by Joe D’Allegro from https://www.cnbc.com

• Harley Davidson and Honda are among the dominant motorcycle makers with big plans in electric bikes.
• Harley also recently announced that it is spinning off a nascent electric bicycle business.
• Uber is among the top investors in electric scooter company Lime, which just posted its first quarterly profit, while competitor Bird is reportedly planning to soon go public via a SPAC.
• NIU Technologies, which makes smart scooters, has seen its share price soar.

Tesla reached a $500 billion market valuation this week, a sign of its dominance in the electric vehicle market. But Elon Musk has shown no real interest in one growing EV segment: battery-powered scooters and motorcycles. An accident he suffered as a youth on a motorbike — nearly fatal, Musk has said — turned him off two-wheelers, for now. But the manufacturing of battery powered bikes is growing and consolidating, which means it’s likely to produce one or more dominant players in the years to come. The electric motorcycle and scooter market reached $30 billion in 2019, according to a June 2020 report by Preeti Wadhwani and Prasenjit Saha from the research company Global Market Insights (GMI). They estimated that the market — which includes everything from large motorcycles meant for interstate cruising to tiny stand-up scooters as used by Lime and Bird — will grow more than 4% annually for the next few years and hit $40 billion in 2026. Concerns over vehicular emissions, increasing consumer awareness about air pollution, and increasing investments by government authorities in the development of EV charging infrastructure are all expected to keep the market growing. Another factor boosting electric bike prospects is the continued improvement in batteries. E-bikes, scooters and motorcycles Electric motorcycles and scooters are still relatively pricey, and none yet matches the range of the best gas bikes, but that’s slowly changing. Lithium ion battery costs are down 85% in the last decade, said Garrett Nelson, senior equity analyst at CFRA Research. Within another 10 years, electric motorcycles can achieve price parity with gas bikes, he predicts. “The playing field is wide open,” says Nelson. He noted that Honda, Yamaha and Harley-Davidson together control about two-thirds of the global motorcycle market, and are each developing electric motorbikes. So too are other big established players, such as the Indian-multinationals Hero Motors and Bajaj Auto, and some smaller electric-only startups, including Zero Motorcycles and Energetica. Electric mobility is leading to a manufacturing boom for vehicles sized between small foldable scooters and full-on motorcycles, said Sam Korus, an analyst at ARK Invest, which is known for its big bet on Tesla. Uber led a round of investment in Lime earlier this year, while Bird is reportedly considering a public offering through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Troy Siahaan, a road test editor at Motorcycle.com, races a lightweight custom-built electric bike, giving him insight into the similarities and differences between gas and electric two-wheelers. “The riding experience of an electric bike is similar to gas-powered motorcycles in that you twist the throttle and go,” he said, “but you don’t get sound, vibration or engine heat with electric bikes. By and large, they also don’t require shifting, so they’re easier for new riders than most gas bikes.” Siahaan also likes the torque output — a measure of the acceleration — of electric bikes, since it is all available at the outset. Nelson noted that most growth right now is in the small- to mid-sized section of the electric motorcycle and scooter market. These are popular in China and Southeast Asia, where two-wheelers are more common as a mode of transportation, and pollution and noise reduction are socially and environmentally appealing. Post-Covid-19 demand in urban mobility Korus said Chinese scooter manufacturer NIU is among the promising players operating in the space between small folding scooters and large motorcycles. The company, which went public in 2018, sells its app-supported smart scooters in 38 countries across Asia, Europe and North and South America. Its stock has risen sharply. The stylish sit-on scooters offer up to 87 miles of range (140 km), multi-color dynamic gauge displays and GPS-based anti-theft systems. NIU’s primary competition are low-cost manufacturers in China, which make scooters that are less “smart” than its offerings, as well as the higher-end players out of Asia and Europe, which tend to be priced higher. A NIU model may sell for roughly $3,100, while a comparable Honda is over $5,000, a Vespa over $7,000, and a BMW anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000, according to Vincent Yu, a Needham & Co. analyst. Korus noted that NIU’s software actively collects data that can be used to support autonomous driving and allows the company to add value on top of just selling products. This is also a key feature of Tesla’s business model, which ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood has pointed to in her bullish thesis on Musk’s company. But for NIU, monetization of autonomous driving may be fairly far off into the future. Yu said today there is high value in the smart features focused on theft prevention and vehicle maintenance, for example, knowing when parts need replacement. Its lightweight lithium-ion batteries are also an advantage over heavier, older electric scooters as consumers look for more portable batteries that are easier to swap in and out. A big question for NIU is just how big the market can get and whether it can grow both manufacturing capacity and a retail store network along with it, Yu said. Asia is still heavily reliant on petroleum-based scooters, especially Southeast Asia, but that is changing. And, as the world emerges from the Covid pandemic, Yu is betting more travelers will shy away from mass transit and opt for scooters. In countries like China, they are much easier to obtain than cars thanks to lower costs and less regulation and permitting requirements, especially in larger cities. NIU commands over 26% of the Chinese e-scooter sales market, and has risen in Europe to No. 3 over the past two years. Yu added that NIU is building a new factory, targeting major Southeast Asian markets like Indonesia, and adding more stores around the world to capitalize on the demand. In Q3, the company opened 182 stores and now has another 100 under construction. Harley-Davidson and the electric future In the U.S., smaller motorcycles suitable for urban transportation and only occasional highway use are not as popular as in Asia and Europe. Nelson said U.S. buyers tend to be older and favor larger bikes with traditional looks and the signature sounds of a combustion engine. Harley-Davidson, the largest and oldest U.S. motorcycle manufacturer, has addressed these buyers with its LiveWire, an electric motorcycle with traditional cruiser styling and an impressive 105 horsepower that lets it accelerate to 60 miles per hour in a quick 3.1 seconds. The LiveWire is 7-feet long and nearly 550 pounds, giving it the size and weight to fit in with the company’s mainstream gas-powered offerings, but, at $30,000, it’s just too expensive for many potential customers. With the traditional American motorcycle buyer aging, Harley sales are down almost 40% since their peak in 2006. “Demographics will be a problem for them,” Nelson said. Harley is committed to electric under a relatively new management team, led by CEO Jochen Zeitz, who earned high marks for his focus on sustainability as CEO of Puma. “We believe electric needs to play an important role in the future of Harley-Davidson,” he recently told Wall Street analysts. He said sales volumes are low relative to traditional bikes, but added, “It must be an important segment in the long term future of the company and it’s also attracting new riders, new customers to the brand that might not have considered Harley-Davidson before.” Craig Kennison, who covers Harley for RW Baird, said the priority for Zeitz and his team is to shore up Harley’s finances and focus its business on the key markets where it can generate the most profits from core consumers today, and it will continue to generate the vast majority of its business from its V-twin internal combustion engine cycles (sales for LiveWire are not disclosed but the assumption is they remain very minor). “It’s not a big number,” Kennison said. Similar to the path chosen by Tesla to first focus on the luxury consumer, Harley needs to perfect the electric motorcycle technology and given the price points today — it cannot alone control the cost curve in key areas like battery technology — only over time will it become more affordable to a larger consumer market. But if Harley makes the right decisions on current profitability centers, it will support the investment in electric vehicles over the decades to come, he said. “Right now Harley has a huge market and needs to make as much money as they can, and servicing the core customer, which is still highly profitable, is the focus.” Harley is headed into the pedal bicycle market as well. It recently announced that it will spin off its electric bicycle effort, which has been in research and development for a few years, retaining a minority stake in the new firm, Serial 1 Company, a reference to its first-ever machine. Targeting the e-bicycle market, with pricing below $5,000, is a smart move by Harley’s new management, as it makes the brand affordable for the masses in a growing segment, said Brandon Rolle, Northcoast Research analyst. And similar to NIU’s target scooter market, riders may not need a driver’s license to operate these vehicles, which will help in Harley-Davidson’s appeal to urban commuters and casual recreational cyclists. High-end bicycle makers like Specialized have an early lead in this market — e-bikes which generate power that is multiplied by the human pedaling activity — and it does have the potential for widespread appeal in the future, according to Kennison. “It lets ‘the everyman’ get on the road … especially during the pandemic people want to get outside and bicycling is a great way to do it, but depending on your fitness level, having the added electrical power creates a totally different experience. You can go 20 to 50 miles and it changes the appeal” he said. Harley’s motorcycle competitors In the near future, pent up demand for outdoor products caused by Covid-19 could benefit motorcycle makers, including Harley, which has had a “rough last five years” according to Wedbush Securities analyst James Hardiman. “A lot of investors have looked at Harley-Davidson and the broader motorcycle one as not benefitting,” from the new outdoors boom, the analyst said. But industry sales and used sales are both up, and those are precursors for a broader-based recovery in bike sales, Hardiman recently told CNBC. While the bear case about the aging demographics isn’t going away, it has been that way for a decade already, he said. Among Harley’s competitors for the future full-size motorcycle buyer are not just traditional players like Honda and Yamaha, but Zero and Energetica, which have some of the most advanced electric bike technology currently available, Siahaan said. Zero, founded in Santa Cruz, California, in 2006, isn’t a household name, but it’s one of the most established players in the field. It began selling electric motorcycles in 2009, making it one of the very first production two-wheelers (the earliest production electric motorcycles and scooters appeared in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively, but enjoyed limited success). Zero’s current all-electric line-up includes everything from the FX, a small on- and off-road capable “dual-sport” motorcycle starting at $9,300, all the way up to the SR/S sportbike which starts at $20,000. The 110-horsepower SR/S can reach 124 miles per hour and is capable of more than 200 miles of range when equipped with an enhanced battery. The FR/S is so advanced Road and Track alluded to Zero getting close to the being the Tesla of two wheels in its review. Zero offers it with an app that lets users modify the bikes maximum speed, power, torque and regenerative braking parameters. Zero reached a 10-year deal with Polaris, a recreational vehicle powerhouse, that should give it the resources to further expand manufacturing and distribution. It will bring Zero’s powertrain technology and software to Polaris’ lineup of snowmobiles and off-road vehicles. The high-end brand Energetica was formed in 2010 as a subsidiary of CRP Group, a motorsport and aviation manufacturer based in Modena, Italy. It offers a small lineup of attractively styled bikes starting at $17,600 for the general-purpose Eva EsseEsse9, and ending with the top-of-the-line Ego+. The latter is a 145-horsepower sportbike with an eye-watering starting price of nearly $24,000, but a 150 mph top speed and up to 250 miles of range. Saha of the Global Marketing Institute told CNBC that the company is investing highly in R&D and owns several patents related to electric vehicle manufacturing in Europe, Asia, and North America. Of course, as the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, Honda Motorcycles of Japan, is not standing still. It recently filed patents for electric-powered versions of its CB125R and CB300R, these are small, easy to manage general purpose bikes with “café racer” styling. Saha notes that Honda is also making large investments in the development of swappable battery technology for electric motorcycles to allow riders to quickly replace the batteries after use. These moves, and factors like its global dealer and distribution network will aid Honda, Saha said. Tesla moving beyond cars And then there is Tesla. Though Musk has said the company will not produce a road bike, he has announced plans to release an electric all-terrain vehicle, the Cyberquad, late in 2021, and has at least teased the possibility of one day making a two-wheeled electric bike. In the least, Tesla could easily pivot a portion of its battery business to supplying other manufacturers, says Nelson. Generating revenue is a big concern for any start-up, but especially in the electric motorcycle space, where federal and state-level regulation abound and consumer expectations are high. Many of the companies that first entered the electric two-wheeler market place have failed or been absorbed by larger players. This includes Brammo, which launched in 2002 and sold bikes with six-speed transmissions like those in traditional gas bikes rather than the single-speed automatics most electric manufacturers use. It was first purchased by the recreational vehicle maker Polaris in 2015, then engine maker Cummins in 2017. Brammo-branded bikes are no longer sold, but its technology lives on with its purchasers. A similar fate befell Alta Motors, a maker of technologically advanced off-road electric bikes. The company shuttered operations in 2018 and its assets were taken over by Bombardier’s Recreational Products business in 2019 for use across its product lineup, which includes Ski Doo snowmobiles and the Can-Am line of three-wheel motorcycles. “It’s always difficult to predict the future,” Siahaan said. “A lot of companies come out with big, bold announcements, but never even come to market.” “It’s very early, so it is difficult to see how it all plays out, but that’s typical of a true growth market,” added Kennison.

Dylan Hummel’s 1954 Ford F-100 alongside his dad, Jake’s, ’53 Ford wagon. Get the full story in TRJ #84.

Small Business Saturday is here, and there’s never been a better time to support small, independent brands. For more than 25 years, The Rodder’s Journal has been a grassroots effort owned and operated by hot rodders for hot rodders. We love these cars just as much as you do, and we’re excited to share their stories with you in every issue we print. This Small Business Saturday, we’re turning the spotlight on some of our favorite products in our 2020 catalog. The lion’s share come from brands and talented individuals dedicated to bringing you small batch, high-quality goods. Regardless of your budget, you’re sure to find something you like. Best of all, each purchase helps keep the spirit of our hobby going for generations to come. Up until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. East Coast time, you can use the following codes at checkout to save: TAKE15 – 15% off all orders $25 and up TAKE20 – 20% off all orders $50 and up TAKE25 – 25% off all orders $75 and up To place an order, click the red box below 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

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

The Harley-Davidson Street Bob is one of the favorite base motorcycles for Thunderbike builds. In the market of customizing Milwauke-made machines for close to three decades now, the German shop has made a name for itself with its conversions of the “gritty, stripped-down bobber cloaked in black,” as Harley describes the iconic two-wheeler.

Over the past year or so, we’ve covered Thunderbike quite extensively, mostly because we find their products worth talking about. Love them or hate them, the garage’s projects are unique on the European scene (possibly even beyond the continent’s borders), and so numerous they’ll keep us busy for a while longer.

Because winter is upon us and in most parts of the world bikes are going into storage, we thought to give you something to dream about in anticipation of next summer: here’s the Spoke Bob 23.

Built a few years back starting from the Street Bob, the custom bike sports fewer modifications than we’re used to, but effective nonetheless.

The build’s name is a combination between that of the stock bike and the spoked wheels used for it (sized 21 and 23 inches) – if you’ve been watching our Thunderbike stories, you know by now these guys do lack imagination when it comes to naming stuff.

Other major changes are the use of a custom forward control kit, a new air cleaner, and a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system. Minor modifications include the deployment of a new handlebar and turn signals.

As usual, we are not being told how much the conversion of the Street Bob cost. Knowing most of the parts that went into it though we can estimate that to be of around 2,500 euros (roughly $3,000 at today’s exchange rates), but not including the base bike (obviously), the exhaust system, and the man-hours that went into it.

by Dragos Chitulescu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Doing quarter-mile runs on the dragstrip might not sound as scary at first; that’s if you’re used to normal road-going vehicles, either on two, four, or multiple wheels. But what happens when said vehicle manages to complete the quarter-mile (402 meters) in less than 7 seconds? And what if instead of a cosy and stable four-wheeler you only get two wheels?

If you’ve ever watched any videos of really fast cars going down the quarter-mile, you might have noticed that sometimes it’s difficult to keep them going straight, and crashes can often occur at very high speeds. Now take away two of the wheels, and you get increased levels of insanity.

Chris Moore is one of those daring men who just wanted to push things as far as possible by building an absolutely mental motorcycle. He had one goal in mind: to be the fastest at the drag strip. Usually drag purposed motorcycles tend to wheelie excessively, which means the whole thing can go haywire very quickly. This also leads to a slower run, as both wheels are not making contact with the ground.

To avoid these wheelies, pro drag racers usually install a bar behind the motorcycle, which is aptly called a wheelie bar. But Chris decided to do away with one, and basically run a custom-built motorcycle that can still be called a street bike at the end of the day.

With 750 horsepower on tap, which is more than you get with a Ferrari 488 Pista for example, this motorcycle has just set a new record, running the quarter-mile in just 6.3 seconds, with a top speed of 233.64 mph (376 kph). I guess slapping a massive turbo on an already fast Suzuki GSX-R1000 really does help!

Looking over the performance specs of this bike, we also learn it can do a 60 mph to 130 mph (96 kph to 209 kph) pull in just 1.4 seconds! To put things in perspective, the already ludicrous Koeniggseg One:1 needs 3.3 seconds to achieve the same thing!

 

Your Motorcycle Riders Foundation team in Washington, D.C. is pleased to provide our members with the latest information and updates on issues that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Count on your MRF to keep you informed about a range of matters that are critical to the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. Published weekly when the U.S. Congress is in session.

FCC Spectrum Band Vote Last week the Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 on a controversial measure that opens up spectrum band previously reserved solely for automakers.  Spectrum is the range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used to transmit sound, data, and video across the country. For over 20 years a specific band of spectrum was reserved for automotive safety. The hope being that automakers would develop technology allowing cars to communicate with one another, thus creating safer roadways.

The fight surrounding the allocation of this spectrum pitted cable companies like Comcast on one side vs automakers and the U.S. Department of Transportation on the other. U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee chairman, Peter DeFazio, called the decision “a gift to corporate interests at the expense of public safety,” adding it “will undermine decades of development and over a billion public dollars that the transportation community has invested in these technologies.” During the legislative session at the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Meeting of the Minds in September, ABATE of Illinois made a strong pitch to other state motorcycle rights organizations that this spectrum issue would impact the safety of motorcyclists nationwide. Following the lead of ABATE of Illinois, MRF membership voted unanimously to add the spectrum band issue to our list of “2021 High Priority Objectives.” The official stance of the MRF is to “Protect the set aside radio spectrums necessary for Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) vehicle to vehicle communications.” We will continue to follow the issue and work with like-minded organizations to protect the safety of our roads. Thank you to ABATE of Illinois for their vigilance on this issue. If you’d like to read the ABATE of Illinois statement on the topic click here.

Public Comments Sought on Autonomous Vehicles As we at the MRF know, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has taken a voluntary approach to autonomous vehicles (AVs) without standards and regulations. This hands-off approach has worried motorcyclists, by allowing the private sector to deploy AVs with little or no oversight. Last week NHTSA changed course slightly and asked for public input on a proposed regulation of autonomous vehicle sensors, how the vehicles detect other road users and infrastructure, how they plan routes and how they carry out that plan. “This rulemaking will help address legitimate public concerns about safety, security and privacy without hampering innovation in the development of automated driving systems,” said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Once the notice is printed in the Federal Register, the public will have 60 days to comment on proposed regulations. Before the deadline, the MRF will draft a response to NHTSA outlining the concerns of motorcyclists and now government agencies can ensure motorcyclists are accounted for in the development and deployment of this new technology.

About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.

from https://www.expressandstar.com

The Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini is limited to just 630 units.

Ducati and Lamborghini have collaborated on a limited-edition motorcycle inspired by the Sián supercar.

The Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini combines design features from the two Italian brands’ line-ups, using a Diavel 1260 S as a base but with angular body panels and performance upgrades similar to those found on the Sián.

For example, there are lightweight forged alloy wheels, while the air intakes and radiator covers are made from carbon-fibre.

This material is used extensively throughout the bike, appearing on the silencer cover, spoiler, central tank cover, seat cover, front and rear mudguards, dashboard and headlight frame.

The body panels are painted in Verde Gea, the muted green used on the Sián show car, but Ducati’s signature red is used for the brake calipers.

Mitja Borkert, head of design of Automobili Lamborghini, said: “We are convinced that our design is strong and one of the most recognisable in the automotive sector.

“The unique silhouette, clean but extremely distinguished, defines the base of our design language. Our visionary design approach allows us to transfer our DNA to other products: this was achieved through strong teamwork, sharing our style and the advantage of being two brands inspired by the same values and a commitment of being ‘fun to drive’.

Andrea Ferraresi, director of Ducati Centro Stile, added: “The Ducati Diavel inspired by the Lamborghini Sián celebrates our shared values: we are both Italian, we are inherently sporty and our design always distinguishes our creations.

“The Diavel 1260 Lamborghini has been created by using the same design language that distinguishes the Sián FKP 37.”

The Diavel 1260 Lamborghini wears the number 63, a nod to the supercar maker’s founding year of 1963. Just 630 examples of this motorcycle will be built.

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com

The man behind this spectacular feat goes by the name of Archie Adelan and is an L.A.-based fellow who loves custom bikes just as much as we do.

Today’s project is based on a 2014 model from Harley-Davidson’s vicious Sportster Forty-Eight family. This two-wheeled machinery is brought to life by an air-cooled Evolution V-twin behemoth that prides itself with an astronomical displacement of 1,201cc and two valves per cylinder head.

At approximately 4,000 rpm, this untamed mill is fully capable of supplying as much as 79 pound-feet (107 Nm) of twisting force. A six-speed gearbox is tasked with channeling this generous oomph over to the rear 16-inch hoop by means of a belt final drive. On the other hand, stopping power is taken good care of by a hydraulic brake rotor and a two-piston caliper at the front, along with a single disc and a one-piston caliper at the rear end.

Now, the Forty-Eight wouldn’t exactly be your first pick for a donor when seeking to create a custom cafe racer-style build, but a motorcycle enthusiast named Archie Adelan loves a challenge. The motorcycle guru goes about his daily business in Los Angeles, California, and his Sportster-based venture is a personal exploit he has painstakingly crafted in his spare time.

For starters, Adelan fabricated an array of bespoke bodywork units that definitely look the part, including a fresh front fender and a sexy pair of side panels. Additionally, the bike’s curvy fuel tank is the work of Storz Performance, while the pros over at Alchemy Motorcycles upholstered the saddle with classy leather to complement the desired aesthetic.

The Alchemy crew is also responsible for the Forty-Eight’s new LED lighting kit, which incorporates a neat lighting strip at the rear, joined by LED turn signals on both ends. Next, the project’s mastermind treated its suspension to a selection of top-shelf components from Ohlins’ catalogue, such as state-of-the-art fork cartridges and dual shock absorbers.

In terms of powertrain upgrades, the V-twin fiend received a Hammer Performance bore kit, which increases its displacement to 1,275cc. Furthermore, a free-flowing air filter and a two-into-one exhaust system allow the powerplant to breathe a little more freely. Lastly, Culver City’s Pro Art Paint enveloped the Sportster’s one-off bodywork in a Graphite Blue finish from Porsche’s color palette.

HEY, HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE BIKERNET STAFF

The Bikernet staff wants to say, “Thanks!” In a very big way, we are thankful to still be doing what we love to do everyday.

Just the other day a perfect stranger, a 28-year-old Redhead wandered into the shop. Honor’s friend, Megan, just broke up with her old man and needed a place to stay. All she had to her name was a rigid frame, a link to a partial Panhead engine, and pieces of a primary belt drive.

Immediately, Honor shared her space in the front of the Bikernet headquarters. Ryan McQuiston, of McQuiston’s Custom Cycles offered her a job, while she worked on transferring her electrician union standing to a local group. And the brothers in the shop checked her frame (not that one) and started to chase parts for her first bike. It’s like that with bikers all over the world. Always willing to help anyone with anything.

We are damn thankful to every Bikernet Reader, staff, Contributor, Cantina Member and 5-Ball Customer for helping us keep the lights on, sharing the action and enjoying the ride everyday.

I wish everyone the absolute best this Thanksgiving. See you in Bonneville next year.

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.

DIRECT FROM THE TOWN OF BUFFALO CHIP–Don’t give up your fun in 2021.

There’s a place where you can still experience
MUSIC, MOTORCYCLES, FREEDOM & FRIENDSHIPS
in a way that will enrich your life and feed our soul.
THE STURGIS BUFFALO CHIP®

LE PERA SEAT OF THE WEEK—Exotic and custom seats are available.

All of our stitch patterns and inlays are crafted by hand – no computers!

Please note: This continuous inlay can only be made on a King Cobra or a Cobra. We can make the Demon Solo Inlay on a driver and passenger section; however it will be two separate patterns.

The Demon Full Inlay shown features embossed blue gator on our King Cobra in full leather MSRP $853.00

More material options can be found at the Le Pera web site.

Please contact your local dealer or contact us for custom pricing.

Embossed Inlay MSRP :
Starting at $255 + std seat price

Genuine Exotic Inlay MSRP :
Starting at $520 + std seat price

AMA NEWS — The AMA cautioned the California Air Resources Board and offered to work with the agency as it revamps its testing fee structure for off-highway and dual-sport motorcycles.

Fee increases that raise the price of motorcycles or aftermarket equipment reduce the demand for those products. And that reduced demand affects economic opportunities related to the use of those products, such as hotel stays, restaurant visits and other spending by individuals and families.

“With respect to youth-oriented off-road models, recognition of different use and cost implications of a new testing fee structure is critical,” the AMA wrote to CARB. “AMA members and their families need continued access to reasonably priced, youth-appropriate vehicles. Without access to these appropriately sized vehicles, younger riders might be wrongly encouraged to ride adult-sized machines.”

Those bastards are after us. Although their mandate is deeply flawed, unrealistic, and inaccurate, it’s their control religion, and we let it get too far. Hang on!–Bandit

Gettysburg Bike Week 20th Anniversary Black Friday Sale–Gettysburg, PA (November 25, 2020) – Gettysburg Bike Week is back for the 20th anniversary rally at the Allstar Events Complex in Gettysburg, PA with a Black Friday special on tickets, the deepest discounted ticket offer leading up the event.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Gettysburg Bike Week is offering $33 tickets for the weekend pass and $22 for the 2 day passes and $14 one day pass. The event will be held Thursday July 8th-Sunday July 11th.

“We wanted to give riders something to look forward to for 2021. 2020 has been hard on everyone, so we decided to offer our best rate on tickets for the 20th anniversary of our event.” says Gettysburg Bike Week Owner Kelly Shue. “We have already started to work on COVID-19 safety protocol so our event can be put on safely. We missed everyone in 2020 and can’t wait to see everyone.”

This year’s musical acts include Thursday’s lineup starts the weekend with a bang featuring The Colt Wilbur Band, Fade to Black a Tribute to Metallica and Dave Bray USA. Friday will feature the every popular Jasmine Cain, Honey Pump and headliner Buckcherry. Saturday always features a full day of rides and an evening of rock n roll.

Saturday nights lineup features local favorites Small Town Titans, Redemption Road and headliner KIX. Ever present emcee Jack Schit will once again perform master of ceremonies duties throughout the week on the Budweiser Stage, Gin Gypsies will be slinging drinks in their usual boisterous fashion (with some safety restrictions in place). The cornhole tournament and mini-bike racing have been huge successes and you can be sure that they are coming back with a vengeance.

Expect heavy competition in the Cycle Source Ride-In Bike Show, Bike Games and Rodeo. Discounted tickets for two and four-day passes are available here starting Thursday November 26th at midnight and ending Sunday November 29th at midnight, once it hits midnight the deal is done so make sure to head over and buy them for your friends and family.

Gettysburg Bike Week tickets make the perfect stocking stuffer and will be the deepest discounted ticket price offer for Gettysburg Bike Week 20th Anniversary.

No rally is complete without great riding, and Gettysburg has some of the best riding around. Whether riders want to see historic battlegrounds or just hit the road for a great cruise, hundreds of miles of the best riding in the East surrounds Gettysburg. In addition to fantastic solo riding, GBW also features awesome group rides throughout the weekend event.

Black Friday Discount Pricing for Gettysburg Bike Week is as follows:

$33 per-person 4-day passes, available online

$22 per-person 2-day passes, available online

$14 per-person 1-day passes, available online

New and returning riders can find updates, the schedule of events, lodging information and anything they ever needed to know about Gettysburg Bike Week by visiting http://www.gettysburgbikeweek.com.

NMA CONFIRMS IT–Illinois Supreme Court Confirms Existence Of Illegal Traffic Ticket Quota–
Sparta, Illinois, traffic ticket quota struck down as illegal by the state Supreme Court.

Illinois Supreme Court

Many states have laws prohibiting government officials from imposing traffic ticket quotas on police officers, but they are routinely ignored. Localities are often able to achieve the goal of increasing ticket-writing activity without having the formal “quota” label for the revenue generating demands placed on police officers. On Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court refused to play word games and struck down an “activity point” system as illegal.

The city of Sparta had thought in 2013 it could use the activity point label to get around the ticket quota ban, which outlaws the practice of requiring an officer to issue “a specific number of citations within a designated period.” Officers on the day shift were required to rack up 82 “points” and night-shift officers needed to score 65 points, with a traffic ticket counted as two points, but a warning written to a motorist earning a single point.

“Failure to reach the minimum monthly points will result in discipline,” the Sparta police policy explained. “Discipline will be corrective and progressive in nature.”

The local police union, the Policemen’s Benevolent Labor Committee, decided to file suit to protect officers from this policy. A circuit court judge rejected the idea that the point system was merely a traffic ticket quota in disguise. Officers could, in theory, meet the points target without issuing any tickets at all, the city argued. The high court justices did not buy that argument.

“The policy, at least indirectly, may compare police officers based on the number of citations issued because points are awarded for citations and officers are compared and receive awards based on points of contact,” the high court ruled. “By granting awards based on points of contact, the policy may provide an incentive for officers to write citations to accumulate as many points as possible.”

The court noted that the points system could still be used for other elements of the policeman’s job — just not the issuance of tickets.

“As we have found, the statute could not be clearer on the specific issue presented by this appeal, i.e., whether issuance of citations may be included as points of contact in the city’s policy,” the court concluded. “The statute simply cannot reasonably be read to permit municipalities to include the issuance of citations as points of contact.”

A copy of the ruling is available in a 50k PDF file at the source link below.

–The Newspaper.com

NEW Barnett Clutch Tools–Ventura, California specialist Barnett Clutches & Cables’ decades of experience as a leading clutch and primary components manufacturer has translated into an unparalleled range of specialty clutch tools.

From diaphragm spring compression tools to clutch ‘lock plates’ that assist in removing inner hubs, Barnett clutch tools make clutch replacement and maintenance a lot easier.

Available for Sportsters through 1970, 1986-present Sportsters, 1941-84 Big Twins, 1990-’97 Big Twins and 2001 and later Victory models. Clutch tools designed specifically for use with the Barnett Scorpion line of clutches are also available.

BARNETT CLUTCHES & CABLES
www.barnettcables.com

–Posted by Dealerworld

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER PRODUCT TESTING FACILITY–

DrySee has created the first waterproof bandage with a liquid indicator. If the seal of the bandage is broken and the wound site gets wet, the gauze around the perimeter of the bandage or at the center covering the wound site will turn blue indicating it needs to be changed. This color changing technology is intended to help you know when a wound may have been exposed to germs and is at risk for infection.

–Laura Baumgartner

NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION INVESTIGATION--We like clever wordplay as much as the next guy. The double entendre of the title, however, stirs an emotion stronger and more negative than “like.”

Christopher Matthew Spencer, one of our most active members in Southern California, led the charge by submitting a public records request to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office (LADA). He had strong suspicions about the unethical use of funds seized by the county under state civil asset forfeiture statutes.

His October 2020 request sought:

“(A) List of expenses relating to all promotions, conferences, events, functions, and so forth that was spent by the DA’s office to promote and hold their asset forfeiture seminars. For a period of 36 months.”

Spencer’s action was triggered by the knowledge that such seminars cost over $100 per hour of DA’s staff time to organize. As he wryly notes, “There are plenty of ways for the government to (appear to) reduce cost.”

It took Christopher Matthew 45 days to get a response to his records request because of claims by LADA that they “didn’t pay anything.” Only through persistently aggressive follow up by Spencer did the stonewalling crumble.

LADA’s response was careful to note that “No taxpayer dollars are used to promote and hold asset forfeiture seminars. The training is funded with assets seized and forfeited in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 11489(b)(2). Under the law, 1% of assets seized and forfeited shall be distributed to “a private nonprofit organization composed of local prosecutors which shall use these funds for the exclusive purpose of providing a statewide program of education and training for prosecutors and law enforcement officers in ethics and the proper use of laws permitting the seizure and forfeiture of assets under this chapter.”

With that, LADA produced records that showed that it knew how to lead the monetary charge. LADA entered into an agreement with the Los Angeles County Prosecutors Association (CPA) through which the CPA would provide reimbursement for associated costs. That reimbursement ostensibly fell within the 1% rule of using seized assets from citizens, of which motorists are particularly vulnerable, to conduct such training.

Among the records that Spencer received were those related to a March 14 – 16, 2018 “Asset Forfeiture Summit for Law Enforcement Executives” at the luxurious Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point, CA. Was the ethics clause of 11489(b)(2) served by charging over $88,000 worth of rooms and catering at an out-of-county luxury resort? The Marriott provided some credits to the overall charges, but the fact remains that property seized by law enforcement was used to fund posh seminars designed to teach participants how to optimize the handling of forfeitures.

We’ve seen this playbook before. LADA/CPA hold lavish asset forfeiture seminars for prosecutors and law enforcement agencies that are supported financially by property seizures that often occur without the property owners being charged with a crime, let alone convicted. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hands out annual enforcement grants to the states based in large part on how many tickets a given state issued the year before. In other words, the states are encouraged to conduct ticket quota campaigns to get more government funding to run revenue-producing ticket quota operations.

Is it any wonder that the NMA’s agenda in Washington DC continues to be the reform of civil asset forfeiture laws and the elimination of government-funded ticket-quota incentives? In both cases, the systems feed on themselves, enriching government agencies while targeting the public for sanctioned abuse.

Spencer reached out to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as well as Deputy District Attorney Joseph Iniguez to seek answers and ask for an investigation into the asset forfeiture seminars. “I recommended to the DA’s office that instead of enriching the owners of luxury resorts and fancy restaurants, they could use legally retained proceeds from seizure activities to rent high school auditoriums to conduct seminars. We’ve heard over and over again how schools across the nation are suffering budget crises. The $88,310.63 spent at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa would help educate a lot of school children—the DA can pay school districts for the use of their idle spaces for these events,” he added.

–NMA

QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY, MASK FREE— At an Irish Pub

John O’Reilly hoisted his beer and said, “Here’s to spending the rest of me life, between the legs of my wife!”

That won him the top prize at the pub for the best toast of the night!

He went home and told his wife, Mary, “I won the prize for the Best toast of the night”

She said, “Aye, did ye now. And what was your toast?”

John said, “Here’s to spending the rest of me life, sitting in church beside me wife”

“Oh, that is very nice indeed, John!” Mary said.

The next day, Mary ran into one of John’s drinking buddies on the street corner.

The man chuckled leeringly and said, “John won the prize the other night at the pub with a toast about you, Mary.”

She said, “Aye, he told me, and I was a bit surprised myself. You know, he’s only been in there twice in the last four years. Once I had to pull him by the ears to make him come, and the other time he fell asleep”

–Wayfarer
International Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina Library

 

[page break]

BEWARE S&S SUPER E KNOCKOFFS ON EBAY– They’re knock offs, we chase them down on Ebay and Amazon all the time. They’re shit as well, we get tech calls all the time and the guys are bummed when we can’t help them.

–David Zemla | VP – Marketing
S&S® Cycle, Inc. | 14025 County Highway G, Viola, WI 54664
Office 608.627.0358 | Mobile 714.615.1150
Email dzemla@sscycle.com

TEXAS WEATHER REPORT-– Got the Dyna BACK on the air table, apparently she’s just decided to leak at every major component!

Puddle of clean trans oil I believe this morning, guess I need to start using pipe dope on the drain plugs. Road Glide never leaked! This one didn’t the first two changes. She must not like me, anymore. I have realized I really need a rigid frame something again! Shovelhead got a bath & a Sportster seat. Kidding, I’ve seen it done though.

–RFR
Certified Weatherman
Bikernet.com™

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–H.O.G. HEAVEN – 2020 CVOs

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/HOG_HEAVEN__2020_CVOs.aspx

I like the article, But I Think That I Should Be Given One To Try Just So We Have A Second Opinion.

Better Yet loan me one for a year, so I can put some serious miles on it and do tech articles on one.

Hey, it don’t hurt to ask.

–Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™

NEW FROM NASH MOTORCYCLES— The Knucklehead madness continues with the latest Jason Momoa x Nash Motorcycle Co collaboration. Jason’s love for the Harley-Davidson Knucklehead has manifested itself in a wearable piece of made in the USA art that will last a lifetime and longer.

These belt buckles are available in a regular and large size with the option to add the Knucklehead leather belt to complete the look.

The Knuckle Buckle and Knucklehead Belts being produced in limited quantities so don’t miss out on an opportunity to grab a truly unique piece of moto history.

Copy/paste this code below during checkout for the big, black deal:

30OFFTHANKSNASH
…and you get 30% off the stuff on the Blackened Friday Rules! page on the Nash website.

–Taber

THE SHERIFF REMEMBERS ARLEN AT THANKSGIVING—He gives thanks to all the friendship and fun Arlen and Bev constantly bestowed on their friends and the custom motorcycle community.

–Christer
Sheriff Media Group

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING—Science is working non-stop to find the meaning of life, the question of why and how the universe started and where it might be going.

As far as we know, this is the only planet with life or the ability to search for knowledge. There are 200 billion galaxies and 700 quintillion planets.

Imagine all these galaxies and planets on the surface of a massive pool table, and if one asteroid hits the earth we’re all toast, immediately. If you consider only those larger than 100 meters orbiting in only our Solar System, there are 150 million.

Think about that for a minute. And a bunch of folks are worried about climate change.

–Bandit

SPEAKING OF GLOBAL WARMING–Stay fat if you care about ‘global warming’?! Losing weight releases carbon dioxide – ‘To lose 100 grams of fat, you have to exhale 280 grams of CO2’

“Fat is converted to carbon dioxide and water. You exhale the carbon dioxide and the water mixes into your circulation until it’s lost as urine or sweat.”
“If you lose 10kg of fat, precisely 8.4kg comes out through your lungs and the remaining 1.6kg turns into water. In other words, nearly all the weight we lose is exhaled.”

“To lose 100 grams of fat, you have to exhale 280 grams of carbon dioxide on top of what you’ll produce by vaporizing all your food, no matter what it is.”

But wait!
Report: Obesity promotes global warming — ‘The more each individual eats – the more he or she will contribute to rising emissions’

Researchers Suggest Link Between Obesity & Global Warming: ‘Global weight loss would result in a drop in the production of the major greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide’

WEATHER CHANNEL hypes study claiming ‘climate change’ causes both starvation & obesity! ‘Exploring the Intricate Link between Climate Change and Obesity’

–Climate Depot

BIKERNET PRISON BREAK OF THE WEEK–
“Longest-serving cannabis offender” to be released early from 90-year prison sentence
Richard DeLisi was sentenced in 1989 for conspiring to traffic more than 100 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. from Jamaica.
Read in NBC News: https://apple.news/A-SP9B3BPSH-ZB49jBXwjpA

–from Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTK – Electra Glide Ultra Limited for $14,995.00

See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=9469852

This bike is fully load bike ready to travel

ONLY 27006.00 Miles !!!!!

2013 Metallic Yellow/Black Harley-Davidson FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED TOURING

Some of the features/Add-on’s on this bike

* Two tone paint
* Touring pak
* Black/Chrome mag wheels
* Highway pegs
* Klock works windshield
* Passenger radio controls

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 $14,995.00 at Lifestyle Cycles (714) 490-0155

NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT–We are pleased to announce David’s newest series, titled “Entropy”. He will be moving around in the historic reclamation of some wonderful old American creatures – – trucks, motorcycles, trains, tractors, etc. Patina is the key here!

In David’s words, “I am really exited to explore this series, called Entropy….I find incredible colors lurking between the paint, rust and various natural foliage. This series will include trains, tractors, trucks, buses, cars, bikes and so on. I am intrigued by the interplay between the organic fractals and the hard edged geometry of the machine itself. Too much Fun!”

We are offering an exclusive canvas print edition of “Golden Glow”. Each print will be hand-signed by David and numbered, with Certificate of Authenticity.

As with any new series, we are offering first right of refusal on future matching edition numbers for those who purchase “Rust to Dust”.

** Image size 24×18, $895 framed. Edition of 24 plus 2 Artist Proofs and 2 Hors d’Commerce.

** Image size 32×24, $1,295 framed. Edition of 24 plus 2 Artist Proofs and 2 Hors d’Commerce.

NOTE: David has agreed? to sell the original oil. Serious inquiries only, please.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. You can reserve your piece by return email, or by calling me at 303-913-4840.
?
As always, thanks for your time and have a great week!

–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
Uhl Studios
303-913-4840

They Protected Us. NOW IT’S OUR TURN.

Veterans deserve many things: Praise. Honor. Security. Respect. Here’s what they don’t deserve: attempts to take advantage of their service. Yet every day, scammers attempt to swindle our veterans of their hard-earned benefits, steal their identity, take their life savings, and worse.

According to an AARP survey, veterans are twice as likely to fall victim to scams as the population at large. Some scammers offer veterans the opportunity to refinance Veterans Affairs (VA) loans at extremely low rates. Others will pose as government agencies in order to access personal information, or offer lump sum payments up front, in exchange for signing over all their future monthly benefit checks. There have even been instances where scammers will create fake charities that target veterans or pretend to be old friends offering “sure thing” investments.

Why are veterans so susceptible to these particular scams?

For starters, veterans implicitly trust fellow members of the military, making them vulnerable to imposters claiming to be veterans themselves. Sometimes, because of their military experiences, veterans also find it more difficult to recognize and combat the emotional manipulation used by scam artists.

That’s why the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and AARP joined forces to create Operation Protect Veterans, and provide valuable information and resources that veterans, their loved ones, and their friends can use to help protect against scammers.

Together, we can fight back and take one small step to repay our veterans for the service they’ve given and the sacrifices they’ve made.

MORE FROM THE CLIMATE DEPOT–Pave Beaches, To Construct Four New Airports For Future Tourism!

By P Gosselin on 20. November 2020

Despite all the money-generating gloomy predictions of sinking islands, we reported in 2013 on how the Maldives was planning to build 30 new luxury hotels for future tourists.

The resort island of Landaa Giraavaru (Baa atoll), photo by: Frédéric Ducarme – CC BY-SA 4.0.

Underwater in 7 years?

We recall how in 2012, the former President of the Maldives Islands, Mohamed, Nasheed said: “If carbon emissions continue at the rate they are climbing today, my country will be underwater in seven years.”

4 new airports!

Well, today the islands have not gone underwater and remains popular with tourists like never before. And to help with the job of ferrying the 1.7 million (2019) tourists to and from the resort islands, the Maldives have recently opened 4 new airports, according to German site Aero here!

Long-term investment defies alarmist claims

No, the airports are not designed to evacuate tourists because sea levels are “rapidly rising”, as climate alarmists claim. The airports are a long-term investment aimed at drawing in even more tourists and they are based on the projection that they’ll still be very much in unhindered operation in 30 or 50 years from now. Obviously the catastrophic climate warnings are not being heeded. Most likely these warnings are not really serious at all.

The Maldives comprise 1200 islands, which were made accessible through a total of ten airports. However, they are not enough to handle the expected traffic. So, four new domestic airports would open this year alone, announced Transportation and Aviation Minister Aishath Nahula,

Deforestation, paved beaches

The new airports will feature 2200 meter runways, thus allowing commercial passenger jets to takeoff and land. According to Aero, citing the Arabian Business news site, some 52 million dollars was financed by Abu Dhabi to cover the construction costs.

Environmentalists expressed anger at the project because “forests had to be cut down and beaches concreted over”.

THANKSGIVING FROM WINDVEST— Shipping is on us from now until December 31st, 2020.

We are also giving away a Free Neck Gaiter (face mask) with every WindVest purchase

This is our way of saying thank you for your support
We will be closed November 26th and 27th

MIDNIGHT RIDER SERIES, THE TRILOGY– I am ready to launch The midnight Rider Trilogy book, it’s all Three in one.

–Koz Mraz
Author

BURLY BRAND THANKSGIVING DEALS-– SALE RUNS NOVEMBER 27-30, 2020
ENTER PROMO CODE 24 FRIDAY AT CHECKOUT

BLACK FRIDAY OR CYBER MONDAY PROGRESSIVE HOLIDAY SALE–
SAVE ON SHOCKS, FORK KITS AND ACCESSORIES
ENTER PROMO CODE 25FRIDAY AT PROGRESSIVESUSPENSION.COM

Why Harley-Davidson Is The Tesla Of Motor Bikes-– Visionary CEO Keith E. Wandell should go down in history as the man who introduced the electric motorcycle to the US market and possibly the first CEO to bring it to the world.

It was in 2011 that Mr. Wandell first showcased his unbranded team-made creation to a keen San Francisco motor bike enthusiast crowd. He might be the most notorious CEO that the iconic US bike manufacturer Harley-Davidson HOG -1.1%has had (founded 117 years ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

However, The Edge (the global leader for activist ideas, special situations and Spinoffs) believes new CEO Jochen Zeitz is the best thing to happen to the company since Mr. Wandell left and successor Matthew S. Levatich was fired suddenly thanks to Impala Asset Management, the $2.4 billion activist hedge fund led by Bob Bishop.

The US military purchased over 20,000 motorcycles from Harley-Davidson in World War I and the company also lent itself to supporting US and Allied troops in World War II, with 90,000 military motorcycles handed over.

Harley-Davidson’s global fan club run in the millions of members, called Harley Owners Group (HOG), and their constant support of US military and Allied troops gives to many charities around the world.

–Jim Osman
Contributor
Forbes.com

Bike Week/Biketoberfest Master Plan Guidelines Changes Review Meeting–

Meeting Notice: Bike Week/Biketoberfest® Master Plan Guidelines Changes Review Meeting

This meeting will take place Monday, November 30, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ocean Center, 101 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Room: TBD

The meeting is open to the public; however, due to public safety concerns regarding the coronavirus, anyone exhibiting signs of illness (such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath) should not attend the meeting. The meeting’s attendance will be limited to 50 people.

AMA News National News–The federal Motorcyclist Advisory Council ended its official duties Oct. 24, after meeting regularly since 2017 and sending its recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation in February.

Legislation to reauthorize the MAC was contained in an amendment to the federal highway bill that passed the House of Representatives. The MAC was established to provide advice and recommendations concerning infrastructure issues related to motorcyclist safety, including barrier design; road design, construction, and maintenance practices; and the architecture and implementation of intelligent transportation system technologies. Mike Sayre, AMA government relations director, was the MAC chair.

IF ONLY I KNEW—What the hell to do next. I’m trying to get as far from politics as possible for a minute and get the Doctor’s Panhead running.

This young redhead who showed up the next day with a Panhead engine, just went to work at the shop where she got it. I told her to take it back. The heads are inside oiler and the cases outside oiler. One head has a lot of busted fins and no guts, the other is complete but well worn. The barrels are Shovelhead. The left case is Merch (no numbers) and the right case has maybe bogus production numbers. If you get rid of all the bad shit, you’re left with an oil pump, without gears.

For a minute all the bros were excited. We could make it live again with new cases, new, new barrels and we found a set of outside oiler heads. But the cost was way over her budget, so we told her to take it back and see if Ryan could make it work.

I ordered a S&S Super E for our 45 flatty Bonneville Racer called the Bonne Belle. Hell, I just found one on Ebay for $53. Incredible. Hell, it comes with a jet kit, sparkplugs and a fuel filter. It’s gotta be a scam. It was a knockoff scam. I ordered the real thing from S&S.

There’s progress at Departure Bike Works on the Bonne Belle. We are going to run an S&S Super E carb, which is monster for a 45 cubic inch, but they work with the DBW intake manifold. They have been highly successful at the Sons of Speed races at Bike Week. They are getting over 45 horses out of a 45 cubic inch engine.

Next week, we will publish another Koz piece about riding Rt. 66 where the Easy Rider team rode.

His story contains some behind the scene tales. That reminds me. The astute powers in the region changed the number on a stretch of Rt. 66 because it was too popular and folks stole the street signs. Couldn’t they come up with better notion?

I hope you all have a relaxing Thanksgiving Day. Rest and be kind, you have nothing to prove.

–Bandit

HEY, HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE BIKERNET STAFF

The Bikernet staff wants to say, “Thanks!” In a very big way, we are thankful to still be doing what we love to do everyday.

We are damn thankful to every Bikernet Reader, Cantina Member and 5-Ball Customer for helping us keep the lights on, sharing the action and enjoying the ride everyday.

I wish everyone the absolute best this Thanksgiving. See you in Bonneville next year.

Bandit

Click Here to read the Weekly News on Bikernet

Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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

Suicide Machine Harley-Davidson Softail Is All About Bare Bones, Light Riding

Weight saving. This was pretty much the idea behind the latest project coming from Suicide Machine Company (SMCO) and destined for the now canceled Born Free Motorcycle Show.

SMCO is a shop we’ve featured before. Led by two brothers, Shaun and Aaron Guardado, the garage was part of the bike maker’s The No Show online motorcycle event, held a few months back in support of all the builders that because of the health crisis were left without a venue to show their creations.

Back then, they presented a 2019 Road Glide Special modified to get a more aggressive riding position, one better suited for trips down highways. And now we’re getting a bike the shop describes as a “performance-driven and race-inspired” product.

What you’re looking at is a seriously lightened and undressed Harley-Davidson Softail Standard. It is the result of two months of work that saw a lot of the motorcycle’s hardware either being removed completely or replaced, all with the goal of making it lighter.

First, a lot of the original bodywork is gone. The fenders have been taken out, a new and full carbon fiber bodywork was placed on top of the frame. Not even the tank remains, having been replaced with a fuel cell hidden inside the new body.

Carbon fiber has been used extensively on this build, down to the tubes and the wheels that now weigh just a quarter of what the original ones weighed. Also, lighting and wiring have been kept to a minimum, and a titanium exhaust was added.

The bike continues to be powered by the stock 107 Milwaukee Eight engine, only it is no longer fuel-injected, but uses a 45mm Mikuni carburetor.

SMCO says the bike can be ridden as is, and you can see a bit of how that’s like by having a look at the video embedded below.