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Read More Craft and Punishment
By Wayfarer |
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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Click to Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter from Bikernet Blog for free. Stay updated, stay ahead of the curve.
Engine Guard Foot Pegs for H-D Tourers
By Wayfarer |
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 !!!
Craft and Punishment
By Ujjwal Dey |
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!
SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 24, 2022
By Bandit |
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
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MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE OF THE WEEK—FA/22
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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!
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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.
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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
Spirit of Thanksgiving Bikernet Weekly News for November 24, 2022
By Wayfarer |
Hey,
It’s Thanksgiving again and wow, what a year.
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. 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
CLICK HERE To Read the Most Comprehensive Weekly Motorcycling News only at Bikernet.com
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Know benefits and swag you get from Cantina Membership, Click Here!
Moto X Phenomenon Axell “Slay” Hodges on UNLEASHED Podcast
By Wayfarer |
- Monster Energy’s UNLEASHED Podcast Welcomes Moto X Phenomenon Axell “Slay” Hodges for Episode 45
- Broadcast Live on Twitch, Episode 45 of Sports Podcast Interviews 12-Time X Games Medalist /
- Episode Now Available for Streaming on Major Podcast Platforms Including YouTube and Spotify
CORONA, California – November 22, 2022 – Get inside the mind of the most creative and progressive motocross athlete on the planet! Monster Energy is proud to welcome freestyle motocross innovator and 12-time X Games medalist Axell Hodges from Encinitas, California on Episode 45 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny.
Recorded inside Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California, the special episode was initially broadcast live on the Twitch platform on November 18th. As of today, fans can tune in to the official recording of Episode 45 of UNLEASHED on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
Episode 45 also features special guest Ash “Dirt Shark” Hodges, Axell’s brother and creative collaborator, as well as their father, Phillip Hodges.
In the episode, the 26-year-old athlete shares his creative process behind record-setting jumps and boundary-breaking tricks. “I always snowboarded and skated a bit. I had a lot of friends who skated and were better than me and had good style. I never really had that in skateboarding, so that’s where I kind of wanted to be a skater on my dirt bike and flow and have good style. So, skating and all that helped a lot on how I ride my dirt bike,” said Hodges on UNLEASHED.
Axell Hodges is a motocross rider with no need for introductions. Despite his young age, Hodges already holds twelve X Games medals, including four gold. The prodigy not only dominates competitions such as Best Whip and High Air but raises the bar with innovative freestyle tricks recorded in viral videos. His trilogy of “Slayground” motocross videos has garnered more than 14 million combined views… and counting. In the episode, Hodges dives deep into the high-stakes world of competitive freestyle motocross at the highest level.
Hear “Slay” tell the full story in conversation with the two podcast hosts, Australian action sports personality Luke “The Dingo” Trembath and professional snowboarder Danny Kass on Episode 45 of UNLEASHED. Also joining the interview, acclaimed painter, model, and UFC Octagon girl Brittney Palmer contributes questions and background information to the episode. Tune in right here.
Raised in a motocross family, Hodges discovered dirt bikes at a young age. Initially, the native of Southern California pursued a career as a racer. “I wanted to be a dirt bike racer and thought that was the only way when I was a kid. Like, you gotta race! And I did not want to do freestyle when I was younger.” But ultimately, his freestyle tricks would garner Hodges worldwide attention: “I raced from 14 to 18, and then filmed the first ‘Slayground’ video. That’s when I came out of racing and into more freeriding and social media,” said Hodges.
While also making his mark in motocross competitions such as the X Games, Hodges discovered the power of social media platforms to document his boundary-pushing tricks in his own online videos. “I never thought I would be able to call what I do my job, just post videos, and ride my bike. Just make up stuff on the regular,” said Hodges on UNLEASHED.
Fast-forward to today and the “Slayground” video series – filmed with brother and filmmaker Ash Hodges – has generated over 14 million views on YouTube. “I started the ‘Slayground’ series in 2015 at my parents’ house in Encinitas,” said Hodges. “That was my first video and what I was doing every day. Riding in my backyard and had my brother come film a sick line going through my parents’ house, and that’s where the ‘Slayground’ originated.”
In 2020, Hodges took the dream to the next level by building his own 40-acre “Slayground” facility in Ramona, California, as a place to practice and film the third installment of the video series. “This is what we did through Covid. Bought some property and built and tweaked all the jumps until we got it right then we filmed the video,” said Hodges.
For X Games 2021 and 2022, Hodges opened his legendary “Slayground” compound for competitions across five Moto X competitions as well as BMX Dirt. Aside from hosting the world elite of the sport, Hodges also pocketed one gold and two silver medals at X Games 2022, bringing his total count in the world’s biggest competition to 12 medals.
For his biggest moment of mainstream fame, Hodges attempted to set the long-distance jump record for the Guinness Book in 2019 for the ‘Evel Live 2’ event – hitting the ramp at 106 miles per hour – but suffered a life-threatening crash during practice. “I went 396 feet from ramp to ramp, but the next day I went there and ended up going down around 400 feet. I don’t really know if I hold the record or not. All I know is I went pretty far on my bike, and I’m satisfied with that.”
As his next challenge, Hodges has his eyes on more video projects. “I have a couple of things I want to check off,” the Moto X phenom said on UNLEASHED. But let’s hear it from “Slay” himself! Visit the landing page to access Episode 45 of the UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny Podcast featuring motocross trailblazer Axell Hodges.
Episodes of UNLEASHED are filmed on a special set inside Studio M at Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California. The podcast is hosted by the dynamic duo of Australian action sports personality Luke “The Dingo” Trembath and professional snowboarder Danny Kass. Known for their deep roots in action sports culture, the two starred in the beloved cult TV show ‘The Adventures of Danny and The Dingo’ on Fuel TV for five action-packed seasons in the early 2010s. Both hosts have walked the walk as pro snowboarders and possess the interview skills to find common ground with guests from any type of background – sports and pop culture. Always look out for new episodes dropping bi-weekly on Mondays.
The UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny Podcast is here to celebrate the personalities behind the Monster Energy lifestyle. With each episode dedicated to a unique guest or topic, listeners learn about living on the edge and advancing the state of the art in the world of high-energy sports as well as music, games, and pop culture from individuals at the top of their game. More than a drink, Monster Energy is a way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans – and the podcast is an extension of this unique DNA.
For more on Monster Energy and the UNLEASHED Podcast, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Also follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for exclusive content and athlete features.
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Ride to your favorite Motorcycling Events in comfort and style. Have a look at our Ballistic Nylon vest and 5/8 sleeve Jak Shirt. Click Here to view the all-new 5-Ball Racing Shop.
Heated and Cooled Seat for 2022 Bagger
By Wayfarer |
by Rogue
COMFORT ALL YEAR LONG
My 2022 Harley Ultra Limited comes from the factory with heated grips. That was good because I have been using heated grips on my previous motorcycle for years and have gotten to like them a lot.
I have also been running a heated seat for years and again wanted to continue doing so. Well, Harley just happens to have one and it also cools, something I have not tried before even though there had been plenty of times, I would like to have had one.
Click Here To Read this Photo Feature Tech only on Bikernet.com
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Go Get Yourself a Bandit’s Bedroll while you are at it, Have a look at the 5-Ball Racing Shop !!!
NCOM Biker Newsbytes for November 2022
By Wayfarer |
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) News provides updates on motorcycle industry, market, legislation, rights of bikers, motorcyclists in USA, and motorcycle news from around the world.
This Month’s Bytes -+- Click to read at Bikernet.com
- AVID MOTORCYCLIST ELECTED AGAIN TO NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE
- ARIZONA SENATOR CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF THE RPM ACT
- U.S. LAWMAKERS PURSUE “RIGHT TO REPAIR” CONSUMER PROTECTIONS
- HARLEY HIT WITH ANOTHER RIGHT-TO-REPAIR LAWSUIT
- EUROPE MOVES TO BAN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
- INTERNATIONAL TREATY AGAINST FOSSIL FUELS FLOATED AT U.N. CLIMATE SUMMIT
- WORLD’S BIGGEST BIKE SHOW BREAKS NEW RECORDS
- SUZUKI-POWERED DRONE TAKES FLIGHT
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All Things Motorcycling ? All About Big V-Twins ? Have a look at www.Bikernet.com * Get all the inside news, reports, updates on motorcycles – Join the Cantina – click to sign-up
Langen Motorcycles: first two bespoke customer machines
By Wayfarer |
Langen Motorcycles unveils the first two bespoke customer machines at Motorcycle Live – NEC Birmingham
The first two lucky owners will see their motorcycles for the first time before Motorcycle Live opens to the public on Saturday 19th November at the NEC Birmingham. The two motorcycles will remain on display on the Langen Stand 3E25 at the NEC for the duration of the show before being delivered to their new owners. Both motorcycles have been carefully created to meet each client’s exact specifications and are the embodiment of the Langen customisation and build process.
Langen Technology Limited (Langen), one of the leading automotive engineering and development companies specialising in low volume motorcycles, is today unveiling the very first customer two stroke 250cc V-twin machines. The keys will be handed over to the lucky new owners at the start of the Motorcycle Live exhibition at the NEC.
In a specially orchestrated ceremony, the founder of Langen, Christofer Ratcliffe, will greet the new owners and provide a short presentation on the customisation process of each machine. Chris will then be available for a short Q&A session on the stand.
The two customer motorcycles will remain on display on the Langen stand 3E25 in Hall 3A at the NEC between the 19th and 27th December. A range of two stroke bikes from the 80’s and 90’s will also be exhibited.
The Langen team will be joined by IRRC SBK Champion and Ex 125 & Moto3 GP Rider Danny Webb to give his account of how the Langen Two Stroke performs on track.
What makes this motorcycle unique is the intoxicating 250cc V-twin engine combined with the focus on simplicity, the reduction in weight using modern technology and materials, along with the use of components of the highest quality. Modern design meets Great British traditional craftsmanship.
Being born as a side project in the Ferrari factory, the first version of the V-Twin was realised in 2014 by Vincenzo Mattia as a brutal GP race engine delivering 95bhp. The patented fuel injection and ECU controlled lubrication system have enabled Langen and Vins to develop the purebred V-Twin into a durable, controllable engine which meets modern emissions regulations. The well-mannered power delivery allows a predictable ride with endless, addictive torque on tap. Take the needle upwards of 9,000 rpm for an experience like nothing else on the road.
Drawing on a wealth of experience and expertise, Langen pride themselves on producing a whole motorcycle package which can not only contend on the race-track but also provides a confidence inspiring and unequalled ride on the road. Langen’s specialism echoes the great Colin Chapman “simplify then add lightness”. Relentless design, testing and optimisation of every component and system on the bike enables the Two Stroke to weigh in at an incredible 120kg translating to over 600bhp/tonne. The aluminium space-frame chassis provides the optimum stiffness, weight and geometry to give incredible cornering speeds, change of direction along with reassuring stability at 130mph.
Christofer Ratcliffe Founder and CEO of Langen comments: “ At Langen we believe that “cars move the body yet motorcycles move the soul” – it demonstrates the intangible and unmatched human experience of riding and owning a Langen. The whole team at Langen are excited to hand over the first two bikes, like all automotive businesses we have had our own issues with components and supply-chain and coupled with COVID-19 this moment has been a long time in the making; however the best things come to those that wait and our first customers cannot wait to throw a leg over these bikes and reap the rewards of the hundreds of man hours that have gone in to each machine – they are now ready to be enjoyed.”
Discover more at: https://www.langenmotorcycles.co.uk/
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HEATED AND COOLED SEAT for 2022 Bagger
By Bikernet Contributor Rogue |
My 2022 Harley Ultra Limited comes from the factory with heated grips. That was good because I have been using heated grips on my previous motorcycle for years and have gotten to like them a lot.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/harley-hammock-heated-cooled-seat/p/52000462
I have also been running a heated seat for years and again wanted to continue doing so. Well, Harley just happens to have one and it also cools, something I have not tried before even though there had been plenty of times, I would like to have had one.
I was impressed with the design and construction as well as the ease of installation. It turned out to be a vast improvement over other seats I have used in the past.
Okay, for those of you thinking you do not need one of these seats. No, you do not need one to ride year-round and all over the country when others have stopped riding. But it is sure nice to have one. The thing is, once you use heated equipment, you’re not going to want to give it up. So, Spoil Yourself and join us who are already enjoying heated equipment.
I do not think this was a difficult install at all and if you do work on your ride you should be able to do this.
After all you just have to remove the screw holding the original seat down and slide it back. Plug the new seat in using the Deutsch weather resistant connector and re-install. Well that is if you already have an Electrical Connection Harness on your motorcycle. Some motorcycles do. Mine did not.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/electrical-connection-update-kit/p/69201599A
Installing The Harness
TOOLS
Phillips Screwdriver
3/8 Ratchet
10 MM Socket
Small Common Screwdriver
PROCEDURE
Start off by removing the Seat, Saddlebags and Side Covers.
Ok, I keep saying READ THE INSTRUCTIONS– I do and did.
Found out a couple things had changed from my previous motorcycle. On the older one I just removed the main fuse with the key in the off position. Now the instructions say to turn the ignition (Key Switch) on before removing the fuse.
The main fuse is under the left side cover.
Turn Ignition Switch to the OFF Position
Remove the Engine Control Module (ECM) from the electrical caddy on top of the battery.
Using the #40 Torx remove the electrical caddy
Remove the fuse from the Ringed Wire Harness
Locate the accessory connector, a black 3-way Molex pin housing with a weather cap under the right-side cover. (On a Softail, it is on the left side). See why I read the instructions.
The Next Two Images are not the connectors on the motorcycle But Similar and are being used to better show how to remove the plug and insert the wire.
Using a small screwdriver raise the connector out of the housing.
Use the Deutsch Pin Tool to release the wire lock and remove the white seal pin by pulling it out.
Insert the terminal end of the B+ Cable into the cavity and press the secondary lock down.
Route the ring end of the cable to the positive terminal making sure the fuse holder is accessible.
Using the 10 MM Socket Carefully remove the + Positive Battery Cable
Re-install Battery and Adapter Cables.
Re-install the electrical caddy and ECM
Re-install fuse in adapter cable.
Check that seat controls are in the Off Position
Connect the seat to the adapter harness
Confirm That The Key Switch Is In the OFF Position.
Install the Main Fuse.
Turn Key Switch on and with the seat in Cooling Mode Turn On. Listen for Fan.
Turn Key Off, make sure wires are not rubbing on anything. Plastic wire tie if necessary.
Install seat and pull up on the front of it to verify it is secure.
The day after the install the temperature dropped 20 degrees. Doesn’t much matter where you live your body adjusts to the weather and it notices that kind of change.
On the test ride, the seat was Very Comfortable. It has Dual Zone Control for Rider and Passenger and both must use the same mode like heat or cool though each can control the level. Using just the Rider Position it warmed up rather quickly. After riding for awhile I even turned it down a little.
May have to wait a bit to see how well the cooling part works. But I suspect I will be pleased with that too.
I also liked how it is wired so that it shuts off when the key is off.
Let’s hit the road…
