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LIGHT & EASY BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for December 1, 2022

Nothing too Earth Shattering

By Bandit, Wayfarer, Bob T., Berry Green, Rogue, Sam Burns, the Redhead, Jim Waggaman, Laura, RFR and the rest of the gang.
12/1/2022


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Hey,

Have you noticed how annoying most major news sites are
? They are scattered with google video ads between every paragraph, pop-ups and ads screaming out from the right margins? Have you noticed how clean the Bikernet content is?

I would only allow Google to run ads at the bottom of the pages, but now rumor has it Google doesn’t like the girls on our site. I would rather our pages remained clean and unencumbered without annoying ads.



Speaking of rumors, there's gossip going around Hollywood about a new Easy Rider movie, which would be a shot in the arm for the new Easyriders Magazine. I’m wondering if Hollywood won’t force the producers to include gay lovers. We will see won’t we?

Another quirky week in Paradise. 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.

My grandson Frankie is taking the Los Angeles 5-Ball Crew to the Chopperfest in Venture. Don't miss it!
My grandson Frankie is taking the Los Angeles 5-Ball Crew to the Chopperfest in Venture. Don't miss it!

 




LATEST FROM TMZ--Jay Leno released from the hospital

According to the TMZ website, comedian and car collector Jay Leno has been sent home from the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles where he was taken after being burned in a gasoline fire in his Burbank garage.

Leno was repairing a fuel line on his 1907 White steam car when gasoline, which is used to heat the car’s burner, splashed on his face and arm and then was ignited by a spark. A friend helped extinguish the flames, and Leno was taken to the hospital.

“The ex-late night host posed for a photo taken and posted by the Grossman Burn Center, where JL has been receiving treatment for the past nine days. In it, he seems to be in good spirits alongside the facility staff, but there’s noticeable scarring on his face and hands,” TMZ said. “In a statement, the burn center says Jay will receive follow-up care at their outpatient facility, this after receiving burns throughout his upper [body], including on his chest.”

--Steven Cole Smith
Hagerty Media





ROLAND SANDS DESIGN AND KRIEGA-- Announce Product Collaboration Launch

Long Beach, California, USA / Deeside, UK:
Forging a path in the 2-wheel world is not a simple task. It takes commitment, creativity, relentless drive, a few great ideas and sometimes, a little luck. The crew at RSD & Kriega brands are no strangers to this process.

Through the years both brands have become global leaders in their respective fields; RSD with iconic custom motorcycles, premium parts & apparel; and Kriega with industry defining backpack and luggage products; RSD & Kriega are known for premium quality, craftsmanship and performance.

Meet the ROAM Collection, a collaboration by RSD X Kriega. Forged by countless miles on the highway, trails, and canyon roads this new collection of rider bags and accessory products perfectly blend classic and modern materials, technical construction, and functionality.

The ROAM Collection features materials unique to each brand, and together allow for truly amazing product. Including RSD’s proprietary heavy duty waxed cotton & Kriega’s QUADLOC-Lite™ harness system. The ROAM collection was created to offer bag and accessory solutions to riders that appreciate design aesthetic and branding that are subdued, clean and timeless.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Kriega on this collaboration,” said the prez Roland Sands. “Mixing our premium waxed cotton material with their proven technical products and a slight twist on design language really makes for a unique, and amazing product. The team at Kriega has been rad to work with, and I could see additional products being added to the mix in the future.”

ROAM 34 BACKPACK

The Roland Sands Design X Kriega Roam 34 Backpack is constructed from RSD’s propriety wax cotton together with 1000D Cordura and combined with Kriega’s groundbreaking Quadloc-Lite harness, to create a marriage of classic style and unrivalled functionality.

Comprised of 3 sections: a waterproof roll-top 15" laptop pocket, a 4-litre fold-down zip compartment packed with organizer pockets and a spacious main compartment with heavy-duty YKK® zip access, expandable from 22 to 30-litres when needed. Ideal for carrying a full-face helmet around town or loading with the weekly groceries. Additional features include a fleece-lined goggle/eyewear zip pocket, an optional waist strap with storage pockets, and Sissy bar attachment strap/s.

Available in 2 colour options: Black or Ranger.

FEATURES

• Waterproof 15" laptop compartment
• Expandable main body (22-litres to 30-litres)
• Adjustable QUADLOC-Lite™ Harness
• ‘Soft-feel’ back panel for rider comfort
• Goggle/eyewear zip pocket (fleece-lined)
• 4-litre front compartment with organizer pockets
• Reflective panels on harness
• Hydration compatible
• Optional waist-strap with storage pockets
• Sissy bar attachment strap
• Harness pocket compatible
• 10 YEAR GUARANTEE





LOUD PIPES AND HORNS SAVE LIVES--
 
When I retired in 2004 my wife and I moved to the Fort Myers, Fla., area. I thought it
would be the cat’s meow because I could ride my beloved Ultra year round. While this is a great biking state it has very dangerous obstacles I never considered before moving here: Cotton Tops, the elderly automobile drivers who also live in Florida.

Although most are safe, sensible drivers there are a bunch who don’t see (or care
to see) motorcyclists. After too many close calls with Cotton Tops that turned in front of me, pulled out without looking either way and generally made a nuisance of themselves, I installed the loudest air horn on my Ultra.

On my first ride with the horn, a little old lady who could barely see over the dashboard pulled in front of me from a stop light. I hit the horn and the old gal slammed on
her brakes to let me pass. Best 60 bucks I ever spent.

P.S. The hurricanes chased us back to Wisconsin.

— Jack Mrozinski, Mosinee, Wis.





BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!--Bandit's Cantina Episode 100

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Bandits_Cantina_Episode_100.aspx

I liked reading this episode. I also thought the choices of panel jokes were great! Keep up the good work and keep bucking the system.

After checking the best investments right now, I see that nickel (the stuff that is used for batteries) is one of them. Well, how will the earth fare if we over exploit the nickel that comes out of our ground?

The only real solution, in my opinion, is to try and balance fossil fuels with the extra nickel use for more and more batteries, etc. if that is possible. Also, not to go to extremes. Cut down on both a little individually and use with intelligence. We haven't found the perfect answer yet but hopefully we can come closer.

My big green thing is to keep our trees from burning down at too rapid a rate and replacing them as soon as possible. All of this requires work and a genius to come along with a better idea.

--Ann Robinson
Long Beach, CA

Click to order...
Click to order...







Indian Scout Rogue by Hardnine Choppers revealed at EICMA

Danny Schneider brings his hard riding, performance style to the Scout Rogue
Distinctive paint scheme inspired by King of the Baggers winning Indian Challenger



Danny Schneider, the man behind Hardnine Choppers, revealed his latest custom build at EICMA, Milan alongside the new 2023 models from Indian Motorcycle. With its distinctive paint scheme inspired by the factory’s King of the Baggers racers, stripped back front end and performance parts, Danny’s Scout Rogue was an eye-catching addition to the Indian Scout lineup on the booth, drawing in visitors to take photos and discover the finer details.

As a former FMX star and award-winning vintage custom builder, Danny Schneider has a reputation for exciting, performance orientated customs and is no stranger to working with Indian Motorcycle. In fact, the build he credits as his best ever was his 1931 Indian Scout, the bike that started his love of Indian Motorcycle, a love that was cemented with the launch of the FTR, “ever since then, I’ve been hooked,” says Danny.

“My idea when I first saw the Scout Rogue, I actually liked it a lot, was performance racing - this is where I’m coming from - I really wanted to craft it to suit my hard riding style and we’ve done everything we can with performance parts. We started out with the Öhlins front forks and Öhlins rear shock, suspension is the most important thing for me coming from a motocross background."

Modifying the triple trees to accept the Öhlins front forks, the handlebar has been replaced with a 22mm higher ProTaper unit fitted with ProTaper soft grips and the Scout Rogue’s mini-fairing adapted to work with the new bar placement. The stripped back, racing feel is also enhanced by miniature turn signals and the removal of the front fender.

The racing look and spec continues with performance tracker wheels from Roland Sands Design allowing the use of twin OEM discs grabbed by dual Beringer calipers operated by a Beringer master cylinder/lever with Danny creating bespoke adapters and mounts for the wheels and the braking system. For performance gains during starts and gear changes, the clutch lever is also by Beringer with a Dynojet quickshifter ensuring the slickest of shifts and a one-off 2-into-1 exhaust by Jekill and Hyde ramping up the soundtrack.

“I’ve added some custom touches, by cutting down the primary cover to the minimum that’s still safe but making it lighter and giving it a more performance look and I’ve also added wider footpegs to suit my riding style. But, look closer and you’ll see the gold leaf applied to the iconic insignias on the engine and the gas cap, the gold stitching in the seat which all complement the awesome paint by Vince Customs.”

“I've been building bikes for about 10 or 12 years now. But I stopped for a while as I'd lost a bit of the passion. When it came to the Rogue, it just came back, the light just fired up again. Indian Motorcycle engineering is amazing, they think further than other brands. If you need to do something, it’s done super quick. This is what I love.”

“Now it’s just a case of setting up the bike, dialing in the suspension and going for a ride. Riding to me is everything. It's absolute freedom.”

Click to check their models.
Click to check their models.







LIFE'S WORK WISDOM QUOTES:

"In life, hard-work keeps the mind pure and speaking truth keeps the heart pure."

"Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn’t give you credit.” ~ Kamari aka Lyrikal

"Discouragement and dissatisfaction are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision" ~ Kamari aka Lyrikal

"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” ~ Mother Teresa

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” ~ Earl Nightingale

"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” ~ Napoleon Hill

“Nothing will work unless you do.” ~ Maya Angelou

"Our passion is our life's output, our life's purpose; be it a day's work or a lifelong effort." ~ Wayfarer

--Wayfarer
Editor, Bikernet Blog & Facebook Page 





ELECTION UPDATE--2022 Mid-Term Elections

RPM Act The 2022 mid-term election has been an exciting and somewhat puzzling one for political prognosticators as votes are still being counted in many key U.S. House of Representatives races.

It is clear, however, that SEMA is well positioned for success during the next two years as a result of our support for lawmakers who have stood with the hobby. From grassroots advocacy through the SEMA Action Network to digital advertisements for our strongest allies to highlighting all the RPM Act cosponsors who were on the ballot this November, SEMA and automotive community did our part to help shape the 2022 elections.

Republicans have regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. At present, Republicans have won 218 seats in the House, while Democrats won 210 seats in the mid-term elections. Seven races are still too close to call. Republicans will control at least 49 Senate seats in the next Congress, and Democrats will control at least 50 Senate seats. Democrats will lead the Senate in 2023–2024 regardless of the outcome of the December 6 runoff election in Georgia, since the vice president is the tie breaker vote in the Senate.

There were 110 RPM Act House co-sponsors up for re-election, and 15 RPM Act sponsors either ran for re-election to the Senate or competed for a Senate seat this year. The results have been overwhelmingly positive for lawmakers who have supported the bill.

Thirteen RPM Act sponsors won their Senate races while the Alaska race is still being decided. More than 100 RPM Act co-sponsors in the House were re-elected, three lost and two RPM Act cosponsors are up in their races where votes are still being counted.

A closely divided Congress in 2023–2024 increases the chances that the final month and a half of the current legislative session will be productive, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have priorities that they will seek to have enacted before the end of the year.

Looking forward to next year, we are encouraged that the narrow margins in the House and Senate will prevent extreme policies that would be detrimental to the hobby (such as aggressive federal efforts to favor ZEVs over ICE vehicles, closing roads and trails for motorized recreation, etc.). One cautionary note regarding divided government is that it will encourage President Biden to rely on his executive powers to implement partisan policy changes, particularly from his environmental activist base. SEMA and the SEMA Action Network will be monitoring these efforts closely.

We are grateful to everyone who has supported SEMA’s advocacy efforts. We are making incredible strides to boost the industry’s political horsepower in Washington. To learn more and get involved, visit www.SEMASAN.com.

--SEMA







QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY--

A Little 10-year-old girl was walking home, alone, from school one day, when a big man on a black motorcycle pulls up beside her.

After following along for a while, turns to her and asks, "Hey there little girl, do you want to go for a ride?"
 
"NO!" says the little girl as she keeps on walking.
 
The motorcyclist again pulls up beside her and asks, "Hey little girl, I will give you $10 if you hop on the back."

"NO!" says the little girl again as she hurries down the street.

The motorcyclist pulls up beside the little girl again and says, "Okay kid, my last offer! I'll give you 20 Bucks "and" a Big Bag of Candy if you will just hop on the back of my bike and we will go for a ride."

Finally, the little girl stops and turns towards him and Screams Out... "Look Dad" "You're the one who bought the Honda instead of the Harley... YOU RIDE IT!!".......

--Steve Bauman
Register Librarian
Bandit’s Cantina Band Joke Library

Join the Cantina, Quick! Touch her.
Join the Cantina, Quick! Touch her.







NEWS FROM CHOPPERS MAG-- You have to love the distinctive styles some artists are able to create. Styles that immediately make you go… oh yeah that’s that kat. This truly applies when talking about Matt Wilkins, aka @matt_sabbath.

Being an artist myself, I appreciate someone like this. He has honed his style and skill set to develop a style that is instantly recognizable. Matt has been creating art for bikers, bands and country western stars for a few years now. He is also a member of the artist collective known as the Mystical Freaks.

--The Chopper Mag Staff







DO YOU NEED A 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON CALENDAR--Harley-Davidson 2023 offers 16 months of iconic motorcycles from the world’s most iconic motorcycle manufacturer.

Created in cooperation with Harley-Davidson, this 17" x 12" latest edition of Motorbooks’ top-selling calendar includes bikes spanning Harley-Davidson’s history from classics to today’s top machines.



Harley-Davidson 2023 features stunning portraits commissioned specifically for this calendar and photographed by talented photographer David Blattel as well as historic images from the Harley-Davidson archives.



The calendar features a convenient page that shows the months of September, October, November, and December 2022 followed by individual pages for the months of 2023. Included with the calendar is a stunning 17" × 12" frame-ready print.

--Quarto Knows
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D
Beverly, MN 01915





NEWS FROM THE MASTER OF LIGHT— Artist David Uhl - Days of Uhlness

Reminder that a minimum $500 purchase qualifies you to win a David Uhl original painting. Scroll down to for more information.

"Indigenous"
** 15 x 11.25 paper framed - normally $850 and Rare, this one is $500.

Please email me or call me at 303-913-4840 with any questions, or to place your order. Thanks for your time! Don’t go to the website for the best deals.

--Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director
David Uhl Fine Art
Uhl Studios
303-913-4840

Click to see the studio.
Click to see the studio.







A LETTER FROM THE DIME BAG FOUNDER--I’ve appreciated your support throughout this year and wish you and yours a happy holiday.

Finished your Ride Free Forever timecover buckles that I braze soldered mild steel handmade in house.



Also, a long line of legendary chopper friends are putting their orders in for a DimeBag Leather Travelers Timecover.



This weeks Timed feature goes to Ray ILanes at Copper Top Garage in Ormond Beach Florida. Ray specializes in building custom choppers. Dimebag Leather is certified seat maker for all his custom choppers.

He is opening up a shop with storefront around the corner of a world famous tattoo shop in Ormond Beach FL.

All the best
--Adam Croft

Click for custom leather seats and leather products.
Click for custom leather seats and leather products.







NMA NEWSLETTER--Taking the Politics Out of Speed Limit Setting

All traffic is local, and nothing gets people riled up more than speed limits. The 85th percentile has been the standard for measuring speed limits for years. Due to pressure from groups such as Vision Zero and Complete Streets, this standard of measuring speed is losing ground in states such as California, Oregon, and Massachusetts, and even on a federal level. But it's still the standard in many places around the country.

The 85th percentile is "the speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions past a monitored point."

In the past, traffic engineers employed the 85th percentile by observing traffic on the ground using a radar gun on the part of the road that needed a survey. More recently, traffic engineers have used pneumatic road tubes stretched across a roadway, which according to the US Office of Highway Policy Information, can measure the following:

How many drivers use the road every day?

The direction the vehicle travels and during what time of day

What class of vehicle (car, tractor-trailer) uses the road

The speed at which drivers are traveling

The data collection process can be labor-intensive, expensive, and doesn’t always return the most accurate results. Using GPS solves this problem.

For the past ten years, TomTom, a consumer navigation company, has been mapping the world using GPS. We also recently learned that along with navigation, the company has been putting together speed profile calculations. Utilizing street data from a company like TomTom, traffic engineers can take the political rhetoric out of speed limit determinations.

What is GPS? First developed for the US military at the beginning of the space race, civilians have had access to GPS since 1989. Onboard vehicle navigation systems use 24 satellites that orbit the Earth twice daily to calculate routes, find local addresses, and monitor road conditions. This navigational technology offers users PNT (positioning, navigation, and timing) services.

The New Hampshire Union Leader recently interviewed state traffic engineer William Lambert to discuss a data system his department bought recently from TomTom. Within a month of purchase, Lambert already ran 30 traffic reports to determine the speeds vehicles traveled on targeted roads in the state.

In the past, the process would have taken much longer. Lambert says he can now analyze the TomTom speed profile calculations data on his computer to see how traffic behaves along a targeted route. He added, "I'm trying to use this data to make sure that speed limits are credible for the character and conditions of the roads across the state."

For Lambert, reducing a speed limit due to a "wishful thinking value' usually doesn't work. He added, "We find that traffic is not going any slower because we want them to."

Lambert says that target speed is the answer and the lowest crash rate occurs at the 85th percentile of measured traffic speed. He's right when he said in the interview that ensuring speed limits on particular roadways are 'credible' will make all roads safer. Otherwise, drivers will ignore posted speed limits. "If some speed limits are credible and others aren't, and people disrespect them in places where they're not, then they can disrespect them in other places and go too fast."

Using this kind of aggregated digital data will help traffic engineers do their job by setting safe speed limits at the 85th percentile and taking the arbitrariness of setting speeds out of the equation.

We all want safer roads, and this kind of technology can certainly help make that happen with real-time traffic data.

Click to join.
Click to join.







EnerSys Set to Launch ODYSSEY Battery Powersports Portfolio with Addition of Three Most Popular Sizes--
 
And Becoming the First Batteries in These Sizes to Feature Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) Technology

EnerSys (NYSE:ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications and the manufacturer of ODYSSEY batteries, will soon add three of the most popular sizes for powersports vehicles to the Company’s premium ODYSSEY battery portfolio. An official premiere of the new models is set to take place in ODYSSEY battery booth no. A1838 at the 2022 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) from November 1 – 3, 2022 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The three models, ODS-AGM14 (Group size BTX14), ODS-AGM20L (Group size BTX20L) and ODS-AGM30L (Group size BTX30L), are ideal solutions for a variety of popular vehicle models including Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and can also be used in other powersports vehicles, including snowmobiles and Personal Watercraft (PWC) applications.

Upon launch, all three models will feature a drop-in fit, so no accessories will be needed for proper installation, and will represent the first in these group sizes to be available with proprietary Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology.

“The models we use in our existing portfolio of ODYSSEY batteries are suitable for the powersports applications, but they require the installer to use additional hardware to secure the fit,” said Dave McMullen, Senior Director of Marketing, Transportation & Specialty at EnerSys. “With this upcoming launch, we will now have ODYSSEY Powersport battery drop-in fitments for the three most popular group sizes for powersports vehicles and the first to be available with our advanced TPPL technology.”

Proprietary TPPL technology in ODYSSEY batteries uses pure lead plates that can be made thinner than those in conventional flooded lead acid batteries, so more plates fit into the same size footprint to provide greater surface area.

This enables more electrochemical reactions with the electrolyte to produce more power than conventional batteries of comparable size. The results include engine cranking pulses that are significantly higher than that of equally sized conventional lead acid batteries.

ODYSSEY batteries also feature Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) construction, which packs the plates tightly in absorbent fiberglass separators that hold the electrolyte and make the batteries virtually maintenance-free.

The rugged AGM construction and non-spillable design of ODYSSEY batteries also protect against high-impact shock and mechanical vibration to help provide longer service life. Backed by an industry-leading warranty, they come with the required Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to fit the needs of each application.

For more information on EnerSys and its full line of products, systems, and support, visit www.enersys.com.

To follow the latest ODYSSEY battery news, visit our website at www.odysseybattery.com.





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Reader Comments


Did we not, in the past, call 'climate change' the 4 seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall?

A.J.
Deland, FL
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Editor Response Yep, the climate has been changing for billions of years. We have very little to do with it. I'm about to post a J.J. Solari article. It will explain everything...
--Bandit

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