Build OR Bust

Hey,

  I subjected myself to an hour of a horror show called Build Or Bust.The show is supposed to be about different people who are given thirty days to build a motorcycle.The people are chosen by audition.I have to be objective and say that Russell has very little to do with the show these days.That’s Russell Mitchell of Exile Cycles.The show takes place mostly at Russells shop in California.

  Here’s the deal.The first year was just the worst,crudest,most demeaning show that I had ever seen.There was a winner or two but most people failed and were subjected to harrassment,ridicule,put downs and insults.I hated the show. I thought I would give it another try this year and in the beginning it was better.Russell was not really involved,there was a new guy in charge who wasn’t the sadist who ran the build last year and yes,people got to keep the bike more often and sometimes it was exciting.The problem is that there is this obnoxious,asshole who is the producer I think.He is an elitist,self-possesed jerk who is constantly harrassing,ridiculing,putting down and tormenting the poor people who are trying to build a motorcycle,make it run,do a burnout and fulfill a fantasy.If they make it,they keep the motorcycle.Well,not only is this guy a schmuck,he doesn’t know what he is talking about.I hate this guy and if he talked to me the way he does to the contestants he would need a lot of dental work and I assure you,he wouldn’t do it again.They need to trash this guy real soon.It is painful to witness the abuse.

  You might say well,why the hell do you watch this show?Well,like a lot of enthusiasts I am always looking for information on the motorcycle lifestyle.I am interested in everything from who is out there,what they are doing,what events happened and what they were like,new ideas in fabrication,design,engineering and paint.I mean if it has to do with “the life” I am into it.So,I read the magazines,watch the shows,go to events when I can and write this blog.My favorite thing however,is to get on my steed and just ride.I have also met a couple of really good people doing this so,I consider myself blessed.Thank you to all our readers who read this,look at photo’s,comment,and inspire myself and Andrea to continue.This site will get better and better as we get better and better.Thank you for allowing us to experience our passion in yet another form.                                Ride Safe -Beach                                                 

Movie Review

I happened across this review and was so intriqued I had to share it with you.  Even though this flic is several years old, I think I may try and find a DVD of it somewhere.  It looks decent enough to check out.  I hope that everyone is enjoying this Memorial Day, remembering those who, as Andy Rooney said last night on 60 minutes, “did not GIVE their lives for our freedom.  They had their lives TAKEN from them for our freedom.”  There was a fascinating, touching and inspiring piece they did on several young men and women who were amputees from the war.  Their courage and optimism, the love of their spouses and families, and their dedication to helping others who share similar wounds really made me realize how very much I have to be grateful for.

Sorry I got off on a tangent there.  You can tell Beach and I live together, huh?:-)  Ranting is not confined to the male members of this family.  Anyway, here’s the review.  Take care everyone.

Biker Dreams

Produced by Neil Evans
Directed and edited by Adam Berman
Reviewed by Mark Hammond, Managing Editor

One of the most poignant moments in Adam Berman’s documentary Biker Dreams when “Liddo” Jim, former president of the Resurrection Biker Club in Washington state, talks about his wife, Scorpio. “Liddo” Jim is a bear of a man, an Old Skool biker, an Outlaw’s Outlaw — caprine beard, rumble chest and scarred knuckles. He is also an emotional man who’s almost driven to tears as he talks about his wife. She’s the most important thing in his life, except, of course, for his motorcycle. Initially, the audience laughs but soon quiets down not because of any sense of irony or tragedy in Jim’s declaration, but because they respect and accept his sincerity. Simply put, “Liddo” Jim wouldn’t exist without his motorcycle.Berman’s film is an enjoyable and irreverent look at the Harley-Davidson sub-culture. Berman is particularly adept at walking the narrow line dividing the two opposing schools on Harleys and the Harley phenomenon. He mercifully steers clear of both the cheesy sentimentalism of the devout Harley faithful and the bitter, vindictive flames thrown by many of Harley’s detractors. Berman never seems to forget that, after all, his film is about motorcycles.   

Still, Biker Dreams offers meat to chew on. If “Liddo” Jim is the film’s Dante, the prism in which the nuanced biker morality is refracted, then Martin Tobias and Alex Landes are its Virgils. The film begins with Seattle high-tech entrepreneur Martin Tobias and his girlfriend Alex Landes suiting up for the 1000 mile trip from Seattle to Sturgis on Martin’s Fat Boy. Along the way we are introduced to most of the Harley spectrum: women empowered by moving from pillion to saddle, single mothers armed with cigarettes and a pack of condoms, Vietnam vets who proudly display their military and motorcycle scars, geriatric members of the Fossils Motorcycle Club and a preacher whose pulpit is the tank of a 1948 angel-white Panhead.

Martin and Alex are the closest the film has to an “everyman.” They are a young, middle class couple, more photogenic than most bikers, but at times too cloying and cute as only the young in love are. Still, while not personally revealing, Martin and Alex remain centered, providing leveled-headed insights in comparison to Liddo’s honest but crude primitivism.

It’s through Martin that we learn about the Hamsters, a group of RUBs (rich urban bikers) who proudly proclaim their “cowardice” by adopting yellow as the club color. The Hamsters are essentially modern day Babbits — affluent, milquetoast, corporate businessmen seeking attention and masculine empowerment. In contrast Liddo Jim is a primitive, a square peg who, through his own hands and will, forged his fit in society while the Hamsters are the prototypical round pegs playacting fantasies of outlaw rebellion.

The difference between Liddo and the Hamsters personifies a fundamental shift in American culture. Slowly, the traditional American ethos of “you are what you produce” is being replaced by “you are what you can afford to buy.” Here you will find the kernel of anti-Harley prejudice. The Liddos of the world are often anti-social and repellent, yet it is the RUBS, the solid-citizen Hamsters who attract much of the anti-Harley backlash. The reason may be how we as a nation view ourselves. Liddo is a producer: simple, direct and proud but also volatile, savage, stubborn and occasionally a bad citizen. Worse, Liddo is unapologetic. The Hamsters are consumers: malleable, predictable, marketable yet decent citizens with enough disposable income to drop 20 Gs on a Road King and a few grand more on a customization. And, like Liddo, they are unapologetic. It is loyal men like “Liddo” Jim who stuck with Harley through the AMF Dark Ages and gave the Harley culture its distinct favor but, like it or not, it is the Hamsters and their money who are winning the hearts and minds of stockholders and thus the day.

Liddo is romanticized, yet most of us have more in common with Martin and Alex and the Hamsters than a man who without regret admits to performing beastiality in order to gain admission into the motorcycle club he once lead. Still, there is hope for the unwashed. After the final credits Berman sneaks in one last salvo from Liddo where he predicts — actually, he warns — there are more of his type on the horizon. Depending on how you define yourself, that is either good news or bad.

Editor’s note: Biker Dreams was reviewed after a screening at the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival and will be released in Spring, 1998.

Motorcycle Online Rating: ****     

Technorati and my tale of woe

I know that most of you loyal readers don’t subscribe to the RSS feeds or use a blog directory like Technorati.  However, I have to admit that they are a significant source of traffic for us.  It’s like checking the morning news for a lot of folks.  They sign into Technorati and see if anything interesting has been posted on their favorite blogs overnight.  Unfortunately for Beach and me, although we’ve been posting articles, photos, reviews and commentary busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest, on Technorati it still says we haven’t updated our blog in 12 DAYS!!!!!!  This has really killed us so far as traffic.  The only thing I can suggest to our loyal readers is please use the contact form on the last page of our blog and put in your email.  In the subject please put “SUBSCRIBE”.  We’ll make sure and shoot you an email whenever anything new goes up.  Even though this is a technical nightmare for us, more importantly our readers are missing out on the timely updates they deserve.  Beach and I envision this site as becoming a “one stop source” for all kinds of bike-related info.  We want you to be able to come here and get everything you want or need instead of having to scramble all over the web for your info.  We are all far too busy these days and time is at a premium.  Beach and I appreciate that, moreso than you know.  So, it bothers me that we are falling through the cracks.  I will continue to work on this technical glitch and I WILL resolve it eventually.  I can only ask for your patience and understanding as I try to wade through the troubleshooting process.  Thank you all so much.  You are all appreciated.  We mean that.

 Thanks,

Andrea

Save money on gas

Hey, I realize this article was written more with “cagers” in mind, but there are some useful tips for all of us. I don’t know about you, but shelling out $3.00 bucks a gallon is not one of my most treasured chores during the week. Any way I can save a buck, I go for it. Enjoy.

by: Pete Lance

Gas prices are getting more and more ridiculous. And it’s going to keep increasing with no limit in sight! For the new car owners out there, do you know that a gallon of unleaded gasoline used to cost only $1.25?

Therefore, it is becoming more and more important to maximize your money and save at the gas station.

So here we have compiled 10 best tips to help you get the most out of your dollar!

Tip 1: Shop Around
This is the advice that you can apply anytime you buy anything. Always shop around. You can get a cheaper price for your favorite brand, and probably a yet cheaper price for a different brand.

Tip 2: Use a Gasoline Credit Card
Gasoline credit cards are great! They can save you 5 to 10 percent off your gasoline purchase.

Tip 3: Buy Gasoline When the Weather is Cool
Gasoline is denser in cooler temperatures, such as in the morning or at night. Gas stations measure volume, not density, so you’ll be getting more solid fuel than vapors, thus improving your overall gas mileage.

Tip 4: Avoid Gas Stations That Just Refilled Their Tanks
When underground tanks are refilled, particles at the bottom of the tank get stirred up, and when these particles get into your gasoline tank, they affect the fuel efficiency of your car.

Tip 5: Don’t Top Off
The gas pump needs time to draw out the full amount of gas, so When you purchase a bit of gas the station, you get short bursts of fuel that you’ll probably pay extra for. You should refill your tank when you have less than half a talk left or when you find a price that is so low you cannot afford to miss it.

Tip 6: Don’t Use High Octane Gas
Most cars nowadays are built to run on regular unleaded gas. Purchasing higher octane gas is simply a waste of money. Octane measures how hard it is to ignite gas, not the quality of the gas, so getting higher octane gas will not improve fuel efficiency. You should only get these more expensive gases when your engine pings, knocks or rattles.

Tip 7: Pump Your Own Gas
It’s cheaper to pump your own gas at the self-serve stations rather than using the full-serve pumps. Full-serve gasoline naturally costs more.

Tip 8: Lessen the Use of Air-Conditioning
This tip is simple enough. Air-conditioning uses electricity, and they can reduce fuel economy by up to 20àIt’s advisable to use the air ventilation system instead.

Tip 9: Plan Your Trip
You can avoid unnecessary driving by planning your trip before hand, and of course that saves you money on gas consumption.

Tip 10: Purchase Vehicles That Get Good Mileage
This is probably one of the best tips anybody can give on saving money at the gas pump. It’s always better to purchase vehicles that get good gas mileage. Check with your car dealer about cars that have better fuel economy.

About the author:
Pete Lance is the founder of www.USGasTracker.org, a premier company which helps the consumer save money on gasoline. Thousands of gas stations across the nation are tracked daily to guarantee the lowest prices on gasoline anywhere in the United States. Sign up for a free daily email with the lowest gas prices for your zip code. http://www.usgastracker.org/

BikerNet Radio

Okay everyone, here is the link for the radio broadcast concerning Indian.  I was trying to figure a way to allow you to listen here, but I’m not quite there yet.  I hope you enjoy the interview.  Please let us know your thoughts. 

  BikerNet Radio

Here is the RSS feed for the podcast, for those of you who are set up for that.

God Bless

  God Bless the boys and girls,women and men who sacrifice every day so that we can be free.Please take a moment from this Memorial Day Weekend to think about all of those who are in the desert,in foreign countries,in hospitals and everywhere around the world who are not able to enjoy what we enjoy because they are protecting us and our allies.These people are true hero’s.They walk the walk and I will say a prayer for each and every one.

                                                                           Ride Safe

                                                                            Beach

As If By Magic

  This is for all of you who want to know what happened to the last reincarnation of the Indian Motorcycle Company.

  In last nights edition of the Thursday Night News on Bikernwt.com there was  a post which has Branscombe Richmond,one of the principles in the company interviewing another guy who was a principle in the company.They talk about what happened.Any can listen.It’s not hard to set up.Go to www.bikernet.com and hit the Thursday Night post.You will find in there the interview.The Thursday night post should be on the right side of the page.Our readers are smart so,I am not worried about them adding on what they need to listen.It really is pretty easy.That’s the Thursday night post for may 25 06.

  My good friend and sometime nemisis Bone wanted to know all about it so,here it is Bone.

                                  Wuff,Wuff

                                   Beach

More Motorcycle photo’s

  Hey,

There are more motorcycle photos in the gallery.  AMC has the majority because of the piece I just wrote, but there is a motorcycle by Dave Perewitz, one by Eddie Trotta, and one with the great Joe Pesci aboard.  Go take a look.  As they say, couldn’t hurt.

                             Ride safe

                              Beach

American Motorcycle Company

Hey,

  It is 11:55 p.m. est so,true to my word I am posting a story.I have been aware of the American Mootorcycle Co for about a year.They are new and debuted at Sturgess 05.The three main guys are Bob Page,Murray Smith and Branscombe Richmond of t.v. fame.The first two guys were principles in the re-birth of Indian but as we all know,that didn’t work out too well.Richmond was the Indian spokesman and a sr. v.p.

  There was an AMC way back when.The company was around for 20yrs.from 1902-1922.These guys learned a lot of lessons and one of them was not to build a proprietary engine(s).They use s&s like many others.They use baker and trickshift transmissions but they do make their own billet parts.They spend more time on making their motorcycles and from what I have seen,they are amazing.I am a pro-street kind of guy and theirs is beautiful.I haven’t riden one yet but with the way it looks and the parts and engines they use and the detail,I am sure I would love to own one.The pro-street I was looking at costs about $47,000.That’s a lot of dinero but compared to people like Trotta,Bourget,Lane and a host of others seems pretty reasonable.These other motorcycles are $60,000,$70,000 and up.AMC also has less expensive motorcycles(ie Bobbers $25000).They also manufacture the Apache Bagger,and the Choctaw chopper.These motorcycles all have American Indian names as Branscombe Richmond is an American Indian and then of course there is the old Indian brand these guys owned.The frames are built by Frame Works in Glendale AZ and an AMC motorcycle is a liccensed product manufactured by Abbruzese’s Carefree Custom Cycles also in AZ.

  Branscombe Richmond was on t.v. for 5 yrs. on a program called renegade with Lorenzo Lamas who also is an enthusiast.He played Bobby Sixkiller.

  These guys say that if you buy a motorcycle from them you become part of a fraternity of AMC owners.The benefits include rides,charity things and a group of celebrity men and women to cruise with.They seem to be sincere about what the motorcycle lfestyle is and,that is what they stress.”It’s about the lifestyle”.I don’t know if Branscombe is doing any t.v. or movie work right now but,I do know he does a radio broadcast for Bikernet and is particularly active promoting the new company.I really love the look of these motorcycles and would pursure owning one if I had the moolah.

  Andrea will be posting photo’s of some of these motorcycles in the gallery and probably in this post.She is under the weather today and that is why there are no photo updates.You can see these motorcycles in Sturgess and at other events around the country.Their website is www.amc1902.com.

                                                                 Ride safe

                                                                 Beach

O.K. I dropped the ball

Hey,

Well,what can I say?  The real world entered my life today so I didn’t post anything.I   have a job other than my passion for motorcycles and today I was forced to deal with that.  Merlin, our trusty side kick and Andrea (not in that order), are priorities and they have to eat and drink and have shelter.  We are lucky that we have these things and live a pretty good life.  I have my ride and the mountains, and a lake just beyond my back yard.  I have to take Archie out for a spin tomorrow as they are forecasting rain for at least the first part of the weekend.

I promise I will post and share some more photos of some of the great motorcycles out there.  I am constantly looking for motorcycle art.  I add to my collection whenever I see a machine I appreciate.  I will also post something although I am not sure what the topic will be at the moment.

Good news from the horse front.  It seems Barbaro had successful surgery on his left hind leg.  He is standing and sometimes lying down both of which are good for him and positive signs.  The risks are still there and his career is over but if he makes it he can stud and perhaps sire a horse as great and noble as he is.

                                                                  Later

                                                                   Beach

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