rally

Gearhead’s Trike Story

by Tim Graves with photos from Sam Burns That old trike was a real Frankenstein’s monster. She was the back end of a Corvair of a 1960 vintage and a front end of a Honda CB 500. She had a full-size keg gas tank on the chariot bed over the engine. The driver seat was a plastic Baja bucket. The passenger seat was none. Just a little history of what started me on the biker’s road. Click Here to Read this Photo Feature Article only on Bikernet. Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

Gearhead’s Trike Story Read More »

Event Update for Laconia Motorcycle Week

June 12th-20th, 2021 – New Hampshire – home to America’s Original Riding Rally This year’s Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week® promises to be bigger and better than last year’s pandemic-postponed event. The changing guidelines dictated by the response to COVID 19 and subsequent vaccines have made planning for this year’s rally a challenge but we’re proud to announce that all the popular events rally goers have experienced in the past will be back. In addition to the Hill Climb Expo up Tower Street on June 15th and the Gunstock Amateur Hill Climb on June 16th, the week will feature several rides and “gypsy tours,” a nod to the origins of the rally, when a group of riders, over 100 years ago, first made the trek to Laconia. The 15th Annual Peter Makris Memorial Ride to NHMS takes place on Saturday, June 12, featuring a police escorted ride around Lake Winnipesaukee and a return to the NASWA resort for lunch and entertainment. On Sunday, June 13th, the AMA Gypsy Tour to NHMS for USCRA Vintage Races begins at 10:30 AM on Lakeside Avenue. Participants will get a 50% discount on race tickets for the day and a free lap around the track at NH Motor Speedway. Monday, June 14th features the Mae-West Memorial Ride. Riders meet at 8:30 AM at Rally Headquarters for a scenic ride through local towns and ending at NH Motor Speedway. All proceeds benefit local animal shelters. The popular Covered Bridge Gypsy Tour leaves Weirs Beach at 10:30 AM for a 170 mile guided tour to at least 6 covered bridges throughout scenic New Hampshire. Three more rides originate from Laconia on Thursday, June 17th. The Ride to the Sky guided tour to the base of Mount Washington leaves (from Laconia Harley-Davidson) at 9 AM and the We

Event Update for Laconia Motorcycle Week Read More »

New Beginnings Bikernet Weekly News for May 20, 2021

Hey, This is a momentous day in the Badlands. Bandit and the Redhead have escaped to the Badlands. This effort was a mixture of organization, money, stress, and perseverance. Someone said I should write a story about the move. At the time, the thought of it terrified me, but I suppose I’m getting to the point… I needed to finish the job first. I will mention one item that was paramount: Coordination. You could do us a major big favor and share the news with anyone and everyone. We work hard on the news every week and I believe it covers motorcycle related news and freedom news worldwide. You could help a lot, by grabbing the link and sharing it with the world. Hang on for more reports, and keep freedom alive, forever. –Bandit Click Here to read the Weekly News on Bikernet. Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

New Beginnings Bikernet Weekly News for May 20, 2021 Read More »

Annual Steel Horse Rally at Arkansas

When 20,000 motorcyclists converged on Fort Smith in Arkansas for the annual Steel Horse Rally, Meridian Rapid Defense Group was there to ensure a safe and memorable event. Large parts of the downtown needed to be closed off to cars and trucks but still left open for the bikers to enter and that’s where Meridian’s Archer 1200 barriers were the perfect fit. https://www.thesteelhorserally.com/ The Steel Horse Rally is a motorcycle gathering held on Fort Smith’s Garrison Avenue to benefit local charities. This year again, more than $100,000 was raised and an estimated $4.2 million of revenue flowed into city business over the two day rally in May. Meridian’s CEO Peter Whitford said, “In this situation with a huge number of motorcycles and crowds on the streets, safety was of the utmost importance. By correct placement of our barriers, we were able ensure that cars and trucks were kept out of the mix.” Meridian’s fully certified deployment team moved in with Archer barriers and quickly secured the street. The barriers, which carry the full certification of The SAFETY Act and each are made of 700 lbs of U.S. steel, were set far enough apart that bikes could easily pass through while larger vehicles were blocked from entering the rally area. The Archer barrier can be moved by one person and can stop a vehicle hitting it head-on at speed. Capt. Daniel Grubbs from the Fort Smith Police Department explained that security was a big factor, “We set out to ensure the safety of the motorcycle riders and the general public during this event.” Before the event Meridian worked with the city and organizers to prepare a fully certified vehicle safety mitigation plan. “The rally was all about people enjoying themselves safely,” said Mr. Whitford. “And, importantly, raising money for local charities.

Annual Steel Horse Rally at Arkansas Read More »

Historical Perspective Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week

June 12th-20th, 2021 – New Hampshire – home to America’s Original Riding Rally After a COVID-hobbled rally in 2020, Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week® returns to New Hampshire for its 98th year, June 12 – 20. Ninety-eight years is a long time, longer than most of us have been alive, so you can imagine there are stories to tell about the world’s oldest motorcycle rally. If you’re doing the math, you’ll have to take into account the 7 years the rally wasn’t held to come up with 1916. This was the year a few hundred motorcyclists, organized by central and southern New England motorcycle dealers, traveled north for a “gypsy tour” to Weirs Beach. Who would have known this would mark the beginnings of a tradition that would span a century? The tour was first sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists in 1917 and when the FAM disbanded in 1919, the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA) took over the sanction until 1924, when the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) was formed. Back then, the weekend event centered around races and hill climbs. The number of participants grew each year as did the event’s duration. Over time, the rally blossomed into a week-long event, eventually suffering in attendance and popularity after getting wrapped up in the upheavals of the 60’s. The rally reverted to a 3-day weekend and would remain so until 1991, when organizers revived the week-long event after seeing the success of Sturgis’ 50th Anniversary Rally in 1990. Laconia Motorcycle Week reclaimed the support of local businesses and the AMA as a week-long rally and the oldest gypsy tour in the country. Today, Laconia Motorcycle Week® is a much-expanded version of the early “gypsy tour” years, offering attendees lots of fun, food, music and, of course, countless miles of

Historical Perspective Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week Read More »

Historic Off-Road Show at the Harley-Davidson Museum

by Skyler Chun from https://www.milwaukeemag.com Preview: A Historic Show at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Learn all about the history of off-road motorcycling at the Harley-Davidson Museum. A new exhibit – about the storied past of off-road motorcycles and the people who rode them – has rolled into the Harley-Davidson Museum. “There’s a deep history here with this type of riding,” exhibits curator David Kreidler says, adding that the company has long made special motorcycles designed to be ridden across difficult terrain. After all, when the company was founded in 1903, roads weren’t widely paved, and riders needed to be able to maneuver their bikes across rutted earth, or dodge fallen logs and debris. The “Off-Road Harley-Davidson” exhibit was created to coincide with the introduction of the Pan America adventure-touring motorcycle. One of the highlights of the exhibit, “Off-Road Harley-Davidson,” is the LiveWire, the company’s first all-electric motorcycle. The bike was featured prominently in the Apple TV+ show “Long Way Up,” which followed Ewan McGregor and his friend motorbiking from South America to Los Angeles. Older bikes are also on display. While the museum is open to the public, it’s planning virtual events as well. To replicate the experience of walking through the galleries, Kridler will lead tours of the exhibit space that viewers can access online if they’d rather not visit in person. “Off-Road Harley-Davidson” looks back at Harley’s history of all-terrain motorcycles. Visit the Harley-Davidson webpage for more information. “Off-Road Harley-Davidson” exhibit celebrates the company’s past by Mark Gardiner from https://www.revzilla.com To celebrate the launch of its Pan America adventure bike, The Motor Company recently mounted a lovely exhibit called “Off-Road Harley-Davidson” at its museum in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, just as the exhibit was due to open to the public, a surge in COVID cases forced Milwaukee County to close museums!

Historic Off-Road Show at the Harley-Davidson Museum Read More »

Harley-Davidson Hometown Rally in Milwaukee Labor Day weekend

Harley-Davidson hosting a Hometown Rally in Milwaukee Labor Day weekend by Sarah Hauer from https://www.jsonline.com/ Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders are being invited back to Milwaukee this summer for a Hometown Rally during Labor Day weekend. Harley-Davidson, Inc. announced Wednesday it would host the Hometown Rally from Sept. 2 to 6 after stepping back from large events in Milwaukee last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Harley-Davidson said the company’s museum at 400 W. Canal St., will serve as the central rally point with six nearby dealerships offering additional events. The Harley-Davidson Museum will have free live concerts, food and beverage sites, stunt exhibitions and skills demonstrations across its 20-acre campus during the rally. The museum will also show off 2021 motorcycles. Born Free and V-Twin Visionary will host motorcycle showcases. The museum will be open for general admission. “The Hometown Rally is an event no Harley-Davidson fan will want to miss,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson, in a news release. “It will be a celebration of all things Harley, a chance to re-connect with other riders who share the desire for adventure, freedom and community that is the real heart of the Harley-Davidson experience.” Around 100,000 people attend the company’s Milwaukee events in anniversary years and the crowd is smaller in off years like this one — the company’s 118th anniversary. Hometown Rally schedules will be finalized throughout the summer with updates at H-D.com/hometownrally. Participating dealerships include House of Harley-Davidson in Greenfield, Milwaukee Harley-Davidson, Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson in Thiensville, Uke’s Harley-Davidson in Kenosha, West Bend Harley-Davidson and Wisconsin Harley-Davidson in Oconomowoc. The Milwaukee Rally was one of the few events that weren’t canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local dealerships took the lead in planning the annual celebration. The motorcycle company did not host any

Harley-Davidson Hometown Rally in Milwaukee Labor Day weekend Read More »

The Spring Action Bikernet Weekly News for May 13, 2021

Action on All Fronts! I started out in this industry working on bikes and then as the manager of ABATE National fighting for freedom. I was maybe 23. I’m still fighting for the freedom to ride fossil fuel machines. Fighting for Freedom has always felt like fighting for the truth. I haven’t run into a situation yet when the truth didn’t coincide with freedom. News from Norton motorcycles revival, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, 5-Ball Leathers, Yamaha & Ducati supply stuck, Paughco, Arch Motorcycles, Fandango, Harley-Davidson Hometown Rally, AMVETS Rolling to Remember Rally gets parking, ABATE Idaho and Illinois, NMA, Laconia Motorcycle Week, Twisted Road, more. Let’s party and ride Free forever. –Bandit Click Here to read the Weekly News on Bikernet. Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

The Spring Action Bikernet Weekly News for May 13, 2021 Read More »

Update from Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week

Come Ride in NH – Laconia Motorcycle Week, June 12th-20th, 2021 – New Hampshire – home to America’s Original Riding Rally® https://laconiamcweek.com/ Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week® returns to the Lakes Region this June 12-20 for its 98th year. Over a quarter of a million riders are expected to attend this year after a pandemic-induced postponement to last year’s rally. The event is host to a full week of music, vendor exhibits, racing and, of course, riding. Although Motorcycle Week centers around Weirs Beach, you’ll find riders in every corner of the state, from the seacoast to the White Mountains. That’s because New Hampshire’s scenery, fresh air and accessibility are unmatched. Riders can cruise through the mountains, the state’s famed covered bridges, iconic lakes and along the seacoast, all within a matter of hours. Try that anywhere else! And unlike other events that draw such large crowds, and with that- traffic, residents and businesses embrace this uniquely New Hampshire tradition. By conservative estimates, the week-long event brings over 100 million dollars to the state’s economy each year. Restaurants, hotels, fuel & liquor sales across the state see a huge boost. It is a catalyst for countless tourism dollars, especially helpful because it occurs during the spring season, before the bustle of summer kicks in. Whether you’re a Motorcycle Week veteran or a first-time attendee, Laconia Motorcycle Week® invites you to experience the thrill of the world’s oldest motorcycle rally®. Come see history in the making as we count down to 100. Come ride in New Hampshire! Laconia Motorcycle Week® gives great appreciation to all of our sponsors, especially our Presenting Sponsors: Progressive, AMSOIL and Team Motorcycle, as well as the State of New Hampshire for their large financial support of our rally each year. For more information about visiting the state

Update from Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week Read More »

Controversial MMA League Returns to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Lingerie Fighting Championships to Perform Three Shows at the Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s 40th Anniversary. Lingerie Fighting Championships, Inc. announced today they have been booked to perform three events at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip during the closing weekend of the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD. “We are extremely excited to be returning to the Chip for a second straight year,” CEO Shaun Donnelly says. “We had so much fun last year but only had one complaint – one show just wasn’t enough! So, this year we’re doing three.” The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is the largest motorcycle rally in the world. This year’s event will be the 81st annual, which also makes it one of the longest running in the country. “We’re expecting this to be the most attended rally ever,” says Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff. “We’re so happy to have Lingerie Fighting Championships back for our 40th anniversary.” The Lingerie Fighting Championships join an outstanding lineup of entertainment that includes Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Shinedown, P.O.D. and many others. This year’s rally is expected to be especially impactful as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic eager for a party. “Even with the pandemic and the precautions we had to take last year, our fighters had an amazing time,” Donnelly says. “Making their entrances on the back of custom bikes was just too cool not to want to do it again.” The events, LFC32, LFC33 and LFC34 will take place Thursday, Aug. 12, Friday, Aug. 13 and Saturday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. each night in the venue’s amphitheater prior to the headlining main stage concerts. Anyone wishing to watch the events may do so for free with a Buffalo Chip campground admission pass. For campground admission passes to see the LFC show live at the Sturgis

Controversial MMA League Returns to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Read More »

Scroll to Top