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ROCK HANDLEBARS, See the weld. Love the weld– Nicholas (AKA: Rock) makes kickass handlebars and more for your motorpsychle in styles you’ve never seen. Check his bars out at www.rockschops.com. He makes every set to order and will send them raw or powdercoated. 1-inch or 7/8ths. Wider? Shorter? Easy. Hand-made in America!
Want to call Rock about a gas tank, struts, foot pegs, handlebars or something else in steel or aluminum? Dial 812.457.0046.
Rock says this about his handlebars: “I take pride in each set of bars I make. I am a perfectionist and quality is constantly on my mind. My bars are high-quality .120-wall mild steel tubing and I always strive to make sure each and every weld is a perfect row of dimes. I am always brainstorming about how I can make something that is original.”
Rock’s Chops is original, all right. Wait until you see his reversible Glory Bars….
HOW’S THIS FOR A SALES PITCH– Motorcycle rider are not well equip with any bodily protection,as a result many families are shattered by the ignorance.
Motorcycle airbag jackets will protect and minimize the injuries of the motorcycle rider in the event of an accident. We are looking for dealer to represent us in your respective country. for your consideration.
Waiting for your soonest reply
–Desmond Lim
Website: www.mashgate.com
McQueen’s Indian Sets New Record At Bonham’s Classic California Sale– Bonhams & Butterfields celebrated the eighth year of its renowned Classic California auction at the Petersen Automotive Museum last Saturday with flying colors. A large crowd of collectors and motoring aficionados paid $2,138,736 for automotive collectibles and celebrity-owned vehicles, cars and motorcycles from noted private collections.
With an impressive 76 percent of vehicles both two- and four-wheel successfully sold, the auctioneers can be happy. One of the highlights was the 1940 Indian Chief motorcycle formerly belonging to Steve McQueen and gracing the cover of the book “Steve McQueen: The Last Mile” The bike set a new world record and went for $99,450 after spirited bidding.
A 1915 Harley-Davidson 11K Board Track Racer which was also looking for a new home, surpassed its estimate selling for $58,500.
– – C.S. Berg
CALIFORNIA ABATE REPORTS IN–Regarding “Are we part of the big picture ?” I just spoke to CHP Sgt Mike Thomason, Office of Special Projects, and let him know that we have become aware of the “2010 Highway Safety Plan” and that ABATE of Ca is prepared to become part of the operation in Motorcycle Awareness. He said that the reason that our organization’s name does NOT show on that list, is because all of those are State Departments that are looking for some of the Grant money $$$$$$$$
He said that the reason that we have not been contacted yet is that this is at the very beginning, in the paperwork stage. No dates have been set yet, but the primary aim of their program, which they call their portion, “Look Twice, Save a Life” is at the four counties that have the highest accident rate….. L.A., San Diego, Orange, & Berdoo. Their primary aim is educating the public, not enforcement of the mc community. We will be notified and included as soon as they start to put their program together, and it will be rolling and ready by May, Motorcycle Awareness month.
As you recall, May started out being “Motorcycle Awareness Month”. A few years back, it somehow evolved into “Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month”, and this year I have heard it called “Motorcycle Safety Month”. I know that this is only semantics, But whenever I speak to any of these people, I just use “Motorcycle Awareness Month” That’s how it started, and that is what OUR aim……. educating the public that we are there……be aware of us. This way it doesn’t evolve into “be aware of motorcycles and give them a ticket for wearing the wrong hat” month. I think it would benefit to use, and think of, this as “Motorcycle Awareness Month”.
ABATE is an advisor to the California Motorcycle Safety Program, as we have always been, and this annual advisory board meeting will probably happen in August this year.
As always, If you start to see any unusual number of motorcyclist traffic enforcement in any particular town or area, please notify us right away.
–John Del Santo
ABATE of California
WWW.GREENPEACE.ORG
http://www.attractworldpeace.com/
BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER FINDING, THE ELIXIR OF LIFE, MASSAGE SPONSORED BY HARDBALL TATTOO– We will present tips that can help you manage unhealthy stress. Consider them this holiday season, and pass them along to family and friends!
Here’s a healthy goal with the added bonus of feeling luxurious: get a monthly massage. Receiving a professional massage is relaxing and has numerous health benefits: It can help manage stress levels, reduce blood pressure and heart rate, ease sore muscles and stiff joints, lower levels of stress hormones, and enhance immune function.
Many types of massages are available at a wide range of prices. Check your local health food store for short-duration neck and shoulder massages (perfect on your lunch break), try out student massages at local massage schools, or book packages of massages to save money.
No shit, massage is the elixir of life. Check with DrWeil.com for more info.
Czech Automobile Manufacturer Skoda Celebrates 110 Years Of Engine Production In Mlada Boleslav– So what has it got to do with us when a car manufacturer somewhere in Europe, who’s brand is not even available in the US celebrates something? Very easy: It all started with a motorcycle.
The opening ceremony for the new exhibition at the Skoda Auto Museum yesterday, November 18, did not only celebrate 110 years of constant engine production at the facility in Mlada Boleslav, but also marked to the day the anniversary of the first official ride on the first Laurin & Klement motorbike and its successful presentation to reporters on 18 November 1899 in Prague.
Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement were generally inspired in 1898 by the Werner Brothers? motocyclette, designed in Paris. In contrast to the Werners, they located the engine inside the frame and all the control elements were placed in the handlebars. They started production at the turn of 1898 and 1899. The first tests took place in 1898, and Laurin and Klement started to offer the motorcycles to their customers in 1899.
?There are very few companies that have been producing personal means of transport with their own engine constantly for 110 years. And with their headquarters in the same place as well,? said Skoda Auto Archive Manager Lukas Nachtmann. ?A number of companies that were formed at that time ended their activities a long time ago or changed their range. Others simply became assembly plants. However, in Mlada Boleslav we have been involved in the production and development of means of transport since 1895. They were originally bicycles, but a motorcycle of our own design was added in 1899.?
While the first motorcycles of the young company were a success, the ignition system, back then based on a flame system, remained the biggest weakness in the first engine because the flame of the ignition lamp kept going out. To get a handle on this, the company started experimenting with electric ignition using batteries. Still not satisfied with the results, Laurin and Klement started to communicate with Robert Bosch?s company. Using Bosch’s very expensive equipment, they developed their own system of the electrical current for ignition being produced by an inductor located under the engine and driven by a chain.
In addition to the well known petrol engines for cars, Laurin and Klement also produced units for other uses like winches for hot-air balloons during World War I and cooling units in the 1960s-80s. There were also licensed airplane engines, the first of which with their own design was produced in 1910.
Engine production in today?s form started on December 20, 2001 in the M6 hall, the company’s new engine shop at the Mlada Boleslav plant with 600 employees and a daily output of 2,800 units. Among the engines produced today are two high-performance versions of a 1.2 HTP three-cylinder spark ignition engine and, from this year on, a 1.2 TSI 77 kW petrol forced-induction engine.
Engines and gearboxes from Mlada Boleslav are currently used in Skoda automobiles as well as other models of the Volkswagen group such as the Audi, Seat and VW.
– – C.S. Berg, photos Skoda
ERIK BUELL ESTABLISHES ERIK BUELL RACING– New Venture Will Build Buell 1125R-based Racing Motorcycles and Supply Parts.
Milwaukee, Wis. (November 20, 2009) – Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) announced today that following the company?s recent decision to discontinue the Buell motorcycle product line, Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company, will leave the company to establish Erik Buell Racing, an independent motorcycle race shop.
Erik Buell Racing will specialize in the supply of race-use-only Buell motorcycle parts and race preparation services for engines and motorcycles, and the building and sale of Buell? 1125R-based race-use-only motorcycles under license from Harley-Davidson, as well as providing technical support to racers of Buell motorcycles.
?I?m looking forward to helping Buell racers keep their bikes flying,? said Erik Buell. ?We?ve got some exciting race development projects in the works and it will mean a lot to me personally to see Buell racers competing for wins and championships in the 2010 season and beyond.?
?I?m pleased that Harley-Davidson is assisting Erik in establishing this business to continue supporting the racing efforts he has had so much passion for over the years,? said Buell President and COO Jon Flickinger. ?Harley-Davidson and the Buell Motorcycle Company will always be proud of their affiliation with Erik, and we wish him well in this new endeavor to support Buell racers.?
Erik Buell Racing will be based in East Troy, Wisconsin and will be staffed by Erik Buell and a veteran team of personnel. For more information, after December 1, 2009, contact:
–Erik Buell Racing, LLC
2799 Buell Drive, Unit C
East Troy, WI 53120
www.erikbuellracing.com
info@erikbuellracing.com
Novato Harley-Davidson dealership shuts down– Golden Gate Harley-Davidson closed its Novato store Wednesday and is consolidating its efforts at its Corte Madera location, its owner said Thursday.
“This facility (in Corte Madera) is better-equipped for customer service anyway, but the economy did play a role in the consolidation,” said Peter Guerriero, who has owned Golden Gate Harley-Davidson since 2007.
Most of Novato’s seven employees will have jobs at the Corte Madera store, but a few did not want to commute that far south, Guerriero said.
The Novato store, at 7077 Redwood Blvd., was about 5,000 square feet and focused more on service and the sale of accessories, clothing and parts than motorcycles, Guerriero said. Including its warehouse in San Rafael, the 15,000-square-foot Corte Madera store has one of the largest inventories of new motorcycles in Northern California.
At MotoHaven, a Harley-oriented shop in southern Novato, the mood was mixed. Co-owner John Harper used to work at Golden Gate and said there was a lot of cooperation between his shop and the official dealership.
“Love-hate would not be the correct term, but we worked very closely with them,” Harper said. “When you see anybody lose their job at any time, especially close to the holidays, it pulls at your heart strings. Believe me, it was very convenient for us to have Harley right in our backyard because parts were available. We have limited Advertisement stock and when we need original parts we have to go through a certified Harley dealer, and that’s on about 90 percent of our repairs.”
Business might pick up at his place as well as at the Corte Madera headquarters for Golden Gate, Harper said. “This caught us off-guard, so we’re going to have to step up,” he said. “This is surprising to everybody and I know people are upset. We wish them well.” Guerriero said Harley-Davidson, based in Milwaukee, is doing relatively well in the down market.
“Everybody’s sales are down, but Harley’s are down less,” he said. “The company currently enjoys the largest market share at anytime in its history in the heavyweight market.
“Harley means many things to many people. It’s more than just a motorcycle. It’s an image thing, a social thing … a state of mind.”
Harley buffs from around the world stop into the Corte Madera store to buy T-shirts or rent bikes for long trips, Guerriero said.
–Brent Ainsworth
BIKERNET STAFFER TO MONKEY WITH V-ROD, FIRST MOVE D&D EXHAUST AND ZIPPERS AIR CLEANER– Recieved the K and N filter from Rosie at Zippers on Thursday and decided to install the filter and pipe. I’m planning on having the Stage 1 download installed when I come up with the 200 bones, but as for now I guess I will park the bike until I can make sure she’s not running too lean. Ah, I’m bullshitting. I’ll run her for 100 miles and pull the plugs to check for tell-tale leaness evidence like white heads. If they are tan, we’ll ride like this till Zippers comes through with the new Thundermax after January 1st.
The D&D pipes were a straightforward install. The pipe is fucking awesome. Sumbitch sounds like a goddamned dragster and the bark it creates when under a load gives me goosebumps.
I’m heading out now in the rain and 50 degree chill just to show it off at a local bike night. Maybe some douche will want to race with his “real” Harley. Ha!
–Johnny
NEW FEATURE COMING FROM AUSTRALIA DURING THE YEAR OF THE SPORTSTER– G,day bandit, your website is ace , lots of cool bikes & tech articles ,great site.
I built this little digger style ironhead a while ago & thought I would send you a few pics. I can send more pics & info, if your interested.
–deano
STOLEN MOTORCYCLE– Some low life piece of shit stole my bike last night. Man, I feel low.
It was stolen from out front of a local pool hall in Bessemer, Al called Crazy 8’s. I rode around all day today hoping I might see it but no luck.
–Bernie
springerman_96@yahoo.com
If anyone can help this longtime Bikernet reader, drop him an e-mail quick.–Bandit
LICK’S STIMULUS XMAS PACKAGE– Christmas is coming SOON! For all those eager shoppers, the coveted Black Friday Sales are approaching. Lets face it, THE ECONOMY STILL SUCKS and people are struggling to make ends meet. To offer a little wallet relief to our loyal customers, Licks has announced a huge BlowOut sale on some of their most popular products.
This is the first time Licks has run a holiday sale of this size and they are hoping it lends a helping hand. The Black Friday BlowOut Sale will start Thursday night midnight and run through Sunday night midnight.
Log on after midnight Thursday and go right the Specials section for Huge Savings!!
RARE DUAL CARB PANHEADS– Attached are pics of the dual carb heads. They were in decent shape when I got them, but they’ve been fixed up since. Monster valves and huge ports. I like how they built up the fins where the old intakes used to be.
I was told that you could send you H-D heads into S&S and they would make the conversion. Do you know if there’s any truth to that. I know S&S made their own, but not sure if you could have them modify your own.
–Matt
Wheels Through Time Museum
P.O. 790 / 62 Vintage Lane
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-6266
mattw@wheelsthroughtime.com
I’ll find out if S&S still offers this service. We may put a tech together.–Wrench
Here’s my first response from S&S: We haven?t done this since the early 60?s.–Angee
BIKERNET PANHEAD DEAL OF THE WEEK– Bitchin 1951 Pan original bike. The engine was rebuilt, the wiring has been worked on a little, but for the most part original. All of the gingerbread is clean, it is the deal of the week. 20K.
–FATBOB
THE FINAL UPBEAT WORD OF THE WEEKEND– affable AF-uh-buhl, adjective:
1. Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner.
2. Gracious; benign.
Johnny’s father, while strict with his children, usually was affable and relaxed.
— Paul C. Nagel, John Quincy Adams
There was even more joking than usual Saturday afternoon; he seemed to be in a particularly affable mood.
— “Presley Treats Fans to His Best”, New York Times, July 21, 1975
Affable is from Latin affabilis, from affari, “to speak to,” from ad-, “to” + fari, “to speak.”
NEW BIKERNET METRIC EDITOR– I am Trent Reker, the brand spanking new editor for Bikernet Metric There is a lot going on at Bikernet, and in the next few weeks and months you’ll see a bunch of changes, all for the better. Trent Reker 
GIVING THANKS–Throughout this week we will endeavor to give thanks to the Bikernet staff, and the many contributors who have continually added that affable punch, making Bikernet rock constantly. I’d like to first thank Jason Douglas who has been our web master for nearly a decade. He keeps the cobbled together site cranking. I want to thank Jeff Najar, who added the Bikernet Studio videos and radio interviews to Bikernet. We hope to build on his contributions over the next year. He will help industry clients and Bikernet reach out of the box.
I need to thank an old friend from back in the day, Bob Clark and new gun Ken Conte for their constant contributions. These guys, including Rick Raus are brothers who know how to deliver customers to companies in our industry. That’s their job, and they work at it until profits increase or they die trying.
Over the last couple of years, more and more contributors stepped up to help us deliver content to our readers on a daily basis. It’s up to me to keep up and create the infrastructure to make the site easy to navigate and make our contributors proud. I’m working on that aspect, and you’ll witness positive alterations to Bikernet over the next couple of months. No major changes, but the enhanced technology to make Bikernet sing. I want to thank Trent Reker for coming on board to help with Bikernet Metric, C.S. Carsten for delivering the desert region news, Camy for South Alabama Weather Reports, Charles for run stories, Scotty for living on the road, Betsy, for her vibrant tales, Johnny Humble for sniveling techs from Texas, Andreas for European girls and UD for fiction from India.
I will continue to give credit and my thanks to our contributors this coming Thursday on Thanksgiving. We couldn’t do it without every member of the team.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
