Hey,
This Biketoberfest Post is turning into a monster. I was going to report on my latest Panhead desk project in detail, but the Post took over. Let’s hit it and see if I have any room at the end:
2WHEELERS BIKERNET BIKETOBERFEST REPORTS– We are still in paradise right. Palm trees , cool chicks and cold beer. Brandy on the left is joining the Army. We will miss her. More to come. Saturday is a big day at Biketoberfest who know what will happen on the road to nowhere.
AIM ATTORNEY FIRST TO SUE MYRTLE BEACH OVER ANTI-BIKER LAWS– Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) Attorney Tom McGrath filed the first lawsuit against the city of Myrtle Beach, S.C. challenging the constitutionality of two of over a dozen new anti-biker ordinances passed to shut down motorcycle rallies.
The suit filed September 29 in Horry County’s 15th Judicial Circuit on behalf of two Myrtle Beach residents and motorcyclists, William and Carol O’Day, challenges the city’s new helmet law and noise ordinances. The suit questions whether it’s within the city?s ?home rule? authority to supersede state law in both cases.
Both municipal ordinances, according to the lawsuit, are unconstitutional and in violation of South Carolina state law. ”It’s pretty simple,” said Tom McGrath, whose Motorcycle Law Group based out of Richmond, Virginia, filed the suit. “It’s really a question of whether it’s constitutional. Does state law prevail?”
?Home Rule doesn?t allow a city to pass laws that are inconsistent with state law in areas where the state has already acted,? he explained. ?and South Carolina already has a helmet law for riders 21 and younger, and they already have a muffler statute in state law.?
McGrath is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and is licensed in the State of South Carolina as well as Virginia and Tennessee. As an avid motorcyclist and motorcycle rights activist, Tom founded the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists and provides legal counsel to ABATE of Virginia. ?We go fight for the rights of people,? he added, ?that?s what we do?that?s the kind of firm we are.?
Two additional lawsuits, both filed in federal court on behalf of local businesses, have since been filed against Myrtle Beach in response to the city council?s unanimous approval of 15 new laws aimed to crack down on a 70-year tradition of motorcycle rallies in the city, which include restricting vendor permits, imposing liability on promoters, limited bike parking, more restrictive loitering and public drinking laws, and other regulations designed to dissuade rally-goers.
Among other arguments, the federal lawsuits claim the ordinances are vague, interfere with people’s First Amendment rights, do irreparable harm to businesses and interferes with interstate commerce.
Law enforcement began enforcing some of the new laws at roadblocks set up recently during the Fall ?Pilgrimage? Bike Rally, prompting many bikers to skirt the city in protest and spent their time and money at other nearby rally locations, such as Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson, where a sign warned riders that city limits were 200 feet ahead.
Meanwhile, Myrtle Beach is lobbying other local municipalities and the county to enact similar ordinances.
?ABATE of South Carolina abhors these types of totalitarian enactments that remove liberties and freedoms of individuals and eventually, will start eroding individual rights granted to us under our Constitution,? said the state motorcycle rights organization in a press release. ?ABATE of South Carolina challenges the council on the grounds that the municipal power is exceeding the entity?s corporate powers, acting as if it is above state law.?
The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Spring Rally has been a fixture in Myrtle Beach for 68 years, and is the oldest, continuous running motorcycle rally in the country, but the city council decided to get rid of all bike rallies following complaints from residents, primarily during the Atlantic Beach BikeFest attended mostly by black urban sportbike riders, after efforts to police the event led to several discrimination lawsuits filed by the NAACP, which were eventually settled out of court.
QUICK A BIKERNET BLONDE BREAK– A blonde is showing off her new tattoo of a giant seashell on her inner thigh.
Her friendsask her why she would get such a tattoo in that location.
She responds,’It’s really cool, if you put your ear up against it you can smell the ocean.’
–from Jim Waggy
SHOP LETS CUSTOMERS TURN WRENCHES– SOUTH DAYTONA — There are dozens of bike shops all over Volusia County where a skilled mechanic can fix what’s wrong with your ride and get you back on the road. But what if you want to do it yourself?
Dave Walker of Lonestar Motorcycle Tech Center wants to help. More than a repair shop, his storefront just north of Miller’s Custom Parts on U.S. 1 is a place for motorcycle owners of all skill levels to work on their own bikes, using his tools, space and experience as a guide.
“It’s the only place around that lets you participate in repairing your bike, and we do everything from engines to changing tires to rebuilding and building a bike from scratch,” Walker said.
Walker taught at American Motorcycle Institute for 16 years in the Harley-Davidson division, so he has both the know-how and the patience to teach inexperienced mechanics all they need to know to keep their bike running.
His shop is “not just a motorcycle shop, but a place where people can work on their bikes, and feel safe around their bikes, have knowledge of their bikes, in case something does happen, they know what the heck’s going on,” he said.
Dave Walker offers seminars periodically from 6-9 p.m. on topics such as safety and performance, awareness of your V-twin motorcycle and interpreting your service manual. The seminars cost $250. The shop is open daily at 1841 S. Ridgewood Ave. For more information, call 386-322-3384.
By WILLIAM COVERT Correspondent
–from Rogue
BURLY LAUNCHED NEW SITE!– Not unlike everything we build, the new Burly website is tuned for performance, easy to install and if used correctly is liable to make your bike just a bit cooler. Check out our complete line of handlebars, including apehangers, beach bars and drag bars, as well as our collection of lowering blocks and the all new Burly Slammer lowering kits, as well. Each and every part is featured in a high res image and matched up with all the dirty details to save you the time of hunting for the truth.
Not sure what fits your bike? How about a year/make/model search utility that?ll return the exact product that fit your ride. Need more? Ready to see your bike on our homepage? Yep, send us a pic of your Burlyized machine and we?ll feature it for a month and send you some 100% cotton thank yous as well. The newest of the new stuff as well as links to your local Burly loving dealers are also a few clicks away. Check it all out at burlybrand.com.
— David Zemla
Burly Brand
6900 Marlin Circle
La Palma, CA 90623
Phone 888-367-1871
info@burlybrand.com
http://www.burlybrand.com
JIMS ELLIPSE EFI THROTTLE BODY– The New JIMS “Ellipse” Performance 58mm and 62mm Throttle Body and Manifold. An Elliptical Venturi designed for Quick Throttle Response.
JIMS Throttle Bodies feature an Elliptical intake track, producing maximum horsepower and torque numbers throughout the entire RPM range. The ?Elliptical Curve? starts at the air box and continues thru the Elliptical Throttle Body into the intake manifold. JIMS Ellipse 58mm Throttle Bodies have outstanding performance when installed on all EFI 2006 thru 2008 throttle cable style motorcycles.
They are compatible with all O.E.M. electrical components (i.e. throttle position sensors, air control motors, fuel injector assemblies, etc…). Not compatible with electric throttle cable style motorcycles installed on some 2008 models.
The manifold is also wider to fit most taller engines. Use on all 100? to 131? Twin Cam motorcycles. Throttle Body Kits are sold either with or without electronic components, MAP sensor, Fuel Rails, and Injectors.
For more information, visit our web-site at www.jimsusa.com –JT Lepien LEGENDS AIR CHRISTMAS OFFER– Get the gift you both can enjoy? a ride as smooth as Santa?s sleigh. Save your back and seat from a rough ride with a Legend Air Suspension system. The Legend Air Suspension uses exclusive Kevlar Air Spring technology and deflective disc dampening to eliminate annoying pogo action, offering the smoothest ride quality with no bottoming out under any load condition. This system allows the rider to utilize up to 3 inches of travel on most models. Fully adjustable at the touch of a button for one or two up riding, pulling a trailer, rough or smooth roads. Shocks mount in stock location and kits come with all necessary hardware for easy installation including on-board air compressor, handlebar-mounted control in black or optional chrome with plug and play wiring. Fitting most Harley Davidson models, Boss Hoss Touring Trikes and Bikes 1998-2009, Lehman touring Trikes 1998-2009. Limited Lifetime warranty BIKERNET GOES WEST–A modern day cowboy has spent many days crossing the Texas plains without water. His horse has already died of thirst. He’s crawling through the sand, certain that he has breathed his last breath, when all of a sudden he sees an object sticking out of the sand several yards ahead of him. He crawls to the object, pulls it out of the sand, and discovers what looks to be an old briefcase. He opens it and out pops a genie. But this is no ordinary genie. She is wearing a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) ID badge and a dull gray dress. There’s a calculator in her pocketbook. She has a pencil tucked behind one ear. ‘Well, cowboy,’ says the genie..’You know how I work….You have three wishes.’ ‘I’m not falling for this.’ said the cowboy… ‘I’m not going to trust a FEMA genie.’ ”What do you have to lose? You’ve got no transportation, and it looks like you’re a goner anyway!’ The cowboy thinks about this for a minute, and decides that the genie is right. ‘OK!, I wish I were in a lush oasis with plenty of food and drink.’ ***POOF*** The cowboy finds himself in the most beautiful oasis he has ever seen, and he is surrounded with jugs of wine and platters of delicacies. ‘OK, cowpoke, what’s your second wish.’ ‘My second wish is that I was rich beyond my wildest dreams.’ ***POOF*** The cowboy finds himself surrounded by treasure chests filled with rare gold coins and precious gems. ‘OK, cowpuncher, you have just one more wish. Better make it a good one!’ After thinking for a few minutes, the cowboy says… ‘I wish that no matter where I go, beautiful women will want and need me.’ ***POOF*** He was turned into a tampon. The moral of the story: If the government offers you anything, there’s going to be a string attached. –from Scott Wiese BIKETOBERFEST SPENDING STILL STRONG–ORMOND BEACH — Walking out of a T-shirt vendor’s tent, Kim Brundage digs into the plastic bag in her hand and pulls out an infant-sized jumper emblazoned with a motorcycle logo. “Isn’t it perfect for Flanna?” the 44-year-old said, showing off the souvenir to her husband, Roger. “She will be able to wear it for a while, she is so tiny.” The Syracuse, N.Y., couple spent the first official day of Biketoberfest 2008 on Thursday doing what a lot of those wandering through Destination Daytona were doing — shopping and browsing among the dozens of businesses at the motorcycle enthusiast’s shopping center. This year’s souring economy hadn’t changed their spending habits, which Roger, a retired police officer, and his crime analyst wife described as “frugal.” “We spend most of our money on T-shirts for the grandchildren,” Roger Brundage, 63, said. “That, food and incidentals that catch our eyes.” However, with a budget of only $100 per day — they own and live in a time-shared condominium — the couple aren’t giving the local economy much of a boost. And neither are their Biketoberfest counterparts, at least in the early going this year. “This is a very slow start,” Paula Palladino, owner of Hawg Tyd Superstore, said of the annual fall motorcycle extravaganza, which many merchants count on for a fiscal jump-start. “I have been doing this 10 years, and this is the slowest I have ever seen.” The Brundages have been coming to Biketoberfest for the past eight years, drawn primarily by the weather and the smaller crowds than Bike Week. Throughout that time, their spending has remained pretty much the same, whether the economy was up or down. “We save for four to six months putting away our nickels and dimes,” Roger said. Their fellow travelers, Mike and Mary Kay Manns, also of Syracuse, keep a tight grip on their wallets as well. But their budget is somewhat more extensive. “We both bring $1,000 in cash,” said Mike Manns, 41, who is also a police officer. “And we usually don’t spend all that.” Manns admits the tanking economy does influence his perception of the world, particularly when it affects the family medical records business. But, at least this year, it hasn’t influenced the couple’s day-to-day Biketoberfest expenditures. He even spent a little time in Daytona Harley-Davidson, sitting on a new bike, contemplating the motorcycle’s $45,000 price tag. “If the business were not doing well, we would not have taken a vacation,” Manns said. Manns, who credits his wife with the success of their company, isn’t as confident about the future though. By MARK I. JOHNSON Daytona Staff Writer –from Rogue BIKERNET SUNDAY BIKETOBERFEST PHOTO ART EXHIBIT–Biketoberfest ’08 in full schwing! More to come. Livin it up, SPEAKING OF OCEANS– Hey, Guess What. The Special November Lats & Atts Seafaring Issue is now FREE on-line! All 239 pages! The World’s Favorite Boating Lifestyle Magazine Is Waiting For You! You Don’t Have To Register! Like Us it’s Free and Easy! Click Here To View The New Issue! That’s right. The full print issue of November’s Special Seafaring edition of Latitudes & Attitudes is now on-line, complete with video, audio and links to every advertisers site, so you can get all the information you want simply with a click of your mouse. If you haven’t seen the new on-line version yet, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
www.jimsusa.com 
Proudly made in the USA since 1998
Go to www.independentcycleinc.com 
–Whiplash Biker Photog
soffordphotos@comcast.net 
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