Hey,
This has been one amazing week. I didn’t finish my Weekend Round-up because shit was moving fast. It’s still moving fast, and maybe not fast enough, but we will see.
I started on the Weekend Round-Up for July 22nd, But never finished it.
It’s nuts. My weeks don’t end. I try to make Friday fun, have a helluva workout on Saturday, and I’m back in the shop fulltime on Sunday.
It’s all sort of a blur. Last Friday George came over and we worked on trying to figure out the windshield, which I picked up in the morning. “fit it and mark it,” Jon Brodersen said, “We will trim it on Monday.” Jon, the son of the owner of Aircraft Windshields threw a bunch of tech info at me about maintaining and cleaning the acrylic ¼-inch clear shield. “Don’t use any chemicals on it, like Windex or lacquer thinner.”
With the Windshield in hand we were close to cutting the canopy, which was a scary operation. We had one shot at cutting this puppy. Tons of discussion went into kicking around the latch, the hinges, and a lip system to keep wind from lifting the canopy and keeping it aligned when in place.
Cash, Bikernet High-Security Mutt.
Saturday, we spent the majority of the day taping off the area for the windshield and canopy. George has a program for taping off one side, and then making a template of that side for the opposite side. We got mighty close to making the first cut, when we installed the windshield over the body and noticed some issues. We decided to take a break and cut on Monday.
In the meantime, I went to work on mechanical issues. For some reason, after all the welding and paint, shit wasn’t fitting and I had to punt a few times. But the shifter is all set and so is the system for pulling the shoot. I started to grease and oil cables. Nothing seemed to be sliding comfortably. I oiled the throttle cable and it’s working better. The clutch cable is tough to pull, but it’s all set to do its job. I’ll let Micah adjust the clutch. He set up the transmission and sealed it, but discovered the detent was way off. It wasn’t shifting.
I installed the rear chain, and I have new fasteners for the rear sprocket. They
Stick out too much. I went to McMaster Carr for special rear parachute anchor fasteners. I need to call about my tires tomorrow and find out what’s happening with the safety belt system from RJS. I should call Dennis Manning and see how he’s doing.
Shit was flying, so the Weekend Round-up didn’t make it. Hell, wait until you read the wrap-up at the end of the news.
Let’s hit it:
Check the Iron Trader out.
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.
Click for Quick Action.
DIME BAG PRODUCTS GROWING-- Bandit,
The DIMEBAG brand growing and moving forward. Each handtooled leather wallet will be numbered and signed by Adam Croft.
Adam is also working on more Dimebag products to be available soon.
--DIMEBAG
Adam Croft Leather
Vintage American Cycles
DIMEBAG
We turned over our wallet and watch band products from the ‘70s to Adam. He’s making the old school stuff shine.--Bandit
Your MRF Weekly Biker Bulletin from Inside the Beltway--
Your Motorcycle Riders Foundation team in Washington, D.C. is pleased to provide our members with the latest information and updates on issues that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Count on your MRF to keep you informed about a range of matters that are critical to the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. Published weekly when the U.S. Congress is in session.
RPM Act to be Introduced
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation was invited to participate in a working group with the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) and a host of other organizations about the future of the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act). As we have reported in the past, we were unsure if this legislation would be introduced in the 116th Congress since the political appetite has changed on the hill. During the last Congress, the House version was able to gain 150 cosponsors but never made it to the floor for a vote, and the Senate version with its 39 cosponsors suffered the same fate in the waning days of 2018.
The MRF anticipates that this legislation will be introduced in the coming weeks before Congress adjourns for their August recess. Please be ready for any future calls to action that may find their way to your inbox.
NTSB Releases 2019–2020 NTSB Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements
The National Transportation Safety Board released its 2019-2020 Most Wanted List earlier this week. After reading the 28-page document, the MRF found that motorcycles only gathered the attention of the agency twice but thankfully not as a stand-alone issue like in years past. The two areas where motorcyclists are mentioned are:
End Alcohol and Other Impairment in Transportation
TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION: Examine the influence of alcohol and other drug use on motorcycle rider crash risk compared to that of passenger vehicle drivers, and develop guidelines to assist states in implementing evidence-based strategies and countermeasures to more effectively address substance-impaired motorcycle rider crashes.
What about distracted and substance impair drivers?
Increase Implementation of Collision Avoidance Systems in All-New Highway Vehicles
TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION: Incorporate motorcycles in the development of performance standards for passenger vehicle crash warning and prevention systems.
After years of motorcycles being forgotten in other Department of Transportation guidance on autonomous vehicles, we are pleased that the NTSB is sending a directive to NHTSA to make sure motorcycles are included in autonomous vehicle standards. If you want to know what else the NTSB is working on other the next year, you can read the whole report HERE
Focus Groups
This week the Governors Highway Safety Association released a report on “Motorcyclists’ Attitudes on Using High-Visibility Gear to Improve Conspicuity.” Needless to say, the conclusions listed below by this taxpayer-funded study can be filed under the category of obvious and predictable.
Conclusions:
Eighteen focus groups with 137 motorcycle riders in California, Maryland, Michigan, and Texas were conducted to explore motorcyclists’ attitudes toward wearing high-visibility gear to increase conspicuity. In most groups, only one or two participants said they regularly wear high visibility gear.
Based on the focus group discussions, several factors emerged as barriers to motorcyclists’ use of high-visibility gear. The most important involves the appearance of the high-visibility gear. It is judged as unappealing by some riders, and many riders are concerned that the look or style of the gear does not fit in with their riding culture. These factors work against the acceptance of high-visibility gear, even though many riders believe such gear may be effective for increasing conspicuity. Many participants thought that motorcycle-riding culture would have to change for riders to adopt high-visibility gear, due to the association of novice riders and older riders with high-visibility gear.
Another barrier to the use of high-visibility gear is riders’ skepticism that high-visibility apparel provides enough of a safety benefit to warrant its use and cost. Evidence that demonstrates the safety benefits of high-visibility gear is important to convincing motorcyclists they would personally benefit from using it.
In addition to adverse feelings about high-visibility gear itself, many participants expressed the belief that high-visibility gear would not improve safety, largely because of the perception that motorists are distracted anyway. In fact, several participants suggested that the onus should be on drivers to look for motorcyclists.
If you are interested, you can find the full 81-page report by slipping over to the MRF web site.
Standing Update:
We are currently at 58 cosponsors from 25 states for the motorcycle profiling resolution. This is an increase of 4 new cosponsors since last week and with our first lawmaker from Massachusetts signing on. Click HERE to see if your member has signed on.
--Your Team in D.C. Tiffany & Rocky
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation
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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.
Bands and Bikes Highlight Gettysburg Bike Week 2019 Rally--Record Crowds at GBW 18th Anniversary
Gettysburg, PA (July 19, 2018) – Gettysburg Bike Week kicked off Thursday, July 11, 2019, for its 18th anniversary rally at the Allstar Events Family Fun Complex in Gettysburg, PA. With four days of the best bands, events and entertainment. Rally goers turned out in droves to great weather and enjoyed great music, Harley-Davidson demos, bike shows, mini-bike races celebrity appearance from Josh Owens and much much more.
“We had the best attendance we have ever seen” said event coordinator Kelly Shue. “We work hard throughout the year to make sure we have the best bands, entertainment and vendors for all the riders. This year we seem to have the right combination of them all.”
National touring musicians graced the stage every day including Jasmine Cain, and Kashmir to kick the weekend off on Thursday. The Resurrection tour featuring Tantric, Shallow Side, Saving Abel, Saliva and Puddle of Mudd had people showing up early to make sure they got to see as many of the bands as they could. Saturday, Queenryche closed it out with an amazing show of hard rock musicianship, which was topped off by an awe-inspiring fireworks show. All of these top-flight musicians showed their true colors and played to the crowds energy, providing entertainment for the biggest crowds to date.
Other great music acts playing throughout the weekend included Brickyard Road, Rebel Soul, acoustic wizards Redemption Road, and Sound of Silence featuring teen percussion prodigy Avery the Drummer.
And music was just the beginning when it came to this year’s entertainment.
Legendary emcee Jack Schit presided over it all, performing master of ceremonies duties from the Budweiser Stage with Jen Shade helping to fill in any gaps and help keep a local connection. Mr. Schit added his lightening wit to live events like the world-famous Tattoo Competition, Bike Games and mini-bike racing. The Parade of Chrome, and the Cycle Source Ride-in Bike Show, were all greatly enjoyed by the record breaking crowd.
New this year was the Harley-Davidson demos where riders could select one of seven Harley-Davidsons and take it for a spin and see which one they preferred with no pressure. Gettysburg Bike Week brought in Josh Owens from the hit TV show Moonshiners which, provided lots of opportunities for riders to interact with him in a lot of different settings.
Of course, no rally would be complete without great riding, and Gettysburg features some of the best. Riders enjoyed tours of historic battlegrounds and hundreds of miles of the best riding in the East. And in addition to the fantastic solo riding, GBW patrons had a great time with several charity Poker runs.
This one’s hardly in the books, but you can never start planning too early for next year’s Gettysburg Bike Week which will be July 9-12 2020: New and returning riders can find updates, event scheduling, lodging information and anything they ever needed to know about Gettysburg Bike Week by visiting http://www.gettysburgbikeweek.com.
Gettysburg Bike Week would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors Battlefield Harley-Davidson, Budweiser, Gettysburg Trading Post, Hot Leathers, Geico, Stambaugh Law, Dale E Anstine, Color Wheel Flooring America, Tevis Energy, Beckley’s Camping Center, Ride into History and Steinwehr Avenue Business Improvement District.
BAD COP REPORT FROM THE CHIP--What Sturgis Police Will Be Watching For During This Year’s Motorcycle Rally
Nothing puts a damper on fun quite like a run in with Johnny Law, and with the increased police presence in and around the city of Sturgis during the annual motorcycle rally, knowing the state and local laws is a must. To make sure you have the 411 on what law enforcement officers will be looking for, Sturgis Rider® News sat down with Chief of Police Geody VanDewater of the Sturgis Police Department. Make sure you and other riders on the road can have a safe and fun time during this year’s Sturgis motorcycle rally by checking out his list of dos and don’ts.
Drinking and Driving
This is a no-brainer. If you plan on kicking back some cold ones, please designate a sober driver to get you back to your home base safely. If that’s not an option, there are modes of public transportation you can use that will cost you significantly less than a DUI. The Sturgis Party Shuttle can get you where you need to go with stops at most of the area's campgrounds and hotels including Sturgis and Deadwood. With the Buffalo Chip as its headquarters, the Sturgis Party Shuttle has shuttles that route every 30 minutes from 12 p.m. to 3 a.m. Aug. 4-13 at both the Chip’s east and west gate.
Illegal Drug Use
During the Sturgis motorcycle rally there are plenty of rides, concerts and activities that’ll give you a high that’s just as good as the hard stuff. According to their website, the Sturgis Police Department has a zero tolerance policy on all drug arrests no matter how small and will not relax charges on any violations. Just say no to drugs and you can avoid spending the bulk of your vacation in the clink.
Traffic Violations
Failure to Stop at Red Lights and Stop Signs
Traffic congestion is to be expected when you come into the city of Sturgis, but it’s important to remember to obey all traffic laws. When stopping at red lights and stop signs, you must come to a complete stop.
“Some people can balance their bike at a complete stop, but to be safe, we suggest you put at least one foot down and stop for 2-3 seconds.”
- Sturgis Chief of Police Geody VanDewater
Passing on the Sidewalk or Shoulder
You might get impatient when waiting in traffic, but don’t try to pass on the right shoulder or sidewalks. If you are caught doing this, Sturgis police will stop you and issue you a $111 ticket. You can also use Fort Meade Way to avoid the hassle of waiting through heavy rally traffic.
Bike Modifications
Recent law changes allow you to have handlebars on your bike at the height of your choosing, but there are other modifications that are still illegal. For example, there are rules about how loud your exhaust system can be. All modifications must be factory altered. Removing the baffles in your exhaust is still against the law.
There is no specific decibel level for exhaust in the state of South Dakota, but every motorcycle must at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. Sturgis Police will be listening for unusually loud exhaust to determine if you are violating South Dakota's vehicle noise law, 32-15-17. If you are, they’ll fine you $120.
Indecent Exposure
When the number on the thermometer starts climbing, you might be tempted to wear less. While there’s no dress code, it’s smart to remember the law requires you to keep your naughty bits covered. Failure to do so will get you charged with indecent exposure, which will land you a $111 fine.
Helmets and Eye Protection
Helmets are required for any passengers under 18 and protective eyewear is a must. Beyond that, there are no restrictions on what you can wear on your bike, but Chief VanDewater recommends you play it safe and wear the right gear when riding. Full leathers and closed-toe footwear are encouraged.
Get great gear recommendations from seasoned riders prefer by checking out “10 Essential Pieces of Gear You Shouldn’t Ride Without.”
Parking Violations
The most common complaint the Sturgis Police Department receives during the rally involves parking violations. Parking downtown can be a real pain in the you-know-what, but that doesn’t mean you can park just anywhere.
You are allowed to park anywhere on downtown streets within the barricades, except for intersections. If you are parked in handicap spots or in zones outside of the barricades that are painted yellow or red, your vehicle will be ticketed and towed. Avoid parking in alleyways or private parking lots. Public Works cleans the streets nightly to keep Sturgis looking beautiful, so if you leave your bike parked downtown after 2 a.m., it will be towed. Chief VanDewater suggests taking advantage of public transportation to keep you and your bike safe.
Outside of the city, you won’t find parking to be nearly as regulated. Remember, there is always plenty of free parking available at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads.
For tips on what to do if you do encounter the police check out “What To Do If You Get Pulled Over.”
Have you been stopped by Sturgis police? Share your stories in the comments below to help your fellow bikers avoid getting a violation.
--Buffalo Chip staff
NEW ADDITION TO BANDIT’S COLLECTION—John Stein, who wrote the History of Motorcycle Drag Racing, said he had something cool for me. The other day, he showed up with a couple of his books (we sell them in the 5-Ball Garage) and this cool motorcycle dragster gas tank.
“The bike was built by Joe Smith and was the first motorcycle into the Eights,” said John. “It was named "King Rat" and is all over the internet.”
Joe sold it to someone who converted it to a gasser and renamed it "The Bandit." I should have some information on it as the Bandit and certainly have plenty on when it was King Rat, since it was very famous.
Joe Smith’s “King Rat”
One of the dominant Top Fuel motorcycle racers of the early-to-mid-Seventies, Joe Smith built and rode a number of remarkably successful Shovelhead-based Harley-Davidsons. Among them was “King Rat”, which became the first motorcycle in NHRA competition into the “eights” with an 8.97 at 166.05 mph at the 1971 Bakersfield March Meet.
The displacement of the engine was increased from 74 to 108 cubic inches with the use of stroker flywheels from S&S and big-bore cylinders from Burkhardt Engineering. Famed Oldsmobile tuner Joe Mondello did the heads, Leineweber supplied the cams, and S&S provided their 1-7/8-inch fuel carburetor.
--John Stein
Here's John's large photo book for sale in the 5-Ball Racing Garage. Click if you're interested.
EASYRIDERS R.I.P.--
Here is the image we were talking about, this is a biker bed and breakfast in Iowa.
https://www.facebook.com/LaidBackManor/
Here is what they posted.
Yea.. it’s true... End of an era. Thank you, you marvelous old girl, for all the wonderful things in my life that came from writing for you. Love and Respect... we will never forget you.
--The Gang at Laid Back Manor
Somewhere in Iowa
NEW ZEALANDER USA ROAD TRIP--The long horned cattle in the wooden pole corral is something that I have never been that close to before. The warning sign could be quite apt and how people can work safely with them must be quite a skill.
There are quite a number of information boards to be read in a hurry as
the park staff are waiting for us to leave so that they can lock the gates. It is already quarter past five and we still have to get out of the parking lot.
It is only a short ride of some 20 miles to Kanab where we stay for the
night at the Travel Lodge. We eat at a a Mexican Restaurant across the
road called Escobars.
We have done 230 miles for the day.
--Graeme Lowen
