EARN CASH as a Twisted Road Owner
By Bandit |
Why list your motorcycle with us?
Well, why not? Adding your bike to Twisted Road is the first step towards earning cash and meeting fellow riders. We remove all the risk and you take the reward.We’ll have your back and protect you.
Our insurance plans cover damage to the motorcycle during the ride, and we also provide free liability insurance to all owners. Finally, you get to choose who does (and doesn’t) ride your bike. You’re in control!“I’ve rented my motorcycle out on Twisted Road nearly a dozen times over the past year. It is an outstanding service that makes me extra cash each month. Every renter I’ve had treated my motorcycle like their own. The Twisted Road team checks in on each rental and I rest easy knowing I’m covered by their insurance.”
– Danielle V.
Pricing
You choose the price. Too many rentals? Increase it. Too few? Decrease it. You’re in control of how much you earn.Payment
All owners are paid two days after the ride ends, and we take a small commission from every rental. We pay through paypal, venmo, or direct deposit.Briar Bauman delivers back-to-back wins for Indian Motorcycle Racing at Indy Mile Doubleheader
By Wayfarer |
Reigning Grand National Champion Briar Bauman Records Career Grand Slam at Indy Mile I;
Indian Motorcycle Racing Sweeps Top Five at Indy Mile I, Goes 1-2 at Indy Mile II
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 24, 2020) – Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, continued its 2020 American Flat Track (AFT) season with back-to-back wins at the Indy Mile doubleheader. Reigning Grand National Champion Briar Bauman swept the weekend to claim a three-point lead over Wrecking Crew teammate Jared Mees.
Bauman’s win on Friday night not only marked his first of the 2020 season, but also marked his first career Mile win – earning him a career grand slam. The win was also historic for Indian Motorcycle Racing, as the FTR750 race bike reached its 50th win since entering AFT in 2017.
“We’re extremely proud to see the FTR750 reach 50 wins in such a short period,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “It’s not only a testament to our engineering team who developed such an incredible race bike, but also to the riders and race teams who have each contributed to this historic milestone.”
Saturday night saw yet another evening of exciting racing with the Indy Mile II. Though Mees ran up front for most of the race, many riders exchanged passes behind him. Bauman stayed in contention, remained patient, and made his move with only a few laps remaining. Bauman held on to complete the doubleheader sweep and take a three-point lead over Mees on the season.
Through four races, Bauman has two wins and two second-place finishes and is the current points leader with 90 points. Mees, in second with 87 points, has two wins, a second- and a third-place finish. Indian Motorcycle Privateer Sammy Halbert, is currently in third with 66 points, while Wrecking Crew rider Bronson Bauman is in fourth with 55 points.
The 2020 AFT season will continue on September 5 and 6 at the Springfield Mile doubleheader. For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Good Tidings from Sam and the Bikernet Monk
By Wayfarer |
A beautiful story is told about a great mystic, Nagarjuna
By the Wayfarer with images from Sam Burns
CLICK HERE TO READ THIS TALE ON BIKERNET
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Ride to Sturgis 2020
By Wayfarer |
Things Do Not Always Go As Planned
by Rogue
As in past years getting ready for the ride to Sturgis included fully servicing my 2009 FLHTC motorcycle, cleaning cameras, making sure all paperwork for events was handled like insurance, bike registrations, location registrations, bills paid and just all the myriad of stuff involved with the ritual. This year was no different.
CLICK HERE TO READ THIS REPORT ON BIKERNET
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Alex Martin Charges to Podium Finish with SCORPION™ MX Tires at Loretta Lynn’s 2 National
By Wayfarer |
Dominant Wire-to-Wire 250 Class Moto 2 Victory is Martin’s First with JGRMX
HURRICANE MILLS, TN. (August 24, 2020) – The second round of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship kicked off with heavy rain and was once again hosted by the iconic Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch for the second consecutive Loretta Lynn’s 2 National. Following the morning rain, Pirelli riders opted to run the SCORPION™ MX32™ Mid Soft front and SCORPION™ MX Soft rear tires in both the 250 and 450 Classes to navigate the muddier than usual conditions. JGR/Yoshimura/Suzuki’s Alex Martin raced to his best finish of the season by taking the victory in the second 250 Class moto and landing himself on the overall podium.
“It’s a good feeling to be standing back up here on the podium,” said Martin. “The track conditions were pretty gnarly all day, but I felt that I had a good pace going in both motos and I was finally able to put it all together in Moto 2. Getting a good start is huge in conditions like these and the Pirelli SCORPION™ MX Soft did a great job of getting a drive into the first turn.”
As the gate dropped on the opening 250 Class moto, Martin was quick out of the gate and rounded the first turn in second. He would quickly take over the race lead before hitting a soft spot on the track and going down. The Suzuki rider would remount towards the tail end of the field and put on a strong charge to claw himself back to seventh at the checkered flag.
At the onset of 250 Moto 2, Martin used his SCORPION™ MX Soft scoop tire to launch out of the gate and capture the Motosport.com Holeshot. Despite rainfall, Martin continued to push at the front of the 40-rider field and opened a comfortable gap over the second place rider. Martin stayed out of trouble in the difficult conditions and remained unchallenged to take a dominant Moto 2 victory with more than a full minute to spare on his nearest competitor. It marked his first moto victory since joining the Joe Gibbs Racing team and his 7-1 moto scores landed him third overall on the day.
“It was great to see Pirelli riders running towards the front all weekend,” said Nick Walton, Off-Road Manager, Pirelli. “With back-to-back events here at Loretta Lynn’s, and Pirelli riders grabbing several holeshots, I think that it really shows how capable the SCORPION™ MX Soft scoop tire is at getting traction when the conditions are soft or muddy.”
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship heads to Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana next Saturday, August 29 for round three.
Results
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
MotoSport.com Loretta Lynn’s 2 National
Loretta Lynn’s Ranch – Hurricane Mills, Tennessee
August 22, 2020
250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)
Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (3-2)
Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (2-4)
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Suzuki (7-1)
250 Class Championship Standings
Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha – 90
Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 84
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Suzuki – 71
For more information about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit Pirelli.com
Good Tidings from Sam and the Bikernet Monk
By Ujjwal Dey |
He was a naked fakir, but he was loved by all real seekers. A queen was also deeply in love with Nagarjuna. She asked him one day to come to the palace, to be a guest in the palace. Nagarjuna went. The queen asked him a favour.
Nagarjuna said, “What do you want?”
The queen said, “I want your begging bowl.”
Nagarjuna gave it — that was the only thing he had — his begging bowl. And the queen brought a golden begging bowl, studded with diamonds and gave it to Nagarjuna. She said, “Now you keep this. I will worship the begging bowl that you have carried for years — it has some of your vibe. It will become my temple. And a man like you should not carry an ordinary wooden begging bowl — keep this golden one. I have had it made specially for you.”
It was really precious. If Nagarjuna had been an ordinary mystic he would have said, “I cannot touch it. I have renounced the world.” But for him it was all the same, so he took the bowl.
When he left the palace, a thief saw him. He could not believe his eyes: “A naked man with such a precious thing! How long can he protect it?” So the thief followed….
Nagarjuna was staying outside the town in a ruined ancient temple — no doors, no windows. It was just a ruin. The thief was very happy: “Soon Nagarjuna will have to go to sleep and there will be no difficulty — I will get the bowl.”
The thief was hiding behind a wall just outside the door — Nagarjuna threw the bowl outside the door. The thief could not believe what had happened. Nagarjuna threw it because he had watched the thief coming behind him, and he knew perfectly well that he was not coming for him — he was coming for the bowl, “So why unnecessarily let him wait? Be finished with it so he can go, and I can also rest.”
“Such a precious thing! And Nagarjuna has thrown it so easily.” The thief could not go without thanking him. He knew perfectly well that it had been thrown for him. He peeked in and he said, “Sir, accept my thanks. But you are a rare being — I cannot believe my eyes. And a great desire has arisen in me. I am wasting my life by being a thief — and there are people like you too? Can I come in and touch your feet?”
Nagarjuna laughed and he said, “Yes, that’s why I threw the bowl outside — so that you could come inside.”
The thief was trapped. The thief came in, touched the feet… and at that moment the thief was very open because he had seen that this man was no ordinary man. He was very vulnerable, open, receptive, grateful, mystified, stunned. When he touched the feet, for the first time in his life he felt the presence of the divine.
He asked Nagarjuna, “How many lives will it take for me to become like you?”
Nagarjuna said, “How many lives? — it can happen today, it can happen now!”
The thief said, “You must be kidding. How can it happen now? I am a thief, a well-known thief The whole town knows me, although they have not yet been able to catch hold of me. Even the king is afraid of me, because thrice I have entered and stolen from the treasury. They know it, but they have no proof. I am a master thief — you may not know about me because you are a stranger in these parts. How can I be transformed right now?”
And Nagarjuna said, “If in an old house for centuries there has been darkness and you bring a candle, can the darkness say, ‘For centuries and centuries I have been here — I cannot go out just because you have brought a candle in. I have lived so long’? Can the darkness give resistance? Will it make any difference whether the darkness is one day old or millions of years old.
The thief could see the point: darkness cannot resist light; when light comes, darkness disappears. Nagarjuna said, You may have been in darkness for millions of lives — that doesn’t matter — but I can give you a secret, you can light a candle in your being.”
And the thief said, “What about my profession? Have I to leave it?”
Nagarjuna said, “That is for you to decide. I am not concerned with you and your profession I can only give you the secret of how to kindle a light within your being, and then it is up to you.”
The thief said, “But whenever I have gone to any saints, they always say, ‘First stop stealing — then only can you be initiated.'”
It is said that Nagarjuna laughed and said, “You must have gone to thieves, not to saints. They know nothing. You just watch your breath — the ancient method of Buddha — just watch your breath coming in, going out. Whenever you remember, watch your breath. Even when you go to steal, when you enter into somebody’s house in the night, go on watching your breath. When you have opened the treasure and the diamonds are there, go on watching your breath, and do whatsoever you want to do — but don’t forget watching the breath.”
The thief said, “This seems to be simple. No morality? No character needed? No other requirement?”
Nagarjuna said, “Absolutely none — just watch your breath.”
And after fifteen days the thief was back, but he was a totally different man. He fell at the feet of Nagarjuna and he said, “You trapped me, and you trapped me so beautifully that I was not even able to suspect. I tried for these fifteen days — it is impossible. If I watch my breath, I cannot steal. If I steal, I cannot watch my breath. Watching the breath, I become so silent, so alert, so aware, so conscious, that even diamonds look like pebbles. You have created a difficulty for me, a dilemma. Now what am I supposed to do?”
Nagarjuna said, “Get lost! — whatsoever you want to do. If you want that silence, that peace, that bliss, that arises in you when you watch your breath, then choose that. If you think all those diamonds and gold and silver is more valuable, then choose that. That is for you to choose! Who am I to interfere in your life?”
The man said, “I cannot choose to be unconscious again. I have never known such moments. Accept me as one of your disciples, initiate me.”
Nagarjuna said, “I have initiated you already.”
Religion is based not in morality but in meditation. Religion is rooted not in character but in consciousness.
Commuters Need Transportation Resiliency
By Bandit |
Most Americans drive to work because of the freedom that this mobility choice provides. Well, that and other suitable transportation options are limited in many locales. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to limit car ownership while commuters are urged to take transit, rideshare, walk, and ride bikes/scooters. The COVID-19 crisis, though, seems to have stopped that idea in its tracks. In many places, transit ridership may never again approach past peak activity. If so, the long-term implications for transportation funding become even more complicated, and so does everyone’s daily commute.
In a recent NewGeography.Com post, author Randal O’Toole illuminated the idea of transportation resiliency. He quoted a new study from accounting giant KPMG that predicts commuting to work will decrease up to 20 percent due to the after-effects of the pandemic, one of which is the greatly expanded use of telecommuting. Shopping trips by vehicle will likely decline up to 30 percent due to increased online shopping.
Another KPMG prediction: 43 percent of former transit riders do not plan to return to buses, subways, and trolleys, and most who don’t work from home will likely turn to cars. If this happens, driving will increase by close to five billion vehicle miles per year in America alone, which will impact those of us who already commute by car every day.
O’Toole writes that transit is far less resilient than driving. At the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in April, the Federal Highway Administration claims that driving fell 42 percent compared to last year. Transit ridership fell by 84 percent.
Boston-based reporter Spencer Buell always loved the fact that he and his wife could take transit everywhere. The city has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation, an effect heightened by narrow, winding streets downtown. A third of Boston households do not own a car. Buell and his wife live in East Boston, which is separated by the rest of the city due to the harbor, so biking to work is not a viable alternative. Now because of public health concerns, Buell cannot bear the idea of riding transit. He and his wife have decided to purchase a car to take control of their transportation options.
According to a CarGuru Survey from June, 22 percent of respondents claim they plan to purchase or have already purchased a car even though that had not been their plan before the pandemic.
The San Francisco Chronicle wrote this headline recently: The Pandemic Crushed vehicle Sales in the Bay Area. Then People Flocked to ‘COVID Cars.’ Immunology researcher Jeanmarie Gonzalez used to commute from Oakland to San Francisco. She recently bought a used car for her commute and said, “I’d rather drive than be on public transit multiple hours a day.” Gonzalez added that buying a car was a tough call, “I couldn’t afford a hybrid, and I didn’t have a place to plug in an electric car, so my options were limited. I prioritize human health in general over environmental issues, even though the environment is very important to me.”
In New York City, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles reported that in July, residents registered nearly 40,000 cars—the highest amount recorded for any month in recent years. Many anti-car advocates have been claiming that NYC would see a coming “Carmageddon.” Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents in a recent news conference not to buy a car, “Cars are the past.” Streetsblog and other anti-car advocates are urging city officials to use the crisis as an opportunity to push for more open streets, road diets, bus and bike lanes.
But these other mobility-as-a-service options are not fail-proof. In late July, Revel Scooters pulled the plug on its service in NYC after two user deaths, including that of local TV reporter Nina Kapur. Micromobility devices can sometimes be dangerous due to the inexperience of users, inadequate protective gear, and lack of attention by other road users. In the end, microtransit also costs too much per user.
Ironically, even one of the most ardent anti-car advocates, Brooklyn, New York resident Doug Gordon says he and his family are thinking of purchasing a car to escape the city. He is one of the hosts of the podcast called War on Cars. (Imagine that!)
Transit and micromobility do not seem to have long-term transportation resiliency or adequate safety records. On the other hand, will everyday commuters be able to come to grips with even more traffic congestion?
–Join the NMA for more up-to-date reports, Images from Sam Burns
Personal transportation rules. We just need an improved infrastructure for a growing population. A brother in Sturgis said that infrastructure projects will be a major boom to the economy in the very near future. Hang on!–Bandit
1959 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER
By Bandit |
DETAILS
When Harley Davidson began producing the Sportster in 1957 it became an instant legend, and it has been produced continuously since. The heart of the beast is the 45 degree V-Twin overhead valve engine which evolved from its predecessor, the side valve flathead. Popular in its day, to say the least, it has become one of the most collectible of the post-war Harleys. This flawless example was restored by recognized Harley Zen Master Chris Pratt. Every minute detail of the restoration has been documented with photos and receipts. Essential to a collectible bike’s value, is that every part on the bike is original, and on this gem nothing was missing when the restoration began, and nothing has been replaced. There are only break in miles on the bike since restoration, so it is as flawless today as when it left Mr. Pratt’s shop last year. The cost of sourcing a good original Sportster and restoring it to this level would conservatively be double this sale price.
Price is firm at $35,000.
deGARMO LTD.
Specializing in Exceptional Vintage Sports Cars
RIDE TO STURGIS 2020
By Bikernet Contributor Rogue |
The day before I was scheduled to leave my radio died, a check confirmed it was the radio and not anything else, like a blown fuse or loose wire. Well, I had a new helmet from Harley I was trying and I was able to hear music from my phone with it, so no big deal. I will write a separate article on the helmet when the dust settles.
I got an early start on Friday, August 1, because this year I planned to stop and visit my niece in North Carolina. The ride went well and as the day went on the temperature continued to rise. I did plan on that and had my Harley Cooling vest with me and did need to use it. When I am riding by myself I don’t mess around. I stop for gas and unless I have to use the men’s room I gas and go. This helps to make excellent time getting to my next stop. Something you can never plan on is traffic jams, because of construction or wrecks on the interstates, and I did hit a couple of them but still arrived in time for us to go to supper and enjoy some conversation.
Got a reasonable start Saturday morning, because my next stop was Gettysburg, PA, where I was to meet my friend and riding partner Beat-on who was coming in from New Jersey. I no sooner got into PA and my oil pressure gauge started doing crazy stuff. I was in bumper to bumper traffic and all kinds of things were going through my mind. I was finally able to get off the highway, and through a process felt it was the gauge or sending unit and not anything more serious, so I made it to the hotel, where I was meeting Beat-on.
Still concerned I wanted to make sure it was not something more serious, I realized my friend Dan Fitzmaurice shop Zippers Performance was not that far away.
A phone call to him had me meet him at the shop early Monday and Justin installed a hose and gauge which confirmed I did in fact have good oil pressure. Better safe than sorry.
We made it to sister Cat’s and Cowboy’s house in Wisconsin for a much-needed R&R. Times with friends and their hospitality on these trips makes a world of difference. I also got to try out a new crossbow.
While there I took the opportunity to check out the fuel gauge situation which told me I would need a new part in the tank. Not something looking to do on the road.
First, we stopped at Klock Werks to see our good friends there. Good thing we did as we were parking, I noticed oil leaking from Beat-on’s bike. It turned out to be an oil line. Got it in the shop and Todd got on it right away. Concerned about getting it fixed Brian Klock the owner said not to worry, we will get it fixed or take the bike and Beat-on to Black Hills H-D the next day. Well, Todd did his thing and not a drop the rest of the trip.
Got my oil pressure switch and wire connector fixed at Black Hills H-D but they did not have the fuel gauge parts in stock but did confirm what I thought was wrong so would just pay attention to gas and mileage the rest of the trip.
Made it to my friend Kathy’s house in Nemo and got settled in, while Beat-on did the same at the Guest Ranch.
Okay, even with planning and trying to cover everything, sometimes things just do not work out as planned. But I think this is way more interesting than I got on my motorcycle, met Beat-on and we rode to Sturgis…
Race of Gentlemen Gallery
By Wayfarer |
The Greatest Show on Earth
By Jack McIntyre
The inaugural Race of Gentlemen was held in 2012 on the beach in Asbury Park, NJ, just days before Hurricane Sandy made landfall. New Jersey has a storied tradition of beach racing, including an epic 1-mile beach race in Cape May during the summer of 1905.
The exhibition featured the likes of Henry Ford, Louis Chevrolet and speed record holder Walter Christie. At the time, the Cape May beach was deemed the “finest racing beach” in the world.
The Race of Gentlemen has since moved from Asbury Park to Wildwood—a stone’s throw from Cape May—for its flatter, wider beaches and legendary boardwalk. Enthusiasts now attend from all over the country to run their machines down a 1/8-mile straightaway in front of thousands of spectators.
The event continues to grow and garner international recognition, while laying the groundwork for additional exhibitions and races around the country.