Merry Christmas,

Christmas can mean so much to so many of us. It can bring up the blues, hardships, wonderful family experiences, almost fantasy delights and religious warmth.

I wish only the best holiday experiences for all the riders who read Bikernet. I have a pact with Dr. Hamster. We promised to cut bullshit out of our lives in 2017, so we can enjoy time with friends, racing endeavors and holidays even more .

We all need to think about this formula rolling into the New Year.

I want to thank all of our Bikernet Sponsors for a tremendous year and thank the growing number of Bikernet weekly News Sponsors for their support sharing our news.



They include: Las Vegas Bike Fest, Choppertown, Cycle Source magazine, Iron Trader, Born to Ride and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.

Come see us at the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati January 28th and 29th.

Let’s hit the news, and for Cantina Members, we’re taking a break on Xmas—No Sunday Post.







SAFETY VEST ALERT— This just in from the machine shop down south.

--El Waggs

Hazardous Cycles Comes to Bikernet


Awesome bike, so glad you guys and gals run these articles. Love that old school look!


-- Speed

Wyandotte, MI


Thanks Speed, we’re on the hunt for more scooters to feature. Just drop me an image to Bandit@Bikernet.com and we will take care of it.

--Bandit








BIKERNET SPONSORS LAS VEGAS BIKEFEST FOR 2017--
Las Vegas BikeFest 2016 was one of our best events ever. We had over 33,000 attendees from 44 states and 19 countries. We gave away four motorcycles and over $100,000 in cash and prizes. And 2017 promises to be even better! Attendees and Vendors all raved at what a great event it was and plan on coming back next year. And we will be back on Fremont Street East for the third year in a row -- right in downtown Las Vegas.

JOIN US for Las Vegas BikeFest 2017. The link below has tons of information on why Las Vegas BikeFest should be part of your 2017 schedule.

Our attendees come from all over the world, with money to spend - and our records show that year after year they spend money at Las Vegas BikeFest.

We spend time, effort and money to market the event and your participation. Plus, add in the non-stop entertainment, competitions and contests, bike shows and fun that keeps them at the Rally and happy so they spend more with you.

Click the button, find out about Las Vegas BikeFest and we'll be calling you soon to lock up your space.



--Mindi Cherry
Vice President/Event Manager
Las Vegas BikeFest
702-216-5832
mcherry@LasVegasBikeFest.com






HOT ROD ENGINE DEAL OF THE WEEK— Lizette from All American Wheel has eight of these engines, for sale. They’ve never been used and are still in their precious crates. Call her for the skinny.

S&S V111 Black and chrome with assembled Black and chrome with 546 cam and Delphi fuel injection system $5600.00 (Item # 310-0632)

The V111 is a great all-around performance/touring engine for carbureted 1984-'99 Harley-Davidson® big twins and it's a great choice for custom bikes built with this popular chassis style.

The V111 engine is designed for torque more than top end horsepower. The short 41/8" stroke is equal to the large 41/8" bore, which minimizes vibration. The relatively low lift S&S 585 cam and the single coil Sidewinder® valve springs minimize valve train noise. A smooth, quiet, torque engine is ideal for touring applications where vibration and noise can get old on a long ride, and a loaded bagger pulling a trailer can overtax a stock engine.

Fitment

* 1984–’99 carbureted chassis


Features and Benefits

* Short stroke produces less vibration and longer engine life
* S&S 585 cam and lightweight single coil Sidewinder® valve
springs reduce valve train noise
* S&S forged rocker arms
* Shorter than stock height engine makes installation easy


Asking $5,600.00 each plus shipping

10 available

Dimensions of Crate: 36”x 36” x 36”
Shipping Weight: 160 lbs.

If interested, contact me.



Lizette Hotinger
VP of Sales & Marketing
ALL AMERICAN WHEEL CO
(562) 602-6560





LE PERA SEAT OF THE WEEK— Sorrento for Breakout 13-17. Cool and sleek for those hot new Softails.

Overview

The Sorrento is a fusion of Silhouette style and Maverick comfort.

The entire seat has been shaved down for a flowing profile.

Perfectly formed, 13" wide rider area and 10.5" of passenger comfort.

Specs

Driver Seating:
13" Wide
Passenger Seating:
10.5" Wide

MSRP:
$533.00

Part Number:
LKB-900






COUNTRY SUPERSTAR DUO BIG & RICH TO HEADLINE RIAA/MUSICIANS ON CALL INAUGURAL BENEFIT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 20, 2016) – Country music superstar act Big & Rich will be the headlining entertainment at the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) second-ever inauguration charity event benefiting Musicians On Call. The hit duo will perform their set at the 9:30 Club the evening of the presidential inauguration on Friday, January 20, 2017.

Comprised of Big Kenny and “Celebrity Apprentice” winner John Rich, Big & Rich have exerted a definitive gravitational pull to the direction modern country music has taken. Known as “America’s Technicolor cowboys,” Big & Rich have made a career of being relatable and musically relevant since exploding into the public consciousness in 2003. Their 2004 debut studio album Horse of a Different Color shot to RIAA triple-Platinum and included smash hit “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” while their latest album Gravity scored three back-to-back-to-back Top Ten country hits with “Look at You,” “Run Away With You,” and “Lovin’ Lately” featuring Tim McGraw. Meanwhile, their hit “Comin’ to Your City” is nearing a decade as the theme song for ESPN’s College GameDay.

“Musicians On Call brings the healing power of music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities nationwide,” said Pete Griffin, President of Musicians On Call. “We are so grateful for RIAA’s long term support of our mission and to be the charitable beneficiary of Big & Rich’s performance in Washington, DC.”

About Musicians On Call (MOC):
Musicians On Call (MOC) was founded in 1999 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC by Michael Solomon and Vivek Tiwary, with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities ranging from children’s hospitals to adult facilities, VA hospitals and hospices.

To date, its volunteers have played for nearly half a million people in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Baltimore, with additional cities being continuously added. Musicians On Call continues its mission through room-to-room hospital performances by both local musicians and an esteemed list of national celebrities. MOC supporters over the years include Pharrell, Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Lady Antebellum, James Taylor, Jessie J, Justin Timberlake, Gavin DeGraw and Imagine Dragons. For more information, visit www.musiciansoncall.org.





NEWS FROM THE REVIVAL-- Can You Spot Yourself?

Thanks to all that braved the polar vortex and celebrated with us. We were honored to see new and old fellow MotoNerds in the shop to share a toast or two. We took some pictures to celebrate the moment. See if you can spot yourself in the blog post.

--Revival Cycles






‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY!--
This is from last year, but just as good every year. US Army Air Corps unit!.
Jingle Bells like you have never heard it before! FANTASTIC!!

These 'surprise' performances are becoming more commonplace,
but I'd love to be around when one took place. I wouldn't have
minded missing my train for this performance.

--Vern



KJAZZ END OF THE YEAR SWEEPSTAKES— You can listen to Jazz and the Blues every day, free on KJAZZ.

Anyone who donates $60 a year or $5 a month sustainer between December 2nd - December 31st automatically* will be entered for a chance to win the End of Year Sweepstakes Prize - One package of 88 CDs and DVDs from KJazz!

The prize package includes Frank Sinatra's That's Life, Benny Goodman's The Birth of Swing 3 CD box 1935-1936, Shirley Horn's Live at Queens, Tony Bennett's As Time Goes By Great American Songbook and The Definitive Vince Guaraldi.

Plus, Latin Jazz CDs such as Mongo Santamaria's Mongo at The Village Gate, Cal Tjader's Black Orchid, Chic Corea & Bela Fleck's Two as well as blues CDslike Buddy Guy's Born to Play Guitar, Tedeschi Trucks Band's Let Me Get By, Toronzo Cannon's The Chicago Way, and many more!

On behalf of everyone at KJazz, we thank you for your generous support this year and look forward to providing you with more great jazz, blues and Latin jazz music in 2017.

Warmest regards,

Pamela Aronovitz
KKJZ Fundraising, Inc.
Development Director







BEAN’RE COMING TO THE V-TWIN EXPO-- Breaking a Guinness World record AND being a part of Aidan's Posse.

Some of you remember me breaking a world record 2 years ago by riding a 50cc mini bike from Louisville, KY to Sturgis, SD. It was a distance of 1,470 miles and took nine days. Since then that record has been broke by about 100 miles so it was only natural that I attempt it one more time.

Hang on for this attempt. I will be riding with my friend Tim Ford. No, we won't be riding on the same minibike. We will each have our own stock Yamaha 50cc minibikes. We also will be riding together unassisted in that we will NOT have a chase vehicle the whole way. That is the plan, however according to Guinness rules, it makes no difference whether or not a support team is incorporated.

More exciting news we decided to make it coast to coast. Yes, that's right, we're going to ride from Daytona Beach Florida (the day after Bike Week) to San Diego, California, on back roads, a distance of 3000 miles.



We are also going to do this for one of the greatest causes ever. Aidan Jack Seeger and The Aidan Jack Seeger Foundation. On this ride we will spread the message about what ALD is and to advocate for ALD newborn screening in every state.

You’ll have a chance to quiz the man and check out his bike at the V-Twin Expo, the only show of its kind in Cincinnati, January 28 and 29. And we will follow his efforts on Bikernet.









HOLIDAY NEWS FROM METALSPORT WHEELS-- "Metalsport Wheels gives back to the Community" It’s the season for giving Ron the owner of Metalsport Wheels for over 15 years still finds time to give back to the community with this event.











Just one of the ways Metalsport Wheels is helping to give back to the community, so all can have a "Merry Christmas"






NEWS FROM KENTUCKY--
This morning I was alerted by our friends at the Kentucky Motorcycle Association that they are facing issues concerning toll roads for three of the five bridges that connect Louisville, KT and Southern Indiana via the Ohio River.

In the spring of this year, a panel decided that they will initiative “RiverLink” in 2017 which will require tolls for any vehicle that uses it. It is an entirely electronic system meaning there are no toll booths. Instead, vehicles must have a transponder which will automatically charge a fee. For motorcycles and other two-axel vehicles, that charge is $2.

From my understanding, many motorcycles face issues with these transponders – from them being exposed to the elements to functionality when used on a motorcycle.

Members of the Kentucky Motorcycle Association will be meeting with State officials in 2017 to discuss this issue to raise concerns and ask for either an exemption for motorcycles or a reduced rate. However, they are looking for support from other SMROs that have faced similar issues.

They are interested in hearing how you addressed the issue in your state and what the final outcome was as well as any information you can provide to them to help them make their point.

Please contact Megan Ekstrom via phone (202-552-7435) or via email Megan@mrf.org if you would be willing to share your experience in dealing with similar types of issues.

This is part of the reason why the MRF exists, folks – lets help out our fellow bikers!



Tiffany Cipoletti
Office Administrator
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
1325 G Street N.W. Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202)546-0983
Fax: (202) 546-0986
www.mrf.org



Is there federal money involved? If so, the legislation that the MRF sponsored and passed could help. As I recall, HOV lanes require free passage of motorcycles. However, toll roads are a much different animal. If it is a state sponsored toll road, the local SMRO better get active.

--Mack Backlund





noun
Quotes
... nobody might ever have found out that it was the confoundedest, brazenest, ingeniousest piece of fraud and humbuggery that was ever concocted to fool poor confiding mortals with!
-- Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, 1883


Origin of humbuggery






MRF’s Federal Legislative Agenda for the coming year-- At the 2016 Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s (MRF) 32nd Annual Meeting of the Minds Conference held in Oklahoma City, OK, a Legislative Strategy Session was hosted by the MRF’s Legislative Committee. The MRF’s Federal Legislative Agenda for the 2016 Meeting of the Minds to the 2017 Meeting of the Minds annual cycle is as follows:

Pursue and monitor efforts related to the next highway bill (expiring in 2020). Ensure the following provisions are included:
Motorcycle Education & Awareness Program Grant Funding
Continuation of the NHTSA Lobbying Ban related to helmets
Continuation of Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) to advise the FHWA
Oppose any motorcycling related federal blackmails or federal sanctions
Monitor for any action that would negatively impact motorcycles,
motorcycling, and motorcyclists
Continuation of ban on federal funding for Motorcycle Only Checkpoints
SAE Motorcycle Roadside Sound Testing will be addressed by individual states
Continue monitoring any federal studies concerning motorcycles:
the Federal Crash Causation Study
MSF Naturalistic Study
Strongly oppose any federal standard proposing stamping and certifying of motorcycle exhaust systems

Work to discourage ALL forms of distracted driving

Advocate at the federal level concerning the federal definition of a motorcycle ensuring that crash and fatality statistics are separated from other classes of vehicles including autocycles,non-motorcycle powered vehicles such as mopeds, scooters, and various cabin-based steering wheel type vehicles

Oppose any motorcycling, motorcycle, or motorcyclist-based discriminatory legislation or rules proposed by the U.S. Congress or by any federal agency

Seek a legislative vehicle to include motorcyclist anti-profiling language in the 115thCongress

Continue participation in motorcycle related activity in the European Union, United Nations, and Canada

Fiercely oppose any mandatory helmet, apparel or conspicuity standards
Advocate for changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard including the following actions:
Additional research and independent studies concerning the effects of higher blends of ethanol on motorcycles

Guarantee the indefinite and universal availability of approved fuel blends, containing no more than 10 percent ethanol by volume

Make additional changes to EPA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan (MMP) ensuring that motorcyclists are educated and protected from using federally prohibited fuel in their small engine products such as motorcycles including improving existing at-pump signage and labeling

Ensure the inclusion of motorcycles and biker perspective in discussions regarding Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and emerging technologies

Advocate and monitor for motorcyclists concerning laws and regulations related to Autonomous Vehicles, specifically;
Required testing for motorcycle recognition and responsiveness

Electronic and cyber security systems of self-driving vehicles to maintain strong standards to ensure the safety of motorcycle users

Establish clear liability in crashes between autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles
Pursue safer roadway design strategies at the federal level

Continue to promote our theme of crash avoidance versus safer crashing urging NHTSA to focus on crash prevention and rider education

Pursue limiting funding in a relevant legislative vehicle for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and their increasing involvement in motorcycling safety issues
Monitor private organizations that oppose the legislative agenda or mission of the MRF and
investigate their funding sources to make certain they are not receiving federal tax dollars

Monitor public organizations for funding sources when in opposition to our legislative agenda or mission, respond appropriately if they receive federal tax dollars

Closely monitor the federally mandated Affordable Care Act (ACA) for potential
motorcyclist and motorcycling discrimination as well as attempts to repeal and replace provisions of the ACA for potential motorcyclist and motorcycling discrimination
Fully engage the EPA on upcoming activity on motorcycle emission regulations and motorcycle drive train mandates
Support the Black Box Protection Act to regulate black boxes in motorcycles, seek to clarify the rights of the vehicle owner to ownership of the recorded data

Monitor fair tolling concepts on federally funded roadways and projects supported by federal bonds

Monitor and support federal efforts to study and review the benefits and harms of lane splitting and lane filtering

Monitor and respond to federal legislative or regulatory activity concerning the usage of the terms gang, club, known associate, and associate when referring to motorcyclists
In addition to the Federal Legislative Agenda issues, the MRF has partnered with the Sustaining State Motorcyclists Rights Organization (SSMRO) members to act as support and a resource on the following state specific issues:

Oppose any mandatory helmet, apparel or conspicuity standards
Engage with multiple partners to draft federal anti-profiling language specific to motorcyclists and work to include it in the upcoming state legislative sessions
Work with SSMRO members to shape autocycle legislation at the state-level as it relates to the definition of motorcycle and/or fatality and crash statistics

Help to inform our partners and allies the MRF position on autonomous vehicles to ensure consistency in state laws and regulations in the safety of this emerging class of vehicles

About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders.

The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.

--from the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association





BIKERNET GIFT IDEAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS--
This is an article submitted to a 1999 Louisville Sentinel contest to find
out who had the wildest Christmas dinners. It won first prize.

As a joke, my brother Jay used to hang a pair of panty hose over his
fireplace before Christmas. He said all he wanted was for Santa to fill
them.

What they say about Santa checking the list twice must be true because
every Christmas morning, although Jay's kids' stockings overflowed, his
poor pantyhose hung sadly empty.

One year I decided to make his dream come true. I put on sunglasses and
went in search of an inflatable love doll. They don't sell those things at
Wal-Mart. I had to go to an adult bookstore downtown.

If you've never been in an X-rated store, don't go, you'll only confuse
yourself. I was there an hour saying things like, 'What does this do?'
'You're kidding me!' 'Who would buy that?' Finally, I made it to the
inflatable doll section.

I wanted to buy a standard, uncomplicated doll that could also substitute
as a passenger in my truck so I could use the car pool lane during rush
hour.

Finding what I wanted was difficult. 'Love Dolls' come in many different
models. The top of the line, according to the side of the box, could do
things I'd only seen in a book on animal husbandry. I settled for 'Lovable
Louise.' She was at the bottom of the price scale.

To call Louise a 'doll' took a huge leap of imagination.

On Christmas Eve and with the help of an old bicycle pump, Louise came to
life.

My sister-in-law was in on the plan and let me in during the wee morning
hours. Long after Santa had come and gone, I filled the dangling pantyhose
with Louise's pliant legs and bottom. I also ate some cookies and drank
what remained of a glass of milk on a nearby tray. I went home, and
giggled for a couple of hours.

The next morning my brother called to say that Santa had been to his house
and left a present that had made him VERY happy, but had left the dog
confused. She would bark, start to walk away, then come back and bark some
more.

We all agreed that Louise should remain in her pantyhose so the rest of
the family could admire her when they came over for the traditional
Christmas dinner.

My grandmother noticed Louise the moment she walked in the door. 'What the
hell is that?' she asked.

My brother quickly explained, 'It's a doll.'

'Who would play with something like that?' Granny snapped.

I kept my mouth shut.

'Where are her clothes?' Granny continued.

'Boy, that turkey sure smells nice, Gran,' Jay said, to steer her into the
dining room.

But Granny was relentless. 'Why doesn't she have any teeth?'

Again, I could have answered, but why would I? It was Christmas and no one
wanted to ride in the back of the ambulance saying, 'Hang on Granny, hang
on!'

My grandfather, a delightful old man with poor eyesight, sidled up to me
and said, 'Hey, who's the naked gal by the fireplace?' I told him she was
Jay's friend.

A few minutes later I noticed Grandpa by the mantel, talking to Louise.
Not just talking, but actually flirting. It was then that we realized this
might be Grandpa's last Christmas at home.

The dinner went well. We made the usual small talk about who had died, who
was dying, and who should be killed, when suddenly Louise made a noise
like my father in the bathroom in the morning. Then she lurched from the
mantel, flew around the room twice, and fell in a heap in front of the
sofa. The cat screamed. I passed cranberry sauce through my nose, and
Grandpa ran across the room, fell to his knees, and began administering
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

My brother fell back over his chair and wet his pants.

Granny threw down her napkin, stomped out of the room, and sat in the car.

It was indeed a Christmas to treasure and remember.
Later in my brother's garage, we conducted a thorough examination to
decide the cause of Louise's collapse. We discovered that Louise had
suffered from a hot ember to the back of her right thigh.

Fortunately, thanks to a wonder drug called duct tape, we restored her to
perfect health..

I can't wait until next Christmas.