Hey,
Hang on for this. I recently received the AMA magazine. Some issues don’t cover legislative issues but this one splashed the Top Ten on the cover.
I’m going to hit them quick here. The AMA doesn’t always jive with my way of thinking, but they did a good job with breaking each issue down. This was written by Keaton Maisano and Bob Griffith.
Number One: Autonomous Vehicles are a serious threat to our lives. Did you know some are not capable of seeing motorcycles, so they’ll just run you down. The AMA has been outspoken about the dangers of Avs for the last decade and has called for sufficient testing and regulation.
Number Two: Insurance issues including Inherent Risk, which is an event issue, in particular races. The AMA sanctions races all over the country and need the Inherent Risks Protections.
Number Three: Right to Repair is a major issue for shop and home builders. The right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act offers a federal solution to the Right to Repair issue. This AMA supported bill H.R. 1566 was submitted in 2025. Thanks to the AMA, the language allowing the right to repair motorcycles was preserved.
Number Four: The anti-human movement wants to close more and more lands to human activity. The AMA is all over expanding off-road motorcycle use. Report anything you run across.
Number Five: This is another off-road issue where trails are shared with multiple vehicles. The four-wheelers are growing larger, tougher and more powerful. The AMA is asking for proper etiquette for assorted trails. The AMA supports training. Good luck with that.
Number six: Consumer choice issue is still growing, even after the Climate Doom was called out. Some states still want to ban fossil fuel use, which is ridiculous. The AMA wants individual freedom to be respected. That’s tough, when folks think we’re doomed. I believe folks need to know the facts.
The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act (S.996 and H.R. 346) were introduced in Congress in 2025 to prevent the EPA from granting waivers to ban or restrict internal-combustion engines. The AMA supports choice.
Number seven: Noise. I don’t agree with the AMA on this issue. Loud pipes save Lives. Done deal. They actually save lives. We need to be heard.
Number eight: Ethanol is a strange one. Did you know E15 is bad and illegal for use in motorcycles. Ethanol products are bad for motorcycles, but the industry keeps growing. The anti-fossil fuel movement caused that. The AMA is trying to require accurate pump labeling. Just try to stay away from this product. Corn could be food for lots of hungry folks.
Number Nine: Distracted driving is bullshit, deadly and terrifying. It pisses me off and I do it from time to time. The AMA supports enhanced penalty options. I try to avoid distracted driving with phones and if I ever get caught, I hope they throw the book at me.
Number Ten: The AMA has always been against bad motorcycle behavior for selfish reasons. They don’t want us to look bad. That doesn’t work for us old outlaws. The new problem is punks on electric bikes running down old folks. There’s not much the AMA can do, but encourage training which can save not only the innocent pedistrain but also the kid behind the handlebars. Training is a good thing.
I have two other issues: Helmet laws and Lane Splitting. We need freedom and the public needs to be educated about Lane Splitting. They need to know they benefit by allowing bikers to step out of their lane.
There you have it. Let’s hit the news.
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The Bikernet News is brought to you by our resilient team: The Redhead, Wayfarer, Danial James, Sturgis Vicky, LA Laura, Palma, and Freak Show Kendra.
MORE ON ETHANOL THIS WEEK–Vote NO on a backdoor expansion of the ethanol mandate
Advocates of government-dictated ethanol are trying to circumvent House procedures to sneak an expanded ethanol mandate into the Farm Bill. The House Rules Committee should not allow this.
On Monday, the House Rules Committee decides whether to allow two E15 amendments onto the House floor as part of the forthcoming Farm Bill.
The Sorensen amendment expands government-dictated ethanol by exempting E15 from air quality limits that currently restrain the ethanol mandate.
The Fischbach amendment does the same thing AND it also punishes small refiners by making it much harder for small refineries to obtain exemptions from the mandate.
The House Rules Committee should block both amendments for two reasons:
1) Moral: The amendments entrench and expand the destructive and immoral ethanol mandate, which no one seriously supports on its merits.
2) Procedural: The amendments have nothing to do with farming policy and instead change air quality law, so they should be disqualified as “non-germane” per the Committee’s own rules.
–Alex Epstein
EASY RIDER BIKES–What happened to the captain America and billy bikes from the Easy Rider movie
In the 1969 film Easy Rider, Peter Fonda’s character Wyatt (aka Captain America) rides a red-white-and-blue starred chopper, while Dennis Hopper’s character Billy rides a flamed Panhead chopper (often called the “Billy Bike”). These iconic custom Harleys were built primarily from old police-model Panhead frames (purchased cheaply at auction) by custom builders including Ben Hardy and Cliff Vaughs, with involvement from others like Dan Haggerty and stuntman Tex Hall. Multiple bikes were constructed: typically described as two Captain America choppers and two Billy bikes (with some accounts noting three Captain Americas total).
What Happened to Them
During filming: One Captain America bike was deliberately wrecked and burned in the movie’s final scene (where Wyatt is shot and the bike crashes/explodes in a Louisiana roadside bayou area). The other bikes were used for riding scenes.
After filming wrapped: Near the end of production (or shortly after), the remaining three bikes—one intact Captain America and the two Billy bikes—were stolen from a storage location (accounts vary on exact details, such as a warehouse or from stuntman Tex Hall). The theft reportedly involved guns, and the bikes were never recovered. They were likely broken down for parts and scattered in the Southern California chopper scene, possibly tied to unpaid debts (including rumors of drug-related issues involving the filmmakers or even Hells Angels involvement). The production reportedly finished some shots without the real bikes.
The crashed Captain America bike: This was the only original that survived intact enough to be salvaged. Peter Fonda gave the wreckage to Dan Haggerty (who had a small role in the film and helped with the bikes). Haggerty rebuilt it with assistance from collector Gary Graham. He owned it for years and sold it at auction in 1996 (for around $63,500). It changed hands afterward, was displayed at places like the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa (sometimes with replicas also shown there), and has been linked to later sales or claims (including a high-profile 2014 auction for $1.35 million, though authenticity has long been debated and litigated). One account places a version of this crashed/rebuild frame in the late Paul Allen’s collection.
The Billy bikes (and the intact Captain America) have never resurfaced as complete originals. No verified originals of them exist today—only replicas built for promotions, museums (e.g., Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum), or collectors.
Additional Context and Controversy
The bikes’ fame exploded after the film’s success, leading to many replicas (some built even during the era for theater displays). Debates persist about provenance: Dan Haggerty was accused by some of selling multiple “originals” over time, and claims of insurance fraud or fabricated theft stories have circulated in motorcycle circles. Peter Fonda later publicly credited Vaughs and Hardy for the designs and build work, which had been under-acknowledged initially.Today, the “real” bikes largely live on through the movie’s cultural impact, with replicas serving as stand-ins in museums and collections. The story of their theft and partial destruction has become part of the Easy Rider legend, fitting the film’s themes of freedom, rebellion, and impermanence.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK–
“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.”
— Samuel Johnson
THIS JUST IN FROM THE LOWBROW GANG–Motorcycle History. The more you know…
You may have seen or heard the word ‘Frisco’ used to describe various motorcycle parts…
What does it mean and where did it come from?
Get some insight on the history of Frisco-styled motorcycles and see some enthralling photos of the early originators. Slip over to the Lowbrow website.
VETERAN RUN-OVER BY E-BIKE–Mom, son charged over e-motorcycle
California teen accused of injuring Vietnam vet
A California mother has been arrested and charged after her teenage son allegedly hit and critically injured an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran while riding an e-motorcycle, prosecutors said.
Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, was charged with one felony count of child endangerment and one felony count of accessory after the fact to a crime, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release on April 22.
She was also charged with several misdemeanors, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver and providing false information to a peace officer.
Prosecutors accused Mejer of continuing to allow her 14-year-old to illegally ride an e-motorcycle despite receiving repeated warnings of the dangers.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said the teen, who was not publicly identified, was also arrested and booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall on charges related to the incident.
The sheriff’s department described the scene in a separate news release.
Shortly before 4 p.m. local time on April 16, deputies responded to a report of a pedestrian who was struck by what was initially believed to be an e-bike along the border of a high school in Lake Forest, an affluent city in Southern California, the sheriff’s department said. Officers later determined that the vehicle was an e-motorcycle designed for off-highway use.
Deputies found the victim with life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s department.
Both prosecutors and the sheriff’s department said the teenage boy fled the scene but witnesses provided a description of the suspect, who was ‘suspected of driving recklessly at the time of the crash.’
The suspect was quickly identified, and a search warrant was served at a nearby residence.
Further investigation revealed that the teen had hit the 81-year-old while doing wheelies on an e-motorcycle in the middle of the street, according to prosecutors.
The victim remained hospitalized in critical condition as of April 22, prosecutors said.
‘This 81-year-old man survived flying combat missions in Vietnam protecting freedom and now he is clinging to life because a mother refused to parent her child and he was run over in the street by a vehicle that should have never been on the road,’ Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.
‘There is absolutely no reason that an unlicensed, untrained child with no concept of the rules of the road should be riding a motorcycle that can go up to nearly 60 miles per hour next to cars on a public street and think that by some miracle they are going to be safe,’ Spitzer continued.
Hours after the incident, prosecutors said, Mejer was captured on body-worn cameras repeatedly telling deputies that neither she nor her son owned or had access to the e-motorcycle involved in the crash.
However, in June 2025, Mejer called the sheriff’s department to ‘complain that someone was posting pictures of her then-13-year-old son riding an e-motorcycle,’ prosecutors said.
During a roughly 28-minute interaction with two deputies that was caught on body cameras, prosecutors said Mejer admitted that she purchased her son an e-motorcycle and ‘knew that he drove it recklessly.’
At the time, deputies warned Mejer that she could face criminal charges if she continued to allow her son to ride the e-motorcycle.
‘Riders of Class 3 e-motorcycles must be 16 years of age and possess a motorcycle license,’ prosecutors said, adding that the model involved in the crash requires a valid motorcycle license for street operation, motor vehicle department registration, a license plate, insurance and full motorcycle equipment.
Prosecutors noted that the e-motorcycle model can reach speeds of up to 58 mph and ‘is 16 times more powerful than what is legally allowed for an e-bike.’
‘Parents who buy their child an E-motorcycle and let them ride them illegally or help modify e-Bikes to transform them into E-motorcycles are handing their children a loaded weapon – and those parents are going to be prosecuted. That is not a threat. That is a promise,’ Spitzer said in his statement.
Mejer faces a maximum sentence of six years, eight months in state prison if she is convicted on all charges.
Electric scooters, bikes, hoverboards and motorcycles have surged in popularity across the United States for recreation and everyday transportation, from commuting short distances to sightseeing. But that growth has been accompanied by a sharp rise in injuries, most often to riders and sometimes to nearby bystanders.
A 2023 report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed that from 2017 – when the devices were first introduced at scale – through 2022, the United States recorded 360,800 emergency room visits related to e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards, known collectively as micromobility vehicles.
Of those visits, 169,300, or 47%, were linked to the scooters. ER trips stemming from e-bike accidents totaled 53,200, or less than 15%.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the world’s largest medical association for musculoskeletal specialists, warned in 2025 that data showed a ‘concerning rise in bone and joint injuries tracking with the surging popularity’ of these vehicles.
The AAOS urged riders to research and understand the physical risks of micromobility vehicles before riding them on roads and trails.
Health officials have noted that e-bikes, along with other micromobility vehicles, reach higher speeds than traditional vehicles and result in more force during falls or collisions.
‘This higher energy impact is causing injuries we don’t typically see in traditional bicycle falls,’ AAOS spokesperson and orthopedic surgeon Brian Waterman said in a statement. ‘The risk of fractures, dislocations and head trauma increases as e-bike usage becomes more popular. The best protection starts with awareness, proper protection and responsible riding.’
Contributing: Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY
BROTHER DOWN–AMA Pro Racing is saddened to learn of the passing of longtime track builder and flat track supporter Dennis Pearson.
Born September 10, 1954, in Indian River, Michigan, Pearson was part of a family deeply rooted in racing. His brothers Scott, Paul, and Gordon were all involved in competition, continuing a family tradition that spanned generations.
After moving to California as a teenager, Pearson began working under renowned track builder Harold Murrell, at the age of 17, learning the craft of building and preparing race surfaces. Over the course of his career, he contributed to a wide range of racing disciplines, including flat track, Supercross, and NASCAR Sprint car events, helping construct and maintain tracks such as the San Jose Mile.
Pearson later worked within the Progressive AFT paddock for several seasons, where he earned a reputation for his dedication to the sport and its competitors. Known affectionately as “Dr. Dirt,” he took great pride in delivering well-prepared, consistent racing surfaces, always with the riders’ best interests in mind.
He was deeply passionate about flat track and the community surrounding it, treating riders and teams like family while bringing care and craftsmanship to every track he touched.
Pearson is survived by his children, Denise and Kyle, and grandson Wyatt, along with their mother, Cheryl, his brothers Gordon, John, Paul, and Scott, his sisters Mary Lou, Paula, Susan, and Stacy, and his extended family.
Plans for celebrations of life are being finalized, with a tentative gathering scheduled for May 30th in Oakdale, California, and a second memorial planned later this summer in Michigan.
AMA Pro Racing Media Contact:
AMA Pro Racing
(386) 492-1014
communications@amaproracing.com
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LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2021 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200™ for Sale
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HELP FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
No one who served in uniform should ever struggle to find a home. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) is here to help at 1-877-424-3838. Watch this VA Short to find out how you can help an at-risk Veteran near you.
Easyriders Single Copy Sales
You’re Saved
A brother or sister was blessed with their bike being featured in the vast and unrelenting Easyriders Magazine. Then his uncle, mother, brother and bros wanted copies. We have a solution. You can buy a single copy of the recent issue and all issues going forward.
Better make a move.
Pick an Issue
- Jan/Feb 2026
- Mar/April 2026
- May/June 2026
For 10 or more issues slip over to our Bulk Program and check it out for bigger discounts.
These mags will be hand-serviced and contain a special Easyriders bumper sticker.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
–Bandit and the Redhead
IT’S JUST STARTING– Cabana Dan’s bike show series. Looks like the Easyriders bike show series is coming back.
Since we dodged the newsstand rip-off we’ve started a program to sell mags in shops and more recently folks want copies of the mag a brother’s bike is featured in. We are making it possible to buy one issue of our recent mags on line.
I wrote a screenplay a long time ago. It’s called Splintered Road about board track racer after WWI. Dave Nichols is helping with the formatting, and then I will write a treatment for the magazine.
While hanging out in my office I kept looking at the crappy reflectors on my ’58 Triumph license plate. It dawned on me, I had two Red Fox champagne glass reflectors from Greg Lew. They are too cool.
I took these cheesy puppies off and replaced them with Greg’s glistening units.
They go with the paint. Here’s a wild thought. With everything heading our way, I decided it just wasn’t enough and started to write a book. I’ve always been challenged to write a biker story, but it needs to follow a western theme. I’ve roughed out the first chapter and a sketchy outline. I’m halfway through the second chapter and it’s already wild. There are a couple of other challenges I will share in the next couple of months.
Actually, one of the challenges has to do with Choppers to the rescue. Think about it. How do Westerns handle the mobility of horses in movies. This also brings up an interesting contest for our rodeos. We could challenge riders to save the damsel in distress.
I took a break and worked on my funky Panhead. It needed an air cleaner and the coil cover arc’d to the rear sparkplug wire causing it to misfire. I reached out to Bear Swam for an air cleaner and discovered these license plate accessories. I made the Pretty Kitty work with my coil.
His air cleaner for a Linkert did the trick and it’s cast aluminum. It fits this funky bike like a champ.
There you have it for this week. Tomorrow, need a whiskey run to Sturgis, a search for another Hal Robinson illustration, see an old friend at the emporium and sign books. It’s never dull around here.
Ride fast and free forever!
–Bandit
