Hey,
I have sort of a challenge to lay on you. It’s something I’m going to investigate with an expert, and there’s a book on the topic, but I’ll just touch on it here.
My best friend, Dr. Hamster, came for Breakfast today, the day after Christmas. He’s a big one for Landmark seminar studies, and he took his Chiropractic office staff on a retreat recently. That’s what this is all about. He said that each person has a mantra. His goal with this retreat was to understand what each person’s mantra was and make them understand the collective mantra for his group of chiropractic offices.
I’ve recently been challenged with understanding the Bikernet Mantra in a changing world, and what our message should be. We had this pow-wow at Nyla’s Chowder Barge and she sat in. At one point she said her mantra was keeping the Chowder Barge afloat. Dr. Hamsters used that statement as an example. If you interview employees or run ads, that’s not the message you want to convey, “The Chowder Barge, we’re just trying to keep her afloat.”
Dr. Hamsters came up with a better slogan, “The Chowder Barge, the finest floating Restaurant on the coast of California.” He also brought up Harley-Davidson and is going to send a link to a presentation they did. The company didn’t mention motorcycles, models, engines, or color schemes. They only talked about freedom, a much broader mantra.
We have a growing, expanding Bikernet Market. Our logo sports Ride Forever first. In the past we had the slogan, “Where the Adventure Begins and the Ride Never Ends.”
Could we do a better job at conveying our mission to readers, writers, and our customers? Give us your two cents worth.
Let’s hit the news:
EVEN ON SUNDAYS, DURING THE HOLIDAYS, THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN—AMAZING: Moving to Nevada …
A man walks into his bedroom and sees his wife packing a suitcase. He asks, “What are you doing?”
She answers, “I’m moving to Nevada .
I heard that prostitutes there get paid $400.00 for what I’m doing for YOU for FREE!”
Later that night, on her way out, the wife walks into the bedroom and sees her husband packing his suitcase.
When she asks him where he’s going,
he replies, “I’m coming too. I want to see how you live on $800.00 a year.”
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Halloween Fart Fiction
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=2010
That was really funny!!
–Roger
Fort Myers, FL
UNCLE MONKEY HAS THE POSER BLUES-– “Man all these posers. I remember the good ol days, when it was just us.”
It is a lament that I hear lots, whether it is the bagger scene, the chopper scene, the bobber scene, or the biker scene. Once something reaches a certain level of popularity the flood gates seem to open and drown the once sacred ground with wannabes and neverbe’s; people searching for the next new thing.
Lots of time they are the ones with the money, they are the ones who can afford to pay someone to build them a new bike every couple of years, the ones who can afford to lose thousands of dollars chasing a fad. All those $100,000 WCC and OCC choppers are being blown out for less than $20,000 now.
The same is coming true for all the high dollar baggers. The resentment comes from the ones who were there first, from the ones who never left. They feel cheated, ignored and disrespected – that somehow people are not giving them the credit they feel they deserve. It’s a double-edged sword because if they are credited, sought out to be the voice of their scene they are just as resentful. They don’t want to be seen as sell-outs by their friends for bowing down to the newbies.
It is a matter of how the world works, how we are hardwired to be. Some of us are set in our ways. Stubborn to change, we know what we like and we never bend or change. We rocked the rock-a-billy/greaser look from the ‘50s and have never changed.
For others it is about diversity, about change, they catch the swell of a fad on the upswing ride it to the crest and just as quickly bail to the next wave. But it is these people who fuel the trends. Ask yourself how many people are rocking powdered wigs in public. As popular they once were another generation never picked up the fad, never made it a new trend and it eventually died out with the stubborn, a trend buried with the last of their kind.
So the question is whether that hipster in the flannel shirt and blue jeans imitating the grunge rockers from the early ‘90s, the backwoods country folk of the ‘60s and ‘70s or the lumberjacks that carved out this part of the world at the beginning of the last century. If you are finding people are finally following you, accept that it is you who inspired them. In the end, if you are true to yourself it will never matter.
-bad Uncle Monkey
noun
1. the festival season from Christmas to after New Year’s Day.
And then, hurrying on to the subject with confused haste, in order that a word or two might be spoken before her husband came back, she expressed her thanks and his for the good things which had been sent to them at Christmastide.
— Anthony Trollope, The Last Chronicle of Barset, 1867
Christmastide entered English in the 1620s. Tide comes from the Old English tid meaning “point or portion of time.”
QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!– Doug Coffey’s RetroMod Panhead Part 3
Looking forward to see the final assembly!!
Btw Doug your bike building style is how I remember it way back on Oxford St… That’s a long time ago my friend and you still build with that super clean look in mind.
FYI, I happened to see your name while searching the web for plating facilities in London. I need to send some parts out for an old Corvette I’m restoring. Any suggestions…
Bumped into Chip at Plunkett’s who mentioned you have retired and enjoying life on a boat on the St. Clair. Now, that’s awesome and exactly what I pictured you doing !! I take it the bike building is now just a hobby…
Anyway Doug, hope you get this message. Perhaps we can hook up sometime in the New Year to S the S and catch up on the past.
All the best in 2015,
–George Wisniewski
ON FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FROM WIKIPEDIA–John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), in his work, On Liberty, was the first to recognize the difference between liberty as the freedom to act and liberty as the absence of coercion.[6] In his book, Two Concepts of Liberty, Isaiah Berlin formally framed the differences between these two perspectives as the distinction between two opposite concepts of liberty: positive liberty and negative liberty. The latter designates a negative condition in which an individual is protected from tyranny and the arbitrary exercise of authority, while the former refers to having the means or opportunity, rather than the lack of restraint, to do things.
Mill offered insight into the notions of soft tyranny and mutual liberty with his harm principle.[7] It can be seen as important to understand these concepts when discussing liberty since they all represent little pieces of the greater puzzle known as freedom. In a philosophical sense, it can be said that morality must supersede tyranny in any legitimate form of government. Otherwise, people are left with a societal system rooted in backwardness, disorder, and regression.
BIKERNET 5-BALL RACING INDIAN PAINT SCHEME– I was reading about your Indian and saw the pics of the painter. That is Rusty Nash, the same guy who I gave a shot at painting at my old shop (Stealth Bike Works).
Rusty told me he has a pic of me on the wall at his shop because I was the first guy who gave him a chance at painting a bike. Makes me feel good that he remembers me.
Rusty is a great guy and a great painter. He has really grown as a painter since that first paint job at SBW! You will really be satisfied with his work.
–Mike the Stealth
Official Bikernet East Coast Feature Editor Supreme
1. of, resembling, or containing wine.
“Come, come,” said James, putting his hand to his nose and winking at his cousin with a pair of vinous eyes…
— William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, 1848
Vinous entered English in the mid-1600s from the Latin vinosus.
HISTORIC, New Bikernet Reader Comment!– WWI Trench Knife Kick Pedal
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=1993
I’m also interested in buying a trench knife. Could you please send me the details of the chap with the collection?
All the best,
–Chris R
Birmingham, B, United Kingdom
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE SHERIFF—The Sheriff just getting younger 60 and kickin’ it. US and Japan in his plans and the Bikernet Headquarters.
SHERIFF MEDIA GROUP
S-36030 LAMMHUL
JASMINE CAIN HITS NASHVILLE– Featured Show
SAT JAN 17 2015
Spillway Bar and Grill
Bowling Green, KY | 09:00 PM,,
2195 Old Louisville Rd Bowling Green, KY 42103 270-842-9397
TEN Cool Tips For Safe Winter Riding!– This time of year is particularly challenging for motorcycle riders; in fact, it’s actually a pain being on the roads however you’re travelling but let’s be honest, no one gets a deal as bad as motorcyclists do. With the constant threat of rain, furious winds, hidden ice and slippery surfaces, it’s no wonder that the majority of riders put their bikes to bed for the winter and search for other modes of transport. It doesn’t have to be that way though; if you want to go for a ride, there should be nothing stopping you. All you need to know is how to stay safe and treat the road with the same respect that you do in the summer.
If you know what the potential hazards are likely to be, you’re already halfway towards beating them. If you’re a regular rider, you’ll already have enough common sense to gauge what’s safe and what’s not, you’ll have to re-evaluate your riding style and approach too but after that, all you’ll need is a little bit of info on the dangers out there. Armed with that knowledge, you should be as safe as houses.
Stay Warm!
If you’ve ever been in a car when you’re a bit tired and the heater has been on, you’ll realize that it’s quite easy to nod off…BUT that only applies to cars! On a bike, it’s the reverse: if you start to get cold, you’ll find yourself getting tired. When you’re cold, your concentration begins to fade, your reactions times will be significantly slower and you’re more likely to become drowsy. It’s because of this reason that staying warm is the most important thing you can do to ensure a safer ride this winter.
We’ve covered the best ways to stay warm in other posts but we’ll go over the basics again quickly here: the trick is to stop your body heat from escaping whilst stopping the cold air from getting in. One piece leathers are the best way to stop your heat from escaping but if you don’t have them in your wardrobe, don’t panic. Effective layering of appropriate garments can get the job done.
Focus on keeping your extremities warm too, as they are more susceptible to the cold. Quality gloves, boots and a neck tube are a must if you’re going to keep the cold at bay this winter.
Understand The Conditions
Knowing that you’ll have to adapt your riding style to the environment is a very crucial element to staying upright this winter. The increased amount of rainfall and the fall of dead leaves can transform the road into a slippery nightmare. Couple that with the risk of icy patches, accumulated grit and gravel and of course, the rogue oil spills, and you’re left with a pretty treacherous road surface. Luckily, motorcycles can handle it providing that you understand that the road isn’t the same as it was in summer.
Slow and steady is the keyword here. You’re lessened grip and longer braking distances will mean that your occasional bursts of acceleration will be a thing of the past for time being. Ride as safely as possible and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
Be Cautious Of Other Road Users
…And by ‘road users’ we mean more than just motorists. Of course, car drivers are usually the worst offenders but that doesn’t mean that they’re the only ones who’re likely to ignore your presence. Pedestrians and cyclists are often in more of a hurry than ever when the rain starts to fall – everyone has somewhere to be and whether they know it or not, they take unnecessary risks. Pedestrians running across roads with their hoods up or under umbrellas won’t see you coming and cyclists may move into the center of the road without looking first. If these guys cause an accident, they’re probably going to walk away from it unhurt – you won’t, so make sure that you proceed with caution and never assume anything.
Read The Road
As we mentioned earlier, the road conditions change at this time of the year; the best way to stay safe is to read the road accordingly and adjust your riding style to suit the conditions. As your brakes aren’t going to act as efficiently, it’s wise to keep your distance from other vehicles. Firstly, if something untoward is going to happen, you’ll have plenty of time to stop; secondly, you’ll be able to minimize the amount of spray would normally drench you if you were following in someone else’s wake.
Be sure to follow all of the signage and take heed of all traffic warnings. The slightest change in weather or road condition could be the difference between arriving safely or suffering an accident.
Vision And Visibility
The winter also brings another type of hazard to the foreground: visibility (for you and for other road users).
It’s dark in the mornings and evenings, so you can expect not to as conspicuous as you would be in the summer. To combat that, try wearing the most visible clothing that you can, such as Hi-Vis vests, reflective striping and by avoiding other motorist’s blind spots.
Secondly, your own view will be impaired somewhat by low mist, heavy rainfall and early onset of nighttime. When your vision is impaired, ride at a responsible speed and always be ready for the unexpected.
React Earlier
Okay, it’s not necessarily possible to improve your reaction times over night but what you can do is put yourself into a better position to foresee a hazard and act accordingly. Don’t be afraid to let other road users know what you’re doing – if you think it would be safer to signal earlier than you usually would, go ahead and do it. If you think the conditions are dangerous enough that you need to slow right down whilst crossing intersections and crossroads – do it! By being proactive and expecting trouble, you’ll be one step ahead of the game if something does go wrong. It’s not quite ‘improving you reaction times’ but it’s the next best thing.
Test Your Gear
When riding in the wet, it’s important to take the time to do a quick ‘systems’ check; this could mean trying out your lights, making sure your indicators are working properly and finally, you definitely want to pump your brakes every now and again. You might think that the old ‘pumping’ trick is reserved solely for drum brakes but even discs get wet. Trying your brakes out regularly can also give you a clear indication of your stopping distances at different speeds. It’s definitely worth doing.
Service Your Bike
Another good way to ensure your safety in the winter is to make sure that your bike is set up for winter riding. Taking the time to service your bike properly and adjust its settings for the wet and cold weather will certainly make a huge difference to your winter riding enjoyment. Even something as mundane as the correct tyre pressures will make a massive impact on your bike’s capabilities, so it’s definitely worth putting the time aside for a quick winter service.
Make Your Life Easier
There are products out there that are designed with you and your winter toil in mind; if you want to have an easier time out on the road this winter, invest in them. You don’t have to break the bank either, some small and inexpensive items can really up your comfort level. We recommend those cheap chemical heat pads to help keep the cold at bay and a decent brand of anti-mist spray for your mirrors and visor – a bit of visibility and a heat source can go a long way on two wheels!
Avoid ANY Unnecessary Danger
What is an ‘unnecessary danger’? Maybe your main route home has notoriously strong crosswinds or perhaps that road to work is prone to flooding? Are you about to drive through an accident hotspot? It’s worth thinking of these things and planning your route accordingly. Strong winds can blow debris into the road, large puddles and floods can hide all manner of sins and if that roundabout is decorated by memorial flowers, perhaps it’s worth avoiding those areas altogether? If there’s a safer, alternative route – take it.
The key to successfully riding in winter is to take it slow, to see everything as a hazard and to ride accordingly. When you look at it that way, it’s not much different to riding in summer. As long as you’re prepared adapt and react then you should have no problems at all. Whatever happens, a slow ride in the wet is far more interesting than a dull train ride, right?
–from Rogue
THIS JUST IN FROM ULTIMATE MOTORCYCLING.COM–’47 Harley & ’38 Indian Barn Find
It’s that dream that comes to us now and then – the one when we find an old motorcycle in some obscure location. Through the magic of good fortune we are able to acquire it and bring it back to life. But then we awake and feel that twinge of sadness: it was only a dream.
But here’s one story of a man who found not one, but two great barn, umm chicken coop, finds – a 1947 Harley-Davidson and a 1938 Indian Four. He (buyer wanted to remain anonymous) purchased them in February, 2014. Here are some details from the find:
The rubber tires were crisscrossed with age cracks and either low on air or flat. The wheel spokes were laced with spider webs. Chicken and Duck feathers clung to most any surface that had some oil or grease on it.
Dust-like talcum powder, many years deep, covered not one but two motorcycles even though tarps had been draped over them when they were last parked. A few parts were missing, mostly cosmetic. These two vintage rides stood strong as they day their motors were last shut down. No composite shrouds here to hide the craftsmen’s work. Each exposed component could be seen for what it’s purpose was.
The fellow that acquired the 1947 Harley-Davidson and 1938 Indian Four early in 2014 had first laid eyes on them nearly 10 years ago. The owner was not interested in selling either bike at that time. The thought of those two iron horses put to the back of his mind as he was transferred out of the area for his job and had other priorities besides chasing “The Dream.”
As luck would have it his job brought him back to this southeastern Washington area and he once again found himself thinking of the H-D and Indian.
On a whim he returned to where he last knew the owner lived and was shocked to learn they had not sold the bikes and once again was able to gaze upon the objects of his desire. He didn’t push the offer to purchase then but over the next year or so became quite good friends with the owner.
The owner’s position in life had taken a turn and knowing the great interest the potential buyer had in the vintage pair they reached an agreeable price and both motorcycles transferred ownership.
The reader would see that many details were left out of these writings. This was done at the request of both buyer and seller due to the strong sentimental connection the seller’s family had with these last two vintage motorcycles the family patriarch had left to his his children at the time he passed away.
However, the new owner is confident Ultimate MotorCycling will have another photo shoot opportunity once refurbishment is completed. We’re going to hold you to that sir.
CHOPPERTOWN– Hey Guys
We’re rolling into 2015 with a head of steam and wanted to say thanks for supporting us and making this a major comeback year. To celebrate, we’re counting down our top ten most popular vids and pics on our Choppertown Facebook page this weekend. And most of our movies are on sale too (in case you get sick of watching football.) To check out this weekend’s $5 sale videos for Biker Movie Sunday, click here.
Thanks for the support this year guys, every step we take is because you make it possible!
Stay independent,
–Zack and Scott
THIS JUST IN FROM THE NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION–It’s the highway hustle. The shakedown shuffle. It’s civil forfeiture, and it’s one of the most flagrant roadside abuses motorists face today.
Using civil forfeiture laws, police can confiscate property, like cash and vehicles, from motorists if they suspect the property is tied to illegal activity. The police don’t actually have to prove such a connection exists, and motorists must often fight lengthy and expensive legal battles to retrieve their property.
With the Justice Department taking in a record $4.2 billion in forfeitures for 2012, civil forfeiture has become big business. And business is the operative word here because behind many questionable law enforcement practices—and transportation policies for that matter—you find public officials partnering with private business interests focused primarily on the profit motive. Think Redflex and ATS for red-light cameras, Vigilant Solutions for automated license plate readers and any number of international conglomerates for toll roads.
For civil forfeiture, that business partner appears to be a company called Desert Snow, which trains police officers on the finer points of civil forfeiture. Desert Snow has also created a database known as Black Asphalt, which police around the country use to enhance their forfeiture operations.
Black Asphalt lets its 25,000 users compile and share detailed data on private motorists—whether they’ve done anything wrong or not—including addresses, social security numbers, information from traffic stops or interrogations, searches, etc. Information is shared informally without official oversight, and many of the reports end up in federal fusion centers where they can be shared with law enforcement agencies at all levels.
Desert Snow encourages users to provide data about their traffic stops by offering rewards and incentives. The more data an officer enters, the more rewards he earns. Desert Snow also holds an annual competition to recognize officers who have seized the most contraband. Top earners (to borrow a term from The Sopranos) are honored at Desert Snow’s annual conference.
The system appears to work. According to The Washington Post, police officers affiliated with Desert Snow reported seizing $427 million from traffic stops over a five-year period. In fact, Desert Snow’s methods are so lucrative, company personnel have even gotten in on the act. Last year, the Caddo County, Oklahoma, district attorney’s office contracted with Desert Snow employees to conduct interdiction operations on state highways. Working with local police officers, Desert Snow employees seized more than $1 million over six months. The firm retained 25 percent of the haul under the contract terms. Fortunately, the scheme was shut down after a local judge got wind of it and threatened to jail the Desert Snow employees who were involved.
But that’s not the end of it. In September, the ACLU of Oklahoma filed suit to compel Logan County, Oklahoma, Sheriff Jim Bauman to turn over records pertaining to Black Asphalt. (Desert Snow had passed control of Black Asphalt to Bauman in 2012.) The ACLU had previously filed a public records request for the information, which was ignored despite repeated inquiries. The ACLU also reports that Sheriff Bauman has been attempting to move Black Asphalt out of Oklahoma and that the Black Asphalt website has been put under the control of a sheriff’s department in Illinois. One can’t help but wonder what they’re trying to hide.
Now, we have no quarrel with a private company trying to make an honest buck. But we do have concerns when public officials collude with private firms to rip off motorists through illegal and likely unconstitutional schemes. Such unholy alliance are not uncommon, and they turn law enforcement into a for-profit enterprise. As a result, accountability and transparency go out the window, and the driving public suffers.
THERE YOU HAVE IT—I seem to have escaped the mung. At some point the escapism of being sick wears off, and I wanted to get back to the projects at hand.
I now have a new/old 45 engine on the way to Departure Bike Works in Richmond. I need to replace the rear fender on the Bonne Belle and return the starter to its original position, and remove the electric shifter. We are flying clean and mean this time around. I will also put the original bars back on this puppy for the most aerodynamic flow.
I may need to strip the Morris mag and a few other pieces off the existing engine and ship them out.
I’ve ordered another set of longer Progressive shocks for my FXR. She’s running too close to the tire and I don’t have any travel to speak of. Plus, my chain kept smacking the underside of the oil tank. I’ll bring you a report.
As of next week I will wrap up another Cantina Episode. It’s a sizzling one. And we have a knockout Girl of Bikernet, Amber heading your way. Plus, I might get a chance to dig into our CV carburetor tech. And I need to finish up our Bagger bike feature from Raul, who won the Bikernet Bagger award in Long Beach. The bike, built by Lifestyle Cycles is going to be featured in American Iron.
If you think about my challenge at the beginning of the news, factor in our 5-Ball Racing apparel line. How do we make it all fit? Any ideas are welcome.
Then what the hell will I do on New Years Eve this year. I wish I knew. There are so many options in LA. Stay safe during the holiday. We have a most excellent year right in front of us. Let’s make the most of it.
All the best for the New Year,
–Bandit
