Gabriel rode hard, fought hard and searched his soul year after year after he found himself in the Chopper homeland of Sturgis, South Dakota. He ultimately discovered a spot of land in Boulder Canyon, containing a modest cabin and a heated shop space to die for, but a double shot of Jack on the rocks at the Oasis lounge in downtown became his solace from his haunting blues. He leaned on the bar, all 6’3” and 220 pounds with a massive full head of hair and a full beard. Whispering to the bartender, a worn out blonde who got dumped during the rally five years ago, he yearned for female companionship. He drank almost every evening and watched the holidays roll into town. Gabriel recently started smoking cigars. He ate steak tips and French fries from the Loud American club down the empty street. Something clawed at him like a bad dream, a scolding mother or the fight, when he nearly killed a man in a blind rage. He felt like a soldier missing an arm. “What’s eating at you,” Shirley said and knew when to pour him another drink. “I don’t know,” Gabriel said. “I can’t figure it out.” “Was it a girl?” Shirley muttered making change. “It usually is.” “There’s been a few,” Gabriel said and took a swig of the Jack before the ice fully melted. “There was one.” His voice drifted off. “What happened?” Shirley wasn’t half-bad looking as she shifted her large boobs under her taught bra straps and her succulent cleavage jiggled, but Gabriel wasn’t having any of this local broad. His soul searched but he didn’t understand the rule. “She was the best,” Gabriel stumbled as if he tripped over a bottle of whiskey. “I couldn’t settle down, I had to ride.” “Where?” Shirley asked but wasn’t waiting for an answer. A young cowboy pushed in the front door and made for the bar with a bag of sliced sausages churned with spices and peppers from a recently cleaned deer. Gabriel looked at the Christmas lights flickering through the half empty tumbler of Jack Daniels. He looked up as Shirley’s mini-skirt bouncing down the rubber pads that insulated the concrete deck from her synthetic work flats. She still looked cute and her butt bubbled to the rhythm of the country song drifting from the flashy jute box, “Just give me a girl…” the singer said over and over. Gabriel gathered up his gear and stepped out of the swinging doors into the Sturgis night. He looked up and down the empty fall street and made his way to the only friend he had, his rusting Softail with upsweeps and high-bars. Christmas cheer began to lighten the street with glistening ornaments and shimmering garlands. Shortly before Thanksgiving, the weather was still dry and reached 60 degrees during the day. He wasn’t taking care of personal business and his bike looked grubby and grimy. He worked in gold mine above Lead, and his pad was 3/4s the way up Boulder Canyon, but still held a Sturgis address. He turned off off Eddy Lane near where the famous photographer lived, Buck Lovell, before he took his life in Deadwood. His home was a biker’s nirvana, warm, on a couple of acres in the Jack Pine strewn forest with a view of the rolling Black Hills around it. His shop, although beautifully insulated and drywalled with windows to the forest was unkept, held just a few active tools and an FXR manual. He also had a J&P catalog and a small work bench with one vice, still not bolted down. All his remaining tools and equipment were sequestered in crates and boxes. The unused shop was a biker’s dream, but no projects promised action on lifts even after three years. The bastards turned off daylight savings time and darkness swept the canyon way too early. He crawled into bed with his socks on and fell asleep thinking about his conversation with Shirley and the girl who got away. She wasn’t the hottest broad on the block, but she worked with him, supported him and stood by him. His depressed pattern started again the next morning when he awoke, made strong coffee and stumbled into the shower. He wound his way up to Lead where he operated an excavator linked to a massive drill bit and dug from 8 to 5, with an hour for lunch and usually an El Pollo burrito and a Coke. He checked out the cute Hispanic girl behind the counter with long flowing hair and dark mascara made up eyes. She wore a tight skirt cupping the ass he would like to grasp with his dirty hands. She winked at him and he pulled on his long full beard and wondered what she saw in his dusty overalls and flannels. He piled rock until the angle of repose took over and started another pile. An engineer guided his mindless operation as he grabbed a rubber grip coated lever and started to drill another hole. Vibration and noise surrounded him. At 5:00 he made his way to his Harley and started to think about the snowfall coming. He would need another way to get to work. By 5:30 he was slouched over the Oasis bar on his favorite rickety stool. Shirley rushed to his spot on the horseshoe bar. “The usual?” She asked. Her smile bright and glistening. Her fingernails adorned with a copper metalflake coating glistened and sparkled as Christmas lights came to life. The soft rouge on her cheeks would warm any new customer. “Yep,” Gabriel said. “Jack on the rocks.” As she walked away her mini-skirt revealed freshly shaved legs. The enhanced softness, the curves of her calves and the alluring motion of her thighs made him want to break his rule. She returned with his tumbler briming; the amber shared only with the correct number of ice cubes. He took a sip and immediately felt pain relief. “How are you feeling today?” Shirley asked concerned. “It just doesn’t go away,” Gabriel said and lit a cigar, the brown tint pushing into his mustache. “It will,” Shirley muttered and dashed off to another customer. She really wasn’t interested. She’d heard it all before. Downtown Sturgis felt the Holiday spirit with the Harley-Davidson block fully adorned with crimson and sparkling white decorations. Gabriel wasn’t feeling it, when in walked a semi-tall broad wearing a business suit. Gabriel’s compressed-leather upholstered barstool positioned him, so he could see the entrance on main and the entrance to the side street, Harley Avenue. He faced the side street but couldn’t mistake the woman in the warm red overcoat with a mink collar. Her high-lighted brunette locks bounced perfectly on her shoulders. She immediately opened her coat to reveal soft white cleavage framed with a matching set of pearls perfectly enhanced with her dainty pearl and diamond earrings. Like a Ferrari rolling into a biker bar parking lot, she appeared like a bastion of wealth and sex from her high-heals, the amber stockings, her perfectly contoured body, the brass buttons glimmering against her vest and the satin white unbuttoned blouse. She threw open the overcoat and removed her cashmere scarf. Her brown eyes scanned the bar and suddenly contacted Gabriel. In the flash of a camera, he sat up straight, pulled at his dusty beard and yanked his long thick hair into a pony tail and tied it off. With each carefully placed female step, his muscles twitched, the dust disappeared from his work boots and his buckle shinned for the first time in months. She moved around him and looked at the leather pad on the adjacent wooden barstool. “May I?” She asked her voice as soft as an Al Green song. “Of course,” he stammered. Gabriel stood briskly and helped her remove her overcoat. He hung it on a brass hook on the massive wooden pole at the corner of the bar. She smiled and moved over the barstool as if it was her golden thrown, her face as warm as a glowing candle. Thin and angular, shapely with her torso enhanced with magic boobs she sat. Shirley approached glistening. Even she blushed slightly as she asked. “What can I get you?” “Make it an old fashion,” she said and turned to Gabriel as if they were old friends. She smiled and said, “Can I get you anything?” That’s when it happened. He looked into her soft brown eyes as she slipped a delicate hand over his thigh. Her eyebrows, perfectly tattooed, eyelashes enhanced, lips Botox augmented, luring, sparkling red lipstick aligned with those lips didn’t mean a fucking thing. She had her hand on his thigh. Gabriel tingled everywhere. His heart pounded and he began to melt. He managed to sputter. “What’s your name?” “Bethany,” she said, took a sip of her drink and licked her luscious lips. Then in walked two big road workers wearing their flourscent vests splattered with asphalt tar. They joked and hollered to Shirley for beers. The taller one turned toward the bar and froze. Bethany’s sleek palm left Gabriel’s thigh abruptly. She stood, took a deep slug of her Old fashion and snatched her overcoat off the hook. The big man sneered at her but didn’t say a word. Suddenly, Bethany foamed at the mouth in a psychotic rage and smeared her lipstick with the back of her hand. Gabriel stood, not knowing what to do or whom to do it to, but he suddenly understood the transformation he encountered and the thin veil of her allure. Bethany stormed out the door. “Motherfucker,” was all she said and disappeared. The big man sat at the left corner and took a swallow of his beer and sighed. “She nearly destroyed my business and my family. I’m Fred,” he said and reached out for a friendly shake. His partner rolled his eyes. “He’s right, she’s trouble.” “She’s the hottest thing I ever had in bed, but then I knew my family came first,” Fred said and rubbed the stubble on his chin. “In fact, I need to finish this beer and head home. You’re lucky I came in.” “Thanks, I think,” Gabriel said and took a slug of his glass of Jack. “Do you have a family?” Fred asked. “My kids are more important than any roll in the hay.” “No,” Gabriel said. “Well, I did have a supportive old lady who had two sons, but I didn’t stay.” “Have you ever reached out?” Fred asked. “We all make mistakes.” “I should have,” Gabriel said. “It’s been a while.” “It’s never too late,” Fred said. “All the make-up and cologne in the world can’t hold a candle to the kids. We miss that too often. It’s all a rouse and cover-up for what lies beneath the big boobs and died hair.” Fred and his partner finished their beers and hit the road home. Shirley returned to Gabriel. “Ready for another?” “Not tonight,” Gabriel said reaching for his keys. “He was right. I need to make a call.” Before he reached his bike the phone rang in Montana. “Hello,” Laurie said her voice as soft as floating clouds in the afternoon. “Baby, it’s Gabriel,” He said. “I hope like hell you’re okay?” There was a long hesitation and Gabriel weighed his options. “I made the worst mistake of my life, leaving you and your sons,” Gabriel stammered. If Gabriel could see her soft face, he would have seen the big tear form and roll down her soft cheek. “Could we, would we have a shot again,” Gabriel stumbled. “Who’s that on the phone,” a rough voice jarred the mood. “Please,” was the only word she said and the line went dead. For the first time in years, Gabriel stood upright straight and narrow. He looked at the dark sky, but the brilliant flickering stars reached out to him for action. He refueled at the edge of town and rode to his house like his pants were on fire. He showered and suited up for a long ride from Sturgis to Billings, Montana. He’d find her. He hit the road out of Boulder Canyon and down the winding 85 to interstate 90 heading due West into Wyoming and Gillett his first gas stop. His FXR felt like a happy horse bolting somewhere meaningful. The mag wheels and tires warmed the cold pavement at 80 mph for the 347 mile run. He gassed up, but the low temps jarred his bones. The truck stop had little to offer except Christmas decorations and Santa shit. He bought a red and white felt outfit, stuffed it with newspapers and hit the road. He rode hard for another 100 or so miles through Buffalo and into Sheridan, where he stopped for gas, rags and polish. He paused for 20 and detailed his motorcycle for the first time in years. He found a fluffy Santa hat, which he stuffed inside his gear and kept rolling. He remembered her smile, how hard she worked as a bookkeeper and her love for her two young men. As he entered Hardin Montana his phone pinged with her address and one word, “Hurry.” He googled the directions, gassed up and hit the road. He pondered the wicked bitch who lured him away and what Laurie said as she let him go. “My boys come first.” That was just three years ago, and the bimbo was gone in a month. He continued to roam but never understood what he needed until now. Until Fred’s words struck home, he didn’t realize the true code of the west: The kid’s come first. He pushed into the outskirts of Billings and found Paradise Mobil Home Park, a 30-year-old dilapidated home park full of drunks, dealers and the destitute. He slipped behind the tilting home beneath the flickering, half-lit, neon sign with a rusting Office sign above the door. He donned his full-on Santa gear and rolled down the lane looking for number 13. As he approached a beer bottle broke a side window and a man’s voice hollered. “I hate your kids.” Gabriel grabbed an aluminum baseball bat from the tall weeds and knocked on the door. “What the fuck,” the fat bastard shouted in a drunken slur as he yanked open the door. Santa stood in front of him at the bottom of the narrow metal steps wearing shades and holding an old, tarnished baseball bat. “Merry Christmas, motherfucker,” Gabriel said, stepped forward and drove the bat into the man’s gut, yanked it back and drove it under his jaw. He stormed up the steps, grabbed the man by the hair and pulled him out of the motorhome and into the dirt at the bottom of the steps. The drunk scramble to his feet, grabbed a steel tubing lawn chair and smacked Gabriel. He wasn’t finished yet. Equal in height, Gabriel staggered back. He had a gym in his log cabin basement, but it only gathered dust. Gabriel lost his bat in the weeds as the over-weight drunk charged, tackling him. Fists flying Gabriel blocked most and rolled over onto the gasping man. They rolled again and jumped to their feet. He was over-weight and had 30 pounds on Gabriel. He reached behind his waist and out came a long bowie knife. He grinned and lashed out. The treacherous blade slit the white fluffy collar beneath Gabiel’s chin. Gab stepped back to assess his options and pushed his disheveled Santa hat back in place, when one of Kate’s sons reached out with the bat. Gabriel grabbed it, side-stepped the knife and finished fatboy’s jaw. He jumped down and snatched the long bowie-knife and handed it to the kid. “Your first Christmas present.” Laurie ran down the steps and into Gabriel’s arms. Nick and Ron, her son’s came to his side. Gabriel kissed Laurie deeply and turned to her boys. “It’s Christmas time, goddammit,” Gabriel said. “We’ve got shit to do. Load up. Let’s hit the road.” They didn’t hesitate. In short moments the boys and Laurie loaded her SUV, while Gabriel kept an eye on the ex in the weeds, nursing a broken jaw. Gabriel decorated the rails above the car with red and chromed garlands. “Who’s going to ride with me,” he said as the oldest son climbed into the SUV with his mom and Ron, the younger one headed for the FXR. “Let’s ride to your Christmas present,” Gabriel. “It’s been waiting for you guys. I knew I bought that place for a reason…” Images by Wayfarer

Hey,

I want to wish everyone the best Thanksgiving ever. We are actually living in the best of times. This next year could be the most comfortable and rewarding for the human race in the history of mankind.

What the hell does that say for bikers? We are capable of riding all over the globe, almost. We can build any motorcycle from something technologically advanced to a 1913 Board-track racer. We can build and restore Panheads and Knuckleheads forever and keep them alive.

We can build any chopper we can dream up with stock replacement frames,

Paughco springers, you name it, it’s possible. We can build and tool up any shop and teach our kids how to build, weld, machine, you name it.

Hell, there’s more whiskey choices than ever before. The Buffalo Chip has Whiskey, Jesse James has whiskey and so does Mike Ballard at the Full Throttle Saloon.

So, have a great time, rejoice, and next year, let’s kick some ass.

Let’s hit the news.

Hang on for the holidays.

–Bandit

Click here to read this week’s news only on Bikernet.com

* * * *

We bring the motorcycling community together. Join us. Subscribe today! Click for options.

You can’t beat this ! So, Join us!

https://5-ballgarage.com/

5-BALL INDUSTRIES GIVES INTO BLACK FRIDAY PROMOS–

Okay, every business across the globe is pushing Black Friday Deals. We give in. If you buy anything from the 5-Ball Garage.com I will throw in a signed book. If you buy a book I will toss in another and sign both of them.

There you have it, the 5-Ball Garage Black Friday sale.

–Bandit

This Friday & Saturday!!

NOVEMBER 24 – 25

DON’T MISS THE GRANDADDY OF ALL CHAMPIONSHIP MIDGET AUTO RACES

GET TICKETS — CLICK HERE

The 82nd Turkey Night Grand Prix

At The Best Little Dirt Track in America!!

FRIDAY & SATURDAY
November 24 – November 25
Gates at 3pm / Racing at 5pm

Ventura Raceway
10 West Harbor Boulevard Ventura, CA 93001
Just steps from the surf and Ventura Country Fairgrounds
right off the 101 Freeway!!

Purchase Tickets in Advance!
$24 – 45
Gates open at 3pm
Racing begins at 5pm on Friday
and the Grand Prix is on Saturday

GET TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE
Or Call Ventura Raceway 805-648-7223 or 805-443-4694

THE TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX IS THE GREATEST TRADITION IN MIDGET RACING, DATING BACK TO ITS INAUGURAL EVENT WON BY BOB SWANSON IN 1934. J.C. AGAJANIAN AND HIS FAMILY HAVE CONTINUED TO PROMOTE THIS WINTER CLASSIC FOR 68 YEARS.

WINNERS OF THIS GRAND EVENT INCLUDE SUCH NAMES AS PARNELLI JONES, A.J. FOYT, TONY STEWART, KYLE LARSON, GARY AND TONY BETTENHAUSEN, BILLY VUVOVICH, JOHNNIE PARSONS, CHRISTOPHER BELL AND THE LIST GOES ON….
**PLUS THE BIG HORSEPOWER USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CARS WITH OVER FIFTY DRIVERS**

* * * *

Tell ’em Bikernet.com sent ya

100 word fiction contest continues…. #100WFC

Shop before you drop
by Rhys
with illustration by Wayfarer

Woke up to a bright sunny warm fall day in New England. Thought it would be fun to ride west into the Berkshires to visit a friend at college a few hours away. Off I went cruising on my old Triumph and enjoying things when in a matter of a mile or two temps dipped way down. Minus gloves and wearing a jean jacket the cold just ripped through me. Stopped for gas and scored some work gloves to cut the wind and bought several newspapers and stuffed my jacket and down my crotch. I finally reached my destination and it took a while to shed the chill.

Note to self: Gloves, leather and scarf on next trip.

* * *

Suit up at 5-Ball Racing Leathers. https://5-ballgarage.com/

Know past winners and read all entries ever published by visiting:
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/100_Word_Fiction_Contest.aspx

All you gotta do is subscribe to Bikernet’s free weekly newsletter and send in your entry to wayfarer@bikernet.com

Honda CB350 launched at ₹2,00,000, will take on Royal Enfield 350. This is an even better retro-styled motorcycle from Honda than their previous 350 efforts in India and offers a lot of modern features that Enfield never has– at a price that can win customers over to their stable.

Those who want an Enfield will listen to no reason nor rhyme to change their mind about their purchase.

While it is primarily aimed at dethroning the King –Royal Enfield Classic 350 in sales pie-charts, it seems by co-incidence it will compete effectively with customers divided between Hero-made Harley-Davidson 440 and Bajaj-made Triumph Speed 400.

Meanwhile, Enfield is sending Meteor to USA (well the motorcycle model, relax!) and Honda H’ness 350 which was first designed and launched in India was soon released in Japan as well. So will America see a Honda 350.

It would be interesting if Honda and Kawasaki (Z650RS) brought the retro-styled motorcycles they presented in India to USA– because surely Harley-Davidson and Triumph won’t be bringing their 440cc and 400cc bikes over to ruin their American Dream of selling big bikes.

Clearly, sales volumes in India, a more dynamic and responsive market than China, seems to tempt brands to change their strategies in their primary / major markets as well.

All said, Honda still has a ‘big’ drawback with its sales and servicing of mid-weight bikes. Only Honda Big Wing brand of authorised dealers can sell and service these 350cc motorcycles apart from their other big engine bikes such as Fireblade, Africa Twin or Goldwing. This is silly because a 350cc engine is a common sight in all cities in India–thanks to Royal Enfield’s success at marketing and branding them.

So, unless Honda leverages its vast number of dealers who sell 100cc to 150cc commuter motorcycles and scooters, I don’t see a large dip in sales of Enfield Classic anytime soon. Ever since it was launched Royal Enfield Classic 350 has been the highest selling model not just in Enfield’s range but also in the industry segment it created, namely, middle-weight motorcycles.

* * * *

Get There Faster, Click & Get the Bikernet.com Free Weekly Newsletter

Royal Enfield presented its first ever electric vehicle design concept at the EICMA 2023 in Milan, Italy. This is a new phase in the history of an iconic 122-years old company. Royal Enfield Electric Himalayan Testbed debut represents the company’s commitment to a sustainable adventure and exploration.

Royal Enfield has re-invented and re-imagined its motorcycles and branding well-enough in the past and now with a vision of an electric tourer it is heading boldly into an unknown future.

“This motorcycle is only just a part of a much bigger sustainable ecosystem of exploration and adventure that we are working on in the Himalayas. From green charging pit-stops, to our responsible travel initiative, from creating self-sustaining communities to collaboration with UNESCO to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of the Himalayan region, there are a lot of initiatives we are passionately driving” says B Govindarajan, CEO of Royal Enfield.

Although the price is unknown, it is speculated that the EV version of Himalayan will cost twice as much as the top-end variation of their most-expensive model– seemingly making it unreachable to the masses, just like it’s namesake mountain range peaks.

* * * *

Stay updated, stay ahead of the curve…with Bikernet Free Weekly Newsletter, click to get going!

15% Off Site Wide

→ No discount code needed

→ Order early before stock runs out

→ Early access for email subscribers

See Collections at https://choppersmagazine.com/collections

* * *

Tell ’em Bikernet.com sent ya!

Hey,
We want the games to play next year. We want to ride our motorcycles to the Sturgis Rally in 2024 and watch Jelly Roll at the Buffalo Chip, and we want Ma to make a Thanksgiving turkey in her gas oven again. Next year we want the truth and will demand integrity from the government or die trying. Let’s hit the news.

Ride fast and free forever!

–Bandit

Click here to read this week’s news only on Bikernet.com

* * * *

Hey,

Here’s an odd thing to ponder. We’re being attacked from every direction. Your cars, motorcycles and way of life are under assault. The government is enticing people to invade our country and incentivizing them to bring fentanyl to kill our kids (100,000 a year). They are tearing our cities down and saying it’s a good thing to defund the cops. I could go on, but there’s a major positive side to this holiday story.

First the truth is surfacing and hoorah, we can still attend major football games. They are happening almost daily. We can party and ride to major motorcycle events. The holidays are coming and there’s no stopping them. We are going to enjoy Thanksgiving with a turkey cooked to perfection in a gas oven. Christmas ornaments, many made from petroleum based products are glowing on tall counters and display racks in stores all over the country. We can still light a fire in our fireplace. Hell, India will continue to warm their homes as the country increases coal production by 60 percent over the next few years.

So, what’s all this say about the future? We want the games to play next year. We want to ride our motorcycles to the Sturgis Rally in 2024 and watch Jelly Roll at the Buffalo Chip, and we want Ma to make a Thanksgiving turkey in her gas oven again. Next year we want the truth and will demand integrity from the government or die trying. Let’s hit the news.

“Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.”
–Ronald Reagan

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.

REPAIR Act Passes First Hurdle in House Subcommittee–Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce passed H.R. 906, “Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act,” via voice vote.

The subcommittee markup included reviewing 16 pieces of legislation to improve product safety, secure supply chains, bring consumer transparency on hidden fees, and protect consumers’ right to repair their motor vehicles. The Energy & Commerce Committee will now consider the SEMA-supported REPAIR Act.

SEMA continues to advocate for the REPAIR Act to be amended in committee to expand the legislation to include our right to modify our motor vehicles.

–SEMA

4-SPEED HARLEY TRANSMISSION REBUILD—I haven’t been through an old 4-speed transmission in a long time but I’m digging in with the help of manuals and YouTube video, including this one from the Lowbrow team and Frank Kaisler, who I worked with for years R.I.P.

Transmission rebuild
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb9kMIYN-SY

Hang on for more reports.

–Bandit

PROJECT BIKE OF THE WEEK–Thrive is a brand founded in 2013 by five people who were born and raised in the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta.

They had been working together as a visual designer before they decided to manifest their idea into the customized motorcycle world.

The bike is known as the T 06 Kuzuri using a 2000 model XL 1200 engine.

–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™

BUSTED FOR LOUD PIPES IN INDIA–

Well for the first time in life I had to pay a fine for loud pipe. The thump and “noise” of the short bottle-neck silencer on the old Enfield Bullet is no longer acceptable in modern times.

I tried to explain to them, it is an old model cast iron engine with right-side gear shift but they put the throttle to maximum, held it like that and declared — it is too loud, unacceptable.

The traffic police will retain the silencer and they let me go with a INR.1,000 fine and warning. I will have to get a new silencer and ensure it is compliant with lawful decibel levels.

It was embarrassing to say the least, making me suffer it by the roadside in peak rush hour traffic, with grinning passerbys.

Wow– this old lady of a bike is really making me regret riding her.

–Embarrassed Rider

VENICE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE CLUB ACTION–

December 3rd, 2 Very Merry Moto Events!

FIRST – THE 10TH ANNUAL VVMC TOY DRIVE
Join us at Clutch Roadhouse @ 10AM for our daytime toy collection party! The event is free. All we ask is that you bring new, unwrapped toys for donation. We’ll be raffling off some fun prizes donated by Biltwell.

SECOND – 2-WHEEED TOY RUN
From Clutch, we’ll strap all the toys to our bikes. Departing from Clutch, we’ll take a short ride through the LA Westside, ending at the Venice Beach Boardwalk (next to Muscle Beach). We’ll join up with Santa, his helpers, and the LAPD Pacific Division.

DONATE
If you cannot attend the event, there is another way to give. You can Venmo your donation to @venice-vintage. 100% of the donations benefit the the LAPD Pacific Division Toy Drive.

Clutch
427 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Let’s Do It For The Kids!
Thank you all for your continued support!
See you there!
-VVMC

THOUGHTS FROM THE METALFLAKE TEMPLE–Today is a Gift, Don’t Waste It

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.” – Steve Jobs

In recent weeks, many friends and associates have transitioned from this life. Life is here to be lived today, as we have no idea what is going to happen next. Emerson wisely wrote, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Why not make today a great day?

As I age, I take more time to find things I am grateful for. I believe that when we are conscious of gratefulness, we enjoy life so much more. Every morning, I start my day by asking myself, “What was the best part of yesterday?” and then I write down five or more things that I am grateful for.

Some of the little gifts become incredibly precious. When I go on my walks and observe my surroundings, I am amazed by the artistry of nature. I feel blessed every time I receive a call from a friend or a family member. Just the fact that I woke up is a gift.

Today’s affirmation: As I begin the gift of today, I pause to set my course and choose the kind of day I am going to have. I take time to smell the roses, to find things to be grateful for. I never lose an opportunity to see something beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting. I make every moment count.

I refuse to give my power away to anyone or anything. I pause, I think, and I don’t react; I respond. I am not too busy to find reasons to smile and share a smile with everyone I meet. I let go of judgment and look for the good in everyone. I Pray for Peace. I see Spirit in All.

Today, I live life with gratitude in my heart. Today is good.

And so it is.

Namaste.

–Dr. Yale
Master
Yale Custom Motorcycles

“Lovely days don’t come to you; you should walk to them.” — Rumi

THIS CAUSED A MAJOR FREEDOM PROBLEM–

DETAILS OF THE WEEK—

–Sam Burns
Detail Freak
Bikernet.com™

LEGENDARY GIFTS: BE THE FAVORITE GIVER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON–

Gifts for Everyone on your List

This holiday season, surprise the special people in your life with gifts they will be excited to find under the tree. Whether it is custom bike parts, the latest riding gear, or their dream bike, make this year unforgettable with Harley-Davidson, there is something for everyone.

STOCKING STUFFERS

Stylish and comfortable, this essential 3-pack Sock Box Set features UltraDri™ moisture wicking material, cushioned soles, reinforced heel and toe and embedded arch support to reduce foot fatigue. For her, treat her hands to warmth on and off the bike with the Women’s Helm Leather Work Gloves. These gloves are built from a supple cut of goatskin leather with rider-friendly features like pre-curved fingers, padded palms and are touchscreen compatible. Or to cover all your bases with any rider, gift the ideal traveling companion, the All-in-One Folding Tool. This compact folding tool is equipped to perform the basic “on-the-road” service functions on most late-model Harley-Davidson® motorcycles.

TOP GIFTS FOR KIDS

Shower the new baby in your life with this unisex Creeper and Beanie. Or for someone with pedal power, you will be the favorite gifting this Fisher Price Harley-Davidson® Trike. Bigger kids will love the Hooded Sweatshirt that they will wear with pride.

TOP GIFTS FOR HIM & HER

Defined by the heritage and authenticity of Harley-Davidson, the unique and distinct lifestyle apparel lines offer a multitude of options to find the right fit for everyone on your list. Flannels and plaid shirts can keep them warm and toasty this holiday season while also adding flair for men and women. For those looking to give a more luxurious present, the Potomoc Leather Biker Jacket for women and men is the way to go.

TOP GIFTS FOR ANY MOTORCYCLE RIDER

A must-have travel companion, the Compact Air Compressor is an all-in-one pump that plugs into your bike’s battery charging harness and features a built-in 0-160psi pressure gauge and bright LED work light. A smart pair to that would be the Booster Portable Battery Pack. This lightweight, compact lithium powered battery pack is ready and waiting to jolt batteries back to life and is small enough to fit in a saddlebag or backpack. In the garage, give the gift of time with the HOG Blaster. This powerful dryer blows a stream of warm, dry, filtered air at 18,000 feet/minute, allowing drying time to be cut by up to 75 percent. Between rides the Premium Indoor Motorcycle Cover protects a bike from dust while its breathable luxuriously soft microfiber helps minimize corrosion during short- or long-term storage.

LEARN TO RIDE

There is always one person on your list who already has everything under the sun. Instead of stressing out to find the perfect tangible item this year, give an adventurous experience they will remember for years to come. The Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy New Rider Course is a unique option that will have the thrill seeker in your life learn the skills to ride with confidence in just one weekend. Offered at select Harley-Davidson® dealers across the U.S., the New Rider Course provides you with expert guidance from Harley-Davidson certified coaches. Send a digital gift card via email or ship a plastic card with flexible delivery options. It is a gift that keeps on giving—endless miles, adventures and memories.

Harley-Davidson is kicking off the holiday season by celebrating two of its favorite things — Black and Friday. A Pre-Black Friday sale is happening now, and starting Wednesday, Nov. 22, save up to 35 percent off and get a head start on all your wish lists with special Black Friday limited-time prices. Shop h-d.com/BlackFriday or in authorized dealerships. Then the deals continue with some of our most popular selections on sale during Cyber Monday and all during Cyber Week.

For more gift-giving inspiration, find the full guide online or in an authorized Harley-Davidson dealership near you.

CHIX at the Crossroads Opens Event Registrations–

Ride Applications Open Early!

November 15, 2023—Let’s get this show on the road! The Riveter Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America is now accepting applications for the Chix at the Crossroads event to be held June 15-June 28, 2024. Space on this ride is limited, so if you are excited about participating, and ready to sign up, please apply now! If you are one of the 50 women to secure a spot, the organizers will contact you with details by February 15, 2024.

The Chix at the Crossroads event blends the riders’ passion for motorcycles with a passion for music, which will be explored experientially throughout the entire route. And like our 2022 ride, Chix on 66, this event represents classic Americana, while offering a different perspective of our country’s heritage.

Chix at the Crossroads is a women’s motorcycle journey that begins in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, at the Wheels Through Time Museum, and covers approximately 1,200 miles through North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and ending in Memphis, Tennessee. Throughout the route, riders will be steeped in the history of American music, deepening our appreciation for the pioneering spirit of the early self-expressionists that span many musical genres.

To apply for the ride, go to www.riveterchapter.com and just click on the Chix at the Crossroads logo.

You must be a current member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA).

To join the AMCA and the Riveter Chapter, go to www.riveterchapter.com/membership. And we invite you to browse through the entire website which features a wealth of information about the event.

If you still need further information, contact Riveter Chapter President Karan Andrea at atomic@riveterchapter.com.

The Riveter Chapter is the first woman-focused chapter of the AMCA, with the mission of giving women motorcyclists an increased awareness of their own history, and an enhanced vision of their future in motorcycling.

www.riveterchapter.com/chixcrossroads
Facebook: @ChixVintageRiders
Instagram: @ChixVintageRiders

RECENT 100-WORD FICTION CONTEST WINNER REPLIES–

Thanks for selecting my 100 word count for best of the month again. Writing that helped me to accept that my wife of 39 years, 3 months, had succumbed to cancer after 2 years of fighting.

We were together as a couple from October 1982 (Married in June 1984) till September 30 2023. She tried making it till October but left 10 hours short of her goal.

The doctors said she only had 6 months when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2021. She went through the operations, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for two months and was told it had not stopped the cancer.

She agreed to go through an experimental treatment, she got the last spot that they were holding for he in the study. The treatment included immune therapy, low dose chemo, and drug infusion (at home, which I administered after being trained on it).

The treatment worked for a while, her hair even grew back and we were able to go on several vacations and closed on our dream farm, thinking the worst was over. But she got the news it had returned with a vengeance and spread to her liver and right lung (called and told me during Sturgis 2022 just after I left from meeting with Bandit at his new house).

She went through regular chemo again which seemed to hold it at bay until August this year, when the doctor said the cancer had spread rapidly. She went under Hospice care at home. We did all we could to keep her comfortable for the four weeks until she passed, at home surrounded by our four offspring and myself.

I held her hand and kept watch of her vital signs till there were none.

–Steven Sanner

NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL OF KLOCK–Ignite Your Journey with Vibrant Style!

The wait is over, the Kolor Flare™ Windshields for Indian Challenger and Pursuit riders are here! These windshields don’t just shield you from the elements; they’re your new refined style guide.

Kolor
A range of kolorful hues allowing riders to choose a windshield that matches or enhances the look of their bike.

Ice
A clear or translucent element with a fluorescent edge. This adds an eye-catching visual effect, especially in certain lighting conditions.

NEWS FROM THE MIC–November 15, 2023 – All Street-Legal Bikes Must Have ABS?

Institutes Want Mandatory On-Highway ABS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute want the U.S. government to mandate anti-lock brakes on all new on-highway motorcycles and have filed a second petition with federal regulators.

In a joint news release this week, the groups stated that the “benefits translate to all types of on-road motorcycles, from cruisers to supersport bikes,” while also writing that “No technology can prevent every crash or fatality, and even with a government mandate it will be years before every motorcycle on the road is equipped with ABS.”

The IIHS and HLDI also acknowledged that there would be challenges adopting ABS regulations.

“One possible concern is that ABS can worsen handling issues on gravel and other loose surfaces, but this weakness can be addressed in the rulemaking phase of regulation. An off switch could be allowed or required so that riders could disable ABS when riding on loose surfaces, for instance. An indicator light could also be required to remind riders to turn ABS back on when rejoining a paved roadway.”

–MIC

[page break]

NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT–
12 Days of Uhlness – Day 1

If you are new to our subscriber list, this is the fourth year for the insanely popular “12 Days of Uhlness”. Let’s kick the 2023 version off today! At the end of the 12 Days, two lucky winners will be chosen to win a David Uhl original oil painting and a very rare Fine Art print! A minimum purchase of $500 during this promotion is required to participate in the drawing.

Pieces offered this year include the gently used display pieces (from our traveling gallery), some of David’s earliest works, pieces that were on payment plans that fell through, consignment returns and originals you may never have seen before. They are all signed by David, numbered and will come with the appropriate Certificate of Authenticity.

For each of the next 12 days, you’ll see a different group of pieces which are being offered in a 24-hour flash sale. You will only have 24 hours to reserve your piece from the time that day’s email is sent out. And, only one of each is available in most cases, so you’ll want to act quickly.

Many of these are hard, if not impossible to find and most are offered at great prices!

Perhaps the best part of this promotion is that, with each $500 you spend, you will receive an entry into our drawing for the original and print. The more you spend, the more chances you have to win!

The drawing will be held after the 12 days and the lucky winners are responsible for shipping charges.

The Sample shown above:
“The Spirit of Daytona”

Consignment return

** 20 x 26.5 – normally $2,850 and Rare, this one is $1,550

Jean Becq, from France, is another motorcyclist as was his father before him.

–Sam Burns

GLOBAL UNREST– energy crisis may dampen Switch Mobility’s e-CV demand in EU

“With the global uncertainty, ongoing unrest and the energy crisis, there has been an impact on demand in the EU,” Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland, told ETAuto. He also said that while the Indian government has been pushing forward the green agenda, many European countries, especially the UK, have delayed the timeline of phasing out diesel.

Read more at:
https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/commercial-vehicle/global-unrest-energy-crisis-may-dampen-switch-mobilitys-e-cv-demand-in-eu/105115195

–Wayfarer
Investigator
International News Bureau
Bikernet.com™

 ZERO DEBATE—Roger Pielke and Dr. Koonin recently debated Zero mandates at the Steamboat Institute. I’m hanging on. –Bandit

This debate will be posted to our website in the next few days.

steamboatinstitute.org

Thank you for your interest,
–Event Team

THE BIKER MOVIE LIVES ON–Give the gift of The Biker Movie to your Favorite Biker Friends!

BIKER BLACK FRIDAY SALE!! Twenty percent off free shipping no tax all the way till January first!!! Buy two and get an extra FIVE dollars off!

–Pete Alva
www.theBikerMovie.com

BABE OF THE WEEK—Karin Noelle

–Sam Burns
Talent Scout
Bikernet.com™

HISTORY LESSON FROM COMPETITION DISTRIBUTING—

The first combustion engine motorcycle was invented in 1885 as an experimental consumer vehicle. As World War I broke out just three decades later, they were repurposed as core components of British, German, and American military fleets.

Seemingly overnight, armies went from needing more horses to needing more horsepower. In the eyes of generals, motorcycles were agile machines capable of handling rugged terrain, transporting injured soldiers, and running mounted artillery.

COALITION FILES NOTICE— of Intent to Sue Federal Agencies to Stop Whale-killing Virginia Wind Project

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Marine Fisheries Service have violated federal law by finding that the Virginia Offshore Wind project will not result in the destruction of the North Atlantic right whale as a species

The Heartland Institute and the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) announced today that they are filing with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) a 60 Day Notice of Intent to Sue letter for a violation of the Endangered Species Act. The violation is contained in a defective “biological opinion,” which authorizes the construction of the Virginia Offshore Wind Project (VOW).

The 60 Day Notice is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for parties who wish to commence litigation against BOEM for failure to provide adequate protection of the North Atlantic right whale and other endangered species. The North Atlantic right whale is listed as “critically endangered” by governments of both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. Numerous studies by federal and environmental organizations have found that only about 350 North Atlantic right whales remain in existence.

CFACT and The Heartland Institute assert that the Biological Opinion issued by the NMFS fails to consider the cumulative impact of the entire East Coast offshore wind program ordered by the Biden administration, and ignores the “best scientific information available” about the endangered population of the North Atlantic right whale. The biological opinion found that the VOW would not cause a single death of that species of whale over its 30-year projected lifetime — although it did acknowledge the wind project could result in Level B harassment. That level could, according to NMFS, result in indirect death, requiring the need for a “take” permit, which authorizes the “harassment” and potential killing of the North Atlantic right whale.

“We need to send a message to BOEM and NMFS that there will be legal consequences if they violate legal requirements for protection of the North Atlantic Right Whale,” said H. Sterling Burnett, Ph.D., director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at The Heartland Institute. “The Biden administration’s plan to industrialize the ocean along the East Coast must follow the law, and we will intervene, if necessary, to make sure that the North Atlantic right whale continues to exist as a species.”

“This letter officially puts BOEM on notice that CFACT is prepared to file suit in order to expose the agency’s clear violation of federal law in failing to protect the North Atlantic right whale,” said Craig Rucker, president of CFACT. “By refusing to consider the cumulative impact of the dozens of industrial offshore wind facilities, consisting of several thousand individual turbines planned for the East Coast, it adopted a piecemeal approach, which only considered each individual offshore wind project in isolation. This is clearly a ploy to artificially reduce the total impact of these projects on the North Atlantic Right Whale. This obvious violation of federal law was ignored by the oversight agencies but will not be tolerated by the courts.”

“BOEM has admitted that it produced noise control regulations for the North Atlantic right whale that were based on guesswork — not on the ‘best available science’ — as required by law,” said Collister Johnson, senior policy adviser for CFACT. “They have funded ongoing studies that will finally produce information necessary to determine the noise impacts of offshore wind factories on baleen whales, such as the North Atlantic right whale. The results will not be available until 2025, at the earliest. This is a further violation of federal law, in addition to ignoring the cumulative impacts.

“There is a reason why Dominion Energy’s stock price has declined by 50 percent over the past year,” Johnson added. “Investors know that Dominion’s wind project is a costly, risky gamble that has already driven most other East Coast wind developers to either renegotiate their utility contracts or abandon their projects altogether. If Dominion decided tomorrow to abandon this project, as it should, its stock price would improve dramatically, and a huge financial cloud hanging over its future would be removed.”

The 60-day notice letter instructs the federal government agencies to take corrective action to remedy the alleged violations. If no corrective action is taken, the signatories of the letter are allowed to seek relief through the courts. The most likely venue for this litigation would be the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The firm of Gatzke, Dillon and Ballance has filed the letter as counsel for the CFACT and The Heartland Institute. The firm is currently representing plaintiffs in ongoing litigation against BOEM and NMFS, who are opposing construction offshore wind projects in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.

Earlier this year, more than two dozen large dead whales washed up on the shores of New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, directly following 11 offshore sonar mapping activities conducted by wind developers. These “site characterization” studies use high-powered sonar pulses to determine the proper areas for placing the wind turbines. Sonar mapping has been found to interfere with the hearing capabilities of marine mammals. Environmental groups have successfully sued the Navy to restrict sonar mapping being conducted in the Pacific Ocean.

The 60-day notice adds to the risks faced by Dominion Energy as it attempts to build an offshore wind generation facility that would be the largest such project of its kind in the world. Siemens Energy, which has been designated by Dominion as the supplier of the huge 14MW turbines for the project, recently announced a write down of €2.4 billion for the 3rd quarter, leading to an annual loss of €4.5 Billion, due to costly mechanical failures in its new wind turbines. The company has said its turbine failures are a “quality issue” which “will take years to fix.”

Measured in megawatts, some 80 percent of the proposed East Coast wind projects have either been abandoned or are in the process of trying to renegotiate their power purchase agreements.

The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.

CFACT is a national non-profit organization founded in 1985 and based in Washington DC which believes that the power of markets and safe, proven technologies can offer humanity practical solutions to the world’s most pressing concerns.

–Charles Rotter
WUWT

DIRECT FROM THE GREASY CULTURE–Need a calendar for Xmas? Order now!

If you’re planning on giving a 2024 Greasy Kulture calendar this year as a gift and you’re outside the UK, we recommend you order now to ensure you receive yours before postal services get clogged up in December.

Calendars are A4-sized, opening out to A3 with a dropdown calendar section for each month of next year. And every month features a Greasy Kulture feature bike.

Half our stock has already sold, so don’t delay if you need one. Remember, last year we sold out in early December! They are shipping right now.

SONS OF SPEED RETURN— Join us Saturday March 2nd, 2024 at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach FL for the return of Vintage Outlaw Racing!

We have racers coming in from all over the country for this event. VIP and General Admission tickets are available now!

–Billy Lane

LEAD OPERA HOUSE FESTIVAL OF TREES--Join us for the 41st annual Festival of Trees! The Opera House will once again be filled with a variety of trees and wreaths decorated by local businesses and individuals. The silent auction will be filled with a variety of goods, certificates and more. Don’t miss out!

November 17 | 1-6pm Public Preview of Trees & Silent Auction Opens
November 18 | 4pm Doors Open
November 18 | 6pm Silent Auction closes & Live Auction starts

At the door fee is $10/person, kids 10 and under are free.

Date & Time
November 18, 2023 4:00 PM

Location
Homestake Opera House
313 W Main St., Lead, SD
605-584-2067

A Yates Shaft Yuletide

The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center and Sanford Underground Research Facility have made an incredible 4’x5′ wreath from wood from the Yates Shaft. The Yates Shaft is currently undergoing some construction to update and re-stabilize it. So the staff at the visitor center and lab took the opportunity to recycle the wood and make a wreath.

This wreath holds a lot of history in it as the Yates Shaft was built over 90 years ago! The Homestake Mine used the shaft to reach the different levels of the mine underground. Because of the hard labor of the miners and other builders, the Yates Shaft still stands today and is getting an uplift.

This item will be available at the live auction at the Festival of Trees on November 18. The event starts at 4pm with a $10 cover charge, kids 10 and under are free. Don’t miss out on this amazing piece of history with a holiday flare!

–Panhead John and the Commissioner

THE ORIGINAL SIN–The U.S. National Climate Assessment was Off Track from the Start

Over the past few days I have commented on X/Twitter about the just-released Fifth U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA). It is much more a glossy promotional brochure than anything resembling a careful assessment of the scientific literature on climate change and the United States. That’s a shame because scientific assessments are crucially important. Instead, the U.S. NCA pours fuel on the pathological politicization of climate science.

Among the issues I have highlighted:

Several reviewers asked the NCA to cite our various papers on extreme weather and U.S. losses. The NCA refused, in one instance claiming “this comment is inconsistent with the author team’s thorough assessment of the science” and in another, falsely claiming, “Pielke et al. only examined trends through 2005 and have not published an updated assessment since.” Someone should tell them about Google Scholar, where our most recent work is easy to find.

The report’s main chapter on climate trends was led by a scientist who works for Project Drawdown, a climate advocacy group. That chapter was also written by a scientist at The Nature Conservancy and the company Stripe, which makes money via carbon offsetting through carbon removal.

There is no need for these conflicts of interest to play such a prominent role in the report’s authorship, but they perhaps explain some of its errors.¹

The report leads with the “billion dollar disaster” meme popularized by NOAA. As Nature summarized the report: “Extreme weather events caused by global warming cost the country around US$150 billion in direct damages each year, says the climate report.” All U.S. extreme weather and its economic impacts can now apparently be attributed to global warming.

–ROGER PIELKE JR.

I could go on. See my X/Twitter feed for more.

https://twitter.com/RogerPielkeJr

NEWS FROM THE DICE MAGAZINE CREW–Herb Becker is an absolute LEGEND, so it was our pleasure to have him in Issue 101.

ANOTHER QUOTE OF THE WEEK—

“When someone is in your heart, they’re never truly gone. They can come back to you, even at unlikely times.” –Mitch Albom

Epoch Times

NEWS FROM THE BUFFALO CHIP COMMAND CENTER—Two more 2024 Bands Announced:

Travis Tritt
Sunday, Aug. 4, 2023

Aaron Lewis
Monday, Aug. 5, 2023

Jelly Roll
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2023

Another Headliner
ANNOUNCEMENT COMING
BLACK FRIDAY

(Friday, Nov. 24)

Don’t wait till then to reserve!

40% Off Pricing Ends Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. MST

IT’S ALL NUTS—But productive folks keep cranking along. While my bike is at paint with the TNT crew, Tim and Nicki, I dove into other projects.

Adrian approached me with a daunting task for one of his clients. We needed to frame a shop heater with train tracks. At first, he pointed at full sized tracks, massive, heavy and difficult to cut. I guided him to some small gauge track I scored in Sturgis and we went to work.

We just about killed my Makita cut-off saw.

Frankie sent me this tattoo sketch. I’m working on a new piece of fiction around the unknown Lovers’ Code. Hang on!

Toby sent me this shot of the Wilmington building. He’s hurting and ran a go-fund-me. We will bring you an update, when he sorts it out.

Ride fast and free forever!

–Bandit