Happy New Year!

It better be a good one! I hope everyone is staying safe and that by the middle of the year vaccines will have spread and the world can open up once more. I hope that Sturgis will be in full swing without the country blaming Covid spikes on grubby bikers for political gain.



And I hope the Bonneville International Speed Trials will be open and we can take our 45 flathead, Bonne Belle and the JIMS 135-inch powered Salt Torpedo to Bonneville for its first speed runs.



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. Most recently Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.








Happy Holidays from all of us here at Lowbrow!

We hope you are having a great time this holiday season and spending time with people you love.

Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all along the roads
Not a creature was stirring, not even a toad;

My Panhead was parked in the garage with care,
The car left in the driveway in the open night air;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of candy bars danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled in bed for a long winter’s ‘nap’,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the shade
To see exactly why my ‘nap’ was delayed.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But the Lowbrow Weirdo pulling in, in first gear.

His 80-inch Flathead came to a stop,
And he left a little gift on the door to my shop.

He kicked over his flatty and roared out to the street,
Oh, how I felt lucky to receive such a treat!

–from the Lowbrow team







NMA COVID ALERT–
Long-term Implications of Working from Home–You might not think telecommuting is a motorist issue, but you’re mistaken. Recently, various news outlets stated that almost half of the 160 million American workers commute from home due to the pandemic. Even after COVID-19 vaccinations are available, will working from home continue?

Many workers have told researchers that they want to keep working from home after the pandemic runs its course. People enjoy not making that long commute and have more time to spend with families and friends. Many workers are even thinking or have moved to a cheaper city if commuting is no longer necessary. Office buildings are standing empty, which helps the bottom line of employers but hurts building owners and other businesses in the area that cater to employees, such as lunch places, salons, and gyms.

Recently, Deutsche Bank suggested that a five percent wage tax should be imposed on remote work not mandated by the government. If workers choose remote work, they would be required to pay the tax.

Employers would pay the tax if they don’t offer employees a place to work and require them to work from home. Deutsche Bank researcher Luke Templeman estimated that the new tax would generate $48.7 billion per year and suggests that the money should be given out as $1500 cash grants to employees who make less than minimum wage and cannot work from home.

Vehicle emissions also dropped around the world at the beginning of the pandemic since fewer motorists were commuting. In a University of California, Berkeley study, researchers found that regional carbon dioxide emissions dropped by 25 percent at the beginning of the pandemic due to a nearly 50 percent drop in traffic.

In September, the San Francisco Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted to move forward a proposal to require people at large, office-based companies to work from home three days a week. The MTC was hopeful that this radical proposal would be a way that the area could slash vehicle gas emissions.

Within a month, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said they could not support a proposal that mandated this action because it would bring economic harm to cities’ downtowns. Fifteen Bay Area representatives of the State Legislature also raised their concerns in a joint letter to the MTC. Soon after, MTC Commissioner Nick Josefowitz suggested that the requirements could be amended to target those who drive to work every day.

In November, the MTC did just that. They scrapped the original idea and instead adopted an alternative strategy to reduce carbon emissions and improve the region’s environment. Now, large employers (50+employees) will be asked to reduce employee vehicular commuting.

Employers would be responsible for identifying and funding incentives to reduce car commuting to 40 percent by 2035. This mandate is due to California’s requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19 percent by 2035. MTC must design and approve a plan to help meet the state’s mandate or risk losing $100 million in state funding by 2022.

The most significant implication of telecommuting, of course, is the lack of money going towards the state and federal gas tax. Fewer commuters mean less gas and less gas tax, which has substantial implications for funding infrastructure in the short- and long-term.

Most states and even cities are now trying to figure out how to make up the difference. Many counties and cities have already raised or are thinking about raising the gas tax to compensate. For example, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s recent budget proposal included increasing the city’s gas tax, ticket fines, and fees.

How to fund infrastructure was already a huge issue before the pandemic. Now, it will likely be the most significant issue (beyond the pandemic and the economy) on deck for upcoming state legislature sessions and Congress.

If more employees work from home post-pandemic, the implications will likely hit the pocketbooks of all of us one way or another.

–NMA







BIKERNET ADVERTISING AND CHANGES FOR 2021—We are making major changes for the better in 2021. Hell, we already started by making Bikernet free once more and open to the public. We are working on another social media campaign and our web masters are going to make all of our sites more mobile friendly. Here’s the basic layout for advertising.

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/NEW_BIKERNET_PROGRAM_FOR_2019.aspx

Our Uniques to Bikernet and the Bikernet blog average 77,500 a month. We also have 10,000 riders who receive our email blast twice weekly and it’s free to join up. Plus, we have an editor who devotes all of his time to our social media program reaching at least 25,000 enthusiasts a month. He says we reach over 2 million enthusiasts, but the above number in our friends group.

We are making our sites more accessible for 2021 and more mobile friendly. We are now 24 years old and holding our own when so many media outlets have passed away.

So, what does our system include? Your ads will run on the Bikernet Home Page and on every department page, which includes over 20 departments and rotate daily. Your adds also run on our blog.

We publish the Bikernet news weekly and the Bikernet Blog 24/7. That means when the a company has news or info to share, we will get the job done. Plus, as we’ve done so many times in the past, if there’s a feature available it can be covered on Bikernet.com as a stand- alone feature.

Finally, each time we cover your company news we will run a banner, an ad or an event poster and you won’t find your brand fighting the page with 25 other ads. We have never handled business like that. All of our editorial material is archived and always available. Plus, we charge a flat monthly fee. You could have 100 ads featured on Bikernet 24/7 and the rate remains the same. No hidden costs. How’s that for less than $150 a month?

Reach out to me if you have any other questions.

Keith R. Ball
Boss
Bikernet.com
Kball945@gmail.com
(310) 528-9258







SHARP SHIT FROM THE GANG AT RMJ TACTICAL–We have two versions of our Sparrow available on the website, the new Johnny Red version and our Explore More model.

The sparrow is a compact bird and trout style fixed blade knife that excels in a concealed carry or everyday carry (EDC) capacity. You can use the Sparrow to cut an apple in the park without anyone being concerned that you have a dangerous weapon in your hand. It blends in well in both urban and rural settings and is a great companion for any type of adventure.



The classic drop point blade has a Cerakote finish for corrosion and glare resistance. The beveled and contoured G10 grips feature diagonal texturing for a not too aggressive, but still secure grip.

The Sparrow comes with a molded kydex scabbard with two MAD straps that allow for scout-style carry (horizontal) and inside the waistband (IWB) vertical carry. It is also MOLLE compatible and can be set up to attach to PALS webbing on any pack, plate carrier, or similarly equipped gear.

All orders from Dec 23 – 27 will ship on the 28th and 29th.

Great for: Daily Carry, Back Up Blade, Outdoors and Utility

Specifications

Overall Length: 7 in
Blade Length: 3.5 in
Cutting Edge Length: 3.125 in
Blade Thickness: .130 in
Weight: 2.3 ounces (without sheath)
Blade Material: Nitro-V stainless steel (HRC 58-60)
Blade Finish: Cerakote
Sheath: Kydex scabbard

Explore More Sparrow
Johnny Red Sparrow





SUPPORT GOOD TIMES BANNERS--One Banner
$ 35.00



Support Good Times One Banner. 24×36″ 14oz. PVC vinyl with grommets.



—www.supportgoodtimes.com





QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY—MASK FREE.
What’s a dinosaur’s least favorite of Santa’s reindeer?

Comet!

–from Sam Burns
Certified Librarian
Bikernet.com™






NEWS FROM THE DIME BAG EMPIRE--We made the custom seat for a Harley-Davidson Softail. Rich brown handmade leather looks badass on this Night Train.

–AC
Dime Bag Leather
309-336-0714
Follow @dimebag.leather on Instagram.








DOOMSDAY ISN’T REAL—
‘As false as anything Twitter or Facebook have censored’ – Michael Shellenberger rebuts Biden’s claim that climate change will ‘threaten… literally, the existence of our planet’

Biden said, “Without clear approach from other… emitters… storms will continue to worsen”

Shellenberger: “False again! – Deaths from hurricanes have declined 90% in 100 years – Every major scientific review says deaths from disasters *will continue to decline*”

“We are more resilient than ever: – Deaths from natural disasters declined over 90% – We produce 25% more food than we need — our largest surpluses in history. And there is no scientific scenario for either of those trends to reverse themselves, even with high levels of warming.

In fact, deaths from natural disasters are at their lowest level in 120 years…

Neither the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) nor any other reputable scientific body predicts a reversal in the long-term trend of declining deaths, even if temperatures rise another three degrees or more.”


First, climate change does NOT threaten “the very existence of our planet”

That is ridiculous. Not even the most ridiculous apocalyptic environmentalists say that.

There was once the idea that Earth could become like Venus but nobody even believes that any more
A well-known climate scientist once told me that he & colleagues had attempted to model what it would take to create a Venus atmosphere on Earth with CO2 emissions. It required dedicating more that total GDP globally to the task simply of pumping CO2 into atmosphere

But Venus aside, there isn’t even a science *fiction* scenario where climate change “literally threatens the existence of our planet”

How would such a thing even occur? There’s not even a mechanism. The worst anyone could imagine was Venus and Venus still exists.

Moving on..

–Mike Shellenberger
From the Climate Depot








2012 REPORT FROM SWEDEN— Welcome to the club!



Have a great New Year in Deadwood
I hope to visit your new HQ Before the WORLD collapse….



Photos from BUB 2012 Bonneville



–Christer
Sheriff Media Group
Sweden






TEXAS WEATHER REPORT— Hope all is well, the snow looked cool, if you get a chance Bronson’s shop (redhead) is Southern Metal Choppers. Not sure it was auto correct or I finally remembered the name of the place, Greg at MC worked before opening his shop. Union Cycle Salvage, may have got them confused? I’m old.



Product report- Michelin Commander II Tires are no good in the mud in a turn. My girls were watching over me, helmet just barely scuffed, better it than me.



Looks like the air cleaner & brake pedal got dinged up some. Everything works still, props for that air cleaner. Looks like Chopper Hauss crash bar in our future too!

Texas company got some cool stuff. Bandit Dayroll and my 5-Ball Special Ops vest held up in another RFR real world test! I’ve almost got the proper amount of Dayroll wind deflection too, tries to open the visor in the triple digits. But it has a lock.

-RFR
Panhandle Reporter
Bikernet.com™







TUCKER Powersports Launches Major Dealer Training Initiative as Part of Tucker Road Show Program– Fort Worth TX – Tucker Powersports, one of North America’s largest distributors of powersports products, launched a free training initiative for its dealers, which culminates in a series of live events at major racing venues around the country. The program, known as the Tucker Road Show, starts today and runs through May 2021.

“The key to a retailer’s success is great customer experiences delivered by knowledgeable dealership staff,” said Marc McAllister, Tucker President and CEO. “The Tucker Road Show is based on supporting dealers and their staff so that they can represent great products from dozens of the manufacturers we work with.”

Tucker dealers are given free access to online training via Tucker U, a custom-designed training portal, which features interactive training programs addressing all types of powersports products. Dealership staff members earn points for completing levels of training, which translate into preferred pricing programs for their dealership and ultimately, an invitation to participate in one of the four Tucker Road Show tour stops.

“Tucker’s Road Show events are an opportunity to take a deep dive into the newest and coolest products in the industry,” said Brad Turner, Tucker’s VP of Sales. “All of the industry’s biggest companies have committed to participating in the four events with displays and experts who can speak to their product’s features and consumer benefits. We’ll also include lots of opportunities for socializing with other dealers and chances to experience NASCAR speeds on the paved racetracks.”

The company’s events will take place at Texas Motor Speedway (March), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (April), Charlotte Motor Speedway (April) and Kentucky Speedway (May). Each event takes place in the speedway’s infield in both open garages and outdoor displays. Product manufacturers will showcase their latest products and dealers will be able to order with special pricing, based on the points earned through online training. Tucker and participating vendors will encourage COVID safety and will operate within each region’s prevailing safety protocols.

One of the largest display areas will be the Tucker house brands, which are created and distributed exclusively by Tucker for their dealer network. The product range includes parts, accessories and consumables for virtually every on-road and off-road motorcycle, 4×4 and UTV.

Tucker U is available to dealers immediately and is set up to log dealer training points for the program.







QUICK, KEEP THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN AND MASK FREE—We sanitize each and every page…


A young guy from North Carolina moves to Florida and goes to a big “everything under one roof” department store looking for a job.

The Manager says, “Do you have any sales experience?” The kid says “Yeah. I was a vacuum salesman back in North Carolina.”

Well, the boss was unsure, but he liked the kid and figured he’d give him a shot, so he gave him the job.

“You start tomorrow. I’ll come down after we close and see how you did.”

His first day on the job was rough, but he got through it. After the store was locked up, the boss came down to the sales floor.

“How many customers bought something from you today?” The kid frowns and looks at the floor and mutters, “One”. The boss says “Just one?!!? Our sales people average sales to 20 to 30 customers a day.”

“That will have to change, and soon, if you’d like to continue your employment here. We have very strict standards for our sales force here in Florida. One sale a day might have been acceptable in North Carolina, but you’re not in the mountains anymore, son.”

The kid took his beating, but continued to look at his shoes, so the boss felt kinda bad for chewing him out on his first day. He asked (semi-sarcastically), “So, how much was your one sale for?”

The kid looks up at his boss and says “$101,237.65.”

The boss, astonished, says, “$101,237.65?!? What the heck did you sell?”

The kid says, “Well, first, I sold him some new fish hooks. Then I sold him a new fishing rod to go with his new hooks. Then I asked him where he was going fishing and he said down the coast, so I told him he was going to need a boat, so we went down to the boat department and I sold him a twin-engine Chris Craft. Then he said he didn’t think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I took him down to the automotive department and sold him that 4×4 Expedition.”

The boss said “A guy came in here to buy a fish hook and you sold him a boat and a TRUCK!?”

The kid said, “No, the guy came in here to buy tampons for his wife, and I said, ‘Dude, your weekend’s shot, you should go fishing.”

–Sam Burns
Premier Librarian
Bikernet.com™








NEWS FROM SOCAL–
I’m going home in a few and spend the rest of the day finishing the seat mounts in the ‘57. Going in for upholstery next Tuesday. Leather came in yesterday and it’s awesome. Sure will be nice to get it finished. Never had so many bumps in the road when working on such a project.

I just put a split air system in the garage and the heat and AC make for a very comfortable working environment. It was a DIY unit and worth every cent of the 2 grand price tag.



BTW. If you’ve never seen what Krist has to offer check this out. www.kristkustoms.com
Mostly designed for automotive, but some of the pieces would easily find a home on custom motorcycles. Cool stuff. Example. This seat photo has a V logo embedded into the leather. I couldn’t find them anywhere until someone turned me on to Krist.



–Bob Clark


[page break]




LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK— Try this one: 2009 Harley-Davidson® FLSTSB – Cross Bones for $12,995.00


see it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=9584417

California’s pre-owned Harley Mega-Store with over 200 Pre-Owned Harley-Davidsons in stock!!! We carry Street Glides, Road Glides, Road Kings, Ultras, Sportsters, Softails, Dynas, and much more!!!



To view our current inventory, please visit www.LifestyleCycles.com or call us at (714)-490-0155. EZ FINANCING and EXTENDED WARRANTIES available!!! **Open 7 days a week**

ABOUT THIS BIKE * EXTREMELY RARE BIKE ONLY A FEW MADE !!!



ONLY 22423.00 Miles !!!!!

2009 CUSTOM METAL FINISH AND BLACK Harley-Davidson CROSS BONES SPRINGER SOFTAIL FLSTSB

Some of the features:

VERY RARE BIKE !n* Beach Bars* Mustang seat* Thunder header* Lowered* Springer front-end This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 101 point safety and mechanical inspection.

Whether you’re looking to commute to work, ride the coast or take that dream vacation, this bike is ready to go!!!

EZ FINANCING-SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!

Fill out an online application and ride today!!!

**Open 7 days a week**

Just $12,995.00 at Lifestyle Cycles (714) 490-0155







BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT NEW YEARS WORD OF THE DAY–sayonara
[ sahy-uh-nahr-uh; Japanese sah-yaw-nah-rah ]
interjection, noun

farewell; goodbye.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF SAYONARA?
Sayonara comes from Japanese sayonara, a shortening of sayonaraba, which means literally “if it be so (that the time for parting has come).” Sayonara consists of sayo “thus” and naraba “if it be.” Sayonara entered English in the second half of the 19th century.

HOW IS SAYONARA USED?

First of all, Joey is terrible at Nintendo. As little brothers go, he’s probably the worst. If he gets to play Zelda, you can say sayonara to your rupees.

BENJAMIN FLORES, “ON THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF THE NINTENDO CONTROLLER,” THE NEW YORKER, OCTOBER 23, 2020

Turchin published one final monograph … then broke the news to his UConn colleagues that he would be saying a permanent sayonara to the field, although he would continue to draw a salary as a tenured professor in their department.

GRAEME WOOD, “THE NEXT DECADE COULD BE EVEN WORSE,” THE ATLANTIC, DECEMBER 2020







CALIFORNIA MASK TEST–this is the short calm version of yesterday’s true incident being sent to a select group of individuals. it has been highly self-censored and self-edited. because trust me, I could piss of jesus AND satan simultaneously and have them both come running at me with their hands in strangulation mode. Capital letters and paragraphing have been used in moderation because they slowed down my goddamned lather.



Cecily sprained her ankle at the arboretum yesterday:

A large government park of itemized trees and plants. it’s the ONLY place we’ve gone to in a year. it’s a mile away. So she sprains her ankle. She didnt fall down. she just said, even more white than she usually is, “I might have just broken my ankle.”

I think, “oh shit, the hospital is now full of diseased sidewalk-dwelling knife-wielding heroin-addicted public masturbators Gavin Newsom ordered sent to normal hospitals a hundred miles from their local squalor on the public sidewalks – where you cannot gather at a restaurant, but you can live in your own feces in a blue tent and an array of propane tanks and free heroin needles from the city fathers – to make it look like there’s actually a ‘great and mighty plague’ as Trump and every other bureaucrat and journalist hack commie piece of shit keeps insisting.”

I don’t say this. I think this. First thing to do I decide is get her back to the car. Good luck: There’s no employees anywhere. They’re all clustered inside the entrance office and won’t let anyone in. You have to pass by the outer door and deal with a fucking masked moron at the other end of a long table, thus putting him inside….with you outside.

Total brilliant genius way to outwit a virus that is ten million times smarter than we are. I get her to a small wall and she sits. “don’t leave here!” I admonished with a straight face. I have to get to the entrance from inside the park by a long ridiculous route to get back outside the park first.

There’s a line at the table outside the building with the asshole idiot manning it inside the building. it’s short, the line. I can’t butt in front because I don’t trust myself talking calmly to masked automatons who are going to be upset that I want to butt in front. my turn comes. my mask is DOWN.

“I need someone to get in one of the million empty motor carts here and help my wife to the car she might have broken her ankle.” here’s what I get from the idiot: “YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR MASK ON! I CANNOT TALK TO YOU WITHOUT A MASK! PUT YOUR MASK ON!” he’s fucking apoplectic. Plus he’s a fucking mile away.

I said, “did you hear what I said?”

“PUT ON YOUR MASK!” I make a move toward entering the park. “STOP! YOU HAVEN’T PAID!” I said “Listen carefully. We’re IN the park. My wife maybe broke her ankle. IN the park. I want some help. Are the gardeners working today?”



They are Mexicans in trucks who do the actual work there. I know I can get through to them rather than to Our Great Citizenry. Because….like they give a fuck about a flu? they come from Hell On Earth just to get here illegally and to actually DO something. Unlike this fuckhead at the other end of of a long table.

He says “PUT ON A MASK!!!” I go inside the park. he calls to someone inside. I am intercepted by a female in a mask. “YOU CANNOT ENTER!” “I entered 20 minutes ago. My wife needs help.” “YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR MASK ON!!!”

“Are the gardeners working today?”

“PUT ON YOUR MASK!!”

“Are the gardeners working today?” I can sense her going into call-a-cop mode. which was fine with me, the cop would actually help me FIRST and deal with my mask and trespassing issues later. And I know for a fact they detest wearing the things. And trespassing on and fucking with other peoples’ property is all they DO. In five minutes, I would have them convinced EYE was a cop. “Are the gardeners working today?”

“YOU CANT COME IN WITHOUT PAYING!”

“This is the fourth time I have asked you this: are the gardeners working today?” I watch a lot of Cesar Milan videos of him working with dogs. dogs WANT a leader. They want to cooperate with a “decider.” But you have to distract them from their temporary mood-swing out of whatever erratic nonsense they’re currently engaged in. This innocuous question in its fourth repetition in a relatively calm voice caused her to visit reality for a moment. Maybe I was a gardener supervisor. LIke most employees afraid of violating any rule of employment she became unsure. “Well….yes……” “I need someone to drive my wife to our car.” she was back in normal stupid-employee mode responding to a simple request rather than Mask Dominator Of the Tenth Galaxy mode keeping the world safe from the annual cold and flu season. she got on her two-way. she called “carl”.” She told me carl was coming. i met carl before he got there. meanwhile “Rita” – still in normal human being mode rather than mask police asshole idiot fuckhead government robot mode – called the fire department. a large firetruck and a paramedic wagon showed up.

Nine white slim American, probably Christian, guys were soon enveloping Cecily since carl had taken us to the parking lot. I did not have a mask on. “Neal” who had a name-tag was looking at the ankle. I watched Neal closely. He did not have a mask on. He had it at half-mask. All nine masks gradually deteriorated in lessening respect for the safety of earth’s inhabitants from full frontal to basically chin bibs. In some cases lobster bibs.

His demeanor after a brief examination had “sprain” written all over it. he then asked cecily to move her toes. she did this with some difficulty. Neal then said what options were available starting with his suggestion that not walking on it for a week was advisable and then see if there was any improvement…” which then graduated to “If you want we can take you……have x-rays taken……et cetera…..” and when he was done i said to cecily “I have been watching Neal. He looks very calm and not at all convinced that your ankle is broken.

He almost looks relieved.” Neal didn’t say anything. Neal was grateful for my input: I was now making the final decision based on his analysis. Neal was pleased and admiring that I was capable of actually paying attention and respecting his analysis and expertise. the nine guys left and Neal looked back at me and yelled without a mask “Cheezits! I love ’em!!” I had a t shirt on that looked like a Cheez-it package.

I yelled back “Hot and spicy! The only way to go!” and off they went. here’s the point of all this: wearing a mask is now more important to 99.9999999% of the population than doing anything positive and helpful and competent and intelligent and that might actually keep someone safe. unlike what the useless fucking greta-thunberg-level-stupid masks are doing.

–J.J. Solari







NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT-– Artist David Uhl

Earlier this year, David partnered with Art of the Spirits on his Bonnie and Clyde piece, “Final Run” which combined the artwork with a special bourbon bottle. We are pleased to announce the second piece in this “Art of the Spirits” collection, titled “The Originals”.

As this series moves forward, it will introduce very different subject matter – the common ground being the art/bourbon package.

With this second piece, we are only offering 30 print/bourbon packages.

“The Originals”
David Uhl 2020

This tribute to the Special Forces is beautifully composed. The label on each bottle of small batch bourbon will be signed and numbered to match the artwork.

Canvas print specifics – each piece will be hand-signed by David Uhl and numbered with Certificate of Authenticity. Two size options:

** Image size 18×24, $1,295 framed with bottle. Edition of 18 plus 4 Artist Proofs and 4 Hors d’ Commerce.

** Image size 24×32, $1,895 framed with bottle. Edition of 3 plus 1 Artist Proof.

Bourbon details:

280 bottles were produced and normally sell for $150 per bottle. The bourbon was matured 3.5 years old in a new 30 gallon American
oak barrel followed by a beauty rest in a 12 year old rum cask.

The backstory:

The 10th Special Forces Group was born in 1952 from the concepts established by the WWII OSS. It was the first Special Forces unit
created earning its name “The Originals”.

Establishing its headquarters in Germany and sending personnel to Korea training anti-Communist North Korean partisans, its mission was to conduct
partisan warfare behind enemy lines in Europe.

It created and adopted the Trojan Horse Badge and began adorning the Green Berets they wore, with them creating the symbolic Green Beret.

Operation RESTORE HOPE lead the 1st Armored Division into Bosnia in December 1995 operating under the cover of Joint Commission Observers (JCO). In Kosovo the unit conducted some of the first Joint Russian/American Combat Operations against KLA insurgents.

In 2001, selected members were deployed with their 5th SFG brothers for the initial operations in Afghanistan, and were the first to enter Iraq prior to the invasion organizing and leading Kurdish Peshmerga to fight.

So raise your glass in a toast to all “The Originals” past and present who have stood ready to engage liberty’s enemies “By Any and All Means Necessary.”

For those who acquired the first in the series, “Final Run”, we will try to accommodate your request for matching edition numbers on this one.

You can view “Final Run” on our website here:

Final Run

Please let me know if you’d like to reserve this package. You can respond to this email or call me at 303-913-4840.

Thanks and Happy New Year to all!

–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director





BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
MERRY XMAS BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for Christmas Eve 2020

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/MERRY_XMAS_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_Christmas_Eve_2020.aspx

Happy New Year Bandit!
I was reading your comments about the American Indians out in the west and it got me thinking. This past Sept. I did a 6000 mile ride from Charlotte to Houston, the Grand Canyon, Four Corners, Monument Valley and more. We went through a lot of Indian reservation land and it was all locked down tight. They are petrified of the damn Chinese virus and rightfully so.

They are a very closed society and who can blame them. We have treated them so poorly throughout history. We, as a nation, should be embarrassed as hell for what we did to them. We should take that damn money sent overseas for gender studies and give it to the Indians!

Ride safe out there, hope to see you on the road in ’21


–Paul Aiken
Charlotte, NC







KEEPING THE BANDIT’S CANTINA WIDE OPEN DURING HARD TIMES—Mask Free.
Where does Captain Hook buy his hooks from?

The secondhand store.

How do you make holy water?

Boil the hell out of it…

–from Sam Burns
Official Librarian
Bikernet.com™






FIRE UP IN LACONIA— Fire up in Laconia for the rally office… I found it on their Facebook page I came up in my feed… I hope all is well and hope you have a safe and happy new year and enjoy South Dakota!

–Dmac

It is with heavy hearts that we share the following… On Christmas morning, our MC Week office suffered a catastrophic fire – it was a total loss. We are grateful to the Laconia Fire Department and surrounding towns for their assistance and thankful that no one was seriously injured.

Sadly, we lost our beloved office cat, Ashland, in the fire in addition to collectibles and souvenirs spanning the history of Laconia Motorcycle Week’s 97-year legacy.

The majority of what has been lost can never be replaced, including 100 years of photos, periodicals, posters, trophies, plaques, books, and many written records; historical archives that have been over 50-years in the making.

Although we do have insurance coverage, it covers barely a fraction of the loss. Souvenir sales to rally friends throughout the world have been a significant source of our revenue each year and we know people treasure the vintage merchandise as well as the memorabilia that comes hot off the presses; anything that can be salvaged will be. We will work hard to rebuild as we move into 2021 and we’re sure we can all agree that 2020 can kindly see its way out!

Please watch for updates and we will let you know as soon as possible when we can reopen our office and online sales. If you have questions, please feel free to email us at info@laconiamcweek.com or call Charlie at 603.387.5944.

A few words in memory of Ashland…. Charlie rescued Ashland in 2006 following a firework’s show he had done for the Town of Ashland’s July 4th Celebration. It appeared from the holes on either side of this tiny kitten that an owl (or something similar) may have tried to take him away as a snack.

Ashland escaped and appeared to the fireworks crew that night and was happily appointed Motorcycle Week office mascot! Ashland loved greeting visitors and ‘helping’ with work tasks, which mainly involved sleeping on the desk or on an available lap.

He also loved his best friend, Paugus, our other office kitty; rescued from outside our office on a very cold winter’s day in 2008. Paugus passed away in his sleep this past fall after battling cancer. Together, this mighty duo helped supervise all tasks and provided laughter and comfort in times of stress. Both are sorely missed. #LaconiaMCWeek #NHLakesRegion




NEWS FROM THE DIME BAG EMPIRE— Working on a Dimebag Leather 2021 logo. Do you know anyone that make this a computer image and add 5 colors?



Also, in talks with a web designer, Kyli, to create Dimebag website and online shop. Kyli sounds like a hard worker and is excited to get started. Very happy to be working with her. She wants to make Dimebagleather.com the main hub. Once I get the $$$ deposit taking care of she can start within 2 weeks. Awesome, we are ready for more action.



Finishing up the Dime Bag Leather business cards. Also gotta make another order for leather. Building the product lineup as quick as I get leather and materials in between custom leather seat orders.

All the best,
AC

P.S. That would make a cool neon sign!






BOARS NEST NEW YEARS HOURS— Happy New Year to you and your family! We will be closed 12/31 through the weekend and return Tuesday 1/5/2021 for the new year! Enjoy and have a safe celebration!

BOARS NEST CHOPPERS
760.757.4294]
|INFO@BOARSNESTCHOPPERS.COM]




MORE SOCAL NEWS–BTW the art on my cards is some of Larry Grossman’s work. He’s up in the Valley. www.retrovisions.com
He offers his work custom made with you and whatever you want in the picture. Pretty cool.



How’s this for an oldie. Taken 1969 just after I came home from the service. Damn I wish I still had that Pan. Dad and I built the bike from a basket case and dad sprayed the orange base with black cob webbing. I’d never seen him use so many spray cans, but ultimately we rented a spray gun and he was on it. Awesome.

–Bob Clark






WHAT’S COMING?—We are working on a killer tech for all builders and Knuck, Pan, Shovel, and Evo riders. It’s all about tuning and breathing. I worked with Lee Clemens, from Departure Bike Works in Richmond, VA and Kent Weeks, from Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston on this piece.



I’m working on an early riding piece with Bill May and his run to the sun in Texas. We have another Lindby Crash Bar tech coming and Chapter 92 of the Cantina series is on its way for Cantina members.



I’m about to start another Sam’s picks story. And maybe, I can get back to work on the LA Marinas Change Hogan book.



I ordered some more brass dragons for our Chinese whorehouse in Deadwood, but the Redhead is beginning to scowl at me.



Let’s make the next year kick some ass and prove that freedom works.

Ride fast and free forever,

–Bandit

by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com

Why do countries have laws about this anyway?

Did you know that there are places in the world with laws that keep motorcycles off the roads in the winter? One we’ve covered in the past (and that you’ve likely heard of) is the Canadian province of Quebec. The law isn’t specific to motorcycles but states that all road vehicles must be fitted with proper, homologated, winter-rated tires between December 1 and March 15.

This isn’t exactly forbidding motorcyclists from taking their bikes out, of course. The most devoted riders out there who don’t mind pocketing the additional expense are allowed to ride in the winter months should their bike wear proper rubbers. That could be about to change, however, as the province has apparently been considering making the use of a motorcycle altogether illegal during winter.

Similarly, in Italy, the law states that vehicles must have proper winter tires or carry snow chains between November 15 and April 15, according to Motociclismo. The good news is that there is such a thing as snow chains for motorcycles, you just have to be ready to carry the extra weight. Where things get a little icy, however, is when the roads are covered with snow and/or ice, in which case motorcycles and scooters are forbidden to circulate.

Of course, these decisions are made locally in the name of safety and there’s nothing wrong with making sure people have the right tools to face the winter season but why do car rules apply to motorcycles? I can’t help and wonder: should we be riding in the winter (where allowed) at all.

Before anyone gets offended and takes out their freedom flag, the simple answer to that question in my opinion is yes. If only because most of us pay for insurance and licensing year-round, I don’t think the way we use our motorcycles should be limited by the season, or else the DMV and insurance companies should get with the program and quote accordingly.

My title sounds a little inflammatory, but that seems to be the road some governing bodies are taking and we should prove them wrong. I’ve never tried winter riding—yet—but it’s something I’ll eventually check off my to-do list and I’m curious to read what you guys have to say about all of this.

So, no, I don’t think winter riding should be illegal in the winter, but, I also think we could be better prepared for it. Some of you will likely still disagree with me but hear me out. You know how you can find courses to perfect your winter driving abilities, learn to control skids, and safely avoid obstacles in the snow? I think there should be the same for motorcycles.

Most winter-riding tips you’ll find out there recommend that you avoid heading out when there’s snow. The challenge with that is that there’s always going to be a risk that, even if the roads are clear in your area, they won’t be elsewhere so, really, we should be ready for that rather than try to avoid it. The same goes with the “don’t go riding if it’s snowing” rule—it might not be snowing where you are but it might be where you’re heading.

When I say winter riding, I’m not saying “head out in a blizzard and go do skids”—I mean, you can if you want, but it’s not something I recommend—but in winter, road conditions can be tricky to gauge. I’d rather be ready for the worst-case scenario. Plus, I’m always going to perceive honing my skills on more challenging surfaces and terrains as a bonus, whether it’s in a car or on a bike. Moreso on a motorcycle considering the risky and vulnerable nature of the beast.

The only problem is that, as far as I can tell, based on my research, there doesn’t seem to be any riding schools that offer a winter or snow program. Some racing schools might have ice-specific programs which is a potential option to consider. Feel free to share if you know of any.

I also get the feeling that motorcycle snow tires are a bit of a gimmick rather than actually useful. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong believer in winter tires when it comes to cars but I fail to see their motorcycle counterpart offering as many advantages.

Sure, they have tread patterns and compounds that are better suited for winter. However, I’m not convinced that they make as big a difference as governments expect because of the physics of riding. If they were so relevant, wouldn’t more companies make them?

To be fair, I’ve never tried a motorcycle snow tire myself and wasn’t able to find any comparative information from someone who has. If you tried them, do feel free to share your experience with me and tell me that I’m wrong (or not) about this. In the meantime, I remain convinced that learning to handle a bike in bad conditions is a better time and money investment—one that can be useful even when the snow melts away.

I even see an advantage in winter riding. Think about this: if more bikes are on the roads year-round, we could expect drivers to become more accustomed to their presence, which could hopefully result in safer roads. That’s probably a little oversimplified and I have no scientific proof of this. However, considering car drivers consistently “forget” how to adapt their driving to snowy conditions every year, it’s not hard to imagine that they also lose the habit of watching for motorcycles when they’re off the road six months out of twelve.

Should winter riding courses be made mandatory were they to become a thing? That’s another yes on my part, at least in any areas dealing with snowy winters. However, considering riding courses, in general, aren’t a prerequisite to getting your motorcycle license, I don’t foresee that becoming a thing either.

Ultimately, the way I see it, bikes shouldn’t become illegal in the winter. Governments like Quebec considering crossing the line toward illegality is overkill and unnecessary. Especially when you ask people for a lot of money to license their bikes for only eight months. We, as riders, just need to be smart about it, be prepared for it, and if possible, have access to better tools to achieve that. Encourage training rather than discourage use, no? I could see some of those ice racers find new vocations in dealing with us non initiated.

Yo, it’s a free download until Friday, grab a copy and please write an amazon review…is to hard to get people to write reviews.

 

 

thanks

 

–Gary Mraz

Author

Hey, read them over and write the Viking a review.–Bandit

by Karen DeMasters from https://www.fa-mag.com

Financial advisor Rachel Sloan uses her cross-country trips on her BMW motorcycle—one of them alone—to help her live in the moment. She then tries to transfer that spark to her clients.

Sloan, who spent a decade working on Wall Street, has changed her life more than once to get as much fulfillment out of her circumstances as possible. She wants her clients to plan for the future, but also not miss the joy of the present.

“Sometimes we get sparks in our lives,” Sloan said in a recent interview. “I was talking to a friend on day who said she had wanted to try hot yoga for six years but had not done it. That made me look at my life to see what I wanted to do that I hadn’t done, and it was learn to ride a motorcycle.”

That initial inspiration led Sloan to ride across the United States, from her home in Glens Falls, N.Y., twice, once to the West Coast and once to the Midwest.

“I always wanted a BMW and within a few days of making that decision, I was at the dealer and bought a motorcycle,” Sloan remembers. “I had them deliver the motorcycle to my house because I did not feel comfortable taking it for a test drive. I learned to ride and a whole new world of people and places opened up to me.”

She joined the BMW Riders Association and learned the group was holding a rally in Portland, Ore. “I thought that would be perfect. That was in 2013. A 70-year-old friend joined me,” she said. Sloan and her friend rode across the United States, camping along the way. She took 30 days off from work for the trip and wrote about her experience in a series of stories for her local weekly newspaper and for a blog. “People in town felt like they traveled with me and when I got back, they felt they knew me.”

It was not the first time she had made a drastic change in her life. After graduating from college, she moved to New Mexico from New York and sold life insurance. “But I decided I was really a New York City person and returned to the East Coast.” She spent a decade on Wall Street at Bankers Trust, Morgan Stanley and Chase Manhattan Bank, which is now JPMorgan Chase. Then the slower pace of life in Upstate New York began to pull her and she moved to the area in the early 2000s and worked for Merrill Lynch, But large firms had lost their appeal and in 2009 she started the sole-proprietorship firm, Sloan Advisory Group in Glens Falls, so she could work with individuals.

“While I was working for large firms, friends and acquaintances would ask me questions about their finances and I realized there is a lot of bad advice out there. I thought I could help,” she said. “I love connecting with people and hearing about their lives. Relationships are everything in life. Between riding cross country and through my work I have met some wonderful people who are living joyously.”

Sloan Advisory Group, which has $35 million in AUM and 40 clients, serves young professionals and couples, clients approaching retirement and widows and widowers.

“My clients, many of whom have been with me a long time, are pretty awesome people,” she said.

Hood ornaments have gone by the wayside for most automakers, but the heyday of chrome and glass came in the Art Deco ’30s. Several brands offered similar themes of athletic animals, famous (literal) figureheads, or the female form. Here are just seven of our favorites, we’re sure you’ll recognize quite a few.

Click Here to see this Photo Feature on Bikernet.

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by Bud Wilkinson from https://www.rep-am.com

It’s stating the obvious to say that 2020 was quite a year. While the number of miles covered on two wheels may not have changed appreciably from previous years for many motorcyclists, the places traveled probably did due to the cancellation of so many motorcycle shows and other events because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In venturing out, the wise and respectful among us always carried face masks, kept group size small and kept physically distant at all times. Others acted irresponsibly and selfishly, placing themselves and everyone they came in contact with at risk.

It was while out gathering a “My Ride” classic car feature for the newspaper back in early fall that I came across a coronavirus skeptic. As I walked up the owner’s driveway, my camera bag slung over my shoulder and a mask covering my mouth and nose, he appeared out of his garage maskless. Coming to within inches of my face, he scowled and declared of COVID-19, “It’s a hoax. It’ll be gone Nov. 4,” a reference to the day after the presidential election.

Stepping back, I responded that I wasn’t there to discuss the pandemic and asked if he would please keep at least six feet away; debating in my head whether I should just turn around, walk back to the truck and drive off. I stayed and did the story.

Here it is just after Christmas, and people are still dying at a considerable rate because of coronavirus. The death toll in the U.S. is now close to 325,000. Some hoax. So many people have succumbed that we’ve become inured to the toll.

COVID-19 certainly took a toll this year on the motorcycle industry, which wasn’t exactly in sterling shape before the pandemic. Here in Connecticut, the Stamford-based “American Iron” magazine suspended publication in July, sparking outrage among readers who failed to get refunds on their subscriptions.

In Falls Village, the popular riding destination Toymakers Cafe pulled the plug in early September, leaving its many regulars bereft and clueless as to what to do and where to ride on Sunday mornings.

The pandemic has impacted the industry in other ways, too.

The promoter of the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows tour announced in late September it was moving outside – scrapping the long-running indoor tour slate in winter in favor of outside venues in warmer weather. Since the last Ride-CT column, the newly branded IMS Outdoors tour has announced its 2021 itinerary, including a visit to Brooklyn over Labor Day weekend.

Getting into mid-town Manhattan for the indoor show every December at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was a sufficient chore. The prediction here is that Brooklyn will be a bridge too far for many riders who regularly attended the indoor show. The specific site in the borough hasn’t been announced.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has prompted Harley-Davidson to delay the unveiling of its 2021 model-year motorcycles until mid-January, and then do the reveal in an online event.

Having gotten a new CEO earlier this year in Jochen Zeitz and faced with plummeting sales, Harley-Davidson is engaged in a sizable shakeup. The number of models that the company offers is being significantly reduced and the dealership lineup is being culled.

During 2020, Hudson Valley Harley-Davidson in Nanuet, N.Y., Southampton Harley-Davidson in Southampton, Mass., Wilkins Harley-Davidson in Essex Junction, Vt., and Heritage Harley-Davidson in Concord, N.H., were among the brand’s stores in the Northeast that closed.

Consolidation continued, too, with Chad Clark and Bryan Castor buying Gengras Harley-Davidson in East Hartford and renaming it Hartford Harley-Davidson. They already owned Old School Harley-Davidson in Ellington, Conn., Spitzie’s Harley-Davidson of Albany in New York, and Sheldon’s Harley-Davidson in Auburn, Mass.

Watching Harley-Davidson’s maneuvering and speculating on its future fortunes has become something of a sport in recent years, and that will continue in 2021. While it’s hard to predict just how 2021 will play out, there already are a couple of signs representing optimism.

A new dealership selling KTM models, Colonial Power and Sport, is opening in New Milford. Another dealer in our area is planning to add more brands to its showroom next month, but can’t make an announcement until the incoming brands receive confirmation of the store’s credit line from the bank.

With vaccines for COVID-19 now being rolled out, maybe 2021 will be an improvement over the year now ending. Maybe by late summer we’ll be able to attend motorcycle shows again, be able to gather with more friends, and be able to roam wherever without quarantine or testing requirements.

Gina has been riding motorcycles for many years and has made motorcycling her full time life! She became well known among motorcycle circles as the host of a popular Radio Show in Chicago called Open Road Radio. She was well known for her “Old School” attitude as she rides an old Panhead kickstart bike.

She was featured in a book about female riders in 2009 called “Biker Chicz of North America”.

Gina has more recently been immersing herself in a give back program for Veterans called the HER project: Honor, Encourage and Recognize female veterans. She coordinates an all female bike build and then raffles the bike to be able to build another bike.

No dust under her feet, she is also developing a nutritional bar for motorcyclists called “Feel The Horsepower” with three options: 1- Biker Bar; Energy, 2-Fuel Bar; Meal Replacement, 3- Sports Bar; Electrolyte, Enzyme Replacement. — with Marilyn Stemp.

From Sam Burns

 

Hood ornaments have gone by the wayside for most automakers, but the heyday of chrome and glass came in the Art Deco ’30s. Several brands offered similar themes of athletic animals, famous (literal) figureheads, or the female form. Here are just seven of our favorites, we’re sure you’ll recognize quite a few.

Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy

Perhaps one of the most famous hood ornaments, this stunning form looks ready to take on any boulevard at great speed.

Cadillac’s Flying Goddess

Rolls-Royce wasn’t alone in placing a wind-swept woman at the leading edge of its gorgeous machines.

Chevrolet, DeSoto, and Nash all had variations on the theme, but we think Cadillac’s ever-changing goddess looked great through several iterations. The one at the top of the page is from one of Cadillac’s late ’30s V-16 flagships.

Stutz Hood Ornament

This late’20s and early-’30s ornament that topped the radiator cap of Stutz cars represents the Egyptian go of the sun, Ra. Seems proper for a convertible or roadster, no?

Willy’s Knight Hood Ornament

This guy would never make it with today’s passenger safety standards, considering he looks like he’s just itching to joust with a jaywalker.

Duesenberg Frederick Bazin Pegasus Hood ornament

This striking Art Deco Pegasus is a fitting mascot for the large, powerful Duesenbergs of the early ’30s. It’s a steed that could allow the rider brave enough to nearly take flight. Our very own ace shooter, Matt Tierney, spotted this pair of them at last year’s Arizona Auction Week.

Bugatti Dancing Elephant Hood Ornament

Rembrandt Bugatti designed the dancing elephant mascot that was used even before the distinctive oval macaron emblem that it is paired with above. The fanciful design manages to make the world’s largest land animal seem graceful.

Pontiac Chief Hood Ornament

Pontiac called upon the memory of the war chief that led the Odawa against the British with a number of emblems and ornaments before eventually switching to an arrowhead design. The hood ornament here, from 1934, depicted his whole body, lunging forward, but the chief would later become more stylized in other Pontiacs.

Check out these for additional hood ornament majesty, from the same era. Bonus points if you can name them all in the comments, and if we missed your favorite, be sure to share it with us and tell us why it’s the ultimate front-end eye candy.

–Brandan Gillogly

At Bikernet, we like hood girls and have fun with them whenever possible. Here’s a classic, that makes me smile even on a hot day crossing a desert on the Mudflap FXR.–Bandit 

It’s Touch and Go in the Badlands
by K.Randall Ball

Bandit roared down Spearfish Canyon and his mind settled with every curve and the rumble of his exhaust blasting off the sheer cliffs and Jack Pines. He came to a stretch where lush pines were knocked over like chess pawns on a polished mahogany game table.

He slowed as he rounded a curve and gazed at large, almost 200-year-old Jack Pines knocked flat, like a tabletop toothpick container run over by a truck. It seemed unnatural and freaky as he twisted his throttle and continued to roar up the canyon toward Cheyenne Crossing and his Bandit’s Cantina food truck.

It dawned on him that a recent monsoon like rain contained a tornado threat. Mother nature’s power touched down in the canyon and ripped through the trees like a drunk truck driver through fence posts. He reached back to check the strapped down cash box. It vibrated with the road’s surface but was still secure. Bandit looked ahead just as a squirrel darted into the lane.

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by Peter Fleischer from https://wreg.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There are numerous groups and organizations spreading holiday cheer and helping those less fortunate this time of year, but the hosts of today’s “helping the homeless” event may surprise you.

The Memphis Motorcycle Club says they make charity and giving back a priority every year, but with the COVID pandemic presenting new challenges in caring for the homeless, they scaled up this Christmas.

“This is the first time all together as a whole that we’ve ever united as one, to pull off an event of this magnitude,” Durrell Mackey, the Chairman of the Memphis Motorcycle Club, said.

The club handed out food, gift bags and hygiene products. But they also gave away vouchers for a week’s stay at the Memphis Union Mission. In the middle of winter, with below freezing temperatures, that kind of gift can end up saving a life.

“I always think about the less fortunate. The people that don’t have families to go home to, or a warm meal, or a place to stay. So, today we’re here to make a difference,” Mackey said.

And they did make a difference, making this year’s Christmas a little merrier for dozens of people who were grateful for the helping hand.

“I’m just blessed to be able to receive some type of donation to help me get into a room,” Teresa said.

“If I hadn’t came out here, I probably wouldn’t have nothing. I thank God for being here, for them helping me out,” Libby said.

If you’re interested in helping the memphis union mission, click here.