by Gillian Francis from https://leaderpost.com “I’m not going to say it’s all because of SGI, but I’d say three-quarters of it is.” In just over three years, Robb Hertzog, owner of the Regina motorcycle dealership Prairie Harley Davidson (click here), estimates he’s lost well over $1 million worth of sales. “I’m not going to say it’s all because of SGI, but I’d say three-quarters of it is,” he said in an interview Thursday, adding that skyrocketing insurance rates for motorcycles are leading to a decline in the amount of customers he receives. Hertzog is one of many business owners in the motorcycle industry who have voiced concerns about the increasing expenses for bike owners. SGI is considering upping insurance rates again, by 15 per cent for insurance premiums greater than $1,000 and by $25 to $150, for those that total $1,000 or less, leaving businesses with increasingly dire prospects. “They just can’t afford to ride anymore,” Hertzog said. “My younger clients are just not getting into it because when your monthly rate is as much or more than your loan payments, it makes it very, very difficult.” Earlier this week, an SGI spokesperson told the Leader-Post that increasing fees are part of a plan to rebalance insurance rates. This would lead to an annual rate decrease for some types of vehicles and in an increase for vehicles like motorcycles that are perceived to have higher accident risk. A latest proposed rate increase is being reviewed by The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel. Insurance rates for new models with large engines, like Harley cruisers, can range from $2,000 to $3,000 per year. While this is enough to dissuade individual motorists from buying, there is also a chain reaction that extends to other parts of the industry as well. Hertzog explained the number of motorcyclists attending their community events and fundraisers is down by half, leading to a decrease in charity funding of a few thousand dollars, and his bike repair team is getting fewer clients now that people are riding less frequently. Collin Cossette, owner of Action Cycle in Moose Jaw, switched from selling street models to off-road bikes, a decision motivated by a variety of factors unrelated to insurance, including losing a franchise. He said the demand for street models is not strong enough for him to want to go back. The few street bikes he continues to carry, have remained untouched for years, brands that would have sold in the hundreds a decade ago. Most dealerships in his area, he said, have lost around 80 per cent of their sales now that more expensive models come with high insurance. Rick Bradshaw, owner of Schrader’s Motors in Yorkton, estimated insurance rates have increased around 67 per cent in the past decade, causing their street bike sales to decrease from 50 per year to 20. Most of the clients who visit Schrader’s are older adults who have more disposable income, while younger cohorts are dissuaded by the expense. Prior to the insurance hike, he said more young women were taking an interest in the sport than ever before, but he believes expense has since reduced this trend. “You can be a high performance car enthusiast and buy a $100,000, loaded-up, 600 horsepower BMW car and you don’t pay any more for that car based on value … But for motorcyclists with the same zero clean record and no accidents, if that bike happens to have a bigger engine or more horsepower all of a sudden you’re penalized dramatically,” he said. As for Hertzog, he thinks raising awareness of the issue is key to creating change. “We’ve got to find a way to get people out riding and enjoy life, but it will be a bit of a cost on SGI,” he said. “But the cost of that is worth a lot because I think the industry and the sales and the amount of jobs that were lost are way more money than SGI will ever have lost.”

by Andrew Cherney from https://www.cycleworld.com

The brand’s sleekest and most fun ebike yet. The lightweight, agile FXE is a new addition to Zero’s 2022 lineup.

• In a segment full of either high-priced, tech-heavy options or cheap flimsy junk, the FXE is a step in the right direction, especially for commuters not too concerned with range. It’s also a ton of fun.
• The design adds a minimal, supermoto style onto the existing FX platform for a more modern, updated feel.
• Steel frame holds the tried-and-true ZF 75-5 air-cooled motor in the FXE, rated at 46 hp. The 7.2kWh battery is not removable.
• Certain design elements like the front headlight design (an LED) and “beak” got carried over directly from the Huge Design concept bike.
• The bike’s light weight and short wheelbase make it easy to work turns, with good lean angle and sticky Pirelli tires aiding in your attack. You can drag the kickstand if you’re super aggressive though.
• The relaxed, commuter-friendly riding position is even more upright than the SR/F’s but it makes for a comfy perch (except at higher speeds).
• You’ll find the Cypher II operating system on the FXE displayed on a new 5-inch TFT screen, giving various ride modes and bike data. Pair your phone with the app to tailor them and get more detailed info.
• Stylish cast wheels hold grippy Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires, which upped our confidence in deeper high-speed turns.
• The rear Showa monoshock delivers nearly 8 inches of travel for an impressively stable ride.
• Inverted Showa fork is adjustable. J.Juan brakes offer excellent feel and good stopping power, and ABS can be turned off.

2022 Zero FXE Specifications
MSRP: $11,795
Motor: ZF 75-5 air-cooled IPM motor
Battery: 7.2kWh (max capacity) lithium-ion integrated battery
Charger type: 650W integrated
Charge time: 9.7 hours to 100% w/ standard 110V or 220V input
Claimed Range: 60 miles highway, 100 miles city, 75 miles combined
Claimed Peak power: 46 hp @ 3,500 rpm
Claimed Peak torque: 78 lb.-ft.
Top speed: 85 mph
Transmission: Clutchless direct drive
Final Drive: Carbon belt
Frame: Steel trellis
Front Suspension: 41mm inverted Showa fork, spring preload, compression and rebound damping adjustable; 7.0 in. travel
Rear Suspension: Showa 40mm piston monoshock, spring preload, compression and rebound damping adjustable; 8.9 in. travel
Front Brake: 1-piston J.Juan floating caliper, 320mm disc w/ Bosch Gen 9 ABS
Rear Brake: 1-piston J.Juan floating caliper, 240mm disc w/ Bosch Gen 9 ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear: Cast alloy; 17 x 3 in. / 17 x 3.5 in.
Tires, Front/Rear: Pirelli Diablo Rosso II; 110/70-17 / 140/70-17
Rake/Trail: 24.4°/2.8 in.
Wheelbase: 56.0 in.
Seat Height: 32.9 in.
Claimed Curb Weight: 299 lb.
Standard warranty: 2 years
Contact: zeromotorcycles.com

Conventional wisdom says there will be more EVs on the street within the next five to 10 years, and our urban roadscape will look a lot different than it does now. But conventional wisdom usually skips over the equally important notion that attracting riders means you have to innovate while also being sensitive to price, particularly in the electric space. Zero seems to be tackling those talking points, at least partially, with the reveal of the new 2022 FXE, a compact and affordable supermoto-styled commuter machine it’s billing as “the motorcycle of tomorrow, available today.”

Building the bike of tomorrow is a tall order, even for an electric motorcycle manufacturer, but when Zero took the wraps off its new machine last month near the firm’s HQ in Santa Cruz, California, our group of assorted moto scribes nodded. Here indeed was a very different looking electric bike—especially for the sometimes dowdy two-wheel electric space. And yet a mind-blowing revelation it was not, especially if you’re looking at the spec sheet alone. From a design standpoint, the slim, starkly modern supermoto-styled machine felt instantly appealing—even if it looked an awful lot like a deconstructed riff on the WR450, or more accurately, a close cousin of the brand’s already supermoto-y FXS model. But how would it hold up on the street?

n the FXE’s case, form did not have to follow function—or not as rigorously as previous models, which adopted more familiar shapes to make them appealing to the general public, according to Zero. But now, says VP of Product Development Brian Wismann, the consumer is ready for updated designs, which explains why the FXE, a model based on a concept collaboration with Huge Design back in 2019, is here. Although it’s built on the brand’s existing FX platform, the partnership with Huge introduced a completely new design language, informed mainly by stripped-down panels of bodywork. (The concept bike was in fact built on an FXS model, and you can see the similarities.) On the FXE, the so-called essential surfaces—seats, body panels, touch points—are intended to look like they’re floating over the chassis. The distinctive styling radiates modern industrial design aesthetics, while “celebrating the electric drivetrain” says Wismann.

When we sidled up to the FXE at a secret staging location outside of town—Zero shrewdly had us ride older SR/Fs and SR/Ss to where the new bikes were stashed—we were struck by just how approachable the profile was. A sane seat height welcomed even the shorties in the bunch, with the 32.9-inch perch making for easy access and a riding position similar to that of a dirt bike, not super aggressive but sitting atop the slightly dished, mostly flat seat, with a fairly short reach to the tallish bars. Mid-mounted pegs were ideally located, not too far forward or rearward, providing an upright stance in the saddle—even more than the SR/F I had just gotten off of. The compact body panels make for a clean look, though they did splay outward from below the faux fuel tank, pushing my knees out into the wind. They basically made it impossible to grip the tank as you normally might, but it was more minor inconvenience than any real annoyance.

With the ergonomics checking out, I put the FXE into Sport mode and let ‘er rip. Even though I sort of knew what to expect, the instant torque pop of an electric motor never fails to put a big grin on your face. Yes, 46 horses might not sound like much, but the eerily silent power pulse from the air-cooled ZF 75-5 motor is more than enough to turn your head, especially in its immediacy; the throttle felt far more responsive than the SR/F we had just ridden, possibly because the FXE’s substantially smaller mass and less unsprung weight made for quicker power transfer. With its narrow waist and short wheelbase, I found I could easily push the FXE into and through even the harshest decreasing-radius turns we tackled among the Santa Cruz redwoods. The bike did not fight me on quick transitions as much as expected, with the sticky Pirellis giving me all kinds of confidence throughout a half-day stint in mountain twisties. And with no need to worry about shifting, you’re free to focus on the next apex. Or to just blast to the 85-mph top speed, which I did whenever we hit a straight stretch of road. Why not, right?

Zero also outfitted the FXE with its now-familiar J.Juan brakes and bolstered by a Bosch ABS system, so stops were also a stress-free affair, with easy lever pull giving a strong bite and solid stopping power and almost no fade. (ABS can be turned off as well.) With 7 inches of travel, the inverted, adjustable Showa fork soaked up almost every road deformity we came across (except for one unexpected curb hop) staying composed even in truly harsh divots. Holding the line out back is an equally resilient—and adjustable—Showa monoshock that tracked solidly throughout our short ride.

As with the FX, the FXE also leverages Zero’s Cypher II operating system, which here is married to a new 5-inch optically bonded TFT display that proved bright and easy to read. You can access ride modes—it comes preprogrammed with Eco and Sport—and tailor torque, speed, and brake regeneration from the free Zero app, which also gives you insight to battery status. We can’t speak to range, given our short ride day—Zero claims 100 miles of city riding from the 7.2kWh (peak) battery, with 60 miles of range claimed on the highway, at 55 mph. The display screen showed less than 20 percent of charge remaining after our 50-mile stint, which was a mix of high- and low-speed scenarios, and that feels fairly close to the claim. According to Zero, the onboard 650W charger will top off the battery in 9.7 hours off a standard household socket; a rapid charger available for additional cost will do the job in a little more than 3 hours.

In sum, we’re not entirely buying the “bike of tomorrow” tagline, but the FXE does manage to serve up a grin-inducing blend of instant acceleration, flickability, and easy steering. Perhaps even more tantalizing is the sub-$10K price tag; yes, you’re getting a somewhat short range bike, but at least that obstacle is being somewhat addressed. Of course that sub-10K number rings true only once you tally in the federal and California EV tax credits, but hey, $10K is $10K.

Considering H-D’s lowest priced electric offering, the just-released LiveWire One, runs upward of $20K, and any bike called Lightning, Energica, Tarform, or Damon is well north of there, you’ve gotta hand it to Zero for compiling a portfolio of four models priced under $12K, all coming with a warranty and dealer support.

The dual sport FX sits at $11,595, the entry-level FXS is at $11,295, the naked S is priced at $10,995, and now the FXE at $11,795. All four either are or can be configured with the ZF 7.2 powertrain, which, granted, is not the fastest or most top-of-the-line offering, but it does help make the FXE one of the most affordable models in the Zero line.

You can check it out yourself at some of the upcoming stops of the IMS tour (starting with Sonoma Raceway on July 16) and bikes should be in dealers later this month as well.

from https://kgab.com

Off Road Recreational Vehicle’s are a great way to explore Wyoming, but being safe is something you need to take seriously.

An ORV is described by WyoParks.wyo.gov as off-road motorcycles, ATVs and 4-wheel drive vehicles primarily used off-road. https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/orv-trails

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (click here) started keeping track of the number of deaths involving ATV’s in 1982. A report was released a couple years ago that gave the total number of deaths in each state, Washington DC and Puerto Rico due to ATV’s with 3, 4 or more wheels. The report spanned from 1982 to 2017 and Wyoming came in near the bottom of the list at #47 with 71 lives were lost. Texas was at the top of the list with 831 lives lost.

In Wyoming, thousands of ORV’s are purchased every year and on a daily basis you can see them on trailers, in trucks or riding around trails & roads. Safety measures are put in place to keep the deaths, injuries and accidents down. Wyo Parks has a great list of safety tips, available on their website Wyoparks.wyo.gov (Click Here), that would be a great idea to become familiar with and teach your kids the proper ways of ORV riding.

Wyoming has over 640 miles of trails available all over the state available for use by anyone. Of course you need to be familiar with the trail usage rules put in place to ensure safety for you and others using the trails. The Wyoming State ORV Program (Click Here) has worked along side other state and federal organizations to identify roads, trails and open areas that are suitable for riding your ORV.

If you’re heading out on an ORV trip make sure you have a map, stay on the designated trails, be prepared for weather, make sure your equipment is in top working order, take water & snacks and wear a helmet & protective clothing. Have fun and be safe!

from https://www.thesundaily.my

Mr Honda’s disdain for two-stroke engines fuelled the relentless pursuit of perfection for his little four-strokers.

It was March 1951 when Soichiro Honda summoned engineer Kiyoshi Kawashima from Hamamatsu.

“‘Kawashima, would you mind coming over for a moment?’ It was the beginning of a two-month stint in the capital as I worked on the design of the E-Type 4-stroke engine in a corner of the Tokyo Plant,” recalls Kawashima. “When the plans were at last ready the Old Man dashed in to see it, bringing Fujisawa, with him.” (Takeo Fujisawa was Honda Motor Co Ltd’s co-founder.)

Kawashima can remember clearly that day in May 1951. “As he showed the plans to Fujisawa, Mr. Honda gave us an enthusiastic commentary: ‘Ah, I see. You have this kind of valve and the cam goes like that. This is what I call an engine, it isn’t just a two-stroke machine that looks as though it’s been cut from a bamboo tube with holes drilled. This will sell. Honda will do well with this!’ Mr. Fujisawa didn’t have any understanding of the plans, he didn’t know anything about mechanical things at all, so he just said things like ‘Hm, yes, that’s great,’” said Kawashima, laughing.

The now-legendary test crossing of the Hakone Pass took place on July 15. In those days the Hakone Pass was considered the ultimate test for a motor vehicle. Even lorries could only get over it if they stopped for a rest every now and then. So it was certainly a challenge for a small 150cc motorcycle. Kawashima acted as both the engine designer and on that occasion, as test rider.

“Actually we’d been using the Hakone Pass as a test track for quite some time by then. I was sure we could climb it, but I was pretty nervous because the Old Man and Mr. Fujisawa were coming along as well.

“If the engine had overheated or something and conked out right in front of Mr. Fujisawa, the Old Man would have suffered a terrible loss of face. That day a typhoon was approaching but history relates that the engine was completely untroubled in the torrential rain and raced up the hill in top gear.

“I joked to myself that it was lucky there was so much rain and spray, because it meant that the air-cooling worked liked water-cooling and helped keep the temperature down. Although I say that I went up in top gear, there were only two gears, which was just as well,” he said, laughing. “Looking back on it, I think that was a good, plucky little engine.”

The story goes that the motorcycle overtook the Buick that Honda and Fujisawa were riding in. Kawashima went over first and the three men were reunited at the summit of the pass, where they hugged each other with delight.

The Dream E-Type was Honda’s first four-stroke machine. The Japanese motorcycle industry had become more competitive about a year before and bikes with four-stroke engines were produced for the first time. The market started to show preference for four-stroke rather than two-stroke bikes.

Later, Honda came to be known as “Four-Stroke Honda” although in fact it was rather slow in switching to the new type of engine. But at this time a lot of four-stroke engines were fitted with side-valves for reasons of economy and ease of manufacture, while Honda opted for the overhead valve system.

Another difference was that Honda’s bikes, both two- and four-stroke, were much more powerful than other Japanese machines with 150cc engines.

“The Old Man probably wanted to make proper four-stroke bikes from the very beginning. In those days people’s ideas about two-stroke engines were rather hazy and since they burn up lubricating oil, which isn’t meant to be burnt, the Old Man probably only tolerated them as a kind of stop-gap at a time when he had no money and inadequate facility,” said Kawashima.

“For two decades after the launch in the following year of Cub F-Type (a two-stroker), Honda made only four-stroke bikes. The E-Type was the first bike the Old Man really enjoyed making.”

The E-Type’s frame, like that of the D-Type’s, was of channel-frame construction, but because there had been so much trouble with the failure of the wet-cone clutch on the D-Type, the E-Type was fitted instead with a dry-type multiple disc clutch. The clutch control was also changed to the more conventional left-hand lever system.

Kawashima recalls: “On reflection, we realised we had made a mistake in being too unique and we decided to make our bikes more conventional. But since it’s not Honda’s way to revert to old designs, we decided that the point of difference should be the quality of the engine. These were extraordinary bikes in the best sense. They sold well and brought pleasure to both customers and dealers.”

The E-Type went on sale in October 1951. Compared to the D-Type, which had shipped 160 units per month at its peak, 500 units of the E-Type were being shipped out a month only half a year after its launch and a year later, when it was fitted with a third gear, that rose to 2,000; three years later annual production reached 32,000 units.

Now that Honda had overcome the critical problems of its early years, the company would, as Honda himself had predicted, start to expand thanks to the success of the E-Type and seize the opportunity for rapid future development.

AUCTION ON Aug. 14th at Vermont State Fairgrounds, 175 S. Main St., Rutland, VT, 05701

It’s the single-owner lifetime collection of the late Robert “Bob” Bearor, a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast, and his wife Christine, who went by “Teenie”.

Bob and Christine “Teenie” Bearor would ride to shows or just for fun on one of Bob’s Harley-Davidsons, often in matching outfits. The couple got married in a 1958 Corvette.

Bob and Teenie always surrounded themselves with vintage cars and motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidsons, which the couple would ride to shows or just for fun, often in matching outfits.” — Yvette VanDerBrink (VanDerBrink Auctions)

“Many of the motorcycle parts will be just for onsite bidders, so it’s best to attend the auction in person,” said Yvette VanDerBrink of VanDerBrink Auctions.

RUTLAND, VT, UNITED STATES — The single-owner lifetime collection of Robert “Bob” Bearor – an incredible assemblage of Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles, parts and memorabilia dating as far back as 1908, to include rare and important barn find motorcycles that are finally seeing the light of day, plus vintage cars, midget race cars, antique tractors, chainsaws, vintage fishing lures and more – will all come up for bid on Saturday, August 14th at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland, from 10 am-6 pm Eastern time, by VanDerBrink Auctions, based in Hardwick, Minn.

Mr. Bearor, who passed away in 2019, was a dedicated car and motorcycle enthusiast and a self-described wild-man who, along with his wife Christine, who went by “Teenie” because of her diminutive stature of just 4 feet 9 inches, always surrounded themselves with vintage cars and motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidsons, which the couple would ride to shows or just for fun, often in matching outfits. The two got married in a 1958 Corvette. Teenie survives her husband.

Along the way, Bob befriended Ed Flynn, a kindred spirit wild-man and the owner of an Indian Motorcycles dealership in Bennington, Vt. Ed’s collection was just as impressive as Bob’s and, upon Ed’s death and with the blessing of Ed’s widow, Mr. Flynn’s massive inventory of Indian motorcycles (two of which were unearthed from under his house), as well as hundreds of parts (including NOS) and memorabilia from the Indian dealership, became part of Bob’s collection.

In May of this year, a team from VanDerBrink Auctions, plus some motorcycle enthusiasts from New York, went to the Bearor property to inventory Mr. Flynn’s collection. In a chicken coop they found 14 frames and vintage Indian and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The museum was full of Indian and Harley memorabilia and parts. For three days, the crew diligently dug through the buildings on the property and uncovered 53 motorcycles, hundreds of parts and memorabilia.

Now, the two combined collections in their entirety will be sold to the highest bidder, live at the fairgrounds and online, via Proxibid.com. A preview will be held on Friday, August 13th, from 10-6. The catalog, plus a video, can be viewed now, on the VanDerBrink Auctions website: www.VanDerBrinkAuctions.com.

Several motorcycles are certain to attract attention. One is the 1947 Indian Chief motorcycle, an older restore that’s green and gold and with all the stainless-steel parts supposedly dipped in gold (although it has not been tested). The bike had been touring in a display from Mr. Bearor and it ran when parked. It features a V2 4-stroke, V-Twin motor with suicide chain drive transmission, white wall tires with fringe and a big white leather seat with fringe – a truly unique motorcycle.

Then there’s the 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH motorcycle with a sidecar that Mr. Bearor dubbed “The Joker”. Known as a Coney Island custom, the bike is powered by a Harley V Twin motor, shows just 9,567 miles on the odometer and boasts lots of metal green flake. Many hours and thousands of dollars went into this custom, one-of-a-kind motorcycle. It comes with a10-page appraisal, listing all the things done to it. Bearor toured it in a semi on a walk-through display.

Two Indians that are rare but in need of a restoration are the 1932 Indian Chief 4-cylinder bike and the 1937 Indian Sport Scout with V Twin motor, both of them barn finds that appear mostly complete. Memorabilia includes vintage advertising posters for Indian Power Plus motors (25 inches by 38 inches) and an Indian and Goodyear advertising poster (13 ½ inches by 40 inches).

Other Indian motorcycles and parts in the auction include a rare 1917-1918 Indian Model O Light Twin, a 1920 Indian Power Plus, a 1924 Indian Chief, an early 1928 Indian frame, a 1932 Indian Scout, a 1932 Indian Chief 4-cylinder, a 1937 Indian Sport Scout, two 1937-1939 Indian Chief rigid frames, a 1938 Indian Junior Scout, a 1938 Indian Chief frame, a 1949 Indian Arrow and a 1951 Indian Warrior TT. See the VanDerBrink Auctions website for a full list of offerings.

The Harley-Davidson category will feature an early 1916 Harley Davidson frame and motor, a 1919-1922 Harley-Davidson Sport project, a 1991 Harley Davidson, a 1997 Harley-Davidson Electro-Glide Sport, a 1930’s Harley-Davidson frame, a Harley-Davidson VL Series project and more. Lot 170B should spark a bidding war; it’s for a very rare pair of 1916 Harley wheel discs.

Motorcycles by other makers include a 1972 Honda CB100, a 1974 CB125S and a 1982 Yamaha GT80. Motorcycle memorabilia will feature 50 vintage Indian dealer motorcycle posters, Indian pins, Indian postcards, Indian tools, Indian bicycles, Indian oil cans, vintage motorcycle leathers, kidney belts, racing suits, vintage race posters, vintage motorcycle hill climb posters and more.

The few vintage cars in the auction (none of which run and are in need of TLC) include a 1964 Ford Thunderbird coupe, white/cream with a black vinyl top, a V8 with automatic transmission and mostly rust-free body; a 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne four-door sedan old restore, black with a white top, a V8 with automatic transmission and 103,132 miles; and a 1982 DeLorean DMC12 coupe barn find with stainless-steel exterior, 33,886 miles and complete engine and transmission.

Antique tractors will include a Farmall A, a Farmall Cub with blade, a Case MC tractor, The Beaver tractor and a Massey Harris Pony. Stationery gas engines will feature a Majestic 2hp engine, a Majestic 3hp engine, an International Type M engine, an International Tom Thumb engine, a Fairbanks Morse Type Z engine, Maytag stationary gas engines and other examples.

Vintage midget race cars will include an example with a pretty cream-colored metallic paint scheme, juice brakes, a 4-cylinder engine with velocity stacks and racing seat belts; a midget with a GM 4 cylinder engine, two Rochester carbs and headers and racing seat belts; and a beautiful purple and white car with a 49 Flathead V8 with Stromberg #97 carbs, Edelbrock AL2 heads and AL2 intake, velocity stacks, Ford clutch, a three-speed transmission and electric fan.

Gas and oil memorabilia will feature a Mobil Oil gargoyle cabinet, a G&B gas pump, oil cans, signs and more. The auction will have two rings of action, with one ring dedicated to antique tractors, chainsaws and boat motors. See the VanDerBrink website for terms and conditions.

VanDerBrink Auctions specializes in collector car parts auctions, older salvage yard liquidations, auto related items, antique tractors, estates and private collections. The firm has a proven track record of selling farmland and other real estate at auction. Yvette VanDerBrink, the ownere and an auctioneer, formed the company in 2001, after a prophetic message from Minister Tom Stammon. VanDerBrink Auctions is a faith-based company, making every auction a mission.

VanDerBrink Auctions has been regionally and nationally recognized for its auctions and has conducted collector car auctions in eight states. Yvette VanDerBrink’s goal is to get cars and parts to the collectors, hobbyists and rodders, to preserve automotive history and further the car hobby. She has this same philosophy and ambition when selling real estate and land at auction.

For more information, please visit www.VanderBrinkAuctions.com. Updates are posted often.

AMA LongRider Program – Recognizing AMA Members Who Love to Ride

The AMA LongRider program is your chance to show others that you’re serious about riding your motorcycle. AMA members are invited to earn patches for various mileage milestones.

Mileage awards are available at 10,000, 25,000 and 50,000 annual miles. In addition to the awards, AMA LongRiders will be recognized on the AMA website.

If you don’t get a chance to ride that often, let your miles accumulate for a Lifetime Mileage award at 25,000, 50,000, 100,000, 250,000, 500,000, 750,000 and 1 million miles. Riders who achieve 1 million miles will earn a special AMA LongRider plaque.

Long Rider Rules:

• Must be current AMA member
• Must agree to abide by AMA verification rules and procedures
• Must register for program (miles begin to accumulate once registered)
• May use multiple motorcycles

How it works: 

• Riders register using the AMA LongRider Application. Click Here.
• Mileage counts from this day forward, unless you can provide verification of previous mileage with documentation from an AMA-chartered club. The AMA will consider verified mileage awards from non-AMA groups/clubs/dealers on a case-by-case basis. Mileage will not be credited for years that you were not an AMA member.
• If you were enrolled in the AMA LongRider program in 2008 or prior, previous verified AMA LongRider Emeritus mileage counts.
• Send a current odometer photo with your AMA card in the photo or other verification as listed on the mileage award form. Odometer pics and other verification will be kept on record with the AMA.
• If multiple motorcycles are used, mileage will count from time each motorcycle is registered with the LongRider Program.
• AMA LongRiders receive a decal and patch with registration.
• Forms can be sent to AMA LongRider, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. It’s recommended to make a copy or keep a record of the mileage you are submitting, so you know when to submit for awards.

Mileage Awards:

• Once you reach a milestone, return the AMA LongRider Mileage Award Request Form (Click Here) to AMA LongRider, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. It’s recommended to make a copy or keep a record of the mileage you are submitting, so you know when to submit for your next award.
• Send an updated odometer photo with your AMA card in the photo or other verification as listed on the mileage award form.
• Only verifiable mileage counts toward AMA LongRider Awards (odometer vs. “trail miles”). This is a road/adventure riding program.

Share Your Achievements:

• Share photos of your odometer, patches or photos from a trip using the #AMAlongrider on social media.
• Email amalongrider@ama-cycle.org with your photos, name and contact info. for a chance to be featured on AMA social media or in American Motorcyclist magazine.

Questions?

Contact amalongrider@ama-cycle.org if you have questions.

View AMA LongRider Achievements at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/longrider/

View 2021 LongRiders
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View 2017 LongRiders
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In the last few weeks, the ethanol industry has suffered two major court case defeats. Earlier this month, the D.C. Court of Appeals struck down the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule allowing for year-round sales of E15. In May 2019 the EPA issued a rule change ending a summer ban on the sale of E15 blend. Provisions of the Clean Air Act have prohibited the sale of certain fuels with a higher volatility from June 1 through Sept. 15, including E15. The court ruled that Congress did not intend to allow ethanol blends higher than 10% to be sold year-round and that the EPA overstepped its authority by implementing the change.

Not surprisingly, in response to the court ruling, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from major corn producing states introduced a bill Wednesday that aims to allow the year-round sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced bipartisan bills to permit the year-round sale of E15. The bill was cosponsored in the Senate by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD). In the House Representatives, Cindy Axne (D-IA), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Dusty Johnson (R- SD) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) were all original cosponsors of the bill.

This legislation faces a tough road ahead in Congress with a diverse set of stakeholders and lawmakers opposed to increased ethanol mandates. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation applauds the court for striking down the year-round mandate and will work with like-minded groups to oppose legislation that would reopen the door to the year-round sale of E15.

To read what pro ethanol Senators are saying about their bill and the need for year-round E15 click here. To read what pro ethanol Representatives are saying on the topic click here.

Also in June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of a small Wyoming refinery that had previously been granted waivers from the EPA to comply with blending requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS, passed by Congress over a decade ago, recognized that small refiners face unique economic challenges to comply with ethanol blending requirements.

Congress delayed implementation of some requirements for small refiners and created a waiver process run by the EPA. During the Trump Administration the number of waivers given to refineries increased greatly and the ethanol industry sued to rescind some of the waivers. The decision by the Supreme Court last month opens the door for continued use of these waivers by refiners to avoid blending their fuel with ethanol.

Visit https://mrf.org/

Prizes worth $120,000 up for grabs. Last Chance to Enter! The Stylin’ In Sturgis Contest Giveaway ends on July 15th.

3 CHANCES TO WIN – $120,000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS.

This is your last chance to win! Prizes include a BRAND NEW PAUL YAFFE CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE, gear from the hottest vendors at the rally, and trips to the 81st Annual Sturgis Rally!

Submit your Entry Before it’s Too Late!

https://go.lawtigers.com/stylin-in-sturgis-giveaway

Click Here to Enter for Free!

Grand Prize

PAUL YAFFE CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE – WORTH $85,000

Customized by the legendary Paul Yaffe
With Exclusive Products from Hofmann Designs and Trask Performance
Custom Paint Job by Rolling Art Custom Paint
Full ODC suspension system
A trip to the 2021 Sturgis rally to show it off!
Travel Credit
Campsite at Glencoe Camp Resort

Second Prize
A TRUE STYLIN’ IN STURGIS TRIP – WORTH $25,000

Travel Credit
Campsite at Glencoe Camp Resort
Magnum Research Desert Eagle
Rockford Fosgate Full Bagger Sound System
Embellished Print & Meet and Greet with Scott Jacobs
Nightrider Jewelry Shopping Spree
Pen and Ink Art Piece & Meet and Greet with Alexa Jacobs
Hot Leathers Gift Card

Third Prize
BRING THE RALLY TO YOU – WORTH
$10,000

Magnum Research 1911 (Old Glory)
Rockford Fosgate Full Bagger Sound System
Phat Scooter Phatty Electric Scooter

Charlie’s Golden Pan To Benefit The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum

Howdy Folks,

We are less than thirty days out from one lucky person winning the Golden Panhead that is being raffled to benefit the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.

Tickets are being sold, but it is somewhat slow going. It would be wonderful if each you would help promote this. I know Charlie would be honored to see his legacy go towards the motorcycle community.

The direct link to the raffle is here : https://rafflecreator.com/pages/49273/charlies-golden-pan-to-benefit-the-sturgis-motorcycle-museum

Thank you in advance!
From Cycle Source Magazine
http://www.cyclesource.com

In Charlie’s memory, and in the spirit of the great thing he liked to call Motorsickilism, this incredible handcrafted 1961 Panhead Chopper is being raffled for $20 per chance or 6 opportunities for $100.

On Friday, August 13, 2021, one lucky winner will be selected randomly through a third-party source to be the caretaker of Charlie’s legacy. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum in Charlie’s honor.

It is the perfect way to end this story, maybe the only one that makes sense in the wake of such a tragic loss. Help put Charlie into the history books for one last great accomplishment.

PLEASE VISIT: https://rafflecreator.com/pages/49273/charlies-golden-pan-to-benefit-the-sturgis-motorcycle-museum

Dennis Kirk is proud to partner with world-renowned motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter for a new exclusive DK BLOG feature—LICHTER NOTES.

Michael will share his thoughts and photos of bike builds, bike builders and biker events—past and present. All his articles can be found exclusively on the DK BLOG: THE AFTERMARKET EXPERIENCE.

This week’s feature post is about the Sturgis rally in the early 2000s—the “Aughts”. It is number four of a five-part series leading up to the 2021 rally.

Read it here: https://www.denniskirk.com/blog/lichter-notes/