by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Having been at the forefront of motorcycle building for decades, Harley-Davidson knows people don’t necessarily like its bikes as they come out of the factory doors. As such, the American company not only allows garages to do whatever they like with its two-wheelers, but also encourages them by providing a long list of custom or tuning parts itself. And that applies not only to North America, where the bulk of the world’s Harley custom garages is, but also to the rest of the world. In Germany, for instance, a shop by the name Thunderbike has been having its way with Harley bikes for close to three decades now, and it’s taking full advantage of what the Milwaukee company has to offer. The build we have here is an older one coming from Europe, and it is the perfect representative of how custom parts can be perfectly matched with factory-supplied ones. Based on a 2008 Fat Bob, the bike is called Fredbob and took about two months to put together. Moving along under the power of a 96ci fuel-injected engine controlled by means of a 6-speed transmission, the motorcycle packs hardware of both European and American make. Thunderbike has been in charge of the overall design of the remade motorcycle, but also fitted on the build a number of home-brewed parts, including an exhaust that allows the above-mentioned engine to breathe, the air cleaner, and the handlebar. Harley itself supplied the fuel tank, fenders, front end, swingarm, and the rims wrapped in Metzeler tires. Some of these elements, like the fenders or front end, have been further optimized by Thunderbike for the project. The whole reborn Fat Bob is wrapped in a paint scheme signed by the Germans’ favorite partner on this front, Kruse Design. Usually, we are able to figure out approximately how much a build of this kind cost to make, but this time, due to the two-wheeler being rather old, we were unable to do so this time.

Up until the early 1960s, BSA was the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The 1950s had been a good decade for the marque, with the success of the Gold Star as well as the development of two well-respected pre-unit (separate gearbox and engine), vertical twin-engine series: the A7 and A10. Not only was BSA a giant in producing motorcycles, the company also manufactured other goods such as buses, agricultural equipment, bicycles and, of course, weapons. Flush with cash generated from this diversified business, BSA also bought up other motorcycle marques—Triumph and Ariel, among others—making it a true empire.

For any business to survive it needs to be constantly ahead of the competition, on the look-out for the next big thing to make its product stand out. When the early 1960s arrived, the design trend in motorcycles had shifted to a more simplified and enclosed look, more akin to automotive design. BSA was, however, fairly conservative with its design philosophy, and only for the 1966 BSA A65 Lightning did the company shows initial leanings toward more simplified design choices. Holding onto the success of its 1950s machines, BSA perhaps felt that totally reimagining the bike might alienate its loyal audience. These mid-1960s BSAs are great examples of the transition between the more established British bike look and a more forward-looking 1970s style.

The BSA Lightning appeared in film and television on a few occasions, the most notable being the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball. SPECTRE agent Fiona Volpe, played by Italian actress Luciana Paluzzi, rides a fully-faired gold Lightning armed with rocket launchers. In the famous scene, Volpe uses the rockets to blow up a black car chasing Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, a scene that is etched into many people’s minds. Filmed at Silverstone, the Lightning was actually ridden on track by motorcycle champion Bill Ivy—in a blonde wig!
Designed as an all-round sports machine, the Lightning was one of various A65 models designed be sold predominantly in the U.S. market, such as the Thunderbolt, Rocket, Spitfire, and Hornet models, along with sub variants such as the Lightning Rocket and Lightning Clubman. The Lightning was made between 1965 and 1972, and the bike illustrated here is from the early end of that spectrum. At the time it was a top-of-the-range machine, and the first to use 12-volt electrics. BSA had developed it to compete with the Triumph Bonneville. Some say it was the styling of the Lightning versus the Bonneville that let it down; the former’s performance and handling were certainly competitive.

As mentioned, our main A65 illustration showcases a few design elements that are distinctly traditional, namely the front and rear ends, but even the fuel tank to a certain extent is not too radically different from that of the earlier BSA A10 from which the Lightning evolved. It is the design of the engine and the oil tank that distinguish this machine from its forerunner.

In the late 1950s, Lucas switched its production of electronic motorcycle components from magneto and dynamo to alternator and coil systems. This change instigated a major change in British motorcycle engine design. BSA and Triumph (at this time owned by BSA) took the opportunity to completely redesign its engine ranges, moving away from pre-unit and semi-unit construction to full-unit construction. Full-unit construction meant combining the engine and gearbox into one complete unit. The A65 was one such engine, the product of lessons learned from the A10 engine that BSA Managing Director and General Manager Bob Fearon worked on with Bert Perrigo, Chief Development Engineer, to create the new vertical twins.

When it came to the unit construction of the A65, the outer cases were minimal in their sculpting, shaped into simple domed ovals; this became known as “The Power Egg.” Due to the investment in redesigning, tooling, and producing this new construction, “The Power Egg” stuck with BSA until the brand’s demise in 1973.

The A65 engine was designed to be quieter, more reliable, and less prone to oil leaks than its predecessors. When you take into account that, by 1969, 80 percent of BSAs production was going to the States, these were sensible goals. In America, reliability over longer distances and quieter running in urban environments were key selling points, favored by civilian customers and authorities alike. Later styling changes to the Lightning range—such as high rise handlebars and more streamlined fuel tanks—also targeted the American market in an effort to drive sales.

The A65 and its smaller variant, the A50, ultimately proved to be good engines. Both were continually developed throughout the late 1960s, and some say the peak of the A65 series was the 1970 model. Various problems during this time included oil pump issues, and oiling in general; BSA never fully resolved these issues, however with modern solutions these engines are still considered very usable within the classic motorcycle world.

The Lightning received a slightly modified version of the A65 engine, featuring a close-ratio gear box and a high-lift camshaft. This yielded lively acceleration characteristics and solid performance at higher rpm, though the close-ratio ‘box with its tall first gear meant that the rider would have to slip the clutch up to 10 mph.
With BSA back in the news and eyeing a 2021 comeback, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the classic British brand and its beloved machines.

This is too strange. I bought a house in Deadwood in the historic President’s district. It’s about 100 years old and so are the streets and retaining walls. Recently contacted by the Historic Society about my retaining wall, the boss asked. “Do you know about this article and how we can get in touch with the photographer?”

I asked to see what he found and he sent me shots of the pages. It was written by Billy Tinney. Billy was once a Bandido for a short period and a constantly traveling photographer for Easyriders magazine for over 50 years. He’s currently trying for pull photography from his massive archives for the next issue of Choppers Magazine. So, he said he would look for the brothel file from 1981.

 Billy used stringers to cover various events and action. When I reached out to him he mentioned that Pam photographed the whorehouse in Deadwood. Billy, who rarely came to the ER offices, tried to work his event coverage empire from a constantly moving motorhome with his very beautiful and organized wife, Tami.

As is turned out, Pam was the boss of the whorehouse and she fought the city over her business and the rally.

A drunk local smoking a cigar in the basement of Deadwood Cigars, while listening to the live blues band turned to me and asked which house was mine. I told him. Sorta cross-eyed and fading in the smoke-filled room, he looked hard at me and said, “What?”

I repeated my address and his eyes brightened, as if awakened by brilliant morning daylight. “You’re kidding,” he said. “The lot behind your house is where Wild Bill was originally buried!”

The Deadwood mysteries continue on several fronts.

–Bandit

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

It’s been a rough year for custom motorcycle fans, who, just like car lovers, had no major dedicated event in 2020 – except, perhaps, for Strugis. But that is more of a festival and less of a build display, so novelties were pretty much scarce.

The coming year is shaping up to mark a relative return to normalcy. That means we’ll probably be getting all those juicy gatherings like Mama Tried, Congregation, or Born-Free again. Before this happens, though, the year opens with the Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle auction at the end of January.

As usual, the auction house is flooding the market with old, vintage, rare, or custom builds. In all, 1,750 bikes are listed for sale, either on their own or as part of collections.

One prominent such display of bikes is by the Legends Motorcycles Museum in Springville, Utah. It comprises 36 motorcycles owned by the museum’s Rick Salisbury, and the 1971 Harley-Davidson Sportster chopper seen here is one of them.

Harley started making Sportsters in 1957 and launched them into the wild sporting four-stroke, V-twin engines, at first from the Ironhead family, and later on using the famed Evolution. Like all other Harleys, it was quickly adopted by custom shops and turned into different things entirely.

The one we have here pays tribute to the custom choppers of the 1970s. It’s raked build makes it look aggressive, though not as long as other bikes of the segment. It also looks extremely fresh, thanks to the warm blue custom fuel tank (hinting to an Indian Larry build) and rear fender that complement the cold of the exposed engine, exhaust, and wheels.

Mecum does not provide any technical details on the two-wheeler, and it’s not venturing into making a guess as to how much it is expected to fetch. What’s worth noting is that the chopper is going with no reserve.

Hey,

Life is whacky. But one thing is for certain. We are still going to have Christmas, the joy, the happiness, the warmth and caring. No matter what is happening in the world or health wise, Christmas reigns supreme.

So, let’s share the brotherhood, the fun, and the joy of Christmas with everyone in every way we can this year.

All the best for the Holidays. Let’s hit the News:

–Bandit

Click Here to Read the Weekly News on Bikernet

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

British bike maker Triumph had a host of high-profile premieres this year. The most recent are the Trident 660, the entry bike in the world of Triple roadsters, and the Tiger 850 Sport, it too an entry-level. Neither is presently available at U.S. dealerships, but since that will change in early 2021, the company thought a promotional tour is in order.

Triumph initially planned to show the two models as part of the New Product Tour events it had planned, but the health crisis forced a change – instead of a tour, a so-called sneak peek is offered on the grounds of dealerships across the U.S.

“With the cancellation of the motorcycles shows, it was an obvious choice for us to get these in the hands of as many dealerships as possible,” said in a statement Adam VanderVeen, Marketing Director, Triumph Motorcycles America.

“I was blown away to learn the strong support of the dealerships, including a handful opting to open on Sundays or Mondays they’d usually be closed just to have an extra day to preview these hot new models.”

Two pairs of each bike will be trekking the country, hopping from dealership to dealership for what the company calls “a first-hand look.” The four motorcycles are, according to Triumph, the only units of their respective ranges currently on display anywhere outside of Europe. And no, they’re not available for test rides.

The Trident 660 is powered by a whole new breed of the Triple engine that develops 81 PS (80 hp) at 10,250 rpm and 64 Nm (47 lb-ft) peak torque at 6,250 rpm. It is priced at $7,995 and should be available in January.

The Tiger 850 Sport packs an 888cc engine rated at 85 PS (84 hp) at 8,500 rpm and 82 Nm (60 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm. The asking price for this one is $11,995, and it too should be available starting next month.

The full schedule of dealership stops is available on the bike maker’s website.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON BRINGS THE WORLD TOGETHER TO DEBUT ALL NEW 2021 PRODUCTS IN THE H-D 2021 GLOBAL DIGITAL EVENT ON JANUARY 19

MILWAUKEE, WI (December 09, 2020) – Throughout Harley-Davidson’s 118-year history, the brand has never before brought the entire world together to experience the debut of all-new Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. On Jan.19th, 2021, that all changes with a single virtual event. During H-D 21, the company’s first virtual launch experience, Harley-Davidson will announce new 2021 motorcycles, parts and accessories, riding gear and apparel.

Those who participate will hear from Harley-Davidson leadership, product experts, and passionate enthusiasts who are leading and shaping the industry on all that’s coming to Harley-Davidson® dealerships in 2021.

To take part in the H-D 21 virtual launch experience, register now at www.H-D.com/21.

New Approach to Product Launches

The global virtual launch is part of the company’s streamlined and overhauled approach to bringing products to market for customers. Earlier this year, Harley-Davidson announced significant shifts including streamlining its planned product portfolio by 30 percent, shifting it’s new model year debut to align with the start of the riding season and amped-up marketing efforts to drive desirability and maximize impact in the market

“We’re thrilled to bring the world together virtually to showcase the inspiration and passion behind our 2021 motorcycles, including a glimpse of our first adventure touring motorcycle, Pan America™,” said VP Marketing Theo Keetell. “We look forward to sharing this moment with our customers and dealers from around the world.

Adventurer Jason Momoa Shares his Passion

American actor, producer and motorcycle enthusiast Jason Momoa will play a key role in the Jan. 19^th event. Forever seeking new adventures, Momoa will share his thoughts on how Harley-Davidson’s upcoming Pan America motorcycle has expanded his passion for Harley-Davidson and created new opportunities to explore endless horizons beyond paved roads.

“Harley-Davidson has unlocked opportunities for me to find adventure with amazing people, awe-inspiring places, and expand my inspiration seen in the United We Will Ride content series,” said Momoa. “I was excited to collaborate with Harley-Davidson for a first look and chance to ride the Pan America 1250 motorcycle. It’s the perfect vehicle that combines my love of the outdoors, the unknown, and Harley-Davidson. People are going to be completely stoked about this bike that Harley-Davidson has created.”

Harley-Davidson Pan America Global Reveal Feb. 22^nd, 2021

Harley-Davidson’s all-new Pan America™ 1250 adventure touring motorcycle will be previewed in the Jan. 19th H-D 21 virtual launch experience. Harley-Davidson will be bringing the world back together on Feb. 22, 2021, to reveal the motorcycle’s full details in a separate digital event with the spotlight on the new Pan America motorcycle.

Stay informed at www.H-D.com/PanAmerica.

Hey,

Life is whacky. But one thing is for certain. We are still going to have Christmas, the joy, the happiness, the warmth and caring. No matter what is happening in the world or health wise, Christmas reigns supreme.

So, let’s share the brotherhood, the fun, and the joy of Christmas with everyone in every way we can this year.

All the best for the Holidays. Let’s hit the News:

–Bandit

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.

DIME BAG NEWS– DIME BAG WORKING TO CREATE THE PRODUCT EVERY BROTHER NEEDS—A cell phone holster. The Bikernet staff is testing the first one. And here’s news from the Master.

Yo, Worked up this custom seat for Billy at Choppers Inc. I used the same font as the one that Choppers Inc had on the Easyriders Centerfold Tour. More epic seat builds are coming, working with legendary builders is always a great goal to share.

All the best
AC
Dimebag Leather
309-336-0714
Follow us on Instagram @dimebag.leather

SADDLEMEN SEAT OF THE WEEK—2018-2021 Fat Boy FLFB/FLFBS Brown Step-Up™ TR Front & LS Rear Seat

Brand Fitment: Harley-Davidson
Model Fitment: Fat Boy FLFB/FLFBS
Year Fitment: 2018-2021

From the early days of the Wheelie King to the present day, Saddlemen® has been there to support talented riders with purpose-built equipment to help them push the limits of both man and machine. The latest creation born out of this relationship is the Saddlemen® Step-Up seat. A beautiful blend of the rider and passenger comfort you have come to expect from Saddlemen® combined with ergonomics required to keep the rider locked in place, providing the highest level of bike control available in an aftermarket Harley-Davidson seat.

Don’t take our word for it, just ask the guys over at Unknown Industries. These talented riders have been pushing the limits of their purpose-built HD motorcycles for years. If you are not already familiar with these guys, you can see them performing at Monster Energy’s latest V-twin productions or locally at rallies like Sturgis. No matter where you see them, you will notice that they only ride Saddlemen® seats.

? Designed and made in the USA.

? The seat combines a Gel-Core interior and Ultra-Foam that creates a foam that is a perfect balance of rigidity and user compliance.

? Ultra-Foam unique molding process creates an element-resistant self-skinning process that seals the foam from water and enhances the seat’s durability as well as comfort.

? The Co-molded Gel-Core is the largest comfort advancement in motorcycle seating since the creation of the suspension.

? True Tuck and Roll will complete an awesome look.

? If you are looking for the ultimate performance upgrade, look no further

? Installs easily with all necessary mounting hardware and instructions included.

NEWS FROM LOWBROW–REDEMPTION ON THE SALT – RACING AT THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS 2020– However, in this case it was not because of the world-wide pandemic.

On my first run at Bonneville Speed Week in 2019, I crashed at over 120 mph…

ARRIVAL AT THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS
Like most things this year, preparing for racing at Bonneville in 2020 was very different than other years. However, in this case it was not because of the world-wide pandemic. On my first run at Bonneville Speed Week in 2019, I crashed at over 120 mph.

Lowbrow Customs – Redemption on the salt – 1First day on the salt at Bonneville Speed Week 2019 with my 1950 Pre-unit Triumph land speed bike.

For most of the year leading up to Speed Week 2019 I had worked on my race bike and engine, dyno testing and preparing engine and chassis for a record setting season. The attention to detail and meticulous work had paid off; my horsepower was up 12% since the prior year, when I had first built and raced (and set a record with) the bike.

The arrival to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2019 was a bit disappointing, as the surface was partially flooded and there were standing puddles of water everywhere. Just walking around the pits led to soaking wet, salty shoes, and everything became a mess very quickly. A rain storm had swept through the area the night before. The salt flats are surrounded by mountainous foot hills and the water streams down to the lake bed.

About 500 racers and an additional 1500 or so crew members and SCTA volunteers were now there, ready to race and waiting for the sun and light wind to dry up the salt.

Four long (but fun) days of waiting and everyone was ready to race on Tuesday. Instead of 3 or 4 courses as usual, there was only 1 good enough to race on. We were up at 5am and in line on the road to get onto the salt, and we were late! Some people had gotten in line hours before that, sleeping in their vehicles to ensure they would be some of the first to race.

Read the whole story on the Lowbrow web site:

TEXAS WEATHER REPORT-– So my friend Greg Hale of MC Creations had a swap meet today, couldn’t have been a better day for it! Started off early about 39 degrees then warmed up into the 60s.

It was a great turn out, be it vendors or folks looking for that one particular piece need to continue forward on their project or others just coming out to visit. Greg is just a couple years older, we ran basically the same places in our younger days, just different circles.

I’m 98% sure it was Greg that sold me the S&S 84-inch kit I bought in ‘81 when he worked for ??? Before he started his own shop after winning a contest to attend MIC to learn all you need to know to repair Harley-Davidsons.

Ran into a few folks I hadn’t seen in a while, talking about how we are the old guys now. Thing is the younger riders aren’t building the stuff we did. One of Greg’s friends has as part of his retirement plan 50 or so OEM glass tombstone taillights. But will that turn out to be a good strategy?

There are no other shops in Houston that have the older parts and knowledge that Greg and MC Creations has. Who will step up to take on this task when a Greg decides it time to retire? Things are changing that’s for sure. Guess it’s just the mechanic in me. I just don’t understand doing a burnout until the engine explodes.

–RFR
Tech Reporter
Bikernet.com™

ERIC HERRMANN REACHES OUT–Deal of the Day “Thumpers” I positioned the 441 Victor to be reflected in the tank of a BSA Goldstar. I altered the background & sky, but tried to keep the irregularity of the reflection.

The original sold to a friend in Canada who’s first bike was a Victor. A good home!
I have (1) 20 x 30 Canvas Giclee’ available for $600.00/ frt.
Normally $850.00

Metal 8×12 @ $45.00
Paper prints 14 x 21 @ $125.00

Eric@EricHerrmannStudios.com (480) 575-7559…

BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS WIDE OPEN—MASK FREE!
A family is at the dinner table. The son asks his father, “Dad, how many kinds of boobs are there?”

The father, surprised, answers, “Well, son, there’s three kinds of breasts. In her twenties, a woman’s breasts are like melons, round and firm. In her thirties to forties, they are like pears, still nice but hanging a bit. After fifty, they are like onions.”

“Onions?” asks the boy.

“Yes,” said the father, “you see them and they make you cry.”

This infuriated his wife and daughter so the daughter said, “Mom, how many kinds of willies are there?”

The mother, surprised, smiles and answers, “Well dear, a man goes through three phases also. In his twenties, his willie is like an oak tree, mighty and hard. In his thirties and forties, it is a birch, flexible but still reliable. After his fifties, it is like an old Christmas tree.”

“A Christmas tree?”

“Yes, dead from the root up and the balls are for decoration only.”

–Wayfarer

RODDER’S JOURNAL NEW YEAR CALENDARS–
The Holidays are fast approaching, and we would like to take a moment to showcase the official Rodder’s Journal 2021 Calendars.

Just like the magazine, these calendars feature a wide variety of hot rods and customs from coast to coast. They’re printed on heavy stock right here in the United States, and each one is individually signed and numbered by the publisher, Steve Coonan.

This year’s theme is Traditional Trendsetters. These are cars that pushed the envelope when they were first built and their timeless designs have helped to define what we now refer to as traditional hot rods and custom cars. With a combination of studio and location photography, we like to think of this calendar as an oversized issue of TRJ for your wall.

We have less than 1,000 left, so make sure to get yours while supplies last. To place an order, click the red box above, or give us a call at (800) 750-9550 in North America or (804) 496-6906 internationally.

Cheers!
Your Friends at The Rodder’s Journal

NMA ALERT–Pennsylvania legalizes autonomous delivery robots, classifies them as pedestrians
Personal Delivery Devices or PDD enjoy the status of pedestrian in several states. According to the new Pennsylvania law, the PDDs can weigh up to 550 pounds without cargo and can be used everywhere there is a sidewalk. These sidewalk bots must yield the right-of-way to actual human pedestrians and cyclists and allowed only to travel 12 mph (Average walking speed for humans is about 3 to 4 mph).

When they are not on sidewalks, the PDDs can travel on roadways or shoulders (or bike lanes) at 25 mph.

Other states have different weight and speed limits. Does this indicate a trend or perhaps just a reality foisted on all of us by tech companies?

Harley-Davidson LiveWire versus Zero SR/S: Premium electric motorcycles face off—It was a very promotional piece, but we ran an important clip.–Bandit

Range and recharging
How far you can go and how long it takes to recharge are two considerations that require some scrutiny with electric motorcycles, far beyond what you have to do with an ICE motorcycle. With the LiveWire and the SR/S, I found some similarities and some key differences.

Zero claims a max range of 161 miles for the SR/S (in the city) and Harley-Davidson specs the LiveWire’s max urban range at 145 miles. There’s a high degree of variability in how far you can actually ride on one of these high-performance electric motorcycles, however, depending on which riding mode you use and the type of riding you do, and that exposes an ongoing drawback of electric versus gas motorcycles.

Putting either in high power mode and heading out on the highway makes for a pretty short trip. Testing these two electric motorcycles (and others), I’ve found you get the most out of them by riding in efficiency mode most of the time — which still offers a good deal of zip — switching to Sport when the occasion arises and then switching back to Range or Eco modes to conserve power.

Following that modus operandi, the LiveWire and SR/S were pretty evenly matched, and offered around 85 to 100 miles of range per charge, on my mix of roughly 25 percent city riding, 45 percent curvy two-lane and 30 percent highway cruising.

An important difference is revealed when it’s time to recharge these two motorcycles. Zero and Harley took different approaches and that may determine which bike works better for how and where you ride.

Level 1 charging is plugging the bike into a regular home outlet. Level 2 charging stations basically double that power. Level 3, also called DC Fast Charging, uses DC instead of AC power. DC fast charging stations provide the quickest way to replenish any EV that’s equipped to handle it.

charging the LiveWire

The LiveWire charges faster than the SR/S — assuming you find a compatible Level 3 charging station. If you’re charging either motorcycle from a regular wall outlet, it’s an all-day (or overnight) wait.

The SR/S Premium accommodates Level 1 or Level 2 charging. The LiveWire gives the rider the options of Level 1 or Level 3 and free Level 3 charging is available for two years at Chargepoint stations at all Harley-Davidson dealerships that sell the LiveWire.
Using a Level 3 fast charger, the LiveWire can charge to 80 percent of battery capacity in 40 minutes and reach 100 percent in roughly an hour. The Zero SR/S Premium charged to 100 percent in around 90 minutes, using a Level 2 charger. Charging either bike at Level 1 on a home outlet happened at a snail’s pace.

I clocked it at 11 hours for a charge after I ran the big HD’s battery down to two percent state of charge. Basically, Level 1 charging is for when the bike is parked overnight or maybe at your workplace, if your employer lets you plug in while you’re on the job.

The Harley’s faster Level 3 charging sounds great, but the advantage is not so clear cut. Only 15 percent of public charging outlets in the United States are Level 3 DC Fast Charging Stations, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Plus, you have to make sure the DC fast charging station has the SAE Combined Charging System (CCS) plug to match your LiveWire.

What does all this mean for this comparison? With the SR/S Premium, I could charge relatively quickly from a lot of charging stations. With the LiveWire I could charge faster but at far fewer locations.

For riders who plan to ride further than the range a full battery provides, the availability of charging stations is an important consideration. Electric motorcycles still require riders to accept a high degree of inconvenience over gas-powered bikes in how far you can ride and the time it takes to top up your scooter.

–Jake Bright, revzilla

THIS DAY IN HISTORY–December 10

The first Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace.

The ceremony came on the fifth anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and other high explosives. In his will, Nobel directed that the bulk of his vast fortune be placed in a fund in which the interest would be “annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.”

Although Nobel offered no public reason for his creation of the prizes, it is widely believed that he did so out of moral regret over the increasingly lethal uses of his inventions in war.

Alfred Bernhard Nobel was born in Stockholm in 1833, and four years later his family moved to Russia. His father ran a successful St. Petersburg factory that built explosive mines and other military equipment.

Educated in Russia, Paris, and the United States, Alfred Nobel proved a brilliant chemist. When his father’s business faltered after the end of the Crimean War, Nobel returned to Sweden and set up a laboratory to experiment with explosives.

In 1863, he invented a way to control the detonation of nitroglycerin, a highly volatile liquid that had been recently discovered but was previously regarded as too dangerous for use. Two years later, Nobel invented the blasting cap, an improved detonator that inaugurated the modern use of high explosives. Previously, the most dependable explosive was black powder, a form of gunpowder.

Nitroglycerin remained dangerous, however, and in 1864 Nobel’s nitroglycerin factory blew up, killing his younger brother and several other people. Searching for a safer explosive, Nobel discovered in 1867 that the combination of nitroglycerin and a porous substance called kieselguhr produced a highly explosive mixture that was much safer to handle and use.

Nobel christened his invention “dynamite,” for the Greek word dynamis, meaning “power.” Securing patents on dynamite, Nobel acquired a fortune as humanity put his invention to use in construction and warfare.

In 1875, Nobel created a more powerful form of dynamite, blasting gelatin, and in 1887 introduced ballistite, a smokeless nitroglycerin powder. Around that time, one of Nobel’s brothers died in France, and French newspapers printed obituaries in which they mistook him for Alfred. One headline read, “The merchant of death is dead.”

Alfred Nobel in fact had pacifist tendencies and in his later years apparently developed strong misgivings about the impact of his inventions on the world. After he died in San Remo, Italy, on December 10, 1896, the majority of his estate went toward the creation of prizes to be given annually in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. The portion of his will establishing the Nobel Peace Prize read, “[one award shall be given] to the person who has done the most or best work for fraternity among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Exactly five years after his death, the first Nobel awards were presented.

Today, the Nobel Prizes are regarded as the most prestigious awards in the world in their various fields. Notable winners have included Marie Curie, Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Nelson Mandela In 1968, a Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science was established by the Swedish national bank, Sveriges Riksbank, and first awarded in 1969.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decides the prizes in physics, chemistry, and economic science; the Swedish Royal Caroline Medico-Surgical Institute determines the physiology or medicine award; the Swedish Academy chooses literature; and a committee elected by the Norwegian parliament awards the peace prize. The Nobel Prizes are still presented annually. Each Nobel carries a cash prize of nearly $1,400,000 and recipients also received a gold medal, as is the tradition.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-nobel-prizes-awarded

–History Channel
A&E Television Networks

GUN NUT REPORT—New Bill Would Ban Texas Private Firearm Sales

Against all hope and experience, Texas Democrats have been busy throwing all kinds of gun control bills up agains the legislative wall in advance of the upcoming biennial session. One of those pre-filed bills, HB 118 which would outlaw private gun sales without a background check, making it a crime to sell a gun without one, is real doozy.

Texas Rep. Lina Ortega [D] really doesn’t like private sales one little bit. Allow me to quote a considerable portion of the bill:

Sec. 205.051. REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATE FIREARM TRANSFER;
OFFENSE. (a) A person may not sell or otherwise transfer a firearm
to another person unless:
(1) the person is a licensed firearms dealer; or
(2) the person is not a licensed firearms dealer, and:
(A) the person sells or transfers the firearm to
a licensed firearms dealer, a peace officer, a law enforcement
agency, or a person licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H,
Chapter 411, Government Code;
(B) the transferor and the transferee are related
within the third degree by consanguinity or within the second
degree by affinity as determined under Chapter 573, Government
Code; or
(C) before delivering the firearm to the person
to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred, the person selling
or transferring the firearm requests that a licensed firearms
dealer conduct, in the manner required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922, a
national instant criminal background check to verify that the
person to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may lawfully
possess a firearm.

I’ve added some emphasis here and there to help make a point.

To sell a firearm either you must be a Federal Firearms Licensee or (see that emphasis above?) meet the requirements of part (2). To wit that you aren’t an FFL but you follow the conditions in (A) and (B), or (C). Note that neither (A) nor (B) have an “or;” that means all three conditions must be met”

the buyer is an FFL, law enforcement, or licensed to carry a handgun, and
the buyer are closely related, or
a NICS check is completed
As the bill is written, you can only sell a firearm if at least one of you, the buyer or the seller, is an FFL (or LEO or CCW) and close family; or you do a background check. I’m not sure if Ortega is being stupid or clever here.

It’s possible there was supposed to be an “or” at the end of (2)(A), making any one of the conditions a requirement. I suspect a bit of both — stupidity and cleverness — because requiring that the seller or buyer be an FFL suggests Ortega thinks the FFL would have to enter this into their bound book, creating a permanent record and requiring a background check anyway.

But — FFLs, correct me if I’m wrong here — items to or from the licensee’s private collection (as distinct from commercial inventory) don’t have to be entered.

In any case, this is a poorly written bill that has little to no chance of ever becoming law as both the House and Senate remain under solid Republican control despite Democrats’ fervent pre-election dreams and all of the bogus media predictions

BY CARL BUSSJAEGER, Truth About Guns

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK— 2015 Harley-Davidson® FLRT – Freewheeler for $18,995.00

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BRAND NEW BIKERNET READER COMMENT--Horny Air Horn by Air Stream Studios

Waggaman, Wimmer, and Women. Nice article. My memory shot back to Lee Wimmer’s Kobalt Kruiser. All the K’s tell us right away that Brian Klock was instrumental. I read about Mr. Wimmer’s bike in “How to Hop-Up and Customize Your Harley-Davidson Bagger” by Timothy Remus.

This was 2004 and the builds in this book from Wolfgang Publications still personifies what a bagger can be.

–Sam Burns
Somewhere in Texas

[page break]

WIN ONE OF THESE GUITARS QUICK–
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NEW Twin Power Rotors--Produced in the United States for Twin Power by a “premier manufacturer”, its direct bolt-on rotors are “specially ground to help prevent warping,” says Brand Manager James Simonelli.

“They are laser-cut 11.5″ rotors and include an alumimum adaptor ring to fit 1984 – 1999 H-D models with 2″ center hole. On floating rotors, the carriers have been precision CNC-machined.”
The aluminum adapter ring adapts 2 1/4″ rotors to a 2″ hub to “give a tight fit and plenty of braking power.”

TUCKER V-TWIN
www.tucker.com/v-twin
www.twinpower-usa.com

5-BALL LEATHER SPEEDWAY SHIRTS TESTIMONIAL–
Shirts are the best on the planet. Super laid back yet ready for action. Finest quality and styling is super swag. Worth every dime.

Appreciate all you do.

Best of everything to you and yours.

Happy holidays to you and your staff!!!

–RAR

INNOVATION OF THE WEEK--Porsche Has a Wild Idea to Save Gas-Powered Cars
EVs may be the future, but a new type of fuel could clean up the cars of the present.

The future of the automobile, it’s pretty clear by now, is electric. But even if the boldest corporate and governmental plans for EV mandates come to pass and half the planet no longer allows the sale of new internal combustion-powered vehicles, that still leaves hundreds of millions of existing ICE rides on the road.

So how, then, do we minimize the damage these old cars do — and help make sure any new ICE-powered cars don’t ravage the environment as much as their predecessors? Well, Porsche has a clever idea that could help keep gas-powered cars and trucks around well into a more environmentally friendly era: give them less-destructive fuel to burn.

To do that, Porsche is joining forces with German conglomerate Siemens and several international energy fims to create a new plant in Chile that will crank out climate-neutral eFuel — synthetic gasoline with a net-zero carbon footprint — starting in 2022. While the initial rollout will be fairly modest — Porsche plans to make around 34,000 gallons of it in 2022 — the goal is to scale up quickly; 2023 should see the plant whip up more than 14 million gallons of the stuff, and 2024 should see it producing around 140 million gallons, if all goes according to plan.

How does this apparent miracle of science work? Well, it’s a fairly simple process, assuming you have a ton of clean energy lying around. (Hence the decision to base the facility in Chile, where there’s wind power aplenty.)

Step 1: Use that redolent cleanly-generated electricity to power electrolysers, which split water into its constituent Hs and Os: hydrogen and oxygen.

Step 2: Scoop up the carbon dioxide from the air and combine it with the hydrogen to create methanol.

Step 3: Using technology licensed from ExxonMobil, convert the methanol into gasoline.

While the synthetic gasoline still emits CO2 when burned in an engine, that’s ultimately balanced out by the fact that the creation of said gasoline already extracted, in theory, an equal amount of carbon dioxide, which means the total net impact to Earth’s atmosphere should be a wash. (The process also adds oxygen to the atmosphere, but given how much more O2 there is up there than CO2 — there’s roughly 500 times as much oxygen as CO2 in the average sample of our blanket of gases — it seems likely to cause a negligible impact.)

Don’t expect to see an eFuel pump showing up at your local Porsche dealership anytime soon, though. Initially, Porsche’s share of the new synthetic gas generated at the Chilean plant will be used in a place that electrification still has yet to find purchase: the company’s motorsports efforts. It’ll also be used in the test vehicles found at Porsche’s Experience Centers around the globe. The carmaker does say that it’ll be used “later, in series production sports cars” as well, however, suggesting that 911 owners of the late 2020s might also score a hookup for the carbon-neutral sweet stuff…

–By Will Sabel Courtney
GearPatrol.com

ALL KIDS BIKE Movement Needs
More to Meet Year-End Goal–Edwards Motorsports in Council Bluffs, Iowa, recently made a $5,000 donation to fund an entire local All Kids Bike school program that will help put kids on two wheels.

The program has everything a school needs to make learning to ride a fundamental part of their kindergarten educational process, including teacher training and certification, curriculum and resources, bikes, helmets, pedal conversion kits, and program support for five years. Over the life of this program, organizers said, more than 500 kids will reach the first rung of the ladder of learning to ride.

“We hope many of them climb that ladder all the way to motorcycling and a lifelong love of two wheels,” said Bobby Edwards, the Iowa dealership’s owner/operator.

But, All Kids Bike is seeking support from more motorcycle businesses nationwide to help finish the year strong. Its fourth-quarter “moto campaign” has a goal of teaching 5,000 kids to ride two-wheelers, along with a fundraising target of $50,000 by December 31. Every $10 teaches one kid to ride, according to the organization, which is looking toward the motorcycle industry to support future riders.

All Kids Bike is a nationwide movement of the Strider Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that rallies parents, educators, community leaders, health officials, and donors to place kindergarten PE programs into public schools for free.

Visit All Kids Bike to make a donation.

–MIC

J.J. WRITES TO THE WRITER–
Dear Peter Baker; I read your NYT article in today’s Dec 6 Yahoo news feed about Trump’s increasing rage and despair, and all about Shakespeare, who you personally have likely never read, and all the quotes from other people, one of them from omigod A Harvard Graduate so he MUST be intelligent, just like Natalie Portman is, and I mean…..you are about as interesting a writer at writing as I am at talking about how mud accumulates below leaf-clogged roof gutters.

In fact….I am actually more interesting talking about how mud accumulates below clogged roof gutters than you are at telling me your childlike and petulant conclusions about people whose names other people actually recognize. Unlike your own. I asked 100 people if they ever heard of Peter Baker. They all said no. I asked them if they ever heard of Donald Trump. They all said yes.

Ya know, before I go on, have you noticed that, so far, everything I have written is already much more interesting and professionally composed than your entire news article about President Trump?

And that’s the great thing about news journalism, you don’t have to be a good writer to do it. In fact actual writing talent is a hindrance because having talent at anything is an indication and demonstration of a brain-configuration unalloyed by physical damage, emotional trauma, or bad genetics. And without an inherently faulty intellect you can’t summon the hubris to imagine that you, not the people you write about, are what actually is controlling world events.

And then there’s the prose.

There’s a reason all journalists have failed as novelists. Composing a successful novel requires a modicum of …. write this down ….. talent.

Journalism, as you have so searingly demonstrated in your article, requires no talent. All journalism requires is envy and an inability to succeed as a novelist.

What is the ambition-level of a writer with no talent who, insisting on being heard no matter how many readers have to suffer, writes about a man who failed at a vote-count, not at life. He failed at a vote count. You failed at novel writing. You failed at your main ambition. Trump failed at getting a second term at a hobby. Not that writing is an ambition. It’s more of a default-setting for homely men and women with no breeding or table manners. A guy who no one ever heard of is writing about a guy everyone on earth has heard of…. and the guy no one has heard of is claiming the moral and sanctimonious high ground. Now that’s funny. Can you imagine yourself as President? You would be changing your Depends every two seconds. Or your mom would be doing it for you, more likely.

Have you read your own article? There is not one actually-interestingly-written sentence – or even sentence fragment – in it. That’s astounding. There are signs at the Post Office that captivate the reader with more fascinating word-play than your entire article did to anyone who read it. There’s a reason no one has ever heard of you. You’re boring.

You are not bored reading this, are you. No. you are wide awake muchacho. You are setting down your coffee cup because right at the moment you do not need it. You are awake. And that’s what good writing does! It wakes you up!

Haha I know what you’re thinking: “I must be more interesting than Donald Trump!” No. that’s not the case. The case is, I am much more interesting than you are. My writing has invigorated you. Your writing invigorates no one.

Aside from your long list of people you quoted, the hacks at the Huffington and Pop Sugar and She Knows are every bit as boringly in-the-pocket as you are. You are a cookie-cutter philosophical dunce writing what your philosophically dunce publisher agrees with. You write for a publisher. Not for an audience. Face it. You’re a failure as a writer. You have one reader. Your boss. And if he doesn’t like it he changes it. And doesn’t tell you. Because you’re a tape recorder that types. You are not a writer.

Ya know, I don’t know anyone at Harvard or anyone who has all the cachets of all the illustrious people you know, but I was talkin’ to some guy at the strip club and he said “Ya know what the thing is about journalists?” I said, “When did you ever read anything by a journalist.” And he said “Here’s the thing with them dopes: civilization failed them by not recognizing that their – ya know, the journalists – by not recognizing that the journalists’ lack of writing talent…was actually superior writing talent. Civilization didn’t recognize that this clear lack of talent was actually great talent. ‘Cause all the journalists are all convinced they are goddamn Edward Everett Horton.”

“Do you mean H.V. Kaltenborn?”

“Whatever. And they ain’t. As civilization keeps telling them over and over with every rejection from Random House. So they need to get even with civilization. By destroying it. That’s why they’re all Commies and Muslims. Birds of a feather.”

And that’s the gist!

Thank you.

God bless.

–J.J. Solari

CAST ALUMINUM FROM American Prime Manufacturing–Main Shaft for 4-Speeds and Alternator Shroud

Southern California based American Prime Manufacturing specializes in clutches for American V- twins (Comp Master), but its new 4-speed transmission main shaft support and alternator shroud prove that “4-speeds won’t ever die,” says company President Ben Kudon.

“On the contrary, they are very much alive and popular, and these high-quality components are made from the original tooling here in the United States.”

The castings are poured with high-grade die cast aircraft quality aluminum alloy with a percentage of silicone, copper and zinc. “We use a spectrometer to analyze the material for alloy content. All ‘bad metal’ is removed prior to the pour to get a perfect die cast part every time.

“These two parts have a unique over 50-year history and provide reliable, trouble-free operation if installed correctly.”

AMERICAN PRIME MANUFACTURING
www.americanprimemfginc.com

–Posted by DealerWorld

RESEARCH FROM THE DEADWOOD ARCHIVIST— Attached, please find two photographs from the Charles C. Haas scrapbook titled “Deadwood”. Haas was an amateur historian back in the 1930s and 1940s. He would talk with local longtime residents of Deadwood and then go out and photograph the places they pointed out during the interviews. Many of his notes are written into the scrapbooks and on his photographs. The Deadwood scrapbook contains a nice section on Deadwood’s first cemetery including the attached two photographs. Unfortunately, the exact location has been lost to time.

I have researched this cemetery and tried to locate the boundaries in our neighborhood. Based on historic newspapers, burials have been unearthed at 33 and 33 ½ Jackson Street (Forest Service houses), 34 Jackson Street (built ca. 1952) and 66 Taylor Avenue (built 1942). I also checked the land records and discovered a 5-acre parcel of land sandwiched between the Ingleside Townsite map and Probate Lot 205. The above mentioned homes all fall within this area. When you are back in the area, I would be happy to talk cemetery history with you-it’s one of my favorite Deadwood topics!

–Michael Runge
City Archivist
108 Sherman Street
Deadwood, SD 57732
www.cityofdeadwood.com
P: (605) 578-2082
F: (605) 578-2084

QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–Sam’s Picks for the Week of December 6, 2020

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Sams_Picks_for_the_Week_of_December_6_2020.aspx

This is a great story. It is amazing how I see myself sometimes in these stories?

–Stealth
Charlotte, Nc

ALERT FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT–
In Geological Terms, Today’s Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations Are Still Uncomfortably Low– Disaster was narrowly averted

Under 180 ppm atmospheric CO2 concentration, life on earth begins to die.

The earth came very close to that point not long ago during the Ice Ages (20,000 years ago). Then the planet warmed naturally, and an increase in atmospheric CO2 to over 200 ppm followed (new study here).

The earth saw CO2 levels of close to 8000 ppm in the past, i.e. about 20 times more than today. The following chart shows the earth’s atmospheric CO2 concentrations for the past 600 million years.

Today, thanks in large part to mankind, concentrations have risen to over 400 ppm, yet historically this remains at the very low end of the scale compared to the thousands of ppm seen naturally earlier in history.

Greening planet

Today, definitely a safer level would be near 1000 ppm. Studies unanimously show plant growth at these higher levels is far enhanced. Already today we see clear evidence the planet is greening Zhu et al. (2016), in part due to the fertilizations taking place through human emissions:

Figure 1: Trends in Leaf Area Index around the planet. Note the units are in hundredths (10-2) of meters per square meter. An increase of 25 (Purple, right end of scale) is actually an annual change of .025 square meters per year. Note that the largest greenings are in fact over the South American, African, and Australasian tropical rainforests.

Greening across the world

German science magazine Wissenschaftreported not long ago: “Vegetation on earth has been expanding for decades, satellite data show.”

Some alarmists claim drought is spreading, but Wissenschaft magazine reports: “The opposite is the case: according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, satellite observations show a greening of vegetation over the past three decades in parts of Asia, Europe, South America, Central North America and Southeast Australia.”

“Although there are regions that would become browner, the bottom line is that there is a larger area on our planet that is greened than browned,” the German science magazine notes.

Thanks to CO2 fertilization

For the welcome trend, scientists attribute the surprising development on “a mixture of factors”, foremost the recent increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, which plants thrive on and humans have been mislead into believing is a “pollutant”.

HOLIDAY NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT–
Now for something different on Day 8…today’s offerings will include the release of David’s 2020 Holiday piece, along with special deals on his previous holiday pieces.

In 2015, David started his Holiday Series with “Timber Titan”. Each year since, he has added a new piece to this collection. We offer special holiday pricing on these through January 1st each time. This year’s addition, titled “Warm Heart, Cold Start”.

As David states, “I wanted to move on to a more modern timeline and illustrate what can happen when you get distracted the night of the Christmas party and forget to check the weather. Happens here in Colorado all the time.”

This digital image does not do it justice! The thick, expressive paint, atmospheric sections and the beautiful sky are best seen bigger and in person. I hope you are at least able to zoom in and really enjoy these nuances.

We are left to wonder if the weather forecast was dead wrong, or whether the festivities from the night before were just too distracting.

Either way, we hope you enjoy this new one! Rest assured that no Road Kings were harmed in this production…

“Warm Heart, Cold Start”
David Uhl Holiday Series 2020

BIKERNET TEMPLE MEMO–The Ghost Media

A donkey was tied to a tree. One night a ghost cut the rope and released the donkey.
The donkey went and destroyed the crops in a farmer’s land. Infuriated, the farmer’s wife shot the donkey and killed it.

The donkey’s owner was devastated at the loss. In reply, he shot dead the farmer’s wife.
Angered by his wife’s death, the farmer took a sickle and killed the donkey’s owner.

The wife of the donkey’s owner got so angry that she and her sons set the farmer’s house on fire.

The farmer, looking at his house turned into ashes, went ahead and killed both the wife and children of that donkey’s owner.

Finally, when the farmer was full of regret, he asked the ghost as to why did it kill them all? The ghost replied, “I killed nobody. I just released a donkey that was tied to a rope. It is all of you who released the devil within you which resulted into everything bad that happened.”

Today the media has become like the ghost. It keeps releasing donkeys on a daily basis. And people react and argue with each other, hurt each other, without even having a second thought.

In the end, the media dodges all responsibilities. So, it’s our responsibility to not to react on every donkey released by media and preserve our relationship with our friends and relatives.

–Wayfarer
Official Bikernet™ Monk
At the base of the gray mountain
India

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–

Life and Times 2020

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Life_and_Times_2020.aspx

Robinson’s ” Live to Ride” bandana is outstanding! Thanks Marie and Keiith for collaborating with me on this bandana art project. The man sure knew how to draw! Enjoyed all the detail in his caricatures and cartoons.

Thanks again

–Ann Robinson
Garden Grove, CA

BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS ALWAYS OPEN—Mask Free!
A man wakes up at Strong Memorial hospital bandaged from head to foot. The doctor comes in and says, “Ah, I see you’ve regained consciousness. Now you probably won’t remember, but you were in a huge pile-up on Monroe Avenue. You’re going to be ok, you’ll walk again and everything, but your penis was severed in the accident and we couldn’t find it.”

The man groans, but the doctor goes on, “You have $9000 in insurance compensation coming and we now have the technology to build a new penis. They work great but they don’t come cheap. It’s roughly $1000 an inch.” The man perks up.

“So,” the doctor says, “You must decide how many inches you want. But I understand that you have been married for over thirty years and this is something you should discuss with your wife. If you had a five incher before and get a nine incher now she might be a bit put out. If you had a nine incher before and you decide to only invest in a five incher now, she might be disappointed. It’s important that she plays a role in helping you make a decision.

“The man agrees to talk it over with his wife.

The doctor comes back the next day, “So, have you spoken with your wife?”

“Yes I have,” says the man.

“And has she helped you make a decision?”

“Yes” says the man.

“What is your decision?” asks the doctor.

“We’re getting granite countertops.”

–Sam Burns

IT’S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE—I’m watching a series about the growth of the Roman Empire and how it started as a small community in the center of Italy on the West Coast about 600 years before Christ and grew to control the entire Mediterranean region. They never gave up.

Okay, we’ve had wars on this planet for almost 3000 years, mostly around religion, expansion and control.

We now have a new perspectives on life. Instead of being a vast unknown planet that needs to be conquered and controlled. We all live together on a tiny planet in a vast universe. There’s nothing to fight about. There’s only freedom and joy everyday, because who the hell knows what might happen next. And the Climate is guaranteed to change, whether we drive SUVs or not.

Speaking of unknown. So, we tried everything to get the Pandemic started. But being proactive, I worked with Flathead Fern on a auto-advance circuit breaker. We gave in, installed it, a coil, an ignition switch and a battery. Wired the puppy and it started first kick. Fuck!

Went to the VA this week for a Covid Test. It didn’t work out, so they want me back this afternoon. Damn, I can’t handle the pressure. I saw this bike in the parking lot, a classic.

This is the full face helmet I will be using to ride in the rain and test in various other conditions.

There are a lot of things that should be considered in choosing a helmet, which may change from rider to rider. This product will be added to my other head protection devices. Why do you have more than one helmet? The answer is the same reason I have more than one set of leathers, gloves, boots, etc. In my opinion different circumstances call for different clothing and protection.

My open face helmet with the flip up face shield just wasn’t doing the job during some of the real heavy Florida rain. These bastards are like riding through a swimming pool. I get caught from time to time, especially when I am traveling and forced to keep riding. It is more about being able to see than just staying dry, which the Vanocker SO8 helmet also does for me.

 I am strongly in favor of freedom of choice pertaining to wearing helmets. But when I wear one by choice or am in a mandatory helmet, I want mine to fit properly and be of the quality to actually provide me some protection should that become an issue. This helmet does that.

This helmet starts with what the engineers call a Multiaxial fiberglass shell which is very strong, it has enhanced aerodynamics with dual spoilers for less drag and reduced noise. It looks sharp, and I am convinced that it will protect me should that ever be necessary.

Since I live in Florida, an important feature are two vents. One on the chin and the other for the forehead which provide front to back airflow to help flush out heat and humidity. This will also be great on my yearly ride to Sturgis.

It also has a removable washable liner and an auto-seal system, which help block out weather and reduce noise.

The flip up face shield has pins that allow the installation of the Pinlock Max Vison insert, which helps stop the face shield from fogging and scratching.

What closed the deal for me was the integrated sun shield, as it worked well and allowed me to wear my clear glasses and use the sun shield when needed, instead of stopping to change glasses.

The black finish with chrome accents looks cool, and it even comes with a helmet bag for when you are not using it.

Check out Harley if you are interested in this or other helmets –  https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/Vanocker-S08-Full-Face-Helmet/p/98102-20VX

 

by Vlad Radu from https://www.autoevolution.com

One of the most popular dual-purpose bikes out there returns for the 2021 model year with a series of serious upgrades that range from an increase in engine displacement to improved suspension. Let’s take a closer look at what it has to offer, shall we?

The origins of the CRF300L can be traced back to the 1970s when the XL250S was launched. It was one of the first bikes to successfully combine on-road usability with excellent off-road performance.

The XL range that followed reached legendary status over the years, proving that an easy-to-use, single-cylinder four-stroke engine combined with a capable chassis can create a useful and versatile motorcycle to ride all around the world in various environments. The new CRF300L takes those qualities to another level, offering one of the most capable all-arounder on the market.

It features a larger capacity 286-cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled DOHC engine. The 14% cubic capacity increase over the previous model is achieved by increasing the bore stroke from 55 to 63 mm (2.2 to 2.5 in.).

The bore size remains the same, at 76 mm (3 in), as does the compression ratio of 10.7:1. The engine’s peak power of 27 hp (20.1 kW) arrives at 8,500 rpm, while the peak torque of 26.6 Nm (19.6 lb-ft) can be reached at 6,500 rpm, making the unit considerably more powerful than its predecessor.

To cope with the increase in power, the gearbox has been heavily revised. Gear ratios 1-5 are shorter, while the 6th gear is taller for better long-distance rides like highway cruises where the new bike can reach a top speed of 132 kph (82 mph).

The addition of an assist/slipper clutch lowers lever load by 20% and manages rear wheel ‘hop’ on quick downshifts, thus providing greater control on- and off-road.

To improve low- to mid-range response, the rpm range most used in day-to-day or off-road riding, the timing of the intake cam, muffler, and ignition have been reworked. Additionally, the air filter has been redesigned, and the exhaust downpipe is 660 grams lighter.

The cooling system has also been revised. It uses a 12.7kW heat-release radiator mounted on the left side of the bike protected by a polypropylene grill. To maintain optimal temperatures, it comes with a thin guide-ring cooling fan.

The new CRF300L is 4 kg (8.8 lbs) lighter than the previous model, with a wet weight of 142 kg (313 lbs). This was achieved by developing a completely new semi-double steel cradle frame.

It features decreased width for the main down tube and across the central bracing tube, along with smaller diameter lower down tubes. Honda claims that these changes result in a 25% reduction of lateral rigidity.

The one-piece cast aluminum swingarm has also been redesigned. It’s narrower behind the pivot point and uses a smooth, cross-sectional shape to create uniform deflection. This makes it 55 grams lighter and improves lateral rigidity by 23%.

The 43-mm (1.7 in) Showa inverted fork gains 10-mm (0.4 in) of stroke to a total of 260-mm (10.3 in). For precise control over any terrain, the spring weight and damping settings have been revised, while the Pro-Link rear suspension now features a 260-mm (10.3 in) axle stroke.

Ground clearance has also been increased to 285-mm (11.2 in) while revisions to the lower frame, engine crankcases, and oil drain plug means the frame and engine sit 20-mm (0.8 in) higher.

The modifications to the engine, chassis, and suspension improve the power to weight ratio by 13%, making for a better ride through various terrain and speeds.

The 2021 Honda CRF300L will be available in Europe next year, but the Japanese manufacturer is yet to release details about prices or its availability in North American markets.