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USTR has “beef” with European motorcycles?–
In 1999 the European Communities (EC) decided to ban any importation of beef products from the USA. The EC claimed that due to the use of growth hormones being used in US beef production they were unfit to be consumed by citizens of the EC, thus resulting in a $116 million shortfall for US beef producers. The US trade community decided to retaliate – not by banning items for sale in the US, but by increasing the tariff paid on specific items from specific countries in the EC.
The first list came out in 1999 and it contained many beef and agricultural products as well as a few non agri-products such as hair clippers and small displacement motorcycles (50-500cc). The final list came out in 2000 and the motorcycles had been removed. The USTR is at it again and this list also contains motorcycles. The USTR is proposing to double rates of duty ad valorem which translates into twice the declared value of the motorcycle imported from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. So that means the price of Vespa, Piaggio, KTM, and Husqvarna scooters and motorcycles will double. The MRF asked that the motorcycles be removed from the final list of tariff retaliation tactics.
To view the list of proposed items and the comments visit www.reguations.gov docket number USTR-2008-0036.
SCOTTY’S ROAD STORIES– Saw the story on the home page by Scotty, “A Mexican Winter.” He must have a shitload of miles on that scoot. Here’s a pic of him on his trusty steed during the 2007 Leesburg Bikefest. (Leesburg, Florida) You can see my bars from Todd’s Cycle in the background.
We had a chance to shoot the shit for a couple of hours and he’s a pretty righteous dude.
–Tinman
BIKERNET CONTRIBUTOR FINALLY GETS NATIONAL MAGAZINE COVER OF IRONWORKS– Well I finally got my first national cover shot. The lighting was the key to getting the best possible shot because the back wall was black so was the bike frame and the guys were wearing black.
The image was shot with a Canon 40D, 70-200mm f2.8 IS lens, 3 600 ws strobes in 2 4×6 foot soft boxes and a 3×4 foot soft box, controlled by a pair of Pocket Wizard radio control units.
Have a wonderful Christmas
–George Emmons Najar
GeorgeNajar@Truswal.com Work E-Mail
GEN@HorsepowerMarketing.com Home/Work E-Mail
(800) 521-9790 Ext 1374
Work (817) 472-1374
Colleyville, TX 76034
LEGEND OF THE MOTORCYCLE COUNCOURS POSTPONED IN 2009– As many of you know, there had been a long delay in formally announcing the 2009 Legend of the Motorcycle Concours due to contract issues with the golf course at the new proposed location. Perhaps this was providence.
Now, due to the recent effect the world economy has had on many of our sponsors, we have decided to postpone the 2009 show and plan for 2010. This has been a very difficult decision because this is a true labor of love, but we would rather postpone the event than compromise its quality.
A formal press release is being issued to the media this week but we wanted to let you all know first. Your support and participation has been instrumental to the success of Legend of the Motorcycle and we recognize this with sincere appreciation.
We wish all of you a peaceful and healthy 2009 and look forward to reconnecting in 2010.
–Jared & Brooke
Legend of the Motorcycle, Inc.
588 Sutter Street #134
San Francisco, CA 94102
http://www.LegendoftheMotorcycle.com
ALL OR NOTHING TATTOO PITBULL RESCUE MISSION– All or Nothing Tattoo and Atlanta Pitbull Rescue have some very exciting news to announce! We will be Broadcasting live from All or Nothing Tattoo throughout the party.
Visit this link to check it out, http://www.mogulus.com/allornothingtattoo. FREE TATTOO GIFT CERTIFICATES, PIERCINGS, DVD’s BOOKS, and GIFTBAGS! DEC 20th starting @ 6 pm All or Nothing Tattoo will be giving away THOUSANDS of dollars worth of FREE TATTOO GIFT CERTIFICATES there is no small print, no catch just FREE TATTOOS.
All or Nothing was voted BEST TATTOO studio by Creative Loafing Magazine again, and this is our way of giving something back to our amazing family of clients both new and old.
Come enjoy some FREE Cuisine from www.theNEWORLEANSCONNECTION.com Please bring any non perishable food items and unwrapped toys for our TOY and FOOD DRIVE and celebrate this holiday season with ALL OR NOTHING TATTOO. call 770 435 9966 or go to www.AllOrNothingTattoo.com for more details.
See you all there and Happy Holidays Everyone
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… A FREE New Harley for under the Tree – $0 Down & No Payments until 2009!
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… 2 Pairs of Gloves…Save 25% when you buy 2 Pair of Gloves!
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… 3 Leather Items…Save 30% when you buy 3 Leathers!
ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… 4 Collectors Items…Buy any 4 collectible or general Merchandise Items and get a FREE H-D Chrome Pen in a Black Suede Gift Bag!
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… Five Dealer Tee’s…Buy 5 Dealer T-Shirts & get an additional Tee for FREE!
ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… Six Pieces to Savings…Buy Any 6 MotorClothes or Parts & Accessories Clearance Items and save an additional 6%!
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… 7 Parts a Shinin’…Buy any 7 P&A Chrome Items & get a FREE Bike Wash valued at $20!
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… 8 Jeans a Wearin’…Save $8 on any Men’s or Women’s Jeans or Cargo Pants!
ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY FAVORITE DEALERS GAVE TO ME… 9 Bikers Braggin’…Save $500 on Any In-Stock Limited Edition Paint Set!
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS…MEANS 12 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF HUGE HOLIDAY SAVINGS!!! Don’t get caught at the last minute searching for gifts. Wild Fire & City Limits are celebrating the 12 days of Christmas with a great sale each day – from December 13th to the 24th – Different Items will be on sale each and every day. Call or stop in daily for the daily specials & be the first to know and don’t miss out on these great deals.
Coming Up:
FREE PICTURES WITH SANTA SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21ST: 1PM TO 5PM AT WILD FIRE H-D Want to surprise your kids or grandchildren with a chance to meet Santa this winter. Well your favorite dealerships will have the real McCoy on hand for pictures. This is the perfect chance to show the kids that the original Fat Boy rides a HOG! Stop in for a FREE Picture, some hot cocoa and some holiday treats for the kids. We Will Not Lose a Deal Over Price… Stop in Today & Save Huge!
MAJOR VINCENT FEATURE COMING FROM CENTURY CYCLES– I am always up for anything, because everytime I even mention your name people’s heads turn. Whatever I can do. Also Bandit, my son, Tim, has turned the shop around. Did you notice we have windows now all around? Big deal for me.
Tim and I will work with you on anything you wish to do. Would you want my Dad’s other Vincent, The Lightning in the article too? I can get the whole Vincent Club down for a special meeting at the shop and have Marty Dickerson (World’s Fastest Indian advisor) and he was very close friends to Burt Monroe. At 80 years old he is still going to Bonneville and breaking his own records, and wearing the same leathers he wore way back when.
I am also best of friends with the real owner of the Real Burt Monroe Indian. He is a cool guy. Anything you want, you got it.
This ‘ol world is easier to deal with when you have friends like you.
NASCAR NEWS…Jeff Gordon fires his entire pit crew.
This announcement followed Gordon’s decision to take advantage of the government’s scheme to employ Harlem youngsters.
The decision to hire them was brought about by a recent documentary on how unemployed youths from Harlem were able to remove a set of wheels in less than 6 seconds without proper equipment, whereas Gordon’s existing crew could only do it in 8 seconds with millions of dollars worth of high tech equipment.
It was thought to be an excellent and bold move by Gordon’s management team as most races are won or lost in the pits. However-Gordon got more than he bargained for! At the crew’s first practice session, not only was the inexperienced crew able to change all 4 wheels in under 6 seconds, but within 12 seconds they had changed the paint scheme, altered the VIN number, and sold the car to Dale Jr. for 10 cases of Bud, a bag of weed, and some photos of Jeff Gordon’s wife in the shower.
–from Ross Parnow
WATCH OUT FOR MIDNIGHT REGULATIONS– AAJ says preemption laws remove right to sue. In a story about the Bush administration’s midnight regulations, focusing on the efforts at pre-empting lawsuits in state courts, MSNBC with Keith Olberman For instance, “women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may want to check out page 3,831 of this year’s federal register which proposes new rules for drug warning that is apply to women in your condition, but would also preempt state laws giving Americans the right to ask a jury to hold drug companies responsible for their labeling.” Also, “there is similar language in proposed FDA regulations on labels for over the counter drugs” such as “calcium pills and sunscreen. And then [there are] the proposed regulations from the national highway safety transportation which includes language embedded on everything from rearview mirrors, to brake hoses, to motorcycle brakes, to motorcycle helmets.” And the “rules on electric hybrids” is “a proposition that the AAJ said is so broad it preempts your right to sue for about anything. Even if you ended up with an electric hybrid pinto.” –from Rogue
GAS IT FUEL INJECTION KIT– This kit allows the use of wild custom fuel tanks on ’01-’05 fuel-injected Delphi models. It relocates stock fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter and fuel level sending unit to the underside of fuel tank (not included). The kit includes steel weld-in plate, 3.75″ x 8″ aluminum manifold, all hardware and instructions. The tank bottom must be relatively flat to accommodate port installation. The kit requires vented tank or vented gas cap. Custom fabrication is required. Made in the U.S.A.
Designed for use with 2001-2005 Delphi Fuel Injection components specifically the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter, fuel level sending unit, and main electrical connector. RSD ?Gas It? kit is compatible with 2006-2007 Delphi Fuel Injection Systems with use of the 2005 and earlier fuel level sending unit and by converting the main connector plug to the 2005 and earlier plug (connector is supplied in the RSD kit). Installation on 2001-2005 Twin cam models is as easy as ?plug and play.?
MERRY CHRISTMAS, GODDAMNIT–Unfortunately we are forced to listen to economy woes constantly and suffer through many of the results. I know how fragile our business is, but I try to keep the “Adventure” attitude alive. What the hell, we’re probably not going to starve to death, we’ll still ride to Sturgis next year, and women are more beautiful than ever, so what the fuck.
Support others where you can, keep spending down, but not ridiculous and figure this is just another adventure in a lucky mofo life.
So have a helluva Christmas, and build something super cool to ride to Sturgis next year.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
