Hey,

It seems odd to say there’s hope, when Russia is bombing the Ukraine and my son called and said, “It’s WWIII pops.” Truckers are rolling toward Washington D.C. in protest. One of their goals could be respect for Fossil Fuels and demand an end to Climate Doom. Science is never settled.

Let’s hope for the best on all fronts. Freedom works. 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.







COMING TO DAYTONA BIKE WEEK--
Croft Leather Works gets a remarkable seat deal with Billy Lane to make hand-tooled leather seats and leather accessories for his new brand to be introduced at Daytona Bike Week this year!







AT LAST CLIMATE DOOM IS IN COURT--ExxonMobil fights back in court--


I’ve written before about the ongoing war being waged against ExxonMobil by far-left greedy tobacco lawyers like Mathew Pawa and environmental zealots like Naomi Oreskes and the leaders of the far-left Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). You can find these posts.

The tobacco lawsuits worked because tobacco does cause cancer, and cancer has a measurable effect on people and governments due to the additional medical costs and premature deaths it causes. To make matters worse, the tobacco companies withheld information they had on the dangers of smoking from the public. These two facts led to Matthew Pawa and the other tobacco lawyers winning their cases.

The idea that Pawa, cities in California, and UCS have used to sue ExxonMobil is based on their claim that ExxonMobil knew about the dangers of climate change and withheld this information from the public and should pay as a result. But as I explain in my last book (pages 158-170), ExxonMobil published all their climate studies and had employees on every side of the issue who engaged in lively debates about climate change, its possible dangers, and its possible human origins. Further, unlike tobacco, no significant negative effects of recent climate changes (man-made or otherwise) have been observed or measured. The whole debate is over who is projecting the future more accurately, the alarmists or the skeptics.

So, are these spurious lawsuits accusing ExxonMobil of damage that does not exist, causing measurable harm to ExxonMobil and the great state of Texas? ExxonMobil is countersuing the cities and the tobacco lawyers, so we will find out! The lawsuit is before the Supreme Court of Texas and the petition is here. It claims that the lawsuits harmed and violated the rights of Texas and Texans, as well as ExxonMobil.

The lawsuit specifically says the tort lawsuits, by Pawa and several California cities, including San Francisco, targeted the free speech rights of ExxonMobil and its executives, as well as ExxonMobil publications like their famous Outlook for Energy annual report.

It is interesting that while cities claimed that the dangers of climate change are certain in their lawsuits, they claimed in their municipal bond offerings that the dangers of climate change were uncertain. ExxonMobil requested discovery and commenced a Rule 202 proceeding to investigate claims and preserve evidence. ExxonMobil is supported in these suits by Governor Abbott of Texas, the Texas Oil and Gas Association, and Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

Can ExxonMobil sue a California city in Texas? Governor Abbott says the following in his letter to the court:

“[T]he energy industry is vital to economic growth in Texas, employing hundreds of thousands of Texans and contributing billions of dollars a year in taxes and royalties. … Petitioner is an oil-and-gas company headquartered in Texas. Respondents are California officials and local governments, plus a Massachusetts lawyer, who are allegedly using tort lawsuits in California courts as a pretext to suppress the speech of eighteen Texas-based energy companies on the subject of climate and energy policies.

By engaging in such ‘lawfare,’ respondents have flouted ‘principles of state sovereignty and comity [dictating] that a State may not impose economic sanctions on violators of its laws with the intent of changing the tortfeasors’ lawful conduct in other States.’* More importantly, for present purposes, they have subjected themselves to the jurisdiction of Texas courts. When out-of-state officials try to project their power across our border, as respondents have done by broadly targeting the speech of an industry crucial to Texas, they cannot use personal jurisdiction to scamper out of our courts and retreat across state lines.”


This is going to be fun to watch.

--By Andy May







ENGRAVING BY BRUNO—


--from Sam Burns





INDUSTRY BROTHERS GONE--
We lost a real treasure today. Frank Kaisler was a mentor of mine, a friend, and one of the most genuine people to walk the earth. Before I was in the editorial game, I read so many of Frank’s features and could only dream to meet him one day. And when I did, I was floored at how real and humble the guy was. A large part of the way I deal with my readers, fans, and followers comes from the way he dealt with me early on in my career.

We had many encounters which ended up just being hours of me asking him countless questions about photography, grammar, and technical writing. He never made me feel out of place or stupid with even the simplest of questions.

He always made me feel that I was an important figure as a writer and he would talk to me at length about the features I wrote, which always made me feel great that he even took the time to read it. I would introduce him to people as my mentor, but he didn’t seem to like that term. So, I switched it up to introducing him as “The biggest influence in my editorial career.” That always made him smile. I’m going to miss you Frank…

--Jeff Holt
V-Twin Visionary



It's been a tough couple weeks and that's not even including the loss of Jim Leinweber. On this clear, cool Sunday morning, heading into work, I'm notified of another loss of a person that had a tremendous and positive effect upon Accurate Engineering's startup success.

In the ‘90s he invited me to the big-inch engine shootout at Bartels Harley-Davidson where we were hugely successful, and I also got to finally meet Andy Hansen (RIP). I brought one of my street 103 Panheads. He wrote articles about Accurate Engineering and his very first video interview for the Speedvision channel was with me and one of my Panhead engines. Response was huge.

One night, sitting alone on a bench at the entrance to a bar in Indianapolis, he sat down beside me. Looking not at me but rather straight ahead he said, "Berry, Dale Earnhardt was killed at Daytona today." We just sat there beside one another in complete silence. Isn't it ironic that twenty-one years later, almost to the day, my friend, Frank Kaisler, has also passed away. Godspeed Frank. Until such time.

--Berry Wardlaw
Accurate Engineering









TAKE A BREAK AND CHECK OUT THE BIKERNET TRIKES OF THE WEEK—









Trike brought to you by Sam Burns and Barry Green, Bikernet research specialists.






LATEST FROM SUPPORT GOOD TIMES--Support Logo Bodysuit
$ 50.00



ADD TO CART
Original Support Good Times Logo Bodysuit. Heavyweight shrink-free cotton spandex. (95% cotton and 5% spandex jersey)



NEXT RUN SHIPS MARCH 15 2022






The HANDBUILT MOTORCYCLE SHOW is finally back, so save the date - April 8-10th - as we plan to pull off the best show yet. If you've never been to the Handbuilt Show, it takes place alongside MotoGP, giving custom bike enthusiasts the chance to see both the fastest and most unique bikes all in one city over one exciting weekend!

Join us for over 150 one-of-kind handbuilt motorcycles on display, with activations celebrating art & design across 50,000 sqft of show space! We'll also be featuring live performance art, stunts, food trucks, and more! You won't want to miss it.

Tickets are available now, so tap the link in our bio to reserve your spot or head over to https://bit.ly/3gOzx6p

--Revival Cycles





The HARLEY ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE IS BACK--
In the line of more and less dramatic changes Harley-Davidson started implementing in 2020 to revive the brand, the latest on the list is the Harley owners' magazine name swap. Since 2009, HOG Magazine has been the Motor Company's owner-dedicated publication with a circulation of 500,000 copies annually in the U.S. only. The magazine was born from the merger of former publications HOG Tales and the historical The Enthusiast, created in 1916.

The company announced that it will now drop the HOG name altogether and bring back The Enthusiast, starting with the September 2020 edition.

“We believe today The Enthusiast title is more relevant than ever. In a year when so many people have been stuck inside, we passionately believe in inspiring riders and aspiring riders to get out in the world to rediscover adventure through socially-distanced riding,” wrote Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz in the press release. The decision is “the return to a great tradition” in his opinion.

Considering all of its historical competitors dropped their print editions in recent years, The Enthusiast becomes the longest-continuously-running printed motorcycle publication in the U.S. and the most “broadly circulated motorcycle magazine in the world”, according to Harley.

The way we see it, changing the name back to The Enthusiast looks like an attempt to make the magazine more inclusive so that people who don’t necessarily own Harleys can still be compelled to read it. Of course, that’s only our perception and the intention behind it could be entirely different but doesn’t this make a bit of sense? After all, the decision is also perfectly aligned with the company’s “back to basics” strategy to help rebuild the brand and a strong customer base.

If you're interested in checking out the magazine's print edition, it's now available for purchase on the Harley-Davidson website for $9.95. How do you feel about The Enthusiast?

Planning For The Future:

-- By Sabrina Giacomini
Harley-Davidson





BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!--
WHAT DO YOU THINK BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for February 17th, 2022

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/WHAT_DO_YOU_THINK_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_February_17th_2022.aspx

Hey, regarding Keanu Reeves - he looks the same now as he did when he was 20 years old. There are fan sites and crazy-people forums with conspiracy theories that he is a Vampire. Hence the ever-youthful looks.

For Sam 'Chopper' Orwell - check out the TV series adaptation of the first Jack Reacher novel launched this Feb. In the novels, Reacher of course is an ex-military one-man army the size of a giant.

That actor looks the part as an ass-kicking biker who can kick-start your celluloid adaptation of Chopper Orwell.

--Wayfarer







GUN NUT REPORT--Took the wife to the gun range for the first time. This WAS a anti-gun person.

She loves shooting the AR and the Glock I bought her....funny now she wants me to build her an AR...lol

Oh, and she kept hitting the same hole, dead center! I will never upset her again!

Have a great week
--Barry G





LOWBROW CREW COMING TO MAMA TRIED--Come by the Lowbrow Customs booth on the main floor at Mama Tried, say hey, high five, fist bump (or bonus points for chest bumps), and get yourself a FREE Mama Tried x Lowbrow Customs 2022 prismatic sticker! Made in the USA, super cool, while supplies last!

See you in Milwaukee!!!





QUICK, OPEN THE BAD BLONDE BIKERNET JOKE LIBRARY-- An old, blind Marine wanders into an all-girl biker bar by mistake.

He finds his way to a bar stool and orders a shot of Jack Daniels.

After sitting there for a while, he yells to the bartender, 'Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?'

The bar immediately falls absolutely silent.
In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says,'Before you tell that joke I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things:

1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl.
3. I'm a 6-foot tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weight lifter.
5. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.

Now, think about it seriously, do you still wanna tell that blonde joke?'

The blind Marine thinks for a second, shakes his head and mutters, 'No...not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times.'

--El Waggs







INDIAN MOTORCYCLE UNLEASHES ITS MOST CAPABLE TOURING MACHINE WITH ALL-NEW, LIQUID-COOLED INDIAN PURSUIT--

The Next Generation of American V-Twin Touring Performance is Here –
2022 Indian Pursuit Touts Class-Leading Power, All-Day Comfort & Seamless
Ride-Enhancing Technology

Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today unleashed the next generation of American V-Twin touring performance with the launch of the Indian Pursuit. Featuring the liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine, seamless ride-enhancing technology, a chassis-mounted fairing, and loads of touring amenities, the 2022 Indian Pursuit stakes its claim as the most capable and refined American touring machine on the road.

Packed with unparalleled comfort and performance, the Indian Pursuit was thoughtfully engineered for discerning riders who value the journey as much as the destination. Available in two models with two trim levels for each, riders can select from four total offerings to fit their personal style and riding preferences. Models include the Pursuit Dark Horse and Pursuit Limited – each available with a premium package that offers advanced ride-enhancing technology and additional comfort features.

At the heart of each model is the Indian Motorcycle PowerPlus engine, a 108 cubic-inch, liquid-cooled V-twin that delivers a class-leading 122 horsepower and 128 ft-lbs. of torque. Each 2022 Pursuit model features a refined PowerPlus calibration, which improves low-speed drivability and further enhances the rider experience.

Each Indian Pursuit model is designed for optimal comfort for long, epic journeys. The adjustable windscreen and vented lower fairings provide superior protection from the elements, and a heightened level of flexibility to adjust to varying weather and temperature conditions. Heated grips keep riders’ hands warm in cold weather, while the Pursuit’s new Touring Comfort seat delivers unprecedented comfort. In addition, a premium cargo trunk and spacious saddlebags combine for more than 35 gallons of power-locking storage – allowing riders to pack everything they need for longer rides.

Features for each Pursuit model are capped off with an industry-leading seven-inch touchscreen display powered by RIDE COMMAND. With RIDE COMMAND+, the touchscreen display offers Apple CarPlay®, GPS with turn-by-turn navigation and a free year of RIDE COMMAND+ connected features, including live traffic and weather overlays, and an all-new vehicle locator feature. The new vehicle locator feature adds a sense of security, as riders can visit the Indian Motorcycle RIDE COMMAND mobile app or website to track their bike’s last location where it was powered on.

In addition, both premium models offer intuitive Smart Lean Technology, which keeps riders confidently grounded by utilizing a Bosch® IMU to add cornering control to the dynamic traction control and ABS. The two premium offerings also feature integrated driving lights within the lower fairings and a premium styled heated seat for improved comfort during cold weather.

To add power and custom-inspired styling to Indian Pursuit models, Indian Motorcycle offers several performance accessories. The PowerPlus Air Cleaner complements the bike with a deeper intake sound, while the PowerPlus Stage 2 Performance Cams deliver 10% more horsepower and 3% more torque.

Pricing for the Indian Pursuit Dark Horse begins at $30,999 and $33,999 for the Pursuit Dark Horse with Premium Package. Paint options for both trims include, Black Smoke, Spirit Blue, Silver Quartz Smoke, and Ruby Metallic over Black Metallic.

The Indian Pursuit Limited starts at $29,999, while the Pursuit Limited with Premium Package begins at $32,999. Paint options for both trims include, Black Metallic, Deepwater Metallic and Maroon Metallic over Crimson Metallic.

The 2022 Pursuit lineup will begin shipping to Indian Motorcycle dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada in early 2022.





LE PERA SEAT OF THE WEEK-- We do have the new TailWhip for the LowRider Softail.





If you’re interested give them a call. This seat is not featured on their site just yet.

--Bandit






NEW FULL THROTTLE MAGAZINE IS NOW ONLINE--March 2022 FULL THROTTLE
MAGAZINE is now available.

--Tony
www.fullthrottle.com