Wheel spacing is an important part of any ground-up bike building project.It also must be addressed when customizing an existing bike.With the vast selection of frames and wheels available today, there is noway any manufacturer can fit every different wheel combo to their frame andprovide exact fitting wheel spacers.

Some frame manufacturers provide a wheel spacer for the left side of thewheel, most of the time this spacer is longer than needed and the exactlength is left up to the bike builder to decide and cut to length. The mostcommon reason that the frame builder only provides the left side spacer is,because the rear caliper mount doubles as the right-side wheel spacer.Again, there are a number of different width caliper mounts, mainlydepending on the style of caliper you choose.

Another factor is especially true of the new crop of wide frames designed tofit the wide tires. Some frame builders widen or offset only theleft side of the frame for belt clearance. Mix in the different width ofcustom wheel hubs and the need for drivetrain offset. The next thing you knowyou are in wheel spacer hell.

Generally motorcycle wheels should track one directly in line with the other. That’s why motorcycles are called, in some circles, asingle-track vehicle; however, this is not always the case. Harley-Davidsonoffsets the rear wheel on some of their Softail models as much as a halfinch to the left, to move the center of gravity back towards the center ofthe motorcycle. As of this writing we know of three different offsets forthe Softails. The different offsets can be found in your service manual inthe chassis section, titled vehicle alignment (page 2-30 in the H-D servicemanual for 1997-1998 Softail models, H-D part number 99482-98). Be sure tocheck the correct service manual for your particular model.

If building a ground-up bike based on a Softail-styled chassis, then buy aservice manual that closely relates to what you’re constructing. Anotherpoint to keep in mind while your fitting a rear wheel to a new frame is, thelocation of the fender mounts. (If you’re building a rigid, it is simplefitting fender struts or a sissy bar to the frame to support the rearfender. Just center the wheel and go. Remember to build fender mounts that clear the disc rotor and the drive pulley or sprocket. Also make sure the tire can be moved for belt adjustment.)

On Softail-style frames, the fender mounts are usually drilled and tappedholes at the top of the frame, just under where the seat will sit. When wefit a wheel to a frame, we like to check first where the fender struts orrails will locate in relation to the wheel and tire combo.Sometimes offsetting the wheel is necessary to be centered in the fender and so you won’t have to carve up a set of custom fender rails. Again, this all depends on the way theframe was designed and built. By placing the wheel in the center of the fender rails you’ll be able to see if the frame is offset or not. If once it’s in the center of the frame rails, it’s not in the center of the swingarm, then it’s offset. Keep it in the center of the frame rails.

The above description may sound confusing and complex, but it really isn’t.With the aid of some photos and the loan of a frame, wheel and tire at MikePowers Customs in Burbank, CA, we can show an easy way to set-up, measure,and make new rear-wheel spacers to get you up and rolling.

The following procedure can be applied to almost any style of bike. One last note… ideally, wheel spacers should be square, meaning that each end of the spacer should be parallel. The optimum tool for making wheel spacers is a lathe; however, some patience with a hacksaw and file or grinder will get the job done.

01: At Mike Powers Customs in beautiful Burbank, CA we worked with a newground-up project bike. The frame is a Diamond 250series, Softail style chopper with six inches out and six inches up. Therear wheel is a Superior with a custom, wide hub laced to a 9-inch wide18-inch diameter rim. The tire is 250-40X18 Avon Venom.

02: First thing is to place the frame somewhere solid. Mike uses ascissors lift with the frame strapped to the lift. Now slide the axlethrough the swing arm and wheel. Push or pull the axle all the way forwardor back to insure the axle is parallel to the swing arm pivot shaft andperpendicular to the frame centerline.

03: To find the centerline of the frame, we used a piece of stringabout ten feet long.

04: A simple loop tied in one end of the string and looped over theframes neck-leave some slack in the loop.

05: Standing behind the wheel, pull the string tight and line it upover the center of the top frame tube.

06: Mark the centerline of the frame on the frame and the swingarmwith a Sharpie (marker) to make future sightings easier.

07: Measure the width of the tire and find the center of the tread.Do not rely on the seam of the tire, where the mold line is located. Measure to find the center and mark it.

08: The center of our tire is about a quarter-inch from the moldseparation line.

09: Mike slipped the rear drive belt over the pulley, aftermounting the rear pulley on the wheel hub. Once the wheel is located a lookdown the edge of the pulley will tell you if the pulley will needoffsetting.

10: Mike clamped two strips of metal to the fender rail mountsto simulate the fender rails. Now pull the string taut and align with yourcenterline marks and center the tire on the string.

11: With the tire centered on the frame centerline, check andmeasure the distance from the simulated fender struts to the edge of thetire. Also check the distance from the lower swing arm tubes to the tire,remembering that the tire will grow a little once it is up to operatingtemperature. A good rule of thumb to follow is the thickness of a fingerbetween any frame or swing arm tube and the closest part of the tire. Insure that the tire is in the center of the frame rails primarily.

12: Before you start measuring for the wheel spacers cast aneyeball down both sides of the rear drive belt to see how it lines up withthe swing arm and frame. This will give you an idea if a pulley spacer will be needed, something you will have to address once the wheel spacers aremade and installed.

13: When you are satisfied with the location of the wheel inrelation to the frame, swing arm and the fender rails, measure from theinside edge of the frame to the wheel bearing (2000 and later style wheel)or wheel bearing seal spacer and write the figure down.

14: On the right side of the wheel move the caliper mount out boardtill it touches the inside of the swing arm, try and do this without movingthe wheel. Now carefully measure the distance between the wheel bearing andthe inside of the caliper mount and write it down. Make sure there is some clearance at the brake stop, even just a 1/16-inch. Make sure the caliper mount is also parallel with the frame.

15: This photo shows the relationship of the caliper mount, whereit fits over the anchor mount, welded to the swing arm. Note the minimumamount of overlap of the caliper mount in relation to the anchor. This iswhen the caliper mount is flush against the wheel bearing.

16: With the caliper mount flush against the inside of the swingarm, there is more contact or over lap of the caliper mount with the anchortab.

17: Now is the time to make your new wheel spacers. Once the newspacers are completed, install them on the axle. We ended up with a spacerlength of 1.545 inches on the left. We made our spacers from 1.500 diametersteel with a .750 hole for the axle. We like the larger diameter materialbecause it gives a larger contact area against the swing arm and will notget cocked in the axle slot when you install them.

18: On the right side of the wheel, we ended up needing a spacerthat was .630 inches thick again, made from the 1.500 diameter stock.

19: Here is what the right side looks like with the new spacerinstalled. Since we moved the caliper mount .630 inches away from the wheelhub, we’ll have to make a disc rotor spacer the same thickness to properlylocate the disc to the caliper.

20: Here is the finished product. The wheel is where we want it andthe caliper mount has plenty of contact on the anchor mount.

21: The view from the back of the frame looks good. Next we’llcheck out pulley and disc rotor spacers. Remember to measure three times andcut once.

Sources:
Avon Tires
Diamond Frames
Superior Wheels
Mike Powers Customs.
818/5667836

Continued From Page 3

CHOPPERS ONLY HAWAIIAN CALENDAR–Here’s a hot calendar commemorating the Choppers Only Bike Show in Hawaii, July 4th, on Oahu. Wanna vacation and hit a hot Bike Show, check it out. Click on their logo for more Calendar ordering info.

NO EXCUSES, but, “Hey Man, …….. I just wanna Ride.”–That’s the excuse we hear from many riders who don’t want to get involved inbikers’ rights. Another statement we hear is … ” I am not political anddon’t care about politics.”

Being a biker and not wanting to support bikers’ rights is like being aparent and not wanting to get involved in what your kids are doing. If wecare about something, then we should get involved and learn about what weneed to do to make it better. We nurture our children because we love themand want them to be safe and grow. If we love riding our motorcycle, then weshould care about bikers rights and nurture our riding lifestyle. We shouldget involved in making sure that the future of motorcycling is brighter,more secure, and ultimately safer.By being a rider and not caring about bikers’ rights, you are making astatement. The statement you are making is that you are choosing ignorance.You are choosing to ignore the issues that effect your favorite endeavor.Next to spending time with my family, motorcycling is my favorite endeavor.I love it and I know if I ever have to give it up, I will be very sad. Iknow other riders love riding as much as I do. Yet they ignore bikers’rights issues. I cannot understand why they ignore something that they loveso much?

I live in a state that has a mandatory helmet law. In my state, many riderssay “I don’t care about repealing the mandatory helmet law, so I don’t careabout bikers’ rights.”

Bikers’ rights are not only about repealing mandatory helmet laws. Today inNorth Carolina, there are three bills that have been introduced by bikerconstituents. The helmet law is a small part of bikers’ rights. Riders whoscratch the surface will see that. They will see that there are many otherissues that effect bikers. They will see that we are all at risk. Ignorancetowards public affairs and legislation breeds an uniformed, ignorant ridingcommunity. I do not want to be ignorant concerning the issues that effect myfavorite endeavor.

Get involved now, or suffer the consequences of ignorance. Being involved inbikers’ rights doesn’t cost a lot of money. It doesn’t take a lot of time.It only takes a few minutes every week or so to read about what is going on,and communicate with your legislators on how you feel about motorcyclingissues. You can start by joining a local MRO chapter and learning about howYOUR government works.

Vinny Neuman
CBA/ABATE of North Carolina: http://www.cba-abatenc.orgNorth Carolina BikerPAC: http://www.ncrider.com/BikePAC-Page.htm
Sons of Liberty Riders: http://solriders.com/
Motorcycle Riders Foundation: http://www.mrf.org
NC Rider web site: http://www.NCRider.com

PUNS FOR INTELLECTUALS– 1. Two vultures boarded a plane, each carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess stops them and says “sorry sir, only one carrion per passenger.”

2. NASA recently sent a number of Holsteins into orbit for experimental purposes. They called it the herd shot round the world.

3. Two boll weevils grew up in S Carolina. One took off to Hollywood and became a rich star. The other stayed in Carolina and never amounted to much– and naturally became known as the lesser of two weevils.

4. Two Eskimos in a kayak were chilly, so they started a fire, whichsank the craft, proving the old adage you can’t have your kayak and heat it too.

5. A three-legged dog walks into an old west saloon, slides up to thebar and announces “I’m looking for the man who shot my paw.”

Have you had enough?

6. Did you hear about the Buddhist who went to the dentist, and refusedto take Novocaine? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON LISTED AS “POWER BRAND” BY FORBES MAGAZINE–In the April 19th issue of Forbes Magazine, Harley-Davidson was ranked the 25th most powerful corporate brand among U.S. companies.

Predictiv, the valuation research firm that conducted the study, investigated how reputation, innovation, management and human capital were all factors in creating a company’s brand value. Each company was ranked according to these four “intangible assets” and then given an overall rank based on brand value, sales and their market value minus tangible book.

Harley-Davidson’s overall brand value was ranked 25th; however, the company ranked considerably higher in individual intangible asset categories. Among the 25 featured companies, Harley-Davidson was ranked fourth in “Human Capital,” behind IBM, Intel and Aflac. In the “Innovation” category, Harley-Davidson was ranked 16th. Forbes cited the Harley Owners Group as a factor in maintaining Harley-Davidson’s strong brand.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPONSORS “BIKER GIRLS: BORN TO BE WILD” PREMIERE ON TLC–“Biker Girls: Born to Be Wild” premiered on The Learning Channel May 13, 2004. This hour-long special explores the exploits of Daytona Bike Week through the eyes of two experienced female riders. Harley rider Sasha Mullins and professional motorcycle racer Vicki Gray serve as tour guides as they take in the sights and sounds of one of motorcycling’s most exhilarating events. The show is aimed at reaching women as well as people who are interested in motorcycling.

SPECIAL ENTHUSIAST INSERT FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO RIDE–The Spring 2004 issue of Enthusiast features a special insert for women who are interested in riding motorcycles. Readers are encouraged to pass the special insert along to women who want to get into the sport.

The insert, “Your Road Starts Here,” addresses common questions and concerns women have about riding motorcycles. It includes inspirational letters from nine women who own and ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The insert also identifies tips for choosing the right bike and suitable riding gear. In addition, it talks about the importance of learning to ride safely, and recommends enrolling in the Rider’s Edge New Rider Course available at participating Harley-Davidson and Buell dealers, or a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course.

Enthusiast was first published by Harley-Davidson in 1916 and is the longest continuously published motorcycle magazine in the world.

To view the Spring 2004 issue of Enthusiast, please visit: http://www.hdmedia.com/imageprocess.asp?path=pdfh-denthusiastspring2004.pdf

THE BIKERNET PERIOD–An eighteen-year-old girl tells her Mom that she has missed her periodfor two months. Very worried, the mother goes to the drugstore and buys a pregnancy kit. The test result shows that the girl is pregnant.

Shouting, cursing, crying, the mother says, “Who was the pig that didthis to you? I want to know!”

The girl picks up the phone and makes a call. Half an hour later aFerrari stops in front of their house; a mature and distinguished man with gray hair, impeccably dressed in a very expensive suit, steps out of the carand enters the house.

He sits in the living room with the father, the mother and the girl, and tells them, “Good morning, your daughter has informed me of the problem. However, I can’t marry her because of my personal family situation, butI’ll take charge. If a girl is born, I will bequeath her two retail stores, a townhouse, a beach villa and a $1,000,000 bank account. If a boy is born, my legacy will be a couple of factories and a $2,000,000 bank account. Ifit is twins, a factory and $1,000,000 each. However, if there is amiscarriage, what do you suggest I do?”

At this point, the father, who had remained silent, places a hand firmly on the man’s shoulder and tells him, “Then you try again.”

–from Bob T.

IT’S A HOLIDAY WRAP–Our DSL lines are now up and running. Thanks to the above crew. It’s time to hit the bricks for a Memorial Day Run. There won’t be any DUI busts for me. I’m whiskeyed out for a week or two.

Ah, but my springer just arrived for my next project bike, and there’s new babes hangin’ around the Cantina. So hopefully there’s action in the air.

These girls came from Bob S. a new Bikernet photographic intern. Watch for some of his artistic black and whites with upcoming fiction. Regarding future Bikernet articles. We took a break this week to deal with plumbers, electricians, accounting and all around bullshit. Hold on for our new Sportster department, 4-speed tranny tech from Frank Kaisler, the Goliath bike finish and the final Swamp chapter and more hard-hitting fiction from Dan.

In the meantime, grab a beer, hit the starter and ride. But for god’s sake don’t over-do-it, don’t get busted, or worse.Chase girls who are close to home.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit

Continued From Page 2

ROGUE?S NEW RIDE– My friend Phil Peterson who owns Miami Harley Davidson has been after me for years to buy a new Harley. I kept telling him I could not afford one.

He told me when I was ready to let him know and he would work some thing out for me.

Well I sold the Silver FXR I had built and some other parts and I had enough to buy a FLTHI Standard which was exactly what I wanted to start with. I added a few items from the factory that I wanted and made the deal.

Actually the deal was good enough for my friend Danny to decide to buy one also. There are a few differences in the two bike but both were good deals.

I will be personalizing mine as time goes on and adding a little more engine to it also. I will keep all updated on what I am doing.

If you are in the market for a new or used motorcycle you may want to call 1-800-545-2561 and ask for Ace Armstrong or Rich Schwalb and see if they can help you. Hey it would not hurt if you told them you saw this on Bikernet or I sent you.

–Rogue

NOW I KNOW ! ! !– For a couple of years I’ve been blaming it on lack of sleep, not enoughsunshine, too much pressure from my job, earwax buildup, poor blood oranything else I could think of. But now I found out the real reason I’mtired is because I’m overworked.

Here’s why:
a. The population of this country (USA) is 273 million.
b. 140 million are retired
c. That leaves 133 million to do the work.
d. There are 85 million in school, which leaves 48 million to do the work..
e. Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government, leaving 19 million to do the work.
f. 2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied with killing the Taliban.
g. Which leaves 16.2 million to do the work.
h. Take from the total the 14,800,000 people who work for state and city governments.
i. And that leaves 14 million to do the work.
j. At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals,
k. Leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.
l. Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons.
That leaves just two people to do the work. You and me. And there youare…. sitting on your ass, at your computer, reading jokes!

Nice, real nice!

–from Redhorse

FROM BANDIT’S CANTINA CHOW HALL– A wealthy man was having an affair with an Italian woman for several years.One night, during a Cantina rendezvous, she confided in him that shewas pregnant. Not wanting to ruin his reputation or his marriage, he paidher a large sum of money if she would go to Italy to secretly have the child.

If she stayed in Italy to raise the child, he would also provide childsupport until the child turned 18. She agreed, but asked how he would know whenthe baby was born. To keep it discrete, he told her to simply mail him apost card, and write “Spaghetti” on the back. He would then arrange for childsupport payments to begin. One day, about 9 months later, he came hometo his confused wife.

“Honey,” she said, “you received a very strange postcard today.”

“Oh, just give it to me and I’ll explain it later,” he said. Thewife obeyed, and watched as her husband read the card, turned white, andfainted.

On the card was written: “Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Two withmeatballs, one without.”

CAUTION MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND– The warnings are already starting to appear on the radio, television and newspaper. The Cops are going to be out in force. A lot of arrests are in the works and some Big Money for the Courts and States.

In Florida it is : YOU DRIVE ? YOU DRINK ? YOU LOSE

It is scheduled to run from Friday May 28th to Tuesday April 1st, and their other favorite for cage drivers CLICK IT or TICKET. It is scheduled to run May 24th to June 6th.

They say more than 13,000 law enforcement agencies through out the country will be taking part.

Have FUN but Be Careful and Aware

RIDE SAFE
–ROGUE

PRO-ONE UNLEASHES 2004 PARTS CATALOG–One Stop Shopping for Style, Attitude and Quality.

The entire industry has been waiting for it and now it?s here; the next generation PRO-ONE custom and performance catalog. As in years past this latest collection from PRO-ONE is in a class by itself. This unique, art deco, full color, glossy catalog offers up a vast array of custom products that meet the needs of the most discriminating builder.

From one of the largest, most exotic selections of billet aluminum wheels, billet forks, big inch high performance engines, power train accessories, seats, electrical kits, custom lighting and more, its all here.

Most impressive is the radical new selection of Rolling Chassis kits. Rollers with names like Evil Bastard, Cheap Whore, Bar Fly and Lounge Lizard are offered in styles from traditional to freaky and provide a quick, hassle free way to design and build your own personalized scooter. PRO-ROLLERS set new standards for styling and performance as do the company?s awesome forward controls, tanks, fenders and much more. Sporting a brilliant collection of the most unique, in demand, high quality custom and replacement accessories available for both V-Twin and Cruiser machines, the 2004 PRO-ONE parts and accessory catalog is a must have parts directory for shops and home builders alike.

Call 800-884-4173 or visit www.pro-one.com.

CRAZY HORSE PAINT JOB OF THE WEEK–Was I ever this young? There have been far too many brutal work weeks in the many years since this picture was taken. This week is one of them and the next weeks will only get worse. Long hours will hopefully result in taking some time off to paint this shack I call a house and enjoy a wonderful Sturgis.

That’s the way this business is, we are already working so hard for an event in August, that June and July feel like blinks of an eye. Working on Myrtle Beach articles for Bikernet and The Horse, whacking away on the final bits of the book, and trying to get four paint jobs out the door in the next 2 weeks, plus attempting to mantain my “girlish” figure so I don’t scare folks at the Smoke Out, has been taking a toll on me. I need a week of relaxation and fine food at Bandit’s Cantina and dockside resort.

Plus I am finding I may have problem concerning my chopper. I really like it. So much so, I don’t think I’m going to sell it. My husband informed me, he does not want to ever do this much fabrication work again. Just thinking about the hours he has in the oil tank alone are enough to make him whine endlessly. But if I ride it a whole bunch, it will get wear and tear and the investment it was supposed to be, will not be worth much. But the bike has that magic touch. Everyone who sits on the bike or even moves it around, talks about how great it feels, how nicely balanced it is. And it rides even better. I would have no problem selling it as is captivates anyone who comes near. Problem is, it has also captivated me.

By the way, if anyone recognizes the guy in this picture, Earl from Pompano Beach, have him contact me. I miss my ol’ riding buddy.

This week’s paint presented quite a challenge. The customer had a color in mind he had seen on a sports car. But the car company had problems with the consistancy of the paint color. And when I looked up the color in the paint book, it had no where near the spark and life of the color the customer had described. It just looked like a dull, bland blue.

So House of Kolor came to the rescue. Their True Blue Pearl Shimron made a great basecoat after I layered some of their Oriental Blue Candy over it. But what really brought it all together are the lime green pinstripes. The blue and purple looked really blah together until those stripes woke up all the colors. If everything I’m working on now turns out this good, all these hours will be worth it. In a few weeks I’ll have some news for those in the Carolinas who would love to have a new sportster with some Crazy Horse Paint in their garage. Right now I gotta get back to work. I’d rather jump in that picture up top and run off among the palm trees, find my old sporty, and ride into the sunny Florida day. Where’s that time machine?

—-CrazyHorse

Continued On Page 4

Continued From Page 1

AMERICAN CHOPPER GET HEAT– The hit reality series “American Chopper” draws millions of viewers every week to the Discovery Channel, but according to secret documents obtained by BBC News, British actors portray the show’s popular characters, Paul Sr., Paul Jr., and Mikey. Questions about the show’s legitimacy first surfaced back in February after an AOL, Top Speed, commercial showed Mikey taking off in a souped-up motorcycle, soaring thousands of feet into the air before apparently crashing to the ground.

“Those AOL commercials really raised a lot of suspicions,” said Wendy Melillo of Adweek. “How could Mikey survive after such a violent incident? People eventually started asking questions about whether the show is a work of fiction.”

The show’s main character, Paul Teutul Sr., runs a customizing motorcycle shop like an angry football coach, constantly yelling and swearing at his sons, Paul Jr. and Mikey. Paul Sr. frequently charges into the shop like an irritated bull, using his mammoth handlebar mustache to intimidate his sons and staff. But behind the rage and the mustache, according to a BBC News report, is Jeffries Willard Kendall III, a Shakespearean trained thespian. Kendall is a celebrated homosexual and has appeared in a number of independent films and failed TV dramas in England.

“British viewers know that Jeffries is an extremely delicate man,” said BBC News investigative reporter Robin Horston. “However, it’s impossible to recognize Jeffries with all the latex and special makeup. They have done a brilliant job in transforming this frail, effeminate man into Paul Sr., one of the roughest, crudest men on reality television.”

The revelation is sending shockwaves throughout the reality television world which is still reeling after last year’s scandalous disclosure that the entire cast of Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Man” are, in fact, heterosexual. One of the “Fab Five” is a construction worker in the tri-state area.

BBC News obtained secret documents from the Discovery Channel which reveal the British actors? names, and acquired scripts for future episodes of “American Chopper.”

We’ll report more in the Sunday Post.

THE NORTH CAROLINA STEALTH REPORT–I decided this past week to get some ink work done. Before this addition I had three tattoos. Two are memorial tattoos, one in memory of my son Justin, one in memory of my Dad, the other is an H-D tattoo.

For this tattoo I wanted something that illustrates the spirit of riding and something that reflects the way I feel when I ride. I didn’t want anything with H-D on it, as everyone and his brother have that inked on their ass nowadays. The tattoo shows a guy with the wind in his hair riding on the clouds. The bike in the tattoo is very close to the memorial bike I built in memory of my son Justin. It shows a rigid frame, jockey shift set up, also like the memorial bike. The tattoo has an attitude about it and to me when my time is up, I hope to ride those clouds to see Justin and my Dad again one day. To me a tattoo has to have a deep meaning, it has to reflect a time or something signifcant in my life. That is why the H-D tattoo has lost a lot of what it used to mean to me. Well that is my feelings on tattoos, I am sure you all have your own.

This weekend, Memorail day weekend, I am blasting back to Virginia to visit my family and friends. Sunday morning we head out to the annual Rolling Thunder Run To The Wall. I always look froward to this run beacuase it is more than just a run. It is a time to pay respects and say “Thank You” to all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom that we all enjoy. I will have pictures along with my take on the run next week. I am sure their will be some interesting topics to write about, until then RIDE!

Later!
–Stealthman

COMPU-FIRE JOINS BIKERNET–One of our lofty goals at Bikernet is to bring our readers sponsors they can trust and rely on for quality components and reliable service. This is one of those opportunities. I have worked with Compu-Fire for over five years installing their electrical components on every project bike I’ve built from the Jesse James Red Ball to our current Amazing Shrunken FXR project and my up-coming rigid bar hopper.

Here’s another major benefit: Compu-Fire manufacturers virtually everything needed to square away your ignition system, charging system and starting system. One source for all your electrical components. I suggested they start on a coil bracket and an ignition switch.

Another benefit is their staff. Most are experienced riders working with their products. Giggie, who I’ve known for almost 20 years, is constantly testing and improving their product line. This is a company based in Southern California, building their products in the USA.

Hang on as we bring you their product line, through techs and product releases and riding experiences.

–Bandit

STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM 2004 RAFFLE ANNOUNCED– May 2004 – – The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is excited to announce that tickets are now available for the 2004 Raffle. The Museum has experienced tremendous success however we need your help if we are to continue to fulfill our mission, “to preserve the great history of motorcycling.”

Since the Museum opened in 2001 we have been extremely fortunate to have the support of many notable industry leaders, and we’d like to add each of you to that list. Our annual raffle is our major push each year to gather substantial funding for the Museum. With the purchase of a raffle ticket you will be enabling us to create new exhibits, acquire new displays and to move forward in our mission.

The 2004 raffle prizes are:

2004 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF FAT BOYSponsored by Black Hills Harley-Davidson and Sturgis Harley-Davidson

FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH!

HENRY 44-40 RIFLEOne of a kind commemorative classic, gold plated, beautifully etched, dated, # 1 of 1

SCREAMING EAGLE SCULPTUREDonated by Exotic Carving artist Lawrence Hofstad, one of a kind, carved moose antler

There are four chances to win on one ticket. The Museum begins by drawing for the sculpture. The winning ticket stub will be thrown back in with the remaining stubs and we draw for the rifle. That winner’s stub is tossed back in, we spin again and draw for the $5,000.00 cash prize. The winning stub is once again put back in with the remaining stubs for the final spin and drawing of the Fat Boy. One ticket, four chances to win! Plus you?ll have the satisfaction of knowing you?ve invested in motorcyclings past, and its future.

Each raffle ticket costs $10.00, you do not need to be present to win, and the drawing is held on Saturday, August 14th 2004 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum on the corner of Main Street and Junction Avenue in downtown Sturgis.

Tickets can be purchased on line by visiting our web site at http://www.sturgismuseum.com; mailing a check or money order to:
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
999 Main Street
Sturgis, SD 57785
or by telephone with a credit card 605.347.2001.

Your participation is important to us. We hope you’ll take a chance and help us to make this our best fundraiser to date.

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–Once more this weeks news will be short and painless cause I really don’t want to repeat the same old story. You know, lots of things to do, not enough time and not enough helping hands. So here we go….

First I really want to thank Fritz, one of our readers who hooked me up big time with the floorboard rubbers and a few other things as well. Thanks a lot man!

We’ve heard that Jesse is back with Monster garage, what the fuck, if there’s no Jesse, there’s no show…..

Speaking of shows, here’s the schedule for all the Discovery Channel motorcycle shows coming up in the month of June; it will be a feast for those of us who like Bikes…

June 20th, that’s a Sunday and Fathers day to boot. Motorcycle Mania 3 will air showing Jesse James and Kid Rock riding into the burrito infested shores of Mexico
June 21st, Monday , at 10:00 pm is Biker Build Off 5, featuring Hank Young and Chica
June 22nd Tuesday at 10:00 pm is Bike Build off 6
June 23rd Wed at 10:00 pm , Bike Build off 7
June 24th Thur at 10:00 pm Bike build off 8

All I know about the shows is that Hank Young vs Chica , Arlen Ness vs Cory Ness in Hawaii, Eddie Trotta vs Russell Mitchel, Kendall Johnson, Martin brothers and Match Hotch are thrown in the mix (I’m forgetting someone, so what’s new ?) and number ten will be special show, I’ll just give you a hint, 20 hands on one bike…. and Hugh was the winner !!!

Been between the shop, concerts and games, for those who give a fuck, never got to see Barry Bonds knock one out of the park. He tried, but no cigar. Fiel a la Vega, a local PR band and our good friends, was sold out and did a super show, one guy from the audience even had the balls to propose amid concert. Later that night we went over to watch the Skatalites, for those who like reggae/ska, those guys are the granddaddies of them all. Then off to the professional soccer games. Yeap, to play you got to pay so it’s triple overtime at the shop….

If anyone here works for Vans, send me an e-mail and lets talk biz…. Maybe if I get a Discovery show I might get my own signature Vans, like Billy has his Sha-Sha shoes..One thing will be for sure, I need more….

Heard that Bandit is going to Monster garage, just at the same time I will be heading to Hawaii, who knows, I might do a stop over and go visit. If for one thing, it will be very interesting…

Enough, I’m on my way to New York City. See you next week….

Jose ? Caribbean Reporter

NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON CHROME NINE-SPOKE SOFTAIL WHEELS
Add A Splash of Chrome With OEM Quality–MILWAUKEE (May 15, 2004) ? Glistening Chrome Nine-Spoke Cast Wheels from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories are now available to fit Softail models. Though similar in style to the original equipment cast-aluminum wheels used on many Harley-Davidson Touring models, these wheels utilize new tooling developed specifically for chrome plating. The result is a near-perfect finish without the ?waves? created when trying to polish the original-equipment cast wheels. The rib on the original-equipment wheel was also removed to create a smooth spoke finish. Special masking was developed to prevent plating corrosion inside bolt holes and bearing sleeve areas. The wheels come with bearings installed.

P/N 43484-04 16-inch rear fits 2000-2002 FLSTC and FLSTF and 2000-2001 Touring Models.

P/N 43487-04 16-inch rear fits 2003-later FLSTC and FLSTF models.

P/N 43496-04 16-inch front fits 2000-later FLSTC and FLSTF models.

For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson web site at http:// www.harley-davidson.com . To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.

Continued On Page 3

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THIS WEEK’S TECH QUESTION–Sirs, I am looking for the distributor or manufacturer of these two frame repair forgings, I was told that theycame from somewhere in Texas ??

Do you know where I can buy these ? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Gregg Robinson
Direct Voice: 253-284-3421
Cellular: 253-377-5087
Tell: 253-926-2290

SONS OF LIBERTY RIDERS ALERT–I hate to have to be the bearer of bad news, especially on the first day ofspring, but I guess the task falls to me. We have suffered another blow. BigRandy Howard WV ABATE Region 7 Coordinator was found dead this afternoon ofan apparent heart attack. Big Randy was instrumental in opening up theTygart Valley, in the Elkins area to ABATE of West Virginia. Along withbeing the President of the Mountain Chapter of Brothers Of The wheel, andthe leader of the Northern WV Confederation of Clubs, He will be sorelymissed. This notice along with updates will be posted at www.wvabate.org.

The American Automobile Association lobbied hard in Harrisburg to fightagainst the mandatory helmet law modification in Pennsylvania. They are nowlobbying hard in Maryland in their efforts to undermine the helmet lawinitiative in that state. They have proven themselves to be enemies offreedom of choice.

A suspected child molester who fled police in a stolensport utility vehicle barreled through a stop sign Saturday and slammed intomotorcyclists, killing three people.

Steven Halbert, 19, stole the SUV after police cruisers pulled up to hishouse in Carter Lake, Iowa, to question him about accusations he sexuallyabused a child.

Police pursued Halbert at high speeds for about five miles into Omaha, whereHalbert collided with two motorcycles, said Omaha Police spokeswoman CathyMartinec.

Michael Rock, 50, of Omaha; Terry Partain, 51, of Omaha and Yvonne Campbell,41, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, were killed instantly, said Martinec. Campbellwas a passenger on Partain’s motorcycle.

Halbert was thrown from the vehicle, which went airborne and slammed into aparked semitrailer. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition withbrain and other internal injuries.

MARYLAND CALL TO ACTION–This legislative alert is a call to action requesting that EVERYONEcontact Senator Brian Frosh who is the chairman of the JudicialProceedingsCommittee and insist that he call the Motorcycle Helmet Bill (SB 611) fora vote in his committee.

He believes that the bill will have a positive outcome in his committeeand REFUSES to allow the members of his committee the opportunity to voteon the bill. His obstructionist tactics are not characteristic of theethical quality that we should expect and demand from our staterepresentatives.

Call, write, visit or fax Senator Frosh today and state that you wantSB611called for a committee vote. You may remind him of the following:

BIKERNET FISHING ADVICE– The day after losing his wife in a boating accident, a man answered hisdoor to find two grim-faced Alaska State Troopers, one of which was Trooper Baker.

“We’re sorry to call on you at this hour, Mr. Wilkens, but we have some information about your wife.”

“Tell me! Did you find her?” the man cried.

The troopers looked at each other. Baker said, “We have some bad news,some good news, and some really great news. Which do you want to hear first?”

Fearing the worst, Mr. Wilkens said, “Give me the bad news first.” The trooper said, “I’m sorry to tell you, sir, but this morning we found your wife’s body in Kachemak Bay.”

“Oh my God!” said Mr. Wilkens, overcome by emotion. Swallowing hard, he asked, “What’s the good news?”

The trooper continued. “When we pulled her up she had two five-poundking crabs and a half-dozen good size Dungeness crabs on her.”

Stunned, Mr. Wilkens demanded, “If that’s the good news, then what’s the great news?”

The trooper said, “We’re going to pull her up again tomorrow.”

–from Chris T.

BIG SHOW OFFERS BIG GO–Several years of performance R&D, market research and consumer identification by Team Matrix has culminated in a truly unique, fully polished, billet aluminum High-Flow Top End Kit for TC 95 and 103 machines. Precision machined from 6061-T651 aircraft grade aluminum, cylinders and barrels feature perfectly matched hex patterns that are worthy of any show quality machine. Cylinder heads are fit with 2″ stainless intake and 1.625″ exhaust valves feeding to the company’s computer enhanced, high-flow port designs.

In house and independent tests have revealed impressive airflow numbers of 302 cfm@ 28 inches intake and the exhaust at 216 cfm @ 28 inches, both at .650″ lift”. These revolutionary heads feature 84cc chambers; integrated compression releases and standard TC88 (4.935″) deck height. Cylinders and pistons are machined as individuals? sets then hand fit and inspected to the most exacting tolerances.

Additionally, the cutting edge cylinders and barrel combos are EFI and carburetor compatible and accept all factory H-D Screaming Eagle performance bolt-on accessories. Suggested retail for the complete, show quality package is $3295.00. If you’ve been looking for something really “on the edge” that’s certain to set your ride a step above the competition in both looks and performance, check out the High-Flow Top End Conversion athttp:// www.matrixframesusa.com . Contact direct at performancespec@sbcglobal.net or call 805-647-2117 FAX 805-647-2072

AS OF THURSDAY MORNING 20 NITRO HARLEY DRAGSTERSHAVE PROMISED TO ATTEND SEALY?S “BIG DRAGS” !!!!!!!!!!

Make Plans NOW to attend the 9th Annual Spring Championships – Usually one of the WILDEST RACES OF THE YEAR !!!
SEE – The New Racers On their New Rides & WHAT HAPPENS !!
SEE – NITRO HARLEY VETERANS !!! “Layin’ Down The Passes They’ve Been Plannin’ ALL WINTER !! And been DREAMIN’ ABOUT THEIR WHOLE RACIN’ CAREER !!”

SEE – ALL The NEW HARLEY SPORTSMAN CLASS RACERS – “Shiney NEW Drag Modified Harleys – Will They WIN AGAINST Some of the Most Seasoned Harley Racers to ever go down the STRIP ?

################################################

RACE YOUR OWN BIKE FOR FUN & TROPHYS – ONLY $20(BRING; boots, full face helmet, full finger gloves, leather jacket, & attitude !!)

DISCOUNT SWAP MEET VENDORS – GREAT TRACK FOOD “Texas Style Party Drags” Caps – ONLY $5 – HURRY only 144 available

GATES OPEN: 9am – TIME TRIALS & PRO QUALIFYING: 10am – 1:30

ENTERTAINMENT: 1:30 – 2pm – Rock & Blues Solo By – Rick HandleyMoto/Guitarist – He Rides Up & Rocks Out – “Self Contained, But Unrestricted!!!”

FIRST ROUND – TOP FUEL ELEMINATIONS 2 PM – – – – “Then – NON STOP ACTION – ?Till we pass out the TROPHYS – Don?t Miss IT !!

ADULT ADMISSION $20 -, KIDS 5 thru 12 – $5, – UNDER 5 free
INFO: 254-687-9066, TRACK PHONE 979-885-0731,
LOCATION: From Houston take I-10 west towards San Antonio, Go thru Sealy on I-10 and take Exit 713 (Beckendorf) track on south access road.

BIKERNET READER’S BIKE OF THE WEEK.

ASS JOKE– A boy rode on a donkey and the old man walked. As they went along somepeople remarked “it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy wasriding.”

The man and boy thought perhaps the critics were right, so theychanged positions.

Later, they passed some people that remarked, “what a shame, he makesthat little boy walk.” They decided they would both walk.

Soon they passed some people who thought they were stupid to walk whenthey had a decent donkey to ride. So they both rode the donkey.

Now they passed some people who shamed them by saying “how awful to putsuch a load on a poor donkey.” The boy and old man decided they wereprobably right so they decided to carry the donkey.

As they crossed a bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and hefell into the river and drowned.

Lesson: If you try to please everyone you will eventually lose your ass.

LET’S BAIL AND RIDE–I need a new saloon to hang at. There’s a local one across from the Union Hall, but you need a code word to get in. It’s supposedly a crack house. I’ll pass.

All is not doom and gloom. If we’re lucky, I’ll post a hot Daytona Report today from Frank Kaisler. We perused the shots last night and he photographed the girls of Bike Week masterfully. His mission was to cover the bikes and girls and he hit the nail on the head. Hang on.

We also have Jay’s CFL bike and a 1914 Indian racers to post, but first we need to fight the plumber, get an emergency SBC, DSL, crew back out here, and our Site Server needs to wake up.

Ride On,

–Bandit

Continued From Page 3

CRAZY HORSE RIDES TO MYRTLE BEACH–I’ll be submitting a full report on Myrtle beach next week, but here’s a few teaser shots for now. As always, the best part of the trip was the ride there and back. The weather was perfect and the road was full of bikes making the trip. The Sportster ran great. The days were hot but the nights were totally freaky. I was staying with the Wall of Death crew at the Broken Spoke so I didn’t have to venture out at night. Good thing too, cos the riding stupid were out in force. What is it about the Myrtle Beach Rally that makes riders lose all their common sense? Downtown Myrtle was too much. The Doghouse Bar should have been called the nuthouse.

The bikes around were interesting to say the least. Myrtle Beach is not a big chopper event like Daytona or Sturgis. But the biggest chopper event is barely a month away. The chopper faithul are making plans to ride to The Horse BackStreet Choppers’ yearly event, the Smoke Out. Folks are riding in from as far away as California and Texas. Indian Larry, Hank Young, and Billy Lane will be among the celebrity bike builders strolling around. But the real stars of this event are the bikes. No place else will you see more interesting creations and some of the tales behind these creations are as cool as the bikes.

This week’s paint job is an oldie but still pretty cool. The deadline for my book is a mere five weeks away. So I’ve been writing and painting like a fanatic. The three days I took off for Myrtle Beach was a welcome and much needed break. Part of me is still out there, watching the countryside glide by, seeing the sun move across the sky, watching the clouds- checking to see if it may rain or storm, hoping for a break from the relentless sun, wondering where I’ll stop for some lunch. Ah, this work thing sucks. All I know is I need to spend more time out on the road, just me and Sporty.

—CrazyHorse

BIKERNET RELATIONSHIP ADVICE– One night, as a couple lays down for bed, the husband starts rubbing his wife’s arm. The wife turns over and says “I’m sorry honey, I’ve got a gynecologist appointment tomorrow and I want to stay fresh.” The husband, rejected, turns over. A few minutes later, he rolls back over and taps his wife again. “Do you have a dentist appointment tomorrow too?”

–from S&C

JANKLOW FINISHES 100-DAY JAIL TERM–A trim and smiling Bill Janklow walked out of jail Monday almost a free man.The former governor and congressman was released after serving 100 days for the traffic death of Minnesota farmer Randy Scott and rode off in a gray Isuzu with a friend, thus finishing a chapter on the most publicized lockup in South Dakota history.

Janklow, 64, made no comment as he walked past news reporters shortly after 9 a.m. to his ride waiting outside Minnehaha County’s Public Safety Building in downtown Sioux Falls.

“We love you, Bill!,” one supporter, Matt Rost, 31, shouted from the parking lot.

Janklow hugged Jeremiah Murphy, a Sioux Falls lawyer and longtime friend, then got into the sport utility vehicle, where Gerald Teunissen waited in the driver’s seat. They also hugged and shook hands, then drove off onto Minnesota Avenue.

About 75 people were outside the jail on a cool, gray morning, with half of them from the news media. Several spectators stood 100 to 200 feet away in the parking lot.

“He was not demanding,” jail warden Michelle Boyd said of Janklow’s time under her watch. “He was not high-maintenance. He was actually very quiet.”

Apart from the media attention, “I wouldn’t have known he was there,” Boyd said.

Certain things will not be in his plans for now. Janklow can’t drive, can’t carry a gun, can’t practice law and can’t leave the state without a permit.

But he is free to vote and will be free of his conviction for second-degree manslaughter if he fulfills the terms of the three-year probation Circuit Judge Rodney Steele assigned him in January. In 2007, the felony will be wiped from his record.

–by Jon Walker of the Argus leader.

–from Rogue

SOMETHING THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE NEWS– Maybe you’d like to hear about something other than idiot Reservists and naked Iraqis.

Maybe you’d like to hear about a real American, somebody who honored the uniform he wears. Meet Brian Chontosh. Churchville-Chili Central School class of 1991. Proud graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Husband and about-to-be father. First lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. And a genuine hero. The secretary of the Navy said so yesterday.

At 29 Palms in California Brian Chontosh was presented with the Navy Cross, the second highest award for combat bravery the United States can bestow.

That’s a big deal. But you won’t see it on the network news tonight, and all you read in Brian’s hometown newspaper was two paragraphs of nothing. Instead, it was more blather about some mental defective MPs who acted like animals.

The odd fact about the American media in this war is that it’s not covering the American military. The most plugged-in nation in the world is receiving virtually no true information about what its warriors are doing. Oh, sure, there’s a body count. We know how many Americans have fallen. And we see those same casket pictures day in and day out. And we’re almost on a first-name basis with the pukes who abused the Iraqi prisoners. And we know all about improvised explosive devices and how we lost Fallujah and what Arab public-opinion polls say about us and how the world hates us.

We get a non-stop feed of gloom and doom. But we don’t hear about the heroes. The incredibly brave GIs who honorably do their duty. The ones our grandparents would have carried on their shoulders down Fifth Avenue.

The ones we completely ignore. Like Brian Chontosh. It was a year ago on the march into Baghdad. Brian Chontosh was a platoon leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee. When all hell broke loose. Ambush city. The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville was in charge. It was do or die and it was up to him.

So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men to safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee came under direct enemy machine gun fire. It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish.

And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack. He told his driver to floor the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at them. And he had the guy on top with the .50 cal unload on them. Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across the machine gun and Chontosh was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines. Over into the battlement the humvee went and out the door Brian Chontosh bailed, carrying an M16 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride. And he ran down the trench. With its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers.

And he killed them all.

He fought with the M16 until he was out of ammo. Then he fought with the Beretta until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up a dead man’s AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up another dead man’s AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo.

At one point he even fired a discarded Iraqi RPG into an enemy cluster, sending attackers flying with its grenade explosion.

When he was done Brian Chontosh had cleared 200 yards of entrenched Iraqis from his platoon’s flank. He had killed more than 20 and wounded at least as many more. But that’s probably not how he would tell it. He would probably merely say that his Marines were in trouble, and he got them out of trouble. Hoo-ah, and drive on.

– by Bob Lonsberry ) 2004

BIKERNET POLITICAL NEWS– “President Bush told Donald Rumsfeld, ‘You are doing a superb job.’

I believe the last time a President said that, he was looking underhis desk.”

-David Letterman

–from Rogue

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–Time is flying. One of the few things that worry me is time. We all are trying to beat deadlines and I for one hate “having” to do something. But, I guess it comes with the territory. There use to be a time when I would do what the hell I wanted to while things could wait. If there was a trip, I was gone, but I guess it all has to do with growing up, and worst a dreaded word, responsibility.

Although my preference in bikes is Old School, I still wonder when I see all these kids today, maybe I wish I was ten years younger, maybe fifteen. You look at girls today, with their tight bodies and form shaping jeans. Internet and computers are available for everyone who goes to school, just imagine how much easier school life would have been if we had Internet back then.You see kids making a living, and a very well one, by skating, snow boarding, skate boarding and surfing. Stuff that some of us used to do, but it was kind of expensive or just a plain hobby. No multi million-dollar contracts back then, just a fervent desire to do what you loved. I see guys who are not even 25 and moving such immense amounts of money that it’s scary, is it the times, is it the extreme consumerism? Your guess is as good as mine.

Then again, being a kid growing in these times must be difficult. Values and all that the word complies are almost lost. Maybe I’m just jealous cause I see a lot of these kids having way more fun that I could have when I was their age. Then again we can’t follow trends and we can’t live through the TV set. Don’t get me wrong, I have done my share of damage, and I’m very pleased of the life I have lived and who I am, but man, those guys are have way too much stuff going on.

So with all this said, don’t blame the older guys for making their business grow, for getting those things that we all work really hard to achieve, you really want to freak out, watch E channel and check how much money these actors, celebrities and athletes make, and spend like it was nothing. (I guess it’s nothing to them) I remember when I had to save every red cent for a long time in order to get a new surfboard. I’ve seen guys break three boards in three waves, nothing to it. Or let’s talk about tattoos, back then (which is not that far back) you got some ink and you were the oddity. Full sleeves are as normal as baseball caps. Piercing all over, I bet younger people would not even pass through airport security, and still that has become the norm. Big tit’s (fake or not) skimpy dresses, your crack sticking out (male or female) and all that latest fashion stuff; do you remember when you saw some chicks bra thru her shirt, yeap a cheap thrill, just like that, it’s nothing now.

I guess things change for the better or for worse. Who am I to judge? Like the big hoopla these past weeks about the what to wear or whom to be, again, one of the biggest gains in this newer generation is that they want to be someone, sometimes while copying others, but still being themselves. Non-conforming younger people. I really think they don’t give a flying fuck what society in general think of them or the way they dress or are. True there’s a lack of proper identity, whites want to be black, black want to be whatever, some people want to be in Jerry Springer and others don’t give a fuck about real life, but just communicate with a computer screen. Nerds are filthy rich…I guess you follow, but then again there will always be leaders and there will always be followers. That does not change with the times, and I dare to say, it never will.

I know this has nothing to do with motorcycles but I tell you what; I am around motorcycles every single day so give me a break and let me rant about other things…. As long as it makes us think.By the way, while you are staring at the computer screen, trying to figure out my latest insanity. Check out what I see when I’m writing these words.

Life in the tropics is the best life. I wish I did not have as many things to do so I could enjoy it more.

I’ll see you guys next week, maybe I’ll have something more interesting to say. Remember that all the Discovery shows are coming soon. I have not gone to an event since Miami and have nothing to critic….

Jose ? Caribbean Reporter

NEW SOFTAIL FAT-TIRE KIT FROM BIG BOAR– Yes, here it is,The New 240 Fat Tire kit from Big Boar Products allows you to convert your stock Softail to Monster size! Kit comes complete with Fat swingarm, Strutless Steel fender, offset components for twin cam or Evo, and a 240 rear tire. Very high quality and reasonably priced. All you need is the wheel of your choice and you’ll have the cure for small tire envy! Available from Big Boar Products or your local dealer.

Thanks, Aaron @ Big Boar

SOUIX FALLS–SLEW OF VIOLATIONS LEADS TO ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CAMERAS–Flashes from cameras at the busy intersection of Minnesota Avenue and 10th Street don’t always mean a motorist will end up with a warning letter or a fine.

But the 544 incidents recorded in a five-day test period at the downtown intersection already have city officials thinking of other intersections where red-light cameras might be employed.

If the cameras work, similar systems could follow at 41st Street and Louise Avenue and at 49th Street and Louise, said Kevin Smith, Sioux Falls assistant director of public works.

“We don’t have anything budgeted right now,” Smith said. “We need to see how this works.”

–By John-John Williams IV, Argus Leader.

–from Rogue

THAT’S IT–I’ve been invited to be apart of a Monster Garage segment with Don Hotop, Billy Westbrook, Lou Falcigno, and Kenny Boyce. Filming is due to begin the 28th of June. The players may change though, and I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, we’re still struggling to bring you our combined Laughlin Report. Our SBC DSL lines are down for the second time since installation less than two months ago. Watch out for these guys. We hooked up SBC phones, DSL and Dish television. The Dish is down constantly, the DSL doesn’t work any better than a slow modem and customer service is a struggle.

We have our own personal Laughlin saga, Franks hottest bikes of Laughlin, general reports and of course, the babes. Hang on. We’re launching a new Life and Times and Chapter 23 of Chance in the Cantina. I’m working on a chapter of the Cantina series, and there’s new techs coming to Bikernet.

Don’t forget to hit the Door Prize contests on Bikernet and in the Cantina. We have a brand new set of leather clad H-D Sportster saddlebags to give away next week, Samson gift certificates all the time, Bikernet Hats and A BDL Softail Belt drive this week. The belt drive will work with any softail, and whoever wins, must be able to bring his or her bike to Bikernet for the installation. Please, only serious Softail owners for the belt drive. Enter the contest areas anytime and as often as you want, then hit the road. Let’s party.

Ride Forever,

–Bandit

Continued From Page 2

CHOPPERS ONLY HAWAII CALENDAR–Here’s two shots from the new, hot Choppers Only Calender that will be availablle June1st at www.choppersonlyhawaii.com.

The island Calenders will be 15 x15 in size. The cost will be $14.99 for the high gloss knockout shots featuring choppers from around the island of Oahu withgorgeous local island girls and beautiful island scenery. You will be ableto purchase them on the Choppers Only Hawaii website atwww.choppersonlyhawaii.com

There’s nothing like a choppers in paradise with beautiful island maidens.

RON HILL JOINS BIG DOG–Hill brings nearly twenty years of manufacturing quality control experience to the $100 million dollar company.

WICHITA, Kansas (May 18, 2004): Big Dog Motorcycles(, the leading designer and manufacturer of high performance, highly-styled heavyweight cruisers, has named Ron Hill its Quality Assurance Manager, expanding the OEM?s quality control team to eleven. Hill is charged with managing the team as it focuses on improving the company’s inspection procedures, techniques, and effectiveness.Hill, a member of the American Society for Quality, brings twenty years of quality control and assurance experience. Prior to joining Big Dog Motorcycles, Hill most recently worked as an analyst and quality control engineer for Cessna Aircraft, a leading manufacturer of business jets.

BIKERNET FIREARMS REFREASHER COURSE–
1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
3. Glock: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it’s about control.
5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. Free Men Do not ask permission to bear arms.
8. If you don’t know your rights you don’t have any.
9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
10. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights reserved.
11. What part of “shall not be infringed” do you not understand?
12. The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.
13. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
14. Guns only have two enemies: rust and liberals.
15. Know guns, know peace and safety. No guns, no peace nor safety.
16. You don’t shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
19. Criminals love gun control — it makes their jobs safer.
20. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.
21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them..
22. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
23. Enforce the “gun control laws” we have, don’t make more.
24. When you remove the people’s right to bear arms, you create slaves.
25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
26. “.. A government of the people, by the people, for the people…”

WIDE TIRE SHOVELHEAD–I’ve only got four pictures of the back of the bike, but here’s the details. It’s a ’72 frame with round swing arm. The spread is the same as a square unit. I used a 160 tire on a 4 X16-inch rim, ’73 up. I needed a 1/4-inch offset trans mount plate and a 1/4-inch spacer for the sprocket.

The brake rotor is mounted with a stock spacer. Caliper & mount are aftermarket GMA, but stock will fit. The o-ring chain barely clears, but I can turn off the oiler & keep my back clean with the shorter modified chain guard.

The fender is an aftermarket blank we cut down to size and welded tabs to for mounting to the frame. It’s 7 1/2-inch wide.

If the frame looks different in the seat area to other owners, it’s because it’s been highly modified in the seat area. but the same stuff will work on all swing arms.

Total investment in parts not counting rim & tire about $650.00. Hope this helps other old Shovel riders looking to do something different, but not too expensive. Have also used the same proccess on a ’75 shovel with stock fender & struts, but with a 150 X 16 Avon.

Fits right in the fender.

–fritz

EARLY MYRTLE BEACH IMAGES–These were taken at Myrtle Beach Bike Week. I think they kind of go together.

–Bill Debo

BUELL RACERS IN TOP 10 AT BARBER FORMULA XTREME–Hal?s and Kosco Dealer Teams Take on Factory Teams in AMA Road Racing Competition.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 15, 2004) – Buell Firebolts entered by Hal?s Harley-Davidson/Buell and Kosco Harley-Davidson/Buell ran strongly and finished in the top ten in the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme class during the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship Series at Barber Motorsports Park. Hal?s rider Mike Ciccotto rode a Firebolt to ninth place in the event, while Michael Barnes placed tenth aboard a Kosco Firebolt.

?It?s really exciting to see our dealer teams out there competing in AMA Formula Xtreme,? said Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer at Buell Motorcycle Company. ?It was only their second outing in Formula Xtreme, and we all still have a lot to learn to help these riders race with the front-running factory teams in this professional class. I am very excited about the diversity in racing that this class is bringing to AMA fans. This class has a lot of technical innovation going on, with the fastest laps very close to Superbike times, despite the bikes having less horsepower.?

Ciccotto qualified in eighth position on the 2.3-mile, 16-turn Barber Motorsports Park course. Barnes qualified in tenth position.

?We pushed hard but we were a little bit off on our race day set up,? said Ciccotto, who ran as high as sixth position. ?The motor ran flawlessly all weekend and I?m really excited for the rest of this season.?

AMA Formula Xtreme is a class open to highly-modified motorcycles with 600cc four-cylinder engines or larger-displacement V-Twin engines. The next stop on the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship schedule is May 22-23 at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo.

BIKER LADY GRADUATES WITH HONORS–An original biker chick and Bikernet correspondent, who has lived and loved motorcycles her entire adult life, graduated fromcollege this May with the golden ropes of a high grade point average and was given a genuine bikergraduation party.

Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer took a twenty two year journey for a two year degree. Finally she gotto sit in the front row of the Indian River Community College Commencement Ceremony held onMay 8th at the St. Lucie County Civic Center. Katmandu graduated with an Associates of Sciencedegree in Graphic Design Technology. An Honor student, twice on the Dean’s list, she saluted herdevoted biker family cheering from the balcony. She also obtained an Associates of Arts degree inGeneral Education Fine Art.

Now in her mid-forties, Katmandu is a staff writer and photographer for two Florida basedmagazines, Saddletime and CrossRoads. She is a regular contributor to Long Riders Magazine,based out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her work has been featured in Bikernet, The Horse Back StreetChoppers, In the Wind, Biker, Easyriders, V-Twin , The Enthusiast , American Iron and OutlawBiker. She is page 194 in Sasha Mullin’s book “Biker Lady.”

Her work is on the cover of the Palm Beach Palm and Cycad Society Times, a new hobby that sheshares with her husband “Commander” Randy Palmer. They currently have over seventy differenttypes of palm trees on their small property in Port St Lucie, Florida.

Katmandu suffered from math anxiety for many years, a hurdle that seemed unsurmountable. Withthat formidable female biker courage, she spent hours at the Center for Personalized Training,working with tutors to understand the disciplines of Algebra and Trigonometry. “Math really is a cosmic universal language. Right triangles are everywhere.” she admits with wideeyed amazement at this recent accomplishment. “I’ll never say never again”

Her college experience offers big hope to many who may also be afflicted with thiscommon yet unspoken panic when it comes to math. ” I had to study. I cried. It did not come easilyfor me and that included staying focused on the goal. I had to miss runs and national rallies that arecontinuously calling my name. It got really wacky when I’d try to change the TV channel with mycalculator. That’s when I knew it was time to take a break, go for a ride and clear my head.”

After taking the short walk across that large stage, Katmandu was joined by over a hundred closefriends at a graduation party hosted by the Treasure Coast chapter of the US Military VetsMotorcycle Club at their Stuart Florida Post # 4198. Big thanks go out the TC US MV MC for a great time!

PERFORMANCE MACHINE ALL-NEW CLOTHING LINE–Naked is good for some people. The rest of us need clothes. With that in mind, it seems PM’s elite team of designers have taken a break from dreaming up new things to do with aluminum and applied their talents to cotton. As usual the result is unique and the finished product will undoubtedly be appearing on customs throughout the world.

Their new line includes both short sleeve, long sleeve and baseball cut t-shirts, as well as mens and womens zippered sweatshirts and a new work jacket featuring PM’s Hot Bike cover chopper. The headwear group includes a new cap and even a PM beenie for the truly devoted. We are currently engaged in intensive, hands on testing of all of these products and will be reporting on their progress in future issues.

To get yours, contact your local Performance Machine dealer or buy them online at performancemachine.com.

Performance Machine, Inc.
6892 Marlin Circle,
La Palma, CA 90623
714-523-3000

Continued On Page 4

Continued From Page 1

RUN TO THE WALL 2004– Run For The Wall 2004 is an epic journey by motorcycle that goes from Ontario, California across the heartland of America, and ends 10 days later at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Run For The Wall 2004 begins at 8:00 am on Tuesday, May 18, 2004. The run will depart from the parking lot of the T & A Truck Stop on Milliken Ave., one exit West of the junction of the I-10 & I-15 freeways in Ontario, California

For more information, please log on to: http://www.rftw.org

–from Trash, http://www.tra.sh
WriteTrash@GeezerFromHell.com

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF CUSTOM BIKE BUILDING–Santa Ana, CA, May 18th, 2004: American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD) and Custom Chrome, team-up to bring the “Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building” to the Custom Chrome/ Motorcycle Stuff US Dealer Show in October 2004.

Leading international trade journal American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD) is proud to announce an extension to its existing and exciting AMD ProShow Bike Builder contest and program.

The AMD ProShow is to be held in the United States for the first time; being presented by Custom Chrome at their annual dealer show in October 2004.

Held each year since 2002 in conjunction with Custom Chrome Europe (CCE) at their European Dealer Show (in Germany in March each year), AMD has produced a European custom bike competition.

The concept originated as a new feature to the CCE Dealer Show that provided AMD and CCE with a specifically trade? oriented platform and opportunity to recognize the increasingly impressive custom bike design and engineering standards being achieved by Europe’s dealer and professional custom bike building community.

The Custom Chrome Dealer Show at their Morgan Hill, California worldwide headquarters (October 8th, 9th and 10th, 2004) provides a ready-made and well-established trade based event at which to present the AMD ProShow competition in conjunction with the European winner.

The winners and other leading contestants and their bikes from the March 2004 European leg? of what now can now become a truly Official Championship? will, at Custom Chrome’s expense, be flown to California to compete against the best that the US bike building community can field in what can therefore be viewed as an Official World Championship?.

A top cash prize of $25,000.00, and total cash prize fund of nearly $50,000.00 is a major and unprecedented investment that hallmarks both the resources the company intends to bring to bear on the AMD ProShow.

For further information on this event, please visit the event website at: www.AMDProShow.com.

THREE CHARLIE BRECHTEL PROJECTS–also just FYI we’d like to let you know about the other three projects that we have: “Bikers: The Inner Circle” is a series that features Jim Elrite (one of the senior members of the San Jose chapter of the HAMC) as host, with their bar and clubhouse as a backdrop…the first episode features some “interesting” interviews…like with the Devil Dolls’ Goth Girl…Poncho from the Lonely Ones MC in NY and a “gun trick”…and some words of wisdom from Kim Peterson…we were also given the rights to do the exclusive ’04 Hollister Rally DVD…and the book, “The Original Wild Ones,” about the legendary Boozefighters MC is finished…the book is accompanied by a 47 minute DVD that features interviews with the surviving “originals”…

–BILL HAYES

Corrections from a Bikernet Reader

Just found your article about the demise of Indianand would like to point out a few points:

There’s a photo of a red Chief that’s identified asbeing an ’04 but it’s actually an earlier model. I cantell by the hand and foot controls as well as themuffler.

The new 100 cube inch engine is referred to as the”Powerhouse 100″ but that’s incorrect, it’s called thePowerPlus 100. The original Indian corp sold a modelcalled the PowerPlus many years ago, hence the name.

The last photo shows a PowerPlus 100 engine. This wasNOT built by S&S….these were all assembled by PowerAssembly Solutions of Livonia Michigan. Although forthe 2004 there were some S&S built PowerPlus 92engines. These were cosmetically modified S&S enginesthat resembled the larger PP engines (round cylindersand heads).

How do I know all of this tripe? I bought a LOT ofparts at the liquidation sale and am building a spoton correct 2004 Chief Vintage (I closely noted ALL thechanges and updates for the ’04 models). Also havequite a number of friends who are former Indianemployees so I have access to their first handknowledge.

Forgot to mention that the actual shutdown date for the factory was Sept 19 (it was listedas “around Sept 23” in the article).

–ANT

JUNE 25-27, 2004
ATWOOD WATER PARK
HWY 84 E
MONTICELLO, MS

GATES OPEN AT 12 NOON ON FRIDAY

We the Southwest Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. will be hosting this RODEO to benefit the Shriners Children?s Hospital and Motorcyclists Rights. We will be making our donation this year to the Transportation Department of the Mississippi Shriners to help make transportation and housing available for our Mississippi children that have to travel out of state for medical assistance.

ENTERTAINMENT WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY

GRITS AND GRAVY followed by RECYCLE

Saturday the fun begins with a POKER RUN followed by BIKE GAMES and BIKE SHOW

Camping available on first come, first serve basis. Vendor booths available. For more info, contact Leigh Ann Neal @ 601-587-4870 or landcneal@aol.com or John Neal @601-587-0241.

SPEEDING WOMAN–A young woman was pulled over for speeding. As the TX State Trooper walked to her car window, flipping open his ticket book, she said, “I bet you are going to sell me a ticket to the Texas State Police Ball.”

He replied, “Texas State Troopers don’t have balls.” There was a moment of silence while she smiled and he realized what he’d just said. He then closed his book, got back in his patrol car and left. She was laughing too hard to start her car.

–from Rogue

THE STEALTH REPORT FROM N.C.–Every week when I submit my thoughts for the news, I start thinking about what to write about for my next submission. Sometimes it comes quick other times it goes to the deadline before I come up with something. I was stressing over what to write about this week and in walks a guy with one of those chrome dome helmets, the novelty type. This gave me my inspiration for this week. Read on!

I started a conversation with him and I asked about his helmet. I asked if it was hotter than a black helmet and he said “NO.” I asked if he liked the helmet and he said “NO”. I then asked if he didn’t like it, then why did he wear it? His answer was that, “my wife likes it.” I said but she doesn’t wear it, and he said he wears it because “she can use it as a vanity mirror while they ride!”

I said, “A VANITY MIRROR!”

He responded and said, “Yeah she can use it to put her lipstick and makeup on as we ride. So when we arrive at their destination, she can look fresh.”

I could not believe it! I guess in a way this proves the saying that for some, “IT AIN”T ABOUT RIDING ANYMORE, IT IS A FUCKING FASHION SHOW!” Come on, enjoy the ride and forget about how you look until you get where you are going.

Riding for me is about getting away from everyday restraints. Things like keeping time, things like worrying about bills, relationships and yes VANITY MIRRORS! Leave all this at home and just ride.

You will have plenty of time for all the everyday bullshit when you return home. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance but this takes it to extremes. So the next time you see someone riding with one of these chrome jewels on their head and they have a passenger on the back, check it out to see if they are “freshing up?” Well, I just had to share this TRUE story with all of you.

Riding season is in full swing here in the Charlotte area. There are bike nights at local restaurants and bars about every night of the week. Places that not long ago frowned upon having bikers as patrons, now seem to welcome us with open arms. I wonder if the money we lay down at these establishments may have anything to do with the change in attitude? You all know the answer to that question! The roads around Charlotte are filled with bikes this time of year. Charlotte is a motorcycle town. All the local shops are wide open this time of year. The bike shows and runs are gearing up and one of the best in the Charlotte area is fast approaching, the 6th Annual Run For Breath “IN MEMORY OF JUSTIN PULLIN” is July 25th. Stayed tuned to Bikernet for info and for pictures of some of the coolest bike show awards you will ever see. Check out Mr. Bandits Best of Show creation as it comes to life.

Speaking of riding season, for the past couple of weeks I have been doing a lot of night riding. The nights are warm and it has been great for clearing my head. The roads are not as congested and it is a great time to think. Riding at night brings to mind an old Bob Seger song,” Night Moves,” there is a line in it that says “working on mysteries without any clues.” I guess that is what I have been doing? Well, I guess that is it for this week, it is time to blast down the road to one of those bike nights. Maybe I will take some pictures for next week, so stay tuned!

Later!
Mike (THE STEALTH)

N.D. FREEDOM FIGHTER FACES LIVER DISORDER–Michael “Cutter” Jay, 53, of Mandan, N.D. is struggling for his life. President of the Freedom Riders, the North Dakota Motorcycle Safety Program and the manager of ABATE, Mike is hanging on while waiting for a liver transplant. His hereditary disorder is called hemochromatosis. He’s praying for a cure, if the transplant doesn’t come.

Rick “El Grumpo” Savenko let us know of Mike’s condition. If anyone can help contact El Grumpo at r.savenko@btinet.net, or contributions can be mailed to Michael Jay “Cutter” Benefit Fund, Capitol Credit Union, P.O. Box 2096, Bismarck, N.D. 58502. Or for more information call (701) 223-5609. Time is of the essence for Cutter.

Continued On Page 3

Hey, we blow it from time to time. Seems our report on Howard Kelly and Hot Bike was out of whack. The PrimeMedia bike books are not moving back to the Wilshire offices, nor is Mr. Kelly under indictment for misappropriation of funds. He told me that face to face at a Custom Chrome press conference, but he looked a tad nervous. I got mixed signals as the room crowded with Hot Bike staff packing weapons and lookin’ dangerous. I smelled a trick bag. They gave me that, “Nobody fucks with Howard Kelly,” look. I slipped out the back, jumped my Road King and headed for the coast. Another near miss with the Prime Media Crew.

I met the new Hot Bike publisher Kerry McCammon who has worked for several companies in the industry including Samson Exhaust. Let’s see what happens next.

Oh, speaking of the industry. Rick Fairless and the Strokers of Dallas crew were featured on SpeedVision last night. My dish took a shit again. That’s twice in two months. I may unbolt the sonuvabitch and throw it off the roof of the building, sorta like the cable commercials. Either fix it or fuck it. Rick’s show will air again in the near future. Check it out. Let’s hit the news:

METZLER MELT DOWN–In case anyone had be interested in How Many Days can you run a Metzeler ME 880 tire? The correct answer IS NOT one more day!

Granted a flat tire is something that happens. The problem would be the new ones have been sitting in the living room since Tuesday.

–RFR

SCREAMIN? EAGLE/VANCE & HINES TEAM HOT IN ATLANTA–Tonglet Rolls to Semi-Final Round; Hines Retains Pro Stock Bike Points Lead.

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 16, 2004) – The Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines team battled a tough Pro Stock Bike field at the 24th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, as riders Andrew Hines and GT Tonglet advanced in the elimination rounds aboard Screamin? Eagle V-Rod motorcycles. Hines retained the Pro Stock Bike season points lead, while Tonglet had a hot weekend, with a new track record top speed of 192.91 mph in qualifying and a run to the semi-final round of eliminations that moved him into second place in Pro Stock Bike points.

?Both bikes and riders were running strong again this weekend,? said Screamin? Eagle Racing Manager Anne Paluso. ?We?ve had one or both of the Screamin? Eagle V-Rods as far as the semi-final round at each event so far this season, and that consistency has us leading the series. Now we?ll bring some great momentum to the next event at Joliet, where we expect to have a big Harley-Davidson home-town crowd coming down from Milwaukee.?

Tonglet qualified fourth for the event with a run of 7.150 seconds at 192.91 mph. Hines was fifth in qualifying at 7.161/189.73. Angelle Savoie led all qualifiers with a run of 7.121/189.02.

?GT?s bike was dialed in all weekend,? said team owner Byron Hines. ?We?re still having some issues with perfecting our set up with the power we found in the off season, and we?re learning more with every run.?

Both Screamin? Eagle riders advanced cleanly through round one of eliminations. Tonglet (7.178/191.76) beat Chip Hunter (7.276/183.79), while Hines (7.217/184.42) defeated Karen Stoffer (7.251/183.94), his closest rival in the points race coming into the event.

That set up a showdown between the two Screamin? Eagle riders in round two. Hines (7.190/191.95) had a perfect light, with a reaction time of just 0.001 seconds, but Tonglet (0.011, 7.178/186.51) chased him down with a super run to take the win by just 0.0024 seconds, or about eight inches at the finish line.

?I always hate to lose, but getting beat by my teammate makes it a little easier,? said Hines. ?I had that great start, so he had to make a great run to beat me and he pulled it off.?

That put Tonglet in the semi-final round, where he faced top qualifier Angelle Savoie. Tonglet (7.217/185.41) jumped the start(-0.025) for a red light to hand the win and a trip to the final to Savoie (7.160/183.52). It was the first red light by a Screamin? Eagle rider of the season. In the final round Savoie (7.119/191.59) defeated Shawn Gann (7.248/186.15) to win the event.

?I was happy to be able to represent Harley-Davidson in the semi-final round this weekend,? said Tonglet. ?It?s unfortunate that I had to defeat my teammate to get there, but we sure had a great race. I think this shows that the Screamin? Eagle team is going to be competitive at every event this season.?

After three rounds of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Andrew Hines leads the Pro Stock Bike class with 250 points. Tonglet is second with 225 points, and Stoffer drops to third with 222 points.

The next Pro Stock Bike event on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is the 7th Annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals, May 20-23, at Route 66 Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

PRIMO’S NEW FLAMES BELT GUARD–Primo’s ALL NEW 3D Flamed belt guard keeps foreign objects out of the belt drive,and away from the pulleys, looking SUPER HOT (pun intended) while doing it. Theenhanced three dimensional characteristics of the guard allow you to customizethe guard by applying paint or other effects to the recessed areas to match yourexisting custom paint job for a totally custom look. Available exclusively fromPrimo Belt Drives.

2014-0010 Brute IV Billet aluminum 3D Flame Belt Guard kit includes super-duty bracket. Fits all Primo Brute IV, 3-inch wide open belt drive.

2014-0013 Brute V Billet aluminum 3D Flame Belt Guard kit includes super-duty bracket. Fits all Primo Brute V, 3 1/2 wide open belt drives.

Rivera Engineering, Inc.
12532 Lambert Road, Whittier, CA 90606
Tel: (562) 907-2600
Fax: (562) 907-2606I was sent this and thought you might want to see it. I can see it being used against motorcycle clubs very easy and eventually ABATE and groups like that also. Rogue

BIKERNET LOGO SEARCH CONTESTANT–My son drew this for your logo search. Let us know if you like it.

He is 17. His name is Jason Hamlin, he is a die hard Shovelhead rider, sincehis first solo ride two years ago.

–Scot Hamlin

I told Scot that his son is an artist. Very sharp.

WATCH US SENATE BILL S.2358–This Bill is sponsored by 4 Democrat Senators :Durbin (D-IL), Leahy (D-VT), Feingold (D-WI) and Kennedy (D- MA). This Bill has been read twice on the US Senate Floor and the Bill has been sent to the Judiciary Committee.

The bills stated purpose:”Quote” To allow for the prosecution of members of street gangs, and for other purposes. What should scare you here is “and for other purposes.” That pretty much gives Law Enforcement an open ended ticket.

Section 1 gives S.2358 the nameAmerican Neighborhoods Taking the Initiative Guarding Against Neighborhood Gangs Act 2004. That sounds pretty good and something most Americans could go for. After all, no one wants their children growing up in a gang infested neighborhood. The example these Senators used was the Blood and Cripps of Los Angeles and what they do to terrorize a neighborhood.

There are already plenty of laws on the books to take care of these problems. What is scary here is the broad brush this bill paints across all organizations and clubs. The only group excluded from any of this bill, are the Indian Tribes.

Critical here is the way Section 101 of this bill defines street gangs. In short the main determining factor of a qualifying to be considered a street gang is:
1) a common name, insignia, flag, means of recognition, secret signal or code.
2) a common creed, belief, structure, leadership or command structure, method of operation or criminal enterprise, concentration or specialty.
3) Membership, age or other qualifications, initiation rites, geographical or territorial sites, boundary, or location or other unifying mark, manner, protocol, or method of expressing or indicating membership.

What this bill calls a Predicate Gang Crime is any act or threat, or attempted act or threat, which is chargeable under Federal or State Law and punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year, involving so many laws I would be here all day just listing them. So basically it doesn?t take a lot to be considered a street gang involved in street gang crime.

If you are considered a street gang under section 522 you are prohibited from: recruiting, soliciting, commanding, employing, persuade, induce, entice, or coerce any person to become a member of or participate in, any criminal street gang with the intent that the person recruited will do any act to effect the criminal activities of a criminal street gang.

–Big Kid
e-mail: bigkid@airmail.net

–from Rogue

NCOM CONVENTION TAKES OKLAHOMA BY STORM– Despite deadly tornados that ripped through Oklahoma last May, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists scheduled their 2004 Convention for Oklahoma City, and during the weekend of May 6-8 the only thunder heard in the vicinity was from fired up bikes and riders.

Near-record numbers of bikers roared into the Biltmore Hotel and jammed into meeting halls for the 19th annual NCOM Convention, hosted by ABATE of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs.

Dubbed “Winds of Change” by event organizers, the conference brought together representatives of motorcycle rights organizations, patch clubs and rider groups to share knowledge, form bonds and plot tactics in an ever-changing whirlwind of politics, public perception and legal proceedings.

Meetings and seminars included; “Stricter Penalties Laws for Drivers of Cages Injuring Bikers”; “Status of EPA Regulations and it’s Effect on Your Business and Your Ride”; “Motorcycle Safety Awareness & Your Groups”; “Motorcycle Insurance”; “The US PATRIOT ACT and It’s Effects on Your Civil Liberties”; “Gang Enhancement Laws”; “How to be a Successful Grass Roots Lobbyist”; and a Mock Legislative Session on the topic of state emissions testing for motorcycles.

The traditional Silver Spoke Awards Banquet capped the weekend’s festivities, as the following people were honored for their contributions to motorcycling: Government – Rep. Teresa Forcier (R-PA); Legal – Marty Fox, Washington AIM Attorney; and Media – Paul Allen Cianci, Publisher of Full Throttle magazine. Special Recognition Awards were given to Bobbi Hartman (ABATE of Arizona lobbyist), Debra Knox (State Information Director for Concerned Bikers Association of North Carolina) and Preacher Mike (Christian Crusaders – posthumously). ABATE of Pennsylvania was honored with a Legislative Award for their recent helmet law modification effort.

The 2004 Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bill Carlton, a lifelong rider, past president of the Texas Motorcycle Riders Association, and veteran of two successful helmet law battles in Texas.

Next year’s 20th Annual NCOM Convention will be held in Kentucky next Mother’s Day weekend, May 5-7, 2005, so make plans now to be part of biker history.

–Bill Bish

BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE (BACA)–BANDIT, My name is Duane “Scooter” Herron. I am a member of a organization called Bikers Against Child Abuse or BACA for short.We are a nationwide group joined together to fight against people that abuse kids for sex or just plain mean. We are a big brother big sister type group. I got your name from a lady named Carrie with Biker Art from Tennessee. She said you might be able to help us get funds to help the kids we “adopt”,or just get noticed.

I would like for you to check out our website at www.bacausa.com and see for yourself what we do. If you think we are worth looking into contact me at scooterneets@yahoo.com man we need all the help we can get.

–Scooter

DEWEY’S CUSTOM PEGS–for the ultimate Bikernet Chopper project. On a rigid you need something with a grip, our your screwed. Dewey’s pegs are all machined on a CNC lathe from a solid bar of 6061-T6 aluminum. The have a very aggressive knurl on them so your hands won’t slip.

The grips and pegs also sport square rubber O-rings to give you hand a cushion. The O-rings have a life-time warrenty. Dewey’s in Farmington, New Mexico, (505) 326-5998, www.deweyspegs.com.

Continued On Page 2

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at <

NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists

NCOM CONVENTION TAKES OKLAHOMA BY STORM– Despite deadly tornados that ripped through Oklahoma last May, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists scheduled their 2004 Convention for Oklahoma City, and during the weekend of May 6-8 the only thunder heard in the vicinity was from fired up bikes and riders.

Near-record numbers of bikers roared into the Biltmore Hotel and jammed into meeting halls for the 19th annual NCOM Convention, hosted by ABATE of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs.

Dubbed “Winds of Change” by event organizers, the conference brought together representatives of motorcycle rights organizations, patch clubs and rider groups to share knowledge, form bonds and plot tactics in an ever-changing whirlwind of politics, public perception and legal proceedings.

Meetings and seminars included; “Stricter Penalties Laws for Drivers of Cages Injuring Bikers”; “Status of EPA Regulations and it’s Effect on Your Business and Your Ride”; “Motorcycle Safety Awareness & Your Groups”; “Motorcycle Insurance”; “The US PATRIOT ACT and It’s Effects on Your Civil Liberties”; “Gang Enhancement Laws”; “How to be a Successful Grass Roots Lobbyist”; and a Mock Legislative Session on the topic of state emissions testing for motorcycles.

The traditional Silver Spoke Awards Banquet capped the weekend’s festivities, as the following people were honored for their contributions to motorcycling: Government – Rep. Teresa Forcier (R-PA); Legal – Marty Fox, Washington AIM Attorney; and Media – Paul Allen Cianci, Publisher of Full Throttle magazine. Special Recognition Awards were given to Bobbi Hartman (ABATE of Arizona lobbyist), Debra Knox (State Information Director for Concerned Bikers Association of North Carolina) and Preacher Mike (Christian Crusaders – posthumously). ABATE of Pennsylvania was honored with a Legislative Award for their recent helmet law modification effort.

The 2004 Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bill Carlton, a lifelong rider, past president of the Texas Motorcycle Riders Association, and veteran of two successful helmet law battles in Texas.

Next year’s 20th Annual NCOM Convention will be held in Kentucky next Mother’s Day weekend, May 5-7, 2005, so make plans now to be part of biker history.

TRANSPORTATION BILL SPUTTERS– Hope is fading fast for passing a transportation bill this Congressional session, as legislators are wary of provoking the White House during campaign season.

While supporters stress that the measure would create jobs and boost the economy, President Bush wants to rein in a ballooning federal deficit and has warned that he will veto any legislation costing more than $256 billion, unless Congress can find a way to pay for it without dipping into general revenues.

In April, the House voted overwhelmingly 357-56 to approve H.R. 3550, the “Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users” (TEA LU), a six-year $284 billion transportation funding measure which includes provisions to expand state rider training programs and other motorcycle safety initiatives.

The Senate approved a similar measure 76-21 in February, S. 1072, the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act” (SAFE-TEA) to reauthorize $318 billion for highway funding, mass transit and safety programs, but does not include language specifically addressing motorcycle safety concerns.

Both bills were to go to a conference committee to iron out discrepancies and submit a final bill to the President for his signature or veto, but no date has been set.

To complicate matters even further, a broad coalition of business, labor and environmental interests, among others, recently drew a firm line at $318 billion, and sent a letter vowing not to support any legislation that drops below that amount.

Both chambers have enough votes to override a veto, but no one wants to send the President a bill he will likely veto.

Since Congress could extend current transportation spending through a continuing resolution, doing nothing may be the safest option, though anything can happen during an election year.

U.S. SENATE DECLARES MAY AS NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH!– For the first time in history, the federal government is officially recognizing May 2004 as National Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, thanks to the efforts of retiring U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado. Campbell, an avid rider and longtime advocate of motorcycling causes, introduced Senate Resolution 168 which was passed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on April 28th.

“Motorcycles have become a big part of the American landscape and occupy a very important position in the history of this nation,” said Campbell in introducing S.RES.168 last June, adding that “As we continue to move through the riding season, I will continue to work with my colleagues here in the Senate and motorcycle rights groups such as the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, the American Motorcycle Association, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, ABATE, and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation to find solutions to educate the general motoring public about motorcycle safety and awareness. This resolution is a strong, positive step in the right direction to help achieve this goal.”

Although virtually every state and major municipality has issued “Motorcycle Awareness” proclamations over the past several years, no such Congressional resolution has ever been passed to bring national awareness to motorcycle safety. Representative Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado has introduced a similar measure in the House.

Senator Campbell has been riding for more than 50 years and has been a champion for motorcyclists’ issues on the federal level, including serving on the National Coalition of Motorcyclists’ Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF).

LIVE TO RIDE, RIDE TO WORK– Motorcyclists are encouraged to ride their bikes to work on the third Wednesday of July each year in a public demonstration of how many of us ride and how utilitarian motorcycles are. July 21, 2004 will be the 13th annual National Ride To Work Day, so mount up and let’s roll!

NEW TRAFFIC FATALITY FIGURES RELEASED BY NHTSA– Newly released traffic fatality figures reveal that there were 43,220 deaths on U.S. roads in 2003, an increase from 42,815 in 2002 and the highest number since 1990, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While passenger cars, vans and light trucks experienced a decrease in fatal accidents, large trucks, SUV’s and motorcycles showed increased involvement in fatalities. The preliminary report from NHTSA, released on April 28, 2004, indicates that motorcycle-related deaths are up 11 percent for 2003 with 3,592 motorcyclists killed, compared to the previous year when 3,244 riders died in 2002.

Increases in registrations and miles traveled were not taken into account when computing the data. Bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities were also down.

YOU BET YOUR LIFE — The National Safety Council has computed the odds of the average American biting the dust from the most common killers, such as accidents and diseases, and has determined that a car occupant’s lifetime odds of dying in a car accident are 1 in 242, while the chances of dying in a motorcycle accident are just 1 in 1,293! For a complete list of morbidity calculations, visit http://danger.mongabay.com/injury_odds.htm.

HELMET LAW REPEAL WOULD BOOST ECONOMY– As states face budget constraints and financial challenges, a study commissioned by bikers suggests that weakened helmet requirements could kick-start the economy.

The study done for ABATE of Michigan by Jake Miklojcik, who owns Lansing-based Michigan Consultants, suggests the state could collect $40 million in new sales and income taxes by joining the 31 other states that have eased or repealed mandatory helmet laws. The financial windfall would be the result of an estimated 20 percent increase in motorcycle sales; the addition of hundreds of jobs to the state’s motorcycle industry; and a boost in tourism spending by bikers who now avoid Michigan and its helmet law.

Michigan’s House of Representatives voted in 2002 to repeal the law, but the measure died in the Senate. Now, bills allowing motorcyclists 21 and older to ride without helmets if they have completed safety training are pending in the House and Senate transportation committees. The House has enough votes to end the mandatory helmet law and repeal is “pretty close” in the Senate, said state Rep. Leon Drolet, adding that a vote could come before the Legislature’s summer recess.

“If the economic study is accurate, it would be another reason to support the bill,” said Drolet, who does not ride motorcycles. “But individual rights, personal freedom and personal liberty arguments are the ones most compelling to me. If additional revenue comes to the state, great.”

In the meantime, the Concerned Bikers Association of North Carolina is showing their legislators that motorcyclists are letting their chain-drive wallets do the voting as they head for freer climes in surrounding states.

“Harley riders are, you know, 50 or older with a household income of about $75,000 and this will bring motorcycle rallies to our beaches, to our coastal areas, and to our mountains that other states are getting because they won’t come with a mandatory helmet law,” said Rep. John Sauls.

GREEKS PUSHING HELMETS– Greek police in Athens are getting heavy handed with bare-headed bikers, and penalties include possible bike confiscations on the spot. Greece used to have a very liberal attitude to helmet wearing, which gave the impression that freedom of choice prevailed in that country. According the Motorcycle Action Group of the United Kingdom, “There are suspicions that a European Commission decision to enforce helmet wearing across the European Union might be behind the Greeks less generous interpretation of their law.”

REBEL ART– Since the motorcycle jacket was popularized in the movie The Wild One, its attributes and styling have been adapted into identity-transforming high-fashion. Now the Phoenix Art Museum has organized a Motorcycle Jacket art exhibit that surveys how fashion designers, such as Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Moschino and Dolce & Gabanna, have interpreted the look of the motorcycle jacket in their creations, from black leather rebels to colorful motocross racing styles. The exhibition, which runs through August 29, also includes a black leather jacket that was custom tailored for Elvis Presley by Mike Howard of Beverly Hills, on loan to the exhibition from Graceland, and a garment worn by Cher.

McCHOPPER– A custom motorcycle designed by Desperado Motorcycles will be auctioned off to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ronald McDonald House Charities. The bike, which will incorporate visual elements of McDonald’s, has begun a 25-city tour visiting 35 Ronald McDonald Houses and other events before it reaches Chicago on November 6 for the Awards of Excellence Global Charity Gala, where it will be sold to the highest bidder and 100% of the proceeds will benefit RMHC.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD: CYCLIST HIT BY CASH– A Taiwanese motorcyclist was hit by a fortune after a $600,000 kidnap ransom dropped on his head.

Lu Fang-nan, 57, was knocked off his motorcycle after a relative of a kidnap victim dropped the money from a highway overpass. The stunned man re-mounted his bike and sought medical help for a swollen leg — and the kidnappers fled with the cash.

The person who dropped the money was following orders from kidnappers who had seized an electronics merchant. Lu said he did not realize he had been hit by the falling fortune until television news reported the businessman’s release and the delivery site of the ransom payment.

“Such a way to pay ransom is dangerous. It could get people killed,” the unlucky cyclist told the United Daily News. But the incident paid off for the kidnapping victim, who was released unharmed. Police say they are hunting several suspects.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW – What a Ride!”
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