Hey,
You’ll see in the news wild announcements. The Authorities shut down Las Vegas Bike Fest and Daytona Biketoberfest, but we’re still rocking in Sturgis.
It’s going to be a helluva test. I hope like hell no one gets sick. I don’t see a lot of mask wearing in these parts. This might be the only run this year. I’ve got LA brothers who still want to make it out. The opinions are all over the map. Some folks think it’s cool. Some folks need to make the money. Some folks think we’ll have an outbreak after the rally and are pissed off. I know of stores that will be completely closed during the rally.
One thing is for certain. Whatever happens, we’ll experience it, deal with it and move on.
But wait, Laconia is still happening. I’m sure they will look long and hard at the Black Hills Rally.
Let’s hit the news.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.
LACONIA IS ON–We’re less than one month away!
Get ready, the 97th Laconia Motorcycle Week kicks off Saturday, August 22nd. If you haven’t booked your lodging accommodations yet, do so soon, as the summer temps have made New Hampshire’s Lakes Region a popular retreat from the heat. Expect a toned down version of the country’s oldest motorcycle rally but with plenty of the food, fun and rides you’ve come to expect.
Safety is our #1 priority
As you can imagine, there’s been a lot of zigging and zagging in the planning for this year’s rally. First, of course, we’ve postponed the event from our traditional June dates and later adapted to all the regulations and restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, things will look a little different.
We will encourage all attendees to wear a face mask when not riding and have teamed up with sanitization experts, Nano Coating Technologies, LLC (NCT NH) to assist us in disinfecting public surfaces as well as Partnership for Public Health of NH to promote COVID safety guidelines, such as frequent hand-washing/sanitizing and maintaining appropriate social distance.
Some events, like the popular Gunstock Hill Climb have been postponed to 2021 and vendor booths will be limited to non-profit organizations such as Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, the VFW, Laconia Kiwanis Club and Laconia Rotary Club to help minimize large gatherings.
While there will be less souvenir offerings as well as food and beverage options, nearly all restaurants, bars and hotels will be in full operation.
Expect a lot to remain unchanged
Despite all this, many of the things we all love about this event will remain the same. Nearby New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host races all week long, capped off by the 97th Annual Loudon Classic, August 28-30th.
The Gypsy tours and charity rides that attract hundreds are happening daily as well as entertainment at local establishments like the NASWA Resort, Patio Garden, Winnipesaukee Marketplace, and Tower Hill Tavern. Stay updated with all happenings including event changes by visiting LaconiaMCWeek.com daily.
POLARIS 2020 Second Quarter Results – “Far Above Our Expectations”
Polaris has unveiled second quarter results that CFO Mike Speetzen described as nothing short of “far above our expectations” as the better than anticipated performance of the motorcycle and wider powersports markets during the pandemic lockdowns starts to translate into filings.
For Q2, the company’s reported and adjusted sales decreased 15% to $1,512m and $1,510m, respectively. The company reported a second quarter 2020 net loss of $235m. Second quarter reported net loss was $3.82 per share; adjusted net income for the same period was $1.30 per share.
North American retail sales increased 57% for the quarter compared to last year, with both ORV and Motorcycle retail sales up significantly.
Dealer inventory levels decreased 47%, given the strong retail sales growth and lower shipments resulting from the COVID-19 related temporary suspension of production during the quarter.
consumer retail sales for Indian Motorcycle increased mid-teens percent
Evaluation of the company’s aftermarket goodwill and other intangibles resulted in a pre-tax $379m non-cash impairment charge taken during the quarter. Operating expenses, excluding the impairment charge, decreased 15%, given the substantial reduction in discretionary and non-essential spending in response to the pandemic crisis.
Polaris’ liquidity profile remains solid with debt/EBITDA below three times and total liquidity of $1.2bn at quarter end; Polaris re-initiated full year 2020 sales and adjusted earnings guidance with full year adjusted earnings in the range of $6.40 to $6.60 per diluted share and full year sales in the range of $6.650bn to $6.750bn.
Scott Wine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Inc., stated: “Polaris’ second quarter results significantly outperformed expectations, once again demonstrating the resiliency and dedication of our global team.
“We overcame a near complete shutdown of our dealers and the U.S. economy early in the quarter to capitalize on unprecedented retail demand for our motorcycles and off-road vehicles through May, June and now July. Our broad array of best-in-class products provided an attractive social distancing solution for both existing, and encouragingly, a wide range of new powersports customers.
Retail demand accelerated throughout the quarter, benefiting company performance as both new and existing customers took advantage of off-road vehicles and motorcycles to enjoy the outdoors while maintaining social distancing etiquette, partially mitigating the COVID-19 driven economic slowdown.
Motorcycles segment sales, including PG&A, totaled $141m, down 28% compared to the second quarter of 2019, driven by decreased sales of both Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot. Polaris motorcycles segment sales were down driven by the COVID-19 related temporary suspension of production that impacted shipments primarily in April.
Gross profit for the motorcycle sector for second quarter was $4m compared to $23m in the second quarter of 2019.
North American consumer retail sales for Indian Motorcycle increased mid-teens percent during the second quarter of 2020 in a weak mid to heavy-weight two-wheel motorcycle industry that was down high-teens percent.
North American consumer retail sales for Polaris’ Motorcycles segment, including both Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot, increased low-twenties percent during the second quarter of 2020, while the North American motorcycle industry retail sales for mid to heavy-weight motorcycles, including three-wheel vehicles, was down high-teens percent in the second quarter of 2020.
Despite the strong retail sales, Polaris Motorcycles segment sales were down driven by COVID-19 related temporary suspension of production during the quarter.
The 2020 second quarter net loss includes a $379m pre-tax, non-cash goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges related to the company’s aftermarket business, principally Transamerican Auto Parts (TAP).
Gross profit decreased 24% to $333m for the second quarter; reported gross profit margin was 22.0% of sales.
2020 Business Outlook – The company re-initiated its sales and adjusted earnings guidance for the full year 2020. Adjusted net income is expected to be in the range of $6.40 to $6.60 per diluted share for the full year 2020 compared to adjusted net income of $6.32 per diluted share for 2019. Sales are now expected to be in the range of $6.650bn to $6.750bn, flat to down two percent compared to 2019 adjusted sales of $6,783m, due to the pandemic-driven plant shutdown in the second quarter 2020.
Posted by DealerWorld
TRIP REPORT FROM THE TWISTED ROAD–Before my hands so much as touched a throttle, I knew one day I would ride the Pacific Coast Highway. It was a bucket list item, something I let motivate me as I stumbled through my motorcycle license course, something I dreamed of as I took my first Harley home—white knuckling the grips—and something I saved for over the years, waiting and planning for the right time.
That time came last October in the form of Babes Ride Out, an all-women’s camping event happening in Santa Margarita – another bucket list item for me.
With a full-time corporate career, two dogs at home, and a budget, making the trip happen wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. My most pressing concern? Snagging a motorcycle rental. But what I expected to be a daunting, expensive, and complicated experience ultimately turned out to be seamless, budget-friendly, and life changing.
With that, I’d like to welcome you to blog numero tres, in which I share a little bit of the story of the best trip of my life and how Twisted Road was instrumental in making it happen.
The Plan
The moment my mind was made up and flights had been booked, I knew that securing a bike would be my biggest headache, what with Harley’s rental program Eagle Rider being a constant over-priced, limited option pain in my ass, and the Riders Share platform so limited in their offerings. My plan was to fly into L.A., rent a motorcycle, and ride it along the PCH to Santa Margarita, where I would ride sunup to sundown for three days with thousands of other women, then make the trek back.
I needed a bike that I could ride comfortably for many hours over the course of four days; something nimble for California lane splitting, fast enough to have fun on the twisties, light enough to maneuver through rough terrain, all without compromising my incredibly important cool-kid aesthetic. I present to you the Triumph T120 Black, otherwise known as the one that got away. But we’ll save that story for another time.
Late at night, just a few short weeks from the impending trip, I was looking at my options when I found Twisted Road, basically the Airbnb of motorcycles. Sexy interface, smooth online user experience, and a bounty of great bikes. Unlike Eagle Rider and Riders Share, Twisted Road seemed to have the most diversity in their offerings, both in bike style and price. There were sport bikes of every brand, a surprising number of restored classics, and even a few cutting edge new-to-the-market bikes. But I was there for the cruisers, and boy did I find them.
Sportsters galore, some stock, some altered with Vance & Hines exhausts, Biltwell handlebars, one even decorated as a Wonder Woman bike. And then I found her. The ultimate all black Triumph T120, upgraded exhaust, bars, suspension, heated grips, and beautiful seat. It was love at first sight. I booked it immediately.
The Twisted Roads rental was incredibly simple, I submitted my info and got an email shortly after from the Twisted Road folks, letting me know I had been approved. I liked how they have an approval process for the protection of both the renters and the owners. They connected me with the owner of the bike I’d be renting, and we made plans for my pickup.
The Trip
I flew into L.A. on a Thursday morning, hitched an Uber ride to Long Beach, and met up with Paul at his photography studio. Walking in, I saw the Bonnie lifted up, a smiley face made of duct tape on the headlight. Good vibes all around. Paul and I inspected the bike together, a requirement of Twisted Road, then got to talking about my trip. About five minutes in, we decided Paul had to play hooky for the day to teach me how to lane split in California, take me up some twisties, and ride with me to my first stop – Neptune’s Net.
The foundation of Twisted Road is laid by available bike rentals worldwide, but the heart and soul of the company is in how it builds, strengthens, and grows the motorcycle community. Paul and I became instant friends – connected by our deep love for two wheels and the open road, our need for the freedom only motorcycles can provide, and a passion for adventure.
Me and Paul at Neptune’s Net
There was magic in the air as soon as we hit the pavement together. Riding in California is a trip – cars parting for you like the mythical sea— the taste of the ocean on your tongue and the smell of distant mountains filling your helmet. A hundred times in the first hour I thought “I could spend the rest of my life just riding this one highway”.
We made it to Neptune’s Net, most noted for it’s appearance in the end scene in the Fast and the Furious, but known to me as the pit stop for bikers in need of classic fish and chips overlooking the ocean. Paul and I couldn’t help but reenact the scene before stuffing our faces with salty, oceany goodness. We parted ways here, and I started my solo journey to a tiny town hundreds of miles away.
“Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively, unless you can choose a challenge instead of a competence.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
MRF 2020 FREEDOM FIGHTERS’ HALL OF FAME Inductee Announcement–The Motorcycle Riders Foundation announces the 2020 Freedom Fighter Hall of Fame Inductees.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is pleased to release the names of the 2020 class of Inductees to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame (MRF HOF). These will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Minds conference September 25-26, in Indianapolis, Indiana. To include deserving activists from the motorcyclists’ rights community that have already been recognized elsewhere, the class of 2020 Legacy Inductees are:
Dick “Slider” Gilmore
Charles Umbenhauer
This year’s MRF HOF Class of 2020 – Freedom Fighter Inductees are:
Wanda Hummel-Shultz
“Biker” Jim Rhoades
Lee Ryan
Marc Falsetti
Gary Klinker
Charlie Williams
Dave Dwyer
“Radio” Bob Letourneau
“Farmer” John Eggers
Michael “Boz” Kerr
Past Motorcycle Riders Foundation Hall of Fame inductees are: Keith “Bandit” Ball, Mark Buckner, Wayne Curtin, Michael “Balls” Farabaugh, “Still” Ray Fitzgerald, Richard Gray, Bob Illingworth, Nathan “Buck” Kittredge, Ed Netterberg, Sherman Packard, Todd Vandermyde, Paul Vestal, Penny Walker, Ed Youngblood, Vince Consiglio, Fredric Harrell, Rodney Roberts, Simon Milward, JoAnne Packard, Karen Bolin, Lee Richardson, Jerry “JT” Thomas, and Teresa Hepker.
Congratulations to all from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Board of Directors.
About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.
UNSAFE ROADWAY MARKINGS -– Notice of Dangerous Conditions –A letter to the City Clerk – Nikolin Vangjeli,
City Hall Room 206 – 455 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
RE:: Roadway Markings – Notice of Dangerous Conditions – Public Records Request
Dear Clerk Vangjeli:
As communicated earlier last week by e-mail and phone conversation, a roadway danger and defect, for the citizen-biker owners and operators and their passengers, of the more than 2,800 Worcester registered motorcycles and 28,500+ in Worcester County, and others, as well as area bicyclists, pedestrians, and all other road way users, was created and allowed by the City of Worcester, on or about July 15 – 16, 2020, at and upon Major Taylor Boulevard.
The ‘danger’ and ‘defect’ was created by allowing use of an ‘epoxy’ highly slippery paint, especially and more so when moist and wet, without sufficient ‘grit’ to allow what our Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires in most of its proposals for road way repair / marking, that include marking or painting public roadways requiring “Material must be highly skid resistant and reflective, even on wet conditions and have glass beads throughout the material,” and may further to found to be in violation of requirements in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and Title 23 of the United States Code, in particular but not limited to Subpart F—Traffic Control Devices on Federal-Aid and Other Streets and Highways, and other Codes, and subject the City to loss of Federal funding for additional road maintenance and repair.
As such, this is Notice to the City of Worcester of this road way defect it and others created with the City’s allowance and resultant dangerous condition, and is a request to rectify and repair this dangerous and defective condition immediately, by the City and/or its Partners – by adding to the newly created road way markings – additional ‘grit’ and/or other ‘highly skid resistant’ materials to / upon the paintings, and, that road way signs being placed in front and in advance of the affected road way until such changes are made, warning users of the dangerous conditions created and / or detour temporarily until the defect and / or corrections are made.
While Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 84, Section 34 may limit the City to $5,000 exposure for bodily injury and property damages if claimed within the thirty (30) day ‘notice period’ required and if the “sole cause” of this defect is attributed, that limit may be challenged and it also exposes other partners who may be obliged to repair, under ordinary negligence principals, which such limit of damages is not available. It is requested the City give “notice” to such Partners of this potential financial exposure and request their cooperation in correcting the defects, for the safety and well being of all road users.
–Paul W. Cote
PWC/s
cc: City Manger, Edward M. Augustus, Jr., via E-Mail – CityManager@worcesterma.gov
Tim Garvin / United Way of Worcester via E-mail – tim.garvin@unitedwaycm.org,
FYI . . . after ALL that work . . . with lots of research and proof-reading help, timely communications . . .
resolution in principal reached today over the phone . . .
Within the next week, area will be covered with clear anti-skid high traction high grit content ‘traffic paint’ – per MA DOT specs – at no cost to City and safe(r) for all road users
. . . 
Thank YOU ALL for your help over these past three weeks – and the open ears of City Officials and United Way’s Tim Gavin leading to this resolution . . .
the DPW head rides . . . he 100% ‘knew’ this mural’s paint content was incorrect, for all road users . . .
Tim at the local United Way confirmed he had ‘fund money’ from the targeted project donations to pay the City for the redo . . .
We are getting what we want – no compromise – with some good will earned for future ‘motorcycle awareness’ messages . . .
Thank YOU for your review / oversite over these 3-weeks . . .
–Paul Cote
RED CROSS NEWS BRIEF–
Isaias became a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina last night. It was downgraded to a tropical storm this morning but is bringing threats of damaging winds, flash floods and tornadoes as it races through the Northeast. Earlier the storm impacted multiple states and U.S. territories, including Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is the ninth tropical storm and second hurricane of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. Our staff and volunteers are tirelessly working with partners to support individuals needing help in the aftermath.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross is also supporting evacuees impacted by recent wildfires like the Apple Fire in Southern California, providing assistance to families affected by Hurricane Hanna in Texas, and helping people after apartment fires and other local disasters across the country.
Red Cross volunteer does damage assessment
After disasters, Red Cross volunteers assess damage as part of relief efforts to support people in need.
Support our disaster efforts
Many families will face unimaginable hardship as hurricane and wildfire seasons collide with an ongoing pandemic. As our Senior Vice President of Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services has said, “The pandemic has required us to adapt and learn new ways to operate, but we know that people are counting on us now more than ever, and we’ll be there — albeit looking a little differently than in the past — to meet the need.”
Red Cross volunteers distribute relief items like water and clean-up kits to disaster-hit areas while following social distancing protocols.
It is because of supporters like you that we’re able to assist people in need during this unprecedented time. With this busy disaster season, your gifts help ensure that we can respond quickly when disasters strike, while maintaining the safety of our staff and the people we serve.
Our team’s ability to meet the needs of those suffering depends on you and your generous support. Please donate now to help the Red Cross prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. You’ll be giving hope and help to those who need it most.
Lauri Rhinehart
VP, Humanitarian Services
American Red Cross
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MEET EMMA AND NICK FROM LOWBROW–
After 25+ years in the industry, I’ve seen countless custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles and met many custom Harley builders . One thing that I’ve come to believe is that the Sportster is the most difficult HD model to get right.
Having the engine and transmission combined into one unit makes for a compact power plant which can be easily mis-proportioned with the rest of the motorcycle, ruining the entire look of the build.
When I spotted Emily Myers’ Sportster last year at Fuel Cleveland, I could see right away that Emily and her husband Nick shared my views on what a proper custom Sportster should look like. Tight lines, just the right components and no extra fat.
THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THEM
What really impressed me about this couple was that they both ride and wrench. Emily started riding when she was 16 on a Honda Rebel 250. Inspired by her grandmother who rode motorcycles, Emily said “I never wanted to just be the girl on the back of a bike. Getting my license was a huge confidence boost and made my self esteem rise.”
Nick began building bikes when he was in college, starting with a Yamaha XS that he turned into a chopper. From there he became a bike builder of Harley Davidsons, building another chopper, but this time using an Ironhead Sportster as the base.
After attending Fuel Cleveland for the first time, Emily knew she wanted to build a custom bike, but it wasn’t until Nick mentioned he was going to buy a wrecked Sportster that things started to come together.
Instead of letting Nick buy the bike, Emily stepped up and bought it herself. Then with the help of some of their friends, they tore the whole bike down in a day and the project officially got underway.
See the whole story on Lowbrow.
VETERANS’ NEWS FROM THE VA–
Working together to ensure Veteran food security
Here are valuable links to information about nutrition
A Veteran named “Shannon” spoke recently about the difficulties she encounters at her local corner store. She doesn’t have transportation to get to a grocery store or produce market. She’s in her late 20s and also has diabetes.
“I can get banana flavored-pudding, but I can’t get bananas,” she said.
Shannon has been hospitalized five times in past three months. She often did not have enough money for food or a place to reliably refrigerate her insulin. Shannon didn’t have a reliable place to refrigerate her insulin because she lacked stable housing, in part because she couldn’t get regular work. She couldn’t get regular work because she kept ending up in the hospital.
“Many Veterans like Shannon struggle with this cycle, but we have resources within VA to help,” says Dr. Alicia Cohen, VA primary care provider.
Food insecurity means you have problems accessing adequate nutrition due to financial issues, transportation or other problems.
Talking about access to nutritious food should be part of your health care.
Working to address the problem
VA’s Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) and the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) are working together to address Veterans’ hunger and food insecurity. They:
Screen Veterans for food insecurity during medical visits.
Train staff on resources and counseling for Veterans with food insecurity.
Educate clients on new SNAP eligibility and benefits.
VA and USDA know that it can be difficult to talk about this problem or how you’re struggling. VA wants to make it as easy as possible for Veterans and staff to open a conversation about it. Nutrition is fundamental to health and talking about access to nutrition should be part of your health care.
Pam Miller, FNS administrator, adds “Veterans are America’s heroes, and they deserve our fullest support. The USDA FNS team collaborates closely with VA to help combat food insecurity among Veterans. They also provide them with the skills or work experience they need for employment opportunities.”
Teams deliver access to food for Veterans
USDA FNS is the program that administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as “Food Stamps”). VHA NFS is the program that provides clinical nutrition care to Veterans enrolled in VA. Together, these offices work with a national VA multi-disciplinary team and leverage organizational partnerships to screen, refer and deliver direct access to food for Veterans.
To date, staff have screened over six million Veterans. Those who screen positive for food insecurity are offered referrals to VA clinicians for information. In approximately 50 VA medical centers, there is direct access for Veterans via VA food pantries through organizational partnerships, such as Feeding America.
This takes a village and the VHA has established agreements with Feeding America and MAZON a Jewish Response to Hunger. The national Ensuring Veterans Food Security Workgroup connects these groups to facilitate communication and resources.
Programs for rural Veterans
“Malnutrition is not just a problem for older or homeless Veterans. It can happen to any Veteran or family member at any time,” said Dr. Lynda Davis, VA’s Chief Veterans Experience Officer. “If this is a challenge for you or a Veteran you know, let us reach you with resources. Let us be of service to you and support others who have served.”
Additionally, the VA Office of Rural Health (ORH) implements a diverse range of programs that help improve the health and well-being of rural Veterans by increasing their access to care and services. These national programs research, innovate and disseminate new innovations to support the 2.7 million rural Veterans who are enrolled in and rely on VA’s health care system.
VHA NFS FOOD INSECURITY:
https://www.nutrition.va.gov/Food_Insecurity.asp
https://www.nutrition.va.gov/Recipes.asp
FIND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ABOUT SNAP:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility
FIND YOUR STATE AGENCY TO APPLY FOR SNAP:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory
FIND WHERE YOU CAN USE SNAP BENEFITS:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator
FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE SNAP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/et
USDA NATIONAL HUNGER HOTLINE NUMBER:
1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) and 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) or text 97779
Anne Utech, PhD, RDN, LD, works for the national director of Nutrition and Food Services.
SPEAKING OF HISTORY~ 101 YEARS AGO ~
2nd Annual Harley-Davidson Dealer Conference (during the Spanish Flu epidemic) circa 1919. Apparently masking up for a national dealer meeting really is a thing?
–Dealer News
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM–Since no one is really immune to what the Corona Virus has done to our favorite Spring and Summer activities, you can probably imagine how it has affected our Museum and staff, and certainly our visitors.
So, I wanted to take a minute to thank all of you who have stopped by to see the Museum again and have graciously cooperated with all the safety measures we have taken. As we are hearing daily each of us can act in certain ways to slow this beast until a cure is found, or thousands more of us will die.
Closed for eight weeks early in our peak season hurt in more ways than one. Hundreds called to check on us and see if the Museum was open and how Iowa was doing in the Pandemic. Now open again for about two months visitation is good. Staff are on the front lines to sanitize and to encourage safety, and most visitors are being smart. Many will soon be headed to the Sturgis Rally and stop by on the way, and we hope you observe every precaution on the road and in Sturgis. We care about you!
So, we are open everyday year around, just like before. Stop by, mask up and walk through the National Motorcycle Museum. You’ll remember your 2020 visit for a long time, as we all work to put the virus in our rearview mirrors.
Very Sincerely Yours,
–Jill Parham
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
NEW BAGGER MARKET REVEALED BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for July 30, 2020
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/NEW_BAGGER_MARKET_REVEALED_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_July_30_2020.aspx
Bandit, it was good to see what you said. I asked the same at a dealer about years ago. Why can’t we get a new, old Harley, no fancy electronics, no fuel injection?
What we were able to do, when we built our own out of what we could get, make or modify, when I was at Robisons. I and with the help of the other guys, built a 67 XLCC-K model flat track hardtail, with a WLA springer, 12 overs, very small rigid frame, very fast Sportster–all mix and match Harley stuff.
Have a great day and enjoy Sturgis.
–A.J.
Deland, FL
NEWS FROM S&S–It’s a weird world but it won’t stop us from doing everything we can to support our dealers and our customers. For the next sixty days most of our popular cams and cam chest kits are reduced by 15%. Our small way of saying thank you to the market that’s always supported us! ~ DZ
NEW – S&S Cycle Horsepower Stimulus Package -V2 – The Bump Stick Bonanza
S&S Cycle has weathered its fair share of storms. In spite of any unforeseen challenges, they’ve never failed to express their gratitude to the shops and riders who support their passion for performance.
That being said, they’ve expanded their Horsepower Stimulus package and are offering a special thank you in the way of a 15% price reduction on their most popular cam products. This includes performance cams, cam kits and their complete cam chest kits (cam, pump, plate, pushrods, etc) for M8, Twin Cam, Evo, Sportster® and other models.
Beginning August 1st and lasting through the end of September, purchase S&S Cycle cams from your local dealer or favorite reseller and you’ll automatically see a 15% price reduction as their small way of saying thank you. Check out their site for more details
WIN ONE OF TWO David Uhl signed limited “Rolling Thunder” (2018) series prints!
“Memorial Colors” and “Acknowledged” – either commemorative print would look GREAT in your house, office or Clubhouse . . . wouldn’t they ?
Joint “Bikers Helping Bikers Art Raffle” – co-hosted and benefiting local 20+ year nonprofit organizations helping local families of riders in need, promoting motorcycle safety and awareness aimed at reducing accidents and injuries, and working within local, State & Federal Governments for bikers. Raffle is permitted and run in accordance with Massachusetts State Lottery Commission rules.
Drawing is Sunday, August 30th, – need not be present and will be ‘Live-Streamed’ on the Boston Biker Facebook page, Sunday, August 30th, the last day of the rescheduled 97th Laconia Motorcycle Rally Week (8/22 – 30/2020), with Paul W. Cote, Sue Hart, and Laconia Rally leaders pulling the winning tickers from the bucket !
Tickets available via secure Paypal sites with your debit / credit card on-line –
$10 each or six (6) tickets for $50 (1 FREE !) –
Click on the “Check Twice Signs” Event Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/753724838715355/
or any one of these web sites
https://massmsf.org/art-raffle-2020/
http://www.thesurvivorsfund.com/
http://www.checktwice-savealife.com/art-raffle-2020/
http://citizenbikerpac.com/art-raffle-2020/
For all David Uhl’s art collection, see www.UhlStudios.com
IT’S SUMMER AND BIKES ARE SELLING–
These past few weeks have shown us that used bikes are in high demand! Here at the Boars Nest we offer a simple, hassle free consignment option that some people are not aware of.
If you are looking for another way to sell your used Harley Davidson, give us a shot! Bring down your used bike and we will facilitate all listings and sale of the bike for a very reasonable consignment fee. Give us a call, email or stop in to get all the details!
Store hours
Tuesday-Saturday: 9am-6pm
SHOP CONTACT 760.757.4294
Boars Nest Choppers 3207 Roymar Rd. Suite A, Oceanside, CA 92058
QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY– ADULT Fairy Tale
Once upon a time there lived a King who had the most beautiful daughter. But there was a problem. Everything the princess touched would melt. No matter what: Metal, Wood, Stone. Anything she touched would melt.
Because of this, men were afraid of her. Nobody would dare marry her. The King despaired. What could he do to help his daughter? He consulted his wizards and magicians. One wizard told the King, “If your daughter touches one thing that does not melt in her hands, she will be cured.”
The King was overjoyed and came up with a plan. The next day, he held a competition. Any man who could bring his daughter an object that would not melt would marry her and inherit the King’s wealth.
THREE YOUNG PRINCES TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE.
The first brought a sword of the finest steel. But alas, when the Princess touched it, it melted. The prince went away sadly.
The second prince brought diamonds. He thought diamonds are the hardest substance in the world and would not melt. But alas, once the Princess touched them, they melted. He too was sent away disappointed.
The third prince approached. He told the Princess, “Put your hand in my pocket and feel what is in there.” The Princess did as she was told, though she turned red. She felt something very hard. She held it in her hand. And it did not melt!!!
The King was overjoyed. Everybody in the kingdom was overjoyed. And the Prince married the Princess and they both lived happily ever after.
Question: What was in the Prince’s pants????
Answer below ?
M&Ms of course! They melt in your mouth, not in your hand.
What on earth were you thinking?
I DO WORRY AB0UT YOU
–Joe Smith
BREAKING NEWS: After lengthy discussions and the submission of a ground-breaking COVID-19 Safety Plan, the BLM is officially issuing the permit for the 24th Annual Maxxis Tires “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno Presented by Fox. According to our insider at Best In The Desert’s Scot Harden, the race will run as originally scheduled Aug. 12 -15, 2020, featuring a record field of entries including all the top names from every segment of the sport. The 550 mile point-to-point race from Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada, the longest off-road race in the United States.
The BLM is granting the permit under the condition that Best In The Desert and its racers adhere to additional COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. These conditions will be spelled out in greater detail in an email to all racers entered in the event.
“We are happy to report the race will run as scheduled,” notes BITD CEO Daryl Folks. “We sincerely appreciate the work done by the Nevada BLM State Office and the Battle Mountain BLM District Office along with their hard-working team to help us arrive at this point. It’s only fitting that the race named after our father and the founder of Best In The Desert will be run after all. In the end, it came down to the fact that we were able to prove that our racers know how to follow rules and will comply with the special measures we have put in place to make sure we run a safe race and respect the special COVID-19 safety protocol we’ve established.”
“I too am very grateful for all the hard work and cooperation by the BLM,” adds BITD CMO Bryan Folks. “I cannot stress enough how crucial it is for the racing community to follow the new COVID-19 guidelines that will be set forth in the next announcement. The future of Best In The Desert depends on everyone putting aside their personal views and following what is being asked of us.
I feel like this is an opportunity for the off-road community to come together and shine and prove that we can follow the rules. We want to thank our racers, sponsors, and staff for their support as we worked through this situation. Finally, we would like to thank our Nevada elected officials and for many other prominent voices for also supporting our event.”
Best In The Desert Race Operations Manager Donald Jackson added, “It has been challenging from all fronts to get the permit approved to run on the original date. There were many obstacles to overcome but ultimately it was a huge team effort that got us to this point. I want to especially thank all those that took time to write letters of support, make phone calls, give medical advice and help us put together a solid COVID-19 mitigation plan especially Medical Director Doc Lippmann, Silver State Offroad Alliance (SSORA), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Without all of us collectively working together, we wouldn’t be able to see all the best off-road racers go head to head in the ‘Longest Off-Road Race in the United States.’”
And BAJA 1000 GETS GREEN FLAG
Appropriately on the date of the running of the original Baja 1000, Mexican officials gave the 2020 race a green flag. An agreement was signed between the Government of Ensenada and SCORE International to run the 53 edition of the race on November 17-22. Municipal President Armando Ayala Robles noted that health protocols as established by the Mexico Ministry of Health will be adhered to and there would be no mass gatherings of fans.
–from Dealer News
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT VOCABULARY LESSON OF THE WEEK–obfuscate
[ ob-fuh-skeyt, ob-fuhs-keyt ]
verb (used with object)
to make obscure or unclear: to obfuscate a problem with extraneous information.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF OBFUSCATE?
The verb obfuscate comes from Late Latin (especially Christian Latin) offuscat(us), also obfuscat(us), the past participle of offuscare (obfuscare), literally “to darken, obscure.” Offuscare is a compound of the preposition and prefix ob, of– “toward, against,” also used as an intensive prefix, as here, and the verb fuscare “to make dark, become dark.” The Latin root word is the adjective fuscus “dark, somber, dim, drab.” Fuscus is possibly related to Old English dox, dosc “dark,” source of the English noun and adjective dusk. Obfuscate entered English in the first half of the 16th century.
HOW IS OBFUSCATE USED?
Of course all this talk of carbon emissions obfuscates the other significant dangers associated with the nuclear cycle.
MARK DOWIE, “NUCLEAR CARIBOU,” ORION, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009
“But it will take moral clarity, which will require both editors and reporters to stop doing things like reflexively hiding behind euphemisms that obfuscate the truth, simply because we’ve always done it that way.”
WESLEY LOWERY, “A RECKONING OVER OBJECTIVITY, LED BY BLACK JOURNALISTS,” NEW YORK TIMES, JUNE 23, 2020
–Dictionary.com
SERVICES AT DAKOTA V-TWIN IN SPEARFISH–
Here at Dakota V-Twin we strive for excellence on ever motorcycle that comes in the doors! We take pride in our shop and provide only the best customer service for you and your motorcycle, and always stand behind out work! Rest assured that your bike is in professional hands at Dakota V-Twin. Here is a list of services that we provide here at Dakota V-Twin. Please give us a call or click the link below to contact us with any questions you might have or to make an appointment.
Maintenance and Repair on all Harley Davidson’s and Custom American V-Twins
Big Dog Warranty and Service
Performance engine building, anything from Mild to Wild
Parts and Accessories sales
Dyno Tuning on Fuel Injected and Carbureted on ALL makes of motorcycles
Headwork
Cylinder Boring
Electrical Diagnostics and Professional Wiring
Winterization and Storage
Crash Repair and Estimates
Custom Paint
Complete Restoration
Tires and Oil Changes
Machining and Custom part fabrication
Complete Detailing
Polishing
Coming to the Sturgis Rally / Black Hills Rally?
With our state of the art Dynojet Dyno model 250i, we are able to Tune, Diagnose, and Fix almost any running issues your motorcycle may have, whether it’s carbureted, or fuel injected. Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about Dyno tuning.
Why should I have my bike Dyno tuned?
Dyno-tuning isn’t just for measuring Horsepower and Torque, it gives our factory trained dyno technician the ability to map and adjust fuel levels at any rpm and throttle position. We all know that performance upgrades are not cheap! With that said, what if I told you that you weren’t getting the most out of those upgrades.
Can Dyno tuning improve fuel mileage?
Are all “Dynos” the same?
Absolutely not! Please be advised that many shops are currently using old or outdated equipment and software that are just not suited to do the job correctly. Here at Dakota V-Twin we house a state of the art Dynojet Dynamometer model 250i with load capabilities, an air/fuel ratio “EGA” machine, using Winpep7, and always being connected through Tuning Link, which is a very necessary program that still today, most tuning centers do not have.
Dakota V-Twin
3123 East Fairgrounds Loop
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-0009
DIRECT FROM THE NMA–What about Police Traffic Stop Reform Part 1
2020 has undoubtedly been a tough year for all of us. The COVID-19 crisis has changed many aspects of our lives, and so have the protests around the world in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
At first, the protests were against police brutality, and now they have turned into calls for police reform.
Much of the call to defund the police essentially means taking police officers out of various call scenarios such as mental health issues, welfare checks, working with the homeless, and even traffic enforcement. This idea of defunding scares many who believe that police are still necessary for keeping the peace. The national debate on what police should be in a community is an important one.
A traffic stop, for instance, is when most people encounter police. Many feel intimidated and afraid for their lives when stopped by the police for something as simple as having a deodorizer hanging from their rearview mirror as in Michigan.
Motorist racial profiling and illegal vehicle searches have been a regular part of the police toolbox for a long time. Such actions shatter the trust between community and law enforcement, violate constitutional rights of citizens, and often result in lawsuits that cost taxpayers millions of dollars to settle.
By the same token, police will often tell you that traffic stops, the most frequent enforcement encounter with the public, create security anxiety for them too because the stop itself can create uncertain situations.
For years, the NMA has offered guidance to drivers on how to best handle traffic stop interactions. True traffic stop reform starts with actions such as these:
Federal Reforms
Congress must pass legislation that prohibits the government from funding ticket-quota-based traffic enforcement campaigns.
All lawmakers should actively support civil asset forfeiture reform. Motorists too often are easy targets for property seizures unrelated to chargeable violations.
“Keeping the peace” has somehow morphed into militarized police departments in many communities. A bill such as the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act could be a step in the right direction.
State Reforms
Stop counties, parishes, and municipalities from funneling money garnered from traffic fines and fees back to police departments or traffic courts as a reward for ticketing activity. The conflict of interest is obvious.
Require better training of police officers on traffic stop protocol and de-escalation techniques.
Encourage local municipalities to build community-police oversight boards that set higher police accountability standards with the goal of building better public trust.
Provide better protection for officers who whistleblow against their departments over ticket quotas. The same protection must be afforded to police department leaders who are pressured by city officials to generate a certain level of revenue through ticketing practices.
Place ticket revenue caps on cities that limit traffic ticket revenue to a standard percentage of the city’s annual budget. For example, after Ferguson erupted about six years ago, Missouri capped the routine traffic violation revenue a city could take in at 20 percent of its overall revenue. Also, states must enforce this cap by placing state funding limits for cities that go over the cap and do as Arkansas did in the last several years by officially naming these towns that violate the cap, a speed trap city.
Fund skilled (behind-the-wheel) driver’s education for all high school students and novice drivers.
Local Reforms
Facilitate community-police oversight boards to set policing standards, to ensure accountability, and build public trust.
Endorse policies that encourage safe driving behaviors through proper engineering rather than for-profit schemes.
Apply legitimate ticket revenues toward road safety improvements and driver education, eliminating the incentive to use motorists as ATMs for general purpose projects that have nothing to do with driving or road-user safety.
Recent, well-publicized events have brought police-community interactions to the forefront of national debate. We encourage all NMA members to become part of that discussion, particularly at the local and state levels.
Next week, a look at some thornier issues of traffic stop reform related to questions of due process and other constitutional rights.
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DIRECT FROM THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION– What’s this “Meeting of the Minds” & Where’d it come from? When did it start? Where’s it going?
A 36-year, 36 city bikers’ rights advocacy tour of the United States that had its beginnings in campgrounds at Perry, Kansas, and somewhere in South Georgia on the way to Bike Week in Daytona, Florida. A handful of dedicated individuals grew a miss-matched congregation of freedom fighters and rights advocates into a well-orchestrated and internationally recognized organization called the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. And…
What’s this “Meeting of the Minds” & Where’d it come from?
1985 St. Louis, Missouri
1986 Hot Springs, Arkansas
1987 Quad Cities, Iowa
1988 Wichita, Kansas
1989 Indianapolis, Indiana
1990 Carlisle, Pennsylvania
1991 Ames, Iowa
1992 Columbus, Ohio
1993 Denver, Colorado
1994 St. Louis, Missouri
1995 Little Rock, Arkansas
1996 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1997 Madison, Wisconsin
1998 Indianapolis, Indiana
1999 Denver, Colorado
2000 Oak Brook, Illinois
2001 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2002 Lansing, Michigan
What’s this “Meeting of the Minds” & Where’s it going?
2020 — Indianapolis, Indiana. Check this out…
It’s 8 meals – that’s right folks – it’s 8 meals included with your event registration!!
It’s 15 workshops!
It’s a host of keynotes speakers bringing up-to-the-minute information from Washington, D.C.!
It’s more useful information than you can haul home in two saddlebags!!!
It’s brothers and sisters knowing about freedom and wanting more information on how to protect their rights, their motorcycles, and their lifestyles!
Now’s the time to use this link and register at Meeting of the Minds 2020.
What’s this “Meeting of the Minds” & Where’s it going?
Waterfront Hotel Conference Center
Indianapolis, Indiana
Room Reservations: Call 317-767-4769
See you in Indianapolis!!!
Now’s the time to use this link and register at Meeting of the Minds 2020. Call 317-767-4769 for Hotel reservations. The Meeting of the Minds is in Indianapolis, Indiana, September 24-27, 2020.
[page break]
MARK TWAIN GOES OUT WEST —Back before Samuel Clemens became Mark Twain, he came out west to work with his brother as a newspaper reporter.
As was the norm of travel, on August 8, 1861 he took the Ben Holladay and Wells Fargo stages from St. Joseph, Missouri to Carson City, Nevada. He recorded his impressions of the trip in his 1872 book “Roughing It”.
Mark Twain described the stagecoach as “an imposing cradle on wheels.” Fortunately, Mark had had experience on the water because the constant sway made some people seasick. Then there was the “forty memorable miles of bottomless sand, into which the coach wheels sunk from six inches to a foot. We worked our passage most of the way across. That is to say, we got out and walked.”
Although stagecoach travel was the best means of travel back in the early 1860s, it was by no means a comfort.
Many stagecoaches were built for transporting mail and freight, with passengers an afterthought. Even those designed for passengers were packed with some passengers having to ride on top of the stage.
In addition to cramped space, there were accidents and an occasional robbery or attack by Indians. And then there was the food, when it was available. According to Mark Twain, a meal consisted of “last week’s bread… condemned army bacon… a beverage which pretended to be tea, but there was too much dish-rag, and sand, and old bacon-rind in it to deceive the intelligent traveler.” And to rub salt in the wound, meals were not included in the $200 a traveler paid for passage.
Mark Twain, known for his exaggerations, may have done so on this occasion. But according to the diaries of other travelers, it wasn’t by much.
–Sam Burns
Resident Historian
Bikernet.com™
See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=9016171
2015 Harley-Davidson® Road King®
Timeless cruiser styling combined with all the features you need for the long haul. The Road King® motorcycle truly is the king of the road.
Project RUSHMORE – Control
Here are some of the innovations Project RUSHMORE led to: the Reflex™ Linked Brakes with ABS, the Daymaker™ LED headlamps and fog lamps, brighter Tour-Pak® lighting, brighter turn signals, brighter brake lights, and a steering head with stiffer front forks. Locked-up tires are now history even when there’s wet pavement. We’ve made it feel even better to lean your way through a turn. Now you can see better. And we’ve made you more conspicuous to the cage-driving public. Because one thing we all agree on is this: bikes that work better make riders who ride better. Take a ride. See how good you can be.
With air-adjustable suspension that comes standard, you can dial in your ride to accommodate heavier or lighter payloads, battle unexpected road conditions or simply set it to how you like to roll. The lighter the load, the softer you can go by decreasing the air pressure a bit, or increase the air pressure for a more firm ride. A convenient air valve is located between the saddlebag and rear fender for quick adjusting. It’s all about rider and passenger comfort and setting your bike to fit your taste—the easy way.
Confidence. Control. High-performance dual disc Brembo® brakes offer consistent stopping power at all speeds. The 4-piston front and rear caliper with dual front rotor brake system is state of the art and top of the line. It’s just another way The Motor Company puts a high level of detail into their bikes to give you peace of mind throughout your journey.
No doubt about it, there are times when you need to haul things down in a hurry. And you don’t get to pick those times. Or decide whether or not they occur when you’re on a flat, smooth, dry, perfect stretch of pavement. That’s why our touring models feature the Reflex™ Linked Brakes with ABS. ABS turns a locked-up front wheel or a rear wheel skid into a relic from riding’s history. And the front and rear brakes are electronically linked to provide exactly the right amount of brake to each tire no matter what the road condition is. No matter how good you are, this will make you a better rider.
Fire up the Twin Cam 103™ engine and feel the low-end torque unleashed. Thanks to the lightweight piston design, delivery of the added power is more refined than ever. Then put your foot on the shifter and feel how the engine and Six-Speed Cruise Drive® transmission were designed to work together. Six speeds. A strong driveline and strong internal parts. Low routine maintenance. And a low cruising rpm couldn’t feel better.
TO OUR VEGAS BIKEFEST FAMILY– It is with great sadness that due to government regulations and orders by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Clark County, City of Las Vegas and other local, county, state and federal authorities, we have been forced to postpone the 2020 installment of Vegas BikeFest.
We are disappointed that we will not be able to bring you the celebration of motorcycles, music and motorcycle culture we had planned, in a way that only Las Vegas can provide.
We look forward to seeing you again on September 30-October 3, 2021 for the 20th anniversary of Vegas BikeFest!
All pre-registered attendees will be receiving a 100% refund for tickets purchased.
If you have already booked airline or hotel reservations, please contact them directly to make necessary arrangements.
Ride safe, stay well and thank you for your tremendous support over the past 20 years!
With Love – Vegas BikeFest Team
CLUB WARS–Angels Battle Pagans as the Outlaw Biker War Hits the Bronx
Last year, the Hells Angels moved out of their famous Third Street clubhouse in the East Village to an old two-story brick building and former American Legion hall in the Bronx. To mark the occasion, on January 2nd, the Pagans, a rival outlaw biker gang, welcomed them to the neighborhood with a round of semi-automatic gunfire, allegedly shooting up the side of the Hells Angels’ new digs.
A thoroughly working-class borough, the Bronx has long been known to be the Pagans’ turf. The post-New Year’s
Read in MEL Magazine: https://apple.news/AS5TMU-nESIKOyUSFd_-MnQ
–from Geno
DAYTONA BEACH MAYOR– Unless Things Turn Around, No Biketoberfest This Year
Unless there is a drastic turnaround with the coronavirus, Biketoberfest, the fall motorcycle festival, will not happen this year.
That’s according to Daytona Beach’s mayor, Derrick Henry, who spoke on CNN Monday.
“We are in the process of deciding if we will move forward with those or not,” Henry said. “As it stands for me, it’s a definitive no at this moment in time, unless things drastically turn around.”
Biketoberfest and its spring counterpart, Bike Week, are two of the biggest annual events in Daytona Beach, bringing in thousands of bikers — and dollars — to the World’s Most Famous Beach and its surrounding communities.
Biketoberfest is planned for October 15 through 18.
Bike Week, which is a much bigger event, took place in March as Florida began reporting its first coronavirus cases. City businesses and event organizers took precautions, but the event went on as planned.
With other events and vacations canceled since then, Daytona Beach businesses, like other parts of Central Florida, have struggled with the lack of tourism dollars. Cancelling Biketoberfest would extend that hardship.
Other motorcycle events have been postponed or canceled around the state and the country. Leesburg BikeFest, another large motorcycle festival in Central Florida, moved its annual event to November. St. Pete Beach’s bike fest has been canceled. Panama City Beach’s spring event was canceled, but its smaller fall event in October is moving forward.
One festival that is not going away is perhaps the biggest in the country — the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August in South Dakota. Some of the major events have been canceled to avoid large organized gatherings, and the city is asking visitors to take personal responsibility and follow CDC guidelines. More than 250,000 are expected at the rally.
By Christie Zizo Volusia County
CLIMATE-CHANGE HYSTERIA COSTS LIVES — but activists want to keep panic alive
“Apocalypse Never” author Michael Shellenberger writes that elites have used climate alarmism to justify efforts to control food and energy policies for over 30 years.
Last month, I published a book, “Apocalypse Never,” which debunks popular environmental myths. Among them: that humans are causing a sixth mass extinction and that climate change is making natural disasters worse.
While I expected my book to be controversial, I didn’t expect CNN’s top climate reporter to compare it to an advertisement for cigarettes. Or to have an environmental journalist with nearly half a million followers on Twitter accuse me of promoting “white supremacy.”
I’m hardly a climate denier. In fact, I have been a climate activist for 20 years and an environmental activist for more than 30. Governments, including the US Congress, regularly ask me to offer my testimony as an energy expert. And this year, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change asked me to serve as an expert reviewer of its next major report.
I decided to speak out last year, after it became clear to me that alarmism was harming mental health. A major survey of 30,000 people around the world found that nearly half believed climate change would make humanity extinct. Mental-health professionals now routinely find themselves addressing adolescent anxiety over climate. In January, pollsters found that one in five UK children reported having nightmares about it.
And yet the IPCC doesn’t predict billions or even millions of deaths from climate change. That’s in part because economic development and preparedness mitigate natural disasters, diseases and other environmental impacts of climate change. And scientists expect our ability to mitigate harms to expand and improve long into the future.
There has been a 92 percent decline in the per-decade death toll from natural disasters since its peak in the 1920s. In that decade, 5.4 million people died from natural disasters. In the 2010s, just 0.4 million did. The decline occurred during a period when the global population nearly quadrupled and temperatures rose more than 1 degree centigrade over pre-industrial levels.
Would deaths have been even lower had temperatures not risen that 1 degree? Maybe, but we will never know. Huge reductions in deaths outweighed any increase in deaths from more forceful disasters. Could future temperature increases reverse the trend of declining mortality?
Perhaps, but the IPCC doesn’t predict that happening. That’s partly because — again — we are so much better at protecting people from natural disasters, climate-fueled or not.
Climate alarmists steadfastly ignore our capacity to adapt. To take just one example, France in 2006 had 4,000 fewer deaths from a heat wave than anticipated thanks to improved health care, an early-warning system and greater public consciousness in response to a deadly heat wave three years earlier.
Even poor, climate-vulnerable nations like Bangladesh saw deaths decline massively thanks to low-cost weather surveillance and warning systems and storm shelters.
Some have said that climate change will make epidemics like COVID-19 more frequent or more severe, but the main factors behind the novel-coronavirus pandemic had nothing to do with climate and everything to do with the failure of the Chinese regime to protect public health.
It’s why the IPCC names “poverty alleviation, public health interventions such as the provision of water and sanitation and early-warning and response system for disasters and epidemics” — not emissions reductions — as the keys to lowering disease risk in the future.
So why do some alarmists claim that climate change is making disasters worse? In part, it’s so they can use the world’s most visual and dramatic events, from Hurricane Sandy to California’s forest fires, to make the issue more salient with voters.
If it were acknowledged that Hurricane Sandy’s damage owed overwhelmingly to New York failure to modernize its flood-control systems or that California’s forest fires were due to the buildup of wood fuel after decades of fire suppression, alarmist journalists, scientists and activists would be deprived of the visually powerful events and “news hooks” they need to scare people, raise money and advocate climate policies.
Climate alarmism isn’t just about money. It’s also about power. Elites have used climate alarmism to justify efforts to control food and energy policies in their home nations and around the world for more than three decades.
In just the last decade, climate alarmists have successfully redirected funding from the World Bank and similar institutions away from economic development and toward charitable endeavors, such as solar panels for villagers, which can’t power growth.
Contrary to the claims of CNN’s top environment reporter, using energy that emits carbon dioxide isn’t like smoking cigarettes. People need to consume significant amounts of energy in order to enjoy decent standards of living. Nobody needs to smoke cigarettes.
In the end, climate alarmism is powerful because it has emerged as the alternative religion for supposedly secular people, providing many of the same psychological benefits as traditional faith.
Climate alarmism gives them a purpose: to save the world from climate change. It offers them a story that casts them as heroes. And it provides a way for them to find meaning in their lives — while retaining the illusion that they are people of science and reason, not superstition and fantasy.
There is nothing wrong with religious faith and often a great deal right about it. Religions have long provided people with the meaning, purpose and consolations they need to weather life’s many challenges. Religions can be a guide to positive, pro-social and ethical behavior.
The trouble with the new environmental religion is that it has become increasingly destructive. It leads its adherents to demonize their opponents. And it spreads anxiety and depression without meeting the deeper spiritual needs.
Happily, real-world events, starting with the coronavirus pandemic, are undermining the notion that climate change is an “emergency” or “crisis.” After all, it was a disease that brought civilization to a halt, not climate-fueled natural disasters. And while COVID-19 has killed more than half a million people and counting, alarmist scientists struggle to explain how climate change will make diseases and disasters worse.
Meanwhile, emissions are declining in much of the world. In Europe, emissions in 2018 were 23 percent below 1990 levels. In the United States, emissions fell 15 percent from 2005 to 2016. And emissions are likely to peak and start to decline in developing nations, including China and India, within the next decade.
As a result, most experts believe that global temperatures are unlikely to rise more than 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. No amount of warming is ideal, since it will change conditions for both people and wildlife. But 3 degrees isn’t catastrophic for, much less an existential threat to, human societies and economies.
For pointing out these basic facts, I have been smeared, bizarrely, as a racist. Yet readers will discover that, far from being a defense of white supremacy, “Apocalypse Never” exposes European and North American environmentalists for promoting discriminatory anti-development policies toward poor African, Asian and Latin-American nations.
The activists and their media allies censor news articles. But eventually, the public will get to review the evidence and realize that the censors are wrong.
It is my hope that, after the public reckoning, everyone, particularly anxious adolescents, will go from seeing climate change as the end of the world to viewing it as a highly manageable problem.
Michael Shellenberger is the author of “Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All.”
Follow him on Twitter @ShellenbergerMD.
–Michael Shellenberger
President, Environmental Progress
2569 Telegraph Avenue,
Berkeley, CA 94704
BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN, NO MASK REQUIRED–
A pirate walked into a bar, and the bartender said, “Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while. What happened? You look terrible.”
“What do you mean?” said the pirate, “I feel fine.”
“What about the wooden leg? You didn’t have that before.”
“Well,” said the pirate, “We were in a battle, and I got hit with a cannon ball, but I’m fine now.”
The bartender replied, “Well, OK, but what about that hook?
What happened to your hand?”
The pirate explained, “We were in another battle. I boarded a ship and got into a sword fight. My hand was cut off. I got fitted with a hook, but I’m fine, really.”
“What about that eye patch?”
“Oh,” said the pirate, “One day we were at sea, and a flock of birds flew over. I looked up, and suddenly my eye was filled with bird droppings”
“You’re kidding,” said the bartender. “You couldn’t lose an eye just from bird droppings.”
“It was my first day with the hook.”
–Sam Burns
Certified Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina™
Bad Joke Library
SBS NEWS–Find the right brake pad compound
New selection tool from SBS makes it easy to find the best match between bike and riders braking preferences
Some riders prefer more stopping power than others, some ride in dry conditions, others in wet conditions. It can be hard to find the perfect match of brake pad compound as it really is a combination of rider’s preferences, bike model and use of bike.
SBS has now made an online tool that makes it easy to find the best brake pad compound that will not only fit the right bike model, but will also match the riders braking preferences and riding style. You just need to answer 2-3 questions, and you will get the best fit right away.
After finding the right compound, you might want to use the SBS model look-up widget to find the right size of brake pad for exactly your bike model.
Both tools are available for free at www.sbsbrakes.com
SURGICAL STEED FOR SALE– I have a bike that I rebuilt in 2010. It has 8700 total miles on it.
It’s a Surgical Steed custom Softail with a TP motor. I would like to sell it, but am not sure the right avenue to head down selling a bike like this.
Is there something you can suggest?
Again, I appreciate any help you may lend my way.
–Ron Johnson
johnsonronj@icloud.com
We were able to help him out with a couple of leads. If you are interested in this hot rod Softail, drop him a note. –Bandit
NEVER A DULL MOMENT –Here’s another event cancelled. I got a call from LA today. Everybody has it.
My brother got it at his Doctor’s office and just had a relapse. He’s pissed. I need to get back and hang with Cash, my aging Lab.
I’m watching a lecture series about writing successful mystery novels. It’s by James Scott Bell. At first he covered many aspects of writing I knew, but then he started in on structure. It should seriously help assist with the book I’m currently working on.
This guy is amazing. He’s written over a dozen book just about writing. Always something new to learn, write, build or tinker with. And always a new place to ride.
Ride fast and free forever.
–Bandit
