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Bonneville Effort 2007, Chapter 14

By Bandit | June 5, 2007

Jeremiah brought over a couple of de-burring tools and the damn things work wonders on recently drilled holes or Makita cut pipe segments.

Once the engine was in place I needed to make my custom set of D&D pipes in a couple of days, or die trying. The buzz was high for the Bub’s Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials. Dave Rash, the D&D boss, called me with the exhaust formula. He’s a speed and performance nut. D&D dyno tunes every exhaust system they make. “Don’t run 1 ¾ exhaust at all,” Dave started. “Start with 1 7/8-inch pipe for 14 inches and step up to 2-inch until each pipe is exactly 35 inches long.” Then I’m supposed to slip on and weld on a carefully designed and ground collector. Finally an empty, slip-on megaphone needed adapting

This system has been tested to give me maximum hp at 6,500 to 6,800 rpms. “We’ve discovered that the two-into-one systems generate 20 more horses than single exhausts,” said Dave.

Here’s more on performance exhaust systems from Paul Davis:

The Nascar exhaust are stepped, 3 steps for each runner. They are different animal though. For bikes 3 steps, 2 into 1 “Y” merge collector are a real good combination for the street.

You see alot of drag racers use 2 into 1 w/ a “Y' merge colllector. Top Fuel, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, etc. What you'll notice is usually they have 3 steps. 3 different dia. smallest dia. starting from the head. It's really nothing new.

Three steppin' moves the power band up and prevents reversion. Ceramic coating and or header wrap keeps the exh. gases moving good.

Individual pipes are good at WOT. Look at NHRS record setting Buell. They don't use a typical 2 into 1 Buell race pipe. Indivdual runners like what you were talking about using. Your thinking of Aero is right on.

–Paul

We always use Hooker header sleaves to keep everything lined up before tacking.

I was wrapped as tight as a .45 magnum shell the first day of pipe making. Bonneville was looming like a 10 pound ballpeen hammer over my thumbnail. We were scrambling, making calls, counting our pennies, praying for surf, and yet it was all going reasonably well in our over-heated shop—unless any obstacle jumped in the way or caused unforeseen delays and slowed progress. It was smoking that day as temperatures on the coast glided toward the 90s.

Enough sniveling, I had pipes to build, wiring to figure out and hydraulic lines to make. We were bugged by our first two-into-one attempt and I didn’t like how far they stuck out in the wind. I was burnin’ daylight and grappling with decisions. I like to make a solid plan, after thorough research and go for it. I questioned my plan, called Berry Wardlaw and Dave Rash for info, bobbed and weaved into action again with the best data at my back. We needed the pipes on and the bike plumbed and primed by Thursday when Berry Wardlaw, from Accurate Engineering flew in for tuning and dyno work. Man-oh-man, we were cookin' with hot grease and lots of garlic.

I needed to jump back into the shop. My nerves were shot, my head over-loaded with info and not enough time was pressuring me to the deck.

This is what we came up with, the first round. “I’m damn proud of you guys,” Dave rash said when I e-mailed him this image.”

Chris Kallas art available in the Black Market.
So much is happening. I wake up some mornings in a cold sweat, nervous, planning, reaching for contacts, phone numbers, answers and components. We built the exhaust system yesterday, Jeremiah and I. We worked for about six hours, stood back and proudly admired our completed, high-tech, D&D supported and designed, stepped megaphone system. Just then, in walked the queen of Bikernet, the gracious Sin Wu. The dog bowed to her then licked her leg as she passed and commented, “What about Valerie’s leg?”
The corrected exhaust.
I immediately knew what her highness was referring to. I had that aspect and obstacle to exhaust system planning engrained into my brain. Then, just an hour prior to system completion, I spaced. Dave Rash, the D&D Boss, suggested the lift and the line of the frame called to us, “Aerodynamics.” We lost sight of Valerie’s dainty foot being grilled. We adjusted and straightened out the system to a mere 3-degree lift.
Rick Krost, the boss of U.S. Choppers, drifted into the shop last night, picked up the pipes for precision TIG welding. We just tacked them with our shop MIG. Then this morning as I sat down to fire up the computer I noticed an exhaust sensor wire lead on my desk. “Fuck,” we need to install the sensor bungs into the pipes before they’re Jet hot coated. I need to remember to take them to U.S. Choppers on Monday.
At this point information and data gathering was on overload. In a matter of a half hour I can assembled three completely varied opinions and solutions and each one made perfect sense. Even the oil issue has considerations. Here’s a note from our oil guru and Amsoil sponsor:
I talked with Berry on Friday and he wants to use the 60W Racing oil. It's on it's way from the Las Vegas Amsoil warehouse. As I said the goal for me is to help you set another record and get you the products that you and Berry are most comfortable with.
You guys may want to try both oils (20w50 and straight synthetic 60w) while you are on the dyno to see which one gives you the best performance, since you should have more than enough oil for the event itself. Could be a couple of horsepower difference but the only sure way to know is to test both oils after you have the tuning dialed in. You'll also be able to listen to the engine to hear if there's any difference in the level of mechanical sounds the engine makes under power with each oil too.
–Nick
For All Your High Performance Lubrication Supplies.
http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/1124190/
Nick's Performance Accessories
Independent Amsoil Dealer ZO# 1124190
Phone: 502-548-3023
Fax: 509-691-4313
amsoildealer@mac.com
I’ve had these Gene Shacove grips for a decade. Since I’m dedicating the bike to Wil Phillips, and Gene was a close friend, it’s another fitting tribute to a brother gone.
On top of a Bikernet Extreme Deadline, trying to build this monster, tune it and fly out to the Salt Flats, we have weather reports coming at us from the vast salty Utah.
UB Motorcycle Speed Trials Salt Condition Updates
Sunday, 19 August 2007
August 18th 2007
Speedweek is now over and our track prep guy is on the salt. It rained last night and the place is flooded again. There are huge potholes and problems at the access road due to the traffic. We are hoping to repair enough of this so that we have a better passage for access. Our International long course is badly damaged for the first few miles. While is it is still a little early to tell, the forcast is looking positive and we will be checking the salt daily and placing our updates here. We will endeavor to place the updates by 12 noon each day so that you can check in and get the latest information. Our best hope at this point is to get an 8 mile International Course and the 3 mile RWB course, but realistically it is looking more like and 5 International and 3 RWB course.
The left leg arrived from Harley-Davidson in the nick of time and we centered the wheel using the Doherty Machine 1-inch spacer kit.
We’re at a juncture where data sorting is troublesome. I’m getting tons of information and trying to keep all my design aspects in check. I don’t want to bolt a damn thing on the bike that will catch wind, yet from time to time I’m caught in a bind between the air and horsepower. “You’re the Picasso,” Berry Wardlaw told me on the phone. “Stick to your guns.” That’s easier said than done when you’re headed into space on a untested, unproven rocket. But in a sense he’s right.
It was Sunday and it shoulda been Margarita time. We should fire up the barbecue, ride the coast and chase women around the shop. That’s not going to happen, unfortunately. We’re conflicted with a terrible case of Bonnevillittis. We are going to attempt to bleed the rear brakes, continue to mess with the wiring and make a list of nitrous system lines. The pipes need to be jet hot coated, a few more parts need Black Magic powder. Jim Waggoman is finishing the beanie helmet fairing and painting it. Jim Murillo is working on the tank finish and Berry Wardlaw is flying out for tuning on Thursday. No time to lose.
With the actual engine in place I discovered that the Pingel electric shifter wouldn’t work without moving it outboard. Another decision had to be made. Shift manually or stick with the Pingel unit, but move it into the wind. Berry voted for manual shifting and Larry Petri, of Chop N Grind Racing said, “You can loose tremendous rpm in 4th just in the time it takes to shift.” We stuck with it.

I need to have the bike ready to fired by Thursday afternoon. That’s just the overall list, there’s a myriad of tiny troubles attached to each chapter, but we’ll deal with each one, and attempt to accomplish an extra feat from time to time—if we have time.

Click to see morefrom Lucky Devil
One of my benefactors is Kent Weeks the master builder behind Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston. The bike building workaholic is always close by a phone, when I need a question answered. Recently he mentioned how cool it would be if he was down the block. Here’s my response:“Like you said about being down the block. Man, I wish that was the case, but it's good to know I can call you, if I'm in a jam.
This has been the scramble of a lifetime. Last week I was beginning to feel a tad out of control. Shit wasn't moving fast enough and time was slipping past.
These GMA controls fit the bike perfectly.
Today, I set up the rear brake and bled the system, dug through old throttle cables and set up a set all adjusted and oiled. Then I cut and fit the spark plug wires. I want the bike to be running by Thursday when Berry arrives.
We made the pipes yesterday. Rick is TIG welding them and I'll take 'em to the Jet Hot joint, Engineering Applications in Vernon, California on Monday. I need to run a bunch of errands tomorrow. I need to wire on Tuesday and pick up the pipes on Wednesday and I'll be ready to rock. Hang on.”
He got right back to me, “Ah yes a fine dance of madness performed to a symphony of calamities,” Kent said. “If it's anything like trying to get something done on a deadline around here that is. Sounds like you are on track for the most part. I will send all the good thoughts and wishes I can afford your way, until you make it home!”

I’ve also grappled with the wheel bearing spacing with some unwarranted concern. These hot American Wheels cut by Renegade are equipped with sealed bearings and center spacers. I had all these crazed notions about spacing, torgues, end-plays, drag, etc. I called Kim Hotinger and he turned me onto Wendell Smith, of Renegade, for the bottom line (714) 936-5222. Unlike Timken bearings, which could be over tightened causing binding, wear and meltdown. Sealed bearings are lined up with spacers and everything is butted together for a simple fit. “You got it,” Wendell said and I was relieved to know all was well at 5-Ball racing.
Time is such a devastating factor for any race effort. I would love to research every miniscule aspect including the wheel bearings. A couple of readers have suggested ceramic bearings. Paul Davis found a connection:www.nhrsperformance.com. “They have them on their website,” Paul said, “Buells use 1-inch axles. Any bearing supply house should be able to get them also.”
Check this website out for Ceramic Brg's www.bocabearings.com
Also www.flyncycle.com , they sell these Garage Mats for bikes. Maybe good for under the bike at Bonneville.
The list will be long tomorrow, but spark plug wires are made, throttle oiled and cables adjusted. I soldered one set and brazed the other (one set was too short). Rear chain is adjusted and rear wheel tightened. Safety wire holes are drilled.
How about a report on her?
Remind me to ask someone about spark plug wire boots. My helper bailed on me today–no show.I'm down to lots of wiring, oil lines, and gas tank. Pingle said they would send a petcock and I found one today digging for throttle cable ferrules.
I knew there was something else. I spaced the caliper over the H-D rotor and bled the brakes with Nyla's assistance.
Grab the whole rewritten story in this fantastic book. Just click on the image.
A final note from a reader:It is great thing that you are doing. Bigger than you know, and Valerie is the best choice for a Front person. She is a great woman. She can handle a motorcycle too, I have a lot of respect for her. Keep it up Brother I will be watching.
–Nitro Scott

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June 5, 2007

By Bandit | June 5, 2007

COAST TO COAST LEGISLATIVE REPORT INCLUDING COVERAGE OF THE 2007 NCOM CONVENTION, MOTORCYCLE BANS, INTERNATIONAL LAWS, MASSACHUSETTS MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS AND MOTORCYCLE SAFETY STUDIES

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. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com. NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish
National Coalition of Motorcyclists

The Confederation of Clubs represents the majority of the clubs in the country.
UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY ?Speeding Into The Future? was the theme for this year?s NCOM Convention, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, over Mother?s Day weekend, May 10-13, 2007 at the University Hilton. Another near-record crowd attended the National Coalition of Motorcyclists? 22nd Annual Convention, converging from virtually every state and representing most Motorcyclists? Rights Organizations and Confederations of Clubs across the country.
Hosted by the Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of North Carolina and the Confederation of Clubs of North Carolina, this annual conference draws prominent leaders in the bikers? rights movement to a different location each year to discuss topics of concern to all riders. Meetings, seminars and group discussions focus on safety issues, legal rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride.

Members of the Clean and Sober roundtable discussion group.
This year?s agenda was packed with informative and thought provoking meetings such as the NCOM Board of Directors Meeting, NCOM Legislative Task Force Meeting, A.I.M. Attorney Conference, A.I.M. Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Christian Unity Conference, Clean and Sober Roundtable, Women In Motorcycling, SMRO President?s Meeting, Minority Outreach, and the ever popular and always inspiring Confederations of Clubs General Patch Holder Meeting.
Seminars and workshops included ?Government Grants ? How To Write & Obtain?, ?EPA Effects On Shops & Riders?, ?Freedom of the Road & Use of the Courts?, ?Loud Pipes?, ?Fourth Amendment ? And Other Rights Under The Constitution?, ?National Transportation Safety Board?, ?5 Steps To Freedom?, and ?NAFTA Superhighway?.

Keith Ball, former editor of Easyriders magazine and founder of Bikernet.com, was entertaining and informative with his historical perspective on the roots of the bikers rights movement as the featured dinner speaker during the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday evening. He also gave a presentation on the Bikernet Independent noise study, which is being used right now to fight the new harsh Denver Noise Ordinance. It?s available on Bikernet for anyone dealing with noise issues.Bikernet Independent Noise Study
Silver Spoke Award recipients honored during the banquet were: MEDIA: Brian & Toni Shearon of Thunder Roads Magazine; GOVERNMENT: Tommy Thompson, former Secretary of Health & Human Services/former Governor of Wisconsin and Presidential hopeful; LEGAL: Mitch Proner, A.I.M. Attorney for New York & Connecticut; MERITORIOUS: Bill ?Snap? Lines of the Patriot Guard Riders; and SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Barbara Alvar of ABATE of New Mexico; Carmaletta Lara of ABATE of Oklahoma; and Patti Nasrallah of ABATE of Florida.

Here?s the 2007 Silver Spoke Award recipients. This is the academy awards for motorcycle rights efforts.
Receiving the Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was Rick Nail, past President of CBA/ABATE of NC and former member of the NCOM Board of Directors.
The National Coalition of Motorcyclists was happy to welcome the following as new NCOM Member Groups: ??The Patriot Guard Riders, ABATE of the Garden State (NJ), BikePAC of Idaho, Freemasons Riding Club ? National, Sovereign Riders MC, American Cruisers MC Chapters #56, #150, and #55, and the Southern California Biker Alliance.
The 2007 Convention was dedicated to the memory of Karen Bolin of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, KC Mallady of ABATE of Florida, Marty Shultz of ABATE of Maryland and ?Tank? of His Laboring Few Motorcycle Ministry.
Next year?s NCOM Convention will be held May 8-11, 2008 in Houston, Texas at the Sheraton North at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Call NCOM for further details at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.On-A-Bike.com.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION LABELS MOTORCYCLE DEATHS ?EPIDEMIC? The World Health Organization (WHO) recently expressed alarm over the growing number of accidents involving young people on motorcycles in Asia, warning that the situation has become a public health epidemic.
The WHO noted that young motorcyclists make up a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities among road users in many Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Malaysia. “Factors such as speed, no helmets, risk-taking behavior and drunk-driving contribute to the rising trend,” according to the WHO regional office, which is based in Manila, Philippines.
It suggested “simple measures” that could be taken to help make roads safer as the WHO marked observance of the first United Nations Global Road Safety Week, April 23-29. These measures include setting and enforcing appropriate speed and blood alcohol limits, as well as introducing and enforcing mandatory seat belt, helmet and child restraint laws.

SAFETY CHIEF SAYS HELMETS & RIDER TRAINING SHOULD BE PROVIDED It’s time to make helmets and training standard equipment for motorcyclists, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said during remarks to the Motorcycle Industry Council in Indianapolis on February 19th. Peters called on motorcycle manufacturers to provide free or heavily discounted DOT-certified helmets or rider safety training with the purchase of every new motorcycle sold in the United States.
“Helmets and proper training are just as important as brakes or headlights when it comes to the well-being of motorcyclists,” Secretary Peters said. “We shouldn’t be letting any customer take a bike out of the store without a helmet as part of the package. Safety shouldn’t have to be an option when purchasing a motorcycle.”
Secretary Peters also said the Department of Transportation was “attacking” the challenge of motorcycle safety on several fronts. Last September, the Department awarded over $6 million in safety grants to states to support motorcycle safety. In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has established a Motorcycle Advisory Council to focus on making roads safer for motorcyclists and will continue work begun by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on a Motorcycle Crash Causation Study to identify why motorcycle crashes occur and find ways to reduce the fatality and injury rates.

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY STUDY BEING CONDUCTED The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has launched a milestone 3-year study to determine the effectiveness of periodic involvement in a series of motorcycle rider education and training courses.
“The Longitudinal Study to Improve Crash Avoidance Skills” will study the crash-avoidance skills of motorcyclists who have taken a series of rider training courses, beginning with the MSF Basic RiderCourse, which is the learn-to-ride course, and graduates will be offered, via random sampling, three additional training opportunities at periodic intervals throughout the study.
“The MSF’s rider education and training system used in this study is built upon the principle of safety training renewal,” said Dean Thompson, MSF director of communications. “We believe a rider’s decision-making and crash-avoidance skills can benefit from being refreshed over time. It is important for riders to regularly refresh their knowledge, skills and risk management strategies. We’re strong advocates of lifelong learning.”
Rider knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences will be evaluated and measured over time. The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center will provide an independent evaluation of research that will for the first time take a comprehensive, field-based look at the benefits of ongoing participation in a rider education and training system, and its subsequent effect on crash avoidance skills and real-world outcomes.

MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS — COMING TO A STREET NEAR YOU Several cities in Massachusetts are working to keep motorcycle drivers safe on the roads in their communities.
Last year, the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) requested a grant from the Auto Insurer?s Bureau to help fund the erection of motorcycle awareness signs, and Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation awarded a $15,000 grant to the MMA to purchase and install 500 2-by-8-foot signs, which read ?Check twice – Save a life, MOTORCYCLES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!?
Representatives of MMA are seeking permission to install at least one sign per community. Over a hundred communities are participating.
According to Wendell Davis, MMA District II Coordinator, Massachusetts is on the cutting edge of motorcycle safety programs. ?This sign will help not just motorcyclists, but pedestrians, bicyclists, etc., by making people more aware overall,? he said.
Davis added that Massachusetts is unique in promoting such an active awareness program and that ?Massachusetts is one of the few states where (motorcycle) registrations have gone up and deaths have gone down.?

SAUDIS BAN BIKES Earlier this year, Saudi Arabian officials increased security in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the annual Hajj by banning motorcycles. In an article titled ?Reckless Bikers Risk Losing Rides?, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Saudi officials impounded 350 motorbikes during heightened security operations, telling Arabnews.com that the motorcycle ban was a response to problems related to hit-and-run accidents as well as thefts where criminals used motorcycles to navigate crowds and escape quickly.
Motorcycles have also been banned because riders in past years have used them as unsafe, unlicensed, one-passenger taxis. Transportation services are in high demand during the Hajj, causing a problem with taxis and buses. Noise and pollution caused by motorcycles and scooters was also cited as a concern.

AFRICAN COUNTRY BANS WOMEN FROM BIKES The Nigerian state of Kano has banned women from riding commercial motorcycles, according to the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which warned that women who ride risk being arrested.
“The sharia police, otherwise known as Hisbah committee, have concluded arrangements to commence enforcement of some aspects of the state’s sharia law as passed by the state House of Assembly,” the NAN said. The law bans women from riding commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada in Nigeria, and also bars Muslim Okada operators from carrying women on their motorcycles.
Other aspects of the sharia law that would be implemented include the ban on alcohol consumption, hard drugs and prostitution, the commander said. Kano, one of 12 states in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north that adopted the strict Islamic law in 2000, is the first to introduce segregated public transport.
INDIA MAKES HELMETS COMPULSORY IN CITIES Wearing helmets is now mandatory within the city limits of six city corporation areas in the state of Bangalore, India, though one large city was exempted from the rule in view of the high daytime temperatures there.
Passengers, or so-called pillion riders, are also exempted from the helmet requirement.
The Karnataka High Court issued a directive to the Government in 2003 to make the wearing of helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders, and wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders is now mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act of the Centre.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD: WOMAN CRASHES WHILE TEACHING DOG TO DRIVE A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China’s Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency announced.
The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog “was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive,” according to Xinhua. “She thought she would let the dog ‘have a try’ while she operated the accelerator and brake,” the report said. “They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car.”
No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but the following explanation may help put that figure in perspective:
A billion seconds ago it was 1975, and the Vietnam War was grinding down.
A billion minutes ago was nearly 2,000 years, during the time of Christ.
A billion hours ago was over 112 thousand years, and our ancestors were still living in the Stone Age.
A billion days ago it was 2.7 million BC, and hominids were learning to walk upright.
A billion years ago earth?s ecosystem became fully formed, and the first multi-cellular organisms appeared.
A billion dollars ago was only 3 hours and 53 minutes, at the rate Washington spends it.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “There is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence.”
Robert G. Ingersoll, US Lawyer & Orator (1833 – 1899)

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Bonneville Effort 2007, Chapter 13

By Bandit | June 4, 2007

Grab the whole rewritten story in this fantastic book. Just click on the image.

Rick, from U.S. Choppers handled the TIG welding on our pipes.
I hope the next couple of chapters paint a picture of the variety of emotions we’ve encountered during this week of September (12-18). We’re getting close, but every element must fall into place in a timely manner or… All my adult life I’ve dealt with deadlines. I told harried magazine staff members, crumbling under pressure, “Take it easy, no one’s gonna get shot. Just fix the mistake and don’t let it happen again.” I’ve lived through times in which getting shot was an option.

I’m sure this team faced all the elements we were up against.
This is almost a year long deadline, a strident one, fulla emotion, research, alterations, let-downs and highs. This week Berry Wardlaw, of Accurate Engineering is flying out for tuning, then we have one week before we roll toward the salt. The bike is just one element in the massive mix. We have an ever changing and growing team, transport that’s shifted from pickups to trailers and now a motorhome. There’s lodging, packing, salt meal preparations handling, with loving grace, by the Bikernet Queen, Nyla Olsen. We needed team apparel, patches, stickers and bling. We still need our Bonneville Sponsor Banner and Nyla’s daughter Karley is supposed to have the Sponsor check list and make sure I install the right Sponsor stickers in the right places. Where is that girl?

It’s a wild undertaking for a couple of old scooter tramps, and I know every race team in the country is flying through the same scenario and praying for good weather conditions over the salt. I’ll clamber into this report on all fours using quotes and e-mails from experts and contributors. Our first note comes from our esteemed engine builder Barry Wardlaw:
We are waiting on the Yellow freight truck coming from Panama City and it might be as late as 7:00 p.m., but if they don't make it, it will be fine with me, as I am putting as many damn minutes of run time on this thing as I can. The next time we run it, we will be on a dyno. I REALLY want this thing perfect and am having some fun with the new laptop and ignition program. You'll see. So far so good.

My very best engine assembler/painter/polisher/fabricator and friend gave his two week notice today. Of course we are still friends but he had an opportunity and I told him to take it. VERY good money and he deserves it. I'm gonna' miss him.

The notorious Bob T., who rode with him in the ‘70s, back when he only spoke with a knife. He’s now a member of the bad-assed Chop N Grind team, the sand snorting bastards from 2 Palms, California.

The front end proposed a problem. Harley-Davidson helped with some ’06 Dyna 49 mm components, but one part was missing, which slowed fender mounting. I need to thank H-D profusely. I planned to use another front end and waited seven months for it to arrive. It never showed. Talk about a set-back. Harley moved quickly, and we had front end parts in a couple of weeks. I had to shift to plan B for the final component and called Larry Petri from Chop N Grind racing, who works at Palm Springs Harley-Davidson. He went into red alert on the missing part and grabbed old Bob T., our arch rival on the salt. They brought me a lower Dyna leg and I hunted down a piece of 49mm tubing, or something close.

We used a sewing machine screwdriver to center the tubing in the lower leg.
We set it up on the chassis and Jeremiah and I began fabricating the front fender. Jeremiah is turning into a master fabricator and we worked well into the middle of the night beating steel and tacking pieces in place. This fender was always a critical component to our teardrop, aerodynamic shape. I fixed spacers to the wheel to allow for salt build-up clearance and did my damnest to align the wheel and the fender perfectly.

We started with two narrow Custom Chrome fenders.
With the fender mounted Jeremiah began cutting construction paper panels, then cutting them out of 16-guage sheet metal with our plasma cutter.

The rules call for the front fender not drifting below the axle line, so we marked and cut it, then the panels were tacked to the outsides. The fender can be no wider than one inch past the fork tubes.

The next morning I cut out two sets of wedges for the top, threw one away and started over until the fender was completely tacked and additional mounts were made to secure the front of the fender. I handled the final welding and Jeremiah worked the grinding aspect until the fender was ready for heavy Silver from Worco Powder Coating.

I devoted one solid weekend to the fabrication of the fender and fairing. The fender went as smooth as glass, and we had a chunk of 18-gauge cut for the fairing and bent to match the front fender. That took considerable drive time on Friday finding a joint that would back-door the project quick. A brother in the motorcycle industry stepped up.

The notion was to copy the leading shape of a wing for the best teardrop effect.
We were in uncharted waters, and my esteemed associate didn’t show on Saturday, but the good Dr. Hamster rolled in as I began. He didn’t like my design and suggested that I contact Air Tech, a company known for quality fiberglass fairing manufacturing. Wink’s BDL bike fairing was handled by Air Tech.

The good Doctor discussing fairing madness in the shop as valuable productive time slips away.
I burned through Saturday without accomplishing much and cut into Sunday. I was staring down two-week barrels, before we rolled toward the salt.

The vote in the shop leaned toward Air Tech, but I burned through my fairing manufacturing time and needed to move onto final assembly. I took some time to mount two headlights backwards for some aero support and prepared the brackets for powder. I was frustrated. I still believed in our original wing design fairing and even attempted to find a airplane junkyard in the area. That didn’t pan out, then Jim Waggaman called from Del Mar, California, and I spilled my guts.

He jumped on the case like a true Hamster, cut an old custom bike, Arlen Ness fairing apart and stuck a beanie helmet in the center.

Jim started sending me shots from his cell phone and I coached him until he could make a run north to LA. We configured it once and he returned to his seaside shop and laid on the fiberglass, then returned for mounting efforts.

Jim Waggaman, of Air Stream Studios, working over the Hamster/Beanie Helmet based 200 mph fairing.

Jeremiah and I made a set of mock handlebars and House of Stainless bent them with thick wall stainless. I used a set of Custom Cycle Engineering risers turned upside down to give us a secure clip-on position with some steering dampening. Worked perfect and allowed us to move the H-D Dyna glide front end to any position for perfect ride height without interfering with the bars.

We ultimately cut another ¾-inch off the bars.
Jim and I made brackets for his make-shift fairing and he took it home for final grinding, bondo work and paint. The brackets were finish-welded ground and shipped to the powder man.

Berry paid extra so the engine would arrive on Friday–guaranteed, the 10th, but it didn’t show. On Monday several anxious calls to Yellow freight grilled them for the whereabouts of our Assalt Weapan engine. It was in Gardena, California, 10 miles away, but wouldn’t be delivered until Tuesday afternoon. Fuck that! I drove out Monday morning and picked up the engine and had it in the frame in the afternoon.

The Yellow Freight slogan, emblazoned on their packaging says, “Exactly When You Need It!” Not quite. They need to work on that.

This puppy is a bitch. I’m waiting for the hot tip for mounting these delicate bastards. Don’t damage them, but shove ‘em through a small rough hole. I used grease and lubes, grinders and salves.
The next move was to install the Spyke alternator, carefully mounting the stator plug in place using some lubrication to slip it through the new Accurate Engineering case. It took some delicate time and effort. Then I installed the set screw and had to file some paint off the rotor teeth to slip it over the drive shaft splines.

The rotor installation is nothing compared to the plug. Don’t forget the loctite.
The next move was to mount the BDL inner primary as a guide to driveline alignment. It’s always a roll of the dice. I start by mounting the rear of the engine with grade 8 fine thread bolts and snug ‘em up. If there was any gap under the front of the engine, I’d find shims. With the .030 shims in place, I loosened the rear of the engine and tighten the tranny plate but loosened the transmission.

Then with anti-seize on the 5/16 Allen fasteners, I attempted to bolt up the inner primary. It pulled the driveline into alignment then I checked the transmission. I needed shims under the front of the engine, then under the front studs of the transmission before the inner primary bolted up easily. It should just bolt up and unbolt without a problem. That's the key.

Each engine and transmission fits any aftermarked frame differently. This, I’ve been told, is the best way to align the engine and trans. I don’t ever want to mount a driveline and have it strain or bind by installing the inner primary. Many problems will ensue.

I started the Allens in the engine pulley insert, then drove in the pins, before tightening them. There’s a slight bevel on one side. That’s where the drive pins were started. Once in place I tightened the Allens and the engine pulley was set.

BDL CORRECTION FROM BOB GALLETTI: THE PICTURE YOU SHOW OF THE INSERT IS A STANDARD INSERT AND YOU INSTALLED IT BACKWARDS, ON THE STANDARD INSERT THE SPLINED SNOUT GOES INTO THE PULLEY FROM THE BACK SIDE AND THE BACK OF THE PULLEY IS FLAT, NO OFFSET. YOU ALSO INSTALLED THE BELT BACKWARDS. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!
–BOB
There’s a trick to slipping both the engine pulley and clutch hub in place, but first I installed the Spyke starter and BDL included all the components for the starter drive gear.

Next, I installed the clutch hub and engine pulley simultaneously and they slipped right into place. This particular BDL system has a much narrower, 2-inch wide Panther belt and seemed to fit on both pulleys without a problem. I needed to start the bike and see how she ran.

This BDL system also runs their new Ball Bearing Lock-up Clutch with 32- 3/8-inch steel balls and a set of seven ERCP-100 clutch steel plates. It’s a breeze to install and the spring tension is self adjusting with shoulder bolts. According to the BDL verbage, the clutch contains a performance Kevlar plates for positive shifting and consistent grab for any size engine. With a variety of covers this unit is available for any Softail, 1990 to 2006.

It’s always a good notion to keep a set of JIMS puller tools handy for checking and rechecking pulley alignment without taking all night.

Here’s a close up of the new BDL locking clutch system.

Just don’t install the beveled spring retainer over the diaphragm spring backwards, like I did the first time—flat side out. Then I tightened the ¾ sockethead shoulder bolts and turned them all the way in until they bottomed out. Then I adjusted the clutch as usual and one item was checked off the list.

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Bonneville Effort 2007, Chapter 11

By Bandit | June 1, 2007

I don’t know where to start, but that’s nothing new. We’re down to three weeks and still standing outside waiting for the UPS driver to roll up with our final components. Jim Murillo has the Gard Hollinger modified tank for paint. Yvonne Mecalis is posed to paint the Assalt Weapan girl on the front fender. I’m hoping to assemble it any minute now. Hell, we’re still in discussion on how to spell “Assalt.” Should it be “Asalt”? Hang on.

The pigtail for the AIM Sports dash. Can’t wait to get into the wiring.
The Accurate Engineering 120-Inch Outlaw Engine is scheduled to arrive on Friday (3 days from now) and the silver sled should be running by the end of the next week. Here’s a report from Berry Wardlaw, the master of Accurate Engineering:

My red label custom emulsion tube from Zipper's did not show up on Thurs. or Fri. Came today and turned into an air cleaner, although the invoice was correct. My son, Jennings, started school this morning, and his dog was stolen Saturday. I’m sending the engine without the Bonneville carb, as I am waiting for Zippers to correct this problem.

I need to order one of these machinist helper’s books.
Yellow Freight guarantees engine will arrive Friday. This freakin' engine is AWESOME! Do you still have the same dimensions for the last pipes we made?
We will build the pipes over the weekend, have them jet hot, thermal coated and be ready to rock. My only real concern is the myriad of wiring details waiting patiently to be worked out. The Nitrous system, the Pingel electric shifter and the AIM sports data acquisition system are no problem by themselves, but we’re stacking untested and untried elements. It’s gonna be a photo finish.
Here’s the latest regarding the D&D on the exhaust system: Dave Rash is shipping me a kit of components, chunks of pipes and a design for maximum power between 4,500 and 6,500 rpms. He wants us to run megaphones and told me not to heat wrap the pipes. I'm supposed to thermal coat them. He's sending me a stepped plan. “Heat wrapping is great for turbo systems,” Dave Rash said. He’s the boss of D&D. “The exhaust creates a layer of fumes inside the pipe, which the remaining exhaust slips through, restricting the flow some. The more heat, the thicker the layer. Exhaust wrap prevents exhaust system heat dissipation and that’s not a good thing. Thermal coat will do the opposite, and the pipes will work more efficiently for more power.” The pipes will be between 35 and 38 inches long, with the megs added to the overall length.

The center element in the Wil Phillips Salt Shaker steering dampener.
This report will deal final welds before powder coating, fork stops, True Track steering damper and powder. In the end we’ll grapple with a taste of final assembly and a handful of performance considerations. We’ll discuss Green metalflake paint from Rollin’ Sixes, the Baker shift drum installation for neutral at the bottom and seat pan construction from MC Advantages (Chapter 12). Hang on, some of the following will blow your mind.

We also had the wheels shaved at Nate's in Long Beach, filled with nitrogen and balanced, for cooler running, larger rear patch area and enhanced traction. According to Bob Bennett of Bennett’s Performance, this one modification will be a considerable enhancement to our success on the salt. I took the wheels to a backyard tire repair and suspension joint on the back streets of Signal Hill called Nate’s.

Signal Hill, on the Eastside of Long Beach, California, was a lump of oil filled dirt peppered with oil wells for 40 years. It was an industrial wasteland, which is now home to high-dollar homes that overlook the vast Long Beach Harbor. There’s still a few old school, backyard repair shops and oil wells trying to maintain a low profile as yuppies plaster the area with textured stucco, manicured lawns and BMWs.

From day to day this is a humbling experience. I always tell folks that life is a roll of the dice, and it is. We try like hell to research, ask good questions, follow directions and learn from experience. At the end of the day we reach for a high percentage of correct decisions over bullshit ones. I learn to roll the bones, stumble and fall, pick my dusty ass up and hit it again. I’ll explain as we roll along quickly heading for the flats.

I yanked the Wil Phillips designed steering damper off the Salt Shaker and prepared to mount it to the Paughco frame and Harley-Davidson Dyna-Glide front end trees. It looked as though it would work.

Will designed this to catch the hydraulic post protruding from the unit. It would on the Assalt Weapan, without major mods.
I carefully drilled and taped the bottom of the cast aluminum factory triple tree for 3/8 coarse threads. We machined a longer arm for the damper system to reach the frame bracket and prepared to mount the bracket.

We machined the slot in the bracket a tad deeper and studied positioning until we were confident the bracket wouldn’t encounter the front end. Ultimately we were forced to shave the locking tab off the bottom tree to clear the damper system. We wanted to shave that lump off anyway.

Without the tank in hand, but some knowledge of its position we made up an adjustable fork stop and welded it to the neck being careful not to over heat the bearing race on the inside.

This was an edgy time. We tore the bike down to ship it off for paint and powder and wondered if we addressed everything. We couldn’t build the pipes without the engine so I had to wing an exhaust pipe tab on the frame and pray for surf. We had to keep moving. Jeremiah and I shared welding duties until all the tabs were welded on all sides completely. We checked and rechecked all the elements. We studied mounting holes and Jeremiah, the master-grinder, checked every edge and curve.

These AW parts were destined for Heavy Silver.
We cleaned and shipped everything off to Worco Powder Coating that’s run by short, 75-year-old, Tony Pisano, who has out-lived a couple of partners, racing efforts and divorce. He’s located in Long Beach north of Signal Hill and is a helluva upbeat guy to work with. Fortunately Tony powders lots of wheels and automotive components, so he knows how to handle parts, what to tape off, etc. Generally, I would suggest masking any surface we don’t want coated and filling holes with masking tape to avoid powder. The shit is thick and a time-wasting pain in the ass to remove. The down side to that rule involves sandblasting. They must remove the masking tape to blast. I suppose the best plan would include handling the blasting yourself and delivering the parts masked and plugged. That’s the way to handle it for max efficiency.

This was the Magic Black batch. I woke up a week later in a cold sweat. We forgot the tank dash. It was still sitting on a shop bench.
On the other hand, it’s a terrific notion to take a shot of all your parts, keep one copy and take the other. When we decided on a color I wrote the paint manufacturer and the color code on the photocopy and gave it to Tony. I did that for our Magic Black components and the Prismatic Heavy Silver parts.

We’re burnin’ daylight bad, so we didn’t go fancy, but had a couple of notions. Valerie’s hues, the GoDaddy.com colors are green, black and orange. We wanted the bike to have that Weapan, or Bomber theme, so silver worked. I worked closely with Jerry, from Rollin Sixes Choppers, for a color scheme with those parameters and he came up with his bizarre killer flake.

”The flake is on it’s way by camel,” Jerry said. “Wait till you take it outside in the sun and you will know what I am talking about. It will blow you away. The flake needs to completely cover the bass coat so you can hardly see it. Put it on real heavy for the best effect. This bike will blow people away, just sitting there.
”Make sure the chicks gun and the guns on the tank are blazin away (as if shooting down another speed record). I forgot to put a “Kill” symbol on the back fender like the fighter pilot painted on his fuselage. Like If the painter needs to talk with me, feel free to have him call me. This is like having a baby and someone else is teaching it to walk for you. You know how it is.
It’s driving me nuts LOL. Let me know when you get the flake and what you think of it.
— Jerry
Rollin Sixes.

While the powder was baking we pulled the Baker transmission down to replace the standard 5-speed shift drum with a N1 unit that moves neutral to the bottom. Here’s the definition from Baker:

The N1 Shift Drums have a 0-down all-up shifting pattern, and eliminates any possibility of catching neutral on aggressive 1-2 shifts. Neutral is below 1st. The N1 drum is also popular with handshifting bikes where finding neutral without doubt or error is critical to safety or riding and looking smooth.

FOR 5-SPEED: BAKER N1 Shift Drums are available for stock or BAKER transmission applications.
80-97 p/n 2-5R-N1, 98-up p/n 2-5RL-N1

The operation was simple and easy. We pulled the top off the trans, removed the four ¼-inch bolts, lifted the sprung shifting arm out of the way and replaced the whole drum assembly and pillow blocks, making sure the shift forks slipped into their drum grooves.

Here’s the easy to reach adjuster.

Here’s the adjuster from the inside of the case.
I retighten the four bolts, made sure the drum was facing the proper direction and tested the shifting. “Don’t forget to get it into 3rd gear and adjust the concentric screw on the outside of the case so the hooks are centered. I did so and tightened the lock nut and checked it a couple more times. Worked like a charm.

They ask that you check that this paul is below the surface of the case to make sure you put the drum in, right side up.

After the ¼ bolts are removed we lifted this shift lever and removed the drum.

Here’s the neutral down drum in place.

We discovered a severe difference in the width of the 520 rear chain sprocket and the Baker 24-tooth tranny sprocket. Larry, from Chop N Grind, told me to have it machined with a carbide bit, since Baker sprockets are hardened steel.

The machined Baker Sprocket.

There’s the thin, aluminum custom Sprocket from Azusa Engineering with 40 teeth, Panhead head bolt washers and special, deep 7/16, Grade 8, John Reed Allen bolts. That sprocket ain’t going anywhere. Plus it’s all held in place with Doherty wheel spacers.
We also needed to order wheel sprockets and chains. Again I was recommended by Bennett’s not to run heavy O-ring chains. To reduce drag I ordered ordinary 520 chains. “We need a 40 and a 42-tooth rear sprocket,” Berry Wardlaw, from Accurate configured on his computer, based on RPM, gearing and horsepower curve. “Start with the 42. Sorry it has taken this long but I am the only cat around here right now and you know how busy that can be. The engine is nearly finished. We are cutting the pistons for compression today.” (This e-mail came a week ago.)
I spoke to Bert Baker about running light oils for reduced drag. Nick, from Nick’s Performance told me that serious racers run 30 weight oils, but he didn’t want to go that far and suggested 20/50 Synthetic. Bert agreed, although he felt the lightest transmission Synthetic oil was best.
SIDEBAR:Nick's Performance Accessories is once again offering a $500.00 Contingency Prize for Fastest American V-Twin using Amsoil Synthetic Motorcycle Engine Oil this year at the 4th Annual BUBS Motorcycle Speed Trials. Last year the prize went to N.R.H.S. Racing for their 217 mph Buell. Who's gonna take the prize this year? Looks like N.R.H.S. is the team to beat but at Bonneville anything can happen.
See You on the Salt,
–Nick Roberts
For All Your High Performance Lubrication Supplies.
http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/1124190/
Nick's Performance Accessories
9608 Tiverton Way
Louisville, Kentucky,40242
Independent Amsoil Dealer ZO# 1124190
Phone: 502-548-3023
Fax: 509-691-4313

Ah, a fresh box of powdered parts.
Next move was to haul ass to Worco and pick up the powder. They did a helluva job and we hauled ass back to the Bikernet Headquarters. We needed to scramble, build a seat pan and ship it to Duane Ballard for some wild leather work for the salt. We should have handled that aspect before we went to powder, but shit happens. We hauled the tank to Jim’s Custom Paint and that sealed the deal. Jim actually tested the tank again, brazed leaks and sealed the entire tank with aircraft tank sealant.

Grab the whole rewritten story in this fantastic book. Just click on the image.

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May 31, 2007 Part 4

By Bandit | May 31, 2007

BIKERNET NEWS EDITS–LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK, GASTOWN MOTORCYCLE SHOW N SHINE, BCCOM MEETING, ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, FAT BAR RISERS FROM H-D AND THE END.

Continued From Page 3

NEW FAT BAR RISER FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–MILWAUKEE (April 30, 2007) – The new Fat Bar Riser Kit (P/N 56916-07, $99.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories replaces the original-equipment riser on models with 1.25-inch handlebars, or can be used with most accessory 1.25-inch bars. Plated with brilliant chrome, the riser features hidden fasteners for clean, seamless styling.
This riser can be used on most Sportster, Touring, Dyna and Softail models (except FLSTF and FLSTC models with original-equipment handlebars). The kit includes all necessary mounting hardware. All models require separate purchase of additional installation components. See a dealer for specific model requirements.
For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE–This is your last day to cast your vote for the 2006-2007 International Motorcycle Shows’Best of Show’ custom bike!Click here to submit your vote for your favorite custom from the 2006-2007 season!
More than 250 custom motorcycles were displayed in these two showcases throughout the 13-stop tour with the top 27 now being featured in the online voting. The talent pool of these competitions runs deep with both locally and nationally recognized builders showcasing their creations.
During the show season, attendees to the International Motorcycle Shows voted for their favorite custom bike in two different categories, cruiser and sportbike, resulting in a People?s Choice Award winner for each city.
These winners are now pooled together in each of the categories and can be viewed online where you can cast your vote for one bike in each category to determine the 2006-2007 Best of Show?.

PHOTOGRAPHER WEBSITES UPDATED–Both our websites, www.ccphotoart.biz and www.ccbikeart.biz, have recently been updated. We now also sell prints of some of our most spectacular motorcycle, landscape and other photography. Photos are available for personal use, but also for commercial use.
Have a look at our sites, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our work.
–Patrick Cusse
Director Music Photography
CCPHOTOART.biz
+44 7799174199

ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR YOUR REVIEW–Aloha Bandit,You know I have been a fan of yours for 25 years at least and I have always admired your courage to stand up for FREEDOM and personal Liberty.So I am writing you asking for your help!
You may be familiar with Dr. Ron Paul, he is running for President, he is amazing and needs all the support he can get!He stands for the Constitution and our Freedom and Liberty to live the way we choose without the government telling us how to do things.Now I don’t know if your willing to push this, but I just had to ask since I know you have much power and influence with many bikers!!!!
If you get some time, please check out some Ron Paul videos on Youtube………I think your probably well aware of Dr. Paul, but I just had to write you after all of these yearsof reading your words about exactly what this is all about…………….Freedom”)
Thanks bro, I appreciate you taking the time to read this! I hope you will Publicly support Dr. Paul!
Aloha,
runswithwind
ps. here is a link to a recent speech Dr. Paul gave in Congress…………Probably one of the GREATEST speeches ever give on that floor! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a_GRiP_ftQ

RIVERA PRIMO EMPLOYEE REQUEST–Just reviewed your “Thursday News” column and was thrilled to see two(2)entriespertaining to RIVERA PRIMO, one for the Brute III Extreme kit and the otherofferingthe 4 to 6-speed driveline conversion for swingarm Shovels(such a deal!!).
Knowing how good a deal you make, perhaps you can help. See, I’ve beenlooking for a full-time nurse to attend to my every need. Unfortunately,after reviewing all of the app’s,I cannot seem to find one that has checked the box indicating that they are”double-jointed”.
What’s this world coming to? Perhaps you have a better pool of applicants.Just keep inmind that the box indicating they are “double-jointed” must be checked !!
–E.Z.

BCCOM MEETING OF COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS–JUNE 6 – B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists Meeting & Movie Night at Deeley’s
DATE: Wednesday, June 6th
TIME: 7:00 pm
WHERE: Trev Deeley Motorcycles new location (1875 Boundary Road inVancouver)
WHAT: A short BCCOM meeting followed by the movie “The Worlds FastestIndian” complete with popcorn courtesy of Deeley’sAll riders are welcome. You don’t need to be a member to attend. Lots ofcool door prizes.
RSVP REQUIRED – Please call (604) 580-0111 or 1-877-580-0111 or emailoffice@bccom-bc.com to confirm your spot.

Justin Ball of Red Coat Photo will be on the highway doing arrival by bikephotos between 5:45-6:30pm from his sidecar. If you’re interested you cansee his work at www.redcoatphoto.com

AUGUST 19, 2007 – 3rd ANNUAL GASTOWN MOTORCYCLE SHOW N’ SHINE–It’s time to mark your calendars for the biggest motorcycle event thestreets of Vancouver have ever seen! On Sunday, August 19, 2007, the B.C.Coalition of Motorcyclists, in conjunction with the Gastown BusinessImprovement Society and the Gastown Merchants, will be closing down WaterStreet between Carrall and Richards to put on our annual ALL MAKE motorcycleshow n’ shine in the heart of Vancouver. Last years event saw thousands andthousands of people come out to enjoy this huge celebration of motorcyclingand it was a blast!
Don’t miss the opportunity to show your bike off to thousands of people!Limited space available.More info and a bike entry form can be found here:http://www.bccom-bc.com/gastown_2006/index.html or by calling (604) 580-0111or 1-877-580-0111
Proceeds to the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists. More details coming soon.

LIFESTYLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–UNBELIEVABLE FINANCING!!How does ZERO DOWN and up to 120 months of payments sound? LifeStyle Cycles works with some of the best financial institutions to help get you financed on the bike of your dreams with some pretty awesome rates. Come in today and see what LifeStyle Cycles can do for you!
10th Anniversary Texas Chopper
WAS: $49.995.00 NOW ONLY $39,995.00
SAVE $10,000.00!!!!!

STOP THE PRESSES–In fact shut the bastards down. They’re burnin’ through too many trees. Did you know that more than half of all magazines printed are tossed. I hope some are recycled, but imagine the waste. Okay, enough of the trivia.
In an off-handed way I wanted to praise our industry. Only two companies have failed to pay their advertising bill with us, and they were both publicly traded companies. One was Patriot Motor Corporation and the other Von Dutch Motorcycles.

The master of the Bikernet Forum Board, Highwayman, testing another motorcycle.
We live in a very small niche industry and try to make a living. If we made toasters or barstools, that would amount to big numbers. We could reach a vast market, but we don’t. You have to commend any man who pours his sole into 500 frames a year. I also like it when the money stays within the industry. It’s like buying parts from a U.S. made company like Paughco and building bikes, or buying an ad in Chris Callen’s Cycle Source magazine, the money stays in the industry and doesn’t go overseas or to bankers in New York. It’s just a good notion to support the folks in our small pearlescent lifestyle.

Enough of my bullshit. Here’s what’s coming to Bikernet. Next week I’ll launch another update on the Assalt Weapan. The Nitrous bottle just arrived from Accurate Engineering and we’ll work on mounting, then gas tank mods and the oil bag with the help of BungKing.com. Tomorrow I’ll post another Cantina Drama. I’m grappling with the ending. Scooter sent us another GOB and she’s a knockout. I’ll also publish an Envy Cycle feature and a new model from Big Mike. Plus a new Bikernet writer just submitted a gruesome ride through Death Valley. It’s all happening on Bikernet, including another tech feature from Cycle Source magazine. Hold on. We never stop, or even slow down. Quick, someone pour me a Jack.
Ride forever,
–Bandit

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May 31, 2007 Part 3

By Bandit | May 31, 2007

BIKERNET NEWS ALERTS–COME TO THE REUNION RUN, WHITEHORSE PRESS FOR GIFTS, ROLLING THUNDER REPORT, ROLLIN SIXES STEPS UP FOR ASSALT WEAPAN, PRO ONE TAILIGHTS, PAUGHCO TRI-BARS AND SUCKER PUNCH SALLY BY JOHNNY UPDATE.

Continued From Page 2

BIKERNET WEEKLY PHOTO ART EXHIBIT–When the road to Myrtle Beach ended, so did the rain and the urge to fire a few rounds at the cagers in our way. We drank the Jack and the played the game for a few days all the while looking forward to the 400 miles of open road ahead back to Florida.
Ride Hard,
–Whiplsh Biker Photog
whiplash@photo.net

SUCKER PUNCH, BIKERNET AND HOTBIKE GARAGE BUILD FOR IRAQ VETERAN UPDATE–Here’s a couple of pics. I went to the beach today and drank beer. Anyways, here’s a couple of me doing a few things last night. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.
The bike is flying together, when I’m not at the beach, drinking beer or chasing my wife around the house! I’ll go see Kent at Lucky Devil’s for my welding class.
–Johnny

COOLBETH STARTS CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSE WITH SEASON OPENING VICTORY AT SPRINGFIELD MILE– SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 29, 2007) – Kenny Coolbeth picked up right where he left off last season. The Warren, Conn., native started defending his 2006 AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track championship the best way possible – with a win.
Coolbeth took the checkered flag Sunday at the AMA GNC Twins season opener at the Springfield Mile. He didn’t win by a small margin, either. He had nearly an entire straightaway to himself.
The results, however, were not made official until Tuesday afternoon because of a discrepancy in the bike’s weight. Coolbeth’s Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson entry did not pass the weigh-in on site and another weigh-in took place at AMA headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. A separate measurement was also done by Holtgreven Scale and Electronics Corporation of Findlay, Ohio, an accredited lab.
AMA officials declared the bike legal Tuesday following the additional weigh-ins.
Coolbeth, the Screamin’ Eagle factory rider, also finished first in his heat before taking the checkered flag for his 10th career AMA victory.
“By the fifth lap I felt real comfortable and was running my own race,” Coolbeth said. “I never even looked back. I was wide open on the gas and thought it was the smoothest run around the Springfield Mile I’ve ever had.”
Coolbeth said he was not worried about the final results that came from AMA officials.
“I knew the bike was legal and I wasn’t concerned,” Coolbeth said. “My Screamin’ Eagle team is great and the mechanic who worries about that aspect does a great job and pays attention to every detail when building a machine for me to ride. We adhere to all the specs.”
Wrecking Crew riders Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Joe Kopp joined Coolbeth in the top five at the first of 13 scheduled events for the GNC Twins this season.
Mees rode his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson into third place, his fifth career podium finish. Smith took fourth place on his Moroney’s Harley-Davidson and the newest member of the team, Kopp, took fifth place on his Team Latus Harley-Davidson.
The 25-lap main event was delayed because of rain for several hours – adding to the anxiety of the season opening race.
“The start of the race was delayed and then we had to wait two days to get the final results,” Paluso said. “It was quite an experience for the entire Screamin’ Eagle team. We’re pleased with the way the team performed throughout the entire weekend but I am sure they are all anxious to get to the next race.”
The next AMA GNC Twins event will be held at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., on June 2.

PAUGHCO TRI-BARS–In the past couple of years Paughco has experienced a massive expansion to both their manufacturing facility and product line. Included in the latest offering are several very distinctive custom headlight assemblies.
Shown here, the TRI-BAR 4 1?2″, TRI-BAR 5 3?4″ and TRI-BAR STYLE, feature classic TRI-BAR styling and come in models fit with or without the Frenched-in headlight visor. Housings are show chromed billet and the light fixture includes a replaceable H4 bulb and TRI-BAR lens.
All lights are fit chrome headlight mounts and wiring for easy installation. Combine these new models with Paughco’s nearly 40 year old “industry standard” Chopper Bullet headlight and the company has a model for any style machine.
Better yet, the TRI-BAR lights start at just $99.95! For complete details call 775-246-5738 or visit them on line at www.paughco.com.

ARTIST REACHES OUT TO DESIGN T-SHIRTS–I would like to have the chance to design a great t-shirt for you or your event! Check out http://www.cazzco.com/ to see our full line catalog and some really cool artwork!
You can look at some of the sales we have going on and don’t forget to look at the events for information on the upcoming Steel Valley Super Nationals.
After you check us out give me a call so we can talk about all the endless possibilities!
There is no risk involved just give us a chance to show you what we got!
Don’t delay, take the next step, and call today to discuss all of your needs.
Hope to hear from you soon!
–Stacey Cox
CAZZCO Screenprinting
1-800-245-8118
724-658-2005
www.cazzco.com

PRO-LIGHTING–PRO-ONE has a number of unique LED tail light assemblies for custom and stock machines. Shown here, the DIAMOND, SHOWBIKE and OVAL tail lights feature the quality and distinctive look you would expect form PRO-ONE and the latest LED lighting technology.
All lights are finished in show quality chrome and incorporate a license plate light. The DIAMOND measures 4 7/8 W x 2 H x 1 1/8 D, the OVAL is 4 3?4 x 2 1?4 x 1 1/8 and the chrome billet SHOW-BIKE is 5″ wide by 2 7/16″ tall.
Available from PRO-ONE dealers world these unique lights start at just $62.95. Looking for a dealer?
Call 800-884-4173 or visit them on the Web at www.pro-one.com.

AGENT ZEBRA ON REDS–Why you lying, bolt-on-chrome, rat-out-to-the-cops, .22-caliber-carrying, wetback-supporting; sorry, guest amnesty undocumented wetback; wad of vermin dung. I’ve never been to Miami in my entire life. I’ve never even been to Florida. I don’t even know where Florida is. Hell, I don’t even know my own real name.
The reason you don’t see me in Bikernet is because the conservative Christian ownership– namely, Bandit’s grandmother– banned me from its yellow pages, just like Hot Bike, Street Chopper, Bike Works, and Better Homes & Gardens. They say I “incite anxiety in the readership” and that I might “reduce subscription rates with my untoward accusations regarding law enforcement, Car People and the mainstream readership”. I don’t know what they’re talking about.
I’ve never even heard of those magazines much less penned a cake recipe for them.
TRIVIA
Did you know that Keith “Bandit” Ball once logged over 40 yards, non-stop, on his FXR Girlyman Custom Tricycle, riding from the head to his 1959 Panhead-powered refrigerator for a beer?
–Z

MOTORCYCLE RED SHIRT GANG TAKES OVER MAUI–Just got back from Maui, was there for 5 days, rode all over the island, first time to ride on Maui. What a great island to ride, had a great time with the club. Wish you were there…….
I should have taken more pictures, but you know how that goes, always on the run…next time
–Chris & Joerline

ROLLIN’ SIXES OFFERS TO PAINT ASSALT WEAPAN– Jerry and I have been working with Joey Finz a custom pinstriper artist. If you haven’t seen his work it’s very good he did some valve covers for Jerry’s ’31 Ford. I’ll send you some pics so you can check them out.

Any way we were going to see if you need any lettering logos or what ever illustrations you may need done on your 5-Ball race equipment, and we’ll take care of it for you.
Later…
–Ellis
rollinsixescustomchoppers@yahoo.com
Of course we do and thanks. Send Finz over. By the time he finishes pinstriping our tool boxes and the building the bike parts will be ready. We’ll be in touch–Bandit

BIKERNET JOINS THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS–We are pleased to advise that you have been added as a Registered User to Patriot Guard Riders. Please read the following information carefully and be sure to save this message in a safe location for future reference.
Portal Website Address: www.patriotguard.org
Please take the opportunity to visit the website to review its content.Thank you, we appreciate your support…
–Patriot Guard Riders

ROLLING THUNDER 2007 REPORT COMING TO BIKERNET–I rode in Rolling Thunder on Sunday, 5/27. It was the 20th anniversary of RT and the turnout was huge. I haven’t heard any official reports yet, but suffice it to say there were tens of thousands, if not over 100,000 bikes in the run from the Pentagon, across Memorial Bridge, down Constitution, around at the Capitol and then back up Independence to circle the National Mall. Two bikes ran abreast for over two hours.
Folks were on both sides of the line of bikes cheering and showing their support for the troops. I actually don’t remember seeing a single protester on the route. Everyone was showing their support and patriotism, and it was really a special ride. I can’t think of a better way to show our support for the troops, past and present, or to give you the opportunity to understand what Memorial Day is all about.

We were lucky enough to get special positioning as a veteran’s motorcycle club and left the Pentagon parking lot about 20 minutes after the first bikes began to roll out. We completed the ride, made our way out I-66 west and eventually back to our rally point at the Marriott in Alexandria, arriving a few minutes after 1:00 PM. I called a buddy who was in the general public part of the ride and he was still sitting in the Pentagon parking lot and hadn’t even fired up his bike yet.
I plan to write an article about participating in the ride for the first time, but in the meantime here’s a couple of pictures to whet your appetite.
–Chuck
criddle123@earthlink.net
We look forward to it, Chuck.–Bandit

JUNE DATES TO REMEMBER: JUNE 4TH THROUGH JUNE 9TH, AMERICADE; THURSDAY JUNE 14TH, FLAG DAY AND SUNDAY JUNE 17TH, FATHER’S DAY–Whitehorse press has what Dad’s want:Running with the DevilNew Undercover Action Book.
The infamous Sonny Barger once declared that the Hells Angels would never be infiltrated. Running with the Devil tells the story of the ATF sting and the two undercover agents who risked their lives to prove him wrong. For two years they posed as members of a Mexican renegade motorcycle club, earning the trust and respect of the notorious Arizona Hells Angels. Their work led to the shocking 2003 bust in which ATF agents arrested fifty people and seized 650 guns, 30,000 rounds of ammunition, and more than 100 explosive items. $24.95.

FACTS TO PONDER–(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171.
Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health Human Services.
Now think about this:
Guns:
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000.
(Yes, that’s 80 million..)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is.000188
Statistics courtesy of the FBI
So, statistically, doctors are approximately9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.Remember, “Guns don’t kill people, doctors do.”
FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN,BUTALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!
Out of concern for the public at large,We have withheld the statistics onlawyers,for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention!
–from Mothergoose

BIKERNET WRITES TIME MAGAZINE AND THEY RESPONDED–Hey Gloria, I have a problem with our media, not just Time. Daily I’m forced to hear criticism regarding the Iraq conflict and the fact that 3,400 have died in four years. They hammer these soldiers constantly (how must that make them feel?), but 150,000 die each year, that’s 600,000 innocent folks died in the last four years from hospital infections. We don’t hammer doctors daily in the news, why not? Over 44,000 innocent folks die a year in automobile accidents, that’s 176,000 over the last four years on our highways. Finally 17,000 people are murdered every year in this country, for a total of 68,000 Americans killed in the last four years. Why isn’t that number updated daily and question drilled at law enforcement officials constantly. Do we want to save lives, do we want to curb terrorism, do we want to stabilize Iraq, what’s the priority?
Thanks for your time,
–K. Randall Ball
President
Bikernet.com
Bandit@Bikernet.com

COME TO THE REUNION!–JUNE 1-3 2007Late Registration Open until MAY 25th!PRE-REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.But, don’t worry, you can still purchase a complete package when you get to the Reunion in Helen.
$45 per person – $80 per couple
Call Toll Free 888-374-3371 when you’re ready to pre-register.
Pay by Credit Card, Check or Money Order.
What do you get for your hard earned $$$?1 Event T-Shirt couples get 2 cause we can’t expect them to share
Entry into Friday and Saturday Night Parties
Choice of either Poker Run or Guided Tour Ride
Guided Rides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Raffle Tickets for thousands of dollars worth of door prizes
Event Patch
Bike Show Entry
Bike Games
Vendors – Fun -a chance to roll the dice to win the Victory Motorcycle!
Model to be announced!
What is the Reunion Run?The USRiderNews Reunion Run is held on the bank of the Chattahoochee River in beautiful downtown Helen Georgia and is organized and sponsored by USRiderNews. The staff members and volunteers all work hard to put this party on for you, our readers. The rally attracts upwards of 5 thousand people to this North Georgia town during the weekend. It is designed to be a small party for our readers that’s why we don’t advertise it anywhere else. We don’t put it on the radio or in other magazines. We’re not out to make money with this rally, just meet old friends and make new ones.
What does it cost? You don’t have to pay a dime to attend anything but the party Friday and Saturday nights. Access to the vendors is free! But, if you want the swag and full access, then a measly $35 covers it all! Except your hotel room and we’ve even negotiated discounts on that for you! Call us today to find out if we have any discounted rooms available. 888-347-3
–Rogue

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May 31, 2007 Part 2

By Bandit | May 31, 2007

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–CHRIS CARR ON BIKERNET TV, BACK STREET HERO CHECKS IN, SCOTT JACOBS DEAL OF THE WEEK, WILD REPORT FROM PAUL GARSON, MRF ANNOUNCEMENT, LEATHER SEATS FROM ENVY CYCLES, BAKER IN STURGIS AND ASSALT WEAPAN ADVICE.

Continued From Page 1

ASSALT WEAPAN BONNEVILLE BUILD DRAWS RESPONSE–Hey Bandit, just read the article on aerodynamics from Hot Rod magazine. Must be where I got that idea about down force and wind tunnel testing I told you about.
It’s serious shit. Also congrats on your diet(s) They’re a bitch but it’ll be worth it. And just to help out, I had enough Margaritas for us both last weekend.
Ride hard,ride safe,
–Pete(from florida)

NC BAND LOOKING FOR BIKER GIGS–My name is Jamie Wellington from Lumberton, N.C. I play in a band MoJo Mac with 3 others. We are all in out late 40’s and love to jam. My band is well reasoned in rock and roll (Zepplin, Skynard, Cream, ZZ top and more). We have been playing since our teen years.
MoJo Mac has the equipment and talent for a good four hour show. Please E-mail back and let me know what it takes to play in some of your establishments. The band is willing to go to any bar or hangout located in NC, SC, or VA.
If your crowds like rock and roll you will not be disappointed.
Jamie Wellington
jdwell@hotmail.com

WHERE BAKER DRIVETRAIN THROWS STURGIS SUPPORT– Baker Drivetrain has our irons in fires all over Sturgis this year! We’ll be on Lazelle Street, out at the Buffalo Chip, the Broken Spoke, at the Kids and Chrome dinner and charity auction, the Builders Breakfast, down at Grease Monkey Mayhem, and on the Black List. Here’s the who, what, where, when and why!
The Buffalo Chip:
Above the ‘Chip’s partying masses, Baker heisted the burnout pit and dubbed it The Baker Burnout Box!!! We then we put tall torches on it for a spectacle of burning flames and burning rubber. We’ll be raisin’ hell in the middle of this staple American motorcycling destination. So follow the smell of melted rubber, ride your bike on up the ramp and show everyone at this historic Sturgis location what you’re made of! You won’t miss it: it’ll be the only burn-out box in Sturgis to sit high in the sky, surrounded by flaming torches and clouds of sweet, hot, burned up tires. Fill your lungs with scorched glory!

The Broken Spoke:
Baker is always so proud to back Jay Allen and the Broken Spoke, in all locations. This year in Sturgis is no different. We couldn’t be more proud to lend our support to Jay and the largest bar in Sturgis: the Broken Spoke, as he pushes forward helping Sturgis to grow bigger and better every year.

Kids and Chrome:
Baker will be working with the Children’s Home Society, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, and Nick Genender from New York City Choppers in an effort to raise funds for these deserving causes. Mr. Genender and the fellas over at NYC Choppers will be building a custom motorcycle for the 2007 Kids and Chrome Raffle. Baker Drivetrain was more than happy to donate one of our 6-Speed, Right Side Drive Transmissions to this project.
We will also be donating our new Function-Formed King Kong Klutch for the auction to take place at the event, scheduled to be held Wednesday August 8th, 2007 at the Spearfish Convention Center. We hold this event near and dear to our hearts. Lisa and Bert Baker see no more deserving or worthy causes than that of a home for children in need, and a place dedicated to our American motorcycling heritage. For more info check out: http://www.kidsandchrome.com/

Builders Breakfast:
Baker Drivetrain is joining forces with the Builders Breakfast this year at the Broken Spoke on Lazelle St. in Sturgis. This event, scheduled to take place the morning of Tuesday August 7th, 2007, is always a big draw for fans of the art of bike building and designing. Baker will assist the Builders Breakfast in their goal of raising funds for Make-A- Wish Foundation, South Dakota at the 2nd Annual Breakfast. For more info, check out: www.choppersinc.com.
Grease Monkey Mayhem:
These builders are all together in one location to celebrate the art of bike building, unity among builders, and to have a good time – and Baker Drivetrain wouldn’t miss out on this party for the world! We’re looking forward to checking out the builders all camped out in the Grease Monkey lot during Sturgis this year, and lending our support to these guys who love Baker transmissions almost as much as we do!
Rupert’s Ride for Kids:
We all know Rupert from his time on the ole’ t.v. as the winner of the show “Survivor”, but did you know that he has a passion for charity and a love for motorcycles? Well he does, and in Sturgis he is hosting a day long ride with food and entertainment at the end, all for a good cause: children in need. We support Rupert in his efforts in Sturgis, and hope everyone finds the time to join in the fun for a worthwhile cause.
The Black List:
Aw man, we’ve done it this time! Scout and Trish are always trying to make Baker Drivetrain just a little more punk rock, and we couldn’t be missing out on a bitchin’ opportunity like this! The Black List is, in its own words “A ground-breaking entertainment and events platform bringing a high-octane mix of customs, extreme sports, art and music designed to redefine and revolutionize rally entertainment”. We see it as a good f*ckin’ time! In hopes of a bike venue that caters toward a more youthful culture, we’ve been waiting for something that is more suited to BAKER’s Creative Department, and has elements of basically all things rad. This is it. We’ll be there tearin’ it up, and even giving away a transmission on stage where all this takes place: the Full Throttle Saloon. http://www.fullthrottlesaloon.com/black_list.php
LAZELLE STREET
And what would Sturgis be without Baker Drivetrain set up in our usual spot, in the corner of the Samson Lot, where 5th and Lazelle come together? Stop by, pick up one of our scandalous Baker 2007 Calendars, a catalog and some stickers and talk with us about all things Drivetrain. Our booth will be full of the guys who build and sell these trannys every day. We’ll also have lots of our new innovations, including the members of the Function-Formed family of products there, for you to see first-hand and drool over.
So, think Sturgis is ready for us?!
For additional information, visit www.bakerdrivetrain.com, or call BAKER Drivetrain at the number above and ask for Scout or Trish in the Marketing Department

TONGLET EARNS FOURTH DESTROYER WIN OF THE SCREAMIN’ EAGLE AHDRA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON–COMMERCE, Ga. (May 28, 2007) – L.E. Tonglet has earned the Destroyer category win at four of the first five events of the Screamin’ Eagle championship AHDRA season. Not bad for a guy who won just one race in the same category in 2006.
Tonglet snagged his fourth Destroyer victory of the season by beating Ronnie Fensick Sunday in the final round at the Stone Mountain Harley-Davidson Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Tonglet turned in a 9.343-second pass at 136.57 mph to beat Fensick’s 9.426 at 137.93 in Fensick’s first final round appearance of the season.
Tonglet also was the top qualifier (9.195) followed by Wanda Poff (9.337) and Fensick (9.346) to round out the top three.
Tak Shigematsu equaled his win total in Nitro Top Fuel racing from 2006 with his victory over Doug Vancil. The Ehime, Japan native rode his Don Johnson Racing Harley-Davidson to the victory in his first final round appearance of the season. Shigematsu recorded a 6.752 at 178.76, topping Vancil’s 11.341 at 74.52 on his Vance & Hines Motorsports Harley-Davidson.
Jay Turner was the No. 1 qualifier in the Nitro Top Fuel category after turning in a 6.498 while Steve Stordeur was second (6.559) and Joey Sternotti was third (6.578). Shigematsu and Vancil were fifth and eighth, respectively.
Greg Best beat Chip Sutinen for the Screamin’ Eagle Performance (SEP) victory on Sunday. Best earned his second win in as many final rounds with an 11.650 to top Sutinen’s 11.450.
Joey Talbott earned his first win in his second final round appearance of the year in the ET category. Talbott recorded an 11.633 to beat Roberta Seaman, who fouled at the starting line. The next AHDRA event is the Roeder Harley-Davidson Buckeye Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio on June 9-10.

LEATHER SEATS FROM ENVY–Three seat pan styles available, seven patterns all for a low $499 apiece. Watch for shots of the Streetwalker by Envy wild exhaust systems. They keep 500 in stock, so if you order, they’re shipped pronto. Also, watch for an Envy bike to be featured tomorrow with more of their seats and exhaust systems.
The bike will soon be featured in Easyriders so keep your eye on the newsstands.

MOTORCYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECONVENES–The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is pleased to announce that theFederalHighway Administration’s (FHWA) Motorcycle Advisory Committee (MAC) heldits secondmeeting in Washington DC recently. As outlined in the legislation thatthe MRF wasinstrumental in developing and passing through Congress, the MAC’s purposeis toprovide advice to the Secretary of Transportation, through the FHWA, on allinfrastructure issues and how they affect motorcycles.
The Council iscomprised of10 individuals representing all different facets of the motorcyclingcommunityincluding the MRF, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), The NationalAssociation of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators (SMSA), StateDepartment ofTransportation (DOT) officials and “road furniture” safety engineers. “Roadfurniture” refers to anything on the road other than the actual road – sosignage,guard rails, bridges, light posts, striping, lane markers, etc. would beconsidered”road furniture.” The best part is that ALL of the MAC members must beriders.
MACcovered a lot of ground over the two-day meeting, and all of the meetingminutes,recommendations and action items will be available soon on the MAC website athttp://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/mac/index.htm.
A lot of the meeting was spent on retro-reflectivity of pavement markings,which isessentially the brightness of the markings when headlights light them up.Apparently with materials currently used for pavement markings, when youincreaseslip resistance you decrease the level of retro-reflectivity. Thisfundamental issueputs motorcycling directly at odds with pavement markings the way they arethoughtof today. In the safety community brighter is better, and very littlethought hasgone into slip resistance except with pedestrian markings. For years,both publicand private highway designers have forgotten to consider the smallsignature oftwo-wheeled vehicles. MAC was designed to change that mentality, and as aMACmember who has attended both meetings on your behalf, I can tell you witheveryconfidence that is about to change.
Another issue discussed a lot was the cable barriers across the countrythat arecommonly referred to as “bologna slicers” or “cheese slicers.” I have totell youthat the state DOT folks and safety engineers do not agree withmotorcyclists onthis one. Obviously all types of barriers are bad, and when roadsidedepartureoccurs, things go from bad to worse in a fraction of second. Anything youstrikewith your bike, car or body is going to be a serious factor in the crash.
Otherpotential hazards include signposts, telephone and utility poles, firehydrants, oranything else commonly found occupying space on the side of the road.According tothe engineers, there is no proof that concrete barriers are less deadlythan cablebarriers; in fact, they claim that the opposite is true. With the use ofcablebarriers in the state of Texas last year, they went from 54 deaths fromvehiclescrossing the median or double yellow line down to 2. With results like that,motorcyclists will have a tough time declaring cable barriers unsafe atany speed.
Cable barriers came from Europe, like a lot of things these days, and areundergoingmany safety upgrades across the pond. Retrofitting wood, plastic and/ornylon tothe cable barriers may decrease the chances of the rider being, for lackof a moreglamorous term, sliced in half.
The MRF and its SMRO partners envisioned and helped create this MotorcycleAdvisoryCommittee to bring the issues and concerns of motorcyclists to the peoplewho designthe roads we use. As you can see, the MAC is accomplishing exactly thatgoal.
Ride Free and Ride Often
–Jeff Hennie

MORE WILD REPORTS COMING FROM PAUL GARSON–Ya got love the Mini- Peterbilt the Ed Built – very cool daily driver.

Dale Walksler and Indian on which he Barber Museum Race of the Century

Just completed “Akira” bike…a runner…for rap video..and I was there…but notRapping
–Paul Garson

SCOTT JACOBS DEAL OF THE WEEK–A rare and important original acrylic painting is up for sale from the artist’s private collection. SPLITTING IMAGE is that painting and was created during the period that Mr. Jacobs was the official artist for Chevrolet’s Fine Art Program.
The opportunity to collect an original of this magnitude comes along once in a blue moon. This is the actual original that the limited edition: “Splitting Image” was produced from and hence became the most successful and recognized print of the entire Corvette line.
The original painting measures a magnificent 40″ x 50″ and was completed over ten years ago. This one of a kind was also the LAST mid-year Corvette painting rendered by Scott Jacobs.
The logical place, financially speaking, to offer this work would be at auction but Scott’s wish is for one of his loyal collectors to acquire and enjoy it. He also would like to know where it is and be able to access the work for possible future museum exhibitions. If you are at all interested in the painting (see visual below) please contact me to discuss or email any questions you may have.
Cheers,
–Ron Copple
Scott Jacobs Studio
303-431-4453
www.scottjacobsstudio.com

BACK STREET HEROS CHECKS IN–All received safe and sound, and Scooter has been abig help with SALT SHAKER pics from the salt flats. I think thefeature will be scheduled in for the issue after theone we’re working on.
I would have liked to have gotit in sooner but we’re in the great/frustratingposition of having so much damn material at the momentthat we could do with an extra fifty pages a month.
It’s crazy, I’ve been doing this job for twelve or soyears, and I’ve never known a year like the last onein the UK – we’ve been innundated with both featurebikes and events stuff. Guess it’s all good forbusiness!
How are things over there? I had a mysterious emailfrom Mr Reed saying he’s not working for CCI any more.I can’t say I’m surprised. He’s trying to persuade meto go to Disneyland rather than the Las Vegas BikeFest. I suspect I wouldn’t notice the differenceanyway…
–Blue

CHRIS CARR IS A SPEED FREAK – ON BIKERNET TV– Chris Carr is the fastest Motorcycle Racer in the World. His boss, Denis Manning, a 2006 inductee in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, is the designer, builder, and owner of the BUB #7 streamliner.
Carr talks with Thunder Bob on Bikernet TV about his World Record of 350.885 MPH. Don’t miss it, you can almost feel the heat and smell the salt. Check it out here.
–Jeff Najar
Director
Bikernet TV Network
jeff@horsepowermarketing.com

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May 31, 2007 Part 1

By Bandit | May 31, 2007

BIKERNET NEWS TOP STORIES–WHO IS OBAMA, NEW FUEL TECHNOLOGY, ENTER THE THUNDER SADDLE CONTEST, PRO-CLUTCH KIT FROM RIVERA/PRIMO, ESTOK RIDES BUELL TO VICTORY, NEW BAKER SPOUT, BDL UPDATE AND PRODUCT CHANGE, SUCKER PUNCH SALLY IN 29 PALMS AND S&S WITH G2 MOTORSPORTS.

Hey,
Let me plant a seed. We talk of honesty, dedication and integrity, but our current stock market corporate structure sends the opposite message. If you want to scale the corporate ladder, what’s important? Quarterly reports demonstrating increased profits, lower costs, positive PR and increased stock values do the trick, no matter what. Screw the competition, steal ideas and products from others, throw dedicated employees away to cut costs and pile more work on existing employees.
At the end of the day it comes down to the bottom line. Did the value of the company grow? What’s that mean? The stock price went up and the guys at the top can tell their pals, over a drink and the club, “I’m worth another million today. The stockholders love me.”
It’s sad, but it also says a lot for the small business where veracity and dedication still matter. At the end of the day the team is everything and they expect honor and truthfulness from the owners. We need to keep the faith. In so many respects, all the material bullshit in the world is just that without honor. Let’s hit the news, then I’ll point out some strong examples of commitment and enthusiasm in our industry:

MAZAK ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF G2 MOTORSPORTS’ NHRA PRO STOCK DRAG RACING MOTORCYCLE–(FLORENCE, KENTUCKY) – Mazak Corporation announces its supporting sponsorship of the G2 Motorsports (Americus, GA) Chip Ellis/DRAG Specialties/S&S Cycle S&S-powered Buell drag-racing motorcycle.
Driven by Ellis, the bike competes in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock series as well as the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA).
“We are specially pleased to have Mazak join as a supporting sponsor for the Chip Ellis/DRAG Specialties/S&S Cycle team,” says George Smith, co-owner of G2 Motorsports. “The Pro Stock motor that we campaign in the NHRA would not be possible without Mazak’s fine-quality machine tools.”
Smith co-founded G2 Motorsports along with partner George Bryce in 2003 to campaign the race bike. The company has evolved since then to include selling between $3 million and $4 million in turnkey racing motorcycles, racing engines and support parts to drag-racing enthusiasts
G2’s racing engines – the ones it races as well as the ones it sells – are manufactured by S & S Cycle, which operates plants in Viola and La Crosse, WI. S&S was founded by Smith’s parents, George and Marjorie Smith, in 1958, and now is the world’s most respected manufacturer of high-performance engines and components for American air-cooled Harley-style V-Twin motorcycle engines.

SUCKER PUNCH SALLY’S SUPPORT THE TROOPS AT 29 PALMS–Sucker Punch Sally’s crew was invited to attend a gathering for returing Iraq veterans at the base in 29 Palms. The base organizes these encounters for the troops on a regular basis, usually inviting celebs, but there was a demand for SPS builders Donnie and Mike. Christian, the new owner said, “We’ll do one better. We’ll bring out a rig full of our bikes, both builders and our Sucker Punch girls.” They went to work and we’ll bring you a complete report shortly.

“I haveattached a pic of a marine and his lady who read aboutSPS being at 29 Palms on Bikernet and drove from SanDiego to see us…what an honor,” said Ken Conte, SPS PR manager. “You can’t believe theStories. I was humbled to be in their presence…alsogot a marine haircut at the local barber (makes goodTV and they bet me $100).”

ALL NEW BIKERNET HEALTH CARE PLAN–A wealthy hospital benefactor was being shown around the hospital.During her tour she passed a room where a male patient was masturbatingfuriously.
“Oh my GOD!” screamed the woman. “That’s disgraceful! Why is he doing that?”
The doctor who was leading the tour calmly explained, “I’m very sorry thatyou were exposed to that, but this man has a serious condition where histesticles rapidly fill with semen, and if he doesn’t do that at least fivetimes a day, he’ll be in extreme pain and his testicles could easilyrupture.”
“Oh, well in that case, I guess it’s okay,” said the woman.
As they passed by the very next room, they saw a male patient laying in bedwhile a nurse performed oral sex on him. Again, the woman screamed, “Oh myGOD! How can THAT be justified? Again the doctor spoke very calmly: “Same illness, better health plan.”
–from Bogart

IMPORTANT UPDATE AND BDL PRODUCT CHANGE–BDL items EVO-900 series 3-inch belt drives, with outboard support, EVO-3000 out board support retro fit kit and TF-2000 have been changed. We have eliminated the front pulley and engine shaft support and front bearing off the outboard support.
This change was due to too many aftermarket components that come on a special construction motorcycles. We find that several of these components do not allow proper alignment of the entire motorcycle.
Outboard supports were intended to keep the engine and rear transmission shafts from moving excessively. Improper alignment causes unusual wear and pre-mature failure of the sealed bearings.
By supporting only the rear shaft we have eliminated any potential problems mis-alignment may cause.
Thank you,
–Bob G.
BDL

BIKERNET EXCLUSIVE, BAKER’S NEW FILL SPOUT–Thanks forstaying on top of BAKER stuff! Nobody else has this release yet. That’swhat you get for askin’…first dibs. That’s why Bikernet is so good.
Thanks again!
–//Scout
scout@bakerdrivetrain.com>
A SHOUT OUT FOR THE NEW BAKER SPOUT–HASLETT, MIHere at BAKER we’ve run into problems with that big, honkin’ stock oil spout hanging off of the side of an FL. With the way we test ride our bikes, or even ride daily, we blow the stock caps right off. In addition, we often have to engineer around this excessively large contraption in a fight for clearance as we innovate our drivetrain components, thus compromising our innovation. The fasteners rust. Oh, and we think it can be prettier.
So on the side, we easily created our new Function-Formed (FF) FL Oil Spout which remedies our woes. We’re happy with this little bugger and we now include it standard on all FL transmission assemblies that we sell. It includes stainless steel fasteners and polished stainless steel hard lines for the Twin Cam version.
You won’t blow the cap off when you throttle down. Your fasteners won’t rust. You will look custom, cool and upgraded. You’ll fit all aftermarket side covers.
The FF FL Oil Spout will fit 1993-1998 Evo FL and 1999-2006 Twin Cam FL applications. The spout is available in polished, chrome, or black anodized finishes. The dipstick is in polished or chrome. Your line options are stainless steel or braided stainless.
See more on this innovation online at the bottom of this page: www.bakerdrivetrain.com/flt
For additional information, call BAKER Drivetrain at the number above and ask the sales department anything!

ESTOK RIDES BUELL TO VICTORY AT ASRA THUNDERBIKE NATIONAL–SUMMIT POINT, W.V. (May 28, 2007) – Deeley H-D/Buell Canada/Ruthless Racing’s David Estok made a dramatic last-lap pass of Hal’s H-D/Buell Hal’s Speed Shop’s Dan Bilansky to win the third round of the American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) Pro Thunderbike series at Summit Point Motorsports Park. Both riders were aboard Buell Firebolt XB12R motorcycles.
“I couldn’t be more happy with this win,” said Estok. “I’ve never won a pro race at this track and it’s been really frustrating for me. The Deeley team put a great Buell under me today and I was able to find a way to pass Dan one more time before the finish.”
To take the win, Estok first had to recover from a bad start in the 10-lap Thunderbike National that put him back in the pack while Bilansky, the defending ASRA Thunderbike champion, took the early lead. Estok caught Bilansky on lap four, and the pair of Buell riders then traded the lead position for the next six laps, racing side-by-side as neither was able to gain a significant advantage. On the final lap, Estok passed Bilansky for the lead and was able to open a gap of about four bike lengths as he recorded his best Thunderbike lap time of the weekend. Estok took the win by just 0.211 seconds. Arnold Hastings finished third aboard a Suzuki SV, followed by Buell riders Joe Rozynski (Sound Waves/Hal’s Speed Shop) and Sam Rozynski (Sound Waves/Hal’s Speed Shop).
H-D/Buell of Frederick rider Bryan Bemisderfer earned the pole for the Thunderbike National with a lap time of 1:18.359 on the two-mile Summit Point road course, but did not start the race after his motorcycle developed a mechanical problem during Monday morning practice. Deeley H-D/Buell Canada/Ruthless Racing rider Darren James, second in Thunderbike points coming into the Summit Point event, dropped out after two laps with a mechanical problem.
After three of eight ASRA Pro Thunderbike rounds, Bilansky has 88 points to lead the series, followed by Estok with 82.
In Championship Cup Series (CCS) sprint racing on Sunday, Art Diaz rode a Buell Firebolt XB12R to win the GT Lights Expert class, while Bemisderfer, Estok and James swept the podium in the Thunderbike Expert class. On Monday, Diaz rode his Buell to victory in the CCS Lightweight Superbike Expert class.
The next event on the eight-race 2007 ASRA Pro Thunderbike series schedule is the VIR Festival of Speed, June 23-24 at Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va.
For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com.

PRO-CLUTCHFITS 2006-UP DYNA MODELS & 2007 TWIN CAM BIG TWINS–As you know, Harley has made some major changes on the 2006 Dyna models as well as on the 2007 Twin Cam Big Twins. Besides having 6-speed transmissions, they have changed mainshaft & sprocket shaft configurations. RIVERA PRIMO has kept abreast & now introduces the latest addition to the world famous PRO-CLUTCH line . . . part number 1056-0020, a complete clutch assembly for these bikes.
As with the earlier version, this new model increases clutch area yet it provides effortless hand control at the lever. Installation is easy following the step-by-step instructions.
Complete kit includes steel inner & aluminum outer clutch hubs, bearings, snap rings, clutch pack consisting of seven Kevlar friction plates, seven steel drive plates, one .120″ thick steel drive plate for the rear of the new hub, billet aluminum pressure plate, silver competition diaphragm spring, retainer, retainer nuts and a clutch hub nut & seal kit with adjusting screw.
–RIVERA PRIMO INC.
12450 Whittier Blvd.
Whittier, California 90602
Tel: 562-907-2600
Fax: 562-907-2606
www.riveraengineering.com

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY HISTORY LESSON–156 years ago–a true history of California.Do you know what happened this week back in 1850, 156 years ago?
California became a state.
The State had no electricity.
The State had no money.
Almost everyone spoke Spanish.
There were gunfights in the streets.
So basically, it was just like California is today,except the women had real breasts and the men didn’t hold hands.
–from Rodan

WIN A CUSTOM THUNDER SADDLE OF YOUR TATTOO!–WIN a custom Thunder Saddle each month. These saddles are the most exclusive saddles and most comfortable saddles every made. They are very cool because each saddle represents your tattoo.
The Tattoo Contest
BANDIT of Bikernet will pick the best looking tattoo of the month and we will make a custom Thunder Saddle with the Tattoo embossed on the saddle. Each saddle comes equipped with Saddlemen’s Saddle Gel. Saddle Gel makes an incredibly comfortable seat and allows you to stay on your motorcycle for longer periods of enjoyable riding.
How to Enter the Thunder Saddle Contest
Entering is easy. Just send an email to: tat@horsepowermarketing.com with your:
? Name
? Telephone number
? Picture of you and your tattoo
? Year and model of motorcycle
It’s just that easy. Send a picture of yourself sporting your favorite tattoo and you could be riding around with it on your motorcycle. It is your exclusive seat that is a show stopper and conversation piece wherever you stop.
For more details and rules clicking here.
–Jeff Najar
Horsepower Marketing
jeff@horsepowermarketing.com
O: 919-383-0500
M: 928-814-2935

BIKERNET AUSTRALIAN READER, RAY RUSSELL DEVELOPS USEABLE COAL-TO-LIQUID TECHNOLOGY–A project that has taken more than two years to develop came to commercial fruition this month with the announcement that a new coal-to-liquid plant will process coal into diesel fuel.
This announcement was made by Ray Russell, Principal of Victorian-based Company Coal Gas & Liquids Pty Ltd. Coal Gas & Liquids Pty Ltd (CGL) Coal to Liquids Technology produces a coal-base fuel that can be used directly in today’s vehicles, with no need for modification.
A pilot plant was built late 2005 and then trial of various coals proceeded with the result being a diesel fuel that has low sulphur and virtually no aromatics plus NOx and CO that more than comply with EPA emission regulations.
Scale-up engineering drawings are being prepared for the first commercialised plant which is expected to be commissioned first quarter 2008. The plant is designed to process 25 tonnes of coal per hour with an approximate yield of 12,000 litres per 25 tonnes.
Tightening oil markets and record high prices have brought oil vulnerability back into focus. CGL’s Coal to Liquids Technology has emerged as the perfect solution as it would reduce the dependence on energy imports and also cuts down the reliance of countries on oil, thus reducing vulnerabilities in national security.
Meetings with numerous Australian coal mining companies has resulted in a positive response wherein they have identified that by utilising their own non commercial coal in conjunction with CGL’s Coal to Liquids Technology they are able to be totally self sufficient by way of producing their own diesel fuel for their mining vehicles, subsequently saving millions of dollars per annum.
–Lane O’Donoghue
Marketing Manager
WHO IS BARACK OBAMA, WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR AMERICA?– We Should know more about our presidential candidates?
Probable U. S. presidential candidate, BarackHussein Obama was born inHonolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black Muslim from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white atheist from Wichita,Kansas.
Obama’s parents met at the University of Hawaii.When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya.
His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a radicalMuslim From Indonesia. When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a Muslim school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school.
Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He Is quick to point out that, “He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.”
Obama’s political handlers are attempting to make it appear that Obama’s introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best.
In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya Soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son’s education.
Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam.Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the radical teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world.
Since it is politically expedient to be a Christian whenseeking Major public office in the United States, BarackHussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background.
Let us all remain alert concerning Obama’s expectedpresidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan ondestroying the US from the inside out, what betterway to start than at the highest level……………..Think about it….
Highwayman pointed out that this may be slanted and sent us a link to an Obama site. “Here’s a link to the Wikipedia story line on Barack,” Highwayman said. “Check it out. I’m no Barack fan myself (I generally vote conservative), but at the same time it’s important we tell the truth about someone.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Early_life_and_career

DON’T MISS CHAPTER TWO, THREE AND FOUR OF THE NEWS–Here’s a tease: BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–CHRIS CARR ON BIKERNET TV, BACK STREET HERO CHECKS IN, SCOTT JACOBS DEAL OF THE WEEK, WILD REPORT FROM PAUL GARSON, MRF ANNOUNCEMENT, LEATHER SEATS FROM ENVY CYCLES, BAKER IN STURGIS AND ASSALT WEAPAN ADVICE.

Continued On Page 2

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Arlin Fatland The Godfather of The Custom Shop

By Bandit | May 31, 2007

When Arlin started riding this was the style. From Bob T.
With so many fly-by-night operations around these days, it is great to see an original chopper builder still rockin’ 30 years later. It’s not hard to see why he’s flourished in today’s environment, once you speak with Arlin Fatland, owner and founder of 2-Wheelers motorcycle shops in Denver, Sturgis, and Daytona. He’s a mad man, who loves choppers as much as he loves beer. He’s the godfather of Hamster shop owners all over the country. You name it, he’s done it and enjoyed everyday.

An Arlin FLH style.
Building bikes for a living is not about money. It’s about the rush a man receives when that bikes fires for the first time. It’s about unwrapping that new paint job or a Duanne Ballard seat. It’s creativity personified. It’s that buzz in the seat of his pants when he finished welding the perfect sissy bar, or that bracket he handmade and machined fits. It’s the crowning achievement of having that project bike glisten under a saloon’s neon lights for the first time, tinkling as the engine cools. All the money in the world won’t buy any man that sensation of achievement and honor.

You’d never know this old fart is 64 years old. I suppose beer splashed on corn flakes really works.
Two-Wheelers was founded in 1970 in Denver, a time when choppers weren’t mainstream at all. Arlin, at 28, built his shop outta fist fights, running from the law, wars with citizens and beer cans. Bikers weren’t even considered acceptable in the ‘70s. When he opened, the chopper culture wasn’t embraced like today. The folks in the ghetto neighborhood tried to run the dirty bikers out. “One day I opened a package and found five sticks of dynamite,” Arlin said. “I’m still serving customers who shot at me in the ‘70s.” There were many nights when Arlin and his staff stood armed, at watched until dawn, to make sure 2-Wheelers was standing in the morning.

Arlin has lived through every style including the fake Evo Pans and Knucks.
Those were the days when 2-Wheelers was closed on Sundays and Mondays, so the clan could ride. Those were the days of dodging cops and mad citizens, fighting other young punks and building the two wheeled creations from the ground up and testing them against mile-high asphalt at 90 mph. Those were the days when the only way you were getting in after-hours was with a bottle of Jack, a gun, or a hot broad.

Riding Denver back-roads on a BSA in 1952.
Real old-time bike shops, the few left standing, exude coolness. When you walk into 2-Wheelers these days, you can tell it’s been there over 30 years from the surrounding history. You get the sense that whatever you need, they have or know where to get it…I know, when I can’t find a part in my area, 2-Wheelers has it. So, I ride down to the city, experience the vibe, and get the part no one else has in stock.

They have such an experienced staff that when you ask for a part they can help you whether it’s a stock Harley peice or a custom component for a project. They’ve worked on every style and model built for 36 years. Arlin has also built virtually every style from bobbers, his favorite, to late ‘70s Arlen Ness Pencil Sharpener Sportsters. “They handled like a wheel barrow fulla wet concrete,” Arlin said, “but that was the style at the time and we rode ‘em everywhere.” The guys at 2-Wheelers are real bikers who know their shit, a fact evident in their constant project builds. You can find everything from a Sporty bobber to a classic Knucklehead chop, all meticulously assembled and fabricated to match the style of the era, and all meant to be ridden hard. “I like to demonstrate what’s possible to younger riders,” Arlin said. “We support all the local shows and take up to 12 rollers as examples of what a young guy can build on a limited budget.”

His old mechanics are still studying.
Arlin is working with with the Easyriders crew to support the growth of the Denvers Easyriders show in April. “I hauled 20 bikes to the show last year,” Arlin said. “They’re leased a new venue for this year and we’ll pass out fliers all year long. I even recommended a local biker band for entertainment, the Brethren ‘n Fast.” The population of Denver is now 3 million and he believes the show should rock like Donnie Smith’s in Minneapolis, with enough support from locals.
Arlin said that back in the '70s it was hard to find custom parts, and if he truly wanted a unique chopper, he had to fabricate many components from scratch. Being at the top of the motorcycle industry has its advantages because he gets to see trends come and go, then resurface. Not being one to follow trends, Arlin has always tried to learn something new in each build he does, and if you look at his bikes over the years you will notice they have only one thing in common, attention to detail. He builds what he feels will have longevity in a business that changes everyday, and although he notices what is going on around him, he, like many other top builders who have been in the business, keeps building bikes that are timeless yet innovative. It’s kind of like Rock n’ Roll, it never dies, it just keeps getting appreciated by more and more people.

Arlin has a vast collection of custom bikes. We’ll bring you a feature on one from time to time, when he’ll dust one off and roll it out in the Colorado sun.
In 1973, while staggering around City Park in Sturgis, Arlin noticed that no shops existed to help guys with parts and service. He bought a building in Downtown Sturgis and for years it serviced all the Harley riders who rode to the Black Hills Rally. At the time riders needed parts, oil and tires. He discovered similer services lacking in Daytona and two years later opened 2-Wheelers in Daytona and of course he now rolls into Florida for Biketoberfest.
Today Arlin tries to focus on providing parts and services to his customers at an affordable price and doesn’t pay much attention to wide tires and bling. His goal is to open the creative chopper door to everyone. “Young guys want to build old school bikes,” Arlin said, “so I try to provide frames starting at just $900 and rollers to give them the basic platform at affordable prices.” He believes the younger crowd is the future of chopper building.

Imagine if you had a successful shop in the same location for 36 years. You’d have a few part accumulated, too.
“It’s all stemmed from what’s in my blood,” Arlin said. He caters to everyone by having a huge selection of parts and having stuff that no one else has. Being one of the founding members of the infamous Hamsters has its benefits as well, and he has always been part of an elite membership of builders who continue to define the industry and will continue to push the envelope in their unique way.

Hell, the crew at Bikernet is planning a Mudflap Trucker Girl project inspired by Arlin. If you want to get some of your own trucker girls or the quirkiest stuff on the planet for bikes see what 2-Wheelers is all about, visit 2-Wheelers online at www.2wheelersmc.com. Watch for features on Arlin’s classic customs and 2-Wheelers products in the Bikernet news.

Sorry Arlin, Donna chose the babe for your feature.

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2007 Isle Of Man

By Tim Monroe | May 31, 2007

Racing on the Streets

It’s our version of Mecca. No other race in the U.S., or even the world, quite matches the experience of seeing the TT in person. Not only is the race action great, but the atmosphere is incredible. It’s you and 100,000 of your best motorcycling friends from around the world, all gathered to celebrate the love of fast motorcycles.

Isle of Man TT Grid Girls… Lovely!
This was the 100th year of the Isle of Man TT races. Except for a few war years, motorcycles have been racing on the island every year since 1907. Back then the roads were rough and unpaved. An Indian won the premier race that year, with an average speed of just 47 mph – a far cry from what’s possible today.
2007 saw a new lap record set. John McGuiness averaged just over 130 mph during the Senior TT on the last day of racing, on a Honda CBR1000RR. Wow!!! Unfortunately there was an accident during the race, leaving one rider and two spectators dead. The island can be a deadly place. The yearly death toll averages more than 2 riders per year.
The TT features several days of racing, with various classes including sidecars. The Superbike-spec 1000s can hit over 200 miles per hour on some sections of the track. The 600s and sidecars are a bit slower, but no less thrilling.

Car Racing at Speed
Locals and visitors watch the races from almost everywhere. Yards, driveways, house windows, schoolyards, gas stations, pubs……. anywhere along the 37 ½ mile course is fair game. It’s sobering to see the various hard surfaces – light posts, walls, gas pumps, houses – along the course that have been covered with hay bales and padding in an attempt to soften the blow for a rider traveling at over 100 mph.

Locals and visitors watch the races from almost everywhere.
When the races are over it’s time to head to the Promenade. The “Prom” is the main street along the bay where the nightly festivities happen. This year you could see a number of stunt shows and contests, as well as dozens of ancient race bikes being started up and ridden by racing legends. Where else can you see and hear a 1938 DKW supercharged 2-stroke race bike being ridden? And there were two of those things!! The sound was amazing, almost as nasty as the shriek from the exhaust of a 1960’s vintage Honda 250 six cylinder racer.
Quite a few racing legends were in attendance this year. Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, and Kevin Schwantz were there, and there was a somewhat odd appearance by Michelle Duff, formerly Mike Duff. Duff was an accomplished Grand Prix and TT racer from the 1960s who later became a transgender. The announcer called her “Mike…er I mean Michelle” a couple of times. I think the audience was equally confused.
Bikes at the Isle of Man

Could this be an old Isle Of Man Racing shot from the Bob T. Collection.
Here in the states we certainly have a huge variety of bikes, in every shape, flavor and color. We have the choppers of course, and chromed out sportbikes with extended swingarms, repli-racers, vintage bikes, etc. And for a completely new take on the meaning of “custom bikes”, look around at the TT.
No trip to the Isle of Man TT races is complete without checking out the German streetfighters. Streetfighters are not exclusive to the Germans, but the Germans do seem to take their bikes to the greatest extremes. Check out the photos, and look at the detail of these bikes. You’ll see turbos, nitrous, bikes with no seat pads, and some with polished aluminum seats. Like your ‘fighter chromed? With flashy paint? Polished aluminum bodywork? Take your choice. Want your bike’s ass end sticking up sky high? How about a 4 into 4 exhaust, with underseat outlets going thru the bodywork? Nothing is too bizarre for the Streetfighter crowd. Function be damned, these are way bitchin’ bikes.

One bike in particular caught our attention. The “General Lee” appeared to be an early 80’s Suzuki, completely done up in full Dukes of Hazard paint scheme. This General Lee probably couldn’t jump very well, but I’ll bet it kicks ass at the dragstrip. The bike’s owner obviously spent a lot of time with the General. Among other things, it has a turbocharger, custom wheels with rim mounted brake discs in front, and an adjustable length swingarm to keep things stable at the strip. Even if you’re not a fan of the 70’s TV show, you have to give props to the guy who built this bike.
Want more weirdness? How about a bobbed Honda Valkyrie, with 6 intake stacks, and 6 into 6 exhausts with the ends pointed up as if to shoot at incoming aircraft? Then there was the Ford V-6 powered rat-trike looking like it came from a post-apocalyptic world, complete with mice, rats and bats.

Sidecar rigs abound at the Isle of Man. A blue Gold Wing had what appeared to be a small car attached to its side. In reality it was a 2 person sidecar with 2 wheels, front and rear, the front wheel being steered with the Gold Wing’s. And though I hate the idea of ruining the handling on a great naked sportbike, there was a gorgeous Aprilia Tuono (the Racing version no less) attached to an equally beautiful carbon fiber sidecar.

The entire atmosphere surrounding the TT races is amazing. With the Isle of Man’s location pretty far north, daylight stays around until 11 pm in the summer. It’s amusing to be at the Bushy’s tent (the local brew) after 10 pm, in full daylight, watching stunters and chatting with an international crowd of mad bikers.

Considering the danger involved with 200 mph bikes in close proximity to rock walls, it’s anyone’s guess how long the Isle of Man races will continue. For years there’s been talk of shutting it down. But as a substantial part of the island’s economy revolves around the annual TT races, the locals are doing everything in their power to keep this party going.

One more time–The Girls of The Isle Of Man.

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