QEII RIP
Heartfelt condolences have poured out from around the World with the death of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the longest serving monarch in British history (1952-2022), and a fellow gearhead.

Before she became Queen, in 1945 then-Princess Elizabeth was the first female member of the Royal Family to serve in the armed forces, joining the women’s Auxiliary Territory Services (ATS) during WWII at the age of 19 as a driver and mechanic. Her wartime training also involved gaining experience on two wheels, and she has been pictured riding motorcycles on numerous occasions.

Her majesty’s mechanical aptitude evidently passed to her grandchildren, as both Prince William and Prince Henry are well-known motorcycle fans, and the Royal pair once shared together a 1,000-mile charity ride on Honda enduro bikes across Africa.

May her memory reign eternal; and Long Live The King!
NEW STUDY REVEALS SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE NOT SAFE FOR MOTORCYCLISTS
A white paper analyzing the ability of self-driving cars to detect motorcycles has been released by the Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC), revealing several shortfalls in the autonomous technology.

Concerns remain that autonomous vehicles do not yet have sufficient detection capabilities to make them safe around powered two-wheelers (PTWs), and as the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) said, “reliable detection of PTWs by passenger car ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance Systems) is absolutely essential to avoid car-PTW collisions and to decrease the number of motorcycle accidents. Passenger cars must be able to appropriately recognize motorcycle maneuvers in ordinary traffic, such as weaving in, leaning while cornering or splitting lanes.”

The conclusion of the CMC paper is that it will be necessary going forwards for ADAS vehicles to have a “special focus on PTW detection” in their testing. “Under certain circumstances,” the CMC paper reads, “the detection of PTWs is challenging for ADAS due to the different way of motion, the slim shape and as a result the smaller radar reflectivity of PTWs compared to cars.”

The CMC considers that, currently, “one of the most effective ways [to improve PTW safety) is to improve conspicuity of PTWs by automotive systems.”

SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE COMING, SOONER THAN LATER
The U.K. government has announced that it is planning to introduce self-driving vehicles on the country’s roads starting next year, with full implementation planned for 2025.

As well as the 2025 goal for fully-self-driving vehicles, the government says that “Some vehicles, including cars, coaches and lorries, with self-driving features could be operating on motorways in the next year.”

“The benefits of self-driving vehicles have the potential to be huge,” said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. “We want the UK to be at the forefront of developing and using this fantastic technology, and that is why we are investing millions in vital research into safety and setting the legislation to ensure we gain the full benefits that this technology promises.”

The news of the UK government’s latest self-driving plans come after the United Nations (UN) announced in July that self-driving cars would be allowed to drive faster, but would also have to undergo more stringent tests to make sure they can detect motorcycles.

Ultimately, autonomous vehicles are very much a part of the future of transportation, and boils down to responsible legislators passing reasonable legislation, especially in the initial crossover phase when they mix with human-driven vehicles.
CALIFORNIA VOTES TO BAN NEW GAS CAR SALES BY 2035
California air regulators voted in August to approve stringent new rules to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035, and set interim targets to phase those cars out. The measure is a historic one in the US, and would constitute one of the first such bans worldwide.

These new California Air Resources Board (CARB) rules would also set interim quotas for zero-emission vehicles, focusing on new models. Starting with 2026 models, 35% of new cars, SUVs and small pickups sold in California would be required to be zero-emission vehicles. That quota would increase each year and is expected to reach 51% of all new car sales in 2028, 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035.

California has laid out an audacious goal: In 13 years, it should no longer be possible to buy a new car that runs purely on gasoline anywhere in the state. Failure to meet those targets carries the threat of stiff penalties.

The rules would not impact used vehicles, allowing them to stay on the roads. The rules won’t be immediate, and will go into effect in 2026.

Multiple states are expected to follow suit, including Colorado and Minnesota, as well as states on the Northeast and West Coast that followed California’s previous zero-emission vehicle regulations. New Jersey and Maryland officials said they were reviewing California’s decision, while public comment has opened in Washington state on a similar plan.

NOTEWORTHY: OUT OF CHARGE — Immediately following the announced ICE (internal combustion engine) ban, in favor of electric mobility, a heat wave’s strain on the electrical grid led California’s Independent System Operator, which runs the state’s power grid, to issue multiple bulletins alerting residents to voluntarily reduce their power consumption by avoiding using “large appliances and charging electric vehicles” during peak usage hours.
NOTEWORTHY TOO: MAJOR HEATWAVE IN CHINA DISRUPTS SUPPLY CHAIN
“Supply chain issues” is now a commonly understood concept, ranging from the ongoing semiconductor shortage to shipping woes, but now a new supply chain disruption is rearing its head as China experiences the worst heat wave in recorded history, reaching triple digits for over two months and leading to industrial shutdowns to conserve energy.

Drought anywhere is bad news — but it’s even worse news in Sichuan, a major international manufacturing hub in central China which derives approximately 80% of its electricity from hydropower. As temperatures climb, the local government has instructed factories in various industries to shut down so that the available power can be used by the people living in the affected areas.

From EV batteries to steel and aluminum, a host of industries are being affected.

TEN ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES DUE FROM HONDA BY 2025
Honda has announced its intention to add 10 electric motorcycles to its global lineup by 2025. Most models will be scooters destined for the Asian and European markets as commuter vehicles. For the United States, Europe, and Japan, four models are expected to debut in 2024 and are described as Fun EV Models.

Expect to see three street-legal plug-in models in the United States.

ICE-powered motorcycles are not done yet, though gasoline will have a lower priority as a fuel in Honda motorcycles. There are already E100 flex-fuel motorcycles in Brazil, and they’re coming soon to India. Honda plans on introducing E20 flex-fuel models in India next year, and E100-fueled powerplants in 2025.

In June, 2022, the state of Illinois announced the first round of its Electric Vehicle Rebate Program in 2022. That first rebate application period started on July 1, 2022, and will continue through September 30, 2022.

Unlike some other EV rebate programs (both past and present), the Illinois program includes used vehicles. It also includes on-road motorcycles — not just cars or other four-wheeled passenger EVs.

As for motorcycles, only on-road electric bikes qualify — off-road bikes and mopeds are not eligible. For all vehicles, only full electrics qualify — no hybrids. Rented and leased vehicles do not qualify.

On August 29, 2022, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency director John J. Kim announced the dates for the second round of Illinois EV Rebate Program applications. Round Two will officially open on November 1, 2022, and run through January 31, 2023. If you’re an Illinois resident and you won’t be able to make the deadline first round, that means you’ll have another chance for this rebate as the second-round caps off 2022 and charges into 2023.

“Here in Illinois, we are leading the electric vehicle revolution,” Illinois governor JB Pritzker said; “And thanks to our EV Rebate Program, we are making electric vehicle adoption accessible and cost-effective — putting us on the path to getting 1 million EVs on the road by 2030.”

BIG BROTHER MAY PUT AN END TO SPEEDING IN NEW YORK
Legislators in New York are mulling a bill that would mandate speed limiters in new vehicles that would be set to the local maximum allowable limit. The system, called “Active Intelligent Speed Assistance” (ISA) would use GPS and traffic sign recognition technology to determine the speed limit. New York City is already running a six-month trial with 50 vehicles from the city’s fleet fitted with an ISA system.

Introduced by Manhattan State Senator Brad Hoylman on Aug 12, if passed, would require any vehicle manufactured or registered in the state of New York to be fitted with the ISA system, starting from Jan. 1, 2024. It cites the results of a study that show such a system could reduce traffic fatalities by 20%.

The bill also calls for existing active safety systems like automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors with pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness detection, and even a data event recorder to be mandated from the same date.

ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST POPULATED NATIONS SET TO BAN ALL MOTORCYCLES
Nigeria — the sixth most populous nation in world — is set to ban the use and sale of all motorcycles in an effort to hamper the actions of terrorist ‘bandits.’ The federal government of Nigeria is strongly considering a ban on the sale and use of motorcycles across the country as an unusual new tactic to stop terror attacks.

Nigeria’s Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, recently told reporters that by banning the predominant mode of transport as used by terrorist groups across the country, it would severely hamper their logistical efforts. “Placing a ban on the use of motorcycles and mining activities will cut the supply of logistics to the terrorists,” reports Nigeria’s Times newspaper. “This will be done in the national interest. We are Nigerians because Nigeria as a country exists and any issue that will translate into a threat to national security or the corporate existence of the country requires certain sacrifices.”

The plans come as Nigerian authorities attempt to curtail the efforts of various jihadist terrorist groups — such as Boko Haram and Islamic State — responsible for numerous attacks across the country, with offenses ranging from killings, kidnappings and sexual violence committed by members known as ‘bandits’ who mostly use motorcycles to launch attacks quickly and without warning to devastating effect, as well as move around the area without detection.

The actions of the federal government come after Governor Bello Mattawale of Zamfara State introduced a curfew for the use of motorcycles in the town of Gusau, and directed his security personnel to shoot on sight anyone caught riding a motorcycle between 8pm and 6am.

With a population of more than 200 million people, Nigeria is the world’s sixth most populous nation with an annual motorcycle sales figure of more than 500,000.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends.” ~ J.K. Rowling (b.1965), British author and philanthropist

Industry & Legislative Motorcycle News from USA and the world
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish

THE AIM / NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM).

In the News this Month:

• QEII RIP
• NEW STUDY REVEALS SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE NOT SAFE FOR MOTORCYCLISTS
• SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE COMING, SOONER THAN LATER
• CALIFORNIA VOTES TO BAN NEW GAS CAR SALES BY 2035
• NOTEWORTHY TOO: MAJOR HEATWAVE IN CHINA DISRUPTS SUPPLY CHAIN
• TEN ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES DUE FROM HONDA BY 2025
• ILLINOIS ANNOUNCES ROUND TWO OF ITS EV REBATE PROGRAM, INCLUDING BIKES
• BIG BROTHER MAY PUT AN END TO SPEEDING IN NEW YORK
• ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST POPULATED NATIONS SET TO BAN ALL MOTORCYCLES

Catch all the Details by Clicking Here.

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Get ready for a comprehensive News on motorcycles, every Thursday, only on Bikernet.com

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Another one from J.J. Solari

“HUMAN-CAUSED Global Warming Violates The “Established Religion” Prohibitions Of The First Amendment.
Declaring the global warming edicts as the establishing of a religion. This ain’t allowed!” — J.J. Solari

Read his latest by clicking here.

Legends Suspension Systems Save the Day
By DaCat

Being part of the Hamsters for 30+ years and building custom bikes, I never thought of owning a Trike. One night 10 years ago, as we were admiring all the custom one-of-a-kind bikes at Sturgis, a buddy says to me, “You know what the next big thing is going to be……. Trikes”.

I’m like what? And he says, “Think about it. We are all getting older.” Well guess what… I bought a Trike.

Because of a major bike accident a few years ago, I’ve lost my ability to close or grip with my right hand. It’s become a major problem to hold up a heavy bagger. I decided I can’t risk this anymore with my wife on the back.

Click Here to read this Personal Riding Story, only on Bikernet.com

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By Bandit with photos from Jack McIntyre

We started a series of stories about why we chop. They are a blast, inspirational and enlightening. This one touches on two elements of the equation. Why we chop and something about the history of the chopper.

There are two partners involved in this story and bikes. Both are partners in a Shop called Johnny Mac’s Chopper house. One was the photographer behind this feature with Chelsea, Jack McIntyre, a veteran and the other the shop boss, Johnny Mac.

Click Here to View this eXclusive in the Cantina, membership area

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Meeting of the Minds 2022 – Demand reaches room capacity! – Hotel booked up!

Just as the MRF brought Bikers Inside the Beltway to capacity for hotel room requests, demand by attendees has brought the 2022 Meeting of the Minds conference hotel to the same level.

Not to worry… the MRF has a back-up hotel two minutes away. Plus, you can still register for the conference. Use this link to register for the conference Meeting of the Minds 2022. Or register when you arrive.

Use this link to book your rooms at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel or call the hotel direct at 515-244-2151; Book your group rate for Motorcycle Riders Foundation Last Day to Book: Monday, September 19, 2022

The 38th Annual Meeting of the Minds, scheduled for September 22-25 in Des Moines Iowa, will do everything to reinforce the MRF’s commitment to motorcyclists’ rights and staying eternal vigilant.

Charlie “Chopper” Gilmore – U.S. Army veteran, motorcycle restorer, and freedom fighter is on deck as just one of the presenters at the 2022 Meeting of the Minds. His presentation – The Price of Freedom – is taken from life experiences and will certainly motivate and inspire attendees.

The Meeting of the Minds – renewing old friendships and making new ones. The Meeting of the Minds – three days of nuts-and-bolts workshops to augment the tools needed to promote and protect the rights of all motorcyclists. The Meeting of the Minds – more than a dozen presentations and workshops to build and strengthen individual’s and state motorcyclists’ rights organization’s commitment to protecting the freedoms motorcycling brings us all.

Workshops and presentations include but are not limited to:

• Up-to-the-minute Legislative Updates
• The necessity of Political Action Committees
• Riding skill enhancement
• What aging demographics means to motorcycling

Protecting the rights of motorcyclists is not just a collection of words in a press release any more than leaving your motorcycle parked in your garage is about riding.

Profiling, E-15 (ethanol fuel), autonomous vehicles, all part of the present and future of motorcycling. The MRF’s legislative agenda is a result of input from motorcyclists with the directions to take care of business on Capitol Hill.

The MRF understands motorcycling, motorcyclists’ rights, and what it takes to keep the siege against your rights, your freedom, your lifestyle, and yes, your motorcycle at bay. However, participatory democracy works best with participants.

Meeting of the Minds 2022 – The Motorcycle Riders Foundation – “Let us refuse to be silent! Speaking freely is a decisive step forward on the road to freedom”

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. Visit http://mrf.org

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XDA Competitors Laser Focused on the Championship Title

On September 23-25, the XDA concludes its 2022 motorcycle drag racing season at Maryland International Raceway with the 30th annual DME Racing Fall Nationals.

The sixth and final battle of the 2022 XDA season will feature 6-second, 230+mph Pro Street Motorcycles, 7-second, 190mph Real Street bikes, 3-second 1/8 mile Pro Xtreme class, lethal clutch hand Super Stock, the “Running of the Bulls” Grudge Shootouts, and 700+ Sportsman motorcycle racers competing for over the final $500,000 in season cash purse and $130,000 in season contingency!

Orient Express Racing Pro Street

Points Leader – Rodney Williford

Next weekend the Orient Express Pro Street class will turn up the heat with the country’s quickest and fastest 650+ horsepower Pro Street motorcycles. For the second year in a row, Rodney Williford locked up the championship before the season finale. He currently holds 176 points lead over #2 Jason Dunigan. Justin Shakir, Greg Wallace, and Darion Payne round out the top five in points and have all locked in spots for the 26th annual Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco on November 2-6, 2022.

Next weekend the battle will rage on as Pro Street racers will be fighting for the last 5 spots to compete in front of 52,000+ fans in the crisp November air. The exclusive Platinum General Services Pro Street Shootout at WCF offers a $5,000 to win purse. Make plans to come out and watch these gladiators dominate the quarter mile at speeds that can’t be seen anywhere else.

DME Racing Real Street

Points Leader – David Stewart

DME Racing Real Street will be serving up 7-second, 190mph passes as the battle for the championship comes down the wire. David Stewart leads the points chase with forty-six points over Rickey Gadson, and 111 points over class champion Mark Hylton. All three riders have the potential to take the crown, and every point will make the difference.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme

Points Leader – Ronald Procopio

The eighth-mile heads-up class of MaxxECU Pro Xtreme features Turbocharged, Supercharged, and Nitrous Injected wheelie-bar monsters. Ronald Procopio only holds a five-point lead over #2 John Collins and sixty-seven points over #3 Chris Cutsinger. These three-second riders are the only ones in contention for the championship title next weekend.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Billy Vose Racing, Fast by Gast, Dunigan Racing, DME Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.

HTP Performance Super Stock

Points Leader – Curtis McDougald

The stock wheelbase HTP Performance Super Stock class will see a new champion crowned this season. Curtis McDougald holds eight points over Darion Payne, and Mike Davis trails right behind. These are the only two riders that could knock McDougald off the throne and claim the title next weekend. You won’t want to miss the action on Sunday!

HTP Performance Afterdark

Saturday night, the starting line will be the place to be with the HTP Performance Afterdark Underground Grudge Program. Going into the season final, the Bulls still have a lot of action to show us if they want those championship titles. Malcolm Phillips leads Boosted Bulls, Desmond Spalding leads APE Nitrous Bulls, Spencer Claycomb leads 3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls and Aubrey Vantine leads Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls. The #KillerMillerSpiller will have the track on point next weekend, eliminating traction from the ‘Rider’s Excuse’ handbook.

Vance & Hines 4.60

Points Leader – Ronald Procopio

The Vance & Hines 4.60 eighth-mile class showcases the fiercest Sportsman around. And in a rarity, the championship title has already been clinched by Ronald Procopio heading into next weekend’s event. This will be three straight championships in a row for Procopio, and fourth overall. Over thirty riders will give the fans a spectacular show round after round as they battle for the $5,000 cash prize to the winner.

The XDA will also hold competition in six additional sportsman classes where the championship titles are still up for grabs. 1 Stop Speed 5.60 Index, Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman, MPS Racing Pro ET, and Brock’s Performance Street ET, VooDoo Bracket Bash, and the Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s classes will award $28,000 in cash payouts for our sportsman classes.

It may be the end of the XDA season, but there is still time to start a drag racing career with the best motorcycle drag racing sanction on the east coast. Come out next weekend, and for only $65 you could be racing down the track!

For an exciting weekend of two-wheel racing action, head to Maryland International Raceway next weekend, September 23-25, for the 30th annual DME Racing Fall Nationals because XDA is always the place to be!

Visit xdaracing.com for event information, class rules, payouts, entry fees, schedule, and more.

About XDA Racing: The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events.

For more information on the XDA, please visit xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

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This bike was built in classic form by Steve Hannah a 20-year Paughco employee and lifetime biker. The Redhead and I hauled ass to Carson City, Nevada with the briefcase, purchased, loaded and blasted back to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

I usually mess with any purchase unless it’s a restored antique. But this puppy was well built, classic and had chopper class. I took off the gas tank and extended the rear tabs. Then I took the tank to Greg Robles in Sturgis for a classic scallop paint job. I discovered he lived next door to Buck Lovell, former Hot Bike Editor and a master western and motorcycle photographer.

While Greg performed classic magic, I replaced the traditional Anderson pegs with standard Harley rubber pegs for rigid frame rider comfort. I didn’t want to mess with the classic chop styling, but I’m not a fan of fishtail straight pipes, although they looked too cool.

I considered a handmade two-into-one with a 19-inch long, 2.5-inch diameter Paughco muffler. I ordered some parts and pieces from Paughco including a chain guard. Chain guards are a must.

I tinkered, but struggled with the pipes. The fishtails were slip on with clamps. I loosened the clamps, but they didn’t come off.

I discovered long 5/16 bolts sticking up into the pipes, maybe to create a little back pressure. Whatever, I thought they had to come out. I was forced to make this super-long ½-inch open-end wrench.

The bike also didn’t have a front brake and fortunately, because of an AMCA gathering I met Charlie of RustyOldParts. He turned me onto an almost complete front brake system with drum, backing plate, shoes and most of the small bits.

Mike Kane introduced me to Capitol Brake and Clutch in Sacramento, CA. They mount shoes and form them to your brake drum. Mechanical brakes can work like champs with this procedure. I sent them my drum, shoes and backing plate. They blasted and cleaned the parts did their magic and returned them in less than a week for very little.

I dug through my drawers and boxes for a handlebar lever. I looked online. I found the perfect product at J&P, lever, cable and adjusting rod kit, but they were no longer in stock. I reached out to Barnett for the cable and they were coming to Sturgis for the rally and Chance and his guys make the cables right at their booth behind the magnificent Barnett rig. I stopped by and they knocked one out.

In my shit, I found a lever that matched the clutch lever on the highbars. I dug around and found the lever axle and the cable pivot post. Hell, I found three of them. Each one was slightly different from the others. Unfortunately, I lacked the lever clamp that encircled the bars and mated with the lever housing. I thought for sure I had one or two, but recently I completed two other builds, both patina Panheads. They could be long gone.

The front brake on the springer was nearly complete except for the cable clamp that swings on the brake backing plate lever and operates the cam. I reached out to Charlie again and he recently returned from Davenport with a small stash of new/old parts for his bikes and inventory.

He bought some handlebar levers and one had the clamp I needed. He sold me the clamp and a cable junction for the brake. I prayed the clamp would not be for 7/8s bars. It was perfect. I cleaned the 10/24 threads in the lever and found the fasteners.

I ran into one issue with the Barnet cable end for the lever. The issue was probably the lever casting. It was designed for a clutch cable with a larger diameter cable and end, but I made a shim to tighten up the fit into the lever housing, bada bing.

 

I installed the front brake and wheel, searched for a massive washer to fit between the rocker and the front brake retaining spring. I found one with the correct I.D. and O.D. which I had forever and somehow it was power coated black—amazing.

Steve painted everything that wasn’t polished or chrome, satin black, perfect. I painted the backing plate accordingly and the drum silver to sorta match the rear chromed drum. I got the drum lugs and chromed anchor bar from J&P Cycles and the anchor pin from Charlie. The front brake was nearly complete.

 

The front cable adjustment clamp is not correct, but it is chrome. The alignment with the adjustment tool is not perfect, but it will do. I would like to solder the end of the cable after I cut it to length. The cable is stainless and can be a pain to solder. I thought about dipping the end into liquid electrical tape to prevent fraying. I tried it out. Let me know what you think.

The brake seems to be working like a champ. Where’s my list: Mufflers, oil filter, chain guard. Okay, the mufflers arrived yesterday, but I needed to modify them and work out mounting. I’ve installed oil filters on two bikes, and Randy Cramer turned me onto an odd filter housing I’ve never seen before. It’s meant to mount to a frame rail, maybe. The fasteners are metric like motorcycle battery cable fasteners.

 

I grappled with mounting it, so I can still kick over the bike, not to close to pipes and not too close to other stuff, like primary chain adjustment fasteners. Finally, something surfaced and I built a bracket and it seems to work. I need to work on oil lines next and wondered if I could take these apart and use the ends. Randy Cramer, from Dakota V-Twin said, “No.” Looks like I needed to cut them.

 

 

The new shorter Paughco Mufflers arrived and I slash cut them and mounted them. I’m still not completely happy with the mounting. I could have slipped them onto the pipes, tightened the stainless straps and called it quits, but if I wasn’t going to chrome them, I wanted to add some detail.

I was going to run two chrome straps, the the bracket became a clearance issue. Then it dawned on me to run just one strap and that sorta worked and gave the pipes extra support.

I may ride it around later today and see if the pipes are happy. The Redhead found a small can of flat black latex paint and I painted away the whitewall stripes. I bought replacement sparkplugs and a case of 60-25 oil at Dakota V-Twin. Never heard of such a thing.

I believe that leaves the chain guard. Paughco sent the oil tank mounting tab, which I will weld or braze to the guard.

I could send it back to Paughco for chrome or flat black it. I believe I have all the elements to make it work. In the meantime, she’s looking sharp and classic.

–Bandit

Sources:

Greg Robles
Painter
Boulder Canyon

Paughco

Rusty Ol’ Parts
708-431-6778
Chasbuci@aol.com

Capitol Clutch & Brake
(916) 371-5970

https://www.capitolclutch.com

 

Barnett Cables

Dakota V-Twin
http://www.dakotav-twin.com

Do you know what I can do? I can “present the case” that the American-Government decrees regarding “human-caused global warming” is “the establishment of religion” by the government and is thus in violation of the Constitution.

I know what you’re saying, “Aren’t you a doddering delirious old man who was once a Mouseketeer with Annette and dropped from the epitome of pop culture in America down to the very bottom of it later in life by writing vulgar, borderline-felonious-crap for the early Easyriders Magazine, universally condemned as the most inept, most socially-unredeeming, most vagrant-targeted publication in American history?

Well, yeah. What’s your point. Where are you going with this. Tell you what, why don’t you pipe down for a minute and let me have my say. Write your own article if you’re so damn smart, meanwhile give it a rest, ok? And let me get-on with this. Ok? Well, I don’t hear you sayin’ nuthin’ so I guess it’s ok. Thank you. I don’t mean to be rude but really, you need to back off just a tad. Ok, ok, relax.

Where the hell was I? OH yeah: declaring the global warming edicts as the establishing of a religion. This ain’t allowed!

Amendment I

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The first ten words of this Bill of Rights thing that everyone declares is very spiffy, says, in the language vernacular of the day, that DC can’t create a fucking religion and then issue “commandments” regarding it that everyone has to fucking obey.

Ok, so here’s where this is going: “Human Caused Global Warming” is a religion. And there are commandments being issued by the creators of this religion that have to be obeyed under penalty of the usual penalties governments inflict for disobedience: confiscation, incarceration, and murder.

So, let’s define what a religion is and then we can see why Human Caused Global Warming IS one.

1: A religion is something that can’t be proved. It’s a conviction or a belief or a delusion or a whim or a suspicion or a hunch or a tale or a legend or a supposition that cannot ever be subjected to analysis, experiment, results, conclusions, findings, testing, and retesting. Human Caused Global Warming is one of these things.

2: A religion’s assertions cannot be tested for accuracy or even be tested for actually being in existence. There is no actual evidence that humans, much less gasoline in particular, are altering the climate and the effects of climate: the weather. PLUS!!!! there is no way to even hunt down any evidence of anything created by humans that would result in the clear conclusion that this action or this behavior or this particular practice was conclusively and repeatedly demonstrating on demand that it was producing something as astoundingly mammoth as an effect on the atmosphere of a planet 25,000 miles in circumference buried under a dynamic global violent meteor-vaporizing blanket of gasses 100,000 feet high both of which are being eternally blasted by so many thermonuclear explosions per second that they are creating a sphere of multi-million-degree fire nearly one million miles in diameter which if we were any closer to it we would all fucking die. The actions of you driving to work do not affect these three monstrosities. Rather these three monstrosities affect you. UNLESS you are a high priest of human-caused global warming, of course. Then you are running things. In between visits to Epstein Island.

In other words, saying that humans affect weather and climate is something straight out of voodoo land from the bowels of Tanganyika circa 25,000 BC.

3: A religion has a “powerful being” that is capable of overriding the laws of Nature, and this entity is either one that resides not on the earth but “out there” somewhere where Pelosi and Gavin Newsom live, or if he or she or it does reside on the earth it lives in the very rocks or IS the very rocks or the trees or is the globe of Earth itself, like Gaia is.

The supreme entity of a religion can also be us. Such that we are the all-powerful beings who by our powerful and divinely awesome majesty can…..control the weather. And move the stars around. These religions are referred to, at least in the Christian realm, as pagan if not satanic in that the member of the religion is also the deity of the religion, and these religions are referred to in the “secular” realm as humanistic or “enlightened.” Kabbala, Masonry, Rosicrucianism, Scientology unless I miss my guess, and most cults, all have the membership as being of deity level in abilities and performance and overall nature and capacity to do truly marvelous things, even if relentlessly unemployed.

4: Human Caused Global Warming is a religion of claimed, not-to-be-questioned, foregone actual untestable reality evident only to people in high places in politics, or adepts, as opposed to those living in the underling world like ourselves, none of whom high-placed people are meteorologists and most of whom have the scientific training and intellectual adroitness of Al Gore, Greta Thunberg and A. Ocasio-Cortez and company. Human Caused Global Warming cannot be proved or disproved by any amount of testing in that the premise exceeds all known current levels of human ability to test its accuracy on a global or even on a township scale. The entire planet would have to be the laboratory in order to test the assertion. In other words we’re powerful enough to alter earth’s climate and weather but we’re not powerful enough to prove that we’re doing it. This sort of quandary of whirling doubletalk is the kind of merry-go-round that lunatics and/or con-men operate with, both of whom routinely create religions when not just stealing hubcaps.

5: Congress, in addition to creating a religion out of – oh the irony! – thin air, is forcing the citizenry to obey the religion’s rules and edicts and commandments.

6: This (item 5) is what is known as “respecting the establishment of religion.” Ordering people to obey edicts and to follow the directives of edict-hurlers for the purpose of maintaining the behavioral norms and protocols of a religion….is unconstitutional. Not only does it violate the Bill of Rights, it violates the first fucking ten words of the Bill of Rights. Apparently, this has happened before and the Constitution Assembly Committee made that item the first no-no of the day. Tell that to the alleged “Supreme” Court.

Those meatheads are about as aware of the Constitution as they are aware that they are supposed to wear clothing under their robes. There’s a reason people want to become judges. And it’s not the prestige. It’s the absolute total groinal freedom which that robe allows. Shoes on the feet and the bottoms of pantlegs sewn onto the hem of the sith robe and it’s day after day of Sex Organ Fandango while boredly listening to applicants pleading for justice to someone sitting a-high-up a million miles away playing with himself. Those robes are there for a reason. And it’s a gross one.

So there ya have it!……the global warming bullshit all wrapped up and tied with a bright ribbon of Established Religion, all brought to your attention by a hack on Bikernet.com. I guess you’ll have a little more respect for this site now that you have used it as a guidepost to launch your own personal counterattack against the Greta Thunbergs and Gavin Newsoms of the world who are determined to send you back to pre-industrial Ur of the Chaldees, going to work on burro-back and having your air conditioner confiscated as a heretical violation of the Atmospheric Religious Brotherhood of the Annointed Sky Monitors.

So, remember: human-caused global warming is a DC-created religion, the rules of which you are required to follow, in disobedience to and with flagrant disregard for the first ten words of the Bill of Rights. Imagine what this Congress-established religion is going to do to the rest of the Bill of Rights once it gets some momentum going.

–J.J. Solari

Being part of the Hamsters for 30+ years and building custom bikes, I never thought of owning a Trike. One night 10 years ago, as we were admiring all the custom one-of-a-kind bikes at Sturgis, a buddy says to me, “You know what the next big thing is going to be……. Trikes”. I’m like what? And he says, “Think about it. We are all getting older.” Well guess what… I bought a Trike.

Because of a major bike accident a few years ago, I’ve lost my ability to close or grip with my right hand. It’s become a major problem to hold up a heavy bagger, and I fell over too many times. I decided I can’t risk this anymore with my wife on the back, so I started looking at trikes to solve these issues. I still have my Chopper that I built and don’t have the same problem riding it, but I’m not packing my wife…

So bottom line, I bought a 2017 M8 Tri-Glide and I’m really starting to enjoy the benefits of three wheels on the ground. First you have to get used to not putting your feet down. Then spend time riding through some twisty roads steering the trike like a snowmobile.

It took a while to get accustomed to the unique handling of the three-wheeler, but now I travel as fast through corners as I ever did on a Harley 2- wheeler. This is a key issue. The stock trikes don’t handle well. My trike handling is quite good, because of the upgrades to the suspension. The rear OEM shocks were replaced with Legends shocks and the front end was modified with Legends gas canisters. Also, a Legend lift kit was installed which raised the rear an inch. These upgrades are vastly better than the stock setup for ride quality and handling.

When considering rear suspension on trikes, the big issue is adjustability and length of travel. The stock air ride shocks are short and when adjusted for two passengers reduces the travel significantly. Some people are using longer coil over like 13-14-inch without the lift kit with good results, but the lift kit and standard-length shocks are more the norm. Lots of forums to read up on this stuff.

I can understand why new trike guys ride ‘em for six months and sell them disillusioned. They are seeking a fun and stable alternative to 2-wheelers. If stock trikes don’t do the trick, the search continues.

I’ve been working with and dialing in my trike for months, and now it handles and rides comfortably. I might keep it. It offers a safe platform to travel two- up with lots of gear for long distance touring.

Would I prefer 2 wheels…. Of course, but not being afraid of tipping over while traveling or putting my feet down on slippery shit or gravel with my wife on the back is worth it!

We all come to a point where we have to assess our ability to ride safely and be able to continue staying in the wind. I know we all want to maintain our outlaw image but want to keep riding. Harley has done a pretty good job with these tri-glides and I’m glad to have one.

I’m planning to ride mine to Sturgis next year and have a feeling I’ll be bumping into other ex-outlaws on trikes feeling free in the wind.

–DaCat

You might hear from DaCat in the near future to discuss trike passenger issues, M-8 engine and oil pump issues and the new 6-quart oil capacity.—Bandit

Sources:

Legends Suspension
www.legendsuspensions.com

Hamster Charity Effort

5-Ball Garage

Bandit’s Cantina