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Read More Something to Think About – Batteries, Battery
By Bandit |
We are all aware of batteries having toxic materials in their construction. Even if only half of this were true, it is still frightening to the potential pollution at the end of their life cycle.
Some amusing lagniappe with some interesting information on the subject.
– Anonymous.
When I saw the title of this lecture, especially with the picture of the scantily clad model, I couldn’t resist attending. The packed auditorium was abuzz with questions about the address; nobody seemed to know what to expect. The only hint was a large aluminum block sitting on a sturdy table on the stage.
When the crowd settled down, a scholarly-looking man walked out and put his hand on the shiny block, “Good evening,” he said, “I am here to introduce NMC532-X,” and he patted the block, “we call him NM for short,” and the man smiled proudly. “NM is a typical electric vehicle (EV) car battery in every way except one; we programmed him to send signals of the internal movements of his electrons when charging, discharging, and in several other conditions. We wanted to know what it feels like to be a battery. We don’t know how it happened, but NM began to talk after we downloaded the program.
Despite this ability, we put him in a car for a year and then asked him if he’d like to do presentations about batteries. He readily agreed on the condition he could say whatever he wanted. We thought that was fine, and so, without further ado, I’ll turn the floor over to NM,” the man turned and walked off the stage.
“Good evening,” NM said. He had a slightly affected accent, and when he spoke, he lit up in different colors. “That cheeky woman on the marquee was my idea,” he said. “Were she not there, along with ‘naked’ in the title, I’d likely be speaking to an empty auditorium! I also had them add ‘shocking’ because it’s a favorite word amongst us batteries.” He flashed a light blue color as he laughed.
“Sorry,” NM chuckled, then continued, “Three days ago, at the start of my last lecture, three people walked out. I suppose they were disappointed there would be no dancing girls. But here is what I noticed about them. One was wearing a battery-powered hearing aid, one tapped on his battery-powered cell phone as he left, and a third got into his car, which would not start without a battery. So, I’d like you to think about your day for a moment; how many batteries do you rely on?”
He paused for a full minute which gave us time to count our batteries. Then he went on, “Now, it is not elementary to ask, ‘what is a battery?’ I think Tesla said it best when they called us Energy Storage Systems. That’s important. We do not make electricity – we store electricity produced elsewhere, primarily by coal, uranium, natural gas-powered plants, or diesel-fueled generators. So to say an EV is a zero-emission vehicle is not at all valid. Also, since forty percent of the electricity generated in the U.S. is from coal-fired plants, it follows that forty percent of the EVs on the road are coal-powered, do you see?”
He flashed blue again. “Einstein’s formula, E=MC2, tells us it takes the same amount of energy to move a five-thousand-pound gasoline-driven automobile a mile as it does an electric one. The only question again is what produces the power? To reiterate, it does not come from the battery; the battery is only the storage device, like a gas tank in a car.”
He lit up red when he said that, and I sensed he was smiling. Then he continued in blue and orange. “Mr. Elkay introduced me as NMC532. If I were the battery from your computer mouse, Elkay would introduce me as double-A, if from your cell phone as CR2032, and so on. We batteries all have the same name depending on our design. By the way, the ‘X’ in my name stands for ‘experimental.’
There are two orders of batteries, rechargeable, and single-use. The most common single-use batteries are A, AA, AAA, C, D. 9V, and lantern types. Those dry-cell species use zinc, manganese, lithium, silver oxide, or zinc and carbon to store electricity chemically. Please note they all contain toxic, heavy metals.
Rechargeable batteries only differ in their internal materials, usually lithium-ion, nickel-metal oxide, and nickel-cadmium.
The United States uses three billion of these two battery types a year, and most are not recycled; they end up in landfills. California is the only state which requires all batteries be recycled. If you throw your small, used batteries in the trash, here is what happens to them.
All batteries are self-discharging. That means even when not in use, they leak tiny amounts of energy. You have likely ruined a flashlight or two from an old ruptured battery. When a battery runs down and can no longer power a toy or light, you think of it as dead; well, it is not. It continues to leak small amounts of electricity. As the chemicals inside it run out, pressure builds inside the battery’s metal casing, and eventually, it cracks. The metals left inside then ooze out. The ooze in your ruined flashlight is toxic, and so is the ooze that will inevitably leak from every battery in a landfill. All batteries eventually rupture; it just takes rechargeable batteries longer to end up in the landfill.
In addition to dry cell batteries, there are also wet cell ones used in automobiles, boats, and motorcycles. The good thing about those is, ninety percent of them are recycled. Unfortunately, we do not yet know how to recycle batteries like me or care to dispose of single-use ones properly.
But that is not half of it. For those of you excited about electric cars and a green revolution, I want you to take a closer look at batteries and also windmills and solar panels. These three technologies share what we call environmentally destructive embedded costs.”
NM got redder as he spoke. “Everything manufactured has two costs associated with it, embedded costs and operating costs. I will explain embedded costs using a can of baked beans as my subject.
In this scenario, baked beans are on sale, so you jump in your car and head for the grocery store. Sure enough, there they are on the shelf for $1.75 a can. As you head to the checkout, you begin to think about the embedded costs in the can of beans.
The first cost is the diesel fuel the farmer used to plow the field, till the ground, harvest the beans, and transport them to the food processor. Not only is his diesel fuel an embedded cost, so are the costs to build the tractors, combines, and trucks. In addition, the farmer might use a nitrogen fertilizer made from natural gas.
Next is the energy costs of cooking the beans, heating the building, transporting the workers, and paying for the vast amounts of electricity used to run the plant. The steel can holding the beans is also an embedded cost. Making the steel can requires mining taconite, shipping it by boat, extracting the iron, placing it in a coal-fired blast furnace, and adding carbon. Then it’s back on another truck to take the beans to the grocery store. Finally, add in the cost of the gasoline for your car.
But wait – can you guess one of the highest but rarely acknowledged embedded costs?” NM said, then gave us about thirty seconds to make our guesses. Then he flashed his lights and said, “It’s the depreciation on the 5000 pound car you used to transport one pound of canned beans!”
NM took on a golden glow, and I thought he might have winked. He said, “But that can of beans is nothing compared to me! I am hundreds of times more complicated. My embedded costs not only come in the form of energy use; they come as environmental destruction, pollution, disease, child labor, and the inability to be recycled.”
He paused, “I weigh one thousand pounds, and as you see, I am about the size of a travel trunk.” NM’s lights showed he was serious. “I contain twenty-five pounds of lithium, sixty pounds of nickel, 44 pounds of manganese, 30 pounds cobalt, 200 pounds of copper, and 400 pounds of aluminum, steel, and plastic. Inside me are 6,831 individual lithium-ion cells.
It should concern you that all those toxic components come from mining. For instance, to manufacture each auto battery like me, you must process 25,000 pounds of brine for the lithium, 30,000 pounds of ore for the cobalt, 5,000 pounds of ore for the nickel, and 25,000 pounds of ore for copper. All told, you dig up 500,000 pounds of the earth’s crust for just – one – battery.”
He let that one sink in, then added, “I mentioned disease and child labor a moment ago. Here’s why. Sixty-eight percent of the world’s cobalt, a significant part of a battery, comes from the Congo. Their mines have no pollution controls and they employ children who die from handling this toxic material. Should we factor in these diseased kids as part of the cost of driving an electric car?”
NM’s red and orange light made it look like he was on fire. “Finally,” he said, “I’d like to leave you with these thoughts. California is building the largest battery in the world near San Francisco, and they intend to power it from solar panels and windmills. They claim this is the ultimate in being ‘green,’ but it is not! This construction project is creating an environmental disaster. Let me tell you why.
The main problem with solar arrays is the chemicals needed to process silicate into the silicon used in the panels. To make pure enough silicon requires processing it with hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen fluoride, trichloroethane, and acetone. In addition, they also need gallium, arsenide, copper-indium-gallium-diselenide, and cadmium-telluride, which also are highly toxic. Silicon dust is a hazard to the workers, and the panels cannot be recycled.
Windmills are the ultimate in embedded costs and environmental destruction. Each weighs 1688 tons (the equivalent of 23 houses) and contains 1300 tons of concrete, 295 tons of steel, 48 tons of iron, 24 tons of fiberglass, and the hard to extract rare earths neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium. Each blade weighs 81,000 pounds and will last 15 to 20 years, at which time it must be replaced. We cannot recycle used blades. Sadly, both solar arrays and windmills kill birds, bats, sea life, and migratory insects.
NM lights dimmed, and he quietly said, “There may be a place for these technologies, but you must look beyond the myth of zero emissions. I predict EVs and windmills will be abandoned once the embedded environmental costs of making and replacing them become apparent.
I’m trying to do my part with these lectures. As you can see, if I had entitled this talk “The Embedded Costs of Going Green,” who would have come? But thank you for your attention, good night, and good luck.”
NM’s lights went out, and he was quiet, like a regular battery.
In God We Trust
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.” – Plato
See Also: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/12/breaking_the_maritime_shipping_impasse.html
Road Glide Ultra Trimming
By Wayfarer |
Bassani Exhaust, Legends Suspension, and V&H Fuelpak
by Johnny White
My 2016 Road Glide Ultra FLTRU has been a reliable ride that has endured 70,000 miles without any major issues.
One of the first things a guy wants to change is the sound – as a new Harley sounds great until you hear it next to one with a tuned exhaust system.
The change now vs. days of old is it’s no longer change your pipes and re-jet the carb.
Now, with electronic fuel injection, ‘void warranty’ and emission controls, it can seem a bit daunting if you don’t know where to look.
Well, it’s easier today than most realize and it doesn’t require a ton of time, knowledge, or money … well, it does require some money.
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Rogue’s Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame Ring
By Wayfarer |
by Misled
In 2005 John “Rogue” Herlihy was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Freedom Fighter section of the HOF which is for individuals who fought for motorcycle rights.
Hall Of Fame Rings did not become available until 2020. In 2020 the inductees received Hall of Fame Rings designed by Frank Zubieta owner of NINO 925.
Members of the Sturgis Hall Of Fame were given the opportunity to have rings made for them by contacting Frank.
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Gevin Fax Blazes Her Own Trail
By Wayfarer |
by Emily Chavous from russbrown.com
Whether riding a motorcycle or challenging norms, Gevin Fax is no stranger to blazing trails.
She says, “I think this is the best, most wonderful country in the world, but we are not flawless. I want women to not sell themselves short. We are stronger than we give ourselves credit for. We are more possible than we could ever imagine.”
“Everybody kept telling me my life was going to change after I bought the Harley. Let me tell you something: Everything changed.”
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ABATE of Michigan Annual Seminar
By Wayfarer |
This weekend, ABATE of Michigan hosted its annual seminar in Saginaw, Michigan. In attendance were two longtime legislative champions for motorcyclist rights. Current Congressman, Tim Walberg and former Congressman Jim Barcia, joined the event.
Congressman Walberg is the Co-Chair of the House Motorcycle Caucus and a leading advocate for motorcyclist rights in Congress. Representative Walberg has championed a number of issues bikers care about, including work against the profiling of bikers and the need to ensure autonomous vehicles can recognize and react to motorcyclists.
Former Congressman Jim Barcia of Michigan fought against federal helmet blackmail efforts in the 1990’s. Along with Congressman Petri of Wisconsin and others, Representative Barcia defeated federal regulations that established a penalty, whereby a certain percentage of a state’s highway funds were shifted to safety programs if the state did not have a universal helmet law. This regulation effectively blackmailed states into enacting helmet laws by holding federal funds hostage. Working hand in hand with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation lobbyist at the time, Wayne Curtain, Congress changed the law and freed states to make helmet law determinations without federal government interference.
It’s great to see past and current leaders in the motorcyclists rights movement taking the time to attend seminars like this. Thank you to ABATE of Michigan for building and maintaining these relationships which benefit all bikers across our nation.
About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders.
Visit Website: https://mrf.org
Road Glide Ultra Trimming
By Johnny White |
The sound…potato-potato, a rumble from within, these are all one in the same: this is Harley-Davidson. Whether young or old, once you have heard it, I believe, you will never forget it. Even more gripping is the emotion that “the sound” brings to anyone who has thrown a leg over the famous cycle and spent any time on the road with one. To be honest, it’s an addiction that I have yet attempted to curb. The feeling of the engine, the roads’ vibrations and the rhythmic thumping gets into your soul and once you are bit, it never truly goes away.
I am experiencing a real winter for the first time in my cycling life. My wife and I moved from Houston, Texas, where we’ve lived together since our marriage in 1996,
to just outside Chicago, Illinois. I now understand the “chrome sweats”, and for the first time in my motorcycle enthusiast lifetime, I get to upgrade the bike in the winter and long for the warmer springtime to ride again.
The wonderful thing about modifying is it at least gives you an outlet until the roads thaw out and the bike can be taken out again. You have time to plan, to dream, to save, and to do the work if you can find a warm spot in the garage.
My 2016 Road Glide Ultra FLTRU has been a reliable ride that has endured 70,000 miles without any major issues. I’ve slowly added and/or modified the look and feel of the bike always chasing that elusive perfect combination of comfort and cool.
One of the first things a guy wants to change is the sound, as a new Harley sounds great until you hear it next to one with a tuned exhaust system. Mufflers can help, but until you remove that choked up catalytic header, you never truly hear or feel that engine like you should.
The change now vs. days of old includes pipes and re-jetting the carb. Now, with electronic fuel injection and emission controls, it can seem a bit daunting if you don’t know where to look. Well, it’s easier today than most realize and it doesn’t require a ton of time, knowledge, or money…well, it does require some money.
Whenever I would hear of adding pipes to a fuel injected motorcycle, I would cringe thinking of pipes, tuners, air filters, dyno time, dyno tuners, and the like. This combination of possible issues can be confusing at times, especially today as the newer bikes are becoming harder and harder to legally tune without the fear of the dreaded “voiding your warranty”. Almost like the Catholic kids getting threatened with the punishment of their evil thoughts, the warranty fear is held over your head and creates the dreaded “I don’t want to void my warranty” scare. Today’s market makes it much more enticing to try though…especially when you do a little research.
For myself, I decided it was time to remove the heavy, hot, stock head pipe (with catalytic converter), mufflers, and replace it with an actual exhaust system. Even though my bike is twin-cooled, it would get ridiculously hot on the right side. I have made two previous exhaust mods to this bike in the 6 years since I’ve had her, such as Rush Big Louie slip-on mufflers, Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannons, and added a high flow filter hoping to get a little rumble without breaking the bank.
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Like most, I fell into the nickel and diming, and never really felt happy with the result and should have heeded the advice of one of the OG’s back in the day…,”Pay once, cry once!” Basically meaning to just pay for what you want the first time, you’ll be happier and you get what you pay for. Don’t get me wrong, as both sets of mufflers sounded nicer than stock, neither had decel popping, and I had the ECM “flashed” at the dealer but they just lacked that je ne sais quoi, or “I don’t know what”.
I always loved the look of a clean 2-into-1 performance pipe and Thunderheader was the “go to” in years past. D&D came on the scene and I believe is now the most popular choice among those in the “performance bagger” world. Two Bros. Racing is starting to gain traction as well with their stylish and versatile applications. For me and my money, style had to match looks and I wanted the pipe that I feel has the sexiest bends in the biz, The Bassani!
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I searched and searched and finally decided on the blacked out Bassani Road Rage 2. Being in Illinois, I’ve heard the roads can wreak havoc on chrome and the black has a durable reputation…we will see. Quick search on Amazon, placed it in my cart, and click…it’s on the way.
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Of course, this modification also required a tuner. I decided on the Vance and Hines FuelPaK 3 as it is a blue tooth enabled program that plugs directly into my 6-pin connector and provides a basic map for my configuration. Plus, with this tuner, there’s no need for a dyno tune. As I read more about it, I realized this tuner has many more facets and features than I could want or need, so for the money it was the one I chose. Let’s see how I feel in a couple of years. It’s received reviews from every end of the spectrum but has been around long enough I’m hoping the bugs are all worked out.
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The last modification came as a need vs. a want is my rear suspension. I decided on the American-made Legends Revo 12” for the rear. While they have the same height as the H-D Low shocks, they have more travel and better sag setting. Again, you can get into a whole new set of options when you decide to shop for suspension and can spend anywhere from 350-1500 on a set of rear shocks. I went with the base Legend Revo, which has great reviews and was reasonably priced.
Meanwhile back at the exhaust system: I removed the main fuse first, then the bags, then the mufflers. I had to remove the right floorboard and bracket to clear the way for the headpipe maneuvering and removal. I was extremely careful before I started removing anything and sprayed all the fasteners I would be working with the night before with some penetrating oil. Rust and corrosion had shown signs on a few fasteners and the last thing I wanted was to twist something off.
When you remove the headpipe, be extra careful when removing the O2 sensors and remember which one goes where. I always use a pen and paper to write notes while working on the bike and noted the plug positions, the black connector to the rear pipe and gray connector to the front pipe.
The new pipe comes with instructions which include a parts list as well as tools needed. Bassani does a great job packing the pipe as it was protected with a foam support in the box and wrapped to save the matte finish. Once I opened it, I almost regretted getting black because the stock pipe looks so beautiful…I wondered if I could change the heat shields and muffler to chrome later. Overall this operation is very basic and if you take your time, can be completed in a few hours easily. Just take your time and don’t rush.
I made sure to loosely attach the headpipe, main bracket, main muffler bracket, and muffler support bracket until I could line everything up and then slowly tightened the headpipe first, then the main bracket, and then the muffler last. Of course, I plugged the main fuse back in at this point. Before I put the tuner or the heat-shields on the bike, I decided to heat cycle the pipe a few times to warm it up then recheck the tightness of the fittings. I also checked for exhaust leaks at the head pipe with a little spray of carb/choke cleaner at the exhaust connections (on first start up so as not to have a fire), and I didn’t hear or feel a change in exhaust note or intake noise.
It was hard to be patient as the more I placed each piece on the bike, the more awesome it looked and I wanted to rush to fire her up. Because it was in the low teens outside, the weather would force me to take breaks and go back inside to warm up. While this slowed the operation, it assisted in preventing me from rushing and screwing something up.
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Once the pipe was on and heat-cycled three different times, I just followed the directions for heat-shield placement and carefully attached the shields. The look of the pipe was outstanding in my opinion and from the small sample I heard sounded dramatically different, and definitely in a good way. The deeper rumble replaced the old rattling and I am sure is far lighter than the stock monstrosity. Definitely worth the money for me.
Next step was the Fuelpak, which couldn’t have been easier.
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First, download a free App on your phone. Go plug the tuner into the 6-pin connector located on the left side of the bike under the access panel and power the bike up, but do not start.
You will receive instructions asking you if you would like to pair the tuner to your bike and gives you the option for maps. You can also select an “Autotune” option, but I just went with a pre-mapped program. You will be prompted that the bike has paired and mapped the download and then you get instructions to turn off the power for 30 seconds. Your phone’s app will automatically start a timer so you don’t screw up and then you get a prompt to turn the bikes power on.
Once this sequence is completed, you will get a prompt to start you engine. That’s it, leave it on the bike plugged in to get real time info sent to your phone or unplug it and it will run the tune you downloaded but you won’t have real time info. Upon start up, the bike sounded richer, deeper, and almost a little quieter than before the tune. Unfortunately, its frozen outside, so I couldn’t ride it, but I definitely idled her until she was hot, checked all the fittings a couple more times, and then repeated the process a few times. I promise this was one of the best decisions I ever made.
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The last mod for this project was the rear suspension. The shocks are as simple as it comes. Just jack the bike up enough so the wheel is stable but the swing arm is neutral, or doesn’t hang down. Remove one shock and replace with the Legend shock.
By the way, The Legends have a small silver label on the bottom that should be placed on the inside of the motorcycle. This gives you access to the sag adjustment (on Revo A’s). I didn’t opt for that upgrade, but I’m positive these shocks will be better than the leaking H-Ds I was replacing. Once both shocks were replaced, I measured the rear axle and it sits about ¼-inch lower, but it felt to have a significant amount of travel as compared to the previous shocks with me bouncing up and down.
I will adjust the springs more once I ride it, but for now will leave it as it sits. These shocks adjust super easy by turning the spring clockwise or counterclockwise depending on if you want a stiffer or softer ride. No tools necessary.
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So, I basically spent a couple of bucks on Amazon, a couple of afternoons in the garage, and I was able to change the look and feel of my motorcycle significantly to improve overall enjoyment in my ride. While I can guarantee this isn’t the last mod I’m planning, it has been one of the easiest I’ve tackled. Since I made these changes, I have already ordered some new brake rotors and will replace next week.
I used basic hand tools, a Harbor Freight Motorcycle lift, a scissor jack, and a good radio station to keep me calm during the whole thing. I can tell you, if you start hitting a sticking point, or if you start having trouble with a nut, it is best to take a break. I have cost myself thousands over the years because I was in a rush and would push it past my limits and either I’d hear a pop, a snap, an abrupt release on the wrench…all bad things that required replacing something and more time down.
This time I took my time, enjoyed a refreshing drink, and just enjoyed the process. Yes, I am happy with the changes so far and hope you enjoyed the process as well. Thanks and have a great day out there, keep on riding, and always keep the rubber side down.
The Progress Report Bikernet Weekly News for January 13, 2022
By Wayfarer |
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
CLICK HERE To Read the Weekly News on Bikernet.com
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THE PROGRESS REPORT BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for January 13, 2022
By Bandit |
Hey,
This should be interesting, but first I need my second cup of coffee. The shop is flying together, but weather is a constant factor. It might start to snow tonight or tomorrow.
Jason’s crew is moving quick to build the exterior walls, add the trusses and roof. Once the exterior is in place we can heat and pour the interior slab.
So, what’s a poor biker to do but to buy parts and pieces, so when the shop has the green light there’s shit to build.
Let’s hit the news:
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
LATEST FROM THE PRISM GANG–Prism x Bates
The Prism x Bates Solo Seat and P-Pad were 100% made by the Bates team in Long Beach using the original templates, material and decades of experience their team carries with them.
OVERLAND’ AT THE PETERSEN MUSEUM–THE LATEST EXHIBIT FROM
THE MOTORCYCLE ARTS FOUNDATION TEAM
Curated by Paul d’Orléans, and presented by the Sasha Tcherevkoff and the Motorcycle Arts Foundation (with support from Harley-Davidson), ‘ADV:Overland’ celebrates the spirit of adventure! Round-the-World, long-distance racing, off-world prototypes, and sci-fi fantasy vehicles in one remarkable exhibit.
NEWS FROM THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION–Lawmakers Head to the Exits in 2022
Happy New Year! As is the case every two years, 2022 is an election year for much of Congress. All 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and 1/3 of the U.S. Senate are up for reelection in November. Add state and local elections to that and literally thousands of elections will take place this year.
What’s been interesting about this year’s congressional races is the number of lawmakers who are retiring, and not seeking reelection. While every year has a handful of retirements, 2022 might set a record! As of this week, 37 Representatives (26 Democrats and 11 Republicans) as well as 6 Senators (1 Democrat and 5 Republicans) have announced they will be stepping down at the end of the year.
The reasons for retirements vary, some are seeking higher office, others are fed up with Washington D.C. and others are simply avoiding potential election defeat. Regardless of the reason for these departures, it’s surprising that nearly 10% of lawmakers are headed for the exits.
There are two important things you as a Motorcycle Riders Foundation member should take away from these retirements. First, if your elected official is retiring, have they been supportive of MRF priorities in the past? In the final months of their time in D.C., many congressional offices will change their tune on issues and be more supportive of topics they avoided in the past. It doesn’t hurt to reach out again, and push for MRF priorities before the lawmakers are gone for good.
Ask the MRF D.C. team if we can help!
Second, with so many vacancies around the country, it’s a great time to get to know new candidates. Getting in on the ground floor and building relationships early in the process is one of the best ways to impact change and support your fellow bikers.
In 2020, bikers in Michigan developed an early relationship with a candidate for office months before the election. That candidate won and became a U.S. Representative! She still fondly remembers the support she received early on from riders in her district. So, get involved early and introduce yourself to the new crop of leaders headed to D.C.
Below is the current list of lawmakers departing their current positions. This list will grow in the coming months, keep your eyes and ears opened and stay up to date on who represents you in D.C. Reach out to the MRF D.C. team if you have any questions about the changing make up of Congress.
Alabama: Brooks, Shelby
Arizona: Kirkpatrick
California: Bass, Lowenthal, Roybal-Allard, Speier
Colorado: Perlmutter
Florida: Crist, Demings, S. Murphy
Georgia: Hice
Illinois: Bustos, Kinzinger, Rush
Kentucky: Yarmuth
Maryland: Brown
Michigan: Lawrence
Missouri: Blunt, Hartzler, Long
New Jersey: Sires
New York: Reed, Suozzi, Zeldin,
North Carolina: Budd, Burr, Butterfield, Price,
Ohio: Gonzalez, Portman, Ryan
Oregon: DeFazio
Pennsylvania: Doyle, Lamb, Toomey
Texas: Brady, Gohmert, E.B. Johnson, Vela,
Vermont: Leahy, Welch
Wisconsin: Kind
NEWS FROM THE BUCKLEGUY–When to Use Pricking Irons & Stitching Punches
Pricking Irons and Stitching Punches are tools for preparing holes in leather before hand stitching. But which ones should you use and when?
The primary difference is pricking irons cut slits or pricks through the leather, while stitching punches make actual holes. With the irons, the different options are based on the shape and direction of the cuts, which determines the length and direction of the stitches. With punches you instead have the option to choose the size of the holes that are cut from the leather.
The other big difference is your personal aesthetic; do you prefer the final look of pricking irons, or the round hole punches?!
With both irons and punches, you can choose the distance between the teeth depending on how tight or wide you want the stitches to be. You can also choose how many teeth you want depending on the application and scale of your project.
Both pricking irons and stitching punches work with a variety of threads used for hand stitching. These include Maine Thread, Ritza Tiger Thread, and Fil Au Chinois. With stitching punches you also have the ability to use a thicker thread or lace as well.
Made in South Korea, Sinabroks irons and punches are top-of-the-line tools due to their fine materials and craftsmanship. They all have hand-polished teeth for precision cuts and smooth entry and exit. We recommend using vinyl pricking pads to protect the teeth instead of a standard cutting board.
–The Buckleguy Team
NEWS FROM THE AEROSTICH SERVICE CENTER–Our repair experts are available to turn-around incoming work quickly this time of year.
So, this is a great time to get your Aerostich gear carefully repaired or refurbished – or even have us clean and renew the water-repellent treatment. Your suit, jacket, or pants will be ready to ride again well in time for spring.
(Average turn-around is 1-3 weeks.)
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY NEW ZEALAND CAMPUS REPORT–Have a read of this and quiz your grandkids.?
Lost Words From Our Childhood
Mergatroyd! Do you remember that word? Would you believe the spell-checker did not recognize the word Mergatroyd? Heavens to Mergatroyd!
The other day a lady said something to her son about driving a Jalopy; and he looked at her quizzically and said, “What the heck is a Jalopy?” He had never heard of the word jalopy! She knew she was old … But not that old.
Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle.
About a month ago, I illuminated some old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These phrases included: Don’t touch that dial, Carbon copy, You sound like a broken record, and Hung out to dry.
Back in the olden days we put on our best bib and tucker.
Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumping Jehoshaphat! Holy Moley!
We were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley; and even a regular guy couldn’t accuse us of being aknucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all the tea in China!
We wake up from a short nap, and before we can say, “Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle!” Or, “This is a fine kettle of fish!”
Poof, go the words of our youth, the words we’ve left behind. Where have all those great phrases gone?
Long gone: Pshaw, The milkman did it. Don’t forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well, Fiddlesticks! I’ll see you in the funny farm. Wake up and smell the roses.
Leaves us to wonder where Superman will find a phone booth…
See ya later, alligator! Okidoki.
You’ll notice they left out “Monkey Business”!!!
WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FABULOUS 40’s and 50’S … NO ONE WILL EVER HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN .. WE WERE GIVEN ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS: LIVING IN THE PEACEFUL AND COMFORTABLE TIMES, CREATED FOR US BY THE “GREATEST GENERATION!”
–Graeme Lowen
New Zealand Editor
Bikernet.com™
HOT NEWS FROM DIME BAG LEATHERS–Working on Race and Rally leather wallets. Be sure to checkout True Grit Vintage Motorcycle Show in Daytona Beach Hosted by Warren Lane with all the greats attending.
Please Like follow and share social media links.
Thanks!
@dimebag.leather
Warren Lane @atomic_metalsmith
–Adam Croft
CULTURE–‘OLIVE HAGER, THE ‘MILE A MINUTE’ GIRL–She was probably the first woman to ride a Wall of Death, in the same year the vertical Wall was invented – 1914.
Olive Hager found fame, a career, and love on the Wall, and she rode for decades, regardless of injuries and accidents – even fatal ones.
It’s a remarkable story by Motorcycle Hall of Famer Cristine Sommer-Simmons.
5-BALL LEATHER ORDER STATUS— Thanks for keeping me posted on MY status! I think I have all your books, but I am always happy to get another!
Does it amaze you at how prophetic Sam Orwell has become? I don’t think we are there yet, but there are certainly people in the world that would love to make internal combustion engines illegal!
They have obviously forgotten their first bicycle or their first car and the sense of freedom it gave them!! And there is no feeling better than a cross country ride on your bike!!
Hell yeah!!
Ride hard, live free Amigo
–Ken
2021 was a Championship year for SBS BRAKE PADS—
Again in 2021, SBS is the preferred choice for the world’s best championship riders and teams. We are proud to support not only the leading Champions but also help the upcoming talents.
Contact your local dealership to order your posters.
Choose between:
6809726100 / #99 Adrian Huertas / World SSP300 2021
6809727100 / #77 Dominique Aegerter / World SSP600 2021
6809728100 / #95 Tarran Mackenzie / British Superbike 2021
6809729100 / #37 Ilya Mikhalchik / German Superbike 2021
NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT–About two years ago, we announced a new “Aviatrix” series. The first piece in the series, titled “The Aviatrix” was a big success.
We are pleased to announce the worldwide release of David’s second piece in the series, titled “The Valkyrie”.
“The Valkyrie”
David Uhl 2022
David recently stated “The Valkyrie”, maidens in service to the chief god Odin, Viking saga /story. I have always loved the pantheon of the Nordic Gods, and believe they have deep connections to Atlantean times”.
We are now taking orders for the Fine Art canvas prints in this edition. Each piece will be hand-signed by David and numbered, with Certificate of Authenticity.
If you own the first piece, The Aviatrix, you have first right of refusal for your matching edition number on this new one. And all orders placed by Sunday will receive 10% off the prices below.
If you don’t have The Aviatrix and want to collect both pieces, you still have time. As an added bonus, through Sunday if you get both we are offering special pricing on the package. Please email me if interested. Having both will also grant you first right of refusal on matching numbers as the series moves forward.
Edition specifics for “The Valkyrie”:
** Image size 24 x 24, edition of 30 plus 5 Artist Proofs and 5 Hors d’ Commerce, $1,295 framed.
** Image size 30 x 30, edition of 30 plus 5 Artist Proofs and 5 Hors d’ Commerce, $1,895 framed.
** Image size 36 x 36, edition of 10 plus 3 Artist Proofs and 3 Hors d’ Commerce, $2,895 framed.
Shipping is additional.
Please let me know if I can be of assistance. As always, thanks for your time!
–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
Uhl Studios
303-913-4840
https://www.uhlstudios.com/
SENIOR EDITOR RECEIVES STURGIS HALL OF FAME RING—John “Rogue” Herlihy just received his Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame silver ring from Frank Zubieta at Nino 925 American Made Jewelry.
For over 20 years, Frank Zubieta has been entrenched in biker jewelry lifestyle personally attending and creating biker jewelry for rallies around the country and worldwide in cities including Sturgis, Daytona Beach, Reno, Hollister, Las Vegas, New York City, and internationally attended by distribution, London, Barcelona, Italy, Germany, Portugal and many others.
Zubieta combines his love for biker jewelry handcrafted in sterling silver, yellow, rose, white gold, and platinum with precious and semiprecious stones to create wearable masterpieces that not only reflect the lifestyle of their owners, but can also be passed down for generations. That’s because Zubieta creates biker jewelry with a lifetime warranty.
Zubieta’s Biker jewelry is worn by men and women across the globe, with a certified distributor headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. Los Angeles based Nino925 biker jewelry is a known and respected brand in the jewelry industry and has been featured in multiple lifestyle magazines and on national television shows..
It means a lot to me to have this ring.
These are the Superbowl rings of the motorcycle industry in size and stature.
–Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™
BIG AUCTION NEWS–Mecum’s Las Vegas sale is January 25-29 and returns to the South Point Hotel and Casino! Check out their list of amazing machines!
Brothers are headed that direction from all over the country.
–Bandit
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WORD OF THE DAY–tchotchke
[ chahch-kuh ]
noun
an inexpensive souvenir, trinket, or ornament.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF TCHOTCHKE?
Tchotchke “an inexpensive souvenir, trinket, or ornament” is a borrowing of Yiddish tshatshke, from obsolete Polish czaczko “toy, trinket” (modern Polish cacko), which is cognate with Czech cacka and Russian cacka, of the same general meaning. These Slavic terms are all most likely of imitative origin; with the addition of the diminutive suffix -ka or -ko, the original forms (Czech caca and both Polish and Russian caca) appear to be reduplicated syllables that are typical of baby talk.
In case you thought it was a little strange that a word for “toy” or “trinket” would derive from a doubled syllable, bear in mind that English contains the similarly reduplicated term knickknack. Tchotchke was first recorded in English in the late 1960s.
HOW IS TCHOTCHKE USED?
For a reminder-through-association to work well it needs to be distinctive—something out of place that will catch the eye. To remind yourself to mail a stack of bills in the morning, for example, you might put a tennis ball on top of them …. And to remind employees to fill out the sign-up sheet for the holiday party, place it next to the brand new large snow globe on the receptionist’s desk and let people know to sign-up when they see the distinctive new tchotchke.
TODD ROGERS AND KATY MILKMAN, “A NEW WAY TO REMEMBER: THE POWER OF QUIRKY MEMORY JOGS,” SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, FEBRUARY 7, 2017
Michael Zegen, a star of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” is an unabashed hunter and gatherer. It runs in the family …. He says that tchotchkes make him feel good. “From the time I was a kid I’ve been into knickknacks,” said Mr. Zegen, whose collectibles include an orange Snoopy and a robot.
TONY CENICOLA, “THE FEEL-GOOD POWER OF TCHOTCHKES,” NEW YORK TIMES, NOVEMBER 27, 2018
LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2018 Harley-Davidson® FLHRXS – Road King® Special for $21,995.00
SEE IT HERE:: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=7906108
Industrial gray denim 2018 Harley-Davidson ROAD KING SPECIAL FLHRXS
Some of the features/Add-ons on this bike
* Black 18 inch Meat hook ape hangers
* Black Avon grips
* Highway pegs
* Black spike axle nut covers
* Black aftermarket floorboards
* Black ball-milled shifter knob
* Black ball-milled derby cover
* Color matched stretched saddle bags
* Satin Black Samson true dual fishtail exhaust
* Black ball-milled Rinehart Racing high-flo air cleaner/intake
* Blacked out front end
* Dunlap tires on front 19 inch and rear 16 inch Black wheels
* 107 Milwaukee 8
* 6 Speed transmission
This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 101-point safety and mechanical inspection. Whether you’re looking to commute to work, ride the coast or take that dream vacation, this bike is ready to go!!!
*******************90 day/1000 mile in house limited warranty!****************************************
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Monster Energy’s UNLEASHED Podcast Welcomes Motocross Champion Adam Cianciarulo–Episode 22 Interviews 25-Year-Old Dirt Bike Racing Prodigy and Team Monster Energy Kawasaki Rider
CORONA, California – January 10, 2022 – Kicking off the 2022 Supercross season with a special treat! Monster Energy is proud to host 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Series Champion and dirt bike racing prodigy Adam Cianciarulo on Episode 22 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny.
“I’m glad that I’ve reached this point that I’m able to go out there on Saturday nights and live my dream. Sports are always going to be up or down with results or injuries. But at the end of the day, there is nothing in my life that I would rather be doing.
It has been a crazy journey,” said Monster Energy’s Cianciarulo on the new edition of the UNLEASHED podcast.
Fans can now get the inside story of Cianciarulo’s pro motocross journey in this latest episode of UNLEASHED. Released today, the new podcast starring Adam Cianciarulo and special guest interviewer “Dirt Shark” Ash Hodges is streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
Cianciarulo has been riding dirt bikes for as long as he can remember. He started on his first minibike at age 3 and began racing one year later. His natural talent earned the native Floridian eleven AMA Amateur Motocross National Championships – still an unsurpassed record! As a pro, the Team Monster Energy Kawasaki rider kept collecting trophies, including the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Series Championship and the coveted AMA Pro Motocross Rookie of the Year award.
Raised in Port Orange near Daytona Beach, Florida, Cianciarulo was born with a need for speed. “My whole existence is really around dirt bikes. I got a bike when I was three years old and just started shredding around on it. I started racing locally when I was four and was pretty naturally gifted at it right away. So my parents were always super supportive and did everything to help me,” he said on the episode.
Soon enough, Cianciarulo’s natural talent allowed him to dominate far beyond local races and attract sponsors at a young age. “It kind of snowballed and became my life, I guess,” said Cianciarulo, who decided to pursue a career as a professional early on. “At age ten, I knew that’s all I wanted to do. I kind of understood the gravity as I get older. But in the moment, I just wanted to win! I just had that drive for it.”
In an unparalleled reign as an amateur racer, Cianciarulo became the winningest minibike rider in amateur motocross history. He clinched eleven AMA Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn, considered the Super Bowl of amateur motocross racing. But he always had his eyes set on fulfilling his lifelong dream of turning pro: “Any accomplishment in amateur racing was always about, how can I be a good pro? I wasn’t counting championships or counting checks. I was always like, how can I be one of those guys racing Supercross every Saturday night? I was just so focused on the process that success came naturally.”
In 2013, Cianciarulo turned pro for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki and soon became a force to be reckoned with in the 250 division. After years of battling for the top spot and a heated rivalry with Frenchman Dylan Ferrandis, he finally earned the national AMA championship in 2019. “I just have this desire to win dirt bike races. There is just something about me that I’m obsessed with it. I enjoy that feeling. I wake up every day, how the hell am I going to win?”
Since joining the 450 division in 2020, Cianciarulo has overcome injuries and worked tirelessly to perfect his racing skills. Speaking on the ultra-competitive league, he said on UNLEASHED: “The one thing about the 450 class is that the top fifteen guys have all won championships on 250s. So, your margin for error is just so small. The races are a little bit longer, the tracks are rougher. All the little things you don’t do well show ten times more!”
Heading into the 2022 season alongside teammate Jason Anderson, the prodigy is laser-focused on perfecting his skillset through daily training. “I figured out along the way that the joy is in the doing. To fall in love with the process of what you’re doing every day. And the results will come.” Asked what he most looks forward to in the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross season, Cianciarulo replied: “Winning!”
But better hear the full story yourself! Head over to the landing page to access Episode 22 of the UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny Podcast featuring Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Adam Cianciarulo.
The UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny Podcast is here to celebrate the personalities behind the Monster Energy lifestyle. With each episode dedicated to a unique guest or topic, listeners learn about living on the edge and advancing the state of the art in the world of high-energy sports as well as music, games, and pop culture from individuals at the top of their game. More than a drink, Monster Energy is a way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans – and the podcast is an extension of this unique DNA.
For more on Adam Cianciarulo and our team of motocross athletes visit www.monsterenergy.com. Also follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for exclusive content and athlete features.
[page break]
THE SCIENCE OF SCIENCE— this is the most sensible article ever written by someone not me.
–J.J. Solari
Investigator
Bikernet.com™
WARREN HEIR JR’S DEATH DEALER—
Warren Heir Jr. had his teeth cut for motorcycles when he was still a cub. His old man, Warren Heir Sr., ran a motorcycle shop out of the garage of their childhood home, and Heir Jr. spent time hearing stories about his father’s motorcycle escapades from all his various “uncles” — friends of the family who’d always hang around the shop.
Story By Choppers Magazine
Check Mama Tried for more info
THE HONEST BROKER: MAKING SENSE OF SCIENCE IN POLICY AND POLITICS, BOOK REVIEW–
Scientists have a choice concerning what role they should play in political debates and policy formation, particularly in terms of how they present their research. This book is about understanding this choice, what considerations are important to think about when deciding, and the consequences of such choices for the individual scientist and the broader scientific enterprise.
Rather than prescribing what course of action each scientist ought to take, the book aims to identify a range of options for individual scientists to consider in making their own judgments about how they would like to position themselves in relation to policy and politics.
Using examples from a range of scientific controversies and thought-provoking analogies from other walks of life, The Honest Broker challenges us all – scientists, politicians and citizens – to think carefully about how best science can contribute to policy-making and a healthy democracy.
–by Roger Pielke, Jr.
Cambridge University Press
NEW FROM RMJ–
We are proud to introduce the 3V Syndicate, and the introduction of the Sparrow into the Syndicate line-up. The 3V Syndicate is composed of three very select groups. One; RMJ USA’s highly skilled craftsmen and designers. Two; the hand-selected inner circle of our most dedicated dealers. Three; You, and the other purpose-driven users who seek the very best high end cutting tools.
All three groups are drawn together around top shelf products made from CPM 3V steel. This high end, American made tool steel is a lot like the members of the Syndicate, it’s cantankerous, extremely tough, and can be rough around the edges. CPM 3V is hard on the equipment used to shape it. Machinery, cutters, grinding belts, and the craftsman’s patience are all tested by this difficult to work steel. However, in the end, the tools crafted from it are worth the effort, they are the embodiment of American excellence.
Purchasing a Sparrow will give you access to the 3V Syndicate Safe House. As a 3V Syndicate member you are positioned for limited runs and exclusive products available only to members. Others need not apply!
The 3V Syndicate Sparrow is a compact bird and trout style fixed blade knife that excels in a concealed carry or everyday carry (EDC) capacity. You can use the Sparrow to cut an apple in the park without anyone being concerned that you have a dangerous weapon in your hand. It blends in well in both urban and rural settings and is a great companion for any type of adventure. The classic drop point blade has a Cobalt Cerakote finish for corrosion and glare resistance.
The 3V Syndicate Sparrow is finished with smooth carbon fiber handles scales for a stealthy look. The Sparrow comes with a molded kydex scabbard with two MAD straps that allow for scout-style carry (horizontal) and inside the waistband (IWB) vertical carry. It is also MOLLE compatible and can be set up to attach to PALS webbing on any pack, plate carrier, or similarly equipped gear. The Sparrow also includes a 3V Syndicate Coin, Leather Patch, and cherry presentation box.
Specifications
Overall Length: 7 in
Blade Length: 3.5 in
Cutting Edge Length: 3.125 in
Blade Thickness: .130 in
Weight: 2.3 ounces (without sheath)
Blade Material: CPM-3V (HRC 58-60)
Blade Finish: Cobalt Cerakote
Handle Material: Carbon Fiber
Sheath: Kydex scabbard
In the box: Sparrow Knife, Kydex Scabbard, Coin, Leather Patch, Cherry presentation box.
TRUTH ABOUT CARS— More Western Leaders Call for the End of Private Vehicle Ownership
If there’s anything that’ll get my stomach into a twist, it’s the government talking about the merits of reducing people’s ability to own things. Fortunately, the 36-hour flu I just experienced made me nigh-invulnerable and someone had forwarded me the latest on what U.K. Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Transport Trudy Harrison had to say about personal vehicle ownership. She’s very keen on public transpiration but not so interested in the plebian masses having access to their own, individual modes of transport.
Earlier this month, she told a virtual audience at shared transport charity CoMoUK that the United Kingdom needed to move away from “20th-century thinking centered around private vehicle ownership and towards greater flexibility, with personal choice and low carbon shared transport.”
Though the matter is hardly isolated to the U.K. In the United States, the San Diego Association of Government’s board of directors has recently passed its annual Regional Transportation Plan that originally included a provision to charge drivers a fee for literally every single mile driven. It’s sort of like the fuel tax, but worse since it applies an additional 4 cents per mile regardless of whether you’re burning liquid fuel or sourcing it from the grid using an electric vehicle.
Fortunately, that particular item received sufficient opposition to have it taken out of the plan. However, the board hinted that it wanted to revisit the item at a later date, because it believes the entire premise of its existence is to create a 30-year blueprint that encourages the region (encompassing 18 Californian cities) to transition away from personal vehicle ownership as a way to enhance public transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
While she never weighed in on it, we’re under the assumption that the UK’s transport minister is of a similar mind.
“Changing the way people consider car ownership and dependency will take time,” Harrison said during the CoMoUK conference. “Many things seem far fetched until they aren’t and I believe the same is true for shared mobility.”
I’m only aware of Minister Trudy Harrison’s position thanks to Motorious’ Steven Symes, who has been tracking the issue and likewise tied the U.K. plotting to what’s been happening on the Western Coast of the United States.
–By Matt Posky
Truth about CARs
–NMA
MOTORCYCLE TOURS FOR 2022–Adriatic Coast and Northern Islands
This tour is the shorter version of our famous Adriatic Coastal Adventure tour. Riding the stunning Adriatic Coast is something every biker should try and do at least once in their lives, it really is that special. If you want to spend your extended weekend riding one of the most scenic European rides along the coast of Adriatic, combined with beautiful hilly inlands of charming Istria, enjoying the glorious islands sunsets, this is the tour for you!
Adventure Roads Ltd
299a Bethnal Green Road
E26AH London, UK
info@mototourseurope.com
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY SCIENCE CLASS—Thought we should clarify after the movie, Don’t Look Up, was released.
Meteor vs. Asteroid vs. Comet: The Astronomical Differences Between These And More Terms
Meteors, meteorites, meteoroids, asteroids, comets … that’s a lot of terms (and space objects) flying around! Not to mention shooting stars and meteor showers. Are they all the same thing? Even though some of them may appear pretty similar to us, the answer is no, they’re not the same thing—especially not to the scientists who study them and who use different terms for specific reasons (more on them later).
You’re about to get a crash course in the differences and similarities—some subtle, some meatier—between meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids. You’ll also learn how they compare or relate to asteroids and comets. And you’ll even get some tips for when to spot them in the sky!
Quick summary
Meteoroid: A “space rock”—a relatively small object traveling through space, between the size of a grain of dust and a small asteroid.
Meteor: A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up.
Meteorite: A meteoroid, especially one that has hit Earth’s surface.
Asteroid: A rocky object that orbits the sun and has an average size between a meteoroid and a planet.
Comet: An object made mostly of ice and dust, often with a gas halo and tail, that sometimes orbits the sun.
–Dictionary.com
Got it?—Bandit
GOOD NEWS FOR 2022—We now have a bunch of Chopper and classic motorcycle magazines available. Cycle Source is still the king and if you want an informative classic bike magazine join the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. Hell, I saw the cover of Outlaw Bikers and got to glance through the most recent Easyriders Classic Magazine.
–Bandit
Foreseeable electric car catastrophes
Imagine: It is September 4, 2035 in Miami and a large Cat. 5 hurricane is offshore headed straight for Miami.
Roughly 7 million persons are in the general area where the hurricane will come ashore in 24 hours. The governor orders an evacuation of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area of Florida. All of the cars start heading north on I-95. All lanes are cleared to head northbound. With Congress and President Cortez having mandated that all cars built after 2030 must be electric (no hybrids) everyone heads north, but now they are caught up in a terrible traffic jam.
Hurricane Katrina on US Weather Service radar
Electric cars are starting to stall out on the I-95 as well as the A1A and the Turnpike as they run out of power. There are simply not enough charging stations to charge the cars and police monitoring the available chargers are limiting drivers to 15 minutes. Chargers are shutting down as water shorts out the charging heads on the cars. The electric cars are turning off their air conditioners to preserve their remaining charge.
You are stuck in the traffic jam all night with the storm headed right at you. No battery, no A/C/ no windshield wipers, no GPS. All that you can do is call 911 and hope for help, but they can’t because all the roads are blocked with stalled electric vehicles. The new electric police and EMT vehicles mandated by President Cortez soon are out of juice. The wind is increasing. Then Florida Power and Light turns off the grid as power lines come down.
How do you charge thousands of electric cars stalled in a traffic jam? Each car must be towed to a charger or given a quick charge just to get it off the road. With no A/C many elderly and infirm will die in their cars. In Florida or the Gulf coast thousands will surely drown.
Where is the electricity to charge these cars going to come from? Today’s grid is maxed out almost every day during the summer. No nuclear power. California has two nuclear plants and one is being totally decommissioned and the other is scheduled for decommissioning.
Lithium-ion batteries are toxic waste. Where is the infrastructure to recycle these “green” car batteries.
Oil was “discovered” for commercial development in Pennsylvania in 1859. With 150 years to develop the infrastructure and distribution system for oil and gas, we are blessed with a robust and reliable source of power. Modern gasoline powered cars yield almost no air pollution. Is it such a smart idea to trash this well-developed system to go “green”?
THE VINTAGENT CLASSICS–
‘Angels Die Hard’
A classic B-movie biker flick in which, for once, the 1%ers are the good guys, or at least, the victims of violent rednecks. It’s the first film distributed by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures: Corman launched countless careers in Hollywood, including James Cameron and Ron Howard – both big-time Oscar winners. This film is directed by Richard Compton, who went on to a very long career directing mostly TV series, from Baywatch to X-Files.
TATTOO ALERT FROM EUROPE: the muslimization of civilization continues the EU has outlawed tattoo ink.
It’ll be like heroin. you’ll have to get ink from the chinks and the wops and the spics. Get caught, 40 years in prison for tattoo ink. The Muslims run Europe now, kinda like they do here.
They don’t like tattoos, dogs, art, music, adult women, and non-Muslims. and that’s the SHORT list.
–J.J. Solari
Senior Investigator
Bikernet.com™
BANDIT’S KNUCKLESLED REPORT–Workin the first concept sketches for the Bikernet Knuckle Sled with different color combos. For this concept, I Chose a skinny 21” 40-spoke with dual large diameter polished brake rotors and small polished calipers.
Customized Blings Cycles gas tank. Handtooled leather sprung seat. Custom trumpets pipes. Rear 21” wide tire with Arlen Ness Taildragger fender. I’ll have more soon, traveling day.
Also starting to work on custom leather Key Fobs for Billy Lane at Choppers Inc for the first 7 or 50 custom motorcycle based around the Crocker he has. Read all about it in the New Classic Easyriders
All the best
–Adam Croft
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ARE PEDESTRIANS VERMIN? Philosophers Debate Anti-Automobile Notions
In November of 2021, an obscure philosophy article was given inordinate attention in the press, propelled by press releases from anti-automobile activist groups. The article, “The vermin of the street: the politics of violence and the nomos of automobility” by Robert Braun and Richard Randell, appeared in the journal Mobilities, published online by Rutgers University. Its thesis is that the street—the space between the curbs—is a lawless, violent domain where drivers may kill pedestrians without penalty as if they were vermin.
The article was seized on by activists trying to sell the notion that the auto is inherently violent and can’t be redeemed—only expelled. While the original philosophical piece went largely unread, commentary on it has been widespread by people wanting to restrict auto use.
Ill-formed ideas are sometimes dressed up in foreign words. Nomos meant “law” in fifth-century-BC Greece when ownership of land was first fought over, customs were evolving into law, and the obligations of citizens were being debated for the first time.
The law of the street has evolved over the 12 decades of the automotive era, starting out as custom and progressing into standardized vehicle codes. A recent wave of propaganda says that this was not a democratic evolution but an appropriation by hegemonic automotive industries. Should the law governing the rights of pedestrians and drivers now be overthrown, and absolute power given to pedestrians?
Democracy doesn’t like absolutes. The laws that gave motorists power between the curbs are the product of democratic government and the larger legal system. The journal authors acknowledge that the decision for automobility was the same in every country, under every system of government, even in developing countries with horrific traffic casualty rates. The present system is the result of 110 years of political decisions balancing mobility, risk, and competing street uses. It’s not going to be overthrown easily.
Sure, it’s a tragedy that most streets are no longer usable for quiet strolling, markets, or children’s playgrounds. They now have a higher function: giving the great mass of people access to their world. Activists quoting the Rutgers article evidence unashamed hostility toward mobility by the masses. Remember that auto means self. When anti-auto partisans militate against automobility, they want to deny people agency over their own movement.
The journal article describes the road as a “totalitarian” environment. This is an Orwellian shift in meaning. (“War is peace. Freedom is slavery.”) Such meaning reversals are becoming common in anti-democratic politics. In the anti-auto world view, driving is violence, the highway is totalitarian, and transit is liberating. In the real world, automobility is one of the great democratizing forces in history, while transit restricts travel to a few approved destinations and rigid schedules.
–NMA
ELECTRIC WORLD–Hah! not your ol’ man’s Knuckle.
Meet the Hyperfighter, a New Electric Naked Bike With 200 HP and a 146-Mile Range
The range-topper can also cover 146 miles on a single charge.
Read in Robb Report: https://apple.news/ANX9NStooRNaw_hvrti6PAg
Shared from Apple News
–Geno
HISTORIC DRAGSTER DEAL OF THE WEEK—Dan can complete and make this run. Bonnie Truett built the champion. It’s the last dual-engine dragster he built.
It’s a National Record holder and contains the best of the best stuff components. Lonnie Isam worked on it at one point.
If you’re seriously interested, give Dan a call 262-909-6937. He’s asking $35,900.
LATEST FROM THE COVID FILES–Have a look at this article in MSN today.
‘Can’t Eradicate This Virus’: Top Scientists In US, UK Say Covid Could Be Endemic
“There’s no way we’re going to eradicate this virus given its contagiousness, its propensity to mutate into new variants and the large pool of unvaccinated people,” Fauci said.
Fauci said that he hoped that the US will soon enter a transitional phase where it will be easier to treat high-risk Covid-19 patients. “The country will hopefully enter a new phase where there’ll be enough protection in the community, enough drugs available so that when someone does get infected and is in a high-risk group, it will be very easy to treat that person,” he said.
He also pointed out that particular point will indicate the US is transitioning and learning to live with the virus. Fauci, however, warned that with 1,200 deaths reported daily, the US has not reached that point.
UK cases drop
The UK reported 120,821 new cases and 379 new deaths on Tuesday but cases dropped, according to a report by news agency The Guardian. The report also outlined that the total number of cases over the past one week has dropped by at least 13.1% compared to the week before.
The UK’s Office for National Statistics says that at least 95% of the population in the UK have developed antibodies to Covid from vaccination, infection or both.
THIS JUST IN FROM DR. J.J. SOLARI:
Official response: There is no way to eradicate ANY virus. The flu mutates over and over but whatever it mutated FROM never disappears. THIS IS WHY THERE IS NO CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD!!!!! THERE’S TOO GODDAMN FUCKING MANY VARIETIES OF THE BASICALLY THE SAME VIRUS! THE FUCKING “PURPOSE” OF THE WINTER FLU AND THE COMMON COLD IS TO PUT THE FUCKING KIBOSH ON THE SICK AND ELDERLY OF THE HUMAN SPECIES!!!!! THE FLU VIRUS FAMILY IS A PREDATORY LIFE FORM THAT DEVOURS HUMANITY! AND LIKE ALL PREDATORS IT KILLS THE WEAK!! FUCKING THANK YOU!! GODAMMIT!!!
And, now that I have had three straight shots of Lapis-brand tequila, let me say, if I may, that in my opinion, based on just my examination of his insipid fucking face in newscasts and propaganda statements from his throne in DC, Fuckface Fauci is a soulless little piece of insufferable shit with some kind of weird agenda, which I have determined based on his listless rambling “explanations” of the annual cold and flu season which he has somehow singlehandedly transformed into a worldwide total loss of intelligence among the populace.
Not that the populace was ever intelligent. We’re where we are as a species because of the occasional individual who singlehandedly makes everyones’ lives better. Like Tesla. And Pasteur. And UN-like fuckface Fauci who singlehandedly, like all driven, ruthless, sociopathic wielders of power, makes everyones’ lives’ astoundingly worse. Fauci is one of these.
Look at his rambling vapid droning wandering very patiently elaborate “explanation” of 3rd grade health-and-safety about the common flu virus: like as though it’s suddenly some mighty and majestic anomaly. And that’s another thing: this whole Wuhan Schmoohan thing is a fucking fable. Designed to pretend that the annual cold and flu season is some clandestine secret lab monster accidentally let loose. The only fucking monster on the loose is Fauci.
Thank you. Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.
–JJ Solari,
Professor Enematis
Fuck U Niversity 101
THE ART OF GRATITUDE–Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie
Today, as I Pause to prepare myself for my day, I think about all the things that I should be Grateful for. I Let Go of all my fears, doubts, regrets, worry, stress, and negativity. I close my eyes and think how lucky I am to be able to take on another breath of healthy fresh air.
All I have to do is look around my house and see so many things that I am Grateful for, electricity, my computer, my desk, a kitchen full of food, hot water, a toilet, toilet paper and so much more.
I have been blessed with the gift of being able to walk, talk, read and write. I have been born in a country that allows me to be, do and have anything I want if I set my Mind to it. I am thankful for all my experiences both good and bad for I would not be the person I am today if I did not learn from all the lessons.
Namaste’
–YALE
Biker Philosopher
Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
THERE YOU HAVE IT—We are going to bring you my first bike feature in Easyriders, direct from the pages in about the 5th issue, but I will confirm it.
I’m about to complete the Sturgis storied 2021 run with my grandson and Jeff Holt as he rode out from the west coast for the first time.
We ran into Buck Lovell, once the editor of Hot Bike magazine. He told us about the hike to the Roosevelt Tower behind the Deadwood Lodge. It was fresh outside but the Redhead and I made it. Amazing, we could see the entire state from the stone tower.
We have this 38-inch in diameter Hamster piece hanging in the Deadwood pad, but we can’t seem to find out who the artist was or where it came from.
My grandson, Frankie, had a meeting with George from Choppers Mag about advertising. George is into his long chopper, perfect for Choppers Magazine.
Frankie outside catching a sunset. He never gets a sunrise. He sleeps till noon then hits the gym.
I’m going to have just a few of these shirts, produced by Hal Robinson’s ex. She’s held onto them for a long time. Hall drew this for Lou Kimzey, who wrote under the name Spider. Lou or Spider was a trippy guy.
A couple of Hamster brothers are helping me get my hands on a driveline for another project. One of them is Carl Pussar, who recently sold his shop and is on the move. But he didn’t stop building bikes. Here’s his latest coming together in his makeshift shop.
Hang on for next week’s news. In the meantime Ride Fast and Free Forever!
Don’t skimp on these 6 pieces of personal safety gear
By Kyle Smith |
It’s easy to become complacent with shop safety, especially when the effects of letting your guard down are not always immediate. Fact is, working on cars and motorcycles can be dangerous.
I was personally reminded of this truth a few weeks ago, when I put a coat of primer on my cleaned-up winter project XR250R frame. With the freshly sandblasted and wiped-down frame hanging in the garage, I started spraying paint, and it wasn’t long before the fumes reminded me I should be really wearing some type of mask or respirator.
All of that got me thinking that I should review my garage’s safety items. Here are some items of essential kit for the home DIY enthusiast:
Safety glasses
Working on cars is tough enough when you can see what you are doing. This hobby is a whole lot more challenging if you lose your sight. Eye protection is no joke. I have a friend who lost an eye to a screwdriver, and another who had to visit the ER after a single wire from a wire brush on a grinder went straight into his cornea. Neither of them is shy about explaining what a horrible experience it is to suffer eye damage, and these two situation don’t even account for the risk of caustic chemical spray or splash.
Simple safety glasses can save your sight. Much like everything else in the garage, it’s wise not to cheap out; spend a little money here to get glasses that fit you well and are comfortable. You won’t wear them if you don’t like them, and safety glasses only work if you wear them.
Personally I have Oakley M-Frame glasses with changeable lenses. I find them to have great coverage while also being all-day wearable. Look around your local hardware store or welding supply as they typically have a range of OSHA-approved options.
Nitrile disposable gloves
The skin is also the largest human organ. Folks often think skin serves to protect our insides, but it needs to be protected too. Solvents and oils can be quickly absorbed through the skin and carried in the bloodstream, to your liver, which can’t really do much with non-organic chemicals. Over time, these can build up and cause significant health problems.
Some basic, disposable nitrile gloves can make all the difference. Latex and other glove options don’t hold up well to the chemicals mechanics expose themselves to, and thus should be avoided unless they are the only option. Nitrile is really what you want, and be sure to source a thickness that will hold up to the task at hand. Gloves offer no protection if they are torn open.
Heavy leather gloves
Nitrile gloves will keep chemicals from absorbing into your skin, but they do very little to protect from heat, cold, vibration, or abrasion. That is where a pair of leather gloves can really help. Awhile back, I got some (well-deserved) comments on an article about using an impact driver reminding me that using one without a nice glove is a quick way to lose some skin. Whether it’s holding a punch while hitting it with a hammer, keeping safe while working with hot things like welded parts, or handling items you are trying to break loose with heat, leather gloves can be a lifesaver.
Hearing protection
There is often no treatment for hearing loss. The annoyance of pausing for 10 seconds to cover or insulate your eardrums pales in comparison to the frustration of struggling to hear. Protection for your ears comes in a few forms, and each has its merits. Over-the-ear muffs are convenient, in-ear plugs are affordable and transport easily, and custom-molded are all-day comfortable (and very durable). I took an afternoon and visited an audiologist to have my custom molds made. While there, I realized I was the youngest patient by decades, which hopefully means I won’t be returning any time soon.
Respirator
The short list above covers three of the five senses, and a respirator is all about making sure you don’t taste or smell harmful aerosols. We all have to breathe to stay alive, and a respirator is designed to make sure your lungs stay in a condition that allows you to keep breathing.
A commercial garage is rife with airborne compounds you should not inhale, and home garages are not much better. Aerosol solvents and paints all have damaging effects on human lungs and should be carefully avoided. Sawdust or grinding debris is no different. Paper or fabric masks are better than nothing, but a proper well-fitting respirator is the right tool for the job. I just picked up a nice 3M unit with replaceable cartridges that covers just about everything in my garage. Only thing to keep in mind is that the replaceable cartridges do have a shelf life, both in their packaging and once opened. Extend it by keeping them in sealed plastic bags labeled with the date they were put into use, and replace them regularly.
Auto-darkening welding helmet
I consider this one to be a bonus, because not everyone has a welder. But if you do I highly encourage you to splurge on a nice adjustable auto-darkening helmet. For me, the benefit was twofold when I first made the leap. First, this allows for more accurate welds and less eye strain because I could set the perfect shade opacity. Second, I was no longer tempted to just look away or close my eyes for quick tacks. The fact that I can now just leave my helmet on while readjusting the workpiece or shifting my position for better welds is especially useful. Bonus bonus: If you opt for a helmet with a “grind mode” that prevents the lens from darkening while using a grinder, it makes it a handy face shield while fabricating.
Stay safe out there!
Don’t skimp on these 6 pieces of personal safety gear
By Wayfarer |
Tech & Maintenance Essentials for every garage
by Kyle Smith from Hagerty.com
It’s easy to become complacent with shop safety, especially when the effects of letting your guard down are not always immediate. Fact is, working on cars and motorcycles can be dangerous.
Safety gear ensures you enjoy your work, your vehicle and your health for a long time to come.
In this brief article, check out some items of essential kit for the home DIY enthusiast.
CLICK HERE To Read this Feature Article on Bikernet.com
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