Hey,

We rolled in from Bonneville yesterday afternoon, an easy five hours with three drivers covering about 125 miles apiece.

This day is full of fascinating questions. The Salt Torpedo set a record with a top speed of 144.888 the first day of racing. The next day we sailed through the lights on a rutted track at over 150. Micah reminded us of a rule calling for larger fire extinguishers for a taller record. Two questions emerged. Can we find room for larger extinguishers or is this platform done?

We also discovered significant rules being broken, or is there a time when one rule applies and another one doesn’t. Our team at 57, 75, 76 and 77 will be a year older next year and the years are starting to weigh heavily on performance whether we like it or not. The trike definitely needs a younger crew.

We are also looking at completing the 45 cubic inch Bonne Belle and taking it to the salt next year, maybe. We ran across some guys who built two magnificent 45 flatheads, so the competition is stiff and we lost years of testing on the salt. Our fault.

And finally, I’m weird. I like to do something, make strides and move on. I’m not compelled to go back year after year. In fact, new adventures surface daily. I would also like to focus on Bikernet content and maybe writing another book or two.

Plus, there’s so much to learn about the Black Hills. From a community prospective I would like to do something significant for Sturgis and the motorcycle industry by helping expand the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and making it world class.

We all need to work hard to save this country, so once again we can tell our kids we are living in the best of times, not the worst.

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, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.







NEW NEWS FROM THE BIKERNET EV FILES--Nearly All the LiveWire S2 Motorcycles Have Been Recalled

While other electrical functions will continue working, the affected bikes could suddenly lose power without warning to riders.

LiveWire will recall approximately 788 combined units of 2024 S2 Del Mar and S2 Mulholland EV motorcycles worldwide

This issue is related to a high-voltage fuse that can get stuck open under certain operating conditions

If this does happen, the motor may stop working with no warning to the rider. Although other electrical functions will still work (lights, ABS, turn signals), the motor will suddenly cease.

LiveWire is instructing its dealers to replace the faulty fuse with a new, higher-amperage unit, free of charge to their customers.

--Wayfarer
Associate Editor
Bikernet.com™





BONNEVILLE 2024 CHECK LIST—Just for duck-soup I’m running our check list. Going to Bonneville is a limited experience. There are no bike shops or motorcycle machine shops in Wendover.

It’s up to the teams to come as prepared as possible and bring all the tools, spare parts and equipment as possible to make repairs and adjustments. We only had five days to get the job done and anything can happen. Check lists help:

• Check front end, and steering fasteners
• Check front wheels
• Check Tire pressure
• Check for fuel leaks
• Check fuel level
• Check oil level.
• Check rear chain, tire and axle
• Safety wire rear axle
• Check all pilot controls for lose fasteners and
• adjustments
• Check motor mounts
• Transmission mounts
• Gas tank mounts
• parachute system ready
• Windshield clean
• No signs of Pilot overheating

Fortunately, we had no discomfort reports from Micah McCloskey.

--Bandit





IMA NEWS FLASH--imamembers.org is now live and updated for independent dealers and aftermarket businesses to join. Please spread the word, they just have to go to “click here to join now” at the top or bottom of the page and they can apply on-line or mail in the form.

--Bob Kay
Chairman
Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Crew
Biker Pros LP
1450 Sunshine Ln
Southlake, TX 76092
A Bikers Garage
101 Travis St
Roanoke, TX 76262
C: 817-312-0380 ¦ F: 817-491-5207

bkay@abikersgarage.com







STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM NEWS--

The Goodguys 2024 Hall of Fame Road Tour Experience will be stopping at the museum on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, with the first cruisers arriving beginning right around 9:00AM and the last cruisers departing at around 10:00AM.

We are expecting (70) total cars consisting of (130) total cruisers that will be touring the museum. We will be providing coffee and donuts.

I hope as many of you as possible can come join them.

Have a great Thursday!

Heidi Haro
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
Executive Director
(605) 347-2001
www.SturgisMuseum.com







GETTING’ CLOSE AT THE WHEELS THROUGH TIME--

This year’s Raffle Bike is the stunning 1936 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. Finished in HD Factory Custom Gold, trimmed in Brilliant Black, and hand-striped with chrome accents.

This 61c.i. OHV Knucklehead powerhouse sports a 4-speed transmission, art deco styling with full fenders, iconic “skull” dash, and 100 mph speedo. Plus, a list of one-year-only parts too numerous to mention. The machine was meticulously restored to showroom condition in the WTT Restoration Shop for one purpose--Going home with one lucky winner this 2024!

- Get Your Tickets Here -

Second Prize is $10,000??
Third Prize is $5,000?

Only Three Days Left For The August Special
By entering in at the “Greater Deal” package you will get the brand new History x Horsepower Water Bottle of your choice. At the “Better Deal” package or higher you will get the new History X Horsepower Water Bottle and Hat, along with your ’36 Tee, and DVD.





BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN--

She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Little Akio, a bright foreign exchange student from Japan, who had his hand up: "Patrick Henry, 1775," he said.

Who said: 'Government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the Earth"?

Again, no response except from Little Akio: "Abraham Lincoln, 1863."

"Excellent!" said the teacher, continuing. "Let's try one a bit more difficult. Who said, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country?

Once again, Akio's was the only hand in the air and he said: "John F. Kennedy, 1961."

The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Little Akio isn't from this country and he knows more about our history than you do."

She heard a loud whisper: "Fuck the Japs."

"Who said that? I want to know right now!" ...she angrily demanded.

Little Akio put his hand up, "General MacArthur, 1945."

At that point, a student in the back said, "I'm gonna puke."

The teacher glares around and asks, "All right! Now who said that?"

Again, Little Akio says, "George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991."

Now furious, another student yells, "Oh yeah? Suck this!"

Little Akio jumps out of his chair waving his hand and shouts to the teacher, "Bill Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997!"

Now with almost mob hysteria someone said, "You little s---! If you say anything else, I'll kill you!"

Little Akio frantically yells at the top of his voice, "Michael Jackson to the children testifying against him, 2004."

The teacher fainted.

As the class gathered around the teacher on the floor, someone said, "We're screwed!"

Little Akio said quietly, "The American public if Kamala gets elected."

--El Waggs





A WORD FROM THE JANUS MOTORCYCLE HEADQUARTERS--

You deserve to savor the beautiful things in your life.

Motorcycles are meant to be savored.
The roads you ride deserve to be savored.
The company you keep deserves to be savored. 
The views and smells and sensation of riding deserve to be savored.

We build motorcycles that enhance the beauty in your life. That's one of mankind's noblest pursuits: appreciating beauty.

Get an up close view of Halcyon 450 #305... and make it yours yet this week. We have amazing savings on all Halcyon 450s in inventory. It's time.



Purchase #305 here.
Already have a bike (Janus or otherwise?) Value your trade-up here.





THE SHOTGUN BLUES AND WISHFUL THINKING--

Seems like my preference of Shotgun 650 is not preferred by other Enfield purchasers. They are buying the Super Meteor and the Interceptor or Continental GT. But then I have always taken the path not preferred by majority.

July 2024 sales of 500cc and above bikes of all companies
https://www.rushlane.com/500cc-motorcycle-sales-july-2024-re650-hayabusa-z900-ninja-12504702.html

I want the Shotgun 650 and to sell the 20 year old Enfield Bullet 350 --a pain in the wallet. But again any two motorcycles are too many says my bank account.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles don't even feature in the top 30 as Triumph seems to dominate after the Japanese brands. Also, sales of Hayabusa might have been high this year because it's a big 25th year anniversary for the model. So people make an impulse or emotional purchase. e.g. "It was always my dream to own one and this won't happen again"

At Rs. 480,000 for a Shotgun 650 I could put a big down payment on a nice car and avoid all the heat, rain, pollution, noise and assholes trying to race me.

For Rs.2,200,000 for a Suzuki Hayabusa, I could instead get a really cool fully loaded 4-wheel drive Suzuki Jimny with its internationally renowned performance and true freedom on the road.

Shotgun 650 twin engine specs
https://www.royalenfield.com/in/en/motorcycles/shotgun-650/

--Wayfarer





AMERICAN FLAT TRACK ACTION –

An unexpectedly tight Grand National Championship battle arrives at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois for the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties on August 31-September 1, the penultimate weekend of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

Reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) entered the preceding Arrowhead Brass Sturgis TT eying a realistic pathway to clinching an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship this weekend at the iconic event he co-promotes with his wife, Nichole. However, an incident that took place while Mees was attempting to charge his way up through the field resulted in a disqualification in Sturgis along with a significantly closer points chase.

Mees now leads second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) by just six points and third-placed Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) by just 12.

Further complicating Mees’ march to history is the fact that both Robinson and Bauman have stood atop the podium at Springfield – Robinson in doubleheader fashion on August 31 and September 1 of 2013 and Bauman the last time the Mission AFT SuperTwins lined up at the venue less than a year ago.

However, the champ is far from defenseless in his mission to retain the #1 plate. One of the sport’s all-time great milers, Mees has repeatedly proven himself up to the task when under pressure, as evidenced by his record-tying nine championships, and at Springfield specifically, where he boasts an incredible eight victories.

Of course, Mees, Robinson, and Bauman won’t be on track alone. Several potential spoilers could play an outsized role in swaying the championship standings one way or the other at a track that lends itself to incredibly close and unpredictable racing. Ten of the most recent twelve Springfield Miles have been decided by under a second. And of those twelve, half have seen three riders finish within a second of victory, four with four riders in contention, two with seven or more, and one that featured ten riders crossing the stripe at the checkered flag separated by less than a second.



During that span, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke) have finished on the podium and within a second of victory at Springfield, while Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) have finished within a second of the win.

Meanwhile, rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R) are primed to join that list as they return to Springfield armed with the experience of engaging in last year’s huge pack war for victory aboard 450s.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

By scoring his sixth win of the ‘24 season, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) has put himself in strong position to clinch the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title early for the third year in succession.

To do so, he need only end the weekend with 25 points in hand (perhaps 26 depending on how tiebreakers continue to shake out). At the moment, his advantage stands at 34 points over Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and 40 over Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).

While the margin separating first from second and third in the championship chase is considerable, that doesn’t reflect the recent reality on track, where Kopp, Saathoff, and Drane have taken two wins apiece over the last six races.

Expect that same sort of competitiveness to continue at Springfield with the likes of Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) liable to turn this into a ten-rider barnburner for the top step on the podium.

There will also be plenty of off-track activities for fans to enjoy throughout the weekend, including the CAT Command Trailer, numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, and dedicated motorcycle parking.

All tickets are $10 off if purchased prior to Wednesday. If you act fast, Infield Standing Room Only tickets remain just $20 (kids 12 and under $5), Reserved Grandstand tickets are $35, and Premium Reserved Grandstand are $45.

Fans also have the opportunity to enjoy a VIP Experience by selecting a special ticket option that provides access to a premier reserved seat in front of the start/finish line and includes food, beverage, and a Pit Pass for $150.

Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for non-VIP tickets, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.

Fans who purchase Saturday and Sunday tickets will receive a $5 discount at checkout. To reserve your tickets today, visit:

Mission Springfield Mile I & II: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-i-and-ii-89223

Mission Springfield Mile I: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-i-89224

Mission Springfield Mile II: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-ii-89225

Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday and Sunday. You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024.

FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.

FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 8. The Springfield Mile I will air at 7:00 a.m. ET (4:00 a.m. PT) with the Springfield Mile II scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT).

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.





QUOTE OF THE WEEK--

---Evelyn Beatrice Hill, 1906, The Friends of Voltaire





TWIN POWER OIL DELIVERS--Superior Performance for V-Twin Motorcycles

TwinPower, a leading producer of performance products for American V-Twin motorcycles, is excited to announce that its line of motorcycle oils and lubricants is now available nationwide. It is manufactured, blended, tested and bottled in the USA from 100% US-sourced components, TwinPower oils are specifically engineered to meet the rigorous demands of Harley-Davidson and other V-Twin motorcycles,



“Our commitment to quality means our oils are tested to perform in the most demanding conditions,” said James Simonelli, Brand Manager of TwinPower. “We’ve gone the extra mile to ensure our products exceed the expectations of motorcycle riders.”

TwinPower oils are blended and bottled in the USA from 100% US-sourced components. It is the superior quality of base stock, the specially formulated additive package, and the rigorous testing that separates TwinPower oil from others.

To guarantee top-tier performance, TwinPower oils are evaluated using four industry-standard tests:



The Falex Pin & V Block Test: Assesses wear protection under extreme pressure, mirroring the stresses faced by engine components.

The Four Ball Wear Test: Measures the oil’s ability to prevent wear by analyzing the scar diameter on metal balls under load.

The NOACK Volatility Test: Evaluates the oil’s evaporation loss at high temperatures, crucial for maintaining viscosity and engine protection in extreme heat.

The Viscosity Index Test: Ensures the oil maintains consistent viscosity across a wide range of temperatures, providing reliable performance in both hot and cold conditions.



“Our tests indicate that TwinPower oils outperform competitive products and exceed JASO MA2 specifications. For most OEM’s this makes them applicable for both transmission and wet clutch applications,” continued Simonelli. “Even with this top-quality oil, we still like using purpose-specific fluids for increased longevity. And TwinPower offers a broad selection of lubricants for all kinds of motorcycle needs.”



TwinPower’s lubricant selection includes a variety of engine oils:

Multi-grade Mineral Oils: Available in 20W50, and 25W60 grades, these oils are formulated to protect engines under extreme conditions.

Straight Weight Mineral Oils: Available in SAE 50 and SAE 60 grades, these oils are ideal for classic motorcycles.

Fully Synthetic Oil: A 20W50 full synthetic oil that provides superior protection and performance.

TwinPower also offers a full line of transmission oils including Sportster transmission lube, Big Twin primary fluid, 80w90 mineral and 85W140 semi-synthetic transmission oils

Twin Power products are available at competitive prices across the country from Turn 14 Distribution’s dealer network.