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The Springer Transformation

 
 
Looking back through photos on the computer, I have come torealize how much a man is influenced by the environment he allows himself to besubmerged into. I say this from my own experience as I am currently lookingback at the multi-faceted photo sharing sites and currently going through allthe pictures I have saved over the years.
 
As cell phones have improved, so hasthe picture quality and storage capabilities. It seems the old photo albumshave been replaced with JPEG files and you hardly see a real camera anymoreunless it’s a professional photographer like Michael Lichter or Josh Kurpius.
 
Ihave never been a great anything other than a great lover of ridingmotorcycles, imagining what I can do next to them, and as I’ve always said myfavorite bike will always be my next one. Well, that sentiment is changing as Ilook back on what very well be my favorite motorcycle from the past…my 2005Harley-Davidson Softail Springer Classic.
 
I bought this bike in August 2005right after my inaugural trip to Sturgis on the 100th Anniversary rattlecaned Fatboy with “Bars to the Stars”. That was also the year I met the O.G.Bandit for the first time.
 
 
I bought the bike from Mancuso Harley-Davidson in Houston,Texas after seeing it on the showroom floor. I had gotten a gift card for myrecent birthday and decided to get a t-shirt. Well, the t-shirt cost me morethan $25,000. Most Harley guys, at least the other yuppie dweebs like me, havemade the same journey.
 
But back to the story, the bike was a pristine versionof Harley’s “Revival” series before it ever existed. She came with the blackedout springer FL forks, tank trim, fishtail exhaust on both sides, a cheesegrater in the rear…basically a great starting point. Looking back, I should’vewent in a different direction with her and started making her look retro likethe 1949 Panhead I believe she was designed after. Instead, my new love ofchoppers, bobbers, and all things “cool” at the time drove me differently.
 
 
I rode the bike bone stock for an entire year. I had madethe famous lying quote more than once to my better half, “I love it just theway she is, I won’t change a thing.” For a whole year that rung true. Most ofmy trips were back and forth to work or the gym. I worked as an operationsforeman at a small chemical plant in Galena Park, Texas; right on the HoustonShip Channel. Because my hours fluctuated as I followed a 4 day on, four dayoff schedule, I was afforded the opportunity to spend a good amount of time inthe garage tinkering. This “tinkering” would usually result in my changing thebike again as I had an idea in my head of where it was and where I wanted it togo.
 
 
Most of my changeswere like most people, limited by 1) my financial situation and 2) my ability.I also had one other caveat, in that whatever change I made had to be completedin time for me to go to work as my bike was my main transport. So, as I started, the bike remained stockuntil the ride to Sturgis in 2006.
 
My buddy Mike and I had ridden home from The Mecca in 2005and decided we would make 2006 an epic trip. Well, during the trip I had alittle trouble with my pipes choking the bike, even glowing an almosttranslucent red on the rear head pipe from the jug all the way to thecrossover.
 
No modifications were made to this bike except what the dealer haddone, so in my mind it was stock and running too lean. Screw it, it’s warrantied, soI’ll ride her till she blows up…idiot. Mytop speed was 88 miles an hour (Throttle wide open all the way throughNebraska) and once I got home I noticed my brand new chromed Harley exhaust hada yellow/ brown nasty looking burn spot on the rear header, right muffler, andthe heat shields looked cooked.
 
Now, I know that sounds trivial, but when Ibought this bike, (my 3rd Harley, but 2nd brand newwithin 4 years) the salesman told me I had a “lifetime warranty on paint andchrome as long as I left it stock. Well, guess what happened when I went to thedealer and asked him the process to have my parts replaced? Yeah, he explainedthat warranty did not include the pipes.
 
He also stated because I added a setof throw-over saddlebags that I had added non-Harley parts to the mix, whichalso voids the warranty. Now, if you have ever met me you may have noticed myeyes slope down a little on the outside and may be set a little too closetogether, but I promise you I’m not downsy…I’ve been tested.
 
I couldn’t believewhat he was telling me and rather than fight it and waste my time, I decided togo a different route and start chopping up what I didn’t like. To be clear, thisputz didn’t last at that dealership long and I have no hard feelings to them, asthey treated me well over my life. This guy was a one off, and his ignoranceshould not reflect on an otherwise stellar dealership.
 
But this is in fact thatpoint where I started down the “I’m no Jesse James or Billy Lane, but I canchop this thing up” modification journey.
 
 
August 2006, time to chop and start the process figuring Iwill learn along the way. The first modification had to be exhaust, since that’swhere the start of the concern was. I took the burnt to hell mufflers off and setthem aside to sell. Looking back, it’s amazing the amount of parts I sold onE-bay at that time.
 
Today, I am more likely to sell it locally, but E-bay wasthe thing then and people paid well for H-D parts. After a quick call toBandit, a new set of Hooker Headers were headed my way. I tried to ride sansmufflers for a while, but besides looking dumb as shit, it also lost all backpressure and the bike ran like hammered dog poo. I even tried a small boltthrough the ends with a nut on top to give it a little back pressure, but itsucked.
 
So while I played with the exhaust, I decided the tank needed somechanges and I removed the metal strip and tank badge. The front fender had to go, although it is a wonderfullyfunctional piece and a beautiful FL fender with matching light, I stripped itand sold it. Now I was free to see that big fat front tire, which in my mindmade the bike look lower…more muscular.
 
See the table and pics below for the following journey.
 
 
Bobber article:https://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=246
 
List of major modifications and timeline:Bought Bike new in August 2005, reminded me of 1948 Pan.
 
December 2005-Added Mustache Engine Guard and throw oversaddlebags.August 2006-rode bike to Sturgis and back.August 31, 2006-Start of Choppin-removal of exhaust-startedat the mufflers.Removed toolbox.Removed Front Fender.I changed bars several times to get the right look and feel.Bandit sent me to Kent Weeks, of Lucky Devil Metalworks forsome inspiration and to learn “The Code”. It was obvious I was clueless asthere’s more to choppin than just cutting off crap.I sent Bandit a few pics proud of my “bobber”. Bandit immediatelycalled and explained why it looked terrible. He recommended pipes and a tunerto start. October 2006, I installed Hooker Header pipes and a TerryComponents tuner. I also removed the tank trim until I could decide onsomething better.December 2006 I cut down the stock seat and shaved all thefoam off. I re-covered the seat with a pair of chaps I had. Again, I sent picsto Bandit and he had to rescue me again. We talked through the details andHeartland Biker sent a 180 rear fender and seat my way. January 2007, I removed the stock fender and cut the frameto modify it so the Heartland kit would fit the bike. At this point, my wifewas sure I was either out of my mind or lost it entirely. No matter my scheduleat work, I was constantly messing with this silly bike.Again I played with different bars trying to obtain the lookand feel I was after.April 2007 I saved enough scratch to have the rear endlowered and have the stock 88 inch upgraded to 95” with cams. MAN WHAT ADIFFERENCE that made. This bike came alive. The lowered stance really improvedthe look and made the bike look even longer. I was falling in love.August 2008-The bike stayed that way besides minor barchanges over the next 18 months and I made a second trip to Sturgis on thebike.The slammed rear end and Heartland seat made it an absolute bear to ridemore than 50 miles. I mean, on the way home we were stopping every 65-70 milesso Mike could re-fuel his peanut tank on his rigid chopper. He rode my bike onestretch and said he’d stay with the chopper and it’s spring seat. Hmmm…that gotme thinking.Danny Fransen Bobbers and jockey journal to the rescue.October 2008-I found an old “tractor style Spring seat” onEbay and installed. LOVED LOVED LOVED it.December 2008-Installed wide rear wheel from Ebay and 180tire. Also installed 1932 Ford taillight/ stop lens and side bracket.This was how the bike stayed and how I rode it until Itraded the bike in. With just under 40,000 miles, this Springer Classic providedan education of sorts for both my family and I as I really became enamored withthe modification of a stock H-D. I learned that I am in no way meant to be acustom bike builder, so I just write about what I do so others can enjoy, pokefun, and maybe learn from my ignorance. Either way, I still ride and enjoy thepiss outta it, so it really doesn’t matter if people like it or not, just thatI enjoy it and am willing to share my love with others.Keep riding my friends, and share what you know with thosewho will listen Enjoy the New Year!
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Golden Age Kit from reputed Florida based NMoto custom Co

Nmoto Nostalgia based on present day BMW R Nine T inspired by BMW R7 pre-war prototype

from https://www.autoevolution.com by Cristina Mircea

Golden Age Streamliner Concept Turns Your BMW C 400 X Scooter Into an Art Deco Masterpiece

Massively spread all across the globe, the pre-war Art Deco style is all about glamour and luxury.

It left its mark on everything from buildings to jewelry, fashion, and of course the automotive industry. Aiming to recapture those exuberant times when style and craftsmanship were the norm, Nmoto welcomes motorists back into the Golden Age, with one of the coolest motorcycle concepts we’ve seen.

Born in France before World War I, the Art Deco international style impressed through its richness and exuberance, using expensive and rare materials. But it was also about modernism, trying to express the technological progress of those times.

Nmoto is a custom motorcycle manufacturer based in Florida and its creations make constant appearances at prestigious museums, festivals, and events such as the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, and the likes. There are currently eight models in its lineup, and the Golden Age is one of them.

Announced last year, the Golden Age motorcycle concept is a true masterpiece characterized by a vintage look and modern features. It is the newest design released by Nmoto, aiming to take you back to a time when transportation was about speed but also about skill and style.

Described as a modern incarnation of the 1936 Henderson Courtney Prototype, the bike is based on BMW’s C 400 X scooter. For those who are not familiar with the aforementioned prototype, it was a custom motorcycle built in 1936, at the peak of the Art Deco movement, by O. Ray Courtney. The guy specialized in building custom bikes and this particular one was inspired by the 1930 KJ Henderson and was his most popular build. Also as a side note, Henderson was a motorcycle manufacturer who was renowned for making the fastest and biggest bikes between 1912 and 1931.

Modern incarnation of 1936 Henderson Courtney Prototype, the bike is based on BMW’s C 400 X scooter

Back to our Golden Age, Nmoto sells this model as a kit for the BMW C 400 X scooter, which is powered by a 350cc engine that produces 35 hp. It can reach a top speed of almost 140 kph (87 mph). While its design is as retro and Art Deco as it gets, this streamliner is conceived to offer all the modern features and convenience of the C 400 X.

The Golden Age has a low center of gravity, it is powerful and makes for a great city cruiser, which is no wonder, given that it is based on the C 400 X. The design and reduced weight of BMW’s mid-size scooter make it a practical urban commuter that can tackle dense traffic and tight alleys.

Nmoto’s Golden Age custom bike kit comes in four finishes, with black, red, white, and teal being your available options. You can’t go wrong with either of them, as they all look absolutely gorgeous. The motorcycle is quite hefty at 425 lb (193 kg) and can hold two helmets, for both you and a passenger.

The bike keeps all the modern features of the C 400 X, including the connectivity dashboard with a 6.5” display, keyless ignition, Bluetooth connectivity, ABS (anti-lock braking system) and ASC (automatic stability control), Brembo disc brakes, the heated seat, and on-board computer, to name the most important of them.

Nmoto’s Golden Age kit includes a carbon fiber body made of nine pieces, front and rear subframes that are powder-coated, new headlight housing and adapter, new turn signal housings, as well as the headlight, turn signals, and rearview mirrors. You also get Golden Age badges for the rear part of the body, a kidney grille, side moldings, and grilles for the rear, an exhaust system relocation kit, premium mountings (original BMW Torx screws), and of course, instructions on how to assemble everything.

Starting at $12,490, the Golden Age kit is now available to order.

Visit their Website at: https://nmoto.com/

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The Jan 6 Bullshit Express Is Leaving The Station!

“Yet the hoaxes, conspiracy theories and attempts to rewrite history persist, muddying the public’s understanding of what actually occurred during the
most sustained attack on the seat of American democracy since the War of
1812.”_____AP hack of no consequence

This is a sentence of a Jan 1 article by a hack for the Ass-ociated Press,now widely reprinted by every other news cistern in America regarding the Jan 6th breaking-and-entering incident at the Rest Home for Aged Child
Molesters, often called “The Capitol Building.” Written by a hack who is worried about “the public” becoming confused. So, being the wise hack journalist failed novelist he is….he is going to save “the public” from falling into confusion or dismay. He will bring words of clarity and understanding.

Unlike what you – the public – have.

There’s a reason the world detests news hacks:
this failed novelist, or “journalist” as these untalented people call each other, is actually…..get this!……he’s actually calling a slowly moving wall of idiots in football paint over their bare chests, wearing moose antlers,
disregarding do-not-enter signs and wandering the hallways of taxation…..

He’s calling this sideshow of morons that had, at least, the reps and senators shitting their drawers “the most sustained attack on the seat of American democracy since the war of 1812.”

Do you know what the War of 1812 was? The war of 1812 was a major conflict between two entire fucking nations of vast global influence upon humanity: Britain and America. This fucking asshole journalist hack is
comparing an all-out war between two nations with histories of conquest, the British history of it being huge; battles between large armies with detailed strategies and armaments; losses of lives and fortunes on a major
scale…did I mention navies?….did I mention navies at all?……and this is being cited as on a par as a “danger to American democracy” as a horde of- probably drunk – weaponless, wriggling, sidestepping, leaderless
shitheads opening doors and looking into offices while gawking at the furniture and scratching at their balls.

THIS is the biggest sustained attack……wandering stoned and drunk through empty hallways…..on the
seat of American democracy since the war of 1812.

This isn’t rewriting history this is rewriting sanity. This asshole actually gets paid. By the AP. Not by the Podunk Times, but by the AP. The Gurus of Stupid in the front offices of the AP where this idiot “works” read this when
it came across their desk and they all got boners of love and admiration and said “This was MADE for our audience of losers.”

And just like that, it went to press and now it is revered by all the other news sewers as a masterpiece of insight.

Apparently a hundred Japanese warplanes vaporizing the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor does not come up to the horror of drunken housewives and rowdy grab-ass sports fans falling over each other enough to be called an
attack on American democracy.

Hirohito gets a pass from this asshole while Bullwinkle The Viking, making exuberant facial expressions like he
just won the neighborhood skateboard contest, is a threat to American democracy to be taken very seriously.

No one, not even a journalist, is that fucking stupid, I don’t care how many facemasks he might be wearing at the moment. For him to be ACTIVELY LYING would be a more respectable admission than, “Yeah, I am actually
that fucking stupid.”

So the more self-respecting admission would be,
“Yeah, I’m lying.” Because you can FIX a lie. And you can stop being a liar. But you can’t fix stupid. And you can’t decide to be from now on smart. So
of the two, being a liar would be a more welcome realization to one’s ego than a sudden realization that one was in fact moronically intellectually
fucked up to the point of actually fulfilling the definition of stupid. So, we have demonstrated that.

But he IS actively stupid. Don’t misunderstand me. For one thing he doesn’t know the definition of conspiracy. A conspiracy is something that is discovered and revealed. Statements, like the ones the insufferable piles of
imbecility called Q-Anon proclaim as existing…..are merely accusations without evidence or proof. Such as UFO’s always being assumed to be industrial-level spacecraft piloted by extraterrestrial beings rather than
“unidentified” flying objects.

If they’re unidentified….then they have not
been identified. Either as spacecraft or as moths. They’re U! fo’s. Not I! fo’s. It’s the same morass of insanity as “conspiracy” claims. They’re announcements: proclamations; slogans, like, say, “aluminum hats matter”
or “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should” – that may or may not have anything to do with actual reality until actually examined and researched.

Could be the claim is true for all I know. But whether the conspiracy exists, proclaiming its existence means you found out about it. So, it’s not still a conspiracy. So, you either get on board or you eradicate it. But no one ever
does anything about the “conspiracies” that people claim to be revealing.

So they are either totally harmless or no one cares. And if no one cares….then who cares?

Well, AP hacks care, apparently. Because these conspiracy theories have a different definition for this fucker: to him all conspiracy theories are untrue
by definition. Even though a revealed conspiracy is by definition not a conspiracy. It’s an accusation. You have to learn to think your way through legal, journalist, and political ever—evolving definitions of words because
all three groups are interested in one thing only: getting YOU to believe that total absolute horseshit is completely sensible….and must be obeyed.

But let’s get back to Q-Anon. Q-anon is idiotic. Just look at the “army” they inspired with their claims that the AP dope is calling “conspiracy theories”:
potheads, football fans and drunks in Valkyrie helmets.

Here’s the proof the Democrats and hacks are idiots: they’re AFRAID of these drunken clowns. Incidentally not one arson fire was started in the Capitol building and not
one Brave Representative of the Peoples Democracy was harmed. Because they fucking fled.

A janitor with a loud voice and a stern
expression could have stopped that breaking-and-entering of over-adventurous tourists. But then the mob would not have had any reason to harm a janitor: he never created a new legal way to fuck up the citizenry.

Ocasio of course proclaimed the loudest that her fear was the most justified. She must suspect America can’t fucking stand her because she lost no time in proclaiming that she was convinced her number was up.

I’ll give all the other cowardly representatives-of-the-people credit, they kept their mouths shut and didn’t admit they were shitting their pants. But no one
has EVER said Ocasio was more than a photogenic face in front of a nonexistent brain. And no one ever said she was courageous. Including her, now.

You may have noticed if you are older than 7 and paying attention that “democracy” when used by a Democratic Marxist, which would be any Democrat, means “any person or group opposed to the dictates of the
Democratic Marxist person or group.” To a democrat “democracy” means waiting for a corrupt election to occur: meanwhile patiently putting up with everything killing you until such time as you get to vote for its repeal. While 10 million more edicts you NEVER get to vote on become law. Democracy to a journalist Democrat/Marxist dunce who flees at the sound of thunder or
windows breaking means “enduring tyranny without fighting back.”

God forbid you fight back: you would see how weak and Ocasio-level cowardly your tyrants actually are. Meanwhile, if you MUST push and shove your
way into the Capitol building, remember, breaking and entering IS actually frowned upon by the Left AND the Right. But it’s not insurrection.

Despite what hacks at the AP say. It’s breaking and entering.

–J.J. Solari

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Try the Climate Quiz by CO2 Coalition

The Great Climate Change Debate is one of the “hottest” issues before the public and policy makers today.

How much do you know about the subject?

Or possibly, the real question is one attributed to American humorist Will Rogers: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

Find out your Climate IQ by taking our Climate Quiz: the answers may surprise you.

CLICK HERE To Take the Climate Quiz Now

The CO2 Coalition was established in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) for the purpose of educating thought leaders, policy makers, and the public about the important contribution made by carbon dioxide to our lives and the economy.

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Motocross Legend Carey Hart Customizes Indian Chief

feature article by Hannah

Hart customized a 2022 Indian Chief Dark Horse for The Walking Dead and The Punisher star, Jon Bernthal.

Hart channeled his high-performance, motocross background in the style and design of the bike, with classic, clean lines and sporty, performance features.

Hart is one of the most recognized names in all of freestyle Motocross. His father bought him his first motocross bike when he was only four years old in hopes of spending some quality time with his son.

However, what had originally started as a father and son pastime quickly turned into Carey’s passion. By the time he entered his first local race as an amateur, he was hooked and by high school graduation, he was a professional Motocross rider, racing AMA Supercross circuit.

CLICK HERE To Read this Photo Feature Article on Bikernet.com

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Get the Free Weekly Newsletter by CLICKING HERE

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Happy New Years Bikernet Weekly News for December 30, 2021

Looking Forward to Next Year with News from Around the World

Hey,

I’ve been telling friends in a joking manner that 2022 will be a much better year than 2021, “I promise.”

That’s my optimism pouring forth. I believe it. I believe there is room for truth.

I believe the media will open up and find balance. I believe we will correct our course for freedom and America, or die trying…

We will continue to ride free forever…

–Bandit

CLICK HERE To Read the Weekly News on Bikernet.com

Including news from the Center for Industrial Progress, Gas Prices, Dr. Judith Curry, Climate Depot, Indian Motorcycles, India, Cycle Trader, Brough Superior, Indian Chief, Vincent Black Shadow, Sportster, Triumph Bonneville, Norton Manx, BMW R80, Ducati 999, Tesla, Batteries, Epoch Times, Klock Werks, Trask Turbo, Bandit’s Cantina and so much more.

Join the Cantina for more – CLICK HERE

Get the Free Weekly Email Newsletter – CLICK To Sign Up

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HAPPY NEW YEARS BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for December 30, 2021

Hey,

I’ve been telling friends in a joking manner that 2022 will be a much better year than 2021, “I promise.” That’s my optimism pouring forth. I believe it. I believe there is room for truth. I believe the media will open up and find balance. I believe we will correct our course for freedom and America, or die trying…

I’m just a grubby biker. I’m not a scientist, but I can read, and I do read a lot. As a biker, and for the future of motorcycling, I demand the truth. I’ve read the doom and the anti-doom. I want the truth to shine. I don’t get it. How could any control freak dare to use the hearts and minds of children to push their agenda? How could any media outlet do the same and not demand to share the absolute truth.

Here’s what blows my mind, and I know brothers all over the world think the same thing. So, the Greens want to force kids to hate their folks for driving an SUV. The SUV that takes them to the school built with fossil fuel technology, to stare at a computer made from fossil fuel technology, where almost everything in the school is made from fossil fuel technology. Hello?

Hell, their windmill and solar panels are made using fossil fuel technology. WTF. Give me the truth. 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.

Tracey’s Top Riding NEW YEARS Resolutions–

(Note: You won’t find “cleaning” or “maintenance” on my list ‘cuz I like to spend the limited time I have riding instead, but those are good things too!)

Ride More Often (easier said than done in Minnesota some years)
 
Plan an Epic Road Trip. Better yet, resolve to go TWO places you haven’t ever been; they don’t even have to be far away
 
Participate in a Group Ride (or several…)
 
Get Inspired. Watch Long Way Round or The Place Beyond the Pines (or any number of biker flicks). If reading is more your thing, check out Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (which isn’t about maintenance at all) or other books about motorcycling.
  
Share the Love. Encourage others to get in the saddle (and to take an MSF class)
 
Get a Second (or Third?!) Motorcycle (oh, wait, I did that this year… but don’t let that stop you!)
 

The point is to look forward rather than back… ‘cuz that’s where the good stuff is: ahead of us!

All our Best,
Tracey & Tim
Leader Motorcycle Accessories

GROWING GAS PRICES–Talking Points on skyrocketing oil and gasoline prices

Skyrocketing oil and gasoline prices are a failure of anti-oil politicians, who artificially restricted the supply of oil

Skyrocketing oil and gasoline policies are not a failure of the oil industry. They are the total failure of *anti-oil politicians*, who have artificially restricted the *supply* of oil with massive restrictions and threats to oil production and transport.

Elizabeth Warren says gasoline prices are rising “because giant oil companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil enjoy doubling their profits.” Joe Biden says “companies have not ramped up the supply of oil quickly enough.”

These anti-oil politicians should blame themselves instead.

Contrary to rhetoric by Elizabeth Warren and others, oil and gasoline prices are not rising “because giant oil companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil enjoy doubling their profits.” If oil companies could control prices they would have done so during often-unprofitable 2015-2020.2

The most direct cause of rising prices is supply and demand. As our Energy Secretary says, “As we come out of an unprecedented global economic shutdown, oil supply has not kept up with demand.” But why not? Because anti-oil policies have prevented supply from meeting demand.

There is no physical reason the oil industry can’t meet rising demand. The world has hundreds of years’ worth of oil deposits. There is no technical reason the oil industry can’t meet rising demand. It is more capable than ever thanks to amazing technologies like fracking.

If there is no physical or technical reason the oil industry can’t meet rising demand, what is inhibiting it?

Decades of rising restrictions on oil production and transport from anti-oil politicians–including Biden’s massive threats to punish oil production going forward.

Perhaps the greatest limiter of the supply of oil has been anti-oil politicians’ constant threats to severely restrict or even ban oil production going forward. E.g., when Joe Biden promises “I will end fossil fuel” and then becomes President, oil investors run for the hills.

Is it any wonder that, threatened with punishment, investment in oil and gas has declined dramatically? Between 2011 and 2021, oil and gas exploration investments declined by 50%. Less investment = less supply = higher prices.

Anti-oil politicians’ restrictions on infrastructure, especially pipelines, have reduced the supply of oil by making it difficult or impossible to transport US oil to international markets. If not for these restrictions we’d be producing more oil, with lower prices for everyone.

The dynamic US oil industry could be rapidly increasing production to take advantage of higher prices. But thanks to anti-oil politicians’ threats to oil investors and infrastructure opposition, the US is ramping up production more slowly than OPEC!

If not for Joe Biden and other anti-oil politicians around the world radically restricting the production/transport of oil, as well as threatening oil companies and investors, the global oil industry would have rapidly adjusted to rising demand—and prices would be far lower.

The cause-and-effect of unnecessarily high oil prices is simple:

1. Anti-oil politicians around the world artificially restricted the *supply* of oil with massive restrictions/threats.

2. These restrictions prevented supply from keeping up with demand, and prices went way up.

“Build Back Better,” aka “Make Everything Worse,” promises to further restrict US oil production and increase prices via:
1. new bans on offshore drilling,
2. a costly methane tax that only applies to US production, and
3. many other oil taxes and penalties.

It must be stopped.

–Alex Epstein
Center for Industrial Progress

NINE Famous Bikes That Inspired Us– Do you remember the very first motorcycle that blew you away? The bike that demonstrated insane power, or went faster than you thought possible. Or the ride that just looked so cool while being operated by our favorite racers or celebrity bikers.
 
 

Yep, we still get tingles remembering those epic motorcycles too, which is why we’re taking a look back at some of the best bikes that changed the world of motorcycles and motivated so many to join the lifestyle. Collected by Cycle Trader, here are nine famous bikes that inspired us to ride.

1.Brough Superior SS100

Considered the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles—and the very first superbike—Brough Superior SS100 emerged in the British market between 1924 and 1940. With a custom design and build by racer/manufacturer George Brough, these bikes boasted speeds of 100 miles per hour, which was an exception for the time.

2.Indian Chief

Indian Chief boasted power and speed when it was first unleashed in the American market. As a top-selling bike for the company, Chief was a crowd-pleaser and emblem for years, known for easy handling, smooth riding, and high speeds. It’s earned collector status since original production stopped in 1953. Since then the Chief has undergone a modern revival and it’s immediately recognizable when roaring down the street.

3.Vincent Black Shadow

By the middle of the 20th century, Vincent Black Shadow was claiming its bike was the fastest motorcycle the world had ever seen in the commercial market, reaching a top speed of 125 miles per hour. Only 1,774 of these British bikes were made from 1947 to 1955, and in recent years one was auctioned off for nearly $1 million.

4.Harley-Davidson Sportster

Ever since its introduction in 1957, the Sportster has been an icon for Harley. More than half a century later it’s still in production as a symbol for the company and status for the brand’s riders. While over the years the engine has changed, the fanbase for this stylish and powerful American bike has remained.

5.Triumph Bonneville

When British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph introduced Bonneville in 1959, it was an instant classic and the company defined its legacy. “Bonnie” gets its name from Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats where the bike broke motorcycle speed records at nearly 115 miles per hour. Its popularity continued in the preceding decades with a modish design helping to earn its legendary status.

6.Norton Manx

For years this British racing bike dominated the Grand Prix and Isle of Man TT until its last model produced during the 1960s. Part of the Manx legacy is due to its design: a featherbed frame for improved handling, speed, and performance. Reliability, affordability, and the bike’s ability to help racers add to their trophy collection gained its popular reputation throughout the world.

7.Honda CB750

Known as the original Universal Japanese Motorcycle, Honda’s CB750 evolved with a sport bike layout and a reputation as a superbike with its introduction in the 1960s. Bringing with it entire generations of new riders for its power, speed, and efficiency, this bike brought the company to the world stage and made Honda a household name.

8.BMW R80 G/S

The multisport bike was designed to fit off road and on the street, and with its roll out in the 1980s, BMW had created the first ever adventure bike. Its durability and ability to manage terrain has inspired the market’s dual-sport bikes and riders to explore uncharted territory with motorcycles.

9.Ducati 999

Italian manufacturer Ducati has produced a number of world-class bikes known for their high speeds and maneuverability in motorcycle racing. The 999 was introduced in the early 2000s with complaints about its design, but the bike quickly hushed critics with its performance in World Superbike. With its 999S and 999R versions, the bike is able to reach a top speed of 170 miles per hour.

Conclusion: From superbikes to collector motorcycles, the performance and design of these iconic rides have left an epic biking legacy of inspiring thousands of riders to conquer the open road. They are classics that have become major brands and have given us all a sense of pride. Looking for your own famous bike? Check out all the new and used motorcycles on CycleTrader.com!

–Ryan Miller
CycleTrader

NEWS FROM THE BALL BRIGADE—We have new stuff coming from new full sleeved leather shirts, new tattoos from Frank Ball Jr., new brown leather dayrolls and more.

Frankie is penning new T-Shirt art for Bartels’ Harley-Davidson.

He did this in Frisco at a Tattoo gathering. I’ve told him that slogan several times. It was told to me by a Richmond Hells Angel in ’75.

–Bandit

TESLA NEWS--Finland Man Blows Up His Tesla After Claiming to Face $22,000 Replacement Battery Bill

A man in Finland has blown up his Tesla vehicle with 66 pounds of dynamite in defiance over the cost of a new battery after he claimed to face a $22,000 repair bill.

Tuomas Katainen, who lives in Jaala village in south Finland’s Kymenlaakso, exploded his 2012 Tesla Model S at a former quarry in a video uploaded to YouTube.

The Tesla S model 2012 cost around $57,400 to $77,400 when it was released.

Tesla’s warranty covers battery replacements if the capacity drops below 70 percent within 150,000 miles or eight years of purchase, leaving some owners of the older models facing large repair bills.

The video, which is over eight minutes long, shows Katainen and a group of people loading the car with the dynamite before notably placing a dummy with Elon Musk’s face on it inside the car.

The vehicle then explodes into pieces amid a rather serene and picturesque scene of snowy mountains.

“When I bought that Tesla, the first 1,500 km were nice. It was an excellent car. Then error codes hit. So, I ordered the tow truck to take my car in for a service. So, the car was at a Tesla dealer’s workshop for about a month. Finally, I got a call that they cannot do anything for my car and that the only option is to change the whole battery cell,” Katainen said in the YouTube video.

He didn’t reveal the total miles the car has been driven or show proof of the would-be repair bill in the video.

The Epoch Times reached out to him for comment.

“The cost would be at least 20,000 € ($22,000), and permission to operation has to ask Tesla. So, I told them that I’m coming to pick up the Tesla. Now I’m going to explode the whole car because apparently there is no guarantee or anything,” he added.

Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk—who has said he will pay more than $11 billion in taxes this year—is the world’s richest person with an estimated net worth of $244.2 billion, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire’s list.

Battery issues are not the only problems, Tesla vehicle users have encountered, as safety issues have also been raised over a number of the vehicle’s features, including its autonomous driving features.

In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal probe into Tesla’s Autopilot and full self-driving (FSD) systems following nearly a dozen crashes with parked emergency vehicles that left one person dead and injured 17 others.

According to an NHTSA document issued on Aug. 13 (pdf), the agency’s Office of Defects Investigation was probing 765,000 Tesla vehicles—Models Y, X, S, and 3, from model years 2014 to 2021. On Aug. 31, that investigation was expanded to cover a 12th incident (pdf).

In October, Tesla withdrew its latest version of its FSD beta software just one day after it was released after noting “some issues,” and said it would roll the software back to version 10.2 for now.

While Musk didn’t specifically mention what the issues were, he noted that Tesla’s internal quality assurance had found problems with some left turns at traffic lights.

“Regression in some left turns at traffic lights found by internal QA in 10.3. Fix in work, probably releasing tomorrow,” Musk said at the time.

Earlier this month, the NHTSA said it was in discussions with Tesla to replace cameras in some U.S.-made vehicles after it was made aware of an issue related to faulty Autopilot cameras.

The Tesla CEO said this month that no other CEO on the planet cares as much about safety as he does and insisted that he had not misled Tesla’s customers about the company’s self-driving technology, including Autopilot and FSD, and any potential risks to their safety.

Musk has sold nearly $14 billion worth of Tesla stock since November and the electric vehicle maker is worth about $1 trillion.

–By Katabella Roberts
EPOCH TIMES

KLOCK WERKS TO BE TITLE SPONSOR OF TRAVIS WYMAN RACING BMW AT MOTOAMERICA SEASON FINALE–Wyman also to compete in MotoAmerica King of the Baggers exhibition for Trask Performance.

Travis Wyman Racing BMW is pleased to announce Klock Werks will be the team’s title sponsor for the season-ending MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey, which takes place Oct. 23-25 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

The South Dakota-based company makes a wide range of parts and accessories for motorcycling and off-road enthusiasts and will have its branding displayed prominently on the team’s 2020 BMW S 1000 RR.

“I met Brian Klock years ago while I was working for Kuryakyn,” Wyman said. “When I approached Brian about joining my team’s family of sponsors, he was enthusiastic about getting on board. I’m really happy about the opportunity to help get the word out about Klock Werks’ quality products to MotoAmerica fans across the nation.”

“Since I met Travis in 2012, I’ve been very impressed with his professionalism and passion for the sport,” Brian Klock said. “With a little bit more support, I believe Travis can become one of the most successful riders in MotoAmerica.

Wyman also is set to race for Trask Performance in the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers exhibition race, in addition to competing one Stock 1000 Class race and three Superbike races.

Phoenix, Arizona-based Trask Performance is one of 14 companies invited by MotoAmerica to participate in the exhibition. The bike Wyman will compete on is a 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide that was built specifically for the King of the Baggers.

Trask Performance founder Nick Trask said the motorcycle generates about 200 horsepower from its turbocharged, 107 cubic-inch engine. Wyman put some laps in aboard the Trask machine at Arizona Motorsports Park on Sunday and said he felt very comfortable while riding the bike.
 

How to Watch

All three Superbike races slated for the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey are to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2, Eurosport and the MotoAmerica Live+ streaming service. The Stock 1000 race is to be broadcast on MotoAmerica Live+ and on Facebook Live, and the King of the Baggers race will be broadcast on MotoAmerica Live+ only.

Coverage of Sunday’s first Superbike race starts at 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific. The third and final Superbike race of the weekend takes place at 6 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Pacific.

To learn more about MotoAmerica Live+, visit https://www.motoamericaliveplus.com.

QUICK, BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–Three Promises

President Biden visits a remote Native American reservation. With news crews following him around as they tour the place, the President asks the chief if there is anything they need.

“Well,” says the chief, “We have three very important needs. First, we have a medical clinic, but no doctor to man it.” Biden whips out his cellphone, dials a number, talks to somebody for two minutes, and then hangs up. “I’ve pulled some strings. Your doctor will arrive in a few days.” “Now what was the second problem?”

“We have no way to get clean water. The local mining operation has poisoned the water our people have been drinking for thousands of years. We’ve been flying bottled water in, and it’s terribly expensive.”

Once again, Biden dials a number, yells into the phone for a few minutes, and then hangs up. “The mine has been shut down, and the owner is being billed for setting up a purification plant for your people. Now what was that third problem?”

The chief looks at him and says, “We have no cellphone reception up here!”

–Sam Burns
Certified Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina™

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY PHILOSOPHY CLASS
This writing took some effort for me to find the right words. I hope it resonates in the right way with you

Come Together
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” – Dalai Lama XIV

Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.
–Sitting Bull

I remember when the Beatles release this song, Come Together. There were many interpretations of the meaning it, but today the most important is that we come together as a world in the right way.

It seems that so many of us of come together in feeding on the prophets of doom and gloom. The collective consciousness seems to be fixated on covid and negativity. No matter where we turn, we are reminded of covid. You cannot walk into store, restaurant, building without some reminder, and 50% of every news cast is covid related.
If it is not covid then it’s the economy, and not the economy it’s the weather. How many segments have there been on how to prevent covid through good health?

We sure don’t hear a whole lot of positive stuff. Do you remember of all the great deed stories that people did around Christmas. Well, I sure did not hear many of these this year?

Along with that we have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms that keep feeding the negativity.

There is a collective Consciousness that is fixated on the prophets of doom and gloom. I believe it is time for Positive Revolution. Let’s collectively make a conscious shift to stop listening or participating in negative conversations. How about we start listening to the news a little less to start. Maybe Pause and make a list of 5 or more things your grateful for every day. Possibly block someone who is constantly posting negative stuff.

I know that this doesn’t sound like much, but I believe if enough of us make a conscious shift we can make a change. The Universe will respond to our collective thoughts positive or negative. Let’s fill the world with Good Thoughts. We can be part of the solution.

A Thought

As I begin this day, I unite with others to make a Positive change. I begin with recognizing 5 things that I am Grateful for. I will only watch or listen to the news once today, if not at all. I will hold thoughts that I am in perfect Health. I will not judge or gossip. I refuse to participate in any negative conversations. I block posters who keep sending me negative stuff.

Today I will come together with others who see through all of this to know Good is unfolding. The World is Amazing and so is our futre.

And So It IS
 

Namaste’

–Yale

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
 
– The Dalai Lama

PHOTO OF THE WEEK–The new year is upon us, God help…

Have a great week

–Barry G

BANDIT’S KNUCKLESLED KICKS OFF—Adam Croft contacted me about the new shop project bike. He offered to design the sprung seat and sketch up a concept drawing for the bike. The best I could, at this juncture I described my notions:

Regarding my concept for next year, I’m going to attach a photo of a traditional chop that contains the basic configuration. My Bandit’s Knucklesled will have a stock VL, single loop frame with a stock XA, H-D front end. It’s going to be made for me at 6’4”. Here are the elements we can mess with, although it will be mostly traditional with no wild billet stuff, except maybe disc brakes and the belt primary drive.
 
 

The engine will be an S&S Knucklehead with I’m hoping an evo 5-speed trans and an Evo electric start, so no kicker. It will need to have high bars with about 6-inch CCE or Paughco dogbone risers. I’m not a sissybar fan, but something short is okay.
 
 

I want the bike to have a badass attitude, but not with skulls or snakes, just the stance. So, we can mess with the highbars, the pipes, the tank and the rear fender. Oh, of course the seat or perhaps a P-pad. Also, the headlight could be part of the theme.

Maybe, badass is not the term, but tough as nails. I want it to give the impression of a bike no one will touch without permission. We need to work on the paint scheme. No heavy molding, but I just had a thought. So, say we go with 5-Ball Orange theme. So the frame and tank will be orange, but the rear fender will be black, along with some engine parts. Maybe a 5-Ball will be painted on the tank followed by a flame.

–Bandit

QUICK, POINTS FOR 2022

“The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.” – Al McGuire

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.” – Albert Einstein

“War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.” – Ambrose Bierce

“It would be nice to spend billions on schools and roads, but right now that money is desperately needed for political ads.” – Andy Borowitz

“At every party there are two kinds of people – those who want to go home and those who don’t. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other.” – Ann Landers

“My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I’m right.” – Ashleigh Brilliant

“Have you noticed that all the people in favor of birth control are already born?” – Benny Hill

“The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us.” – Bill Watterson

“As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.” – Buddy Hackett

“My favorite machine at the gym is the vending machine.” – Caroline Rhea

“All right everyone, line up alphabetically according to your height.” – Casey Stengel

“Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.” – Dave Barry

“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” – Edward Abbey

“How many people here have telekinetic powers? Raise my hand.” – Emo Philips

“If you live to be one hundred, you’ve got it made. Very few people die past that age.” – George Burns

“Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away.” – Benjamin Franklin

 

[page break]

NEW FULL THROTTLE MAG AVAILABLE–NEW MAGAZINE IS NOW ONLINE

JANUARY 2022
FULL THROTTLE MAGAZINE

 

SUBSCRIBE TO BIKERNET EMAIL BLASTS—Do us a big favor and sign up for our email blasts once a week. It’s free, it’s not just promotional material. It’s all about freedom and motorcycle news. Again, it’s free, always free. We won’t ask you to do anything, like sign-up for something or pay for more.

–Bandit
Grand Wizard
Bikernet.com™

PAINT JOB OF THE WEEK—From an Italian artist, who goes by the name Solo.

–Mike Stevenson

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY KINDNESS DEPARTMENT— God’s Wife…Priceless

IT WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF

I especially liked number 5!

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
 

The purpose of the Contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was:

1. A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old Gentleman’s’ yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
 

When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, ‘Nothing, I just Helped him cry.’

*********************************************

2. Teacher Debbie Moon’s first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted.

 
A little girl said, ‘I know all about Adoption, I was adopted..’

‘What does it mean to be adopted?’, asked another child.

‘It means’, said the girl, ‘that you grew in your mommy’s heart instead of her tummy!’

************************ *********************

3. On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first- base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was ‘We’re behind 14 to nothing,’ he answered with a smile.

‘Really,’ I said ‘I have to say you don’t look very discouraged.’

‘Discouraged?’, the boy asked with a Puzzled look on his face…

‘Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t Been up to bat yet.’

*********************** **********************

4. Whenever I’m disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.

Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he’d set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen.

On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. ‘Guess what, Mom,’ he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me….’I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer.’

*******************************************

5. An eye witness account from New York City , on a cold day in December, some years ago:
 
A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.

A lady approached the young boy and said, ‘My, but you’re in such deep thought staring in that window!’

‘I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,’ was the boy’s reply.

The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.

She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel.

By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy’s feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes.

She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, ‘No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.’

As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her:

‘Are you God’s wife?’

*******************************************

Hope this put a smile on your face it sure, did mine!

–Joe Smith

TRAILRIDE NEWS–While you may not be able to pull off a ride to the South Pole, you can participate in one of the best trail rides in North America.

Entries just opened for the 2022 Nevada 200 Trailride hosted by Dakar veteran and Dealernews columnist Scot Harden. But don’t wait until the new year to register! A strict cut-off means entries have historically been hard to get, and the fact that the Nevada 200 was rated “The Best Trailride In America” by several publications will make it that much harder to get a spot.

Harden says the 2022 event will feature 200 miles of some of the best single and two track riding in the country, “with a couple of new twists.” Based out of the remote railroad town of Caliente in Eastern Nevada, the event is attended annually by some of the biggest names in the sport, so don’t be surprised to line up next to someone like roadracing legend Kevin Schwantz or US Outdoor, Supercross and World Motocross champ Grant Langston.

“This is a bucket list ride for many so don’t hesitate to enter as entries are limited,” Harden notes. “As much fun as we have, it would not be possible without our generous sponsors.” The Nevada 200 is supported by Motion Pro, KLIM, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, Seat Concepts, Beta Motorcycle, 100%, Rigid Industries, Kristi Harden Real Estate, A’Me and sanctioned by the AMA.

For more information including videos, photos, articles on past Nevada 200 Trailride events visit www.harden-offroad.com

–Dealernews

WISDOM & ENLIGHTENMENT FOR 2022–
 

“Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas.” – Charles Kettering

“Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings.” – Jonathan Huie

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” – Thomas Jefferson

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” – T.S. Eliot

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paulo Coehlo

“Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard

“Everything in life is centered on the next move.”

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” – Vern McLellan

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” – William E. Vaughn

“You can’t ride if you fear the road.” – Ujjwal Dey

–Wayfarer
Senior Philosopher
Bikernet University Hillside Thought Center
Pillar Peak, South Dakota

FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. JUDITH CURRY– Christopher Balkaran

Yeah. I think that warrants a separate discussion on what journal articles are getting approved and funded and, and how that shapes public opinion. I wanted to talk to you because people said, “Christopher, you agreed too much with Judith Curry on your podcast!” So, you need to challenge her.

One thing that some mentioned was that in your articles, you talk a lot about food security, water and energy. And it kind of is divorced from the emissions discussion. And so I wanted to know from you, because here in Canada, we’re experiencing really severe weather patterns in the west coast and British Columbia right now. And as I was reading those, I was thinking exactly about what you said, which is why don’t we focus on our wastewater management. It seems that when we talk about climate change, that’s muddled into the emissions discussion. And reducing emissions seems to be the number one priority. Why do you think it’s important that we separate the two and respond to each kind of differently?

Judith Curry

The whole issue of climate change adaptation has taken second or third seat behind emissions. Even if we do manage to fix the emissions problem, you’re still going to get crazy floods and storms in British Columbia. I mean, they’re not going to go away. You can say, well global warming makes it 3% worse – maybe it does, but it’s not like these storms still aren’t going to occur. So, the whole issue of reducing vulnerability and adapting to weather extremes and sea level rise should transcend the global warming debate.

We need to reduce our vulnerability to these weather and climate extremes. Many places have too much water or too little water, even in the same region during different seasons. So, the challenge is to better manage the reservoirs and sewage systems. You need to figure out how to manage your water so you can buffer against the extreme wet and the extreme dry. And building in floodplains and right on the coast just causes problems. These issues are soluble and the big driver here is not that they might be impacted at a few percent level by man-made global warming. Even if we fix man-made global warming, these problems won’t go away.

That’s why I emphasize solutions that support human wellbeing, minimize losses and so forth and so on. And food is another issue. We produce enough food globally, the challenge is getting it distributed in the right places. Helping places produce their own food in developing world, making better decisions about their agriculture, would substantially support human well-being.

My company just got funded for a new project to develop an agricultural forecast system for one of the states in Pakistan. We’re working with an NGO and agronomists who are on the ground in Pakistan. We provide the forecast information so they can make better choices about which seeds they plant for a given season.

They can time their planting based on monsoon onsets. And they can maximize irrigation based on understanding when the monsoon break periods will come along. They can use information about severe convective storms and wind gusts to make sure they pick their crops before they all get flattened by the wind and on and on.

So, there’s a lot of little things like that that do not cost a heck of a lot of money where you can use information to optimize your yield to the extent that countries can grow their own food. This really makes the global food supply much more secure. A lot of little things like that that you can do, and that’s not to mention all the new hybrids and GMOs and whatever that improve the hardiness and the nutrition of the crops.

And then if you go to energy security, I mean, what is the point of all this? If we destroy the energy security of the planet, by having electricity that’s intermittent, unreliable and too expensive, that’s not helpful to anyone. We’re headed towards a real reckoning here, you can’t run industrial economies on wind and solar. People are starting to realize this.

Within the last few months, a lot of people and some governments are suddenly saying nuclear is the answer. Well, yeah, it sort of is, but why are you just realizing this now? The realities of wind power are being realized. In the North Sea, they have all these offshore wind turbines. In 2020 these produced 25% of England’s power, which is fabulous. But in the first 10 months of 2021, they produced 7% of the power. So, England and the rest of Europe is scrambling, having to pay too much money for natural gas and then with all the political problems with the natural gas supply from Russia. So, being able to produce your energy from within your country has a lot of appeal.

The one advantage of solar and wind as it gave some local autonomy to the countries, but wind and solar are not enough to run an industrial economy. And nuclear power gives you the best of both worlds. And also, if the countries were to frack for natural gas, that’s another energy source that could be more local. The most important issue is energy security, so that its abundant and reliable, and you’re not held hostage to other countries or crazy price spikes.

I have no problem with going to cleaner energy sources. Everybody would prefer clean over dirty energy. But energy security has to be first and foremost, we have to have reliable, affordable energy. Otherwise, none of this makes sense.


NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT–“Iron and Ice”
David Uhl Holiday Series 2021

We will begin taking orders now and will close the edition on January 1, 2022. Each canvas print will come hand-signed and numbered with Certificate of Authenticity.

Edition specifics:

** Image size 26.5 x 20, holiday price $895 framed

** Image size 32 x 24, holiday price $1,295 framed

** Image size 40 x 30, holiday price $1,895 framed

NOTE: Shipping is additional

Those collecting the series will be given first right of refusal on matching edition numbers. New collectors to the series will be slotted in as order confirmations are received.

VERY limited quantities of the previous holiday pieces are available.

Please email me or call me at 303-913-4840 with any questions, or to place your order. Thanks for your time!

–Greg
International Sales Director

David Uhl Fine Art
Uhl Studios
303-913-4840

COMMENT FROM MASTER J.J. SOLARI–This Renegade guy?….who just explained what choppers and bobbers are? You need to hire that fucker. He knows how to explain things. This is not sarcasm. Who the fuck knew I was capable of learning. I guess it all depends on the teacher.

–J.J. Solari

CANCEL CULTURE COMES FOR INDIAN MOTORCYCLE

What the hell do I do ?

1. Not call motorcycle companies or models of India ever as Indian motorcycles ?

2. Never introduce myself as an Indian?

We were “branded” Indians before Columbus set out to reach India and found American continent instead.
 

From Bikernet Blog:
https://blog.bikernet.com/cancel-culture-comes-for-indian-motorcycle/

Maybe we should get some piece of the profits from branding use of word “Indian”? What makes the Native Americans think they have the Monopoly on the word and term “Indian” ???

Actually, it is TYPICAL of All Americans including Native Americans to imagine the “World” means “USA” – World Championship Title therefore means competitors only from 50 States of USA. Maybe the citizens won’t be able to / won’t care to find India on a world map.

Worst still – there are Authorized Dealerships of Indian Motorcycle in India – selling it to a population of 100% Indians. Registered Trademark !!!

3. On a serious note – these a-holes are diverting required attention from critical rights, freedoms and basic needs of the Native Americans which are denied and robbed by the American Government – by providing this typical pompous hashtags for a company that creates jobs and pays taxes

They don’t – and won’t ever – have the balls to stand up to the Feds or even their State – so they bully a well-known iconic company instead.

–U Dey
India

15 Miss BUFFALO CHIP Photos You Can Kiss at Midnight–

The New Year is nearly upon us, and if you’re unsure of where you’ll be getting your midnight kiss, you may be panicking. To those of you frantically swiping through your preferred dating app, we say, “fear not!” These delectable Miss Buffalo Chip contestants will ensure you have something sweet to plant your lips on when the ball drops.

WHAT ARE FOSSIL FUELS–The hydrocarbon industry has developed a highly resource efficient process to find, extract, and harness a naturally concentrated, plentiful, and stored source of energy. It’s the only industry that has come up with a process that is cheap, plentiful, and reliable. To understand why that is, it’s important to understand what fossil fuels are and how to explain it to someone who doesn’t work in the fossil fuel energy.

Fossil fuels 101

Fossil fuels are created by the decomposition of living organisms over millions of years. Let’s take the example of coal. The organic matter decomposes and combined with time, heat, and pressure, becomes more and more dense, getting buried under several layers of earth and eventually forming coal.

Fossil fuels are also referred to as hydrocarbons because they are very rich in molecules made of hydrogen and carbon atom combinations. When these atoms bond together, they have some remarkable properties.

One is that they are able store a lot of energy in a very small amount of space that is released when burned. This is what allows hydrocarbons to power engines, such as an internal combustion engine or a steam engine.

When you burn fossil fuels, you introduce oxygen into the system, leading the carbon atoms to bond with oxygen and become carbon dioxide, while the hydrogen atoms bond with oxygen to become dihydrogen oxide—that is, water. The energy formerly holding them together is released in the form of heat, which creates pressure that can move the engine. That’s basically how all the different engines in modern life work. It’s a very efficient way of generating energy.

Just how plentiful are fossil fuels?

It’s important to note that there is an enormous amount of hydrocarbon in the earth. But even though there is a huge amount of this material, if we don’t know how to get it or don’t know how to use it, it’s useless. For most of history, we haven’t been able to do either. However, today, thanks to the ingenuity of the fossil fuel industry, we’re able to find and extract those hydrocarbons and use them more efficiently.

Exactly how much is there? What we often discuss is what are called reserves, which is the amount we have in inventory. The thing to realize is that the reserves are usually a very small fraction of the overall in-place amount or deposits that actually exist in the earth.

This graph shows how our consumption of oil over time goes up, but our reserves also go up. (The same is true of natural gas.)

That seems impossible unless you realize that the overall deposits are massive; many, many, more times than we have used in the whole history of civilization.

So, the key question is not how much deposit is there; it’s whether we have the ingenuity to turn those deposits into usable energy.

The hydrocarbon industry has answered this question by continuing to improve how we access and use these resources, which has translated into an abundant energy source for billions.

Vitamin O

The hydrocarbon industry produces energy for every kind of use, including heating and electricity. Other energy sources can also supply heating and electricity. But oil is unique: it is the only cheap, plentiful, and reliable form of portable energy.

Why is portability important? It has allowed us to create new applications for energy, such as cars, planes, and harvesters, which would not exist if their energy sources were not portable.

For example, a modern harvester that reaps enough wheat for 500,000 loaves of bread a day needs to carry its energy with it. Nothing can match liquid hydrocarbons, in this case in the form of diesel fuel. That’s why over 90% of the world’s transportation comes from liquid hydrocarbons, because in terms of portability, it is the best. So, when people talk about restricting oil-based fuels, the conversation should include all of the potential consequences.

The hydrocarbon industry is the only industry that can produce cheap, plentiful, and reliable energy that we need to power our machines, amplify our productivity, and provide significant amounts of power on the go. It is the only industry to do so for billions of people throughout the world.

–Alex Epstein

Center for Industrial Progress
302 Washington St., #150-9385,
San Diego, CA 92103, United States

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2015 Harley-Davidson FXDB – Dyna Street Bob

FOR $13,995.00

SEE IT HERE: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=11383759

ABOUT THIS BIKE…..

STOCK # 13066

2015 Black Harley-Davidson DYNA STREET BOB FXDB

ONLY 39896.00 Miles !!!!!

Some of the features/Add-ons on this bike

* 103 c.i. Motor
* 6-Speed trans.
* Chrome dual shorty exhaust
* Black forward controls
* Low-profile H-D seat
* Mini apes

Just $13,995.00

Plus, license, and a $85.00 documentation fee and your local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like dealers. We have no reconditioning or prep fees.

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92 point safety and mechanical/structural inspection.

You can fill out an online application with EZ FINANCING and EXTENDED WARRANTIES available to purchase!!! and you can ride today!

Lifestyle Cycles located at 1510 State College Blvd,Anaheim,CA,92806 NOT LOCAL WE HAVE ******SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!******

Call today (714) 490-0155. **Open 7 days a week**

STAFF MEMBER EDITORIAL COMMENT–Ah, the venerable Solari breaks through with truth, mirth, and wisdom once again. Good stuff as always.

I wish a very Happy New Year to You and all your Crew. Thanks for making this a good year and helping us through the fog.

–SB

NEWS FROM THE PRISM–We collaborated on this build with DicE Magazine for The Congregation Show, sponsored by Harley-Davidson.

We took a 2020 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S, stripped it down, and built it back up using the iconic FXR Police Cruiser as our inspiration.

See all the shots on their web site.

With fully functional lights, sirens and loud speaker, this thing is the real deal.

www.prismsupply.com

Northern Lights Photographer of the Year Winners Feature Auroras Above Volcanoes, Frozen Forests, and Fiords—

In search of northern lights, photographer Marc Adamus delves into the Alaskan boreal forest, marching to the sound of ice crystals crunching beneath his snowshoes. Setting up his camera in the dying light of sunset, he has only to wait for adequate darkness to fall; aurora borealis, though omnipresent day or night, diminishes in sunlight, but is most spectacular in the pitch dark—as his stunning photo attests to.

As twilight faded, Marc snapped this sublime winter wonderland, which he titled “Forest of the Lights” and submitted to Capture the Atlas’s 2021 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year

Wandering around these forests coated in rime ice is one of the most magical experiences, but also one of the most difficult to capture,” Marc told Capture the Atlas, a website for outdoor photography buffs. “Temperatures are often in the minus 30s and negotiating the easily broken, crusty snow on snowshoes with nothing but a headlamp makes for great challenges in hiking and composing.”

The aurora borealis phenomenon is caused by the cosmic collision of solar plasma, constantly being bombarded at us from the sun, and the Earth’s protective magnetic field deflecting those particles. The subsequent release of photons (light), seen most visibly near the Earth’s polar regions, illuminates gasses in the atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, giving off a sometimes greenish, reddish, or bluish glow.

–By Michael Wing
Epoch Times

WHEELS THROUGH TIME 2022 RAFFLE BIKE–We are excited to show you the new detail shots of the 2022 Dale’s Wheels Through Time Raffle Bike
 

“The 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead.”

 
If you didn’t get a chance to see it in person, the bike, finished in one-year-only Delphine Blue, striped in Teak Red, and edged in Gold, is a true head-turner.

–Wheels Through Time Museum

THERE IT IS—So we’ve had some snow and cold fronts. I call them fresh fronts. Jason, my contractor took his kid to North Dakota for a wrestling match. The guys from North Dakota look at us lightweights in South Dakota as if we live in the Bahamas.

The Redhead found this egg solution that’s terrific and easy. Take a glass and cut a hole in the middle of a piece of bread. Put some butter in a frying pan and brown the bread, toss in the egg and cook it to your liking, turn it over and brown the other side and bada bing, delicious.

Oops, Sin Wu’s son called to correct me. “That’s Popeyes breakfast favorite, goddammit.”
 

 

Charlie, my grandson’s barber and riding partner sent me this gas cap for an upcoming project. Too cool. I helped him get his dyna back to LA in one piece. When it arrive, the battery was dead, so Frankie helped him load it in his battered and busted Ford Ranger that just keeps going after over 250,000 miles.

We’ve started to grow some house plants, including some lemon grass for Thai Food dishes.

We did it up big in the Xmas tree department.

We just feature this customized Indian. Check it out on the home page.

We are hoping for shop walls to go up next week. I’m working on a propane hook-up so the redhead can have a fossil fuel stove. We are still discussing underfloor shop heating and back-up generators.

And the Hamster bros around the Badlands are calling for drinks tonight. Hell, it’s 7 degrees outside. No problem. Let’s party.

Stay strong and vigilant in 2022. The positive line-up of guys against Climate Doom, including politicians and scientists is growing by the minute. We will continue to ride free forever…

–Bandit

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2022 Customized Indian Dark Horse

We had the opportunity to share the latest custom motorcycle build by Carey Hart, freestyle motocross legend and custom bike builder. Hart customized a 2022 Indian Chief Dark Horse for The Walking Dead and The Punisher star, Jon Bernthal. Hart channeled his high-performance, motocross background in the style and design of the bike, with classic, clean lines and sporty, performance features.

Carey set out to build a bike that performed as well as it looked and could live up to his mantra of riding, “going fast, turning fast, and breaking hard.” This Chief has been optimized for performance, with a host of custom features from a new sporty riding position thanks to hand and foot controls, a new seat, and high-performance braking solutions it is ready to get the most out of the road.

Video Content:
Part 1: Carey Hart – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YmhQeS1eVo
Part 2: Jon Bernthal — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XqmPXkXwwE

Modification List

Kraus Bar Mount, Risers, and Gauge Bucket
Odi Bars & ODI/Hartluck Lock-On Grips
Pro Bolt Titanium Hardware
Drag Specialties License Plate Bracket

Custom Lower Frame Cover
Beringer Front Brake Master Cylinder & Clutch Perch
Barnett Clutch Cable
Galfer Front Brake Line
Beringer Front and Rear Brake Calipers

Galfer Front and Rear Wave Brake Rotors
San Diego Customs Wheels
Dunlop Tires
San Diego Customs Shifter, Brake Pedal, Pegs

Saddlemen Hart Luck seat
Rizoma Mirrors

Rizoma Rear Brake lights & Front Indicator Lights

Airtrix paint
 

Fox Piggyback Shocks with +1 inch of travel added
Custom Machined Inspection Cover

Fab 28 two-into-one Stainless Steel Exhaust
 

 

Rokform Phone Mount
GP Suspension Revalve

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YESTERDAY IN 1946: Bugsy Siegel opens Flamingo Hotel

Mobster Bugsy Siegel opens the glitzy Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 26, 1946.

 

Well-known singer and comedian Jimmy Durante headlined the night’s entertainment, with music by Cuban band leader Xavier Cugat. Some of infamous gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s Hollywood friends, including actors George Raft, George Sanders, Sonny Tufts and George Jessel were in attendance.

 

The grand opening of the Flamingo Hotel, however, was a flop. Bad weather kept many other Hollywood guests from arriving. And because gamblers had no rooms at the hotel, they took their winnings and gambled elsewhere. The casino lost $300,000 in the first week of operation.

Siegel and his New York “partners” had invested $1 million in a property already under construction by Billy Wilkerson, owner of the Hollywood Reporter as well as some very popular nightclubs in the Sunset Strip. Wilkerson had wanted to recreate the Sunset Strip in Las Vegas, with a European style hotel with luxuious rooms, a spa, health club, showroom, golf course, nightclub and upscale restaurant. But he soon ran out of money due to the high cost of materials immediately after the war.

 

Siegel, who held a largest interest in the racing publication Trans America Wire, was drawn to Las Vegas in 1945 by his interest in legalized gambling and off-track betting. He purchased The El Cortez hotel for $600,000 and later sold it for a $166,000 profit.

 

Siegel and his organized crime buddies used the profits to influence Wilkerson to accept new partners. Siegel took over the project and supervised the building, naming it after his girlfriend Virginia Hill, whose nickname was “The Flamingo” because of her red hair and long legs.

Two weeks after the grand opening, the Flamingo closed down. It re-opened March 1, 1947, as The Fabulous Flamingo. Siegel forced Wilkerson out in April, and by May, the resort reported a profit, but it wasn’t enough to save Siegel.

 

Convinced that Siegel wasn’t giving them a “square count,” it is widely believed that his partners in organized crime had him killed while he was reading the paper June 20, 1947, at Hill’s Beverly Hills mansion. Hill was in Paris, having flown the coop after a fight with Siegel 10 days prior. The crime remains unsolved to this day.

Surviving a series of name and ownership changes, the hotel is known today as The Flamingo Las Vegas.

From History.com

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Royal Enfield Successfully Completes Quest For The South Pole

90° SOUTH – Quest For The Pole is a success! Two riders successfully trekked across Antarctica to the South Pole on Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles.

90° SOUTH – QUEST FOR THE POLE, first-of-its-kind expedition on Royal Enfield Himalayans, commemorates 120 years of adventure and exploration on motorcycles.

Milwaukee, WI (Wednesday, December 22, 2021) – Royal Enfield, the world’s oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production since 1901, has tested the endurance of man and machine time and again, and last week, it made history once again by successfully completing the 90° SOUTH Expedition, the quest for the South Pole on the Royal Enfield Himalayan. This extraordinary endeavor is a tribute to the brand’s 120-year commitment to pure motorcycling, and to the courage and resilience of countless riders and explorers who have made history on two wheels.

On December 16, 2021, two riders Santhosh Vijay Kumar and Dean Coxson reached the geographic South Pole in 15 days, making the ambitious attempt a reality.

The team arrived at Novo in Antarctica from Cape Town for four days of acclimatization, loading of supplies, checking equipment and the motorcycles. From Novo, the team covered an overland distance of 3200 km (1988 miles) over the next 9 days braving extreme weather conditions with temperatures between -30° to -25°C (-22° to -13°F) and wind speed of 60 km/h (37 mph), towards Ross Ice Shelf.

The Royal Enfield Himalayans and crew arrived at the geographic South Pole on December 16, 2021. (The team is in communication via satellite phone, hence the low-resolution image.)

The Ross Ice Shelf was the designated start point for the riders, however, an unexpected blizzard forced the team to alter their course. Instead of starting the ride from 86 South, the team started the 400-km (250-mile) ride from 87 degrees South. Despite a few initial roadblocks and a slight detour, the expedition team completed the quest by reaching the South Pole on December 16, 2021.

For this expedition, two Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles were modified in-house, with functional upgrades to be able to navigate snow and ice, and function under extreme conditions in Antarctica. The motorcycles were ridden on a compacted snow track from the Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole, to reduce motorcycle drag and limit emissions to an absolute minimum. Royal Enfield is consciously ensuring no footprint is left behind by the expedition team except wheel tracks that will be quickly lost to snow drift. In line with our #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter initiative, the team is ensuring all waste including human waste is brought back for appropriate disposal.

The team is currently heading towards the western part of Antarctica, Union Glacier, from where they will fly out to Punta Arenas, Chile.

Minimal changes were made to the 90° SOUTH Royal Enfield Himalayans; smaller countershaft sprockets (15- to 13-tooth) increase low-end torque and stronger alternators enable the team to run heated gear.

About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901.

Studded tires, a tubeless setup and low tire pressure will only do so much–riding in snow is no easy task.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 140 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

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