BIKERNET NEWS HEADLINES -STEALTH PROJECT FINISHED, JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK, VADER WHEEL DEAL FROM PM, PAUL REVERE RIDE, VT RACE GIRL REPORT, BIKERNET GOES TO SWEDEN, D&D CONTEST ATTACKED, FAST HARD BIKE, RUSTYS JESSE JAMES BIKE, AND NEW SOFTAIL AIR RIDE SUSPENSION COMING

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STEALTH CYCLES REPORT FROM NORTH CAROLINA–I missed doing my report last week due to our air compressor taking a dump on us. The company we purchased the compressor from took care of the problem for us and we were up and running by the end of the day.

Last Saturday was a big day for us at STEALTH BIKE WORKS. We finished our ’71 Shovel project. It roared to life on the 6th kick, not bad! The bike is styled after the Dave Mann centerfold bikes. Check the exhaust system out. I really like it. The paint came out very nice, our painter Rusty did a great job. The bike is a kick only and so far it starts with only 3 kicks, not bad. The bike sports an S&S B carb, a 3″ BDL open belt drive. Engine displacement is a stock 74″ and it runs a stock 4 speed tranny. It also runs a spun aluminum Santee oil tank. It was a real kick in the pants for me when it fired! The 71 Shovel will be on display Wednsday at Kristopher’s bike night.

Our ’78 Shovel is nearing completion. We are waiting on the paint to be finished. As soon as we are finished, I will have pictures.

We are busy here at SBW. We have parked a couple of bikes up front because our back room is full. This is a very good thing! More people are starting hear about us from our customers and that is the best kind of advertising.

We are coming up on our one year anniversary at STEALTH BIKE WORKS(5-10-06.) The time has really flown buy and it doesn’t seem like it has been a year already. We have grown a lot but we still have a long way to go. As with any journey it starts with the first step. I would like to thank all of our customers for their support this first year. I would like to thank Larry and everyone at Custom Chrome for all their help. Thanks Max and Chopper John, you guys are SBW. Thanks to “THE MEANEST” for kicking my ass when I needed it and for encouraging me the whole way. Thanks to a couple of friends of mine for their advice when I was back and forth about opening SBW, Mr. Bandit and Lee Clemens of Departure Bike Works. You both helped more than you know. Thanks to all the BIKERNET readers who have wished us well, Hiwayman, Concrete Pete and my friend Fritz. I plan on keeping SBW going for a long time, there is nothing I would rather be doing.

The summer looks like it going to be a busy one for us. SBW will be at The Horse Smoke Out June 23rd & 24th. July 23rd SBW will present our 1st Annual “No Class Bike Show.” In between those two events ther are bike nights and swap meets. Time flys when yopu are having fun!

–Until next week, RIDE!
STEALTHMAN

BIKERNET JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK–Cam Assembly Tool.Use to hold both cams in an upright position while lowering the cam support plate over both guides and cam journal guides.

This tool has been manufactured from a non-marring material, that will not damage any of the cams’ surfaces.

No. 990 – Use on 2006 topresent Dyna Trans.

TONGLET READY TO RACE IN ATLANTA, DEFEND FIRST CAREER HARLEY-DAVIDSON VICTORY–Hines Looking to Climb Out of Second Place GT Tonglet will do something this weekend he has never done before. The 23-year-old Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod rider is set to defend his 2005 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle victory from one year ago.

It won’t be the first time Tonglet has defended a victory, his first career win was at St. Louis in 2001. But it will be the first time he defends an event title from the seat of his Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod and that was a long time in the making.

So when Tonglet and teammate Andrew Hines start competing Friday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, Tonglet will have a spring in his step he didn’t have at the same time last year.

“Winning a national event is amazing but usually one victory doesn’t mean as much as it did to us,” Tonglet said. “We went the entire first year of the Screamin’ Eagle program (2003) without even qualifying. Then it took us another year and a half for me to get to winner’s circle. An entire team had a few years of effort and hard work invested in that win and that’s what made it so special.”

Riders will have four chances to qualify for the third of 15 national NHRA events, starting with sessions at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday before wrapping up on Saturday (11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.). Final eliminations will start at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Tonglet is hoping the pressure of trying to repeat a victory won’t be a distraction.

“The pressure comes from wanting to do well at the same track again,” the New Orleans native and resident said. ” I don’t think I had ever been more excited about winning a race in my career so I’m anxious to go back to Atlanta and try again.”

Tonglet also knows that the same event, even just a year later, doesn’t guarantee a team will even qualify.

“The technology changes in this sport so quickly,” Tonglet said. “We’re a perfect example of that. Byron (Hines, team owner) has done amazing things in building a new Harley-Davidson program from the ground up in just a few short years. But the rest of the series has been working night and day during the offseason too. Everyone wants to win and you don’t get any free passes for being the defending champ.”

Tonglet has three career wins in eight final round appearances and is currently in eighth place, less than two rounds out of the No. 3 spot. Hines has five career victories in 11 final rounds to go with his two NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle championships. He is currently second in the point standings.

Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said the team is anxious to get back to the track and attempt to add to the winning statistics.

“The Pro Stock Motorcycle class has had a month off and I think we’re all pretty excited to get back to the track,” Paluso said. “We’ve had two races in a little less than two months but now we’re getting into the heart of the schedule. We have 13 events left this season and every point is so important. Now we won’t have a lot of time between races to work on the bikes, either. This is an intense time of the year for every team that competes in this series.”

VADER WHEELS ON SALE FROM PM–Seen enough vintage style bikes with wire spoke wheels? Us too, so lately, we’ve been eyeballing a period correct styled alternative from Performance Machine called the Vader. This simple design Looks like some sort of throwback to the origins of custom motorcycle wheels and is screaming for a clean little bobber to connect with. The ten subtle spokes of PM’s Vader wheel are the perfect alternative to played out wires and they’ll even make you design matched discs, pulley and sprocket.

PM’s making them in chrome or polished finish and you can check ’em out on PM’s new site. They have a slick wheels try-on module that lets you pick your bike and then try on each of their wheels! Tell them we sent you.

For more information, call or write to:
Performance Machine, Inc.
6892 Marlin Circle,
La Palma, CA 90623
714-523-3000
http://www.performancemachine.com

PAUL REVERE RIDE TO YOUR STATE CAPITOL– To all red blooded American citizens: If you ride a motorcycle, we want you to escort the 21st Century Paul Revere team into your state capitol this summer. Check the web site for dates and times. Take off from work for an hour or day or week; ride with the team; be a part of history; make Paul Revere proud; wear the T-shirt; tell your friends. Just imagine 1,000 or 10,000 motorcycles circling your state capitol demanding a stop to the illegal immigration invasion of America.

They ride into 48 state capitols this summer to show you HOW to stop the invasion. Have Old Glory flying from the back of your bike to show your colors! This is going to be BIG! http://www.21stcenturypaulrevereride.us

BIKERNET BONNEVILLE RACE GIRL CHECKIN’ IN–Valerie Thompson – VTRaceGirl.com has just finished 3 of her 14 ADHRA drag races events in Gainesville, Arizona and Texas and is off to a terrific start for 2006. Valerie is racing for Rick Hatch, Hacienda Harley-Davidson, Scottsdale Arizona, Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Destroyer in the All Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Association.

The V-Rod Destroyer bike is one of the most extremely competitive classes in the AHDRA. The newly released Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Destroyer; the first ever factory production drag bike is powered by a 1300cc engine and putting out 165 horsepower that is capable of a low 9-second quarter mile and speeds of more than 140mph. This class is considered a “spec class” as each rider/team must compete following a strict set of rules designed to make the class a “rider’s class” As of April 2006, her best ET is 9.58 in a quarter mile at 140.24 MPH.

Valerie has had some impressive qualifying numbers and is our Arizona Bike Week National Runner-Up in the Super Gas Class, April 2006. In Texas, she claimed the No. #1 qualifier position in Super Gas Class and made it to the quarterfinals. She is now currently in 4th place in the AHDRA Screamin’ Eagle Champion Points Series. In March 2006, Valerie clinches First Place in the NOPI Drag Racing Series Race at Firebird Raceway. She is now on her way to St. Louis, MO.

In between her racing, she attends many promotional events and is continually updating her website?Thanks to her sponsor Kirk Johnson- phoenixbikers.com.

Valerie would like to give a warm welcome to Lucas Oil and MTC Engineering for jumping on board with a sponsorship for 2006.

In addition, I would like to say thank you to my Crew Chief Kenny Folz and Brian Batzel for there hard work! Tripp Nobles #87 was also a key player in her success. “This is a good way to start the season off,” said Thompson. “I have been working hard on my riding and I think it’s really starting to pay off” Thank you to Hacienda H-D, Monster Energy Drink, Legend Air-Ride Suspension, Phoenixbikers.com and HJC for your support! It gives me great pleasure to represent my sponsors and is even more rewarding to report my successes to them. This is only the beginning of VT.

So, keep your eye on this new up coming raising star September 2006 she is scheduled to race two Bikernet.com motorcycles for Land Speed Records at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

–VTRaceGirl.com

BIKERNET FARMERS AND HOOKERS CLASS– Three hookers were comparing notes about their customers from the night before while in the back of the class.

“I entertained a cowboy last night,” said the first.

“How do you know he was a cowboy?” asked the others.

“Well, he wore a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and kept both the hat and the boots on all the time we were together.”

“Sounds like a cowboy, all right,” agreed the others.

“I entertained a lawyer last night,” announced the second. “I could tell because he wore a three-piece suit and packed a briefcase. He wore the vest of the suit and hung on to the briefcase all the time.”

The others agreed that he sounded like a lawyer.

“I had a farmer for a client,” said the third.

“How do you know he was a farmer?” asked the others. “First he complained that it was too dry, then he whined that it was too wet, and then he asked if he could pay me in the fall!”

BIKERNET COVERS THE LARGEST BIKE SHOW IN SWEDEN–Bikernet and the Horse Magazine will be flying over to Stockholm, Sweden again on June 1st and riding up to Norrtelje for Scandanavia’s largest and most prestegious Custom Bike Show sponsered by Twin Club MC. We’ll be hooking up with our friends from Finland’s Kopteri magazine and Sweden’s MCM magazine to bring our readers the best that the “Land of the Midnight Sun” has to offer.

Last years show featured bikes and builders from Belgium, Finland, Russia, Germany and the most radical of the infamous Swedish Long Bikes. This years event is setting up to be the biggest in the events long 31 year history.

This years top winner will get an all expense paid trip to Sturgis to compete in American Motorcycle Dealer Magazine’s World Championship of Custom Bike Building.

With 22 hours of daylight, the after-show bash at Twin Club’s party central should prove to be kick ass as usual. Last year it took us over 2 weeks to recover from the festivities

We’ll bring you all the action right here on Bikernet.

–TBear

D&D DYNA EXHAUST CONTEST OUT OF CONTROL– The contest is out of control. Somebody figured out how to add votes, so I screwed around and discovered how he did it and started funk’n around with him. Didn’t see any specific voting rules, so If he can do it ,what the fuck, so could I.

When the contest started I email Bro’s fron N.M. to Ma.and in between to get votes and was doing fine. But when I saw what was happening I got pissed! I could have e-mailed you about it but I decided to fuck with him instead.

The whole thing has got out of control. I’m 57 yrs old and been working and riding Harleys since the ’60s and am proud of my bike. It’s no chopper but does have several hand-built parts and a paint job I did myself.

In a fair vote I’d take what I got and have no problem with whoever won. If I won It would have been cool but it was good just seeing my bike on your site and having my Bro’s take the time to vote. The bike that is ahead has gotten over 2500 votes in the last 24 hours. Not to knock another man’s iron, but it looks like he bought a new Harley then told the dealer give him one of everything chrome!

If you want take my bike out of the contest, that’s OK.

–JC

We immediately instituted a thorough investigation, and of course the D&D and Bikernet judges decisions are final.–Bandit

HARDBIKES SC 330 CHOPPER IS BUILT TO GO FAST, TURN ON A DIME AND LOOK GOOD–The SC 330 Chopper Wins Hooter’s Bike Night.The SC 330 Chopper is the premium custom motorcycle in the Hardbikes lineup for 2006. The SC 330 Chopper features include a drop seat design; curved double down tubes color matched frame with 40 degree rake; 5 degree trees; 5 inch backbone stretch; 7 inch down tube stretch; super stretched chopper tank; 300 mm rear tire; sculpted front and rear chopper fenders; 111 inch S&S engine; RSD pulley/brake rotor combination; Torian right-side exhaust pipe by D&D Performance Exhaust and six speed transmission with hydraulic clutch. Out front the oil tank is mounted on the curved double down tubes. This lowers the center of gravity and assists in the handling characteristics of the bike.

Shauna Augustine, Hardbikes Sales Coordinator, said, “TJ Fletcher purchased an Orange and Silver SC 330 Hardbikes Chopper motorcycle during the 2006 Daytona Bike Week. After he got home he went to Hooters for dinner and when he came out they had handed him the winners? trophy for bike night. He was surprised because he hadn’t entered!”

Hardbikes converts owners into custom motorcycle designers by allowing them to design their own chopper. They log onto the Hardbikes website, www.hardbikes.com, and build their custom-fit motorcycle from a deep-list of quality parts in the software application called the Design Wizard. After the design is completed owners sit down with their local dealer-designer to be fitted for the bike according to their physical dimensions and riding style.

“The Chopper phenomenon is alive and well here at Hardbikes,” said Bob Kay, Hardbikes? VP Sales and Marketing. “We have taken the design and refined it in such a way as to make it one of the best handling choppers on the market today. It looks good, turns well, has great balance and the front end doesn’t flop. This is really a testament to our engineering department burning the midnight oil to get the best out of this package.”

Each Hardbikes motorcycle is built with the synergy of Hardbikes engineering, owner input and world-class suppliers. Hardbikes’ suppliers include Weld Wheels, Hawg Halters with differential bore for better stopping, Tech Starters, Torian right-side exhaust pipe by D&D Performance Exhaust, Primo Brute Belt Drives, Drag Specialties and Riveria High Performance Clutch.

ILLUSIONS MOTORCYCLES MEETS THE HORSE–Rusty owns a rare Jesse James built bike. Jesse and Rusty’s wife KO collaborated on building Rusty a bike just prior to his prison release. Jesse’s staff built the bike in just 13 days to insure Rusty had something to ride the day he walked out of prison.

We shot a feature yesterday for the HORSE, and a feature on Rusty for our “Badlands” project on Bikernet, a tribute to veteran and historic bikers and club members. Check out the chapters in the Cantina.

NEW AIR RIDE SYSTEM COMING–I’m not up on these as much as I should be. You know, the old school, less is more. While shooting Rusty’s bike I met Jim Durham and his partner at Cycle Tek MFG, Inc. They are in the process of developing a safe and more adjustable air ride system. Let’s see if I can explain this. Their dual air-ride piston, positioned like Softail shocks, will accept air from both ends so that dampening can be adjusted as well as ride height.

One other item struck me. Their solenoids are set up so, if the system fades or fails, the bike won’t drop to the pavement, but stop at a ride-able height. They are based in Santa Ana, California and these sets should be ready for market within a month or two. (714) 558-9619.

FINALLY, THE LAST PAGE OF THE NEWS–Let’s see, Laughlin was up and down depending on who you talk to. Jay from J-Bird Studio took his first custom offering to be displayed at the Hi-Lo Booth at the Edgewater. While rolling it along the sidewalk to a bike show, he was stopped and his motorcycle was impounded.

Jay was forced to drive over 300 miles back to Los Angeles for his paperwork. Since the bike wasn’t finished, it wasn’t registered. Finally a reasonable officer reviewed his bill of sale and freed his first project bike. You can see his workmanship in the Bikernet Tech Department.

I know there’s more and it escapes me. Oh, when you’re not on Bikernet, building bikes, drinkin’ whiskey, or chasing girls, then you have my permission to watch Deadwood. It’s coming back to HBO. Killer show. Okay, my PM parts for the 45 came in yesterday. I need to bolt up the brakes and rotors and peel over to a shop for some light dirt bike controls. I’ll start to work on a Bonneville update tech tomorrow.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit

BIKERNET NEWS ALERTS – S&S PROMOTION, TRICK BAKER SHIFTER, BIKERNET PHOTO ART EXHIBIT, POST OFFICE CALLS BIKERNET, EPA REPORT–ALL IS WELL, DESTROYER RACING RESULTS, PRODUCT OF THE WEEK, DEAL OF THE WEEK, HOW TO BUILD A FLOW BENCH AND SUPER-MAX MOVES

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OLD SCHOOL SPORTSTER MAKES IT TO BIKERNET–I hope my bike makes it on your web-site, Dad ( Tommy ) and I ( Charlie ) built it in the garage, it took about a year to build only on weekends, the frame was changed to accommodate a 200mm tire, 21″ wheel in the front with no brake, the rear brake lever is on the bars. The drive sprocket was the most challenging to make since we had to off set it one inch.

The seat I made because I can’t afford the work of Paul Cox. The clutch is on the shifter itself. We were after the old school look and I think we accomplished that.

Dad and I are proud of it since it is the first Harley we ever built. And there will be more to come.

BAKER SHIFTING TRICK OF THE WEEK–

With the bobber/old-skool craze in full effect, you’re probably seeing a lot of bikes with foot operated clutches and jockey shift transmissions. This hardcore style of riding is cool and having clean ape hangers with no hand levers is super clean looking. But make no mistake; it is harder to ride one of these pre-WWII setups than it may appear in the magazines.

The challenge are those final crucial moments as you roll up to the stoplight in front of the local Tavern with Suzie goo-goo pants checking you out curbside. In those final moments you have to find neutral and release the clutch so you can plant your left foot on the ground. Your right foot is busy with the rear brake duty bringing you to a stop. You don’t run a front brake because that’s not cool. What they don’t tell you is that finding neutral is a crapshoot with bad odds because most jockey shift linkages have a lever ratio many times that of its modern foot shift cousin. English translation: big lever ratios desensitize the feel of the detents in the transmission and make it almost impossible to feel the half-detent associated with finding neutral.

BAKER has a little trick to prevent you from looking like an old skool fool: the N1 shift drum. Originally developed for drag racers, the N1 shift pattern (Neutral-1-2-3-4-5-6) was designed to prevent false neutrals between 1st and 2nd by positioning neutral under 1st. This drag racer trick also eliminates all room for error in finding neutral on a jockey shift bike. As you roll up to the stoplight you tap all the way down with your left hand and you are guaranteed neutral because it is the last stop on the shift pattern. Little Suzie notices your skill in negotiating your minimally equipped bobber to a seamless stop and decides to hop on and leave her boyfriend with hair on the bottom of his feet at the Tavern with his buddies who have real billy bob teeth. We don’t offer any products to help you from this point on.

The professionals at Choppers Inc, Detroit Bros, and Indian Larry Legacy use this unspoken trick and they love it. These guys ride jockey shift bikes and live the life style; they should know. The N1 drum is a no-cost option when a complete tranny is purchased; and makes finding neutral black and white.

For additional information on this and more quality American made products, call 877-640-2004.

BIKERNET PHOTO ART EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK–She wouldn’t ride the next day because of a badass hangover, so I left her on the couch and ended up back at The Rooster, me and 200 others. We never saw each other again but brother, what a night!

Ride Hard,
Whiplash Biker Photog
soffordphotos@comcast.net

US POST OFFICE CONTACTS BIKERNET–I’m with the U.S. Postal Service’s press office that publicizes stamps.I obtained your contact info from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and theSturgis Motorcycle Museum.

I canprovide photos of the cycles that posed for the bikes along with abackground on the cycle owners, their bikes and how the bikes wereselected. The stories behind their bikes are awesome. To see thestamps, visit the US Postal Service web site.

–from Mark Saunders

We took Mark up on his offer and will feature the bikes and the stamp art shortly.–Bandit

GEORGE CARLIN’S NEW RULES FOR 2006–

New Rule : Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com! There’s a reason you don’t talk to people for 25 years, because you don’t particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days: mowing my lawn.

New Rule: Don’t eat anything that’s served to you out a window unless you’re a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy’s chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Trout?

New Rule: Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with theirhot, blonde teachers are permanently damaged. I have a better description forthese kids: lucky bastards.

New Rule: If you need to shave and you still collect baseball cards, you’re a dope. If you’re a kid, the cards are keepsakes of your idols. If you’re a grown man , they’re pictures of men.

New Rule: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here’s how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we’re done.http://www.bikernet.com/bikebarn/PageViewer.asp?PageID=877

BLACKJACK ON EUROPEAN WINNER–Same idea, but on a Guzzi box? Or did I imagine that……..

–Blackjack

MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION MEETS WITH EPA OFFICIALS–Recently, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) sent Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, Dave Dwyer and Jeff Hennie to meet with EPA officials at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This was the third time the MRF has sent the same team to Michigan to acquire the most recent information on what is currently going on and what will be happening concerning the EPA rule effecting motorcycle emissions.

The MRF met with Linc Wehrly from the EPA Office of Certification and Innovative Strategies and Rob French of the Assessments and Standards Division. During the meeting some important new information was revealed to the MRF on the status of the rule and what may occur in the future.

If the U.S. were to choose to adopt the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC) standards, the EPA would have to reintroduce the standards in a newly proposed rule which could provide an opportunity to revisit the prevailing exemptions to the current rule.

The Letter of Guidance proposed by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) will not effect the exemptions detailed in the current rule. It is unclear to the EPA if they can ultimately accept the letter of guidance to carry out the rule the way it is written.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) was assigned to review the effects of the strengthened emissions standards for motorcycles in California to determine if the lower standard did have significant impact on air quality. The review has not commenced and has not been scheduled at this point. However, the review could definitely have an impact on the direction EPA decides to pursue with its Tier 3 standards for motorcycles ( OR IF ANY REQUIREMENTS ON CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES ARE NECESSARY AT ALL).

“The MRF is the only national advocacy group, of any kind, that we (the EPA), meet with regularly to discuss the impact of the rulemaking process on their members.” Said Linc Wehrly, EPA.

The MRF will continue to be the nation’s leader when it comes to providing accurate, up to date information on the EPA situation as well as all other issues that impact motorcyclists on the federal level.

Latest on the EPA, and actually since this press release was written CARB has announced they are currently scheduling the CARB-EPA review process.

MMG-DUNED DESTROYERS TAKE FINAL ROUND IN DALLAS–MMG Management is proud to recognize and congratulate #1 Qualifier, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson sponsored, Tripp Nobles, and Jeff Stevens, dealer principal of Harley-Davidson of Bloomington, for their final round appearance at this weekend’s race in Dallas. Jeff’s lightning-quick R/T of .029, with an ET of 9.595 @ 135.59 MPH wasn’t quite enough to overcome Tripp’s 9.471 @ 140.11 MPH. This is a back-to-back victory for Tripp, who also won in Phoenix at the Arizona Bike Nationals two weeks prior.

Both pilots and their machines were participants in MMG’s V-Rod Destroyer Xtreme Events and had their bikes tuned by Matt Gross and MMG. Tripp is the racing instructor for MMG’s events.

In addition, MMG tuned bikes have carried numerous pilots through qualifying and eliminations. Every MMG V-Rod Destroyer Xtreme Event participant has qualified for the races they entered! One third of the qualifying field for Phoenix and Dallas were tuned by MMG! We can be sure that this trend will continue. Racer’s rides tuned/crew trained by MMG include: Tripp Nobles, Jeff Stevens, Mike Sizemore, Josh Fry, Derek Drown, Valerie Thompson, Tom Ocasio, Terry Tripp, Ray Cooper, and Billy Doherty. All pilots also received drag racing instruction from Tripp Nobles at our events.

MMG is in the planning of its next Destroyer event, which will precede the Atlanta race.

BIKERNET PRODUCT OF THE WEEK–HERE IS ONE OF MY CUSTOMER’S, Evan’s, INVENTION…AS SEEN ON MY BIKE. SHOT BY PETE. Check SICKSHOOTER.COM

–CHRIS Hill
CHRISHILLDESIGNS@aol.com

NEW MOTORBOOKS PUBLICATION–Muscle: America’s Legendary Performance Cars chronicles the coming together of three incendiary ingredients during the 1960s: developing V-8 technology, a culture obsessed with the need for speed, and 75 million baby boomers entering the auto market.

The resulting muscle cars, brutal machines unlike any the world had ever seen before or will ever see again, defined the sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll generation.

BIKERNET DEAL OF THE WEEK– My Brother In N.C. Is Selling His 2000 fat boy, it is my old bike so you know everything is set up correctly on it, white brother suspension, Andrews cams, on off leather set, ever piece of bolt on chrome I could find, original paint and 8k miles the bike is in outstanding condition, I road it in the mountains outside of Charlotte 6 months ago.

Spread the word and if you have any questions about the bike just call me @(281) 288-9253 It is listed on ebay, here is the item # 4636642272

— Alexis
“Alexis Dean” Alexis@synistercycledesigns.com

HOW TO BUILD A FLOW BENCH– Go to http://www.tractorsport.com slide down to flowbench forum. It’s all there. Everything you need can be had from the website. Also many improvements and updates to the MSD flowbench.

My bench is still in the works. At times it seems like a life long project!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

–Paul

KNUCKLE BASKET PROJECT BIKE IN AUSTRALIA. THE WORLD’S SHORTEST REPORT–Started assembling the knuckle basket case I wrote you about last year. Here’s a pic.

— Bob Kotmel

OPPOSE A PAROLE–The drunk driver who killed Sherri Glover on June 22, 2003 received a Vehicular Homicide by DUI sentence of 15 years in January 2005. Now, his parole eligibility date is March 2006.

Sherri Glover was a Certified Motorcycle Rider Instructor licensed by the State of Tennessee and was a rider coach at Nashville Tech. The drunk driver had a blood alcohol content of .36% and two prior DUI convictions. (See more information at the end of this Newsletter.)

If you oppose the early parole of Jimmy Nall, the drunk driver who killed Sherri, please:help us by:
1. Submitting your personal opposition via petition or email
2. Circulating this email to friends and mentioning Sherri’s website to newsgroups and message boards.

WHO CAN OPPOSE PAROLE?Anyone, anywhere (any state or country) can oppose early parole. You do not have to be a personal friend. Please register your opposition via petition or email.

HOW DO I RESPOND TO OPPOSE PAROLE?* PETITION – The attachment to this email includes a printable petition, instructions, and brief information about the case and Sherri. This is the best way to respond as it provides a permanent record and gathers multiple signatures. Return only your name or gather signatures, then mail to the address at the bottom of the petition. A petition, instructions, and news are available in PDF format at:http://www.sherriglover.com/sherri_glover_petition_and_instruct.pdf

* VIA EMAIL PETITION – A simple email format and information about responding via email is on the website at http://www.sherriglover.com/parole_by_email.htm

* IMPACT STATEMENTS and LETTERS FROM OFFICIALS – Personal friends can write impact statements. Representatives of rider safety groups can write letters opposing early parole. Anyone can ask elected officials to write letters to the Board of Probation and Parole (BOPP) recognizing constituents? interests in this case. Information is on the website at http://www.sherriglover.com/parole_statements_letters.htm

WHEN DO YOU NEED TO RESPOND?Please respond as soon as possible. Mail printed petitions when you have finished collecting signatures or within two weeks of receipt of this email. The parole hearing is expected to be held in July or August 2006. However, when the hearing date is set we will have only a few days to submit opposition materials. Please respond now!

If you need more time to gather signatures at meetings, classes, events, etc., please advise me by email. I will place you on a short list of for immediate notification.

Thank you in advance for every signature returned.Please contact me for additional information. (Include your phone number if you want me to call.)

Stephen Glover, Sherri?s father
mailto:sgo622-parole@yahoo.com
(Temporary PO Box expires October 2006)
PO Box 5523
Clearwater FL 33758-5523Jay Swenson, Mpls.

BIKERNET TECH INQUIRY–Bandit, you’ve been great help in the past and I’m hoping you can help me again! I have an ’03 Bagger I just had some crane gear drive cams installed in, and the valve train noise is driving me crazy!!

The guy that did the install said that Crane cams are common for making that noise, and that maybe adjusting the pushrods will help. Also, he installed some lower fairings and said that the noise could be trapped in because of those.

I need to know what’s going on. Before these cams were in there was a pair of Andrews gear drive that made ok power, were quiet, but pinged under load in warmer weather. That was the goal of the Crane to get rid of that. What’s your opinion in this matter?

Your help is greatly appreciated. Please, email me back, or call me at 630-788-7880.

–Mike

SUPERMAX BELT DRIVES MOVES TO ARIZONA–We are moving to Arrid-zona.Our new address is:

SUPERMAX BELT DRIVES
1515 Wild Burro Drive,
Cottonwood Arizona, 86326
Temp phone is 928-301-6689

— Phil Ross

GARY LARSON PROMOTED TO VP LOGISTICS–S&S Cycle is pleased to announce that Gary Larson has been promoted to VP Logistics.

Gary Larson began his career with S&S as the Purchasing Manager. In relatively short order, he put together a top-notch purchasing department through his mentoring and purchasing philosophy. The department is now organized into separate commodity groups with a central focus on satisfying the needs of production, which ultimately, satisfies the needs of our customers.

Promoted to Director of Logistics in August 2004, his main focus included distribution, inventory control, as well as continuing to manage Purchasing. With a proven history of implementing efficiencies in many areas of the company, Larson received a unanimous vote from the Board of Directors for this promotion to VP.

“Gary Larson has been a valuable member of the S&S team for over two years and I have been extremely pleased with his efforts,” said S&S president, Brett Smith. “His contributions have enabled us to reduce raw material costs, increase inventory accuracy, and open our Distribution Center in La Crosse. Gary has definitely earned this promotion.”

Continued On Page 3

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH -JESSE JAMES BURGER JOINT, BONNEVILLE ROCKS, EUROPEAN CHAMPS, PAUL COX TEASER, WEAPONS OF MASS SEDUCTION, BIKENET SPONSOR STURGIS THUNDER ROAD, VIPER MOVES, AMERICAN 1902 DRESSER, WISCONSIN MC MONTH, AMERICAN IRONHORSE FINANCE DEALS, AND NEW BUELL

Hey,

What a crazy year. If war, immigration disputes and gas prices don’t kill us, we’ll have a blast. Bubs Bonneville third International Speed Trials is hopping. I just learned that Iron Works magazine is going to cover it and Amsoil has put up a separate purse for anyone running their lubes. American Iron magazine is sponsoring the event and a Biker Build-off between Matt Hotch and Roger Goldhammer ends at the Bubs event September 3-7.

I know a number of riders who are ducking Sturgis to hit the flats for a truly historic motorcycle event. Don’t get me wrong, this is not about leaving Sturgis behind. I’m riding to Sturgis on one of the bikes we’re building for Bonneville, based on the CCI V-Bike designed by John Reed, a Berry Wardlaw 120-inch Panhead engine and a Baker Transmission. But we’re all pumped about Bonneville and the Bikernet 10th Anniversary Celebration Run To the flats.

It’s a ride with a mission for many in the industry. It’s the core of what motorcycling is all about, speed. Brothers all over the world are going to find out, in this bizarre atmosphere of 65 square miles of salt, what their bikes are capable of. You’ll see a couple of techs pop up in our Bonneville area this coming week. I want to send a special thanks to Chris Kallas the artist/designer who created the art for all three Bikernet Bonneville Bike Teams, The Bonne Belle, The Chop N Grind and the Salt Shaker. He just drew the other side of the Bonne Belle so we would have a guide when Yvonne Mecialis paints my tanks. Wait until you see what Yvonne creates.

Click Here To Be A Sponsor

Let’s hit the news, then I’ll bring you up-to-date on more projects:

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP BIKES ON BIKERNET—We’re doing our damnest to launch another European Championship winner every day until we’ve featured all the major winners. Some of the workmanship from Europe is incredible, different and classic, as you will see, thanks to Robin Bradley and his team from American Dealer Magazine stationed in the UK. Check back daily.–Bandit

WEAPONS OF MASS SEDUCTION!– Purrfect Angelz attack the 2006 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show July 15-16th, Sponsored by Bikernet.com,with 7 weekend performances, including 3 major 1-hour shows

So why does Russell Mitchell, star of Speed TV’s Build or Bust and featured custom bike builder in the world famous Iron & Lace Custom Motorcycle Pinup Calendar, have such a big smile on his face? It’s because we just told him all those beautiful girls he’s posing with of the famed Purrfect Angelz show group will be performing all weekend long in expanded performances guaranteed to decimate attendees at this year’s big Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycles Show on July 15-16th, 2006, America’s premier custom and performance streetbike event!

The Purrfect Angelz have performed the last 3 years at the Calendar Show as their original 5-girl group, performing two 20 minute sets on stage each day to the screaming admiration of jammed pack crowds. But we can never have too much of a good thing, particularly where there’s beautiful singing, lap dancing, fire twirling, burlesque shaking, cart wheeling, lingerie and bikini clad girls involved.

Bike Show admission also includes complimentary admission to the historic Queen Mary ocean liner, and the Saturday Night Calendar Bike Builder’s Party featuring the rock band Reckless Driver with Mary Falls.

VON DUTCH SUPPORTS CHARITY–I am proud to say that with the help of Von Dutch Kustom Cycles the truck that we Dutched raised $200k for charity. EVERY PENNY GOES TO CHARITY NO DEDUCTIONS WERE TAKEN FOR SALARIES OR EXPENES! In the 3 events I have been involved with we raised $436K in total. When we rang the opening bell and they announced Ron Starrantino and Alex Mardikian from Von Dutch, we got as a big a cheer as Yankee legend Roy White and Yankees pitcher Andy Philips.

Ron Starrantino
Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Development
Von Dutch Kustom Cycles
http://www.vondutch.com
http://www.vondutchkustomcycles.com

BIKERNET SPONSORS THUNDER ROAD IN STURGIS– The Twisted Choppers/Detroit Bros build-off isgoing to be filmed at Thunder Road, it isn’t in stoneyet but looks good. That means the final test ride, celebration and judging for the Discovery Channel Show will be filmed at Thunder Road in Sturgis. Hang on for more news.

Recently Bikernet. Com signed a sponsorship agreement with Gary Lippold at Thunder Road for 2006. Thunder Road hosts Rick Fairless’ Strokes Sturgis, Mike Lichter’s art exhibit and more. Bikernet will set up a Bikernet Radio Studio and interview riders with wild stories, industry leaders, innovators and hot babes. Don’t miss it.

–Ken

VIPER MOVES TO MASSIVE FACILITY–It is approximately 40,000 feet compared to our previous facility which was 14,000 feet.

Now that we are manufacturing our own line of engines, a larger facility will give us the opportunity to add CNC machines and expand our motorcycle production. The larger facility will allow us to move forward as an OEM and expand per our business plan.

Production is scheduled for late this quarter.

Terry Nesbitt
President
Viper Motorcycle Company
5212 Whispering Oaks Drive
Dallas, Texas 75236
terryn@vipermotorcycle.com

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE 1902 APACHE BAGGER–Since its introduction at the Cincinnati V-Twin show American Motorcycle’s new “Apache” bagger has been gathering a lot of attention, and excitement is building as the bike hit’s the summer show circuit.

American Motorcycle 1902 introduced its “Apache” Bagger (under license from the Choctaw-Apache native American people of Louisiana) at the Cincinnati V-Twin show to rave reviews. It was then followed up with an invitation to be displayed as the only OEM production motorcycle shown in the “35th Anniversary of EasyRiders Magazine Custom Bike Show” held and displayed at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Harley Davidson in Daytona Beach during bike week 2006, a wonderful honor for both the company and the motorcycle.

This bike was built to ride and experience touring on a new level. The best in the business Corbin USA has partnered with American Motorcycle 1902 on the development of this bike to create something truly special. This bike comes with an amazingly beautiful windscreen developed by Corbin USA specifically for this bike. Along with Corbin’s unique and stylish engine shroud the fiberglass on this motorcycle really makes a statement for style. With the addition of those awesome Corbin hard bags, and a newly designed two up convertible seating system all these features make this bike the long haul king.

The “Apache” bagger comes standard with an S&S 113 cu in engine generating 110 hp, coupled with a Trick Shift six speed transmission, and rides on a comfortable 200 rear tire which allows this bike to cruise in comfort and control. The “Apache” rides on a soft tail chassis loaded with the latest in air suspension components. A six degree 4 over custom front end gives this bike a new look and feel. It is aggressive, responsive, comfortable, and above all else a style that stands apart from the rest. With Dual Disc brakes on the front it makes this bagger stop on a dime, its massive headlight shines the road ahead, and its one of a kind custom built billet dashboard with Dakota Digital gauges gives you all the tools at your hands to get you there safely.

Be the first to own one of these very unique custom motorcycles… Branscombe Richmond, the star of the Renegade TV series, owns one…how about you?

INTERNET UNDER ATTACK–Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet’s First Amendment — a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you — based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldn?t have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer.

Go to www.savetheinternet.com/ to learn more.

WISCONSIN MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH–Governor Jim Doyle has designated May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Monthin Wisconsin.In his proclamation, the Governor states, “motorcyclists have the right bylaw to safe enjoyment of their vehicles, including the full and equal use ofthe roadway without encroachment by other vehicles whether it be on citystreets or rural and urban highways.”

Motorcycles continue to increase in popularity both for recreation and forbasic transportation, especially with high gasoline prices. More than441,000 Wisconsin residents have motorcycle licenses or permits, and nearly250,000 motorcycles are registered in the state.

“As motorcycle popularity grows, other motorists need to share the road andwatch for motorcycles in traffic, especially at intersections and whilemaking turns or lane changes,” said State Patrol Major Dan Lonsdorf,director of the Bureau of Transportation Safety. “On the other hand,motorcyclists must obey all traffic laws, such as speed limits. They alsomust never ride while impaired by alcohol or drugs.”

Efforts to improve motorcycle safety in Wisconsin are needed to preventserious injuries and save lives. In 2003, a total of 100 motorcyclists,including passengers, died in traffic crashes. In 2004, 80 motorcyclistsdied, which was a 20 percent decrease. Preliminary statistics indicate that92 motorcyclists died in 2005.

“Education and training continue to be our most important tools forimproving motorcycle safety,” says Ron Thompson, manager of the WisconsinMotorcycle Safety Program. “Riding a motorcycle is vastly different thandriving a car or truck, and it’s important riders realize this. The best wayto handle the challenges of motorcycle riding is to complete a motorcyclesafety course. The demand for these courses is high, but they are well worththe wait. We hope to train more riders than ever this year.”

For more information contact:Major Dan Lonsdorf, Bureau of Transportation Safety director, (608) 266-3048Ron Thompson, Motorcycle Program manager, (608) 266-7855

NEW PAUL COX LEATHER CREATION FOR BIKERNET HAWAIIAN STAFF MEMBER–Seat went out today. I missed UPS yesterday. Check out the attachment if you want a look at it. If you want to be surprised…then don’t look.

— Paul

Photo courtesy of Don Rogers.

JESSE JAMES OPENS CISCO’S BURGERS NEXT TO HIS LONG BEACH SHOP–According to the Long Beach Press Telegram: Jesse is expanding his modest blue-collar business empire into fast food with the opening of an earth-friendly hamburger joint featuring prime beef, orgaic veggies and biodegradable wrapping. “I wanted something you could eat everyday and not feel like garbage afterwards,” said Jesse. The joint is named after his dog Cisco.

HIWAYMAN MAKES PLAN TO SEE WORLD’S FASTEST EDITOR–Hope you and el Bandito are doing well. Rose (my wife) and I are making plans to see the “World’s Fastest Editor” do his runs this fall. Hope to meet you both face-to-face.

Ride Safe!
–Hiwayman

A SECOND SPECIAL FINANCE OFFER FROM HSBC REWARDS? CURRENT AMERICAN IRONHORSE RIDERS– American IronHorse? Motorcycle Co. is enhancing its consumer finance deal with HSBC-North America’s Retail Services business unit. Now all current American IronHorse owners can participate in a new finance program titled “Rider Rewards,” which for a limited time is offering $1,000 cash back towards the purchase of a new in-stock 2006 motorcycle or the opportunity to qualify for an interest rate as low as 5.99%. American IronHorse is also extending this special new bike purchase offer to existing Harley-Davidson owners.

“There’s never been a better time to be an American IronHorse rider,” said Wil Garland, CEO for American IronHorse. “We are committed to rewarding our loyal customers and we’re intent on creating unrivaled opportunities in the marketplace that bring cruiser riders from other segments to our corner. We anticipate that this latest HSBC promotion will create even more customer and dealer enthusiasm nationwide for our motorcycles.”

The new “Rider Rewards” program is being unveiled across the country to coincide with the peak riding season and applies to in-stock 2006 motorcycles only. To participate, existing riders must provide their local dealer with a copy of their current American IronHorse or Harley-Davidson title or registration. Terms of the program may change at any time and are subject to state limitations.

Last month, American IronHorse unveiled a strategic alliance with HSBC, which introduced special finance packages, zero-down programs and interest rates as low as 3.99% for new 2004 and 2005 bikes.

BIKERNET STUDY’S BREAST IMPLANTS–A British company is developing computer chips that store music inwomen’s breast implants.

This is being considered a major break-through and will solve aperennial problem.

The perennial problem: Women are always complaining about menstaringat their breasts and not listening to them.

–from Rik Savenko

BUELL XBRR PRODUCTION BEGINS–Revised Components Developed to Improve Reliability.Buell Motorcycle Company announced today that the production of XBRR race bikes, based on the Firebolt XB12R, has begun. A total of 50 XBRRs will be built in the production run.

Buell announced last month that XBRR production had been delayed as engineers analyzed and refined components based on what was learned from the XBRR?s AMA Formula Xtreme racing debut at the Daytona 200 in March. Redesigned parts include new driveline components and a new timing trigger wheel, as well as a switch from a high-contact to a coarse-pitch 5th gear, according to Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell. A larger oil cooler was also developed for the XBRR.

Some of the new components were tested on XBRRs during the American Sport Bike Racing Association (ASRA) 250km Team Challenge endurance race at Road America in April, during which Veatch Motorsports rider Dave Estok and Deeley H-D/Buell Canada?s Steve Crevier finished 1-2 (with Estok crossing the finish line first overall) in the Solo Challenge class. Crevier also set a new ASRA Superbike Road America track record aboard the XBRR during the event.”The XBRR was designed to be an affordable, turn-key race bike for privateer racing teams competing at a professional level,” said Buell. “Reliability is critical, and we’re confident that the improvements we’ve made since Daytona will ensure that.”

Buell said XBRR-equipped privateer teams may choose to re-enter the AMA Formula Xtreme series as early as the AMA?s next round at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, May 19-21.

The Buell XBRR is a limited-edition production racing motorcycle based on the Firebolt XB12R and designed exclusively for closed-course competition. It offers private racers a professional-level, race-ready, production-based platform.

CHRIS MAIDA, EDITOR OF AMERICAN IRON MAGAZINE INTERVIEWED ON BIKERNET RADIO–Chris Maida stopped in to talk shop with Branscombe Richmond. Get the details on custom bikes and EPA at Bikernet Radio.

Don’t miss his industry insight and passion for the industry.

VOTE ON BIKERNET’S D&D DYNA CONTEST BIKES– Vote on Bikernet’s Nicest Dyna to determine who has the nicest looking motorcycle. The winner receives a free set of D&D Performance Exhaust Pipes.

Vote now! It all ends Wednesday, May 10th.

D&D uses the state of the art Super Flow Eddy Current Ram Air Dyno, Super Flow Flow Bench, and the first in the industry multi cylinder Lambda Fuel Air Ratio Sensors interfaced with the Dyno for real time meter and graph analysis.

Each pipe is tuned for performance and sound. Not only do D&D pipes look good, you can feel the enhanced deep rumble only a D&D equipped V-Twin can make.

BILLY’S DVD REVIEW–Just watched the video and it is KICK ASS!!! You gotta let me write the review for Bikernet. After I get through with this, everyone will be sending their money in for the dvd, it is worth twice as much as he’s asking. Great story that will touch the heart of all Americans, veteran or not. To us veterans, it strikes especially deep. Let me know if you want it, cuz I’m writing it anyways.

–Johnny

Go for it Johnny. Soon the DVD will be for sale on Bikernet, or we’ll tell you where you can get it. Also the World Fastest Indian DVD will be released June the 13th. We also hope to carry it.–Bandit

Continued On Page 2

BIKERNET NEWS SPORTS PAGE -WIN A SET OF DYNA D&D PIPES, KIDS AND CHROME KICKS OFF, CARIBBEAN REPORT RETURNS AND BILLY LANE SUPPORTS VETS IN DAYTONA

Continued From Page 4

BIKERNET DYNA PERFORMANCE PIPES CONTEST. WIN A SET-IT’S FREE–Each set of high-performance Fat Cat DYNA Pipes from D&D Performance Exhaust are tuned for Horsepower and that satisfying Harley sound. And a new set of pipes can increase your performance by as much as 12 additional horses.

These 2 into 1 Fat Cat Pipes can be yours FREE. Just send us a picture of your DYNA with your name and telephone number to dandd@horsepowermarketing.com and we will post them on bikernet.com and have the community at bikernet.com vote for the ‘Most Desirable DYNA’ of Bikernet.

To get a performance pipe for your Harley or custom V-Twin logon to www.danddexhaust.com. PLUS, your bike will be featured on Bikernet.

KIDS & CHROME “2006” HITS THE GROUND RUNNING– March 2006 – – The second annual Kids & Chrome Project Sponsored by Bikernet.com hit the ground running in 2006, building momentum for what is certain to be another incredible event to help some really exceptional kids.Last years inaugural event, held in Spearfish, South Dakota during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, proved to be a huge success. Enough money was raised for the Kids & Chrome Project in 2005 to put a significant dent in the 2.2 million dollar goal set by Children’s Care for its new hospital in Rapid City, enabling them to serve children from across the nation with special healthcare and educational needs such as cerebral palsy; traumatic brain injury; spina bifida; autism; Down Syndrome; behavioral challenges; and learning, motor and speech delays. Children’s Care Hospital & School believes all children deserve the help they need to reach their greatest potential.

Kids & Chrome Project 2006 will once again include an exclusive first-class dining experience, raffles, auctions and the opportunity to meet and mingle with motorcyclings who’s who. If you have a big heart and are interested in being a part of this incredible event as a sponsor or donor contact Bob Illingworth 623.544.2923 or lobbymc@yahoo.com

We would like to acknowledge the following companies and individuals who were quick to show their heart and be the first to sign on as sponsors in 2006:V-Twin Magazine; Bikernet.com, Covington’s Cycle City; Thunder Mountain Customs; House of Kolor; Sturgis Harley Davidson; TP Engineering Independent Cycle Inc.; Proper Chopper Inc. Accurate Engineering; S&S Cycle; Performance Machine; Corbin Inc.

Other sponsors included: Arlen Ness Enterprises; American Thunder Promotions; Anderson Studios; Baker Drivetrain; Barnett Performance Products; Biker Incite; Phil Chastagner; Crazy Horse Painting; Danny Gray Enterprises; Daytec Center; Don Emde Productions; Finishline Design Inc.; GH Marketing; HardBikes; Hawg Wired; Illingworth/ Slater; Tom Kurtz; Price/Motzko; National Premium; Paul Yaffe Originals; David Perewitz Customs; Rivera Engineering; Rodman Billet; Harlan Schillinger; Donnie Smith Invitational; Kim & Cheryl Sutter; Terry Components; The Cycle Exchange; Throttle Threads; David Uhl Fine Arts; Valiant Vineyards; Weld Wheels; Wimmer Custom Cycle

For more information on event tickets visit our website by clicking on the banner above.

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–So guys, I know many of you will be surprised, and many of you don’t even know I use to do the news every single week for the past 5 years or so, ok, now you do know.

These few past months have been insane, let’s say since May of last year, the World was in constant spin cycle, non stop stuff flying left and right, it all lasted exactly ’till December 21st, then we all took a break and been taking it easy for some months now. I have surfed all my life, so being Winter and the good surf season, we have been cutting the days and weeks short, heading over to Rincon, and surfing to our hearts content.

We do an annual event at Rincon, the Caribbean Bike Week, this year, as a thank you to all the people that have supported us since the beginning, I put together a bike, the kit was donated by Jireh Cycles, and I had a whole two weeks to get the bitch going. Sure we also had a couple paying customers expecting their bikes before the event, plus putting together the largest bike event in the Caribbean, and certainly (with all humility) the best ( which is a total full on plate on it’s own). Duane Ballard sent us the upholstered seat, Hank Young, Kendall, Indian Larry Legacy and all the guests had something to do with the bike, so taking the kit and giving it a Caribbean Custom Cycles touch, we managed to finish in time (well, almost, since some parts did not arrive, but i shall not mention the company which sucks). House of Kolor donated the paint, and Pepo, painted it, all freebie stuff. So when Sunday arrived and it was time for the raffle, the lucky winner walked on stage. Victor Mercado won it fair and square, and the cool thing is, Victor had just arrived from two tours in Iraq and was moving back to PR to re-enlist in the Coast Guard. He said he preferred the Caribbean Sea to the fucking sand. Fate as it works, gave this bike to a very deserving person, I believe it was extra special by him winning the Freebie bike, as we nicknamed it.

Again, by the time you read this, many of you will be heading the Daytona way, well for me, a first, in 17 years, I won’t be there. I got 11 bikes to finish and the ton of money spent at Daytona (and I mean a fucking ton!) will be used for better gigs, like, a vacation !! So Hawaii, see you guys in April.

In the bob/chop front, all is going well. We have a bunch of orders to fill, there’s new Chopper Freak shirts on our website and we even have a lot of parts for cool bikes in stock. So for those of you who thought I was fading out of the picture, nope… Still around, the only difference is I am letting the rat win, no more rat race for this Caribbean soul.

Well guys, I’m signing off, the waves are huge, the sun is out and the breeze is blowing offshore. Why should I bother with bikes right now? The bob/chops can wait…

See you around, hope sooner, than later
Jose

DISCOVERY CHANNEL STAR BILLY LANE BUILDS CUSTOM CHOPPER FOR SOLDIERS– Billy Lane Builds Custom Motorcycle Parts for Members of the Military Past and Present

WHAT:?????????????????????? DAYTONA, FL (March 5,10,11, 2006) ? Billy Lane, founder of Choppers Inc and Blood Sweat & Gears Tour sponsored by Bikernet.com , will build one of a kind, custom chopper parts LIVE for soldiers during ?Bike Week? Daytona Beach?s spring motorcycle rally

Billy Lane, famed motorcycle builder of Choppers Inc, regularly featured on Discovery Channel?s Biker Build Off and most recently on TLC?s Miami Ink will launch his 2nd Annual Blood Sweat & Gears Tour at Bike Week. Billy will put his chopper building skills to the test in front of hundreds daily. There will be a fully-equipped shop on stage to handle the smallest of customization to the largest of all projects. No restrictions just live fabrication in your face! Billy Lane will be building custom chopper parts live on stage in front of hundreds.?

Before each build begins, Billy Lane will walk folks through his background and introduce the project ahead. Billy will then invite audience members to join him on stage to create one of a kind custom chopper parts.

WHO:????????????????????????? ? Billy Lane of Choppers Inc. As seen on Discovery Channel?s The Billy Lane Project, Biker Build Off, TLC?s Miami Ink, Monster Garage, Big and Speed Channels Corbin?s Ride On! ?Also featured on hundreds of American and International magazine covers regularly, and the writer of two top sellingbooks published by MBI. Chop Fiction published in 2004 and How to Build Old School Choppers and Bobbers published in 2005. ??????????????????????????????????

WHEN:?????????????????????
? Sunday 3/5, 2006 Noon – 2PM
Friday 3/10, 2006 Noon -2PM
Saturday 3/11, 2006 Noon ? 2PM

The event is free and open to the public. Show begins at Noon. ??????????????????????????????????

WHERE:????????????????????
Billy Lane?s Blood Sweat & Gears Tour
Main Street (across from The Wreck) ?????????????????????????????????
? Daytona Beach, FL ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Milling the struts for the Bonne Belle at U.S. Choppers. Check the tech on the home page.

STOP THE PRESSES!–I just had to say that. We have another restrictive issue we’re facing-noise. There’s noise patrols roaming the countryside. I’m working with some industry heavies and Bikernet readers on a program or a platform. Here’s the basics, let me know what you think. A Bikernet reader pointed out that emergency vehicles need to make noise, with sirens, to take care of business. I want to prove that motorcycles need to make some noise as a safety measure, to remind cell phone and stereo listening, motorists that there’s a motorcycle in close proximity. That’s one element. Between 70-85 percent of all motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists.

We are planning some decibel reading tests with Samson Exhaust and we will make a recommendation in the near future. An element we will point out is the amount of noise we must endure daily and how little of that comes from bikers. That’s a major factor in the EPA battle. We just don’t put the miles on our bikes and don’t have the number of vehicles on the road compared to four-wheelers. So, if you listen to construction noise all day or 18-wheelers roaring past your building from dawn to dust, how does that compare to the three motorcycles blasting by once a day. There is no comparison, but we need to prove it.

Secondly, Brett Smith, the President of S&S mentioned recently that he feels strongly that universal testing needs to be required country-wide to take the guess work out of testing and enforcement. We are going to work on recommendations in that regard to prevent cops from calling your bike loud without the appropriate confirmation.

If you listened to the Bikernet Denis Manning interview, he confirms what I’m about to say. In a large sense we’ve brought the heat on ourselves. The industry built straight pipes, and harsh shorty open exhaust systems and we bought ’em. Then we raced through residential neighborhoods, spewing whiskey breath, rattling windows and setting off car alarms. That caused the heat.

We’ll try or damnest to afford bikers the right to our freedom to ride and make some noise, but we’re going to admit that if a biker is busted in a residential neighborhood wrapping his pipes at night, that he could have his hand slapped. We don’t want these bastards running over us, so we need to show a modicum of respect for citizens. Am I out of line. This is going to be a tough battle. But sometimes when you fuck up, you need to be man enough to admit it and take your lumps. So what do you think? I mean it. If you don’t like this notion, let me have it. We need the feedback.

Damn, I’ll be glad when the EPA is cool, there’s standardize noise rulings and I can go back to chasing women, drinking whiskey and riding the streets without being pulled over by every cops in sight. Hey, see above. Soon you’ll be able to hit the Hot Aces Casino on Bikernet.

–Ride forever,

–Bandit

We’re building two bikes to take to Bonneville for the Bubs International Speed Trials, September 3-7th, 2006. So each segment we publish may contain elements of both, the 1940, 45-cubic inch flathead and the first ever Sportbike Panhead designed by John Reed of Custom Chrome. It’s his V-Bike and we’re dropping a 120-inch Accurate built Panhead engine in it with a Baker 6-speed trans and tie the two together with a Compu-fire/BDL primary drive.

Since this is a learning experience for all of us, from several standpoinds, I’m going ask numerous questions. Hell, I asked anyone who will listen to me. I’ll watch the World’s Fastest Indian over and over. I may stop folks in the street. I asked John Reed about the fasteners supplied with the V-Bike from Custom Chrome. I had a couple of concerns. This wouldn’t be the ordinary street bike, but a rubbermounted scooter that we’re going to push as close to 200 mph as possible. We want it to hang together and especially of Valerie Thompson is aboard the beast. Here’s what John had to say:

I think because they are a lot bigger than they have to be, so I think they are quite adequate if you have washers both side, I usually change hardware on my own stuff, because I try to make them as small and neat as I can, like on race cars or airplanes. I like good quality stainless, so I can machine the heads and wire lock them without rust. I take things off/on a lot of times in the busy areas. I tend to use better quality air plane qty stuff if I can get it, I hate chrome hardware.

Tim Remus phoned me years ago and asked if he could come down and photograph my hardware stash because he was going to write a book on it.

”Why,” I ask?

He said, “Because you are anal.” I had never heard the word before, and I racked my brains to see if anything I had done before has come out of its closet and was going to kick me up my anal passage. I was worried. I am all mouth, but perhaps he didn’t think so.

He worked diligently for a couple of days pulling parts out of the screw racks, documenting and photographing, and I asked him what the fuck was anal, and who has been talking, etc. etc. etc.

He pulled out a little box filled with washers. He said, “What about these?”

I said they are machined, high quality stainless washers that are chamfered on the inner face, so they fit perfectly in the high quality stainless screw, hollowed in the head for lightness, with small holes in 6 places for lock wires.

“Where did you get them,” he said?

“I got them in an airplane scrap yard when I lived in England.”

“When did you get them,” He continued to question?

“About 30 years ago,” said I.

“Why haven’t you used them for 30 years,” Tim kept grilling me?

“I’m waiting for a special project,” I replied. “It’s a shame to waste them on something mundane.” I found out…… that’s fucking anal.

Axle adjuster on the Sportbike Pan

We installed the rear swingarm axle adjusters and were curious about two things. First I like a solid slider on the inside of the retangular swingarm to support and add strength. Plus the CCI chromed caps for the back of the swingarm didn’t seem to fit. John Reed filled me in:

They sell the kit with the OEM adjuster with the steel plate, you use the axle spacer with the thread part of the adjuster, but there is (or there should be) a billet cap which replaces the oem steel one with your hardware.

V Steering Neck

I also asked John if I should add a gusset to the neck. The frame appears very strong, but I considered a neck gusset. John set me straight:

I have never had any problems with the head, The frame tube is way thicker wall than needed. The lower tubes have a gusset below and the double top tube takes the weld round a lot of the neck. The FXR style big diameter necks spread the load round a larger area and are a lot stronger than the smaller dia ones used on Softails, etc. I don’t think they need additional gusseting,

I have had problems when I used the lower bearing straight on the lower tree, and I always put a spacer (about 0 .150-inch thick) under the bearing.

45 Flathead Frame Straightening by U.S. Choppers

First we put the frame on the table and leveled the table with a Starrett master precision level. This gives the table .001 accuracy. Then we began to level the frame to the table. Starting by the motor mounts we leveled the frame in both X and Y axis. When this was achieved we checked that the motor will sit level in both X and Y planes. Once it is determined that this was the case, we can assumed that the front down tube and the center post were in alignment for both X and Y axis as well as the top motor mount was parallel.

From there we worked back to the tranny mount. The trans must sit parallel with the motor mounts in X plane so as not to cause excessive chain binding. Working back to the rear axle we needed to determine if the rear chain stayed (the rear triangle) in alignment with the rest of the frame, especially in relation to the steering stem alignment rod. The rear axle must be directly perpendicular to the steering alignment rod.

This assured that both tires will stand straight up!

Following this, measurements will be taken from the center point of the rear axle in relation to the steering alignment rod to make sure the rear axle stays are not swayed to one side or the other. This process will begin next week.

So far we have proved that the neck post, motor mounts and tranny are in sync with each other. Next the most important part will be examined… determining the rear axle position to the steering neck for frame bowing and alignment.

Hope all is well…. been thinking about this EPA deal. I'm with the MRF on this one and am planning on putting the questionnaire on my site for people to forward on- keep up the good fight. You’re one of the few who are persistently posting EPA stuff….. We need to stay on these assholes!!!

-Rick

No this isn't Valerie, but she can ride my motorcycle anytime.

U.S. Choppers
2039 S. Lyon St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-546-4699Appointments Only Please
http://www.uschopper.com/