Digital Magazine
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Digital Magazine
JANUARY 2016 07 - ON THE COVER 07 - Ride & Event Calendar 10 - Las Vegas Bike Fest 15 - NEW PRODUCTS 16 - rocky point 20 - crosswords 22 - wreathes across america 24 - love ride pt. 2 29 - glendale toy run 31 - downed biker rally 32 - hwy 49 Quick Throttle MAGAZINE PO Box 3062 • Dana Point, CA 92629 949-328-3157 editor@quickthrottle.com • www.quickthrottle.com CONTACT: INFO@QUICKTHROTTLE.COM EDITOR@QUICKTHROTTLE.COM • aDVERTISING@QUICKTHROTTLE.COM instagram.com/quickthrottlemagazine • facebook.com/QuickThrottleMagazine Saboteur by David Uhl Uhl Studios recently announced the worldwide release of David Uhl’s third Steampunk piece, titled “Saboteur”. Followers of David’s Fine Art program and QT Magazine (Feb. 2014 and 2015) have enjoyed the beauty and success of the first two in this series, “Steampunk Seduction” and “The Huntress”. JANUARY JANUARY 1 In David’s words, “I wanted to note that this is the most complex piece of work I have ever done. As you know the Steampunk series is edgy and pushes the limits of what motorcycle art is all about. This wild piece interested me because of the heated rivalry between the French and English during the Victorian era, which is what Steampunk is all about. Our lady rides the pinnacle of British engineering, the early Brough Superior, and is poised to assess the damage to the marvelous Montparnasse Train Station in Paris. I shall let the viewer’s imagination put together the rest of the drama.” A video link of the actual crash in 1903 provides more insight, and can be seen at www.uhlstudios.com and www.quickthrottle.com Accomplished motorcycle racer, Melissa Paris served as David’s model for this masterpiece. Melissa began riding motorcycles at age 20, much later than most of the people she races against. About a year later WRITERS: CD, Randy Twells, Lisa Dalgaard, Mike Dalgaard, Gary Mraz, Tom “PIR8” Tinney, Ray Seidel, Robert Sweeney, Art Hall, “Wild Bill” Saxton PHOTOGRAPHERS: Randy Twells, Art Hall, Ron Sinoy, CD, George Childress WEBMASTER: Chrome Horse Promotions www.chrome-horse.net 36 - crossword answers 37 - tech talk ON THE COVER QUICK THROTTLE LLC® 2016 is published monthly and NO reproduction of content is permitted without Publisher or Editor’s prior written approval. Publisher and Editor assume no financial responsibility for errors in ads beyond the cost of space occupied by error; a correction will be printed. Publisher is not liable for: any slandering of an individual, or group as we mean no malice or individual criticism at any time; nor are we responsible for the opinions or comments of our columnists; and promises, coupons, or lack of fulfillment from advertisers who are solely responsible for the content of their ads. Publisher and Editor are also to be held harmless from: failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our control; all suits. claims or loss of expenses; this includes but is not limited to, suits for libel, plagarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a persons name or photograph. Publisher and Editor do not promote excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The Quick Throttle name and logo is owned nationally by Chris and Lisa Dalgaard. she began racing. In 2008 she won her first national championship in the Lightweight GP class aboard a 250 gran prix machine. In 2009 Melissa competed in her very first pro race in the famous Daytona 200. That same year she became the first woman to qualify for a World Supersport event. Since then she has gone on to race in the AMA in Supersport and others. More information about Melissa: http://melissaparis. com JANUARY 2016 NATIONAL CITY, CA* 26th Annual DEAD BIRD RUN—Celebrate the brand New Year and get Back in the Saddle at Sweetwater HarleyDavidson for a New Year’s Day ride to a secret destination with food and adult beverages. Advisable to dress warm. Kickstands up 9 AM! 3201 Hoover Ave. More Info: 619-477-4477 or visit www. sweetwaterharley.com JANUARY 9 MESA, AZ* DESERT WIND H-D CHILI COOK-OFF 11am – 3pm. Does your chili have what it takes? Cook up a BIG pot of your famous chili and bring it to Desert Wind. Also bring your appetite and refresh with a cold beer. Prizes & trophies up for grabs! Live Music by Rob West. Email: mhughes@desertwindhd.com to register. (Please drink responsibly.) 922 S. Country Club Dr. 480-894-0404 www. desertwindhd,com SEE AD BALDWIN PARK, CA* ROCK ON GRUB ON, at Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson starting at 12 Noon. Food contest, raffles, and music by the Sandbox Bullies on our stage. Also check out our “Post Holiday, Pre-Inventory, One Day, Black Dot, Obsolete Sale”. 1919 Puente Ave. More info: 877- 437-3685 or www.laidlawsharley.com . JANUARY 12 Cypress, CA ABATE Monthly Meetings. American Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education Local 20 meets the second Tuesday of every month at the American Legion 5646 Corporate A V Cypress CA 90630 $7.00 chicken diner starts 6PM and meeting starts at 7PM. Everyone is welcome. Contact Gill Email gillabate@yahoo.com JANUARY 16 LONG BEACH, CA EASYRIDERS 2016 BIKE SHOW TOUR at Long Beach Convention Center – Hottest Custom Motorcycle Show. See Rusty Coones “Quinn” from SOA and A & E’s upcoming “American Made” Hundreds of custom bikes and motorcycle products. Go to www. Easyridersevents.com or call 800-962-9857 Tempe, AZ 6th Annual Skin and Steel AZ. Located at American Legion Post 2. ONLY Tattoo and Motorcycle Show! FREE ADMISSION Open to everyone! Tattoo Artists Motorcycles of all kinds, lots of vendors, LIVE music and much more. Sponsor: Desert Wind Harley-Davidson and American Legion Riders Post 2. Contact Trish at azirishpeaches@yahoo.com FEBRUARY 6 Scottsdale, AZ Gatekeepers 6 Alarm Firehouse Cook-off Showdown. Benefiting the 100 Club of AZ Saturday, February 6, 2016 6:30pm - 10:00pm $45 per person. Tickets include food/drinks. Location: Allstate Appliance Scottsdale Showroom, 15250 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Sizzln Food, Mixologist Competition! Live Music, Raffles, Silent Auction, and Much More! Purchase tickets online at www. twogalsevents.com or call Melissa Hughes at 602-568-5313 or Amy 9 Rose Rey at 480-318-6182 Contact Melissa Hughes Email 2galsevents@gmail.com San Juan Capistrano, CA 8th Annual Dr. Joe Cortese Memorial Drive-In Bike Show and Poker Run. Ride begins at OC Harley Davidson, 8677 Research Dr. Irvine and ends at the Car Show in San Juan Capistrano. Trophies to the top three bikes, judging at 1pm, cash to high and low poker hand. Proceeds fund Rotary charities, animal medications, spay/neuter, emergency surgeries, adopting homeless and abandoned dogs and cats. register on line click on Poker Run-Register. Contact Steve Rose Email stephandodgerose@yahoo.com FEBRUARY 27 MESA, AZ* HEARTS TO HEROES RIDE— 11th Anniv. Ride Supporting our Troops! Registration 9-11 AM at Desert Wind H-D, Last Bike out by 11, Last Bike in by 3. Bring in any item off wish list and receive 5 extra raffle tickets! Live Music by Skarlett Fever, Food, 10 Raffle, Prizes, Fun! $25 Solo / $45 Couple. Benefiting Packages From Home, Packages for Hope & Bones From Home. Starts at Desert Wind H-D – 922 S. Country Club Dr. More info: www.twogalsevents.com or www. packagesfromhome.org MARCH 19 Marysville, CA Sisters of Scota WMC 7th Annual Rabbit Run. Proceeds benefit Environmental Alternatives Foster Family Agency a 501(c)(3)corporation. Pack ride with us from Loma Rica CA., to Lake Francis Resort Dobbins CA.(rain or shine).Sign-Ins:9-10 AM, Gold Eagle Market#2 11269 Loma Rica Rd., Marysville,CA 95901. Admission:$20.00 pp,$30.00 couple. Run Pin first 50 participants.Bike blessing by CMA,music by Swankmasters, ride-in bike show, raffles,holiday luncheon. https://www. facebook.com/groups/619584224734694/ Contact Banshee Email banshee_soswmc@hotmail.com APRIL 6-10 SCOTTSDALE, AZ – ARIZONA BIKE WEEK 20th ANNIVERSARY presented by Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale WESTWORLD OF SCOTTSDALE – Nighly concerts at the Go AZ Motorcycles Rockyard, Legends Classic Vinctage Motorccle Auction, Handlebar Saloon presented by Spooky Fast Custom, Flat Trake Racing, Vendors, Bike Shows, Charitys Rides, On Site RV & Tent Camping, www.AZBIKEWEEK.com APRIL 27-30 LAUGHLIN, NV* 34th Annual LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN-- Enjoy the Ride! West Coast’s largest motorcycle rally. River Run Concert Series, Trade show exhibits, Miss Laughlin River Run Contest, Poker Runs, Custom Bike Show, Casino Gaming. Room packages on sale now, visit www.laughlinriverrun.com or call 949-502-3434. JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 11 Story and Photos by Angela Conner In April of 1968, Howard Hughes purchased the Silver Slipper Casino in downtown Las Vegas for a mere $5.4 million. He then proceeded to remove and dismantle the rotating slipper because he feared the government had planted a camera in the toe and was monitoring his every move. That’s the thing about Las Vegas- everything you see has an interesting story behind it. In October, the story was motorcycles. Las Vegas Bike Fest has always been an easy event to attend because it is just a quick ride through the desert to stay at some swanky hotel with valet parking and room service. LIES! ALL LIES. There are no quick rides through the desert. If it’s not a scorpion flying up your 12 pant leg or a swarm of bees honey-storming your fairing, then it must be the 2,000 degree heat that seems to make a 5 hour road trip turn into an all-day moan fest. And I have yet to stay in a swanky hotel in Vegas since I refuse to dip into my beer money when all I’m going to do is sleep there. Thank you cheapo website for reserving me a room with a view of the dumpsters which was so small that I could literally touch the east and west walls simultaneously. With all this belly-aching you might be thinking to yourself “Why the hell do you even go then?” My answer is swift and simple – the bikes! A mass array of motorcycles converge on Las Vegas during this 4 day event that run the spectrum from the rattiest of the ratty to works of art worthy of wall space next to the Mona Lisa. Cycle Source Magazine puts on the Master Builders Artistry in Iron Championship which brings talented bike builders together to share their creative vision in motion. Bright lights reflected from polished chrome and flaked paint as I wove through motorcycle after motorcycle, snapping pictures and introducing myself to the architects of these two wheeled masterpieces. They were only too generous with their time and willing to talk with me at length about what my camera’s lense has captured. I had the pleasure of meeting the recipient of the American Iron Editor’s Choice Award, Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts. Winston had traveled all the way from Taiwan with his carbon fiber creation and humbly shared how honored he was to be included in this group of amazing builders. Last year’s champion Rick Bray of RKB Kustom Speedshop was also in attendance with his latest hand built one off chopper ‘The Deal Breaker’. He had won the previous 2 years and many thought this year was in the bag. ‘The Deal Breaker’ was an absolutely beautiful ground up custom. I took the liberty of inquiring why the name and Rick shared that this project had taken precedence over a very special lady friend who unfortunately was unable to join him in Las Vegas. The Deal Breaker brought home The Horse Editor’s Choice Award and a very JANUARY 2016 respectable 2nd place overall. Jeremy Cupp of LC Fabrications would be the big winner this year with his naked, knobby-tired unique concept bike, bringing home a diamond bracelet and the title of Artistry in Iron Champion. Jeremy is an unassuming craftsman from the hills of Virginia with an obvious appreciation for classic rock and hand tooled machinery. Just outside more motorcycles were simultaneously being judged on own their merits. I was impressed by Austin Martin’s superclean Triumph chopper. Great ingenuity was shown by a knucklehead with shaved fins and a radiator built into the frame. It could have given any bike in the show a run for their money. So many great bikes; Ferris-wheeled baggers, vintage stock BMWs and even a few bikes that I had seen featured in national magazines. As the sun sank down below the mountains I knew just where to go in search of my favorite bikes- the rat bikes! Hogs-nHeifers on 3rd street in downtown Las Vegas is an eclectic assembly of home-welded rust buckets, big-wheeled douche baggers and hardtailed street choppers. I sought out my patina-ed favorites as the music resonated and the tawdry bartenders slapped drinks onto the bar. People intermingled making it difficult to know who had ridden what into town. Does it really matter whether you came on a low buck bike with a missing left handgrip or a high dollar touring bike with an expresso machine? In Las Vegas all it takes is a little luck and anyone can go from Rags to Riches. JANUARY 2016 13 14 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 15 Engine covers by Victory Motorcycles After unveiling a new 1200cc production V-twin engine at EICMA, Victory Motorcycles is proud to highlight its continuing commitment to owners of bikes powered by the Freedom 106 engine. Replacing the engine covers of the Freedom 106 engine is a simple and effective way to change the look of your Victory over the winter. The following covers are in the official Victory Motorcycles accessory catalogue and available through dealers. ARLEN NESS® ENGINE COVERS Created especially for Victory by Arlen Ness, these three engine covers add a premium look to any model in the line-up. Owners can choose between chrome finned or black finned versions. The ‘Black Holeshot’ design is a black engine cover with multiple circles machined into it and is ideal for those owners who want to give their machine a unique and striking look. TRI-LINE SPEAKER GRILLS FOR ‘15-’16 ROAD GLIDE MODELS The New Motorcycle Engine LED Lighting Kits are here! This all-in-one kit allows you to highlight your bike the way you want and with the color you want! Below is a link to the press release we wish for you to share with your readers. If you plan to run this in your publication or on your website and you’d like any additional high resolution photos/ company logos to accompany the release, let us know and we will send you what you need. Also, if you plan on posting this on your blog or website, please let us know and we will send you the direct links to the product page(s) to include in the post. This will make it easier for your readers to find exactly what they are looking for! HARLEY-DAVIDSON STYLE FOR FALL AND WINTER Replace the stock black honeycomb-shaped covers with sleek, understated Tri-Line styling. The Tri-Line Speaker Grills feature a clean outer frame with a satin black aluminum mesh screen that offers a drastic improvement in appearance versus stock plastic. Compatible with Harley’s standard and Boom! audio speakers, simply pop out the old and snap in the new for a complete custom overhaul. MILWAUKEE - Project aggressive style for fall and winter with the new Legendary Skull Bomber Jacket (P/N 97558-16VM, $160.00) from the Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes® Collection. Featuring intricate embroidered details on the back and sleeves, this heavy nylon twill jacket has an insulating quilted polyfill lining in the body and sleeves plus a zipoff lined hood. The shoulders, elbows and upper arms are lightly padded and ribbed cuffs are inset in the sleeves. Zipped interior and exterior pockets hold personal items. Available in S to 5XL and Tall sizes. Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® apparel is available at more than 750 authorized retail locations in the United States and online. 16 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 17 BY PERRY AND TRACI Wednesday, the first day of the Rocky Point Rally(RPR), fell on Veterans Day(11-1115). Being a Veteran I had a few patriotic things to take care of before we left. Loosing track of time we got a late start on our 2015 Rocky Point adventure. We ended up leaving about 8 at night…it did not even cross our minds that maybe… the boarder into Mexico would be closed?... it only takes 3 hours to get to the boarder from Phoenix anyway….”So …lets take our time”!... BIG Mistake ; we broke the “Cardinal Rule” in trip planning 101: check the hours of operation of the boarder you are going to cross. Pulling up to the boarder at 12:05am we were told the boarder is closed from 12am to 6am…We, along with several other trucks and RVs that didn’t make it, were told to park in a certain area and we could wait 6hours …in essence, CAMP. Luckily we had our 09 Dyna in the back of our Ford F250 Diesel pickup and could keep warm by leaving the motor running throughout the night using our packed cloths as blankets. I know many are thinking what a couple lightweights…well we were thinking hot shower, room service, king size bed…Instead we are freezing our a---- off inside our pickup truck at the boarder… and It did get close to Freezing. I know… Whaaaaah! Thursday; A new day and first in line at the USA/ Mexico boarder. We flew in to Rocky Point on a beautiful paved road that always reminds me of the 80’s when my friends and I would drive down to Rocky Point and the road was brutal from the boarder to Rocky Point; mostly gravel with pot holes all over the place. We got to Playa Bonita for a fast and very easy check in by a friendly staff. We got a little rest in our beautiful room overlooking the gulf, showered then off to the Kick-off party at the Banditos Restaurant/Bar, owned by Rodger Clyne from the band Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. We ran into Oscar Palacio, one of the founders of the rally along with rally staff enjoying the build up to the Tempe, Arizona band: The Black Moods, who were set to go on, and they rocked the place. We turned in fairly early and got some much needed rest… Friday the 13th: after a peaceful/ mellow Thursday. Friday, late morning the motorcycles started to roll in…still not too many…that is until we rode our 09 Dyna into Malecon; the original port strip in Puerto 18 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 19 Penasco (Rocky Point). This place was packed! Just like in the years past, but more people, and more bikes. What I failed to mention is that today 11-13-15 was our anniversary and we retreated from the “247 Mardi Gra” in Malecon to ride into central Rocky Point. I got Traci a couple pair of prescription lens for Traci’s retro “Cat-Eye” frames ($100), and Traci got me a pair of kick-ass gator-skin(leather) cowboy boots($80). During our anniversary ride we rode down Calle 13 and spotted a really cool location for a bike shoot. It happened to be the same spot that Rick and Julie Hatch from Eaglerider Tempe were setting up their display of beautiful bikes they brought down from main business location in Tempe Arizona. Basically it was an area with old-school Mexican construction that was all graffiti’d up. Rick had one of his nicest copper- highlighted custom bikes under a roof that looked like it was about to cave in…. to give you an idea… the location looked kinda like a mini “Alamo”. Rick from Eaglerider won a recognition trophy that was awarded to him by the Mayor of Rocky Point before the yearly “Rally Parade” Saturday. After hanging with Rick and Julie and a friend of ours Max Fu from the Rocky Point Riders we headed back to the “Old Port Fiesta” in Malecon for dinner at El Buzo then: music, shops, bikes, and “Babes, Boobs & Beads” Mardi Gras style. We caught Country singer Matt Farris at the Playa Bonita’s outside stage beside the beach… Best anniversary ever! Saturday: Saturday is parade-day during the rally. It starts on Freemont Street in the center of town. As always it is a very social atmosphere while people line up to get ready for the parade. A plaque was presented by Kiko Munro(Mayor of Rocky Point) and Oscar F. Palacio (Founder of RPR) to Rick Hatch from EagleRider Tempe, Arizona for his support of the rally over the years. Law Tiger’s: Ari Levenbaum, his wife, and son waved to the bikers in the parade as they passed the start line next to a couple of … you guessed it….monster “Law Tiger>blow up tiger heads”... Locals stood on both sides of the road as bikes, quads, hotrods, “Policia”, ambulances and fire engines rode by throwing candy… Fun was had by all! Once again a bigger showing than the past few years, This rally just keeps getting bigger and more fun… and we weren’t done yet! The parade ended at “The old port Fiesta on Malecon” to ad to, what seemed like, thousands of folks to a party where thousand of folks were already partying…The RPR had a big stage set up; home base for the 2015 Rocky Point Bike Show and a boxing ring… you name it … it’s here … After the Bike Show country music recording artist: Matt Farris got us and a few others swing dancing and voiced his affection for a certain part of the female anatomy, let’s say “2-parts” of the female anatomy. To say things got a little loose is an understatement. “Fiesta: beads flying from the second story buildings, bike burnouts, music, dancing…just gotta be there to 20 believe it…Wait! Where are the cops in all this craziness and fun?...Oh….here they come..A truck full of cops driving through smiling and waving like in a parade…A far cry from Sturgis South Dakota, which has thousands more people and it’s necessary for cops, hired from out of state, to pull people over and write tickets every 100 feet. Maybe someday this will change and Sturgis can learn a lesson from Mexico, and the way Sturgis used to be, and let bikers at big rallies police themselves more and let bikers rev there motors with out getting a “show of power Violation” or do a burnout or pop a wheelie without getting a “reckless driving and being thrown in Jail” >to generate extra cash for the city…. That dosen’t happen in Rocky Point…In fact, they condone burnouts; venders pour water in the street so bikes and quads can make smoke from burnouts, wheelies are done all the time, I saw one guy go down and he was helped back on his bike, not arrested and thrown in jail…ok I’m done…. This whole fiesta overlooks the Gulf and the sunset was spectacular. We watched the well known “Pirate Ship” sail back to port, in the sunset, and later, all lit up with lights, what a beautiful setting for a rally. What to do next: Fiesta in full swing, Calle 13(a crazy party street), the Gilby Clark concert or the Rousey vs Holms fight at the Puesta Del Sol restaurant, we are sports nuts,,,and bikers… so the fights it is…you will have to make these tough decisions if you come to this awesome rally… The restaurant was packed, we found a couple seats while Mariachi’s played and folks sang along… The fight was crazy, a huge upset, and we got to see it in Mexico. Everything seems to work out when we come to this Rally…One of our favorite rallies of the year, If you haven’t checked out the Rocky Point Rally do it in 2016 a perfect: size, location and priced rally. We took Sunday off; just to kick back in our hotel room at the Playa Bonita resort, walk the beautiful beach, and of course, enjoy the hot tub. Another great rally south of the boarder. JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 21 Across 33 It’s said to be “cold and hard” 1 It’s brand new in Harley’s cruiser offerings 34 Steps on the gas 4 2016 middleweight cruiser, Indian ____ ABS Down 7 Iconic Harley 8 It’s back in Harley’s 2016 touring line, the Road Glide _____ 10 Top of the line, 2 words 11 Harley’s 2016 ____ Softail Classic, now including a High Output Twin Cam 103 engine 35 Long way 1 Harley 2016 model described as “a modern ride with unmistakable old iron attitude,” 2 words 2 Continues, a legacy for example 3 Harley’s new Sportster, ____ 883 model 4 Part identifier, abbr. 14 Start to Vegas 5 Endure longer than 15 Checks over a bike, say 6 Go touring 18 ____ the fire, slang for start the engine 9Tautness 20 Lube from a Jiffy 12 Dangerous road condition 23 Twin ___ engine 13 The 2016 Indian Chief ____, the bagger model 25 Compass direction 16 Musical disk 26 Classic bike, the Laverda ______ 1200 17 Pacific Coast Highway view 30 Slide the back wheel in a curve, usually only done by stunt riders 31 There’s one in Milwaukee outlining the history of Harley Davidson 22 19Experts 21Popular 22 Type of lighting 23 Recently introduced Indian model, ____ Dark Horse 24 “Get the ___ runnin’, head out on the highway....” Steppenwolf 27 Springsteen’s “___ Rocker”, 2 words 28 Campground fire remains 29 Continent, for short 32 State where Augusta is ANSWERS ON PAGE 36 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 23 USA. The Mission remains the same: “Remember * Honor * Teach” The ceremony was beautiful. It began with: The Presentation of the Colors, followed by the Marine Band San Diego Brass Quintet. Followed by: The San Diego Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard, and the Knights of Columbus Color Guard. LCdr Wes Modder USN S.D. gave the Invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, The National Anthem, and opening remarks by: Joanne H. Murphy. Rear Admiral Ray Smith USN Retired was the guest speaker who reminded us all that “Freedom isn’t free, and has been provided to us by the sacrifices of so many veterans”, and hoped that the message would resound through future generations of Americans. It was a really beautiful site to see the first six wreaths placed for all of the military branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard – and also one presented for all POW/MIA veterans. We were absolutely honored and blessed to be involved in the 2015 “Wreaths Across America” ride and ceremony. At O’Dark Thirty we met in San Marcos, braving the frigid temperatures. About 7 or 8 of us blasted down the 15 freeway (and it was absolutely CHILLIN’) as we headed for National City to meet up with Jane Purvis (the coordinator and Vet) and her friends at Sweetwater Harley Davidson. Sweetwater’s Owner Anastasia was a gracious host to all of us, as she quickly had the heater going, the coffee going, and donuts on the table for the riders who gathered. with hundreds of people. We took a right turn and saw dozens of other bikers, as we parked the bikes. We took a couple of memorable photos inside the dealership. My favorite was a group shot around the miniature coin-operated Harley Springer ride. Then as we began to walk down the hill we saw thousands of people – both young and old, families gathering to honor the veterans past and present. It was a beautiful and humbling sight to see how many had gathered to help. I erroneously thought that there would only be about 50 of us involved in this event. As we started heading up the hill toward the Fort Rosecrans Cemetery we saw the streets lined I was amazed as I heard the story of the history of the “Wreaths Across America” event, best stated by the organizations Founder Morrill Worcester: Then the thousands who gathered began placing wreaths on literally thousands of gravestones. We were encouraged to read the names, pray for the families of these who gave us the precious gift of freedom. “I started Worcester Wreath Co. in 1971. That first year I sold 500 wreaths. Over the past 37 years with the help from my family, our business has grown to sales of over 500,000 wreaths. I happen to think this incredible growth could only be accomplished in America because of the freedoms we all enjoy. Of course, our freedoms did not come without a tremendous cost and sacrifice. Over the past 231 years, nearly 1,000,000 Americans, men and women, have given the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Millions more gave years of their lives in the military services and were lucky enough to come home safely. I know our wreaths placed on the veteran’s graves each year is a very small gesture. I only wish we could do more.” Morrill Worcester, Founder Wreaths Across America Quoted in 2008 It was truly a day that none of us in Bikers for Christ will ever forget. We hope to be involved in this beautiful event every year. May God bless America, and those who have so valiantly served her. Until Next Time, Pastor Z. The Mission Continues: Remember * Honor * Teach What an amazing legacy for Morrill and his family, as now literally thousands of people participate in this amazing ceremony that takes place every year in dozens of states across the 24 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 25 Steven from BFC Oahu and I jumped back on the bikes at “O’Dark Thirty” and headed for Harley Davidson of Glendale for “Love Ride 32”. We hit some rain - but we were on a “Mission for God”. After I got my press pass – I was off to get some great shots of the event. They stated that this would be the “last” Love Ride, so it was bound to be a historic event, and I didn’t want to miss any of it. There were a few Grand Marshall’s for this Last Love Ride: Jay Leno, Peter Fond (the original Easy Rider), and Oliver Shoukouh (the owner of Glendale Harley-Davidson who has been hosting the Love Ride for the last 32 years.) Other celebrities included: Emilio Rivera, Robert Patrick (the “Liquid Cop” from the “Terminator 2 movie), Lorenzo Lamas (remember the old biker show “Renegade”), Mark Boone Jr. (who played Bobby Elvis from SOA), and many others. And I was of course clicking away with the camera. Steven enjoyed himself, and got a pic with my close friend and Brother Emilio Rivera who is an amazing actor. “The Long Run” (Eagles tribute band rocked the stage among with a lot of others celebrities that were on 26 JANUARY 2016 the stage. The real celebrity of the day in my humble opinion was Naval Petty Officer 3rd Class Raymond “Doc” Andalio, In 2003 Doc sustained many injuries in Iraq including: broken bones, brain damage, respiratory disorders, and mental stress. The WWP Wounded Warrior Project has helped give vets like Doc a second chance at life. Then we headed up the cold, wet ride to Castaic Lake – where the weather was actually very nice. Thousands of bikers as well as concert goers enjoyed the sounds of “Social Distortion”, some HD stunt teams, and the celebs. The headlining band “The Foo Fighters” hit the stage to a very welcoming crowd. I of course made my way through the crowd to the front of center stage. Their tour dubbed: The Broken Leg Tour featured their amazing front man Dave Grohl in an ankle to knee cast. And let me tell you – it didn’t slow him down much. I’d never seen the Foo Fighters live, so it was a real treat for me. Talk about intense rock and roll energy - they ripped through hit after hit, some theirs and some covers, and had the crowd going ballistic! At the end of the day – Oliver Shoukouh and all his friends, raised $1,000.000.00 for the Wounded Warrior Project. In fact since the 1st Love Ride, they have raised over $25,000,000.00 for the charities that they’ve sponsored. To Oliver, his teams, and his friends—It has been an amazing 32 years, and thank you for hosting the Love Ride! JANUARY 2016 27 Story & Photos- Tom Christian As I was driving my Jeep to work in the San Bernardino Mtns. very early morning on Thursday Dec. 10, I wanted to hear some Christmas music so I turned on the radio. K-Frog 95.1 FM was doing a contest—and if you win the idea is, you will give the gift to a less fortunate person or a nonprofit organization. So I called in (hands free of course!) and told them I was going to a Toys for Tots run for the Marine Corps that Saturday at Batwing Cycles in Lake Elsinore and would bring it with me. They loved the plan and I won a $50 gift card from Daniels Jewelry! Then Saturday Dec. 12, due to the snowstorm in the mountains I again drove my Jeep instead of on my bike, to Batwing Cycles and handed the Gift Card prize to Batwing Cycles’ Owner Jerry Black, himself a 21 ½ yr. Marine Corps Veteran. I’d like to thank the morning crew at K-Frog 95.1 FM for the gift-- Scott, Heather and Kelly. 28 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 When I got to Batwing Cycles it was still very cold and the ice and snow had not melted off my Jeep yet. The riders coming in to work were bundled up too. It put a feeling of Christmas in the air. Jerry was right in there with his crew setting up all the EZ-ups and BBQ. The vendors came in and set up as a few bikes rolled in to the sound of music playing. A group of his old Marine buddies came by to support the Toys for Tots Run and were getting ready to go on another toy run too. A number of bikers came through and many were trying to hit two to three runs that day trying to support all of them. The highlight of the day was when the Marines came in dress blues and were out by the street with the signs and boxes waving at the cars. Everyone honked their horns and some turned around and dropped off gifts in the boxes. They helped light up the event and the people loved them. My favorite time was time to eat. The smell of that BBQ was getting the best of me. There were lots of toys dropped off and it filled up the truck the Marines came in. As the event was going on I did a little window shopping and checking Jerry Black’s shop. It is very clean. His crew was very nice and his work shop was in great order. You can get repairs done by Batwing techs or, reserve a shop bay with lift & tools right there to DIY on your bike, and even get advice from Batwing’s techs along the way. Batwing also has a Veteran Donation Center where everyone can donate parts they don’t need and then Vets or active duty military with ID can take parts as needed from the donated parts, for their projects. I asked about some goodies I might get for my Harley and they were very knowledgeable. There were lots of do-it-yourself items for everyone. It would be a must stop for all bikers and especially for our Veterans. Being a Veteran run business, they look to take very good care of their Veteran customers, which having served in the Marine Corps myself I can appreciate. As the bikes lined up to go drop off the gifts the two Marines stood and gave a salute to the riders who rode down to escort them to the drop off. The riders even came back to help clean up and put away all the EZ-ups and BBQ and tables. All of Batwings crew was very nice and helpful, and we all were glad we got to participate! See more photos from this event at www.quickthrottle.com in the Gallery! 29 BONHAMS ANNOUNCES SENSATIONAL MOTORCYCLE DISCOVERY 2015 Los Angeles By Gary A. The ex- Hubert Chantrey Brough Superior 750cc BS4 Estimate £80,000-120,000 They were believed to have been destroyed, but earlier this year, eight long-lost Brough Superior Motorcycles were discovered in a Cornish village. Unveiled for the first time in more than 50 years, ‘The ‘Broughs of Bodmin Moor’ will be offered at Bonhams Sale of Important Collectors’ Motorcycles at Stafford on 24 April 2016. “This is one of the greatest motorcycle discoveries of recent times,” said Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycle Department. “A lot of mystery surrounds these motorcycles, as very few people knew that they still existed, many believing them to be an urban myth. There was a theory that they still existed somewhere in the West Country, but few knew where, until now.” in the early 1960s; they’ve since remained unused for some 50 years. “There is a strong market for unrestored, highly original motorcycles,” added Ben Walker. “Bonhams regularly achieves world record breaking figures for Brough Superior motorcycles, including unusual projects, which appeal to the enthusiast and collector of the brand. It would be great to see these back on the road, as they are all restorable.” The motorcycles which form ‘The Broughs of Bodmin Moor’ Collection are: “Stored in barns for more than 50 years, the motorcycles were discovered whole, in parts, and some were partially submerged under decades of dust, old machinery parts and household clutter.” “This is the last known collection of unrestored Brough Superiors; there will not be another opportunity like this. Only eight four-cylinder machines were built, and the example in this collection is the final one to be re-discovered.” Jonathan Vickers, Bonhams West Country motoring specialist, added, “The discovery of these Brough Motorcycles in Cornwall is historically significant; we’re delighted that these machines will now be offered for sale on an international platform for the first time in more than half a century.” Brough Superior motorcycles are incredibly rare, powerful machines of the pre-war era. Dubbed the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles, they’re famed as the bike of choice for aficionados such as the playwright George Bernard Shaw, and T.E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia, owner of eight models. •The ex-Hubert Chantrey, 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 – £80,000-120,000 •1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 Project – £60,000-80,000 •1926 Brough Superior SS100 – £30,000-40,000 •1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project with Petrol Tube Sidecar – £22,000-32,000 •1939 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project – £20,000-30,000 •1938 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50HP Project – £16,000-22,000 •1937 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project – £6,000-8,000 •1936 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project – £6,000-8,000 For further information on Bonhams motorcycle department visit: www.bonhams.com/motorcycles 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 Project – Estimate £60,000-80,000 The late-vendor, Mr. Frank Vague, was an avid member of the Brough Superior Club. He acquired the majority of the collection 30 JANUARY 2016 Happy Holiday’s everyone and by the way, due to a paranoid city, they had to change the end destination for Glendale Harley’s 15th Annual ‘Skid Row Toy Run’ to ‘The LA Toy Run’. Hurry now, because Santa was thrown a snowball that can’t be hit. It appears (not confirmed) from all reports that the LAPD has struck a weird holiday drum and decided that there was too much of a risk to ride to Skid Row’s Fred Jordan’s Mission this year. What risk you may ask? No one has any idea. The Skid Row Toy run has been going on for 15 years. I have attended each and every one of them and never, and I’ll say it again, never have we had an altercation at a toy run and if it was terrorists they were worried about, I have a feeling even they are not that stupid to attack a few hundred bikers giving toys out to kids. That would really piss us off. Glendale Harley has sponsored this run each and every year. Oliver Shokouh (owner of Glendale Harley) and Richard Wagner (retired past parts manager) volunteer their time, energy and souls to make this a fun and heartwarming event to attend. For a small donation and an unwrapped new toy, you get a pancake breakfast, some hot coffee, then a ride down to the mission and witness hundreds of kids waiting anxiously in line for a moment of happiness to receive their gift. The kids also get to see the little boy and girl in hundreds of bikers from all walks of life. MC clubs, Rider Associations, HOG chapters and everyday Joe’s expressing their gratitude for what they have, by giving back to society for one special day. It took over 50 volunteers, mostly from the Glendale HOG Chapter, but other clubs also donated their time as well. From the information that I received from Richard, it was not the Fred Jordan Mission, nor was it Glendale City Hall, the Glendale Police or Fire Department, (which by the way, has always lent a hand for this ride) that stopped this run from going to the Mission and giving hundreds of toys to homeless and under privileged children. Nope. All fingers point to the LAPD and LA City Hall. No permit was issued and no reason given. So, what Oliver (ever the diplomat) and Richard arranged, so as not to let this holiday season go by without doing something, or letting city bureaucracy get in their way, was to put on the ‘LA Toy Run’. The premise was the same. Come get a pancake breakfast and drop off a toy but the huge difference was, we didn’t get to ride to the new location and witness the joy of seeing the kids get the toys. Since there was limited time to put the ride together, and with very little parking at the final destination and no time to pull permits, only a small contingent of bikers were allowed to ride to the Foundation. All of us understood of course, but were disappointed nonetheless. I talked to many a biker that morning and not one understood why this happened but it didn’t deter them from giving generously. I was informed by Richard that they collected enough toys to fill an entire bedroom. The Pasadena Hillsides Family Resource Center will have the task of getting these toys to the children whose only toy may be the JANUARY 2016 one we all donated. ABATE Local 1, AMA, Law Tigers and Glendale Harley all got together to bring this about and all deserve a huge thanks for their holiday spirit and generous hearts and the pancakes were pretty damn good this year. Of course, I am happy I attended this event. It makes me feel good and I got to sit and watch the smiles on the biker’s faces as they played with the toys before they dropped them off. Hopefully, it brings some small joy to a child’s face, who have very few smiles in a day. Richard told me that plans for next year are already in development with a new charity to be determined and hopefully, to be held on private property to cut down on the bureaucracy. But I can’t get that picture out of my mind of all those kids on Skid Row who were expecting but not getting a gift this year and it makes me sad. They had no say in this. As usual, the people who have the hardest time getting by, are the first ones to get the shaft. Didn’t someone in the LAPD, City Hall or wherever the issue was, didn’t they think of the kids? I guess not. They just weren’t important enough to them to give a little extra effort to put a smile on a child’s face. Wow, thanks Los Angeles City Hall. Got any coal left? 31 The BFC Orange County “Original Downed Biker Rally” was a huge success this year. The Lord gave Pastor Tom Longbrake a vision about how to reach out with the love of Christ to the biker community - in a tangible, yet a deeply spiritual way. Pastor Tom, his wife Earlene and their crew hosted an incredible event. We arrived early to set up a BFC HQ booth with Ramon and Esther at the helm, and it was my job - to shake hands and kiss babies (I’m kidding). Around 11 am - dozens of clubs and different ministries rolled in to participate. By noon there were a few hundred people. The DBR had ministered to so many of the clubs and/or their members – and they all came out to thank them. The Lord did an amazing work of His grace. What a cool witness of God’s love as they had visited people in the hospital, prayed with them, then handed them a ministry check – to help them cover incidentals (like gas for their wives or girlfriends to visit them, groceries for the family, or ? My goal that day was to support Tom and his crew, minister to as many of my M/C friends as I could, and to show our visitor Steven from BFC Oahu a great time. Steven rode the BFC chopper with the BFC San Diego chapter, and he hung in there like a champ ! He had never ridden a chopper before and he did really great. His chapter would’ve been proud of him. My good friend Andy “Gypsey” Mcphee was here from Australia. Andy is an amazing actor, and also a coach who trains other actors. He’s been in many different shows including the Sons of Anarachy, and a lot of other 32 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 different types of appearances. Andy and I became close friends over the years, and the Lord allowed me to bring help bring him back home to his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “In The Midst 777” opened the event with their crowd pleasing hard rock and heavy metal. The Eric Turner Band rocked the house with classic rock and blues. The ETB had it going on – and they “killed it” ! The ministry of “5 Loaves and 2 Fish” provided the gourmet style food for everyone who registered for the event. The DBR also had some great raffles prizes, and some happy campers who won cool stuff to take back home. I spent time with the M/C leaders who we’ve been friends with for years, and shared God’s love with them. I also got to hang out with 8 “new bloods” of the BFC OC chapter hang arounds, welcoming them into the BFC family. I had met some of them in April in Laughlin. The DBR had a lot of vendors. The “Forgiven Band” was up next and had the place jumping as well, with their versions of Chicago, Santana tunes, and some oldies. At the end of the day the rally totals broke $ 8,000.00 cash to help more Downed Bikers. Great job Pastor Tom & O.C. BFC 33 Story by Ray Seidel Photography by Geri Cidot While Route 66 is noted as America’s Main Street, and a way to see the slower pace of life in the 1930’s, 40’, and 50’s, a different road will take you farther back in time – from the mid to late 1800’s. California’s Highway 49, named after the 49ers of the gold rush period of our history, is a 5 star trip to put on your bucket list. Many of the original buildings of the period still stand and are in use today. The road itself has unmatched scenery with miles of tall green trees covering seemingly endless twisties. I and my friend and photographer for this trip, Geri Cidot – a nubile nifty new to motorcycling (Jan. 2014 motorcycle license) - but already having logged tens of thousands of miles, opted to skip Hollister this year in favor of an actual ride and a real Adventure! Day 1 – Arrival For those coming from the southland, it’s basically hop on highway 99, pass Fresno, NE on the 140, and then it’s less than an hour to the bottom of 49. We did a whirlwind trip over the 3-day 4th of July weekend, allowing one day to reach the 49, one day to travel its length north, and one day to return to the Inland Empire on the 395. This is really a FOUR day trip that we did in three, so I would recommend allowing more time, or limiting the travel to the lower half if pressed. Indeed, some locations you could spend all day soaking up the attractions. If you’re coming from Northern California / Oregon, you’ll exit the 395 at Hallelujah Junction and work your way south. The entrance to the 49 at the south end is Mariposa, a little place that sets the theme for most of the trip. Very 1880’s, other than the 2-lane blacktop road that runs the very short length of town. We found no problem parking (Hwy 49 and “main street” being the same thing), and a place to stretch and take a break. There’s dining, wine tasting, a deli if you’re ready to fuel yourself up, and several interesting shops to look at. On this trip I rode my 2015 Indian Scout, and was mindful of the limited range of 105 miles before the warning light will come on of a half-gallon left to find a gas station. Thus, this being back country the whole trip, I’d do a fill-up at each of the gas stops after about 60 to 80 miles or so. Geri rode, for this trip, her 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100, which had a larger fuel tank than the Scout, so my bike would be the limiting factor in range. There are plenty of pull-outs with scenic views and historic markers along the road. It may not be commonly known, but only 5% of our gold has been mined (albeit the low hanging fruit), so there’s still plenty of gold in Gold Country. Our first stop was Fremont’s Fort, a beautiful overlook of the valley and Hwy 49 twisting through the hills in the distance, though the fort itself is gone. General John C. Fremont was a military man, topographer, explorer, senator, businessman, and also a miner. He operated a few mines, only to find one had been “jumped” after his travels. After that a fort was built to defend its access. While we were taking in the view some Western European tourists pulled over in their rented 2015 Mustang convertible for an emergency landing. Seems the automatic transmission on these tends to overheat, and was causing them problems. Nonetheless, they said they were taking it all in stride, and enjoying their trip on this picturesque, historic 34 JANUARY 2016 section of California. With some daylight left we pulled into Jamestown, fueled up the bikes, rode behind the gas station to Main Street and parked next to the National Hotel, established in 1859. They still had a room (they have about 10), and we got our keys. These were actual “keys” – big, brass, KEYS, not the “credit card” keys in use today. Built in 1859 as the Hotel Europe, it housed miners and notables, offered lodging, meals, and a saloon. It is one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the Mother Lode and still uses its original bar. We asked if it was safe to park our bikes in the parking area next to the building, and were told there are cameras everywhere and there have been no problems. Jamestown is known as the Gateway to the Southern Mines. Founded in 1848, one mile from the first gold find in Tuolumne County at Woods Crossing. Arriving in 1849, Col. George F. James, a merchant popular for supplying free champagne to patrons, was elected acalde, and the town was dubbed “Jamestown.” Poor mining investments indebted him and he quietly left town, and the angry miners changed the name to “American Camp.” Eventually “Jamestown” was restored. Strolling the streets before sunset, what should we see but a Harley-Davidson dealer in a frontier style building. If you travel by Harley, this might be good to know. Whether this was a restored building or new, we were unable to tell, but it looked very period, and though closed when we were there, we could see a sizable inventory inside. Back at the hotel we looked at the dinner menu. It was not beans, biscuits, and mutton the miners might have had. Think brandy apple pork, garlic roasted prime rib, ruby trout, New York steak; you get the idea. The bar was open late; we had drinks and split a salad, and then learned the hotel is actually haunted! Both the lady barkeep and one of the guests from Germany were experiencing it that very evening. Rooms would just lock themselves from the inside, and not unlock, much to the chagrin of the patrons, and the staff. The resident ghost is named Flo aka Flora. Flo is described as having sandy blonde hair. She wears her hair up, and has been seen in a white lace wedding dress. It is believed that Flo died at the age of 19 of a broken heart when her fiancée was ambushed at the hotel bar and shot while walking down the steps. She’s been seen in most rooms in the hotel, and in her milder shenanigans has been known to cause lights to flicker, doors to slam, and suitcases to overturn. She has also been heard sobbing during the night. Diaries in each room are present so guests can write about any mischief Flo caused for them. As we left the bar and walked upstairs to our room, I was very vocal in my taunting the ghost with I-dare-you-to-try-anything, not a believer in metaphysics. (Big mistake).These rooms are very Western and “GUNSMOKE” like in appearance, though a curiosity was a double shower head - one at opposite ends - shower. In the morning, continental breakfast is included, though I took a pass. We packed our bags on the bikes and were set to leave when – Geri no longer has her key to “Bonnie,” her Triumph, causing no small amount of panic!!! She had everything set aside overnight, now the key is gone. Daring Flo was not such a good idea. In a frantic search, nowhere is it in Geri’s possession. Returning to the hotel room I conduct another search. Seems Flo likes pranks, but is not mean-spirited; the key was there, hidden enough to miss it, but not so much to be impossible to find. (And not where Geri left it). JANUARY 2016 35 Day 2 – The trip A “must see” in Jamestown is “Railtown 1897” – a 26-acre sizable collection of period operating trains and rolling stock. Its trains have been featured on over 300 films, TV shows and commercials since its first movie in 1919. If you time it right, you might even see one of the few round tables that rotates an engine from one track to another. (Watch it on our Facebook page). Most of the staff seemed to be seniors, and we spoke to one fellow who told us about how he enjoyed riding his brothers Henderson 4. And yes, you can ride a train here on weekends April - October. At 5th Avenue & Reservoir Road. For me, the high point of any trip along the 49 is to stop at Columbia State Historic Park (11255 Jackson St, Columbia). Free. This is an unequalled chance to walk through California’s past as it looked in the later 1800’s. My personal favorite building is that of Wells, Fargo & Co. One can (and I have) actually run the length of Hwy 49 and find still standing old Wells Fargo buildings, but this is probably the best example of what it looked like when it was in use, back then as both a bank and express company. In fact the TV series “Tales of Wells Fargo” with Dale Robertson was shot here. In later years banking and express would divide, the bank thriving, the express all but dead. Inside is an original scale used by Wells Fargo agents to weigh over 1.4 million ounces of gold, said to be accurate enough to weigh a signature in pencil on a sheet of paper. To my dismay, even with $40 million found recently in our State Parks fund, they’re not maintaining the paint inside as they should and looks a bit scruffy. Beyond “Tales of Wells Fargo,” lots of TV and movies have been filmed in Columbia including High Noon with Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper. If Columbia is a planned stop, as it ought to be, make this a meal stop, too. In our case, as we had a LOT of ground to cover in one day, our stop was all too brief, so little more than a hot dog for me. For YOU, there are some good food options, get a sarsaparilla, and some awesome pie. You can also pan for gold, ride the stagecoach, and enjoy live theatre at the Fallon House. On this day, being July 4th, there was an extra large turnout with special celebrations, historic vehicles, and people in period costumes. I should point out Columbia is NOT right off the 49, you’ll have to detour a few miles to get there. I mention this because when leaving to go NORTH, you’ll eventually be on a different road which had us scratching our collective heads on why the route did not look familiar. Check the directions to get back on 49 north. As this was mining country, there are lots of rivers and streams along the way that we would spot. And here was a shocking surprise for this southern California guy: those streams were but a tiny fraction of what they have been. Yes, I know of the drought, but seeing The Great American Canal and the Colorado River (same water) at the Laughlin River Run just gushing over, I was unprepared to see a 90’ drop in the water line with a few feet left in the stream. Still enough for people to get out some inflatable rafts to enjoy the holiday, but I have a new appreciation for conserving our water. I urge, in the most animated fashion - like a bear fending off bees - to avoid any fast food joints on trips such as this. There are not that many anyway, like in “the big city” - but you’ll have a much more memorable experience stopping at a mom & pop diner where they actually care about giving you something enjoyable to eat. And usually plenty of it. A late brunch at a local diner of corned beef and hash, eggs, hash browns, toast, OJ and more had me filled before I could finish it, and was excellent. I do recommend a camera (or smart phone) for the frequent Kodak Moments. Many of the hamlets are very small, yet so pretty and quaint; you’ll want to capture what you’ve seen for later. Again, this is a riding experience well worth your time! As we continued the northern half of the 49, things become a bit more desolate. More mountains and trees, tighter and ever more frequent twisties, and rapid changes in the air…hot and humid, cooler and drier, repeat, repeat, repeat. Geri happens to be a demon on her Triumph (and, I suspect, on her other three bikes), and can seemingly ride non-stop forever. If you read my review of the 2015 Scout earlier this year, you’ll recall there were two issues with this bike. One, though not by me, is some test riders felt the suspension was just too soft. For the test riding I was doing I did not experience this. However on the uphill tight twisties on this trip, Geri’s Triumph simply left me behind as the Scout’s undulating suspension during tight turns left the bike feeling VERY unstable. It IS adjustable, and needs just a quick tweak to change from the factory setting for this 200 pound rider. The only issue I had with the test bike was the saddle can be a real pain in the youknow-what after a few hours. That was a pre-production bike, my saddle is much better, but after a number of hours and later in the day in hot humid air, I had to signal to Geri that the magazine’s moto-journalist with many years of experience had to take a breather and pull over. (I later bought Indian’s 36 JANUARY 2016 saddle for tall riders). The wide spot in the skinny road could not be more beautiful with a running stream along the side and below a canopy of trees with nothing else in sight. (Other than a sign that read “Bikers beware of dead man’s curves”). By this time I was ready for some water and for each of us a bottle of 5 Hour Energy drinks. Note to self: Do NOT put water, drinks, food, in the saddlebag sitting right on TOP of the hot exhaust pipe! Heated water was not what I had in mind. Breaking out of the mountains at the northern end of the 49 was quite the surprise. Open country, farms, cattle ranches, open plains with hills in the background. It’s nearly the end of the road and I’m looking for someplace that looks recognizable as a hotel/motel in a frontier town a quarter mile long. Geri’s smart phone says there is in fact lodging in this last spot of habitation, but I nix that for something more amenable. We are then OFFICIALLY off the 49, and success! Made good time, and I was a bit surprised actually, at what good time we made. (Largely due to Geri’s No Fear pace!) We catch the southbound 395 and the 23 miles to Reno where I’m sure I’ll find PLENTY of lodging. The exit into Reno from the north (Business 395 loop) is a light traffic road of a few miles with little along the way beyond a stand-alone casino (no lodging) and a small Motel 8, and then dumps you into the city. Honest, no kidding: on one half of the intersection are the gleaming Emerald City of Oz skyscraper hotel casinos, on the other side is the most run down slum town crime/drug lord looking motel off the sidewalk you’ve ever seen. I scan around our radius for another option, thinking out loud maybe scout around the next few blocks for another motel. Geri quickly informs me she is NOT going to be left there to wait and get robbed, mugged, or worse. Not recommended, keep on riding. We decide to backtrack, and ride further down the 395 to find something more agreeable. I see off to the west a string of well known motels. If you plan in advance, you can get one of these. We were just wingin’ it, so I find an exit to swing back up motel row. As the Scout was running low on fuel, we pulled into a SHELL station only to find it…closed??? By now I’m done for the day; I see a tall and fancy hotel casino ATLANTIS just a few blocks away, and that’s my target. We pull into the parking area and find sort of quasi-motorcycle parking, little islands that hold three or four bikes. Inside is typical upscale casino, with several choices of dining experience. We went for the salad bar, very nice, great service, and pleasant atmosphere. The room was a bit pricy at $231, but afforded a view of the fireworks from the 11th floor. The place has just undergone upgrades, it’s easy to find and get to, and safe. If you have the coin, recommended. Day 3 – Getting home Sunday we had breakfast at the ATLANTIS and hit the road by midmorning with a lot of ground to cover, mostly on the 395 until back in San Bernardino County. For the most part, highway 395 is pretty straightforward, an open road where you can pick up the pace [wink wink], which in the first half offers great vistas of rolling hills and a few lakes like Washoe Lake, Topaz Lake, Bridgeport Lake, and of course Mono Lake along the way. We had a mix of weather in the elevation of the mountains here, some sun, some showers, back and forth, but no real problems. The highway also goes right through the middle of some older, smaller towns, which makes it easy to find a filling station, and select a place to eat. Tip, when passing through Bishop, make it a point to stop at Erik Schat’s Bakery (763 N. Main St.). Popular with the locals, great tasting fresh food. The second half of the route levels off to mostly flat and hotter, open space with few gas stations. As we approached Randsburg I was getting a bit nervous, not seeing a gas station (or anything else!) for a 100 miles, and unlikely an Auto Club truck (or cell signal) nearby. But not to worry, Geri spotted a sign saying gas up ahead, and both the bikes and the riders filled up. Once near Victorville, you’ll find a road that will take you home if you live in the southland. A memorable journey. And just wait until your friends on Facebook or around the water cooler hear about your experience on this trip! (And say “Hi” to Flo for me). 1859 Historic National Hotel Address: 18183 Main St, Jamestown, CA 95327 Phone: (209) 984-3446 Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Address: 3800 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502 Phone: (775) 825-4700 JANUARY 2016 37 Q: George Thorton A: Frank, many dealerships offer a discounted Labor rate tech talk during the winter months, it is their slow season and this Dear Steve, I have been riding for years and over the years I have heard many different theories on how to store a bike for the winter months. I figured instead of doing a little of everyone’s suggestions, I would just ask the expert and follow his advice. So Steve, what is the proper way to store my bike? A: If you do decide to store your bike for the winter there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your bike will be ready for its first ride come spring: 1) Put your bike on a tender; 2) Use fuel stabilizer to keep your gas from going stale to do this add the recommended amount of stabilizer to a full tank of gas and then run the bike for five minutes to ensure the entire fuel system is treated; 3) Overinflate the tires by 3-5 psi once you have parked her, this will keep your tires nice and round; 4) Toss a cover over her to keep the dust off. Follow those four steps and come spring you will be ready to roll after a quick check of the lights, oil, and air pressure. Q: Frank Wilson Dyno Steve! I bought a motorcycle from a local Harley dealer a few years ago. Every winter they run a discount on their labor for the winter months. I have been thinking about doing some engine work recently and was wondering if there was any benefit for having it done in the winter months. Thanks. 38 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 is an added incentive to get people in the door. So besides getting a great deal on labor and saving money there are reasons to build your motor in the winter months. When you do motor work, like new pistons and cylinders, there is a break in procedure. Breaking in the motor is crucial for the performance you will get out of it. A fresh engine generates a lot of heat very quickly. The cold winter air is better for a fresh engine and lowers the chances of that motor overheating, which is the main concern when breaking it in. Overheating can lead to catastrophic failures. I personally suggest to all my customers that the winter is the perfect time to do a build, not only is it better for the end result of the motor but you will also not be without your baby on those beautiful summer days. Q: Ken Diamonte Dyno Steve, I’m aware that you are a Harley Guru but I was having a strange runability problem with my 2008 ZX-6R and was hoping that you could shine some light on the situation. To make a long story short I just picked the bike up from a guy for a killer deal. It only has 1200 miles on it but has been in storage for the past 6 years. When riding it the bike bogs down when I try and push it over 8000rpm. I brought it to the dealer and they said that it was the fuel pump. I put a new fuel pump in and the problem persists. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. A: Improper fuel pressure can produce some very odd runability 39 problems… good luck. No, I’m just messing with you - the part of this situation that stood out to me is the amount of time that it was in storage. If the bike was not put away properly then this could be the culprit. Untreated fuel sitting for that period of time can gum up all kinds of components. The fuel pump is only one part of the system for fuel delivery. There is a pick up screen, filter assembly and a pressure regulator. All of these should be inspected, cleaned and replaced if necessary. If all these parts are good and working properly then we would move on to the injectors. On your specific model you would have two sets of injectors. Operation of both of these need to be verified to be in working order. If all of these components check out and you are still having this problem, it could be an electrical issue of a sensor that has gone bad. But I would bet dollars to donuts that it was a fuel pressure problem. Trust your dealer and keep looking, I’m guessing you just haven’t come across the problem yet. spoked rims and was wondering what I need to do to run spoked wheels and not have this problem again. Thank you. A: Susan, spoked wheel maintenance is commonly overlooked by many people and the results of this can be pretty scary as you know from first-hand experience. But there are a few simple steps to do periodically to keep them safe; every 5000 miles you need to take a wrench and drag it across all the spokes. This creates a ringing noise. If the noise is significantly different from the other spokes then that spoke is loose and needs to be tightened. If you look at the end of every spoke, at the hoop you will see the nut that adjusts them. Tighten up the loose ones. If you keep on top of them you shouldn’t have any more problems. It’s when the spokes get loose and stay loose that they start damaging the hub and it get expensive to fix. Q: John Davenhall Q: Robert Nelson Dyno Steve, I purchased a 2014 Street Glide two seasons ago and it has been a wonderful bike. Like everyone, I have gotten a little bored with the power and would like a little more bottom end torque, always useful when passing trucks on the pass. I went to my dealer and they suggested that I install the Screamin’ Eagle 255 Cam. My Street Glide has the High Output 103” and I thought that I already had the Screamin’ Eagle 255 Cam in that motor? Is this a scam or would it really make a difference? A: Robert, This is a great question and one that I find myself answering all the time. The simple answer is that your High Output 103” does not have the 255 Cam in it. I understand the confusion though; there are similarities between the two cam shafts. The 255 has a significantly higher lift at .556” compared to the High Output of only .511”. The duration of the Cam is quite similar. By putting the 255 Cam in it you would notice an improvement in your low end torque. The dealer is not trying to scam you; this would be the same Cam that I would suggest to you for what you want out of the bike. Simply stated your High Output Cam is closer in similarity to a stock camshaft then it is to the 255. Q: Susan Smith Dyno Steve, I have a ‘98 Road King that has been nothing but a dream to ride until this last season. Last season I started noticing a little bit of a wobble when I was riding the bike, the bike just felt loose. Then when I applied the rear brake it would shake. The problem got worse and worse until I was too scared to ride it. I brought the bike in to the shop and they said that the spokes on the rear wheel were loose and so bad that they had damaged the hub and the wheel must be replaced. They suggested that I go to mag wheels so I wouldn’t have this problem again. I love the look of the 40 I recently purchased a 2008 Street Glide, this is my first Harley and my first fuel injected bike. Like everyone who owns a Harley I want to do a few alterations to make it mine. So naturally I replaced the bars, controls and grips. I love the setup that I have now. Unfortunately since the work has been done the bike has been acting funny. When I start it the idle is significantly higher and I can’t get it to go away. The problem seemed to have sorted itself out but now its back. I have checked my work several times and have not found any problems, what am I missing? CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 A: John, don’t feel bad I’m willing to bet that this is a simple fix. 2008 Harley’s were notorious for having this problem and it is all due to the twist grip sensor. First thing you need to check is the amount of free play in the throttle grip. It should be able to move freely up and down the bar. If it is pushed all the way on, it will cause this idle problem. Another thing to be aware of with these newer fly-by-wire bikes is the starting procedure. Like many people you are probably starting it like your old carbureted bikes - wick the throttle a couple times and hit the starter. With the newer bikes, especially the 2008 model, it is important not to touch the throttle while starting the bike. At key on with the engine light on it is verifying the “zero position” of the twist grip. If there is any movement it will sense “zero” as the position it is being held in which leads to all kinds of idle problems when it starts running. To reset “zero” on your bike it is pretty simple: Key on, run switch on, wait for the engine light to go off, then shut it off for ten seconds. Repeat this three times and the throttle position will be reset. Check you grips and start your bike like this and I believe all you problems will be solved. SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: TECHTALK@QUICKTHROTTLE.COM JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 41 42 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 43 Quick Throttle California JANUARY 2016 44 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2016 45