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Part 7 of VLXAFL5: Final Assembly Begins

by Bandit with photos by Weed The Paint Returned from TNT It’s been awhile, but I haven’t dawdled. I’ve been working hard on various projects. That guy in Deadwood, who was once 45 John bought a 1960 Panhead roller/basket case and I’ve been helping with the reconstruction. I rebuilt or built and trans from a case and a sketchy box of parts. With Fab Kevin we built a front disc brake. John rebuilt the rear star hub and I helped with fitment and the rear brake. We slid in the engine after I stumbled. I used the rear axle and a flat lift jack to jack up the bike, so I could block it, remove the jack and start to install the 5-speed trans in a 4-speed S&S case. The trans didn’t want to go so I filed and ground all the paint out of the 4-speed slots and the slot I made and welded for the 5th stud on the right. I even had to grind the rear tab on the trans case more for additional clearance. I couldn’t run an old school 4-speed trans for a couple of reasons. It’s an alternator S&S engine and I wanted it to be electric start. Click here for the accelerating Tech adventure with detailed photos and tips. * * * * Don’t stop there, we have a whole department on Motorcycle Tech since 1996. Click and build now! https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Techs_Bike_Builds.aspx

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John’s 1960 Panhead 4-Speed Rebuild

by Bandit, John, Frank R.I.P. and Lee Clemens with photos by Weed We Started with Box of Parts and Pieces A friend, the notorious Deadwood John, called recently about his 1960 Panhead roller project, sort of a basket case on wheels. The engine still remained in the frame and a glide front end was in place, but not much else. He wrote to Ron the shop owner in Alaska and said, “What about the transmission?” Ron who ran this shop for 40 years was an old friend. Semi-retired he was willing to help with all aspects of the build, so he sent John a box of transmission parts. John tried to hand it to his engine rebuilder who rightfully turned him down. I’ve been around 4-speed transmissions for 50 years and rebuilt one in 1971. Kinda fucked it up but made it right. Click here to read this photo feature Tech only on Bikernet.com * * * * See more Tech and Tricks at our dedicated Tech Department with feature articles and photos. Click here and start rebuilding.

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VLXAFL Build episode 6

Heading to Paint Hopefully by Bandit with photos by Weed This has been an interesting one. The issues with the primary drive and transmission alignment held up this puppy through the summer, the rally and now it’s October, about to be November. Oops, it is November. Click here to read about this custom build project with photographic documentation. * * * * Find more Custom Builds. Click Here.

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Life & Times of Bandit 2023

It’s non-stop from LA to Sturgis to Bonneville, Deadwood, Bikes and Books… by Bandit The shop was finished and we experienced our first real winter in the Black Hills. The redhead slid off the driveway in her Subaru and it took two pickups, chains and an excavator to pull her back onto the concrete, and we don’t live on a hill… This has been a tremendously meaningful year. Wild accomplishments, projects, violence, setbacks, death and creative inspirations. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this experience in the Black Hills. I was working on my third Knucklehead chopper tech, and something dawned on me. I just turned 75 and beheld all the cool stuff I can do this year. I can build a modern S&S Knucklehead in a modified vintage frame with an old stock XA front end, including old and new parts. Then I can build a 1913 H-D board-track racer, because vintage shit is being manufactured all over the world. I can write another book, go to Bonneville with the Salt Torpedo, build metal art, work on my home in Sturgis, drive a lowered ’58 Chevy, learn the history of South Dakota and write cool articles on Bikernet every day! What could be better… Click here to read this report from Bandit, only on Bikernet.com * * * * * * * * * * * *

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Buell Super Cruiser Pre-Orders at over $100 Million

Combining the performance of a sports bike with the laid back nature of a cruiser Buell is grabbing attention with its Super Cruiser. It is a motorcycle model designed in collaboration with legendary motorcycle designer Roland Sands. Buell started taking pre-orders soon after they first unveiled the bike in February 2023. Not only has it received a tremendous demand but they got an “unprecedented support” for this new model. Six months after opening pre-orders for the Super Cruiser, Buell already amassed a whopping $120 million in pre-orders. This goes to show that neither motorcycling nor interest in the brand has waned over the years. Harley-Davidson must be restless, having sold this wonderful brand, trying to diminish its value.   According to Bill Melvin, the CEO of Buell, the demand for the new model marks a first for American V-Twins, “Americans love style, muscle, and performance. The Super Cruiser breaks the mold for all three, and the response shows that Buell simply nailed it. This is utterly unheard of for an American V-Twin.” Once the bike enters production in 2025, it’s anticipated to carry a retail price in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. About the specs– running on a 1,190cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected V-twin engine with a maximum power output of 175 horsepower and 101 pound-feet of torque — it rides on 17-inch wheels with fully adjustable suspension, and even adjustable handlebars and footpegs for any rider to tailor the ergonomics exactly to their liking. With a dry-weight of 450 pounds, it is surprisingly light for its power class, as an American V-twin. In a press release by the company, Bill Melvin highlighted the huge potential Buell holds in the market, “Now, the overwhelming demand for the Super Cruiser puts Buell on a trajectory for significant long-term growth. This ramp-up will be

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Airtech Labor Day Sale

Here is a chance to save some money!!! 30% off can be pretty substantial, be sure to take advantage of this sale! Order soon! This sale ends on Tuesday, 9/5 at 5PM! So take a look at our website, find the parts you want, call us to see how much we can save you… https://www.airtech-streamlining.com/ Tell ’em Bikernet.com Sent Ya ! Hello again, again AirTech fans! Use this discount code!! Email us with code: 91-30 to start saving today! Email: office@motobody.com Our production team is killing it with both their manufacturing and shipping efficiency, so now seems like the perfect time for another sale! We’ve decided to offer a 20% discount to everyone! Spread the word! Of course, you guys as our newsletter subscribers get that extra 10% on top of that! Making your total savings a whopping 30% off! What a great opportunity to jump on for this weekend! Find the parts you’ve been needing and give us a call on Monday or Tuesday! Bossman wanted to make sure the sale lasts through the end of the day on Tuesday.  

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Game Over Cycles 1st Polish Bike Show

by Chris Bienkiewicz, Game Over Cycles Organized as part of the Polish Bike Week The 1st Karpacz Custom Bike Show 2023 was a custom competition organized by HD Tour, the organizer of Polish Bike Week, and Game Over Cycles, the most acclaimed Polish custom company, whose machines have been awarded at the world’s largest and most prestigious events. Check out the details and list of winners in this photo feature – click here. * * * * * * * * To Stay updated on all Motorcycle News and Events … – simply Click & Subscribe to Bikernet’s FREE Weekly Newsletter.

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New Book Review coming soon

Bandit is  digging into this book and build from Dave and we will bring you a preview in tommorrow’s weekly Thursday News — the most comprehensive motorcycle news coverage on the planet. I also stuck my last copy of Chopper Hobo in there for you. It is a small book, 200 pages with 176 photos, so it’s a fairly quick read. I ain’t meaning to load you up with all my gibberish, but I thought I’d put that one in for you cuz that way the Chopper Hobo Rises from the Ashes book makes more sense, instead of like walking into a theater in the middle of the movie. I was homeless on the chopper for 18 months, from September 1981 to March 15 1983. But instead of being just a regular bum, I was more of the hobo type, cuz I worked when I could, while I rode acrost the western US of A. And I took lots of pictures back then and had a decent camera, a 1979 Canon AE-1 35 mm. And the best thing about that camera was I could always get 50 bucks for it in the pawn shops, hahaha. Hope you enjoy the books and as I pointed out before, your life was waaaaaaay more exciting than what I did, so I hope it don’t bore ya too much. Here’s my latest build, the 67 built during the covid shutdown, and this is the same 67 that is in the big book when it was Old Yellow — David Pittman Click & know more about Bikernet’s Free Weekly Newsletter

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Serious Hope by Bandit

Rogue, Kirk Willard and I and thousands of other guys have been fighting for motorcyclists’ rights for decades. We continue to fight, but lots of brothers and sisters don’t pay attention. By now most folks are aware of the green movement and what it’s doing to the Fossil Fuel industry, hell even the meat industry. Their problem and their worst fear is that they are wrong. So, what did they do? They called anyone who didn’t agree a denier. We’re grubby bikers, we deny everything and fuck you, if you don’t like it. So let’s cut to the chase. They are wrong and the movement to point out how wrong is growing. I’ve been pushing and looking for solutions for over a decade. Recently, with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation at my back I came up with a congressional resolution. I was and is a fight for every kid on the planet, who needs to know the truth and who should know we are living in the Best off Times, not the worst. This last week became incredibly significant. I can’t say it loud enough. Throughout this year we have tried to find someone who would shove our resolution in front of Congress and force a hearing. We finally found support with Senator Rounds office in South Dakota. Week before last we faced a major setback. Montana lost a court case. It could impact the entire energy industry in Montana and send a very negative message across the country. The problem with this entire effort is not the facts, the science or the truth, it’s guts. The world and politicians on both sides of the isle are being bullied and paid off. No one wants to step up and say, “Sorry, but we’re not doomed.” So, what happened in the last

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Part 4: Cabana Dan’s Early Projects

by Bandit with photos from Weed and Cabana Dan 1914 H-D Twin Engine Rebuild and the 1912 Single Venture It’s Memorial Day 2023. There’s a jammin’ bike show happening in Deadwood. Dan’s hands are full with Sturgis Museum projects. I’m trying like hell to understand Outlaw Justice, my second book and proof reading each page for reprinting. I’m also building a Knucklehead chop and searching for a 1913 twin engine. Click here to read this photo feature article only on Bikernet.com * * * * * * * * * * * * We bring the motorcycling community together. Join us. Click & Subscribe today!

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