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Read More March 16, 2006 Part 1
By Bandit |
It’s another whacky week. We installed the Keith Terry Terminal Velocity fuel management system and will test it tomorrow. We’ll also installed Will Phillips new True-Track system. It takes the wobble out of touring bikes. Cycle World called it the missing link for Harleys. Finally we bolted up a set of Carlini dresser bag arms that allow you to remove the rear crash bars. I’m jazzed.
Gard Hollinger from LA Chop Rods welded the exhaust sensor bung to my Screamin’ Eagle Exhaust. He’s involved in the Build or Bust show when Russell Mitchell can’t make it. Let’s hit the news. There’s some interesting stuff afoot in this industry:
She says, “Oh, Father, I’ve got terrible news. My husband passed away last night.”
The priest says, “Oh, Mary, that’s terrible. Tell me, did he have any last requests?”
She says, “That he did, Father…”
The priest says, “What did he ask, Mary?”
Mary says, “He said, ‘Please Mary, put down that damn gun!’
–from Nick Roberts
WOMEN RIDER WEB FEATURED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON–Thought you’d like to see an interview that a representative from Harley-Davidson did with me and that’s featured on their Web site. Click on link below.
–Genevieve
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Women/women_motorcycling.jsp?locale=en_US
BUELL DEALER TEAMS CONTEST DAYTONA 200 WITH BUELL XBRR– Four Buell dealer teams started the 65th running of the prestigious Daytona 200, marking the professional debut of the new Buell XBRR production racing motorcycle based on the Firebolt XB12R. The race was the opening round of the 2006 AMA Superbike/Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme series.
The four Buell dealer entries performed well in qualifying Thursday as each team placed its rider solidly in the 71-bike field. Warr’s London H-D/Buell’s Jeremy McWilliams qualified eighth, good for a second row starting position and ran as high as seventh position during the race. Buell Hannover (Germany) rider Rico Penzkofer qualified 14th and ran as high as 11th, while Deeley H-D/Buell Canada rider Steve Crevier qualified 16th and ran as high as 12th. Hal’s H-D/Buell rider Mike Ciccotto qualified 15th. All four riders retired from the race with suspected clutch/primary drive related problems. “Some people were expecting a miracle from Buell here today,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Buell Motorcycle Company. “But we know what racing is all about and this is a heck of a start. It was a thrill to have the bikes qualified so well, and it would have been great to have all of our riders finish, but the Daytona 200 is the ultimate endurance test for a racing motorcycle, and we’ve learned a lot. We will get better.” American Honda factory rider Miguel DuHamel was fast qualifier for the event, which was won by his teammate Jake Zemke. Josh Hayes (Honda) finished second and Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) finished third, among the 47 riders who finished the race. The Buell teams racing at Daytona were supported by Pirelli Tires, Sentry Insurance, Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Harley-Davidson Visa, and Screamin’ Eagle SYN3 Synthetic Lubricant. Buell Motorcycle Company has expanded its racing support program for 2006, with more than $700,000 posted in cash contingencies for Buell racers competing in a variety of national and regional race series events and classes aboard Buell XB models and the Buell XBRR production racing motorcycle.
NOISE LEVELS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT FACT SHEET–How Loud is Too Loud? Experts agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA over time, will cause hearing loss. To know if a sound is loud enough to damage your ears, it is important to know both the loudness level (measured in decibels, dBA) and the length of exposure to the sound. In general, the louder the noise, the less time required before hearing loss will occur. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1998), the maximum exposure time at 85 dBA is 8 hours. At 110 dBA, the maximum exposure time is one minute and 29 seconds. If you must be exposed to noise, it is recommended that you limit the exposure time and/or wear hearing protection.
Measure Up and Turn it Down: Decibel Levels Around Us The following are decibel levels of common noise sources around us. These are typical levels, however, actual noise levels may vary depending on the particular item. Remember noise levels above 85 dBA will harm hearing over time. Noise levels above 140dBA can cause damage to hearing after just one exposure.
Points of Reference *measured in dBA or decibels
0 The softest sound a person can hear with normal hearing
10 normal breathing
20 whispering at 5 feet
30 soft whisper
50 rainfall
60 normal conversation
110 shouting in ear
120 thunder
50 refrigerator
50 – 60 electric toothbrush
50 – 75 washing machine
50 – 75 air conditioner
50 – 80 electric shaver
55 coffee percolator
55 – 70 dishwasher
60 sewing machine
60 – 85 vacuum cleaner
60 – 95 hair dryer
65 – 80 alarm clock
70 TV audio
70 – 80 coffee grinder
70 – 95 garbage disposal
75 – 85 flush toilet
80 pop-up toaster
80 doorbell
80 ringing telephone
80 whistling kettle
80 – 90 food mixer or processor
80 – 90 blender
80 – 95 garbage disposal
110 baby crying
110 squeaky toy held close to the ear
135 noisy squeeze toys
40 quiet office, library
50 large office
65 – 95 power lawn mower
80 manual machine, tools
85 handsaw
90 tractor
90 – 115 subway
95 electric drill
100 factory machinery
100 woodworking class
105 snow blower
110 power saw
110 leafblower
120 chain saw, hammer on nail
120 pneumatic drills, heavy machine
120 jet plane (at ramp)
120 ambulance siren
125 chain saw
130 jackhammer, power drill
130 air raid
130 percussion section at symphony
140 airplane taking off
150 jet engine taking off
150 artillery fire at 500 feet
180 rocket launching from pad
40 quiet residential area
70 freeway traffic
85 heavy traffic, noisy restaurant
90 truck, shouted conversation
95 – 110 motorcycle
100 snowmobile
100 school dance, boom box
110 disco
110 busy video arcade
110 symphony concert
110 car horn
110 -120 rock concert
112 personal cassette player on high
117 football game (stadium)
120 band concert
125 auto stereo (factory installed)
130 stock car races
143 bicycle horn
150 firecracker
156 capgun
157 balloon pop
162 fireworks (at 3 feet)
163 rifle
166 handgun
170 shotgun
Continued On Page 2
May 11, 2006 Part 1
By Bandit |
Hey,
Whatta week. Cops are crawling all over Walker’s Caf? Sunday bikers due to noise infractions. Our Bikernet Noise Study may come in handy in our hometown. Walker’s Caf? has been feeding bikers since before WWII. Now new local residents are sniveling about the bikes.
We’re in the middle dry walling Layla?s kitchen and electricians, plumbers, drywall experts and homeless sonsabitches are running in and out of our headquarters. It’s grizzly.
I want to thank Robin Bradley from American dealer for the features of the top eight European Champions. Check ’em out. Krugger, above, came in 7th and we have a full feature.
I spoke to an official from the SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) about rules, classes and Bonneville racing. Delvene reminded me that it was time to pre-register. “Running open bikes is the most fun,” Rodan said. “But lets look at what you have?” According to Rodan the 45 Flatty will run in the 500cc class, but there are several catagories. We discovered that the record for the Modified Vintage 500 cc Gas Class is 126 mph. Get this the MPS-VF, vintage, partially streamlined fuel class record is 110 mph and the gas record in the same category is 123 mph. We’re going after the MPS-VF first then change classes if we break that record.
Let’s hit the news, then I’ll tell you the Class news about the first 120-inch Panhead Sportbike.
LA CALENDAR SHOW NEWS–We are happy to announce that we have been able to get you a special…Reduced Room Rates aboard the Queen Mary for the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show.The Queen Mary is the place to stay for convenience, its cool ambiance, great restaurants, a short 200 yard walk to the Show grounds, and your room is just down the corridor from our Saturday Night Calendar Builders Party in the Observation Bar Lounge..
This special rate is $129 per night for our attendees, down from the Queen Mary’s normal $169.00 weekend rate for a twin bed room.To get this special $129 per night rate you must call Queen Mary Reservations before June 1st and mention the special LA Calendar Motorcycle Show rate.If you have already booked your rooms at a higher rate, just give QM Reservations a call now to switch to the lower rate.
Contact Now Queen Mary Reservations: Phone 1-562 435 3511
Other Hotel and Airfare Discounted Bookings with ExpediaIf you are flying into Los Angeles for the Show or want to stay at a different hotel in the long beach or Los Angeles area, and rent a car, please use the Expedia.com booking link form on our Bike Show website.This will always assure you the lowest possible rates for our Show Attendees, both now and any other time in the future you want to book travel arrangements anywhere in the world.Plus it helps support our website and keeps our Exhibitor space costs low for you.
Please visit our FastDates.com Website for all your discount Travel Reservation Needs now or in the future with Expedia at:http://www.fastdates.com/BIKESHOW.2EventSchedule.HTM
And if you haven’t made your Exhibitor Registration and payment yet, please hurry as we are almost sold out.Use the Exhibitors Registration link at the bottom of this Email.
See you at the 2006 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show!
–Jim Gianatsis, Director
V-ROD ULTRA SIZED GAS TANKS–Once again, Rick’s Motorcycles offers a complete new high-tec part for all V-Rod models:Rick’s gas tank with 19,3 l / 5,1 gallons capacity!!
Nearly all V-Rod owners around the world know about the problem that you have to look for the next filling station, soon after you left.The new Rick’s Motorcycles V-Rod tank has about 5,3 l / 1,4 gallons more capacity and offers a more reach of about 35%.
The gas cap and the injection electronic can be used like on the OEM tank and the opening mechanism can also be used like usual.
Only some modifications on the protection plate under the tank are necessary, but for this we deliver a fitting instruction with pictures.The tank is delivered in white, not painted!!
The tank is available in two variant. For tyres up to 280 and for 300 tyres.Fits all V-Rod models !!
BAKER KLASSIC KICKER GEARS: BUILT TO OUTLAST–We all know the struggle of that die-hard guy in the crowd determined to kick over his stubborn motor. This beautiful embodiment of man versus machine is pornographic in nature. Because, starting that bike in a sea of onlookers is truly the money shot. With old skool influences on the contemporary bike building culture this Johnny Wad scenario is becoming more common than not.
Chinese knock-offs of the original 1936-86 kicker gears were the only thing available up until now. Take a set of these Asian gears and roll them over in your hands. It feels they were fashioned out of fish head soup cans with a hammer and chisel by some guy making 35 cents/hour in the middle of a rice patty. Then you put them in your bike. After three kicks the kick back plate is deformed. After 10 kicks the gear teeth are starting to chip. Quite often the stop peg breaks off and finds its way into your tranny gears and then you are really screwed. This really bothered us so we took the initiative to develop a better set of kicker gears made in Michigan and manufactured with BAKER gear technology.
We manufacture our kicker gears with certified 8620 steel, to quality standards of AGMA 8 or better, on the same CNC hobbing machines that manufacture our high quality transmission gears. The stop peg has an upset head on it to give redundancy and guarantee that it will never find its way into your transmission. The kick back plate is case hardened 4140 and will not deform. The ratchet gear bushing has that critical helical groove cut in it to feed oil and lubricate the end of the mainshaft. Lastly, the kicker gears are REM finished like NASCAR gears to remove all surface imperfections and yield a semi-polished finish that screams quality.
For 1936-1986 Big Twin 4-speed transmission or similar
Hardened kick back plate to prevent common deformation
16-tooth starter gear
24-tooth crank gear
Compatible with 14 tooth OEM H-D starter gear
For additional information on BAKER’s solution to inferior kicker gears, call us toll free at 1-877-640-2004.
TIM REMUS AND WOLFGANG PUBLICATIONS TO BE ON SPEED TV– Tim Remus and Wolfgang Publications will be featured In an upcoming edition of Mike Corbin’s Ride-On show on Speed TV. The segment documents the work involved in producing Tim’s first DVD – How to Build a BOBBER. The show airs next week, be sure to tune in. Specific times are listed below.
Tues, May 16 @ 9:30pm E / 6:30pm P
Tues late night, May 16 @ 2:30am E / 11:30pm P
Wed, May 17 @ 4:30am E / 1:30am P
Wed, May 17 @ 9:30am E / 6:30am P
Sat, May 20 @ 7:30am E / 4:30am P
On Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. EST and again on Wednesday, May 17,2006 at 8:00 p.m. EST our television specials about Carlisle Events will airon Speed TV. Our motorcycle event is featured in the May 10 program, and our entireportfolio of events are showcased during the two one-hour specials.
Dave, Donnie and other motorcycling industry personalities like MicheleSmith, Michael Lichter, The Starboyz, Kai Raecke (Easyriders Magazine) andEddie Trotta appear as well. If you think this of interest, please pass it on.
–John Detrick
PIPE WRAP ARTICLE ANOTHER BIKERNET SUCCESS–Hey Bandit – Thanks for the pipe wrap tech article. It worked out great.Follow the advice in the article to be generous with the wrap. I wasamazed that these pipes took the whole package to complete (50 feet!)
–Scrapper
IMMIGRATION MARCH HUGE SUCCESS–It appears that the Immigration March in Los Angeles was a HUGE success! According to data from the Los Angeles County Sheriff, Los Angeles had a reduction in the following:
82% reduction – auto theft
28% reduction – murders/ violent crimes/ rapes
73% reduction – vandalism / tagging
54% reduction – drug related offenses (not including the area surrounding the march)
31% reduction – domestic violence cases
64% reduction – misdemeanor cases (shoplifting, etc)
CHP reported that today was a record low in the least amount of traffic accidents on Southern CA freeways. Looks like the immigration rally was well worth it!
BIKERNET BONNEVILLE SPONSOR BIKE–Ya gotta love it, 95 cubic inch, 118 h p , via r&r cycle and Randy Torgenson, hyperformance, Des Moines, Iowa. Sputhe isolators………. caddie shocks, still dialing them in,
Just completed a 2,500 mile Laughlin road trip, just a warm up for the summer.. See you on the road…
–Ray Wheeler
LA CHOP RODS POWDER CONNECTION– I am sending you a shot of our last build. My shop is RS Performance and we are the ones who did the powder and ceramic coating on Gard’s (LA CHOP RODS) Hard Rock Roadhouse tour bike. We also do all of Kirk Taylors (Custom Design studios) powder and ceramic as well as many others.
We also build our own bikes and I thought you might be interested in doing a feature on one or more of our bikes. The orange one was finished in June of ’05 and the black one we finished in Jan. of ’06.
— Bob Simpson
RS Performance Coatings
(650) 678-9216
BIKERNET SEAT OF THE WEEK–This art was completed in Grateful Dead style by Duane.
Duane Ballard Custom Leather
603-781-7505
36 Goen Rd.
New Ipswich, NH 03071
http://www.dbcustomleather.com
LUCKY DEVIL CUSTOM CYCLES GRAND OPENING AT NEW FACILITY– We will miss your Shenanigans at our Wild Rumpus!
Ever dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight? Well now is your chance… except the Devil doesn’t dance, and it will be in the middle of the day, but Oh Well.
We are having a party! Lucky Devil Custom Cycles is finally having our Grand Opening, if you happen to be in Houston, and feel like having a beer, some tasty Texas BBQ and checking out some nice rides, and some Texas honeys, stop by on the 27th of May between the hours of 12 noon and 6:00pm and have a little down home fun with us.
Before the festivities begin we will be doing the Texas National Bike Show poster bike shoot, and once that is over everyone will have a chance to get a close up of the bike during the party, and also perhaps a chance to see and chat with Miss Texas National, the fabulous Liz.
We are excited to show off some hot new customs for sale, and our in-house painters have gone all out with some wild new paint projects.
We will also have a registration booth for everyone interested in getting a jump on the competition for the upcoming Texas National Bike Show in November.
See you all there!
–Mrs. L. Devil
NEW RUNNING LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT KIT FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–Converts Turn Signals to Also Function as Red Running/Brake Light.sThe new Auxiliary Brake Light/Turn Signal Conversion Kits ($49.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories add an auxiliary brake light and running light function to the rear turn signals. Red lenses glow when the headlamp is on and increase in intensity when brakes or turn signals are activated.
Easy to install, the kit simply plugs into the existing wiring harness. Red turn signal lenses are included. Meets DOT requirements.
The Auxiliary Brake Light/Turn Signal Conversion Kits are available to fit bullet- and flat-style rear turn signals on a number of Harley-Davidson Dyna, Softail, VRSC, Touring and XL models. (NOTE: Does not meet DOT standards when installed on ’04-later FLHRS, FLTR, FLHTCSE models, ’05-later FLSTN and FLSTS models, or models equipped with Bullet Rear Turn Signal Bar Kit P/N 68615-04 or 68617-04.) See dealer for fitment details.
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.
HOLLISTER ATTACKS BIKERS AGAIN–I say; why give these sanctimonious assholes our money if they don’t want us there??? Hell, let’s all invade somewhere else, and let Hollister dry up and blow away.–B.
Hollister – A local attorney asked the City Council this week to suspend parking regulations in Hollister during the Fourth of July weekend, warning that the strict enforcement promised by police during that time when hordes bikers are expected to roar into town for the “unofficial rally” could be unconstitutional.
Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller has said that parking laws will be strictly enforced during the July 4th holiday as part of local law enforcement’s strategy to deal with the thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts anticipated to come to downtown Hollister despite the cancellation of the 2006 Hollister Independence Rally. Because of budget constraints, the police department has not routinely enforced parking laws – primarily those that limit the amount of time a car can be parked in one spot – since 2004, according to Miller.
Parking regulations, though ostensibly impartial, can easily become a means to harass particular groups if they are applied with an, “Evil eye and unequal hand,” Hollister defense attorney George Barton told the council Monday, quoting from a 1886 decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court found that a San Francisco ordinance prohibiting laundries in wooden buildings was being unfairly enforced on Chinese immigrants. If police target bikers when enforcing parking regulations, Barton said, the city will be violating their right to equal protection under the law, which is guaranteed in the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution.
“It will send a message to our two-wheel tourists that they are not welcome in Hollister,” he said during the public comment period of the meeting. He also asked the council to pass a resolution suspending the enforcement of parking regulations during the Fourth of July weekend.
City officials disagree, saying that all vehicles will be subject to stepped up enforcement of parking laws, whether they have two wheels, four wheels or more.
“The police department’s announced plans to enforce laws downtown during the Fourth of July does not constitute selective enforcement against motorcyclists,” City Attorney Elaine Cass wrote in an e-mail. “If there is, in fact, a large public gathering downtown on July 4, whether grandmothers, republicans or motorcyclists, then law enforcement may and will take whatever action it deems necessary and appropriate under the circumstances to keep the peace.”
In an interview after Monday’s meeting, Barton said that police plans for strict enforcement of parking regulations during the holiday – even if vehicles other than motorcycles are subject to it – is intended at keeping bikers out of downtown Hollister and puts the city at risk of lawsuits.
“Equal protection means that the law has to apply equally to everybody. If you single out a group and enforce the law against them and not others, that’s a violation of equal protection,” he said. “(The city) is entering an area where it better tread very lightly.”
Bikers alone will not be targeted, Miller said.
“In our case the restraints will apply to everybody, whether it’s a car a motorcycle or a motor home,” he said.
Councilman Doug Emerson, who is among the majority on the council who voted in February to cancel Hollister’s annual motorcycle rally for 2006, said that he was initially wary about strict enforcement of parking regulations.
By Luke Roney/Staff Writer,Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lroney@freelancenews.com
–from Buckshot
Continued On Page 2
May 11, 2006 Part 4
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 3
STEALTH REPORT–We have just celebrated our one year anniversary at STEALTH BIKEWORKS! The shop is full! We have more bikes to work than ever! Doesit sound like I am excited? You bet I am!
The good news doesn’t stop there. STEALTH BIKE WORKS is beginningit’s third ground up project!This one is an Evo based riigd frame bare bones bike.
The Myrtle Beach bike rally starts this weekend and we are slammedgetting bikes ready. We are not complaining, that is a good thing.We have a lot of people stopping along the way to and from the beachrally.
STEALTH BIKE WORKS is really starting to come on. We have developedour own personality and I think people are starting to see ourstyle evolve. I try to keep our inventory different and keep thingsin stock where others have to order.
We are now set up with Bassani. I really like their exhaust systems.As far as Sportsters go, they have the coolest pipes by far. Weinstalled our first set a few weeks ago. They fit perfectly andsound great!
As we enter our 2nd year we look forward to growing, maybe notbuilding wise but customer wise.When I think back to a year ago, I remember being nervous and to behonest scared to death. A year later I feel confident and sure ofwhat we are doing. That is not to say we are comfortable or that weare ready to take a break, I guess what I am trying to say is thatit just feels right to me.What does our 2nd year hold in store for us? Who really knows? Ithink we are starting to turn the corner, but who knows what isaround that corner. It is an adventure that is what makes all ofthisgreat. One thing is for sure though, whatever we do, we will havefun doing it.
In closing I would like to leave you something to think about.“There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what youlove to do. There is only scarcity of resolve to make it happen.”
Wayne Dyer
Until next week, RIDE!
STEALTHMAN
VIPER OPEN HOUSE–We have moved to a new 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Big Lake, Minnesota. You are cordially invited to an Open House, Saturday, June 10 from noon to 6 P.M. There will be a facility tour, food and fun.
Our new address is 19950 177th St. Suite F, Big Lake, Minnesota 55309.
We look forward to seeing you.
–Terry Nesbitt
LA CALENDAR MOTORCYCLE SHOW PARTNERS AND EXHIBITORS–Please find below the details of the contract from The Queen Mary, John Adamson, Director of Special Events, clearly stating the International Tatooo Festival taking place at the Queen Mary on June 23-25th weekend and hosting a “Johnny Chop Memorial Bike Show” will not, and can not contain commercial motorcycle product venders, shops or professional builders and companies displaying bikes or advertising their companies. This is in direct violation of what the promoter Electric Ink Promotions has been producing and advertising up to this date, and he, Trac Edwards now agrees to cease this and not hold said activities.
The Queen Mary and Gianatsis Design are partners in the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show and as such, can not have competing events to take place at the Queen Mary, no matter how good the cause.In this case however, it was a commercial opportunity the promoter of the Tattoo Festival weekend was attempting to capitalize on based on the success of our Show, but now he can not.
My own offer still stands to feature “Johnny Chop Memorial” activities at the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in place of the one which was to take place at the Tattoo Festival if any friends of Johnny might be interested in coordinating it with me.
Our Show is a much better venue to honor Johnny Chop among all his friends in the motorcycle industry, most of who will be participating at the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in July.
Thanks for your support and I’ll look forward to see you at the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in July.
–Jim Gianatsis, DirectorLA Calendar Motorcycle Showph 818 223 8550
CHOP N GRIND TEAM BEING INVESTIGATED–STRUGGLING FOR SPONSORSHIP FUNDS, TEAM MEMBER BUYS NEW SEAT FOR HIS DRESSER.
We questioned Bob T.,”Got a new seat for the FLH. My wife got it for my birthday (you are still older)……It’s way cool………Not bad for an old guy……It’s from C&C Motorcycle Seats,
The Bikernet Bonneville 2006 Effort team is investigating Bob T’s finances and questioning his dog.
BIKERNET WEEKLY TECH TIP–A reader wrote in last week complaining about his Big Boar Battery. I wrote him back and sent his e-mail to Aaron from Big Boar. It wasn’t the battery, but he was facing a common electrical problem. “From what he is saying, it sounds like his voltage reg. is defective and not shutting off, thereby over charging the battery and causing excessive heat inside the battery,” Aaron said. “The heat is causing the leak and failure problem. I always take pride in helping my customers, however sometimes they do not want to look beyond the battery for the root of the problem.”
Any time you have a charging problem, don’t just replace the fried part. Check all the other elements first. For instance, you batterY unexpectedly goes dead. Don’t just replace it, then damage the new one, because your alternator or regulator died. Make sure all the components are cool and you have good connections and grounds.
IT’S HAPPY HOUR SOMEWHERE–Okay, so between the workers scrambling in and out of the headquarters, working on both bikes, discussing a book contract with Motorbooks, fighting our own noise ticket, trying to finish the Bikernet noise study, write an article for the HORSE and one for American Iron, I’m scrambling to finish our Bonneville build updates.
I hope to take a break, workout, then round out a Salt Shaker update. It’s coming along. I cruised over to PM and Jason gave me a tour of the Roland Sands Designs area and some tips on some of the unbelievable work he’s done. He coached me on building pipe systems and I learned a lot. I looked at some of those amazing bikes, but realized that these guys work on bikes constantly and I’m alone building two bikes with limited skills and experience in our Bikernet headquarters. I’m lucky to get a couple of hours a day down in the shop. Both bikes are still going to be cool, but Roland and his guys are amazing. One other item. Roland is of the Sportbike school. He builds ’em cool, but they perform and handle like sportbikes. I dig it. We’ve been building choppers forever, it’s cool to shift gears.
I give Bob T. and his crew some shit, but we’re all struggling to scrape the bucks together for Bonneville and building the bikes. We sure appreciate our current sponsors and could use some more to pull the effort altogether and cover our expenses. I need to raise the funds to register our two bikes. Anyway, any help you can throw our way is seriously appreciated.
Have a helluva weekend.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
May 11, 2006 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
DAVID CAMP ART EXHIBIT ON BIKERNET–I didn’t know if you were interested but I thought I’d send one more art piece I did of another airman. His name is Brian Green.
The individual who modeled for this artwork, his name is Brian Green, has also served in the Middle East on several occasions. He was in the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996. Brian, himself wounded, saved the life of another airman who was more severely wounded. Brian actually refused medical treatment. He received a Commendation of Valor Medal for his selfless heroism.
I decided to create this artwork for him as a tribute to his service to our country. The reason we titled it “Choose Your Ride” is because although he would jump at the chance to ride in the F-16 fighter aircraft seen in the background, he would prefer to jump on his 2004 Road King and head out to parts unknown just a cruisin.
David Camp
http://www.stores.ebay.com/dcampsart
RESPECT FOR FALLEN HEROES–WASHINGTON — The House has voted to restrict demonstrations at militaryfunerals.The measure, known as the “Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act,” passed408-3.
The bill is aimed at a Kansas church group that has carried its anti-gaymessage to the last rites for those killed in Iraq.
As Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer put it, “We will notallow the repugnant acts of a few to define who we are as Americans.”
Protesters, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps of Topeka, claim that U.S. militarydeaths in Iraq are a sign of divine punishment for America’s tolerance ofhomosexuals.
Those who violate the act, which still needs Senate approval, would face upto a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.
–from JF
EPA BUSTED–To American Iron magazine and readers:It may interest you to know that the EPA has no authority to levy fines against individuals, nor any legal position from which to regulate individual citizens.
U.S. Congressman Shimkus, along with several of his congressional colleagues, asked the EPA administrator to clarify the boundaries of the new emissions regulations. This is an excerpt from that inquiry. I have highlighted the relative points.
Congressman Shimkus: In addition, we were informed that the motorcycle industry’s independent shops and aftermarket suppliers were not included as part of the small business community potentially affected by this proposed rule. Did the Agency determine that these business have no standing in the SBREFA process as directly impacted small businesses and, if so, why?
EPA response: These regulations would not impose any direct requirements on entities that are not motorcycle manufacturers (like dealers, the aftermarket and end-users). Case law on this matter states: “An agency is under no obligation to conduct a small entity impact analysis of effects on entities which it does not regulate.” Motor & Equipment Mfrs. Ass’n v. Nichols, 142 F. 3d 449, 467 (D.C. Cir. 1998).
This rule would promulgate requirements only on manufacturers of new motorcycles. Because this rule does not subject these other entities to regulation, EPA was not required to conduct a flexibility analysis as to small aftermarket and other businesses.
Independent dealers, shops, and aftermarket parts suppliers and end-users are not directly regulated by the rule, so EPA did not violate any SBREFA guidelines by not including these parties in the formal SBREFA process. Moreover, as noted in the NPRM, we expect no significant effects, even indirect ones, on these entities. However, as part of our analysis of comments on the proposal, we continue to assess the possibility and the potential nature of impacts of this rule on other businesses.
In answering one question, the EPA made clear the limit of their authority; they may only regulate licensed vehicle manufacturers. They do not regulate end users (you and me), independent shops, and aftermarket parts manufacturers –because they cannot. The articles describing 1 emissions-exempt vehicle per lifetime-per individual, selling only after 5-years, 24 emissions exempt vehicles built per small shop, and 10,000.00 fines, etc. are all false. They are illegal on two fronts: The first is that the EPA has no authority to even write such an article. The second is that it attempts to create an imaginary partnership with the federal government as to the ownership of your property.
This is why state senators are right now trying to get waivers from the federal government to allow individual states to amend the regulations to make them even more restrictive. They are trying to validate those false articles so they become actual law –which as of now, they are not.
Join your local ABATE or other organization. Write your state representatives today. Ask them to explain their position. Get answers, and if they ignore you get to the voting booth this November and vote all of them out of office.
Take action. Never be too comfortable to stand up and say, “No.”
Jeff Diamond
ABATE #6
San Diego, CA
BILLY LANE EARLY STURGIS LINE-UP–Billy and his industry friends are hosting a charity breakfast at the World Famous Broken Spoke on Lazelle St in Sturgis this year to raise money for Kids & Chrome. Have breakfast with your favorite builder or come to meet them all. Imagine having breakfast in Sturgis at the Spoke with Billy Lane, Arlen Ness, Kendall Johnson, Paul Cox, Dave Perewitz, Donnie Smith, Russell Mitchell, Jesse Rooke, Aaron Greene, Jerry Covington, Russell Marlow, Rick Fairless? the list doesn’t end there. There are more builders being added daily buy your ticket today. Proceeds go straight to Kids & Chrome.
Blood Sweat & Gears
Join Billy Lane at the world famous Broken Spoke on Lazelle Street during Sturgis this year to see Blood Sweat & Gears at its finest. Billy will be doing LIVE fabrication with you. This year all of the one-of-a-kind custom parts he is building with the help of audience members will be given to deserving folks in the military. Let’s show them we care, come support our troops by lending your hand at Blood Sweat & Gears. Tuesday 8/8 from Noon-2PM, Thursday 8/10 from 2PM-4PM and Friday 8/11 from 2PM-4PM. See you at the Spoke! For more information on Blood Sweat & Gears, please visit: www.chopppersinc.com
Billy Lane’s Heavy Metal Garage at the Broken Spoke
If you love things with engines, you’ll want to swing by the Spoke this year during the Rally. Test your “pit crew” skills at Dodge’s NASCAR Challenge, have your picture taken with Dale Jr’s stock car, check out live House of Kolor demonstrations and much more. Billy Lane’s Heavy Metal Garage at the Spoke is all things motor?
ONE BAD BITCH CLOTHING LINE–I thought you and your readers would be interested in a female-owned, women’s, motorcycle-clothing company, which has grown over 250% in the last two years. Some say all good companies are founded on one good idea, and One Bad Bitch is no exception.
OBB Enterprises was born in January 2004 when Jen Berryhill, a paralegal, was looking for bold, sexy apparel with style to match her own. Jen has some attitude when she rides, and after searching and searching, she realized she couldn’t find any clothes to match.
She decided to print up some women’s cut shirts with bold, empowering sayings like “This Bitch Don’t Ride Bitch”, “My Vibrator Has 2 Wheels”, “Fuck Off! I ride My Own”, and “If You’re Gonna Ride My Ass At Least Pull My Hair.”
“I wanted to have a line of clothing that empowered and inspired other women to get out and enjoy the freedom of the road, whether it be on the back of someone’s bike or riding their own. What I have found is that I have followed my dream of being self-employed and making a difference, a dream that has been a struggle but very rewarding. We constantly get e-mails from customers saying that they bought a shirt, and are now getting positive comments on how cool the shirts are, and in turn the women start to feel more empowered and feel they are part of something bigger. These shirts aren’t just about motorcycles, they are about empowering women to make their own choices and not be influenced by outside pressures.”
OBB is testament to the power of grass roots marketing and word of mouth. Most of their sales are done on the road at numerous biker gatherings across the country, and nearly 20% of their sales are done online. I think that Jen has a unique story with some great imagery, and with the motorcycle season being upon us, I thought you and your readers might be interested. Let me know if you would like more information or would like to speak with Jen.
You can also visit OBB online at www.onebadbitch.com or www.obbenterprises.com
–J. Ken Conte
Rise Above Consulting LLC
(970)227-3588
TIMM FIELDS HIRED AS DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING–S&S Cycle is pleased to announce the hiring of Timm Fields as the Director of Sales & Marketing.Fields holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and was previously employed at United Conveyor Corportation in Waukegan, Illinois. He will oversee operational and strategic sales and marketing initiatives for S&S, working primarily at the Customer Support Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Department managers representing Communications, Customer Support, Marketing, Race, Sales (dealer & distributor), Training, and Warranty & Rebuild will be reporting to Fields.
“Timm Fields is going to be an excellent addition to this team,” said S&S president Brett Smith. “He has great sales & marketing experience with manufacturing, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and has dug right in since he arrived. I am eager to work with him and look forward to his contributions not only at S&S, but in the v-twin industry as a whole.”
Fields’ experience with worldwide sales efforts of replacement parts products and services, managing sales staff, media, tradeshows, and website marketing allows him to fill this important position at S&S. He has also held positions in pricing, inventory control, material planning, and parts marketing.
Fields was born in West Bend, Wisconsin, but grew up in Woodstock, Illinois and attended Valparaiso University on a baseball scholarship, where he spent a semester abroad studying in Reutlingen, Germany and earned a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. He also earned APICS Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) in 1996 in addition to his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 2003.
HOW ABOUT A COFFEE BREAK– An Irish woman of advanced age visited her physician to ask his helpin reviving her husband’s libido. “What about trying Viagra?” asks thedoctor.
“Not a chance”, she said. “He won’t even take an aspirin.”
“Not a problem”, replied the doctor. “Give him an Irish Viagra. Dropit into his coffee. He won’t even taste it. Give it a try and call mein a week to let me know how things went.”
It wasn’t a week later that she called the doctor, who directlyinquired as to progress.
The poor dear exclaimed, “Oh, faith, bejaysus and begorrah! T’washorrid. Just terrible, doctor!”
“Really? What happened?” asked the doctor.
“Well, I did as you advised and slipped it in his coffee and theeffect was almost immediate. He jumped hisself straight up, with atwinkle in his eye! , and with his pants a-bulging fiercely! With oneswoop of his arm, he sent the cups and tablecloth flying, ripped me clothes to tatters and took me then and there, making wild, mad, passionate love to me on the tabletop! It was a nightmare, I tell you, an absolute nightmare!”
“Why so terrible?” asked the doctor, “Do you mean the sex your husband provided wasn’t good?”
“Oh, no, no, no, doctor, the sex was fine indeed! ‘Twas the best sexI’ve had in 25 years! But sure as I’m sittin’ here, I’ll never be ableto show me face in Starbucks again.”
–from Joe Lankau
THE METRIC BOBBER–Seriously enjoying the website lately, good luck with the Salt Shaker. I just finished an article on a good friends recently built “metric” (OK, friggin Jap bike) rescued from the weeds.
He’s got $600.00 in it and it’s a seriously cool tongue in cheek bobber from a very talented guy. A picture is attached.
Doze
Tampa
BIKERNET ROAD STORY COMING– I’m doing a run to Sturgis this year with our best bud’s (different couple than the guy I did the week long “Road Glitches” trip with in ’04). It’ll be a three week long trip (from Florida, just saying “no” to trailers) just hitting the end of the rally but meandering through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, etc. You interested in the details of that trip once we get back?
–from Mike O’Conner
SAN PEDRO ATTACKS BIKERS–splatt sez;….This article is from SAN PEDRO, California, a wonderful place that I can’t visit now. Korean Bell of Friendship, built high on a bluff above the ocean to honor those Americans who died defending freedom in Korea, and who’s last gaze of America was on this very shoreline) Are we gonna act responsibly and do something about policing ourselves…or are we gonna sit on our duffs and wait for our elected officials to once again legislate responsibility for us? As they’re actively trying to do in other states?
I know it’s mostly the guys/gals from Club Peacock and the L.A.M.E. (Look At Me, Everybody!) Riders that are the usual miscreants…but seriously, it’s up to us “lifers” to keep those motorhead morons who didn’t get petted enuff as children, in line~splatt
Muffling motorcycles results in loud outcryNot everyone in San Pedro is happy that police are issuing tickets and enforcing a law to cut noise in a residential neighborhood.
By Josh Grossberg DAILY BREEZE
First, police officers spent a month issuing warnings. Then they notified the press. And on Saturday morning, they went so far as to place electronic signs on busy San Pedro streets alerting motorcycle riders that they were waiting for them.
“Police ahead,” it said. “Loud and modified exhaust will be cited.”
But plenty of riders of sonically enhanced bikes were caught unaware when they were pulled over and ticketed near Gaffey Street and Paseo del Mar. The coastal route through the Palos Verdes Peninsula is a popular one for weekend riders.
“This is by far our worst area,” said Bill McDonald, a Los Angeles police community traffic safety officer.
Police officers said they didn’t mind riders enjoying the view but that some were making life miserable for locals when they revved their engines or reconfigured their mufflers.
“We don’t want to write a thousand tickets,” McDonald said. “But we will if we have to.”
The issue of loud bikes has been one of the top complaints received by Harbor Area Councilwoman Janice Hahn.
“This is really a beautiful neighborhood,” Hahn said. “Everybody loves the park and the view, but these motorcycles have really been disturbing the peace, and I’ve been hearing about it. I have nothing against people enjoying a recreational ride, but the noise has gotten some of my residents very upset.”
Art Corona, who lives down the street from Walker’s Cafe — a popular hangout for motorcycles as well as families — did some grumbling about the rumbling.
“This is a quality-of-life issue,” he said. “They set off car alarms. I’m probably only talking 10 percent, but I just want to sit in front of my TV without being disturbed. This really ruins things.”
By noon, more than a dozen bikers had been cited, but some of them said the noise was a way to protect themselves.
“Loud pipes save lives,” said Mike Bailey of San Pedro after he was pulled over but not cited. “People forget about that. It makes people notice us.”
But for McDonald, the issue wasn’t noise; it was too much noise. And besides, he said, any biker should know that it’s against the law to modify a motorcycle’s exhaust system.
“They want to be heard, but when they come into town rapping their pipes, it’s not a safety issue,” he said.
JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK– Dyna Trans Main DriveGear Wrench Tool,No. 989. Use on all 2006 topresent Dyna Models.Use to remove the larger 2-1/4″ hex nut from the end of main drive gear, which secures the rear drive trans pulley. Very safe and easy to use, as the earlier JIMS Tool No.94660-37A. Just thread on the inner support collar to end of mainshaft, place the socket over the collar with your favorite 1/2″ drive tool, and unthread (right hand thread) locknut.
Continued On Page 4
May 11, 2006 Part 2
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 1
HIGHBAR STUDY BY ABATE OF CALIFORNIA–When ABATE of CA Legislative Director, Jean and I sought scientific data from the engineering world to help ABATE of California raise handlebar height limits a few years ago, I turned to Tony Foale, who lives in Spain, and he gave us the hi-tech terminology we needed to ‘git ‘er done. As a result, the legislature voted unanimously to raise the arbitrary height standard another six inches above the first arbitrary height standard, and the apes tickets STOPPED! (New Law: Grips-6″ above shoulder height when seated)
Thanks, ABATE!
Apparently, Tony will be in the states at the end of July…so if anyone can attend, tell him “thanks” for the help in California!
Here’s the article which helped get the ball rolling in CA: http://www.bikernation.net/bikercivics_11_03.htm and it’s still good reading since NOW it applies to loud pipes.~splatt
http://www.bikernation.net
MOTORCYCLE DYNAMICS SEMINAR IN OHIO-31 JULY/AUGUST 1–One of Tony Foale’s seminars is being planned to coincide with the AHRMA vintage motorcycle races at Mid Ohio in July. Basically a two day event, but each day will be independent for the benefit of those only able to attend for one day.
Most motorcyclists from road riders up through racers and on to race mechanics and engineers find it difficult to get reliable information to help understand why motorcycles behave as they do. Riders, both road and racing, want to understand more to help their riding technique. Engineers need the knowledge to help set-up winning motorcycles. In general, as bikes become more technically sophisticated there is an increasing need for such education.
The seminars
To help solve this problem, at least for a limited number of people, Tony Foale has called on his 40+ years of experience, riding, racing, building and studying motorcycle behavior to design a series of seminars on motorcycle dynamics. These seminars explain how tires work, how we balance and corner, what stops us from cornering faster, suspension, steering geometry, squat, braking, stability and much more.
If you are interested then please let us know ASAP to help us get an idea if there will be enough people to make it viable. No commitment at this stage, we just want to gauge the level of interest. Please pass this message to any friends or colleages who may want to go.
More info about these seminars, including typical topics, can be viewed at www.tonyfoale.com/seminar/index.htm
Tony Foale Designs
Espa?a / Spain
www.tonyfoale.com
mailto:info@tonyfoale.com
CAN’T BEAT THE ORIGINAL KEIM– So why even try? No point in messing around with knock-offs when the original is readily available. The Doug Keim Creative Cycles’ (DKCC) Checkmate II pipes eliminate the need for bolt-on heat shields, and feature 1-3/4-inch diameter tubing stepped up to 2 inches. Flawlessly chromed, these DKCC originals will work on Evo, Softail, twin cam, and custom applications.
Checkmate II pipes are available as a Custom Chrome Doug Keim Signature Series Part or directly from DKCC. For more information, contact: Doug Keim Creative Cycles, (732) 751-1403, www.creativecycles.com.
AND YOU THOUGHT GAS PRICES WERE RIDICULOUS ON THE MAINLAND–Bikernet just received this report from Oahu, Hawaii. “We thought the prices were high on Oahu,” said Chris T. from the North Shore. The man who creates all Jesse James and Bikernet Stickers. This image shows gas prices on the island of Lanai.
LES FITCH ( JOHN LESLIE FITCH ) 1946-2006– Les died on Sunday April 23, 2006 @ 8:45 PM. There will be a Remembrance and Celebration of Life Memorial on Saturday May 20, 2006 from 1.pm – 4.pm at Zion Lutheran Church located at 1405 East Fallbrook Street in Fallbrook, California 92028
If coming to Celebration, Please RSVP
–Denise Fitch
( 760 ) 728-4610
FAMOUS SHRUNKEN FXR FOR SALE IN SAN DIEGO–That’s right the famous Bikernet Shrunken FXR, designed for the smaller rider is for sale at Randy Aron’s shop, Cycle Visions, right around the corner from historic Old Town Dago.
Buy it, we need the money to finish Sin Wu’s kitchen. It’s a rare, Bandit built, one off custom motorcycle-all new.
Randy Aron
Cycle Visions
(619) 295-7800
CARBURETOR TUNERS BANNED– Effective July 1, 2006, the sale of mercury carburetortuners and the replacement mercury for them will be banned in the states ofCalifornia and Maine. It’s already banned in Connecticut and Rhode Island andthen next year in New York and Vermont. These tuners (Carb Stix, Motion Pro,etc.) are usually four long glass or plastic tubes that are attached to a vacuumspigot on each carb of a four cylinder bike. Vacuum sucks the mercury up thetube and the four carbs are balanced so that each has the mercury going up tothe same level.
This has been how ya’ do it on multi-carb bike for years. Myboss Sam Hochberg will tell ya; he used to ride a KZ-650 back in the 80’s, and itran with four carbs. Because the mercury is toxic it will now be banned. There’sgotta be SOMETHING to replace those suckers! Meanwhile, don’t break yercarb-stick; soon ya can’t get a new one
–from Rogue
NCOM CONVENTION IN LOUISVILLE–For those going to this years NCOM Convention in Louisville we willbe getting together Friday night at 7pm by the pool for somesocializing. If your there come introduce yourself………I’m waypast ready.
NEBRASKA HEADS UP–Rules of engagement from the Omaha, Nebraska PD.I heard about this a couple weeks ago…didn’t think much of it.I ran into a guy last night who I’ve known for years who lives in Omaha.He told me the story.
I called a guy this morning and he confirmed the following:Omaha, Nebraska PD is setting up “safety check points”. (yeah, soundslike Gestapo checking for traveling papers…but that’s a whole ‘notherissue). If a motorcyclist is NOT wearing a DOT approved helmet (with thesticker on the back AND the patch on the inside) they are impounding thehelmet, writing a $50 ticket (+$33 court costs) and you can NOT proceedon your journey until you get a DOT helmet delivered to you or someonecomes and either rides your bike out of there with a DOT helmet on thehead or a truck/trailer to haul your bike.
If you do NOT have a valid motorcycle endorsement on your license or youlack insurance papers…your bike is immediately impounded and TOWED away.
So far, we have only heard about this at safety checkpoints. Butguarantee, that if you are pulled over for ANY other offense and thehelmet is NOT DOT approved – the results will be the same.
Thus, unless you are totally covered and got all your ducks in a row -steer clear of Omaha, Ne.
I personally think this is going to be a great recruiting tool for ABATEof Ne. I look for membership numbers to jump quickly as people getpissed off. It’s funny that the Omaha PD is giving ABATE of Ne a goldenopportunity here to gain membership and fire them up at the same time.
To join and support ABATE of Ne in this next battle…please visit thewebsite www.abateofne.com, click on “membership” and consider sending in$25 as a show of solidarity and help us beat back this latestinfringement on our Constitutional Rights.
–spotman
BIKERNET WEEKLY PHOTO ART EXHIBIT–It was so hot the kickstands were sinking into the road. Sitting there in the shade like in an old western movie, she seemed to be the only one the heat couldn’t tame.
Ride Hard,
Whiplash Biker Photog
mailto:soffordphotos@comcast.net
D&D AWARDS SET OF DYNA EXHAUST IN BIKERNET CONTEST–Robert Brock wins a set of D&D Performance Exhaust Fat Cat pipes for the most beautiful DYNA at Bikernet.com. Here are the details on his ride:
It’s a 2004 FXDWGI 95″ with Fat Cats, Dewey’s Heads, Dewey’s Rammer aircleaner and oversize Zippers filter, Andrews 37G cams, Power CommanderIIIusb (Tuning by Cliff Piper). It has a Screaming Eagle clutch, Boss Bags (wheninstalled) Chubby’s 12.5-inch apes and risers, Mustang seat, H-D custom tins.Also there’s Progressive 440 rear shocks, Progressive front springs, HD braided cablesand lines, H-D chrome 6-spoke wheels, Meltzer’s, Ness rocker cover mountedoil pressure gauge and a shit load of various chrome pieces from H-D, eBay,and everywhere else in between.
Robert did all the work except for flowing the heads. He’s already starting on his 2nd service manual because the first one has been used so much it’s almost unreadable.
He can now distinguish the difference in tastes betweenRed and Blue Loctite. She pulls 97.9 HP and 103.3 ft. lbs of torque. The bike is his pride and joy and has brought him more joy than a box of 3 legged kittens.
–Jeff Najar
ABATE OF WISCONSIN SCORED MONSTER BILL–Included are:1) Red light running if not changed in 30 sec
2) Class C misdemeanor for injuring a motorcyclist, bicyclist orpedestrian ($500/30 days jail/30 days suspended license).
Great bodilyinjury gets ’em a Class B. ($1000/90 days jail/9 months suspendedlicense).
Death get ’em a Class A ($10,000/90 days jail/9 monthssuspended license)
3) Driver ed courses MUST include motorcycle/bicycle/pedestrianawareness training
4) Waive motorcycle test if a Basic RE course is completed
5) Requires DOT in planning any highway improvement to consider thesafety of motorcycles
The full text is here:http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-964.pdf
All that is left is for the Governor to sign it. Congrats ABATE of Wis.-spotman
BILLY LANE TO HOST “BUILDERS BREAKFAST” FOR KIDS & CHROME– May 2006 – – The incredible Billy Lane of Choppers Inc. has stepped up to the plate for Kids & Chrome with a fantastic idea to help our kids: A Builders’ Breakfast! Billy has already recruited over a dozen of the industry’s top builders for this event, set for Tuesday, August 8th at Billy’s Sturgis Rally headquarters, the Broken Spoke Saloon.Builders confirmed for the breakfast include Dave Perewitz, Mondo, Paul Cox, Jesse Rook, Russell Marlowe, Donnie Smith, Kim Suter, Jerry Covington, Russell Mitchell, Brian Klock, Rick Fairless, Arlen Ness, Cory Ness, Aaron Greene, Paul Yaffe, and of course, Billy Lane. A special memorial table will be set up in honor of Johnny Chop and Indian Larry.
Billy really wants to create a buzz in the industry, and details are still being cooked up, but it looks like he’s succeeded in finding a new way to add to the excitement of the Kids & Chrome event. “My goal is to auction off some great items and present Bob Illingworth of Kids & Chrome with a big fat, check Wednesday night at their annual banquet,” says Billy. In addition to the check, Billy plans to auction off his prized Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off trophy at the Kids & Chrome banquet. With this remarkable gesture Billy proves again, to really be an industry leader, you gotta have a heart!
Billy has partnered with Kids & Chrome to create a unique fundraising opportunity bringing today’s most sought after builders together with compassionate and charitable minded bikers, all for a worthy cause, to help kids in need. So join us for eggs and orange juice and have the unique opportunity to bid on some out-of-this-world silent auction items.
For more information on Billy Lane’s Builder’s Breakfast and ticket availability call 321.757.7262 or visit http://www.choppersinc.com/.Businesses interested in participating in Kids & Chrome as a sponsor contact Bob Illingworth mailto:lobbymc@yahoo.com or telephone 623.544.2923
For information on the second annual Kids & Chrome event visit http://www.kidsandchrome.com/
Continued On Page 3
Motorcycle Artist Rocks Two-Axle World (Page 2)
By Bandit |
Chris had two friends at school who were into choppers. One of them had a brother with a Knucklehead, and Chris started drawing really cool choppers. The other friend had a chopped Sting Ray with extended forks, lowered seat, custom handlebars and sissy bar. Chris soon modified his Sting Ray. He spent time with this friend working on their bikes, drawing choppers and chopping Revell Harley models.
Chris got his own mini-bike, a Taco 44, for Christmas in 1969. He paid for most of it, though his parents kicked in some dough. Three other kids in the neighborhood got scooters at the same time. Chris’ brother soon bought one from a family friend and he and his two brothers took turns racing around the block, dodging the cops. Later, to avoid the police, they created a course up and down a long driveway, through their garage, into the backyard, around a tree and back the same way. The concrete garage floor made for nice brodies, but the track really tore up the lawn in the yard.
Around 1967-68, during seventh grade, a kid up the street whose brother was building a metal flake green custom Triumph in his bedroom, was out for a test ride. A Harley WL chopper was also on the street at the same time Chris and his family was returning from church. It was a strange time for young kids with straight folks in middle class cars, surrounded by the straight life and years of military style. Society painted the same sober American dream on television, in movies and stores. When a biker pulled alongside their Ford, glistening with never-before-seen green metal flake, sparkling chrome, loud flashy pipes and straddled by a long-haired man with a scraggly beard and raggedy vest, life was suddenly different. To many in the world it indicated an unleashed freedom, the bad side of the tracks and creativity without rules.
Chris was caught off guard. He wasn’t sure what to make ofthe wild men and flamed machines. He started buying Cycle Guide magazine, the only magazine at that time that occasionally featured choppers and custom bikes. Later he bought Big Bike and Ed Roth’s Choppers magazines. Around that time he started seeing Roth’s ads in magazines for chopper posters (photos of bikers on their choppers and David Mann’s paintings).
Original Kallas Chopper Sketch, Circa 1967
During high school Chris drew hot rods, drag racers, customcars, Roth-style monster cars and surfing themes. He collected Pete Millars’ Dragtoons, a big influence at the time. Friends bought his rough originals with their extra milk and snack money for 5 or 10 cents.
He had drawing contests with his brothers at the kitchen table to seewho could draw the best custom car in an hour. This helped sharpen his skills.
Original Kallas HA Sketch, Circa 1969
His brother was also a high school artist, but was less capturedby the craft. In the mid- to late-?60s, his brothers started playingguitar and Chris took up drums. He drew psychedelic posters and rock stars such as the Beatles, Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf and Cream. Later his brothers gave up drawing for music, and Chris went back to concentrating onart.
Chris continued to follow the craft the way many of us followedbikes — like heroin addicts, shunning the ?normal,? standard jobsof life. And even though riding can be dangerous and impractical, we keep at it, no matter what.
In September 1975, the day after finding out he didn’t win abid on a highway patrol hog, Chris bought his first bike, a 1971 Sportster, from a hillbilly for $1,300. The man had to ride it to Chris? house because he didn?t know how. For a 4-year-old bike, it was a mess, with 6-inch over forks, a reverse direction twist grip throttle (because of installation of a Lake injector), a radiator cap for a gas cap, a cardboard battery cover, no front fender and a transmission that jumped out of third gear. He took it apart a week later and repainted it. In 1984 he traded the Sportster and cash for a special construction semi chopped bike, a 1974 Shovelhead in a 1972 frame, which he rebuilt into a stripped dresser. In 1992-94, Chris restored a wrecked 1970 Electra glide that replaced the ’74. It has won first and third place trophies in shows. In 1991, his wife, Nancy, got her own bike, a 1984 FXR, first year Evo.
Motorcycle Artist Rocks Two-Axle World
By Bandit |
In December 1975, Chris received his first telescope from hisparents and his interest in space flourished. He studied science fiction and astrology at California State University Long Beach while working as a delivery boy for his uncle?s video equipment supply. Chris adapted class assignments to space art themes, much to the dismay of his instructors. In his senior year he had two works displayed in the university’s annual show, which featured the best work in the art department. These two works also won awards in the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles Annual Show. He was influenced by the work of David Mann from Easyriders and Chesley Bonestell, the master of space art.
In 1980 he moved to Huntington Beach, Calif., and received a bachelor?s degree in illustration. He quit his video company job in 1981 and picked up a small amount of freelance artwork.
In November 1981, his then-girlfriend Nancy set up a visit with Chesley Bonestell at his studio in Carmel to discuss his work with him. Six years later they visited and celebrated Bonestell’s 98th birthday.
In 1983, he and Nancy married and moved to Redondo Beach. They bought a home in south Torrance in 1986.
Chris spent 13 years working as an illustrator for Hughes Aircraft Co. He created detailed renderings of the space shuttle, communications satellites and other spacecraft for public relations, marketing and aerospace shows.
His artwork was commissioned for use in Hughes’ corporate headquarters and displayed throughout the company. After leaving Hughes, he spent 4.5 years restoring his home and rebuilding his bikes. Two ongoing bike projects include a 1972 Sportster and 1948 Flathead.
For his art, he uses vinyl-based paints and does water-based art, such asgouache on Strathmore paper, and paints graphics and art on thesides of motorcycles. In addition, he sells his own series of fine art,limited-edition prints. For information, call him at (310) 316-2790.
The crew at Bikernet is looking forward to having Chris’art on an up coming motorcycle project.
Motorcycle Artist Rocks Two-Axle World
By Bandit |
There are only a handful of scooter fanatics and artists who can capture the spirit of motorcycling. They include Scott Jacobs, who recreated the gracious lines of a Panhead, and David Uhl, who spent six months working with oil and canvas to create a scene of a World War II sailor returning home to greet a new Knucklehead and his woman. David Mann is another such artist, who for 30 years has captured the latest styles of custom scooters with acrylic paints. To that illustrious list we can now add Chris Kallas, who also manages to apply his motorcycling heart to the canvas.
We stumbled onto Chris? work at the recent Beach Ride in Ventura, Calif. He began drawing at age 4 with child-like subjects of monsters, dinosaurs, spaceships, Mercury capsules and WWI and WWII battle scenes with airplanes, ships and tanks.
Chris grew up in Southern California, where motorcyclingwas prevalent. His first ride was at age 10, when his dad let himride his brother’s mini-bike home. It was a bicycle-framed, lawnmower-powered, clutch less, push start, direct belt drive, solid rubber wheeled, no-brake suicide machine. His only other experience at the time was riding on the back ofhis uncle’s Suzuki 90. This uncle had a succession of bikes on which Chris would receive rides. While they were fun to ride on, Chris thought, ?When’s this guy going to get hip to a Harley??
May 5, 2006 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
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
May 4, 2006 Part 2
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 1
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.”
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