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Read More April 15, 2004 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT– This week is going to be short and sweet, or maybe not. Like always there?s a lot of things? going on at the same time. I guess I’m getting used to it by now, but still it’s juggling. I just want to get some of the things done, like finalizing the move (I mean the little details left) and finish a couple of the almost chops so I can get a breather and jump head first into the other projects. Speaking of projects, a couple friends who own a tattoo shop came up with the idea to do a microphone stand (they are both in bands as well). It was a pretty complex thing with several mics all over the place, but what the hell, I looked at it as practice for the next Run For Breath trophies. So the Praying mantis mic stand came to life today. It will visit the chrome shop soon.
As you might know from last year, we have a few season games here for the Major League Baseball, Expos. I really don’t care for sports (unless it’s Soccer) but we have tickets for all the games and to tell you the truth is a lot of fun. First, it’s a breather from everyday shit, second, it’s like the local hangout for a bunch of friends, so it becomes like a party. Needless to say we kinda watch the game, since most of the watching goes towards the babes that are there as well (I have a few shots on the way) for now I have this one from our seats, and yea the guy is getting hit in the back by the ball.
Nui from Hawaii sent me a few shots of the new Coors West Coast Chopper, just when they were putting it into the stand. So I will share it with you guys.There’s some good news on the way but I’m still holding back a little bit longer, it has to do with building more bikes for certain events. We are really proud of being chosen, but at the same time the new builds tense up the whole schedule, what the fuck, nothing that I’m not used to. Just in case, and I never ask for free stuff, if anyone that reads these news from the industry wants to send anything our way, it will be more than welcome. I have the frame and motor, so the rest is up in the air.
Sheriff has gone back closer to the North Pole. I hope he had a good time here and will do a report on his point of view, although he was kind of fixated on the crime rate, so let’s see what happens.
I have received a few “inside” news tidbits lately. It?s a matter of sharing with you or bordering on being a gossip column, for now I will keep them out of here and if the cat comes out of the bag I will share what I know.
Well, I’m heading to Miami tomorrow for a show, Indian Larry, Paul Cox and Roger Bourget will be there as headliners and it will be fun. Even though it’s a quick trip, I’m sure we will have a blast in South Beach….
I’m outta here, since I have to sleep sometime…
Jose – Caribbean Bikernet Reporter
FLEETTRAILER PROJECT BIKE– Here’s some pics. If ya need more details let me know. I should have taken more pictures of the build proccess but got sidetracked building the damn thing. Since it’s been done we’re thinking of some more changes. Custom exhaust for one, we’ll make our own pipes. These hide the curve of the remade swingarm.
Already making a custom caliper mount for the swingarm that will put the caliper at the bottom and clean up the looks a little. Choppers are never done. I’ll send better finnished pictures in the near future.
–fritz
fleettrailer@firstbankconnect.com
MAKE-BELIEVE COP MAKES TRAFFIC STOP– DAYTONA BEACH — Daniel Blais liked to play cop, but that didn’t stop the Sheriff’s Office from giving him a real job.Police say the 23-year-old Daytona Beach man’s passion for pretending got him a ticket to the county jail Wednesday, for the third time.
He was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer after a motorcyclist told actual deputies Blais had pulled him over on Fentress Boulevard.
“He’s just a kid on a power trip,” said motorcyclist Matt Schaub, 23.
Blais was fired Wednesday from his position of dispatcher trainee at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office where he had worked for two months. Although his application was initially rejected because of his past criminal record, Maj. Terry Sanders said Blais had done well in his training class.
By LYDA LONGA,Staff Writer, Daytona News Journal
–from Rogue
HELMET LAW HEADE TOWARD LOUISIANA–Louisiana State Senator Joel Chaisson II (D-Destrehan) has filed Senate Bill 29, which mandates all motorcycle riders to wear helmets with padding, a visor and a chin strap. That was the law until five years ago when former Governor Mike Foster, an avid motorcyclist, helped persuade lawmakers to allow a choice for riders older than 18. Chaisson said his bill is backed by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
With Foster not around to promote an optional bill or threaten a veto, Chaisson said, the chances are good the law will pass. Chaisson said he intends to present medical experts to testify on the need for a mandatory helmet law.
Under the existing law any adult who chooses not to wear a helmet must be covered by at least a $10,000 health insurance policy and furnish proof of insurance to police. (Times-Picayune)
WISCONSIN Supports FREEDOM–Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed into law an act that will ensure that motorcycle, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle riders who do not wear helmets won?t face reduced awards in personal injury cases because of that fact. Helmets are not required for adult motorcycle riders in Wisconsin.
In a ruling two years ago, the state Supreme Court said a jury could consider a person’s decision not to wear a helmet to reduce the amount of damages paid to that person.
Doyle signed the bill, authored by ardent motorcyclist Senator Dave Zien (R-Eau Claire) and Representative Barbara Gronemus (D-Whitehall), surrounded by motorcyclists including members of ABATE of Wisconsin, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and American Motorcyclist Association. Also in attendance were representatives from Accident Scene Management, who played key roles in drafting and getting this legislation passed.
Wisconsin does not have a law requiring adult motorcyclists to wear helmets, and the Legislature formally rejected such an idea when it overrode a gubernatorial veto in 1978. Under this new law, a person’s decision to go without a helmet, as state law allows, cannot be used against that person in a personal injury suit.
–from Rogue
Many apologies for my original misguided title. There wasn’t enough Jack in my cereal that morning.–Bandit
BIKERNET RELATIONSHIP ADVICE–A man returning home a day early from a business trip got into a taxi atthe airport. It was after midnight. While enroute to his home, he asked thecabby if he would be a witness. The man suspected his wife was having anaffair and he intended to catch her in the act.
For $100, the cabby agreed. Quietly arriving at the house, the husband andcabby tiptoed into the bedroom. The husband switched on the lights, yankedthe blanket back and there was his wife in bed with another man.
The husband put a gun to the naked man’s head. The wife shouted, “Don’t doit! This man has been very generous! I lied when I told you I inheritedmoney. He paid for the Corvette I bought for you. He paid for our new cabincruiser. He paid for our house at the lake. He paid for our country clubmembership, and he even pays the monthly dues!”
Shaking his head from side-to-side the husband slowly lowered the gun. Helooked over at the cab driver and said, “What would you do?”
The cabby said, “I’d cover him up with that blanket before he catches a cold.”
–from S&CHere’s some pictures of our bike project. Feedback & comments will be much appriciated, good or bad. If you don’t like parts or can offer any constructive critisism feel free to say so. we have thick skin. I’ll be able to take better pictures of the paint when I can get it outside in the sun. The shop doesn’t have the best lighting.
MRF CALL TO ACTION, QUICK–Having failed to convince State legislatures to adopt laws mandating helmet or apparel use by motorcyclists, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has potentially found another body to advance mandatory-use laws: the United Nations.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has learned that, in total defiance of legislation passed by Congress, NHTSA has moved its efforts to the United Nations, specifically the world body’s “Inland Transport Committee: Working Party on Road Traffic Safety (WP.1).” In a document dated July 15, 2003, and during meetings held by WP.1 in Geneva, Sept. 22-25, 2003, NHTSA presented the following recommendations for WP.1:
Action: “To start a discussion and exchange of information among WP.1 member nations and key non-governmental organizations on motorcycle safety programmes.” As part of NHTSA’s proposed action plan, it urges a questionnaire be circulated among member states (editor’s note: in this instance, “member states” means countries involved with the United Nations). Among the questions NHTSA requests for inclusion on the questionnaire: “Fatality and injury rates due to motorcyclists not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash;” “Laws governing helmet use;” “Amount of penalty for not wearing a helmet;” and “Are there any repercussions, other than fines, if riders do not wear a helmet.”
NHTSA’s estimated timeframe: September 2003 – form a working group; April 2004 – develop and distribute questionnaire; April 2005 – present preliminary results and recommendations to WP.1. This July 15, 2003 NHTSA document will be posted in its entirety on the MRF web site next week.
The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) disclosed the NHTSA strategy at the September MRF Meeting of The Minds. FEMA is a partner with the MRF, AMA and FIM in ensuring the voice of riders is heard at “Working Party 29 (WP.29), the global vehicles harmonization talks being held in Geneva under the auspices of the U.N. The NHTSA document surfaced in Geneva.
–Rogue
HANDLE BAR HEIGHT LAWS– In Florida the law is that they Can Not Be Over 15 inches above the seat. Of course the cop is going to measure from the Lowest Point of the Seat to the Tallest Part of the Bars. I am not sure what the current fine is.
Handle Bar Tickets are a Big Item during Bike Week and Biketoberfest in Daytona and surrounding areas. They make a lot of money for the city and county and are usually not fought as the fight to do so is more than the ticket and it is the cop?s word against yours. You Lose!
People who I know in the Daytona area that have high bars say that they do not usually have a problem the rest of the year. This shows that it is a money raiser and not a real issue most of the time.
Jeff George aka ?Hammer? of Palm Bay Florida is one of the people that received a ticket for High Bars while at Bike Week and he has contacted Senator Michael Hardopolos of Melbourne, Florida in hopes of changing the law, State of Florida statue 316.2095 motorcycle handlebar height. Hammer has told me he is also going to contact ABATE of Florida and ask their assistance.
This is still in the early stages and I will keep you informed as I become aware of developments.
If you want to find out what the motorcycle laws in your state are go to the American Motorcycle Association web site at Then click on your state for the information. If you have a law in your state that you do not think is right Get Involved with Changing It. Contact Your Legislator, Join a Motorcycle Right Group, Do Some Thing to Make It Right. –Rogue Continued On Page 4
April 15, 2004 Part 2
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 1
SOUTH DAKOTA VEHICLE LAWS–Shortly before 9 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, a 24-year-old man was invited to the front seat of officer Hector Soto’s police car. This would not be a pleasant experience for Jeffrey Allen Young.Wearing a button-down shirt and baseball cap, Young blew into a Breathalyzer and hoped for the best. The red numbers on the screen rose from .04 to .05, .06, .07. The readout stopped at .08.
“Can I ask you what the legal limit is?” Young asked.
“Point-oh-eight,” Soto said.
Two years ago, .08 might not have been such bad news. But, since the Legislature redefined intoxication in 2002, drinking has been a trickier proposition for those trying to stay legal.
Young said he had just come from a downtown bar where he drank four beers in two hours. While drinking led to a police stop for him, other drinkers have made arrangements to ensure they do not end up in the same situation. Some walk to and from bars. Some catch cabs. Some leave their cars in parking lots and even go bar-hopping on a school bus to avoid embarrassment, high insurance rates and legal problems tied to driving while intoxicated.
Now, with the new definition of drunkenness, police, drinkers and bar managers all notice changes not only in the way people drink, but how they think.
The South Dakota Legislature approved the .08 blood alcohol limit in 2002 as the federal government offered $500 million to states that did so and threatened to keep highway construction money from those that didn’t. That would have amounted to $3.5 million for South Dakota in the first year, the state Department of Transportation said.
In this case, .08 resulted in Soto placing a pair of silver handcuffs around Young’s wrists and starting a process that led to a court arraignment two weeks later.
Definition of terms
Designated driver: A term not from the law but fromsociety, promoting the idea of a sober person driving his drunken friends home. A public-intoxication law once meant it wasillegal even to be drunk in the back seat. That is no longer true, “as long as you’re not disorderly,” police Lt. Jerome Miller says. “If you’re out there screaming vulgarities, you’ll go to jail for that.”
Body weight: According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a 170-pound man drinking five beers an hour would hit the old limit of 0.10 percent blood-alcohol. Four drinks an hour would cut that to 0.08 percent. A 137-pound woman could consume three drinks in an hour and reach 0.08. Body weight, activity, diet, sleep and time spent drinking all are part of the equation.
Serving of alcohol: Generally, a mixed drink, a glass of wine and a 12-ounce can of beer all contain the same amount of alcohol.
Indicators
Police spot drunken drivers through indicators, including:
? Driving with no lights.
? Swerving.
? Driving noticeably slower than the speed limit.
? Turning widely.
? Using high beams.
? Using no signal lights.
? Speeding.
John-John Williams IVjjwilliams@argusleader.com
–from Rogue
SHIPPING BIKES TO HAWAII–It’s a bitch traveling anywhere without your machine at your side. Now you can even ship a bike to Hawaii for a vacation or to attend the Choppers Only Show on the 4th of July. Pacific air frieght company came on board as a sponsor of the second annual Choppers Only Bike Show in Honolulu. It’s now simple to fly bikes to Hawaii. Call 808-834-7977,mailto:tom.ingram@pacificaircargo.com, or pacificaircargo.com
We shipped a bike once and it was at the airport when we arrived.
BIKE NIGHTS and DUI?s I like Bike Nights and it seems that a lot of other people do too. They have gotten so popular that they are not just happening on the weekends any more.
I use to be that motorcycle people had to look for bars that wanted their business. Now it seems they are competing for it. Hey we all know the Bikers Spend Money. The people in business are there to make money.
In the Melbourne ? Palm Bay area of Florida where I live it use to be Friday Night at Hooters. That has changed, it is now Kelly?s Bar and the County Line Saloon and a host of others.
There are places that welcome you all weekend many with food, bands or other entertainment. Now there is also Wednesday night rides to bars.
When you look at Miami and South Florida there are Bike Nights Every Night. Add your other larger cities like Orlando and Tampa, well you get the message.
There is always a party going on some where. Fun, Fun, Fun.
Well with it are reports from around the state of problems from people reporting to work hung over or missing days, wives complaining about money that is needed to support family?s not being there and most of all a Major increase in DUI?s injuries and deaths.
The police departments around the state have also figured out that Bikers Spend Money and they want their share of it to. Hey, they can afford a Harley they got money. They have increase their DUI surveillance of Bike Nights and in many cases have squad cars watching the bars or as in the Case of Palm Bay Police a BAT mobile in front of a local Biker Bar on US1.
They do not have to do a lot except wait and stop a few Bikers a night and their numbers go up. Easy Pickings.
There are numerous changes being made to the DUI laws on a regular basis and if you do get a DUI it is going to cost you dearly and may even prevent you from riding.
Police officers read local publication and advertisements to find out when and where Bike Nights are. Some even join organizations.
I Am Not Suggesting You Stop Doing Bike Nights. I just Want You to Be Aware the Cops Are Watching Them! BE CAREFUL
–Rogue
TERRY COMPONENTS MOVES TO THE BADLANDS–We are moving our home and shop to spearfish south Dakota next month. The new location is 2916 E. 4th Ave off Exit 14 Near the Ford Dealership. Hope to see everyone there this Summer. Note the new phone (605) 642-5300, or Terrycomp.com for the best battery cables in the industry.
–Fran and Keith Terry
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROARS INTO ITS SECOND CENTURY–WITH another RECORD quarter.Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HDI) today announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 28, 2004. Revenue for the quarter was $1.17 billion compared with $1.11 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 4.7 percent increase. First quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) was 68 cents, an 11.5 percent increase compared with last year?s 61 cents. ?The Company?s continuing strong performance supports our longer-range objectives to satisfy demand for 400,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles in 2007,” said CEO, Jeff Bleustein, “and to deliver an annual earnings growth rate in the mid-teens. Harley-Davidson?s Board of Directors demonstrated their confidence in our stated direction by approving the repurchase of 7.8 million shares of stock during the quarter,? said Bleustein.
Motorcycles and Related Products Segment First quarter revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $919 million, an increase of 4.8 percent over the first quarter last year. Shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles totaled 74,090, up 3,482 units or 4.9 percent over last year.
First quarter revenue from Parts and Accessories (P&A), which consists of Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $169 million, a 5.8 percent increase over the year-ago quarter. When revenue from 100th Anniversary P&A products sold during the first quarter of 2003 is excluded, P&A revenue would have been up 15.9 percent. For the longer term, the Company expects P&A revenue to grow at a rate slightly faster than the motorcycle unit growth rate.
General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes? apparel and collectibles, had first quarter revenue of $54 million, down 3.7 percent over the same period last year. When revenue from 100th Anniversary General Merchandise products shipped in the first quarter of 2003 is excluded, General Merchandise revenue would have been up 12.7 percent. For the longer term, the Company expects General Merchandise to grow at a rate lower than the motorcycle unit growth rate.
First quarter gross margin for the Motorcycles and Related Products Segment was 37.8 percent of revenue compared to 36.2 percent in the first quarter of last year. First quarter gross margin was favorably impacted primarily by foreign currency exchange rates and to a lesser extent by operating efficiencies. Consistent with the higher gross margin, operating margin increased from 21.5 percent in 2003 to 22.9 percent in 2004.
Motorcycle Retail Sales Data
Harley-Davidson retail motorcycle sales for the quarter were up 11.6 percent worldwide driven by strong performance in the U.S. which was up 13.0 percent.
CALIFORNIA EVENTS–from the American Motorcycle Network,http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?evtsort=state.
http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?eventid=3608>Unsung Heroes Ride for Special OlympicsSacramento, Stockton, Ione, CAApr. 24
http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?eventid=3599>Ama Kawasaki Superbike ShowdownSonoma, CAApr. 30
http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?eventid=3598>All American Motorcycle MadnessSanta Maria, CAMay. 21
http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?eventid=3688>Cops, Hogs and RoddersFresno, CAMay. 22
http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?eventid=3691>4th Annual Menghini Winery Rincon Head Start RunJulian, CAMay. 23
http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?eventid=3720>Capital To Capital Ride Across AmericaSacramento, CAMay. 23
http://www.americanmotor.com/events.cfm?eventid=3342>Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle ShowLos Angeles, CAJul. 17
If you know of any events you think other riders would be interested in, please let them know adding to our events system:http://www.americanmotor.com/login.cfm–ADD EVENT
DAYTONA COVERAGE COMPLAINT– I read your assessment of 2004 Daytona. Where do you get off judging anyone about what they ride or drive or wear? Who cares about the ?Industry? blah blah blah ? it?s those same t-shirt wearing renegade lawyers and accountants that buy those stupid chrome masturbations that you and you ?Industry? friends make that you oppose.
Take a look in the mirror and realize that if you have a problem with the self indulgent, baby boomers and their low mileage, polished piles of chrome crap, blame yourself and your ?Industry?. You and your middle finger waving pals commercialized the American Biker into the stupid outlaw biker IMAGE, you make money off of the IMAGE and then bitch about the CUSTOMERS of your INDUSTRY trying to be the IMAGE and about the traffic because you cannot read a map and see that there is more than one bridge in Daytona.
I went to Daytona, I made time to ride, yes, ride. I drank my fill, saw some racing, appreciated the ladies, and had a great time. What was your problem?
If you don?t like Daytona ? stay in CA with your elitist, ?Industry? bike snob friends and your noisy chrome crap. More beer for me.
We won?t miss you.
Chuck Carman
Smart Tool LLC
www.smarttoolusa.com
OH GOD, IT’S TAX DAY–How much money did you make last year?Mail it in.Simplified tax form suggested by Stanton Delaplane
I don’t know of a single foreign product that enters thiscountry untaxed, except the answer to prayer.Mark Twain
I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States;the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.Arthur Godfrey
–from Rev CarlR
BIKERNET SOFTWARE RECOMMENDATIONS–Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a slowdown in the performance of the flower and jewelry applications that had operated flawlessly under the Boyfriend 5.0 system. In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs such as Romance 9.9, but installed undesirable programs such as NFL 7.4, NBA 3.2, NHL 4.1 and NASCAR 5.3. Conversation 8.0 also no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system.
I’ve tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do?
Signed, Desperate
Dear Desperate:
First keep in mind that Boyfriend 5.0 was an entertainment package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system. Try to enter the command C:/I/thought/you/loved me, and install Tears 6.2. Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Guilt 3.3 and Flowers 7.5. But remember, overuse can cause Husband 1.0 to default to such background applications as Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Please remember that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will create SnoringLoudly.WAV files.
DO NOT install Mother-In-Law 1.0 or reinstall another Boyfriend program. These are not supported applications and will crash Husband 1.0. It could also potentially cause Husband 1.0 to default to the program Girlfriend 9.2, which runs in the background and has been known to introduce potentially serious viruses into the Operating System.
In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have a limited memory and can’t learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to enhance the system performance. I personally recommend HotFood 3.0 and SingleMalt Scotch 4.5, combined with that Old stand-by … Lingerie 6.9 (which has been credited with improved performance of his hardware).
Good Luck
Tech Suppo
Continued On Page 3
April 15, 2004 Part 1
By Bandit |
Hey, what a wacked out week. Rumor has it that Easyriders is starting a Chopper mag. Half the staff of Hot Bike is under indictment, the publisher is gone and the editor on a hot seat. The PR guy at Custom Chrome left and now works for V-Twin magazine. And who knows what’s happening at the HORSE, I lost contact.
Next Week spills into the desert with the Laughlin River Run. Hopefully it ain’t raining. The American Rider staff is riding out. The Cruising Rider Editor is pissed at me ’cause I won’t customize a Kawasaki in one issue. Can’t win ’em all.
Here’s the news:
THE CRAZYHORSE CONNECTION–
It was lateDec and everything was going was going wrong and continued to get worse. Theplan was to have the bike ready for the Easyriders Bike Show here inCharlotte. Now every year, my customers take home trophies with their bikes.I’ve entered my sporty a few times, taking home zip. After 25 years in thebike painting business, would my own bike be radical enough to get one ofthose trophies? Not if it didn’t make it to the show. In mid Dec, I decidedto change the paint scheme from what had been decided upon. It was a lastminute thing. My husband wanted me to go with a very detailed flame job,that would take countless more hours. Did I have time? No. But like ahopeful fool, I forged ahead anyway, and dove onto the frame with tape andairbrush in hand.
The frame took a week to flame. I had to keep going backand reworking the design, then the clearcoat kept giving me grief. Thenfinally after getting a near perfect round of clear on it, I was buffing asmall bit of dust out of the seat area and buffed through the clear. I’dbeen done, finished, I’d even taken the frame hanging chains down from thebooth. I put down the shotgun and grabbed a box of Little Debbie’s snackcakes, ate the whole box, then sanded the frame, rehung it, and recleared itwith an absolutely flawless coat of clear. I was floored! Had something goneright? Was this a sign of things to come? Not a chance.
Christmas came andwent and the chrome hadn’t come in. Jim couldn’t install the motor andtranny without the specially made tranny plate which was at the chrome shop.His mood went from simple gloomy to downright homicidal. Meanwhile, I wasgrubbing through the sheetmetal flame paint, with the pace of a fat chickslogging through the swamp. The detail work on these flames was killing me.I had to have this paint job pop. This was the painter’s bike. It had to bespecial. I kept changing the flame layout, frantically trying to find theperfect symmetry of flame design. After each piece of sheetmetal wascomplete, I felt as whooped as if I had given birth, only this wasn’t anonly child being born, this was quintuplets.
Suddenly the show was only two weeks away. Chrome? Ha! Those fricking idiotshad more excuses than a bike painter. Jim was in the middle of makinganother tranny plate, when the box from the chrome shop arrived. It wasn’tonly a poorly done job, it was the worst chroming either one of us had everseen. They destroyed the tailight and lost the brake stay, sending to thewrong shop, who sent it back to the chrome shop, who then prompty lost it.
Jim quickly built a new taillight and brake stay, then stopped payment onthe check to the chrome shop. My buddy Ben Jordan powdercoated the tailightblack. Jim whacked the new brake stay with spray bomb black. The motor andtranny slipped into the frame and suddenly the bike was coming together. Wejust might make it. We had four days to finish.
Meanwhile, I was flaming awayon the tank when Jim burst into the studio. The primary wouldn’t go on.Something was wrong with the input shaft on the tranny. Jim knows nothingabout H-D trannys. He wasn’t about to pull it apart. The next day he wentinto work at the H-D dealer hoping they’d have the correct tranny in stock.He came home early with a big box and closed himself in the shop. I stayedaway, feeding him completed painted sheetmetal as I finished it. The frontfender went on the bike an hour before the bike left for the show.
My moodduring the show was completely foul. High $$ custom after high $$ customrolled into the show. My lowly gooseneck didn’t have a chance. KendallJohnson was there signing autographs on the Easyriders Bike Builder Tour,but took time out from his fans to spent some time consoling me, insistingthat the flames on my bike were the best he’d ever seen. He sure soundedsincere.
Oil Can from Easyriders magazine was more blunt, “Well why don’t ya go homeright now sour puss. Ya ain’t gonna win nuthin’.” He smiled as he walkedaway. So at the end of the night, I was floored when they called out my namefor Second Place Best Street Custom.
A month earlier I had been in Orlando at the NACE show. It’s a trade showfor Automotive refinishers. House of Kolor had me bring four bikes.I met some very cool people, like the folks from Sata Spray Gun. I tried outall kinds of new equipment and those new Sata guns are state of the art.Worth every penny. I hung out with Jon Kosmoski a few nights, and it was anawesome experience. He told me many of his painting adventures andnightmares. That guy has experienced damn near everything a painter canexperience. He told stories about painting, about people, about business,about it all. I learned more from hanging out with him those nights that Icould in a week of paint seminars. He writes a great painting book, but heshould do a non-fiction personal adventure book. I’d buy a copy. I lookforward to seeing him in Sturgis and soaking up more of his paintingbusiness wisdom.
Immediately after the bike show, I hopped on a plane and went up toMinnesota to check out Sata’s newest products and spray Createx Auto Airpaint. It was three days of painting all day and partying all night. The hightemp during the day was minus 12. You don’t even want to know what nighttimetemps were. Maybe that’s why those guys party so hard. Craig Kennedy, VicePres of Createx, and I would come rolling in at 2am every night, and Tonyfrom Sata would be there at 8:00 a.m. sharp to pick us up. It was hell, and I wasfinally rescued by the lovely Shari of Souix Falls, SD.
Her boyfriend, Kai,is one of the owners of Twisted Choppers. She spirited me away to SouixFalls where the air is freezing but the bikes are brutal hot. I spent sometime at Twisted Choppers shooting bikes and checking out their twistedcreations. Kai and Jason are two young guns who are fabricating some prettywild stuff. They are miles ahead of the usual chopper stuff you see outthere. I was especially impressed with their tank designs. I know whosemaking the tank on my next bike. All other chopper shops out there, lookout-these guys are unreal talented and their stuff is on the edge. I cameaway from that shop floored by the energy and ideas burning in that place.No wonder Billy Lane picked them to make the tank on his last Discoverybike.
I handled two Twisted Choppers bike shoots in a top secret location with a veryattractive model. The pictures came out great, we had a blast, got allgoofy, did crazy things, and I guess we had a little too much fun, cos wecan’t use some of the pictures. Of course they were some of the best ones. Ashitload more has happened and kept me slammed busy but I’ve yakked onenough here. Big announcements, cool paintwork, and strange adventures. Morenews from the Crazy Horse farm next week.
NEW BIKERNET REPORTER COMING–She is attending Brevard College to become a Journalist.She has been around for a long time.She use to work at the Harley shop in Parts and is a Damn Good Wrench.
If you think you might be interested I will have her submit some stuff for your approval.She’ll cover the Charleston, Heritage Rally this weekend.
–ROGUE
THE STEALTH REPORT–I cleaned my garage out this past week. Amazing the stuff you find that you forget you have! I decided to unload a lot of my old bike show trophies. Some were falling apart anyway and needed to be put out of their misery. I looked at the engraved plates on each of them and tried to remember where I was when I got them. Some I remembered, some I didn’t. I decided to trash can all of them. I have five awards I keep in my house that mean a lot to me and I would never part with them. One of them is a 3rd place award from an Easyrider bike show from 1996(1991 Springer Softail), A best of show award from Waugh Enterprises open house bike show in 1999, 204 bikes were entered in that show and it is near my hometown in Va. The award stands 4 feet high! A first place award from an Easyrider bike show in 2000 (my memorial rigid framed, jockey shift, bike in memory of my son Justin), this one always has a special place in my heart and always will. l have the famous five ball award from right here at Bikernet back when there was the cyber space bike show.
This one means a lot too, it comes from my mentor, a guy I respect , Mr. Bandit himself! I usually don’t do bike shows anymore, but every once in awhile I get the itch. While I was in Daytona, this past bike week, my brother Gary and I visited the Convention center and Harley was having their Ride-In Bike Show. I thought about doing the show and at first I didn’t want to, but after a little arm twisting from Gary I decided to enter the show, besides the entry fee goes to MDA. I didn’t give it much thought as to winning an award, but when the winners were announced my name was called for an Honorable Mention , not bad for a bike 13 years old. Old Skeletor did it again!(1991 springer)
The beginnings of the Run For Breath “Best Of Show” trophy by Bandit.
While I am on the subject of bike shows, here is some news on the 6th Annual Run For Breath”In Memory Of Justin Pullin” bike show. Two new classes this year, a ladies only class and a V-Rod class.
There are a total of 35 awards! All are being built by bike builders. I am sure most you saw what my buddy Jose came up with, they are too cool! I got a call from Fabricator Kevin this past week and he told he was starting on his three awards. He said they will be delivered at THE HORSE SMOKE-OUT in June. Take the hint Mr. Bandit, delivered at THE SMOKE-OUT! Ladies start polishing those bikes and guys get those V-Rods ready, we listened to what you said last year because there was no V-Rod class, so here is you chance at one these cool one-off awards!
Well, I guess that about does it for this week! It is time to go for a ride!
Later!
–Mike (THE STEALTH)
OPEN LETTER TO ALL BIKERS– I was talking with a friend the other day and he reminded me of something that I had forgotten. He told me that as we grow older and more experienced that we are needed more then ever. Most of you know him as Rogue. I have known Rogue for more then 25 years. In all that time he has been around fighting the good fight while others, (like me) take holidays, retire from their obligations, or just plain hide their heads in the sand from what is going on in the lifestyle we have chosen for ourselves.
I was gently reminded that as we grow older our responsibilities mature rather then diminish. Unless we have left the lifestyle completely we are veterans that have a lot to share and give back to our community. He reminded me that my rights as a biker have been slowly eroding. Or worse yet, that much of the freedoms that I had imagined I would be or have been enjoying for myself these past three decades of riding have been simply illusions.
Many of us join A.B.A.T.E. with our good intentions intact. But lose those intentions when we find that there are more people who join for nothing more then the social aspect of the organization. Or perhaps we lose our respect for the members as we see how others who join– the ones who ride non-American built motorcycles are treated with less respect and tolerance then those with the high end American built motorcycles. Or perhaps we simply feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the work ahead of us and by the party atmosphere that seems to pervade the organization. What has this story to do with us today? The profiling is still going on. The legislations are still being proposed that allow for this kind of inspection, prejudice, and loss of our citizen rights. We still see our friends being slaughtered on our roadways without justice being brought to their families. All this and more simply because we choose to be riders of two wheeled motorized transportation rather then the accepted norm of four wheels or more.
Keep the issues in mind and don?t allow the rhetoric that surrounds it to engulf you. If you can?t devote an hour or more a month to this cause, then find a way that you can contribute more then money to the organization that supports your rights. If you have the time to attend a party sponsored by A.B.A.T.E. then you have the time to volunteer for some thankless job that needs to be done in order to make the party run without a hitch. Ask your committee members what you can do in order to help take some of the pressure off them. You may be asked to help with clean up or be a parking attendant but it is something that you can do and still be there to enjoy the event.
You can write letters that encourage others to take up the fight or that will be read by your state representative body about something that is happening at the state or local level regarding your rights. You can help to educate the public about biker safety issues. There are a myriad of things that you can do to improve your standard of biking and all it takes is imagination and creativity. Don?t have those qualities? Then ask your state and local reps what you can do; they will be able to suggest a number of things that will be of assistance to them.
–Marilyn Elmore Bragg
THE SILVER BULLET RETURNS– I spent the whole day today drinkin’ hot coffee and workin’ on “Silver Bullet”. Remember the ol’ girl? I still got it and now that I’m all moved in down here I’ve been doin’ this and that to it. Man, the Rats hole show in ’96! JESUS. Nancy was on Mtv recently. She’s the captain of a ROLLER DERBY team in Austin.
— Tim
The Conderosa
http://www.armageddontopfuel.com
Continued On Page 2
April 8, 2004 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
TEXAS CONNECTION REPORT–Tried to send from home last night but something was amiss. I kept thinking the tank image was blurry but it is the flames that stand out.
Bike Night at Jack’s Backyard in Austin, Texas was the place to be last Thursday. We broke the 600+ bike mark! Some lucky rider got a check for $600 bucks for pulling in at the right time! They announced his name but Hell by then I had found other interests to occupy my time. I believe they started the cash give away at the 400-bike mark, then again at 500. That was last year before the holidays. So it took a while to make this milestone.
It was like a reunion of sorts last week I ran into folks I hadn’t seen in a while. Saw the lovely Crystal and Sportbike Girl. Tye was MIA this evening.
Then there are the “Social Butterflies”, Shelly and Randon. Of course I am sure I just misspelled both their names and will be in trouble. Shelly came up to me several times and asked why I did not use her picture didn’t make the home page last time. I explained that I don’t have the power. I just hate to disappoint a beautiful woman! I was fortunate to share their company off & on throughout the entire evening. They flitter through the crowd being Social Ambassadors and having fun.
It’s tough to find a place to park even when you make an early arrival. I believe I saw representatives from all of the clubs; even the police officers that ride were there with their club members. Everyone was having fun.
So ladies, if you make Bike Night at Jack’s Backyard just look for the suave, debonair gentlemen taking pictures. If you can’t find him, look for me instead. I can usually be found taking photos of cute girls with a double Jack Daniels close at hand.
See Y’all There!
Rigid Frame Richard
MADD?s 24 POINT STRATEGY TO KILL FREEDOM–
1.???? Get people to believe government statistics (not an easy task) by adopting them as our own. Interpret them in our favor.
2.???? Blame alcohol for causing all accidents and deaths no matter what the actual cause, as long as any measurable amount of alcohol is present at the scene.
3.???? Define drunk driver as any passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist and/or driver with an alcohol reading above .00. If two passengers were drinking and the driver was sober, add 2 to the total drunk drivers involved in the accident.
4.???? Add a percentage of sober & ?alcohol unknown? drivers to the total, just for good measure.
5.???? Round all of the phony percentages up: 41% becomes 50%, 16,400 becomes 17,000.
6.???? Stress stories from Mothers with personal tragedies, not our $44 million corporate structure and the Men in charge.
7.???? Refer to accidents as crashes. It sounds more dramatic and implies that they could have all been prevented if drivers did not drink.
8.???? Lobby Congress for money for the NHTSA so they can “grant” more money to us.
9.???? Define the ratio of blood alcohol to breath alcohol as 2100:1 even though the range varies from about 1300:1 to 3500:1
10. Label drunk drivers violent criminals and compare them to murderers and rapists.
11. Begin using the term impaired driver so that even if the driver is not legally drunk, they can still be arrested.
12. Spend over $200 million in 20 years to convince the public that this is a more serious social issue than healthcare, poverty or education.
13. Swap employees with government agencies and research groups who will promote our cause.
14. Solicit money from groups that will benefit from more arrests, like insurance companies.
15. Lump the social drinkers in with the hard-core drunks and threaten them with vague statements like, ?You drink, you drive. You lose.?
16. Support police roadblocks to stop people without probable cause who don?t display any drunk driving characteristics.
17. Convince lawmakers to sentence drunks to mandatory attandance at our Victim Impact Panels and collect over $2 million each year for the effort.
18. ?Pass laws to shred anyone?s drivers license on the spot if they refuse to incriminate themselves by taking the breath test and suspend it for one year even if they are found not guilty of DUI.
19. Pass laws to suspend the drivers license of everyone convicted of DUI, so they can?t earn money to buy alcohol. Impound their car, if we want to.
20. Continue to cite studies that support our cause even if they have been discredited by other studies that we also cite.
21. Continue to push for lower legal alcohol limits so more people qualify for arrest and deny that we are actually for virtual Prohibition.
22. Never show any sympathy or concern for the suicides, ruined careers and failed marriages of thousands of people arrested for DUI?even those who caused no accident, injury or death. After all they are still violent criminals.
23. Never worry about awkward Constitutional issues like probable cause, self-incrimination, right to counsel, cruel & unusual punishment, trial by jury and illegal search.
24. Spoon feed the press distorted and exaggerated information knowing that they?ll never check its veracity.
All information is from MADD, NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) web sites and the American Institute of Philanthropy.
–from Rogue
FRENCH IS BEST– Three men; an Italian, a Spanish and a French go for a job interview in England.
Before the interview, they were told that they must compose a few sentences in English with three main words: green, pink and yellow.
The Italian was first: “I wake up in the morning. I see the yellow sun. I see the green grass and I think to myself, I hope it will be a pink day.”
The Spanish was next: “I wake up in the morning; I eat a yellow banana, a green avocado and in the evening I watch the pink panther on TV.”
Last was the French: “I wake up in ze morning, I hear ze phone “green…green…”, I pink up ze phone and say “Yellow?”
ANNUAL NCOM CONVENTION–“Winds of Change” will be the theme of the 19th annual NCOM Convention, being held May 6-8, 2004 at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City, located at 401 S. Meridian, and hosted by ABATE of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs. For room reservations call (800) 522-6620, and mention NCOM for a special room rate of $64.00 single/double. Convention fees are $75 per person, including the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet, or $40 for Convention only. Pre-registration is recommended.
For further information, call NCOM at (800) 525-5355, or log-on to our website at www.aimncom.com.
If you have any inclination of being more involved in the legislative side of motorcycling attend one of these conferences. You’ll discover a vast knowledge base and the active heart behind our industry. Incredible.–Bandit
PRO-BUILDER RIGID–Check out this slick new build-to-order chassis from PRO-ONE. Designated the PRO-BUILDER RIGID, it incorporates a number of unique design features including the optional single downtube, pointed motor mount and rear axle housings shown here. Designed specifically to accommodate EVO and TC88 engines with strokes up to 4 inches, the PRO-BUILDER can be used with left or right hand drive units, accepts 180/200 and 250 tires and features CNC machined steel tabs and brackets throughout.
Recognizing the importance of personalized machinery, PRO-ONE will provide the frames with backbone stretch, rake and styling changes to meet individual requirements. For complete details call 800-884-4173 or check out the full PRO-ONE line at www.pro-one.com.
THAT’S IT-LET’S RIDE–I hope the sun’s out in your area. It’s gloomy and gray here. Whatta downer. I need some warmth. I’m working on bikes this afternoon, need to warm up the shop.
We’re rockin’ with new gates being installed, new lights for the shop and I may pop for a tubing bender so we can bend pipes. Look out we may finish the Shrunken FXR in the next week.
–Bandit
April 8, 2004 Part 2
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 1
ALL NEW BANDIT RADIOS–I got a new car radio yesterday and it is terrific.If I say “Rock” it plays rock and roll.If I say “Rap” it plays rap.If I say “Love” it plays love songs.
Three kids ran out in front of the car,and I said”Fucking kids!”
And it played Michael Jackson.
–from Rev CarlR
ROCKER DAVIE ALLEN FEATURED ON THE SOPRANOS–This is too cool!This weeks episode of “The Sopranos” (“Sentimental Education”) Sunday night at 9:00 on HBO has a bit of our “The Loud, The Loose And The Savage” (from the “Restless In L.A.” CD) in one of the scenes.
Thanks to Little Steven and “Sundazed” for setting that up!
–Davie Allen
MIRACLE, 300 ON A V-MAX–I have just finished installing the new Avon 300mm tire. As far as I know it is one of the first (maybe only) shaft drive bike with this monster tire on it. It handles like a dream and looks even better!
Yes, it is close, but the rear end travel is not huge so it is not aproblem. Have you seen any other rolling 300’s yet? Your site seems to beon the lead edge of new products being released. With as many bikes as yousee, any suggestions?
–Scott
“Scott Erhardt”
URBAN WARFARE IN BAGHDAD– Feeling unsafe driving a car in occupied Iraq?Then try one of 1,497 Russian 650cc Ural motorcycles on sale now and easily adapted for urban warfare at the local welder for a little extra cost.
The once-feared Saddam Fedayeen militia and the Jerusalem Army paramilitary force ordered the Urals just before the U.S. invasion of Iraq as part of a defensive strategy that relied on high mobility but was scarcely implemented.
By the time they arrived, say officials at the state-owned General Vehicle Company, Saddam had been overthrown and the rugged combination motorcycles with sidecars had to be sold off.
“I reckon we’ll see demand from Sadr city,” said a salesman, referring to a Shi’ite Muslim Baghdad slum area where U.S. troops have fought deadly clashes with Iraqis.
–“Magraw, David”
WIDE-ASS SWINGARM CONVERSIONS–PRO-ONE is now offering a wide selection of WIDE-ASS SWINGARM conversions to meet just about any application. Imported from ZODIAC in Europe these kits are complete from their ultra strong swingarms to the extended shafts, primary spacers, axle assemblies, gaskets, mounting hardware and more.
Shown here, the SUPER WIDE-ASS conversion for ’91-’99 Softail models accepts 230/250mm rubber. Kits are currently available for Softail, Twin Cam Softail and Dyna machines. For complete details call 8090-884-4173 or go to www.pro-one.com
FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEY HIT WITH WEAPONS FINE– DAYTONA BEACH — State Attorney John Tanner has paid a $2,500 fine for trying to board a flight at Daytona Beach International Airport with firearms and ammunition, just days before the second anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, federal officials said Wednesday.<_P>Tanner and his wife, Marsha, were detained briefly Sept. 9, 2003, when inspectors discovered firearms in the couple’s checked baggage and knives and ammunition in Marsha Tanner’s carry-on bag.
Lauren Stover, spokeswoman for the southeastern division of the Miami-based Transportation Security Administration, said Tanner was “the utmost professional about the incident and regretted it happening in the first place.”
But she said the fine — the stiffest in the southeast region since the TSA took over responsibility for airport screeners under the Homeland Security Act after the terrorist attacks — shows how serious the federal government is about safety at the nation’s airports.
–By HENRY FREDERICKLegal Affairs Writer,– News Researcher Karen Duffy contributed to this report.
–from Rogue
BREATHALYZER LAWSUIT– Lisa Bufton recently won a DUI case in Atlanta, Georgia by using gendre bias of the Intoxilator 5000 as her defense. In cooperation with R.I.D.L., Lisa’s attorney is in the process of developing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of breathalyzer equipment for being gendre biased and consistently giving higher readings for women than for men. If you are a woman who has been arrested and/or convicted of a DUI and would like to participate in this class action suit, please send email to: jeanne_pruett@ridl.us
Please include your name, address and phone number. Someone will contact you with further information.
–Rogue
GUN CONTROL LESSON– Whether you agree or not, it’s an interesting lesson in history and something to think about:
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million ‘educated’ people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
SPECIAL UNION SALE–Save $16.00 on a pair of jeans and a denim shirt. We need to sell some of the USA/Union Made denim stock as we move into thespring and warmer months. We are offering a combination deal of 1 pair ofjeans plus 1 denim shirt for a total of $39.95 + S&H. You won’t find aUSA/Union Made group of products of this quality for a better price. Thespecial is good through April 21st. You must order through the Union Jeanand Apparel Co. shopping cart. In May we will be rolling out new USA/Union made products and we will needsome inventory room. We will let you know about the products and price atthat time. Please use this opportunity to try our jeans and a denim shirtsor just get another pair while you can save $16.00.
–Lawson
Union Jean and Apparel Co.
www.unionjeancompany.com
BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–I can?t believe how many people were fooled by last weeks news; even at The Horse back talk there were some guys that swore that the magazine had been sold. Please don’t start false rumors, all that I said last week were jokes made up by me, specially for you and April Fool’s day. So enough of that! Please…..
As you might or might not know our friend Sheriff from Sweden is here in PR paying us a visit. I guess he’s getting an intense overdose of who we are and what we do. It will be as interesting to me as it will be to you to find out what his views on our home will be. I’ll make sure that he does a report after leaving here or even from my own command post in the sunny shores of San Juan.
Yes we are still working on the bikes we have to finish and getting the never-ending story of the fucking shop finished. We also have a plan on showing Sheriff, or “El Sheriff” as we call him here, so he can see as much of the island as possible and maybe even a baseball game or two. It’s raining right now, typical of our Easter week end, but that also means that waves are picking up (cold front from the US) so we might ditch all efforts and head over to the surf spots, yeap, it’s good to have our priorities in order.But let’s hear Sheriff’s brief experience…..
“Arriving 1AM Tuesday morning, after 20 hours of traveling reason for a slow starter. I was picked up at the airport by Jari from Finland who just bought parts from calleschopperdelar.com in Sweden , the Biker world is small. After an afternoon in old city of San Juan I noticed that Puerto Rico is more Spain then USA in some cases. Enuff with the tourist stuff so a call to Jose and soon. I was picked up for a VIP tour of his new huge shop-factory, definite another view of life in the Caribbean. Nice to meet his family again, a couple of years since the yearly rendezvous in Deadwood. Today beach bum for an 8 hour shift with the Latin girls- they are for real and out there in the white sands. Good Friday here means Expos vs Mets might be there baseball fans, Canadians and Swedes in Puerto Rico life in the fast lane. ”
Today is one crazy day. My friends from the tattoo shop were there doing an sculpture for a microphone stand. They were trying to get some work done but since the Holidays start everyone is hanging out at the shop. Since today it’s a long week end for everyone, it was funny that at a certain point there was 15 or more people at the shop and me and sheriff just sat down and talked while watching the mayhem. Like I said above, just another day in the tropics.
One thing I find very interesting and I have tried to get it out there, and I mean here in Bikernet and The Horse, is the multiple places on the World that are united by the motorcycle lifestyle. I find totally interesting that there’s people all over the planet doing what we all love to do, and they all have a certain style that comes with the territory. For example, this year Japan is on my list of to do things and I’m trying to find as much as possible about it. Cool that Sheriff was there 2 years ago and he?s sort of letting me know what to expect and how to get around. On the other side of the coin he’s getting to know our style and what we do (like I said above) and even our friend Jari from Finland , who is here for work has added some more to the “stew”. Sure when we think about choppers the first thing to come to mind is the US, but there’s such a big world out there, one day I really hope to reach everyone and be able to share it with people here.
On the same note, by next week I will have some bikes finally done, so wait for the photos, and now we have a bunch more to start or finish. The big events are starting to roll down on us, as the ice melts in the North, the people come out to play, it promises to be a fun year.
With that I must get the hell out of here, it’s time to get back to work, or maybe take our guest to the local strip joints, priorities once more. What the hell, it’s as good of an excuse as any…..
Later…
Jose Caribbean Bikernet report….
AEROMACH – Flame Mirror on Flame Arm– Radical! The flame mirror measures 2.5? high by 7? long mirror. The new Flame Arm is 3.5? high by 7? long. Both are CNC machined from T6 extruded aluminum and show chromed. Your flame paint theme just went to the next level!
This is one sick design that is sure to set your ride apart!
The Flame Arm is available for Harley, American Customs, Buell and Victory.
Contact:
Aeromach Manufacturing
http:// www.aeromachmfg.com
11423-A Woodside Ave
Santee, CA 92071
800 990 9392
619 258 8443
Continued On Page 3
April 8, 2004 Part 1
By Bandit |
The world’s upside down. Hang on for the next move. We’ve already been surrounded by hazardous waste and midnight police chases. Tomorrow we’re going to shoot the 1928 Shovelhead for an American Iron bike feature and Layla’s Sportster for an American Rider tech. We’re trying to keep up with deadlines while patching drywall and replacing the floursecent shop light.
Let’s hit the news:
VENGEANCE MOTORCYCLES BUILDS MORE MOMENTUM– MIRA LOMA, CA ? Vengeance Motorcycles stole the custom bike spotlight with its powerful presence at Bike Week 2004 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Vengeance models like the award-winning Vindicator and new Black Widow turned heads and attracted new buyers, and Vengeance Xtreme Choppers shook the pavement and drew crowds at every street corner.
From the beach to the speedway, riders were blown away by the incredible styling and wicked V-twin power of the 2004 Vengeance lineup. Beach Street traffic was drawn to the 2004 Vengeance models on display at the colossal new Nemesis transporter.
Riders can see the Nemesis and the Vengeance lineup throughout 2004 at major motorcycle rallies such as the Laughlin (NV) River Run, April 21-25; Myrtle Beach (SC) Bike Week, May 7-16; Laconia (NH) Bike Week, June 11-20; the Sturgis (SD) Rally, Aug 6-13, and more. For a complete list of events as well as product information and Vengeance news, visit www.vengeancemotorcycles.com.
http://www.vengeancemotorcycles.com
PERFORMANCE MACHINE El Dorado and Roulette Wheels–Fresh from an extended stay in his secret underground lair, PM’s in-house designer has once again upped the wheel design ante. First off the drawing board is the multi faceted Roulette. Each of the ten sinuously hexagon styled spokes emerge from the hub and split, creating twenty magnificently curving talons that blend perfectly back into the rim. The PM El Dorado takes a completely different approach and allows the hub to fan out in a shocking display of machined aluminum detail. From there the fourteen spokes writhe towards the rim and are accented by PM’s unique speed dots. Already in production, the El Dorado and Roulette are available through your local PM dealer in both Chrome and polished finish.
For more information, call or write to:
Performance Machine, Inc.
6892 Marlin Circle,
La Palma, CA 90623
714-523-3000
http://www.performancemachine.comPerformance Machine, Inc.6892 Marlin Circle,La Palma, CA 90623714-523-3000http://www.performancemachine.com
No, that’s not a sticker, but the same logo on a ballcap on the lovely Meanest from Charlotte H-D.
FREE BIKERNET STICKERS–Just send us a self-addressed-stamped-envelop and we’ll send you stickers. If you want a massive sticker, make it an 8 by 10 envelope. Send your envelop to Bikernet, 200 N. Broad Avenue, Wilmington, CA 90744.
BIKERNET STEALTH INVESTIGATOR REPORTS–A couple of weekends ago(March 27+28) I set up our spot at the annual Concerned Bikers Association’s swap meet. I always look forward to working at these swap meets. The CBA holds two swap meets each year, one in March and one in November.
One of the things I like best about working at the swap meet, is seeing old friends and sharing old and new stories. The atmoshere is a lot more relaxed there than at work. Most of the people who attend the swap meets are old time riders, not a lot of newbies. They are not afraid to get there hands dirty digging through piles of parts to find what they need. The swap meet is how we all used to build our bikes. Searching for the right part, or finding something unique, something that would really make your bike stand out. It is good to see that some of us still do it that way.
I noticed is that everyone and his brother are building choppers and are opening up “Chopper Shops”. I guess this is due to the Discovery channel and their bike build-off shows and let’s not forget American Chopper and the OCC crew. A lot of them have dream of being the next Jesse James or Billy Lane and maybe one of them will make it? It never hurts to dream. I guess in a way this dillutes building choppers but in another way it is good to see all the interest in choppers and I guess that is good for everyone in the industry. Some of the bikes people are calling choppers are not really choppers, they are kit bikes, but they can believe what they like and in a way this helps the industry too.
A lot of people asked about the 6th Annual Run For Breath “In Memory of Justin Pullin” at the swap meet. The run for the American Lung Association is coming together, but for whatever reason it has been slow going this year, but come July 25th we will be ready. The handmade awards are starting to come in and as soon as I get some of them I will send some pictures in of them. For more information I can be reached and Charlotte H-D for vendor or bikeshow sign-ups. This is the only show on the planet to award trophies made by professional bike builders from around the country. Each award is one of a kind.
I guess that is about it for this week, the weather is getting better and the temps are warmer and bikes are on the road! Hallelujah!
Later!
Mike (THE STEALTH)
NEW BIKE SITE– We’ve gotten a lot a feedback lately in response to our E-mails and manycompanies want to know what Cyclestar.com is all about. Cyclestar is a website designed to provide a variety of information to the motorcyclecommunity including parts & accessories, news providers, magazines,dealerships, individual classified listings, event schedules, ticket info,manufactures, etc. We do not specialize in E-commerce, the actual sale ofproducts, but rather we would like to make your companies information andimages of the various products you sell readily available to enthusiasts. Weunderstand there is always a need to promote your new items to themarketplace as well. check us out on the webat www.Cyclestar.com
–Steve Wheat
www.Cyclestar.com
NEW CARTOONS ON BIKERNET–winning cartoonist Jerry King is one of the most published, prolific and versatile cartoonists in the world today.
His work has appeared in thousands of greeting cards, magazines, Web sites, books, newspapers, newsletters and children’s books. His client list includes Disney, American Greetings, The United States Golf Assoc., and many others.
Jerry’s magazine credits include Better Homes and Gardens, Golf Digest, Playboy, The Saturday Evening Post, National Enquirer, Woman’s World and hundreds of others world wide. The credit list goes on and we’re looking forward to working with him. After serving three years in the army as a medic, Jerry, 38, went on to graduate from The Ohio State University with a BA in English. He now resides in N. Canton, Ohio with his wife Annie and daughter Giana and 2 dogs, Baci and Bella. When he’s not at the drawing board, Jerry is probably on a golf course losing.
Jerry’s cartoons are available for Web sites, magazines, presentations, newsletters or as gifts. Contact him if you would like to discuss buying his work and prices. No company is too small: jerrykcartoons@nci2000.net
THE SEARCH FOR HIGHWAYMAN’S MYSTERY SLED–I wanted to reply to Hiwayman’s Mystery Bike in Your Shot:
Don’t know about the Shovel you’re talking about in Your Shot, but it mademe think of this bike I saw at DelMar, Va bike week in Ocean City, MD, lastfall. Talk about minimalist…this bike scared the women and children offthe streets. There’s nothing there that doesn’t help make it go fast.Hell, it doesn’t even have paint except for the forks and rims – everythingelse is spray on truck bed liner. I hope the owner doesn’t mind me sharingthe picture, but his bike was a real standout in a sea of “new age” choppersthat all start to look alike after a while.
Garry,
Huntsville, AL
HERES THE MYSTERY SLED. BEST BIKES SPECIAL ISSUE #1. AM I SO OLD OR IS EVERYONE SO YOUNG ?–S&C
Thanks much.
This bike was owned by ER staff photog Sandy Roca.–Frank Kaisler
Continued On Page 2
April 1, 2004 part 1
By Bandit |
We’re early since I’m riding with the American Rider crew to Arizona Bike Week today. Watch this magazine as it transforms into a solid book about American Riders and their efforts to have a blast or rock the world.
I’m fuckin’ confused. Bikernet is growing like crazy and the daily deadlines are getting to me. The move busted my ass and the women around here are about to drive me off my highbars. I fell behind on mag deadlines and the new phone lines were ringing off the hook, when Mark Lonsdale called. He’s in Afghan hunting Bin Laden. He ordered me to fly to Afghanistan so that I could help in the search. My first thought was, he?s outta his fuckin? mind. But he reminded me of how he made it possible for me to go to base camp of Mount Everest, one of the highlights of my life. And how he saved me from drowning while we were kayaking in the Bermuda Triangle. I was beholding, so after I return from Arizona, I?m off the Middle East. I better get to the news?
BLONDE AUTO REPAIR– A blonde pushes her car into a gas station. She tells the mechanic it died. After he works on it for a few minutes, it is idling smoothly.
She says, “What’s the story?”
He replies, “Just crap in the carburetor.”
She asks, “How often do I have to do that?”
–from Chris T.
IRISH RICH ON FAB KEVIN– I thought I’d send you some pics of the adapter brackets Fabricator Kevin http:// www.fabkevin.com made for my new TC88 A engine-powered CFL I’m building.
The front one is for a Gixx’r 6 piston Tokico, to mate with the FLT lower sliders. The second is for a rt/ft VFR 4 piston Nissin, to tuck in between the rear frame rails, to mate with the softail-style brake mount. Very kool work.
I’ll send more pictures of the build as it goes along, but not too many. There’s going to be a lot of one-off stuff on this bike.
As Always, Irish Rich
Visit our website:http:// www.shamrockfabrication.com
STEALTH DAYTONA EPIC–I pulled into Daytona Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. I met my brother Gary at where we were staying and got checked in. It was his first trip to Daytona bike week. Before delving into my assignment handed down by the big guy, Bandit, I would like to touch on a few highlights of the week. I hope you don’t mind me taking the liberty.
Tuesday night we headed to Main Street, and the first thing I did was look up my cousin, Jose. We talked for awhile and discussed the awards for the 6th Annual Run For Breath “In Memory of Justin Pullin.” Jose talked about doing something with leather for the awards. They should be interesting. Jose introduced me to Fabricator Kevin. Kevin is one of those people who after talking to him for ten minutes, I felt I had known for a long time. Kevin asked me if I was the guy who put on the Run for Breath. I told him I was the one and he volunteered to make a couple of awards for the bike show and to deliver them at this year’s Smoke-Out. Thanks Kevin and thanks for the deal on the necklace for “THE MEANEST!” In keeping with her nickname, it’s a small replica of a set of brass knuckles! It matches the set she keeps in her boot!
Kevin is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and as far as being a biker, he is the real deal! Across from Jose and Kevin was Indian Larry and his crew. Indian Larry is an old school guy and I really get into his bikes. He is very friendly to the public with autographs and such. In contrast to this right around the corner OCC had their booth set up with a big sign plastered on the front that read “NO AUTOGRAPHS!” I guess they are too big for the everyday people who watch their Discovery show!
Now onto my assignment, which was to cover the Harley-Davidson events and the H-D side of Daytona. Harley held it’s ride-in bike show at the Ocean Center on Wednesday. My brother Gary and I showed up there that morning. H-D of Charlotte had an entry in the show, an ’04 Deuce. I went to the show just to see how the bike would fare, since it was the first bike I had a hand in doing since the appointment of my new job as design consultant. While we were there my arm was twisted to enter my bike, a 1991 high bar springer softail, better known as Skeletor. I entered the bike since I was going to be there most of the day covering what was going on inside and outside of the Ocean Center. H-D uses this show to highlight their parts and accessories. They even give away $500 in each class for the best use of their P&A product. All the entry fees for the bike show go to MDA.
Once inside the Ocean Center, all of the new product offerings from the Motor Company were on display. There was a V-Rod on display built by Wyatt Fuller that was very futuristic, whether you are a V-Rod fan or not. Judging from the bike show entries V-Rods are catching on. The big deal is H-D’s six speed trannys. You can buy the complete assembly or you can buy the gear sets for your case. The paint sets from the H-D color shop keep getting better also, incorporating more flames and skulls. Yeah I know it took them awhile but they finally caught onto the skull thing! The H-D traveling museum was on hand as well and had some great bikes inside like a ’47 Knuckle with 8 miles showing on the speedo! Also on display was the Sreamin’ Eagle and Vance & Hines V-rod drag bike. It is an awesome looking machine.
Now back to the bike show. It was time for the awards to be handed out and the H-D of Charlotte Deuce took runner up in it’s class and the “Best Use of Genuine P&A Product” and even old Skeletor got into the act with a Honorable Mention award! This turned out to be a great day for us at H-D of Charlotte. Harley-Davidson put on a great show and it was highlighted by none other than Willie G. and his son Bill presenting the awards.
Wednesday night I sat on my bike down on Main Street and felt a tap on my back and turned and there was a tv camera crew wanting to ask me a few questions and I obliged them since I have never been camera shy!
Thursday morning rolled around and we headed out to the Last Resort Bar and Grill. I had heard stories of the Johnny Law handing out tickets for high bars. As we pulled past the Last Resort, the blue lights came on behind me. The cop said my bars were too high and began to write my ticket for $44. As long as you stayed in the Daytona city limits you were fine, but venture out on Route 1 to the Last Resort or to Iron Horse and the Port Orange and the Ormond Beach boys were waiting for you. I talked to a couple of guys with Florida plates with high bars and asked them about the law and they said “The only time we have a problem is during Daytona Bike Week, the rest of the year they leave us alone.” So I guess the police look at it this way, “You gotta make hay when the sun shines” and in this case the hay was real green!
Saturday morning rolled around and my brother Gary and I took one last ride down to Main Street, and across Beach Street and headed back and began packing for the trip home. We headed back that afternoon. The weather was beautiful all week, temps between 75 and 80 degrees and nothing but sunshine, no rain at all! I had a great time even with the ticket. I am already planning next year’s trip to Bike Week!
It’s time to ride!
–Mike (THE STEALTH)
SCREAMIN’ BLUE MESSIAH–Hey Keith, don’t know if you remember me, we worked together at E.R. coupla yrs back,just finishing up the rebuild on my ’86 FXR. Thought I’d send you a few pics. That’s blue powdercoat with a silver metal flake basecoat. this thing glows in the sunlight!
Engine Specs: 80c.i. 1340 cc 100+ H.P. 98+ lbs torque
Engine built by the late Bruce Malm, Head Mechanic at
Victorville Harley-Davidson in Victorville California
Screamin Eagle Dominator kit: Supplied by Easyriders Magazine and Paisano Publications, Thanks to OZ and Bandit
H-D Dominator Heads
10MM plug wires
Roller Rockers and High performance springs ect.
Screamin Eagle 57 Cam kit
10.5.1 Alum. Pistons
Screamin eagle selectable curve race ignition module
H-D High performance quick install adjustable pushrods
Transmission is stock 5 speed H-D with a Hayden M6 primary chain adjuster
Jagg oil cooler
H-D Triple trees
H-D .35 mm front forks
17 by 9″ Billit Alum. rear wheel
Avon 190 rear tire, font tire
Front wheel is stock H.D. 19″
Performance Machine sprocket and rear brake rotor
Frame and wheels are blue candy coat powder with silver metal flake base coat,
Custom mixed and sprayed by Oscar Jordan at Advanced
Powercoating of Baton Rouge, Louisiana 225-273-9797
Brakes are stock H-D with black powercoat finish
Rear swingarm is made in Holland by JMC, From The WEERD Bros. from Pheonix Arizona
Rear shocks are by Progressive Suspinsion
Chromed rear fender is from some old horse trailer
Seat (was) a Lepera re-built by Weasel Thad and Weasel Ritchie Terabeli
Gas tank is stock H-D with modifications by Weasel Thad
Exhaust is an LSR by RB Racing (This pipe added 11 HP! at the rear wheel)
Dynoed by Rob at Canyon Cycle in Agoura Hills CA
–Weasel Thad Cranford
fxr1963@netzero.com
CARLISLE SUMMER BIKER FEST–This year’s Carlisle Summer Bike Fest features famous customizers includingthe Teutuls from Discovery Channel’s “American Chopper.” There will also bejudged bike competitions, test rides, hundreds of vendors selling all sortsof accessories and apparel, and much more.
MADE IN… Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6:00 a.m. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking. He shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA), he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.
At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in…..AMERICA…..
–from Bob T.
DAVID MANN BENEFIT RUN–We have written several articles about renown motorcycle artist, Dave Mann since Wide Open began. From his life story to what it is like to inspire one of his paintings. Other magazines have also covered Dave and his colorful life over the years.
Dave doesn’t live in a big house on the hill. He and his wife, Jacquie, moved back to Kansas City a few years ago to enjoy a slower and easier life. Unfortunately medical issues have been a major cause of slowing down Dave. Staggering medical bills and a mortgage have put a damper on his golden years. Now it is time to take things a step further. It’s time to help Dave live his golden years with ease.
Who better to lead this effort than the one and only Ralph Roades, publisher of Wide Open and the many friends of Dave Mann?
“Dave has been a friend of mine for many years. I consider him the Godfather of the motorcycle lifestyle. It was time to try to give back to him for everything he has given us,” Ralph says.
So Ralph began planning the July 17th benefit for Dave Mann at the Kansas City International Raceway. Basically Ralph picked up a paint brush and began “whitewashing the fence” like the Mark Twain story.
At this time the entertainment for the David Mann benefit will be Bad Company former lead singer Brian Howe and his band, a KISS tribute band, a ZZ Top tribute band, Bob Harvey, Rukus, Levee Town, Blue 88, Sugar Bush and Nervous Rex. They will be playing all of your favorites. Ralph has also booked the King Harley Race and World League Wrestling, fireworks, field events, bikini contest and plenty of food and drink. The bike show will be judged by all out of town judges. So there will be no local influences in the judge’s decisions. It will be strictly on the quality of the bike.
There will also be some great stunt riding from Midwest Stunters. This talented group includes Jeff Schneider from Motorcycle Works in Olathe, Kansas. They really know how to ride!
If you can’t make the event on July 17th but still want to contribute to Dave, you can send a $50 or more donation and you will receive an official Dave Mann benefit shirt. Whatever you can send will be appreciated by Dave and Jacquie Mann. Checks should be made payable to Dave Mann and sent to Rt 1, Box 328A, Edwards, Missouri 65326.
So if you are an old friend of Dave’s, a new rider who loves his work or just someone who wants to help out a good cause come out on July 17th for the fun and party. This is a monumental day for Wide Open and Dave Mann. Don’t miss the excitement! For more information visit http://www.wideopencycle.com.
BIKERNET PARENTAL ADVICE–A three year old boy in his bath examined his testicles andasked, “Mommy, are these my brains?”
Mom answered, “Not yet, honey.”
–from Bob T.
BIKERNET LOVERS ADVICE– A cop was patrolling late one night in a well-known spot called, “Lovers’ Lane.” He sees a couple in a car, with the interior light brightly glowing.
The cop carefully approaches the car to get a closer look. Then he sees a young man behind the wheel, reading a computer magazine. He immediately notices a young woman in the rear seat, knitting.
Puzzled by this surprising situation, the cop walks to the car and gently raps on the driver’s window.
The young man lowers his window … Uh, yes, officer?
What are you doing?
Well, isn’t it obvious? I’m reading a magazine, sir …”
Pointing towards the young woman in the back seat, the cop says: “And her, what is she doing?”
The young man shrugs: “Sir, I believe she’s knitting a pullover sweater.”
Now, the cop is totally confused. A young couple. alone, in a car, at night … in a lovers’ lane . and nothing obscene is happening!
“What’s your age, young man?”
“I’m 25, sir…”
“And her … what’s her age?”
The young man looks at his watch and replies: “She’ll be 18 in 20 minutes
–from Dave Florence
LA CALENDAR BIKE SHOW–FastDates.com and Performance Machine present the 2004Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show Weekend July 17-18th 2004Iron Works Charity Ride, Jardine Performance West Coast Dyno Shootout,America’s Top Builders, Live Blues and Rock Concert Festivals, Purrfect Angelz and Las Vegas Extremes featured There’s an incredible lineup of activities including the Jardine Performance West Coast Horsepower Dyno Shootout – now an exclusive permanent feature attraction at the Show, new bike demo rides from select motorcycle manufacturers, and complimentary admission to the Queen Mary historic ocean liner (Normally a separate $26 charge to tourists, Queen Mary admission is included free to Bike Show spectators with their low $20 admission to the Bike Show). The LA Calendar Motorcycle Show again supports an important charity, the Iron Works magazine Readers Ride to benefit Olive Crest Children’s Shelters (the biggest shelter for orphans, abused children and families in Southern California), as its ride-to destination. Saturday morning the 17th riders will start at the Olive Crest Children’s Home in Santa Ana, CA, from where they will then ride to the Calendar Bike Show in Long Beach, just 25 miles away and receive VIP parking, a complimentary lunch and weekend admission for their charity donation.
Each year’s Show features exciting live on-stage entertainment. This year will there will be different musical themes each day. Saturday the 17th will feature an all day Mini Blues Festival headlined by 2000 lbs of Blues, one of Los Angeles’ most popular blues bands, together with a number of special guests. On Sunday the 18th the Show will shift to a Classic Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival with the hugely popular Unauthorized Rolling Stones out of San Francisco, together with the Janis Joplin style rock/blues vocals of the beautiful Boudeeka. Also featured both days will be the beautiful Purrfect Angelz with their sigglin’ on-stage performances both days, and the Las Vegas Extremes sportbike stunt riding team of heart throb Pauly Sherer and sexy Jolleen “JoJo” Farmer with their wild tire smookin’ antics
Spectators and Exhibitors can find out more about The LA Calendar Motorcycle Show, the Bike Contest and all the available weekend activities online athttp:// www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM .
TIM CONDOR TOOL BIKE FOR SALE–Okay, Walter is selling Conder’s Monster Garage “TOOL BIKE” on Ebay to finance another project. He’s put roughly 2000 miles on it and it’s been shown all over the northwest. It’s a brand new bike and is listed under “Custom built motorcycles.” So back ol’ Walter up, ’cause Tim’s gonna build him some crazy assed 100-inch flathead with no brakes…….
Walter (360) 531-2207, Conder (206) 356-0891
The Conderosa
http://www.armageddontopfuel.com
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2470739113
BIKERNET SPONSOR ROADHOUSE SHOWS–Check http:// www.hrroadhouse.com . The tour dates are included on the site except Myrtle Beach has changed to May 12 – 16 located as noted but reference it as “just south of MB Harley-Davidson”.
Our goal is to build the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse up as an exciting platform for the builders & sponsors, one of the “must-stops” at the rallies because I promise it WILL be one of the coolest locales with it’s design, the Hard Rock gals, the Hard Rock twins, entertainment, Hard Rock bar, etc. Also and above all is the chance for anyone to WIN one of the Hard Rock bikes! Drawing will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino during the Fort Lauderdale Sun Run – Dec 2-5.
Happy to have you on board! Feel free to share any ideas as we hope to make this a win-win-win for everyone involved!!
–Carrie
THE POWER OF THE HUMAN MIND–The pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch codnutcedat Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrodare tpyed, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be inthe rghit oedrer. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed itwouthit porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter byistlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh?
–from Gene Koch
Drag Specialties
FLEEING FELONY BILL–Ten years have passed since a man fleeing police hit Gayle Bouie’s car and killed her young daughter.
Alicyn Bouie would have been 22 this year. She might have been finishing college. Maybe she’d be married. The thought of what might have been still haunts Gayle and her husband, Al, a former principal at DeLand High School.
The House on Monday unanimously passed the bill (HB 295), which would make fleeing and eluding a felony charge instead of a misdemeanor and carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years if another person dies or is injured. It would also allow police to confiscate drivers’ vehicles and suspend their licenses for one to five years — up from the current one year.
A similar Senate bill (SB 1322), sponsored by Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, is still being heard in committees.
By DEBORAH CIRCELLIStaff Writer
This bill covers one side of the story, although I do feel sympathy for the family’s who lost people. The bill Fails To Address why Police Departments around Florida Do Not Pursue or call off chases of speeding vehicles unless it is for a Serious Felony.
Often more Innocent People are Injured or Killed by The Chase. Also the amount of wrecked cop cars and personal property damage is astronomical proportions. The question is: was the chase justified? Many Police Officers LIKE High Speed Chases.
The fact that Police will confiscate vehicles is scary. Exactly what would constitute Fleeing and Eluding? Could it include not pulling over immediately, since you were looking for a safe place to park?
The Bill should include a section ON UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES A POLICE AGENCY COULD INSTITUTE A CHASE and when they should resort to other methods or call it off.
— Rogue
Continued On Page 2
April 1, 2004 part 2
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 1
RARE JOCKEY SHIFT–Getting closer to finishing up my Shifter. Join the Cantina for the rarest biker memorabilia we can find. Check the Digital Discovery area.
Bob T.
HEY BANDIT,– just letting you know legendary bike builder and ahrma racer Steve Coe has gone public with his extensive collection. We have been featured at Daytona USA, iron horse saloon, no name saloon, etc…Check us out at
BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–One more month goes by and we are still here doing the news. Good things do happen, I just got a call from some TV producer to do a series called Caribbean Chopper, the only shitty part is that I’m going to have to watch all the Chopper TV shows some of you guy?s love so much. I really don’t know if I can withstand such torture. Don’t worry guys, I won?t charge for my autographs; they will be free with the purchase of one of my chops, or the bringing of a chick (good looking and with all her teeth, of course).
This week it’s full of news, it’s amazing the amount of e-mails and gossip we get thought the e-mails. Some weeks I get none, some weeks so much shit that it could last for months.So I guess without further ado and not getting into my rants about who liked, who understood or who hated my Daytona report, which I really don’t give a fucking donkey dick about… let’s get to the juicy stuff.
There’s some stories going around that the Las Vegas Bike fest has set up a new gimmick, it’s called Artistry in Iron and only 25 of the top builders in the nation will be able to participate, and bring their custom chops to the event. I will leak the list as soon as I get more news about it; I really believe this will be fun.
Talking to Billy lane the other day, he was so fucking busy with bikes and such that he was vowing to get the fuck out of Melbourne. For those of you who don’t read gossip papers (like I) seems like Enquirer found out Billy and his new squeeze (none other than Paris Hilton !!!!!) hanging out in the Hawaiian sun. Sure I knew about it, but since it’s coming out I might as well beat those suckers to the punch. They are also talking of Billy’s desires to be in Porn, so I guess that with Pari’s experience it will be a logical step… We all know the hubless 2 was called Money Shot for something. Lets call it wishful thinking.
To those of you who think I am always bashing on the OCC guys, let me tell you, it’s not true. I happened to catch one of the shows the other day, I mean, I don’t watch because I don’t have much time left after my day is done, but lucky for me, I got to catch an episode and they were putting together a Holidays theme bike. It?s amazing what you can do with some metal and the proper machinery, needless to say, the candy cane sliders tripped the shit out of me. I don’t even remember if they were fighting or not, since I was mesmerized with all the intricate work and what not. To sum it up it was awesome. Go get them guys !!!!! Can’t wait for the Easter one!!!
Since I’m on a roll with TV people, I don’t want to sound like I’m full of myself, but I happen to know many of those guys. They tell me a lot of stuff that I don’t share with anyone, (I guess that’s why they tell me). Some people might call them ” secrets” but since it’s two am and I just got home and am pissed of, just trying to finish a couple fucking bikes, I’m fucking opening the Pandoras box…I might have a few less friends after this week, but what the fuck, they might understand!
And now the one everyone loves to talk about….Yeap if you guessed Jesse James, give the man a fucking smelly, cuban cigar…… Grapevine has it that Jesse is retiring from building bikes and Monster garage, he is going to pursue an acting career, he has been auditioning for Broadway musicals and such, there’s also reports that he wants to raise Llamas near Wyoming. I guess he just wants to stop eating sparks and having as much fun as he does building all those cool cars and bikes. The reports claim that Bling Bling, Chopper Dave, Rockabilly Jay and Foamsucker Hodge are trying to raise enough dough to buy Jesse out. Don’t forget that you heard it here first.
The Horse, our favorite magazine has been sold to the Easyriders media moguls. It was an expected move, since the mag has grown so much in the past year, even to the feat of arriving at Wal Marts newsstands. More good news is that the miracle of me on the cover will take place in the first issue after the buy out; to say the least, that will be amazing, (nope not the buy out) but me on the cover!!! They are looking for an editor and I’ve heard many names, but I guess I’ll save them for next week. One hint, the editor they want used to work for Easyriders, but he?s holding out for a six-digit salary and will probably get it.
I know I never do any news about the Company…but today is a new day, I did something about OCC , so I must do something about Harley. In the industry news report they were talking about bringing back the Knuckle, Pan and Shovel motors. I find this the best news ever, you will be able to buy an exact repro of those motors for your Chop. They are also promising an affordable price for them. I guess they have noticed that the crate Evo’s are going like hotcakes, so they want to jump in the bandwagon…. I guess I said this before, but I can’t fucking wait.
On a sadder note Indian Larry is finally retiring from motorcycling, after the hit shows in Discovery he has racked enough dough and recognition to escape to Tibet and become a monk. I guess he?s searching for spiritual enlightenment, peace and to be able to piss without people snapping shots. Larry will be missed by many, but if it’s for the betterment of a friend, I’m all for it. Unless you happen to visit Nepal with Richard Gere, I guess we won’t be able to see him at all.
Anyway, I gotta go. For those of you always wondering when would I finally get a new girlfriend, let me tell you, I already did. I’m writing this April Fool’s news in her pad in Hollywood, just a few miles away from the Bikernet Headquarters. I promised Alyssa Lovelace that I would take her to dinner the 1st of April, you know, April Fools day, which is her birthday. Fuck !!! That is TODAY !!!!!
So Happy APRIL FOOLS DAY you SUCKERS !!!!!!!!If you believed the words above, I got a bridge to sell.
Jose Caribbean Bikernet Report on April Fools Day…
BUY AMERICAN MENTION OF THE WEEK, 3-29-04–Welcome to Roger Simmermaker’s Buy American Mention of the Week E-zine, created specifically for consumer patriots who want to Buy American and contribute to a more prosperous America. Please feel free to forward this to friends, family and associates. Thank you for your free subscription and for passing this important information along! For past issues, please visit our website at http:// www.howtobuyamerican.com .
American-Made Apparel in So Many Ways; Costco vs. Wal-Mart
There?s no reason to buy imported apparel if you know where to look. Over the last few months, I have written several ?Buy American Mention of the Week? articles on just how easy ? and affordable ? it is to buy apparel made in the USA. My belief that everything you wear every day can be (and should be) made in the USA continues to be reinforced as I continue to become aware of more patriotic apparel-makers that pride themselves in their American workforce.
From dress shirts and everyday apparel to bikinis and pajamas, all can be found made in the USA. As layoffs and Chinese imports increase simultaneously, we can help replace these jobs by directing our dollars to American manufacturers, forcing them to expand their production and hire more Americans. I?m sure that neither the American companies nor their newly-hired employees would complain.
I had the pleasure of meeting the owner for A.N.H. Distributors last month, and I have just received my first order from their King Cotton Collection. You can see their collection at http:// www.anhdistributors.com . Every item they offer is made in their Miami factory.
Looking for American-made dress shirts? Try www.mortonshirts.com or check out the new pinpoint oxford dress shirt from http:// www.quantumcotton.com . Quantum?s new white dress shirt is simply the softest and most comfortable dress shirt I have ever worn.
If you?re looking to get into the swing of spring, try http:// www.venusswimwear.com . Venus Swimwear is based in Jacksonville, Florida and is America?s largest maker of swimwear. Let?s help keep them on top since every piece of swimwear they offer is stitched right here in the USA. Venus does offer other clothing and accessories that may not be American made, so if you search their catalog for items other than swimwear, keep this in mind.
Looking for American-made pajamas? Try Pajama Mama?s website at http:// www.pjmama.com where you?ll see several styles and colors ? all made in the USA.
Of course we can?t always order everything over the internet or via telephone. When you?re not searching for American-made apparel and find yourself looking for a big name retailer that has everything, you might try Costco instead of Wal-Mart. I haven?t seen any data on the percentage of goods made in America from Costco vs. Wal-Mart, even though Wal-Mart is America?s biggest importer of Chinese goods, but there are other reasons Costco might be more deserving of our dollars.
Costco has a reputation in the retail industry for providing the best benefits for their employees, and their wages are much better than Wal-Mart?s as well. Cashiers start out at $10.50 an hour, top out at $17.50 an hour, and can make $40,000 a year in less than four years working full-time.
Wal-Mart, which refuses to release information on their wage rates, claiming they vary depending on the location, starts their Las Vegas cashiers at $7.65 an hour and tops them out at $11.45 an hour. It?s amazing that Wal-Mart?s top pay for cashiers is less than 10% higher than Costco?s starting pay.
Costco?s employee turnover rate is more than half of Wal-Mart?s, and the company has successfully resisted passing on rising health care costs to their employees seven of the last eight years.
As you might guess, Costco has taken some heat from the Wall Street elite for being too generous to their employees and not focusing on shareholder returns instead. That should be a clue to ordinary Americans that Costco is doing something right. Could it be that 82% of Costco?s employees are covered (able to afford) company-provided health insurance? Could it be that Costco covers 92% of health care premiums for their workers vs. 66.6% for Wal-Mart? The answer is probably ?yes? to both questions.
The more health care premiums are covered by successful American companies employing Americans, the less the federal government will be obligated to cover through higher taxes on all of us as pressures mount to find a solution to the health-care crisis. The best solution is obviously not one that shifts the burden to working Americans.
So when you?re looking for American-made apparel of any kind, try one of the company websites featured in this article, or one of the many others featured on the links page at http:// www.howtobuyamerican.com . But for general retail, consider Costco instead of Wal-Mart, where you?re likely to find happier employees for a happier shopping experience.
Roger Simmermaker, Author
How Americans Can Buy American
http:// www.howtobuyamerican.com
Submitted by Nick Roberts
VICTORY TO CELEBRATE POLARIS 50th ANNIVERSAY WITH JUMP OVER SNAKE RIVER CANYON–
GM Mark Blackwell to Jump Victory Vegas Over Legendary Canyon
MEDINA, MN, April 1, 2004 ? Victory Motorcycles is going to new heights to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its parent company, Polaris Industries, by having the bike division?s General Manager, Mark Blackwell, jump the Snake River Canyon on a Victory Vegas.
Blackwell will make the jump on July 24, 2004, and it will be televised live to the crowd attending the Polaris 50th Anniversary Celebration in St. Paul, Minnesota.
This is the same canyon that motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to clear in the X-1 Skycycle on September 8, 1974. Knievel did not clear the 1,580-foot canyon but he landed safely as a parachute slowed his vehicle?s descent.
?This Victory jump will be doubly memorable because it celebrates the Polaris 50th as well as the 30th anniversary of Evel?s attempt,? said Blackwell. ?We?re doing it to pay tribute to Polaris and entertain the company employees, dealers and customers as they celebrate back in Minnesota,?
While Knievel was inside a rocket-like vehicle with two wheels, Blackwell will be on a nearly stock Vegas.
?We?ve removed a few parts to reduce the bike?s weight, and I?m using hard-compound tires, but that?s about it,? said Blackwell, who won the AMA?s first 500cc motocross national championship in 1972 and was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2000.Knievel launched the Skycycle off a steep 300-foot ramp and had hoped to land about 400 feet beyond the far edge of the canyon, making his goal a leap ? or, more accurately, a ?flight? ? of about 1,980 feet.
?I?ve cleared 2,000 easily on practice jumps, and I even overshot the landing ramp a time or two when I built up too much approach speed,? Blackwell said. ?The key to a smooth jump is throttle restraint on the run-up ramp. The ponies in our Freedom? V-twin like to run, but I?ve got to make sure I don?t exceed my target speed. Once I?m airborne, I’ll just sit back and enjoy the ride.?Victory and a national broadcast network are currently discussing the possibility of airing the jump live. Details such as the broadcast time and network will be announced once plans are finalized.
?It will be great viewing for motorsports enthusiasts at home, and for me, it?s a great riding opportunity,? Blackwell said. ?When the idea was first suggested, I said ?I love it. I hope you?re not fooling!??
About PolarisInformation about the complete line of Polaris products is available from authorized Polaris dealers or from the Polaris homepage athttp://www. polarisindustries.com.
2004 marks the 50th Anniversary of Polaris Industries. Celebrations will be held in Roseau, Minnesota, birthplace of Polaris, on June 18-19, 2004 and a worldwide celebration will take place in St. Paul at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on July 24, 2004. Visit http://www. polarisindustries.com or call 1-800-POLARIS for more information. Happy April Fools!!
THAT’S THE NEWS– Bandit’s bailed on you, headed for Arizona on a Victory Kingpin. The plan was to leave Wilmington by 10:00 am, but the morning was cold and the bed was warm, so we snuggled a bit too long. He rolled out around 11:00.
Next week will be interesting here in the new digs. We decided on who will replace the windows, the rolling gate and who will fix the roll up door. Fucking undependable bastards out there. Three weeks we’ve been in this place and trying to find reputable companies is difficult, or just someone who’ll call back. I do have to thank our friends though. Jim Murillo, Buster, Chris Chrome, Nuttboy, Kraig, Kyle and Crazy John. Without them, we’d be sitting on boxes at the curb, still in San Pedro.
Have a great weekend, and don’t be fooled!
Happy April Fools Day.
Layla
March 25, 2004 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
No Christmas.
No television.
No cheerleaders.
No baseball.
No football.
No basketball.
No hockey.
No golf.
No tailgate parties.
No Walmart.
No Home Depot.
No pork BBQ.
No hot dogs.
No burgers.
No chocolate chip cookies.
No lobster.
No shellfish or even frozen fish sticks.
No gumbo.
No jambalaya.
Rags for clothes and towels for hats.
Constant wailing from the guy next door becausehe’s sick and there are no doctors.
Constant wailing from the guy in the tower.
More than one wife.
Men can’t shave.
Their wives can’t shave.
Men can’t shower to wash off the smell of donkeycooked over burning camel dung.
The women have to wear baggy dresses and veilsat all times.
A man’s wife smells just like his donkey, but thedonkey has a better disposition.
Then they tell him that when he dies it all gets better!
I mean, really, what’s the mystery here?
–from S&C
WISCONSIN’S HELMET REMEDY– Wisconsin has been working on a remedy to a State Supreme Court ruling that adversely impacted injured motorcyclists. Insurance companies could enter non-use of a helmet as a defense in an injury case, according to the high court. Legislation was authored to nullify that decision, and passed both the Assembly and Senate in Wisconsin.
Attorney Michael F. Hupy was asked by ABATE of Wisconsin, the sponsor of the legislation, to assist in drafting the language of the bill and lobbying to urge passage. Recently, at a bill signing ceremony, Attorney Hupy and members of ABATE of Wisconsin witnessed the fruits of their labors.
The pictures include Gov. James Doyle acknowledging Attorney Michael F. Hupy while signing the bill, and a group of ABATE officers and members who gathered outside the conference room after the signing to pose for a group picture.
A year and a half ago, Attorney Michael F. Hupy read a Wisconsin Supreme Court case he did not agree with. Instead of following the dictates of the Court, he did something very unusual. He decided to go to Madison and overrule the Supreme Court’s decision.
Hupy, along with members of ABATE of Wisconsin, Tony Sanfelipo, founder of ABATE of Wisconsin, and Attorney Joseph Weigel helped write a bill that would prevent insurance companies from reducing damages for injured bikers when there is a claim that a helmet would have lessened the injuries.
The bill was introduced by Wisconsin State Senator David Zien, who has been an avid rider for many years. Hupy and Sanfelipo testified for the bill in Zien’s Senate Committee hearing, and later testified at a hearing before the Wisconsin Assembly. Both Hupy and Sanfelipo, as well as members of ABATE of Wisconsin and others lobbied for passage of the bill in the legislature.
After the Assembly passed the bill on March 2, 2004, Hupy contacted the Governor and urged him to sign the bill into law. The Governor’s response was to invite Hupy to the signing in his office on March 15, 2004. Governor Jim Doyle publicly thanked Attorney Hupy for the work that he had done to get the bill to his desk and presented him with a pen used to sign the bill.
Failure to make this change in Wisconsin law would have had a devastating affect on injured bikers. In an accident that was 100% the other driver’s fault, a motorcyclist with a serious head injury could end up losing all of a multi-million-dollar verdict and walk away with nothing if the insurance company could successfully argue to a jury that wearing a helmet would have prevented all of the head injury. Hupy and Sanfelipo saw this as an attempt to judicially mandate a helmet law in Wisconsin despite the fact that the legislature repealed Wisconsin’s helmet law twenty-five years
BUSH 2004 CAMPAIGN BUMPBER STICKERS:
Bush/Cheney ’04: Four More Wars
Bush/Cheney ’04: Making the world a better place, one country at a time.
–from Nuttboy
THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE INDUCTEES FOR 2004:
John Paul DeJoria
The Early Family
Harry’s Motors
Jerry Hatfield
David Mann
Bruce Rossmeyer
Perry Sands
Dal Smilie
Bill Waltermire
Annie Brokaw – recipient of the J.C. “Pappy” Hoel Lifetime Achievement Award
The 2004 Freedom Fighter’s Hall of Fame inductees are:
Mark Buckner
Mike Farabaugh
Ian Mutch
Donald “Pappy” Pittsley
All 2004 inductees will be presented with their awards at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast scheduled for Wednesday, August 11 at 9:00 a.m. at the Spearfish Holiday Inn in Spearfish, SD.
Breakfast Tickets are available for a $20.00 donation, tables of eight for $160.00. Each year the Breakfast sells out therefore we recommend tickets be purchased well in advance of the event.
For more information on the inductees visit the Museum’s website at
http://www.memorialbracelets.com/ I would like to see everyAMERICAN in this country wear one of these .
BULLSHIT JOKE–A turkey was chatting with a bull. “I would love to be able to get to thetop of that tree,” sighed the turkey, “but I haven’t got the energy.”
“Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull. “They’re packed with nutrients.”
The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave himenough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, aftereating more dung, the turkey reached the second branch. Finally afterseveral days of eating dung, the turkey was proudly perched at the top ofthe tree. Soon he was spotted by a farmer who shot him out of the tree andtook the turkey home and ate it.
Lesson: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.
–from Nuttboy
S &S EXPANDS–On Tuesday, March 16th, S&S Cycle President, Brett Smith executed a letter of intent to purchase 164,000 square feet of distribution, manufacturing, and office space in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Three days later on Friday, March 19th, the Mayor of La Crosse, John Medinger introduced Brett Smith and S&S Cycle to the community of La Crosse during a press conference at City Hall. The press conference focused on expansion plans in La Crosse since the Viola facility will continue to operate and grow?specifically in core manufacturing (primary engine components).
“Our commitment to all of our customers, the custom OEs and the V-Twin aftermarket, will be solidified through this purchase. With the rapid growth they’ve been experiencing, it was imperative for us to make an overt commitment to grow with them. Not only have we done so through the purchase of additional square footage, I wish to announce that we are working to complete our development of a 2008 CARB and 2010 EPA noise and air emissions standard engine. Although this will not a be a salable product for some time, I felt the industry should know that we are cognizant of and committed to meeting CARB/EPA noise and air emissions standards for 2008/2010,” said S&S President, Brett Smith.
The facility S&S intends to occupy was formerly a distribution facility for Fleming Foods. Upon completing the purchase of Fleming by SuperValu (another large foods retailer), they vacated the space and placed it on the market. The La Crosse Area Development Corporation (LADCO) was aggressive in pursuing S&S Cycle after discovering that S&S was looking to expand in late-October of last year. The work between S&S and LADCO was very timely and the S&S Board of Directors unanimously approved the purchase of the new property at a March 12th Board meeting.
“The site we have identified for expansion is comprised of two buildings. One is approximately 145,000 square feet and will be used for distribution and manufacturing. The other building is approximately 20,000 square feet and will be used as a Tech, Warranty/Rebuild, and Training/Certification center. The acquisition of this space will allow us to move ahead quickly with the strategic Dealer Training and Certification initiative at S&S Cycle. We are very excited with the prospects for this program and what it will do to enhance our dealers’ ability to service the consumers in the V-Twin market. Without a strong dealer network, S&S will lose its ability to properly serve the aftermarket consumers. Therefore, we are committed to doing whatever we can to support and promote our dealers.”
“Although new products and markets will certainly be entertained, S&S emphatically states it has no intentions of competing with custom OEs. “We value the strong relationships we have with a number of custom OEs in the V-Twin industry and have no intentions of competing with our own customers. However, S&S will work to ensure that our OE customers have a reliable source for any components they need in order to grow their businesses,” said Brett.
For more information, please contact the S&S website located at www.sscycle.com.
SEX SHOP ADVICE–A little old lady, well into her eighties, slowly enters the front door of a sex shop.
Obviously very unstable on her feet, she shakily wobbles the few feet across the store to the counter.
Finally arriving at the counter and grabbing it for support, she asks the sales clerk: “Dddooo youuuu hhhave dddddiilllldosss?”
The clerk, politely trying not to burst out laughing, replies: “Yes we do have dildos. Actually we carry many different models.”
The old woman then asks: “Dddddoooo yyyouuuu ccaarrryy aaa pppinkk onnee, tttenn inchessss lllong aaandd aabboutt ttwoo inchesss ththiickk…aaand rrunnsby bbaatteries ?
The clerk responds, “Yes we do.”
“Ddddooo yyoooouuuu kknnnoooww hhhowww tttooo ttturrrnnn ttthe dddaaammmnnn ttthingggg offffff?”
–from Mary Lou
VIVA LAS LEGAS–Want to take your bike to Austria? This looks like a GREAT place to use as a home base! We are a Motorcycle Campgrounds in Styria – AustriaOpen to Bikers Year Round.We welcome all!from June 2004
Werner Legat
Routemaster
+43/676/844 648 691
http://www.styrian-bikeweek.com/>www.styrian-bikeweek.com
Bikereventhttp://www.routemaster.at/>www.routemaster.at LAS LEGAS – Motocamp in Styria
Highlander’s from Southern Styria
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES’ 10,000 BIKE ROLLS OFF PRODUCTION LINE–2004 Ridgeback with special edition graphics represents milestone by niche leader;motorcycle made its debut at Daytona Beach Bike Week
WICHITA, Kansas (March 24, 2004): Big Dog Motorcycles (the leading designer and manufacturer of high performance, highly-styled heavyweight cruisers, has just produced its 10,000th motorcycle. The commemorative bike, a 2004 Ridgeback, was built just weeks into the company’s tenth anniversary year. Riders and enthusiasts viewed the two-wheeled milestone at its inaugural showing at Daytona Beach Bike Week, held February 26 through March 7.
“It took over eight years to make five thousand bikes and a little more than just under two years to make five thousand more,” stated Nick Messer, president, Big Dog Motorcycles.
Big Dog Motorcycle Number One was a 1994 Vintage Classic. A nostalgic, custom cruiser, it was built out of frustration by the company’s founder and CEO, Sheldon Coleman. “I wanted something that had more styling, performance, and rideability than the available factory bikes. And it just wasn’t out there,” he said.
Since its humble beginning a decade ago, the company has grown into an $80 million powerhouse with ninety dealers and over 300 employees.
Big Dog Motorcycles’ 10,000th bike is a misty midnight blue Ridgeback, complete with a 117 polished cubic inch engine, 6-speed transmission, 250 rear tire, and a custom graphics package. With a traditional patriotic theme reminiscent of all commemorative bikes, the Ridgeback also sports a 10,000th bike chrome-like icon with a hint of nostalgia.
BIKERNET RELATIONSHIP WARNING– A man calls home to his wife and says, “Honey I have been asked to go fishing at a big lake up in Canada with my boss and several of his friends.
We’ll be gone for a week. This is a good opportunity for me to get that promotion I’ve been wanting so would you please pack me enough clothes for a week and set out my rod and tackle box. We’re leaving from the office and I will swing by the house to pick my things up. Oh! Please pack my new blue silk pajamas.”
The wife thinks this sounds a little fishy but being a good wife she does exactly what her husband asked. The following weekend he comes home a little tired but otherwise looking good. The wife welcomes him home and asks if he caught many fish? He says, Yes! Lot’s of Walleye, some Bluegill, and a few Pike. But why didn’t you pack my new blue silk pajamas like I asked you to do?”
The wife replies “I did, they were in your tackle box.”
–from Dave F.
Continued On Page 4
March 25, 2004 Part 2
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 1
PAINT JOB OF THE WEEK–from Jim’s Cycle Painting. WWW.JimsCyclePainting.com or call (310) 329-4707.
HAMSTERS TO STURGIS ITINERARY–Depart ARLENS Sunday Aug 1st for Winnamucca, NV.
Mon. Aug 2nd, Winnamucca to Sun Valley, ID.
Tues. Aug 3rd, lay over day in Sun Valley.
Wed. Aug 4th, Sun Valley to Jackson Hole , WY.
Thurs. Aug 5th, Jackson to Cody WY. via Yellowstone.
Friday Aug 6th, Cody to Buffalo, WY.
Sat. Aug 7th, Buffalo to Spearfish, SD.
We will have only 40 rooms booked each night for the ride, so the first 40 of you to book will get in on them.Those waiting ’til the last minute are welcome to ride with us but will have to find their own rooms.
It is up to you to contact any Hamster friends who wish to make the ride with us and have them contact me directly.? If you are going, be sure to contact me as soon as possible! Preference will be given to Hamsters first for the rooms!
Barry Cooney 760-745-9442
DATE PREPARATIONS–To prepare for his big date the young man went on topof the roof of his apartment building in order to get alittle color for himself. Not wanting any tan lines to show, hesunbathed in the nude.
Unfortunately he fell asleep while on the roof andsunburned his Johnson. Being very determined the young man decidednot to miss his date, because it was a hot blonde. So, he put somelotion on his manhood and wrapped it in gauze. Feeling this shouldresolve his painful situation.
The blonde showed up for the date at his apartment,and the young man treated her to a home cooked dinner, after which theywent into the living room to watch a movie.
During the movie, however the young man’s sunburnstarted acting up.After several minutes of extreme discomfort he askedto be excused.
A friend had told him that milk was very effective inreducing sunburn pain so he went to the kitchen, and poured a tall coldglass of milk. He then placed his sunburned member in themilk and experienced immediate relief.
The blonde, however, wondering what he was doing,wandered into the kitchen to find him with his “tool” immersed in theglass of milk.
With a look of understanding the Blondeexclaimed,………..
“SO, THAT’S HOW YOU LOAD THOSE THINGS ”
–from Rogue
BIKERNET TAX LESSONS–Accounts Receivable Tax,Building Permit Tax,Capital Gains Tax,CDL license Tax,Cigarette Tax,Corporate Income Tax,Court Fines,(indirect taxes),Dog License Tax,Federal Income Tax,Federal Unemployment Tax(FUTA),Fishing License Tax,Food License Tax,Fuel permit tax,Gasoline Tax(42 cents per gallon),Hunting License Tax,Inheritance Tax Interest expense(tax on the money),Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges(tax on top of tax),IRS Penalties(tax on top of tax),Liquor Tax,Local Income Tax,Luxury Taxes,Marriage License Tax,Medicare Tax,Property Tax,Real Estate Tax,Septic Permit Tax,Service Charge Taxes,Social Security Tax,Road Usage Taxes(Truckers),Sales Taxes,Recreational Vehicle Tax,Road Toll Booth Taxes,School Tax,State Income Tax,State Unemployment Tax,(SUTA)Telephone federal excise tax,Telephone federal universal service fee tax,Telephone federal, state andlocal surcharge taxes,Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax,Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax,Telephone state and local tax,Telephone usage charge tax,Toll Bridge Taxes,Toll Tunnel Taxes,Traffic Fines(indirect taxation),Trailer registration tax,Utility Taxes,Vehicle License Registration Tax,Vehicle Sales Tax,Watercraft registration Tax,Well Permit Tax,Workers Compensation Tax,
COMMENTS:Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was the most prosperous in the world, had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What the hell happened???
–from Redhorse
NEW XL FRAME FROM CHOPPERS UNLIMITED!–(JACKSONVILLE, NC) Choppers Unlimited again grabs the high ground with theirjust announced 180 Big Twin and 250 Sportster rigid frames, available ineither carbon or polished stainless steel, with popular pricing thatdelivers American made quality and real world affordability in a traditionaldesign.
All CUs frames, including their beautiful polished stainless option, are100% TIG welded and accept four, five, or six-speed transmissions. Customrakes from 20 to 60 degrees and downtube stretch up to 20 inches are laid upusing their proprietary frame geometry calculator (online atwww.choppersunlimited.com) to achieve the correct trail for civilizedhandling at no additional charge.
Tech Specs:
1 5/16 carbon steel
1 3/8 polished stainless steel
price includes customer choice of rake and stretch
accepts four, five, and six speed transmissions
available as frame only, roller, super roller, and turnkey
frames begin at $990.00 MSRP
rollers begin at $4,900.00 MSRP
choice of 3/4 or 1 rear axle
drive side braking or standard offset for conventional brake setup
Kjell Bjerke
Choppers Unlimited
256 S. Marine Blvd.
Jacksonville, NC 28540
Work: (910) 938-3375
Fax: (910) 989-0061
Email: choppers@choppersunlimited.com
www.choppersunlimited.com
ONE RINGY DINGY–Twelve priests were about to be ordained. The final test was for them to line up in a straight row, totally nude, in a garden while a sexy and beautiful big breasted nude model danced before them.
Each priest had a small bell attached to his penis and they were told that anyone whose bell rang when she danced in front of them would not be ordained because he had not reached a state of spiritual purity.
The beautiful model danced before the first candidate, with no reaction. She proceeded down the line with the same response from all the priests until she got to the final priest.
As she danced, his bell began to ring so loudly that it flew off and fell clattering to the ground. Embarrassed, he took a few steps forward and bent over to pick up the bell.
As he did, all of the other bells started to ring…
–from Jill Z.
BIKERNET RELATIONSHIP CORNER–A dinner conversation that took the wrong turn –
WIFE: “What would you do if I died? Would you get married again?”
HUSBAND: “Definitely not!”
WIFE: “Why not – don’t you like being married?”
HUSBAND: “Of course I do.”
WIFE: “Then why wouldn’t you remarry?”
HUSBAND: “Okay, I’d get married again.”
WIFE: “You would? (with a hurtful look on her face).”
HUSBAND: (makes audible groan).
WIFE: “Would you sleep with her in our bed?”
HUSBAND: “Where else would we sleep?”
WIFE: “Would you replace my pictures with hers?”
HUSBAND: “That would seem like the proper thing to do.”
WIFE: “Would she wear my jewelry?”
HUSBAND: “Well, I suppose so.”
WIFE: “Would she use my golf clubs?”
HUSBAND: “No, she’s left-handed.”
WIFE: – – – silence – – –
HUSBAND: “S**t…”
–from Chris T.
Hi Layla, Did you take the riding class yet?? Here is another pic of our South Bay HOG Chapter, we rode our motorcycles in the Hermosa Beach parade on Saturday. I made these outfits. Hey thanks so much for posting our ABATE flyer.
Later Isabel
BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT– After a couple weeks of forced hiatus I guess we are back in full force. I just took the endeavor of moving, now Bikernet has done the same. Not an easy task at all, much less when you have amassed as much stuff as we all have. Our “toys” which sometimes take part of our own house (been to the headquarters so I know), getting new Internet hook ups, phones, address changes and all that stupid crap that still does take time, but as always it is all for the better. Congratulations to the crew for their new headquarters, and save me a space for a chop and to lay down…..
The Daytona report should be here soon. I did it as soon as I got back in order to keep things fresh (in my mind) or in other words, not forget. There are a lot of cool photos from Frank Kaisler coming soon and there’s others on my site as well. I don’t want to give anything away, but I guess the Daytona report will have some stuff added to it as I read it once more.
On the Caribbean front, I have a few more bikes almost done and some more at the table getting mocked up. We have been busting our asses trying to catch up on all the time lost during the move and Daytona. I hope that by next week I’ll have some photos of the progress. Speaking of putting bikes together, my friend Devon has a gig going on, he does some very cool bars. They come in three styles, Drag, Elk and Ape, all 1 1/4 dom and TIG welded, to top it off he can do any bars you want and add any designs you might find cool, here’s some photos of the bars and his web site is
I’m not just pluggin his work, I really find that with the weird rakes, new style of tanks and whatever (since I fucking hate the words–what not!!!), you can get the proper rise and bar angles so they don’t hit the precious paint. He also does a bunch of other stuff so show your support and let him know Jose sent you. I will be adding some photos of the progress on the bike and bars, maybe with photos you will know what I mean about clearance. Soon, very soon.
I’m working on my Sturgis bobber/early chopper, I thought it would be cool to share with you Chopper freaks a few parts that I have found. These are all going into my 65 Pan motor. ??I for one drool every time I see these…..I want to thank Irish Rich as well for all his help on the bob/chop…. And I guess we all know who Rich is… http:// www.shamrockfabrication.com?
I want to add that we had such a great time amongst friends over in Daytona. I will save mentioning the names, since it’s a very long list, and I don’t want to sound like I’m dropping names. With all the bullshit going on, I really believe the best part and maybe the reason to go to these events is to be able to hang out with this guys (and girls) no doubt about it.
Thanks for all the e-mails on the seat tech, the final part is already done (minus the upholstery) so I will send it to the powers to be pretty soon so they can cyber post it. Again, if there’s any tech questions that you might have, or anything you might want to be featured, let us know, and if I happen to be doing something similar I will be happy to snap shots and do it.
Well, this is it for now, gotta wait ’till the Daytona report so I don’t repeat myself.Back to work it is, by the way, when you go to work in these “pimpalas”, it?s a lot more fun.
See you next week
Jose?- Caribbean Bikernet Reporter
Continued On Page 3