by Bandit with photos from Wrench and Dr. Hamster so far…
We’re Close to Heading Out
First, we discovered we needed a battery shut-off that could be accessed from the outside of the body. How the hell did we miss that? We also needed the same for the ignition. We decided to combine the two with a monster switch from a major auto-racing site.
A rally Torpedo meeting took place on Wednesday afternoon, after the HOF Breakfast, while Micah, our pilot was in town.
We attended the Ugly MC dinner for the best food during the rally on Tuesday, and then the brothers came to the Bikernet shop in Boulder Canyon for the meeting after the Sturgis Museum Hall of Fame breakfast Wednesday morning. Micah is a member of the Ugly’s
Harley-Davidson and Post Malone collaborate on Limited Edition Apparel Collection
Post Malone x Harley-Davidson Launches as Part of Harley-Davidson’s H-D Collections on the Same Day as his Fifth Full Length Album Austin
MILWAUKEE (July 28, 2023) – Harley-Davidson and GRAMMY® Award-nominated, 8x RIAA diamond-certified global superstar Post Malone, teamed up for the first time to create a limited-edition apparel collection. The collection is a celebration of Post’s love for the iconic brand.
With the most RIAA diamond-certified singles from any artisan a brazen style all his own, Post Malone shines unlike any other singer-songwriter of our generation. The garments in the collection are as bold and clean as the polished brightwork on his custom chrome Harley-Davidson® Low Rider ST motorcycle.
Available as part of Harley-Davidson’s H-D® Collections, a grouping of unique lifestyle apparel lines, the Post Malone® x Harley-Davidson® collection is a combination of collaborative partner branding, clean and contemporary text designs, chrome treatments, and halftone graphics that either pay homage to or directly pull from classic H-D imagery. Collection highlights include a “Chrome Malone” tee, hoodie, and pant; the iconic Harley-Davidson bar and shield set chrome flame badge tees, a studded vest and pant set, and accessories like horsepower leather gloves and a flame badge silver chain.
“I’m beyond pumped to share this collab with Harley-Davidson! After a lot of work and love, we’re so proud of what we’ve created,” said Post Malone.
This coming Friday, July 28th Post will release his highly anticipated fifth full-length record Austin via Mercury Records/Republic Records. The album, self-titled after Post’s legal name, is a guitar heavy offering which features his already released songs, “Chemical,” “Mourning” and “Overdrive,” as well as 14 additional new tracks.
On Tuesday, July 18, Post Malone teased the collection by wearing the white tee featuring the Chrome flame Harley-Davidson logo during his performance at TSX Entertainment in the heart of New York City. He was the first artist in history to perform there, treating eager fans to an exclusive pre-listing party of his forthcoming album, Austin.
What an interesting day, week closing in on the Rally. I can’t wait. I’ve watched tents, displays, new signage sprout up all over the town of Sturgis. The 120th rocked Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago, and I’m trying to access whether the brothers are coming here and how the anniversary might impact the 83rd rally.
It’s all going to be fun and exciting to watch. Let’s hit the news.
A Book Review by J J Solari that kicks some sense & hits you with wit & wisdom
The book doesn’t have long paean – look it up – to the nobleness of destitution, suffering or sadness…… nor long tirades against the relentless oppression of the government and “the greedy corporations” and Man’s inhumanity to trees or anything else remotely whiney.
This utter lack of depressing content and mega overdoses of relentless can-do-ness CAN be upsetting to some readers who demand to be driven to despair via their reading material.
Brothers and sisters all over the world are on the road. It’s that time of year and the Sturgis motorcycle rally is coming up fast.
I’ve sorta decided to reduce the number of projects I have. It’s tough, but there’s only so much time in a day. Unfortunately, the ’48 UL may need to go. It’s a classic, but I’m trying to hang onto the bikes I was directly involved it or built.
Make me an offer if you’re interested. It’s a classic.
I’m building two bikes currently. One is a 1913 twin Harley board track racer, and I just scored some more parts. Billy Lane wants me to bring it to Tennessee and race it against his 1912 Twin. He knows the secrets to making them fast. But I told him I would kick his ass, if I can find a Sifton cam and a small Mikuni carb. Hang on.
Today suddenly turned significant. The Prism gang reminded me that today marks the first day of the Harley 120th Homecoming.
In the meantime, I’m trying to get us registered for the BMST. I spoke to Drew Gatewood and then Delvene Manning. All is going to be sorted out. My VL, XA, FL Knucklehead project isn’t going to make it for the rally.
Catherine Palmer reminded me of our 5-Ball trophies and shot glasses, which were hand blown in San Pedro.
Don’t forget to join your local motorcycle rights group and continue to Ride Free Forever!
FACTORY HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDER KYLE WYMAN TOPS ALL-HARLEY KING OF THE BAGGERS PODIUM ON SUNDAY AT LAGUNA SECA
Vance & Hines/Harley-Davidson racer Hayden Gillim wins on Saturday
MILWAUKEE (July 10, 2023) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Kyle Wyman topped an all-Harley-Davidson podium on Sunday in the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California. Wyman led from start to finish in the 8-lap race on the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycle to claim his fifth win of the season. Vance & Hines/Mission Foods teammates James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim finished second and third on Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles. With the win, Kyle Wyman preserved his championship points lead in the series.
“I really wanted to get a good start today to get out front and control the pace,” said Wyman. “I was feeling pressure from Rispoli in the second half of the race, and I know James would not hesitate to take his shot at a pass, so I made sure to not give him that opportunity. It’s really great to see Harley-Davidson lock up the podium today.”
Wyman opened the weekend by topping the first qualifying session on Friday with a new King of the Baggers track record lap of 1:28.586. On Saturday Wyman won the three-lap King of the Baggers Challenge race, besting second place Gillim by 1.462 seconds.
In the Saturday feature race, Wyman dogged race leader Tyler O’Hara on the Factory Indian motorcycle before passing for the lead in Turn 2 on lap 5. O’Hara passed Wyman back to take the lead on the last lap but crashed on the entrance to the last turn of the race. Wyman fell behind him and both riders slid off the track as Gillim, Rispoli, and Sacramento Mile/Roland Sands Indian rider Bobby Fong took advantage. O’Hara and Wyman both managed to pick up their bikes and cross the finish line, O’Hara in fourth place and Wyman in ninth place. Gillim finished first, 2.919 seconds ahead of Rispoli, with Fong in third place. Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Travis Wyman finished in seventh place on his Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle.
On Sunday roles were reversed, as Kyle Wyman took the lead from the pole position with O’Hara chasing in second place, followed by Rispoli and Gillim. O’Hara fell off the pace on lap 4 and was passed by both Vance & Hines riders. Rispoli closed to within a fraction of a second on Wyman but never had an opportunity to attempt a pass. O’Hara finished fourth. Travis Wyman was sixth on the Factory Harley-Davidson® Road Glide®.
After eight of 14 races in the 2023 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Kyle Wyman leads the championship with 148 points, followed by Rispoli with 143 points, and Gillim with 130 points. O’Hara sits in fourth place with 107 points. Travis Wyman is in 10th place with 59 points.
The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team returns to action July 28-30 in the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Minnesota at Brainerd International Raceway near Brainerd, Minn.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Laguna Seca Race 1
Bobby Fong (Ind) Sacramento Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands
Frankie Garcia (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Kole King (H-D) King Performance
Patricia Fernandez-West (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Eric Stahl (H-D) Jiffy Tune Racing
Danny Spina (H-D) Flex CBD
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.
Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
Graham Sykes had a passion for speed for most of his life. He has been associated with motorsports since 1979 and turns 60 years old in 2023. Even his wife is involved in the engineering efforts of this engineer.
Sykes has created a steam-powered monster named ‘Force of Nature’ which clocked a 3.878-second, 163.8 mph standing start run on a 1/8 mile. This was at Elvington Speed Week in May 2023.
This is officially a new world record for a steam-powered motorcycle. It reached an exit speed of 163.8 miles per hour.
For racing this unique creation, water is heated using hydrogenated vegetable oil, keeping the pursuit of speed as environmentally friendly as possible. The granddad rider was zooming at 180mph while doing this, but that wasn’t part of this record-breaking achievement. It may not be surprising that he was riding his own ‘force’.
Certified by the UK and ITA governing body for UK and European Land Speed Records this machine was a journey that was 10 years in the making. Sykes had already set a British national speed record in 2015 for a three-wheeled vehicle. That V8-powered three-wheeler had a top speed of 180.3 mph with an average speed of 171.4 mph on quarter mile.
With 9 grand-kids, Sykes wanted to aim for a ‘Force of Nature’ that was environmentally friendly. He has no intention to stop the pursuit of speed and action. His next goal is to surpass the milestone of 200 mph on a standing 1/8-mile run.
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..
