Hey,

What’s real, what’s hip, what’s it all about? We see it constantly around us. It’s one of the things I liked about being a biker. It was just me and my motorcycle. I wore what I wore for me and nobody else. Most of us looked like hell most of the time. Who cared?

Okay, so what’s it mean for the brotherhood of the future? Will we always be real, riding with the wind and working on our bikes till the end, or is there another reality? I’ll never forget roaming into a Ralph Lauren Vintage Clothing store on Melrose in Los Angeles.

Markus Cuff thought this was the coolest shop on the planet and took great pride is wearing a funky looking plaid shirt made by Ralph Lauren. Unfortunately he could have bought the shirt at Goodwill for five bucks, instead he paid $150.

So, the store had like ordinary Levi denim jackets but they looked worn and splattered with various colors of paint, as if you wore this puppy every time you painted a room. I was lost in this store. What was real? What wasn’t? I wondered if I ran into a guy at a party wearing one of these jackets. Is he wearing a Ralph Lauren exclusive $500 Vintage Jacket or did he just paint his garage? Fuck. I never went back to that store.



Now, the new Easyriders ownership team wants to abandon the base audience and elevate the demographic to something more austere. Hang On. Let’s hit the news:

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. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.






SALT TORPEDO UPDATE—
I spoke to Dennis Manning this morning about firewalls. He suggested a drain behind the wall in the engine compartment to allow any fluids to escape and not creep into the pilot’s compartment.

He told me that all the holes for cables need to be above the centerline of the wall. We discussed how to seal it and he pointed out that because of air movement in the stern fumes are often pushed forward into the pilots compartment, which means the seal must be tight.

Dennis had a story to tell about each of his suggestions. He’s had experiences with them all. Hang on!

--Bandit






E-bikes, growing in popularity, befuddle regulators--The NPD Group, a market research company, says the category has shot from being almost nonexistent to raking in $144 million in sales last year. Those sales represented a 72% growth from the previous year.

BAR HARBOR, Maine: Electric-assist bikes represent the fastest-growing bicycle segment in the United States, but regulators are still grappling with how to treat them.

The National Park Service currently considers them motorized vehicles and bans them from most bicycle paths. But 22 states have adopted definitions that treat electric-assist bikes more or less like regular bicycles.

The so-called e-bikes are growing in popularity with cyclists including baby boomers and others who might not otherwise be able to get out on a bicycle.

The NPD Group, a market research company, says the category has shot from being almost nonexistent to raking in $144 million in sales last year. Those sales represented a 72% growth from the previous year.

Sixty-one-year-old e-bike rider Janice Goodwin in Bar Harbor, Maine, said they're becoming more popular and regulators need to "come to reality."

NEWS AT: https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/two-wheelers/motorcycles/e-bikes-growing-in-popularity-befuddle-regulators/69956857

--from Ujjwal Dey
International Editor
Bikernet News Desk India




HORROR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE UPDATE--Timeline: Driving history of Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, who is charged in Randolph crash. Zhukovskyy faces seven counts of negligent homicide in case

MANCHESTER, N.H. —
The following is a year-by-year timeline of the driving history of Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, the man charged with seven counts of negligent homicide in connection with a horrific crash in Randolph.

2013

April 25 - Zhukovskyy received a personal driver’s license in Massachusetts.

June 16 - Zhukovskyy received a violation for operating under the influence of liquor. He served suspensions and attended education classes for this violation, including a youth alcohol program, since he was under the age of 21 at the time.

2017

Zhukovskyy pleaded guilty to drug possession in Massachusetts.

2018

Aug. 3 - Zhukovskyy received his commercial driver’s license in Massachusetts.

2019

Feb.11 - Zhukovskyy was arrested in Baytown, Texas. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

May 11 – Arrested on OUI charge in Connecticut. He refused a chemical test, which should have led to the suspension of his driver’s licenses in Massachusetts, officials said.

May 29 – Connecticut officials put information about the charge into a state-to-state computer system. Not enough information was entered to automatically trigger the suspension of his driver’s license, said Massachusetts officials, requiring a manual review of his status as a driver in Massachusetts. As of June 23, the review had not yet been done. Connecticut officials reviewed their process and believe all information was input correctly.

June 3 – Zhukovskyy was involved in a crash in Baytown, Texas. Officials said he was driving a Mack truck hauling a trailer with cars on an interstate when it flipped on its side after hitting a guardrail.

Investigators said Zhukovskyy claimed he overcorrected after a car cut him off. He was not cited in the crash.

June 21 – Zhukovskyy was driving a 2016 Dodge pickup truck that crashed into a group of motorcyclists on Route 2 in Randolph, killing seven people and injuring three others.

June 23 - Authorities identified the seven people killed in the crash.

June 24 – Zhukovskyy was charged with seven counts of negligent homicide in connection with the crash.

June 25 – Not-guilty pleas were entered for Zhukovskyy on all seven counts.

In addition, the head of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Erin Deveny, resigned after learning Zhukovskyy's license should have been suspended following the OUI charge in Connecticut.

June 26 – WMUR learned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials placed a detainer on Zhukovskyy for after the criminal proceedings conclude.

By KC Downey, CNN
©2019, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMUR-TV. Privacy NoticeYour California Privacy RightsInterest-Based AdsTerms of UseSite Map

--from Paul Cote

I have been in touch Paul daily since this happened. He and some others are going to a safety meeting today.
A lot of people around the country are upset over this and want to see some changes made.

Not sure what can be done on the safety end but more education and awareness is definitely coming into play.
Enforcing some of the current laws is being pushed as well as increasing penalties.
A example is currently in Florida, if there is a collision and no drugs or alcohol involved the fine for the person is usually around $150.00 with maybe driver training thrown in.

We are talking to people to add to that and add a higher penalty, if there is a injury and a even higher on if there is a death.
A lot of details have to be worked out, but changes do have to be made.

Do not know what we can do about DUI or Driving Stoned. We are asking motorcyclist what changes they would like and if they want to be involved.

We bring things before legislators and try to get them to work with us.
Meetings with some of them have happened and will with others as we have more details worked out.


--Rogue
Senior Editor Supreme
Bikernet.com™
Founder
BikerLivesMatter.com







RODDER’S JOURNAL SWAP MEET--
Summer is here, and we’re hosting our first-ever Rodder’s Journal Swap Meet. Rather than posting up in a parking lot somewhere, we’re bringing the sale to you.

As you can imagine, we found a whole lot of rare, strange and long-sold-out stuff while clearing out our old building in South San Francisco. Now that we’ve moved into our Richmond headquarters, we feel that now is the perfect time to give you, our loyal readers, the first crack at our findings.

So, what did we dig up? Collectible issues going all the way back to TRJ #1, classic posters, calendars and much more. To make shopping a little easier, we’ve compiled all the previously sold-out treasures in one place. Supplies are very limited.



When they’re gone, they’re gone.
If that’s not enough, we’re also offering 20% off storewide (including items in the Swap Meet). Just use the code SUMMER20 at checkout online or over the phone. The sale runs until Sunday June 30th at 11:59 p.m. East Coast time.

To place an order, click the box above or give us a call at (800) 750-9550 in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean or (804) 496-6906 internationally.

Cheers!
Your Friends at The Rodder’s Journal

P.S. Have a question? Feel free to call our office or check out our Swap Meet FAQ page.




QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY-- A Mafia Godfather finds out that his bookkeeper, Guido, has cheated him out of $10,000,000.00.

His bookkeeper is deaf. That was the reason he got the job in the first place.
It was assumed that Guido would hear nothing so he would not have to testify in court.

When the Godfather goes to confront Guido about his missing $10 million, he takes along his lawyer who knows sign language.

The Godfather tells the lawyer, "Ask him where the money is!"

The lawyer, using sign language, asks Guido , Where's the money?

Guido signs back, "I don't know what you are talking about."

The lawyer tells the Godfather, "He says he doesn't know what you're talking about." The Godfather pulls out a pistol, puts it to Guido's head and says, "Ask him again or I'll kill him!"

The lawyer signs to Guido , "He'll kill you if you don't tell him."

Guido trembles and signs, "OK! You win! The money is in a brown briefcase, buried behind the shed at my cousin Bruno s house.

The Godfather asks the lawyer,
"What did he say?"

The lawyer replies,
"He says fuck you, you don't have the balls to pull the trigger."

Don't you just love lawyers?

--from El Waggs





GORMAN ART EXHIBIT
Manhattan Athletic Club
277 Park Avenue - 2nd Floor (Enter on 48th and Lexington | NYC






REVIEW OF THE WEEK--
In case you missed this. Just watched it on Amazon. (Or free on CNN with commercials). Phenomenal.

Ride Forever,

--Andreas

https://www.cnncreativemarketing.com/project/apollo11/





Costa Rica Has Banned Styrofoam — A Major Win for the Environment
Fines for using styrofoam range from about $760 to $7,600.

After rolling out a national strategy to drastically reduce plastic use by 2021 last year, Costa Rica is now taking its environmental protection efforts a step further by banning the use of styrofoam containers.

The new legislation, signed on Thursday, prohibits the import, marketing, and distribution of polystyrene containers — commonly referred to as styrofoam — throughout the country.

The legislation will go into effect in 24 months after it is officially published in the government newsletter, La Gaceta. The legislation is now awaiting President Carlos Alvarado’s signature, and then will be sent to the national printer for publication in La Gaceta.

Fines for violations range from $763 (446,200Costa Rican Colon) to $7,629 (4.46 million Costa Rican Colon). The government is required to aid companies in adapting to environmentally friendly containers before the law is fully enforced.

“This initiative is a giant step for public health, the environment, and the economy of the country because styrofoam generates great pollution,” said legislator Paola Vega.

Plastic is a major environmental pollutant in Costa Rica which accounts for only 0.03% of the earth’s surface but contains 6% of the world’s biodiversity. To preserve one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, plastic waste and other forms of pollution have to be controlled and kept in check.

In an effort to significantly reduce plastic pollution, President Alvarado ordered the restriction of the use of plastics in all the country’s public institutions last year. According to the guidelines set by the president, public school cafeterias, health system institutions, and prisons should avoid single-use plastics such as dishes, disposable cups, and cutlery.

Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene, is one of the most widely used forms of plastic, mostly found in items like cups, take-out containers, and plates. Solid polystyrene is used to make everything from plastic cutlery to yogurt cups to DVD cases.


Although, styrofoam is technically recyclable, it can only be recycled if it is clean, un-dyed, and uncontaminated which is especially difficult since it is widely used to hold food.

Experts believe that it may take styrofoam anywhere between 500 and 1 million years to naturally decompose. Most of the product ultimately ends up in landfills and water bodies. Once consumed by microorganisms such as plankton or smaller fish, these contaminated particles enter the food chain, dangerously affecting our health.

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health will take the responsibility of regulating the ban on styrofoam in the country and will impose sanctions if required.





White House readies final review of new mpg rules

 

 DAVID SHEPARDSON, Auto News

 

WASHINGTON -- Trump administration officials defended their controversial proposal to freeze fuel efficiency requirements at 2020 levels at a congressional hearing on Thursday and said the proposal would be submitted to the White House for final review in the coming weeks.

The administration has rebuffed requests from automakers and some lawmakers to make a last-ditch effort to reach a deal with California to extend national standards after it ended talks in February. The administration plans in the coming months to finalize a dramatic rewrite of fuel efficiency standards through 2026 that would also strip California, the most populous state, which wants stricter rules to fight climate change, of the right to set its own, tougher emissions rules.

The final regulation potentially faces a multi-year legal battle that could leave automakers in limbo about future emissions and fuel efficiency requirements and ultimately decrease the number of U.S. electric vehicles offered by automakers.

At a joint five-hour hearing of two House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittees, Democrats cast the administration plan as a blow against efforts to combat climate change and a boon for oil companies. Republicans said it would reduce vehicle prices and rein in California.

The Trump administration plan aims to roll back emission standards set by former Democratic President Barack Obama. The Obama administration had made a dramatic jump in fuel efficiency requirements a key part of its climate agenda, and said it would save motorists $1.7 trillion in fuel costs over the life of the vehicles, but cost the auto industry about $200 billion over 13 years.

Earlier this month, 17 major automakers including General Motors Co, Volkswagen Group and Toyota Motor Corp. urged the White House to resume talks with California to avoid a lengthy legal battle. Automakers warn that the lack of a deal could lead to "an extended period of litigation and instability."

The carmakers urged a compromise “midway” between the Obama-era standards that require annual decreases of about 5% in emissions and the Trump administration’s proposal. Reuters reported in April that officials expected the final rule would include a small increase in the yearly fuel efficiency requirements.

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., whose district is home to many auto plants, implored officials to return to the bargaining table with California. "I am really not interested in a pissing contest between California and this administration," she said at the hearing.

Deputy National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief Heidi King was skeptical of Dingell's idea. "I don't know whether that would achieve the goal," she told Dingell.

EPA Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum said the agency was moving forward to finalize the rules "as soon as possible" after it had engaged in talks with California for about a year.

Trump administration officials argued its plan -- which it says will eventually boost U.S. oil consumption by 500,000 barrels of oil daily -- will save lives because it will reduce the forecasted cost of new vehicles and prod more people to sell older, less safe models. Environmentalists and others disagree.

Representative Frank Pallone, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, called the Obama standards "our single most important action taken to combat climate change."

"So, naturally, the Trump administration is trying to gut those standards as part of its reckless anti-climate agenda," he said.

'We like big things'

Republicans cast the issue as a divide between rural areas that use more trucks and urban areas where people are more likely to buy electric vehicles.

"We like big things. We like big trucks. We like big engines," said Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., whose district covers a heavily rural swath of the eastern part of the state.

The Obama-era rules called for a fleetwide fuel efficiency average of 46.7 miles per gallon by 2026, compared with 37 mpg under the Trump administration’s preferred option.

Mary Nichols, who heads the California Air Resources Board, told lawmakers Thursday the Trump proposal will cost Americans millions in fuel costs, kill jobs, add smog, undermine the auto industry and worsen the climate crisis.

"We have been open to accommodations that would adjust compliance timing and flexibility, that would create new paths to promote innovative technologies and zero emission vehicles, and that would benefit the public,” she said.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a letter to lawmakers on Thursday that California did not negotiate in good faith and said Nichols's written testimony was "false" -- a claim she strongly denied.





NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION AND
FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

Come watch NIGHT of DESTRUCTION presented by LKQ Pick Your Part featuring Irwindale Speedway's famous FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS SHOW! Also, LKQ Pick Your Part Late Model TWIN 50's, Tucker Tire Enduros, Figure 8's, Skid Plate Racing, a Jet Car Burndown, and the fan favorite Demolition Trailer Race!!

Event ticket sales are currently on record pace, so make sure to pre-order your tickets now while they are still available!!!