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STRANGE DAY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS from September 14, 2023



Hey,

I’ve been an outspoken outlaw all my life.
More than once, I’ve quit a great job because I didn’t like the direction of the ship. I jumped ship into a paddleboat and made my way into the future.

Well, I’m still here and fighting the system for a better, respectful and free future.

Let’s hit the news. It’s going to be good.



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.







BIKERNET READER COMMENT—Question

There are a couple of gas stations that have started selling ethanol free fuel, yeah! However, it’s only 87 octane. I have a shovel and an Evo. Should I continue to use the crap gas or is the lower octane okay? What about an octane booster?

Thank you, Soda

“Here’s the deal as far as I know. Ethanol contains water, so if it comes in contact with metal, it will rust or in the case of brass build scum and block jets.

I would suggest running non-ethanol fuel. Sure, you can give your motor a shot of octane booster, or antique guys always use Marvel Mystery Oil.

Here’s a piece of a piece about the Ethanol Industry:


Ethanol: A Dumb Idea or A Crime — Or Both?

by Gregory Wrightstone

Expanded use of ethanol — enabled by President Biden’s lifting a summertime ban on fuels with a 15 percent blend — is a poor answer to high gasoline prices and a refusal to recognize the failures of the corn-based fuel additive. Reuters described the president’s action a win for the corn lobby, but all others appear to be losers.

Shortcomings of ethanol as an alternative to gasoline have been reported continually since at least 2007 when the U.S. government expanded its requirement that distributors blend ethanol with fuels to reduce dependence on foreign oil. The additive also has been touted as a way to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.

“There is a great danger for the right to food by the development of biofuels,” U.N. human rights advocate Jean Ziegler said at the time. “It (the price) will be paid perhaps by hundreds of thousands of people who will die from hunger,” A year later he called the diversion of food crops to fuel production a “crime against humanity.”








NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT–

We are at two shows this week – Ocean City Bikefest and Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest.

David has the gallery at Ozark Harley-Davidson and I’m at the convention center here in Ocean City, Maryland. If you’re attending either of these, please stop in and say hello! You’ll see his new Sturgis and 120th anniversary Harley pieces, among others.

Our production department continues to ship the many orders we had from Sturgis and we’ll let you know when yours is on the way.

Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest Commemorative

These Fine Art prints will come framed and will include a Certificate of Authenticity and a special commemorative nameplate. David Uhl will hand-sign and number each piece.

** Image size 18 x 24,$725 framed

** Image size 24 x 32, $1,450 framed

Thanks for your time and have a great day!

— Greg
David Uhl Fine Art
303-913-4840







BOB OF THE WEEK—Slab by Luck Motorcycles.



















–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™







MIKUNI CARBS FROM AMERICAN PRIME— Genuine Mikuni Parts, Carburetors & Kits

Now available at your Carburetor Super Supplier… APM!







MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION – MEETING OF THE MINDS 2023 – REAPING WHAT WE SOW

“You always reap what you sow; there is no shortcut.” – Stephen Covey

Thirty-nine years ago, at the first national gathering of motorcyclists’ rights activists in nearly ten years, we met searching for common ground. Metaphorically, the field was a cheap motel in St. Louis, Missouri, and we were not there to plant anything.

The MRF listens, makes a difference, and moves forward at the direction of members, SMRO and motorcycle club partners to protect the future of motorcycling. This year’s Meeting of the Minds features sixteen workshops and ten new presenters, plus a host of new topics added to the mix!

The success of this year’s Bikers Inside the Beltway was a result of what is taught at the Meeting of the Minds. Keeping our members and partner SMROs and motorcycle clubs informed and on point is what makes the Motorcycle Riders Foundation the nation’s leading motorcyclists’ rights advocacy group for on-street motorcyclists.

The Meeting of the Minds – September 21-24, Red Lion Hotel, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Call 717-939-7841 and mention Motorcycle Riders Foundation 2023 Meeting of the Minds

Thank you for your support of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. We look forward to seeing you in Harrisburg at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Minds.

Yours in Freedom,

–Fredric Harrell
MRF Director of Conferences & Events







CUBENSIS ROCKS–
 
Cubensis and the Grateful Dead Concert Experience “Celebrating 35 Years”

Now Booking 2024 Dates
1/12-14
2/2-4
2/9-11
2/23-25



The Los Angeles-based group has carried the torch in celebration of one of America’s most beloved touring bands. CUBENSIS brings the original, organic Grateful Dead concert experience back to life. Drawing from all eras of the Dead, the band performs improvised sets of Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band classics that retain all the spontaneous exploratory jamming for which the bands were renowned. However, the music produced is uniquely Cubensis.

Now celebrating their 35th anniversary, CUBENSIS has been privileged to be joined on stage by numerous rock superstars, including Chris Robinson and Marc Ford (Black Crowes), Warren Haynes (Phil & Friends, Allman Bros.), John Molo (Phil & Friends), and both Vince Welnick and Tom Constanten of the Grateful Dead, as well as Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band.





NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM CLOSES–

I would like to personally thank all of the customers who supported the National Motorcycle Museum over the 22 years. This is a bitter sweet end to the Museum. Thank you to the supporters who loaned motorcycles and memorabilia over the years for us to display.

Thank you to all of the Mecum customers who purchased motorcycles and memorabilia during the auction.

I hope that you all enjoy them with the same passion that John Parham had in his life. I especially need to thank all of the employees of the Museum, they put their heart and soul into the Museum along with me, especially these last few months.

It has been quite a ride! Just remember, Keep the World on Two Wheels forever!

Jill Parham,
Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Motorcycle Museum.





QUOTE OF THE WEEK–

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
 




ANOTHER GUN NUT REPORT

Liberty Safe, which describes itself as “America’s #1 heavy-duty home and gun safe manufacturer,” has come under fire after a report revealed that its parent company has donated almost half a million dollars to pro-gun control Democratic officials.

On Wednesday, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk shared FEC filings on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that show Liberty Safe’s parent company, Monomoy Capital Partners, has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats.

“I pulled the FEC reports on the company and found approximately $400,000 over the last 10 cycles of max donations to Democrats,” Kirk wrote.

–Carson Choate
Western Journal





SPORTSTER OF THE WEEK—Paul Coon











–Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™





THE BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT

California: Anti-Gun Bills Eligible for Floor Votes as the Legislature Enters the Final Two Weeks of Session

Friday was the deadline for the Appropriations Committees of both chambers to finish passing bills from the suspense file to make them eligible for the floor. Most anti-gun bills have advanced, with some amendments, making them eligible for floor votes at any time.

Additionally, last week, the Senate Public Safety Committee also passed Senate Joint Resolution 7, and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee passed Assembly Bill 135. These are also eligible for votes on the floor. It’s important that you contact your legislators and urge their opposition to the many anti-gun bills that could come up for a vote.

Please go to the NRA web site to take action

Eligible for the Senate floor:

Assembly Bill 28 places an excise tax of 11% on the sales price of all firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition. These taxes are to be collected from California retailers and placed in a newly created “gun violence” fund for appropriation by the state legislature. It is unjust to saddle law-abiding gun owners with special taxes. Such a measure makes it more expensive for law-abiding citizens to exercise a constitutional right and discourages them from practicing to be safe and proficient with their firearms for purposes such as self-defense, competition, and hunting.

Assembly Bill 574 requires gun owners, when filling out the Dealer Record of Sale, to affirm that they have checked and confirmed possession of every firearm they own or possess within the past 30 days. This requirement runs contrary to the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and is an additional burden for gun owners, especially those with firearms stored in multiple residences or in safe deposit boxes, that can make them ineligible to purchase another firearm until they visit all of those locations.



Assembly Bill 732 goes above and beyond federal law in its requirement for individuals to relinquish their firearms upon conviction of a prohibiting offense. In addition, it creates a verification and enforcement procedure that can potentially violate the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Assembly Bill 733 prohibits state and local government entities from selling off surplus firearms, ammunition, and body armor. This prevents them from being good stewards of taxpayer money and prevents the public from buying these taxpayer funded items, which are lawful to own.

Assembly Bill 1089 expands California’s ban on private citizens, and non-professional users, making firearms with CNC milling machines, or possessing CNC milling machines that have the “primary” or “intended” function of manufacturing firearms, to also include 3D printers. This is simply another scheme to harass law-abiding hobbyists by preventing them from using modern manufacturing techniques for otherwise lawful purposes.

Assembly Bill 1420 broadens the grounds for firearm dealer inspections and punitive measures for technical violations. In addition, it requires that prospective firearm purchasers and recipients list their email address on the DROS forms.

Assembly Bill 1587 requires that credit card issuers use specified Merchant Category Codes to designate firearm and ammunition retailers.

Senate Joint Resolution 7 calls for a constitutional convention to amend the U.S. Constitution, in order to spread California-style gun control schemes nationwide.

Assembly Bill 135 allows the Attorney General to unilaterally increase the fee to conduct ammunition eligibility checks. It repeals the language in existing law specifying that increases are not to exceed “the increase in the California Consumer Price Index.”



Eligible for the Assembly floor:

Senate Bill 2, among other things, creates new subjective criteria for the issuance of carry permits to allow authorities to arbitrarily deny applicants, restricts permit holders to carry only handguns registered to themselves, increases the requirements to apply for a permit, and increases “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless.

Senate Bill 241 mandates that licensed firearm dealers and their employees complete an annual training program that the Department of Justice is to create.

Senate Bill 368 mandates that licensed firearm dealers offer the service of storing firearms for safekeeping, prohibits firearm dealers from offering items in games of chance (such as by raffles), and expands prohibited persons categories for certain misdemeanor crimes.

Senate Bill 452, as amended, sets forth the process to prohibit non-microstamped semi-automatic pistols from being sold through licensed dealers if the Department of Justice determines the technology is viable and available by 2028. In addition, it also prohibits replacing a microstamping component on such a handgun, unless it is replaced with another “valid” microstamping component. In recent weeks, a federal court struck down the microstamping requirement, as well as other required features for handgun models to be placed on the California handgun roster. While the attorney general has appealed the decision, he did not appeal the microstamping requirement. To read more about California’s microstamping law, please check the NRA web site.?

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE these bills.





[page break]



WILD LAWS OF THE WEEK-

I don’t mean to shock anyone but the governor cunt idiot fuckhead of new mexico has declared gun ownership a health emergency. Now the previous health emergency that was not a health emergency shut the usa down for two years and counting. The medical profession – whatever the fuck that even is – is now the government.

Not to shock anyone. The press naturally has nothing to say about this latest proof that the constitution is basically a pile of papers stuck on a shelf somewhere.

–J.J. Solari

Read J.J.’s complete report on Bikernet: Click Here

And in California:
Your governor Gavin Newsom made it illegal to confront a shoplifter…





A NEW BIKERNET READER COMMENT—Mexican Run.
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Mexican_Run.aspx

I am glad you and the staff picked up on one of the original country music outlaws. I grew up listening to Marty Robbins. My Dad loved outlaw music, liked whiskey, loved shooting guns but hated long haired bikers.

I get three out of four. I am the biker he never liked. Marty had an influence in my writings and philosophy.

–Gearhead
SoCal



“Yep, R&B and Marty influenced me. I’ve been trying to relate being a biker to western stories in my fiction stories. Check out the Run to Mexico.”

–Bandit





THIS JUST IN FROM FRED KODLIN

TAKE YOUR BIKE FROM SAD TO RAD WITH THE NEW KODLIN 3-1 LICENSE PLATE KITS!

Now available:Curved Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kits

Clean up the rear of your bike by removing the clumsy stock light-bar on most Harley-Davidsion motorcycles. The Kodlin curved horizontal license plate kits blend in with the fender when the bike is parked and are extremely bright when you need them.



The Kodlin Elypse 3-1 license plate kits are available in black or chrome finish in 2 fitments:

– For all models with a standard “3-hole” mounting pattern

– For Harley Touring models (FLHX Street Glide MY13-23; FLHXS Street Glide Special MY14-23; FLHXSAN/X/V Street Glide Anv MY18,23; FLTRX Road Glide MY13,15-23; FLTRX Road Glide Special MY15-23; FLHRXS Road King Special MY17-23.) individual or as a great addition to Kodlin Sleek lights.



KUS20300 Curved Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit for HD Touring Models in Black $299.99

KUS20301 Curved Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit for HD Touring Models in Chrome $299.99

KUS20350 Curved 3-bolt mounted Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit in Black $249.99

KUS20351 Curved 3-bolt mounted Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit in Chrome $249.99

FEATURES INCLUDE:
Curved horizontal motorcycle license plate kit with
integrated Elypse 3-1 indicators with red run, amber turn
and red brake function,

The frame is a low profile aluminum construction with
very bright white LED’s
• Frame dimensions: 7-3/16” length x 4-1/4”width
• Mounting hardware is included.

The Kodlin Elypse 3-1 license plate kits are available in black or chrome finish in 2 fitments:

– For all models with a standard “3-hole” mounting pattern

– For Harley Touring models (FLHX Street Glide MY13-23; FLHXS Street Glide Special MY14-23; FLHXSAN/X/V Street Glide Anv MY18,23; FLTRX Road Glide MY13,15-23; FLTRX Road Glide Special MY15-23; FLHRXS Road King Special MY17-23.) individual or as a great addition to Kodlin Sleek lights.

KUS20300 Curved Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit for HD Touring Models in Black $299.99

KUS20301 Curved Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit for HD Touring Models in Chrome $299.99

KUS20350 Curved 3-bolt mounted Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit in Black $249.99

KUS20351 Curved 3-bolt mounted Elypse 3-1 LED License Plate Kit in Chrome $249.99







NEW FROM NASH MOTORCYCLES

Nash Motorcycle teamed up with longtime friend, John Shope, of Dirty Bird Concepts Custom Motorcycles to produce this one of a kind hammer, sculpted by John himself.



Made in stainless steel or bronze and measuring in at 14″ long, 6″ long by 1.5″ tall hammer head donning the DBC “dirty bird”, and weighting in at 2lbs. 100 % Made In The USA!



Pair with a Dirty Bird Concepts hammer hanger in brown or black leather with nickle or brass hardware.







TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS–

U.S. House of Representatives Schedules Vote on Bill to Stop California’s ICE Vehicle Ban

DON’T DELAY! Please contact lawmakers to request they vote for H.R. 1435:
The U.S. House of Representatives announced that it will vote in the coming days on the “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act” (H.R. 1435).

This SAN-supported bill seeks to preserve vehicle choice for consumers and prevent the federal government and the State of California from choosing only one form of technology (such as electric vehicles) over the many others to achieve their emission reduction goals.

The “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act” prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing a waiver to California for regulations that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with ICE in the state by 2035.

The bill is essential to stopping California’s plan to ban new ICE vehicles, which limits vehicle choice in states around the country. 17 states have followed all or part of California’s previous clean-car rules adopting similar proposals.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee passed H.R. 1435 in July by a margin of 26-22. The vote on the floor of the House will be close, which is why we need your help NOW! Please send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to vote in support of the “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act.”

–SEMA
 
HR 1435 Passed today 220-190 votes. All republicans voted for it with 8 democrats. Hooray. Let’s see what happens in the Senate. 
 
–Bandit 







EXCLUSIVE—Dennis Kirk is now the exclusive online retailer of the complete Bagger Nation collection and it is vast.

–Paul Yaffe
 
 





AUSTIN MARTIN MEETS BROUGH SUPERIOR

“The First Motorcycle in history with Aston Martin wings!”

“Only at Heroes Motors Los Angeles”

The very first Aston Martin motorcycle in history, the AMB 001 represents the union of iconic Aston Martin design and Brough Superior’s state-of-the-art engineering. This track-only motorbike is reserved for only the greatest luxury motorcycle connoisseurs. This first collaboration between the two legendary brands takes the form of a track-only motorcycle, produced in an exceptionally limited edition of 100 machines.



“Only 2 units of the AMB1 remain out of the 100 produced, and there are now available for sale at $118,500 at Heroes Motors Los Angeles!”

The Aston Martin AMB 001 is a technical masterpiece of high performance, designed with a degree of elegance that is rare in racing motorcycles. Beauty and power are the hallmarks of this exceptional machine. Superior in every way, the AMB 001 is hand-assembled by the finest French craftsmen in Brough Superior’s workshop in Toulouse, France.



An Incomparable Limited Edition: The AMB1 is more than just a motorcycle; it’s a mechanical work of art crafted with unparalleled precision. Every detail has been carefully designed to provide an extraordinary riding experience. With only 100 units in the world, this limited edition is one of the rarest and most coveted you can find.

An Investment in Exceptionalism: The AMB1 is more than just a motorcycle; it’s an investment in rarity, innovation, and excellence. Its value will only increase over time, making you a savvy collector and a privileged rider.

Contact us today to reserve one of the last two AMB1 motorcycles available, our dedicated team is ready to answer all your questions and guide you through the process of acquiring this piece of motorcycle history.

“Only 2 AMB1 remain out of the 100 produced, now for sale at $118,500 at Heroes Motors”

Heroes Motors USA
Brough Superior Official Dealer in California
3835 Cross Creek Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
Open Monday to Sunday – From 11 am to 6pm
contact@heroesmotors.com





FACTORY HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDER KYLE WYMAN WINS ON SATURDAY….

….AS HARLEY RACERS FILL THE KING OF THE BAGGERS PODIUM AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS–

Vance & Hines/Harley-Davidson racer James Rispoli wins on Sunday

Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Kyle Wyman won his sixth race of the season and Harley-Davidson riders claimed five of six podium positions in two MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers races last weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Travis County, Texas.

Wyman led Saturday’s race from start to finish aboard the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycle. On Sunday, Vance & Hines/Mission Foods rider James Rispoli won his second race of the season on the team’s Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle.



Wyman was the top qualifier for the weekend with a quickest lap of 2:15.621 on the challenging 3.4-mile, 20-turn Circuit of the Americas road course.

On Saturday, racers endured the challenge of temperatures topping 100 degrees at the start of the first 6-lap Mission King of the Baggers race. Wyman got a great start from the pole on his Factory Harley Road Glide bike and opened a 1.02-second lead after two laps, a gap that stretched to more than 2 seconds at the finish.

Hayden Gillim was second on a Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson, followed by his teammate Rispoli in third place as Harley racers filled the podium. Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Travis Wyman was fourth on the team’s second Road Glide motorcycle. The win moved Kyle Wyman two points ahead of Gillim for the series championship.

On Sunday, Kyle Wyman got caught in traffic at the start of King of the Baggers race two and was running in eighth place when he crashed in turn 13 following contact with another rider. Wyman was able to pick up his motorcycle and re-joined the race in last place, then battled back to finish in ninth place and earn valuable championship points.



Rispoli took the race lead on lap 4 and crossed the finish line 8.66 seconds ahead of his teammate Gillim. Travis Wyman was running in second place before crashing out on the last lap, promoting Gillim and Kyle Ohnsorg, who finished third on the Roland Sands Design Indian.

After 12 of 14 rounds in the 2023 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Vance & Hines’ Gillim leads the championship with 215 points, followed by his teammate Rispoli with 213 points, and Kyle Wyman in third place with 204 points. Travis Wyman is in eighth place with 86 points.

The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson Factory Team Road Glide motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.

The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory team returns to action Sept. 22-24 in the MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.

MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas 1
  • Kyle Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
  • Hayden Gillim (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission Foods/Harley-Davidson
  • James Rispoli (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission Foods/Harley-Davidson
  • Travis Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
  • Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) Roland Sands Design
  • Jake Lewis (H-D) Team Saddlemen
  • Max Flinders (Ind) M3/Revolution Performance
  • Hawk Mazzotta (Ind) Lloydz Garage
  • Frankie Garcia (H-D) Team Saddlemen
  • Patricia Fernandez-West (H-D) Team Saddlemen
  • DNF. Bobby Fong (Ind) Sacramento Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design

MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 2
  • James Rispoli (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission Foods/Harley-Davidson
  • Hayden Gillim (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission Foods/Harley-Davidson
  • Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) Roland Sands Design
  • Jeremy McWilliams (Ind) Progressive/Mission Foods
  • Jake Lewis (H-D) Team Saddlemen
  • Max Flinders (Ind) M3/Revolution Performance
  • Hawk Mazzotta (Ind) Lloydz Garage
  • Frankie Garcia (H-D) Team Saddlemen
  • Kyle Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
  • Travis Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
  • Patricia Fernandez-West (H-D) Team Saddlemen
  • Robert Johnson (H-D) Johnson Engine Technology
  • DNF. Bobby Fong (Ind) Sacramento Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands
  • DNF. Tyler O’Hara (Ind) Progressive/Mission Foods

Harley-Davidson invites you to enhance the 2023 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers season with some adrenaline pumping action. Check out, ‘Push the Limit,’ a film that shares the story of defending 2021 champion Kyle Wyman, teammate Travis Wyman and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle race team’s 2022 championship pursuit. Watch it now on Harley-Davidson’s YouTube channel.





[page break]



MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION MOVES FORWARD….
….WITH THE INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE AFTERMARKET COUNCIL–

Industry Veteran, Bob Kay, Leads Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Council
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has formed a council to review the challenges of independent motorcycle dealers and custom bike builders so they may be addressed by the MRF lobbyists in Washington, DC.

“We are pleased to have Bob Kay lead the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Council, stated Kirk ”Hardtail” Willard, Bob’s firsthand experience over 5 decades will be invaluable to focusing the efforts of our lobbyists.” The recent focus on internal combustion engines is threatening the future of independent motorcycle dealers and custom bike builders to provide alternative service centers as well as servicing older bikes and customization projects.

Bob Kay said, “I am extremely proud of the team we put together to focus lobbyists on our right repair and modify with the input we receive from the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Network.” The Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Council chaired by Bob Kay membership includes Keith Ball from Bikernet, Chris Callen from Cyclesource Magazine, Scott Hakins from S&S, Steve Broyles from Stevenson Cycles, John Jessup from Dream Rides, Jason Hallman from Cycle Stop USA and John O’Brien of Hardcore cycles.

Independent motorcycle dealers and custom bike builders wishing to join the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Network can contact Bob Kay at IMA19032023@gmail.com. Or go directly to the website at https://mrf.org/join/join-mrf-imac/

There is also a private Facebook group set up for discussion of these important topics at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2667411906733736/

And a public Instagram page dedicated to passing IMA news and events. https://www.instagram.com/i.m.a.network/

You can also support our lobbyists efforts by purchasing a Sustaining Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Annual Membership at https://mrf.org/join/join-mrf-imac/

Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Council Goals–

Right to Repair – You or the repair shop of your choice should have access to the tools, parts, and technology you need. However, manufacturers want to restrict your ability to service, maintain and repair your bike.

Right to Modify – The ability to modify and customize your bike is a fight the MRF has won before. In the 1990’s the MRF defeated a proposal that would have limited modification to “color and chrome.” We continue to fight for consumers rights to modify products they buy how they see fit.

Renewable Fuels – The availability of fuel for use in motorcycles is under attack. The MRF fights for the universal availability of approved fuel blends, containing no more than 10% ethanol by volume.

Internal Combustion Engines – Not only is the fuel we need under attack, but the engines that burn that fuel are being targeted. A push to ban the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines is happening right now! We believe Americans should have the right to choose what time of engine to buy not have the choice mandated by the government.

End of Life Directives – In Europe, “end of life directives” require vehicles over a certain age be turned in for destruction. Policy ideas that first appear in Europe have a history of popping up in the United States. The ability to own, collect, work on, and refurbish older motorcycles is a fundamental part of who we are as motorcyclists. The MRF will battle any end-of-life directives in the U.S.

Protect the Motorcycle Ecosystem – Independent shops and manufacturers are a critical part of the motorcycle ecosystem. They provide choice and competition in the marketplace. The MRF believes that to preserve the lifestyle and culture of motorcycling, independent shops and manufacturers must be protected.







THIS JUST IN FROM THE PRISM GANG

Patrick Murphy’s 1948 Panhead

Patrick is Prism Supply’s newest employee and he has built one of the baddest choppers we’ve ever seen. Listen to Patrick talk about his favorite parts about his bike and how it became the bike you see today.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company has signed with CAA for representation, Variety has learned–As part of the deal, CAA will work closely with Harley-Davidson to create entertainment opportunities for its existing IP across film, television, music, and podcasts, adding to the company’s historic brand and deepening its connection with both its devoted fan base, and new consumers, through pop culture.





THERE’S MORE FROM FRED KODLIN

Finally in stock are the Kodlin new line of Engine Guards.

Keep your bike looking fresh and fierce while keeping your engine safe



They are combination of protecting your engine and the ultimate statement in
minimalistic style for your M8 Softail. These Engine Guards are made from steel and come in either a black or bronze finish. They include an oil cooler cover, crash pads, and all necessary hardware for installation.

The Kodlin Engine Guards will fit MY 18-23 Low Rider, Low Rider S, Lowrider ST, Softail Standard and Street Bob models.

The M8 Softail Rear Engine Guards are also available in both black and bronze finishes and are a perfect way to complete the look. The rear guards will fit MY 18-23 Low Rider, Low Rider S, Lowrider ST, Softail Standard, Street Bob, Softail Slim, Fat Bob and Sport Glide models.
M8



K59512 M8 Softail Rear Guards – Bronze $299.99

K59513 M8 Softail Rear Guards – Black $299.99

K59514 M8 Softail Engine Guards – Bronze $549.99

K59515 M8 Softail Engine Guards – Black $549.99
 
 





BABE OF THE WEEK—Cani.

Cani works at Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 Training Center and lives in Des Moines, Iowa.













–Sam Burns
Talent Scout
Bikernent.com™







Over 1,600 Scientists Sign ‘No Climate Emergency’ Declaration

From Epoch Times’ Naveen Athrappully: Climate Models and Sunlight Reflection International scientists have jointly signed a declaration dismissing the existence of a climate crisis and insisting that carbon dioxide is beneficial to Earth. “There is no climate emergency,” the Global Climate Intelligence Group (CLINTEL) said in its World Climate Declaration (pdf), made public in August.…





IT’S NEVER THE ENDS—

Last weekend I attended the AMCA Banquet. If you are truly into Antique bikes, mostly Knucks and Pans, you might find a chapter near you. They have four or five regional runs each year.



The national run came to the Black Hills this year and was hosted by Carl and Matt Olsen. I should have a story shortly. It rotates annually. These guys love to ride old shit.



I’m still grappling with my primary drive. It’s almost an inch out of alignment. I’m going to hope for a solution from the Cycle Tech guys next week.





About the time I get a solution figured out, I run into another issue. Let’s see what next week brings.





Rode the funky Panhead to the AMCA Banquet. It ran like a champ, but I need to adjust the modified kill switch. It died twice. The second time I figured it out.



I bought a bunch of raffle tickets, hoping to win something for John’s new 1960 Panhead roller. Didn’t win shit…





That’s 45 John’s new project. We hauled out the engine for a rebuild. This was his solution for way to move the engine around during transport to the builder. I hauled the 150-pound engine out of the frame on the lift with Adrian Newkirk guiding it out from the left side.



I’m powered by fresh local peaches on peanut butter toast, with a squirt of natural honey. Amazing.

Hang on for more excitement this coming week. Remember to join a motorcycle rights group near you or the MRF and ride free, forever.

–Bandit

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Strange Day Bikernet Weekly News for September 14, 2023

Hang On for the Wild Reports

Hey,

I’ve been an outspoken outlaw all my life. More than once, I’ve quit a great job because I didn’t like the direction of the ship. I jumped ship into a paddleboat and made my way into the future.

Well, I’m still here and fighting the system for a better, respectful and free future.

Let’s hit the news. It’s going to be good.

— Bandit

Click Here to Read this Week’s News, only on Bikernet.com

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RIP Evans Brasfield

Evans Brasfield, esteemed Editor-in-Chief of www.Motorcycle.com and a voice for the motorcycle community, has passed away in a tragic accident.

The news was shared by his wife Karin in a social media post.

Full details of the incident are not yet known at this time.

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Delmarva Bike Week 20th Anniversary

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR DELMARVA BIKE WEEK’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY,

SEPTEMBER 13-17, 2023

Ocean City, Maryland

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Greasy Kulture mag 24 hours offer

30% off back issues, 24 hours only!

Huge savings on back issues: but be quick!

Missed a few issues over the years? Now’s the time to complete your collection with 30% off ALL back issues for the next 24 hours only.

We don’t discount the magazine often, so dive in! Just type in the code THIRTY into the box when prompted, on the checkout page.

https://greasykulture.com/collections/frontpage

PLUS SAVE ON BUNDLES

£10 for three premium back issues!

Big Back Issue Bundle: you give us £10 (plus postage) and we send you THREE randomly picked, brand new, perfect bound, premium-sized back issues (9.5 x 6.75 inch, 14 x 24 cm). While stock lasts!

£5 for three digest-sized back issues!

Back Issue Bundle: you give us £5 (plus postage) and we send you THREE randomly picked, brand new, digest-sized back issues. Killer choppers and hot rods – sometimes built by very (now) familiar names! While stock lasts!

TELL ‘EM BIKERNET.COM SENT YA !

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Mexican Run

Inspired by Marty Robbin’s Son

by Bandit with photos from Sam Burns

A divorced rider, Marty, with a hot rod Dyna and a pocket fulla cash rode out of LA for the last time. Sad to the bone he stopped in Coachella Valley for a Date shake but drank six beers in a biker bar.

His Dyna barked and stumbled into a gas station for refueling. He paid cash at the counter and lifted the high-test nozzle. His heart crushed after his 15-year relationship crumbled, when the love of his life fucked her boss.

CLICK HERE to read this Action & Romance Adventure only on Bikernet.com

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This piece was inspired by a Marty Robbins song from 1959 titled “About El Paso”

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Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act

Act Now… Congress Votes Thursday!

The House of Representatives has scheduled a vote Thursday on H.R. 1435, the “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act.” H.R. 1435 would amend the Clean Air Act to prevent a ban on the sale of internal combustion engines, effectively trumping any state law that outlaws their sale.

Now is the time to have your voice heard! Let Congress know you support the right to choose the type of engine you buy.

Click here to contact your Member of the House of Representatives and ask them to vote for H.R. 1435.

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Ride Free Forever

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Lake Of the Ozarks Bikefest

Stop by Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson for Bikefest and find the Legend Suspensions tent!
We are excited to see you and talk suspension!

September 13th – 17th

For more information and location details please visit:

https://www.legendsuspensions.com/events/

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Tell ’em Bikernet.com Sent Ya !

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Sturgis Buffalo Chip 2024

The Best Party Anywhere

2024 Passes On-Sale

August 2 to 11, 2024

Want to cure your blues?
Start planning your trip to the Sturgis Buffalo Chip for 2024

Passes On Sale October 12

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE PASSES

For a limited time only, when you reserve an Early Bird Pass you get a place to party and crash for a very special price.

It’ll never be this low again.

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Tell ’em Bikernet.com Sent Ya !

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Mexican Run

A divorced rider, Marty, with a hot rod Dyna and a pocket fulla cash rode out of LA for the last time. Sad to the bone he stopped in Coachella Valley for a Date shake but drank six beers in a biker bar.

His Dyna barked and stumbled into a gas station for refueling. He paid cash at the counter and lifted the high-test nozzle. His heart crushed after his 15-year relationship crumbled, when the love of his life fucked her boss. He demanded blow-jobs daily from his new babe and the wicked relationship started to crumble, like bad chrome on aluminum primaries.

An attorney, he handled the divorce on his dime while fucking his client, his employee and his wife. Marty, stared at his Harley is disbelief. Unlike most of his brothers, his bike was silver and polished aluminum. His mag wheels shined bright without the dread black most riders drenched their bikes in nowadays.

Marty stood just 5’10”, but he didn’t mess around. He worked hard as a seaside truck driver lifting hundreds of pounds of fresh catch daily but stuck in traffic allowed his mind to wander into the danger zone.

He struggled against depression and mental anxiety, but riding helped. He kept going, leaving everything behind. He rode through Blythe out of California into Arizona, but not towards Phoenix. He headed south at Tucson but wouldn’t have another city. He caught two-lanes further south into Tombstone, where he slid to a stop in front of the only remaining historic bar across the street from the OK corral.

He wanted to drink himself into oblivion or ride. After a shot of Tequila, he mustered the courage to ride east, into Bisbee, Warren and Douglas. On the crest of a desert hill peppered with sand, creosote, tumbleweed and Yucca plants he could see the border town of Nogales in the valley below.

Something alluring struck him about the desert burg, but he had enough for one day and found a grungy motel where he could shower, crash for the night and ponder his fate with a bottle of tequila, a cheap salt shaker and two limes.

The next morning, his outlook trimmed with a chorizo burrito, a cup of coffee and a tall shot of tequila, he grappled with his fumbling fix on life. The sun glistened on the valley below him and cactus bent to the heat. The border town, surrounded by chain-link fence, concertina wire and guards of different varieties called to him.

He took another shot, took a shit and rode. Without anything to center his thinking, he lost mental ground, saw only the plights and obstacles to his future. He rode hard and fast to the border, uncaring if they shot him down as he approached. He didn’t give a shit if he lived out the day, ended up in prison or dead.

He pulled up to the Mexican guards in dirty Navy blue uniforms, who had no use for a biker, except to steal and sell his Harley after drenched in too much cheap tequila. They steered him to a bar of bad dreams and no hope, Bandit’s Cantina on the edge of town.

“Si Senor,” the burly, pot-bellied border guard muttered and pointed to the edge of town. “You can’t miss it.”

Marty dropped the clutch, and in a drunken haze, tried one more time to entice the law to shoot down the wild gringo. He was through the crossing and sliced through the dusty town as if he owned the roads and no one lived there. He didn’t care.

He pulled into the sandy lot in front of an old western dilapidated building. Only a handful of rusting hulks of vehicles, like old pickups, resided in the massive parking area. They stood like tombstones to failed relationships and he sensed he was next. In his current mental state, he didn’t give a damn.

He pulled on his leather vest over a torn flannel shirt and stepped up onto the faded, wood-slat porch. Outside the sun’s fiery brilliance roasted all the color from any abandoned vehicles. The dried wooden building bleached, and even his silver Dyna seemed to disappear in the dust as if it reached its seemingly last destination.

Marty yanked on his scruffy beard and entered the deep, dank and dark saloon as if someone turned out all the lights as he stumbled in. Even after removing his dark sunglasses, he couldn’t focus except on a swaying light above the bar, as if he tripped into an underground mine and only one flickering bulb hung from an overhead extension cord.

He found the bar and ordered a bottle of 100 percent agave reposado. He knew where he was heading and as his blistering pupils adjusted to the change in scenery, he found himself nearly alone in a sprawling saloon surrounded by a troop of thugs looking for their next prey. He knew trouble when he saw it, but then something touched his shoulder.

“Senor,” a voice as calm as an ocean tide cut through the mariachi music blaring from the blinking jute box. Instinctively he turned.

“Hablo Español?” she asked.

“Muy pequito,” Marty said and tried to focus on her soft features.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered and leaned close.

“Donde, where can I go,” He mixed his limited Spanish with his drunken English. On the verge of self-destruction, he began to focus on her dark concerned eyes, her fleeting smile and her gathered cotton top. Her face an angelic, Hispanic tan as soft as a baby’s ass and those warm eyes yanked him away from his doldrums.

“Go to Maria’s Tortilla flats, quickly,” she muttered. “I will meet you. I must go.”

She poured him a large glass of his reposado and laughed out loud as if taunting him to drink it, which he did and tried to find the door.

He grabbed the bottle and stuffed the limes in his vest pocket and stood swaying. As he focused on the door, two thugs moved to block his escape.

“Senor,” Enrique said, a nasty sort with a long mustach. “We get you anything you need here from something special to smoke, to young girls.”

“Who was she?” Marty said pointing in the direction of the waitress.

“She’s nobody,” Enrique said. “Let me find you a quiet table and some hot action.”

“I need to run an errand,” Marty said slipping his narrow shades back over his face and staring at the blistering sunlight creeping through a crack in the wooden door. “But I’ll be back.”

Enrique wasn’t convinced, but he opened the door for Marty and nodded to his partner. “He will be back. There’s no place in town like this one.”

All they needed was one lost customer a week and they made bank, after they stripped him of his cash, credit, belongings and vehicle. He’d most likely end up in a shallow grave just beyond town and no one cared. Another soulless gringo buried in the desert.

Marty shuffled into the overwhelming heat and sunlight. His lips were parched before he threw his leg over his Dyna. He didn’t know where Maria’s was or what to do next. Somewhere beyond the haze he was aware of what the girl with the soft eyes did for him.

He motored out of the parking area and kept toward the edge of town, where he lumbered onto a colorful palapa with a brilliant multi-colored sign, Maria’s Tortilla Flats. Something glowed about the atmosphere surrounding the flats, with its rich green shrubs and agave plants in colorful ceramic pots. Brightly adorned tables with red and white checkered table cloths made up the patio area.

Marty carefully stopped the dyna to prevent undue dust from marring the setting. He dismounted trying not to disturb what looked like local patrons mixed with a smattering of evil white tourists perched at various tables. A large jovial woman stepped out the main entrance and passed the outside covered patio. Bigger than life, her smile glistened surrounded by shimmering waves of full black locks. She wore a similar cotton gathered top as the other girl, and her abundant chest said it’s warm and comfortable here.

“You found me,” she said knowingly. “Felina called.” She motioned for Marty to follow with his bottle of tequila and a lime and a half. She took them from his hand and threw them in the trash. “You don’t need these. I have fresh ones.”

She led him inside to a small wooden table under a whirling fan in the corner of the ceramic tile floor. “Sentarse,” she said. “Relax, I’ll set you up.”

Marty scanned the room. His morning buzz interrupted by everything unfolding in front of him. He scratched under his earlobe and pulled at his mustache. His depression suspended as the room offered two rows of small round tables surrounded by four wooden and artistically adorned chairs laced with grass seating. The wooden tables faced an area for dancing and a verdant stage festively adorned.

Maria returned with a glass filled with ice, a shot glass, a small ceramic plate containing slices of lime and a small crystal-like mound of pure white salt. “Knock yourself out, Senor,” Maria said. “But try to stay sober enough to enjoy the show. Your blues will be forgotten.”

Marty looked at her wondering as three mariachis entered the bar and made for the stage with their bongos and steel guitars. As if fresh from a bullfight, each member of the band adorned himself with silver conchos, delicately embroidered pants and shirts, plus broad sweeping sombreros spilled from their heads in waves of silver and festive colors.

Marty couldn’t believe his cloudy eyes as couples poured into the merry room chatting and holding hands. The music group sprang into traditional Mexican festivities, stamping their ornate cowboy boots with silver spurs against the marred wood slat stage, when suddenly the corner of the crimson curtain flapped and a netted stocking-wrapped shapely leg appeared, her red flashy dancing shoe adorned with a brilliant silk flower twisted and teased the crowd.

Felina burst onto the dance floor nodding to the band, and then spinning, her dress revealing her legs and more. Her hands moved quickly out, around and then above her shapely torso while her fiery red cassinettes clapped and worked flawlessly with the Mariachi’s lively music.

It was the girl from Bandit’s Cantina as beautiful as a freshly blooming flower swaying in a warm breeze. Marty shoved the liquor bottle aside as they made eye contact and he felt a connection as if in a dream. It felt real, warm and wonderful.

She didn’t seem to let go of him as she danced with all her heart and spun along the shiny floor. As soon as the dance was over, she darted to his side. “Are you feeling bueno?” She asked him intent on his answer.

They introduced themselves and she glowed with every word Marty said. As the day wore on and the sun faded in the west, they cuddled and kissed. She fit against him like a hand sewn deer skin glove. She brought him tacos and salsa, sincerely concerned.

She danced with the mariachis and always returned to his side immediately. By the night fall she became his tranquility, his soulmate, and his salvation. She had but one more set and she could be his, seemingly forever.

The clock struck midnight and she sashayed onto the dance floor as if walking on air. Marty moved to a closer table at her behest, so each dance drew them tighter to their sealed relationship.

The three Mariachi performers played with enhanced gusto, knowing full well this was their last set, but excited to make an unwavering impression on the full house. A shotgun blast rocked the joyful atmosphere like a wet blanket over a fireworks display. The band stopped with a final out-of-tune twang.

“I thought you were coming back to the Cantina, gringo,” Enrique bumped Marty’s shoulder as he passed his table. Marty jumped to his feet.

Enrique, the thug with the wicked mustache and evil eyes walked to the center of the room and grabbed Felina’s arm. “You work only for Bandit’s Cantina whore and fuck anyone who doesn’t like it.” He fired another round from his double-barreled shot gun into the ceiling, scattering the silenced room with debris. Patrons darted for the door, hid behind their tables and women screamed. Enrique tossed the old sawed-off shotgun to the floor.

Marty watched as Enrique yanked and slashed at Felina’s delicate flesh. He witnessed his love being mauled, his future abused and his salvation crushed under the hands of a simple thug from across town. Enrique reached inside his vest hauling out a long-barreled, stainless, .357 magnum, revolver he spun toward Marty dragging the girl with him.

Likewise, Marty’s hand slipped into his vest gun pocked and yanked on a rusting, blued .38 snub-nosed Colt. Marty’s alert blue eyes locked with Enrique’s dark evil gaze. Enrique whirled, dragging Felina’s supple body in front of him for protection and lifted his polished weapon to fire in one deadly flowing motion.

Marty dropped to one knee, took aim and aimed at the slurry bastard, man-handling Felina. They fired simultaneously. Marty’s bullet pierced the man’s forehead and he died before he took another step.

Marty, realizing what he did, dropped the old pistol and started to run to Felina’s side, but Maria headed him off. “You must leave quickly,” she said, “More will come. I will protect her.”

In a hot flash Maria steered Marty toward a side door not far from his motorcycle. He straddled it and inserted his key quickly. The Dyna roared to life and he cut a dusty trail deeper into the heartland of Mexico. He rode hard through the night and into the sunrise along unlit highways south. His mind a blur of emotions, anger and guilt, he refueled in Hermosillo and just kept riding.

Low on cash, low on hope and dragging bottom at midday he rolled into Guaymas a desolate port town on the West Coast of mainland Mexico. He slid to a stop on the edge of the sand, struggled in his riding boots to walk across the soft beach to the waters edge. Kneeling in the sinking sand he removed his riding gloves and splashed the briny Gulf of California water in his face. It was as hot as the blistering air he breathed and he stood up abruptly. The notion of hell filled his destitute brain cells.

He looked up at the small town perched on the hillside around a craggy inlet. On reserve he rolled into town where he meandered along the single street until he saw a young prostitute on a second story deck above a crusty, dank discothèque waving her arms frantically. “Senor, Senor,” she hollered as he approached. Like a scene from the old west, a boardwalk of tilting wood planks lined the street and wooden poles were still in place for horses.

Marty parked his Dyna and the perky broad with her jet black hair pulled in a ponytail, wearing a western whore frilly dress ran to his side barefoot. “It’s you, it’s you,” she said with bright eyes. “Come inside, come inside,” she repeated herself.

“Can I have something to drink,” Marty said and found himself sitting in a similar setting to Maria’s in Nogales. He looked around confused.

“Cervesa?” The tiny young thing hurried behind the bar and returned with a Corona and a slice of lime.

Marty squeezed the lime, turned the bottle upside down to mix the juice and drank half of it.

“Maria called,” the young girl spoke anxiously. “You can’t go back there.”

“I must, but I need a job,” Marty said and buried his face in his arms. “I need Felina,” he muttered to himself.

The little Cecily’s boss offered Marty work as saloon security with a room in the back. Daily he chased down the skinny kid in the same western dress and bare feet. “Have you heard from Maria?”

“You must stay, very bad men looking for you,” Cecily responded with sad eyes and never mentioned Felina.

They stashed his motorcycle is a wooden shed behind the old building. Mariachis played every night to a half empty saloon. They didn’t move with the same passion or with the dynamic furfur as the brilliantly dressed Nogales crew.

Weeks passed and Marty’s angst grew. “I can’t take it,” he pleaded to Cecily. “I must find my Felina.”

Another Saturday night came and the bar filled with riders who spoke of Mariachis in Nogales and the lovely dancer with sad eyes. Marty’s tip jar overflowed, and he bought a bottle of their best Reposado. Half into the bottle and with a full tank of gas, Marty gave into his emotions. After closing time, against Cecily’s pleadings he hit the road north.

Afraid and distraught he rode like a madman into the night and slept under a Joshua cactus with the tarantulas. He drank tequila for breakfast and rode like the wind north. He had to see and touch his Felina for a moment, for an hour, for the rest of his life. She returned love, warmth and goodness to his being. She was his spirit, his recovery and his future.

As the sun set in the west, Marty refueled once more at a dried out truck stop in the desert. He cleaned up, dusted himself off, polished his boots and sprayed off his Dyna. It sparkled in the setting sun as he threw his leg over it, donned his cleaned dark glasses and fired it to life.

The Dyna was all he had to his name and another .38 the bar owner gave him in the right gun pocket of his 5-Ball vest. Felina was all he wanted in life and he didn’t care about anything else. He took a final shot of tequila and tossed the bottle into the tumbleweeds on the side of the road.

He rode into the night, his single headlight dancing along the unlit two-lane road. Passing a small mountain range, he entered another desolate vast valley containing a tiny grouping of sparkling lights like a clump of burning bushes. It had to be Nogales at the base of the Patagonia mountains. He pushed dangerously hard at almost 90 mph, when the flash of five motorcycle headlights lit-up to his left and the roar of bikes filled the air. A dozen or more sprang to life in the darkness on his right, half mile away and charged in his direction.

Mussel flashes pierced the darkness as he neared the town. Bullets whistled in the air. Marty reached for his weapon but felt something slice into his chest. Wavering, he pushed on, lead projectiles slamming into his Dyna as he lost control less than 1/8 mile from town.

The motorcycle lay in the sand off the road, thumping it’s final beats before it died and the headlight, like Marty’s last bastion of hope went out. Marty lay at the road’s edge surrounded by the lights of his attackers.

Maria’s pickup truck slid to a stop and Felina ran to his side. She lifted his bloody head and his eyes opened. Her beauty filled his heart with all he wished for and she kissed him. “Felina my love, good bye.”

This piece was inspired by a Marty Robbins song from 1959

About El Paso

“El Paso City” is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Marty Robbins. It was released in March 1976 as the first single and title track from the album El Paso City. The song was Robbins’ 15th number one on the U. S. country singles chart. The single stayed at number one for two weeks and spent 11 weeks on the chart.

Out in the west Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Nighttime would fine me in Rosa’s Cantina,
Music would play and Felina would whirl.

Black as the night were the eyes of Felina,
Wicked and evil while casting a spell.
My love was strong for this Mexican maiden,
I was in love, but in vain I could tell.

One night a wild young cowboy came in, wild as the west Texas wind…
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing,
With wicked Felina, the girl that I love.

So, in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden;
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore.
My challenge was answered, in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor.

Just for a moment I stood there in silence,
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done.
Many thoughts ran through my mind as I stood there;
I had but one chance and that was to run.

Out through the back door of rose’s I ran, out where the horses were tied
I picked a good one; he looked like he could run,
Up on his back and away I did ride.

Just as fast as I could from the west Texas town of El Paso,
Out through the badlands of New Mexico.
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless;
Everything’s gone in life nothing is left.

But it’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden,
My love is stronger that my fear of death.
I saddled up and away I did go, riding alone in the dark…
Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me,
Tonight nothing’s worse than this pain in my heart.

And as last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso,
I can see Rosa’s Cantina below.
My love is strong and it pushes me onward, down off the hill to Felina I go.

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys,
Off to my left ride a dozen or more.
Shouting and shooting; I can’t let them catch me,
I’ve got to make it to rose’s back door.

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side.
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle,
I’m getting weary, unable to ride.
But my love for
Felina is strong and I writhe where I’ve fallen.
Though I am weary, I can’t stop to rest

I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle,
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.
From out of nowhere, Felina has found me,
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.
Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for,
One little kiss and Felina good-bye.

–Marty Robbins
1959

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