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Read More Lil’ Ruby: Another addition for The Chopper Saga
By Johnny White |
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Lil’ Ruby is what I have named her, but this came after I bought her from the original builder this Summer. You see, Lil’ Ruby started life as a 2002 Sportster that my son-in-law bought in 2015. He bought the bike from another young man who needed cash more than he needed a Sporty, and my SIL had cash in hand. He rode it home to his mother’s house and estimated he had the motor out of the frame less than 2 hours later.
The Harley Sportster wasn’t his goal though. He planned before he purchased the bike. You see, he devised his strategy long before his purchase, and since a Sporty is the cheapest H-D motor he could get, well then that’s what he went with. He was on a mission to build a tight little chopper/ bobber that he could ride through town and not see another exactly like it anywhere.
He took a different route than many today, as instead of plunking down some cash, budgeting in his payments and riding out on a shiny new bike. This kid decided he wanted to take a route travelled by far fewer. Wide is the easy path which leads you to Hell, but narrow and difficult is the road to the promised land, or something like that from The Good Book.
It wasn’t long before he started ordering parts from his J&P catalog, knowing from the start what kind of ride he was looking at. She had to be a rigid frame. She had to have a ribbed rear fender and matching tank, and she had to be cool… But he had never done anything like this and really didn’t know what he had gotten himself into.
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At the time, being a student in college full time and working part time, money was tight, but ideas and passion were in overdrive. This was 2015, so a good 10 years after the Discovery Channel wave had peaked. He had an idea of what he wanted to do and basically stuck with the same theme for the next 7 years. I tell ya, the kid had patience and resilience, which are both necessary when building anything.
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Small parts orders went in as the build progressed. A set of Biltwell Slimline Risers, Flanders style Biltwell handlebars, round oil bag with battery tray… The pile grew larger and he realized every time he placed a piece of the puzzle together what he was missing next.
The best thing about this build, which was different from any I ever did, was his patience. Never in a rush, he didn’t sacrifice any part to “just get by.” He wanted to utilize what he could from the stock bike but still wanted a one-off custom bike he could say he built by himself. He finished the mock-up and then slowly disassembled the parts, chronicling what went where, while labeling all his parts, bags of fasteners, diagrams and left it apart until he could afford a paint job.
Well, life has a way of throwing curves, and he dealt with a few. As is the case sometimes, the project always got put onto the back burner but he toiled away at it when he could. He eventually paid a family friend to paint it and tool the leather that sits on his steel panned seat.
Once he got the parts all painted, he took his time putting everything back together, all the while staying true to his theme and original design. The process produced plenty of adjustments, late nights, busted knuckles, a few moments of cussing, and maybe a cold beverage or two. When finished, he was proud to say his pockets were empty, but his bike was running and he could honestly say he built it from the ground up. She was a beautiful little ride that will provide years fun.
He did finish the bike a year or so ago, but it’s been sitting on a lift in his garage being tickled by a battery tender to keep the battery alive for a while. While he liked the bike, it was just not the same for him now…life took over. He rode her here and there but never very far. It was cool…just not his thing at the time. So, there she sat, collecting dust, until I wandered in.
While visiting my new granddaughter, I saw the bike for the first time and was so excited to tinker with it. As you know, a perfectly running bike doesn’t like to sit for too long. I have observed over the years, you can take an old machine and keep her in immaculate running order just by being observant, regular rides, and proper maintenance, nothing crazy or extreme.
Within a few hours we had her running and I polished her up enough to convince him to take it for a ride. Seeing the excitement on his face was the drug we all search for whenever we ride a chopper of any kind. He looked like a little kid as he tentatively pulled it out into the street and took a quick loop around the neighborhood. Once he returned home, the smile on his face said it all, and I was sure he was bitten again. We spent the rest of that night talking choppers, polishing small parts, and basically re-kindling that fire that any scooter tramp knows.
He even told my daughter that night how his passion was returning, and he was now excited to play with the little bike again. Chopper love reborn.
The next day while he was working on his truck, my wife and daughter were playing with the baby, and I had some time to kill and was looking for any excuse to check her out. I convinced him to let me take her for a spin. I took it for a quick ride but couldn’t stop at the end of the street like he did. I decided to go a little further and test her on a couple of winding roads.
April in North Carolina can be sketchy as its as likely to be 45 degrees and rainy as it is possible to be 90 and humid. Luckily for me, it was 75 degrees and warm enough for riding in a t-shirt. I’ve been bundled up in Chicago, so the thought of riding a Harley in a t-shirt was too much for me to pass on.
As I pulled out of the neighborhood and onto Morganton road, I quickly knew I was going to ride for a bit longer than I had planned. The fresh air mixed with the smell of fuel from the old Mikuni carb reminded me I was no longer on a factory fresh bike. This thing was dirty, vibrated, slung oil from the chain onto my clothes, and left an odor on your skin and jeans that reminds everyone I was riding something very different.
It was practically an untested machine. I was careful as I gradually picked up speed and took my time testing the slim tires…the front rim riding on a 21-inch Avon Speedmaster. The rear hoop rides on a 16-inch-MT-90 Shinko. Although these tires looked “period correct” for a late ’70s, early ’80s build, I had never ridden on them. I was cautious, but it turned out fine. They handled great, and the slim width made the bike handle like she was on rails…just amazing. The squared corners on the skinny ties reminded me of the bias ply tires of the past, but they handled great and my concerns proved unfounded.
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I pulled into a gas station to fill her with go-go juice and drink a cold water, while taking an inventory of every nut and bolt that wasn’t too hot to touch to see if anything had wiggled loose. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and the bike sparkled with a gleam as if she was thankful to be out.
Believe it or not, these machines will talk to you once you’ve spent time with them and I could tell she was a happy girl. Ticking away as she cooled, I did notice she was spraying a bit of oil from the chain, maybe a seal leak at the main drive? Nothing to get too concerned with, as at least I knew the chain was lubed, right?
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I rode her for about an hour and was reminded of the thrill of riding a tight little rigid framed bike and the many sensations that go a long with it. The buzzing of your hands and feet after the ride, the pumping of life blood through your veins, and the quick firing nerves in your brain reminding you that you are alive again. Riding a bike like this isn’t for everyone, as many find it offensive, a hassle, uncomfortable, inconvenient, and plain miserable.
Jumping on a stock H-D today requires nothing but a credit score and money for gas and tires. All you do is press the start button, tune in your phone to your Bluetooth, listen to the radio or have a conference call while riding at 75 miles an hour on the freeway. Rubber mounting, anti-vibration timing and flywheels, you can even read the car’s license plate behind you in the rear-view mirror as they don’t even vibrate at idle, much less at acceleration.
Riding a modern Harley is so easy now, it’s almost like riding in a convertible… It won’t be long, and they will have some contraption to keep them upright for you as well. They are wonderfully modern and reliable machines, and I currently own two of ‘em…but they don’t wake me up like this little gem…not even close.
As I was pulling into his driveway, he was also just pulling out in his truck to come look for me. Apparently, everyone got worried, when I was gone for more than 20 minutes. I left my phone at the house on the counter, and they all feared I had either broke down, got lost, or had an accident.
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To my surprise, two months later I owned Lil Ruby. I’ve added a few finishing pieces to complete the look he was after and repair the broken parts from shakedown runs. For example I added a chromed fork brace, chrome kick stand (replacing the broken one), air cleaner and gas cap from Amazon (replacing the stock oval one), Vans grips, TC Bros Throttle assembly (replacing the mismatched ones) changed fluids, fresh coat of wax, and double checking of blue loctite on a few of the known rattlers, while riding the snot out of her.
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Today, she’s a quick half-choke start and warms up in about 2 minutes. I can safely take her on a loop here in Illinois, where I roll the throttle confidently on two lane black top. I’m surrounded by rolling corn and soybean fields of green like nothing you can imagine.
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There’s a route I take that has enough elevation changes and twisting curves to get my heart pumping and give me enough of a scare to make me realize I am on a different kind of machine. In the early cool mornings as the fog is still settling in the lowlands, you will hear the 1200 engine purring against the farmland backdrop and see my goofy ass sitting atop the lil chop while grinning from ear to ear. Again, arriving at my destination thankful to have arrived, grateful to have the honor to ride free, and completely content knowing if anything breaks, it’s only a little time and a few dollars to get her back roadworthy.
Yeah, some guys search their whole life for riches or fame, but as for me, I will stick with my Lil Ruby. She’s a treasure worth more than you know.
Lil’ Ruby: Another addition for The Chopper Saga
By Wayfarer |
by Johnny White
Lil’ Ruby is what I have named her, but this came after I bought her from the original builder this Summer. You see, Lil’ Ruby started life as a 2002 Sportster that my son-in-law bought in 2015.
He bought the bike from another young man who needed cash more than he needed a Sporty, and my SIL had cash in hand. He rode it home to his mother’s house and estimated he had the motor out of the frame less than 2 hours later.
The Harley Sportster wasn’t his goal though. He planned before he purchased the bike. You see, he devised his strategy long before his purchase, and since a Sporty is the cheapest H-D motor he could get, well then that’s what he went with. He was on a mission to build a tight little chopper/ bobber that he could ride through town and not see another exactly like it anywhere.
CLICK Here to Read this Photo Feature on the Tech behind this cool Chopper
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Riding Free for 25 Years!!!
MRF Annual Meeting: Our Rights We Will Maintain
By Wayfarer |
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION — MEETING OF THE MINDS 2022
“Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” – Iowa State Motto
In 1847, those words became part of the Iowa State Seal. They ring just as powerful today as they did 175 years ago. Certainly, they ring true for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and the 38th Annual Meeting of the Minds.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation takes seriously the quest to protect the freedoms that motorcyclists sometimes take for granted. A lobbying team with a never-ending presence on Capitol Hill. A definitive commitment to grassroots activism with the MRF’s annual Bikers Inside the Beltway. And the annual Meeting of the Minds – nearly forty years of bringing bikers’ rights advocates together to enhance their organizational and legislative skills.
The 38th Annual Meeting of the Minds, scheduled for September 22-25 in Des Moines Iowa, will be a 3-day exercise in freedom enhancement. The event will demonstrate just how much the MRF and attendees prize liberty and the commitment to maintain our rights
Meet the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and the freedom fighters who are instrumental in the quest to protect motorcycling and maintain the freedoms we enjoy.
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 represents.
Workshops and presentations include but not limited to:
- Up-to-the-minute Legislative Updates
- Working with motorcycle clubs for the common goal of defending freedom
- Aging demographics – what it means to motorcycling
- Paying the price of freedom
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation lives and understands that freedom is about maintaining our rights and not just another word for nothing left to lose, understands Eternal Vigilance… and understands The Blessings of Freedom… and understands the commitments needed to protect rights, liberty, freedom, and our motorcycles from the pending siege from over-regulating and over-zealous bureaucracies. The MRF is committed to promote and defend the freedoms that all motorcyclists’ rights advocates understand.
The Meeting of the Minds – September 22-25, Marriott Downtown Des Moines, 700 Grand Avenue. Visit MRF website to Book your group rate for Motorcycle Riders Foundation Annual Meeting 2022. Or call (888) 236-2427 and mention Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) when you make reservations.
Use this link to register for the conference Meeting of the Minds 2022. Last Day to Book: Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Thank you for your support of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and we look forward to seeing you in Des Moines for the 38th Annual Meeting of the Minds.
About Motorcycle Riders Foundation:
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.
VISIT WEBSITE FOR DETAILS: http://mrf.org
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Highs and Lows at Pitt Race BUILD TRAIN RACE
By Wayfarer |
Royal Enfield BTR Road Racing endures trying weekend at Pittsburgh Race Complex.
Extreme heat, torrential downpours, tricky track conditions, through it all at Pittsburgh International Race Complex shined the heart and dedication of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) road racers. It wasn’t an easy weekend at Pitt Race, especially not with the much-anticipated Sunday main event ending in a red flag. Though it wasn’t the finish anyone was looking for, including winner Kayleigh Buyck, there were some memorable and redeeming moments from the MotoAmerica weekend.
There’s no doubt Kayleigh Buyck has the bullseye on her back in the Build. Train. Race. MotoAmerica paddock. Coming off a three-race win-streak, Buyck was looking to add another BTR race win to her collection, and the rest of the women on the grid were just as determined to stop her. None more so than Jenny Chancellor, who came into Pittsburgh fired up for a win.
Throughout the changing conditions at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, the BTR women were advised to keep their rain tires on, which saw them run the main race on wets in the drying conditions. After getting out to a poor start, Chancellor quickly made her way to the front and led every lap of the race aboard her Continental GT 650, right up until the moment it mattered. On the final lap, she lost control and went down, prompting the red flag to come out. Had she gotten back on her bike and back on the track, she would have been awarded the win, but sadly she ended the day with a DNF. The win went to Buyck, followed by Crystal Martinez in second and Chloe Peterson in third.
“What a crazy, amazing weekend at Pitt Race!” exclaimed Chancellor. “I feel like I finally found my comfort zone on my Royal Enfield and rode great all weekend long. I was definitely disappointed to not finish the race, but I have already put this behind me and am looking forward to our next round in New Jersey.”
“Not the way I wanted to take a victory, ever, but racing is racing,” said Kayleigh Buyck. It was an otherwise stellar weekend for the championship leader. Buyck led the way in qualifying, and was awarded a Wilber Watch for taking pole position.
Podium finisher Chloe Peterson agreed with the sentiment, calling the weekend overall “a bit conflicted. Happy I made it on the podium again in third but not happy that it happened because of the race ending with a red flag. I wanted to see how my battle with Crystal played out. It was a tough race going out with full rain setup on the GT650 with a basically dry track. My strategy was to ride smart and not crash. I didn’t want a repeat of going down at Road America. I redeemed myself, made it on the podium and consider it a success.”
“Racing is not easy; there will always be challenges to overcome and variables beyond your control,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing and Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “These women dealt with all the challenges, kept putting in the work, supported each other and encouraged each other all weekend. Seeing the improvement every time we go out, the great racing and the smiles afterward are what make it all worth it. That’s what Build. Train. Race. is about.”
Pitt Race Results
1. Kayleigh Buyck (#16)
2. Crystal Martinez (#25)
3. Chloe Peterson (#55)
4. Ash Truxal (#31)
5. Jessica Martin (#23)
6. Cora Tennyson (#95)
7. Michaela Trumbull (#27)
8. Trisha Dahl (#44)
9. Alyssa Bridges (#30)
10. Nicole Pareso (#11)
About Royal Enfield: The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 150 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S. and Canada. RENA currently offers the all-new Classic 350, Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.
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Riding Free for 25 years
NCOM Biker Newsbytes for August 2022
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), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
MOTORCYCLIST KILLED BY SELF-DRIVING CAR
“A motorcyclist was killed on I-15 in Draper, Utah when a Tesla crashed into the back of the bike,” reported Fox13 News in Salt Lake City on July 24, adding that “the driver of the Tesla said he had the ‘auto-pilot’ setting on…he told police he didn’t see the motorcyclist.”
“Wow, and even in a driverless vehicle, the ‘I didn’t see the motorcyclist’ gets a rider killed,” commented NCOM Board Member Ed Schetter, who recently presented a “We Just Want Our Place on the Road” seminar at the National Coalition of Motorcyclists’ NCOM Convention in Nashville that examined the inevitability of driverless cars, relating the impact on motorcycling.
“Such an incident stresses our need to protect our space on the road, as I pointed out in my presentation,” said Schetter, a veteran of the auto industry and Executive Director of ABATE of Ohio. “I wonder who the biker’s family gets to sue? The Driver? Tesla? The Software Company? Sometimes you just shake your head.”
UN SET TO ALLOW INCREASED SPEED FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
The United Nations (UN) is set to allow for an increase in speed for the operation of self-driving vehicles, as well as new tests focused on how well they can detect motorcycles.
Until now, the speed limit for the autonomous driving of vehicles has been 60kph (@37mph), but that is now set to increase to 130kph (80.7mph) thanks to an amendment to UN Regulation No. 157 adopted by the UNECE’s World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations. The amendment also allows for autonomous lane changes, and is set to be implemented from January 2023.
The regulation also states, according to the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA), that “all tests that need to be conducted for a system like ALKS (Automated Lane Keeping System) or LCP (Lane Change Procedure), have to be carried out with a passenger car target as well as a powered two-wheeler target.”
This means that, although the autonomous technology is able to operate at a higher rate of speed, the safety for bikers when approaching an autonomous vehicle should now be improved upon, because their ability to detect motorcycles should (hopefully) be improved.
HONDA DEVELOPING LANE ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR THE BIKES OF THE FUTURE
Recent patent filings from Honda for camera- and radar-enabled lane assist for motorcycles across its roster would keep their bikes in-lane via AI.
“Lane assist” is a commonality now in modern cars, but not so common in motorcycles, as electronic aids which detract from the actual riding of the motorcycle for the person holding the handlebars are generally avoided by the manufacturers, who do not want to lose their core enthusiasts, which is also why autonomous technology has not advanced far in the two-wheeled world, especially compared to the much larger automobile market and tech-hungry car culture.
Honda is developing their lane-keeping assist system (LKAS) with the aim of making accidents a thing of the past, but if they are to reach their goal of slashing car and motorcycle deaths by half in the next eight years and bring the number down to zero by 2050, we can expect to see a massive influx of rider-assistance systems like this in the very near future.
The plan combines driver assistance tech with a predictive AI computer system that can spot situations which lead to driving errors before they happen, and is intended to be introduced in the second half of this decade.
Further ahead, the intention is to introduce “Safe and Sound Network Technology” that allows cars, bikes, roadside furniture and even pedestrians (via their phones) to communicate, allowing a server to create a virtual model of traffic movement to predict and prevent accidents before they even start to unfold. The system is scheduled to be phased in from the 2030s.
THE UK WANTS TO BAN THE SALE OF NEW FOSSIL FUELED MOTORCYCLES
The government of the United Kingdom has launched an open consultation, called “L-category vehicles: ending sales of new non-zero emission models,” in which they announce a sales ban for new non-zero emission motorcycles from 2035: “It is important that motorcycles do not remain fossil fueled as the rest of the transport fleet cleans up,” states Trudy Harrison MP, Minister of State for Transport.
‘L-category’ vehicles include 2- and 3-wheeled mopeds, motorcycles, trikes, sidecar-equipped motorbikes, and quadricycles, and in the consult the government clearly states: “While cars and vans vastly outnumber motorcycles on UK roads, motorcycles are an important and sizeable vehicle population, with 1.3 million currently licensed in 2021. We do not want to see them remaining fossil-fueled as the rest of our vehicles clean up.”
The British government has already committed to phasing out new cars and vans that run solely on petrol or diesel by 2030, and all new non-zero emission road vehicles by 2040.
Jim Freeman, Chairman of the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) said: “The BMF will oppose any proposals to ban the use of motorcycles powered by internal combustion engines while such vehicles are still capable of being run. We also oppose a ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine-powered motorcycles while there is the possibility of providing alternatives to fossil fuel and while the electric vehicle charging infrastructure does not adequately support electric motorcycles.”
JURY ACQUITS TRUCKER CHARGED WITH SEVEN-COUNT MOTORCYCLE HOMICIDE
On the morning of June 21, 2019, truck-driver Volodymyr Zhukovskyy admitted to driving under the influence of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine before crashing his 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 Tradesman crew-cab pickup into a pack of Marine Corps veterans riding their motorcycles near Randolph, New Hampshire, killing seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club.
Prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy, who had previous DUI convictions and should have had his license suspended, repeatedly swerved back and forth before the collision and told police he caused it. But the judge dismissed eight charges related to whether he was impaired, based on a contested blood test, and his defense attorneys blamed the lead biker for causing the accident, claiming that “he was drunk and not looking where he was going when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid in front of Zhukovskyy’s truck.”
Following a 2-week trial, jurors deliberated for less than three hours before finding Zhukovskyy, 26, innocent on seven counts of manslaughter, seven counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless conduct, setting him free after being held in custody since the accident.
This high-profile case has garnered staggering coverage across the country, and the surprising verdict has been soundly criticized by many, including New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) who said he shares in the “shock, outrage, and anger that so many have expressed” since the crash. “The Fallen Seven did not receive justice today, and that is an absolute tragedy,” Gov. Sununu stated.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said he believes the state proved its case. “Mr. Zhukovskyy should have been found guilty of the charges in this case and held responsible for causing seven deaths and numerous injuries,” he said. “We thank the Court and the jurors for their service, and while we are extremely disappointed, we respect the verdict and our system of justice.”
PETITION CALLS FOR PROPER PUNISHMENT FOR BIKE THIEVES
A petition has been launched on the Change.org website calling for tougher sentences for bike thieves. The petition was started by British biker, Xander James from Hull, U.K., and has already amassed thousands of signatures — enough to draw attention of local news.
“As we know, motorcycle & vehicle theft is the highest it’s ever been, this is partly due to the minimal sentences from the Crown Prosecution Service,” explains James on his petition to the U.K. Parliament and Scotland Yard. “We need change. We can’t safely park our vehicles outside our own homes anymore! But with the Crown Prosecution Service handing out cautions & early release they keep doing it.”
Along with tougher sentencing, James wants to see Operation Yellowfin receive more support from the Government, a police operational initiative which was launched locally in 2018 to tackle motorcycle crime and anti-social behavior.
STURGIS TRAFFIC DOWN, BUT STILL HIGHER THAN AVERAGE
The good news is; the Department of Transportation counted over half a million vehicles entering Sturgis, South Dakota during the 82nd annual Black Hills Motorcycle Rally week, but the bad news; that’s down 4.4% from last year.
The city of Sturgis estimated the 2021 attendance at 555,000. Although down from 2021, the 2022 total vehicle count is still higher than the five-year average of 492,535.
Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie told the Black Hills Pioneer that 2021 was far better than expected because people had been in lockdown during the pandemic and just wanted to get out and travel. “It was a significant Rally last year. It was actually the largest Rally we had other than the 75th for more than a decade,” he said. “Given that last year was such a large Rally, it’s not unexpected that numbers are down.”
Some worried initially that gas prices — which hovered near $5 a gallon mid-summer — might have deterred people from attending this year’s Rally, but according to Ainslie; “With a lot of individuals that come here, no matter what, they’re going to be coming. But, I think they are being a little more careful with what they are spending.”
BONNEVILLE MOTORCYCLE SPEED TRIALS CANCELED DUE TO FLOODING
On August 13, 2022, the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials organizers officially announced that the 2022 event is canceled. This year’s speed trials had originally been scheduled to take place from August 28 through September 1, 2022, but due to flooding on the Bonneville Salt Flats, the BMST, FIM Land Speed World Records, and AMA Land Speed Grand Championship is officially canceled for 2022.
Heavy storm systems brought flooding to the salt flats, and when organizers did an aerial assessment of the state of the standard track area on August 12, they found that “the entire length of our tracks and beyond are flooded,” and noted that “Although the area is drying, it is unfortunately not drying quickly enough for the event to take place.”
GWRRA CALLS IT QUITS
Putting down their kickstand for good, the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is waving farewell after 45 years of meeting the nicest people, and ceased operations following this year’s Wing Ding 43 in Shreveport, Louisiana at the end of July.
Founded in 1977 with the motto, “Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge,” the GWRRA called itself, “the world’s largest single-marque social organization for owners of Honda Gold Wing/Valkyrie motorcycles” that once boasted nearly 80,000 members across 53 countries, with 800-plus chapters staffed by 4,000 volunteer leaders.
GWRRA Founders Paul Hildebrand and Shirley Stevens-Garcia made good on the ‘60s era ad slogan “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” by creating a non-profit, non-religious, non-political organization “that advocated for rider education and safety, motorist awareness, and leadership training.”
SAVE THE DATE – 2023 NCOM CONVENTION IN PHOENIX
Next year’s 38th annual NCOM Convention is now scheduled for Father’s Day weekend, June 16-18, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona, so plan ahead to join with hundreds of like-minded bikers’ rights activists from across the country for a weekend of learning, sharing and camaraderie!
Concerned advocates from the ranks of Motorcycle Rights Organizations (MROs), clubs (Confederations of Clubs) and independent riders will gather together for the betterment of biking, with agenda items dealing with legal and legislative issues, so check back at www.ON-A-BIKE.com for further details from the National Coalition of Motorcyclists as they are announced.
QUOTABLE QUOTE:
“But where, says some, is the king of America? I’ll tell you. . . . let a crown be placed . . . , by which the world may know, . . . that in America the law is king. For in absolute governments the king is the law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other . . . “~ Thomas Paine (1776), Patriot
ABOUT AIM / NCOM: The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) is a nationwide motorcyclists rights organization serving over 2,000 NCOM Member Groups throughout the United States, with all services fully-funded through Aid to Injured Motorcyclist (AIM) Attorneys available in each state who donate a portion of their legal fees from motorcycle accidents back into the NCOM Network of Biker Services (www.ON-A-BIKE.com / 800-ON-A-BIKE).
Ontario Biker travelling across Canada with Furry Friend
By Wayfarer |
Ontario nuclear operator travelling on motorcycle across Canada with canine friend
Lyna Smith recently made a stop in Quesnel with Monster Yogi Bear
by Rebecca Dyok from https://www.cloverdalereporter.com
It was no ordinary sight at the Quesnel Visitor Centre where Lyna Smith departed on her Russian-made motorcycle with a sidecar containing her four-legged friend, Monster Yogi Bear.
Smith has been traveling across Canada with her Shar Pei rescue dog on a Ural motorcycle since late April.
The pair from Port Elgin, Ont. arrived in B.C. after venturing down the Dempster Highway.
In Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., Smith took a swim in the Arctic Ocean with Monster Yogi Bear taking a quick lick and making a face of disgust due to the water’s saltiness.
“We went east first and my plan was to hit all three oceans,” Smith said. “We’re now headed down towards the Pacific as our third ocean.”
Smith had been planning a trip across Canada for some time and knew she couldn’t leave Monster Yogi Bear behind.
She even made him a cover for his sidecar with windows to protect him from the elements and mapped out all the pet stores along the way.
“There’s been a lot of firsts for him,” Smith said with a laugh, noting Monster Yogi Bear was even in a helicopter over Mount Robson.“He’ll be able to say he’s peed in every province and territory except Nunavut.”
Travelling with Monster Yogi Bear holds extra special meaning to Smith, who is widowed. She had told herself no more dogs when her first Shar Pei died of renal failure shortly after she lost her husband to cancer.
When a friend, however, sent her a picture of another Shar Pei from the Owen Sound Animal Shelter where her husband had gotten her first Shar Pei, Smith had a change of heart.
The Shar Pei she named Monster Yogi Bear was severely underweight and malnourished.
“They weren’t even sure he was going to survive,” Smith said, staff told her. “They said it might have long-lasting effects, and I said I don’t care. I want him.”
It took three months for Smith to fatten Monster Yogi Bear to a weight healthy enough for him to get neutered.
Since then, they have become the best of friends, typically taking the roads less traveled.
“My husband’s also the reason I decided to do this,” Smith said. “We used to travel, ride bikes and scuba dive together, so I’m like, you know what, I’m going to continue traveling…He would have loved this.”
After Quesnel Visitor Centre staff provided Smith with information on dog-friendly places and a bowl of water for Monster Yogi Bear on Monday, Aug. 15, the two hit the road to Tofino.
They planned to make stops at numerous communities and sites along the way, such as the Hat Creek Ranch, Whistler and Nanaimo.
Smith said they hope to return to Ontario in mid-October before the snow flies.
“I just like when I drive in through towns and you see people smile, and some are like you just made my day, and I’m like good,” Smith said when people see her and Monster Yogi Bear riding. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Once home, Smith will leave Monster Yogi Bear with her mom and travel solo for three more months to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii before heading back to work at the nuclear power plant.
Smith is sharing their journey across Canada on Monster Yogi Bear’s Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.
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Last 3 Days: American Biker 15% Off Sitewide Sale & Free Shipping
By Wayfarer |
LAST 3 DAYS TO SAVE with American Biker on Cool Motorcycle Clothing
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VISIT WEBSITE For Complete Selection: https://american-brands.com/american-biker/
One Promo Per Order. Not Valid on Sale Items. Can’t be Combined with Other Offers or Specials.
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Riding Free for 25 Years
TwinPower Introduces New One-Piece Floating Rotor
By Wayfarer |
Tucker Powersport’s TwinPower brand has introduced a line of one-piece floating brake rotors which offer a traditional look while delivering the performance benefits of a floating rotor brake setup.
The new TwinPower units are a perfect replacement for Harley-Davidson models equipped with original equipment floating rotors.
A floating rotor has the ability to conform to the brake pads giving maximum rotor to pad contact. Floating motorcycle brake rotors lead to more consistent and predictable braking. The new TwinPower rotors use special mounting hardware which allows the rotors to “float” for improved braking performance.
TwinPower rotors are known to be some of the highest quality products available and gives a builder or customizer the look of a traditional brake rotor. The proprietary, stainless steel friction surface is precision, double-disc ground and heat treated, while the edges are laser cut, rather than stamped. All machining is done to a tolerance of +/- .004” with high-tech CNC equipment. The new rotors are developed for TwinPower by engineers who specialize in braking products and are manufactured in Spain. Installation is hassle-free using new heavy duty “floater” hardware that is included in the kit. It’s a direct bolt-on using stock or aftermarket calipers and will fit most 2014 and later Harley-Davidson models with five-bolt mounts.
“Builders know that TwinPower delivers the highest quality rotors you can get. These one-piece units match great performance with classic looks,” said TwinPower Brand Manager James Simonelli.
TwinPower’s one-piece Floating Rotors are available for 2014 and later Harley-Davidson FLT models with five-bolt mounts. They retail for $184.95 and are available through Tucker Powersports dealer network immediately. (TwinPower Part Number 666819 – replaces OE part number 41500017).
VISIT WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AT https://twinpower-usa.com/
About TwinPower: Since 1982, TwinPower has been designing and producing quality parts and accessories for the American V-Twin enthusiast. Driven by the same passion that fuels the American V-Twin scene, TwinPower is relentless in its pursuit of quality, functionality, and value.
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XDA Heads to Virginia for the 2022 Bike Bash
By Wayfarer |
On August 26-28, XDA takes Motorcycle Drag Racing back to Virginia Motorsports Park for the 4th annual Bike Bash.
XDA offers a quality show with over 700 professional, sportsman, and grudge motorcycle drag racers in competition. This season XDA will payout over $500,000 in purse money and a $130,000 contingency fund that spans all classes. This event alone will pay out over $80,000 in cash purse, making it a must-attend event for any east coast drag racing enthusiast.
The event features the Orient Express Pro Street class that run speeds over 230 mph in only 6-seconds! And on Saturday Night, the action will be electric as the fastest grudge racers on the east coast will fly down VMP’s perfectly prepped track. The HTP Performance Afterdark Underground Grudge Program will feature the “Running of the Bulls” Grudge Shootouts and all the Grudge Racing you can handle. Even with the scoreboards off, it’s clear who is fast and who is faux fast. Bring your dollars, because once the action starts, you will be picking lanes and betting on your favorites all night long.
Orient Express Racing Pro Street
The World’s fastest and quickest street tire motorcycles will mobilize once again for the Orient Express Pro Street class. With a track smooth as glass, these 650+ horsepower motorcycles running at speeds over 230mph in the quarter-mile in only 6-seconds will have you saying damn all weekend as their performance numbers will shock you on their DOT tires. You do not want to miss the thrilling racing action served up by these all-stars next weekend.
With only two races left in the season, the pressure will be applied as these pro racers are competing for a championship and a spot to be invited to the 26th annual Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco at Maryland International Raceway on November 2-6, 2022. Racers will be fighting for a top ten finish in points for the chance to compete in front of 50,000+ fans in November. But of the ten that qualify, only eight will compete in the $5,000 to win Pro Street Shootout sponsored by Platinum General Services. Rodney Williford, Justin Shakir, Greg Wallace, Jason Dunigan, Darion Payne, Gaige Herrera, James Waugh, Curtis Brown, Ryan Hable, and Rickey Wood are currently qualified for WCF. Several racers will be fighting hard to bump into these coveted spots this weekend, and no one will be working harder than Jordan Haase!
Williford is leading the class by one hundred and forty-five points, but after taking a semi-final round loss at the last event, he has opened the gate and let the wolves in. Shakir, Wallace, Dunigan, and Payne all have a chance at the championship title. Williford will have to be at the top of his game next weekend to keep the bloodthirsty at bay.
DME Racing Real Street
The DME Racing 7-second, 190mph Real Street class is designed for street‐legal sportbikes with limited modifications and a hand clutch. Next weekend’s XDA Championship points chase will heat up as Rickey Gadson and Mark Hylton battle to climb to that number one spot that class champion David Stewart is holding on to by only sixty-five points over his competition. Unlike Hylton, Gadson has never held a Real Street championship title, and he will be laser-focused on the win lights next weekend as he looks to put some distance between himself and Hylton and knock Stewart off the top spot. Brittany Bohne had a stellar showing at the last race, and she will be a formidable obstacle in the way of these guys earning points next weekend if they have to line up next to her.
MaxxECU Pro Xtreme
MaxxECU Pro Xtreme features the World’s quickest turbocharged, nitrous injected, or injected nitro drag bikes. This is the quickest and fastest 1/8 mile category in the XDA, and there is nothing better than first to the finish line, heads up racing. John Collins leads the points chase, but the class championship is wide open and still up for grabs for the team working between races to show up and put down the performance numbers for green lights. Procopio was the only rider to lay down a three-second pass at the last event, but next weekend we expect to see these numbers from most of the field as they all have the horsepower under them to produce big numbers. 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
The stock wheelbase HTP Performance Super Stock class features strict modification rules, stock wheelbase, stock motor, MR12 spec fuel, no air shifters, no dataloggers, etc. Darion Payne has been the class leader all season but only holds a minuscule six points over the field of 4‐stroke naturally aspirated production machines. Mike Davis is due for a win at this event; he has been runner-up at the last four events, missing wins by mere inches! A rule change between races has been implemented, allowing all liter bikes to go back down to 2″ of ground clearance for all size riders. With this change, class representative Cecil Towner is hoping to see more diversity in the class next weekend.
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Click & Check out 5-Ball Racing Salt Torpedo effort for Land Speed Record. The first streamlined Trike to race for such a record. Built by Keith Ball and the 5-Ball Racing Crew.
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Vance & Hines 4.60
The popular 1/8th-mile sportsman index category of Vance & Hines 4.60 class is the World’s quickest index class and next weekend that class will be massive with fifty-three riders already on the pre-race roll call list! XDA increases this purse as the entries go up; based on the current pre-entry, a $1,000 bonus will be paid out to the winner. The first 660 feet of the Virginia Motorsports Park will be on fire next weekend as the championship chase comes down to the wire. The top ten riders in points all have a legitimate shot at the championship, but as the field grows, so does the level of competition. Every round won will matter as the points chase typically comes down to the last few rounds of the season.
1 Stop Speed 5.60
Nick Noble will be working hard at the 4th annual Bike Bash to snag the 1 Stop Speed 5.60 championship points lead away from current leader Dustin Lee next weekend. Only four points separate the two from the top spot. The top ten contenders in the class still have a shot at the championship, but it’s not going to be an easy path for many of them. Only one hundred and eighty points separate number ten from number one. Next weekend’s event could shake up the order, giving many racers hope for a championship title at the season’s last event.
Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman
The quickest ET bikes at the track will be showcased in the Mickey Thompson Top Sportsman class next weekend. Jimmie Miller has not taken a win this season in the class, but his steady stream of win lights has earned him a nine-point lead over the class. The chase for the championship is wide-open at this point; with a different winner every event, there is no guessing where the order will shake out by Sunday night. The winner of this thirty-two bike field not only takes home a $2,000 payout but also advances into round five of Pro ET competition for a chance at a second win and a potential $7,000 payout for the weekend.
MPS Racing Pro ET
The MPS Racing Pro ET points leader, Jimmie Miller, is coming off a win and looking to build on that momentum as he leads the point chase by a mere twenty points. There are still a lot of racers that can grab the championship in this class, but they will need to turn on a lot of green lights next weekend to firm up their chances before the season comes to a close next month back at Maryland International Raceway.
Brock’s Performance Street ET
The Brock’s Performance Street ET class is a tight race at the top of the leader board, with only twenty points separating Mark Blake and Derrick Milbourne. But even though they sit at the top, the top twenty racers still have a chance at a 2022 championship. Anyone can win on Sunday! New racers are welcome at all XDA events; come out and learn how to drag race with us next weekend!
The XDA will also hold competition in the Saturday VooDoo Bracket Bash and Friday night Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s race giving sportsman racers another $9,300 in payouts to be earned over the weekend.
Load up and head out to Virginia Motorsports Park in one week for an exciting weekend of motorcycle drag racing action. This will be our last time at VMP this season; you don’t want to miss the best motorcycle drag racing show on the east coast. Gates open on Friday at 8am, and the action doesn’t stop until Sunday night!
Visit www.xdaracing.com for event information, class rules, 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 www.xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing
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Post Rally Blues Bikernet Weekly News for August 18th, 2022
By Wayfarer |
With News from all over the Nation
The rally came and went in the blink of an eye. I’m trying to write my rally report and get a handle on my experience and the vibe for this year. I’m also experiencing post rally and flooded Bonneville blues, while studying the Texas mile for Salt Torpedo test runs in March.
The day after they canceled Bonneville, I received two calls. One, my FIM required stickers were ready. And second, our team shirts were finished at Alpine impressions.
I think I am enjoying the outta-of-gear feeling right now. I’m still quizzing folks about their rally experience. My grandson had a blast, then was forced to ride back to war-homeless torn Los Angeles.
— Bandit
Click Here to get this week’s wrap of all the Motorcycle News that matters
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