Huge Parade Of 1500 Bikes Led By King Of The Baggers Champion, Tyler O’Hara

Exclusive Challenger RR and Cutaway PowerPlus Engine Display

American Motorcycle Dealer “Approved” Budweis Custom Indian Motorcycle Show

King of the Baggers Race Team Present Replica Indian Challenger to Prize Draw Winner

The 2023 edition of the Indian Riders Fest 2023 (IRF23), held in České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic, June 9-11, proved to be the largest celebration of Indian Motorcycle owners in the world. With a record-breaking attendance of over 3000 people from 39 nationalities, this year’s event solidified its position as the most significant congregation of Indian Motorcycle enthusiasts globally. One of the highlights of the festival was the huge Saturday parade ride, led by King of the Baggers Champion, Tyler O’Hara, where 1500 motorcycles took to the beautiful South Bohemian roads to be welcomed by waving and smiling onlookers along the entire 39 km route. Even with the event open to riders of all makes, nearly 1350 of the participating motorcycles were Indian Motorcycle models, topping last year’s number of 1200. Making the parade possible, the organisers were supported by the local authorities with nearly 120 Police personnel and 26 mobile units helping to close junctions and hold traffic along the route for the parade to pass smoothly. In addition, six bus routes were cancelled or re-routed for the day to allow the riders to make their way to the Přemysl Otakar II square at the end of the parade. The final gathering providing a spectacular photo opportunity as the Indian Motorcycle Riders groups laid their flags in the centre of the historic square surrounded by their motorcycles. “A huge thank you to all the riders, visitors and partners who came to the Indian Riders Fest 2023. We hope everyone had a fantastic time and enjoyed the weekend festival. We would also like to express our gratitude to Indian Motorcycle and all the other IRF partners for their continued support, and a huge thank you to the IRF production team for making this event possible. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again next year at the very special 2024 ‘Back In Time’ Edition of the IRF,” said Jean-Marie Guyon, organiser of the IRF. IRF23 created an unforgettable experience for attendees, showcasing the rich legacy of Indian Motorcycle and embracing the vibrant culture of motorcycling. The event witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 2000 tickets sold in advance, to fill festival grounds with energy as 2500 motorcycles, including 1800 Indian Motorcycles, gathered in a celebration of motorcycling and its vibrant culture. “Jean-Marie and his team have done it again. The IRF just keeps on growing and really has become a major destination event for riders from all over the world. The parade was stunning, it’s really moving to see so many riders joining together to celebrate our motorcycles, and to see the joy and support from the locals along the route was infectious. I know that Tyler, Jeremy, and our guests from the US were blown away by the event and the enthusiasm from everyone who attended,” said Grant Bester, Vice President International for Indian Motorcycle. Adding to the excitement, the exclusive Challenger RR, number three of just 29 produced, plus a cutaway of the PowerPlus engine at the heart of the Challenger, were prominently displayed at the Indian Motorcycle booth, providing an up-close look at the cutting-edge engineering and craftsmanship that makes it an unrivalled force on the road and track. In addition, as part of the festival, the American Motorcycle Dealer “Approved” Budweis Custom Indian Motorcycle Show featured a display of 32 exhilarating customised Indian Motorcycles across six classes, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of European custom bike builders and standing in a unique position as the only custom show to be 100 percent dedicated to Indian Motorcycles, past and present. During the Saturday evening entertainment, Tyler O’Hara and Jeremy McWilliams, renowned motorcycle Indian Challenger and FTR racers, joined with Grant Bester and Gary Gray, Vice President of Racing, Technology and Service, on the main stage to present the grand prize Indian Challenger to one lucky prize draw winner. Selected randomly from all the attendees who had entered the draw, Noah from Illertissen in Germany, was stunned to be presented with the unique race replica Indian Challenger that O’Hara had ridden in the parade earlier that day. Arriving at the festival on his Indian Scout after an eventful journey, Noah was nearly speechless at winning the one-off Indian Challenger signed by O’Hara, McWilliams and Gray. “You know, we nearly didn’t make it here due to a tyre failure on my father’s trailer on the way down. It’s still there, we had to abandon it,” laughed Noah. “And now we get to leave with this amazing bike. It’s so crazy, I’m so happy.” Alongside a variety of food and retail stalls, the audience were thrilled with heart-stopping performances from the Wall of Death, fearless stunt riders showcasing their exceptional skills and precision, exhilarating rodeo performances capturing the essence of the American West, live concerts, the genuine Indian Motorcycle apparel shop, and the Indian Motorcycle Roadshow truck offering test rides on the latest models. The Indian Riders Fest has become an essential date for Indian Motorcycle riders, welcoming everyone regardless of motorcycle brand, anyone interested in planning on attending next year should mark their calendars for a great IRF24 summer weekend over June 14-16, 2024. Refer: https://www.indianridersfest.eu/ Check out the video:

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Gear up to ride to your favorite Motorcycling Events – Click Here to view the all-new 5-Ball Racing Shop

Helly Guys, Gals, and Fans,

Yep, we are entering those long “dog days of summer” and we know you still haven’t touched that project in your garage…

Many of you have reached out about that bodywork and still haven’t pulled the trigger.

Just like every other business in the world, we are having a 4th of July special! This will be our last sale until Black Friday in November.

Sale lasts from 7/3-7/5!

You guys on our mailing list get special treatment.

Get an additional 10% off on top of the 20% discount that the regular commoners (non-subscribers of our newsletter) get!

Everyday folk will be using a 20% off code (7423), but you peeps should use code (7423+10) to get 30% off!

That’s a substantial discount! It could get you up to $300 off a fuel tank, or set of bodywork. It’s certainly worth doing….

Check out our website, find the parts you wants, give us a call and start saving!

Code: 7423+10

Call or email to take advantage of this sale today!

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Tell ’em Bikernet.com sent ya !!!

by Bandit

A brother just can’t get enough Amber trouble

The middle of June and riders were determined to cruise the Black Hills before the factory anniversary, but torrents of rain got the best of them.

It rained in the black hills like an automatic sprinkler system keeps the golf course greens magnificently verdant in a blistering Phoenix summer. It came relentlessly, religiously, adorned with god-like thunder and lightning, coupled to incessant tornado warnings, flash flood alerts and hail cautions. That didn’t stop the brothers or even the broads from ditching cities all over the country.

Latest Fiction from Bandit — click here to Read on Bikernet.com

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Get inside the Cantina to get more Action, click to view membership options.

Snake sat in the deepest corner of Deadwood, SD notorious Number 10 Saloon, wet to the bone. The middle of June and riders were determined to cruise the Black Hills before the factory anniversary, but torrents of rain got the best of them.

The girls knew the brothers were coming, tall, short, rich and poor riders directed their steel steeds across long unforgiving Wyoming roads like the Muddy Gap and over the Continental Divide. Brothers blasted through the California deserts, along Interstate 15 passing Las Vegas like escaping a burning inferno. They came from the East, from Colorado directly south and some hid in the hills between the hot spells dodging the sun under majestic tree limbs along winding two-lane roads.

Deadwood, a town of just 1200 allowed a couple of thousand folks to scramble and gamble every weekend. Nothing stopped them, snow, hail, rain or whatever to hang out on cobblestone streets, meander through 110-year-old buildings and dream of a simpler rugged past.

Snake wasn’t much different, just another rider with a slippery history working his way across the country. He lost his last job behind a redhead, the boss’s wife. Her magnificent green eyes were emerald pools of desire and treachery. She wasn’t about to let her connection to vast riches and security be exchanged for a button-tuck upholstered p-pad and an empty chained leather wallet. He slid out of Seattle and blasted east on his chopped Panhead.

Snake wasn’t all that and a bag of chips, a skinny white-boy with a dash of Hispanic and the long silken black hair to match. He held onto the traditional biker past wearing all-black from his old school engineer boots, his black Levis, black leather belt and old black vest, with one metal badge, a chromed mudflap girl pinned over a single pocket. He wore black leather gauntlets, a black scarf and an ebony-handle knife in a hand-sewn black leather sheath.

Girls took to him like they would to a rock star, his narrow hips moved like a man constantly fucking. He didn’t talk much. His dark eyes captured his voluptuous prey. He moved in close, listened intently, smoked Canadian cigarettes and waited. “Do you want to fuck?” He asked and the girls quit talking and undressed.

The most recent Redhead, a woman so delicious and ready for sex, she quickly got bored with hanging at the bar and roamed away from her crew of bikers to find the leather Snake coiled and waiting for her. He smelled of cigarette smoke and Jack Daniels and they soon hooked up. Busted, groping one another in the loosely lit parking lot beside the Slippery Steed Bar and Grill in Spearfish, SD, there was going to be trouble. A nosey woman from the biker clan returned inside to snitch them off. Snake moved fast. Dark clouds forced him to ride hard into the hills. He got a head start, but they came after him on hopped up M-8 baggers and Dynas.

Snake, cut a dusty trail, the back way along the winding, Jack Pine strewn, Spearfish Canyon, while the crew suited up for the chase. He pushed his Panhead hard on a narrow, steep, sometimes gravel surface along the highway leading to Cheyenne Crossing. His 80-inch, stroked Panhead rumbled against the steep incline into the hills. It was all old school, with Flanders Highbars, Paughco Pipes and a Paughco Sportster tank sans the classic tunnel for a tad more capacity. It held maybe enough petrol to afford his notorious escape into the cobblestone streets of Deadwood, if he was lucky.

He had no notion of his next plan. Usually, a girl held a safe haven from his shady exploits, but he couldn’t stay long. In this case Mother Nature might be his babe, as he left the steep winding asphalt for base, reddish, fine clay construction, and it started to rain. He pushed on when the hail came and he wrapped a scarf around his head and suddenly became a scared Taliban, escaping into the hills, but he wasn’t in search of a mountain cave. He sought the solace of a bar, a tumbler of whisker and the soft curves of a redhead.

He still wore shades as his narrow 21-inch Avon tire searched in the mud for a solid path and his stock springer front end sent surface messages to his rattling bars. The rear wheel was the standard 16-inch star-hub and a tough as nails Firestone tire. It lasted long but gave into to every road surface. He slid in the muddy curves of the construction zone, and the rain intensified, buckets being the optimum description.

He didn’t know whether the following riders would find Highway 85 into the hills more comfortable and a shorter route, or the group would experience abject fear of the impending storm and turn back. He kept going in the dark unable to enjoy the raging adjacent stream, the sheer stone cliffs, the tornado torn pine trees or the winding views. It was a black moonless night. The rain pounded the pavement. He could see only the Bate’s headlight reflection against water droplets the size of pool balls, a slice of broken yellow line and a spot of asphalt little larger than a single bed he wished he was in, but not alone.

Finally, rolling against the icy torrent he reached the highway junction and stopped, pulled his water-pepper shades aside, wiped his mud-splashed face with his black mudflap girl Bandana and peered into the darkness. He wanted a cigarette, but knew he needed to keep moving, before his old Joe Hunt magneto filled with rain water.

He slowed as he reached the outskirts of Lead, where the historic gold mine made scientific progress and life was slow and artsy. Then came Deadwood, a town of gambling, whores, cobblestone streets and violence.

He pulled up to the partially wooden sidewalk alone, no other bikes shared the historic roadway and he wondered as he dismounted. The rotund bouncer opened the thick oak door and Snake sloshed inside and stood under Wild Bill’s chair nailed above the door. Bill was shot in that chair with his back to the door. Snake learned and moved deep into the dark recesses of the saloon and sat so he could observe anyone coming in the front or the back.

Snake lit a cigarette, ordered a drink and stole a steak tip from an adjacent table.

He finished his first drink, borrowed more steak tips and lit another cigarette, when he heard a loud motorcycle pull up out front. Snake yanked his 10-inch Damascus steel blade from his damp sheath and laid it in front of him on the previously carved old wooden table. It took another minute, but finally the rider entered, soaked to the bone. The loan rider stood about his height, and slowly scanned the dark bar, while removing thick gloves and then started to unlatch an all-black full faced helmet. She shook her long amber waves loose and scanned the dark bar for a slithering Snake.

As she found him, a smile broke the smoke-filled din with the nut-shell strewn deck. Even wet to the core, her bright blue eyes sparkled and her ivories glistened. She unzipped her contoured leather jacket and milky cleavage sprang forth.

Snake stood, shoved the long blade into its leather home. He made eye contact and suddenly felt warm all over.

“They punked out in the hail,” she said, “I knew there was a party waiting, but not here. Let’s find a room.”

by The Bikernet Rogue Crew with Dmac

Budapest, Bikes, and the Bucket List …..
Hangin’ around the HD 120th Anniversary Festival in Budapest!

Have a look at this awesome photo feature report from Hungary– as the world celebrates 120 years of the most memorable motorcycle brand.

Click Here to view the celebrations only on Bikernet.com

100 word fiction contest continues…. #100WFC

A Ride To Remember
by Kolohe One

“Is that a Panhead motor?” she said. I smiled and nodded yes. “I sure love the old Panheads, the vibration and the ride are like no other motorbike I have ever known.”

Who was I not to share this truth? I motioned an open hand to the pillion and watched her gorgeous face light the night sky with gleeful emotion. We rode down warm canyons to a starlit sandy turnout. Holding her hand, assisting a dismount, I grabbed my bedroll and laid out a comfy spread. Watching her starlight twinkled eyes, I realized such moments are given only once in a lifetime.

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Yup, its a weekly contest open to all. Just sign up for the free weekly newsletter by clicking here.

Then email us your 100 word limit fiction to the editor wayfarer@bikernet.com

“DUNLOP APE HANGER CHALLENGE”…how long can u hang???

“Fauno”

Builder: PDF Motociclette – ITALY

1927 HD JD extremely powerful racing engine rebuilt to 8 valves
(original only 4 valves)

Frame & Chassis: Original HD JD modified by PDF Motociclette – 100% Hardtail

Paint Job/Art: PDF Motociclette

Technical Highlights – Completely handcrafted motorcycle with unique engine technology; built as a tribe to the historic specials that raced in hill climbing.

“Snow Drag”

Builder: H-D Banska Bystrica – SLOVAKIA

1202 cm3 – HD Evolution Sportster

Frame & Chassis: Sportster Roadster XL1200 CX MY2016

Paint Job/Art: Wrap

Technical Highlights: The first officially built HD in the snow. The motorcycle was built without interfering with the motorcycle frame. Getting back on the wheels takes about 4 hours. For the conversion, it was necessary to make a belt attachment and transfer the drive from the right side to the left side.

R-N Racing

120th Anniversary Street Glide

“History”

Bike Builder: VK Custom Works – Slovenia

Engine: HD Flathead 750cc air intake and exhaust system custom made by VK

Frame & Chassis: Custom made by VK Custom Works

Paint Job/Art: VK Custom Works

Technical Highlights: 335 cm long bike! 80% of this bike handmade in VK Custom Works workshop.

“Aluracer”

Bike Builder: Gigamachine Choppers – Hungary

Build Completed: 2014

Duration of Build: 6 months

Best Results: -AMD World Championship, 6th Place
Best results con’t
-Hungarian Motor Builder Championship (EMAT) 1st Place
-Customs of Slovakia – 1st Place

Saturday, June 24th H-D Street Parade –Thousands of motorcycles cruised along the Danube River, and through the streets of Budapest:

…and the winner was >>>Gerdas from the United Kingdom – who rode home on the 2023 Anniversary Edition Heritage Softail!!!

#HARLEY and PUSKAS Stadium – Budapest

WOLFMOTHER rocked out the house after Gerdas won the Heritage Softail! The band started jamming in 2004 in Sydney Australia, and includes Andrew Stockdale, Bobby Poulton, and Hamish Rosser.

Andrew Stockdale – Lead Singer /Guitar– Wolfmother

‘70s Customs

Grand Finale

Somewhere along the road, the heritage trip to
Hungary is now being checked off of the ‘ol bucket list!

Hey,

In today’s harried world, of projects and priorities, requirements and finances, most of us can only focus on this week’s list of to-dos and obligations. But there are brothers all over the world who are raising families, building bikes, making runs and supporting our freedoms to ride. I know a few.

But we can never stop trying to stay focused and alert. There’s always hope, leadership and inspiration, just gotta look for it.

Ride Fast and Free Forever!

–Bandit

Click Here to read the latest Weekly News only on Bikernet.com

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Click to check out the Sponsorship opportunities with 5-Ball Racing.

50 YEARS OF DIRT DOMINATION

KAWASAKI KX™ BRAND CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY

Making its motocross racing debut in 1973, the Kawasaki KX™ motocross lineup has served as the bike that builds champions for many of the sport’s brightest stars. This year, the Kawasaki KX lineup celebrates 50 years of dirt domination.

Over the past 50 years, Kawasaki KX motorcycles have dominated at the pinnacle of off-road racing, collecting an industry-leading 63 combined AMA motocross and supercross championships as well as 720 victories in AMA professional racing. Kawasaki’s impressive list of champions who have relied on their KX motorcycles to take them to the top step of the podium starts with Jimmy Weinert in 1974 and include all-time greats such as Jeff Ward, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, Eli Tomac and current Monster Energy® Kawasaki factory riders Jason Anderson and Adam Cianciarulo.

The development of the revolutionary technology for the KX lineup has remained constant throughout the years in Kawasaki’s pursuit of victory. These technological advancements include the Uni-Trak® rear suspension in 1979, disc brakes in 1980, and the perimeter frame in 1989. The Kawasaki Team Green™ support program was established in 1981 to support all Kawasaki riders at major amateur motocross events, and has helped turn aspiring young riders into future champions. Recent innovations include the DFI® system with dual injectors and launch control mode in 2012, but in 2019, Kawasaki engineers took the KX brand a step further by introducing both electric start and a hydraulic clutch to an already impressive list of features found on its flagship KX™450. Today, the KX™250 and KX™450 remain poised to continue their industry-leading charge and have adopted FIM World Superbike-derived technology from the Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) efforts such as the finger follower valve train, ensuring KX riders have the power needed to get to the checkered flag first.

Throughout the world, Lime Green continues to be recognized as the color of Kawasaki, and for over 50 years, KX machines have proudly worn this color that has serves as the color of victory.

To celebrate this milestone, Kawasaki will be sharing historical content throughout this year featuring some of the greatest technological innovations, racing moments and other memories from the past 50 years.

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Keep up with all the motorcycling events, click and sign up for Bikernet.com free weekly newsletter today.

Thanks to your support, last year, we raised $101,255 of our total $300,000 goal to install a fire suppression system throughout the Museum facility. We’re proud to announce that the project is now underway!

The first phase of installing the fire suppression system is almost complete, and we are on track to have the entire system installed by the end of our 2023-2024 winter break!

This is where we need you!

JOIN THE CAUSE

https://wheelsthroughtime.com/kickstart/

We are starting the final round of the Kickstart Challenge to raise the remaining needed funds! With your help, we can make sure that the history housed within the Wheels Through Time Museum is protected for future generations.

View the Current Leader Board at https://wheelsthroughtime.com/kickstart/

The Mission

To outfit the 38,000 sqft Museum building with a pre-action fire suppression system and a new fire alarm system to ensure that the over 375 rare and unique motorcycles in the collection are kept safe for years to come.

The Progress

Currently, the main water supply for the fire suppression system has been dug and laid. This line connects the municipal water supply to a newly constructed riser room at the back of the museum. This riser room will house the system’s pump, controls, and other necessary equipment.

Along the back of the museum, engineered hangers have been installed to allow the sprinkler main line to be mounted along the back of the building. The sprinkler main line installation is projected to be completed by mid-July 2023.

The Next Steps

Over the 2023-2024 Winter season, we will retrofit and install the rest of the fire suppression system inside the museum. This will include all sprinkler lines and heads as well as smoke and heat sensors for the fire alarm system. Once completed, tested, and approved, you and we will have confidence in knowing the whole museum and the collection are protected! This fire suppression system will also open the door for something we are often asked about, the potential future expansion of the museum facilities.

Preserving our nation’s motorcycle history has never been so important! Thank you in advance for your support in the future of “The Museum That Runs!”

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