P/M air cleaner
* Super trap exhaust
* Flush mount tail and running lights and license plate
* Color matched fork cans



This bike is only $19,995.00

Plus, license, $85.00 documentation fee, and local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like some dealers. And we have no reconditioning or prep fees.

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety/mechanical/structural inspection.

This motorcycle has not been refurbished and does not come with any warranty expressed or implied! EXTENDED WARRANTIES are available!

Fill out an online application today. We have EZ FINANCING

Lifestyle Cycles is located at 1510 State College Blvd, Anaheim,CA 92806. Open 7 days a week.

NOT LOCAL? WE HAVE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! Call today (714) 490-0155.

We carry Street Glides, Road Glides, Road Kings, Ultras, Sportsters, Softails, Dynas, and much more!
 
We are California’s pre-owned Harley Mega-Store with over 200 Pre-Owned Harley-Davidsons in stock!







INSPIRING THOUGHT FROM DOWN UNDER
 
There will eventually be a reckoning of the insane postulate that burning fuel changes the temperature of the planet.

Small minds create small myopic ideas, Those silly ideas catch-on with the millions of other small minds around the world.

Then we get complete rubbish being spouted by the masses and goaded on by the people who can make their gains from perpetuating those lies.

Such an idea is that Climate Change is caused by man-made influences.

IT’S NOT!

–Ray Russell
Senior Investigator
Bikernet Outpost
Australia
 
 
 

 
 

THE HERO HARLEY IS COMING

First HeroMotoCorp and Harley-Davidson co-developed motorcycle likely to hit market in two years

India’s largest two-wheeler maker, which has leadership in the budget bike segment (100-110cc), is looking to drive in models to bring in volumes and enhance profitability in the 160cc and above space.

–Wayfarer
Editor
Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page





ANOTHER New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 24, 2022

Click Here to Read the Spirit of Thanskgiving News Article

Love the poem, “Oil of Love”

–Mutha
Long Beach, CA





AMA HALL OF FAME NEWS
 
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Honors Six Inductees in 2022

Bringing together “motorcycling legends, enthusiasts and industry leaders from across the country,” AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inducted six new members for 2022 at its annual Induction Ceremony.

Members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2022 include Kenny Coolbeth, Greg Hancock, Effie Hotchkiss, Sandy Kosman, Ben Spies and James Stewart.

“Every year, with the exception of 2020, it’s been our privilege to honor motorcycling’s most accomplished and significant people in a very special AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction celebration,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said when addressing the audience.

“But it’s more than just a great banquet and ceremony to honor the incredible inductees who’ve contributed so much to our sport – it’s also a chance for us to come together in the interest of preserving motorcycle history for future generations.”

Those gathered also honored the memories of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers who have recently passed away: Wes Cooley, Ed Fisher, Bobby Hill, Loretta Lynn and Preston Petty.

Left to Right: Alec Dare (representing Ben Spies), Nadia DeSimone (daughter of Sandy Kosman), Craig Dove (great-grandson of Effie Hotchkiss), Greg Hancock, Kenny Coolbeth and James Stewart.

Kenny Coolbeth
Born in 1977, Coolbeth began his professional flat track career in 1994. He raced to his first AMA Grand National win at the Columbus Half-Mile in 2002. He won his first AMA Grand National Championship in 2006 while riding for the factory Harley-Davidson team and followed that up with two additional championships in 2007 and 2008.

Throughout his successful career, Coolbeth raced to 37 AMA Grand National wins, putting him sixth on the all-time win list, along with 108 AMA Grand National podiums.

Coolbeth retired from professional flat track racing at the end of the 2018 season while still competitive in the sport. He continues to give back to the sport and now works as a rider coach and setup tech for the Turner Honda Racing team – “I was just a kid who knew how to ride motorcycles. I never dreamed I’d be in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, it’s an amazing honor to be here.”

Greg Hancock
Born in 1970, Hancock began racing in Junior Speedway competition at age 9. At age 15, he won the Junior Speedway National Championship, his first of many titles. Soon he began competing across Europe, and in 1997 won the FIM World Speedway Championship.

Through the 1990s, Hancock also won the FIM World Pairs Championship and claimed three FIM World Team Cup Championships. He went on to win his second FIM World Speedway Championship in 2011, winning it again in 2014 and 2016.

Throughout his nearly four-decade career, Hancock became one of the most decorated motorcycle racers of all time, earning four FIM Speedway World Championships, three FIM World Team Cup titles, as well as eight AMA U.S. National Speedway Championships.

Effie Hotchkiss
Born in 1889, Effie Hotchkiss began riding at age 16. She began working on Wall Street in the banking industry but got tired of the job’s monotony. Using the inheritance her father left her, she purchased a 1915 Harley-Davidson 3-speed twin and a Rogers sidecar for her mother Avis and their luggage.

The two set off on their adventure on May 2, 1915, riding all the way to San Francisco, then started back towards their home in Brooklyn, N.Y., in late August. Hotchkiss became the first woman recorded to complete a transcontinental motorcycle ride, covering 9,000 miles over five months.

Hotchkiss quickly became a female icon for her endeavor and was celebrated in the very first issue of Harley-Davidson’s ‘The Enthusiast’ and countless newspapers across the country.

Effie Hotchkiss’ great-grandson attended the ceremony as her closest living relative and commented: “Thanks to the AMA for inducting my great-grandmother into the Hall of Fame. Today is the best day of my life.”

Sandy Kosman
Born in 1941, Sandy Kosman had both the mind and vision of a genius. As a self-trained designer of high-performance chassis and wheels for customized road, off-road and drag racing motorcycles, Kosman was a builder of champions as well as a highly successful entrepreneur.

In 1965, at age 24, Kosman started Kosman Specialties, building lightweight motorcycle gas tanks in his basement. The business thrived, and he moved into a building in San Francisco, expanding his products and services over time.

Through his 30-plus years in business, most drag racing bikes, many flat track bikes and a few AMA Superbike race teams adopted Kosman products, including American Honda, Vance & Hines, Performance Machine and others. Despite no formal training, Kosman and his company became a household name in racing and performance circles.

“It’s not been that long since we lost my father,” Kosman’s daughter Nadia DeSimone said, “but I know what being inducted into the Hall of Fame would have meant to him. Tonight feels like my last moment with him, and this means so much to my entire family.”

Ben Spies
Ben Spies, one of the greatest American road racers in the sport’s history, won five national titles and raced to 44 national wins during his career. Born in 1984, he came of age during the dominance of six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin, unseating the champ in his prime in 2006. In 2007, he defended the title in one of the tightest AMA Superbike Championship battles ever.

Spies’ AMA National Championships include the 2006, ’07 and ’08 AMA Superbike titles, the 2007 AMA Superstock title, and the 2003 AMA Formula Xtreme title.

In 2009, Spies joined the Yamaha Italia team in World Superbike competition. His rookie year proved exceptional, and he won the 2009 World Superbike title. Racing MotoGP full time in 2019, his performance earned him Rookie of the Year. He retired from professional racing in 2013.

Due to illness, Spies was unable to attend the ceremony, but family friend Alec Dare accepted the Hall of Fame ring on his behalf. “I’m proud my family can look back on all the chapters in my life and see that I made it into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame,” Dare read in a message from Spies. “Thank you to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and thumbs up to everybody here.”
 
James Stewart
Born in 1985, Stewart displayed potential early, winning his first national amateur championship at age 7. Before age 16, he claimed seven AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships.

Going pro in 2002, he won the AMA 125 MX title later that year while riding for Kawasaki, becoming the first black man to win a title in the sport. Stewart won the 2007 AMA Supercross Championship, claiming a second in 2009.

Incredibly, Stewart won all 24 motos of the 2008 Pro Motocross series – a perfect season – securing the 450 Class National Championship.

Stewart’s professional racing career ended in 2016 after tallying 50 AMA Supercross premier class wins and 48 AMA Pro Motocross national wins, cementing him as one of the greatest motocross racers of all time.

“I want to thank the AMA…this is such an honor,” Stewart said in an emotional acceptance speech. “I was never the cool kid, I wanted to ride motorcycles. But now, when you say my name, it’s Hall of Famer James Stewart. Out of all the things I accomplished in my career, this is the best part. This is like winning the ultimate championship. It’s amazing!”

www.americanmotorcyclist.com







HEADING INTO THE WINTER SEASON—A constant Sturgis Vintage rider said the other day, “I’m ready for Spring.”

He rides right up until the first snow. I remember a guy I wrote a story about who worked at the factory all his life and rode every day. When it snowed in Milwaukee, he bolted up a sidecar and kept going. I know a Hamster brother in California who surfs every first day of the year. We just keep going and doing what we love till the end.

I found out yesterday that Louie Falcigno passed away. I was just writing about him in my first report on my winter VL, XA, FL, S&S Knuckled build. He had a distinct style about his bikes and this bike would give him a nod I hope…



I’m working on an article about the last traditional Sportster built at the factory. It’s turning into an interesting piece. And as you know, Sportsters were always in a transformative process from the K-model to my first XLCH is ’69, when they first added electric starters. You name it, it changed with the times. Hang on for the story.





We are also working on another Tank article with photos from Markus Cuff. This time it will cover the paint aspects from style to paint materials, pearls, candies and metalflake. Hang on.

 
 

I got frustrated with my shop. I bought shit I had stashed in unorganized boxes and milk crates. We tore into everything and sorted like mad. It’s better…
 
 
Next on the Winter build project I need to have a discussion with the Paughco or the Black Bike Wheel team. I need all the ground clearance I can muster. Like handlebars, it seems easy until you discuss all the options available.







Atomic Bob blew me away with his illustration of the VL, XA, FL project.

Hang on for the next round of reports.

In the meantime have a terrific holiday season and think about riding free into all the sunsets forever…

–Bandit

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Light & Easy Bikernet Weekly News for December 1, 2022

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS:

* is there another Easy Rider Movie in the works?
* Advertisements and Pop-ups on free content websites
* TMZ & Jay Leno
* Roland Sands new baggage solution
* Loud pipes and its Road Test
* Custom Indian Scout Rogue
* Wisdom Quotes
* SEMA & the mid-term elections
* Harley-Davdson Calendar
* new David Uhl artwork
* Hal Robinson cartoons
*** AND SO MUCH MORE COOL EASYREADING STUFF

Click Here to Read the December 1, 2022 Weekly News on Bikernet.com

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Come Ride Free Forever, with Bandit and the Cantina crew

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Bandit’s Cantina Series: Episode 100

by K. Randall Ball with Illustrations from George Fleming, Atomic Bob, Hal Robinson Dick Allen

Joey Bunch woke with a start. He rode an old ’69 Sportster XLCH with a magneto. It took him a few minutes of kicking to get it started on the cool morning. But then he blazed through the back streets of Venice, California, just west of downtown Los Angeles toward the designated meeting spot.

Through one trash strewn alley after another he darted, making his way to the freeway. A confused kid, he watched his neighborhood deteriorate as more illegals, homeless and drug addicts filled the streets.

He didn’t dare leave his vintage Sportster in full view of street traffic. It would be ripped-off in a hot second.

Click Here to read this 100th episode in the Bandit’s Cantina series.

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Free swag plus online archive since 1996….

 

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5-Ball Racing VL, FL custom motorcycle build

by Bandit with photos by the Redhead and Atomic Dice illustrations

It’s all started on a Sunny winter day when I met with old friend Randy Simpson and he declared, “I want to buy the Dicey Knucklehead.”

I didn’t want to let it go, but I also wanted to honor Randy’s wish. His co-builder, Gary Woodford, passed away and he wanted a tribute to him.

For the first time in 20 years, I didn’t have a shop. I had to do something or chase women and drink whiskey. Irish Rich, from Shamrocks just moved to Sturgis from Denver and had a couple of rusting VL frames. At least I could find parts and start planning.

Click Here to read this Photo Feature and Tech only on Bikernet.com

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Support Riding Free, click to view Membership Options for Bandit’s Cantina

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5-Ball VL, XA, FL 2022-23 Build, Part 1

It’s all started on a Sunny winter day when I met with old friend Randy Simpson and he declared, “I want to buy the Dicey Knucklehead.”

I didn’t want to let it go, but I also wanted to honor Randy’s wish. His co-builder, Gary Woodford, passed away and he wanted a tribute to him.

For the first time in 20 years, I didn’t have a shop. I had to do something or chase women and drink whiskey. Irish Rich, from Shamrocks just moved to Sturgis from Denver and had a couple of rusting VL frames. At least I could find parts and start planning. I reached out to Matt Olsen. The last time I saw him he mentioned coming into some stock springers.

His score hadn’t arrived but he did have a slightly modified stock XA front end, 2 inches longer. I jumped on it and ordered a set of stock styled rockers from Paughco and an axle. I discussed wheels with Steve Massicote from Paughco.

What I had in the shop was a 19-front capable of dual discs. It has an aluminum rim, race style with an aluminum hub. The rear is an 18-inch Metal Sport wheel with a brand-new Avon tire. Steve and I discussed, and I liked the spoked classic Paughco wheels, probably black rims, stainless spokes and star hubs. I’m thinking about a 21 up front.

That brings up brakes. On one hand I would like to go all class and mechanical brakes. One the other, this could be a mountain hard-riding fast bike and maybe disc brakes would do the trick. Or, I could go disc in the rear and mechanical in the front. These decisions will impact the wheel order. Let me know your thoughts.

Then there came the next challenge, a Knucklehead engine. My first source said, “A rebuilt Knucklehead engine goes for $17,000.” Holy shit. My next conversation with Domenic went like this, “I just bought a rebuilt Knucklehead engine for my girlfriend. It cost $19,000.” WTF, over?

Since those conversations the price elevated to $20,000. You know those adages like, “What is meant to be, is meant to be,” and, “Keep an open mind.”

 
 

I did and ordered a new Knucklehead engine from S&S for several reasons. Sure, the price played a major part, but then this engine is upgraded significantly, and 93-inches. Plus, I could order it with an alternator left case, splined shaft so I could run a belt drive, a 5-speed trans and an Evo styled starter. Finally, the S&S Knucklehead engine comes with an electronic ignition system, intake manifold, S&S super E carb, air cleaner and a spin-on oil filter bracket, which fits into the generator hole, beautiful.

In addition, there’s a choice of finishes and the list goes on with S&S, but there is a wait list…

In the meantime, while the shop was being built, I had to make shit happen. In the corner of my upstairs garage, I created a welding bench and Laban from Legendary Electric was kind enough to wire the upstairs garage with a 220 outlet. I could weld. I mounted a vice to the wooden bench, and I didn’t stop collecting parts and working with Irish Rich of Shamrock Customs to see what the puppy would look like as a roller.

Irish Rich is a pro and builds bikes for customers all over the country, plus modifies frames. We took a look at the wild 5/8-inch coarse studs sticking out of the rear legs on the front end. I went to Clausen’s machine shop in Spearfish and ordered two varieties of extensions. I ordered some riser clamps for 1-inch bars online, which I might modify in the future.

Rich ordered neck Timken bearings, developed a sleeve so both Timkens could be the same size. He also had a fork-lock system which he made work with the front-end neck and the forks.

I still needed to machine a shorter crown nut. Matt sent a top crown with risers carefully built in. It’s cool but I faced a number of questions. If I use it, I will need to shave off the riser studs. I didn’t know the welder who did the work or whether I should trust the welds on the crown. I needed a set of stock dog bones and clamps and I didn’t like that swept back style. They would likely smack the tank.

I decided to go with the massive riser studs and my Clausen built riser extensions. At Rich’s new, home, tin building, shop we installed the front end with a 21-inch front wheel and a 19 rear, both spoked. Rich had already set up the rubber-mounted peanut tank. It was looking good and I took all the pieces home.
 

 

I kept my mind wide open, since the source of antique shops in the Sturgis and Black Hills area are amazing. You can find wild shit and the historic elements are still strong in this outlaw region. I found this foot warmer from the early 1900s. It was used to keep you warm with hot water on cold winter nights. I am going to train myself in copper-pipe soldering and try to make this my oil bag with brass fittings soldered to the body and leather straps made to hold it in place.

I also found these cranks for operating old equipment. At first, I considered using them for foot pegs and foot controls, but if it’s going to be a solid canyon rider I will need rubber Harley pegs. We will see. I also though about Louie Falcigno in Florida. I hope he’s still around. He built amazing classic chopper in his tradition. They were narrow and light. I’ll try to find a photo. He was a big Hells Angel fan and lived in the center of Outlaw MC land. I met an Outlaw leader who went to visit Louie as one time and asked him to tone it down a notch.

So, the Bikernet Sturgis, or Black Hills, or Boulder Canyon shop was finally finished just before the rally by Jason Alexander Construction. His crew helped move crates and position equipment. I went to work, organizing and making the shop work. I purchased a Smithy Lathe and we positioned it, but I had electrical issues to deal with.

Of course, the rally hit, then relatives came to visit and I bought a ’48 UL in Carson City, but it needed modifications. My goal was to free up a lift, then I could start the VL. It’s November and I finally pulled the UL off the lift. I was free to start my winter project, sorta. I still had plumbing, electrical and organizational issues.

Actually, there are always projects surfacing around the new digs. So, between snow, resource hunting, parts, and deadlines I was able to cut some time loose to start to make it a roller. A brother, John, came over who lives is Sturgis, his wife is a city commissioner and he is on the zoning and planning commission. But he also owns two 45 trikes, I believe a ’46 and a ’47. He also drives a ’47 Willies Jeep and his wife rides an Evo bagger from the ‘90s.

I had attached the front end to the 19-inch wheel, worked the frame into position without dinging the tank, dug through the spacer drawer and set up the rear mag wheel. With the redhead we were able to muscle the S&S 93-inch Knucklehead into place. That’s where it stood when John arrived.

The Redhead and I were able to position two of the engine mounting bolts in the rear but the front ones didn’t come close to alignment. When John arrived, we discussed the problem. Rich told me to run a drill up from under the frame through the engine cases. I thought John could help with that operation, but something bothered me. With the engine loose in the rear it slipped left and right almost 3/8 of an inch. I didn’t want to guess where to start drilling.

Plan B called for installing a primary system and ultimately a transmission and rear sprocket, align them all, then drill. Sounded like a plan. I recently bought a Crazy horse engine, and an Evil primary system. I usually work with BDL and have a lot of confidence in their products.

I had the Evil, so I decided to give it a shot. John and I discussed the peg position, foot controls, rear brakes and shifting. We found a piece of thick wall tubing and positioned it in what was the crossover tube for brake linkage. This frame has no forward footboard or peg mounting tabs. Generally, that would have been handled from the front motor-mounts.

Okay, so we decided to give the bike a shot with low, mid controls and see how it might fit me. We ran the tubing through the frame and then tried to position the thick aluminum Evil primary and pray the foot positioning wouldn’t clash with the belt, it didn’t. We were golden from that perspective. Cornering will be another issue since these pegs will be low and won’t fold.

That was another vote for a 21-inch wheel up front. John and I bored the primary, ground one of the tabs on the inside rear to clear the frame and it bolted right up. During the build process, I use never-cease on the bolts into the new engine cases to prevent any wear or damage to the threads.

I’m working with Randy Cramer at Dakota V-Twin in Spearfish, SD for my tranny case. JIMS builds a 4-speed mounting trans case that will house a 5-speed transmission. Hope to have it in three weeks.

Plus, I hope to have all the components to build a 5-speed trans. We will see. More and more I think I’m going to go with a 21-inch front wheel for better ground clearance. Rich said it’s 26.5 inches in diameter with a tire. I need to keep discussing the front brake. If I go with a star hub and a mechanical brake, I need to change the left rocker, spacer and axle. It’s already set up for a disc brake system. Would that eliminate the Star Hub?

Next, we will cover the trans build, the oil tank soldering. I need to order some fittings from McMaster Carr. I was looking for a 4-wheel-drive truck, but I would rather buy fittings from McMaster Carr and stay focused on the VL, XA, S&S FL build…

Wait, there’s more. Most of my shit stayed outside in crates last winter and there were some rust issues. We started a process of dealing with rush, including a Paughco oil bag. This was our first attempt as dealing with corrosion. We took a glass container, lined it with tinfoil and soaked some shafts. It did the trick in a couple of days. You’ll see more in the next report.

Hang on, still working on a name.

 
–Bandit 
Sources:
 


Atomic Dice

 
Clausen’s Machine Shop
 Spearfish, SD 

Dakota V-Twin
Spearfish, SD

JIMS Machine
 

McMaster Carr

Paughco
 

Shamrocks Customs
Sturgis, SD 

S&S
 

Terry Components
Check on J&P Cycles 
 

 
 
 
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Giving Tuesday is Tomorrow: Disabled American Veterans

YOUR GIFT WILL BE DOUBLED TO HELP OUR HEROES THIS GIVING TUESDAY!

Tomorrow is the big day — it’s GivingTuesday, a global day of giving back! And we have a chance to make a lasting impact for our nation’s veterans, because all GivingTuesday donations to DAV are being MATCHED, up to $50,000!

But you don’t have to wait until tomorrow to show your support for fellow veterans! YOU can help us get a jump start on GivingTuesday by making a gift that goes TWICE as far today.

Your generous GivingTuesday gift will help fund the free, life-changing services veterans in need depend on each and every day. Thank you so much for all you do for your fellow veterans.

Get Your Gift in Early, click here https://www.dav.org/

About DAV: DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. Last year, the organization provided more than 163,000 rides to veterans attending medical appointments and assisted in filing over 151,000 claims for benefits. In 2021, DAV-represented veterans received more than $25 billion in earned benefits. DAV’s services are offered at no cost to all generations of veterans, their families and survivors.

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Bikernet.com suppports Freedom and encourages all motorcyclists to protect their rights and freedoms by our regular News services. Click to know more.

 

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Craft and Punishment

A Tale of Twisted Fates of Artisans

Deus Ex Machina was arguably the most popular and most impressive global brand for custom built motorcycles.

Deus Ex Machina was built upon the development and creation of custom motorcycles. A clothing line got added for those fans of the brand who found it more satisfactory to order a Deus tee-shirt. This motorbike brand is now a luxury apparel handling the biggest names in fashion, peddling dreams to people, nay, to the masses.

“Deus Ex Machina makes high-end motorcycles and loses money on each one” announced the newspapers.

“That’s why we make clothing,” said Deus founder and owner Dare Jennings in that news report. “Otherwise, we’d go broke.”

How could this be true? Why would one of the most successful and iconic custom motorcycle brand of the 21st century lose thousands of dollars on every bike they sell?

CLICK HERE To Read this Photo Feature Profile of Deus Ex Machina.

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Bikernet Blog

Click to Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter from Bikernet Blog for free. Stay updated, stay ahead of the curve.

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Engine Guard Foot Pegs for H-D Tourers

by Rogue
Comfort On Long Distance Bike Rides

Though my 2022 Harley Ultra Limited is a very comfortable motorcycle, past experience has taught me that being able to change my position from time to time is definitely important.

I have used this same set up for over 100,000 miles and it was an easy decision to put them on this motorcycle.

Stretch out for added comfort. This Adjustable Highway Peg Mounting Kit can be set for shorter riders, and it can be reversed to reach far forward for those with long legs.

• 5-inch angled peg mounting kit in gloss black finish

• Angled design allows the arm to reach back and around to clear fairing lowers

• Arm can be raised and lowered for a custom fit

• Mounting clamp firmly grips the engine guard, and the locking design secures the peg at the desired angle

Click Here to Read this Photo Feature and Tech only on Bikernet.com

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Go get yours and learn more by diving into history of chopper builds & related tech. Simply Click to Join Bandit’s Cantina !!!

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Craft and Punishment

 
 
Custom built motorcycles, surfing pristine beaches, happy-go-lucky lifestyle, and passion for freedom to design all blend into a pot of cultural innovation. The brand name ‘Deus Ex Machina’ was unique in its production but very cliched in its fate!

Now the hip has replaced the hippie. Chic chucked out the creator. Only froth from the time-swept shores! No longer does it evoke your soul to aspire. Now all you get is yuppies who attend events in luxury cars instead of cross-country trip for meeting a new tide & strangers in a bar.
 
 

Originally, the expensive showrooms and lavish lifestyle was justified by the roar of the engines. No discrimination amongst the bikers, boarders, beatniks, thrashers, tycoons and backpackers – just meeting of artistically inclined. They all moved around the ‘shop’ as if a brief stopover between spaceflights to different worlds.
 
 

Deus Ex Machina was built upon the development and creation of custom motorcycles. A clothing line got added for those fans of the brand who found it more satisfactory to order a Deus tee-shirt. This motorbike brand is now a luxury apparel handling the biggest names in fashion, peddling dreams to people, nay, to the masses.

What unfortunate detour hit upon Deus Ex Machina’s journey is the oft-repeated history of artists and craftsmen. When business enters the showroom door, art slowly dims its fiery flames. Bills pile up and the remaining flicker of creativity dies in the grabby grip of ambitious vendors.
 

You may paint the town red with passion, receive the love of a million strangers, yet be the loneliest man on the planet when your bank statement comes through the mail.
 
To rephrase an epic novel’s opening lines, “Every creditor is ridden with similar recovery problems, each artist is bankrupt in unique, often peculiar ways.”

An ‘anna’ for your thoughts! Whether you ‘Gogh’ and cut off your ear or not, its best to have a savvy business partner before you pursue the ‘business of creativity’.
 
 

Timeline of all that kickstarts….

2006: Dare Jennings founded Deus Ex Machina with the money raised by selling his surfwear brand ‘Manbo’. Lifestyle and culture inspired the art & design.

First outlet was established in Camperdown in Sydney, Australia. It was a coalescence of machined custom motorcycle parts and bespoke bikes. A former factory building, became ‘Temple of Enthusiasm’. This was their concept of a cultural sanctuary. It was to enable a spirit of freethinking and innovation as workshops, artists, independent designers merged alongside offerings of food and drink. Voila, the first store was created successfully.
 
 

Jennings and co-creator Carby Tuckwell (ex-Creative Director of Moondesign) began on an uncharted territory blazing a new trail, heading onto unknown tides. A new fashion identity that became popular worldwide.

They always said that they biked to the beach every day, so the mashup of motorcycles and surf was the soul of Deus. The nucleus around which machine and art spun a fantastic design across the industry.
 
 

Pen-peddling authors such as myself know the literary device called ‘Deus Ex Machina’. It is oft-used in desperation to break out of the corner one has written themselves into.

For example, a spy is bound to an atom bomb; there is nothing that can save the world from the mad scientist now. Yet, suddenly, a rat crawls out of a crevice, smells the caviar spilled on the sleeves of the alcoholic spy. As the starving rat chews the sleeves, he chews by chance, the red wiring of the bomb, thus deactivating the bomb. Soon enough, the spy has the time to unbound himself and jump the bad guy who attempts an escape on a spaceship.
 
 

Thus, any unexpected power or event or ‘agent’ saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel is termed ‘Deus Ex Machina’.

Irony of the whole thing is, the founder/s of this brand themselves had driven themselves into a corner where no ‘device’ they could design would save their world of beautiful soulful art & craft.

 
2007: After a successful launch, they connected with similar riding grounds at locations such as Ibiza to LA, Milan to Biarritz. All the leisure and play there makes Deus’ art a bright star.

A culture was now available with genuine label price tags around the globe. Fashion range of bikes and minimal clothing lines was expanded to include variations such as boardshorts, bike jackets, wetsuits and casual wear.

The world’s wallet is your oyster!
 
 

2010: ‘Bike Buildoff’ was launched after Dues was firmly established. It showcased non-professional motorcycle enthusiasts and their creations. Its fashion empire enrolled many more footfalls. The annual bike building challenge grew to involve many more locations with the competition increasing and increment in number of new store outlets.

2012: Deus Ex Machina comes to USA biting into the Big Apple. Its New York stay expands to LA, near famed Venice Beach.

‘X Reigning Champ Collection’ was launched this year.
 
 
2013: Deus creates a menu of multiple footwear offerings to keep in pace with specific needs product demand from motorcyclists. One such was made from rough-out buffalo hide with a Goodyear welted sole. That would chew some serious ground among existing customers and many new ones.
 
 

2014: A store opens in Milan for promoting bicycles in ‘gear’ with De Marchi who are known as the world’s oldest cyclewear company. Another store props up in Tokyo with unique custom motorcycles and of course the clothing and many other collaborations.

2015: Custom cafe racers are offered, a fast-paced move that may lead to abrupt brakes on festivities. Form and function of the customized German BMW R100 marks a happy checkered flag in the press.

An introduction of sunglasses with California-surfer styling ‘glares’ into the sea of fans.
 
 

2016: ‘MA-1 Flight Jacket’, an original American Navy & Airforce bomber jacket drapes the canopy as Deus teams up with Alpha who had been making military jackets for over 50 years.

Jeremy Tagand, in charge of custom build of Deus, starts a unique project to create ‘The Onyx.’ Its the oft-mentioned motorcycle with a surfboard attached to the side.
 
 

2017: In ten years, this shooting star, the fast moving, brightly burning, prodigious comet called Deus Ex Machina changes its leadership. Dare Jennings sold his stake in Deus. This tumultuous event is barely mentioned in business news, as if the hushed change of hands at Deus was indeed concealing a big deal.

Would it matter if the man behind the Machina was no longer envisioning the creations that made it a worldwide fad?
 
 

Federico Minoli is revealed as CEO. A new ‘Zeus of the Deus Machina’ He has been chief of Italian motorcycle maker, Ducatti in the past, and also had been at the head of fashion houses Bally, Benetton and Woolrich, Minoli in his career.

(As an aside, kind of explains the Puma boss getting the top job at Harley-Davidson? Its the brand that needs milking, the motorcycles will sell themselves! Also, just like Deus, many H-D showrooms stay afloat solely based on sales of branded apparels and trinkets.)
 
 

2019: Deus is now in South Africa as well.

2020: Deus bespoke motorcycles are part of collections by legends such as Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Hollywood hero Ryan Reynolds.
 
 

2021: Why not South America? Brazil store is size of a mansion, one of their largest flagship outlets to date. This Sao Paulo location is appropriately branded  ‘Mansion of Munificence.’ The floor space includes entertainment.

Once old school surf & wheels enthusiasts admired vintage bikes in the original showroom as Jennings and Tuckwell planned their next project. Suddenly, in just a decade, it was replaced with kids who had barely got a license to ride, or knew which side is up on a surfboard (and panicked at the sight of grease stains underneath their fingernails).
 
 

No more everyday surfers laying bare their ideas on pristine beaches. Deus was riding a new trend with its past identity washed away in waves of wealth. The Latin phrase, which is their brand name, literally translates into ‘god from the machine’ – and the new ownership is indeed exercising all its mighty powers to get past the construction phase, so as to enjoy sales operations instead.
 
 

WHAT COULD HAVE GONE WRONG

Even LA Times carried the news with the headline, in 2015, well before the exit of Dare Jennings.

“Deus Ex Machina makes high-end motorcycles and loses money on each one”

“That’s why we make clothing,” said Deus founder and owner Dare Jennings in that news report. “Otherwise, we’d go broke.”

How could this be true? Why would one of the most successful and iconic custom motorcycle brand of the 21st century lose thousands of dollars on every bike they sell?
 
 

Top-end Harley-Davidson motorcycles, without customization cost $40,000. Bikernet.com sponsor, the truly unique ARCH Motorcycle, had its very first bike priced at $78,000. They are more than cool, not dependent on brand-image for a sale. ARCH motorcycles are one-of-a-kind and their 2022 model-1s retails at $128,000.

Sometimes art can cost more than sweat and blood though. This was certainly true for the founders of Deus Ex Machina. Their customers didn’t sweat at the great deal they got, while all the time, they were bleeding the brand dry.

To give you their secret for losing money, they earned pennies per hour they spent building a magnificent custom motorcycle.

Yes! That much hated subject of minimum wage! Considering man-hours per dollar on every bike project.

Consider this: craftsman Michael Woolaway who hand-hammered unique motorcycles for some of the biggest celebrities at the Venice store of Deus did not get much out of his efforts. He could, at the most, make five unique motorcycles a year, while spending, for example, hundreds of hours on crafting only the gas tank.
 
 

INSPIRATION:

“The worst thing you can do is go to another country and do what they’re doing already, because they’ll laugh at you.” ~ Dare Jennings

“If you don’t take that risk then you’ll just end up with something that’s the same. Take the risk, you have to take the risk, and back yourself.” ~ Dare Jennings

READY REFERENCE:

When it began: in 2006 in Sydney, Australia

Founding members: Carby Tuckwell and Dare Jennings

Purpose: Carby and Dare founded Deus ex Machina not specifically for selling custom parts and hand-build motorcycles, but to celebrate a culture of creativity.
 
 

Key accomplishments: Dare Jennings attracted the attention of LVMH, taking Deus ex Machina to the world.
 

(you grubby greasy bikers, refer: “LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LVMH, is a French holding multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods, headquartered in Paris.”)

Current boss: Federico Minoli, CEO

Company vision: Core values are inclusiveness, authenticity, enthusiasm

Staff strength: The estimated number of employees is 75

Estimated Revenue: annual revenue $13 million in 2021
 
 

HQ: Company headquarters is located at 98-104 Parramatta Rd Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia

Products: Specializes in lifestlye products, custom motorcycles and clothing (mostly just clothing now)

Website: https://us.deuscustoms.com

It’s when you really enjoy your work that such great things materialize. If you get into something only to make money, it will lead to misery and degradation of your talents.

Life journeys from ability to stability to decay. But it’s still fun, if you can create. Imagine. Simply dream. Cheers to all creators everywhere. So go out and kick-start your life!
 
 
Read More

SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 24, 2022

 
Hey,

It’s Thanksgiving again and wow, what a year. It’s hard to give thanks to our politicians, but there’s always family and friends.
 
I want to give thanks to all the riders all over the country who come to Bikernet. I want to give thanks to all the brothers and sisters who help contribute or help with the production and content in Bikernet. We have almost 27 years of content built into one stinking website. 
 
I want to give thanks to all the girls I’ve loved before, and my family who seem to have found their creative path to success and happiness in a troubled world. 
 
The human spirit is amazing. We can find happiness, peace and Nirvana under any conditions. Check this quote below. Did you know the British began control of India in 1757 and took complete control from the people of India in 1858 until 1947. Incredible. 
 
Quote from a movie about the British conflict in India:
 
The Spirit that fights for freedom never dies.
Give thanks to everything including metalflake paint and flames…
 
Let’s hit the news:
 
 
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. 
 
 
 
 
THE GREATEST RACE IS BACK–That’s right, the greatest race on earth is back for 2023!! 
 
When: Friday, February 17th, 2023
Where: The Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee Wi
 
Come experience a family-friendly event – all ages are welcome.
250 motorcycle racers from all over the world will put on a show for you on an indoor flat track racing on Dr. Pepper-soaked concrete floor!!
 
Mark your calendars and don’t miss us this year.
 
 
 
SUPPORT GOOD TIMES NEWS

SGT Here For A Good Time, Not A Long Time T-shirt. Available worldwide. SUPPORTGOODTIMES.COM

 
 
 
 
NEWS DIRECTLY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE–White House proposes blocking sunlight to fight global warming
 
The White House recently announced that it was funding a five-year research plan for a controversial proposal to fight climate change by geoengineering — i.e., technologies and processes that can be used to artificially modify the Earth’s climate.
 
This research would be dedicated specifically to a form of geoengineering known as “solar radiation management,” which involves spraying fine aerosols into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight away from the Earth.  The hope is that, once the sunlight is reflected, less heat will be generated, and ergo temperatures will go down.  Presto: actual anthropogenic climate change!  A global SPF 100, as it were!
 
The research reportedly will attempt to model how solar radiation management might impact the atmosphere, as well as assess its viability as a potential technique to be employed to “manage near-term climate risk.”
 
They’re hoping to fight the scourge of climate change by blindly trying to change the climate?  What is it with Democrats?  They’re also fighting racism with racial quotas and making race the primary consideration in, well, everything.  That’s working well, isn’t it?  Next, they’ll propose fighting drug abuse by giving out free needles and crack pipes.  Oh wait, they’re already doing that.  Why haven’t they yet suggested we combat STDs by having indiscriminate sex with as many other people as possible?
 
Now they’re going to “cancel” the sun, without which life on Earth would be impossible?  What could go wrong?!
 
See more at wearetopple.com
 
 
“Arm yourself with the facts. Order this book quick.”
–Bandit
 
 
 
AND THERE’S MORE–With the movement towards a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030, many companies are being mindful of CO2 emissions.
 
That’s one reason why UK modelmaker Evie Bee turned to Garnica when creating The ElectraPly, an environment-friendly e-bike made from sustainable plywood. Evie Bee specializes in traditional woodworking and was inspired by the iconic Yamaha SR250, a scrambler bike (a lightweight bike specially designed for off-road motorcycling) when designing her modern rendition.
 
She wanted to construct a version as close to the look of the Yamaha as possible while being mindful of the environment. With raw materials sourced from Garnica, a leader in sustainable plantation-grown plywood from Europe, The ElectraPly was created. Garnica’s poplar plywood is an ideal choice for any transportation designs and builds as it is cost-effective and lightweight with superior strength.
 
If you think a bike created out of sustainable plywood is flimsy, think again! Get ready to see The ElectraPly in action roads near you.
 
Why sustainable plywood is ideal for any design application, including transportation.
The strength and durability of sustainable plywood.
 
Multi-purpose plywood designs that are both eco-friendly and cost-efficient.
Zenergy Communications
 
 
 
 
VINTAGE SALE OF THE WEEK–

36-Years-Owned 1955 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra Glide

 
This 1955 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra Glide was acquired by actor Dan Aykroyd in 1984 and was gifted in January 1986 to its current owner, award-winning composer Howard Shore, in appreciation for his suggestion to Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi to name themselves “The Blues Brothers.” 
 
The bike is powered by a 74ci Panhead V-twin paired with a hand-shifted four-speed transmission and is finished in blue and cream.
 
 
Features include a sprung solo saddle, a Hydra Glide fork, 16″ wire-spoke wheels, engine and rear guards, valanced fenders, rubber-lined footboards, a dual chrome exhaust system, and both rear and side stands. The bike has remained on display during Shore’s ownership and recommissioning work in preparation for the sale reportedly included draining the fuel system, changing the oil, and replacing the spark plugs, fuel lines, air filter, and ignition points. This FL Panhead is offered by the seller on behalf of its current owner with transferable New York registration in the owner’s name.
 
The fuel tank and valanced fenders are finished in blue and cream paint over a black rigid frame. Brightwork includes chrome side panels, engine and rear guards, front fender trim, and the headdress. 
 
Additional equipment includes a headlight, a taillight, passing lamps, rider footboards, both rear and side stands, and a sprung Buddy Seat with a chrome handrail. Corrosion is noted on the hardware as are chips and fading in the paint and pitting on the brightwork. Photos of paint depth readings are provided in the gallery.
 
See more at Bringatrailer.com
 
 
 
FOR VETERANS THIS JUST IN–On October 17, the president signed into law S. 1198, the Solid Start Act (Public Law 117-205), which permanently authorizes and expands the Solid Start program, a VA outreach program for veterans in their first year of separation from the military. The law specifically requires the VA to coordinate with the Department of Defense to prioritize outreach to veterans who have accessed mental health resources prior to separation from the Armed Forces.
 
Transitioning from the military to civilian life can be stressful and navigating the VA health care and benefits systems can be difficult. The Solid Start program has proven to be effective in assisting those separating from service and providing valuable outreach. In fiscal year 2021, the VA’s Solid Start reached out to over 32,000 veterans who had mental health treatment prior to separation and successfully contacted over 24,000 transitioning service members.
 
DAV provided testimony and support for this legislation in accordance with 2021-2022 DAV Res. No. 128, which calls on Congress to monitor and improve services for transitioning service members. To view the Solid Start Act (P.L. 117-205), click here.
 
 
 
 
LAST SPORTSTER EVER BUILT BY THE FACTORY

And there it is… the last air-cooled sportster that will ever roll out of the H-D assembly plant. Signed by all the factory workers that helped build it.

The last Evolution-powered Sportster model rolled off the production line on October 14. 
  
 
In nearly four decades, 1.4 million Sportsters powered by the Evolution engine were produced, ridden, wrenched on, and raced by owners and enthusiasts around the world. 
  
With an exceptional riding experience, technical features, and continuing the tradition of customization and personalization, the Revolution Max powered Sportster S and Nightster return the Sportster platform to its sport roots with innovation and thrilling performance – with more yet to come. 
 
 –Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™
 
 
 
JUST ONE OF WIMMER OIL COOLERS— 10-Inch Single Tube
 
Wimmer Custom Cycle’s Single Tube Billet Oil Cooler offers a practical and attractive solution for maintaining both engine life and performance. The unique design offers sixty square inches of surface area which allows the deep grooved heat sinks to dissipate maximum heat. 
 
Inside the oil cooler features an internal baffle which provides even oil circulation throughout allowing the entire oil cooler to be utilized. 
 
Each oil cooler is provided with standard 3/8” ID oil line fittings, one straight and one 90 degree fitting. Pair of double pinch frame clamps allows for secure mounting to the front down tube and are available in various sizes ranging from one inch all the way up to and including two inches. 
 
The single tube billet oil coolers are available in four different finishes: show chrome, show polish, black with polished fins, or all black. Great looks with superior performance will keep your motorcycle running cool!
 
To learn more send us a message, or call us at (866) HOT CYCLE.
 
 
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM WINDVEST–We want to take a special moment to let you know how thankful we are for having you as a customer and friend.
 
–Tami
WindVest
 
 
 
 
 
NEWS FROM THE LICHTER FOUNDATION—Mike and his son Shawn covered the Lone Star Rally recently. Mike said the above shot was one of those perfect happenstance occurrences. Amazing.
 
 
His son is shooting more and more and this was an excellent riding shot. 
 
 
Mike also caught my granddaughter at Born Free Texas recently. He’s constantly on the go and so is she. He said he has a golf cart shot of me from the Smoke Out about 15 years ago.
 
–Bandit
 
 
 
JACK DANIELS WHISKEY DISPUTE–I am a Jack Daniels Drinker and would like to know what you think about this court case. Justices asked to hear Jack Daniel’s dog toy dispute
 
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON – The company that makes Jack Daniel’s whiskey is howling mad over a squeaking dog toy that parodies the company’s signature bottle. The liquor company has asked the Supreme Court to hear its case against the manufacturer of the plastic Bad Spaniels toy. 
 
The high court could say as soon as Monday whether the justices will agree. A number of major companies, from the makers of Campbell Soup to outdoor brand Patagonia and jeans maker Levi Strauss, have urged the justices to take what they say is an important case for trademark law.
 
The toy at the center of the case mimics the square shape of Jack Daniel’s whiskey bottle as well as its black-and-white label and amber-colored liquor while adding what it calls ‘poop humor.’ 
 
While the original bottle has the words ‘Old No. 7 brand’ and ‘Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey,’ the parody proclaims: ‘The Old No. 2 on Your Tennessee Carpet.’ Instead of the original’s note that it is 40% alcohol by volume, the parody says it’s ‘43% Poo by Vol.’ and ‘100% Smelly.’
 
The back of the toy, which retails for about $13 to $20, says in small font ‘this product is not affiliated with Jack Daniel Distillery.’
 
The toy’s maker says Jack Daniel’s can’t take a joke. ‘It is ironic that America’s leading distiller of whiskey both lacks a sense of humor and does not recognize when it – and everyone else – has had enough,’ lawyers for Arizona-based VIP Products wrote the high court. They told the justices that Jack Daniel’s has ‘waged war’ against the company for ‘having the temerity to produce a pun-filled parody’ of its bottle.
 
But Jack Daniel’s lead attorney, Lisa Blatt, made no bones about the company’s position in her filing.
 
‘To be sure, everyone likes a good joke. But VIP’s profit-motivated ‘joke’ confuses consumers by taking advantage of Jack Daniel’s hard-earned goodwill,’ she wrote for the Louisville, Kentucky-based Brown-Forman Corp., Jack Daniel’s parent company.
 
Blatt wrote that a lower court decision provides ‘near-blanket protection’ to humorous trademark infringement. And she said it has ‘broad and dangerous consequences,’ pointing to children who were hospitalized after eating marijuana-infused products that mimicked candy packaging.
 
The toy is part of a line of VIP Products called Silly Squeakers that mimic liquor, beer, wine and soda bottles.
 
The case is Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc. v. VIP Products LLC, 22-148.
 
Here are the comments so far:
 
John Blaze Erlandson
Like Harley suing people for using the “bar and shield”
 
Don Arrigo
Companies spend a lot of money branding and marketing their products! They have every right to protect what is theirs!
 
Don Jones
Agree or disagree… that’s a fact. Years ago Disney forced many businesses in Florida to remove trademark likenesses… same grounds. Your business can be severely damaged by no cause or association with a business due to perception of its trademark display as deemed association by a consumer.
 
Michael Hupy
The more times people see the toy the more they are reminded of Jack Daniels. Free advertising
 
–from Rogue
 
 
 
 
 
TEXAS WEATHER REPORT–She’s not even warmed up. Been trying to fire her since last week, a few quirks along the way.  Whether one believes the story of my girls or not, they are amazing mechanics!  
 
They began pushing me two weekends ago on Friday night. I’m telling them the stuff I need to pick up the next morning like lower pushrod O-rings to at least get them adjusted, and then I mentioned intake and I’m reminded to look in the giant orange Snap-On top box marked “Intake”.  
 
 
Thought I had put everything in the black cart when I began the back-together process.  Anyway, there’s also two S&S intake O-rings, but no new rebuild kit. So I asked them, “We gonna try the carb that’s sat since 2020 and see what happens?”  They pointed out what was wrong this last Saturday night, why it wouldn’t not fire off.  I checked the schematic Sunday morning after church, removed the wire in question and she fired right off like she normally does!
 
I let it cool, rolled it outside to start her again!  She set off the carbon monoxide detector in the garage, being chocked as she was initially.  Greg at MC keeps telling me, “It’s my bike now.” She will eventually get the kicker put on and maybe a jockey shift? Never seen a picture yet of one on a FLH with the starter.
 
I’ll have to send you the Tale of Two Sets of Heads, she runs S&S now. 
 
–RFR
 
 
 
 
SONG OF THE WEEK–
Oil of Love
By K. Randall “Bandit” Ball
 
Googy shit
But what a hit
Came from the earth 
And warmed the hearth
We never knew 
The value of goo
 
Oil of Love
Oil of Love
Is it the Perfume of Doom
Or will it send me straight to the moon
 
It warms the poor
And sends me to distant shores
 
It fuels the masses
And cooks the sauces
 
It brought us meds
And foam for beds
 
Oil of Love
Oil of Love
Is it the Perfume of Doom
Or will it send me straight to the moon
 
Is it bad
Or does it make life glad
 
Will they be honest 
Or just want to control us
 
Oil of Love
Oil of Love
Is it the Perfume of Doom
Or will it send me straight to the moon
 
–Bandit
 
 
 
 
SPEAKING OF OIL—Here’s a letter from an AMA member regarding Ethanol, another government scam.
 
Just read the ethanol article in the August issue, and while it contained some informative material, I think it missed some very important data. I spent over 35 years doing business with oil refineries and corn-processing plants, the latter of which produce food products as well as ethanol. 
 
Let’s be clear: ethanol has been subsidized by the government since day one. Any savings as mentioned in the article are more than offset by approximately a 50-cent subsidy by the federal government. 
 
Let’s look at what is required to produce a gallon of ethanol. The corn is planted on a farm field that been prepared by a tractor that runs on diesel. Then the corn is harvested by a combine that also runs on diesel. It’s trucked to a processing plant by a diesel truck and processed using electricity produced in our area by natural gas and coal. 
 
It also takes almost four gallons of water to produce one gallon of ethanol. The amount of energy produced by that gallon of ethanol is almost equal to the amount of energy used to produce it.
 
An oil refinery, on the other hand, simply refines a barrel of energy taken from the ground in raw form. This requires drilling and transporting, but most of the energy for this is produced from that barrel of oil. Much of the energy used in refinery processing comes from the oil as well.
 
Ethanol is nothing more than a water-absorbing additive that pollutes our fuel and causes millions of dollars of damage to internal-combustion engines.
 
When riding around the Great Lakes several years ago, my wife asked why her BMW ST seemed to be running so much better. I told her we’d been using non-ethanol fuel for the last two days… available in Minnesota at nearly every gas station. Since we are from Texas, I thought, “how ironic.”
 
–Tex Welch
Amarillo, Texas
 
 
 
QUOTES FROM CHARLIE CHAN, 1968—If you want wild bird to sing, do not put him in a cage.
 
Cannot see the contents of nut until shell is cracked
 
Inquisitive person, like bear after honey, sometimes finds hornets’ nest.
 
–Warner Bros
 
 
 
BIKE FEATURE OF THE WEEK—A stripped down old school Softail framed Twin Cam chopper by Marcos Vazquez.
 
 
 
 
–from Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™
 
 
 
 
NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT
 
Artist David Uhl – 12 Days of Uhlness – Day 8
Reminder that all of the pieces offered in this promotion are only available through me. If you order on the website, you’ll pay the normal prices.
 
“New Face at the Ace”
** 18 x 24 – normally $1,295, this one is priced at $995
(above) 
 
 
“Pledging Allegiance”
** 18 x 24 – normally $1,850 and Rare, this one is $1,250 with the matching label wine bottle
 
–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
Uhl Studios
 
 
303-913-4840
 
 
 
LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK– 2005 Harley-Davidson FLSTN – Softail Deluxe FOR $12,995.00
 
 
 
2005 Black/White Harley-Davidson DELUXE SOFTAIL FLSTN with only 15063.00 miles!
 
 
This bike is an amazing Softail built with no detail overlooked super clean and some of the features/Add-ons on this bike are:
 
* 88c.i.Motor with a 6-speed trans
* Fat spoke chrome twisted wire wheels
* Chrome Vance & Hines exhaust system
* Chrome engine package
* Chromed out beach bars,switch housings,levers,grips,mirrors,and braided cables
* Chromed out front forks,cans.
* Banana board floorboards
* Twisted chrome shift linkage
* Chrome belt guard and pulley
* This is one of the nicest Softails you’ll ever see built with no detail overlooked
 
 
This bike is only $12,995.00 Plus license, $85.00 documentation fee, and local sales tax.
 
NO HIDDEN FEES like some dealers. And we have no reconditioning or prep fees. This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety/mechanical/structural inspection.This motorcycle has not been refurbished and does not come with any warranty expressed or implied!
 
EXTENDED WARRANTIES are available!
 
Fill out an online application today. We have EZ FINANCING
Lifestyle Cycles is located at 1510 State College Blvd, Anaheim CA 92806. Open 7 days a week.
 
NOT LOCAL? WE HAVE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! Call today (714) 490-0155.
We carry Street Glides, Road Glides, Road Kings, Ultras, Sportsters, Softails, Dynas, and much more!
 
We are California’s pre-owned Harley Mega-Store with over 200 Pre-Owned Harley-Davidsons in stock!
 
 
 
 
MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE OF THE WEEK—FA/22
$16.95
 
SPIRIT OF THE WEST
 
Somewhere beyond the maze of concrete and steel, far away from the sad rat race of the world, there’s a place where the sun goes to rest, and new dreams come to life under a blanket of stars. Where rugged mountains and bottomless canyons dance across the wide-open plains, and wild souls can escape the madness to find hope in an endless horizon. A place where the cowboy spirit was born, strong and independent. Lonesome but never lonely.
 
Wild and free like a horse that could never be tamed.
 
 
 
RAFFLE NEWS FROM THE WHEELS THROUGH TIME MUSEUM
 
We’re proud to announce that Ed Shequen, from Motley, Minnesota, is the lucky winner of our 2022 Annual Raffle! Ed has visited the museum twice and purchased his winning ticket online after a visit to the museum in May of this year! Ed was ecstatic when Matt called to say he won and said “the 37’ is going to look great next to his ’59”.
 
Second prize went to Richard Cooper of Quinton, Alabama, and third prize went to Randy Farabee of Gilbert, Arizona!
 
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s raffle and have helped to keep us “The Museum That Runs!” 
 
Among the festivities on Raffle Day, Matt unveiled the raffle bike for 2023, another 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, but this one is in a hot-rod bobber style and dressed in HD custom Silver, striped in Black, and edged in Gold, with bobbed fenders, and Flanders accessory risers and bars, sporting an authentic period-modified look and feel.
 
We are now closed for the 2022 season, and will re-open April 6th for the 2023 season.
 
The good news? You can follow along all winter long to see the newest projects hitting the Wheels Through Time Museum on our Facebook and YouTube!
 
 
 
 
[page break]
 
 
THE OLD INSPIRING MOVIE REVIEW–
 
I was getting rid of old VCDs and came across a movie so apt in describing chance opportunities of meeting someone that changes your life’s goals.
 
It’s about a colored student with a talent for writing and he comes across the friendship of a famous veteran writer played by Sir Sean Connery.
 
It reminded me of reading Bikernet fiction back in 2004 and attempting my first fictional work – then sending it to you.
 
Movie name is “Finding Forrester.” 
 
It was directed by the director of “Good Will Hunting” — but hey, we don’t need those Ivy League degrees to relate to the concept of “mentorship” and friendship across backgrounds and age groups.
 
There is no such thing as a barnyard sale or pawn shop for old VCDs, CDs and DVDs here.
 
I even tried giving these away for Free, but no one wants them. Plastic, so no value to local scrap dealers as well. I had all the James Bond movies up to Pierce Brosnan (except Brosnan’s last Bond movie). 
 
Anyways, these are all “edited” by the Censor Board. So, some movies may not be in their entirety due to graphic nudity and/or violence.
 
Attached image, Zoom in. Loved Castle TV series. Loved the same actor in Firefly TV show as well — abruptly cancelled despite brilliant first season. Firefly was basically the Old West set in futuristic space travel. Imagine cowboys, gunmen, outlaws, Sheriff in future when humans are new to space-age just as they were new to North America !!! Idiots and accountants canned that awesome show.
 
–Ujjwal Dey
Theatric Consultant
Bikernet International Affairs
 
 
 
 
NEWEST BIKERNET READER COMMENT–THINK TANK BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 17, 2022
 
 
If this Iron Order club isn’t for you, who cares? Is there some rule that all motorcycle clubs must all be criminal organizations?
 
— Jim
Bremerton, WA
 
“Well There Is Certainly Plenty Of People In Law Enforcement and Politics That Break More Laws Than Club Members, Even 1%ers”
–Rogue
Palm Bay, FL
 
 
 
 
QUICK, OPEN THE CLIMATE DOOM INVESTIGATION–Trudeau’s ‘Climate Emergency’ Claims Refuted by Data
 
Engineer Ron Barmby, author of Sunlight on Climate Change: A Heretic’s Guide to Global Climate Hysteria, says Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should rescind his June 2019 declaration of a National Climate Emergency in support of the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
 
Barmby notes mounting evidence refutes the claim climate change is causing an increase in the severity or number of extreme weather events and that temperatures are not rising as fast as projected.
 
Citing a recent paper by Italian physicist Gianluca Alimonti and others, “A critical assessment of extreme events trends in times of global warming,” in The European Physical Journal Plus, Barmby notes Alimonti found “…on the basis of observational data, the climate crisis that, according to many sources, we are experiencing today, is not evident yet” (emphasis by Barmby).
 
Barmby cites several conclusions of the journal article, including the following, in his words:
 
“Hurricanes: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has stated ‘… it is premature to conclude … human activities have had a detectable impact on Atlantic basin hurricane activity.’ … “Tornadoes: The authors conclude ‘… strong to violent tornadoes … show no increase over time.’ …
 
“Floods and Droughts: This increase in global precipitation ‘… does not translate into an increase in intensity or frequency of floods.’ Additionally, ‘… there is no evidence that the areas affected by the different types of drought are increasing.’”
 
Because extreme weather events aren’t worsening, much less an existential threat to humanity, Trudeau’s only remaining argument for declaring a climate emergency is a rising average global temperature, which available data shows to be an even more tenuous argument, Barmby argues.
 
The United States Climate Reference Network, established in 2005 to provide continental U.S. temperature data “using state-of-the-art triple redundant instruments in pristine locations unaffected by human activities,” has recorded no warming trend since the system was established 18 years ago, Barmby reminds those interested in facts. In addition, satellite data shows temperatures are no higher now than they were at their modern peak in 1998, and since 1979 they display only a 0.11℃ warming per decade, which is less than what the climate models have predicted and certainly not an emergency.
 
“In aggregate, this would suggest that in an open and fair scientific inquiry, Mr. Trudeau would be hard-pressed to defend a claim of a current climate emergency,” concludes Barmby. “It’s time to have a rational, dispassionate, and independent review of Canada’s climate emergency declaration. Canadians have a right to know the science.”
 
SOURCE: Climate Change Dispatch
 
 
 
BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT–NSSF Sues Delaware, New Jersey Over ‘Public Nuisance’ Laws Intended to Bankrupt Gun Makers
 
One of the great frustrations of the Gun Control Industry is its general inability to get around the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. That’s the law that protects gun manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits when firearms they legally build and sell are used in the commission of a crime.
 
The PLCAA keeps gun makers and sellers in business. Without it, the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex, using its own attorneys and those in the tort business, would sue them into bankruptcy while people like the President and like-minded politicians cheer them on.
 
Because of the PLCAA’s robustness, enemies of the right to keep and bear arms seeking to wage lawfare against gun makers have been forced to take other tacks in their efforts to get at them, using other legal angles of attack. One of the most prominent ploys is “public nuisance” laws that claim the criminal misuse of gun makers’ products presents a hazard to society…one that firearms manufacturers are somehow liable for.
 
Two of the most recent states to enact such laws are Grampy Joe’s home state of Delaware and the state that takes unending pride in its never-ending push to further limit Second Amendment rights, New Jersey. Yesterday, the National Shooting Sports Foundation sued both states, challenging their public nuisance laws as transparent violations of the PLCAA.
 
 
Here’s the NSSF’s press release announcing the suits . . .
 
NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, filed suits against the attorneys general of Delaware and New Jersey, challenging recently-enacted “public nuisance” laws in both states that are “specifically designed to evade the judgment of Congress – and the Constitution.”
 
Both Delaware and New Jersey enacted public nuisance laws allowing the state and private parties to sue firearm manufacturers for the harm caused by the criminal misuse of lawfully sold firearms. In 2005, Congress barred these sorts of baseless lawsuits when it passed the bipartisan Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Delaware and New Jersey’s laws are preempted by the PLCAA under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
 
Public nuisance lawsuits brought by municipalities against members of the firearm industry arose in the late 1990s and early 2000s to “regulate through litigation.” None of those dozens of lawsuits, including those by Wilmington, Del., and Newark, Camden County and the City of Camden, N.J., were successful. These municipal lawsuits intended to bankrupt the industry members or, through the massive cost of litigation, force them to accept settlement agreements that contained gun control provisions rejected by Congress and not supported by the American public. Delaware and New Jersey’s new laws are a blatant and unconstitutional attempt to return to an era of “regulation through litigation.”
 
“These laws enacted by the Delaware and New Jersey flout the will of Congress and undermine the U.S. Constitution,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “These state laws are at odds with bedrock principles of American law, which does not hold manufacturers and sellers legally responsible for the actions of criminals and remote third parties over whom the manufacturer and seller have no control when they misuse lawfully sold products.”
 
Delaware and New Jersey’s laws also violate the First Amendment, Second Amendment, Due Process Clause and Commerce Clause. These laws would impose liability on industry members for firearms lawfully sold in other states that later find their way into Delaware or New Jersey through the independent actions of remote third parties and criminals.
 
These laws are in violation of the PLCAA, the bipartisan law Congress intended to stop these frivolous claims. Its constitutionality has been upheld by every appellate court in the nation to consider the issue.
 
The PLCAA simply codified black letter law. The PLCAA keeps activist lawyers from placing the blame on members of the firearm industry for the criminal misuse of legal firearms lawfully manufactured and sold. No other industry in America had been targeted by such baseless, politically motivated lawsuits.
 
NSSF is also filing motions for preliminary injunction to stop the states from enforcing these laws.
 
–By Dan Zimmerman
Truth About Guns
 
 
 
STOCK FXR FOR SALE– I’ve got an opportunity to buy a BMW bike from my buddy’s widow. He is the guy I did a 6000-mile trip with in 2020. So, I’ve decided to sell my 1985 FXR with only 10,000 miles on it. 
 
I bought it a couple years ago. It is pretty stock except for black seat and S&S carb. Fires right up and runs well. 
 
–Paul Aiken
Channel Sales Manager
704-237-0016 direct cell
 
PS. I think ya’ll need some snow tires out there on the  Redhead’s ride!
 
You’re right, they are ordered! –Bandit
 
 
 
A BROTHERHOOD AGAINST TOTALITARIAN ENACTMENTS REPORT–
 
As summer turns to fall, the cool evenings and cold mornings remind us that riding season, while not over just yet, is again coming to an end. This time of year, with the trees turning color and the air getting a bite to it always makes me want to get one more ride in, even if it’s just for an hour or so on the roads close to home. 
 
Years ago, my partners and I felt obligated to go for at least one ride a month even in January and February if the thermometer wasn’t supposed to get too far down below freezing. We had some great times doing those winter rides, usually stopping somewhere along the way for lunch to warm up, and then making it home before the sun went down. 
 
Even at that, we got caught in a freak snowstorm or two when the day started out nice and then Old Man Winter reared his head without warning. I must admit I’m a lot less likely these days to get the bike out on those cold days. 
 
Just another reminder that things do change. With that in mind, while some things have changed over the years, governmental overreach has not.
 
At this year’s Meeting of the Minds in Des Moines, we spent a lot of time talking about the challenges facing motorcycling in 2022. MRF President Kirk ‘Hardtail’ Willard gave an excellent presentation on the advent of electric vehicles. While we all realize that electric cars and motorcycles are coming in a big way that doesn’t mean there aren’t battles yet to be fought and won. 
 
California, New York, and other states are already well on their way to forcing internal combustion engines off the road in favor of an all-electric future. In the minds of some, the best way to get the driving and riding public to go electric is to force the question, as California is doing. They also want to eliminate gas powered engines on our lakes and in our backyards.
 
I have nothing against electric motorcycles. I haven’t ridden one yet, but they look like big fun, torquey and fast. What I do have a problem with is seeing my internal combustion bikes being forced off the road by a government hell-bent on deciding what’s best for me and other riders.
 
I’ve read estimates that several trillion dollars – that’s trillion, not billion – will be required to build an infrastructure capable of supporting an all-electric vehicle population.
 
The US national debt currently stands at over $31 trillion and is growing exponentially, yet government’s solution to the all-electric future they seek is simply to print more money, further devaluing our currency and putting our children’s and grandchildren’s future even furtherat risk. 
 
When the motorcyclists’ rights movement was getting started, people like Keith Ball and Lou Kimzey at Easyriders Magazine came up with the acronym of ABATE, which stood for A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments. Some of our SMROs still use that definition. 
 
I don’t doubt that a time will come when internal combustion engines will be anything but the norm but let that happen when we are ready to support such a future, not now with so many questions yet to be answered.
 
I might not be taking those cold winter day rides as much as I used to, but there are still people in this world, many of them in our state and federal governments, whose mindset hasn’t changed. They still want to force their personal agendas on the rest of us.
 
Totalitarianism marches on.
 
–Mark Buckner
Executive Director
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
 
 
 
 
TRIKE OF THE WEEK—
 
–Sam Burns
Trike Editor
Bikernet.com™
 
 
 
JUST IN FROM 1975–

Everts’ 1975 Puch was a spectacular machine. The 70mm x 64mm engine was cutting edge, with magnesium cases and twin 32mm Bing carbs (one in the traditional piston port position and the second carb feeding a rotary valve in the cases). Not only was the engine magnesium, but so were the hubs and Marzocchi forks.

 
 
Austrian moped manufacturer Puch entered the 250 World Championship with a totally unique take on the piston-port/rotary-valve conundrum. The MC250 featured two 32mm Bing carbs—one feeding the back of the cylinder and the other through a rotary valve.
Puch hired Belgian motocross rider Harry Everts to race the 1974 250 World Championships on a new machine. Everts finished third in Puch’s first year, and the factory responded with a much-improved machine for 1975. Everts then promptly rewarded Puch with its first World Championship in motocross. 
 
It was no small feat for a new company to win the 250 World Championship in its second year of competition.
 
–Sam Burns
Motorcycle Historian
Bikernet.com™
 
 
 
 
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–Bandit’s Cantina Episode 100
I hope Joey sees the light and the error of his ways. Ya can’t ride a Sporty and be a greenie at the same time.
 
— Rhys
S. Daytona, FL
 
 
 
NEWS FROM EUROPE–Motorcycling Must Be Affordable To Prevent Transport Poverty
 
Authorities should not limit motorcycling by taxing them as much as cars or by restricting access to certain roads and cities. Motorcycles should be treated as a solution for urban congestion and as the affordable alternative for driving a car, public transport and cycling.
 
Everybody who visited a car dealer recently, or who had a look at the pricing list of new or used cars must have noticed: cars are getting expensive and small cars are also getting scarce. Cars are getting more expensive, larger, and heavier. 
 
We also pay a lot more for petrol, diesel, parking and taxes than we did only a few years ago. The result is that soon people will abandon the car because they cannot afford to own one anymore.
 
Despite promises from policy makers and tax incentives in many countries, electric cars may be cheaper to run, they are still very expensive to buy.
 
‘To fulfil the task of providing transport to the masses, motorcycling must be affordable.’
S&P Global Mobility reported on 31 October 2022 that the price of lithium, a major component of batteries, has increased sevenfold. It also reports that mining and refining it is mainly done by Chinese companies. The same is the case with nickel, which will create a large dependency of China. With growing prices for the raw materials that are needed to manufacture the batteries for electric cars it is doubtful that prices will decrease soon. To the contrary, they probably will rise even more.
 
What will happen when people cannot afford their own car anymore? Many will switch to public transport. They will be confronted with several problems. In many countries, public transport has become more expensive during and after the Covid pandemic. Less travellers meant less income, to which the providers reacted with higher fees and a reduction in lines and/or frequency. 
 
Not only it is getting harder to reach your destination with public transport, it has or will be in many places also become (much) more expensive. Many people will not only not be able to afford a car anymore, but also public transport will become (too) expensive for them.
 
There is a name for the situation that citizens are not able to pay for transport. It is called transport poverty. On 27 October 2022, the parliamentary committee on transport and tourism (TRAN) of the European Parliament had a hearing on ‘Preventing Transport Poverty and Increasing Fairness in Mobility’. 
 
A mouthful, but then this is an important topic. Not being able to travel has consequences for work, study, social relations, sport, etcetera. Not being able to travel to work or school means that you are not able to earn your own income or to study for a better job which leads to more poverty.
 
There is nothing new here. We have seen the same in Europe in the decades after the Second World War, when motorcycles were the transport mode for the working people, and we still see it in other parts of the world. In Asia, (light) motorcycles are the most common way of transport. Of course, to fulfill the task of providing transport to the masses, motorcycling must be affordable.
 
Electric mopeds and small motorcycles with an internal combustion engine are still very affordable. Larger motorcycles can be quite expensive and larger electric motorcycles are, just as with cars, even more expensive. Given the current development of prices of raw materials combined with a rapid growing demand from the car industry, it will stay this way for a long time. All the more reason not to focus on battery electric vehicles and abandon the internal combustion engine for motorcycles, but also leave room for alternatives like eFuels.
 
Perhaps more important: Legislators, road authorities, and city councils should not limit motorcycling by taxing them as much as cars or restrict access to certain roads and cities but treat them for what they are: a solution for urban congestion and the affordable alternative for citizens who cannot afford other means of transport and/or for whom public transport and cycling are not the solution for their transportation needs.
 
Written by Dolf Willigers
FEMA
 

 
 
 
NEVER GIVE UP WISDOM QUOTES–
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”  ~  Babe Ruth
 
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”  ~  Mark Twain
 
“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”  ~  Michele Ruiz
 
“Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it. Sauté it. Whatever. MAKE.”  ~  Joss Whedon
 
“Everything you can imagine is real.” ~  Pablo Picasso
 
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”  ~  Eleanor Roosevelt
 
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”  ~  Abraham Lincoln
 
“If we have the attitude that it’s going to be a great day it usually is.”  ~  Catherine Pulsifier
 
“Your passion is waiting for your courage to catch up.”  ~  Isabelle Lafleche
 
“Impossible is just an opinion.” ~ Paulo Coelho
 
“Hold the vision, trust the process.”
 
“People who wonder if the glass is half empty or full miss the point. The glass is refillable.” 
 
–Wayfarer
Editor 
Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page
 
 
 
 
TRAVEL UPDATES–

Balkans, Adriatic and Eastern Europe Motorcycle Tours
­
If you like a combination of amazing ride and excitement of extraordinary and thrilling adventure this is the tour for you. One of the best coastal rides there is, the curves of mystic Balkan mountains of Montenegro and Bosnia, the beauty of unexplored and exciting Albania make our Balkans tour complete adventure. 
 
You will be thrilled and fueled with great and exciting experiences all the way. Of course, not to miss the authenticity of the places we visit, its cuisine marvels and extraordinary, beautiful nature and places we visit along the way. 
 
If you wish to explore more of old Europe, check our Eastern Europe Treasures motorcycle tour and prepare yourself to be amazed by the well known glamour of old Europe and enjoy the well-preserved remains of its royal glory, including truly fascinating architecture, works of art, beautiful nature and authentic local gastronomy.
This is an exciting journey through major Eastern European cities – gorgeous in their beauty and fascinating for their thrilling history. 
 
Ride with us the best of Europe!
 
 
 
 
BECOME A BROTHER IN THE NASH MOTORCYCLE SECRET SOCIETY–

Nash Motorcycle Co. X The C.L. Greye Jewelry Co. Sterling Silver “Eagle Made” Rings 

At Nash Motorcycle Co. we strive to manufacture the highest quality USA made parts and accessories possible! Working with our friend Justin of The C.L. Greye Jewelry Company made perfect sense! Proudly introducing these unique custom crafted, .925 sterling silver rings bearing our new “Eagle Made” design.
 
Two styles to choose from, “chunky” or “slimmer”. Ring sizes – 8 -13. Check our website for more info. Pick one up today!!!!
 
Two styles to choose from.
 
“Chunky” for that heavier, bigger ring feel (shown here) or “Slimmer” (shown bottom of ad) for that slimmer ring fit. Choose one!!!
 
Handcrafted in the U.S.A.
 
All handcrafted, casted, and 100% U.S.A made materials! As it always should be! Buy Now!!!
 
 
 
 
LEGISLATIVE NEWS FROM THE AMA—Newsom nixes California’s Fix to Off-Road Competition
 
The Governor  recently vetoed bipartisan legislation protecting off-highway vehicle competitions on public lands.
 
Lane Filtering Support Revs Up
 
The 2023 legislative year could see a raft of lane-filtering legislation introduced around the country and wherever that happens, rider safety will improve (if filt ering/splitting lanes is handled correctly) and America will move a step or two closer to adopting riding/traffic practices that are standard in many parts of the world.
 
–AMA
 
 
 
JUST UP TWO-BIT ROAD–
Meant to send you my favorite storm aftermath picture.
​Anybody seen my car?
 
–Luke
 
 
 
A NOTE FROM THE PRISM GANG–Happy Thanksgiving
 
Happy Thanksgiving from the Prism Supply crew! Hope y’all have a chance to spend time with those close to you and enjoy some good food.
 
 
 
MAKE IT A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING—Make time for friends and family. This is my second winter in the Black Hills. It’s amazing here, every day.
 
I’m working on finishing the interior of our upper garage and lights over the stream bridge. I still have boxes of art to be displayed in the shop and I want to clean up a couple of benches and repaint them. 
 
I think I will have time for each project, but the weeks blaze past in a fit and frenzy of activity, while the Redhead lays in bed and reads one book after another. 
 
 
I tinkered with the VL, XA, S&S, FL Knucklehead project. A neighbor came over who owns 45 flatheads and helped out. We played with the Evil primary drive, which seems stout. After some discussion we decided to go with mid-controls and started making shit and fitting it up. I’m working with Irish Rich and Randy Cramer on some parts, like a rear fender, knucklehead top motormount and rear fender.
 
 
I turned Mike’s Urn over to Irish Rich for a final details on the top. 
 
 
A Hamster brother Cabana Dan is building a reproduction early flat track racer and was looking for an early v-twin or single. I used this one for a clothes rack. I’ve had it for awhile. As it turns out it’s a ’14 with mixed and missing parts. It didn’t do the trick for Dan, so it’s back to work holding up my pants. I need all the help I can get…
 
 
The snowman came over and crashed out on my deck.
 
 
We are working with Chopper Dave on two cast aluminum point covers. Hang on for more reports.
 
Okay, enjoy the games, family, and take a minute to be thankful for living in the best of times, sorta.
 
Ride fast and free forever,
–Bandit
 
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