Hey,

I share info from the NRA, the Gun industry, SEMA and the Hot Rod and car industry, because like us, they exist on Freedom. I don’t always agree with them, but I always celebrate their efforts for Freedom.

SEMA is constantly fighting for the right to repair and modify (see report below in the news). That’s right up our ally, so I cover it. Just as I cover and support all motorcycle rights groups and hope for the best.

Here’s the perfect Christmas Quote from a longtime friend from Australia: If we can be kind and thoughtful around Christmas time, why can't we continue this throughout the year? Let me suggest we all make a New Year's Resolution and that is to continue this goodwill in 2023.

--Ray Russell



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 FAVORITE GLOVES ARE NOW LINED-- On Sale: Winter Lined Gauntlet: Made to Order

This is our traditional Gauntlet glove but lined with a winter poly blend for extra warmth. These are great for cooler weather rides. The top is distressed brown bison, with a deerskin palm. These are made to order in the USA, and take about a week to ship.

$ 75

--Griftercompany.com





A LOOK AT THE ROAD CONDITIONS IN INDIA--

Hopefully with all the EV blasts on two-wheelers and elections coming and terrorism threat, there will be slower pace to push self-driving vehicles in India.

Already Tesla went away because their cars would be at the price of a Ferrari or Aston Martin due to import duty (similar to why Harley-Davidson is a luxury vehicle in India. ) Haven't heard of electric car explosions. Contracts have been awarded for electric buses. Bus and Trains are the lifeline of the working masses here. A blast for any reason would jolt the economy.

Seat belts are mandatory here and government forced new ICE and EV cars to have mandatory 6 air bags for cars.

Also, since 2019, all new cars have factory fitted warning -- continuous beep if car goes above 80 KMPH and beep cannot be stopped even by unauthorized mechanics if the car surpasses speed of 120 KMPH. Such a high speed of 120 would mandate action and report to government agencies about the driver and the vehicle. Only the authorized service center would be able to shut out the beep caused by 120 KM per hour speed.

These are not jokes or fiction nor is it proposed laws. These are actual laws here.



Comparatively, the wild ones on two-wheels here definitely deserve a helmet to slow down their insane riding. Any bloke can get a two-wheeler license here but not so easy with a car driving license.

My 200cc bike has a very fast pickup and goes from 40 to 100 kmph in seconds --- unlike Enfield motorcycles. Actually, I felt safer on the slow and heavy Enfield, since even if I get carried away by thrill-mood, I could not possibly go too fast on that white elephant called Enfield "Bullet" model motorcycle.

Source: Airbags rule
https://www.businesstoday.in/auto/story/breaking-centre-to-make-6-airbag-safety-norm-mandatory-from-october-2023-says-nitin-gadkari-348530-2022-09-29

Source: Speed Warning rule
https://www.autocarindia.com/car-news/speed-warning-system-irritating-but-effective-ministry-of-road-transport-and-highways-409842

--Ming Ball
 International News Desk correspondent
Bikernet.com™







NATIONAL MOTORIST ASSOCIATION REPORT--Red-Light Cameras Turned Off in Greenville, NC—At Least for Now!


A little background.

In March 2022 the North Carolina State Court of Appeals ruled that Greenville's red-light camera program was unconstitutional but not because of the cameras themselves. Under the state's RLC citation scheme, expenses from fines cannot exceed 10 percent of the income, and the rest of the fine money funnels to the school district where the cameras reside.

The problem with Greenville cameras, the expenses topped out at 28 percent. The court ruled that Greenville's funding framework violated the state's constitutional directive that the 'clear proceeds' of all collected fines must be used exclusively to maintain free public schools.

Two motorists who received $100 RLC tickets sued the city and the Pitt County Board of Education and have won this round at the appeals court level.

Due to the ruling from seven months ago, the Greenville City Council finally decided not to renew the American Traffic Solutions (ATS) camera contract in early November, and the cams went dark on November 15th. The cams had been up since 2017.

In a scathing rebuke over the cameras, local columnist Bobby Burns said that when he wrote a column in May 2016, before the RLC installation, he suggested that the Pitt County Board of Education mind its own business. He claimed his reasoning was simple—the school board had no business involved in Greenville's policing efforts.

Even though the cams are off, the city has already appealed to the North Carolina Supreme Court, which has yet to indicate if it will hear the case.

But, as we already know, the lure can be too great regarding RLC camera revenue.

Immediately following the city council vote to cancel the RLC contract, the Pitt County Board of Education adopted a resolution that supported the city's efforts to go to the state legislature. The city and the Board want the cameras back on, and they are okay with the costs of the cameras to be paid from the proceeds of fines assessed against violators.

The city of Fayetteville already did so—a legislative bill allowed the city and the school system to manage a joint contract, which helped get around the constitutional quandary somehow.

Columnist Bobby Burns asked a straightforward question about this kind of legislative action—why should laws be made to subvert the meaning of the state Constitution? He stated that this kind of behavior doesn't seem appropriate and it's not fair to the other 20 NC cities and towns that also are allowed to operate RLCs.

The issue now is whether voters should decide on making a change to the state's Constitution.

What do you think?

--NMA







THE 101 RUN FROM DICE MAGAZINE--The 101 RUN is back once again in Margate, England next July.

If you love motorcycles and having a laugh this is definitely the show for you!

--DICE Magazine

"We will publish a report on the state of the Chopper Magazine World next week. Dice Magazine is part of the chromed mix."
--Bandit





CHRISTMAS AT HARDTAIL CHOPPERS--Happy Holidays Bandit

See you guys got plenty of snow . Get a bigger shovel. I attached a few pics of a New, Finned Cast Stainless Steel kicker pedal I just started making . January price is $225 and $10 shipping in USA, $200 until the first of new year . These are not imports! I make them and use Fab Kevin’s pivot shafts with stainless shoulder bolts .



They are not on my website yet. I can be reached at john@hardtailchoppers.com or shop phone 360-750- 6780 or hardtailchoppers on instagram

I’ve only got 15, just sold 20 in 3-4 days .

--John
Hardtail Choppers





TOYOTA BOSS SPEAKS OUT--Toyota’s president is questioning whether the push for the auto industry to phase out gas-powered vehicles and go exclusively electric is the right decision.

Akio Toyoda made the comments to reporters in Thailand after the auto manufacturer said around this time last year that it would produce 3.5 million electric vehicles annually by 2030, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"People involved in the auto industry are largely a silent majority," Toyoda said. "That silent majority is wondering whether EVs are really OK to have as a single option. But they think it’s the trend so they can’t speak out loudly."

Toyoda reportedly has been trying to express that point to governments and industry stakeholders.

"Because the right answer is still unclear, we shouldn’t limit ourselves to just one option," he added.

Toyota’s rivals, including General Motors and Honda Motor Company, have set dates for when their lineups will be all-electric. However, Toyota has invested in a collection of models that includes hydrogen-powered cars and gas/electric hybrids, The Wall Street Journal reports.

General Motors is set to rapidly ramp up its electric car production in North America from about 50,000 this year to one million in 2025, but it is not parking its internal combustion engine cars and trucks just yet.





MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM WINDVEST--May your days be filled with peace, hope, and joy this holiday season.

As always, thank you for your business, loyalty, and support.

All of us at WindVest
Motorcycle Windshields





PRODUCT ALERT FROM SAWICKI SPEED--

Carbon fiber heat shields are now available for your Sawicki Speed exhaust system!!!!

For the right combo of straight & curved components for you go to the pipe that fits your bike on our site. The info is right in there.

Get ‘em while you can and keep your eyes open for more coming soon!





SCIENCE QUOTE OF THE WEEK--We have no problem with additional man-made CO2 being added to the atmosphere. After all, it is the Miracle Molecule!

--CO2 COALITION




BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!--MARVELOUS MOLLY

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

Molly was a true reflection of her family and friends. And Rouge very well said.

--Harold Armstrong
Lake Wales, FL







Purchase your 2023 Buffalo Motorama pre-sale tickets online and get a FREE Limited Edition Buffalo Motorama event poster with each ticket purchase. (Actual poster art to be released at later date)

Purchase Buffalo Motorama Tickets Today





HANG ON FOR THIS--Ken Paxton was on TV this am. He said, “The Mexican cartels are making $300,000,000 a week on illegals. Mexican politicians are all getting a cut. I wonder if any of our politicians who are allowing this for 24 months are getting paid, too.”

• We don’t let athletes bet on games they have the ability to influence. Why do we allow Congress to invest in companies they regulate?

• Why is it that when archeologists find human remains, they always determine that they are either male or female and none of the other hundreds of genders?

• Why is it that so many are more outraged that Brittney Griner is stuck in Russia than they were about Americans being stranded in Afghanistan?

• How is it that the government can’t control gasoline prices…but the weather is something they can fix?

• We’re churning out a generation of poorly educated people with no skill, no ambition, no guidance, and no realistic expectations of what it means to go to work.—Mike Rowe

• If kids knew what they wanted to be at age eight, the world would be filled with cowboys and princesses. I wanted to be a pirate. Thank goodness nobody took me seriously and scheduled me for eye removal and peg leg surgery—Bill Mahe



• Why were we told to lower our AC usage on hot days to prevent overwhelming the electric grid while simultaneously being told to trade in our gas cars for electric vehicles?

• Why is canceling student debt a good idea? Does it make sense to reward people who do not honor their financial commitment by taxing the people who do?

• Does it make sense to cut off oil from an ally and buy it from an enemy who calls for your death?

• Are we living in a time where intelligent people are silenced so that stupid people won’t be offended?

• Is this a great description of America: Andy has left town and Barney is in charge?

• Why is talking sexually in the workplace considered sexual harassment to adults…but talking about sexuality to children K-3 at school considered education?

• Who else had a ‘ministry of truth”…Hitler…Goebbels…Stalin

• Eliminating the production of 500,000 American barrels of oil a day to buy 500,000 barrels a day from Russia is simply…well…stupid



• I saw a movie where only the police and military had guns; it was called Schindler’s List.

• If your electric car runs out of power on the interstate, do you walk to a charging station to get a bucket of electricity?

• Why are we running out of money for Social Security and Medicare and not for welfare, illegals and free college?

• I just got a full tank of gas for $22. Granted, it was for my lawn mower, but I'm trying to stay positive.

• There is a coin shortage. America is officially out of common sense.

• If an 18 year old isn’t mature enough to own a firearm, then maybe five year olds aren’t mature enough to change their gender

• Sign in Texas: DON’T VOTE FOR WHAT YOU FLED

• Nobody called it “Toxic Masculinity when we were saving the world.

• Mice die in mouse traps because they do not understand why the cheese is free. Just like socialism

• The most powerful governments on earth can’t stop a virus from spreading…but they say they can change the earth’s temperature if you pay more taxes.

• Want to stop drunk drivers from killing sober drivers? Ban sober drivers from driving. That’s how gun control and COVID lockdowns work

• If you don’t want to stand for the national anthem, perhaps you should give your legs to a veteran who lost his. That way a real man can stand in your place.

• If socialism is so good and capitalism is so bad…then why aren’t the caravans heading to Venezuela?

History is not there for us to like or dislike. It is there for us to learn from it. And if it offends you, even better…because then you are less likely to repeat it. It is not anyone’s to erase…it belongs to all of us.

--Sam Burns
Official Correspondent
Bikernet.com™







YAMAHA CELEBRATES 2022 Champions --
Yamaha honors champions at the 2022 Wall of Champions induction ceremony

MARIETTA, Ga. – December 16, 2022 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, honored its 2022 Yamaha bLU cRU champions last week at the annual Yamaha Wall of Champions induction ceremony. Held this year at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, nine racers were recognized for their crowning achievements in their respective professional championships.

Eli Tomac was recognized for his landmark season aboard the YZ450F, winning premier class titles in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross Championships, as well as being a Motocross of Nations Champion with Team USA. Also honored for his achievements in supercross was 2022 250SX West Champion Christian Craig, who carried on the YZ250F’s title-winning tradition.

In road racing, Jake Gagne was inducted for his second-consecutive MotoAmerica Superbike Championship aboard the YZF-R1. The young Blake Davis earned his first Wall of Champions plaque for winning the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship with the YZF-R7.

Yamaha racers also reaped success off-road on both two- and four-wheels. Rachael Archer earned her first title in the Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), winning the 2022 GNCC WXC Motorcycle Championship aboard the YZ250FX. Taking top honors on the YFZ450R was Brycen Neal in the GNCC XC1 Pro ATV Championship and Joel Hetrick in the AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship. Yamaha racers also swept the Championship Off-Road Tour Side-by-Side (SxS) classes in the pure sport YXZ1000R, with Brock Heger winning the Pro Stock SxS title and Hamish Kelsey winning the Pro Turbo SxS title.


The inductees received copies of their honorary plaques that will be added to the Wall of Champions at Yamaha Motorsports headquarters in Marietta, Georgia. Established to honor Yamaha bLU cRU champions with a lasting memory of their accomplishments, the first induction ceremony for the Wall of Champions was held on November 16, 2012. Since then, over 100 racers have been inducted for their achievements.





SONG OF THE WEEK--This Tom Petty song reminded me of Bandit's efforts for fair trade and right to choose between EV and ICE engines.


SONG FOR BANDIT's CANTINA JUKEBOX

Song: "I Won't Back Down"
Artist: Tom Petty
Album: Full Moon Fever (1989)
Lyrics: Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne


Well, I won't back down
No I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of Hell
But I won't back down

No I'll stand my ground
Won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won't back down

Hey baby
There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down

Well, I know what's right
I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground
And I won't back down

Hey baby
There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
Hey I will stand my ground (I won't back down)
And I won't back down

Hey baby
There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
Hey I won't back down

Hey baby
There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
Hey I will stand my ground (I won't back down)
And I won't back down (I won't back down)
No I won't back down


--Wayfarer
Certified DJ
Bikernet.com™







BIKERNET BIKE FEATURE OF THE WEEK--

ONE WAY MACHINE by Julian von Oheimb
Lollarer Str. 48
D-35460 Staufenberg















Phone: +49 (0)177-3264316
Fax: +49 (0)6406-9232776
E-Mail: we@onewaymachine.com



Three-time world champion.

--Sam Burns
Feature Bike Editor
Bikernet.com™







BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT--Governor Ron DeSantis Suggests That Florida’s Legislators Will Approve Constitutional Carry of Guns in 2023: “I’m Ready”

On December 15, Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis gave the clearest indication yet, that he intends to approve constitutional carry of handguns during the state's forthcoming legislative season. While speaking at a press event to announce relief on toll charges, DeSantis was pressed on the topic of constitutional carry and whether he'd finally be ready to approve it.

--Toby Hazlewood







THE GOOD DOCTOR CONFIRMS SCIENCE—We read about a carbon capture effort and asked the Dr. Ed Berry, Montana to confirm something. Why would anyone want to capture CO2 and bury it underground? Don’t we need more CO2?

We all like to eat and plants are the source of all our food. Plants need CO2 to grow. In fact, plants capture CO2.

To artificially capture CO2 and bury it underground removes plant food, which removes human food. Pretty stupid.

--Ed Berry

"So much of this issue is education and understanding. CO2 is not a pollutant, but so many folks don’t know the basics." --Bandit