International Motorcycling Advocate Deb Butitta Dies in Crash
By Wayfarer |
Visit: http://mrf.org
*Used Volkswagens and Autonomous Cars
By Wayfarer |
This is for those committed to keep driving alive
Never Stop Driving ! Two things are on my mind: A recent sale of a used Volkswagen and a podcast in which Elon Musk said Tesla cars will have Level IV autonomous capability in 2023. I think the two are related. Let me explain.
While I would not mind an autonomous pilot myself from time to time, I am first and foremost a driver. The one thing I’ve had in common at all my gigs is that I have no off-hours from cars. I spend nearly every waking minute either working on cars; driving cars, whether around town or, my favorite, long road trips; racing; or passing on my enthusiasm.
Your humble narrator fathoms deep in the car thing.
–by Larry Webster from Hagerty.com
Read this Editorial Article on Bikernet.com by Clicking Here.
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If you haven’t already, Check Out the Brand New 5-Ball Racing Garage Online Shop !!!
CLICK HERE: You will find unique Motorcycling Gear designed by Lifelong Bikers & Custom Builders.
Riding Free for 25 Years, celebrate Bikernet.com
A 1940 Indian Four sold for $89,000
By Wayfarer |
This 1940 Indian Four is said to have been restored under prior ownership and was acquired by the selling dealer in 2016. The bike is finished in dark red over a black frame and powered by a numbers-matching 77ci inline-four paired with a hand-shifted three-speed transmission. Equipment includes a sprung leather solo saddle, a chrome luggage rack, a side stand, a foot-clutch, a leaf-spring front end, a four-into-one exhaust system, a chrome engine guard, plunger shocks, 18″ wire-spoke wheels, and center and side stands. This Model Four is offered by the selling dealer in Oregon with a clean Michigan title.
It was sold on popular online automotive buy-sell auction website for Vintage and Classic vehicles: https://bringatrailer.com
Essentials
Seller: 911r
Location: Portland, Oregon 97227
Listing Details
Chassis: 440413
Engine: DD0413
305 Miles Shown, TMU
Numbers-Matching 77ci Inline-Four
Three-Speed Hand-Shifted Transmission
Dark Red Paint
Skirted Fenders
Cognac Leather Sprung Seat
Leaf-Spring Front End
Plunger Shocks
18″ Wire-Spoke Wheels
Four-Into-One Exhaust System
Chrome Luggage Rack
Private Party or Dealer: Dealer
Additional charges from this dealer: USD $0
Lot #72267
SOLD FOR USD 89,000 on May 06, 2022.
The bike was restored in dark red over a black frame under previous ownership. Equipment includes a side stand, a horn, footboards, skirted fenders, and sprung cognac leather solo saddle embellished with fringe and jeweled nailhead trim as well as a chrome luggage rack, engine guard, rear fender guard, frame guards, and center and side stands.
Wire-spoke 18″ wheels wear Coker blackwall tires. Suspension consists of a leaf-spring fork in addition to dual plunger shocks mounted on either side of the rear axle. Braking is from drums at both ends.
A chrome steering damper knob and cross-braced handlebar sit between the aluminum dash and polished headlight bucket. Instrumentation includes a 130-mph speedometer, an ammeter, a keyed ignition, a trip meter, and a five-digit odometer showing 305 miles, 10 of which have been ridden by the selling dealer. Total mileage is unknown.
The air-cooled 77ci inline-four produced 40 horsepower when new and is equipped with a single carburetor, a chrome air cleaner, Auto-Lite ignition, and a four-into-one exhaust with a ceramic coated exhaust manifold and chrome heat shield. An oil pressure gauge is mounted to the crankcase and an AGM battery with an Indian-style cover was installed by the selling dealer.
Power is routed to the rear wheel through a three-speed non-sequential transmission that is shifted using a tank-mounted hand lever on the right and a clutch pedal on the left.
The bike is titled by its engine number, DDo413, the last three digits of which match the number stamped on the frame, a photo of which can be viewed in the gallery.
CHECK OUT more Photos at the auctioneer website:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1940-indian-four-2/
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The United Bikernet Weekly News for June 2nd, 2022
By Wayfarer |
It’s Uplifting and Inspiring…. So Get Rolling
With News from the NRA, Bonneville, Lowbrow, Yamaha, Indian motorcycles, Alex Epstein, Fossil Fuel files, Lucky Devil, Sullen, Humble, Michael Hupy, Damon Motorcycles, Lifestyle Cycles, Carl Pussar, Climate Crises, Trailblazers, Johnny Gibson, Johnny Depp, Harley-Davidson University, Chix on 66, NMA, Buckle Guy, Wreaths across America, Tucker Powersports, 5-Ball, Hal Robinson, Bikernet and way more…
CLICK HERE To Read the Weekly News only On Bikernet.com
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.
Get more out of your motorcycling lifestyle – Join Bandit’s Cantina. Celebrate 25 Years of Bikernet.com. CLICK HERE To Sign-up.
THE UNITED BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for June 2nd, 2022
By Bandit |
Hey,
I had a conversation with one of the most respected guys in our industry yesterday. I won’t mention his name or current affiliation. During his recent duties as a photographer and writer he’s struggled with his understanding of what’s PC or required.
We are living in interesting times, but when we are faced with PC efforts we need to look beyond the rhetoric to their ultimate goal. Just like we need to look at folks’ actions and look beyond to their goals at the time. And bottom line, we need to look beyond all these efforts to understand our end goal. Are they designed to point out only social injustice, or are they designed to tear the country to pieces?
We’ve been here before with the McCarthy era. Ultimately all the finger pointing will stumble and the truth will shine, and freedom will reign once more. If you look at most of the educated folks who are fighting Climate Crises, you will find that they started as environmentalist, but discovered the true hate filled nature of the movement and the lies, so they turned toward the truth and what it will bring back to the country, unity and freedom.
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.
Universal Internal Throttle Cable
Our wide range of control cable offerings includes a universal internal throttle cable that fits modern internal throttles. This cable features a Teflon-lined housing and stainless-steel inner wire and easily routes through handlebars. The cable is complete with inline adjuster and carb/throttle body fitting at one end and the housing and inner cable are trim to fit. Custom length cables available on request.
Part #101-80-30002 (45” housing) and #101-80-30002-08 (53” housing). MSRP starts at $19.50
by Porsche Taylor
SEPTEMBER 1-5
800-962-9857 – EasyridersEvents.com
MARIETTA, Ga. – June 2, 2022 – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, marked the 14th anniversary of the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) with an employee volunteer event in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, helping The Great Outdoors Fund fulfill its OAI grant project on the Oakey Mountain OHV trail system. In a fitting celebration of the OAI program awarding more than $5 million in grant funding to date, a contingent of employees and volunteers joined the effort north of Yamaha’s motorsports headquarters and factory in Georgia to clean up and restore an area decommissioned to public motorized access.
“It’s immensely gratifying to help communities and improve rider access across the nation through Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative, especially when seeing a consistently positive outcome after the program’s fourteen years of dedication and determination,” said Mike Martinez, president of Motorsports at Yamaha, who led the company’s attendance at the event on April 30, 2022. “When grant recipients are local and our employees can provide hands-on assistance, like on the Oakey Mountain trail in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, it only further reinforces the vital need to keep our nation’s public lands open for all to enjoy through the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative.”
The 2022 Yamaha OAI program is underway and riding clubs, land stewardship associations, and public land managers are encouraged to work together with Yamaha dealers to identify projects and apply for support.
“With the demand for these spaces being at an all-time high, the resources and energy required to protect, maintain, and improve access to public land has never been greater,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s Motorsports marketing manager. “Therefore, we strive to make it an easy process to receive the necessary assets through the Yamaha OAI program to fulfill projects and keep trails open; from our perspective, the sooner we get the funds working on the ground, the quicker the impact on what matters most.”
To help those thinking about applying for a grant, the Yamaha OAI has answered the most popular questions about the program at YamahaOAI.com and offers recaps of some typical projects as inspiration.
- FireFrost ATV Club, Halstad, Minnesota
- Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center, Whitefish, Montana
- San Juan Mountains Association, Durango, Colorado
- Turin Ridge Riders, Constable, New York
The Southern California Mountain Foundation also received a grant in the first quarter of 2022, extending a decade-long partnership that historically includes frequent Yamaha employee volunteer events on the San Bernardino National Forest, providing hands-on support for trail clearing, erosion control, and facilities improvements in one of the country’s most popular areas for outdoor and motorized recreation.
The application deadline for consideration in the second quarter of the 2022 funding cycle is June 30, 2022. Submission guidelines and an application for a Yamaha OAI grant are available at YamahaOAI.com.
For specific questions about the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative, call the dedicated hotline at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@Yamaha-Motor.com, or write to:
LATEST FROM SUPPORT GOOD TIMES— Horny-Davidson Five Panel Snapback
$ 35.00
Support Good Times Horny-Davidson five panel snapback hat. Embroidered design, premium wool blend, high profile 3 3/4″ crown, flat visor with classic green undervisor, matching plastic snap, and hard buckram.
ART EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK— LUSTER Moves to Indiana
Since 2018, I’ve been blessed to have a few of my paintings travelling around the country in a museum exhibition called LUSTER: Realism and Hyperrealism in Automobile and Motorcycle Painting
Curated and coordinated by David J. Wagner Associates LLC, the show includes 55 works by some of the world’s best living artists and four of my works are included.
On view
June 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023
Auburn Cord Deusenberg Museum
205 West State Street | Trenton, NJ
Info about the event can be found on the museum’s website
THIS JUST IN FROM THE LOWBROW GANG— The Best Weekend To Be In Ohio in 2022
Come on to Northeast Ohio for Fuel Cleveland, Saturday, July 30th, 2022.
This will be a weekend you don’t want to miss!
PS – Scope out FuelCleveland.com for all the details, to submit your bike for a spot in the show, or to secure your vendor spot!
Fuel Cleveland 2022
This year’s Fuel Cleveland venue is a 90 acre historic farm and village nestled in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio.
BMW Motorrad Ride to Fuel Cleveland Run
BMW Motorrad presents the Ride to Fuel Cleveland Run on the morning of the show! Kickstands up at 9am, leaving Edgewater Park on the shores of Lake Erie, and arriving at Fuel Cleveland after riding through the City of Cleveland, and the entire length of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT—We felt it was time to re-evaluate our Bikernet Arsenal. In the city we were prepared with sawed-off shotguns and handguns, but now in the country those pellet pushers won’t reach the end of the yard. We needed to look for something long range, so we reach out to our resident security expert, Marko. Here’s what he suggested:
Yep – everyone should have an AR-15 or similar clone. There are lots to choose from. It usually comes down to how much you want to spend. They range from $800 – $2300+ The popular consumer grade ARs are the SIG, Colt, S&W, Ruger, Springfield, Bushmaster, etc with Daniel Defense at the high end.
H&K also makes a great high end AR but you don’t really need that.
A note on caliber:
- AR-15s come in .223 Remington and 5.56mm calibers — which are basically the same caliber.
- But 5.56mm is the military version of .223 Rem ammo so a little higher pressure.
- So it is best to get a 5.56mm model AR-15 so you can shoot both 5.56mm ammo and ,223 ammo.
- The modern “flat top” models are designed for detachable iron sights or scopes.
- Unlike the Vietnam models with the handle and high fixed front sight.
Cabelas / Bass Pro have the S&W M&P 15s for around $800
Sportsman’s has several in the $800-$1,000 range
Here’s a link to Sportsman’s Outdoor selection of SIGs
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/category.cfm/sportsman/ar-15-rifles/brand/sig-sauer
Daniel Defense link:
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/category.cfm/sportsman/ar-15-rifles/brand/daniel-defense
Cheers,
Mark
QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–
Saturday morning I got up early, dressed quietly, made my lunch, grabbed my clubs, slipped quietly into the garage and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.
The wind was blowing 50 mph.
I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad throughout the day. I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. There I cuddled up to my wife’s back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, ‘The weather out there is terrible.’
My loving wife of 20 years replied, ‘Can you believe my stupid husband is out golfing in that crap?’
I still don’t know to this day if she was joking, but I have stopped golfing…
–Joe Smith
NEW FROM CHOPPERS MAGAZINE— “This bike was built in memory of my dad,” Brent Buenger tells us. “My dad had a subscription to Easyriders when I was a kid and we always talked about building a Panhead chopper together. This was back the 1980’s and he was riding FXRs at the time. Time passed, as it seems to do, and unfortunately so did he. We never got around to building that chopper together, but the idea of it always stayed with me.” So, as money and time permitted, Brent set out to begin the process.
THE FOSSIL FUEL FILES—All asphalt road are made from fossil fuels.
1907: The Automobile and the Rise of Refined Petroleum Asphalt
Until about 1900, just about all asphalt used in the United States came from natural sources. However, as the automobile rose in popularity, an increased demand for better roads led to innovations in both producing and laying asphalt. This included making the switch to refined petroleum-based asphalt pavement, as well as the introduction of the mechanical drum mixers and spreaders.
625 B.C.: The First Recorded Asphalt Road
asphalt road625 B.C. marks the first recorded evidence of asphalt being used in road construction. However, it is important to note that before that time asphalt had been a widely accepted building material, commonly used as mortar or water sealant.
1824: The First Modern Asphalt Road
In 1824, large blocks of natural asphalt rock were used to pave the Champ-Elysses, a wide boulevard in Paris. This event was a huge undertaking, ultimately resulting in the first modern asphalt road.
TIP FROM THE OFFICES OF MICHAEL HUPY– New app called “no go”
A REPORT FROM THE LUCKY DEVIL— I helped sort out some issues on this pickup for Tom also, a little at a time in between motorcycle work. .was supposed to be a small job haha.
Here is a shot with Tom Young, my old friend, mentor and Boss for a few years ( this was the show version of the bike ), Once Harv hit full retirement from the Navy he wanted to make sure she was a little more user friendly ( Baker 6n4, sprung seat, gauges and such)
Eventually I’ll get around to fixing the shop E-mail, mostly just me being lazy and somehow it always seems to get bumped from the weekly priority list haha. . Here are some shots of Little Red
–Kent Weeks
Satan
Lucky Devil Custom Motorcycles
Hang on for an upcoming feature. –Bandit
NEW FROM SULLEN—
This weeks tee features a killer design that is perfect for Memorial Day with a dark and vintage touch to it. Designed by artist @djagarta and printed on our custom premium tee in a unique elmwood color!
Don’t forget about our Buy 3 Get 1 FREE sale going on right now on our tees, hats, & boardshorts!
After being seen by the Canadian doctors (Canada has ZERO ugly nurses) and being shipped back home to Illinois, (no small feat on crutches, having to be wheeled around the airports like a bum), I finally got to see a doctor and am now scheduled for surgery on my knee once the workers comp arbitrators determine what to do.
Canada has now stated I’d have to fly back and forth to Alberta for treatment from them, and Illinois and Texas are fighting over which state I belong too. It’s a mess.
I’ve never been in this situation and am ready to finally enjoy some nice riding weather in Illinois on two wheels but now can’t. Well, I can, but if the bike tips to the right at all I am going down as my leg is fried. The prognosis is surgery, then 6 weeks on crutches, then rehab…approximately 4-6 months before I can work my normal job again. I feel like a prisoner, but I can at least go outside and look at or sit on my bikes.
What do you suggest I do to get my two-wheeled cravings under control until I can actually ride again? I thought about tearing the Roadglide down and maybe doing some engine work, or …..man, I don’t know. This just sucks.
I did coach my wife through removing her stock pegs and installing some floorboards on her 2020 Fatbob. Looks bad ass and she likes the feel much better….now we just have to adjust the angle and may need a new longer brake pedal, but we will see. The company, Thrashin Supply Inc. sent a good product that basically bolts right up to the stock foot control and replaces the peg with a mini floorboard. Made in the USA products are always a plus and they proudly support the red, white, and blue! Very easy install.
–Johnny White
Mees Extends His Championship Points Lead with Successful Doubleheader Performance Aboard His FTR 750
It was an exhilarating weekend of racing for Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, with reigning SuperTwins Champion Jared Mees rebounding after a second-place finish at Red Mile I to come away with an impressive win the following night at Red Mile II. Mees’ victory extended his points lead to 109 in the championship standings, 22-points ahead of second, and gives Indian Motorcycles their fourth overall win for the 2022 American Flat Track season.
The success over the weekend is all the more impressive, considering new regulations imposed by American Flat Track that require teams running the FTR 750 to run a 34-millimeter restrictor plate. This ultimately inhibits the FTR 750’s ability to make power in stark contrast to competitor bikes for whom the restrictor plates are not required.
On night one of the Red Mile doubleheader in Lexington, Kentucky, Mees fell short to series rookie Dallas Daniels in a nail-biting battle that lasted throughout the entire 14-minute plus two-lap main event. Mees and Daniels maintained a too-close-to-call position for a majority of the race, swapping the lead spot multiple times. On the final lap, Mees made what he thought would be the race-winning pass, but Daniels had different plans, blasting by the reigning champion to cross the finish line a mere .008 seconds in front of Mees.
Mees’ true champion spirit was on full display the next night when he returned in front of another sold out crowd for a rematch at Red Mile II. Right from the start it was Daniels and Mees leading the pack again, with Davis Fisher eventually joining them to make it a three-way fight for the top spot. In an explosive fight to the finish, Mees made a last-minute charge, storming past Daniels on the final lap to take the checkered and win. The win marked Mees’ 23rd mile victory of his career, tying him for fifth all-time in the discipline.
“It was an exciting two days of racing for Jared [Mees] and the whole Indian Motorcycle team, especially considering the enormous challenges we have been forced to overcome with AFT’s newly imposed restrictor plate limitations for our bikes,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “It’s really disheartening to see our FTR 750 so radically debilitated in comparison to the competition, but it makes the incredible efforts of Jared and Davis all the more impressive, and we could not be prouder of them and their teams for the skill and determination that ultimately put us on the podium.”
“The first couple of laps, Dallas [Daniels] and I had a pretty comfortable lead,” Mees explained of his Red Mile II performance. “That allowed me to hold back a bit, pacing him to get a sense of where I could make a move. There’s no room for error in that situation. When you decide to make your move, you’ve got to make it count, and that’s exactly what I was able to do. It felt good though to get the win, especially after coming so close in round one.”
The 2022 American Flat Track season continues June 11 for the Laconia Short Track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.
[page break]
HOT NEWS FROM DAMON CYCLES–Building the Future of Motorcycling
Just last October, Damon began constructing our 110,000 square foot production plant from scratch. As the walls come up, we’re excited to share that the build of our cleantech manufacturing and research and development hub will be completed later this year.
Doug McCallum, City of Surrey Mayor
“We are energized to see the new facility developing on a daily basis and are very proud that the first HyperSports will be made right here in Surrey. This production headquarters will not only provide jobs and a local boost to the community, but furthers our position as a clean tech hub and leader in Canada.”
Click the image to watch a video of our manufacturing plant coming to life.
Damon’s production plant is expected to stimulate Surrey’s local economy with 300 high-tech manufacturing jobs and 500+ high-tech office jobs by 2025.
Welcome Pat McNally, VP Manufacturing
Industry veteran, Pat McNally, has joined Damon to oversee the manufacturing of our motorcycles.
With over 30 years of experience, Pat has held key manufacturing positions for a variety of companies, including Confidential, Gibson Brands, Flextronics, Solectron, and more. We’re delighted that he’s now adding Damon to his extensive resume.
“The stage has been set and the expectations are high for the upcoming arrival of the HyperSport motorcycle. I am excited to join this exciting team and help the company manufacture and deliver a product that will not only meet—but exceed those expectations.”
Don’t Wait. Reserve Now.
With the production plant’s progress, we’re on track to begin deliveries next year. However, our 2023 volume is already sold out and the list continues to grow!
Don’t wait even longer to get your bike – reserve now for 2024 delivery.
LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK—
2016 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUTG – Tri Glide Ultrafor $27,995.00
See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=12193882
STOCK # 13341
2016 Metallic silver Harley-Davidson TRI-GLIDE TRIKE FLHTCUTG
ONLY 31107.00 Miles !!!!!
This bike is a clean Tri-Glide ready to go!
Some of the features/Add-on’s on this bike
* 103c.i. Motor
* 6-Speed trans.
* Reverse
* Touring pack with passenger speakers and controls
* Mag wheels
* Rider backrest
Just $27,995.00
Plus, license, and a $85.00 documentation fee and your local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like dealers, We have no reconditioning or prep fees.
This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety and mechanical/structural inspection.
You can fill out an online application with EZ FINANCING and EXTENDED WARRANTIES available to purchase!!! and you can ride today!
Lifestyle Cycles located at 1510 State College Blvd,Anaheim,CA,92806 NOT LOCAL WE HAVE
******SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!******
Call today (714) 490-0155. **Open 7 days a week**
To view our current inventory, please visit www.LifestyleCycles.com or www.facebook.com/LifestyleCyclesUsedHarleys/
Trikes are an interesting subject, and we are in the process of turning out an article about the Trike Transformation. Lots of older guys are struggling with issues that direct them to the trike market. Most of our brothers immediately turn to Harley-Davidson. DaCat did just that, but he’s an investigator, a bike builder and a performance and suspension aficionado.
He discovered major issues with stock Harley trikes. Some of these issues would turn a brother against keeping his trike after very little experience. We have discovered with a few not-so-cheap upgrades a factory trike can shine. We’ll delve into this issue shortly.
–Bandit
So, his shop shriveled, but the Union demand for his abilities kept growing and they’ve called him back several times. Plus, in tight spaces he’s building another masterpiece custom and rebuilding Panhead and flathead engines for friends, including Marilyn Stemp’s.
If you might be interested in this Triumph with the reversed head, reach out to Carl at 1-309-642-8955.
Climate crazies tell us that the world will end any day – and they’ve been saying this for decades. They’ve been telling children that there’s no hope for their future, and that humanity and the planet are doomed.
None of this is true.
To the contrary, fossil fuels have made us more prosperous, happy, and rich than EVER before in the history of the human race.
On today’s episode, we have author Alex Epstein bringing us the truth about fossil fuels, why we should all be cheering on fossil fuel development, and why we need more fossil fuel use, not less, to ensure a safe and healthy planet.
On today’s podcast we discuss his newest book, Fossil Future: Why Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas—Not Less. You can buy it HERE. We highly recommend it.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnasRskk2YAhttps%3A%2Fyoutu.be%2FOnasRskk2YA&feature=youtu.be
Watch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/v16zi16-america-needs-fossil-fuels-with-alex-epstein.html
Johnny’s pro racing career goes back to the late 1940s. He was one of the few racers who raced at Carroll, Gardena, and Ascot, and was a winner at all of them.
Surprisingly, he only won one National, that being the 1956 Daytona 200 Mile RR, but the holy grail of them all. Johnny held National number # 5 from 1954 through 1962. A Mahony archives photo.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS–Good EV News in Illinois
In a win for electric motorcycling in Illinois, buyers of street-legal plug-in bikes in the land of Lincoln will be eligible for a $1,500 EV rebate beginning July 1. This was not the case when the state’s Clean Energy Jobs Act passed in 2021, incentivizing the purchase of new and used electric vehicles with the exception of motorcycles.
“Making electric vehicles accessible and affordable for all Illinoisans is a great way to promote sustainability,” said State Senator Dave Koehler. “By offering the same incentives for electric motorcycles that we do for other types of electric vehicles, we’re improving Illinois’ relationship with greener energy and supporting multiple modes of transportation.”
–MIC
CCMS, Create Milwaukee Moto Collective, and Harley-Davidson University Support Chix on 66
June 1, 2022—Riveter Chapter of the AMCA proudly announces that Create Milwaukee Moto Collective, CCMS motorcycle repair shop, and Harley-Davidson University will be supporting the Chix on 66 riders by offering garage space, tools, and instruction for motorcycle oil changes along the route.
Chix on 66 is a cross-country ride comprising 40 women that will follow the entirety of Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. Riveter Chapter President Karan Andrea says, “To the uninitiated, fluid changes, replacing spark plugs, checking cables, brake pads, tire pressure, etc. seems as complicated as rebuilding a motor.
“Having these two shops, Create Milwaukee Moto Collective in Milwaukee, along with a rep from Harley-Davidson University, and CCMS motorcycle repair shop in Tucumcari, New Mexico, on hand to assist or teach our riders how to change their own oil is the first step for these women to really own their bikes in a way they never have.
“The more I learn and the more I do on my bikes, the less intimidating the jobs seem, and when I ride, I know my bike better than before. It will be exciting to see that self-discovery happen for some of our riders, and I am grateful for the assist in making that happen.”
Create Milwaukee Moto Collective in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a community-driven motorcycle shop focused on teaching and providing a space for local motorcycling enthusiasts.
Create MKE founder Kyle Kompas has opened his shop to host Chix on 66 riders who want to change their oil before setting forth on Route 66. Kyle is making available several lifts, tools, and other goods that may be needed while riders are in Milwaukee on June 10, 2022.
Additionally, Harley-Davidson University, based in Milwaukee, will provide a representative to work with Kyle at Create MKE where they will assist riders with their oil changes, offering consulting and instruction where needed. This is yet another illustration of title sponsor Harley-Davidson’s support of the Riveter Chapter and Chix on 66.
NEWS FROM THE NMA–Last week, President Biden signed an Executive Order concerning police reform on the two-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. Reason.com reports that the order restricts chokeholds and limits the transfer of military equipment to police. Route-Fifty.com exclaimed that the order could possibly help spur local reforms. GovExec reported that Biden also ordered all federal law enforcement to wear body cameras.
CBS News reported that US cities are rethinking traffic stops as Black drivers are disproportionately affected and TechDirt put up this headline: Following Crime Increases, US City Governments Decide It’s Time To Sacrifice Liberty For Safety.
In court news, the US Supreme Court rebuffs Republican-led states on greenhouse gas policy. The 10th Circuit Appeals Court was asked to recognize a First Amendment Right to Record Cops.
Chain comes in a range of styles, sizes & finishes and is available in 36″ inch pre-cut lengths. The links can be opened to attach more chain links or use one of our opening end rings or shackles.
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA RADIO— to Broadcast LIVE at an Exclusive Historic Event
Join us on Women’s Veterans Day as history unfolds during the grand reopening
of the National Military Woman’s Memorial in Washington D.C.
COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, and WASHINGTON D.C. — June 1, 2022 — On June 12, Wreaths Across America Radio will help celebrate the accomplishments of our nation’s military women as part of the annual Women’s Veterans Day in the United States, a date chosen to mark the anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. This year, on Sunday, June 12th, Wreaths Across America Radio will be broadcasting live from Washington D.C. bringing you the exclusive coverage of the entire grand re-opening of the Military Women’s Memorial starting at 2pm ET.
Wreaths Across America Radio is a 24/7 internet stream that can be heard anytime and anywhere on the iHeart Radio app, Audacy app, TuneIn app, or at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio.
The grand re-opening will focus on the first phase of renovation completed at the Military Women’s Memorial, which includes the theater space which will be unveiled in a special dedication to the Military Women’s Memorial founding President, Air Force Brigadier General (Retired) Wilma L. Vaught. This is a private, invite only event that will feature female military leaders and veterans. However, this historic event is being made available exclusively to Wreaths Across America Radio, for anyone who wants to have a share in history in the making.
“Being part of a historic event such as this is something we wished every American could witness,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, WAA. “Now, thanks to Wreaths Across America Radio, we’ll be able to share it with all those who wished they could be there. We are both grateful and excited to share these important stories with our listeners as we continue to Remember, Honor and Teach all year round.”
You can support both the Military Women’s Memorial and Wreaths Across America by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath through the Memorial’s Sponsorship Group www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0827P. Each $15 sponsorship goes toward a fresh balsam veteran’s wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all veterans laid to rest on Saturday, December 17, 2022, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day; $5 of each sponsorship made will go to the Military Women’s Memorial to support their mission and programs.
Fort Worth TX – June 1, 2022 – Touring motorcycle riders of all brands will connect with Tucker Powersports’ Kuryakyn and TwinPower brand representatives at the annual Americade Rally in Lake George NY this week. Tucker, the nation’s leading distributor of powersports products, is a Platinum Sponsor of the rally and will have a commanding presence at the event.
Kuryakyn and TwinPower will share a large display tent in the festival commons in Lake George, where riders will be greeted by the Kuryakyn entrance arch as they arrive. Tucker will also sponsor the shuttle for rally attendees, helping them more easily between activities on the rally site.
The partnership between Americade and these Tucker brands comes quite naturally. The Kuryakyn brand has been a top source of accessories for all brands of touring motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidson, BMW and Honda Goldwing models. This year, the brand launched new touring bags, a line of waterproof bags and even a Pet Palace for rider’s traveling with their “best friend.” Since its inception in 1982, TwinPower has been supporting riders with great oil, batteries, drivetrain components, maintenance items and tools, which are a perfect fit for long distance riders.
“This event is important for both Kuryakyn and TwinPower,” said Tyler Anderson, Kuryakyn Brand Manager. “Americade is the most significant gathering of touring riders in the country. We want to learn from the attendees while sharing our great products that are designed expressly for long distance riders.”
Americade, started in 1984, was one of the first motorcycle rallies designed for the long-distance touring rider. It combines rides through the beautiful roadways of upstate New York and New England, a huge trade show and expo, presentations by expert riders and touring veterans and social events that bring out the camaraderie of riders who love putting lots of miles behind them on their motorcycles.
Americade 2022 runs from June 7 to June 11 in Lake George NY.
Oops, this is the latest news posted on the BMST website. Okay, so it’s a reminder to get signed up. I’m trying. It’s a struggle.
–Bandit
5-Ball Racing
P.S. If you are interested in building a bike and running to Bonneville, you might check out our book on the 2007 effort to become the world’s fastest Panhead.
MRS. ROBINSON SPEAKS OUT–New Bikernet Reader Comment!
MEMORIAL DAY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for May 26, 2022
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/MEMORIAL_DAY_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_May_26_2022.aspx
Hal’s bandana looks fantastic. Thanks for showing it and Ruby did a fantastic job modeling it too.
— Ann Robinson
Long Beach
WORLD RUN REVIEW–You are just as good as any of those adventure writers, plus you put bikes in the mix and your tech talk is accurate.
I would think there would be a big market if you were on the books area at Walmart and grocery stores. That’s where the majority of books get sold.
–Bill May
Oops, the sex might get me kicked out of Walmart.—Bandit
What the Mind can conceive and believe, the Mind will achieve.
— Napoleon Hill
With Each and every day we are faced with choices. We all have our demons that try and take over, we all have fears, challenges and obstacles, but how we choose to Live today is up to us.
I Know we have that within us that supersedes any challenge and supports us with the Universal Law of cause and effect.
Henry Ford said, “If you think you can or you think you can’t your right” and Buddha said “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
These teachers and many more have simply said that what we think about is what we become.
One of the most important things is to take the time out and listen to your conversations and thoughts. Are they positive, confident uplifting or negative limiting thoughts? Are you talking about the problem or the solution?
WOW these are some heavy thoughts. We have choices of how we want to start today and how we choose to go forward with Life from this moment on. I Know at the core we are Perfect Whole and Complete and have the choice to Live the Life we want if we truly choose this path, like Ford said, “If you think you can or you think you can’t your right.”
Today Know: I Let Go of the all road-blocks that have held me back from Living My Good. I Know that Good will overcome evil, Love trumps hate, Faith erases fear and doubt, Joy overcomes sadness.
I am so Thankful that I can change My Mind and now Live My Truth. As I become a Living example of Living the Dream and I Inspire others to do the same.
And So It Is
Namaste’
Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.
–Wayne Dyer
–Yale Gelfant
Choppers Cycle
IT’S TIME TO ROLL—That’s why we developed the Bandit’s Bedroll and Day Roll, and we’re not talking about Sushi.
These are designed to carry all your shit including tools, locks, Chapstick and duds. They do the trick and look cool in the process.
I took The Biker Movie off of the internet in March.
For MOST people, Film Highway’s platform was too complicated to understand, as it required logging on and registering on Two of these different devices such as FireTVs, Roku Tvs, Amazon Firesticks, Roku Devices, a computer, an iPad or Tablet, or a phone.
Depending on the date of the devices manufacture or the brand, SOME of these devices did not work properly..or SOME people were not “Computer Literate” enough to understand.
For me, this was a customer service issue non-stop as I was on the phone constantly explaining And/Or Solving problems. So, I quickly figured out that I was going to lose money hiring people to do this type of work 365 days a year, as most people either had problems with the devices or could not afford to buy them.
So I’ll just get right to it.. I took my losses, got a partial refund, regrouped my finances and will now release The Biker Movie privately on DVD as soon as possible.
Just so you know this has been a LOT of work requiring FOUR different facilities (including mine)to do the digital work and new design work. Currently I am doing more upgrading and design work. Since it is a 4 hour movie I had to split the movie in 2 so it fits on 2 DVD’s.
I thank you for your patience.
–Pete Alva
CEO-Forworld Pictures and Entertainment
Comments
Nikole Niki Legner Guzman
IT’S GONNA BE HUGE!!!
Reply3h
Andy Mcphee
Man, wow ok good on ya keep finding solutions
Reply1h
Sue Twofeathers Lazzaro
Definitely a one-of-a-kind movie
You have put your heart and soul into it
Reply1h
Suddenly, you show up and start sitting on it. Then you have it in your place in Wilmington. Meanwhile some stripper keeps showing up every five minutes to writhe a bit, and that’s my story.
Thank you,
–J.J. Solari
[page break]
CALIFORNIA MAY ESTABLISH PILOT NOISE CAMERA PROGRAM—
Under the language of SB-1079, a total of six yet-to-be-determined cities across California would implement a pilot program, using automated, so-called ‘noise cameras’ to “capture vehicle noise levels that exceed the legal sound limit.”
Complicating matters, the legal sound limits for cars and motorcycles in California have been in place for years, and are inexplicably different, with a limit of 95 decibels for cars and 80 for motorcycles built after 1985.
Noise cameras have been used in Europe and came to the United States last fall when New York began piloting their use. Earlier this year, Knoxville, Tenn., also began testing a noise camera, and Newark, NJ is currently exploring their use.
–Bill Bish
NCOM
I believe that there really is too much divisiveness in America. A civil war would fix that. Really quickly. Because one side is comprised of cowards, baby killers, unemployables, cross dressers, in-fighters, gender deniers, gun haters, bad shots, and Jesus mockers.
The other side is inhabited by normal people who can immediately organize because we have been fighting wars since Alexander the Great. It would be VERY a short war. And that’s the only downside. LET’S DO THIS!!
–J.J. Solari
Since Wednesday, I have fever, on & off. The damn climate changes every few hours. The temperature here goes up and down in extremes every day, like the cats of a crazy cat lady.
I used to ride to my jobs in the past during such, every day, for six day work-weeks. I wouldn’t stop and take off the waterproof thin jacket while commuting 4 hours in rush-hour traffic with mandatory helmet on – because it would rain or get hot again anytime.
Past two & a half years have turned me into a delicate hibernating creature.
There is an upcoming monsoon ride in second-weekend of June. Hopefully, I will be confident enough and ride the short overall distance of 500 Kms (with the much lighter but better tires & suspension of my XPulse compared to the past Enfields).
Same group, ‘The Musafirs’, my third consecutive ride with them (no.151 for them).
https://themusafirs.com/musafirs-ride/a-monsoon-motorcycle-ride-to-feed-your-soul-june-1112/
Description on their website:
“Even after a decade of motorcycling, we brainstorm on the experiences that we have missed. A definite one is the smell of wet sand with the sight of lightning over the sea and the sound of thunder overpowering the waves hitting the shore. Things that the camera cannot capture.”
Meanwhile, here is a (photo) ‘travel back in time’ to my much younger days with the right-hand-side gear shift Enfield & its cast-iron engine. That engine & chassis design and technology didn’t change much from 1955 till the time I purchased one brand-new from the Authorized Dealer here. (photo from my film-based SLR camera, scanned. Wow.)
I think the travelogue was published on Bikernet.com back in 2007. I still own and use that Cramster armored jacket for out of city, long-distance riding.
–U Dey
Lead Correspondent
Bikernet.com™ International News Desk
Sportsters offer a variety of custom options away from big twin rigids. Boy did a helluva job with his custom Sportster rendition. Well done.
Email:
boy (at) pancakecustoms.nl
Address:
Pancake Customs – Custom Motorcycles
Mosselsepad 34
6731 SM Otterrlo
Nederland
“Ray was working on a project in the Dominican Republic called ‘Dangerous Waters’ when he passed. He passed in his sleep.
He is survived by his daughter, Karsen, and his fiancée, Jacy Nittolo,” his publicist Jennifer Allen told CNN.
Our reactions to hard times are what define us as a person.
Despair can be a killer. As an example, drug overdose deaths in the United States increased by 25 percent from May 2020 through April 2021, sending more than 100,000 Americans to the grave. Whatever sparked this rise in casualties, we can rest assured that most of those who died were living without confidence or faith in the future.
On a much broader scale, despair and its first cousin, depression, can also gun down the human spirit. A job lost, a marriage broken, a loved one’s death—these and other tragedies can cause us to lose heart, become despondent, and surrender all hope.
Those buried in that darkness often want to sleep 24/7. Some give up on personal hygiene. Others turn off their phones and feel so isolated and lost that even a trip to the grocery store or the library becomes a near-insurmountable Everest of effort.
In such severe cases, those afflicted frequently turn to professionals for counseling or for therapeutic drugs to rescue them from these black storms. The training and strategies employed by these men and women can often throw these despondent souls a rope and haul them out of the abyss.
Yet if these clients wish to walk in the sunshine again, they must possess the will and the desire to seize that rope.
In less severe circumstances, when melancholy is a visitor rather than a permanent houseguest, those of us bitten by what Winston Churchill called his “black dog” may concoct our own therapeutics. Here are five of them—and you can dig up plenty more online—that have helped me over the years.
Step away from the self. When I used to teach, my students demanded my full attention. My forlorn mood might linger in the back of my mind, but those hours in the classroom gave me a much-needed respite from sadness. I became an actor, erecting a façade that provided a few hours of relief from the pain.
Adopt a positive maxim. Six years ago, when failure pummeled me like some heavyweight in a ring from which there was no escape, I grabbed an erasable marker and wrote “Invictus,” Latin for “Unconquered,” on the glass door of my apartment. That word stayed put for months. Sometimes I sneered at it, sometimes I could hardly stand to look at it, but in the end “Invictus” helped carry me across that desert that had become my life.
‘This too shall pass.’ Time is one of the most powerful, yet most overlooked, of the world’s cure-alls. We Americans tend to be an impatient people, as can be seen at any Department of Motor Vehicles, and we want results yesterday. But as a friend tells me about his own scuff-ups with the blues, recognizing that his condition was a mood—and therefore temporary—kept him moving forward. The same holds true for us.
Move the body, and you move the mood. When that same friend was younger and down in the dumps, he would walk the city streets, sometimes for hours, to revive his spirits. In my case, a burst of housekeeping—dusting shelves, wiping up stains from the wooden floors, washing down countertops—is just as effective. Performing these chores at a fast clip makes me feel better and brings the added satisfaction of a sparkling kitchen or orderly bookshelves.
Turn away from negative influences. Sometimes, for example, the national news takes me down. Turning off my laptop and choosing instead to pick up a book or call a friend often delivers some necessary R&R from my blue funk.
Do these tactics always work? Of course not. But that brings us to the final therapeutic: Don’t give up. Remember: that bout with the doldrums will pass, and we can help push it out the door.
Invictus by English poet William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
As we maneuver through these challenging times, let us keep in mind the power of this poem…to confront adversity and to come out the other side of it with the creation of positive change.
–BY JEFF MINICK
Epoch Times
BOOK REPORT REPORT–Watching Born to Ride. Seems you are a star. I saw it a few years ago but forgot all about it. I always liked Branscomb Richmond. Went to see him with his band in Vegas about ‘04.
Lorenzo was hanging backstage with Shana Sand. He quit acting and started flying helicopters on Grand Canyon tours. I sent him a message on fb and he answered and friended me. I thought that was pretty cool.
I read the James Lee Burke book. It was different for him. Got lots of Montana history in it. I’ll send you a good report soon. I am in the middle of World Run now. Really enjoying that. I remember the trip you took with your mother.
–Bill May
WHAT’S NEXT–I recently read a report about the highest temperature in 120 years somewhere. That report came from CNN, but it begged the question. So it was hot 120 years ago and the planet survived? The folks weren’t doomed. That was before air-conditioning, fans, and fossil fuel derived insulation. Folks still survived and didn’t blame it on cow farts. It was just hot.
CO2 doesn’t cause the heat. C02 shows up as a factor of heat rising, then the CO2 rises. So there really isn’t a connection between your motorcycle and how hot it is today. Sorry.
The shop has this goofy light out front, probably from Home Depot. I had to fuck with it. I’m not done, yet.
Just checked my tracking number from McMaster Carr. I ordered the pieces to build some risers for my VL Knucklehead project. It has these monster ¾ coarse studs sticking out of the front end. I ordered some tubing, a tap and a drill to bore the tubing to the proper I.D. for taping. Carl Pussar is looking through his junk pile for a set of riser tops I can weld to the tubing. We need something to bolt handlebars to.
A cool bike feature is headed your way from Court House Custom.
World’s Simplest Starter Tech
By Wayfarer |
New! NASH “PUSH” Button Starter Plunger Assembly
By Bandit with photos by Wrench
Okay, so here’s the confession. When I build bobbers or choppers, I try to keep everything simple and super reliable. For instance, electric start circuits, which involve starter relays, buttons, handlebar switches, you name it. Maybe Billy from Spyke came up with this system that eliminates almost everything.
They are the shit for reliable, no mess starting every time. There’s but one issue with these puppies, position. They are usually located on the front of the starter solenoid under the oil tank, which can be an issue for stock bikes.
READ THIS Great Tech Article on Bikernet by Clicking Here.
All the Photos & Tricks in it so check it out today.
For incredible 25 Years of Bikernet.com Online Archive made easy – Support Us….
….All ya gotta do is sign-up for Bandit’s Cantina. At just 24.95 for a year it includes Bikernet Bling for Free. Click Here to Join. Best joint online!!!
Remember them for their Sacrifice – Memorial Day 2022
By Wayfarer |
This Memorial Day weekend take a moment and remember the sacrifices made by many while fighting for the freedoms each of us enjoy everyday. In streets across our nation traditional motorcycle events honoring those lost in military service will be held. We at the Motorcycle Riders Foundation are forever grateful to our brothers and sisters lost defending the freedoms we cherish.
As Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Message from MRF: As we spend time with family and friends, let’s all take a moment to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country Free. We at the MRF wish you and yours a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Visit: https://mrf.org/
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.
* * * *
We all at Bikernet.com honor and remember our brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces.
Keep America Free. Keep Riding Free Forever.
Laconia Motorcycle Week updates
By Wayfarer |
Time to Get out and Ride….
It sure is feeling like summer around here. The days are warmer, the landscape a little greener and the sounds of motorcycles are everywhere, from the top of the “Kanc” in Lincoln, to coastal route 1A in Seabrook. Get pumped! Riding weather is here and soon the 99th Laconia Motorcycle Week will be, too.
Have you booked your lodging yet? Don’t wait any longer. We have a full 9 days of events lined up for #99 and it’s a lot easier to play here when you stay here. Click here to check out our lodging options, ranging from campgrounds to 5-star hotels.
Our popular Laconia Passport Program returns this year, incentivizing visitors to get out and ride to earn exclusive, member’s only souvenirs. Passports can be picked up at Rally Headquarters on the Boardwalk of Lakeside Avenue and feature stops at many businesses including Harley-Davidson dealerships throughout the state.
Have you purchased your raffle ticket yet? You could be riding on a brand new Harley-Davidson Street Glide this summer! Purchase your ticket soon (just $20), because only 5000 are sold and they usually sell out. Net proceeds raised benefit Laconia Rotary Club’s Charities.
Take the Train! Did you know you can skip the traffic via a shuttle directly to Weirs Beach from Meredith? Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad is offering a special Weirs Shuttle Train both weekends of Motorcycle Week. Check the schedule here.
Or take the boat… The annual Motorcycle Week Cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington takes place on Tuesday, June 14th from 4:30 – 7pm. This 2 1/2 hour cruise around Lake Winnipesaukee offers food & beverage plus spectacular views of NH’s largest lake.
“Laconia – Where Rallies Were Invented”
#LaconiaMcWeek
#NHLakesRegion
#LaconiaBikeWeek
Sponsored in part by a Joint Promotional Program grant through the New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism Development. For further information about New Hampshire, visit the New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism website at www.visitnh.gov
Gear up & ride to your next Wild Biker Party – Click to checkout the all-new 5-Ball Racing Shop
The 5-Ball Racing Garage Online Shop has products you needed & never found anywhere else!!!
CLICK HERE: You will find unique Motorcycling Gear designed by Lifelong Bikers.
World’s Simplest Starter Tech
By Bandit |
Okay, so here’s the confession. When I build bobbers or choppers, I try to keep everything simple and super reliable. For instance, electric start circuits, which involve starter relays, buttons, handlebar switches, you name it. Maybe Billy from Spyke came up with this system that eliminates almost everything.
They are the shit for reliable, no mess starting every time. There’s but one issue with these puppies, position. They are usually located on the front of the starter solenoid under the oil tank, which can be an issue for stock bikes.
It can also become an issue for bikes with pipes running over the transmission. The original design was chromed and clean but cumbersome to point a single finger at with its rounded surface. Gloves could help or hinder, plus it’s on the same side of the bike as the throttle.
On the very positive side, it’s the shit for reliability, clean bars, reduced wiring and the chopper spirit. So recently, I built a Panhead with a ’69 right case (kidney) and a ’79 left, alternator case. It was a crazy engine deal but turned out to be the perfect system to build something reliable, yet vintage. I had a blast building this bike.
But I had one issue with starting. I was cool, when the bike was cold, but when it warmed and the pipe was blistering reaching that puppy was a challenge, besides the chrome didn’t go with the vintage patina of the bike’s finish. One more item. The original design was clean as a whistle, but the spring pressure in the solenoid, made depressing the button somewhat of a challenge. Plus, the chromed button was rounded and easy to slip off.
Somewhere in the last decade of the ruling Spyke starter buttons, Taber Nash ran into these issues and started to think about a cool, safe, secure, and tough alternative. First, he realized how much a tad more push surface would help the operation. Then he discovered the need for a longer throw to bring the button into the light.
Here’s the company description:
Regular price $140.00
The newest addition to the original NMC Starter Button! The “PUSH” button starter comes in bronze or stainless-steel ?? button and is available now!
The “PUSH” button threads (1/2-13) onto the 4 ¼” starter button shaft. The plunger comes with a black powder coated steel body, steel shaft and bushing.
Just give it a push to start your bike! Fits most all 1.4 kw and 1.6 kw starters .
When first introduced to the Nash Push Button I was intrigued. My first consideration was the size and surface of the button. I didn’t realize how much farther it stuck out compared to the original almost 1-inch. I ordered one.
First, I removed the ground strap to my battery.
With an Allen T-handle wrench, I removed the three small fasteners holding the solenoid in place. It sprung out at me slightly. The Nash unit didn’t come with a new gasket, so I carefully removed the existing gasket and installed it into the new unit.
With the two units in hand, I discovered the differences in weight and the massive bolt Nash used to depress the solenoid. I became concerned and studied both units.
The extended casing was also bulky and steel. Again, I was concerned about the overall weight and the tiny Allen head fasteners holding it in place. It took a while to get my head around the differences in the units.
Once installed and carefully tightened, the benefits became apparent. I installed the fasteners with the T-handle again. I’m not a fan of torque wrenches especially for smaller fasteners. I’ll use them on head bolts, engine shaft nuts and massive stuff, but when it comes to smaller fasteners, it’s easy to over tighten with that long-handled bastard. If you don’t feel or hear the click, you could be fucked.
I have a couple of pals who won’t attach any fasteners without a torque wrench. In a sense that wrench removes the responsibility, knowledge and feel from the mechanic.
There are other factors to consider, like the fastener material, the thread pitch, the base material and the age of the fasteners and material. The feel, knowledge and prep are everything. There’s that notion of tightening a bolt until it feels snug then tightening just enough to put the correct tension against the fastener and the threads to keep it in place and doing its job without damage.
Okay, fuck it. I snugged down the stainless Allens, hooked up the battery and tested it. Worked like a champ, even with gloves. The extended unit delivered the button into the light of day and made it easier to reach and depress.
Let’s ride.
I reached out to a longtime Harley tech to review my article. He made some very good points:
Anytime you can reduce extra wiring relays etc. It’s a good thing.
The Nash starter button does all that. The bronze button looks good to me. More character for me.
I hear you on using torque wrenches on small fasteners. You need good torgue wrenches when using them on inch-pound specs.
Also, I go with lower setting than is specified. Then maybe go to the middle spec. I have a Snap-on inch-lb. clicker and a Matco needle/dial inch pound wrench also.
I use the Matco needle/dial mostly when servicing late model H-D Springer rockers. A clicker torque wrench doesn’t work for rocker-stud adjustment. In addition, the Matco goes below 40-inch-pound limit that the Snap-on has.
So, when you can make any part of an H-D electrical system easier and less complicated, do it. Simplicity means more reliability on a H-D!!
–Pablo
NMA news: Speed Trap Karma Part 2
By Wayfarer |
Reason.com recently published a list of eleven U.S. towns where their police forces were either disbanded or their autonomy as a governmental entity was dissolved because of an addiction to, and dependence on, ticket revenue. We thought it would be informative to present excerpts from Reason’s article for those cities along with select driver-sourced comments about those same locations to the NMA’s National Speed Trap Exchange at https://www.speedtrap.org. Check out the first six speed trap cities featured in Part 1 by Clicking Here.
Revenue hunting under the guise of traffic law enforcement is a crime against the public. While these cities eventually got caught, they showed that crime can pay.
St. George, Missouri
Residents voted in 2011 to disincorporate after a series of scandals, mostly involving its police department. The St. Louis County town had just over 1,300 people at the time.
Reason:
“St. George disbanded its police force in 2008, handing over traffic enforcement to the county sheriff’s office. In 2011, a local alderman, Carmen Wilkerson, ousted the incumbent mayor in a write-in campaign. Wilkerson ran on a platform of becoming St. George’s last mayor; she and a slate of other candidates wanted to dissolve the town, especially after learning that the incumbent mayor was plotting to revive the old speed trap by contracting with another town’s police force. Wilkerson’s campaign slogan? ‘Save Us From Our City.’”
Speedtrap.org:
“Because of the serious harassment video available on YouTube, this small town was dissolved and the area is now patrolled by St. Louis County police. However, the drastic drop in speed limit is still there just after the sharp curve (they get you before you can adjust speed), so the county still uses this trap to make quotas at the end of the month.”
Maricopa, California
Maricopa is located about 40 miles southwest of Bakersfield. Its population has hovered around 1,100 for most of the past couple of decades.
Reason:
“In the 2000s, the town of Maricopa gained a reputation for targeting drivers, especially farm workers, in the hopes that they’d be undocumented immigrants, thus allowing the small police department to impound their cars without much fuss.”
“A Kern County grand jury report accused Maricopa police of targeting Latino motorists and seizing vehicles from undocumented immigrants. The grand jury report urged the debt-ridden town to get rid of its police department and then get rid of itself through disincorporation.
“Maricopa chose the former, disbanding its police force in 2012 and contracting with the county for law enforcement.”
Speedtrap.org (prior to switching to county traffic enforcement):
“Police idling on side streets as you enter and leave the town, and at every stop sign. Speed limit is posted at 55 mph approaching the city and drops to 20 mph in a short distance. It is so bad that the town citizens have erected two signs warning motorists of the problem.”
Macks Creek, Missouri
The now-unincorporated community is 60 miles north of Springfield. Its population was 244 at the 2010 census. It gave up its legal status in 2012.
Reason:
“If a small town has a law named after it, it’s probably not for a good reason. Such was the case with Macks Creek, an obnoxious speed trap that inspired the Missouri legislature to pass the Macks Creek Law in 1995. This bill capped the percentage of annual revenue that towns could generate from ticket fines at 45 percent.
“The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that, at Macks Creek’s peak, the town of 472 was issuing 2,900 tickets a year. Municipal court fines accounted for three-fourths of its revenue.”
Speedtrap.org:
“This used to be the biggest speed trap in Missouri until the state changed the laws a few years ago, and the city was audited. They sit at the bottom of the hill, on 54, and wait for you to come down. The speed limit changes very quickly, and the hill is very steep, so your speed will increase very quickly as well.”
Patton Village, Texas
The city of Patton Village, population of under 1,500, is just north of Houston along Interstate 69 (Texas State Highway 59 in the area).
Reason:
“Patton Village, Texas, neither disbanded its police force nor disincorporated itself. But the place still warrants special mention.
“The town annexed a mile-long strip of U.S. 59 in 1971 and promptly embraced highway robbery, deploying unmarked police cars and radar guns. It became such a well-known Texas speed trap that a state representative introduced and successfully passed legislation in 1989 to cap the money that small towns could generate from traffic enforcement at 30 percent of their total budgets. During its peak, Patton Village raised more than 90 percent of its annual revenue from traffic tickets.”
Speedtrap.org:
“They [the police] use the side of the bridge to hide.”
Ludowici, Georgia
The city, with an estimated population of 2,200, is about an hour’s drive from Savannah.
Reason:
“Ludowici, Georgia, was one of the first speed-trap towns to gain national notoriety. Situated on the U.S. 301 route to Jacksonville, it became infamous in the 1950s for extorting tourists on their way to Florida.
“Ludowici was a genuine innovator in the field. In addition to running a typical speed trap, the town installed a stoplight that suddenly changed from green to red with no yellow in between. According to varying accounts, the light was controlled by an alert observer holding a remote switch while stationed in a barbershop or a bus station. A Ludowici police officer was parked at the intersection to collect on-the-spot fines from drivers who ran the light.”
Speedtrap.org:
“Ludowici Georgia is known as Georgia’s Speed Trap. Speed limits are enforced by local city police and Highway State Patrol whether you are heading towards Hinesville or Jesup on Hwy 82 or towards Glennville on Hwy 341 or towards Brunswick on Hwy 431/17. Never a good thing to speed through Long County, especially with out-of-state or county tags.”
As Reason notes, “The good news is that speed traps are a terrible business strategy in the long term. So let the stories above serve as cautionary tales for any municipality looking greedily at a busy stretch of highway. Like customers avoiding a business with a bad reputation, motorists eventually learn to shun such places whenever possible.”
That is precisely why we created The National Speed Trap Registry. It is also why we encourage drivers who encounter over-zealous and unfair speed enforcement to share their observations with the public via the NMA online database.
Bonus speed trap coverage
None of the following cities are in danger of ending their traffic enforcement efforts or shuttering city hall, but they do have the most individual speed trap reports to Speedtrap.org over the last 15 years. Drivers beware, or better yet, read the reports fellow motorists filed with the NMA over the intervening years.
Houston, Texas: 309 reports
Las Vegas, Nevada: 218
Toronto, Ontario: 188
Denver, Colorado: 181
Jacksonville, Florida: 149
San Diego, California: 126
San Antonio, Texas: 125
Los Angeles, California: 124
Austin, Texas: 123
Dallas, Texas: 123
Chicago, Illinois: 121
Colorado Springs, Colorado: 114
Dishonorable Mentions: Livonia, Michigan; Orlando, Florida; Mississauga, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Brooklyn, New York; San Jose, California; Tucson, Arizona; Staten Island, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana; Portland, Oregon.
VISIT NMA Website: www.motorists.org
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